diff --git "a/christian/test.json" "b/christian/test.json" deleted file mode 100644--- "a/christian/test.json" +++ /dev/null @@ -1,13361 +0,0 @@ -{"text": "OH yes - Were those evil Christian Missionaries (many of whom were slaughtered by the Indians, or lost their lives due to disease, starvation etc.) lumped in with those \"genocidists\" you mention ? (yes I did make up a word, just as you make up stories).", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "In a post three days after the inauguration of Donald Trump, Christian posted: \u201cIf Donald Trump is the Next Hitler then I am joining his SS to put an end to Monotheist Question. All Zionist Jews, All Christians who do not follow Christ's teaching of Love, Charity, and Forgiveness And All Jihadi Muslims are going to Madagascar or the Ovens/FEMA Camps!!! Does this make me a fascist!!! #MonotheistHolocaust", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "If the \"precedent\" [sic] is a \"perfectionist\", he's a lousy one.\n\nSarah is about the same caliber of liar as Spicer is. It's only worse because she's supposed to be a Christian and bearing false witness is a sin.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "This idiot conveniently lumps a whole cast of characters into the \"Religious Right\", It is nothing other than a hit piece on Christians, and I don't care if he was a Bush adviser.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Correct, a court challenge will be made regarding Christmas Day and Good Friday being a stat holiday. Courts will side with the non-Christians on this case because it unfairly promotes the\nChristian faith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In Nigeria, Christians and animists also get killed by Muslims.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I don't know how I feel about the following statement but I have heard variations of it from many people in discussions after mass, \"Unitl the Hobby Lobby case, religious liberty, here in the U.S. allowed you to practice your religion with out forcing your religious belief on others because that infringes on others religious liberty. Now we are headed to becoming an Evangelical far right christian nation, and those people don't like Catholics so be warned.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "White evangelical Christians worship the Pussy Grabber In Chief. Gee, I wonder why so many people are checking the None box these days? We just had eight years of a President who was a loyal husband and wonderful father to two daughters. And he never called either one of his daughters and I quote, \"A piece of a**\" while talking live on the air with Howard Stern. Unlike Trump who has consistently lied, cheated, and disrespected his daughters and three wives FOREVER! Guess Barack Obama's skin was the wrong color to get any respect from evangelicals. If the lying, adulterous, vulgar, tax cheating, racist, misogynist, bigoted, narcissistic, ignorant, draft dodging, boy-man Trump is the new Christian hero, just what kind of Christianity is being practiced in the US nowadays?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Well, DC, you got me all wrong. Iodinate hate the Muslims, I'm terrified of them. I know that once they are in control, I will be forced to convert or die. And since I'm a born again Christian, I'll have to let them behead me. And of course the Muslims in Lane Co. behave in a benign manner, they are practicing Taqiyya. And if you don't know what that means, then you are just simply ignorant of the facts. So, check it out, apology not necessary, just need educating.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "... super fakey bigot racist sexist 'christians' stick together of course...", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Funny, you don't seem like a rogue Catholic to me. The church is filled with men who hate feminists and minorities and love BLOTUS.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You liberal Catholics are hateful. The reason the Catholic Church is dying. You want to change the church to look like a Protestant one. Why not just leave us and join them? We truly won\u2019t miss you.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Ah, so you support sexism, and pretend you are following Christ when you do so. How completely unchristian of you. You are saying that God is a bigot.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"People don't burn other people alive\"\nYou need to acquaint yourself with autos da fe in Middle Ages Europe. Christians did precisely that to women accused of witchcraft, Jews who refused to convert, Christians who were accused of heresy (that is, they held beliefs the authorities didn't approve of), and others. After some Jews rejected Martin Luther's protestant Christianity as not being their cup of tea, Martin Luther suggested locking Jews in synagogues and setting the synagogues on fire.\nIf that's too ancient for you, only 30 years ago, Christians were raping and slaughtering Muslims in the former country of Yugoslavia.\nLast year, Jews living in the West Bank burned down Arabs' houses and mosques, and in at least one house, the occupants were in it.\nTerrorists are brutal. A lot of terrorists are Muslim. That does NOT make all Muslims dogs.\nIf a man from Arvada gets angry at his ex-wife and burns down her home with her in it, are all Arvadans to be considered dogs?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The little girl with the sign also believes that homosexuals must be killed, Israel and Jews must be eradicated, Christians can have their heads cut off, and women including herself are the property of men who may beat them. Ain't she sweet?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "These people so destroyed their own orders that they can't get any new postulants, and then they have the temerity to beg the average Catholic in the pew for financial help. Pathetic!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The hypocrisy of the Christian 'right' is front and center in this election. They support a serial adulterer, misogynist, racist, xenophobe, and nativist who will divide our country more than at any time since the Civil War all in the name of 'pro-life'. Yet he stated he wants Roe vs Wade overturned to hand the issue back to the states. That will not end abortion since at least 26 states will permit abortion in any and most circumstances. We need to come together as a people and address the causes for abortion since this is a symptom not the disease. Only through a paradigm shift in our culture which recognizes that women have full agency as citizens can we address their needs so they can choose life.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "If you think the proper response to a heretical Pope is to leave the Church, then you have no clue what the Catholic Church is or what it is for.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Again with the hateful, dishonest and cowardly comment, from a real hater!! You're either a complete moron, Islamist in disguise, as many of these terrorist cowards are-hiding in populated areas, hiding behind women/children, hiding in Mosques, hiding in burkas, etc. It's radical Muslims gunning down everyone, not Christians, Jews, Hindus, etc, FACT! And too many, possibly ones like you, are quick to challenge others for being at fault; knowing all to well for you to stand as an honorable man and openly denounce these radical atrocities would \"surely\" get your little liberal snowflake butt in a whole world of trouble!! Stand up and be counted and see who really shoots you in the back!!! And all you do is rattle off your in-tolerant and dishonest opinion; you have to because, while you may shout down my comments you're not able to refute my statements. Because all you have, is how you lived there, so what!!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "MSW posts a compassionate and important article calling Catholics to action against Trump's immigration orders, and you strain to find one sentence with which you disagree and lob an ad hominem suggesting he is insane. Classy.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "He was also a Donald Trump supporter. Christian attended Trump rallys. He posted on Facebook: \n\n\"Bernie Sanders was the President I wanted,\" wrote Christian in December. \"He voiced my heart and mind. The one who spoke about the way America should gone. Away from the Military and Prison Industrial Complexes. The Trump is who America needs now that Bernie got ripped off.\"\n\nand:\n\n\"If Donald Trump is the Next Hitler then I am joining his SS to put an end to Monotheist Question. All Zionist Jews, All Christians who do not follow Christ's teaching of Love, Charity, and Forgiveness And All Jihadi Muslims are going to Madagascar or the Ovens/FEMA Camps!!! Does this make me a fascist!!!\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I did, and what struck me was precisely \" \"Probably a Christian, judging from his name\", meaning he wasn't talking about actual religious beliefs, but about ethnic origin. Which was compounded by the following \"and that Canadian mass murderers are \"usually white and Christian\". Again, Canadian mass murderers haven't as a rule committed their crimes in the name of their religion, so how is that relevant?\n\nUnless his intent is precisely to use the term not to designate a religious belief, but to create a parallel with the identification of \"Muslim\" as an ethnic group rather than a religion, so you can accuse critics of \"racism\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "To say \"evangelicals are stupid\" is no different from saying \"Catholics (or put in any other religious group) are stupid.\"", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "... 80% of Trump supporters consider themselves Christian ... FAKERS!!!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "But the Christ as supernatural entity believers also tend to believe in Reincarnation and Astrology. \n\nPick one and stick to it please.\n\nOnce you are ignorant enough to believe one brand of superstition it seems that you have little trouble believe contradictory brands. The human mind is amazing in what it can rationalise, against all evidence.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"Then logically you should be afraid of Christians as well.\"\n\nWell, except it takes seconds to find recent news reports (past 5 months) of Muslim executioners killing gay folks en masse.\n\nPlease show us similar numbers for Christians killing them en masse recently!\n\nOrlando gay nighclub shooting: 49 killed, shooter pledged ISIS allegiance\n\nChechen Authorities Arresting and Killing Gay Men\n\nRussian newspaper says it has evidence that at least three gay men have been killed in \u2018prophylactic sweep\u2019 in Chechnya\n\nThe Islamic State Executes Nine Men and a Boy for Being Gay\n\nEgypt has taken a leading role at the United Nations in opposing gay rights. It was one of 13 countries to vote last week against a U.N. resolution condemning the death penalty for having gay sex.\n\nIslamic State group judge read out the sentence against the two men convicted of homosexuality: They would be thrown to their deaths from the roof of the nearby Wael Hotel.\n\n12 Muslim Countries That Kill You for Being Gay", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Armenian genocide of 1915 (1.5 million murdered) Present Turkish leader denies this crime.\nChristians murdered in Pakistan, Christians murdered in Eqypt.\nStrange thing is the Globalist are telling us we need more multiculturalism and high immigration.\nFastest growing religion in the world Islam (high birthrate). \nWhat really needs to be done is who started this (multiculturalism program for western world and why) Papa Trudeau embraced it with his adviser Kaplan, USA changed immigration act 1967 to bring in more multiculturalism (Ted Kennedy, Katz, Feinstein all demanded this)\nEngland, France, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Norway same time embraced this idea.\nWas it planned ???", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "CHRISTIAN Century Magazine...from God's lips to your ears.\n\nAssuming of course that you are a xenophobic, ethnocentric, bible thumper.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I'm sure Jim Minnery and Co. will have church volunteers ready and willing to check birth certificates at restroom entrances around town. Funny thing is, most Transgenders no longer look anything like the sex found on their birth certificates - they look exactly like the sex they identify with. Soooo, Jim and his cult will be steering big hairy guys with massive pecs over to the ladies' side simply because that's what their birth certificate says they are, and vice versa. Amazing, the idiotic hoops fundy Christians will go through to \"protect\" whatever religious ideology they claim to identify with, and no matter how much it hurts good people. Jesus must be spinning in his grave.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "This guy had no business interacting with this girl without backup. The Bible is clear Pastors should avoid even the very appearance of evil, and being involved with a young prostitute without any witnesses is simply stupid and foolish. Even if he isn't found guilty, he needs to be removed from the ministry. I doubt the police would have charged him without a reasonable amount evidence, and the Bible does also state an Elder needs to be unaccused in his community. BIblically speaking, he is not qualified to serve in any capacity within his Church or any Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Also \"part of the story\" are the thousands/millions of every-day, average, ordinary lay Catholics whose allegiance to and membership in the RCC have been destroyed, many beyond recovery. We lost one of the foundational \"truths\" of our lives when the rock was turned over and the maggots exposed. Cynicism, doubt, rebellion and disbelief in almost everything have displaced most of what we grew up holding as sacred. Perhaps we would have lost the childlike veneer anyway as we edged into old age, but I doubt we would have been engulfed by bitterness as has happened when the evil of the aiders and abetters was exposed. We are still waiting for many of those bishops and senior clerics to be held accountable.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The suspect, 35-year-old Jeremy Joseph Christian, has a history of making bigoted comments online and was photographed giving a Nazi salute at a recent protest organized by the group behind the \u201cTrump Free Speech Rally.\u201d\n\nHaha, knew they had to try and weasel in Trump here when in fact the killer hated Trump and was a big Bernie supporter. \n\nhttp://dailycaller.com/2017/05/28/portland-killer-is-an-anti-circumcision-bernie-sanders-supporter/\n\nAlso F this mayor....what a moron.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I also think Mrs Gingrich will be pleasing to Trump's Evangelical supporters in spite of the fact she had Newt 'the quintessential Evangelical political hypocrite' convert to Catholicism. Pope Francis will get a chance to practice mercy, mercy, mercy.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Violet, Orthodoxy has apparently already accepted the female diaconate for restoration. There does not appear to be any reason to fear that the sub-diaconate is being offered as a substitute. Both Othodoxy and Catholicism recognize that deacons, priests, and bishops receive the one same sacrament of Holy Orders, and subdeacons do not. The glass ceiling here is women receiving that sacrament. Those who resist women priests also resist women deacons with the same violence--because there is but one sacrament. Once the faithful see women vested on the altar and preaching globally every Sunday, the barrier to the priesthood and episcopate for women will be torn down. Sure, there will be those who argue, this far and no farther, but once women are acknowledged as recipients of this sacrament the internal walls within grades of that sacrament become paper thin, literally. There is a risk; it's a question of strategy--how best destroy the beast of chauvinism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is past time for married and women priests. The same people who say we can't have women priests because it would violate Jesus' example also don't want married priests even though Peter was married.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic Church is officially part of #radicalbolshevikterrorism communist organizers \nAs a Catholic I'm disgusted by the indoctrination of what is becoming a cult \nThe pope and this moron McElroy ignore mass genocide while propping up the cult of Mohammed bent on the genocide of Christians", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Catholic priests wants all of you to \"feed their penis.\" The priests has a message: trust in us is to trust in God. Ha Ha Ha", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Let's take this absurdity one step further: Stop allowing Christians into Canada who have been overtly persecuted by Muslims because they are likely to harbour Islamophobic thoughts.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Christian extremist.\nWhen body slamming is just not enough.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Fortunately I am not catholic.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Bloody death and extermination are to Islam what charity and forgiveness are to Christianity. It is the core of the religions.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "so you prefer,a lying,money hungry killer/ any one who claims to be a christian should be appalled at this \"pastors' remarks. he needs to retire.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "That's because muslims have either ethnically cleansed or killed most of the Christians in the ME and there are almost none left.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Hmm...you claim that...\"The Church cannot fail because Christ cannot fail\"...Unless you have a different definition of failure than Webster's. the so-called Roman Catholic Church has been an abysmal failure throughout it's history. Just ask the countless,ongoing victims of your pedophile priests. I wouldn't trust Roman Catholicism has far as I could toss a steel elephant.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Look ED, the old testament was for Jews. Christians are of the NEW testament that teaches to love one another as one loves themselves. There is no call, AT ALL, for violence by Christians. The Qu'ran preaches over and over again that infidels are worthy only of death. Yo ED, YOU are an infidel. There will always be miscreants in any group but main the bastion of Islam is world domination through the killing of ALL infidels.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Donald Trump is the lead character in Being There, Chauncey the Gardener who likes to watch television. In this case, FoxNews. He seems to only watch Fox if he wants his truth. If he watches any other news program or hears quotes, it is so he can argue with them. As long as his fellow Fox viewers still like him, he considers himself a success. As long as the pastors of those viewers endorse him, he feels holy, and sadly, there are such. More sadly, some are Catholic priests and bishops. They are the ones who should know better. I don't expect it of Trump, who is simply a pathetic character.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "When you, Paprocki or anyone else shows fear and loathing of homosexuals, it is perfectly proper to use the term \"homophobia\". You don't like my use of it, just as you don't like my pointing out that you have surrendered moral decision making to others in the same way that Adolf Eichmann did. That's just too bad. You are a homophobe, and you have taken Eichmann as a role model. These FACTS should cause you to reconsider some of your opinions, but we all know you won't. You have Opus Dei to tell you how to live, you do not need other Christians.\n\nYour blather about \"correcting me\" is simply your arrogance speaking.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If we should blame all Muslims for the acts of a few, as many on the right feel we should be doing, then yes, we should blame all Christians for the actions of this one guy.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "staunch religion hating atheist here; remove the sarcasm from your comment and I'm with you.\n\nChristians are indeed hypocrites, but they use the voting booth to further their backward agenda not AK-47's and machetes. \n\nI hate Christianity. \nI hate Islam and fear it immensely.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Excellent.\nThe editorial writer invokes the Bible and Christianity as if they were relevant.\nLudicrous.\nDonald Trump is an old, fat, hate-filled bigot.\nJust because Sarah Huckabee became a temporary, stand-in press secretary hardly means a thing.\nIf there is a betrayal of American values it's not Trump's fault. He can barely read and is well despised. He grandstands. He promotes his own interests and had the audacity to suck up to Russia and its tiny dictator, Vladimir Putin.\nThat's the real issue.\nIf America refuses to resolve the issue it has with Trump's evil influence then it has no one to blame but itself.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Take another look at your comment to Mokantx earlier in this thread. If I were an ultra right wing Catholic, I would be at least tempted to take your argument seriously. But Mo hit the dogmatic nail squarely on its round head! Maybe on second reading you can see why Mo is theologically on target, and your response is not.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One side was Nazi flag-waving, Swastika-carrying, xenophobic thugs intimidating a college campus and city with unabashed hatred toward jews, gays, and anyone who is not white, male, straight, Christian and gun-toting.\n\nThe other side was objecting to this vile intrusion.\nIf that's alt-Left, sign me the f*** up.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "OregonBorn: Look at what the Catholic Priests have accomplished over the last how many centuries, AND, the Boy Scouts of America. They have been raping boys, FOREVER.\n\nRead the Sign: FOREVER................", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Can't really argue against anything you wrote above. Trump is not a Catholic coincidence - he was intentionally promoted by our leaders over the yucky lady candidate.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Scammers gotta scam! And folks like that never seem to lack for suckers willing to hand over their hard earned money to support their expensive tastes and desires. So very christian.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Where all the deport people at. This guy isn't hispanic or Muslim. Most likely a white Christian male and its crickets in here but if you listen to Trump band of can't think for themselves morons you would think crime is only done by Hispanic and Muslim people. This guy stole a lot of money. Still 2 million he has not paid back. So many wanted the guy who justbgot pardoned for the video store robbery to be in jail for life but this guy stole alot more dinero. They are such hippocrits", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The MSM needs to stop propping up Hypocrites like the Huckabees. Does proclaiming to be a \"salt of the earth Christian\" excuse all sleazy,UN-Christ like behavior? If the Huckabees like MONEYCHANGER Trump...evidently so. Hypocrites, are the \"fire & brimstone\" of hell.\n\nMay thet reap what they sow, they have earned it!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Nope. White men are pretty scary. Especially Christian ones. They reeeeally hate women as well as POC.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The masses become more politically intelligent as they participate in elections for example, Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by a significant margin indicating that although Trump's racism, xenophobia, and misogyny were big sellers with the Christian Far-Right and aging whites, a majority of Americans did not buy the garbage he was peddling.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Pathetic to hear you think Christ died to end poverty; pathetic to hear you mock the idea that he came to save souls.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The fundies I know think of the Vatican and Catholicism as a pedophile ring.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Ha ha ha. Thanks for the joke of the day. Think about your Jesus Christ when you go to church and proclaim your reliosity, and the fact that republican ideals and philosophies are completely 180 degrees opposite of the Jesus that you beseech to to save your soul. He kicked the same type of moneylenders and money changers out of the temples of worship that your republican leadership sucks up to. I would say you all have a few screws loose.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "False equivalence. Here's a hint: The Bible doesn't command pedophile priests... \n\nPlease stop defending a religion you've obviously never studied with trendy cliches. You're making an ass of yourself.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "So who called out Notley when she said Catholics don\u2019t have consensual sex. Is that coded language for male Catholics are rapists? \nThe fact that she wouldn\u2019t aknowledge what she says puts her as a bigot and racist?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "These children/young adults did nothing wrong. They know no other country. You are nothing but a heartless, cruel Republican. Yeah, and you probably claim to \"love Jesus\" lol!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dylan roof was a mentally ill little scum bag and McVey was likely a cointelpro patsy...it's remarkable that the left's love affair with Islam considering the things Islam stands for are in such stark contrast to liberal western thinking. I think because the left and Islam both oppose Christianity and Americanism it an enemy or their enemies type of thing.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Many of these so-called Christian leaders have sold their birthrights for a mess of pottage. They should be teaching the love of Christ, but instead strive for power. They make deals with people like Trump, the sort of man they should have denounced as a blatant sinner. Jesus said one cannot serve both God and Mammon, and they chose Mammon.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "wow!! Now that's a bogus case.\n\nSNAP #1 cares for the victims. Victims are not required to use a SNAP attorney. Some victims have donated to SNAP. Some attorneys have also donated to SNAP. All to help victims. \n\nThe real issue is that the catholic church lobbies to stop laws that would expose the truth. The catholic church fights AGAINST he victims, as noted by the church's lobby efforts against victims.\n\nFact, less than .05% of victims ever received a day in court,, thanks to the catholic church's lobby efforts.\n\nHere is the victims life:\n\nPeople who experienced considerable trauma during their childhood died 20 years prematurely, CDC researchers have found.\n\nRecent studies have shown that victims of childhood abuse actually experience physical changes to the hippocampus, a part of the brain involved in learning and memory, as well as in the handling of stress. (Bremner JD, Narayan M) \n\n.. yet some people actually side with those who harmed the child and continue.\n\nTHE REAL MESSAGE", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It also shows their desire to force a theocracy on all Americans. Evangelicals are not only stupid, they are dangerous and anti-American.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Liberals daily and for years have shown their superiority over others. You believe blacks are too stupid to achieve a college degree unless you help them with affirmative action. And do try to follow the news. I doubt it got by you that some parents won't let the gender be put on the birth certificate because they haven't decided on the gender. Being a former Jewish agnostic, it doesn't bother you that Christianity is under assault. And even though neither you nor I feel under assault, you can't deny that we are accused for all the world's ills. Gays should be treated like everyone else because it's right. Gays can purchase any pre made cake they want at Masterpiece Bakery because it's right.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"What a silly and short sighted post.\nGod is genderless. It's our own inability to understand His Fatherhood that makes us think in the little categories you think the Church teaches in.\"\n\nWhat a silly and short sighted post.\nGod is female. It's our own inability to understand Her Motherhood that makes us think in the little categories \nyou think the Church teaches in.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "For as the Gospels tell us, Jesus did not give a rat's ass about undocumented immigrants.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes of course! Purveyors of misogyny, bigots, racists, right wing fundamentalist christians, white people, gun toting nuts, Islamophobia and Nazis are responsible for her loss.\nOr it could be that reasonable American voters were just sick and tired of the predictable garbage she was selling.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Bravo ! Old white males just need to.learn to \"STFD\" (Sit Tha Fuck Down).\n\nthis type of unjust inequality which pervades all throughout western society is in reality the contemporary version of the white supremacist ideology which has fueled white christian genocide, slavery, domination, oppression and imperialism throughout the world for centuries.\n\nthe world is changing and diversity and equality are rising up everywhere so old white men just need to \"STFD\" !", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Well, when you bible freaks bring them up to believe there is someplace better, then what do you expect? Religion is the root of all evil.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "David Grisham, why do you and your group of 'not-anti-gay' friends think it's okay for you to pass judgment on gay people? And of course you will protest that your aren't passing judgment, you're just doing as your god would have you do, which is...well, passing judgment. YOUR God is a hateful, ugly god. I have no idea how you fools could be a part of any religion that has so much hatred and ugliness attached to it. Your Christian religion promotes this hatred. It singles people out as being 'sinful' and not following YOUR god's demands. YOUR hateful god, I will add. Believe what you want, since all that hatefulness and and all those lies have been indoctrinated in you probably since your Sunday school days. That's YOUR belief. Leave people alone. Let people live as they choose. YOU and people like you need to stay out of other folks' business. Clean up your own dirty sins and stop worrying about everybody else. And go back to Texas. We have enough like you up here already.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "This entire thread disturbed me big time, including the way two men discussed Elagabalus's opinions and Catholic quotient like they were entitled to do so when he wasn't there. Burping Augustine and Aquinas about the handy use for prostitutes without disavowing the remarks utterly . . . quite typical, I'm afraid.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus what the hell is wrong with some people? Godspeed with the recovery for the unfortunate young man.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not even close to correct. We here in freedom-lovin', Pig votin', America have had several terrorist attacks carried out by Christian white guys. Maybe you're too young to remember.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Interesting, you say that a good Lutheran boy like me cannot possibly attend a church since I don't think like you do? Perhaps that's one of the reasons we (Lutherans) split off from the Catholic Church. People can have differing views and still be Christian. Also interesting how you say violent passages in the bible are taken out of context, or are parables, but violent passages in the Koran are to be taken literally. That seems to be somewhat misguided thinking, or at least, presumptuous. As far as your OT vs. NT point of view, I've often directed people to this essay:\n\nhttp://www.loonwatch.com/2011/05/the-but-thats-just-the-old-testament-cop-out/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ah yes, the \"intelligence and core American values of our rural folks,\" who claim \"everyone looks out for each other.\u201d When the truth is that rural folks only look out for each other if they are white and Christian, but think (incorrectly) immigrants and racial minorities get an unfair share of benefits and are cheating the system.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Very Sad for us as the people who died were Disciplined Christians and were in our Church congregation................\n\nKilled because of a persons \"STUPID\" Habit, Cigarettes...........DISCUSSTING............", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Actually, in the US, most terrorists are nominally Christian.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Probably when it becomes a radical christian extremist event. 1 nut job does making empty threats not quite measure up to the millions of nutjobs killing people all over the globe. The radical Muslims are murdering people in dozens of nations aroung the world. Anyone with any intellectual honesty would not try and draw a comparison here.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Yes we all know those darn Coptic Christians should continue to pay, I bet it put a big smile on your face knowing they deserved it..", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Oh so Oklahoma City was the government's fault? Lol!\nWhen Muslims commit terrorism they're terrorists.\nWhen Christians commit terrorism they're mentally ill.\nYou're a joke.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "While not condoning if Pillar said what we think he said, are we getting a little over-sensitive? Does the guy deserve to be crucified? Lets say he called the pitcher a b*tch. Would that entitle all females to be hyper offended? What about when a player swears and takes the name of the Christian God in vain? Do Christians raise a big stink? Of course not. So can we just all just take a pill and relax???", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How about calling them \"white nationalist terrorists\"?\n\n\n\nI mean, Donnie was clutching his pearls that Obama didn't start WWIII by insulting all of Islam at every opportunity and now we have the Christian identity type of home-grown terrorists coming out of the woodwork and NOW he's getting all politically correct?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Oh I don't think it will get far but it's ridiculous for people to ignore the pervasiveness of Christianity when ranting about making an allowance for Muslim prayer times in schools.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Susie, you pathetic moron, show us proof that you and your uneducated rural ilk are \"paying for their, and all other illegal aliens healthcare, food, education, etc...\"\n\nYou can't, because \"illegals\" are a net positive in US society. Check out the AFB American Farm Bureau data sometime. And get an education, you poor, pathetic kook. You're an ugly person inside and out (and probably claim to be Christian as well, what a laugh).", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "don't forget cats and dogs living together. You sound like all previous anti immigrant jerks from those anti Irish Catholics, to the Jews, to the Hungarians (all Commies remember), to the Italians (all Mafia, remember).", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Oh you must be right.. that's why their called CSIS??? for Christian state of Iraq? or is it BSIS? for buddhist state of Iraq? hang on, it's ISIS... ISLAMIC STATE OF IRAQ\n\nShocked by the blatent stupidity and lack of common sense here guys... please.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Utilitas, your failure to see Christ in the immigrant scandalizes all Christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jim Minnery is a liar and a charlatan. Christians should be ashamed that he associates himself with them.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "THAT WAS MY POINT, DICK. Holy hell. Christians=Muslims. It's all the same.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Why are there any prayers at school? Far as I know Christians, Sikhs, Hindus, Jews.... any other religion does not have prayers in schools so WHY THE F ARE MUSLIMS PRAYING IN SCHOOLS? WTF is going on here?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"...could become...an upper middle class rich white church.\"\n\n19% of Catholics (with incomes over 100,000 plus) of 75 million US Catholics = 14.25 predominately white million Catholics\n44% of Jews (with incomes over 100,000 plus) of 6 million US Jews = 2.64 Jews\n35% of Episcopalians (with incomes over 100,000 plus) of 2 million = 700,000 Protestant Episcopalians\n\nfrom \"How income varies among U.S. religious groups,\" Pew Research Center", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Are all you catholics America hating communists???", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of course some are \"arrogant\" but then, so are some of the far liberal. Someone else referred to Evangelicals as stupid. Of course some are but, let's face it when it comes to \"faith\" and faith systems there is a tendency to leave fact and reasoning behind and fill the hole(s) with emotion (seeking something to be emotional about) and judgment (unhinged from reason).\nA protestant clergyperson once made the comment to me: we suffer the tyranny of the \"book\"; you suffer the tyranny of the \"chair\". Revealing.\nData seems to indicate that it wasn't the uneducated, unemployed who \"elected\" Trump.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"Let me see if I understand you. You think Islam should be banned because Sharia Law violates the Constitution\"\n.\nCorrect.\n.\n\"How does that work?\"\n.\nSharia Law and its practicioners believe it overrides any government law or agency, and supersedes any enforcement statues which the Constitution would guarantee- it is based on ancient Muslim tribal law, is barbaric, and has no place in a modern, Judeo-Chrstian, Western, Industrialized Democratic Republic. Does this clarify?\n.\n\"How can the government tell people what [not] to believe \"to protect them from Sharia Law\"\"\n.\nThey're not- they're banning Sharia Law. That's not the contractual law we subscribed to when our Founding Fathers crafted the Constitution.\n.\n\"Many forms of Christianity and Judaism have rules that would be unconstitutional if the government enacted them.\"\n.\nWhich is why they don't. And is also why Christians don't enact their own courts, their own police force, or their own tribunals- which is what Sharia Law is.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Just like those ISIL scum , these \"christians\" hide their bigotry behind a religion .", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Going after people based on their religion is classic behaviour of a fascist. Ruling by decree instead of going to your elected officials is again a reflex of someone who doesn\u2019t respect the fundamental nature of a democratic society.\u201d\n\nROFLOL, This is a simplistic ton of BS. Yes in every reasonable case your correct. However I seriously beg to differ here. Were talking about a religion that wants to chop off all Christian heads and you and others side with these idiots. Keep them the heck out of here or your going to end up like Sweden and Germany. Is that the K-os you want? Go back to DAVOS you and all the rest of the NWO 's", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Tough luck if you are Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Pagan, or Jew. This is a good Hypocritical Christian Nation.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Wow...let me guess, you support Christian only invocations? And invocations should be banned from government meetings if someone is prohibited from offering invocation because the members of the assembly disapprove of the religion or group. It's illegal and the court will rule against this asinine rule while taxpayers foot the bill.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "It's mainly a Fox thing because the Christian Right is the last bastion of the Male Chauvinist Pig...", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The Federal Government and the liberals in the Dept. of Education and the teaching profession already got to the millenials from the early age of 5. They've had the kids nearly 8 hours a day, filling their head with liberal, secular propaganda. They are brainwashed. \n\nSo now, faced with the biggest enemy of the Catholic Church, the US education system, the Church is now asking the brainwashed youth about how the Church should move forward? Inane stupidity.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Bahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. Sucks to be a hypocrite. And to those who would defend him, shame on you as well. Or is his, Murdoch's, and Trump's behavior the new norm? Sexually abusive and lairs? So much for demonstrating Christian values.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Because Christians don't strap bombs to kids and women and blow themselves up. Look at all the mass killings and the one thing in common...Muslims.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Craig Stevaux - You've got it all wrong like the rest of your sad ilk. Even Christians, Jews and atheists from those countries would be temporarily banned just like the Muslims. Try reading the regulation and quite promoting a lie. Typical!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Taqiyya is the Islamic practice of pious deception. It can take the form of concealing the full truth (omission) or telling non-believers only what they want to hear (concealment). Taqiyya is as basic to Islam as the Ten Commandments are to Christianity. Taqiyya is the \"Fifth Column of the Islam\", to protect Allah, Muhammad and the Koran from skeptics and critics. It is anathema to all other religions. It is hard for non-Muslims to understand that it actually exists and is used regularly to demonize us. Even the Globe's picture portrays her as the woebegotten victim.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Celibacy?!?! You do realize that the majority of pedophiles are -married- men with seemingly normal families, do you? You do realize that the professional child welfare investigators that root out pedophiles for a living, to them the Roman collar is hardly even a blip on their radar, do you?\n\nAffront to survivors?!?! You DO realize that -this- survivor, along with the vast majority of other survivors, were NOT abused by a Catholic priest, but by someone from probably your very own own demographic, and WE view your myopic tunnel vision towards priests as not only stupid, but even dangerous....do you?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "the left:\nasian cop shoots unarmed black man- \"i hate white people! kill all cops! pigs in a blanket, fry em like bacon!! no justice!!! Let's destroy the local convenient store!!!\"\nobvious terror attack by an islamic extremist- \"ok guys, lets wait for all of the facts to come out before we start pointing fingers. we dont want to spread hate, ok! besides, this attack is nothing compared to the Christian bombing on planned parenthood in the 90's.\"", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "This is part of Christianity that is most attractive to the Donald, you know, L. incestum.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sola Fide is a doctrine rejected by the Church. It is too complex to discuss in a com-box with limits on the number of words. For the Catholic position I would refer you to the Catechism of the Catholic Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "you are hating on Amy like she is a feral cat owner. what she said was what was already being said in the media, so bfd. so many lame cowards who lost to trump and can't attack him so they go for soft target like Amy. you live and breed hate for all Caucasians christians and especially white males.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You think talking about romantic relationships are synonymous with sex and oral sex? So I'm assuming that Christians that wait to have sex until they are married aren't in a romantic relationship until they're married? Your ignorance is truly undeniable.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "It is false Christianity to preach and practice fear, loathing and rejection of gays.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"Israel\" is a state so utterly 'race'/identity-obsessed it murders its own CHILDREN for being the wrong \"color\", that treats Arab and Ethiopian JEWS as 2nd-class citizens (don't ask about Muslims and Christians), and that dumped blood donated by the Falashas because it wasn't considered 'pure' enough to be used to treat Ashkenaziim, and that openly and unapologetically practices housing and education discrimination--except when the TV cameras come around. In that last it does resemble its hypocritical white-supremacist 'patron', the United States. Further it is a non-theocratic yet self-proclaimed \"Jewish\" state in which full privileges are reserved exclusively for European--Ashkenazi--Jews; and concerning the Arabs it treads on, it is no more and no less than an APARTHEID state so oppressive and tyrannical that Bishop Desmond Tutu and the late Nelson Mandela both said it was worse than the apartheid they themselves endured. Khalas.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "This is ridiculous, hiding Hilary behind her sex. I will attack anyone who has done what Trump did (which I didn't need to because he got chewed out earlier), and I will attack Hillary for what she has done. I don't care if they are a girl, Muslim, black, Christian, Mexican, gay, or anything in-between; I will never withhold criticism of actions. I was pointing out the hypocrisy of the statement Trump is bad role model so we should elect Hilary. I believe Hillary is worse, you can disagree and that's ok. But both are terrible role models, and her being a woman doesn't change that.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\u201cFor all his complaints about clericalism, there has been no change in the core concepts that produce and encourage clericalism. Hence the failure to promote justice for abuse victims\u201d\n\nI have an article on http://www.v2catholic.com/background/2015/08/2015-08-15the-web-of-clericalism.htm\n\nThat deals with the culture of clericalism that spider that has caught so many in its web of deceit and arrogance it also deals with the abuse crisis within the Church\nPerhaps you may consider read it.\nkevin your brother\nIn Christ", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is just a sickening spectacle. Ignorant Christian Extremists who believe that a mentally ill man who in no way represents the teachings of Christ is on their side. I suppose if you're ignorant enough to fall for religions extremism, you're ignorant enough to fall for a con man as a president.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You can't be a Christian and a racist or white supremacist. Period! Full stop! But you can be a child of darkness determined to preach hatred and use violence as a means to political ends, and then you can call yourself a Christian in a pitiful attempt to portray your hate as having some basis beyond your own failure to recognise that racism is one of the hallmarks of a movement directed by Satan.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We have already adopted most of the things Luther advocated. What language do you read your Bible in?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If I call you a liar, then it is because you lied. As I said, I have one and only one criterion for saying that someone is a liar: Has that person lied?\n\nYou said that the magisterium never changed a teaching. This is a lie. I gave you the specific example of Pius IX saying that freedom of religion was an insanity, while Vatican II said it was a basic right of all people -- you lied when you said that these statements did not contradict each other.\n\nI called you unchristian when you condemned that official of the Knights of Malta to hell for working to distribute condoms to sex slaves to prevent them getting sexually transmitted diseases. (And you lied when you say that you have not said that anyone was going to hell.) The unloving, unmerciful and unjust God you have created in your own image and likeness might condemn such a man to hell, the God that actual Christians worship would not. I am not \"casting aspersions on your character\", I and describing your lack of Christian love.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Mr. Minnery is either evil incarnate, a narcissist or just plain bad to want to poke into people's bathrooms. Who cares? He is under a great misconception that transgender people, gay people, purple people or striped people who don't look or think like him are bad. I have never heard of a gay pedophile, but I have seen and heard of lots of so called Christian pastors or other people who molest children. He should be ashamed of himself...", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "She has nothing to apologize for. I, for one, am grateful for a light being shined. At least half the country is alarmed with the left's tolerance of individuals who's purpose is to destroy democracy. \n\nMaybe, if the left leaning ADN would stop printing yellow journalism stories against the right, and started printing stories with both perspectives side by side, than a dialogue could begin to take place.\n\nHe is a member of the NAACP, a racist organization. He quotes the Southern Poverty Law Group, which is a left leaning hate group that attacks Christian based organizations and labels them as hate groups. Their website lists the YMCA as a hate group. Really? Christian churches in the South are listed as hate groups that oppose gay marraige.\n\nI applaud Ms. Demoski for being a responsible politician. It's important to be aware that this individual, with radical ties to a hate groups such as the Southern Poverty Law Group, is attempting to \"join\" our government. TY Amy!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The baker makes custom cakes. He refused to make any custom cake for this couple solely because they were gay.\nThat is discrimination.\nAre you also okay with bakers refusing to bake cakes for Christian couples or for disabled couples? And, if so, were you libertarian before or after gay people were included in civil rights laws?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Yes! God yes! Someone finally called out those damn evangelicals! I hate how they are always running around trying to help the poor, when we KNOW that is the government's job. LOL", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Doesn't matter, Trump and his Christian Terrorist will be happy being reunited in Heaven when the world ends...That's why they're willing to take us out and the world...Sad, not to different from those Muslim Terrorist they're afraid of...#MAGA", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "What a silly and short sighted post.\n\nGod is genderless. It's our own inability to understand His Fatherhood that makes us think in the little categories you think the Church teaches in.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "i know cayjaybird, you'd rather have a p**** grabber, who is vindictive, a racist, a thin skinned,, untrustworthy liar. You are so forgiving, an evangelical perhaps? lol", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "NUKE the Rothschild-Bauer FORCED occupation of Israel. Talmudic infant killing blood drinking Jews created the Democrat, Socialist, Communist, and Liberal all to destabilise nations. Now we have Jew funded factions like Antifa'g popping up all over America. The Jews primary enemy has become the Moslem! Jews demoralised America over the last 100 years with Satanic Qabalist Hollywood. They RAPE our children. Their music \"industry\" screams modern slavery. Besides this TRUTH.... Why fight JEW Battles? Whites and Blacks usually get along... The Crypto-Jews ran the transatlantic slave trade. So why are White non-slave owner Americans in 2017 under attack? One answer.... Devious Evil JEWS.\n\nDon't be fooled.... I am a Jewish anti-semite. I like being an anti-semite. When you study Jewish history for 47 years like I have you KNOW damn well who the enemy of humanity is. I am Judeo-Christian. I am on the right side. All blessings be to Jesus Christ and G\ud83d\udd4dd!! #AmericaFirst #SimonOfTrentsRevenge", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When did the Church start advocating groping unwilling women? Or greed? How about making fun of the handicapped? \n\nI don't care that he isn't Catholic. I do care that he is a contemptible human being and a moral trainwreck.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No - you are NOT right. Debate about abortion is fine when it is rational and compassionate. Under those terms solutions may actually be found. Our societal problems do need to be addressed and discussed, but what you and other \"holier than thou\" one-issue obsessed Catholics do concerning abortion is not argument- it is bullying and demonizing the pathetic women who find themselves in a crisis situation. It's not Christian behavior towards those we need to have compassion for. There is no \"pro-abortion\" stance. No woman could possibly want to have an abortion! As soon as your nasty inflammatory language comes out - you lose any pretense of rational debate. You just end up looking like sadistic, sexist, insecure, schoolyard bullies.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "....if only they could, but why would they when welfare (aka dumb canuck christians paying their $$!)", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"I had relatives killed by fellow Christians in Ireland during 'the Troubles\"\"\n\nLiar.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Ummm, your Christianity has a bloody history as well. Any fear-based group is capable of violence -- be it by strapping a bomb to yourself or by voting for someone to do your bombing for you.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Being carried on the back of an elephant or turtle, or made out of nothing in 7 days does not seem to be a viable explanation. Keep trying. Once Religious Victims admit that the history of the world spans Geologic time and that life has evolved they are on the path to knowledge. Creationists are simply pathetic and must be respected or taken seriously. Modern Geology was the beginning of the end for Christianity and related brands of superstition.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "This is a day of miracles. For the first time, I agree with you about something. Aside from being a total sleaze bag and hypocrite, Joel Osteen is a faux Christian. He disgusts me.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I laugh when the ignorant tell me: \"America is a Christian nation.\" Not just because Hebrews 11:13-16 KJV plainly states all Christians confess plainly they have no nationality, but also because the 1st amendment legalized devil worship. I have the right to worship your Satan.\n PC liberals are the 21st century version of the 16th century Puritan. They want to burn witches. Anyone who disagrees with them is a witch.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Good, will skip this trash. \n\nChristians need to raise their standards.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The KKK members have long been \"equal opportunity\" bigots......Catholics....Jews...Blacks.... \"let's hate them all!\"", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "That is how early Christians destroyed the ancient Roman civilization,: by smashing one statue at a time.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "John, basically your claim is that Catholics are homophobic, that orthodox Jews are homophobic, and that Muslims are homophobic.\n\nThat seems to support a couple of conclusions: you're intolerant, you're a heterophobe.\n\nIf the shoe fits, wear it.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "While I hope the bishop rests in peace, what in the world is a catholic bishop doing in smuggling arms?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That any Catholic, Christian, or American would consider voting for a racist demagogue like Trump is shameful.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Thanks Barack Obama for strengthening the Muslim Brotherhood, your favourites, in Egypt. More Christian deaths are the result. Go away already, you creep.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\" ... and that he (Castro) permitted the practice of religion.\"\n\nProbably because less than 10% of the population were Catholic or religious when his \"proletariat dictatorship\" began. Christianity wasn't a threat - and still isn't.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "52 percent of registered white Catholics are voting for Donald Trump? That is a disgrace.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Bannon is a Catholic who believes the West is engaged in a clash of civilizations with Islam that will determine the very survival of Western Christian culture. Why wouldn't he care who's pope? Especially since Francis is Muslim-friendly.\n\nThe Catholic far right also seems to have developed an appreciation for Vladimir Putin as a defender of white Christianity. (I base this on scattered impressions from inadvertent encounters with the Catholic fringe and the occasional news piece.) As we know the Bannon-Trump admin is quite fond of Vlad.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A failure to understand our fundamental freedom of speech and expression. I send a middle digit to these so-called christians as my expression of disgust.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Still ignorant Qbcoach15 must be all those Traumatic Brain Injuries.\n\nMuslim Culture (do not prove your ignorance by saying \"Religion\") is a Culture of War. \n\nMohammad unified the Waring Tribes that were killing themselves, into Large Armies, his Armies were conquering \"the Known World\". His large Armies had a Severe Logistics Problem, Mohammad then wrote the Holy Koran making it Law for All Nations to provide Food, Clothing, Support, Money to the Armies, and that All Must Join the Jihad without any excuses.\n\n109 Suras of the 114 Suras of the Holy Koran are the Declared War Against Christians, Jews, Unbelievers. The 5 Suras state that Peace will be achieved when all Christians, Jews, Unbelievers are Subjugated to Islam.\n\nThe Holy Celebration of Ramadan is the Muslim Celebration of the Defeats and Massacres of the Christians, Jews, Unbelievers. Ramadan Fasting represents the Muslims getting up before dawn eating and drinking then going into Combat without food and water.\n\ncontinued", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Wouldn't the world be great if we had no religion at all? Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, etc--all a collection of stupid superstitions and archaic customs and traditions that divide people and by the very fact of the division causes suspicion, superiority, hatred and violence. Maybe we needed religion when people couldn't understand what was in dark corners and relied on others to allay their fears, but it no longer serves any useful purpose.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Rubbish.\nMany of us fought long and hard to have Christianity thrown out of our schools.\nI was punished repeatedly for refusing to say the Lord's Prayer when I was a schoolboy.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The gun didn't choose to massacre a church full of Christians. A maggot chose to do that, whose mind was filled with hate, perhaps by swimming in a cultural sewer created by the left over the past several decades. The interesting angle, which you're ignoring, is that the leftwing media will ignore or severely downplay this creep's hatred of Christians. Now, if he had attacked a mosque, that would be an entirely different story, wouldn't it? Or if he had yelled \"Allawah Akbar.\" C'mon, be honest.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "So you dont think the Vikings, Celtics, Picts, Irish Christians, Early Russians or Goths had civilizations or cultures of value ? You f***ing racist.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "What exactly is missing in Pope F. and all these Vatican prelates\u2019 brains?\nThey seem to missing one bit of inclination to be truthful.\nWhat are we going to do with these sick soulless jumbees?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thousands of years ago, men who wrote the Bible warned of people like you that would eventually claim bad to be good, right to be wrong, and who would denounce Jesus Christ. Sucks to be you.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "What about all those Catholics who do not believe that women should be allowed to become priests, oppose gay marriage and a woman's right to choose when it comes to abortion? All of those beliefs are not in keeping with Canadian values. I bet the author of this simplistic article would never dare to oppose immigration to Canada by Catholics. His is a cowardly, racist argument.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Your a wimp \nGrow a spine All muslims come from a religion with bad start \nGet realistic about Islamic terrorist and understand that the leader of Islam is the descendent of an Egyptian slave and banished by Abraham \nMohammad committed a violent action on average every 6 week for the last 8 years of life\nWonderful\nI'll take Jesus anytime", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Because of idiots like him the number of Catholics who attend church on Sunday drops off. I say we support the Catholic Church on Sunday with black buttons in the collection basket till this crap stops. Doesn't Catholic Charities accept enough federal money taking in all those illegals?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Please stop beeing arrogant. At least in his homecountry it works better than the catholic colleagues with their mysogyny, their problems with sexuality and their sexual abuse cases...", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "This is partly why we are losing faith with our politicians and elites in the Western world.\n\nThe choice was between secular Assad or islamists linked to Al Qaida-Muslm Brotherhood or ISIS !\n\nAt least, Assad ( an Alawite) is protecting the Christians while they are being murdered. butchered or converted by Islamists. Moderate islamists is a lie or just naive useful idiots belief...\n\nOur elites and the G&M don't give a damn about it. This religious war was started and ignited by Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey ( all sunni states). A pipeline from Qatar to Turkey through Syria might be the main reason behind this civil war...but you won't read it in the mainstream media.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "She's a cheat \nShe's anti catholic \nShe threatens her husband sexual accusers \nShe sold state department \nShe pro partial birth abortion \nGo to confession soon", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "If what you say is true, it's pretty pathetic that the millenials main understanding about the Catholic church is its teachings on sexuality. And ironic that the only ones talking about the Church's teachings on sexuality are secular homosexuals and feminists in the media, not the Church.\n\nMeanwhile, countless young women are being pressured into being sexual objects by a culture that equates recreational sex with freedom and equality. And the guys LOVE it: No more having to take a girl out to dinner a few times to get into her pants!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Anti-Catholicism has long been the accepted bigotry of those who consider themselves the elite. Pathetic that Feinstein and Durban couldn't read and understand the article at issue.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1.)\n<>\n\nYou don\u2019t seem to be reading or writing in good faith. I did say that by your logic the bishops ought to disqualify Trump on the basis of the fact that he is a racist and a fascist (and I could have added his advocacy of torture); but I added, \u201cI don\u2019t think the bishops should engage in partisan politics.\u201d And I emphatically don\u2019t think they should.\n\n<>\n\nOf course, Trump is a racist; of course, he\u2019s a fascist. People are voting for him either precisely because he is a racist and a fascist, or in spite of that fact--a distinction, when all is said and done, without a difference. (continued in replies to this message)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Very telling that you were not concerned about not being a catholic. You could care less about that. I suspect it means absolutely nothing to you. From what I have seen of your posts, you can best be described as a feminist who takes a passing interest in the idea of Jesus Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Just be ignorant there Deadsmoke907. \n\nObama has been trying to get Syrian terrorists in this country for several years. \n\nIt wasn't Christians that shot up San Bernadino either. It wasn't Christians that hijacked four airplanes and flew them into buildings 15 years ago. It wasn't Christians that set off a bomb in the world trade center in 1994.\n\nNow not all of those happened on Obama's watch, but his hasn't done anything buy guarantee the next event in the future both through his immigration policies that allow those followers of the child molester Muhammad into the US and allow their groups like ISIS to fester and grow overseas. That is his legacy.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "John, basically your claim is that Catholics are homophobic, that orthodox Jews are homophobic, and that Muslims are homophobic.\n\nThat seems to support a couple of conclusions: you're intolerant, you're a heterophobe.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Imagine using the adjective \"toxic\" in front on any other cultural group. You wouldn't get away with it! Toxic Islam; Toxic Jews; Toxic Christians; Toxic Homosexuals; Toxic Feminists; Toxic Chinese... and on and on.\n\nI suggest that there is no good reason that you should get away with saying Toxic Masculinity! It's as inappropriate as all of those other categories listed above!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, larry, if you re-read your comment, you pretty much said that the reason millenials don't go to Church is because they think that the Church teaches that sex is bad and millenials think sex is good. Mind you, I don't disagree with that all that much. \n\nMy point is that the Church does NOT teach that sex is \"bad.\" It is those who hate the Church that report that the Church teaches that sex is bad. So the reason that millenials don't got to Church is because some non-Church secular entity told them something that is not true. Pathetic.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Anyone voting for this bill has no sense of decency. Jesus Christ, think about what you are doing vs. just fulfilling a lame 'political promise'! How can you live with yourself. This is not just about giving tax breaks to the rich, that's bad enough, this bill will truly KILL people. Disgusting.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Pandora is a Catholic. She supports her Church's teachings. Your position is that a Catholic who follows and agrees with her or his Church's teaching is a homophobe.\n\nThat seems to support the conclusion that you're an anti-Catholic, and a bigot, rather than Pandora being the bigot.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I see the psycho cat hating muslim is still trying to make every story about Amy. \nyou always manage to weave you're hatred for Caucasians, Jews and Christians into you're fanatic diatribes. The fact that you work for the federal government should be a concern for everyone. jones is not the story here. get over it. aloha snackbar.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "'Islamic' terrorists, 'rght wing' 'Christians', atheistic killers, anti-abortionists, the Dallas police assassin; other than the truly mentally ill (Sandy Hook), the only commonality I see is that they all are in truth and in fact 'losers' and perceive themselves in that way. \n\nThey are trying to achieve something based on how the media will portray them after they are dead.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Nobody is refusing to serve blacks, the blind, Christians, or gay people. This is what fake news is all about. The florist in this case serves gay people all the time.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "All right Sean. You said that \"that proof, if it exists, is not yet before the court. And that proof may not get there!\" If that proof is contained in the lawsuit, how am I misreading you? \n\nLet me remind you of the comments that I based my response upon:\n\n\"she is also and ipso facto a shill for the USCCB and its membership,\"\n\"She sounds a bit like a mole planted by the USCCB, which is and has been demonstrably anti-SNAP and anti-victim as well!\"\n\"In short, then, the US Catholic hierarchy is destroying our church. Chicago may become the hierarchy's Waterloo!\"\n\nAll you son. \n\nSo, by your argument, the Bishops case against SNAP is based on your commentary. Now since you and I both know that is not true, then it follows I am not arguing a case so much as asking questions about it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The REAL CATHOLICS are circling, circling, circling, hoping for a carcass.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Keep going NCR, dig the hole deeper!\nUltimately, there will be a backlash from your financial supporters.\nYou can't keep vilifying a U.S. president and the million of Catholics who voted for him in the most extreme measures there are, without some of your sponsors pulling the plug.\nDon't doubt me on this.\nSUPPORT FREE SPEECH -- I DON'T CENSOR YOU, DON'T CENSOR ME.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How many Catholic bishops will make a deal with the devil in exchange for an anti-abortion Supreme court nominee? What deal? Supporting racist and anti-Muslim policies by Trump! The Pro-life movement associated with the Susan B Anthony group have already doused themselves in the Trump Swamp. They have forever weakened and dirtied their message by glorifying the Pussy Grabber in Chief. Many people who may have been supportive of their work will turn away because of their mindless support of the GOP and a man like T rump.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "What bunch of losers and idiots! I clearly heard President Trump consistently state he does not support these racist groups or their points of view since the campaign last year. Do these people think their down right stupid and worthless statements mean anything. They are just adding to the chorus of the ANTIFA, Resistance and other sore losers that don't have a life or don't have jobs. How stupid has the Democratic Party become to fail to realize that throwing everything under the bus leaves them with no credibility? Working class Americans, blue collar workers, unionized workers, middle class workers, Christians, minorities, legal aliens, legal immigrants and the myriad others that were the base of the Democratic Party are now shunned and vilified by the elected and appointed Democratic politicians. Their shill creed is becoming the white noise on the 24/7 news cycle and quickly becoming irrelevant.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "From my first experience with the people in the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), I have been deeply impressed by the integrity of the people in the network and in other supporting groups such as BishopAccountability.org. The people that I have met have a love for the Church that they grew up with and find it hard to understand why the leaders of the Church have betrayed them. It is soul destroying to learn that popes have required secrecy and lies about clergy sexual abuse for centuries, and have deliberately ignored the command of Jesus to protect the innocence of children and vulnerable adults. Who are these leaders pretending to be good shepherds to? It is obviously to the sexual predators among them, because too many children have committed suicide when they gave up hope of their stories being believed, because of the lies, and above reproach arrogance, of the pope and bishops. At least 45 children in Cardinal Pell's hometown have killed themselves.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The one thing DEMS had in common is they didn't care THEIR candidate was a lying career criminal with obligations to countries that murder gays and Christians AND treat their women worse than their dogs... Guess that tells us a LOT about the LEFT and THEIR lack of values.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"As a sign of diversity, I would like to see those of various religious faiths (and the faithless) be intermingled in their burials.\"\n\nThat might be what YOU would like. And perhaps in a perfect world Catholics (say) wouldn't mind being buried beside a Satan worshiper. However, in the world we inhabit people place considerable importance in their religious beliefs, the afterlife and their final resting places. And if those matter to them, why should they be prevented from being buried in the manner of their choosing? \n\nI can think of one reason: if the cemetery is publicly owned. In that case everyone who's buried there must accept non-discriminatory rules. A Catholic may indeed be buried next to a Satan worshiper. However if the cemetery is owned privately, as are most church burial grounds, then different rules may apply.\n\nIf you want to be egalitarian in your choice of a grave, get buried in a public cemetery. But it's reasonable for people to have other options as well.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Naive fools or strategic globalists with an agenda to destroy white culture and Christianity and who refuse to acknowledge that radical Islam is growing in my country \n\nDo not belong in my Canada", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Utter NONSENSE. Why isn't Trudeau forced to denounce the FLQ, the guy that murdered all those women engineers, the guy that murdered Muslims in the mosque??? They were WHITE CHRISTIAN MALES... \n\nYou are just a racist with nothing else to show for yourself. SHAME ON YOU spreading such FILTH.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "So a few radical Islamic terrorist are cutting off heads of Christians, and NEVER do they do that to Muslims? Whats this \"we\" when you refer to Christians? Because if you think you are a Christian, you are wrong. oh, and since I don't believe in any of that garbage, yes, I will judge you.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "... these are today's modern day super fakey 'christians' ... voted Cheetolini IN all one needs to know. MORALLY BANKRUPT AND CORRUPT!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When Harry goes to church he sits in his pew and points out to himself that liberal is a liar, that one is a racist and says amen when the pastor says a prayer to love thy neighbor. \n.\nHave a wonderful Christian life Harry.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "That is also a statement that CI (Catholic Institution) exist for the their luxurious life styles and protection from punishments for any wrong doing as extreme as sexually raping children!!!\nThere should be a way to impeach CI clergies/prelates, pope! Catholic churches belong to all Catholics not belong to CI clergies/prelates, pope!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Over and over in the Muslim bible it tells them to kill all people who will not convert. This is not islamophobia people. This is the right to life! I have a right to live knowing if one of their people will kill me as I am a Christian. A Muslim student in the school I work at was screaming \"I'll kill all Christian 's\". So tell us again why we shouldn't be afraid??? Please? Tell me???", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"We bishops have heard a great deal about the sorrow and pain....\" \n\nI wonder if the dear bishops have ever heard about the complicity of the militant, conservative laity in marginalizing those who courageously continue to tell their own stories of sexual abuse as well as to be advocates for the abused. The social dynamics of the average Catholic parish \"happy family\" lend themselves to re crucifying Christ by treating former victims as anathema, watch dogging and containing them so as to keep them from \"contaminating\" other parishioners. This has happened to me more than once. May I urge those of you who, like myself, have experienced this type of persecution to stay the course and, like the victims of the Holocaust, continue to tell your stories especially in your parishes. To what end? In the eternal hope that this hideous evil in our midst may NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The fact that Catholics are a majority at the moment seems irrelevant to that core issue.\"\n\nQuite true (your post observation). But also keep in mind Catholics are NOT a \"majority\" in the US any more than Germany is a \"majority\" in the EU. We are a minority with the largest number of affluent adherents -- of any other religious group -- in the US. But that does not mean that we (75 million) are a majority in a country of 325 million!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Socialists, communists, and anarchists, people who believe different races can marry, Catholics!, people who serve in the military for citizenship, dog lovers!, cat lovers!, people who zip up their pants!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dick, you're being deliberately obtuse. Christians = Muslims. Same control over women.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Were I a Catholic, I would worry more about someone going from mouth to mouth and sticking their fingers inside. How disgusting.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "So far the only person who seems to be able to rid the Catholic Church of these filthy rapists is Mother Nature. Sometimes death is such a wonderful tool.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "So, only YOUR way is the right way? So by accident of birth had you been born in say India, you are automatically going to go to hell? Because in India the faith is Hindu correct? So by just chance, just because you happen to be born in the US which is predominantly Christian, you get to go to heaven?\n\n Doesn't that sound just a little bit like full retard to you??", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "That was exactly what the Australian bishops were talking to the sex abuse victims that RCI (Roman Catholic Institution) is shutting their mouth and will wait 50 years or so until all the outraged Catholics die and they can start over like nothing happened and sex abuse children fresh!\nLOLOLOLOLOLOL! :-( :-( ;-(", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Sorry, you are NOT an \"orthodox believer,\" and you are NOT a reliable source of Catholic dogma or doctrine. There is NO need for you to repeat Catholic teachings here. Enough of your bootless lectures on Faith and Morals, we do NOT need another Cardinal Ray Burke from the ultra-right wing of the Catholic bird to tell us what must be corrected in our Catholic Faith! Your sole purpose in coming aboard here is TO DISRUPT! Even \"Fr.Z.\" won't have that!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Liberalism is a cancer and that cancer must be excised from the Catholic Church.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You can't make it about Trump without making it about Hillary. If you bash Trump as an \"idiot,\" etc., then you are saying Catholics ought to have voted for an abortion fanatic who was going to persecute Christians every which way imaginable. I.e., the \"Catholic\" Left is pro-abortion.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Local troll GBA has submitted acidic letters to the editor for decades as an admitted racist, misogynist, xenophobe, fast food handler, tax preparation insider, and established authority on quasi delusional, and self serving Christian behaviors. Did I leave anything out?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You can't be a Christian and a Republican. To believe you can is utterly blind.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "These Antifa hooligans are worse than nazis. I even did an interview with two of these thugs in Chicago. They are violent terrorists and revolutionaries who want to destroy America. http://mainestategop.blogspot.com/2016/09/coffee-with-communists.html They are pure evil. \nGOALS OF ANTIFA\n1. Demise of The United States sovereignty\n2. Demise of capitalism\n3. Demise of the bill of rights and the US constitution\n4. The destruction of all whites through violence, forced sterilization or interacial marriage\n5. the abolitiion of banks property rights\n6. One world government\n7. Demise of morals, religion, Christianity in particular and human freedoms\n8. Complete domination by the state of personal life, economics and education\n9. Abortion, homosexuality an absolute right on demand\n\nJust to name a few", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I'm not misrepresenting it. Yes, it's a symbol of heritage. It's also a religious symbol. You don't believe me? Just ask non-French Quebeckers (like immigrants).\n\nIt's like Christmas. It's become a societal holiday that many people celebrate. But it's also a Christian holiday, which is why many non-Christians don't celebrate it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Got you. If he's white and/or Christian he's just a disturbed individual who went off the rails. If he's Muslim he's a terrorist.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "This guy is a lunatic. Progressives have infiltrated the Catholic Church and need to be purged as they are a cancer. Bearing false witness is a sin, Padre and let he who has no sin cast the first stone, Padre...he reminds me of the Priest in Dirty Harry realizing how wrong he was after it was too late...Bishop McElroy, your willful mischaracterization of everything is shameful. Hating your neighbors (which all progressives do) is a sin. This nut job is an example of what is killing the Catholic Church...get the progressives out of here...stop promoting violence...and lawlessness...and riots...and hate...", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Yes! I, a deplorable, basement-dwelling, bucket of idiot, b@st@rdized Catholic, needy Latino, everyday American Black super predator, Muslim ne\u2019er-do-well sand Negro, shall vote for Clinton. She shall unite us all \u2014 just like she promised at the convention!\nI know that the Russians are trying to rig our elections by telling everyone how we tried to rig our elections.\nIt does not matter that Bill turned the White House into a brothel, lied to Congress, and was disbarred for perjury, then had to make a nearly $1,000,000 settlement. Bill is not running for president; his enabler is.\nThere is no story here!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The biggest mass murderers of history were Christians who killed six million Jews. We also had Christians who killed tens of thousands of Muslims in Bosnia. Are we now to stereotype all Christians on that basis? The purveyors of anti-Muslim hate are insidious disgusting propagandists.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "a Catholic style big mouth that can only add personal attacks!\n\nhang a gun free sign on your home....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, all religions don't practice slavery. Buddhism doesn't. Taoism doesn't. Hinduism doesn't. Americans need to realize there's a huge world out there, and it doesn't revolve solely around America.\n\nThe garbage middle east religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) are the ones that condone slavery, condemn sex, and have violent gods. Not everyone practice that garbage.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Catholic hospitals ship body parts from miscarriages as well. Quit listeing to fascists at Breitbart.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why are you being such a Christian phobe racist and bigot?\nCanada already has enough superstitious fundamentalist teachers indoctrinating kids about religion and Stone Age thinking: just go to your nearest Canadian Muslim school or Canadian public school whose kids learn about Sharia law and readings from Islamist superstitious books", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Who are you to question whether someone is Catholic? Your slanderous rant is highly uncivil, and not in the least bit \"Catholic\". Check out that commandment about not bearing false witness! \n\nHRC is an honorable public servant who follows the Methodist creed: to do all the good you can, for as long as you can to all that you can. I think Jesus would approve.\n\nLay off the sexist EWTN Kool-Aid! FYI bragging about sexual assault is NOT \"stupid local room talk\" - it IS evil criminal behavior. Get real.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Catholic priest put an aborted fetus on the altar in an appeal for Donald Trump.\n\nThat is beyond the pale! To bottle an aborted fetus and place that on the altar to persuade worshippers to vote for Trump is beyond the pale of decency and respect, not only for the Catholic people present, but also for the aborted child. What a sick priest!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I am an atheist and a historian, and yes our laws are based on Judeo-Christian values. And whoever the guy was that thought they were based on Shria... well that guy is a nut.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Not at all impossible. \nWhat is impossible is what the church has done with Fatima. The church, in it's extremism has USED the good of Fatima to wage endless hate and war on EVERYONE!!! \nThat is the problem and the end result of that approach is to alienate a great number of us who believe that the BVM, the mother of the prince of PAECE - that's PEACE!!! NOT war-death-kill and near total destruction of huge parts of this world. They who do these things are not done yet, there is more coming,. The hate never seems to end. \nThe hate exploded under Pope John Paul II and consumed many in the lation nations. Now it has taken over the USA ever since JPII got elected pope. \nTruly, there are those who believe that the church is following the laws of God and the teachings of Christ when it kills - destroys and all for God. \nWhat does the phrase the prince mean. What does: shalt not bear false witness, not covet thy neighbors goods mean, not covet thy neighbors goods mean, not kill. NOT even OIL", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are still saying that two deaths are better than one. Which is \"pro-death\", not \"pro-life\". \n\nYou claim I am not a proper Catholic, which shows your innate arrogance.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "OK, so-called Last Patriot, what about Catholic priests that hide behind their collar as they're raping children and they just get moved from parish to parish. Isn't this the height of hypocrisy? And what about the Catholic gay or lesbian church member. Don't they have rights too? This issue will wind back up in the US Supreme Court where it needs to be.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Sorry Alexandea, any group that denies science and wants to trample over the constitution's freedom of religion- for all religions- is wrong. There are many beliefs in evangelicals \"faith\" as well as Catholics \"faith\" that are plain stupid!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You mean Islam? There, I named it. While I'm at it I'll mention Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Shintoism as well. Is something bad supposed to happen now? LOL", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dear Joan Chittister, \n I can not fathom how a Catholic or one who professes to believe in a loving God would EVER praise Clinton who heartily believes in sticking a scalpel into a baby's neck just as it is ready to be born...your politics DISGUST me...Clinton also stood by while her husband's mistress of the week performed Fellatio in the revered Whitehouse...not to mention the 30 -40 people the Clintons had mysteriously die or disappear...not to mention how she left our servicemen to die in a foreign land...or how she and her husband have been tied to human trafficking as it is a very prosperous trade...YES,you are ignorant and I am sorry for you...Hell awaits....Virginia Kellenberger", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "PERSECUTE A CHRISTIAN DAY IS MAY 1,2016.....LETS HIT THEM IN THEIR POCKETBOOK", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh no!!! The Islamic terrorists did not win.\n \n\n- A new Islamic Republic shall not be born in Syria.\n- Sharia law shall not be installed in Syria.\n- Woman will still be free to live their lives they way they wish.\n- Christian minorities shall not be murdered by Islamic fanatics.\n\n\nAnd you dare call this a \"meltdown for humanity\"!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your ignorant and borderline bigoted blast at Catholics is EXACTLY why the Founders' decision to make America secular was the correct one. It's almost as if they had lived in a time when a ruinous war launched by Protestants against Catholics in the U.K. left tens of thousands needlessly dead on both sides.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You also have a fake name. Very christian of you of course. Why not just get a white sheet on and a white pillow case with eye holes cut out.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Is that the test? The impact on \"most Catholics\"? Or is the proper question: \"Does the document present the Church's perennial teaching in a clear and unambiguous manner\"? That the faithful are so poorly catechized in the post Vatican II era, and therefore fail to see its defeciencies, has less than nothing to do with AL's heterodoxy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Roman church is toast.\n\nThe writing is on the wall.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I am having great difficulty understanding the critics of Pope Francis and the reasons for their criticism. I love Pope Francis and I see him as a beacon of hope and light and a breath of fresh air. He makes me excited to be Catholic. I cannot fathom how this cannot be so for others? What are they thinking? Are they not saying by their criticisms that the Magesterium made a mistake in choosing Pope Francis? I certainly do not believe that to be the case.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your racist bigotry against all religions except christian and all government except pure conservative Republican no matter the topic spews forth again. Obama is to blame for everything being a black man daring to hold the highest office in the land. If only more Bush, Trump, Cruz, ad nauseum were in charge, the nation would be just hunky dory. Stupid.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You'd \"like to trust\" that people aren't scared, stupid, and fearful. \n\nI, however, would also like to trust that, but I know better. Given the opportunity, evangelicals WILL impose their misguided and fearful beliefs on anyone they can.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Why, then, did you kick off this interminable sub-thread challenging my conviction that in the Catholic Church a fetus has more value than a woman? A waste of time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Westboro Baptist Church members - they show nothing but arrogent disrespect for others, blind hatred, and ignorance only masks their own fear. Jesus would weep.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Nothing was more important to Jesus Christ than treating disfavored minorities like s**t.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Between the porn industry and gratuitous, lighthearted sex scenes between unmarried partners, you'd think that there wasn't an STI epidemic. For example, 80 percent of all people under 50 years of age will have a strain of the cancer-causing hpv virus at some point in their lives. Cervical cancer is almost exclusively caused by HPV and it is the 2nd leading cancer in women. Worldwide, cervical cancer kills over 250,000 women every year.\n\nAnd all that cutting-edge homosexual sodomy in TV and the movies? Look up the HIV/AIDS epidemic.\n\nOh, those backward Catholics.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "... Cheetolini supporters are wonderful, I love how you remove ANY DOUBT what complete racist homophobic xenophobic morons you ALL are ... yet ... consider yourselves Christians. 80% of Cheetolini supporters consider themselves Christians. 'christians' is the reality ... super fakey, horrible human beings. Waste of human flesh. When you die the earth becomes a better place.\n\nJesus was a person of color. Suck on it.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "the trouble with preachers is that all eventually begin to think they speak for god.. or like the pope.. are jesus's replacement... vicor to god.. what ever the hell that means... but prevert.. he thinks he is god...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Only the light of Christ can quench the torches of hatred and violence. Let us pray for peace,\" said Bishop DiLorenzo in his statement. \"I pray that those men and women on both sides can talk and seek solutions to their differences respectfully.\"\n\nDiLorenzo goes the Trump route and blames everyone. What a profile in cowardice!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "No, republicans are far more likely to cheat, lie and persecute others who aren't white Christian heterosexuals. \nRepublicans through years of lies are turning this country into a fascist theocracy.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Class act ??? Kidding right\nPro abortion \nPro partial birth abortion\nPro debt\nPro sympathy to Muslim \n Terrorist \nAnti Christian \nAnti catholic \nAnti little sisters of the \n Poor \nAnti tradition marriage \nGet a clue\nGo to confession", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is somewhat misleading. The issue was that abortion, or helping to procure one (yes, men can be held accountable for this to) incurred an automatic excommunication because the sin was so serious. Excommunication can usually only be lifted by the bishop, although most bishops had allowed priests to lift the excommunication due to the prevalence of abortion. The priest always had the power to forgive the sin, what some did not have (although most did) was the power to lift the excommunication. For this the sinners had to appeal to the bishop in confession and they could still be forgiven.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I believe Andrew from Toronto has a good point, though I'd suggest staying away from the verb \"intermingle.\" Whatever distance you have in mind, that verb probably gets a little too close for most people.\n\nMy main comment for this story comes from those words \"Saint-Apollinaire is overwhelmingly white, francophone and Catholic.\" About 90 years ago in Western Canada, which had been white, anglophone, and Protestant, was doing such things as this to Catholics and non-British immigrants, with the help of the Ku Klux Klan. We have to acknowledge our fears, especially the ones that are phobias. Fear kills people.\n\nBut it would be interesting, wouldn't it, to see a municipal authority in this land say that religion ends at death, and so it is illegal to to turn away anyone from a cemetery if they can afford a spot there?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "... if super fakey sexist racist bigot 'christians' had their way all those they condemn would be outlawed n burned at the stake ... like the good ol' days.\n\nYou guys have lost your grasp on MOST seats of power and ability to do serious harm ... but you are TRYING to keep the old days going w the likes of Cheetolini. \n\nI'll celebrate when your ilk all die.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Are you serious? White Catholics put him in office. Racism, sexism, homophobia and all manner of greed and hate, were the motives for those who threw their lot with the Donald.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "RD wants \"faithful Christians\" to act like jerks as ways of showing their fear and loathing of gays.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, but Catholic don't impose their crazy beliefs on others. Muslim extremists do. Charlie Hebdo, for example.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The devils advocate? But what of your Christianity?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ariel,\n\nI respect and take interest in the fact that you claim that science had no bearing on your determination that God/gods doesn't don't exist, though it's impossible for us not to consider the fact that atheism is in the very zeitgeist of our age and played a role in our social constructions. I also agree that the word \"rationality\" takes on different meanings over the ages, and yes, their were atheists before the scientific revolution. But again, in the spirit of our age, it is hard to refute that rationality is based upon \"facts\", and those facts, in the modern age, have tended to fit within the scientific understanding of the term, even in the social sciences. It is hard to deny though, that their do seem to be two forms of atheist, ones who claim science as proof of atheism, and others who do not. But their are many Christian faiths too and we are speaking generally here. Generally speaking, modern atheists, as a group tend to claim science supports their views. Maybe not you", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is far from being a \"gratuitous smear\". Trump's angry, racist remarks about Mexicans and Muslims have emboldened the alt-right and other white supremacist groups who now feel it's acceptable to attack anyone who doesn't meet their white, Christian American standards.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Islam is at it's very core incompatible with our culture which is also traditionally Christian (which the muslims oppose). the shit will hit the fan at some point. I see all this as the beginning of great pains for Canada.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "What a hateful, judgemental rant.\n\nAnd you loudly profess what a good Christian you are too. \n\nGood thing God is the judge right?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The religious nutjobs and greedy pigs in the party want to increase immigration, keep pushing it all in the face of how destructive it has become to our quality of life. Insanity.\nThat is what this is about, not white supremacy which is not a problem here, but putting foreigners first, that is what is going on - missionary christians and greedy corporate profiteers. Not a recipe for social cohesion at all.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Boo hoo. Cry me a river. For every 'anti-Christian' comment there are ten anti-Muslim ones.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You know, rogue, you make Catholicism utterly unappealing. And appalling.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "There is no place for religious accommodation in my Canada. Religions of every kind are a cancer on the human race that breed intolerance, contempt and ultimately violence by those who simply take their fairy-tales way too seriously. I don't care if you're Muslim, Christian, Jewish or Rastafarian; it's all nonsense.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Er. Gods control everything is anamolous? Wow. All those years of christian education down the tubes, and me, a village idiot all these years, wandering about in the forest, bumping into trees....", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "If western European Christians defended their Jewish citizens, the latter would not need to flee.\n\nThe fact they must flee means that European Christian are stagnant pond scum..............", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I would suggest that REAL Libertarians, and anarchists too, would run these \"foul mouthed Christians\" right out of our town. Those folks from Texas and their friends prove how much religion sucks. Dogma and belief clouds the compassion they are supposed to have for other humans. They are an example of how some have screwed up the world. Power to the people!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "That's pretty presumptive and not very Christian of you, you hater.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Patrick J. Luby. Hummm, maybe Trump mentioned Islamists because radical Islamists have chopped off American heads, kidnapped/raped/murdered Christians in their own countries, vowed \"Death to America,\" and on and on. Yes, some terrorists are homegrown. Yes, some go to Muslim countries to get their terrorist training. However, extreme vetting of immigrants/visitors from Islamic countries is a great start, not the complete solution. In Islamic countries governed as theocracies, there is no separation between religion and state, quite the opposite. BTW, it was Obama who devised the original list of countries, yet no one blinked at his proposal. http://www.dailywire.com/news/11410/complete-list-radical-islamic-terror-attacks-us-james-barrett", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I'll name you a hundred Muslim terrorists for one Christian terrorist and it's probably more like a thousand. by the way you sound like a teacher.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The pastor is not a Christian and an idiot to compare Hillary election loss to Jesus death and\nresurrection. Hillary is not a Christian either.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Homosexual activity has been proscribed throughout the history of Judaism and Christianity. There is no way the Church is ever going to change this so all these dissident organisations are wasting their time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Halloween is witchcraft=Satanism! BOYCOTT FOR JESUS CHRIST! Wake up Christians!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Especially keep your religion out of the halls of Congress. What in the world were Kelly and the other \"christians\" doing injecting their religious beliefs onto the floor of the state legislature? Would they have welcomed a Muslim or a Hindu or even a Jew to comment on their religious distortions on the floor of the Senate? Just do your damned jobs and get the financial mess straightened out. And Jesus ain't gonna be any help in that department either.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Amazing that being raised in a good Christian home with good Christian values - as mommy and daddy profess - resulted in a child murdering a good father and husband, leaving him to die on the road then laughing hysterically about it later. \nThose are some great morals you taught you child. Oh, and I love the victim blaming and the media blaming. Right out of the Christian Conservative playbook all the way.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The call to live with Christ-like integrity\"\nWell, why the entire Catholic Institution clergies starting with Pope F. and all his clergies except a few hide behind Vatican like 'The Tower of Babel' being silent about the clergy sex abuse of children! \nWhere are their 'Christ-like integrity'? Can any of you religious preach who keep their mouth shut at the clergy raped children's suffering, this 'Christ-like integrity'?\nEven the cats & dogs will laugh at your religious hypocrisy!!!!!!!!\n\nYou CI clergies and religious really do not believe in the LIVING God, Christ, Holy Mary, Saints & Angels to ignore the suffering clergy raped children!!! LOLOLOLOLOL!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I don't see Christians in the Islamic world, blowing themselves up, and murdering Muslims in the process.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Here are quotes of some verses from the Qu'ran, the most holy book of Islam.\nQur'an (4:89) - \"They wish that you should disbelieve as they disbelieve, and then you would be equal; therefore take not to yourselves friends of them, until they emigrate in the way of God; then, if they turn their backs, take them, and slay them wherever you find them; take not to yourselves any one of them as friend or helper.\"\nQur'an (9:30) - \"And the Jews say: Ezra is the son of Allah; and the Christians say: The Messiah is the son of Allah; these are the words of their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved before; may Allah destroy them; how they are turned away!\u201d\nThere are about 100 verses like that in the Qu'ran.\nAll Muslims are supposed to follow Islam and the verses in the Qur'an.\nIsn't that the truth and not a false perception?\nAre there verses in the Qur'an Muslims don't have to or don't need to follow?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Trump administration is also looking to deeply cut National Science Foundation research grants. Those grants go for basic research into fundamentals of mathematics, physics and the natural sciences, and are the major source of such grants, since the results of basic research aren't immediately profitable, thus little to no private funding. You ought to know this, since presumably you got your foundational science knowledge from professors who received NSF grants for basic research. Are you contemptuous of basic research? That would fit you in with 95% of Republicans, Trump and the Bushes, and 99% of evangelical Christians. Also, you fit in with almost all the ignorant people posting here. The annual budget for this crucial research needed to keep pace with China, Russia and Europe, is 7.7 billion. A single F-35 fighter jet costs 990 billion. Science is the best defense. Trump wants to cut satellite funding needed for weather observation. Anti-science is for stupid people.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Many evangelical Christians practice law in Ontario and will continue to be admitted. This is about a law school which will have rules prohibiting legally married same-sex couples from having the most normal of human activities.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Anyone who thinks that sitting in a church will make you a christian, must also think that sitting in a garage can make you a car\"\nWalk the walk or shut up; the only thing stinkier than a thief is a proud hypocrite.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Ridiculous. The next thing you know other religions in Quebec will want their own cemeteries like Jewish and Roman Catholic faiths... oh wait.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Surely the author is a crypto-Christian. He is utterly deceptive in saying that Dawkins or Harris have said nothing good about the attributed sayings of Jesus. A cursory search on YouTube shows Harris praising the Beatitudes and Dawkins acknowledging himself a secular Anglican. The author is a misinformed atheist at best. Atheism is not a belief system (and of course not a religion); it is simply a philosophical position finding proposed evidence for gods and a supernatural world insufficient. As for Christianity, the idea behind redemption\u2014 that God sacrificed himself to himself to appease himself and thereby save humanity from himself\u2014is unworthy of anyone with more than a high school education.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic Church doesn't allow Jews in the club.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You're saying your god doesn't believe in abortion? Really? Read the old testament. He orders his minions to kill every man, woman (including pregnant ones) and child (except for the virgin girls!) so many times. He's a psycho. He made homosexuality because to christians he made us all. \nIn the new testament Jesus does not follow the old rules. Remember an eye for an eye? He changed it to turn the other cheek. Jews stoned people but Jesus didn't. He actually stopped a stoning. Telling them those without sin can continue to stone her. \nI'd suggest you read how the bible was put together and when. I did that after Prevo start thumping his bible to keep gay discrimination going. I keep meaning to thank him for helping me become an athiest.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Fake commenter.....\n\nAnd, likely, a fake Christian.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "What a hypocrite. She is just as responsible for any genocide as every non-indigenous person currently alive in Canada. She is living on 'stolen land' and enjoying the benefits of previous generations of immigrants as much as anyone else. She should move somewhere where no person has every stepped foot and live off the land.\nHer attitude is not surprising given our education system indoctrinates our youth in code that all the ails of the world are due to white Christians. A white person making similar rants about people of brown skin color would be expelled from the university to great fanfare.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "If all us Christians can love the \"pussy grabber\", you can too! Happy Mother's Day!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You are one of the types of people who have ruined this once great country. Christian prayers hve been banned yet it is people like you that allow this nonsense. You are the Taliban.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Bottom line: Priests aren't trusted, therefore by your logic, all Catholics should be assumed pedophiles and treated as such. Sounds reasonable.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I have seen enough to know not to trust any one who professes Allah and adheres to the ideology of hate, pedophilia, degrading and mutilation of woman, beheading of Christians, bombing of innocents, genocide, World conquest which are all tenents of the Islamic faith. Faith in a God who is not filled with mercy and calls for the drinking of camel piss. Allah is not God and Muhammed is just an extremist pedophile baal worshipper of the moon.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Weird. No mention of John Podesta's dabbling in Satanic rituals with Marina Abramovic and her \"Spirit Cooking\". No mention of the food code words used for human and child sex trafficking. Lets see Hillary is OK with killing babies a day before they are born, and her campaign manager is a Satan worshipper and collects art depicting Satanic ritual abuse of children.....yet \"Christians\" are still going to vote for her. No mention of any of this. Shocking!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"Paedophiles are amongst the most devious of criminals and the church is awash with them; has been for years - and remains so.\nJesus will deal with every single one and with their lying apologists and cohorts.\"\n\nIt would be better if Criminal Courts deal with pedophile priests and enabling Bishops while they are still alive.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We used to hang slaves. We used to burn non-Christians. We used to slaughter American Indians.\n\nAhhh...the good ol' days.... /s", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "So if religion is supposed to be private, are you protesting state-funded Catholic schools as well, or are you just a hypocrite?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "What a j**k**s that priest was!\n\n(Jesus, beam me up! I wanna go to heaven right now.)", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"Social conservatives are freaking out because they no longer control the moral and ethical paradigm in this country, they can no longer have the government harass and punish gay people because they feel gay people need to be punished and controlled.\"\n==========\nSo of course your solution is to \"have the government harass and punish\" Christians, Jews, and everyone else you feel should be \"punished and controlled\" because now people like you want to \"control the moral and ethical paradigm in this country.\"\n-\nHmmm. So, according to you, any \"truth\" is decided only by \"who's the top dog\" in human history. Interesting philosophy. Too bad for you it fails to consider God in your \"paradigm.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sad - guess you really do not know any current undocumented people and the reality that they live right now in constant fear creating issues with jobs, travel, family support, reporting crimes, etc. In Dallas, we have met with elected officials and police to develop and air TV and Radio spots explaining the current law and police process if stopped in order to decrease fear.\nTo equate the euphemism *swimming the Tiber* with *mojados* only reveals your own ignorance and that you have adopted the same Trumpian *false equivalency* approach. Sad!!\nHow does MSW *limit* convert rights - he is opining about a segment that has grabbed a national megaphone and trumpet their own slanted (and in most cases biased and ill-formed catholic ideas). You then globalize this (logical fallacy mistake) - do they have a right to do this? Some would say it falls into the crying fire in a crowded movie theater.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What a joke...as a Catholic I understand anti Hilary... I don't understand pro-Trump at all. A public and unrepentant adulterer... a serial liar.... a misogynist... a racist...a bully... hopefully not a war monger. \n\nI pray that he is not granted the opportunity to speak at ND and promote the myth that he speaks for Christians", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Wrong MacDuck. Evangelicals support Trump because he is the best man for the job...warts and all. Hillary was one big wart. No pluses there.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Boo-hoo...a bunch of left-wing radical feminist nuns who are/were a CANCER were brought on the carpet.\n\nThe nuns are why the Catholic Church must divorce herself from social justice baloney. It's an \"attractive nuisance\" that is like human feces: \nit attracts flies. Get rid of the social justice garbage, and liberals will be less likely to join the Catholic Church as it resembles more of a fundamentalist Protestant Church in theology and politics.\n\nLiberalism is a fungus.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Believing in transubstantiation \"because the Pope says so\" is just as stupid as believing the earth is four thousand years old \"because the Bible says so.\" Both are simply political self-interest couched in supernatural blather.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "If Bannon and Stephen Miller and their toadies were fired from the Trump administration and replaced by other mainstream Republicans, I believe that the policies would moderate. Trump is basically a dumb demagogue who apparently agrees with the last thing that someone tells him. So if the last person who tells him something is McMaster, then perhaps we don't get the Muslim ban. \n\nAnd I think Burke is a fool but Bannon is using him for his own purposes. Burke and his toadies were behind some of the dumb stunts against the pope over the last few weeks like the posters. I don't think that Burke will be effective nor do I think that Bannon thinks he will (although Bannon wouldn't mind being rid of that meddlesome priest.) Bannon wants Francis distracted by internal enemies so that Francis cannot do things like speak out against Trump policies or condemn the alt-right as anti-Christian.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "This argument is nonsense - The issue of human sexuality is a much more important issue than God's ceremonial and even moral law. Biblically speaking we were created male and female for the purpose of human flourishing and even human enjoyment, and tampering with sexuality is tampering with his created purpose. You are ignorant of the true Christian position on these matters, so to avoid making yourself look so ignorant you may want to do you research before posting such nonsense", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I believe the person he is referring to is Jesus Christ. The solution he is talking about is to the evil in this world represented by the shooter.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Keillor is a notorious hate-monger. He seems to think that people who live in this one small town in Wisconsin are just there to amuse elitists like him. I've heard him say--on the radio!--things critical of his Lutheran upbringing. That tells you the low opinion he has of Christians. He's been divorced twice--that tells you his morals stink--and he lived briefly in Sweden, which tells you he hates America. Why, I read on Breitbart (soon to be the official White House website!) that over 60% of the regular weekly listeners to Prairie Home Companion were blacks, Mexicans, Muslims, or queers. Most of them didn't even speak English! That's who's been backing this creep all these years!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They will prosecute the Christians and give the Muslims a pass.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Communists !! The Catholic Church in America loves illegals because they have refilled the empty coffers and the empty pews. Sickening putting criminals before American born citizens.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "These are the same people who would freak out if someone called them a bigot, a fascist, a Klan member. To them it's perfectly reasonable to smear people this way. \n\nLet's bring a little Christianity into this:\n\nImagine someone did that to you.\n\nChristianity 101, instead of Christianity NCR.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "... take a shower Dyrtymary, you stink of Cheetolini and Republican FILTH.\n\nGo fake pray for a while ... you 'christians' are good at frittering away your time doing ZERO good in the world.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"One could say essentially the same about the majority of the US Catholic bishops \"colluding\" with the Republicans, and their current tyranny-inclined Trump?\" \n\nI do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are about 100 verses in the Qur'an, the holy book of the religion of Islam, that call for the destruction of Jews, Christians and non believers (infidels).\n\nThere are dozens of groups of Muslims, including Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, the Taliban, al Qaeda, al Shabaab, Boko Haram, Abu Sayyaf, Daesh (ISIS/IL), etc. etc. etc., that follow Islam and the many verses in the Qur'an that call for the destruction of Jews, Christians and non believers.\n\nI hope Wente and the Muslims in Canada think Muslims who follow the violent verses in the Qur'an have no place in Canada.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You obviously don't know what you are talking about. If you are a \"catholic\", you don't know much about your religion. Nobody is playing dress up. And if you aren't Catholic, you should keep your mouth shut and hide your ignorance.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "As having recently retired as the founding CEO of the Moravian Church's charitable foundation. (Yes, they did hire an Irish Catholic from Boston to work in Winston-Salem, NC twenty years ago!) I decided that I wanted to honor both faith communions - the Moravians and the Catholics - in a special way.\n\nWith the full support of my parish priest, and in lieu of the usual retirement silliness, we had a Moravian Catholic Mass. The Mass adhered to all the norms of the Catholic Church and was concelebrated by three priests. What made it Moravian were the hymns - all wonderful and inspiring -, the readings, and the prayers of the faithful were done by ordained Moravian clergy, and the reflections (not homily) on the readings was offered by a Moravian Bishop.\n\nIt was wonderful and a perfect ending to my career. \n\nWe are all one in the Spirit.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Republican party FILTHY w super fakey 'christians'. They'll stab in you in the back for a buck, wave a flag, then kick you in the face ...", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Right. Saying \"your Church is a sham and your priests are imposters\" is showing deep respect.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They just murder Christians and everyone else they hate wherever they find them.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Predictably you cannot answer the simple question, because that would require you manning up and admitting your faith is based on babbling nonsense. You cannot be both a slave to sin and have a free will. Furthermore you don't believe a word of the Bible, you have no faith in what is plainly writ and like most deluded Christians, in every aspect of your false gospel you call your god a liar. It's why you run with this chicken)(*& bs about scholars. It's plainly written there is none that doeth good, no not one. You say the Bible is a liar, you do good, you chose to love Jesus and yet the same Bible plainly states ALL rejected Christ. It is beyond your intellect to grasp faith is a gift from your imaginary God, unless he gives it to you it is impossible to believe. You call your god a liar and claim you believed of your imagined free will. that faith is a product of your will. But now I am just confusing you with simple facts and why churches are full of simpleton mindless sheep.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Anyone who denies this terror attack is anything but Radical ISLAMIC Terrorism is a Huff Po, Yahoo, CNN and Obama Islamic Terrorist appeaser and coddler! Enough with the appeasement and excuses! These ISLAMIC TERRORISTS want to kill innocent Christians whom they call CRUSADERS and Jews. If you deny this, you are an Islamic Terrorist APPEASER!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "If it had been a christian or jewish cemetery none of these talking heads would say a word. There is a word for their kind hypocrite", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I do not know what to think about the majority of catholic teachings!\nI save them for after I die! \nI can hardly live out what I do know!!! \nI mainly try to diminish my EGO!!! Now, that is a life time of fight till death!!! Maybe learn to love a little better?\nBut, I mostly try to stay out of it thinking God's love can come through me instead.\n\nI am sure someone can point out what is wrong with that! LOL!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Muslim fanatical beliefs must be eliminated if we are to have even a modicum of peace in the world. The clearly proven depravity of muslim beliefs need to be eradicated not encouraged and endorsed especially in Canada. \n\nDid you know that at Toronto International Airport there is a MUSLIMS ONLY prayer chapel replete with dirty feet washing machines....yet ZERO CHRISTIAN or JEWISH Chapels are permitted....whats up with that? Did you know that Peel Region Schools must now accommodate muslim prayer times in a special location but NO OTHER RELIGIOUS prayer is permitted.....what's up with that B.S?\n\nThis is not the Canada I once knew and loved.\n\nBreeding like rabbits mulsims will overtake populations in many Countries and spread their vileness and hatred of traditional normalcy.\n\nTime for the 2018 CRUSADES to begin worldwide to rid the world of these fanatical maniacs that super stupid lefty gov't support.. THERE IS no other way. Trump is right on this point if not on anything else!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Really? And I suppose if your child is sexually abused by a priest/clergy member/preacher then it is all fine because the abuser is 'Christian'?\n\nGrow up and start thinking.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Scratch a Obama critic and Racism become evident.\nObama is terrorist? Where is the proof?\nObama is a Christian. \nPro debt. Obama wasn't allowed by the racist republicans to present a budget to Congress that they would consider. It is republicans who drove the debt higher.\nand so on.... Total nonsense!\nYour head is up your derriere.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "And when over 80% of evangelicals vote for tRump they show their stupidity.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Stupid as saying all Christians are responsible for paving the middle east over the years when it has been mostly the US and Britain", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Hahahaha\nI made a STATEMENT!!!! \nNot a threat, I'm no Christian either. Stopping a predator is not a crime nor illegal. Keep in mind 90% of conservatives own weapons, legally. And I'll add I'm a airborne, light infantry fighter.\nYour active response will dealt with quickly.. and swiftly. \nTake your grade school threats to the playground. Don't mess with the professionals. \nYou're as dumb as they come.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "It is obvious that Pope. F. and the entire Catholic clergies are not interested in serving God and being united to God!!!\nSo what is the point of the Catholic religion if we are not interested in serving \nGod and being united to God???\nIs Catholic religion exist to serve these sick devilish clergies and nothing to do with \nGod? If it is nothing to do with God, why bother? These clergies represent more of 'Devil' and evil spirits, these clergies are a man of devil to me, I do not care to do a thing with these evil clergies or evil religion!!!!!!!!!!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration has already stated categorically that he will not open Canada's doors to Christians. That would be religion faith based immigration policy and against our secular moral standards. He said just a couple of weeks ago that Christians don't face the same dangers as other legitimate refugees. He will however welcome all Muslims fleeing Trump's persecution in the US.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yeah. Sure. I guess that's why the White Christian Terrorist beat his wife and kid, too? \n\nSome people are just absolute utter nutjobs. They should not be allowed to be NEAR guns, never mind own them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Except his statement starts with black and white law - that is not the gospel starting point; even for a bishop. We are Christ-centric; build our church on relationships before we start *dis-inviting* people. Sorry, a known public pronouncing racist is very different from folks in a gay marriage - your comparison alone is contemptible.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Gutless self serving politicians are afraid of losing the Christian vote so they will not do the humane thing to stop people from dying a painful death. Get rid of the useless career politicians.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "It would be plagiarism if Sid took credit for Tom Burke's writing\n\nWhat was Sid writing about? He was calling the President a big fat liar. He listed his sources and almost dared you to prove him wrong. All you could say was \"this man hates others\". I can fill this comment with all the lies and hate spewed forth by Donald Trump. So is Donald Trump a liar?\n.\nIs Donald Trump an unrepentant sinner. I believe you are a serious Christian and a Christian supporting Trump. Is Donald Trump a repentant sinner? He lies again and again and is unapologetic, he has committed adultery at least twice that we know of and shows no remorse, molested women and is shameless, demeans women over and over again with no apologies, is he unrepentant; remorseless, unashamed,shameless, unapologetic! I side with Sid.\n.\nA repentant sinner would go and sin no more, \u201cSee, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you\u201d \n.\nDonald Trump is a liar and a unrepentant sinner.\nor\nprove him wrong.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "People who were closely associated with both Cruz and Rubio have offered us glimpses of what type of people they are, as they hypocritically claim Christianity unto themselves. It is known that Cruz consorts with prostitutes.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"The GOP can get away with being a whites only party\"???\n\n\u201cIt is time to end the slavish devotion to the Democrat party. They have insulted us, used us and manipulated us. They have saturated the black community with ridiculous lies: \u2018Unless we support the Democrat party, we will be returned to slavery. We will be robbed of voting rights. The Martin Luther King holiday will be repealed.\u2019 They think we\u2019re stupid and these lies will hold us captive while they violate everything we believe as Christians.\u201d\n\nBishop E.W. Jackson", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Well, no I don't think that, but obviously some people have come to that conclusion. For example, Christians who believe in faith healing. They certainly have faith that God can heal. Yet their children die. Likewise the snake handlers. They have great faith, but the snakes kill them.\n\nOh well. It's God's will that if one courts death, death will come. As it's apparently God's will for women to die in childbirth. So why bother trying to safe a woman's life if it means aborting a fetus. Right?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of course Jesus is God. And God obeys every law of the RCC, including whom He must send to hell for serious infractions, especially those of a sexual nature -- the worst possible, you know.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Isn\u2019t it so embarrassing to be a Catholic these days? Just forget everybody else for a moment, Pope F. acting as though he does not know that these clergies raping God who is immanent in all humans! Is he not in the business of worshipping God for heaven\u2019s sake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!\nSo Pope F. basically is OK for his clergies worship God and turn around raping God!!!!!!!?????\nWhat kind of religion is he leading????? \u2639 \u2639 \u2639 Yak, Yak, YYYYYYaaaaaaK!\nPope F. haven\u2019t experienced immanent spirit of God in himself, thus ignorant of immanent spirit in children, thus allow sex abuses.\nHe is not a religious leader but a men seeking his kingdom on earth!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "<>\n\nYes, thank you for that pithy formulation and for your comments.\n\nI used to have an article bookmarked that described the byzantine politics of that Illinois bill. But what difference would it make. Right-wing so-called Christians are determined to slander a decent man as an unscrupulous monster. And voted for an unscrupulous monster in the name of virtue.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Only a deranged liberal would accuse those defending the Truth as whiners. We Faithful Catholics are sick you, Francis, the faggots in clergy and every other liberal disease infecting the Church. We will hold our anger for only so long then we will get beautifully violent and purify the Church. Effeminate and gay priests beaten and dragged from the pulpit, their protectors in the hierarchy hunted down.. It will be magnificent", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "We have no evidence that she was even a prostitute other than she may have well been Christ's wife and or consort...! Your twisting of ideas are sickening and yes sinful....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's ignorant to say that 40-45% of French people are bad, racist, dumb, etc., and that is about how many people are expected to vote for Le Pen in the second round. This is not North America, a melting pot, this is a country of native, Christian-origin, French-speaking people. Foreigners need to adapt themselves to French customs or go home.\nIt's amazing how progressives like Saunders are always wrong on this stuff. \"White guilt, white guilt!\" Sorry. This in fact is the way you create sympathy for real racism and white supremacist ideas. Progressivism has become a nauseatingly stupid ideology.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Bernstein doesn't hate Trump as much as he hates white Christians and Trump's followers, but he's afraid to say so.\n\nThe little pip squeak's only claim to fame is his reporting on Nixon, as if that was something that took above average ability. Actually he's a national security threat because of his rabid hatred of traditional American values and, especially his childish open borders, globalist fantasies about a one world government that is so nonsensical only a fool could ever entertain the idea, let alone work for it as if it's the most important thing in the world.\n\nHis kooky, insane ideas belong in a grade school classroom. Personally I'd like to see him culled from the population by jailing him as a national security threat. He's a worthless fool.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Doomed to fail? His communications director is the problem? How about our representatives? Maybe you should run and try to herd those cats. Christ this is some horse shit.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "1) There are plenty of folks formed in the pre-conciliar era who do not agree with you. I go to mass with them every sunday. That invalidates that argument.\n2) No one prior to vatican 2 knew how to love God? All the catholics prior to vatican 2 had it all wrong with respect to God and worship? I would suggest that that shows an awful temerity on your part, and a lack of examination of conscience. It is massively arrogant and ignorant.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "All you can comment is this garbage? And you're a practicing Catholic? I've been part of the Catholic community since I was baptized over 50 yrs ago. \" just flag all the alt-reich commentators\". Yea, as if that isn't calling the kettle black.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Another minion of Satan.\nBergoglio (Lord Of Flies) Continues his usurpation.\nAll who help the anti-Christ who currently occupies Saint Peter's throne,\nwill answer for this blasphemy. Repent or be damned.\n\n in nomine eius", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You can't name a single Christianity inspired terrorist attack. If mass shootings are tied to religion, that religion is Islam.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "like millions & millions of Catholics, now you know why I walked out of this catholic church and piss on these pedophile priests and bishops, the rot always starts at the head your grand poobah Imam pope Francis. Baruch HaShem, The so called American catholic church, new home of karl marx and the democraric party.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's fascinating to read how Jules and other progressive Christians practice their religion. It sounds like they plug their ears and cover their eyes when the \"yucky\" \"scary\" parts come on screen but still like the movie.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "When we can convince the birthers, commie lovers, neo-nazi's, conspiracy theorists, the Christian fundamentalists, and all the other wonderful people, that the p**** grabbin' Trump is a racist and is very unprincipled, amongst his other great qualities. imua, aloha and mahalo", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I dislike him and the divisiveness he creates. There is no Love in his version of Christianity. ABT is pure Hate.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "NUKE the Rothschild-Bauer FORCED occupation of Israel. Talmudic infant killing blood drinking Jews created the Democrat, Socialist, Communist, and Liberal all to destabilise nations. Now we have Jew funded factions like Antifa'g popping up all over America. The Jews primary enemy has become the Moslem! Jews demoralised America over the last 100 years with Satanic Qabalist Hollywood. They RAPE our children. Their music \"industry\" screams modern slavery. Besides this TRUTH.... Why fight JEW Battles? Whites and Blacks usually get along... The Crypto-Jews ran the transatlantic slave trade. So why are White non-slave owner Americans in 2017 under attack? One answer.... Devious Evil JEWS.\n\nDon't be fooled.... I am a Jewish anti-semite. I like being an anti-semite. When you study Jewish history for 47 years like I have you KNOW damn well who the enemy of humanity is. I am Judeo-Christian. I am on the right side. All blessings be to Jesus Christ and G\ud83d\udd4dd!! #AmericaFirst #SimonOfTrentsRevenge", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Your true agenda is that superiority attitude I see among \"Christian\" white males What is that \"Traditional value\", was it whites live here and blacks live there. Was it I'm a Christian and your a Muslim, and your religion isn't REALLY a religion. Was it I'm not gay so I'm better than you, and if your gay your a sinner? Your superior attitude was tried by a country called Germany. Didn't work.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Cheetolini truly a sick ****. When do we get to outlaw super fakey 'christians' from gov't jobs??!!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Islam.\n\nThe root of every one of these terrorist murders against the West, Christians, Christianity, freedom, and Jesus Christ.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "terrible. And what have these Christians done to deserve such a fate? At least these terrorists do not discriminate. They hate everyone.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In America anyone is allowed to opening mock something as dumb as Christianity. \nBut that is a waste of time. Let\u2019s get back to mocking draft dodging cowards.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Yet call out all Muslims for the acts of a few will get you pilloried. So why is it okay to smear an entire religion over these few idiots? Or is this because it's okay to bash Christian sects?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I guess you are talking about the beheadings of infidels in the Koran? Or maybe how raping women who aren't muslin isn't rape it is 'war spoils'? Or maybe you are talking about how if you leave Islam you should be killed.\n\nThis isn't radical Islam, this is straight out of the Koran. How the left thinks they can demonize Christianity and defend Islam at every turn is hypocritical and dangerous.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Hillary is unfit physically to serve office and she has already done unrecoverable damage in Libya and Syria. Hundreds of thousands of Christians dead over nothing. Its sad and for Bernie to ever support that. What a shame...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "She supports abortion, reason enough to reject her. Trump gave up control of his assets and isn't accepting a salary as president so exactly how does that make him greedy? And gee, when did you become anointed of God to proclaim a man an atheist and judge him as a cheating liar when he himself proclaims to be Christian. Leviticus 19:16 \"You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord\". I'll pray for you even if you aren't a Christian yourself, which I suspect otherwise you wouldn't have put up such an idiotic post.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I think an important aspect to note about this time period (and this movie) is that the nuns involved did not WANT to be nuns, and even more importantly, they did not have the calling to be a nun. The director has said multiple times that he learned through his studies and conversations with Italian clergy that in the time during which the movie takes place, women were sent to the convent because they were the youngest and didn't have enough money left for a dowry, their fathers wanted good favor with the church, their parents didn't approve of whom they wanted to marry...these women were angry and upset and bored being in the convent. This movie is meant to be an adaptation of the stories about THESE people, not all Catholics during that time or present-day. He did not make it to discredit or blaspheme the Catholic Church, but to show people today how people back then struggled similarly to how people today struggle. Catholicism is just the setting, not the point.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Free exercise of religion? Nonsense. point to the passage in the Bible where it says that as a good Christian you are to refuse services to homosexuals.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "That's the liberal response, over and over, name calling, don't like Obama, you're a racist, don't like Islam, you're a Christian hater, don't support open borders, you're a nationalist, well, I am all of those things sport.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"Trump triggers Christian hypocrisy\"\n\"Christian hypocrisy\". How redundant.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Because as you know I suspect you of being a Catholic fascist. But maybe you are simply pedantic and tone deaf, \"Croesus.\" Whatever happened to Lydia? (Don't answer that. I'm JOKING.)", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I was actually responding to Tom Z's thinking:\n\"I suggest you find someone who has accepted the Church's teaching and has married and raised a family to better understand the Church's position on the matter.\"\n\nIf the uber Catholic anti gay folks are down to demanding sacrilegious marriages as the cure for 'the gay' they are on a very stupid path.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Hypocrisy, thy name is Christian America -- a group of which more than 80% turned completely against the teachings of Jesus to support a lying, womanizing, racist, tax evading, ignorant, thrice married egomaniac who puts himself above all others, let alone the law. You own this horror, Xtians. \nWhat would Jesus do?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Neo-CONservatism resurrecting and revealing the true nature of the Republican Terrorist Party in all of its forms, nationally and locally. The Republican national nominating system offered a group of white men competing to represent the values of Old South christian fundamentalism in all of its racist, bigoted, misogynist evils. Each trying to cater to the White Supremacists and religious patriarchy idolators still infecting the nation since the Civil War and Segregation eras. The Trump \"winning\" despite the worst female hatred ever seen in a candidate released the hounds of racist bigotry, coupled with Corporate Media slavering, salacious broadcasting, to make it all acceptable not only in private, but throughout the public discourse. Every insane White Supremacist idiocy joined with religious anti-human dogma became acceptable. Now, the ultimate Alaskan purveyor of it all is elected and allowed to fill the media and government with traitorous actions and language. Disgusting.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "None of the articles have said anything about what they wanted the cake to say. Hell, I can't remember ever seeing writing on a wedding cake, usually flowers and maybe a topper at best. Ultimately Phillips like most of these self righteous fools is picking and choosing which of the religious laws to follow and which ones to try and use as a club to beat people over the head with. It is people like him that give Christians a bad name. I'm pretty sure that one of Jesus' bigger things was not judging others, and treating others the way you want to be treated, not this guy's behavior.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "That is money well spent. I'd rather all my money go to National Catholic Reporter, the best newspaper in the country, rather than some stupid wall on the Mexican border.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Zuma is pathetic, trying to equate his situation with that of Jesus whereas he's more like Satan incarnate.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "If they physically assaulted Christian he may get off by saying he defended himself from a 3 0n 1 situation. He has a right to say whatever he wants without being assaulted. The whole incident is an example of the civil war our country is in. People do not debate anymore. They insult, assault and , now, kill. It will keep happening.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not saying Islamic terrorism doesn't exist. Even Christian terrorism exists. But what happens in the States isn't on the up & up. The 1st world trade bombing blamed Bin Laden, turns out to been false flag. USS Cole incident, not here, but blamed Bin Laden again, another false flag. And we're not innocent. We take part. The 2 biggest terrorists in the world are Israel & America. Israel even committed 2 massacres in Qana, Lebanon, Jesus' family village, 1996 & 2004. Now they're blaming Christians. When they're done using US to kill Muslims, Christians will be next.\nThey're very brazen about it all. The Israeli artists left statues of gutless men in WTC as a message, \"Americans are gutless cowards who won't do jack.\" Are they right? We covered up the Liberty incident, in the face of survivors who swore it was intentional. Israel's terrorism is very real and a huge threat to the whole world. They kill Americans so Muslims can be killed. And they call them terrorists! They're real Psychos", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Why does it have to be all or nothing with the alt left?...Don't support homosexual marriage? You hate homosexuals. Think the USA is a nation of laws which need to be followed and enforced? You hate Mexicans and Illegal Aliens. Israel is free to threaten holocaust on everyone else,[4] but it is antisemitic to even protest their right to destroy other people and if you do then you obviously hate jews? I come from a Christian upbringing where we loved the sinner and hated the sin. Isn't it more likely that most people would disapprove of any group of people who are hell bent on genociding the people who's land they stole ... and anyone who has racked up the long list of war crimes, theft and deceit as the pseudo country of Israel.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This story highlights what I've know for years, 'christians' are totally screwed in the head and need to be fought at every turn.\n\nThey can't even protect THEIR OWN DAUGHTER ... from this 'religious' monster. Yikes!!!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Whatever you call it please go home and keep it in Texas. Don't think you'd find Jesus out there ginning up trouble with the homosexuals at THEIR parade.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Many activists affiliated with the loosely organized Antifa movement consider themselves anarchists or socialists. They often wear black and take measures to conceal their identity.\"\n\nNope, that's Black Block, which is an anarchist based protest tactic. \n\nNaturally often allied with Anti-fascist, but not necessarily the same people, and you'll find Black Block activists at lots of protests that have nothing to do with fascists, while Antifa is a group not just a tactic, specificallyy targeted at Fascism, and does not tend to appear elsewhere. \n\nThey don't wear black, and their origins are rooted in early communists, socialists and progressive Christian orgs, anarchists might tag along but by definition aren't org joiners.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pope is the anti-christ. Roman Catholics welcome all of you to \"Team Satan.\" The devil and his demons said keep feeding me your children. \"Feed me more.\" The devil and his demons are the angels of light who masquerades as the servant of righteousness. RC flock are either very, very, stupid or very, very, smart. Just like a dog who keeps returning to his own vomit and a washed pig that returns to the mud, they never learn.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "We Roman Catholics, as enablers of Global Colonialism, are primary agents to the tragedies of Mother Earth and her indigenous peoples. ROMAN CATHOLICISM, my Religion, my Church was/is the pretext and enabler of global colonialism, a tragic affliction on God's Green Earth, whose guilt i bear personally, and whose consequences i agonizingly seek to illuminate, alleviate and atone.\nMy conscience drives me - it is precisely as an 11-year aspirant to be a Roman Catholic missionary priest that i now pursue a mission of atonement and enlightenment of our complicit guilt. In its origin, The Society of the Divine Word in its missionary aspirations to actively join the Church Militant was inspired by the Society of Jesus. \nEspecially, in our times, as missioners of enlightenment, as colonialists, as inheritors of colonialism and contributors to today's global tragedy, we are obliged to be present to and to help today's immigrants. We are Colonial America. (+ Dolan is a money-raiser for the SVD.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "yes, I think that the baker who is sole owner, has the right to say that he will not decorate the cake the way that they want. \nThis is true for when KKK, NAZIs, Muslims, Christians, Disabled, White, Pink, Red, Blue, etc. Heck, even a Zombi.\n\nI will not be using this baker because I disagree with what he is doing. \nLook, the constitution gives us rights and freedoms.\nAnd a big part of that is the right to be jerks.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Hypocrites maybe, but not trolls. We don't go over to Fr Z's blog or any of the other right wing play grounds to have some fun at their regulars' expense. You know, stir some shite, make off the wall comments, or derail topics. In point of fact, a person from the left gets banned, and usually in 24 hours or less. I think the sameness of all the comments on these uber Catholic sites is why some of them come over here. They are bored being perfect Catholics.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Another failed attempt to discredit by the lying moron. I\u2019m all for foreigners being admitted to the U.S., but I fully support a common-sense procedure according to the rule of law. That\u2019s not bigotry you deranged mental case, it\u2019s what every nation in the world does.\nGod loves all of us sinners and desires that we each do what we must to cooperate with his graces, which first and foremost requires that we stop sinning. God does not allow people into Heaven who remain obstinate in sin. If you truly loved God and neighbor you would encourage people to stop sinning, period. You don\u2019t. You want the Church and all of society to accept homosexual behavior as normal and laudable. It isn\u2019t and never will be. You are bigoted and hateful toward all those who won\u2019t follow your sick and perverted paganesque morality. THAT is what isn\u2019t Christ-like, you sicko.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Evangelicals???? Oh yeah. The holier than thou's who somehow think they are Christians living gods words? To me, they are amongst the most prejudiced and self serving idiots around. They think they are going to their white mans heaven after their actions that are 180 degrees opposite of what their jesus lived and breathed. They defund, and support the defunding of programs that help the less fortunate, and give the same funds to the well monied the rich and the politicians corporate sponsors, the same kind their jesus punted out of the temples.\nThe evangelicals thinking and expecting to go to their white mans heaven, makes as much sense as the Mideast terrorists going to their Islamic heaven with their 72 virgins after the wholesale slaughter of so many thousands of innocents.\nWashington is built on corruption, which is why we are sending all the taxpayer dollars overseas, unaccounted for with no accountability", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The Christian terrorism fueled by the nationwide televangelist tax scofflaws continues. More threat from priests and preachers in their churches than any transgendered individual relieving him/her self. Disgusting.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "My opinion: all the years I have lived and traveled around America I have seen more believers of CHRIST commit more blasphemies of the Laws of that belief than I ever cared to. American's and every other nations culture always feel that the other religion was demons and devil's. Each point the finger and crown themselves as GOD's chosen. But, what I can say as a citizen of this country is that Americans have become,over last 50 odd yrs, a bunch of sanctimonious, self-stroking, self-righteous hypocrites. Fed by false prophets called preachers who have slept with the government to get rich and social gain and with that has destroyed this nation from within. Demboski/Trump/Palin/Hillary/Bush are the trash legacy this nation has been fed through lies and to me they committed the worse treason. They called it politics as usual. No I'm not afraid of foreign terrorists. These idiots spreading hate, lies and emotional and mental blackmail scare me more.Young people are listening and watching.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you for showing the extent of white, christian, republican arrogance through brainwashing. Later, when your son learns to think for himself, he will realize what an total asshole you are. He will still love you, but he will no longer respect you are feel your opinions are worth his time. Nice job, dad.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "so this writer is pro abortion, pro homosexuality and pro hillary clinton who consorts with openly satanic people? wow what a real catholic you are... disgusting.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Christian or not, they did not murder in the name of God. They were certainly evil and radical extremist but were anti-government and many believe they were reacting to the Waco and Ruby Ridge incidents.\n\nThe Muslim radical extremists are doing their deeds in the name of God.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "What a beautiful message. Any Christian should be ashamed of what has happened to our country. I hope Sunday will come soon. Until then, we've been overrun by a thrice-married, cheating, lying, sociopathic, greedy atheist that only worships the almighty dollar. God save us.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Just the White Supremacists emboldened by their leader to resurrect the 1930s pogroms of the New Hitler/Der Fuehrer Trump and his National Security Advisor Herr Bannon. Start with a small non-christian minority to appease the Fundamentalist Racist Christians following Judaeo-Christian ethics, expand to Islamics and all immigrants while imposing martial law in all Black urban areas. The 4th Reich in full flower.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Wow! You liberal Catholics sure are hateful! Apparently you'd rather have baby murdering, anti-Christian, lbgtxyz-loving Hillary for president.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I knew there was a reason I stopped practicing my Christian faith. Common sense vs. control. I'll take common sense anyday.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "None of Catholic clergies are close to Holy Mary then!\nHer out of this world beauty and her power to stand on the serpent's head is from her purity. All the children on earth are her children, and you clergies raped her children!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!\nOur spiritual journey is a process of purifying our soul! \nWhat Pope F. is doing protecting & condoning the rapist clergies for what? \nIs Pope wish to send his clergies especially to 'Hell'? Protect Catholic Church's name and all of your clergies end up in 'Hell'??? What kind of infantile idea was that!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"The term 'white supremacy' has a redundancy. There is no need to use 'white' because only whites, European Christian whites, in particular exhibit racist supremacy. No other race in the world has it.\"\n\nActually, you might want to take a look at this:\n\nhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_slave_trade\n\n\"The Arab slave trade was the practice of slavery in the Arab world, mainly in Western Asia, North Africa, Southeast Africa, the Horn of Africa and Europe. This barter occurred chiefly between the medieval era and the early 21st century. The trade was conducted through slave markets in these areas, with the slaves captured mostly from Africa's interior.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "According to the BBC, he ranted that Muslims must die because they've been killing Christians for years. Will this get called a terrorist attack?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Christians today are like Thor Johnson. They like to beat up on non-Christians.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Right. A racist, sexist, bigoted, adulterous liar of a president should be supported, and those who voted for him praised.\n\nPrevious conservative presidents at least gave lip service to their Christianity. Do you really see Trump doing even that?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Just for the record, I'm now an atheist, but I spent a number of years actively involved in my church, leading bible studies, and was an active part of the pastoral team (though a civilian; I wasn't a pastor per se).\n\nYou'll likely find that many, many atheists either grew up in religious households or came to religion on their own and then found their way out of it, as I did.\n\nThere's even an organization created exclusively for leaders in the church community who have concluded that they are atheists: http://clergyproject.org. It's a large and rapidly growing organization.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not just Mike but all good Catholics consider homosexual activity to be mortally sinful including oral sex. All sex outside of marriage is mortally sinful.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I love how Dobson thinks trump is a baby christian but believes Obama is a Muslim. The hypocrisy is yuuuuge!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Hey Johnny, apparently you live on Jupiter, because you're so utterly uninformed that you don't know about Dylan Roof. Racist, white supremacist Christian who committed a deplorable act of terror. So in other words, you're an idiot as well as a bigot.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Please enlighten me how, in your opinion, is Mayor Khan responsible for the terrorist acts committed by a bunch of lunatics who call themselves \"Muslims\". Blaming Mr. Khan would be as silly as blaming all Christians for the atrocities committed by the Ku Klux Klan.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "In the lake of fire, the fire don't quench and maggots (Catholics priests)(cowards) don't die.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Blowing Sunshine, your question is irrelevant. It's not up to you to decide doctrinal matters. But you might want to look up women imams of Canada.\n\nI find it precious how concerned the Right are about women's right when dissing others, but immediately reject equal pay and other feminist measures when they come up.\n\nHonestly, women can't be ordained in the Roman Catholic Church. And the ordination of women has been slow coming to the Protestant churches.\n\nMixed congregations are now common in Canadian mosques. And women have been leading prayers for the past decade. But the situation varies from mosque to mosque. But I find this concern disingenuous.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No true Christian would support this soulless, greedy, racist excuse of a human. Trump's cult consists of only faux Christians, who share his lack of morals, ethics, and compassion for our nation's most vulnerable.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "What about the cult of Islam... ?? They only kill, well everyone. Yet Christians are your problem.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Bishop, put half of this effort into catching pedophile priests before they molest and ruin the lives of children. How many do you think you have under you? \nAs a Catholic, you disgust me.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You are absolutely correct. The vast majority of individuals accused and prosecuted--and executed--for \"witchcraft\" were women. Most frequently, they were single, older, financially independent women. And, yes, they may have been regarded as \"eccentric\", particularly because they were single and not dependent on a man. These women were often midwives and herbalists who served as doctors to their neighbors. For this, men with official medical degrees would decry these women as witches; the doctors were motivated by pure professional jealousy. \n\nThe bottom line here is that, from the beginnings of post-Roman European history--read Christian--women who were not subject to a man were suspect. If she managed to survive and--God forbid!--prosper on her own, so much the worse for her. She must have made a pact with the devil. \n\nMoral of story--history exists to prop up the male ego. Right folks???\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nt", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It provably too late now, however, if you CI clergies & religious all speak up with 'Christ-like integrity' against clergy sex abuses of children, this problem will end in no time!\nYet you unethical, pompous attitude of believe in religious superiority as a clergies/religious decide to support the rapes of children by your silence till your soul will 'burn in hell'.\nYou clergies/religious do not believe there is a living God who is immanent in children, do you?\nYou don't believe in Holy Mary who is the mother of all souls on earth, do you? \nIf you do not believe in these spiritual realities on earth, just give up being a clergy/religious! \nI think we can do all better without you spiritual hypocrites!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Lets address all the LIES in this article:\n1.We do NOT identify with the Westboro Baptist Church. We REBUKE those fools. The reporter was told this and yet lied in this article.\n2.We are not \"anti-gay\" We oppose the sin of homosexuality just as God does.We love homosexuals enough to tell them the truth about salvation in Christ and warn them of the judgment of their sin if they do not repent.\n3.We are not \"protesters\" or \"activists\". Those are political terms and apparently some reporters are too ignorant to understand the difference between religion and politics.Or they are blatantly biased and ceded their journalistic professionalism for the sake of editorializing.\n4. There were not \"20\" people involved. There were two of us (the rest of our group had to leave for another outreach) There were about 6-8 of the homosexuals who dragged off our cross and stomped on it and assaulted us in the process. The police would have no idea how many there were as they had left and were not there.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Quick question, who killed more Jews - the Christians or the Muslims?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Murderers don\u2019t represent islam any more than pedophile priests represent the catholic church", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The haters can be identified by their comments and attacks. Most of them are gun lovers, pseudo Christians, and Trump supporters. They are so insecure that they lash out irrationally at anyone who doesn't agree with them. This site allows far-too-many comments that should be rated as \"uncivil.\" People make personal attacks instead of responding to the subject at hand.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Card. Wuerl, who squashes priests like bugs. That's the \"Catholic Center\"?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "filipino psycho killer! filipino and filipina pride! life long filipino catholics are life long atheists.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Very interesting comments so far. Most quote some facts that help their positions but the one fact is that all Religions are not compatible with Islam. One reason being there is a growing ignorance of Christianity and the truths of Jesus, but also an ignorance of the historical beginnings and teachings of Islam. People need to educate themselves. Islam in North America is called the \"Religion of Peace\" but their Mid East roots do not support this assumption. Islam is a Political entity that must rule not just be a Religion as we see everywhere it dominates as in many African and all Mid Eastern Countries. These Countries have blasphemy laws protecting only Islam, WHY?? They are expecting those same laws of protection as we see now being put forward by Islamic people in our political system. Once in power force becomes their means of making sure they remain in power. Research yourself, Islams god IS NOT the same God of Christians and Jews as they say. They are counting on your Ignorance", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You guys were vile and filled with hate words. I don't care if your a liberal or staunch conservative or bible thump-er, the words coming out of your mouths was hateful, rude, clueless and belongs in that special place called hell.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Even attempting to use the word 'factual' in a theological discussion is ludicrous!\n\nThe Catholics will be surprised to discover that they are not Christians. You would think that the guy buried in the Vatican would have some slight claim to be a follower of Christ, at least. Not to mention the one supposedly buried in St. Mark's in Venice. \n\nAll the \"Pieces of the True Cross\" and most of the other Saints' relics scattered about Europe are most likely bogus, but there seems to be at least some contemporary history for those two.\n\nWhether Catholics are Christian illustrates the problem. \n\nTheology and doctrine define a 'Christian'. Then you kill eight million people in the Thirty Years War to make sure that your definition is followed.\n\n380 years later, you want to reopen those wounds and kill off the Catholics because they are not Christians, I guess.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The lying, smiling, christian crusader didn't mention Comey's testimony....and neither Pence or Handel mentioned Our Great Leader during their fundraising.......the rats are running. Obstruction, Collusion, & Stupidity@#MAGA", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "you gotta be kidding. trump a Christian, nope, he is the devil, he hates blacks, Hispanics, muslims, gays, Asians, etc.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "... damn straight cash is king in the USA... bigot bakers can suck daddy's big ol' ... ;)\n\nMay the USA be RID of 'christian' Republican racist sexist bigots ASAP these folks are holding the USA back!!! I'll dance on their graves when they DIE!!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\u2018I assure you, as often as you did it for one of my least brothers, you did it for me.\u2019 (Mat 25:40) \n\nGod weeps because the Catholic clergies rape him in Children!!!!!!!!!!!\nI can't understand how on earth clergies do not know this!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Are you a clown Clancy? You're comment is a bit clownish. Anyway, don't worry about (in Canada, we call these wonderful people, the First Nations) it, because be the time that happens, you'll be dead. In the meantime, those educated young First Nations will be at the leaders of tomorrow. I've seen it time and time again. There is something which white people don't have, which the First Nations do have and that is a spiritual dimension way beyond your Judaeo Christian understanding of spirituality. That makes them great.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "John, basically your claim is that the Catholic Church is homophobic, that orthodox Jews are homophobic, and that Muslims are homophobic.\n\nThat seems to support a couple of conclusions: you're intolerant, you're a heterophobe.\n\nIf the shoe fits, wear it.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Now, here is a guy who seems to be a soul mate of Trump!!!\nExcept C. Pell grab boys by their genitals instead Trump grab girls by their genitals!\n\nIs this a sign of human society's progress of 21st century, or is it 'BOYS are BOYS' thing? \nAre Vatican boys doing 'BOYS are BOYS' thing & insist on this UNCHANGING slavish attachment to sex organs in ordaining priest only if one has boy's sex organs? \n\nI am afraid people will beginning to see boy's sex organ when we see men in clergy outfit!!! \nLOL, ROFL, LOLOLOLOLOLOL in tears!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Warning people of Hell was good enough for Jesus in the Gospels, no?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I believe God created everything. God did NOT craft humans to be imperfect. Originally, Adam and Eve were offered a opportunity for perfect, everlasting life, of which the rest of the world would have followed suit. Adam and Eve sinned, thus every human being born since then, was born into sin. All of these problems in life are BECAUSE of sin. Jesus sacrificed his life so that sinners like you and I can have a chance at everlasting life. \n\nI believe in the Bible, God, Jesus. ABORTION is the result of humans who are sinners making \"HORRIFIC TERRIBLE LIFE ENDING DECISIONS\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"..men ordained priests to 'embody Christ's presence' on Earth? However, it is obvious that Pope. F. and the entire Catholic clergies are not interested in serving God and/or embody Christ on Earth, the way these Pope F. and the entire Catholic clergies processing clergy rape of children. We can embody Christ on earth by our presence and a simple smile. Is there one person think what Pope F. and these Catholic clergies are doing with raping children embody Christ? To me, what these bishops and clergies are doing embody more of devil on earth!\nSo what is the point of the Catholic religion if we are not interested in serving God and embody Christ???\nIs Catholic religion exist to serve these sick devilish clergies and nothing to do with God? If it is nothing to do with God, why bother? These clergies represent more of 'Devil' and evil spirits, these clergies are a man of devil to me, I do not care to do a thing with these evil clergies or an evil Religion they portray!!!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "It's ignorant to say that 40-45% of French people are bad, racist, dumb, etc.,\n\nLIKEWISE with the 45-50% that voted for TRUMP or HARPER\n\n. This is not North America, a melting pot, this is a country of native, Christian-origin, French-speaking people. Foreigners need to adapt themselves to French customs or go home.\n\nLIKEWISE with Quebec - I would say CANADA too but Trudeau would disagree\n\nIt's amazing how progressives like Saunders are always wrong on this stuff. \"White guilt, white guilt!\" \n\nTRUE, guilt and denial of our \"core identity\" as Trudeau says\n\nProgressivism has become a nauseatingly stupid ideology.\n\nTRUE especially when it comes from the Left", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, I quite agree. Very good on exalting St. John XXIII as patron, interceding for all those working for the progressive values of Vatican II.\n\nWhether St. Augustine (whom I more often admire, as a keen student of Neoplatonism, and as Latin stylist) was a \"psychological mess,\" exactly, I cannot say. But (1) I deplore his authoritarianism, as seen especially in his too easy justification of warfare conducted by Christians (the foundations of \"just war theory\"); and then (2) I deplore even more those subsequent Catholic thinkers, falsely so called, over the centuries, who plainly do not like thinking on their own, but much prefer to throw themselves at the feet of the idolized Fathers, Augustine in the first place.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Out of the fundamentalist christian wilderness that is MatSu/Wasilla comes a voice of reason piercing the balloon of mendacity called religion. From the genocides, book burning, torture of christianity to its stepchild, Islam's similar actions to spread across the known world of Europe, Asia, and Africa, the source for the spread of evil continues its terrorism into modern society. Religion cannot spread by word and reason alone since it is inherently false, so, violence engenders hate and fear for any who dissent in order to establish the false rules created by the humans leading the terror. Read Man Made God, by Barbara G. Walker for the complete refutation of the false claims of power and dominance of the religious terrorists. Time for a Revolution to end this reign of terror against humanity and every other living thing on the planet.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you knew anything about the Bible you wouldn't make such a foolish statement.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Yeah, and there is an upcoming religion where their extreme believers ,and a bunch of them when they are winning, lop heads off, throw gays off of buildings, castrate child bearers, and basically have no respect terminally for anyone that disagrees with their ideology. You have a choice with Christianity, none with the other one. Sounds like you have already made that decision.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And yet Trump is going out of his way to exempt Christian Syrians. Do tell you say. The orange wonder boy is nothing more than a racist pig.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Dylan roof was a mentally ill little scum bag and McVey was likely a cointelpro patsy...it's remarkable that the left's love affair with Islam considering the things Islam stands for are in such stark contrast to liberal western thinking. I think because the left and Islam both oppose Christianity and Americanism it an enemy or their enemies type of thing.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You are completely wrong. Only one person died and was resurrected . He was the first and last. You know we are sinking when a pastor of all people spews garbage like this. Real people of faith mourn the thought of the decline of Christianity---are not happy about it.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Yes...that explains why they are killing each other. I know if we in Canada were attacked, the firat thing I would do is kill my Catholic neighour. NOT!!!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "So much hatred comes from the far left. A perfect example of confusing a 'right winger' with a leftist is the sad case of Jeremy Christian and the murder of 2 good Samaritans in Portland this year. He had been assumed to be a right wing Christian zealot by many until a closer examination of his Facebook postings showed him to 'hate' everyone from Christians to taxpayers. He truly is a \"Christian\" in name only. His actions were certainly not Christian. But interestingly enough, the only person he actually liked and supported was Bernie Sanders. We may see more on the far left become radicalized and merging with other disaffected groups becoming more and more dangerous. The Nazi's were very much left wing national socialist racists who brutalized Europe in the 30's and 40's", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I hope Geert wins !\nI for one , think we need to realize that Muslim Immigrants along with Muslim Canadians do not have our best interests at heart . An Imam in Toronto is calling for the death of all Jews ,and the Qur'an calls for all Infidels to be killed . We don't need any more people that have a Religion that promotes violence!! It is a fact that Muslims do not Assimilate or Integrate into the culture of a country that was founded on Judeo / Christian Values . You just have to look at news from Europe to see the problems that Muslim Immigration has caused !", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Everything Will Be Fine: Michigan Congressman Assures Us God Will Fix Climate Change\n\nGod gave us science and the brains to employ science.\n\nThese fake 'Christians' don't take advantage of what God gave them.\n\nIt takes a special kind of stupid not to use what God gave us,\n\n\u2026but this Congressman proves there's no shortage of that stupidity.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I don't know why he's so focused on the travel ban; we have the birthers, the neo-nazi's, the white supremacists, Russians, deplorables, evangelicals (the holy liars), the Real Americans, and other problem citizens he needs to be aware of......aoha and enjoy all the Fake News & Fake Facts......lol", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Your defense is off the mark\nI didn't call him a terrorist \nI said he's pro Muslim terrorist immigration \nHis debt with congress doubled under Obama \nBoth at fault \nObama was leader \nPro partial birth abortion \nAnti traditional marriage \nYour a racist toward Christian values\nScratch a democrate and find not racist but satanic principles", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Gotta throw christians in there......amirite?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Be that as it may, Islam is a false religion so it's law is not from God. It would seem that you place Islam on a par with Christianity.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Comical that the supposed conservative patriotic right side with a draft dodging coward Trump. And here I thought I knew that group...turns out I was dead wrong. They just want their racist protector of anything other than a white, \"Christian\" society. Oh those evil Mexican landscaping guys are gonna take my job...I'm so scared! LOL", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The law needs to be repealed, what a ridiculous, sadly typical load of hooey. And if there is no room for Christmas in Schools, there is no room for Muslim prayers.....we are a country founded on the Christian faith, not a Muslim country.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Just how do you see what girl is on her cycle? I have been trying for years, but my wife's sneaks up on me every time until I hear about it loud and clear. \n\nSure it is stupid and backwards that girls prey at the back, it is stupid only men can become priests, it is stupid some Evangelicals call for the death of homosexuals..... It is not stupid however to try and understand and get along. Kind of irony here Chuck but I am assuming you are defending liberal Muslims :) ...If they are shunned by their conservative Muslim's then we have their backs don't we?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Me today ! I was a Catholic until I read the Popes comments re Muslim refugees while he blindly refuses to acknowledge mass genocide of Christians by Muslims just like Vatican ignored holocaust \nThis fat pedophile McElroy is a disgrace", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Wow, you are deluded. How was Christianity kicked out of school when you have dedicated Catholic schools that are publicly funded? You have no objection to that, but object to Muslim students who just want to pray in a regular school? You should be ashamed of yourself.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Anyone who votes for Clinton is NOT Catholic...period. You are condoning abortion which is an abomination in the eyes of our Lord. Hypocrites all of you!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "If you think Osteen is Christian then you probably think Trump is a good President. He is a scam artist who has made multi millions selling a false god to morons who follow like slow sheep.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Super fakey bigot racist sexist 'christians' dont like to think too hard or deep ...", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "So the PF-haters are all more Catholic than the pope? I assume you place yourself in this esteemed group, to the exclusion of all others. Question for you then... does it matter how one conducts his/her daily life or only that he/she gives assent to the proclamations of A. Rowe and company?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think \"responsible Roman Catholics with moral values, intellect, acumen and good will\" can contribute to healing by reason of their moral values, etc., but not precisely as Catholics. Too often, the hierarchy (often individual bishops, sometimes the Conference itself) undermines healing and unity by embracing right wing paranoia under the guise of \"religious liberty.\" The wrong-headed intervention of some bishops and other clerics in the election, using their pulpits, bulletins or newspapers, to advance the candidacy of the racist, fascist Republican nominee, does disproportionate damage to the credibility of the church, harming not only other bishops and clerics, but also the \"responsible Roman Catholics\" you describe. I cite my own experience: a daily communicant for most of my life, I stopped going to Mass after Mass on the Thursday before the election. I was unwilling to subject myself to one more campaign speech for Trump, given in lieu of the homily.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus was a Jew, followed Jewish law, was called Rabbi (teacher), and founded Christianity. He didn't have to say anything about homosexuality or abortion, because He was a practicing Jew. Neither were acceptable, and anyone that has spent any time reading the Bible would know so. Please, read before you write your nonsense and confuse the foolish.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I suppose you think that we should also give every military technological secret we have to Iran. Oh crap, I hope I didn't give Justin another idea to make the Mullahs love Judaism and Christianity.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Islam seems to be busy trying to kill Christians this weekend .", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Look, these endless one sided stories of the poor poor Muslims is not helping. Please stop trying to portray the Muslim faith as an innocent. Muslims have been murdering Christians for a very long time. To try to rewrite reality, and push aside that fact is causing many hard feelings. Schools are not allowed to have Christmas Concerts, why is Muslim prayers being allowed? We are not a Muslim based or founded country......thank goodness.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Is that what CI (Catholic Institution) want you to say here?\nAlways blaming others for CI clergies sexual abuse of children! Never own up to what CI clergies did to the children, diabolical crimes for centuries! \n\n\".. that will work for the good of victims and be helpful to the Church in addressing the problems. Must not be angry all the time. \"\n\nLOFL, LOFL, LOFL! Sure what to be angry all the time for, it just the clergies raped children, ruins children's/their families' lives or children kill themselves! Every parent knows instantly what to do with the rapist! Why is it that CI clergy claim that they do not know what to do, I could never figure that out!!!! Are you sure these 'brainless/no conscience' CI clergies should be a Catholic clergy at all?????????", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "My apologies rimrock!\n\"This is all about racial injustice and white resentment that minorities no longer know their place in society. \" I didn't know it was said by DT, originally. what an all around embarrassing trash of men, DT is!\nIs DT makes all Americans the trash people since we elected trash for the president of this country? Great I Am a double trash, since I am Catholic beside! What the hell is wrong with 'men'!\nI hate to admit it, however, I never met a man who I can respect in my entire life in 70years. Why on earth, men can't rise above their Penis?\nI think the requirment for being a priest should not be a single but cas\u00b7trated! well that is a sure way to solve clergy rape of children scandals!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "If anyone was in any doubt about the funding source for most Catholic Charities refugee programs,.....one need only read this article.\n\nSad as it is!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "ah yes, the inevitable mixing of pedophiles and homosexuals in an effort to say they're all the same. It's every bit as insulting as claiming all heterosexual men are girl fondlers.\n\nBut hey, whatever it takes to do the Christian thing and smear others, right?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Pat Robertson, like any other politician on television, is saying what sells to his audience.\n\nHillary, Trump, Jesse Jackson, Sr., Schumer, Pelosi, Cruz. Much the same. \n\nThe 114th Congress had no fewer that seven (7) ordained ministers. \n\nAnd 99% of the Republicans claimed to be Christians and 81% of the Democrats. (19% of the Democrats claim to be Jewish, and one of the Republicans)\n\nNo wonder ISIS calls us \"Crusaders\"!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"You can be as angry and insulting as you like, but I will choose to obey God and demand that my church do the same.\"\n\n...yet, American Christians are so incredibly hypocritically selective in obeying Gods word(s).", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "These intolerance's are about disgust. Nazi's were disgusted by the Jews. Muslims are disgusted by infidels.\nIn Canada many Christians are disgusted by drug users, sex before marriage, gays even free speech.\nReligion breeds narcissism and disgust for the 'other.' Putting people in prison because they disgust you is not much different then violence against them. Of course, we should be disgusted by genuine crimes and violence and even look at the mirror we hold up for others.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Some of you white folks just can't handle the fact that you benefit from a lot of rape, robbery, torture, and murder. Before Pearl Harbor the US sent a cruise liner full of Jews back to Hitler. I suppose they thought that was the Christian thing to do. All lives have never mattered in this country.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "As I have said before, anyone who calls Pope Francis a Marxist is either a fool or a liar. Same for Obama or Hillary Clinton. Do any of you rightists have a clue about what Marxism is?\n\nAnd anyone who calls for a missile strike clearly is no Christian.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The only reason the Protestants are in Northern Ireland is because they were imported by the English from England and Scotland! Ireland was almost entirely Catholic from North to South before the English started their geopolitics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You should have one of your child raped and try to kill him/herself, and see if you could worry about the possible mis use of money by SNAP! Do you know these clergies raped Christ/God when they raped children? \n\u2018I assure you, as often as you did it for one of my least brothers, you did it for me.\u2019 (Mat 25:40) And you are defending the child rapist Catholic organization? How on earth can you call yourself Christen?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "He was running for President of Indonesia.\n\nA lot of white Christians wanted Obama's head too. For being a Muslim African with a fake American citizenship.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The Evangelicals hang on to Trump and Playboy disowns him. That about says it for the Christian integrity of this current group of Evangelical political prostitutes.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "LOL! Yep, dressing your kids up like a monsters, ghouls, or super-heroes and sending them around the neighbourhood threatening 'tricks' if no 'treat' is offered, doesn't sound very Christian. I suppose that bunnies providing candy eggs at Easter or jolly old elves flying around on reindeer and Christmas makes about as much sense. \n\n\nHey, it's just a bit of pagan fun. Pagan's rejoice!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dammit, if the Natives have casinos, they'll make money and won't be subservient anymore. That'll put a crimp in the centuries of resource and land theft by good godfearing christians. Why, if the Natives start making money, they'll get uppity and start demanding reparations for the centuries of resource and land theft. Ha ha go ahead and erase this, there's more!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I've never read a more insulting article in a Catholic publication before. It showed the author to be very closed minded, ignorant and rude. Yeah, go ahead and give Trump a copy of \"Laudato Si\" which in essence says God didn't know what He was doing when he created all life dependent on two elements - Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Killing is always a good thing...just ask Jesus in prayer.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Wow... what a stupid response. The challenge was to find examples of Christians committing the same amount of attacks as Muslims, you mainly posted about white people.. not only is your comment far reaching but also slightly racist against white people. For example- you pointed to Sandy Hook. Was he white- yes. Christian? No... that is equivalent to me saying that a black man shooting someone is a Muslim attack.\nAnd shall we compare death tolls to your examples vs the daily attacks in the name of Islam? While I was writing this post, several people were probably murdered in the name of Islam for offenses such as apostasy or homosexuality. Do yourself a favor and start paying attention to the REAL concern of Islamic terrorism. Also, read the Quran a bit.. then study the history of Muhammed, a man who beheaded many, many people and also married a 6 year old girl. Then ask yourself why you are defending this religion.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "That's easy: they want to be able to do whatever they want and still receive communion. If you give them a rule saying you cannot receive it, they'll call it an antiquated legalism. Logic says therefore that they don't believe anyone can ever be denied communion under any circumstances, because you know, christ was forgiving. So out goes the sacrament of penance. Who needs it?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "lol! Yeah, your party has been hijacked by the Christian Taliban and has a mental patient in the White House. Yeah, great shape there lady!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I had sex before marriage Bill. I had sex with both my wives before marriage. (one is deceased, I'm in the 6th year of my second marriage). It's not a simple thing for me and in some ways making another choice would have seemed better. I kind of envy those who found happiness in their first intimate relationship. \n\nOn the flip side, nature wanted me to start having sex at around 12/14 so most resistance is social, not natural for human beings. Check the age of Mary when, in theory, God said it was fine to have children at 12-14 for a woman.\n\nThere is no doubt that casual sex can have negetive consequences. \n\nMy grief counselor told me, \"It's hard to know the level of harm of sexuality for single people. You run a risk of emotional/phsical harm to one person or the other, Or, you can harm yourself with 'guilt' for breaking religious rules and that guilt can damage our mental health also.\" I would point out this woman was a conservative and Christian counselor.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Unless said baker is very stupid and is looking to be put out of business then the baker would of course decorate a silly cake with the inscription, \"The Catholic Church is the One, True Church of Christ on Earth,\" take the person's money, and then cry themselves all the way to the bank. Every minute of every day of every year business people do business with people whose personal ideologies may offend them if only they knew their innermost thoughts. It is the selective moralizing evident in these particular cases that is at issue, and everyone knows it.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Pawnshops. Start there, perhaps? So very sorry, Christian! I hate hearing of fools like this out there, being grubby little thieves....", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Very true. Let's blame this on the gay, pedophile/ephebophile priests and the bishops who covered for them.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I am now talking like most church-going Alaska Natives, mostly wayward Republicans, in the year of our Lord 2016, but I am speaking in jest. Donald Trump is a hopeless sinner who must now come to Jesus and get saved for he is a despicable liar, a danger to society, a menace to the country, and a bent-for-hell loser. President Obama was and continues to be a saint compared to this sin-infested Judas. We must condemn him to hell.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Too late Gerson, they're already the parody of their orange, pu**y grabbing prophet. Now when I think of white Christians I think of Donny telling his joke about 2 Corinthians (who walk into a bar?) or those hilarious photos of Christians laying hands on Trump while his former call-girl wife looks on (hey, their relationship is no doubt kinky but at least it's authoritarian, right?).\nWhatever model of ideal Christianity one would choose, there could be no person whose life is more an example of the opposite of that ideal than Donald Trump. This is what I find so riotously funny about the predicament of white Christians and all of their sympathizers. In Trump the finishing touches have been added to their two-bit, cartoon version of Christianity. Now every one can point and laugh heartily at the grotesque hypocrisy of this spectacle before it tumbles under the weight of its own crapulence.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Greetings. Young gay and straight soul are leaving the Catholic Church......let them dinosaur anti gay folks have this dead Church all to themselves! Jesus lives in a Church with compassion....not righteousness!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Yeah Violet. Fornication to the MAX!!!!! But I thought Jesus said that as sinful!! Which is it??? You can't have it both ways !!!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "While I don't care what the Islamic State says, Trump should.\n\nThe U.S. have already been run by a confirmed absolute idiot, Bush 2. His deeds in the history books. Few of Bush 2 epic achievements are to enable the rise of power of Trump. Enabled the rise of power of the Islamic State. Enabled the current war and struggle between Christian west and Islamic middle east. Enabled the decline of Europe, the refugee mess into Europe. That's a lot for an idiot and gave the world a good idea on the state of mind of the American people. \n\nBush 2 is one the biggest idiots of the past 500 years. (The last one being King Philip II of Spain who launched the Spanish Armada to conquer England in 1588.) \n\nAs to Trump's place in history, we shall see. I for one wait for his first war declaration. U.S. presidents always under immense pressure by the Deep State War Machine to start a war. But with so many opportunities and enemies, where?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Liar and mentally challenged. Dead beat who can't borrow money from USA banks so he paid for his golf courses with Russian loans. Deadbeat. Funny how redneck party has forgotten how they hated ungodly men for election. Now they have the most ungodly man in history as their \"Evangelical\" leader. Rednecks. What hypocrites.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Sorry, Mr. Berg, Hobby Lobby was wrong. It put us on to a slippery slope. So now I can discriminate for those things I can use religion was my back-up. Don't forget how many preachers (priests?) used the Bible as justification for slavery. So now I am free to exclude anyone be they gays, Blacks, Hispanics or anyone else who doesn't appeal to my fancy.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Hillary Clinton is no \"Savior\" and it is blasphemy to place Hillary on the same level as Jesus Christ, Son of God!\n\nHillary is a lying, evil, corrupt individual who deserved to lose her bid for the White House.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "she said \"praise the lord! jesus christ is my lord and savior!! Repent nonbeliever! Accept the Lord!!! Then she drank his blood and took a bit of his flesh.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Good plan! We need to stop letting all those (non white) foreigners steal homes from (white) Canadians. Only (white, 3rd generation or longer) Canadians should be able to buy homes. We need to BAN the purchase of detached houses in Canada by all (non white) foreign slanty eyes. It's not fair to (white, Christian, Anglo) Canadians! \n\nI say go one further and have Ottawa immediate DEPORT any (non white) foreign slanty eye from Canada!\n\nThe (slanty eye) foreigners are destroying our (white, homogeneous, sloth ridden) country!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "This clown Bishop McElroy along with quite a few others apparently, just doesn't get it: A Muslim's primary purpose in life to to exterminate Christians, or anyone else who doesn't think like them. Sweden is now the rape capitol of Europe and second in the world in rapes per capita, all thanks to the Muslim invaders. They don't think like we do. They do not share our values. They have no respect for women, the environment, animals, or human life. McElroy is naive and a fool. Hopefully Darwins principle removes him from the picture because what he preaches is cultural and religious suicide. A war is coming over the fate of the earth - Islam or Christianity. We all need to pick which side we want to be on and quit consorting with the enemy.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I am totally disgusted with this article. Sarah is comparing not letting transgender people serve in the military to the Nazi roundup and murder to millions of Jews (along with Roma, communists, the challenged and some Catholics).\nMan, she is a disgusting d.b.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You're asking me this (lol): Do you really believe that Christ founded a Church knowing full well that it would be capable of \"unspeakable evil\"?\n\nOf course I don't Trid, that's why I can say for certain the church Jesus founded was not based upon imperial Roman tenets, as is the RCC since the time of Constantine. We progressives know our church history and cannot be hoodwinked into believing false teachings inserted by Rome.\n\nAs far as +Francis agreeing with my take on Catholicism, for my part he has already set the record straight in terms of the role of clerical RadTrads and the like. As many here can tell you, the church you long for never *really* existed in the first place, and don't think for one minute that the future RCC will resemble anything close to your 1950s Roman-styled utopia.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As I write this on a glorious October day, I'm sitting on a bench outside the Anglican cathedral here in London, Ontario. I can hear the organist practising inside, but the doors are unfortunately locked because of renovations in progress.\n\nThe Roman Catholic and Anglican dioceses in Southwestern Ontario were established in 1856 and 1857 respectively. The two cathedrals, St Peter's and St Paul's, are situated in neighbouring blocks, barely a hundred yards apart.\n\nUntil about fifty years ago, relations between the two cathedrals were polite but distant. Now they are extremely friendly. The two cathedrals co-operate in running a food bank and fellowship centre, and a prominent Catholic lawyer now chairs its board.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In a post on this topic, I said, \"I don't recall any trad sentencing anyone to hell. I do recall them re-stating Catholic moral teaching. Not the same thing.\" You replied with a disagree emiticon. Can you flesh out your disagreement?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When will Trudeau speak out against the persecution of Christians in the world? It will be snowing in Hades before that happens.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholic Gulag? Seriously? Your comments are very weird. Almost like a Scientology apologist run amok. \n\nReach out, there is help.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The usual Jihad apologists get right at their job every time innocents are slaughtered by Jihadists. \n\n\"Muslims also died when Christians were targeted\" Is that supposed to make their families and worshipers of the same faith feel better? Christians don't want to Muslims to die along with them, Christians want to live and not be afraid to pray.\n\nLike clockwork, the story about murdering Islamists is gone off the front page after just one day so we can carry one with our favorite topic: the grow of Islamophobia in Canada.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"He objects to both the literalists, who say Communion is impossible for such people, and the unthinking liberals, who want to welcome everyone to Communion.\"\n- Perhaps, the best response to the 4cards and their hidden supporters is: This is not about adultery but about the Eucharist.\n- That is, the Eucharist is both food and medicine that can find a way to sustain and heal the life of anyone. The Eucharist is not about who is without sin. If that were the case it could become probable that almost all of the Eucharist Liturgies are invalid because of the sins of the celebrant. \n- So how or in what way do we get food and medicine to those who need these the most. The answers for these question will come best from the church as servant and missionary. When the answers are discerned then the Archbishop of Rome, Francis, will have a lot to say.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "i know more about christianity than 80% of americans. chances are very good i know more about christianity than you.\nmy knowledge of christianity actually extends beyond the american sunday school naivet\u00e9 \nim an ABT/Jerry Prevo made atheist. i came to atheism through christianity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"The press release announcing the agenda for the upcoming meeting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops was pretty sad. The agenda is thin. \"\n- Just possible that this agenda will be 'fleshed' out when the meeting starts. That is, bishops will use the same strategy that was used in the opening sessions of VatII -- reject the proposed agenda items and propose new items for vote that actually are substantive in addressing the concerns of catholics in the USA.\n- One can hope!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am a conservative evangelical Christian but I am also a compassionate human being and how is it that in the best interest of the child, a loving, caring adult that devoted her life, heart, love and tears to an innocent child, suddenly is torn away from being able to share it again because a group of become have decided that making a point, is more important that allowing a young child, and someone who has given part of herself to that child - to be together again......absolutely cruel and horrendous.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Exactly. A private Christian school's athletes agree to it's code of conduct, so the school's free to make that rule.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This whole blog is about THE SHACK which centers on the TRINITY healing a stricken father. The book and the movie reach out to Christians/Catholics on a level to which they can relate.\n\nThe encyclical \"Dominum et vivificantem\" [by JP II] focuses specifically on the Holy Spirit, not on the Trinity per se. Nor is it written in a style for the common man/woman. Encyclicals NEVER are written in a style that is geared for the ordinary person. Encyclicals are written for bishops and teachers in the Church, just as the CCC was.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As one who commented on Elagababababalus' opinions and called them anti-Catholic, I'm surprised that anyone here would oppose my doing so. We --- including Elagababababalus --- comment on others' opinions here all the time. Maybe you were simply disturbed by the content, a rather one-sided basis for judging another's right to comment. As for \"burping\" Augustine and Aquinas --- what an uncouth expression --- I certainly did not do THAT --- unless you think that citing their opinions is ipso facto a \"burp,\" in which case you're not merely uncouth but illiterate. I do understand your disapproval of my not disavowing Augie and Tommy on the issue of prostitution. I don't agree with their view of it at all, and agree with you completely on that score. Incidentally, it appears that if Elagababababalus had to choose between following or not following Augie and Tommy on that point, he might follow them. Did you think of that? BTW, look up the original Elagababababalus. Truly inspiring.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The biggest religious freedom issue is the Muslim ban just stopped by the 9th Circuit. I don't suspect the bishops will ever say it that way. The Contraception flap ended when Valarie Jarrett got Obama elected for a second term. All that was left was forcing agreement by a newly radicalized wing of the Church, which the Supreme Court did. The Church needs to quit rejecting federal power in this area. Catholic Churches in Alabama still get bombed.\n\nFlynn will only be ousted if he embarrasses the President - and then only if the President realizes that he has been had. Embarrassing the Vice President is always a good thing from the President's point of view, especially since Trump can obviously be declared disabled by Pence if the Cabinet goes along.\n\nThe Democrats should have looked more at the race of the VP candidate than the voters. Corey Booker would have put HRC over the top. Time to focus on economics with a wide left turn to Cooperative and Democratic Socialism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Scratch open communion among the Orthodox.\n\nI am actually pretty familiar with the Orthodox of all stripes and open communion is about far from the Orthodox view of the Eucharist as you are from an orthodox Catholic, or even further away.\n\nBut it sounded great and probably scared off those with little experience with them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I always find it galling when people attempt to exonerate the hierarchy for their actions and inactions during WWII. A Jewish/Catholic group have continuously been refused permission to view the Vatican archives of that period. Wonder why?\n\nHowever, there is absolutely no running away from this one for the US Bishops. They supported this maniac. I mean, just how can any of them come out and criticise Trump now without making themselves look like the complete eejits that they undoubtedly are?\n\nAnd by the way, the good ol' Bishies have done nothing to enhance the cause of the anti-abortionists. If anything, they've damaged it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Are you aware that there is a Protestant Separate School Board in Ontario as well as the Catholic ones? And the system can be eliminated. Quebec abolished school boards organized along religious lines in 1998. They are now done by language - French and English, not Catholic and Protestant.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Damien, is the best Catholic H.S. in Hawaii, hands down. You want a smart, well rounded kid, send the there. Take it from me. A Damien dropout who learned more there than 3 years of public H.S. education.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are no \"two faces\" or charades going on here. The Pope has been advocating for social justice for the poor, migrants and refugees since he was a Cardinal and Archbishop in Argentina. Your entire argument here is built on a fallacy and a single issue mindset. \n\nThe failure of the Catholic Church to deal with the sexual abuse crisis does not mean the Pope can't and shouldn't speak up on other issues happening across the world. He is a world leader. He's a head of state. The Church is located on every continent on the planet and the refugee crisis affects many Christians in the global south like South Sudan. \n\nWhat your argument amounts to is saying that because the Catholic Church failed to deal with the sex abuse scandal, therefore it should stop helping refugees. Where did the topic of sexual abuse even come from anyways when this article and the Pope's initiative is about helping refugees dying from Syria, Libya and South Sudan?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Have you considered joining the Catholic Church?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I certainly do not wish to imply anything adverse about Jewish religious practice but it strikes me as a liitle unhinged to be singling out Islam for its treatment of women when women in synagogues are required to sit apart, Roman Catholics require priests to be male, Fundamentalist Christians place males as the head of the household, etc. Remember that Charity is one of the Five Pillars of Islam given a more prominent place than in any other religion - and be more charitable.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ask a Catholic if they feel the same way. The holiday didn't change its meaning, society became more diverse.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mariotta is the real thing: A Christian leader. UH needs men like him on their bad team.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The stories of these young women leaves me with admiration for their willingness to suffer for their vocations and for the Church, with anger for their situation and with sadness that so much energy has to be wasted on the fight for women's ordination in the Roman Catholic Church. It is a struggle worth having--just ask the women in the Episcopal Church who went through similar struggles fifty years ago or the women who followed in their footsteps and benefited from their prophetic witness. I am one of the latter. Raised Roman Catholic, I finally realized that I did not want to spend my life being angry at being seen as \"less\" as a woman and at that decision point in 1977 I was barely aware that the call to ordained ministry was lurking in a corner of my heart and soul but I did know that the Roman Catholic church did not have a monopoly on the Holy Spirit, or the Gospel or the life of faith. I pray for these brave faithful young women and hope that those who have ears, hear.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sorry, but this is a most untraditional point of view--that the nature of the sacrament must be further defined before women are ordained deacon. \n\n\"True\" traditionalist stand for defense of prior tradition, and that prior tradition embraces without qualification the practices of the unified Christian Church prior to the Great Schism. And within that tradition, women were ordained deacons. In honorific listings, they were listed after male deacons but before sub-deacons; but within byzantine practice, the fact all deacons were ordained behind the inconostatis and with essentially the same epiclesis prayer is definitive of Cheirotonia versus Cheirothesia. \n\nRestoration of an established tradition, regardless of theological ambiguities about exactly what it all means, is, surely what we have a right to expect from true traditionalists, no? \n\nBTW, please elaborate on diaconal role in Tridentine ritual. Your description does not match my recollection of the missa solemnis. Much intrigued!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Negotiate in lieu of slaughtering millions, potentially billions, of people by nuclear war, YES. Trump has no concept of the worth of people unless they raucously support his mania, are billionaire friends, patronize his businesses or generally fawn over his wonderfulness. Someone should mention to him that hotel/golf bookings and his profits might diminish in the event of nuclear holocaust. (If you doubt his blatant unconcern for people, just look at his legislative proposals that, with the Republican majority, endanger the very health and life of those we as Christians are to cherish.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The cardinal in the strip is right--we are speaking different languages. Does anyone see how self-righteous it is to proclaim: \"I'm for mercy, you're not!\" ? Can you not see that mercy is not the opposite of clarity?\nThe cardinals were not asking the pope to renounce or denounce 'mercy'. But we live in a time when popes seem to think they can do anything they want: Pius IX got himself declared infallible, Paul VI presumed to invent a new liturgy and impose it on us. It\u2019s no wonder so many people, Catholics and non-Catholics alike, think the pope can wave his hand and \u2018change the rules\u2019, not only on matters of custom and discipline, but on fundamental aspects of the Gospel.\nThe cardinals were simply asking the pope to confirm that Jesus\u2019s words on marriage were not to be airbrushed away.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "great point bill - I think it is the end all statement. as well as what you have outlined...if there had been any way, any way at all, to discredit the fledgling christian splinter faction by the jewish powers that be (they were all jews still), it would have been to disprove this one thing - that the man known as \"jesus\" did NOT come back to life as a physical being. however....nothing. surely investigations and attempts to discredit the deed were done. nothing held up. and even the slightest hint that this \"rebirth\" did not happen would have been exploited , BLOWN up....and still used as argument to this day. this one thing speaks volumes for me.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "According to Galileu Magazine, Brazil has 125.5 million Catholics, 10,218 parishes, 298 bishops, 18,685 priests.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Probably because he's actually read the motion and knows that it's not exclusively about Islam. And that he has met many moderate Muslims who are able to make their own decisions about their religion just as Christians and Jews have done for centuries.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You would be correct except that many \"Catholic\" charities are actually charaities that are primarily funded by the government. I will repeat what I wrote elsewhere on this thread.\n\nRoughly 75% of Catholic Charities budget comes from government money (just one example of govt funded charities operated by the RCC).. The Catholic church competes with other groups for govt. contracts to operate various social services as charities, adoption agencies, etc. These Catholic church operated groups, funded by tax money, should not be exempt from whatever relevant requirements exist for non-Catholic organizations who are also government contractors The Catholic church is trying to have its cake and eat it - it wants the government money but also wants to be able refuse to comply with RFP requirements for government contracts for social services. No prob if the church doesn't accept tax money", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If Jesus himself taught this, why should true Christians not take him at his word, i.e., literally? In fact, when we put the passions aside, why isn't Christian teaching the most reasonable position to take? It avoids many huge problems: children out of wedlock; fatherless homes; the uncertainty of paternity; sexually transmitted disease; the de-linking of love and sex; the special-ness of sex with a spouse. Most of Western Civ., until recently, accepted that these factors outweigh the pleasure of extramarital sex.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yikes! I should think a good school could do both. But if what you say is true, that is a shame. At KS, we see rigorous standard education combined with cultural retention and cultural pride combined with Christian universalism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So Dylann Roof slaughters people at a bible study and you decide he's a Christian.\n\nOkey dokey . . .", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Monte - What do you mean when you say social justice is a category of reality? It's a conceptual reality - a very amorphous one at that. But a category of reality? UFOs are, in a sense, a category of reality - but only for those who believe in them. \n\nSocial justice as a concept and moral agenda has a very distinct history, with 19th Century roots. That elements of what we now refer to as social justice may be found in the Bible, the Constitution or the Declaration is really inconsequential, as elements of every imaginable social and political philosophy can be found in such documents. \n\nSocial justice does not necessarily result in communism. But what it does imclude - at least as I understand it - is a system of laws and regulations enacted and enforced by state police powers to achieve a preconceived notion of justice and fairness in the allocation of material goods and resources. \n\nDo you disagree? Where do you find endorsement of such a concept in Christ's life or words?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you think that the Thirty-nine Articles have been consigned to the dustbin of history, think again. For the vast majority of Anglicans they are still very much the founding principles of their form of Christianity. Anglo-Catholics were always a minority in the C of E and are now, thanks to modern developments in the C of E, a spent force within that body.\nDespite the vestments, incense and liturgy, Anglicanism is as Protestant as Lutheranism. The British Monarch is Head of the C of E and in the Coronation Oath swears among other things \"... to maintain the Protestant reformed religion as established by law.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They get them from the most backwards, christian areas like Simcoe, where they are already desocialized and isolated.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Part one of two) Trump stands for an America of the past\u2014Mario T. Garcia As an historian, I say be serious. Trump does not stand of an America of the past. Alternative facts.\n\nWe have to remain optimistic that this can be done and that it will be done.\u2014Mario T. Garcia. That is the Christian shtick, hope during disaster.\n\nI'm not sure how progressives challenge such a (Trump) world-view\u2014Elagabalus. I am sure the Christian philosophy here is to let truth determine politics, wherever truth may lead.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Another NCR column bashing Trump and everyone who voted for him. Wheee!\n\nI thought the name of this publication was \"National Catholic Reporter.\" Yet there is no reporting, little authentic journalism, and no opinions that reflect the majority of U.S. Catholics (as most voted for president-elect Trump) .\n\nJust a lot of professional religious people who are too small to admit they might be wrong, and too uncharitable to even bother to imagine the valid, Christian reasons for why their candidate of choice lost the recent election.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "According to the Gospel of Luke, even the Child Jesus \"grew in wisdom and knowledge\"\n\nHave you never grown in your own knowledge?\n\nIf Vatican 1 condemned that, they were condemning themselves for, I can only presume, they were trying to formulate a more perfect expression of what was 'true' than had their predecessors.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'd be tempted to re-jig it all and instead of a list, say \"wholism\" is actually the philosophy that binds major Adventist beliefs. \n\nWholism is the idea that Christianity was originally rooted in Hebrew culture, in contrast to later Gnostic-Greek ideas that would later distort the rest of Christianity. The Gnostics actually taught that the Hebrew God Yahweh was an evil lesser god, and the material created world evil or flawed. Gnostics were the \"anti-Christs\" Paul and John were talking about.\n\nAdventism is the most anti-Gnostic denomination today. We affirm the Creator and His Creation as good (Sabbath as memorial), rest as good (through the Sabbath), the human body as a unity (not something for an immortal soul to escape), that human functions are good (hence our health message), and have hope in a physical resurrection and new earth. \n\nI think a more philosophical or meta-narrative approach would be better to a laundry list that is getting longer by the year.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "PS...review your comment to Joan.\n\n\"He is saying to them, \"Go away. The Catholic Church in Springfield rejects you.\" Is that a Christian thing to do?\" Yet - you tell me to go away...among other really nasty things.\n\nDisgraceful and rather childish, John. And so typical of you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Strange. I just did a google search for \"rorate caeli racist,\" and no results showing evidence of alt right racism came up. Is google perhaps now secretly hardshell Catholic and in on the alt right conspiracy?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Am. Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI said the same thing. The U.S Conference of Catholic Bishops and Cardinal Dolan have said the same thing on Immigration. What do you mean \"leftist\" monologues. These are Biblical monologues on how Christians are suppose to treat the stranger, outsider and orphan in our midst. If you don't like that you don't like Christianity.....period.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "False. False, at least in this instance, Catholic do believe that the priest is the only one who can preside at Mass. Show me a Catholic who says otherwise and I'll show you a Protestant,", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pope Francis is a left-winger. Why are you so surprised? As the Catholic Church has become more liberal since Vatican II, more and more Catholics have left the Church. When the Church no longer bears decent fruit, people leave.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I always thought the core of Christianity was the Incarnation, not Passion-Resurrection or Pentecost (the holy day for institution-crats). But I have shifted the concept of the Incarnation as I have thought about it over my years. Jesus felt\u2014knew\u2014he was Child of God. But I think he thought we all should think of ourselves in the identical way, as Children of God\u2014which makes us all family. I don't think Jesus thought of himself as uniquely the Son of God. Just one among us billions. He preached so that people would share this view of how we relate to God, how we might think of God as a loving, understanding parent. But this idea was too radical for his followers, who misunderstood everything, just as they always do. So, in a repetition of history, they turned Jesus into another Golden Calf. (Many people just really want that Golden Calf.) But Jesus thought we all carry God's life in us. This is my current understanding.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1}Where did I ever mention \"school of philosophy\"? I am, obviously, referring to dogma, which is inherently consistent, i.e. \"assembly line\". 2} \"Dogma is a very small part of being Catholic\"? To the extent that if one rejects dogma, he is-- in point of fact--not a Catholic at all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is an idea called the \"Prosperity Gospel\", basically it boils down to, if you are rich, it is because God loves you, if poor, then it is due to you not being pleasing to God. I find it to be very anti-Christian, it seems to be against damn near everything I have read about Christianity, but many of the mega-church preachers teach this, or something very similar to it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They came here illegally because their Catholic leaders told them it was their right to do so. And it seems you're saying the same thing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are two very different groups of the so-called Pro-lifers -- there are true Pro-lifers. But the other group of those who call themselves Pro-life are really anti-abortion people.\nMost of the Pro-lifers are really anti-abortion, including nearly all of the American Catholic prelates. \nThat is what this article is trying to say. What we have to do is to always make this distinction in order to pierce thru their shell of falsehoods with a much more accurate truth. \nBY calling themselves Pro-life the Catholic bishops are 'hiding' behind a protective misdirection falsehood. The Repubs are doing the same. Another point is that this is much more about money and power than it is about Pro-life. They pound their message home, we do not. We do not endlessly repeat our messages of their being really about ONLY anti-abortion and money and power.\nAnd about the 'common good' the Right and the Religious Right are not at all about that!!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am not promoting division. If any of us brainstorm about how we identify (I am white, woman, middle-aged, English-speaker and Spanish-speaker, middle class, mother-sister-daughter, Latina-Irish-English-Italian-Cuban-Spanish, Catholic-raised, teacher, west-coast with mid-west and NY roots, straight, gardener, writer) we will find something we have in common. I think unity comes from celebrating what we have in common and our differences. It does not come from oppressing differences. Cuban-Americans, like Asian-Americans, like German-Americans, like Swedish-Americans, seem aware of their descent. Isn't it enough to say we are Americans without worrying about the fact that we have other identities, too? I mean, you identified me as being from the left, which means, I think, that you identify with the right. So you are a conservative American and I am a liberal American. These are real differences. We have in common American, and Oregon. Telling stories is inclusion, it is unity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\u201cThe government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.\u201d --John Adams", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wrong. Probably not a Christian. Such acts are condemned by every Christian denomination on earth. His religion was liberalism, plain and simple.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catechism of the Catholic Church is part of the Magisterium.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Someone explain to me how any Christian can be a Democrat today. The party is not the same one as it was 40 or even 10 years ago. The party's stated platform is in direct conflict with the word of God in so many areas that the Christian democrates are either ignoring the bible or ingoring the party's platform and beliefs.\n\nIt's not just Catholics, its anyone who believes the word of God is the truth. \n\nThank the Lord they are in the minority and pray that they stay there forever!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Always a dependable vote against free speech and dissent. Thanks Don. You show us the heart and soul of progressive Catholicism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hopefully, more than just the contraceptive mandate that upset so many, many religious leaders (apart from bishops), religious communities that sponsor Catholic universities, schools, hospitals, institutions in general. Your list, SmokeyMountainMornings, is on target (though I don't think they will get far with the new administration on the Israel/Palestinian issue [i.e., US support of a two state solution]. Trump has already promised [earlier, in his campaign] to recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital and move the US embassy to there from Tel Aviv). But thanks for the list!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Cardinals Blast Pope for Inviting Catholics to Ignore Matrimony\"\n\nOh, wait....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The longer this papacy continues the more I'm convinced that Benedict was booted merely for being too rigid in how he presented Catholic teaching. Francis was brought in not for a difference in his actual perspective from Benedict but to give the impression that there is the potential for change on certain matters.\nDiscussion makes liberals feel better, as they think they can debate away sin. Whereas Benedict would say, \"No discussion,\" Francis says, \"Let's look in to it.\" The outcome is/will be the same, but taking the ostensible rigidity out of it gives people hope and softens the outward appearance to the world.\nThis change in the doctrinal head will likely lead to no change at all.\"\n\nBingo !!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If religion does not belong in schools then take away the Saturday and Sunday as off days from curriculum. They were made off days to accommodate Christians (Sunday) and Jews (Saturdays) for their religious (Holy-days) to accommodate their prayer rituals. \nMuslims are only looking for one hour of time to pray on Fridays. They should the up the game and ask Fridays off and watch people go in a riot.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The problem with living your life according to bumper stickers is they may sound clever but are often based upon a faulty premise, as is the one you mention. Jesus and God are identical in what they say and do and are, thus cannot be divided as if they were. They don't tell us to be the best we can be, they tell us to live according to God's word. Pence's view is none of the things you ascribe to him. And neither God nor our Constitution say Christians should not be represented and active in our government, though I am sure you would prefer it. Never going to happen.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do you believe in the existence of God? If the answer is yes, then what scientific evidence or proof can you provide me that he actually exists? Are you an atheist, and if so why do you spend your time on a religious website? It is simply a matter of faith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A little background:\n\nhttps://www(.)futurechurch(.)org/brief-history-of-celibacy-in-catholic-church", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm a christian who also believes in science (they're not mutually exclusive)- cheers :)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I most definitely favour the Novus Ordo as an excellent reform of the Roman liturgy, Trindentine and earlier. In my opinion, the vast majority of the Novus Ordo changes are fully justified as required restorations on the INTERNAL EVIDENCE of the theological purpose of Christian public worship. For instance, from the very beginning in synagogue worship right on through the Tridentine liturgy, especially in it full Missa Solemnis form, it is obvious that the purpose of the Liturgy of the Word is for the Word to be proclaimed and responded to and explained to the holy people of God. On that internal principle alone, the shape of the Liturgy of the Word has been restored to a form that the apostles would recognize, and Christians from the 4th century onward would have found self-evidently meaningful.\n\nAs for the Byzantine Diving Liturgy, I accept the view of Dom Gregory Dix in \"Shape of the Liturgy.\" It's development did not begin to go off the rails until the 8th (Roman, after the 5th).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wonderful! That would certainly solve the dual problems of beginning the process of uniting Christianity after the \"modernizations\" introduced by Luther AND bringing women into equal voice and power in the Catholic Church. \n\nMore - this was a good laugh. \n\nI wonder how much of the fight against electing Hillary Clinton as president is really, deep down, moored in a feeling that women just really aren't supposed to be doing these leadership things.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part 2\nSo, the bishops of the world did not have any papal synods. Popes John Paul II & Benedict could meet with groups of bishops, but they didn't have to take their input. John Paul II pointed to collegial structures of the first millennium as a way for the church to approach the third millennium [in Ut unun sint 55-56], but he, himself made no attempt to establish such a synod.\n\nThe popes of the first millennium did not exercise a universal government of the whole church. the popes in their capacity as bishop of Rome and successor of Peter were the bond of communion for all the other local churches and a final court of appeal in major disputes. But they did not exercise the kind of centralized government of the whole church, especially as we witnessed during the pontificates of JP II and Benedict.\n\nThe first papal synods that we even had were with Pope Francis---who invited in input of lay Catholics from the parish pews. We need more.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholicism also used natural law and Aristotelian logic to determine its views. \nIt did not only accept Jewish law and Scripture.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That is not completely accurate.\n\nThere are a variety of views among the Orthodox. Because Orthodoxy does not see ancestral sin as an inheritance of guilt or a stain, the precise framing of the Catholic dogma really does not fit into the Orthodox theology of original sin.\n\nWhat Orthodoxy has not done is proclaim it a dogma.\n\n\u201cBut Orthodoxy does not admit in the all-pure Virgin any individual sin, for that would be unworthy of the dignity of the Mother of God.\" Sergius Bulgakov, \u201cThe Orthodox Church\u201d.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Old Soul: While it should be the role of every Christian to expose everybody to their beliefs and why they believe the way they do, it is not their role to force the belief on anybody. In other words, there should not be a theocracy. When I express my opinion, I am trying to expose you to my beliefs. Are you not doing the same? \nAs far inserting your belief into the lives of others, liberals have been much better at then conservatives, as of recent years. For instance, take a look at the same-sex marriage debate.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Obviously the turn out wasn't great with three times as many signs as people. A frontal photo would allow us readers to determine if it was closer to 15 protesters. It certainly doesn't appear as if there are 25 people in the photo, even adding the three who were elsewhere.\n\nHaving said that, the overall message is that we, the few, should dictate to the many, the women, on what they can and cannot do in making decisions that affect them and their families.\n\n\"THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH\" - Not sure as to the exact intent of this wacko phrase.\n\n\"THE GIFT OF GOD IS EVERLASTING LIFE THROUGH JESUS\" - I'm not sure Jesus would stand with this group.\n\n\"EQUAL RIGHTS\" - Unless of course you aren't white, a man, a citizen, rich, or a christian. \nSorry folks but I find most of these small groups to be unchristian, unforgiving and uninformed.\n\nRepublicans are against federal funding for any woman's health care services.\nWhy not make it mandatory to show political affiliation and post in public?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"We can then find the will and the words to confront our own prejudices and oppose the injustices we see.... \" Very good. I think working on our own defects before pointing out the defects of others is as good as the golden rule. Many on the left berate Christians or Christian beliefs. Maybe by taking a bit of your own advice and realize 'tolerance' is always a 2-way street. We may at times yield the right of way, but in the end, its still our choice and its still our lane.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"About\u00a0Jesus Christ\u00a0and the Church, I simply know they're just one thing, and we shouldn't complicate the matter.\"\n- Joan of Arc", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If by \"authentic Tradition\" you understand the pet theories of the Catholic ultra right, those days are over. This IS a New Year! At least you acknowledge that there's a priest shortage, even though it's not clear where your statistics are coming from!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\".... last year the United States has a 49% cremation rate \u2014 nearly double the rate from 2000. The rate is projected to hit 54% by 2020.\" Could it be that the Holy See wants to make sure that Catholic cemeteries don't lose revenue?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When will some brave hierarch call out Bannon - reportedly a Catholic - for his fascism, misogyny and racism?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No one stopped Breivik because he was on an isolated island with the only gun, against about a hundred unarmed teenagers. And believe me, he was and is condemned by Norwegians, both Christian and other. You didn't \"hear\" anything because you weren't listening.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The case was brought by a public school board after it had to close a 42-student rural school only to find the Catholic school board opening a 26-student Catholic school in the same small town. The town is Theodore. In 2006, it had a population of 339. It does not have a Catholic church.\"\n\nFor reasons that may be obvious to some, I find this paragraph troubling. My question: \n\nIf both boards operate under the purview of the provincial government, how is it that the public school, assuming the validity of the authors statement, did not know or accessed or been presented with the knowledge that the Catholic School Board was opening a School in the same town with a less enrolment?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So who would you have evangelicals vote or Jamie? Trump ...who is pro life, pro america, who may not fit your description of the perfectly religious Christian candidate or Hillary Clinton who has people killed who she thinks might expose her ongoing criminal enterprises, is pro abortion, etc etc etc etc ???\n\nI am perfectly happy to let God be the judge and try to stay clear of making these types of judgments myself because I like you know don't know these people well enough to comment on their personal relationship with God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Contest: \n\nWho will be the first to respond with \"\"Sister, ' (it'll be in quotes) are you marching this weekend too?\" a) Marty...b) Tridentinus...c) LifeoftheLay?\n\nAnd I would be curious to hear from 1) lay and 2) religious Catholic women and men who will have marched in both...only one...which one...neither. \n\nThe \"Why not both?\" question is, I think, a good one for all to consider.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "no answer from the christian hater.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I spoke about freedom of conscience in religious Orders/Congregations, which is scrutinised before the taking of First Vows and Final Vows. I didn't speak about diocesan clergy. I leave that to those who are aware of this particular situation. Oaths are not Vows, but I don't intend to dwell on the difference between them. This rose you speak about has lost its pleasant odour, in my opinion. Oaths, again in my opinion, aren't required in the Roman Catholic Church. Everything I have spoken about has personal experience to bolster it including Sr. Lucia and her Coimbran Carmelite Community, plus Carmelite life style and the ethos of the Carmelite Order worldwide. I'll end by stating that the taking of Vows, most assuredly, is NOT a contested issue. Again, I refuse to discuss this with you, because there is no point considering the fact that you believe you have all the answers. Consider this discussion to be at an end. 'Never the twain shall meet'.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would write: 'for \"Christians\" who might support Donald Trump'", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Or perhaps Catholics should be allowed to use the commandments and church teachings the same way the bishops are allowed to do, deciding on when they should, and should not be held accountable, based on their own consciences?\n \nAgain, all of this is in the context of a warning by Francis to avoid the virus of polarization. Seems to me that those who want to hold the door and invite those who disagree with what he believes to leave, while at the same time implying that the church is not badly hurt, are not hearing Francis. If you define \"church\" as the people of God, that exodus suggests many people have been hurt. And if one believes that the church is the institutional structure, the drop in numbers, the crisis in vocations, the closing of churches, and the continuing inability to address the scandal in a way that the rest of the world sees as positive, just and compassionate, suggests to me that the church is indeed badly hurt.\n\nBuild bridges, don't blow them up....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "you are always prattling on about our heritage, well communion in the hand was part and parcel of christianity from the beginning. did you know that when the Orthodox conduct the Liturgy of St. James, the rubics call for communion in the hand? \nhttp://britishorthodox.org/miscellaneous/an-introduction-to-the-liturgy-of-saint-james/\nhttp://britishorthodox.org/miscellaneous/the-divine-liturgy-of-saint-james/\n\n\"Then shall follow the communion of the people, which shall be ministered in the manner spoken of by St. Cyril, Bishop of Jerusalem : \u201cIn approaching therefore, come not with thy wrists extended, or thy fingers spread; but make thy left hand a throne for the right, as for that which is to receive a King. And having hollowed thy palm, receive the Body of Christ, saying over it, Amen.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "First, nice move Francis. The least you can do, I think. Keep 'em coming, there's still a long way to go in your wonderful campaign to convert Catholics to Christianity.\n\nSecond, a fascinating counter to the Burke-Chaput grumblers (and their sympathizers, God bless 'em every one). Francis gives his opponents nothing firm to push against, yet he advances and they retreat. Well played.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A group of ancient Irish (preceding Christianity) refused to practice human sacrifice and were as a result despised by other Irish. Were they Jewish or Jewish influenced? Apparently my ancestors were part of this group. There definitely was a Mideastern influence in Irish Christianity. But the story is confused, and many unproven speculations have been attached to this aspect of Irish history.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Anyone who refers to the Sacred Body of Our Lord Jesus Christ as \"the good Catholic bread\" obviously has an erroneous understanding of the Sacraments.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pope Francis should use his bully pulpit to begin a worldwide discussion of the problem of religious fundamentalism that has infected every religion and is responsible for most of the acts of terrorism we hear about on the news. He can start by plucking the beam out of Catholicism's eye and address fundamentalism in Catholicism before beginning a dialogue with Muslim leaders about their own brand of fundamentalism, which is responsible for most of the terrorist incidents around the world. I think there needs to be a pan-religious network of moderate faith leaders who can begin to confront the problem of religious fundamentalism, because it is only getting worse.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Proper canon law answer is that this rite is both valid and licit.\n\n In 2001, seven years after the Vatican's common declaration of faith with the (formerly Nestorian) Assyrian Church of the East, the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity issued its Guidelines for admission to the Eucharist between the Chaldean Church and the Assyrian Church of the East, in order to improve relations between Catholics and schismatics of the Chaldean rite. This document is most noted for its surprising affrimation of the sacramental validity of the Assyrian anaphora of Addai and Mari, a Eucharistic Prayer that does not literally recount the words of Christ at the Last Supper. The product of years of careful analysis, this declaration has been widely misinterpreted, though understandably, as denying the Church's millennial doctrine that the words of Christ spoken by the priest are the form of the sacrament that effects transubstantiation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of course, any acts of violence must be condemned but one can understand the outrage. Christians' Christmas and the Lord's prayer are banished from schools. Muslims are given prayer rooms.\n\nGive your heads a shake Trustees. On second thought, don't. The rattling will be too loud.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It appeared to be an initial filing commencing a lawsuit consisting of the allegations and the basis in law for relief.\n\nI have a read a few myself and this one doesn't stand out as \"amateurish\", let alone as one \"which has no place in any courtroom\".\n\nIn the interest of full disclosure, I have now and have never had a relationship of any kind with either party in the suit, nor with the USCCB, other than being a baptized Catholic.\n\nNow you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"This is not of Jesus, in my view, and it continues to frustrate the plan of God as stated in Genesis 1:26,27, where it says that God made women and men AT THE SAME TIME AND AS EQUALS IN GOD'S IMAGE.\"\n\nThen came the Fall and these words from our Creator in Genesis 3:16:\n\n\"I will make your pain in childbearing very severe; with painful labour you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic Church infallibly teaches that religious liberty is a basic right of all people. Thus, it follows that separation of church and state is also a good thing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have attended a Mass concelebrated by a Catholic priest and an Anglican priest.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"As a Christian, I believe that there is a creator in God who is much bigger than us. And I'm confident that, if there's a real problem, he can take care of it.\"\n\nTranslation: \"I don't believe in miracles, I rely on them.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "https://www.google.com/#q=how+many+books+of+the+bible\n\nThe Bible (from Koine Greek \u03c4\u1f70 \u03b2\u03b9\u03b2\u03bb\u03af\u03b1, t\u00e0 bibl\u00eda, \"the books\") is a collection of sacred texts or scriptures that Jews and Christians consider to be a product of divine inspiration and a record of the relationship between God and humans. Many different authors contributed to the Bible.\n.\nOf course, my friends, I really do not think that I have already won it; the one thing I do, however, is to forget what is behind me and do my best to reach what is ahead.-- from the 50th book of the Bible.\n\nAm I the 1 of the 100?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Time for Muslims t get with the program and understand that religion is not welcome as a mixture with other institutions, being political, educational, or commercial. You are free to pray for God in a setting that does not offend others, and where you do not give the impression that you have rights other religions do not. What if Christians decided to pray in schools?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When I was a kid I depended on school food. It wasn't because my parents were lazy. They were young and poor and had to work insane hours. \n\nImagine what someone like you sounds like to someone like them. Especially when you go around here touting what a good and true Christian you are.\n\nI don't care that I pay extra taxes to make sure kids can eat and give relief to hard working families. It's the right thing to do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ah, so you reject the magisterium's teaching on climate change and immigration. I always knew you were a Cafeteria Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually Andrew all christians that have ever been, have \"behaved badly\" thats why we believe we need a saviour / salvation. Which is ultimately a humble stance despite our sinfulness. I would suggest it is sometimes our zeal to share what we believe because of our faith in what it offers and our understanding of its eternal value that sadly is then misconstrued as \"ramming down others throats\" :(. As Onne said it is interesting how offended non believers always are by our faith / belief and the joy and fulfillment it brings us. There will always be some way for them to find fault no matter what we did or didnt do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Respectfully, you offer a non-answer; you specify no authority discrediting my proposition, whether on your own authority or on cited authority of Catholic philosophy or theology.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yep, and unity will demand that the Church change its approach to doctrinal consistency when science gives them their comeuppance.\n\nOn the side of reality, the United States is not a natural law republic. It is based on the deistic concept of natural rights, which is vastly different. Attributing natural law (with its papal authority component) to the founders is ahistoric because most of them considered the Pope anti-Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are joking right? Have you been in a Canadian public school or read the text books? They remain deeply steeped in the Christian ethos and Christianity is the assumed normal.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "i am not a Jew, i do not follow the rules of the Jewish people; i am a gentile; claiming to 'be a christian' (small c) means nothing unless you follow Him. and not all that say they are, are, so they are not.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mark went to Alexandria, which had a large Jewish community. No, he did not have to receive a Coptic language diploma to make himself understood. The first Christian communities outside of Israel emerged mostly in existing Jewish communities.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\". . . if LGBT people were permitted the kind of massive witnessing that has occurred in the Anglican communion, without fear of penalty or exclusion.\"\n\nIt is CONTRARY to Church teaching to penalize or exclude a Catholic merely for being homosexual. \n\n\"To commence the dialogue, the Church would have to stop firing and threatening people because such actions underscore that dialogue is off the table.\" \nBut the Church has no business in dialogue whose object is to make acceptable what thousands of years of Christianity --- as well as thousands of cultures --- have said is not acceptable.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Church is divided. Pope Francis is teaching the primacy of Mercy, which is another word for Love. There are other Cardinals who are more interested in the Law than Mercy.\nJesuit Father Lonergan also taught about the primacy of Love and St. Paul taught that Love was the fulfillment of the Law in Romans. \nWe need to refocus our energy and spirit on Love and Jesus. That means we are to care for others such as refugees, the poor, the sick, and the needy. \nWe also need to learn how to experience God through a close loving relationship that includes contemplative prayer. That is an important part of a genuine faith IMHO. \nThis should be part of the Catholic future.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wingnut Pastor Ignores Trump\u2019s Violent Tweet While Suggesting He\u2019s A Great Christian", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Far right wing conservatives are the enemy. Tell me, when did a moderate or conservative last speak to the graduating classes of schools like Bob Jones University, Liberty, or Colorado Christian? Why was it necessary for Roger Ailes to personally script the type and tempo of news appearing on Fox?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Is this another example of lying by the MSM to cover up Islamic radicalism?\n\nThis story claims that Farid Ikken, the terrorist screaming: \"This is for Syria,\" while trying to kill police at one Christianity's most-celebrated cathedrals, Notre Dame, was really just a nice chap: a medical student, a journalist, who liked red wine and was well-liked by friends and relatives who (Gee!) could just not understand how such a nice person could have done such a thing.\n\nFrance 24, the Daily Mail, et al have reported, by contrast, that Ikken told police he was a \"Daesh warrior\" and a video of Ikken pledging allegiance to Daesh had been found in his apartment. Also, these outlets claim that Ikken did not drink alcohol.\n\nIsn't this just another example of the lying progressive MSM promoting Fake News in an effort to promote their false narrative \nthat violent atrocities like the one which just took place at a holy site, Notre Dame Cathedral, are not really the result of Muslim extremism?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"At a time when the country desperately needs a strong moral voice, the united voice of the bishops is sidelined, fretting about things that don't matter and tepidly addressing the things that do.\"\n- I expect that you mean 'corporate moral voice'. However the strong moral voice, needs to come from catholic citizens, not bishops alone, and not by bishops posturing as if they speak for catholic citizens. The USCCB has already shown that it can be a 'moral voice' contra catholic citizenry in how they responded to the ACA. So, I am not sure that had there been a 'strong moral voice' from the USCCB it would do much good.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do they also cancel classes to facilitate Christian prayers? The answer is an unambiguous no, in every public school in the country.\n\nBut some Friday classes are cancelled to facilitate Islamic prayers.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I wouldn't call the western countries and several other secular non-western nations \"little corner of the world\". It just goes to show that even the people who say they are religious thankfully have a limit to their own religiosity. But yes, there are still some medieval theocracies out there....as there are local medieval Christian zealots ready to take us back there too....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How nice. I suppose we can expect similar articles at Ramadan, to wit: How a Jew celebrates, or, How a Christian celebrates?\nWhat's that, no way? Of course, bullies only feel comfortable attacking those it perceives as being weak. Way to go G&M.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "God bless you brother. I hope the message will touch the heart of my Catholic SDA brethren.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic hierarchy was an embarrassing Johnnie Come Lately when it came to the civil rights movement of the 1960's. They showed no moral courage at the time. Now is a time for them to redeem themselves by sponsoring a March Against Bigotry, Nazism, Racism, etc. and all of the bishops of the US should be in front of the march. Stand up and be counted bishops. Demonstrate some testicular stolidity.\n on behalf of justice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "To ordain married men, and refuse to ordain celibate women, would reinforce even more the patriarchal mindset, which is the last thing we need as the patriarchal era of human history passes away. This is not a matter of numbers. It is a matter of understanding the basic nature of the Church. The Church is essentially a communion, not a patriarchy. The Church is essentially \"one, holy, catholic, and apostolic,\" not essentially patriarchal. Prayers!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When did students start praying in school? I still remember all the fuss when they banned the Lord's Prayer.....have we now reversed our positon on banning religion from our public schools?\n--------------\nPosition not changed\nLord's Prayer, Christmas Nativity scenes still banned in public schools\n\nAnyone knows any public schools where there are evangelical Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Buddhist ...prayers?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "jcpro says: \"All the Administration needs to say is that the Christians are at higher risk of prosecution\"\n\n1. That's \"all the Administration needs to say\"? Wouldn't it be nice if courts worked that way.\n\n2. All the Christian refugee applicants are at higher risk than all the muslim refugee applicants? Ever heard of taking each case as it comes? \n\nBy the way, Laurence Tribe says the First Amendment, not the 14th.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Here we have the fundamental problem with your fideism. You think you can belong to a Catholic Church that has no mystery, that does not know any ambiguity. But that is not Catholicism.\nProtestants are our separated brothers and sisters, they are part of the Church. We cannot simply reject what they have worked out in their relationship with God without denying that their God is our God, without professing there is not one God but two.\nWhen you can show some of the struggles with loving, eg the pain of losing a companion\u2019s support from the Church, you aren\u2019t going to be respected much. We will see you as in the Church, but only in a bodily way. Your words will ring jangled and harsh and hard to believe.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have concelebrated with two RC priests, two Episcopal priests, two Old Catholic priests and my former Old Catholic bishop.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Saudi Arabia ,Bahrain , Kuwait , Qatar and Oman have not taken any Refugees - they call them Terrorists!\n Refugees coming to Canada should be prepared to return home when hostilities cease .\nRefugees from the middle east that follow Islam will never integrate into our Judeo/Christian society and therefor would be happier with their own kind .\nOne should look at Europe if you have any doubt .", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And doesn't this \"ending on an individual basis\" tell us something very important about our relationship with Jesus Christ and \"the main thing\" of our lives? We must constantly be seeking Him, reconciling our will and actions to His will and word. Part of the Psalm from today's Mass says \"seek to serve him constantly.\"\n\nI'm not interested in reading Garry Wills; he's a popular author to be sure, especially among people prone to dissent and unfaithfulness; he's a writer, not a scholar, not a linguist, not a theologian, not a philosopher, not a metaphysicist. \n\nIf he is a believer, it's hard to know it by his \"fruits\", since his fruits aren't leading to unity and peace, but instead to more division and doubt. \n\nIn the words of Jesus - given to us at today's Mass: \"A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wrong. The Roman Catholic Church was the overall leader in Europe at the time, using its Religious authority to sanction the Political (it forced Henry II, King of England to do penance for the death of Thomas Beckett in 1174). The Church inherited what was left of the Western Roman Empire and reconstituted it as the Holy Roman Empire in 800 AD. The Church used its influence to recover Christian sites in the Middle East from the Muslims who wrested it from the Eastern Roman Empire in 639 AD. That area had been in Roman / Christianized Roman hands since 37 BC.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In Judeo-Christian-Islamic system inherently draws a line between believers and non-believers. It is so strongly held in the Islamic faith; hence millions -- in the Balkans by the Ottoman and the marauding forces from the Arab world into the sub-continent to far-East-- were commanded and demanded into the faith system. And millions fell to the sword as noted above. German people did that only 80 years ago by just believing a Jew- the Christ and disbelieving the other Jews. And the Jews not believing Him. Essentially all religions have loaded the societies with untold hardship.\n\nBut here we are now - a modern world. Keeping the scorecard is not going to bring peace. However, adherents of Islam insisting on their total acceptance whilst retaining them to be in a closed society within an open society is inherently built with fault-lines. Great minds have to bring some sanity for the future.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You mean \"Anti-Christians.\" Christ in the Christian Bible actually taught the opposite of the bigoted attitudes represented in this article's poll. He would have both given fish and taught fishing, or whatever metaphorical equivalent to both generosity and mind-expansion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "people leave the Catholic Church because they haven't been taught, or haven't learned how to grow interiorly.\n\nThey don't have a lively interior life.\nThey want \"to be fed\" vs. carry the cross with Jesus.\nThey're fundamentally disgruntled consumerists, who want things their way, not all, but by and large.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The apocalypse predictions are centuries old. They used to be pushed by Christian fanatics. \n\nToday, they are pushed by the climate fanatics.\n\n But, I won't see the end of civilization as we know it, and based on the best consensus science available today, neither will anyone else currently alive--no matter what we billions of people on earth do or don't do!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm failing to see how offering free housing to the homeless is \"Pseudo Christianity\". \nIn addition to that, I fail to see where politics were mentioned at all in this article. Perhaps you should realize that calling anyone who does anything good for the community \"liberal\" doesn't make you look good. Even if your claims about Oregon liberals are true, this church sure as heck didn't have a hand in that process.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "JPII was wrong. Jesus did not \"ordain\" anyone to be a Roman Catholic priest. Why on earth would you, of all people, want to demonstrate so clearly how wrong JPII was in this matter by reproducing the quote?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Unlike many, I've actually been to Burma (now called Myanmar) a number of times.\n\nThe level of hatred by the Buddhist majority (88% of the population) against the Rohingya is unparalleled in the universe. There is no chance the Buddhists will ever allow the Rohingya to live in peace, and the Rohingya can't stand up for themselves as they represent only 4.3% of the population.\n\nOnce the Rohingya are gone (either killed, or fled) the Buddhists will start in on other groups like the Christians (6.2% of the population) and the Hindus (0.5% of the population) and other minorities.\n\nThe Burmese Buddhists just don't want anyone else there. Full stop.\n\nBurmese State Counselor Aung Sung Suu Kyii has little power there and she has even less power over the Burmese military. If she speaks out too loudly, she'll simply disappear and no one will ever see her again. The West should stop pissing on her, as she can still facilitate some matters for aid organizations working in the country.\n\nCheers! JBS", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"What will happen at the Vatican when Trump meets Pope Francis?\"\nAnswer: Both men will behave themselves.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hate isn't Christian, and Jesus wasn't white.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "no james. we will judge Christ and Christians by the writings of the New Testament- and Muslims by their book(s).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, it isn't funny, since it is something he does with regularity, Do you know what it means? (Why do I sometimes feel that logic and rhetoric are two subjects that conservative Catholics avoid.?)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "God is love, therefore, if God's love is conditioned his existence is conditioned. Jesus taught that he loves us with the same love the Father has for him and commands us to love as we are loved. This is the new command of the New Testament and if you think that is a \"defined down ' demand of Christianity\" I would suggest there is no greater demand than to love as we are loved.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They do not explicitly say that balancing justice and mercy is an error. However, it is implicit in their \"question\". To certain people, the thought that people should go unpunished is wrong. Otto von Bismarck is believed to have said, \"it is better that ten innocent men suffer than one guilty man escape.\" \n\nI know nothing about the men personally, but Burke et al seem to find the thought of the divorced and remarried going to communion to be personally offensive. Personally, I find the attitude of refusing mercy to be offensive.\n\nOn another wholly unrelated subject, you praised my son for \"respecting the law\" on divorce an remarriage. He does not respect that law. He LEFT the Catholic Church because of that law. It would be like saying that Jews who left Germany in the 1930s \"respected\" the Nuremberg Laws.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Catholic religious of the East 'need to adopt a lifestyle that is more like Eastern religions: simplicity and veneration of nature.' \"\n\nSome this adoption is already occurring. In India, there are several Christian ashrams, like Sacchidananda/Shantivanam Ashram: http://saccidanandaashram.com/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "WELL SAID!! Christianity has a few good voices after all---Crying in the wilderness, as is their wont.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bible-thumping is defined as being aggressively evangelical. I have never met an evangelical who wasn't horrified at the prospect that helping the poor was an obligation or that forgiving one's enemy actually meant one's enemies.\n\nThe social gospel was a completely different movement.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Neoclassical economics is not the enemy. Human nature is not the enemy. The PATRIARCHAL culture of phallocentric idolatry is the enemy; and RELIGIOUS PATRIARCHY is the worst of all enemies, because it images God as a DOMINANT MALE (sometimes merciful, but always dominant). Not that this is an exclusively Catholic issue, since most religious institutions are deeply patriarchal as a consequence of original sin (Genesis 3:16). But the Catholic Church DOES CONTRIBUTE to perpetuate this misery by resisting the ordination of women to the priesthood and the episcopate. In light of the Christian Gospel, the USA should have OPEN BORDERS. All countries should have OPEN BORDERS. In particular, ITALY should have OPEN BORDERS. Millions of migrants from Africa and other regions, camping around the Vatican, would be a salutary reminder that, in matters of human sexuality, some radical \"doctrinal development\" is required, and sooner rather than later. Study the THEOLOGY OF THE BODY!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "On the contrary, scattering ashes is the most respectful thing to do and fully in keeping with the Christian faith. My opinion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Now, Pandora, is it possible for you and the rest of us to integrate what Pope Francis HAS said and shown us since the very hour of his election about Church teaching? What you have been presenting is as polarized as those you so sternly respond to, and it seems to me that you need to be dragged back to the middle as much as you admonish. What I think the \"middle\" involves is identifying and then putting into pastoral action what is at the essence of a teaching, the innate spiritual and inspired practice of the Faith. To read it only \"dogmatically\" is the source of rigidity and frankly, a dragging the rule away from being Christian at all. So, what I argue for here is that discernment of the intent of a teaching, and exploring that together, is what Jesus would have us do. Many, many times you present it as a civil law that carries a penalty of imprisonment. That is not at all what Christ had in mind, then or now.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There lies our problem. The Catholic faith has seven sacraments, with reconciliation being of great importance. This belief has nothing to do with traditional or progressive beliefs, but is at the core of our Catholic faith. If you are a practicing Catholic and dispute the requirement of Confession to a Priest, then I question if you truly practice the Catholic faith, but a hybrid Protestant faith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sometimes I wonder why we think we had to be spared from all the heart-aches and difficulties we had to bear...and this just brings it to the forefront, that Jesus' life-story continues to unfold even in our times. Pat Marrin, thank you for sharing this. God bless you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No I won't keep that in mind, Pandora, without full context. I can think of multiple understanding of the Eucharist in our historical past that I would expect you to reject as heterodox. Proclamation of the \"reality\" of Christ in the Eucharist has multiple expressions of meaning depending on one's philosophical understanding of reality. Transubstantiation presupposes Aristotelianism, and that is not part of revelation in anyone's accounting.\n\nBut more to the point, historical wisdom about our Catholic past is not confined to orthodox Christians, however one defines orthodoxy. Bart Erdman, for instance, is a biblical scholar who has long given up the Chirstian faith, but he is still a helpful read if one wants to enter more deeply into the mentality of those who first read the NT.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A Protestant, although a Georgetown Prep graduate. Currently the court is 100% Jewish/Catholic. Our separated brethren are making a comeback!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And I choose to respond to this one, too....\n\nAs I read the entire thread again, I have to admit I didn't realize two things....\n\n1). That comments concerning me, comments made about me, are supposed to be none of my business;\n\n2). That certain comments made to another are private and not part of open discussion.\n\nGlad to see you have decided to talk about me but not with me. Is that a Christian position or a liberal one?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Legality can be an objective fact, but sinfulness is not. You clearly were not present in Catholic school when loopholes were taught.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "YES! I'm with you! It's time for us all, and for all churches, to join around life's common camp fire - what is truly 'catholic light' - and contribute to it the warm spark that is our personal consciousness.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part 1 extended\n\nJesus did not come to change the mind of God about humanity (it did not need changing)! Jesus came to change the mind of humanity about God. God\u2019s abundance and compassion make any scarcity economy of merit or atonement unhelpful and unnecessary. Jesus undid \u201conce and for all\u201d (Hebrews 7:27; 9:12; 10:10) all notions of human and animal sacrifice and replaced them with his new infinite economy of grace. Jesus was meant to be a game changer for religion and the human psyche.\n\nThis grounds Christianity in love and freedom from the very beginning; it creates a very coherent and utterly attractive religion, which draws people toward lives of inner depth, prayer, reconciliation, healing, and universal \u201cat-one-ment,\u201d instead of mere sacrificial atonement. Nothing \u201cchanged\u201d on Calvary but everything was revealed\u2014an eternally outpouring love. Jesus switched the engines of history: instead of us needing to spill blood to get to God, we have God spilling blood to get to us!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "> Yes and no. Popes typically did rule as absolute monarchs.\n\nThere may have been some that tried, but they are the exception, not the rule. The office itself is not an absolute monarchy.\n\n> And the word for what you are describing is \"oligarchy\".\n\nNo. I'm not. I'm disproving by example. Not providing a new concept.\n\nIf I was to describe the structure of the Church, the nation state of Vatican City is certainly a theocracy. The Catholic Church is not strictly a theocracy, nor is it an oligarchy as no one or group of people in the Church Militant has absolute power over the faith or the faithful. The episcopate are shepherds, not rulers.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic Church, and co-litigants from other brands of superstition, took that argument all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada and lost. \n\nNewfoundland and Labrador voters twice voted to replace the discriminatory Church Run but Public Funded Denominational School System with a modern Secular School System. \n\nClerics greedy for cash and control of schools tried to overturn the clear result of 2 referendums on the issue. \n\nhttp://www.heritage.nf.ca/articles/society/collapse-denominational-education.php\n\n\"The Roman Catholic Church challenged school reform at both the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and the Newfoundland Court of Appeal, but court rulings invariably upheld the constitutionality of the revised Term 17.\"\n\nIn any case I remember Pierre Trudeau telling British legislators \"hold your nose if you have to, but pass it\". Even he knew that the repatriation blurb had defects.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "U C: I'm a \"very comfortable in my beliefs\" agnostic. I don't engage in debate with Christians for one reason: I don't feel it's my place to cause people to abandon a belief system which (so long as it hurts no one else) makes them comfortable with their lives. I've seen drug addicts and long-time felons \"find Jesus\" and change their lives... That's great. I would never want to interfere with that change. If you're a Christian, and itseems you are, fine. I hope you find comfort in your beliefs and I hope they make you a \"better\" person. IMO, there are many many paths to being a \"good\" person. Christianity can be one of them....I say \"can\" because I know and know of many professed Christians who are, simply put, pretty nasty people. I also know both athiests and agnostics, as well as others with different religious beliefs who are fantastic people. Christianity doesn't \"guarantee\" you will be a \"good\" person...and the lack of it doesn't guarantee \"Not Good.\" Gary Crum", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, I am a Catholic who is getting rather sick and tired of anti-Catholic postings that don't advance Catholic discussion.\n\nAnd all you\u2019re demonstrating is that you\u2019ve been propagandized.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Just another example of the dis-respect that is encouraged and fostered by the elite leftists, academia and pop culture wanna-be's toward anything traditional. It pains the left to no end to hear a traditional anthem with the word god included as it forces them to acknowledge for all their disdain and arrogance toward it, Canada was actually built on the foundation of Christianity. Even I can admit that and I am an atheist.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And it is the sanctimonious attitudes of you and your ilk that explains why the fastest growing adherence is to \"none of the above\". The KKK is a Christian organization.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In truth, the bishops have had to hire lawyers to protect themselves from the scandal of abuse caused by their Christian attempts to protect the church from scandal by covering up priestly abuse and allowing priests to prey upon children. Jesus would most certainly expect them to lawyer up and defend themselves no matter the cost. After all, he did so even though he was innocent. How much more important for the Holy-Spirit chosen bishops to do so when, by any human standard of decency, they were guilty. Although, as you no doubt are aware, bishops are God's moral authority on earth, so they determine what standard of decency applies to any given situation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of course it is a good idea. It affirms our Catholic belief in the sanctity of life.\n\nThe Catholic effort is not funded by fees or taxes but is provided by the Catholic cemeteries and the dioceses involved.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Gary, I hope you did not get me wrong. I do believe morality does exist without religion. \nA question I would post to religious people who DO believe religion is necessary for morality to exist: Does that belief violate any Christian precepts? Isn't it up to their God to decide what is moral?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My understanding of Archbishop Chaput is that he plays two distinct roles. He is Bishop of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. And he is a conservative Republican spokesperson. His comments on Catholic Philly did express doubts about DT's character and he repeated slanders about HC, suggesting much more than baggage.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree Dejain. The caveat I might add is that there are many Christians who also want a separation of church and state but for different reasons perhaps? I read many church leaders who have no intention of making references to political issues even under new looser guidelines. \n\nWhy create partisan tensions when your message is about finding a more generous love for others, including those quite unlike you. That's not the goal of all church's, but I can tell you it's one of the goals of many church's. *Pat Robertson is not speaking for all Christian teachers by any means. \n\nWhile you are rightly concerned about the political system being coopted by a particular Brand of church, some churches are equally concerned about mixing messages of human political and eternal kingdoms being of equal value. \n\n Church's will continue to message their congregational values and those can influence their political bias. No rule of separation can legislate one's thinking.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The \"sense of faith\", so loudly proclaimed by dissenters, actually refers to faithful Catholics who accept the precepts of the Church and her teachings.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus did heal on the Sabbath and engaged any number of other actions deemed sinful by the official hierarchy of his time. He was not an all or nothing, black and white Jewish believer. One could say He had the capacity to be a relativist.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am very Christian and the very reason I don't want it dragged into this. it's irrelevant.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's never Christian to lead someone to conclude a falsehood, especially for the sake of emotions!\n\nThere is no charity outside of truth.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "God is calling you to be more Christian. She asked be to write it out because you arn't listening.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"God accommodates the seeker in whatever guise he/she seeks...\" A new friend of mine shared the following story recently and it has haunted me ever since. My fine friend was a cradle Catholic in a Mid West city. As a grade schooler he recalls visiting the local museum romping through the galleries with the other little boys and always coming to a screeching halt as he entered a room featuring a massive figure of Buddha. Each time he was awed by that presence. As an altar boy, he suffered the unspeakable trauma of being molested by a parish priest. Fast forward to his years as a Marine in Vietnam; trudging painfully down a trail one day carrying rifle & double ordinance over his shoulders, surrounded by death and bombardment, in the depths of fatigue & despair. (Needless to say, his Catholic background was not a comfort!) Looking up he saw coming toward him Gautama Buddha exuding a love toward him that he had never experienced in his entire life. He is now a practicing Buddhist.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But that's not just looking at it; it's also meditation and contemplation. No problem with that.\nA local young priest did just that at an adoration session after Mass - silent contemplation. The PP however told him he had to have Litanies and Blessed Sacrament hymns as well!\nMaybe one reason why Eucharistic processions dropped out of favour with most Catholics in the 1970s is because they realised that V2 was challenging them to have a deeper understanding of the Real Presence. Up to then, the processions were seen as the peak expression of the real presence (something not intended by the Mediaeval prelates who came up with the practice).\nBTW it is thought that Pope John Paul II wanted to declare that Mary was physically present in the Eucharist at the Consecration, not just Jesus. Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict) told him that that was theologically unsupportable. Benedict clearly has a better understanding of the Real Presence - not surprising given his theologian background.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And, to be fair, Catholics have gone beyond fundamentals to argue--and knowingly divide--about things like sexuality and liturgy.\n\nBut the question is how do you two handle the disagreements about non-fundamentals. \"Get out\"? \"I'm outta here\"?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am an agnostic. Have been since college (50 years ago). But religion has been my main interest since that time too, along with all the sciences. //// I'm pretty sure a God exists, but I would hesitate to define God. What Christian, Jews, Muslims, etc., have done is create a God in their own image and likeness. Because I think, with the Taoists, that \"The God that can be spoken of is not God.\" The best we can know about God is from a good (basic) book re physics. As a Franciscan I knew in HS used to always say (and he was very old and quite wise): \"All I know about God is that he loves babies.\" It took me a few years (of growing up) to realize that he was speaking about everything wants to replicate itself and live. Even The Universe is expanding, stars are 'born' every day -- EVERYTHING wants to stay alive, grow, replicate,'continue'.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Murder is caused not by guns but by vice.\nVices exist on \"opposite\" sides of a virtue, either insufficiency or excess.\n\nSo he must reintroduce virtues into the Catholic School system..and while demonstrating this he should use his influence to show how the public schools can do the same without any threat of \"church state\" issues. Virtues are part of natural law.\n\nVirtues are habits of doing good and avoiding evil.\n\nBut it needs to focus on the harder virtues...the ones that hurt...and cause \"growth inside\", such as patience, diligence, exactitude, industriousness, cheerfulness, generosity, order, responsibility, initiative, temperance, and full and good use of freedom.\n\nHe could examine the Midtown Center's success over 50 years in Chicago with largely inner city, and at risk children. It's gotten very good results, just with after school programs and some weekend programs, for pennies. \n\nhttp://www.midtown-metro.org/video-gallery/\n\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MjCD6mRb_M", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Progress of Catholic schools versus Progressiveness", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't believe for one moment that 77% of Canadians are Christian, at least not practising Christians! Even among practising Christians, those that believe in Creationism are probably in a small minority. People probably get dumped into the Christian pot by StatsCan when they don't profess another religion or atheism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Good Afternoon Pandora,\n\nI believe an excellent critique of the problematic 2011 translation was made by Bishop Donald Trautman at Catholic University on Oct. 22, 2009. He is currently Bishop Emeritus of the diocese of Erie, PA. When I was in minor seminary, I live in Bishop Trautman's dorm and he was my spiritual director at St. John Vianney Seminary in E. Aurora, NY (now Christ the King Seminary). I was also his student. He was brillant, considreed conservative at the time, and a true son of the Church.\n\nBishop Trautman earned an STD and SSL from the Catholic University of Leuven and was the chairman of the UCCB's Committee on the Liturgy. I strongly recommend reading his lecture at the link below.\n\nhttp://catholicview.typepad.com/files/trautman-mcmanus-lecture.pdf\n\nPeace!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A Merry Christmas message from the friendly Muslim Brotherhood to their Christian brothers.\nHow nice...\nLooking forward to seeing our brave and righteous PM visiting a Coptic church in show of solidarity..........", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nope. Sermon of the Mount. He fulfilled the criteria for the Judaism covenant and began a new covenant, called Christianity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Another try, for clarity's sake:\n\nIt begins with the oft disputed foundation of the US as a Christian nation, alluded to in the Figueroa's third sentence and proceeds from there. \nAs a Baptist, Carter would be a more likely ally of Stewart than Reagan, who was nothing like a Fundamentalist. \nThe characterization of a conflated \"Evangelical Right\" fails to realize the differences exist, expressed in \"Christian Right\" or even the \"Catholic Right\". Everything is summary, and the sketch of how faith meets politics among these different groups is treated as actually equal.\nAlthough it is part of the title, \"Catholic Integralist\" is used only twice in the article with no explanation. One is left to conclude that any on the Catholic Right is in league with the Evangelicals and all that implies.\nIn short, I find its premises, argument, and conclusion so facile as to be deceptive. Either the author and editor weren't up to the task of analysis or are dishonest. In charity, I say the former.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You love thy enemy by warning them when you see them blindly following someone off a cliff. To be Christian is not to be silent or uncritical. That would not be showing love. Jesus was very un-civil at times when He criticized the Pharisees and called them \"hypocrites\" and \"son's of the devil\" and a \"brood of vipers\" He threw out the money changers in a rather John Wayne-like way, as they were defiling His House.\n Love is everything you quoted above and more. Criticism might offend, but it may save a life. Jesus said, \"I desire mercy and not sacrifice\" I love Hillary Clinton as a person and Christian, but I hate what I see her doing and saying. She is leading many to a cliff. I hate fascism not fascists. I hate lying, not liars .etc...\n\n I won't cite my references or Bible verses. You've proved you know where to find them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholic Charities = Democrat Party = ORGANIZED CRIME ... !!!\n\nShaking out billions of tax-dollars at gun point.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As far as we Catholics are concerned adhering to the teaching of Vatican II, they are 'ecclesial' (church-like) communities, not actual churches.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "She should also be invited to come back again the following week for a redundant visit to see the Catholic school system.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "RangerMC, For your information, the founding documents include the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. There are references to God in the Declaration of Independence, but not specifically the Christian God. It could be the God of any or all religions. By the way, you still haven't provided a single quote from any of the Founding Fathers saying that our country was founded as a Christian nation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Evangelical Christian?? Is this like the same people who are advising Trump to nuke NK?\nHe made his bed - we shouldn't pay a dime if he doesn't want to sleep in it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The truth and facts are not Christian anymore? We are talking about the Military, not some dissident Church group.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is no \"intra-cult squabbling within the larger Abrahamic context..\" There is no \"larger Abrahamic context\". Islam is NOT Abrahamic regardless of the bogus claim of mo hammed that Abraham was the 1st muslim...islam did not exist even in mo's fevered psychotic mind until approx 700 yrs AFTER the spread of Christianity. Any intra cult squabbling is among muslims (there are many cults within)who kill each other over it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Should we ever meet, my question to you: How could you vote for a candidate who supports abortion on demand?\n\n\"The Church teaches that abortion or euthanasia is a grave sin. The Encyclical Letter Evangelium vitae .... states that there is a \"grave and clear obligation to oppose them by conscientious objection. [...] In the case of an intrinsically unjust law, such as a law permitting abortion or euthanasia, it is therefore never licit to obey it, or to 'take part in a propaganda campaign in favour of such a law or vote for it\u2019\". Christians have a \"grave obligation of conscience not to cooperate formally in practices which, even if permitted by civil legislation, are contrary to God\u2019s law. Indeed, from the moral standpoint, it is never licit to cooperate formally in evil. [...] This cooperation can never be justified either by invoking respect for the freedom of others or by appealing to the fact that civil law permits it or requires it\". (Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\u201cParishes are nothing more than communities sent on a mission and there are clear signs, through the community, they are called to endure,\u201d he (Bishop Thomas Dowd) said.\u2014Alan Hustak, Catholic Register Special. On the other hand, \u201cBlessed be the LORD who has given rest to his people Israel\u201d (in this case people serving in an administratively dysfunctional monarchal church), \u201cjust as he promised\u201d (1 Kings 8:55). \u201cRiches and honor are from you\u201d rather than from middle-class Catholics contributing 1% of their income to dysfunctional folly. \u201cJesus said to his disciples: `Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you\u2019\u201d (Matthew 7:7). In other words, think and do not tolerate rigid pay-pray-and-obey dysfunctional practices. Liturgy of the Word, Readings 943, 945, 947, in Thanksgiving to God: In Various Public Circumstances.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is not the only Christian answer.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That Catholic adherents are contributing to this fund is laudable -- but should have been unnecessary. \n\nThe bottom line is that the religious in question worked for the institutional church. It is the institutional church that is responsible for them in retirement. And I suspect only a small part of the Vatican's wealth would be required.\n\nThe donations are better spent on destitute, and/or ill, and/or homeless, and/or uninsured, and/or otherwise needy individuals who do not have a financially sound institution on which to rely.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Monica, I quite agree! If Catholicism is to survive in a meaningful way for the educated Catholic, then we must have such a synod to really bring about the changes needed in infantile clerical mind that is filled with so much omniscience. I am not certain who should call such a synod as I believe that the laity itself has the responsibility to do so...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Civility standards are what drives comments like yours away - and for very good reason. What are you even doing here? This is a progressive Catholic website and all you offer is talk in sin. Would you simply back out the door you came in? I think you made a wrong turn in the outer hallway.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You might be interested in reading about domestic hate groups this militia is associated and promotes not only hate with Anti-government but hate towards many Americans. Militia extremists hate groups \"are responsible for more killing of Law enforcement Officers than any other group\"... \"Southern Poverty Law Center\". Support Law Enforcement, it's isn't always perfect but it protects our rights. There are many of these militia groups all across the United States they are heavily armed hate group extremists who smear the idea of patriotism and Christianity into an unrecognizable form to serve their needs. You do know that the constitution they talk about is one they've written, and their god supports them with the action they've taken. Intelligent or intellectually limited all these militia's attract a very dangerous group of people with crackpot ideas. Please don't feel sorry for them they have chosen the path they have taken that could limit your rights and mine.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Is Bannon a cultural Catholic or one of conviction?\nIf he receives parish envelopes, the latter; if not, the former.\nOne of the 5 precepts of RCC is to support the church by supporting the pastor.\nIs SB registered in any parish?\nIf registered, envelopes are mailed.\nIs there any record of his support of his pastor?\nI'd vote he's a cultural Catholic.\nLike Bridgit Bardoe when asked what religion she belonged to, respond, \"Catholic, What else is there in France?\" Cultural.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You can't keep vilifying a U.S. president and the million of Catholics who voted for him in the most extreme measures there are, without some of your sponsors pulling the plug.\nDon't doubt me on this.\nSUPPORT FREE SPEECH -- I DON'T CENSOR YOU, DON'T CENSOR ME.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Scrupulosity is the bain of the Roman Catholic Church. Always has been.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why would Christians do this?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Human Development through Scripture Rohr\nSunday, September 10, 2017\n\u00a0\nThe Hebrew Scriptures are divided into three major sections: the Torah, the Prophets, and the Wisdom books. Theologian Walter Brueggemann observes that these three excellently represent the development of human consciousness itself. [1]\nThe Torah (the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) gave the Israelites the Law and a sense of their chosenness. For natural and healthy self-development, any culture or family follows a pattern of first providing structure, which develops identity, boundaries, and self-worth as beloved and special. It is easiest to start with an initial sense of \u201corder,\u201d as even educators now recognize\nThe books of the Prophets represent the birth of good and necessary critical thinking. Without it, we remain far too self-enclosed and smug. The lack of healthy self-criticism within both Judaism and Christianity shows how little attention we\u2019ve paid to this part of Scripture.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "2/2 (Bishop McElroy, cont'd.)\n\nThis duty has been violated by one of our parishes, and thus it is essential to make clear: \n\nIt is contrary to Catholic teaching to state that voting for a Democrat or Republican automatically condemns the voter to hell;\n\nIt is contrary to Catholic faith to state that gun control legislation is a form of slavery;\n\nIt is contrary to Catholic faith to fan the flames of hatred against Muslims or any religious group.\n\nThe United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has issued a comprehensive statement on the substantive implications of Catholic faith for the current election.\n\nIt can be accessed at http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/faithful-citizenship/index.cfm. I urge all Catholics to consult these teachings, pray about the vote that you are going to make, and then in conscience select the candidates whom you are going to vote for in this very difficult year.\u200b", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Alicia's lamentation is based on the faulty theory that there are \"basics\" and that they are \"knowable\" (my emphasis, not hers). \n\nThe problem is that all religious discourse is based solely on opinion. There is no authoritative final word that defines \"basic.\" That scuttles \"basics,\" renders \"knowable\" null and void. In general, every Christian doctrine was hashed out over several thousand years by the Catholic Church. Christ never proclaimed a doctrine. \n\nSo, there are no \"basics.\" At its gestation, Adventism tried to establish a basic understanding, just for the end of the world. The Three Angels Messages, the Spirit of Prophecy, and the Faith of Jesus was the presumed authority. But it failed in its entirety because it is an impossible task. The precepts were just faulty opinions, because that is the nature of human conjecture.\n\nGoing back to basics can't be done. Just the ones you \"like.\" So it\u2019s only a quest for consensus agreeable with yours, an impossible dream.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In the Dufferin-Peel Catholic School Board, high schools are open to all students regardless of religious affiliation. At the elementary level however the student or a parent have to be Catholic. According to their website in order to register your child in elementary school you are required to provide proof of baptism.\n\nOriginal Roman Catholic baptismal certificate - For child and/or parent/guardian. Includes baptismal certificates from an Eastern Church in full communion with the Holy See of Rome. If the child has not been baptized, and the parent/guardian is a baptized Roman Catholic or has been baptized in an Eastern Church in full communion with the Holy See of Rome, the parent/guardian must bring their original baptismal certificate.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Re: \"Christianity got off to a bad start\"\n\n\"But I say to you that every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.\" That's pretty much from the get-go, no? Is that within your definition of an 'obsession' with 'purity'?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sincere and compassionate words and DEEDS are needed daily...especially when the bishops leave Indy and return to their dioceses and really \"smell like the sheep\" they SERVE...elitist church leaders need to repent and CHANGE their ways of ministering and their lifestyle.\nWalking the walk and not just talking the talk is what is needed by church leaders in the Roman Catholic Church! Joseph Tobin is doing this in Newark as well as Blase Cupich in Chicago.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Funny thing is that most Conservatives claim to follow Jesus, yet behave in exactly the opposite way as Jesus preached. I don't think you can be Christian and Conservative.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "just as in Saudi Arabia and Iran\n\nthey would not want a Christian or Jewish or Hindu or Buddhist cemetery\n\nwith no connection to their town", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Many anti-christian and christianophobic comments here today.\nAll have been reported under M-103.\nWe're not to be critical of religion in Justin's Canada.\nOr maybe not, it depends on the religion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I completely agree with you AFT. As you say; we need a personal relationship that achieves self-actualisation, in Christian terms & values. That is the real goal. To achieve that despite the failures & achievements; despite the known & unknowns; of living with a realistic perception of life & all it can throw at you. The \"Pastors\" have to come to the realisation that they do not have access to any type of \"inside track\" or \"guidance from above\". They are no better or worse than the rest of us, despite their claims. Unfortunately it is so culturally embedded with them as a belief, that it will probably take centuries to unlock it. However, time is not on their side and that is another story.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...not afraid of anything.\"\nPoetry is a way of engaging the unknown and the frightful. Beginning at the age of 13 (1946), i committed myself on a course of study to be a Roman Catholic priest of a religious order. Eleven years later, two years from Ordination, the conviction settled on me the the Roman Catholic Priesthood was not where i belonged\nSo...religion-wise, where did i belong? My science interests tended me in a direction toward the mutuality of faith and reason, of theology informed in science.\nThirty years later, more wise in the ways of the world, it became clear to me that poetry was probably the most sensible language in which to have religion and science engage each other. The product of that new venture was nine chap-books of poetry which i called \"Eden's Lifework Poetree - The Poetree Trilogies\", 1999, that can be read at www.evolution101.org", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How about some decent sacred Catholic art in our Churches?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Does Borg or Kung believe in the Virgin Birth of Jesus, which is what Muslims believe?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I suppose a white person is guilty of all the sins committed by any leader who is white throughout history. This is your logic. It is ridiculous. Let's run through the facts again.\n1. Imago Dei is NOT a political church. Rolling Hills Church? Yes. Imago? No.\n2. The parishioners at Imago, if you want to force them into an evangelical label as you are hell bent on doing, are at the left end of that spectrum. You obviously never read BLJ, written by Don Miller of Imago fame.\n3. Because some groups with the evangelical label say some crazy things, like Falwell and Robertson, does NOT mean they speak for all Christians, particularly those mentioned in point 2 above.\nBut I don't think you want to be open to the idea that not all Christians breath fire and drink venom. For you, that would be to big of a pill to swallow, especially the idea that Christians have done a lot of good in the world.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nope sorry Vince, the joke is still on you given that you obviously subscribe to outdated religious memes of a medieval mindset, and to make matters worse you equate the practice of imperial Romanism with the paragon of Christian virtue.\n\nPlease continue to post here, we all like a good laugh now and then!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Married priests? You already have them in the Eastern Rites and in converts from high churches. You Catholics have told us on the Thames side of the divide, that they are mostly great, if fiscally stretched. Brazil, where low church Protestantism is flourishing, suffers from a dearth of RC clergy, and some see a bright line from that fact to the ascendancy in the last quarter century of the Pentecostals and evangelicals.\n \nIn reading the comments from you good RC here, this new year has brought the unlikely scenario of my agreeing, as an Anglican/Episcopalian, with the sentiments of some of the trads on here rather than some of the regulars. Yes, you are in union with Christ as an assembly of believers, and Morning prayer (once the mainstay of Sunday worship) can be wonderful. But we've gone to the Eucharistic celebration as the focus of weekly worship. Sacraments are important to our tradition. Christ did say : Do this in remembrance of me, and we offer a sacrifice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "About the only time a liberal will cheer the clergy....when they are anti right wing. \n\nBut then again...the CAtholic church has become more of a left wing political machine than a faith based organization, especially under the current pope.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christmas and the Lord's prayer are not \"banished from schools\". They simply can't be forced on students, just as Islam can't be forced on students. The Peel board is simply making accommodations for Muslim students to pray on their own, as Christian and other students have always been allowed to do. Perhaps you should stop and think before spreading disinformation, especially when it puts people at risk.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The main point in XIV is that whenever states deprive targeted groups of their rights, the federal goverment has the authority to overturn that action. No going after blacks, Jews, Romany, Chinese, atheists, women, gays, Catholics or people who disagree with Catholics. While Justice Thomas thinks that the unborn make the list, no other Justice does. The plain language of the amendment is born or naturalized. In Roe, the ability to be born was equated with birth, but until Congress, who is the only body who can enforce the Amendment says differently, States can only nibble around the edges after the first trimester, where they generally pander rather than balance the interests of the unborn child and the mother in a crisis pregnancy. They might be able to ban abortions of Downs babies, but getting such a case to SCOTUS will not lead to overturning Roe. As for living wage, if you want to call Pius XI a Marxist, that is on you. Casti Connubii 121, 122.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"If you believe the Church is correct on that\" --- on it being a mortal sin to commit suicide --- \"then fine, don;t commit suicide.\"\n\nThat's what's \"left-bent\" --- your casual, flippant dismissal of one of the Church's longest-held proscriptions, gone with a bumper-sticker comment. You are no Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I believe that you have only a partial understanding of the ecumenical efforts of the Catholic Church - in this case, with the Anglican Communion. It is not, at this point, about the AC \"negotiating to join the Catholic church.\" It is about establishing links between the two of us that would allow for greater unity (not \"union\") with, for example, the reception of the Eucharist zx valid for both churches. The Swedish Lutheran church hasn't even expressed the slightest bit of interest in such dialogue with the RCC. However, at the same time there is significant discussion and efforts under way (and have been for some time) with other branches of Lutheranism dealing with similar sacramental and historical issues. I am certain there is a huge amount of information about the RCC's ecumenical efforts online that can be easily accessed. It would be far more helpful in understanding it then I could possibly even hope to do in a blog comment section! Good luck with it!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This did not start in 2005. It started in 1905.\n\nThe federal government kicked the can down the road for 100 years. The identical acts that created both Sask. & Alberta in 1905 created the Catholic separate schools. This was an effort to put a lid on the dispute between the Catholic & Protestant communities.\n\nOver the next 100 years new towns were built along with public & Catholic school infrastructure. As agriculture moved from small farms using horses to large farms using mechanical equipment small towns withered and many no longer exist.\n\nA bit too late for a judge to outlaw structures that have been built over the past 100 years. I don't suppose that federal government will send Sask. $1 billion to build new schools to accommodate the judge & the act of 1905. The constitution has no authority to change or over ride the act.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In a very real sense, i think this article is pro-catholic.\nCommon ecology is the common venue where all religions can, need to find common ground. It is fair to note that there is too little religious sensitivity toward common nature, notwithstanding the even-handedness of nature.\nBy pro-catholic i mean universal sensitivity toward the one ecology that is catholic in its embrace of all life, irrespective of religious ideology.\nWith a little thought, we might agree that there is probably no other workable basis that lends itself to religious coming together than the realization that all life is one in ecological origin and dependency.\nSelf-interest exploitation of nature puts individual life in conflict with common sustainability. Global desperation for natural resources in our time is breaking out globally in self-destructive violence.\nIf religions don't coalesce to get a handle on the sick theology that sets peoples against each other, prospects for the future are bleak indeed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Little story: Raised Catholic, I'd only been to Catholic churches. But right across from my childhood home stood a protestant church. It was on a big field where all us kids would play. One time, when I was about 7, I idly tried to open one of the side doors of this church. It was unlocked! The parking lot was empty, and I knew going in was wrong, but curiosity won out over scruples and I surrendered to temptation. Gingerly tiptoeing up the church's aisle, I took stock of how this protestant church had a different feel to it. Nowhere to kneel for one thing. I ventured father toward their altar, if that's what it was; not much to it, just a podium really.\n\nBut when I got close enough to see what was behind that altar/podium., I got the shock of my 7 yr old life. For I was gazing upon a gigantic, industrial style, sunken bathtub! A bathtub inside a church?? Why??? It was the last thing in the world I expected to see, and it totally blew my mind. I fled.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Would be Americans\"? These people are applying to get into the USA to escape the hardened belief systems and over-population of their warring homelands. The article refers to American allies in the Middle East, such as Jordan a top recipient of U.S. foreign aid. The west cannot remake the Middle East. Nations there must take a hard look at the theocracies that drive war there ... where factions of the same belief system are fighting each other even though they share culture and language. When these types of unreasonable wars were fought in Ireland, no one was afraid to call the warring Catholics and Protestants unreasonable. The Irish problems at the time were limited education, over-population (families with too many children born into desperate circumstances) and a complete exaggeration of their 'differences' though they shared culture and language -- in other words, imaginary differences. Middle East 'allies' should assist their Muslim neighbours -- the West can send funds.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But we livest among saints apparently, because more people receive communion regularly than people who go to confession regularly. Moral relativism has elevated conscience to a level far above Tradition and Revelation that most Catholics no longer consider the Eucharist as the real presence of God and act accordingly. I'm fortunate that I go to a church, which like most churches, has confession only 1 hour a week (Saturdays), but it is in close enough proximity (10 miles radius) to other churches that have different confession schedules so that effectively I can go to confession any day of the week.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. \n(2 Peter 3:16 KJV)\n\nIn context and harmony with other Scriptures (I will summarize for you) this is not the type of hatred that exacts some sort of retaliation. NO, this is speaking of dissociation from those who are not following the LORD Jesus. His words are a sword that divides as can be demonstrated in this comment section. We are to love our enemies and do good to those who persecute us. We are to take up our cross and follow Him. Did he retaliate? No. Nor should we. Anyone who claims to be a Christian and does anything other that what Jesus did is not his disciple. Jesus did ALL things well and in Him was found no fault. Jesus also mentions that whosoever does His will is His true family. There is much you do not understand. \n\nFor context see Luke 14:33", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Keep in mind that Marx was likely paraphrasing the bible with that quote. Chipotle is following Christian principles as well with this program.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, Justicels , the 3 religions are all Abrahamic religions\n\nHistorically Judaism is the elder brother of Christianity as Pope John Paul II and Benedict have acknowledged\n\nThe Old testament of Christians is the same as the Jewish Torah\n\nHowever the Koran or Qu'ran of Islam is different", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are essentially no people who would identify themselves as atheist in these countries because atheism is punishable by death. On the other hand, Christians in these countries are singled out for persecution whether by official policy or as a result of traditional hostility towards them.\n\nOn the whole, I think Trump's pronouncements are unhelpful. They seem to have more to do with impressing his base of support than anything else.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I believe that it is the duty of any Pope to meet with any world leader who requests it. Not so sure anything longlastingly worth while might result, but its the Pope's duty and I'm certain Franciso will respond affirmatively. Its an item on Trump's 'to do' list, but Papa is a lot smarter. He will find a way to advance a Christian agenda, just watch!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is no Catholic teaching that \u201cif you are against abortion then one must also be against the death penalty\u201d.\n\nAbortion involves the murder of a completely innocent human life. It is intrinsically immoral. The prohibition against abortion applies to both individuals and to the State.\n\nThe death penalty can never be a personal moral issue because an individual can never levy it. The right to levy the death penalty belongs ONLY to the State, and the State\u2019s authority arises from the Natural Law. The individual who receive the punishment is not innocent, and has brought the punishment upon her or his own head.\n\nHuman live in societies, societies require leaders, laws, and punishments for their very existence.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And then there is such thing as 'oral tradition'. An increasing number of historians claim that on average, oral tradition is not more or less reliable than written tradition. \n\nChristian tradition involves both, written and oral or living tradition. As far as the oral tradition of Mark's martyrdom and veneration of his remains at the Martyrium of Mark goes, they certainly predate 313 AD, when any of such claim or practice would have been more of a liability than a desirable asset. \n\nWhen you have a consistent oral (living) tradition that involves continuous practice, especially when originating under difficult circumstances, you cannot simply dismiss it as \"legend.\" It is a credible-enough evidence and, as such, its falsity requires actual proof to the contrary.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Way over 50% of Catholic communicants favor ordination of women. So once again, your ideas seem come from a very dark right hand corner of the catholic cafeteria.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In your citation \"ISIS Inadvertently Proves Bible Historically Accurate\" Archbold expresses an utter and complete misunderstanding of issues of historicity and the Bible. No modern scholar doubts the historicity of the Babylonian exile of the Jews or the existence of Sennacherib. See Wiki articles on \"Sennacherib\" and \"Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem.\" We have multiple confirmations of Sennacherib's attacks on both the northern and southern kingdoms of the Jews in the Bible and in Assyrian sources. The problems of historicity in the OT have to do with the much early periods. The ISIS uncovered remnants add virtually nothing to further establish the general historical accuracy of the Bible's account of the exile period. \n\nAnd none of this has even the remotest relevance to the question of whether the Gospel are history in our modern sense. Best I can tell, you confuse the fact that GENRE of the Gospels is not history with questions about the historical Jesus--of course Jesus is historical.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The other major Catholic university in the city I attended college had a similar brouhaha over Milo, and more disturbingly, wouldn't allow College Republicans to have \"Unborn Lives Matter\" on their flyers. Madness that a group can't say unborn lives matter on a Catholic campus.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Prayer to whom?\n\nStudy of what?\n\nWhat do you make of Matthew 16:18: \"Upon this rock I will build my church\" (Matt. 16:18)?\n\nWhat do you make of Matthew 28:19: \"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.\"\n\nWhat do you make of Luke 10:16\" \"He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.\"?\n\nIf Christ founded a teaching Church, why would one ridicule those who adhere to its teaching?\n\nWhy would one choose Hans K\u00fcng over that Church's councils?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"St. Athanasius is highly revered by the Society of St. Pius X.\"\n\nWell, SSPX, the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Churches, the Oriental Orthodox Churches, the Lutheran Churches and the Anglican Communion, to name a few. I would guess that the St. Athanasius is particularly special to the Coptic Orthodox Church, since he was from Alexandria.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ben,\n\nYou're right. We often think in terms of \"stovepipes\" where we think spiritual instruction leads to baptisms but other ministries do not when they are each more powerful when they are working together in harmony as parts of a team. We need to expand our concept of ministry effectiveness because often it is not one ministry but a combination of ministries that strengthen the weak in the church and bring-in new members. In 1 Cor. 12, Paul gives us the model of the diverse parts of the body working together and even the \"lesser parts\" being important. We need to apply that model to the church because we should be an \"evangelism body\" instead of evangelists and everyone else. Just as there are a diversity of body parts, we need a diversity of ministries. Most of my ministry is inside the church and many times I have seen God's love work through it to renew weak faith and keep people from leaving the church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You may do as you wish or take a Scripture study of St. Paul at a reputable Catholic College. You could also take a church history of St. Paul and his letters at many even non-Catholic Colleges. The experts, professors, and leading Catholic and non-Catholic scholars agree on this. The evidence would not even be difficult to find, if you looked it up online. Another words, this is not a secret that I am revealing here. It is pretty widely known.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A good proxy measure of how unified the USCCB and their sheep are will be the \"second collections\" for hurricane victims.\n\nLow collections = \"we'll give elsewhere\"\n\nwe'll see just how right or wrong reese is. \n\nThe Catholic Right hold$ great $sway.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\" Plenty of non-Catholic parents send their kids to them because of the discipline, the academics, and even \u2013 horror \u2013 the values.\"\n .\n\"Instead of trying to shut them down, we should be trying to figure out how they get such good results.\"\n. \nFrom: Who\u2019s afraid of Catholic schooling? - Margaret Wente - The Globe and Mail - Aug. 16 2014", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Right because those elders and kids with disabilities need to get a job. Clearly not a Christian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "On a personal level, I like Pope Francis and I dislike President Trump. Having said that, the two of them have something in common that I find enormously frustrating. Neither can keep a disciplined tongue!\n\nWe all know about Trump's caustic ad libs. They speak for themselves. But the pope's, while well intentioned, are also ill-advised. He shouldn't be making personal statements about Trump. Period. All it does is make an undeserving character seem sympathetic and make the \"who am I to judge?\" pope come across as hyper-judgmental. \n\nYou'd think he would have learned from the \"those who build walls aren't Christian\" fiasco, but not so much. All that did was allow Trump to portray himself as a victim and rally his Evangelical base.\n\nSomebody -- anybody -- needs to keep that microphone out of the pope's hands when he's flying home from somewhere. Please.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Life of the Lay, I believe you misunderstand the foundation of Senator Feinstein's questions. She addressed the specific ways in which Barrett has referenced and acted on her Catholicism in her legal career. Barrett has made her Catholicism part of her legal and professional record. Thus, her professional and legal record as a Catholic are appropriate subjects of evaluation for legal and professional jobs. The Senator \"pre-judged\" nothing. She did not arrive at the hearing knowing only that Barrett is Catholic. The Senator researched Barrett's professional legal work and discovered through that work that she prominently identifies herself professionally and legally as a Catholic legal thinker. Feinstein, to my knowledge, does not prominently identify herself professionally and in her policy work and votes as a Jewish Congresswoman. Feinstein's Judaism is immaterial here. Barrett has made her Catholicism a material and prominent and influential part of her legal work and life.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What's with the Sodomite flag on a Catholic forum?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "-- https://international.la-croix.com/news/are-us-catholics-too-american-to-stand-up-to-trump/4873\n \nAre US Catholics too American to stand up to Trump? \nThe huge differences between Catholic, European and US constitutionalism. \n \nMassimo Faggioli\nMarch 20, 2017 --", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Rev. Deacon John Hanscom: Your faith has not exactly been \"hijacked\"...to \u201cenergize Alaska\u2019s Christian conservative (Republican) base.\u201d It works both ways. Religionists know full well that religion has little power without money and politics...which is why many religionists constantly seek both secular venues.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "All of this does not make me miss Karl Rove, but it does remind me that he, Cheney, Bush, Rumsfeld, et. al. made it possible for an utterly spoiled child like Trump to be President.\n\nOh and Reagan too who courted the disenfranchised (by their own obtuseness) Bubba the Evangelical vote. No one will be able to reign it in before a lot of blood is in the street.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You may be right. If you are, however, that, in my mind, would prove that the Catholic Church is not the Church of Christ or God. The day that the Catholic Church starts to base her teaching, not on the Word of God, but on the whims and trends of pop-culture will be the day I leave.\n\nThe real Church of God was created to be a light to the nations. The real Church of God is not concerned with being popular, trendy, cool, hip or with it. The real Church of God is concerned with one thing: what has God revealed? The real Church of God will teach the Truth of God in season and out of season. Right now, the truth of God is not very popular as it concerns morality and in particular human sexuality. The real Church of God will continue to teach God's truth, come what may.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If we are Christian adults we have a duty to protect children, right from the moment of conception. If we don't care, can't be bothered or think there are more important issues than protecting innocent children who do not have voice, but only ours, your priorities are terribly mixed up. I pray that all Americans will think about that before they cast their votes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I always pondered the phrase \"salt of the earth\" as I always saw it as Christians who claim to be followers of God, but instead, choose to follow their own ambitions. It harkens back to the bible and Lot's wife, who was told to follow God's instruction but instead disobeyed and became what? Perhaps the bible was giving us a clear example of \"salt of the earth\" Christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholic schools has been something that Canadians have fought over for more than 100 years. Among other things, it lead to the rise of the KKK in most provinces west of Quebec. The widespread popularity of the KKK in Canada during the 1920s is one of those things that Canada has successfully covered in whitewash.\n\nWe have had several PM whose private lives we have also whitewashed. Was Mackenzie King mentally fit to be our PM during WWII? As well as probably being anti-Semitic. What other world leader was ant-Semitic in WWII?\n\nWhat beliefs did the first Trudeau PM hold in the days before he entered politics? \n\nSome nasty folks in Germany would probably have given TC Douglas a passing grade for his university thesis. The former head of the federal NDP party, the father of Medicare, and the one that the CBC calls the greatest Canadian", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We (I) are not saying that we do not believe in the Bible or it's divine inspiration. We're saying the Bible consists of stories, divinely inspired, which attempt to explain the great mysteries of life. The writers of the creation narratives used their unscientific understanding of the world and human nature. They told a story. The details are unimportant, the message is everything.\n\"Original sin\" can be explained as humanity's innate drive for self-preservation. Subverted or used incorrectly it can lead to pride, anger, violence, and all the serious sins.\nI believe that evil objectively exists but not necessarily in bodily form. That is, I do not see objective evil as sporting horns and carrying a pitchfork.\nLastly, Baptism initiates the new recruit into formal membership in the Church, the Body of Christ. It is not a cleansing from the \"myth\" (story about a key truth) of Original Sin.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It seems to me stating Trump as having 'profoundly un-Christian values' is wrong. Trump's values are uncivil, bullying and contrary to all decency whether Christian, Jewish, Muslim or atheist. To be a Christian value the value ought to be unique to Christianity...otherwise it is a universal value.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I wonder if all the Catholics that say they voted pro life would also vote anti death penalty? I think most of them are just pro birth and after the children are born we have no moral obligation to feed, clothe, educate or house them Hmm what would Jesus do?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yet another way is the Third Order (Secular Orders) already very active in the Church. Think Third Order Franciscans, Dominicans, Carmelites, etc.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think the folks named as Christians that are being debated here are actually not Christians but Old Testamenters.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you don't like the reforms being made under Pope Francis (and likely successor popes as well), you could always join forces with SSPX... I hear their number are growing all told they could probably fill a medium size stadium.\n\nAnd btw, to assert that \"God is Catholic\" might be the most ridiculous argument one could make.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Guns didn't preach atheistic hatred.\"\nNo, but plenty of overly-righteous Christians try to blame atheists for everything bad.\nConsider this: the majority of Americans identify as being Christians, which means a majority of killers are also Christian. Perhaps a belief in an imaginary, worship-craving vampire leads to somebody becoming a killer because it sure doesn't stop them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Who wants to bet the backgrounds these Italian Catholic converts come from is more an NCR-type background than a Trad Catholic background. \n\nInteresting how Mormonism has appeal because it offers a distinctive manner of life and how hard we Catholics tried to get rid of our distinctive manner of life back in the 60s (and of course for many here, we haven't shed nearly enough of our distinctiveness.) People are drawn to religion that demands something of them not one that tries to accommodate itself to them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"It is extremely disappointing that the Prime Minister will not support Indigenous peoples, Muslims, Jews, Sikhs, Christians and other faith groups who believe there is truth in their religion,\" he said on Facebook.\n\nWhat a naked demagoguery by the leader of the Conservative Party!\n\nHow about those scientists, who belong to the above mentioned faith groups and contributed to the advancement of humankind? Are they also traitors of their faith-based communities?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Lyndon Johnson was in the Disciples of Christ church, or Church of Christ. His great-grandfather was a Baptist minister, and the future president's wedding was in an Episcopal church. Although he did take the presidential oath using a Catholic missal from John Kennedy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Without reflecting on the Scriptures, it is almost impossible to become an adult Christian. . . . Sadly, most Catholics do not read or pray the Scriptures.\"\n\nSo we are to conclude that \"most Catholics\" are not \"adult Christian[s]\"?\n\nNot to dilute the value of studying scripture, but I am always deeply suspicious of such all-exclusive pronouncements, particularly in the absence of evidence....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pope Francis has initiated the restoration of conscience to ordinary Catholics. That, to my mind is his greatest project.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are Catholic cemeteries in Australia. I live near one in Brisbane, Australia. The irony is that it has a crematorium in the middle of it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A shameful attack on the church. One can hardly claim to be a true catholic while contending that a Leader of the Church is under the thumb of a government. Although you are staunch defender of traditional Catholicism, in this posting you sound like a modernist, criticizing an Archbishop. Shirley, Pandora has taught you better than that. She knows that Good Catholics never criticize Bishops.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Judeo-Christian or Catholic?\n\nI would suggest that the Anglican Church worldwide is doing, and has been doing, this very thing. Its experience is sobering, and shows how entrenched are the two opposing sides (only way to describe them) and how long it takes to achieve anything resembling a dialogue. It also shows what it might look like if the bishops listened and investigated openly, and if LGBT people were permitted the kind of massive witnessing that has occurred in the Anglican communion, without fear of penalty or exclusion. \n\nTo commence the dialogue, the Church would have to stop firing and threatening people because such actions underscore that dialogue is off the table. But I doubt it will set down this club. This is why all institutions will reform themselves ahead of the Catholic Church and even then, it won't take any notice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As if there was no mercy in the Catholic Church for 2013 years?\n\nAnd God gives us His commandments for our own temporal and spiritual good. When we transgress His commands, we hurt Him, others, and ourselves. That He is merciful to those that acknowledge and turn from sin is not license to commit sin with impunity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pretty much the last church that needs a legal shield for anything is the Catholic Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am thinking that history is on the wrong side of history.\n\nWould you argue the same thing about the Holocaust? Should the US should just have given up and abandoned its crusade to stop Hitler because civilization is going to be destroyed anyway by climate change?\n\nDid the bishops who strongly condemned the Holocaust just want to reassert their authority and insinuate Catholic theology to the civic order?\n\nAbortion is murder, sir. Murder. Do you get that? Do you get that innocent children are being slaughtered every day in the name of \"choice?\" \n\nAnd you think the Church is on the wrong side of history because she speaks out against abortion?\n\nDude, Seriously!!???", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"77% of Americans claim to be \u201cborn-again\u201d Christians\"\n\nCare to provide a citation for that statistic? It doesn't align with my observations. Regardless, I'm missing the connection between Munoz's undeniably poor judgement and the Fairbanks-4 murder conviction. Are you suggesting that the two convicted felons in this case may be innocent?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you are comfortable with Christians and their code of behavior, then you are OK with their evangelism, because that is a core belief of their religion. A simple \"No thank you\" would be a courteous way to decline their invitation, as opposed to demanding they not make that invitation at all. Christians may be persistent, but rarely are rude.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am a soft liberal/tory voter (centrist red tory). Most Canadians ask whether their lives have gotten better or worse since the last election. If their answer is the latter, then a desire for change is afoot. I'm in the latter category, and looking at the very FEW bills that have passed since Trudeau has gotten in, I can't see anything in these bills that really benefit me, my family, or my community in a positive way. Amending the copyright act (big deal). Assisted dying (disagree sorry). Tax changes (I had to pay more taxes this year - and I'm far from rich). That's really all that he's done besides bringing in more refugees than he said he would, demographically excluding Christians by%, dragging their feet with Yazidis (why?). Flip flopped on electoral reform, failed first nations people (and are being called out on it), marijuana legalization stalled, touted action on climate change while approving new pipelines, more concerned with image than substance. Change? Yes!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Greetings......Indeed! And just how does being a practicing \"Randian Catholic\" like Ryan conform to Catholic Social Justice, and the Sermon on the Mount by....+ Our Lord Jesus Christ+???", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is a pretty good summary so far of the positive done. Is the Pope perfect? No. I wish he would do more on Gender, Sexuality and the Sex Abuse issue. However his passion for social justice globally and his channeling of both the Preferential Option for the Poor and Liberation Theology is admirable and makes him a very Christ like Pope. \n\nI think that one of the things I'm practicing for Lent is not just consuming negative news all the time. Our society and the News we consume is one that just constantly built on scandal whether it's in politics or religion. And we turn that scandal into a blood sport. I want to focus on the positive a lot more both because I think it's spiritually health and balanced. So for me, rather than focusing strictly on what the Pope hasn't gotten done, I think it's healthy to speak about the positives he and other religious/Christian leaders are doing everyday because our world needs a lot more positivity than simply just focus on scandal all the time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It took me a minute to figure out what you meant, having completely forgotten the Catholic spin on continence! (I had to look it up.) Yes, the Orthodox maintained a married clergy. But in one sense, the Romans also fetishize marriage and procreation. The Orthodox don't run around telling people to date, marry, and get on with the baby-making. The reason for marriage is the same as the reason for living--theosis.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The problem jimetjules is that you see all Muslims as a single monolithic group rather than as individual people. You fail to recognize not only that Islam has distinct groups of believers just as Christianity does but also that the extremists are as far removed from ordinary Muslims as someone like Anders Brevik is from an ordinary Canadian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The world is desperately in need of prayers and caring thoughts...from Christians, Muslims, and those good people simply seeking the truth with sincere hearts without any religious affiliation! Who on earth opposes anyone who wants to pray, especially for those sad, misguided souls who are intent on being hurtful, even threatening to burn down a mosque! We need to be nurturing kindness, not resentment.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There appears to be some confusion between mandating universal participation in religious events (the Lord's Prayer, Christmas and Easter events) for all students as opposed to simply accommodating specific students' needs for their religious practices (prayer rooms).\n\nI would oppose any attempt to mandate religious participation by all students in any public school. On the other hand, I see no reason not to allow students (Muslim, Christian, Jewish, whatever) to use an unoccupied classroom as a place for prayer.\n\nI don't see what is accomplished by screaming at others or throwing a temper tantrum. Religious accommodation has no impact on the greater student body and is largely unnoticed by people who do not participate. If Christian or Jewish students request an equally reasonable religious accommodation and it does not get approved, I will happily protest with you.\n\nUp to now, I've seen no rational reason to oppose this accommodation except naked religious hatred.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I disagree with calling the Adam and Eve story a myth. It is more accurately called an allegory a story that says there are consequences for disobeying the the will of God. We do not inherit the sin of anyone else except our own sin. The Adam and Eve story is a parable with a message. Baptism was originally the sacrament of repentance not confession. Jesus did not hear confessions. Confession was a later development in Christianity. Infant baptism was also a later development. How could an infant have repentance.Infant baptism or lack there of created the Limbo problem.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Schools do not \"have a holiday every Sunday\": many countries with little or no Christian heritage, such as China, Japan and India, also observe weekends on Saturday and Sunday.\n\nFurthermore, those \"Christian kids\" in Canada cannot pray in public schools, which is the issue at hand.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually it is one of the Scriptures that supports the practice of excommunication in every Christian denomination.\n\nSomehow that seems to have something to do with the worthy reception of Communion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"There is no us and them in HIM.\"\n\nWhispers, the problem is this: Not everyone is IN Him. And there are many who are contrary to Christ, as also Paul encountered and testifies: \n\n\"4 And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage), 5 to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.\" Gal. 2:4, 5.\n\nI love your \"speech\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Palestinian people have lived there for so many centuries - Palestinian Jews, Palestinian Christians, and Palestinian Muslims. I wonder if the Globe and Mail could research and provide a story about the carrying capacity of the land, and how much ground water is being removed by the people who build and move into these settlements. What is the rate of removal compared to the traditional and, presumably, sustainable rate before the Zionist movements began. If they are not careful, it won't be that many decades before we are hearing stories about their \"God-given right\" to water from Egypt, Jordan, etc.\n\nScripture, alone, makes for a poor sense of place.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If progressive Catholics took Islamic theologies as seriously as they do their Christian counterparts - and that includes an honest reading of Reliance of the Traveler, an authoritative source on Sharia published by the prestigious Al-Azhar University in Cairo - then they would find it easier to make the necessary distinction between Islam as a power structure and individual Muslims subject to that power structure. Catholics who read this publication understand something about religious power structures, I suspect.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Glad to see Kara Walker in the web pages of NCR (and that comments on an art piece aren't CLOSED for a change).\n\n<>\n\nThat's what art is supposed to do. Art is often ambiguous. Good wall text conveys essential points but allows room for interpretation.\n\nObviously the Bible was used both to justify slavery and call for its abolition. Perhaps Walker was alluding to the Catholic Church's fraught history with slavery, as the use of imagery from the Eternal City would suggest.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "2/2 Dignitatis Humanae, #14: \"In the formation of their consciences, the Christian faithful ought carefully to attend to the sacred and certain doctrine of the Church. For the Church is, by the will of Christ, the teacher of the truth. It is her duty to give utterance to, and authoritatively to teach, that truth which is Christ Himself, and also to declare and confirm by her authority those principles of the moral order which have their origins in human nature itself.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That is not a Catholic view (and you know it, or you should).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"And I expect you meant non-Christians not non-Catholics.\"\n\nI was responding to the word catholic in your comment, as in: \n\"Ask a Catholic if they feel the same way. \"\n\nSo why are you telling me that the proper term is christian? You're making me dizzy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Newman Society is where I now send my money instead of the Catholic University I attended.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Most leftist Trump bashing articles aren't worth the time, just more biased misleading dribble. There are already regions of the world largely dedicated to people that have certain cultures and religions and that's good for those people/places (supposedly, I don't know the details how they are doing in other countries), this part of the world is more about the different Catholic/Christian and atheist! types, and that's good, the way it should be, maintaining traditional ways in each region it's the healthier proven way for society. That's about it when it comes to this issue.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A sign from God as we continue to pray for Christians here and abroad! Grace be to God! Amen!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not so, TomZ: \"I'm pretty sure that the trend of legalistic enforcement in Judeo-Christian law over the last 5000 years has been towards more and more lenience.\" You rely far too much on your \"opinion\" and mistake it for fact. As I mentioned in a previous example, Jesus, as noted in Matthew, is replacing the prevalent religious Mosaic Law (in existence for the 3,000 years in the 5,000 you cite) of the time with a new \"law\" of Christianity. Mosaic Law was exceptionally rigid, to say the least. Recent history is replete with one example after another of laws that are every bit as rigid and dictatorial as what Jesus condemned in His earthly days. You are no informed student of history to make the comments you do about the past and present state of law in both sacred and secular circles. It's the constant struggle of the Christian faith to resist oppression and the victimization of the less powerful, the less influential by the majority or by a minority of even one, such as yourself.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christians, even in that first description of 'eucharist' meal in 1 Corinthians seem to have lost the format of a 'Seder meal' rather quickly.\n\nPersonally, ever since having the experience of sharing in a Jewish Seder when a University Chaplain, I have thought it would be great if Catholics could introduce a 'Seder-Mass' for Holy Thursday and have the consecration of matzoh and wine in the course of the meal.\n\nIt would help a lot towards our understanding what Jesus did at that Passover supper.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Making false or unprovable statements over and over again does not make them true. \n\nThere have been zero female presbyters in the Catholic Church. The records of the Church\u2019s reaction to attempts, one of which you provide, are fairly extensive.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "All religions start out closely reflecting the views of their founders, but as time goes by that may change. For any religion that's been around long enough, it's inevitable.\n\nAs a Christian, I do not consider religions interchangeable. While I respect the sacred literature of other religions, I consider the Bible the inspired Word of God in a way that I don't believe the others to be. \n\nBut I also acknowledge that my religious tradition has been subject to the same abuses as other religions. Thankfully, we no longer burn people at the stake and engage in holy wars, which I see as evidence of our maturity as a people of faith.\n\nKeep in mind that Islam, as a belief system, is younger than Christianity and prevalent in lands that are less developed. Also keep in mind that there are places on this planet where Muslims, Christians and Jews live side by side in peace, which is -- by far -- what most people on the planet, no matter their religion, desire.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Millennia of migrations, intermarriage and conversions make contemporary Jews related to ancient Hebrews as much as today's Roman Catholics are to ancient Romans.\n\nEven if they were, this would still not justify Zionism: my \"ancestral homeland\" 3000 years ago may well be Israel, Peru or Timbuctu, but that does not give me the right to displace or dominate those who lived there for generations if not centuries and have no other home.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Keep in mind objections are about what Fr. Martin is saying/writing against unchangeable truths preserved in Catholic teaching, not seeking to target Fr. Martin himself. (An admitted segway...) It reminds me of late-term aborionist LeRoy Carhart whose clinic location (he did not own) is being sold to a pro-life organization. His Washington Post promo article gives him ample opportunity to suggest he is the victim of hateful targeting. No, people are using their freedom, while they still have it, to rid their area of abortion, particularly viable babies in third-trimester abortion and the terrible treatment of women.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Everyone is a child of God. Baptism is a ritual used in christianity as an outward sign that the one being baptized is God's child. Some people receive baptism, the vast majority of human beings since the beginning have not received formal christian baptism. Yet all were, all are, children of God, loved by God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Perhaps my choice of words was not as accurate as it should have been. Thanks for pointing this out. However, I am not certain that violence and non-violence truly addresses the problem eithe. Graham and his ilk seem to be following a line of Christianity that is at odds with a tolerant society. Even the Bible is pretty clear on the separation of church and state. Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar\u2019s, and unto God the things that are God\u2019s.\n\nGraham may be overlooking this famous verse from Matthew.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We do have some extra-bibical mention of Jesus from, if memory serves, Tacitus and Josephus. But the main sources are the gospels, which can be used for historical purposes, even if that is reading against the grain. Pontius Pilate and Herod are known historical figures, who are described in other sources much as they appear in the gospels. The genre of the gospels has been a much discussed topic, but to me they seem to represent ancient historiography. They present narraives with thier own theological purposes, but all agree in Jesus being the Baptist's disciple, on the shared perception of his ministry, on his death. . Which does not validate everything they say by any stretch of imagination. Some are clearly created without any concern for historical facts, like the disciples picking grain on the sabbath, while others are more rooted in the history we do know about Second temple Judaism. Analoguously, if we cannot rely on Buddhist scriptures, we would not know if he ever existed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Anyone can read the Catechism of the Catholic Church and confirm that then Cardinal Ratzinger's thinking, which is that presented therein, was not that \"a conscience not in accord with the magisterium cannot be properly formed\".\n\nOf course, were one trying to paint himself as a martyr to having big thoughts, one might try to paint the picture the two of you are trying to hang on the wall.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "From the view of the political historians, your analysis is just a bit lacking. From those writings, it is clear that the GOP began it's slide into the \"party of No\" during the Reagan administration, that deliberately courted and aligned itself with the Moral Majority and Christian Coalition. It grew from there, resulting in groups like the Tea Party and then the politics of Trump, Cruz, and Christie. As you stated, the wish to become the majority party became an obsession, and the GOP adopted a \"whatever-it-takes\" methodology which has steadily unleashed the worst political maneuvers ever known in US history. There was a TOTAL erosion of traditional Republicanism, to the point where every moderate Republican has left (been pushed out of) the GOP. What is left is the most radical ones who, actually, don't even resemble the party of Reagan. All that was of a working political party there is long, long gone. It is imploding now to crash and burn. What will follow?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In your question to ATF: What is the reason (the 'just and reasonable cause') why the priest is celebrating Mass with only ten atheists present?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "SC .... My understanding was that it was before school even started, so really just using the facility, Regardless, how is that any different from an entire Catholic School System , publicly funded, that requires you to attend faith classes in order to stay in the school?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The enormity of the evil scandal does indeed destroy their credibility. While it will not happen in our lifetimes, a future iteration of Catholic Christianity will not have an\" ontologically different\" clergy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I must say, at 3am, President-elect Trump has offered a very healing and hopeful speech.\n\nHere's hoping everyone here will also seek \"common ground\" and attempt to heal our country instead of fostering greater division. \n\nI know many here are absolutely shocked....I hope the comments here begin to reflect more what we should be as Catholics and Americans, and heal our country. Please.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That is not quite true. \nCatholics believe the whole of Christ is received with both Species...therefore your daughter can receive from the Cup and fully participate.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are 50 Muslim countries, and you can't treat them all in a similar fashion. I suspect that you haven't lived in a single Muslim country, but I could be wrong.\n\nHere is a fact - the oldest Christian communities in the world are in Muslim countries like Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Palestinian Territories, etc. There isn't a single ancient Muslim community in a Christian country (there used to be in Spain, Portugal and Italy) because every one of them was killed, converted or forced to flee.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The analogy is directly on point. All Muslim nations are at war with the United States today, just as the Nazi Germans were in 1943. We were also at war with Japan, and imprisoned all Americans of Japanese descent, so I assume we should put all Muslims in the US behind barbed wire now? Perhaps we can use the camps FEMA set up for Christians?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So called conservatives only like the parts of the First Amendment that pertain to religion, if they can make it only about Christians. Other than that, they really aren't into it so much.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "While I can appreciate how the author builds his story, I'm disappointed in the lack of connection to the religious right support that was spawned after Jimmy Carter into the Reagan era. It's evident that folks such as Jerry Falwell were \"hate mongers\" within the Christian Right and include pro-Israel sentiments. It would be nice to see some investigative reporting that ties this article to the religious right movement!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So you will agree that Chaput was violating the Johnson Amendment with his anti-Obama and anti-Clinton and pro-Trump diatribes. He was just on Hugh Hewitt's radio show whining about how mean the news media is to Trump. \n\nAnd I am all for the Catholic Church becoming less politicized. We can start depoliticizing the Catholic Church by disavowing Lifesite News and Church Militant, don't you agree?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When JFK ran for President, one of the big political concerns was that as President he would receive and follow instructions from the Pope. There were even cartoons showing JFK bowing below Pope John with the Pope's hand on his head. \n\nThe Catholic Church for centuries, starting about 1900 years ago and most particularly through the Crusades and the Inquisition, tortured and killed thousands if not millions of Jews for being 'Killers of Christ'. How much this religious attitude contributed to the Holocaust is still a subject of debate. \n\nThe KKK in this country hated both Jews and Catholics. In Oregon in the mid-1920's they nailed American flags across the doors to Catholic churches. \n\nAnd now we have a Jewish Presidential candidate going to the Vatican to meet with the Pope.\n\nWe truly live in Interesting times.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "AlwaysThere: I appreciate that you offer your ideas. I do wonder if some religious people think they are their ideas or ideas as God has spoken to them. Where do your thoughts come from?\nFirst, \"God is the creator of morality\". I am not sure all Christians think that, but then some would say, they are not Christians. That seems circular. But the main point is the notion that God has a corner on right and wrong. This gets into free will. \nAs far as society falling into nihilism and chaos as we see now, people have been saying that for centuries. I guess one could say we are always falling, but we seem to get back up. \nIt appears you are questioning the legitimacy of Gary's comment about Trump as just opinion. But maybe God spoke to him in God's own way. \nThe last part about never having access to truth unless one is born of the spirit is veiled superiority, which I am not attacking. But I believe that we are given the gift of reason, which is furthered by education, not conversion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jim1093,\n\nUnfortunately, MANY Catholics and other Christians don't even KNOW that there are Chaldean Catholics or other Christians in Syria. Our bishops, who are supposed to be the OFFICAL teachers of their dioceses, deserve a D- or F grade in really seeing to the formation of the Catholic Social Gospel aspect of their ministries among their people. \n\nThe Catholic Church has 21 Eastern Rites. But from the way that the bishops act and respond within the Church, most people [Catholics included] seem to think that the only Catholics are 'Roman [Latin rite] Catholics'. The Eastern Rite called the Chaldean Rite includes the Chaldean [comprised mostly of Syrians---who were among the earliest people accepting Christianity] and the Malabar Rite---Catholics in parts of India.\n\nThere are also Syrians who are members of the Antiochene Rite [yes, they are Catholics] and Indians who are members of the Antiochene Rite as well. Their ritual is called Syro-Malankara.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That question is a distillation of all doctrinal arguments to the point of absurdity, and illustrates the folly of trying to make something (the truth) out of nothing. Speaking of distillation, I now consider the teachings of Christ to be a guide to living a peaceful contented life among our fellow humans. The Golden Rule, for instance. Unfortunately, many who claim to be Christian attach more importance to the claptrap than to the essence. I suspect this is true of many religions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Agreed. The Oklahoma bombers were radical Christianist Extremists. Their murders included dozens of children in a daycare center.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Absolutely! You just summarized about 5 volumes of theological exploration on the issue of the Christian conscience. The conscience is where the Holy Spirits meets our intellect, and therefore informs our souls and hearts. Great post!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You need to remind yourself of orthodox Christian Christology i.e. the union of divine and human natures in the single person of Jesus Christ.\n\nSo, in your mind was His nature human or divine?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Meanwhile, Bill Donohue's website statement today is titled \"Catholic and Evangelical Relations have never been stronger.\" Although his daily fulminations are usually tied to some event (most often a TV show), this one is unusual in that it seem to be apropos of nothing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Jesus gave Peter and the Apostles authority to bind and loose\"\n\nWhen the whole passage is applied - not just the \"bind and loose\" pull out - you are saying that God will not allow gluten-free bread in Heaven. Are we really to believe that God has an issue with gluten-free bread in Heaven? For some reason I have always pictured God as having more gravitas than that. But if you and Cardinal Sarah say that God wants no gluten-free bread in Heaven, so be it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, anyone attending CCU should expect that they are going to be fed a big dose of faux patriotism along with the obligatory big dose of faux Christianity. All the while paying big bucks for the privilege.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh my! Concepts I NEVER heard before during my undergraduate degree in religious studies from a secular university! Or my graduate degree in theological studies for that matter!\n\nThe \"world behind the text\"...yes, of course...Raymond Brown's Johannine community theory that Christ's words are really just made up lines from upset Christians in the late 1st century AD who were mad at the Jewish communities expelling them from the synagogues for following Jesus. That the whole Gospel of John and 1, 2, 3 John really are just a passive aggressive tantrum from a persecuted group using the generally made up character of Jesus (very much the Christ of \"faith\" in this instance) \n\nHow amateur of me to think that Christ's words in John's Gospel could have ANY obvious meaning for any Christian beyond the year 120 CE!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Many Christians are conservative in their personal lives yet also compassionate to people of other faiths and belief systems. Some are narrow minded and judgmental. There's no stereotype of Christians that fits all. The same can be said of secularist.\n\nThere\u2019s a wide range of compassion, tolerance, bigotry, and prejudice to be found in the full spectrum of belief systems. The ego need to 'rank' our belief systems blinds us to the many emotions and experiences that we have in common with all people.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Scheer handed out a position that should make some of his core supporters happy as well as show that there is a home for former Liberals on this side of the issue, Catholics, and those who feel this issue can evolve. You are correct that it is an issue best approached with caution. And it was not this issue that killed off the PCs in the 1990's. It was its' fear to be Conservative.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "2/2\nBut, with Egypt and Iraq as my evidence, I think stable democracies absolutely require one other thing--robust legal protection for minorities from the potential tyranny of the majority. We tend to forget that ingredient.\n\nIn Iraq, free and fair elections led a tyranny of the majority Shia over the Sunni; and then ISIS. In Egypt, already in their constituent assembly, the constitutional scales were tipped for Islam and against secular thought (to the chagrin of the secular students whose protests set the stage). Free elections, majority tyranny of Islam; then military dictatorship. \n\nIt is a very long shot to suggest that Syria, uniquely, will get democracy right with iron clad protections of minorities (Christians among others) from the tyranny of the majority. \n\nI'm not suggesting Arabs can't handle democracy; rather that western mentors fail to grasp that our powerful protections for minorities are essential to stable democracies. (So says Dennis, today at least.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Indeed NOT! The magisterium is comprised of select living and breathing human beings, namely the pope (one at a time!) and Catholic bishops in communion with him. And there are good and holy reasons for that, as I have explained elsewhere on this thread.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Coptic Christianity is probably the \"purest\" Christianity, in the sense that it most closely follows the religion started by the followers of Jesus.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "He clearly stated he did it to preserve a Christian Europe.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Garry Wills was an author. The Catholic League provided a book review.\n\nI am sure it will come to you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Instead of re-hashing formulae that you have read in books, or heard in \"discussions with priests, Catholic writers, canon lawyers, and a bishop or two\" (and then getting the formulae slightly wrong in the process, as we saw with your use of the word 'confecting'), why not try to meditate deeply on what it may really mean to have, as you say, 'Christ truly present body and soul in the 'Blessed Sacrament'?\nFor none of your comments suggests that what you claim 'differentiates' us, has made any positive impact on you at all. \nBTW, there is no 'Grand Canyon' that God cannot bridge - or level, if He wishes:-\n\"A voice cries, 'Prepare in the desert a way for Yahweh. Make a straight highway for our God across the wastelands. Let every valley be filled in, every mountain and hill be levelled, every cliff become a plateau, every escarpment a plain; then the glory of Yahweh will be revealed and all humanity will see it together, for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken.'\" (Isaiah chapter 40)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Guess what - that is exactly what MSW is arguing. It is not either/or - but Gallagher makes his own list and posits that it is either/or - either his list is right and you are wrong or else. True and new *cafeteria catholic*.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Uh--the Church does worry about adulterous straight men and women. Ever hear of the fact that divorced and remarried Catholics are not eligible to receive Communion? Yeah--the Church takes a lot of heat for that too--or did you forget that?\n\nI am sure you have also heard of the Church's stance on pre-marital sex, etc. The Church takes a lot of heat for that too. \n\nMy point: the Church DOES worry about straight men or women adulterers--not just homosexuals.\n\nWhile we are on the subject, I would argue that it isn't God or the Church that is hung up on sex. It is the liberal, secular, atheistic, humanistic society called America that is hung up on sex. Americans eat, breath and drink sex--then they have the audacity to tell the Church that the Church is hung up on sex?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Moneyed RCs! No voices from, of, and by the poor.\nThey might well give a different view, and abortion wouldn't be number one priority.\nUnfortunately, this gathering was traditional RC in that it is threatened by democracy and progressive ideas.\nThe attendees can afford to live in this bubble. \nThe Constantinian Catholic Church is alive and well. The marriage of money & power.\nThe poor remain outside. \"Let them eat cake!\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If only things were as simple as you think they are. While I am completely for ecumenism and the removal of the false constructs that separate us all - and, on every side I must add - I am also a realist and know that this matter is a bit more complicated then what you present. The pope is not/no longer \"an absolute monarch:\" and if any pope knows that to his very bones it is Pope Francis. You demonstrate a striking lack of understanding of the Catholic Church and its theology, or a real disregard for it. Much of what you list are goals to work towards, but even Parliament won't do what you demand of it and neither will the Catholic or Anglican Churches.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "strategist in 2016 [he probably was key, along with Trump's tremendous efforts and his charisma as 'the Natural', for sparing the nation from Hillary and another Leftist, cancerous administration. \n\nThe last rally for Moore featured some great speakers, and had a decided Christian message, which is no surprise for Alabama, where traditional American values have not been stomped into the dirt by the Leftist Movement, which has captured most of the cultural and governmental institutions, the entire democrat party, and even the education system, where the children of America are indoctrinated with Leftism. \n\nIn this rally, Bannon spoke and noted that this election was not directed against president Trump, it was a fight against the whole rotten establishment in Washington. He noted that if Judge Roy Moore prevailed, it would send a momentous message that even $30 million cannot buy an election for the establishment.\n\nSenator Corker of Tennessee, on the day before this election, ........", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "He was condemned, but for being insane not Christian, no Christian Doctrine nor practicer ever supported him. And the ruckus in Norway was something else too. What Americans mostly, were furious about, was he only got 21 years. The other difference for this new murderer is he didn't yell \"Allah akbar\" nor \"In the name of JC\" All these horrendous murders of late are doing it for Jihad. (Muslim)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You've already forgotten WWI and WWII and all the other nastiness of the 20th century. Why?\n\nThe fundamentalist versions of both Islam and Christianity are incompatible with an ideology of individual rights and representative government.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A Catholic believes and understands the Sacraments are channels for the infusion of God's saving grace into our souls. That's why we have a sacerdotal priesthood.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The case is not being tried in Canada, and Canadians are not going to serve on any jury.\n\nThere is no war on Christianity, but there is a Christian war against science and fact based behaviour as opposed to Faith Based behaviour. Christianity is not unique. All Faith Based Superstition is incompatible with Science. In Canada, as in every other developed country except the USA, most people no longer believe in Imaginary Supernatural Beings.\n\nUSA paid content on TV and in movies gives a false impression of levels of Vestigial Religious Belief in Canada.\n\nhttp://www.people-press.org/2002/12/19/among-wealthy-nations/\n\n\"Among Wealthy Nations \u0085U.S. Stands Alone in its Embrace of Religion ...\nThis is roughly twice the percentage of self-avowed religious people in Canada (30%), and an even higher proportion when compared with Japan and Western Europe. Americans\u2019 views are closer to people in developing nations than to the publics of developed nations.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Great thanks to so many for the fact that \"Vatican II documents are the best documented of any ecumenical council in Church history.\"\n\nHowever, the danger is, as RockChalkWomba cites it: \"the revisionism going on by those who would have us believe that Vatican II wasn't really about reform but only a minor course correction...\" \nThis is no passing danger. These theological revisionists, \"not unlike holocaust deniers,\" have been long at work creating a world-wide structure within the Church to support pro-Trent theology over Vatican II theology. They sincerely believe Vatican II was a minor, if not heretical council. \n\nThe largest \"revisionist\" group has quasi-independent prelature stature in the Roman Catholic Church and has been vigorously recruiting young and professional adults throughout the world. https://mond.at/opus.dei/ They own seminaries & colleges, teaching Vatcan II as \"minor course correction\" theology. Google https://RiteBeyondRome.com for Vatican II Rite/Church", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Part two of two) While Catholic voters are moving in to the Democratic column, white Catholics tip for Republican candidate Donald Trump over Democrat Hillary Clinton, 48-41 percent . . . .and Black Catholics something like 90-10 percent.\n\n\"When you talk about issues of social justice, poverty alleviation, environment, immigration, social equity, all of a sudden you see an alertness among the Latino population\" because those issues \"disproportionately affect that population.\u201d\u2014Maria Teresa Kumar . . . and even more disproportionately Black Catholics and that for centuries in the United States.\n\nIf young Latinos are also concerned about social justice issues, (Cokie) Roberts said, they will be important not only in fully representing the Catholic church \"but also in keeping the church alive.\" Something Black Catholics have been trying to do through centuries, rather than decades.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Taxpayers have a right to decide where their taxes are going. Otherwise, we will have corrupt dictatorships. No taxation without representation.\nSher\n-\nand so Catholic taxpayers have decided their taxes go to Catholic schools\nTouche\nCheck mate", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "MSW writes:\n\n\"That said, in my experience, you are far less likely to find people on the Christian left who \"forget they are at the service of the world.\" It is remarkable how many people in positions of responsibility in Catholic left publications and think tanks lived at a Catholic Worker house or joined the Jesuit Volunteer Corps or worked with the Peace Corps. They may or may not go on to develop inside-the-Beltway-sized egos, but they know what it is to get their hands dirty in the real world.\"\n\nThe myopia of this statement is breathtaking. Mr. Winters thinks only lefties \"get their hands dirty in the real world\"? Of course, the key words are, \"in my experience\"! If Mr. Winters wants, I (and others) can introduce him to conservative folks who serve in the military, serve meals in soup kitchens, assist young mothers with unexpected pregnancies, visit prisons, in addition to literally getting their hands dirty with their daily labors.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A few facts gleaned from on going coverage and prior knowledge.\nThe 9/11 hijackers were from Saudi Arabia- not one of the listed countries. The ban is being applied to travelers with dual citizenship which means someone born in a banned country but raised in another and a citizen of that second country (such as Canada) are barred. It is being applied based on place of birth, not just where they are flying from. Long term holders of the right to permanent residency (green cards) cannot exit because they will be barred reentry.\nEven conservative think tanks are pointing out that no one in the U.S. has been killed by a refugee from these countries even though hundreds of thousands (perhaps millions) have been admitted.\nAs many Christian refugees have been admitted as Muslims from the 7 countries, despite Trump's statement in the E.O. \nWhen did so many people lose their courage and ability to deal with facts?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It has always bothered me that Christ would promise His followers that they would be\"persecuted for His sake\"\n\nHe almost seems to exult in the fact that His followers would be burned at the stake, thrown to ravenous deliberately starved beasts, crucified upside down, tortured in the Spanish Inquiition ad infinitum.\nHe seems to almost take a sadistic pleasure in His predictions.\n\nWas there not enough violence and evil in the world without Christ demanding more, by requesting people to follow Him, with resulting agonizing atrocities?\n\nWhere is the alleged God of love in all this?\n\nAny thoughts?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Does adherence to \"welcome the stranger\" require that a nation have no borders? \"\n\nEFC, the USA does have borders and they are well guarded. Christian doctrine means welcoming people as the Children of God that they are.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree and also believe that any suggestion that Christians are threatened more than others is wrong. Muslims who do not agree with the ones doing the violence are just as much at risk. Assad is not targeting Christians, but those Muslims who disagree with him.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Christian right in the US believes that Israel must exist for the Rapture to occur. \n\"The Rapture Factor\nWhy conservative Christians' love of Israel is intertwined with the Battle of Armageddon\"\n\nhttp://www.beliefnet.com/faiths/christianity/2002/06/the-rapture-factor.aspx#cMpHE70WTrDwh0J3.99", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They're but a subcult of the larger cult that is christianity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yeah, Ms. Flowers isn't much of a 'liberal' though, at least not according to my understanding of the term. Catholic fundamentalist extremist is closer to the mark (\"Catholic-ist\" is just too hard to say). Twitz like her are why we had the Crusades.\n\nI could tell by how when I e-mailed her concerning ignorant, stereotypical remarks she made about my Faith in another column, she reviled me with even more bigoted, stereotypical remarks and invective. My Catholic buddy doesn't think very highly of her either...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think Bannon is Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "On the basis of abortion, SSM and imaginary threats to \"religious liberty,\" the bishops supported the election of a delusional conspiracy theorist and megalomaniac with the power to destroy civilization. Abortion is moot in a nuclear wasteland or an environment rendered hostile to life by climate change. The Trump administration is in the process of dismantling the EPA and will stack what's left of it with ideologues promoting pseudo-science in the interest of billionaires invested in fossil fuels. Pro-life?\n\nThe church could be so much more more effective in promoting its ethic of life if it abandoned its crusade to criminalize abortion. Instead the bishops are anxious to reassert their lost authority and insinuate Catholic theology into the civic order, joining forces with some of the most dangerous and repugnant individuals ever to come to power in the US. The church is again on the wrong side of history.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I hadn't realized you were an attorney as well as a true catholic. Amazing that no one seems to realize that the criminal codes define abortion as first degree murder.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Five times banned from Catholic Answers here. 5, five, cinq, cinco, five-o. That was before I learned that \"dissension\" is almost the worst thing a real Catholic can do, even when the \"dissent\" is only against practices that are themselves evil and criminal. You couldn't pay me to access that or similar sites now.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Who is the \"some guy\"? A ghost writer? \"Amoris Laetitia' has MORE authority BECAUSE hundreds of bishops were meeting to discuss it. The documents of Vatican II REQUIRED Papal Synods [that is what this is called] to be held regularly [the pope with the bishops], just as it had occurred in the ancient Christian church. Papal synods of this kind were held almost until the time of the Reformation. One of the strongest popes of the second millennium, Gregory VII, held such papal synods regularly, and obviously he did not think they were injurious to papal authority.\n\nThrough the whole first millennium the popes wrote no encyclicals nor did they define any dogmas of the faith. The popes of the first millennium did not exercise a universal government of the whole church. The popes in their capacity as bishop of Rome and successor of Peter were the BOND OF COMMUNION for all the other local church and the bishops, the successors of the Apostles.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "the differnence is all other major religions like Christianity have gone through reformation. Theirs has not.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If the USCCB shares social positions with the GOP, on abortion for example, that would seem to be a significant consideration for a Catholic. If we were to find another party supported abortion on demand, government payment for abortions, and so on that would also seem to be a significant consideration for a Catholic.\n\nThe only statements and letters and recorded interviews of individual bishops I have encountered that go beyond some vague statements and reference to the Church's teachings involve personal assessments of particular situations, along the lines of the Holy Father's personal opinions on climate change, or John Paul II's personal impressions on capital punishment.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thanks Cynthia. I follow your thinking as I was raised and served for years in the culture of having \"a zeal to share\" one's insights into faith. But in the context of this exchange I am trying to reflect on OUR failures as Xtians, rather than commentating on the responses of folk who are not Xtians. We need to humble ourselves even if they choose to walk all over us. I think thats what Jesus intended, altho no doubt there are those who interpret his words differently.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christian, Jew or Muslim; i fear anyone who thinks one book was written by the creator and hears voices talking to them from the sky. I fear a government who is run by these principles.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Monte,\n\nAssuming that anything in the Levitical laws was equivalent to a modern redistribution of wealth shows how willing Liberals in Christianity are to twist scripture in their search to justify modern Socialist/Communist concepts. Nothing in scripture remotely resembles how Liberalism claims to be helping the poor. For example, farmers were supposed to not harvest the edges of their fields so travelers and the poor could find food. Ruth and her family gleaned fields to find food because only a single harvest was allowed so the poor could eat. That wasn't a tax, it was how as a society they lived God's love.\n\nThe God used five dinner rolls and two fish to feed 5,000 is offering us His power to do mighty and marvelous things that demonstrate His love and power. So, why would we imagine seeking to use corrupt human power that is dedicated to the destruction of faith to do the works He wants us doing?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thanks. This has been on my mind for a long time. Civics begins not with grandiose notions of love, nor the boring mundane of \"county\" but with the radical reality of interdependency, the absolute necessity of \"getting along\" for survival, peace, security. There is a remarkable continuity between the treatment of civility and its progress from orderliness to friendship to love between Aristotle (Ethics) and Jesus (I Corinthians 13). Our Church needs to spend the next 100 years putting Jesus back into real street talk and action. Empty calls upon \"catholic social doctrine\" that begins in institution rather than in civilization is divisive. It is no longer credible because it is rhetorical, ideological and self-serving rather than real. \nOur world needs that Church, that Jesus.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This latest document \"Ad resurgendum cum Christo\" is far more financial than doctrinal. It appears designed to keep Catholic cemeteries (especially small ones) solvent and in business for the long run. Ironically, the document neatly fits into a niche next to now-Cardinal Dolan's Cemetery Trust Fund which he set up in Milwaukee to keep from paying judgments to sex abuse victims, the Archdiocese of Newark's scam of \"leasing\" headstones to individuals, couples and families, and now moving Archbishop Sheen's body out of St. Patrick's in New York back to his home diocese (Peoria) in time for his projected canonization. \n\nFprtunately, these new \"regulations\" do not bind funeral directors (even Catholic funeral directors). But it does muddy the waters that used to run clear.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Because its authentic spiritual validity has nothing to do with its ingredients. It minimalizes the Eucharist by focusing on its earthly matter rather than on what matters. It becomes about the baker not the Maker. It becomes the height (or depth) of Catholic scrupulosity. What next? A wine list?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Maybe Trid will bow OUT, too! Even though Trid considers him/herself to be \"orthodox Catholic.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As a Catholic who attends mass every week, this is DISGRACEFUL.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sometimes the bath water needs to be changed. By the way, it is Christ Who is the center of the Church, and last I heard, He's doing fine.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would like to tell you that I find it highly disrespectful to question anyone's faith. I think I understand the intent of your question, and that is not my issue with it. I see it in these blogs fairly often, used by some traditionalists to attack the integrity of others. It does not belong on this site - or any other Catholic blog, in my opinion. I hope and ask that you refrain from doing so in the future, and if you can, I offer my sincere thanks.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree that most Christians are not as informed as they should be. In children's Sunday School they do not cover the subject very much. In some of the adult Sunday Schools, they will go in depth on more of the subjects and this might come up. Not to encourage them but to give some background on what has brought us to where we are today.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I made a pilgrimage to Assisi many decades ago. They say the very stones of the town radiate all the prayers that have been said there from all the pilgrims, both Catholic and non-Catholic, who came there to a honor a very quirky saint. RD, that would be the kind you don't like.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Always, I remember those days too, and though they are long gone, there seem to be those who wish to bring them back. The need for more Catholic Christian births to counter an increasing number of Muslims seemed to me to be a subtext of Archbishop Chaput's \"Strangers in a Strange Land.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I like your bumper sticker. Bumper stickers often put profound thoughts into few words and make us think. 'Be all you can be' started as a recruiting slogan; now it is often taken as 'No matter who you are, be the very best you can'. The fact is many 'Christians' believe only the narrow beliefs of their group are the 'right' ones. Everyone else is lost, and need only come over to the group to be saved. That is by no means true of all Christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Indeed, the faith is so week in Europe that any advice from those passive pastors seems to be coming from those that have totally capitulated to the secular world, especially the French and German bishops. \n\nI'd rather heed advice from pastor where Catholicism is still strong like Poland.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "From what I can gather from the article - I'd say this is true, but only to an extent. There are, after all, around 1,8 billion Muslims - around 1,5 billion Sunnis. Surely, 1,5 billion people cannot be the problem; the problem are the few thousands who use Islam for their own agenda to justify their barbaric actions. There are equally bad people who use Buddhism (see Burma) or Christianity (see Central African Republic or Lord's Resistance Army or Irish Republican Army) to justify horrific atrocities. \n\nIf religion is just an excuse for despicable actions - and it seems like it is - then looking at the underlying reasons behind despicable actions could be a better strategy, perhaps.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You and I would have no problem in sharing a prayer Bill. We both understand at least some of the language of the Christian church. \n\nYour use of the 'Holy Spirit' is great. A non-Christian would just hear that and say more 'magic mumbo jumble'. That same person may sit quietly and meditate for a half hour!!! We share a common objective of love/peace, but it's lost to the imperfection of verbal, or written messages.\n\nIn a past church class it was asked: 'What would happen if all bibles were suddenly gone from the planet?\" Most folks tried to think of ways to rewrite the same bible. \n\nI said, if the Bible represents basic truths for human growth and expansion of our kingdom (the reach of our love for others), then through the Spirit, those truths would again become self-evident and revealed to modern people in a new way.\n\nNot sure what you think Bill, but I have a big mental/emotional separation between my Christian Faith and the theological choices of some Churches", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "These are not \"Buddhist protesters\" as much as \"Bamar protesters\" or \"Myanmar nationalist protesters\". I mean, we don't use headlines like \"Christians rally against refugees\" to describe a gathering of Trump supporters. I know it's easier to use convenient, superficial labels than to spend the time explaining the ethnic differences between people who look the same to us, but it is a grave disservice to the many others who share that label but not the views.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"So many talk about the \"vast majority\" of clergy who are good an committed to the mission. If that is true, if those numbers of such clergy exist, why are they not working for change? And that work requires them to speak up.\"\n\nThis is the one question that never gets answered. It's bugged me for a very very long time. If our 'good' priests are seriously committed to following Christ, why did they not speak up? Why are they silent now when they need to work for change? If anything points to the spiritual rot at the core of priestly corps it is this deafening silence.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In addition to all the fine points Tom Reese makes here, I would add the fact that there are already dozens of married, Roman Catholic priests serving in the church today. They are former protestant ministers who are ordained as Roman Catholic priests. One serves here in Scranton PA and lives in the Rectory with his wife and children. The question this raises is why can a protestant married minister be ordained a Catholic priest, but a Catholic married deacon cannot be ordained to preside at the Eucharist and absolve those who want to confess sin? And, in truth, we already have a multitude of those who could be ordained. If we \"inquired among the people of God\" thousands of good women and men \"would be found worthy\" to serve the community as priests. See my \"Some of the Best Priests I Know are Women\" in U.S. Catholic, April 1993, vol 58 #4, P.30. The reality is we are not ordaining women. We are also not ordaining many men. The two facts may be connected.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dolan, in my opinion, is not even a Christian much less a catholic. He lives and travels in splendor and could care less about the poor and downtrodden.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How....strange. All these new rules I think I am just going to ignore. \n\nI inherited a burial section that was intended, about 100 years ago, to have about 8 or 10 individual plots. There are four people buried there, if family legend has it right. (Two or three were buried there and later moved to a mausoleum - I think; this would have been in the 1920s or 1930s. I need to get that determined.) Two great-great aunts are buried there - and now my parents. Well, my dad is half buried there and the other half of his cremated remains are buried in his family burial plot in Alabama. (Mother refused cremation and wanted to be buried near her family. Dad creatively solved the problem of wanting to be buried next to his wife and with his family. )\n\nI am going to be cremated and buried there. This is not a Catholic cemetery, but I have Catholic relatives buried here and there in the same cemetery, some right next to protestant spouses, so I am assuming God doesn't have a problem.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "LONG LIVE POPE FRANCIS!!!!\n\nMay he continue to guide us with vigor, humor, and love. \nObedience is so much easier when superior is really living out his own Christian faith. \n\nI pray that God give me the grace of humility and simplicity......!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Rather unfortunate. This is our Sunday Offering.\nAnyway, here's the Catholic app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kissdevs.divineliturgy", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sad, jumping into a conversation between two posters having a civil discussion that in no way involves the third person, to interrupt with snarky and nasty harassing postings. Sigh. Is it truly in keeping with the teachings of the Person you quote to so behave? Is this what the One True Church teaches? Shirley, one would expect a catholic to strive to be above such harassment and bullying, but time and time again we see that those who claim to hew to the teachings of the Church behave in a manner so far below the standards set out in the Gospels. Perhaps this is done as a subtle indictment of the Church? A way of criticizing the Church for so often abandoning the Ideals and idears of the New Testament in favor of the expedient ways, values and attitudes of the modern world? One cannot help but wonder.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Where do you get the idea that I don't agree with the requirement of feeding the poor, helping the sick or any of the other worthy causes? I just also believe we must follow his commandments. The Church does assist in my salvation by receiving the graces from the Sacraments of the Holy Eucharist, Confession and Extreme Unction. That is what makes the Catholic Church the one true Faith. My understanding is in complete compliance of the Catholic Faith. Your understanding needs to expand if sinful acts don't matter anymore. When I die all I have left at that time is my soul. At that time I will be judged to heaven, hell or purgatory. I won't receive my body until the end of the world and final judgement day, hopefully.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "52% of voting American Catholics appear to have rejected Pope Francis' position on climate change and on immigration.\n\nThe \"sensus fidelium\", so much vaunted by the left these days, has spoken.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You guys are going to go too far one day and Dicky is going to move to a good Christian state like Syria : )", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And we will defend Jesus Christ and His teaching even in the face of attacks from His own vicar on Earth.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus spoke of love of others. Bigotry and racism are not acts of love. Bannon has a record of bigotry and racism or do you have some \"alternate\" facts?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Keep on flagging. Some of us have to tell the Truth. I suspect the moderators are true Catholics, and appreciate us standing up for real Catholicism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bravo! How I wish this article could be read in every church and christian household in the land.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Marriage is the first divine law of Christianity. Jesus was clear that only male to female could be joined together, married, and it is the only way that anyone whoever existed got here so we know God's way is the correct way. Jesus reiterated the marriage law, Genesis 2:24-25, in Matthew 19:4-6 - 4...\u201cHave you not read that He who made them at the beginning \u2018made them male and female,\u2019 5\u00a0and said, \u2018For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh\u2019? 6\u00a0So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.\u201d", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Assuming you are Catholic are you then denying the Incarnation of God's only begotten Son as the only Saviour of the World?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Chavez himself said the Government was responsible for 20 000 tons of food rotting in Government warehouses whilst there were shortages on the streets - and how long ago did Chavez die.\n\nThe sad reality is that 100% of the shortages in Venezuela are a direct result of Government action and policy failure.\n\nThe real driving force behind the coup against Allende was Harold Geneen.\n\n\"And wikpedia indicates that the Christian Democrats party platform was very similar to the Allende coalition.\"\n\nVenezuela has been run by a series of Social Democrat Governments (often with a strong nationalist twist) since the 1950's, until Chavez came a long and plunged the economy into chaos.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "well you are by definition a protester and an activist.. it doesn't have to be politcal hahaha. You guys make christians look bad when you lose your cool like that but we are all humans and you are doing what you think is right, i can respect that. just keep things in perspective.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "HA. I'm a patriot. And, yes, I grew up with flags on the altar. And I was so glad to see them go, even as a patriotic child. Why? Because they didn't belong there. \n\n\nPatriotism has the potential to be a great secular/civic virtue, and, yes, Catholicism got very wrapped up in it for awhile, but the \"Christian\" part is pretty thin. It is a derived Christian virtue at best, but a person doesn't need to be Catholic to be patriotic at all. But then justice doesn't belong the Catholic Church either. \n\n\nSecular/civic virtue, with the strength of derivation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Unfortunately I think there is a subset of the conservative Catholic population that does care about their neighbors being denied Communion. Part of the reason why they remain Catholic is because they like judging others and kicking them out of the cool kids club.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Where does Catholic moral teaching say that homosexuals should be feared and loathed? I have never seen this written or heard it spoken in over 70 years.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hi, LG. I guess I see it as serving the perceived needs and wishes of the Catholics of that time. They couldn't see 150 years in the future and a regional decline in the numbers of regularly attending/contributing/interested Catholics (which might be even worse now without those parishes then). But they could see that at that time they had Catholics from other countries who desperately wanted the comfort of the familiar in their churches, and they both wanted to serve those Catholics and worried they would be lost to the Church without that parish belonging. \n\nWe can project and plan for the future but still have to meet the needs of this day.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Time for Muslims t get with the program and understand that religion should not be mixed with other institutions, being political, educational, or commercial. You are free to pray for God in a setting that does not offend others, and where you do not give the impression that you have rights other religions do not. What if Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, and decided to pray in schools?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Clueless\" was one of Christ's words as they are recorded in the Gospels?\n\nI seem to recall Jesus saying render to Caesar that which is Caesar's.\n\nNo, what happened was that had you some material left over from the pre-election period you had assembled from your vantage in the Commonwealth, and this looked like a propitious time and occasion to unload it. Or something along those lines.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "India had a woman Prime Minister much before Canada thought about it. The President of India's largest political party is a woman, born in Italy, Catholic (in Hindu dominent India). Imagine Canada gets a Prime Minister, who is Muslim, Woman, Black and not born in Canada. Tell me who needs to learn from whom about diversity and tolerance.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I observe that this topic of female ordination is creating the same old arguments in the comments here. It has all be said and debated and countered and confirmed many times before. What this pronouncement of Pope Francis tells us is that there is no way the doctrinal Church is going to budge on the matter, no matter what. Women may well be able to be ordained deacons, or not even ordained but appointed so as not to open the ordination door even a crack, but not made priests. Period.\nSo what do we do? To stand at the doors of the Vatican and scream in protest will yield no results except for losing our voice. Those who feel strongly about ordination of women but want to remain in a Catholic tradition will move to the Anglican/Episcopal or Lutheran church. Others will give up on \"church\" all together and join the \"nones\" that have grown so substantially in recent years. But many will not remain with the RCC or join it, and should shake its dust from their shoes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nothing in the VII documents is binding on the conscience of any Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Believe as you wish. My question is why you really have such a dislike of the good priest? Do you fear what the Fatima and Akita apparitions really mean if authentic. If true then your whole outlook on the Catholic Faith is clearly wrong. Maybe the traditionalists were right after all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The collapse of Canadian society was you knew it hastens. The left, for whatever reason, despises common sense, order, christians, conservatives to the point destruction of the country is preferable to them. The historians are going to be scratching their heads over this one for centuries. Why did my forefathers bother putting on a uniform to defend what Canada was?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Marian apparitions have a place in Catholicism, but they are not equal to Revelation. Nor have they been used to found a \"restoration\" church, as it were, or new religious body (like Mormonism, for example, whose founder, Joseph Smith, established a church based on the divine visions of Jesus he experienced in the 1820's and the angelic visitations of the Angel Moroni). We have to, of course, respect the religious traditions of all, including Mohammad's visions and visitations. For that reason alone, I stay clear of critiquing them -- whether of St. Bernadette's or Joseph Smith's or of Mohammed's (though as a Catholic, I feel more in sync with the Fatima children or St. Bernadette, for that matter, especially having experienced Lourdes).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My understanding of JW teaching is that Christ is not God, am I incorrect ?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am judging him not on what he says (or his intent -which you guys won't quit obsessing about) but what he does. I am not looking for the right person, I am looking for a person who does the right things. Every person is going to let us down in one way or another, last I checked the last perfect person who walked the earth was hung on a cross 2000 years ago, and his since been resurrected (I had to take the opportunity to slide some of that irrational Christianity in there :))", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That's why, when one of the posters said, \"Sure tastes like bread to me\" --- this on a Sunday --- I responded, \"I can see you had an accident today.\" I'm sure you get it. \nThe philosophy comes directly and ultimately from Jesus. The first transubstantiation, as you know, took place at the Last Supper: \"This is my body. . . . This is my blood. * * * Do this in remembrance of me.\" There is evidence that the Apostles themselves took Jesus to mean what Aquinas did, although they themselves did not know the Aristotelian and Thomistic \"mechanics\" of it. Now, if you don't believe Jesus meant that the \"this\" really was his body, rather than a piece of bread, then you're right . . . transubstantiation does not make sense. Conversely, if you do believe, as Catholics do, that the first Eucharist involved Jesus' changing the substance of the bread and wine that he held in his hands, then it IS \"ultimately from Jesus that we get the notion of transubstantiation.\" It remains a mystery of faith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "To use but change a bit something that the poet and song writer, Leonard Cohen said;\nIts coming, its coming, Christianity is coming to the Catholic Bishops in the USA. It may take a generation or 1000 years but its coming to the Catholic Bishops in the USA.\n\nAt least maybe it will come. Their current leadership is a near complete failure and it really is up to the Catholic Laity to do something about these men. They attempt to keep authoritarian control over our Church, but they have no control that we do not give them. Time to not contribute any funds that the Bishops have any control over. Time to stand with our backs to the Bishops as they preach in the Cathedrals and ordinary parishes. They are now one important responsible group for our civil chaos. Their inaction in the sexual & banking crisis is legion. Their theology of sex and family life is abhorrent. Their support to DT's election, Yes perhaps one day the love of Christianity will come to the RC Bishops of the USA!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As a non-believer, on what do you base the assertion that \u201cJesus was born a Jew, lived as a Jew and died as a Jew. His apostles, disciples and all his followers were Jews and never left the Jewish faith. Jesus would not even have known what the Catholic religion was.\u201d?\n\nHave you had some bad experience growing up with people who identified themselves as Catholics?\n\nDo you have some reason to think that saying such a thing to a believer will lead to a positive outcome for you? If so, what benefit would that be?\n\nAre you familiar enough with the sacred texts of those whose beliefs you attack to explain what they mean and from whence they came?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Lynn, thanks for your devotion to hope and help. I notice that few if any mention that the Christian Mission helps hundreds of homeless men and woman every day, right in their very midst. With help and time, many find a way out. \nThis economy isn't like the 1950's, where jobs were everywhere and rents were reasonable. In a lot of cities, rents are driven to insane heights, and the competition for jobs means many are homeless, or just hanging on. \n\nUntil there are changes in our type of capitalism that exports jobs and imports wealth through Wall Street, nothing will change. \nMe, I have given up on explaining in comments sections. Pretty much all people know are the few on the street who have given up and are living rough. \nI am not a cruel person, I don't think, but do wish this country had fallen in the last economic crash to the point that we had a depression. Maybe then people would understand what happens when one is lost and alone.\nHugh Massengill, Eugene", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "NPR interviewed a minster, interestingly an immigrant, who stated that his flock voted for the short fingered vulgarian in spite of his vulgarity, because he promised to bring prayer and christianity back into the public schools. I keep in mind that this country has got rid of liberal radial anti-conservative politicians since 1963....the two Kennedys and MLKJr. This is not about a bunch of rust belters out of work because of NAFTA. The KKK was around in the 20's and 30's. No, around half the population in this country hates the other half, and it has been this way for a long time. The sole objective, publicly stated, for the last 7 years was to \"get rid of\" our democratically elected president who got not only the majority of electoral votes, but also the popular vote, something both GWBush and the short-fingered vulgarian cannot claim, for they do not truly represent the majority.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So wonderful to see an athlete who relies on their strong Christian faith for success. As we all know, the more and harder you pray, the more success will come your way", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My Ten Cents: It's interesting how conservative mythology has mutated the rationally inspired U.S. Constitution, which emerged during what is often called the American Enlightenment, into an often rigidly dogmatic screed. Whether it's religionists, who somehow believe the document is a sacred Christian text (one study suggested that a significant proportion of Americans believe this), or \"constructionists\" who believe they can conveniently divine the intent of the \"founders\" to, among other things, justify the incarceration and even execution of convicted people who as a result of newly available evidence are known to be innocent, the U.S. Constitution has in too many cases become a dangerous thing under the rule of conservative ideology. The founders of the American union would no doubt shudder at what is now justified under the guise of their direction.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "First you accuse certain Catholics of wishing to kill, torture and physically punish non-Catholics. After being asked for proof of this you now retract what you said and start talking about a Taliban 'mindset'. A bit different from suggesting that Catholics are hell bent on destroying non-Catholics.\nNo one wants to be rid of 'nasty heretics and protestants' as you call them. The Catholic Church reaches out to them exhorting them to return home, to the one, true fold. This is not a 'sickness' it is the mission entrusted to His Church by Christ, our Lord Himself, not an abandonment of the Gospel principles but an application of them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It makes no sense to advise people to avoid and admonish their churches, then complain that those very people take you up on exactly that.\u2014Elaine The Faithful and the RCC have a present responsibility for the culture in which the Faithful and RCC live. It makes sense to advise doing something, rather than just complain about what others are doing. \n\nVery few young Catholic girls have any contact with the churches in this culture\u2014Elaine Really. I see a reasonable percentage of the Sunday congregation young Catholic girls. Catholic parents can be abusive, too. I wonder what percentage of the coverup bishops had abusive Catholic parents.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Should Catholic pacifists be forced to pay taxes that are going to defense spending?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Phrogge..thought that patch looked familiar saw some Americal folks when I was in Nam. I was a USARV-MACV sandwich when in Nam. \nReally appreciate that you see your role to accompany people in their time of need. In my humble view, this is the purpose of ministers to help those suffering. Unfortunately, our bishops seem to blame the victims for not being perfect. These bishops, and most of the JP-II priest, know everything about Catholicism and vert little about Christianity. Keep up your good work!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dogon60,\n\nI too support a secular society and governance, so we are in agreement their. I would argue however, that the burden of proof falls on anyone that wishes to make a scientific or rational claim for or against the existence of God/gods. I do not wish to make a scientific claim for the existence of my God, I believe He exists by faith alone. In fact, I'd argue that scientific evidence of my God would negate the value of faith and would thereby destroy Christianity itself. So, where I make no scientific claim for the existence of God, the burden of proof is not mine. However, for atheists (not necessarily you, of course) who wish to claim atheism is in accord with contemporary scientific beliefs, the burden of proof falls upon them to prove it does. I think that's fair, don't you?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The US Constitution is not a suicide pact, as I have written for years. Nor are those of the West. With supposedly 1 out of 7 US residents having been born in a foreign country, we are having a problem assimilating newly arrived immigrants. I believe we should halt all immigration for a period of time and place merit as the number one priority for future immigration. We need to severely limit 3rd world immigration whose cultures do not mirror our own values, beliefs in the rule of law, and education. .\nIf we were to look at refugees to bring to our country, the Christian refugees in Jordan might be the best to bring here since their fundamental beliefs are very similar to ours. A great number have been already vetted by NGOs.\nIf that is being racist, so be it. Again, our Constitution is not a suicide pact and that is the direction we and the West are headed. All cultures are NOT equal and just as I determine who visits my home, the same logic applies to MY country.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "On-ward Christian sol - diers march-ing as to war with the cross of Je - sus go - ing on be - fore.\nChrist the roy - al mas - ter leads a-gainst the foe.\n\n\nPlease lead us to glorious victory Amy. If not you, who?\n\ndon't let them replace our beloved sharia law with theirs...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We're used to being told there are problems with systemic racism and sexism in our society. What Couillard was saying, and what a great many people think, is that there are systemic problems with intolerance in Islam. The evidence for that is very clear: witness the attitude towards other religions in Islamic countries--the very term \"Islamic country\" pretty much says it all. So no one is saying that most Muslims are supporters of terrorism, or that they condone terrorism. No one is saying there are more bad Muslims than bad Christians or Jews. What is being suggested is that Muslim community leaders and religious officials in Canada and elsewhere look at what passes for legitimate discourse in their circles\u2014including what they teach youngsters in their schools and what is preached in their mosques\u2014and take responsibility for purging it of whatever bigotry they find.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ummm...anyone who has spent any time learning anything about Christian religions knows that Allah is the same as Jehovah, is the same as Elohim. Islam has the same roots as Christianity. \n\nWhat's not quite clear here is why you are asking people their thoughts, apropos of nothing, on Allah.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wanting to live is really not news. That's a very old notion. Charles Darwin had a few ideas on the subject as does the Pope and the Dali Lama. Science and religion do converge at one single point. We do the business of conservation for the sake of humanity. Their are those that say that blessed are the meek they shall will inherit the earth, Matt 5:5. But what exactly are the meek people inheriting, Webster says the meek are people that are quiet and willing to go along, maybe even timid. One biblical version of meek is defined as power under control. As in, Jesus described himself as the meek and lowly. Jesus and his group eventually brought down the Roman empire. Not an easy task and probably the result of unintended consequences. This planet has been rotating around its star for at least 4.5 billion years. The reality is that the planet does not really care about people. Humans may be a minor, short term, inconvenience for the planet in the cosmic sense. Inherit?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Didn't it? The Lutheran version of Christianity is doing quite well.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why do they call themselves \"Christian\"? Why are they trying to interfere in Alaska anyway? They have a lot to do. Try ending Citizen's United. Now that would be a worthy cause.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Understanding Muslims.\nListen to Brigitte Gabriel who was born in Lebanon to a Maronite Christian family. \nCopy the websites below and listen to what she says about Muslims. \nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guXBTgAxhIw\nhttp://www.israelvideonetwork.com/brigitte-gabriel-reveals-the-muslim-brotherhood-plan-for-america/\nhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/davidnoriega/meet-the-charming-terrifying-face-of-the-anti-islam-lobby?utm_term=.xg3dOljA3#.cdpdGnQYW", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nor have I ever been suspended from anything. \n\nDon't buy into all the viciousness you read...it's not wise.\n\nBut I must ask. Why would you insinuate there is validity to such a thing? Wouldn't it be wiser....and more Christian...to stay out of it?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Baptism is formal initiation into the Body of Christ, but we are all, ALL members of Christ's Body since we are all, ALL children of God. Salvation is open to all, ALL, no matter their religion, or lack of it. It is God Who decides. Thank God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The US Taxpayer mostly funds so-called \"Catholic Charities\". Something like 10% comes from private donations.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your statement is abusive. It has no place among Christian discussants. Please apologize.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The writer has a point when he says: \"All the claims of Jesus Christ hang on this one event \u2013 his resurrection.\" I cannot see how an educated adult in our age can be expected to rely on the gospels as evidence of this event. This simple test illustrates that difficulty - http://exchristian.net/3/. \n\nHe also writes: \"If that did not happen, Christianity is false and Jesus was the greatest hoaxer of all time\"\nThis exposes him as someone who has not studied the scriptures he relies on at all and he certainly doesn't grasp the nuances in christology and soteriology contained in the new testament. He relies heavily on the gospel of John when there is no reason why he should reject the versions contained in the synoptic gospels in as far as the idea that Jesus is God is concerned.\n\nFrom Mark 3:21 it is clear that Jesus's family didn't think that he was God incarnate, placed on earth through immaculate conception. Why should I?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ya well, Catholic, Christian, Evangelism is there is much difference?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One other question:\nYou point out that 'It is completely natural for a Christian to pray to God when a time of crisis or need arises', yet you also state that 'If God intervened in situations, he would undermine our free will and we would become mere robots'.\nSo what exactly is the point of praying to god in a time of crisis? Either he not going to intervene - meaning you are wasting time that could be spent properly dealing with the crisis - or he is going to intervene, thereby undermining your free will.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Democrat party is pro abortion, anti-traditional marriage, pro partial birth abortion, Pro larger federal government pro higher taxes anti-Catholic, and anti-little sisters of the poor. \nWhat could be more deplorable any Catholic that voted for a Democrat better show up to confession weekly for the fear of losing their soul and facing Jesus Christ at the final judgment", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of course Jesus saves souls--not cardinals and bishops. That isn't the question or the point and you darn well know it.\n\nEDUCATION is indeed important---people need to be educated as to what the Church teaches--so that they can make clear and free choices about their spiritual lives and whether they want to believe and profess the Catholic Faith. When teaching is not made clear, or people are made to believe the wrong things--they cannot make clear and free choices about their spiritual lives or whether they want to be a part of the Catholic Faith. They have chosen to be Catholic under false pretenses. Is that fair? \n\nIs it fair if someone remains Catholic because they think certain teachings will eventually change--when the hierarchy knows full well they won't? Is it fair to give people the impression that Catholic moral teaching does not really matter--all that matters is Catholic social teaching?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Too funny, considering early Christianity was a \"rise up people's movement.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think certain things have changed from the time of Mary, but that is a different subject and there is different opinions on her age, though it has been more widely accepted that she was on the young side.\nYou do know who is the father of all guilt, do you not? No Christian should be feeling guilty for anything. Convicted, yes, but not guilty. There is a difference. I agree with your counselor that guilt can be harmful. Conviction on the other hand is the first step in repentance and change.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Papa means father and that is the Pope's title. I understand that Protestants do not regard him as father but to Catholics he is our Holy Father.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Perhaps we should all get involved in domestic violence issues by bringing more of Christ to our community. Our children now have one more incident in their conciousness that tells them the world is violent and selfish. You aren't going to eliminate violence by eliminating guns. Violence is in the person.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are right. This could take eons. But Pope Francis will at least start the movement to reduce the number of those denominations. This could potentially win more followers or at least stop the turning away from the more fundamentalist versions. This is the 21st Century and religions should modernize and become more inclusive. Pope Francis sure is attempting to modernize Christianity by stressing the positives of Jesus's message and that is beneficial.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The racists embrace conservative values like respecting the flag, saying Merry Christmas\"\nWow, just wow. You have truly lost it. Consider your comments here bookmarked for future reference\nDo you know why racists want people to say \"Merry Christmas\"? Because the Klan, the Nazis, and other racists DON'T want to admit there are JEWS in this country! They don't want to admit that Chanukah falls in December. They don't want to admit that Ramadan can fall in December.\nWell, guess what, Thor? In 2030, 2031, and 2032 Ramadan happens in December again!\nThis whole \"war on Christmas\" phony baloney began during the 1990s, when Ramadan fell around Christmas time, and some merchants decided to respect their Christian, Jewish, and Muslim customers by saying \"Happy Holidays\". And the USPS issued Chanukah and Ramadan postage stamps. You and Bill O'Reilly went nuts.\nSo, saying \"Happy Holidays\" fundamentally changes America? Well, guess what? The USA isn't just for Christians any more.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I sincerely hope that in some future century, (if we survive the present political and environmental dangers), the institutional Church will be honest enough and brave enough to acknowledge the courage and foresight these pioneering women showed in the earliest stages of breaking down this mysogynistic barrier. I hope the female Pope of that day will lead a universal ritual of apology for the institutional oppression of all women and in particular those women denied consideration of ordination. I hope for equality, the freedom for women to serve as minister and leader, and for women's influence and wisdom in theology and Scriptural interpretation. Women's place is not a step behind men's but equal before God in common humanity and in Christian baptism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "John Tory is a Christian pushing his bible values on to people. It was total predictable.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am not a Christian that much, but, Dr. Prevo was a hero to many in AK. That I know!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "McHale's definitions of \"heretic\" and \"modernist\" is \"a Catholic who disagrees with him\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How, \u201cobviously\u201d, can he now?\n\nAnd what \u201cbig, red arrow\u201d was pointing at him?\n\nThe early Christians banned other persons from receiving it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, she better include me because I told all the Christians she was the 2nd \"Jezebel\", read about it & listen to the song @ http://www.davenettlesgospelmusic.com/israel-compared-to-america.html", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The truth is all Catholics are cafeteria Catholics. Conservative Catholics were quite willing to ignore John Paul's and Benedict's strong statements on justice and peace, and progressive Catholics are happy to ignore Francis' opposition to women priests.\"\n\nNow that we have that settled, let the orthotoxic begin their whining.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Horrible that a poster would attack Mother's Day in the name of religion. One cannot help but wonder how it can be considered in keeping with christian values to take a swipe at motherhood. I hope this is merely satire, but...well...sigh....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "His \"hatred\" of Christianity is covered by 1st Amendment.\nAfter his convictions on violent domestic violence, do you think this guy should have been allowed to legally own a gun? This story shows a pattern of abuse. His possession of a gun should have been prevented after his previous acts.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's an informed opinion, Victoria, after watching catholic conservatives in action for years. One Tridentinist I knew wrote twenty letters of complaint about a priest to his Bishop, plucking from the phone book twenty different names and addresses to make it look as if there were twenty different complainers. It only came to light after the letters were compared and found to be authored by the same person. That, Victoria, is reprehensible behaviour. \nIt is well known on here that posters of a certain bent come from extremist \"Catholic\" sites to disrupt the board. Are you seriously suggesting that such people are going to use the 'civil/uncivil' function fairly? They are not here to discuss, they are here to disrupt. For them the end justifies the means.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you for a thoughtful article and for giving me term that I will now use, thus avoiding the semantic quibbles.. I am a secular Christian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not just sad, very sad, Jack. Once you've removed these from the public square, you'll go after the churches too. You and others want nothing less than to eradicate religion, period. I thought you were a Christian?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Monica: I always enjoy reading your erudite comments, even if I don't always agree with them. You are forever courteous and thoughtful.\n :-) \nThat being said: The God-is-love hermeneutic is probably the liberal Christian's (both Protestant & Catholic) singular motto. I think that evangelical Christians and traditional Catholics go in to other extreme with the God-the-Just-Judge hermeneutic. Like Aristotle, we probably should seek out the golden mean.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well...the 2011 Census stated that 22million identified as Christian from a population of 32.8million, so the number is more like 67% and another 7.8million with no religious affiliation. I am quite sure that many \"Christians\" were born with the affliction (like me)...and appreciate the fact that science has helped give us the wonderfully long life expectancies we enjoy in the developed world, not religion.\n\nA big shout out to the GG from this supporter of Conservatives!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Re: \"The other half of the bead celebrates the Annunciation of the Virgin, the moment Mary discovers she\u2019s pregnant with God\u2019s son.\" Wrong. The Annunciation in Christian tradition concerns the angel Gabriel appearing to the Virgin Mary to tell her that she WOULD conceive, not that she was pregnant. Wish writers - when commenting on Christian beliefs - would get their facts straight. Another common faux pas is equating the Virgin Birth with the Immaculate Conception. But I digress....:)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Multiple secular papers have covered it; But the NCRs, Reporter & Register, whom you expect to give coverage, are largely silent. Bill Donahue of the Catholic League has brought it to public attention with his claim of fake news; at least he's banging a drum of attention about it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yah, sorry. It's not about laws and the Constitution blah blah... it never was for Trump supporters. You said it yourself. It's about VALUES and keeping those out that don't conform to your white Judeo Christian desire.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Lorna Dueck ends with...\"Doing no harm to the vulnerable should always trump religious freedom. Normally I find myself fighting for religious freedom, but when freedoms start to hurt others, that\u2019s when we reach for the greater good of love moving through law to protect those who need it most.\"\n\nI wonder if Lorna's greater Evangelical Christian family south of the border would agree that perhaps their freedom should be curtailed through law rather than their continued support of \"Trump religious freedom\" and its efforts to remove healthcare that would hurt so many others?\n\nA bit of a tangent perhaps but I find evangelical arguments at times too convenient in their ambiguity :)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think all agree there is an unfortunate tendency for many to refuse to take responsibility, blaming others, blaming technical problems, anything to avoid responsibility. Just as some feel the need to claim inflated and unearned honors. Obviously the poster engages in this behavior as a clever critique of the president, who, arguably does the exact same thing. Why else would act so, while also claiming to live by Christian ethics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Klan was big in Eugene and the rest of Oregon in the 1920-25 timeframe. \n\nThere were so few blacks, though, that they had to settle for nailing the American Flag across the door of the Catholic Church and picking on Jews.\n\nQuite a few blacks came to work in Kaiser's shipbuilding yards in Portland during the war (Vanport, Oregon) so that solved the scarcity of targets, but by then some sanity had appeared.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Helping the less fortunate is a very good thing, and a very Christian thing. I guess you aren't compassionate or a Christian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am not one for conspiracy theories but it was probably the most unexpected occurrence of the century.\nThe precedent was not set by Celestine V. The first attempt of a pope to resign was that of St Peter when he walked away from Rome down the Via Apia to escape martyrdom only to be met by his risen Lord. \"Quo vadis, Domine?\" said Peter, \"Where goest thou, Lord?\n\"Romam eo iterum crufigi,\" Our Lord replied, \"I go to Rome to be crucified again.\"\nSt Peter turned on his heel and returned to Rome where he was crucified upside down.\nBenedict must have known that Cdl Bergoglio was the Sankt Gallen 'mafia's' choice in 2005 and could possibly succeed him if he retired.\nI have great admiration for Pope Benedict but I do feel that by resigning he has let a lot of good, ordinary, orthodox Catholics down. \nThe 'smoke of Satan', it seems, is once more seeping into the Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Read the Judicial Review Reports from Ireland and the individual module reports from Australia. Both established the figures of 7% to 7.5% of abusers within the clerical ranks. Whether you \"buy it\" or not is immaterial; they are the published facts; following years of preparation. You did not comment on the fact that at least 80% of bishops enabled them in the cover-up. Those combined figures are all the more unacceptable because these are the men that preach the Gospel of the Lord; upholders of moral standards & Christian values; aside from all the \"shall not's\" in the Catechism. That's why the credibility of the institutional church is at an all-time low and older people like me are questioning all aspects of my faith in detail; simply because a lot of it was created by men, who we now know; have/had little credibility. I grew up in the pre-VII period church, with all it's might & power and I can see by your comments that you are hankering after that period. That's all over. T.G.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The fact is that self-interest profiteering/advantaging infects religion and politics - and - that we let passion for profit blind intelligence from understanding the ecological necessities of life - there's a better way than letting passion for petro-money control our lives and poison soil and minds.\nMideast oil fuels mideast and global conflicts of religion/ politics. Poisoned atmosphere and soil poison consumers. Time to clean up air, soil and water. It's not just Islamic religion that's radically troubled! So is Christianity!\nThis is a big part of the story. How do we get religion and politics on the same page with nature and ecological life? We're now all oil-driven down the fast road to armageddon!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, we see that it's the Republican electors who are getting death threats from the Hillary devotees, so I couldn't agree with you more.\n\nYou know, 1/3 of Germany was Roman Catholic in those days to which you allude, and to which you no doubt live in at present. And they thought they were being Good Catholics. Just some hay for your high horse.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wrong Grutcho. The stat holiday exists solely because of its religious significance. As does Christmas. The fact is that classes do not happen on those days due to Christian belief. Yes we have become far more secular but there are numerous Christians who still honour these holidays for what they are. By maintaining them as state sanctioned stat holidays the government and schools are supporting one religion over all others which is what mitsou was on about. \n\nYour analogy about Bless You is misplaced. There is nothing stopping an individual from saying that to another in a school. However if it becomes an official policy to say that to the exclusion of all others then that can be considered state support of one religious belief over all others. You may feel it no longer has any religious connotation but head down to a Christian church on Good Friday and see if they consider it to be just another stat holiday, devoid of its original significance. \n\nStill waiting on your data.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Just because he signs his name \"Br. Robert\" does not mean he is a Catholic religious...which can be a comfort. He could be Evangelicsl, Pentacostal or even Baptist!!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The De La Salle Christian Brothers were privileged to be the recipients of Bob's talents as he went about the design of the Chapel in the new addition to De La Salle College on Michigan Road in the early 60's. It was dedicated to Christ the Teacher- appropriate to our teaching order. It featured the unheard of in DC at the time -the altar facing the people with benches radiating out from it. The gilded icon image of Christ the Teacher was cut into the beige brick wall and visible from all sight lines. There were anxious months for the Brothers before this design was presented to Cardinal O'Boyle, Fortunately, he was an alum of a FSC run college and subsequently made an Affiliated member of our Institute. The Brothers rep at CUA over the years - both faculty and students was stellar. These factors figured into his approval. \nOther altars facing the people soon followed in the years following. The College closed and went through several transformations - dooming Bob's Chapel .", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If a person were going to do an accurate assessment of what \"Christian\" means (I gave the definition from the Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms), you would need to determine what Christ himself said, which obviously could not be argued in 1000 characters, and not what human governments and/or institutions have stated it means. I refuse to accept that any institution who killed in the name of Christ could be considered a genuine example of Christian virtue as is is contrary to everything Christ himself taught. Given you are a student of history, you know full well earthy institutions will many times use whatever means possible to manipulate the masses. Jesus said himself, \"My Kingdom is NOT of this Earth\". There is no such thing as a Biblical Holy War, which I believe echos your statement, in spite of what even George Bush said.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nice spin reader but you ignored the first part of my post where I referenced the OP's statement \"I don't know of a cemetary in Canada that ever turned a body away.\"\n\nNow it is certainly true that the OP is not all knowing about cemeteries. My reply to him was to point out that Catholic cemeteries (and likely Jewish ones) do restrict themselves to people of and closely associated with their faith. You described this as a fake fact. I then provided examples to prove my statement. Examples which clearly disprove your assertion that my post was a \"fake fact\". You cannot deny that there are Catholic cemeteries who restrict who can be buried there and that my assertion is correct.\n\nHowever I will freely admit that my statement is not all encompassing and that there are some Catholic cemeteries that do allow others to be buried there. I'm willing to step up and admit that I was only partially correct. Are you willing to do the same and admit that your fake fact allegation is also wrong?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The question was not justifying abortion but justifying voting for Democrats when they support abortion rights. The answer is that because abortion rights are not a legislative issue (save for federal action changing when legal personhood occurs), there is no reason to prohibit voting that way. If Catholic Democrats took that approach more publicly, it would cut the Republican argument off at the knees.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your comment went way beyond \"imply about pointing out the presence of a Christian community in Alexandria as early as the second half of the first century\". It said that Mark was martyred in Alexandria in 68 AD, and where he was buried. That is what I was calling \"pious myth\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sigh, theologians say one can disagree with the Infallible Church, no they can't, A lay person can disregard the teachings of the Unchanging and Inerrant Church, no they can't, I said this, I didn't say this, jumping from one position to another, backtracking, dissembling, misquote and cites to questionable websites, but in the end, what it boils down to is a person claiming to be a Catholic but wanting to pick and choose what Doctrines and Dogmas of the One True Church one wants to follow, and that's really not kosher. I think you should spend some time with the Catechism, and speak to a Priest about your doubts and disagreements with 2000 year of Church Teaching.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "According to the New Republic, President Bush 43 deported (returned) approximately 10 million people during his eight years in office. President Obama deported more than 3 million. (New Republic, April 17, 2014) Was this denounced as \" the biggest immediate issue the bishops face is the prospect of mass deportations of many of our Catholic parishioners?\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Very kind of this author to dredge through Christianity to try to find some high points. He seems OK with Christianity appropriating the winter solstice as though it is their property, perhaps giving him motivation to help them honour that misplaced privilege. \nIn these days of political correctness, not everyone is so generous to those who appropriate things from other cultures, not limited to the intellectuals he references.\nFor me the birth of Jesus innocent in itself, unfortunately leads to the immoral structure \"vicarious redemption of sin\" as a consequence my latitude for his level of generosity is restricted somewhat. \nI will celebrate the solstice in a fashion a little closer to what the predecessors of Christianity practiced thank you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Why shouldn't Catholic colleges copy what happened at UC Berkeley?\"\n\n\nI thought that the point of the article was that they did now. All cleaned up from the days of free speech and given that ole Catholic spit-and-polish!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Unity is NOT CONFORMITY! The church is not a clone all over the world. Culture plays a MAJOR role here.\n\nWhat you are citing as a Moral Law of God is hardly the law of God. God made no comment about this\n\nThe Catholic Church in America is hardly a minor voice in influencing te church or world decisions. \n\nYour concepts are dated and obsolete. Vatican II has shown that to be true. You belong back in the world of Pio Nono----not in discussing the issues of the Church today.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Who decides who can be discriminated against? What would Jesus do? People who have been oppressed are more likely to oppress. All discrimination does is turn youth was from religion. Thanks for doing your part. EVERYONE has basic human rights not just YOU. The baker agreed to the terms of the business license an as a christian he should have kept his word.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As a Catholic, I assent to the teachings of the popes (and of councils approved by the popes) that meet the criteria for infallible teachings. \n\nAn ecumenical council of the Church (Trent) taught this:\n\n\"If any one saith, that the ceremonies, **vestments**, and outward signs, which the Catholic Church makes use of in the celebration of masses, are incentives to impiety, rather than offices of piety; let him be anathema.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "All Mariology is derivative of Christology. When early Christians viewed Jesus as a human Messiah, they were comfortable with viewing Mary as a pious Jewish peasant. As their view of Jesus evolved, and they began to think of Jesus as divine, Mary's exaltation was inevitable.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And here we go again...the problem is he's white, or he's male, or it's an assault weapon, or he's a Democrat, or he's a Repub, or he's an atheist, or he's a Christian, or he's a Muslim...blah blah blah blah...\n\nNo, the problem is he's an American. Americans don't have respect for others' lives. If they don't get what they want, or if they have to sacrifice something for others, or if they're scared, they justify killing other people. \n\nWe never turn the other cheek, or treat someone how we want to be treated, or sacrifice and offer kindness to receive the same. We're simply a violent culture that takes what it wants, and we never take responsibility when we're hurting someone else. It's always \"their\" fault.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "After reading Parolin's remarks, I'm more convinced than ever that it is twilight for the clergy. Who could possibly trust them? There is enough wealth in the church for the clergy to hang on for several decades. But no one will much care about their pronouncements. Christianity will be fine without them. While it will not be in our lifetimes, a future Catholic Church will no longer have \"ontologically different\" leaders.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Numbers can present translation problems, differing manuscripts, words omitted by editors, etc. But basically a seven is a seven. If the number set works to produce the 70 x 7, then it does (math works regardless of language). \n\nInteresting that Paul doesn't mention the Mary's, the fragmented remnants of Her. Paul doesn't have 'bridegroom' either. You have to wonder how much of the NT writings are reactionary and sectarian. For example, Acts portrayal of the communal living of the first Christians where everything is shared. Doesn't seem entirely realistic. What is the author trying to prove? Because Paul did not mention Mary Magdalene, a major character in the Gospel of Mary at least, does that mean she did not exist? Or Paul simply refused to acknowledge her work? Paul evidently needed James and Peter or at least a connection to the Jerusalem group to validate himself. Or he needed people to believe he had that connection.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Faithful Catholic sez, \"For the record, however, pro-life is defined as being anti-abortion.\"\n\nWhich is a major problem I have with many \"pro-lifers\". \"Pro-life\" seems to begin and end with opposition to abortion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do you contend that there are no legitimate reasons for Christians to be concerned about a Trump presidency?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Marty means, of course, \"You were spot on with 'Obama did nothing to 'advance abortion'.', '... the only conscience that they are permitted to follow is that which the Catholic Magisterium dictates they have'\". That more accurately reflects the facts.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is possible that retirement will free Fr. Daly to speak honestly and openly about these issues. The PTB can be draconian in punishing priests who dare to speak out beyond a certain point. This is especially risky for priests who are approaching retirement age. Bishop Geoffrey Robinson of Australia is one of the most outspoken critics of the church's policies of silencing victims and protecting priests who sexually abused young people. He headed the Catholic commission investigating those crimes, and wrote a powerful book - \"Confronting Power and Sex in the Catholic Church\" . But he admits to being almost ashamed that he waited to publish the book until after he was retired. He served the church starting as a junior seminarian. If he had published the book early, he knew the church's punitive mechanism could have left him without even retirement funds. When seeing him speak in person, I felt so sad, because it was clear that he is heartbroken that the church hid these crimes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For a \"Faithful Catholic\" you sure don't have a whole lot of trust in the Church's never-ending journey in God's revelation and our eventual meeting with Christ on the last day. The Church has always changed and will always continue to do so. Rigidity of thought and belief will be the cause of some being left behind. You go to a polar opposite of what the Church has always shown it to be: a dynamic and evolving faith that listens to the Holy Spirit when it is doing the right things. The Catholic Church, like all faiths of the world, is unfinished. There is much to be done...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "On both sides of the border, and in Rome as well, the Church has been telling Catholic migrants that they have every right to enter the U.S. illegally. \n\nIf the Church had instead told these poor people to respect a nation's border laws, these tragedies would be far rarer. \n\nSo blame the GOP all you want if it makes you feel better.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Probably in the part of the Koran that corresponds to the part of the Bible that enshrines Canon law.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Why does it remain only in Ontario?\"\n\nON, AB and SK all had Catholic systems written right into the constitutional documents that founded those provinces (Alberta Act of 1905, Saskatchewan Act of 1905, etc.). This makes removing the Catholic system in those provinces considerably more difficult than it was in QC or NFLD where the only requirements for it were in federal documents, not provincial.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And he is a Catholic priest apparently in 'good standing' as well!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Interesting that you call yourself a \"Judeo-Christian type.\" Do you remember the time then Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper happily prayed at the 'men only' section of the Western Wall in Jerusalem (called the 'million-dollar shot' by one of his male Conservative backbenchers?) Surprisingly few people commented on that issue. Were you one of them? Answer keeping your name in mind, of course.\n\nhttp://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/this-is-the-million-dollar-shot-conservative-mp-cries-out-to-join-harper-photo-op-in-israel/article16427749/comments/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Umm...not so long. Have you visited a Catholic school recently?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The money-changers and their progeny in charge of the temple. All of those fundamentalist christian preachers following the same as gods of mammon repudiating their \"savior's\" biblical actions in order to continue to enslave their blind faith followers.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Some Friday classes have been cancelled to accommodate Islamic prayers; they are not praying on their \"club time\" as Christians are required, but on school time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Even if the case is closed concerning the sketchy records of his day, Jesus Christ still could've been as real as you or me. But I doubt if it matters either way. christian concepts spawned an enormous range of political, artistic and social activity that has greatly influenced humanity for two thousand years and counting. Unless you believe he was truly god himself, then what we're seeing is an expression of the human spirit. Jesus Christ is just an icon for it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are men and women who, because of Sister Stang and her life of sacrifice in the name of Christ, became what we would call \"missionaries.\" Her life and death have led others to continue her work all over the world, which bring even more into the fold of those who do the work found in the Gospels. Thank you, Sr. Dorothy, for this great gift unseen by many.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No. That's just wrong as the day is long. These parents brought their children to the U.S. illegally obviously in an effort to keep their families together. It is true, however, that family unification is not the best argument for DACA because it is not a family-based program (there may be some 'Dreamers' whose families have already been deported, have passed away, etc.) The better argument from a Christian standpoint is that these children are not only innocent (because they had no say in their 'transgression') but they are actually the ones in their class who are the most deserving of a chance, as they represent the cream of the crop, they have risen to the top and would in all likelihood would have a great future and bring benefits to society if allowed to stay. If THAT situation does not move a society to mercy, then that society is lost; from a Christian standpoint, it is like the barren fig which will not produce--because it refuses to do so. Only God can save it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes Don, it is a legitimate question, and there is nothing \"anti-Catholic\" about asking the question. Here is some political irony: Just imagine if the judicial candidate were (for example) a person of Islamic faith! Does anyone seriously believe that Republicans and their bishop friends would not ask the same question and even more if that person had placed their religion and it's teaching above constitutional law in his/her previous writings?! The truth is that the often disingenuous religious rightwing would love a theocracy of their own design, and judges who would rubber-stamp their desired unconstitutional legislation allowing all manner of discrimination and meddling in the private lives of citizens. Who do they think they are kidding with the faux outrage?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I responded to your post not to the OP. Your post was \"Try getting a plot in a Catholic or Jewish cemetery if you are not of that faith.\". I demonstrated (if you take my word on it) that you can get a plot in a Catholic cemetery.\n\n\"There are Catholic cemeteries which will not sell plots to non-Catholics\" might be a fact.\n\nYour first post was fake fact. Admit it and move on.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think they would be way too conservative for most norms, including my Republican parents. I doubt that they'd permit guitar music at Mass and they'd probably run into problems by refusing to marry co-habitating couples or baptize babies of couples not married in the Catholic Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Looks like this discussion went way off the rails. The Author was stating her own, and her family's, reaction to the election. By almost any standards, it was a hateful election cycle and like many parents, she was looking for a way to help her children understand how such a person could have been elected (for all the reasons that at least one person here described). I am often reminded of the song from South Pacific: \"You have to be taught to hate and fear; you have to be taught year after year; ..... you have to be carefully taught\". For our part, we recently attended a wonderful interfaith (Catholic, Muslim, Jewish) discussion in Lexington, KY where the motto with the halo was used in both English and Arabic. I didn't realize that the idea/art work originated in Lexington; nice to know! Not lecturing, but certainly hoping and praying that we can all unlearn the hate and fear that is so prevalent in our society. We are all God's children; surely we can learn to act that way.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I wasn\u2019t terribly surprised when it was reported a few weeks ago that Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore is tied to the \u2018League of the South\u2019, the pro-Southern secession/slavery apologism group that wants to lead the South in a second rebellion against the federal government in order to found a \u2018white Christian republic.\u2019\nBut I confess I was a bit surprised that Rep. Marsha Blackburn, who is currently the leading Republican candidate to succeed Sen. Bob Corker, does too.\nIn 2004, Blackburn invited the Rev. David O. Jones, a neo-Confederate, secessionist and slavery apologist, to give the opening prayer in the House.\nAnd that happened and went largely unreported!\nhttp://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/marsha-blackburn-brought-neo-confederate-secessionist-to-deliver-prayer-to-congress", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Probably as long as there have been public schools in Canada those schools have been closed on the Christian Sabbath and (perhaps more recently) on Jewish Sabbath so that practitioners of those faiths can follow certain dictates of their faiths without even missing classes. Has anyone been interested in even learning whether there has been outrage around that? Would such outrage be \"understandable\"?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Haselby fails to note that for many evangelical Christians, Catholics are not Christian at all. They are simply a group of billions of people that are The Other -- not Us.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"That they were 're-ordained' is not necessarily proof that such ordination....\"\n\nEvery church has certain criteria that needs to be met by someone seeking to represent that church as an ordained cleric. To abide by its own criteria, the CC re-ordains convert clerics of the Reform churches. This need for criteria, legitimacy is true in any profession, too. As a lawyer, my dad had to pass the bar before he could practice law in Washington. The legal system required it; he had to meet the criteria of that system in order to practice law legitimately, legally, validly, as it were. The medical profession likewise has standards, criteria -- some acknowledged basis for comparing or measuring one's knowledge and ability to practice medicine. Re-ordination is not necessarily a proof as it is a validation on the part of a sponsoring church that the candidate seeking admission to the priesthood has met the criteria of the sponsoring church and can be validly ordained.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am neither ashamed of nor considering apologizing for being a Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Which backs up what I'm saying: When NCR demonizes Trump, they are demonizing at least half the Catholic voters in this nation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1/ Thanks for making my point for me. Your assumption is that no one has truly grappled with the church's position, or that cynicism over the church's ability to \"heal\" is both unreasonable and suggests the church incapable of appealing to reasonable people. Bunk.\n\nAs a woman in the Catholic Church I'm fully aware the church places greater value on a fetus than on a woman and effectively teaches that woman's reproductive capacity determines her ontological status, a reductivism not applied to the condition of men. I've put up with this indignity because there's nothing in the gospel suggestive of this nonsense, and the church has its attractions.\n\nPlease don't impute motive to me. I'm a mother, I'm not \"hostile\" to life in the womb. I've held the same position both as an atheist and a practicing Catholic. I believe abortion is morally fraught and should whenever possible be a last resort. But I believe it should be legal and safe.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "CAELew, you have nailed it,my friend; thank you! \ud83d\ude03.If the Roman Catholic Church spent nearly as much preaching the Gospel of Jesus the Christ as it did trying to micro-managing everyone's life, it would be far more effective and have authentic moral rectitude and authority; as things stand nowadays, who cares what the Church has to say? Indeed, what exactly IS it saying?? \ud83d\ude10", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are correct in what you say about the small percentage of abusing priests & religious. To be factual the figure is 7-7.5%; which means the remaining 92.5-93% are/were not abusers. The figure is however, just over 2% more than society in general. A figure could not be established for how many of those stayed silent; looked the other way; or did nothing about it. As for the enabling bishops, who choose institutional loyalty as their first priority, rather than the protection of children; well the figure is probably around the 80% or more, because the Curia laid the ground rules; the various popes upheld them & the bishops obeyed them. There is no \"oversampling there\" as you put it; those are the facts established by Judicial Reviews. The Australian Royal Commission issued further facts that included 40% of St John of God ; 23% of Christian Brothers and a continuing list of other abusing religious orders in Australia. In Ireland the Christian Brothers were top of the leader board.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "your comment, as well as Shannyn's, seem civil enough to me---Even though I don't think you'd know \"socialist mob rule\" if it hit you on the head; much less the contributions to society made by actual people, whether poor or not.\n\n\"Christians\" seem like they're in the habit of treating Jesus like a paper doll, to dress up any way they want: Here we have gun-toting Death-Penalty Jesus, Big Business Jesus, Resource-Extraction Jesus, Corporate Kick-Back Jesus, Jesus preaching about kicking people off welfare----A plastic Jesus made from petroleum by-products, with diamond rings on his fingers, smoking a big fat cigar and driving down the road of the American landscape in his shiny new cadillac, one hand on his Smith and Wesson, on his way to the republican convention...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Let's hope for their careers they use them to get it right. Pity about communicating the fullness of the Catholic faith - but immigration and Soros money should resolve that dilemma.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Um, don't think it is/was the same at all. The head of the Swedish Lutheran church was not negotiating to join the Catholic church. I doubt that cannon law would allow him to even talk to her about it. Nor would she give up her chair as archbishop of Sweden to become what, a nun? Because that is what it would take. Nope, not many Protestant churches would negotiate, given the Vatican's \"my way or the highway\" attitude. It takes two to negotiate. When one side says it has to be their way, that's a dictatorship, not a meeting of equals.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christianity, when practiced properly, is award. Its example stuns the wicked, jolts the slothful out of complacency, and inspires the lowly.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We have had a whole year of 'mercy' yet there has been no definition of what the word actually means. Everyone is left again to their own devices to come up with a meaning.\nThe emphasis upon mercy under this Pope creates the impression that it is something totally new which never existed in the Catholicism until the present day.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And of course - your statement is Christian to the core, right?\n\nOh, my.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You and me both, J.Bob. \nInitially, I thought I'd found a forum to discuss and learn more about my Christian faith. \nBut pretty soon I realised that I'd landed in a meeting hall that had been double-booked by the 'Council of Trent Old Boys Club' and the 'US Political and Economic Forum'.\nGreat reply, though. Thanks!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "God loves all persons. That does not mean that He loves the intrinsically evil policies and actions of those persons.\nKeeping God out of politics is one of the most senseless statements I've ever read. \nA properly formed conscience is the guide for Catholics in making choices every day. A Catholic who keeps God out of his politics or his work life is not a catholic, he is a person who denies his saviour when it is not convenient for the person. That is lukewarm and empty faith at best.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I appreciate Dennis Coday bringing us this report personally. I'm not surprised that attorneys have made contributions to SNAP, although I wonder why the complainant waited almost four years before filing suit. \n\nJust once I'd like to read a report that says Catholics did the right thing and put children first.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Church recognizes that the Magi of the East followed the Star to find the Child Jesus. They were not Jews, but followers of another religion.\n\nDuring the time that the Jews were under the Persian rule, Cyrus, permitted the Jews to return to their homeland and to enjoy limited political autonomy and complete religious liberty. There is goodness in non-Christian religions and value that they give to the world and to us as Christians as well.\n\nIn the Vatican II's \"the Declaration on the Relationship of the Church to Non-Christian Religions\" [Nostra Aetate], states:\nFor we believe and teach that all men and women form one human family,\nhave a common origin in God and share a common destiny in divine providence. \n\nStating that these religions are \"false\" is forgetting that their wisdom guided people before both Judaism and Christianity existed. They still have much to offer. And they still are the religions of millions of people today.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think it wise by any one who follows this story not to believe a word of what \nanyone on the Steering committee says. If nine out of how many???? had con-\nflicts of interests, why not look to a wider group of professionals. Did they even \nget a quorum for the vote with so many abstainers? Does this speak to the fact\nthat probably 1 out of 2 doctors take money from drug companies, or worse? \nThis is like the police policing itself, the army having its own judicial system, the \nCatholic church punishing its own predators.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For some it seems the connection was too much to make.\n\nOne of the reasons the \"administration of parishes\" is an issue is because the scope of activities the US parishes have taken on is far too great, and thus truly not serving the will of God. \n\nYoga, cooking classes, retirement classses, tax sessions should be done \"in the world\" where Catholics get to meet others and live out more fully and strenuously their Christian vocation by making and deepening a whole set of friendships, seeing opportunities to serve others, (\"I can take you to dialysis tomorrow, no problem\") to engage in sincere conversations in the world, not in \"closed in on themselves Catholic enclaves\" with virtual \"walls\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\" Good riddance to her and her team\", MSW\n\nI find MSW to be disgusting in his comments....relative to Hillary.\n\nAnd I agree with you that Trump will turn on his own...eventually.\n\nAnd as to the Dems failing the working class...we have just had 8 full years of gross republican obstructionism that made it virtually impossible for the Administration to do much of anything for anyone....\n\nBut what we are entering into is far far worse and so very many very vulnerable people are going to be so very hurt and with the exception of a few hierarchs...Francis appointees.....the Catholic hierarchy will be ineffective at best, I suspect.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"In the New York Times, Ross Douthat does what he always does: Some fine insights set amidst gross simplifications of American religious history and Catholic doctrine.\"\n\nMr Douhat is writing to his audience, the readers of the NYT. Simple minds need simple answers.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Just about every Republican holds the same Christian beliefs and values as Dr. Green, they just don't express their views on these controversial matters in the same way he chose to.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Taqiyya is the Islamic practice of deception. Muslims are permitted to tell falsehoods to infidels, Jews, non-Muslims to defend Islam. Taqiyya is as basic to Islam, as charity is to Christianity. Taqiyya is a moral duty. No other religion has such a thing as Taqiyya. It is anathema to western thought, and so it is hard for non-Muslims to understand that it actually exists and is used regularly against western culture and political stability. \n\nThe worst part is that the Liberals, police, and news media like the Globe are now giving us the taqiyya voluntarily, doing Islams dirty work.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The similarities between Stutes and Fields? Both acknowledge the need to use the Alaska Permanent Fund's investment earnings to help close the state's massive budget gap\"\n\nThis is wrong and unacceptable. The people of Kodiak can choose someone other than these Republican candidates that have not been paying attention to what created the budget 'crisis' and have no idea just how screwed we were by SB21.\n\nOil tax credits are only part of the problem. These two candidates haven't bothered to read Brena's writing on getting our fair share of revenue?\n\nAfter everything Republicans have done to destroy our state because of their overt corruption, it is time to do some soul searching and think about what is really important.\n\nIs it more important to claim you are something, that to actually practice what you preach? What would Jesus say?\n\nJust because someone says they are a fiscally conservative \"Christian\" doesn't mean they actually are. You can vote for a Democrat. Wake up people!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I love Pope Francis's homily today.\n\n\"Let us ask ourselves if we are parlour Christians, who love to chat about how things are going in the Church and the world, or apostles on the go, who confess Jesus with their lives because they hold him in their hearts. Those who confess Jesus know that they are not simply to offer opinions but to offer their very lives. They know that they are not to believe half-heartedly but to \u201cbe on fire\u201d with love. They know that they cannot just \u201ctread water\u201d or take the easy way out, but have to risk putting out into the deep, daily renewing their self-offering. Those who confess their faith in Jesus do as Peter and Paul did: they follow him to the end \u2013 not just part of the way, but to the very end. They also follow the Lord along his way, not our own ways. His way is that of new life, of joy and resurrection; it is also the way that passes through the cross and persecution.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Canada has Christian cultural inheritance that has led to many developments, like schools being closed on Sundays or holidays occurring on certain days of the year. Even an atheist can appreciate this cultural legacy as something good and something that should be preserved.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is a shame that the young students are not well organized.\n\nIf they were, it would be great if all the Muslim kids dressed up as popes and nuns, all the Christian kids dressed up as Sikhs with turbans, and all the Sikh kids dressed up as bearded Imams and Burka wearers.\n\nAnd all the teachers and principals could go pound sand.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The \"welcoming Church\" should treat homosexuals as true brothers and sisters in Christ. Stop doing things such as automatically firing gay employees for getting married.\n\nPope Francis wants a Church that focuses on the poor means that the bishops should stop talking as if the only significant political issue in the US is abortion. I have heard priests and hierarchs say that one should vote for Trump because he opposes abortion, as if that were the only thing one need consider.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Cherrytree,\n\nYou don't see as many young people because Adventists in North America and Europe don't have many children. And too many of those young people don't get married and they are uncomfortable coming to church as something less than an intact family. Natural organic church growth in North America is steep decline, but it has little to do with doctrine or church governance.\n\nThe Adventist church is full of young people and I believe it is the fastest growing Christian denomination in the world. So it really is a question about what is different 'here.' Our young people will never really feel comfortable in church outside a nuclear family - I suspect that was always the case - even one hundred years ago. The difference now is marriage and children are not very popular; no, not even expected of young people any longer.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I suspect part of what may be it at play here is an understandable confusion over the mixed messages we receive over religion. \n\nFor the past 20 years or so Christianity, or at least overt or public Christianity, has been strongly discouraged as civic Canada has further and further refined its secular governance. I don't think it was Christianity per se which was the target in as much as it was the idea that religious beliefs should not be a factor in public policy - and that's fine. \n\nIslam comparatively young religion is therefore still very fundamental in its practice and, at a time where we have accepted a post-Christian state, it seems to have become a badge for progressive accommodation of the 'other' and people are no doubt confused as to why must be discouraged and the other encouraged.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We've been living in a Christian conspiracy since the founding of the republic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you for the explanation. I can't let that go by without the perfunctory reference to \"cafeteria\"; it's far too tempting. OK. Enough of that.\nI agree that some have troublesome relationships with men. But it is the fullness of the Christian message that is important. While \"Father\" is certainly a part of that, it is the greater ideal of Father that is expounded upon. The message is one of Love and Mercy but also one of forgiveness, on God's part, for repentance, on ours.\nAgain - I didn't set up God as Father or the Holy Spirit with the pronoun \"He\". That was either Jesus or the fathers either 1) in an inspired way or 2) uninspired, who first set the canon of scripture. If the former, it is clearly meant to convey something of importance, if the latter, 1) it is still meant to convey something of importance or 2) all of Christianity is a fraud - at least any that purports to be based on Scripture.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Gerson fails to understand the religious right. First; When Fox came out it was hated by the Christian right. FOX was considered ultra liberal and anti-Christian. Oh soon we forget the 80's. Married with children, the simpsons...and the like were responsible for the moral decay in America. Then FOX started airing the 700 Club, and Fox News...Pat Robertson stopped reaching FOX is of the devil. today liberals demonize Fox just as bd as the right wing Christians did in the 80's. \n After their glory decade when TV evangelists ruled..the right wing Christian has suffered many, many defeats. Most just...while some are nothing less than bigotry against Christians. Therein they don't care who Trump is...they care he's giving them voice again.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A quick scan of a dozen commentaries, Catholic and Protestant, seems to indicate my take on this is well-accepted, while yours appears nowhere.\n\nBtw, the context is Jewish law, not \"rules of evidence\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The reaction of French Speaking Quebec Catholics to the flood of Irish Refugees that exploded in 1847 was very different from the reaction of the Anglo Protestants. Quarantine facilities were overwhelmed with dead and dying Irish Depopulation refugees. French Catholic Grey Nuns, Sister of Providence and even the Cloistered Sisters of H\u00f4tel-Dieu volunteered to care for the sick and dying, knowing that they would probably sicken and die themselves. Priests in Quebec delivered their sermons holding Irish orphans in their arms to encourage parishioners to adopted the kids.\n\nhttp://www.aoh.com/reasons-for-learning-an-gorta-mor-the-great-hunger/\nhttp://lekiosquemedias.com/2013/01/17/petite-histoire-des-irlandais/\n\n\"May 14, 1847, the St. Lawrence is still covered in three centimeters of ice when the first ship docked at Grosse \u00cele to undergo quarantine there. Of the 241 passengers of the \"Syria\", 202 passengers are sick...\nSome days later, eight boats arrive, with 430 sick aboard....\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The title is irrelevant. It has no effect whatsoever on the fact that we are human and live with the One Big Certainty that we are mortal, and that we ingest, digest, and excrete. Furthermore: it is high time for the RCC to divest itself from all trappings of an Imperial Roman court. Hence Mr (or, In German: Herr) M\u00fcller (which is perhaps the most ordinary of names in Germany). And Bishop Francis of Rome. Yet: I am still so catholicity-imbibed that I use the term Pope as well, mindful of the fact that the Cops have a Pope too. But, in regards to the RCC, Bishop of Rome is the more Christian one. Not Pontifex, which was used by Roman Emperors. I would not mind if one could still be made a cardinal, but no crimson hat and dress and all that is necessary for that. As for Princes of the Church, I would welcome Princesses as well - female ones, as there are plenty male of them already. Confession: Tongue in cheek. I request mirthful absolution. Mea hiccupa.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\u201cEichmann\u201d, \u201cEichmann\u201d ... where have a I run into this as an epithet before? \n\nJust like him, except Eichmann was a radical anti-semite, and he is following the Jewish carpenter from Galilea.\n\nAnd Eichmann was a raving racist, while he is following the teacher of brotherhood.\n\nAnd Eichmann was a practioner of violence, while he is following the Prince of Peace.\n\nAnd Eichmann followed illegal orders from a rogue government, while he is following the teaching of the Church Christ Himself commanded to teach and bind.\n\nIt would appear that he would only be like Eichmann if he followed you rather than the Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There's an expression that's become routine for people to say. I think in a way it reveals a slackening attitude or disposition among people - too many Christians - that in turn has led to a fraying and a weakening of the fabric of our society, & a \"softening\" within the self (a desire to not self-give)\n\nThe expression - no longer examined - is in one form: \"You have to love everyone, but you don't have to like everyone.\" \n\nIn a way this builds up walls between people, causing a \"superficialization\" in our relationships.\n\nAn Opus Dei priest said to me once in spiritual direction \"No...you pretty much have to learn to like everyone, and not just [air quotes in the original] \"love\" everyone. Be more demanding on yourself...learn about golf if he likes to golf, learn about tax law if that's his thing...learn why he is the way he is and don't be so critical.\"\n\nIn other words, he was saying 'push away that pride and criticality that keeps you from liking nearly every person you meet'.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Let me tell you about Marty Eble. No matter what you present him with, he will find a reason to reject it. About twenty years ago, on a now defunct Catholic blog, he and I got into an argument about transubstantiatation. He was saying that it was a synonym for \"change\", while I was saying it was a quite special sort of change. I quoted from both Thomas Aquinas and from Jaroslav Pelikan's History of the Development of Doctrine to prove my point. Eble insisted that he would only accept a definition from the Council of Trent. Of course, Trent gave no such definition, since everyone there knew what it meant. In other words, he asked for what he knew was an impossible citation, rather than admit he was wrong.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hmm. Jesus welcomed everyone to his table. Apparently this so-called \"Christian\" university has different standards.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Who are you calling \"they\"? \"They\", weren't really some outside immigrant entity, \"they\" were Christ's own people. The conservative religious leaders of the time rallied the people to reject Barabas (common criminal) offered as a substitute for Christ by Pilate \"his blood is on your hands\" the Roman official. In this article Prevo himself says he doesn't preach too deep into the Bible. All people who call themselves Christian should study the life of Christ, it really is pretty amazing. That means concentrating on the first four books of the New Testament.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One's religious convictions and expressions of same ARE protected by the 1st amendment and no law can alter that(with the caveat that no one has the right to take a life over it. All our rights are derived from the right to life-James Madison) Your non argument is misleading and irrelevant. \nRead Chief Justices' Commentaries on the Constitution. The 1st amendment was not to prostrate Christianity (98% of the country at the Founding was Christian) to atheism, Catholicism, Mohammedism, or Armenianism but to prevent strife among Christian denominations and persecution of same by government endorsement of any particular denomination.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'd live to see this sacrament changed to be a real adult commitment, or re-commitment, to living as an adult in the Church...somewhere past 25, or whenever a person feels the need and desire to live life as a Catholic Christian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You've bought into a myth. That's funny.\nRead: \"Letter to Diognetus\" which describes the life of early Christians...it spread so rapidly through a rich and generous family life, which is naturally attractive.\nAnd it used the \"Roman infrastructure\" (sea ports, roads, avenues of commerce and communication, even amid heavy persecution.\nEnjoy the good read with \"Letter to Diognetus\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No doubt the pharisees said the same thing when they were trying to trap Jesus.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Neither JPII or Benedict were very insistent about their criticism of the right. The right got cupcakes and gold stars while the rest of us were treated like trash. At least now Pope Francis is actually criticizing the right rather than giving them praise. They are finally getting called out for their bad behavior and bullying and they don't like it one bit. I've been critical of Pope Francis' record on women, which is abysmal as you reminded us, but I can still appreciate it when he does things like this.\n\nAs for the SSPX, the issue isn't how they were viewed but how the EWTN/ Catholic Answers types were treated. Types like First Things, George Weigel, etc. are the ones who are harming the Catholic Church, not the SSPX. Benedict/ JPII were fixated on a small fringe group while letting the larger group of rightwing Catholics get away with murder.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, there is no wholesale \"command to welcome migrants.\" Pope Francis was clear that a nation has the right to enforce immigration law and its borders.\n\nBesides that, given that NCR is constantly telling us about the numerous progressive Catholic conferences, and is itself devoted to presenting progressive politics as the only authentic expression of Catholicism, it kinda seems silly to fault conservatives for daring to hold their own conferences.\n\nOh wait I forgot, progressive Catholicism is the only authentic Catholicism. Yeah yeah yeah...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Disappointed I am with the approach adopted by one who has risen to vice president. Always with the threats, it is most unpleasant. Does the CC know you use them as a threat to harass those who suggest christian correction? You said you feel sorry for those who attempt to bully others and one sees the very behavior referenced, bullying with threats. The obvious logical conclusion reached, I merely pointed out you should avoid self-pity. Perhaps rather than threaten to have others suspended, one should look at one's own postings and conduct, and consider self-suspension? Or perhaps self-report to the dreaded CC? Perhaps in fairness you should request the CC review your behavior on this site, which might lead to the type of suspension that has resulted in poor Marty's exit. In any event, I do hope this clarifies matters and this distraction, self-pitying and general unpleasantness will come to an end and we can once again discuss idears and things. Have a blessed weekend.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't see that Catholics should have difficulty with science's findings; if \"compatibility\" is not likely to occur, I don't believe that \"contradiction\" must. Your example of an aged universe is a good example. The anthropic argument that the universe's existence - its current age and other factors - make it uniquely suited to the development of mankind and, therefore, a suitable \"project of a God\" suggest that, rather than emptying faith of an idea of the uniqueness of humans, can serve to strengthen that belief. Yes, in a theorized infinite multi-verse at least one of those must give rise to humanity, but that theory is less about science and more about philosophical cosmology. Science should give the faithful a sense of wonder.\nI won't argue to support Christogenesis - whether the universe ends in fire or ice is, I think, inconsequential to a Divine plan for the individual.\nI don't see that physical extinction is incompatible with Christianity. Even Revelation talks about it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We can be \"taught\" anything. We can be indoctrinated with anything. Children, we were, kneeling, confessing, having \"sin\" defined for us. The threat of hell fire and damnation if we dared veer from the doctrination of Catholicism. The simple teachings of the difference between right and wrong, taught in the home were all that was ever needed. There will always be those that make selfish, poor choices. Such is life. Without religion, just think of all the wars that could have been avoided. The bloodiest of all in the name of Christianity. Religion has done far more harm then good and continues to divide us throughout the world.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yeah, they only pay for the \"research\" that gives them their desired results. That's not science. They are being bought to give the results \"one world government\" politicians want.\n\nAre you a Catholic Democrat? This is the 3rd time I've asked you. Why are you not answering that simple question?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The 'reward video' is an absurd reaction to what should have been a public school board meeting where the trustees listened to the public. PUBLIC schools must REMAIN secular institutions where all children are offered a modern INCLUSIVE education. When religion takes on such importance over public education, we should be concerned. If one religion is given preferential treatment, that may create demands from other religions to have their own special day of the week. What about those families that have no particular religion -- how will their agnosticism (meaning god is unknowable & cannot be defined by mere humans who get obsessed with rituals and a sense of persecution after developing an attitude of hardened religious self-righteousness)? What about Wiccans, Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, Christians, Naturists, Sikhs & others? Plus their sub-varieties. Public schools should not promote religious divisiveness. NO, NO, NO, NO to religious practices in PUBLIC schools.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is a pathway already implemented for Communion for the divorced and remarried...The Pope is placing emphasis on reconciliation with the Church teaching by advocating accompaniment and true discernment. There is really nothing new here...Just approach.\n\nThe secular response to abortion, SSM, and contraception has little to do with the moral and Catholic response.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Forgive me for doubting that.\n\nI dare say it is easy for liberal Democrats to get on the bandwagon of immigration rights when the immigrants they are defending tend to support Democrats and their causes. \n\nBut I still wonder why Pope Francis has had nothing to say about pro-abortion Catholic politicians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Part two of two) \u201cWhoever hates his brother is in darkness; he walks in darkness and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.\u201d (1 John 2:11). It is up to the Faithful to \u201cAnnounce his salvation, day after day. Tell his glory among the nations; among all peoples, his wondrous deeds\u201d (Psalm 96:2b-3). With Simeon, the Faithful can proclaim, \u201cmy own eyes have seen the salvation which you prepared in the sight of every people, a light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people Israel\u201d (Luke 2:30-32). Liturgy of the Word, Reading 202, December 29, The Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas.\n\n\u201cWe left our political feelings at the door\" is plumb wrong. Those feelings require Christian engagement, beyond a parish choir singing \u201cLet there be Peace on Earth,\u201d followed by informal discussion that extended the bipartisan sense of fellowship.\u201d", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am catholic in the sense of the apostles and early church fathers; IMO imperial Romanism misses the mark and leaves a lot to be desired vis-a-vis the gospel of Christ. More reform is needed and the church finally seems to be headed in the right direction... only time will tell.\n\nMerry Christmas to you as well.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What I'm saying is that both the Old and New Testaments as well as Christian Tradition are unanimous in stating that there are conditions to divine mercy. We may or may not care for that idea, but we can't act as if it's not there.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am not impressed with O'Malely's new position. We wrote to him about our bully Bishop and how poorly he was treating our priests. His response was \"I have no control over another Diocese\". He had connection to Pope Francis and could have relayed the message that Pope Francis appointed us a Bishop who protected pedophile priests. We wanted him to remove him and to listen to our complaints about this Bishop and we got nothing. Truly the people's voices are not heard in the Catholic Church. Is this not what was going on years ago. Listen to your sheep!!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why don't the 'Traddies' REALLY study the Bible? Remember, everything that we have in the bible was written by humans, trying to describe in human words THEIR impressions of God.\nThe Bible is the word of God. But the only WORD of God is Jesus. \n\nWhat went on in Sodom is contrasted by Abraham's gracious treatment of the THREE guests who came to his tent [Gen. 18:1-9]. Lot, also was gracious and hospitable to the three men [Gen. 19:1-4]. In the Gospel of Matthew [Mt. 11:20-25 also Lk. 10:13-15] Jesus states that at the Last Judgment, the people of Sodom will find it more tolerable than for the Jews in the cities that not repent even after they had witnessed his 'deeds of power.' [Chorazin and Bethsaida]. Were these Jewish cities engaging in sodomy? I think not.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Methinks your comment is indicative of your need to understand the Christian faith which does not require the subservience of woman as much as care and love for them by the man - \"as Christ loved the church\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Feinstein is usually more measured in her comments and questions but she stepped in it big time with this line of questions. Catholics are usually solid Democrat voters but this type of question does not help the Democrats at all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And you can't prove anybody is a \"true Christian\" including yourself that's what's so hilarious.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Good news for Newark hobbled by his Grace, Bishop Myers. Interesting to see how it will be received on Madison Ave which will no longer be the last stop for the NY media on all things Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't see any need to \"explain\" to the Europeans anything, whatsoever.\n\nWho have the Europeans themselves become? \n\nIn what sense have their heroically carried on their Christian roots, which brought civilization, universities, hospitals, the scientific method, virtuous people to their lands?\n\nThey've essentially made themselves sterile. Their replacement rate is barely over 1.5% (negative growth), through the massive adoption of contraception, abortion, and now euthanasia?\n\nAsk a European about these points.\nThey abort.\n\nThey have let's say a bad history of lining up behind tyrants or worse.\n\nThey've abandoned the faith that civilized their own country.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why do refer to the Holy Father as \"Bergoglio\"? That's the way those who do not respect Pope Francis refer to him. Even non-Catholics, non-Christians and non-believers refer to him as \"Pope Francis\".\n\n He is also not a \"PR pope\". HE'S THE REAL THING! Shortly after he became pope, he was photographed in public, not in the official Pope cassock, but in a thin white tunic with a rope around his waist. Someone must have convinced him to appear more \"popelike\" now that he was a public figure. This must be one of the jobs of the valet. For anyone with a demanding job like the pope's, a valet/assistant, is a necessity not a luxury. \n\nPope Francis may have HVAC but he doesn't take long vacations in a palace.\n\n I would assume that the proceeds of the tours go to some legitimate Vatican budget. The use of the word \"profit\" makes it sound like personal enrichment. There's a difference between selfish personal enrichment and responsible, ethical financing of legitimate expenses.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A similar poster has co-opted the comments @ America Mag, also, which results in the same tedium there. \n\nI too am anxiously awaiting implementation of the blocking feature, but until then (I am reminding myself here, too,) we can always self-block by not replying to and replaying arguments that have long been waged in this forum. \nThe ubiquitous mantra of \"the Church says\" holds little sway with those of us who anticipate changes in the future weighted toward equality, inclusion, accountability, and Francis' example of Gospel-driven (not law-driven) Christianity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are some differences between Christianity and other religions. One is that we do not celebrate what we can do for God, we celebrate what God has done for us. We concentrate on our relationship with God and use that as a guide on how to treat others. This is what Resurrection Day is all about. It is a day to celebrate what God has done for us. In what other religion does God and the leader die for his followers?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But, in fact, James' Epistle IS in Luther's bible.\n\nI notice that you dodge the question that the \"consumerism\" that you whinge about was, at the time of the Reformation, largely practiced by the Catholic hierarchy. Tetzel was doing his work under license to the Cardinal Archbishop of Mainz, who got half the proceeds from the sale of the indulgences and the rest went to the Vatican (although Tetzel was accused of embezzling some of it). How about addressing that, instead of blathering irrelevancies.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part 4\n\nApplying the above distinction to homosexuality, conservatives tend to employ the first usage as if it were the second, as if it were an argument; and progressive Catholics and the secular world tend to argue in the third way, although they do not regularly use the phrase \u201cnatural law\u201d to describe their reasoning.\n\nWith regard to this third usage, natural data about homosexual orientation has, to its very great glory, long been accepted in the Catholic moral tradition to conclude that there is no sin in being gay, essentially because whether one is oriented gay or straight is utterly beyond one\u2019s control. Without \u201ccontrol,\u201d without the freedom to choose, there is no personal moral right or wrong to consider. Sexual orientation is just something that one discovers about oneself generally as one enters into puberty. Ultimately it is a personal characteristic as morally neutral as race or physical attributes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Say goodbye to a quality learning week at Peel schools. Teachers before would introduce material on Mondays and test by Fridays so kids wouldn't forget over the weekends. Now, testing is out on Fridays and masses of kids who may or may not be in classrooms roam the halls. \nDo you think Islamic prayer is like Christian prayer? No simply bowing the heads. No, it's carpets to pray on and special bathrooms to wash in. Totally taking over the school bathroom and storage facilities. I really pity the poor kids who is transgender or gay in all of this. Where does a transgender kid even sit in sex segregated areas of a public school? And do you think only 1 prayer area will suffice? Of course not, Sunnis kill Shias all over the world. They both kill Ahmadiyas. One prayer room will not be enough. They can't pray together. \nThanks, Wynne. You've driven public education into the ground.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If one's purpose is clearly to leave behind \"old concepts, cultures etc.\" why not just leave them? But don't forget to stop identifying as \"Christian.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "From what I know of the Pope and the way these stories evolve, don't ya'all think he might have been miffed by the method used to boot the guy out? After all, the direct action taken to help prevent HIV infections seems more Christian than heretical and one does get tired of condom inspired \"outrage.\" If you can't forgive a guy for that, you look mighty small, even when you're wearing the full regalia.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I\u2019m not a big fan of Vatican 2. I think it got a lot of things wrong, and even though the Novus Ordo was nothing like V2 directed, it got the liturgy drasticallywrong. But I would never say that it was 100% without merit, and to the extent that it got us past anti-Protestant hysteria, it did well.\nBut I don\u2019t agree with the author that the Reformation was a 'success\u2019. Before the Reformation there was actually room in the Catholic church for \u2018Protestant\u2019 views, at least milder ones. No more. Even in our days, the deliberate mistranslation in the canon of \u2018pro multis\u2019 as \u2018for all\u2019 instead of \u2018for many\u2019 is an attempt, however unwitting, to exclude those who take a more Augustinian (Calvinistic?) view of soteriology.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Anchorage School District has identified several holidays as \"cultural days of significance,\" on which no after-school activities are allowed. Those holidays are Thanksgiving, New Year's Day, Christmas (Christian and Orthodox), Good Friday, Easter (Christian and Orthodox), Eid al Fitr, Eid al Adha, Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur and Passover. For more information, see the ASD site: http://www.asdk12.org/calendar/cultural", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Part two of two) \u201cWhen MEN rose up against us, then would they have swallowed us alive\u201d (Psalm 124:2). With regard to those falsely accused, the Faithful do well to recall \u201cBlessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for there is the Kingdom of heaven\u201d (Matthew 5:10) and false accusations are going to happen . . . here. \u201cJesus said to his Apostles: \u201cDo not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth\u201d (Matthew 10:34) as the Faithful head into some brutal thinking and confrontations. Liturgy of the Word, Reading 389, Monday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time I.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, quite the opposite. Save the drama besides. I am saying that the Catholic Church has \"worked out\" many such issues very very well, and very consistently...war, self-defense, police protective measures, capital punishment, justice, etc, with painstaking rigor, seeking consistent and enduring and useful principles that converge on the whole word of God (coupled with the consitent teaching of the Church over 2000 years!!) vs. just a few quotes we have from Jesus, which is your Catholic fundamentalist approach.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"(Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam) \"\n\nChristianity: apparently so good, they had to name it twice!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Boss. you KNOW, secretly and in your deepest heart of hearts, that you love Jesus and believe wholeheartedly in Christianity and all its teachings. Bless you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Our Confirmation & Baptism compel us to help others sanctify their life and death to God.\n\nAll life and death are to be sanctified, & not a bit wasted, down to the last breath.\n\nThe devil loves it when a dying soul gives in to despair, abandoned by loved ones into a state of sterile death. We must rush forward. \n\nWe have been given the great commission, to the ends of the earth, or in Pope Francis's lingo \"to the periphery\". \n\nOur in Jesus's own words: into the deep, \"Duc in altum\" (Luke 5).\n\nYou're really suggesting that Christians \"draw up walls\" around themselves and leave others alone. That's not the proper response of a baptized and confirmed soul\n\nTo paraphrase a modern saint of the Church: \"out of 100 souls, we are interested in 100 of them\". \n\nWe must think bigger about our vocation, and not draw up walls around ourselves. Bringing others to ever closer unity with God is not an \"imposition\" (your words). \n\nOur vocation is much bigger, more beautiful & demanding than that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The truth is that JPII and EPBenedict were focused on SSPX because SSPX directly subverted their papal authority. You are right on with your observation that the real ones harming the spirit of the Church in the US were Catholic neocons.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Interesting that the early Christian community did 'cast lots' to select an apostolic successor for Judas. Maybe if they had waited a while, Saul/Paul was supposed to be the one.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "< How does that compare with having a SSM?>\nIt doesn't, of course.\nBut the truth is that Bruno was not denied Christian burial. See my post to Dromig10 (above).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christians hate Halloween? When did that happen? Have you seen how they decorate their churches for the holiday? And what of their haunted houses? In fact, I've always wondered why churches celebrate a holiday that basically honors evil beings.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What does it even mean do be a Council of Trent type? Can you explain it to me? I think I am a Council of Trent type. I also think I am a Vatican 2 type. And a Vatican 1 type. And a Nicaea type for that matter. You see, you can't just piece of the tradition can say you accept this but not that. The tradition is a whole. The idea of being a pre-vatican 2 or post-vatican 2 Catholic is just nonsensical.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually, thanks for the feedback. I am more worried about making things easy for my family than I am about following some new rules or a clarification of old rules laid down by the Vatican, but I would not want my arrangements to be a shock to some Catholic friends. I am the last Catholic among my siblings - my siblings and their children have become Methodists, Baptists, Lutherans and nones. Sooner or later I think the world will go to cremation and no burial - mostly because there is only so much land and we don't need to take up much of it with lands set aside in perpetuity for the long dead. We need to let go of burying bodies and even ashes - but, I admit, I can't go that far.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You could be right. The soldiers did it for the money their European masters paid them. Because of large scale looting of their countries, you either became a soldier for the King Emperor or starved to death.\n\nNevertheless, many of them did fight the Germans.If they hadn't, a lot more Christian Europeans would have died fighting the Germans.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I know that when I used to watch EWTN, in my stricter Catholic days, they had on many shows specifically designed to scare the h-e-double hockey sticks out of people. I wonder what they're up to now and how much political propaganda they're allowed to use. Are they considered a 'religious entity' or a private entity as far as tax exemptions are concerned?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I've seen him only once and that recently in the Catholic Herald I think and as I vaguely recall now I think the CH only supplied a link. As he has no wiki article it is difficult to know how prolific a writer he is in Catholic publications.\nIf I remember rightly it was a similar attack on the dubia Cardinals. That's probably why he got a private audience with the Pope, rare for an unknown.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Let us all embrace the center of our faith together. James Carroll, in his book \"Constantine's Sword\" describes how the roman emperor, Constantine, first began the idea of militant Christianity at the Milvian Bridge. Our Saviour would be horrified, as he is today with all the violence done \"in his name.\" We have a firm tradition of conscientious objectors, such Desmond Doss. Let us continue to hold firm to the clear teaching of nonviolence in these confusing times.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Where to begin? The Seder was/is a family feast. No family is complete without its women members. The feast was/is prepared by women and the aftermath of the feast was/is cleaned up by the women (although in some families a few men graciously help). Jesus, Who was Himself a layman, instituted no priesthood. There was already an active Jewish priesthood. Had He wanted to be a priest He would have incarnated into the priestly tribe. Our current iteration of priesthood owes as much to Roman administrative concepts as it does to Jewish beliefs, and Jesus, as we all know, was a faithful Jew. Apostles are messengers, in this case messengers of the Good News. Mary Magdalene bears the title Apostle to the Apostles. \nWhat does seem abundantly clear is that the all male priesthood we know is stultifying (deservedly) from the inside because it lacks the wisdom and strength of half of God's children.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would love to see the Catholic Church actually take a stand and endorse candidates. The church has some undeniable truths. These truths are not based on conscience but on the teachings of Jesus Christ. Our conscience can NOT be formed in a way that is contrary to those teachings and still consider ourselves Catholic. Abortion is one example. Murder is murder. We can disagree on lesser issues such as social policy, the value of a war, etc... but some things are NEVER available for debate. Therefore I would love to see the Catholic Church provide us with an opinion on which candidates are most in line with Catholic's indisputable truths. THAT would be an enormous opportunity to wield influence.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Shouldn't NCR post the salaries it pays its top writers?\n\nWe already know that NCR's two top officers each take around $150,000 a year in salary and benefits.\n\nIn other words, shouldn't a Catholic organization that's in the business of seeking \"transparency\" of other Catholic orgs be transparent itself?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic Church is universal.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Our teaching on worthy reception of the Eucharist is the same as yours. However, we leave it up to each person's conscience to decide worthiness. That's not our job. I believe Cardinal Cupich of Chicago takes exactly the same position. Your premises, even if valid, would present very substantial practical difficulties. Do you want those who distribute communion to interrogate everyone who approaches? Of course not! To do so would be extremely time consuming when communicating a large congregation and, more important, would be an assault on the dignity of the communicant by way of public embarrassment. That said, I am always available to hear confessions by appointment. Finally, the Roman Church teaches that Old Catholic Holy Orders are \"valid but irregular.\" I am quite happy to be \"irregular,\" as \"Consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds,\" whoever said that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "While I agree with your comments, never doubt how much \"liquid cash at their disposal\" Catholic hierarchs have to spread around to their political friends and toadies. We're talking $millions.\n\nYou're right: Just like their Russian Orthodox brothers, Catholics hierarchs will find out how flaccid and ineffectual their influence has become with the racist fascists now in control of the American government.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Drawing a distinction between our churches and our ministries struck me ...like asking me to draw a distinction between my arms and my torso: .... our charities and universities [are] expressions of our Catholic faith ...\" They may be \"expressions of faith\", but many Catholic operated charities are primarily funded by tax dollars - for example, roughly 75% of Catholic Charities budget comes from government money. The Catholic church competes with other groups for govt. contracts to operate various social services as charities, adoption agencies, etc. These Catholic church operated groups, funded by tax money, should not be exempt from whatever relevant requirements exist for non-Catholic organizations who are also government contractors The Catholic church is trying to have its cake and eat it - it wants the government money but also wants to be able refuse to comply with RFP requirements for government contracts for social services. No prob if the church doesn't accept tax money", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Justice\" is bound to objective morality, not licentiousness. The Catholic community should certainly welcome LGBT persons, but such acceptance should not include a change in moral theology and doctrine. Why shouldn't LBGT persons, single/married heterosexual folks, and divorced/remarried people, using their intellects instead of their libidos, accept the doctrine of the Church? The editors are attempting to present Church doctrine as anachronistic and out-dated, as if human beings are too morally sophisticated today then when the Church dealt with sexual morality eons ago. And of course they will find support among the itching ears of the many who see themselves as victims of this perceived \"injustice\", since the Church is portrayed as the oppressor, and sinners Her victims. Human nature does not change. There will always be those who rebel against the Moral Law; their devilishly clever attempts to normalize immoral behaviors aren't new, enlightened, or charitable.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree, Mokantx, that this article seems to take a position that the Catholic Church as it is today will simply move focus to the South and West where there are people who want church practices in ways that the church wants to deliver them. \n\nA different view of a different kind of change is seen if we pay attention to what is happening in the Royal Commission hearings in Australia and to some of what is coming out of Ireland - both places where the influence of the institutional/hierarchical church has been decimated. \n\nThe Royal Commission is evoking a thinking that is just stunning while looking into 1) Factors that may have contributed to the occurrence of child sexual abuse at Catholic Church institutions in Australia and 2) Factors that may have affected the institutional response of Catholic Church authorities in Australia to child sexual abuse. Why does it take a secular governmental body to get the hierarchy to even think to ask these questions?\n\nOne more point to follow.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Our relationship must first be with God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) before it is with the world. Christ preached it.\n\nThe man or woman in an irregular relationship, goes for both hetero & homosexual relationships, has disinvited himself. In essence, he has excommunicated himself de facto.\n\nAnd, just as the shepherd rejoices more for when he has found the lost sheep than he does for the 99 that stayed put, Paprocki may feel the same way.\n\nThese are corrective actions by the bishop. We should all rejoice that he cares more for his flock's souls than he cares for public approbation. Because, it sure sounds like he is getting crucified.\n\nThe bishop, when he has finished his journey on Earth, will stand alone before God. None of his supporters OR detractors will be there. He will convict himself by his actions and what was in his heart. We will also stand alone in the awesome Presence. Make sure you have a properly developed conscience, just as I must.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of course, your are free to reject whatever you want, but my suggestion that the overwhelming majority of scriptural scholars (Catholic, Orthodox, and mainline Protestant) do not regard the Gospel as history in our modern sense is not a statement of opinion, but a statement of fact--in the precise sense that it can be verified or disproved be empirical research. \n\nMay I give you a widely accepted example?\n\nThe synoptic gospels follow the same basic outline established by Mark. When one systematically collects all of the synoptic material shared by Mt and Lk but not Mr, we find almost exclusively a set of sayings of Jesus, and the bulk of that material is collected in The Sermon on the Mount in Mt and in the Sermon on the Plain in Lk (the long dialogue between Jesus and his disciples as they march from Galilee to Jerusalem for the passion). The majority of modern scholars agree that these Mt and Lk shared saying of Jesus existed as a separate collection not lost that is called \"Q\" cont.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I suggest you present valid evidence that Copeland is a current 'welfare queen'. You seem to possess a very in-Christ-like attitude that the poor haven't any thing to teach or even say to us. The gospels are filled with Christ's comments about his mission to the poor---the poor are not only those who are materially poor, but to those OPEN enough to BELIEVE and have FAITH in Christ. \n\nSecondly, Voris is not the bona-fide guardian of Catholicism. He's a self-appointed shrill who creates more darkness than light.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, this is what the Catholic right wing sees. And it's important to note here that the link you provide is a VERY right wing Catholic link! It's not the whole truth, or a major part of it!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Reference: 'The Jesuits: The Society of Jesus and the Betrayal of the Roman Catholic Church' by Fr Malachi Martin\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08ZPbUBmb30\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS8rjcXNZf4\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T9UtQS4V6Y\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc7a0AqEPZo\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtdsB2kJknQ\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k20q_BwtWpM&t=1253s\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS1GC2kX9HY&t=2894s\nhttps://www.lifesitenews.com/news/canon-lawyers-and-theologians-to-hold-conference-on-deposing-the-pope", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You remind me of the promise of second coming of Jesus--for 2,000 years it's always been just around the corner (\"the end is near\"). Would you believe that in late middle age I'm just about ready to be both the world's fastest sprinter and the strongest man? I'm close. Don't blink. Get ready.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Na, Ed, I think the situation is more ironic than funny. Trump publicly supports Christians over any other religion and yet his own poor policy reaps results that Trump would disagree with, but can't change. Who knew governing was so hard?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wow! There is no reputable facts at all in your last comment here. Why do you go to a Catholic Church where seminarians, which become our priests, are trained at the very Catholic Colleges you believe teach nonsense? If Catholic Colleges and priests and scholars teach nonsense and the Bishops agree with them, then does this not mean that you disagree with most if not all of our church authority on what is true? Maybe you are the Protestant after all!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "While I agree that it is not conducive to a health personal psychology, they do have reasons and they are clearly pointed out in text. Other than that, I recommend that you don't pursue a career in the catholic clergy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The shooting in Vegas was also perpetrated upon country music loving Christians!!!\nSales for guns must be through the roof.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Can you please expand on what the muslims have done since 624AD?? And what about what has been done by the Christians????", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Good Pope francis has made it exciting to e a Catholic again by rejecting the fear-driven mode of church that so many clerics revel in. His message is so refreshing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Way to make it about the poor, persecuted christians. You're the REAL hero, Skip.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Faith Proposition: God Created Cosmic/Earth Order;\"\n It depends - I don't know your definition.\n\nLogical Proposition: Natural Order in the Present is Earth-Cosmic Order evolved from the past;\nYou have not tied the two together - I don't know your definition.\n\nLogical Nexus: all existence in the present, remembered forward from the past is graced by Creator-God, that is, \"Sacred\";\nNature is not sacred. It is a gift. \"Remembered forward\" rings of pagan spirituality.\n\nSacrament is Sacred Remembrance, that is, Natural Order Remembered forward from the past in the Present;\nSacrament is something provided by God (Christ) to offer grace.\n\nCelebrating The Bread of Eucharist, from the Sacred, Natural Order,\nThe Bread of Eucharist is solely the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ.\n\nIs taught in Catholic Teaching from times immemorial.\nNone of what you have \"taught\" is Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pandora and Veritas are not the same. No, they are, like me, loyal supporters of the Traditional Catholic Church, determined to protect and defend the Ritual, Traditions, Catechism, Dogma, Doctrine, Provisions of Canon Law, and Clergy of the Institution. We come here, although not always welcome, to try to educate the modernists and progressives so they will not lose their souls by failing to submit themselves to the Divine Will of the Bishops and instead go off trying to develop their own understanding of God and the teachings of Jesus, rather than simply accepting the instructions of those paragons of Christianity that were selected by the Holy Spirit to rule over the laity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What they use for birth control is also nobody's business, but the Catholic Church (and other religions) have something to say about that as well.\n\nBy the time you remove the no gay marriage/no birth control/no female priests, etc. it is no longer Catholicism. It's a religion that resembles Catholicism but would need a new name.\n\nIt used to be that religions forced people to conform to their beliefs; now people try to force their personal beliefs onto religions.\n\nWhy not just find a religion that matches up with your beliefs?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You could have cared enough to put an actual picture of the Bayview cross with this article, but I guess it's not about the memorial. Any cross will do. Wasn't there an offer to put other religious symbols in that corner, where, by the way, I've never seen anyone standing or gathering? Don't you have the option to move the memorial or privatize the property, instead of publicize the issue as an election year approaches? By your comments in this article, do you think that humanists do not count as human beings with rights? Or do they only get 3/5ths of a vote compared to Christians? \nBottom line is it's against the law. The law.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The issues raised in this article aside, Jesus most definitely did not participate in assisted suicide. There is a difference between taking a moral stance that puts one's life at risk and deliberately seeking death.\n\nThe Christian concept of martyrdom (as opposed to the perverse Islamist concept) is that one reluctantly accepts death if there is no conscientious way to avoid it. That's what Jesus did.\n\n\"Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me ...\" Those are not the words of somebody looking for a way to die.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "contact Catholic Ann Barnhardt", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And when the lord your god has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them totally. Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy.\nDeuteronomy 7:2\nOne of many such quotes in the Judeo-Christian bible.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Question all you like... you and I both know how the sacraments \"developed\" and there is plenty of evidence to support a less-than holy attribution to some of them. Jesus is to be the source and summit of our Christian faith and any equivocation around that is practicing a different faith, including elevation of sacraments to an absolute place of primacy.\n\nIncidentally, I have no issues worshiping in a Protestant church. Similar to your \"born again\" experience after the death of your father, I had a similar experience while attending a Baptist church many years back (surrounding the death of my mother). We should not discount these experiences, while at the same time recognize how very personal they are. Placing labels on our faith/beliefs is short sighted IMO, but I suppose it is rooted in our cultic nature as human beings.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am not suggesting that you would want to read the award-winning NCR newspaper, NO. God knows that you are not going to spend $$$ for what you do here for free.\n\n\nI have found it is a pretty common assumption that this blog IS the award-winning newspaper, which I wanted to have noted again--it is not. NCR has always taken a pro-life position and has written many editorials about that. In a sense, you can see that throughout their articles--which opens discussions rather than doing the ad nauseam apologetics that official Catholic papers do--but stays pretty continually on topics that discuss and explore life issues. That's what happens when people actually care to talk about issues.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "According to Pew research, by 2035, globally, there will be more Muslim children born than Christian. The effects of this in Western liberal democracies is especially alarming. \n\nA contraceptive culture, that subjects life to personal and selfish criteria is on its way to self-annihilation. The Christian message is about life, about new life. It is not Islam that is the danger to the Christian message, but the so-called Christians who decide to domesticate, or form God according to their image and likeness, as opposed to allowing to be formed to God's image and likeness. \n\nSelfish political ideals, and political correctness cannot stop life. Life happens.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That's not Catholic teaching. Patriotism is a great Christian virtue. Patriotism is a descendant virtue of the cardinal virtue of Justice. We owe our father-land love; it owes us protection. \n\nIt flows from the 4th Commandment, the first so-called horizontal commandment. \n\nMore Catholics should push away trendy and light ideas and go deeper.\n\nRead this beautiful treatment: http://catholicism.org/ad-rem-no-232.html\n\nFrom Br. Andre Marie at thai site: \"Patriotism is a great virtue. To be a patriot is to love one\u2019s fatherland. This means that it is to love the land of the people that sired you. Patriotism is a natural overflow of the virtue of piety \u2014 that is, the virtue of the home. As piety would have us rendering what is due in justice to parents and other family members, patriotism would have us render the same to our nation, its government, and our fellow citizens. Both of these are a matter of justice, for the virtues of piety and patriotism are parts of that cardinal virtue.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My Canada isn't a Christian nation...it is a secular nation with freedom of religion.\nBig difference...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I used to not care about or think much about the Catholic church. I have become hostile to it and it's alliance with Evil over the last several years. What can be done about it is difficult to say. Taxing them like any other business might be a good start.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I sent a link to that speech to Josh McElwee a couple of weeks ago, but it seems to have been missed.\n\nHere is one more thought provoking quote, this time something Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Australia said in Aug 2016 in talking about a national synod the Australian bishops have agreed to hold in 2020 - the first since 1937: \n\n \"we are at a time of profound cultural change. Not only in the wider community, but in the Church. ... I think we have to accept the fact that Christendom is over \u2013 by which I mean mass, civic Christianity. It's over. Now, how do we deal with that fact?\" \n\nI don't think U.S. bishops and the U.S. public are ready to admit it, but what Coleridge said applies here, too. It has long since happened in much of Europe. It hasn't reached the same point in Ireland, but is not far from it. It is happening in Poland, but it is in an even earlier stage. \n\nThe church cannot go on as it has. It must listen to real people who live in today's world.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Very interesting perspective. Over the last three months, I've immersed myself in the work of Ken Wilber including a 10-week training by him. His work is spot-on for what you are recommending regarding a new state of evolution in thinking/consciousness. I discovered him through Cynthia Bourgeault's \"The Wisdom Jesus\" (best theology book I've ever read) and Richard Rohr. Wilber has a new book out, \"The Religion of Tomorrow\" that is supposed to be amazing. \n\nWhat does this mean for the Roman Catholic Church? I think we are now experiencing a major shift and either the Church dramatically responds to the leadership of Francis and revitalizes the unfinished of Vatican II or it will morph into a sect. The guilt-shame-blame game\u200b just doesn't work anymore more. Time for graduate school religion and experiential Christ\u200b consciousness", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I was born and raised Catholic and graduated from Catholic school. I left the Church after I graduated in 1967 at the age of 18. It was obvious that the church was an antique back then and was not willing to evolve into the the modern world. At that time the Catholic Church would not marry couples of a different faith, not surprising since I lived in a large Catholic dominated city while growing up and I was not allowed to \"play\" or associate with anyone who was not a Catholic. None of the children in my family and extended family remained in the Catholic faith. The only solution to the Bishop's problem in Alaska is not to marry anyone in the church, have the faithful marry in a civil ceremony and then if they chose have a ceremony for the couples who want to be \"blessed\" by the church. As far as the \"Catholic's\" not \"hating\" anyone, looking at the Catholic Church in the past and their extensive history of violence and discrimination is one reason I also left the church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "An example of one of Francis' best traits - his emphasis on mercy and forgiveness? What should be made of this quote in the CNA report \"he [Burke] noted that as faithful Catholics, those who have expressed doubt or concern over the confusion surrounding \u201cAmoris Laetitia\u201d love the Pope \u201cwith complete obedience to the office of Peter.\u201d One wonders if Burke has truly repented of his malicious attacks against Francis. We'll see.\n\nFrancis is exhibiting some prudence as well, since Burke will only be an advisor to the court, a detail that was not noted in the Catholic News Agency report. Francis is more willing to listen to dissenters from his own views than were his predecessors, but he is smart enough to know that some \"faithful\" do not wish to \"obey\" the \"office of Peter\" when it is they who dissent . Perhap - after the disaster of sending Burke to Malta - Francis has decided that the old axiom about keeping your friends close, and your enemies closer, is worth heeding. Stay tuned.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "hooded claw there is no argument. I am the only traditional catholic in this room. I am the only one who believes that the conciliar documents were heretical. All the others, like tridentius, can best be described as conservative novus ordo catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The opposition of lay people to the decrees of Saint Pope John Paul II are irrelevant. Jesus may have said knock and the door will be opened, but the Infallible Holy Father decreed that no amount of knocking will open this door. The laity need to be reminded that they do not lead, they follow, they do not know, the Bishops know.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Between the 13th and the mid-20th centuries, Catholics often celebrated this feast with elaborate public processions that focused on Christ\u2019s miraculous presence in the consecrated host carried aloft.\"\nMy community had a Corpus Christi procession just this past week...we went outside of ourselves and brought the Bread of Life out into the surrounding neighborhood instead of keeping Him to ourselves within the confines of the Church building and gave a public witness to our faith. Deo gratias!\n\nI recommend Sister check out Sacrosanctum Concilium, which in speaking of the modes of Christ's presence, tells us He is present \"especially in the Eucharistic species\" (SC 7).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Christ way cure the sick and the poor and self sacrifice. Though we do not want the doctors to be poor...i wonder how many doctors these days will go out of their way. It take a certain personal trait to be a good doctors. Mayber we need to start new teaching hospitals run by the christian church again dedicated to help people whether they are poor or rich. We are eventually heading toward privatisation. I pay big buck just to park to see a specialist in their brand new state of the art deco building. The montreal super hospitals charges over 20 dollar on parking...lucky if you can afford to even go there when you get older. Ive given up on doctors at least most of them....there are a few good one with great a great heart and i wish most of them was my family doctors but most specialist...lately...awful", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Absolutely incorrect. What was removed was the exclusivity and promotion of Christianity as a state sponsored religion. \n\nAnd any Christian or Jewish or other group can ask for accommodation for their religion as well. However it's unlikely that will be necessary since there's no school on Sunday is there?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I love this place! I'm so happy you guys keep to traditional Christian values, even when in the face of adversity. Keep it up and don't waiver on your values!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Schools have a holiday every Sunday, so that Christian kids can go to church without having to skip school. Schools have public holidays for Christian festivals (Christmas, Easter) only. \n\nOn the other hand, the world's largest Muslim countries, like Indonesia and Bangladesh, have public holidays for Buddhist, Hindu and Christian festivals.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh, I was talking about both RC and Ukrainian Catholic priests....\nRe the rest of what you wrote, I agree.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sharing a common English translation of the Nicene Creed with our fellow Christians would be beneficial! Of course, in order to do so, the \"filioque\" problem would have to be confronted and resolved.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No it isn't. The questions revolve around the capacity for the parties to make the commitment and whether they understood the commitment. There are many witnesses. To Christ, I think even an annulment is just a response to the hardness of heart of people. With Him, there should be no divorce.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nowhere did I say that evolution is a \"belief\". The phrase \"settled science\" begs the question.\n\nThe rest of your question has no content relative to papal encyclicals or how they might bind a Catholic in conscience.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hate is a strong term. More like so called Christians were oppressing other groups. I doubt the ACLU has ever gone against real christians. Do you have any specific case?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In short, \"theologians.\" Biblical scholars can also be theologians, but they are (supposedly) separate disciplines. Obviously Christian theologians would be concerned with the Resurrection.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I served in Vietnam. The film M*A*S*H and the TV show too were built on truth, as well as laugh tracks. It is uncanny how each time I see the movie and episodes of the TV show--admittedly set in Korea--I say, \"THAT's the Army I knew.\" I admit the movie was much more powerful and truthful, but the TV show was masterful too. When we were shown the movie in Nam, right after its release, we marveled at how close it came to the reality we knew and that we saw around us (especially in the hospitals). I guess you had to be there. The movie and Hooker's novel should be must-seen and must-read by every Catholic proclaiming expertise in war and what goes on because of it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You forgot what our own CIA did, experimenting with LSD! There must have been some Christians amonsgt them?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "SnapDeadRhythm writes:\n\n\"You must understand, the leading Bolsheviks who took over Russia were not Russians. They hated Russians. They hated Christians. Driven by ethnic hatred they tortured and slaughtered millions of Russians without a shred of human remorse.\"\n\nAleksandr Solzhenitsyn\n\n---\n\nSolzhenitsyn can write whatever he likes but the reality is that the Bolshevik faction of the Marxist Russian Social Democratic Labour Party was formed and originally led by Vladimir Lenin (a Russian) and Alexander Bogdanov (a Russian, of Belarussian ancestry).\n\nAnd most of the slaughtering of Russians was done by their fellow Russians, as was the slaughtering of Ukrainians and assorted other unfortunates.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Bible, Christianity, and the Lords Prayer were kicked out of our schools years ago.\n\nNow, mosques are allowed in? Because Muslims demand this?\n\nThere is a simple solution...Christians, ask to have the Bible and Christianity brought back into the schools.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "AT: \" leave us alone in our peace with God.\" this is the closing statement of the letter which is the topic of this thread. ......\"There you go again, telling people what to do. tisk, Tisk, Tisk.\" I fear you missed the point of my comment. Let me repeat it for you: I'm more than happy to \"leave (you) alone in peace with God.\" In return I ask that you and other fundamentalist Christians \"leave me (yes, and others) alone and refrain from condemning me (us) to hell because I (we) don't believe as do you. Really, is that asking for too much? Thanks, Gary Crum", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's like watching a longtime proponent of prosperity gospel lament the dilution in Christian thought...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why is it that leftists always refuse to heed the lessons of the Bible?\n\nYour \"humanist\" ideology was smacked down at the Tower of Babel, but you want to try again. Your \"progressive\" agenda was flattened at Sodom and Gomorrah, but you want yet more attempts.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How do you reconcile your judgmental nature with Christianity?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is a distinction between doctrines and dogmas. As far as I know, a dogma that apostolic succession is contingent on masculinity has *never\" been infallibly proclaimed. All dogmas explicitly and unambiguously refer to the future (in *future tense*) when defining something as *revealed truth.* Check them out. The power of the keys is not a license for the pope to do whatever he wants; but neither is it a license for the pope to refuse to do whatever he doesn't want to do. The answer to your last question is YES: there are no limits to the power of the keys (Matthew 16:19). For more context, see this:\n\nhttp://pelicanweb.org/CCC.TOB.html#CHRONOLOGY\n\nLet me know if you find anything that is historically inaccurate or dogmatically erroneous. My understanding is that, pending a dogmatic definition, the male-only priesthood is NOT a matter of faith under the New Law. The Church is \"one, holy, catholic, and apostolic,\" but not necessarily patriarchal. This issue remains open.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Bible says to turn the other cheek dear. It's the Christian thing to do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholics were allowed to have there own separate schools and they could teach the Catholic religion in those schools as part of their learning. However, the system seems to be changing now that all taxpayers are funding the Catholic schools in Ontario.\n\nMaybe Catholics should think about keeping their schools separate and funding them separately like private schools.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you, Mr. Tammeus. This article and all your articles are always insightful and helpful. (Your history of Anti-Semitism/Anti-Judaism, however, is pricelessly helpful.) You are always a welcome ecumenical voice here (as well as a gladly received pastor/brother in the broader faith we all share as Christians). Again, thank you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Eight people apparently agreed with the conclusion of your piece, i.e., that \"surprisingly, sadly, ironically, our Roman Catholic Church seems to spearhead, institutionalize it in some ways.\" Such a bold statement should be preceded by at least some evidence. Where is the evidence that the Church \"spearheads\" and \"institutionalizes\" hate?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is wonderful that you are involved in all manner of volunteerism and charity...But it is not a Catholic group as Catholic is understood to mean...there is no such thing as \"female priests\" in the (Roman) Catholic Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catechism itself spells out who is responsible for immigration matters, and it's not the bishops or the pope, and those teachings are consistent with Jesus, and not just Jesus but the whole Word of God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Let's stick with the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith:\n\n\"While the doctrinal prefect did not comment directly on the question of whether divorced and remarried Catholics may in certain individual cases be allowed to receive the Eucharist, he did underline that Amoris Laetitia must not be interpreted to mean that the teaching of previous popes and of the doctrinal congregation is no longer valid. He recalled that in 1994, under the then-prefect Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (later Pope Benedict XVI), the congregation had rejected the suggestion by three German bishops that, in individual cases, divorced and remarried Catholics be allowed to receive Communion.\n\nThe indissolubility of marriage must remain \"the unshakable basis of any pastoral accompaniment,\" M\u00fcller emphasized.\"\n\nSeems clear.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Benedict welcomed those Anglicans into the Church who left because the Anglican Communion was not quite Catholic enough for them.\n\nThe fracturing of the Anglican Communion in the UK and North America has been ongoing.\n\nSome married priests were welcomed so that parish communities could remain intact when entire parishes entered the Church.\n\nThat perpetrated no injustice on Catholic priests, and the Anglican Use does not permit unmarried clergy to marry.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Longevity is not an indication of success; after all, look how long Satan's been around!! Perhaps you should read the whole post,\"Faithful Catholic\". The Roman Catholic Church is guilty of some of the most vile,egregious human rights violations in the history of mankind. Are you aware that one of your popes, Nicholas V, was directly responsible for instituting the European slave trade?(Read the papal bulls 'Dum Diversas' and 'Romanus Pontifex')---as for the idea of this institution...\"being strong\"...from my perspective on those ensnared in what can only be described as a form of religious \"Stockholm Syndrome\" would tout such tripe.Again..ask the victims of your pedophile priests what THEY think; better,ask Almighty God Himself.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Interesting how the members of the Body of Christ don\u2019t want to touch each other. Perhaps they missed the catechesis about how all members of the Body of Christ receive the Light of Christ at Baptism. Yep, Jesus is not just present in the Eucharist; He\u2019s present in all of us baptized. We not only hold the hand of fellow members of our community but we also hold the hand of Christ. Would someone choose not to hold the hand of Christ? Mmmmmmmm ---a missed opportunity because of missing formative Catholic education.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, God is the foundation of the Christian faith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Perhaps a merry dance (nothing wrong with a merry dance, is there?).\n\nA quick point on the language of the prayers: the Our Father could certainly have been updated to 20th century language when the Mass of Paul VI was promulgated. I suppose that the liturgists deferred to common usage. But truthfully, if a new translation had been incorporated into the Mass, I highly doubt that those who are very tradition-minded would be using it today. Likewise the Hail Mary. The Glory Be, however, absolutely changed from \"Ghost\" to \"Spirit\" in translations of the Missal.\n\nI certainly have never read that liturgists ever entertained replacing \"Amen,\" and don't see why they would. My point, I guess, is that while all shades of Catholics use the same words on our common prayers, there seems to be a political obstinacy in the use of \"Ghost.\" My sister and brother-in-law, who grew up with \"Spirit,\" are now in the TLM crowd and only use \"Ghost,\" so that wasn't a matter of \"what they were used to.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "First country to do a modern genocide was Turkey (muslim nation) in 1915 against Christian Armenians. Over 1.5 million murdered.\nTurkey refuses to admit this terrible crime against humanity. \nJust think if modern Germany refused to admit its guilt in the holocaust what would nations do?\nOldBanister is the first to scream it never happened, Moslems or Turks could never do this crime!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "While the Globe brings us an arts and crafts story with a hate-Trump theme, a more informative media outlet offers international stories like:\n\nGermany will look for alternatives to Turkey's Incirlik Airbase - Merkel \nAsia hit by WannaCry virus at week\u2019s start, disrupting govt services & business\nLosing my religion? Secular Brits now outnumber Christians, but Islam & Hinduism growing \nSkyrocketing bitcoin raises fears of asset bubble", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Council Fathers of Vatican II did in fact acknowledge this in Gaudium et Spes #62: \"The recent studies and findings of science, history and philosophy raise new questions which effect life and which demand new theological investigations.\"\n\nUnfortunately, Pope St John Paul the Great (i.e. JPI) died under suspicious circumstances within a month of commencing his beautiful pontificate, and the restorationists took over and annihilated the project.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"At Mass each Sunday, Catholics stand up together and pray our own sort of \"pledge of allegiance\", the Nicene Creed...\"\n\nJust keep in mind that the Nicene Creed was a result of Emperor Constantine putting himself into the middle of 4th century theological disputes (in no small measure to strengthen his political control). One of the consequences was that Christianity became the State religion of the Empire, eventually morphing into the incestuous embrace of church and state in Christendom, the root of many problems facing the Church to this day.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You need to get a clue about your fellow conservative Christians. They aren't all so benevolent.\nRight now, two Christian city councilmembers are shocked that the Muslim community in Greeley wants to build a mosque and asked for a zoning hearing. They are further shocked that there IS a Muslim community in Greeley.\nThis has happened elsewhere, as well.\nToo many conservative Christians want government funding for religious schools, so long as the schools are conservative Christian.\nToo many conservative Christians want broad leeway on how and where they build their churches -- but ONLY for churches. Mosques and ashrams and temples need not apply.\nI don't care if you disagree.\nAnd, yes, there are people who want no government voucher money for religious schools.\nIf some religious schools are included in a voucher program, all religious (and strictly secular) schools must be covered as well.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They didn't act as presiders. The issues that Paul worked with from the Corinthians, was not caused by the Twelve [the word apostle means \"one sent\"---it is not a title]. Neither Mark nor John use the term 'apostle'. Paul was dealing with groups of Christians in Corinth who were too taken with social status.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sad to see a misrepresentation of the facts on this \"Catholic\" website; shame on you:\n1) see catechism 2241 for both parts of the Church's teaching on responsibilities of hosts AND governments regarding immigrants and their responsibilities.\n2) the French gave us a statue that is the Roman Goddess of Liberty, holding the Declaration of Independence. Only later was the poem regarding the \"poor...yearning to breathe free\" added, when the government was raising money to build a pedestal. Misrepresenting the regulation of immigration to our country as something new is an outright lie. Time to go back to school!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Msgr. Capella says this in the article: \"The Catholic Church should be a leader in child protection rather than a follower,\"...\n\nI believe this is what so many of us have been saying now since at least 2002. I would like nothing more than to see the RCC become the worldwide leader in the protection of children. My concern is that in his subsequent comments, he seems to suggest that the path to get there involves leading meetings, symposiums, etc. I would submit all of that can, and SHOULD wait. The church needs to get its own affairs in order first. It will not build the trust it needs to establish itself as that leader until I can prove that is truly committed to doing this right. That means outreach to its own victims, and once we get that down, to other victims. It means changing its own law and culture. It means accountability, and likely a generation or two of doing things quietly that prove it's commitment. Grabbing pics, or giving talks does not a leader make.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You're entitled to your opinion - just as the Little Sisters of the Poor are entitled to follow their Catholic faith. .", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well done Charlene for supporting innocent priests, it is good that you remind us of those good men who are innocent that have been caught up in this scandal.\nI see little hope in that justice will be served for those wrongfully accused, as the continuing ongoing lack of transparency by the elite within the church needs to be tackled first, as it contributes to the church\u2019s ongoing loss of credibility as an institution and because of this many cultural Catholics have been drawn into the Mob as they have been unable to stand against the claim of moral hypocrisy due to the on-going unaccountability of the Church, and for this reason the record of selfless service of the vast majority of religious men and woman is now in the present moment been expunged from public consciousness giving us little hope for justice of those wrongfully accused.\n\nkevin your brother\nIn Christ", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is quite a difference between a society shaped by a certain heritage, and having experienced some other influences as well. We can make a long list of multiple cultural influences over time, but you are contradicting yourself when you decry the fact our traditions and institutions still reflect a Christian heritage on the one hand, then claim we are equally \"shaped by\" Islam, Buddhism, Shintoism or Confucianism, etc. And I made the point earlier to someone else that our holiday traditions are based on a merger of Christianity and existing pagan traditions.\n\nI'm not claiming we have uniquely Christian origins, I'm saying the fact we still have traditions based on religious origins does not mean we are not secular, that is a very narrow definition of \"secular\". It doesn't mean extirpating everything that might reflect religious origins. One can be secular and respect one's cultural heritage, and others'. I have no objection to celebrating people's cultural heritages in schools.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is nothing \"sarcastic\" about pointing out what is in scripture and what is not, or what is the gospel of Christ and what is not.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And then we have this.....\n\n\"Thompson: Does that mean they can receive Communion?\n\nPope Francis: Integrating in the Church doesn\u2019t mean receiving communion. I know married Catholics in a second union who go to church, who go to church once or twice a year and say I want communion, as if joining in Communion were an award. It\u2019s a work towards integration, all doors are open, but we cannot say, \u2018from here on they can have communion.\u2019 This would be an injury also to marriage, to the couple, because it wouldn\u2019t allow them to proceed on this path of integration. And those two were happy. They used a very beautiful expression: we don\u2019t receive Eucharistic communion, but we receive communion when we visit hospitals and in this and this and this. Their integration is that. If there is something more, the Lord will tell them, but it\u2019s a path, a road.\"\n\nhttp://www.catholicworldreport.com/Blog/4588/full_text_pope_francis_inflight_interview_from_mexico_to_rome.aspx", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\u201cIn fact, Pope Francis has never said that all divorced and remarried Catholics should go to Communion. He objects to both the literalists, who say Communion is impossible for such people, and the unthinking liberals, who want to welcome everyone to Communion.\u201d - Thomas Reese, SJ\n\n\u201c... the doctrinal prefect ... did underline that Amoris Laetitia must not be interpreted to mean that the teaching of previous popes and of the doctrinal congregation is no longer valid. He recalled that in 1994, under the then-prefect Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (later Pope Benedict XVI), the congregation had rejected the suggestion by three German bishops that, in individual cases, divorced and remarried Catholics be allowed to receive Communion.\u201d - attributed by NCR's Crista Pongratz-Lippit 12/5/16 to the prefect of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Gerhard M\u00fcller\n\nWhich is it?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Rob,\n\nThe quick answer to your question is that Christians are happy to point out that atheism is a belief system because: A) It is a belief system predicated on no facts; B) Atheists have a tendency to claim that their belief that God/gods doesn't don't exist is factual and science based. So, I answered your question, but you haven't answered mine,. I'll restate it here: I challenge you to present even one element of what you refer to as \"the overwhelming preponderance of evidence [that] indicates that their is no God.\" Amazing that you state this as so obvious, yet I can't think of one single think that would support this supposed \"preponderance.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Many people have trouble managing their finances. So it is not surprising that many clerics also lack this talent This is just another reason why the current structure of the church doesn't work. This situation will get worse because of the divide between the clerics and the laity. While it will not happen in our lifetimes, the clerical era in the church will come to an end. If it is to survive, the next iteration of Catholic Christianity will be one without clergy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, Violet has the credibility of someone with a solid academic understanding of scripture, but she makes no claim to credibility as believer. Your claim to credibility as a Christian believer does not grant your superior understanding of scriptural scholarship. \n\nYour faith does not give you the right to mock her excellent knowledge of the text, and apparently also of the range of interpretations expressed by scholars share our faith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You misunderstand my point. Christ can always be found in the truth. If people are not believers in Christ, Christ is still in the truth. If you want to evaluate whether something is good or evil, look for good in that which is based on the truth. I am not talking about separation between church and state issues. As a Christian believer, I can always find Christ in the light of truth. A nonbeliever can find good in the truth. I assumed we are all Christians here.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think we all do these things to make them easier on our families.\n\nFor the past 20 or so years, I've watched people go from a very standard Catholic funeral format (several hours of visitation at a funeral home, funeral Mass the next morning, burial in a cemetery) to pretty much anything. Add cremation to the mix, and priests, including me, got to the point of asking people not to make their loved ones into jewelry or leaving them on the mantel. Without the whole theological piece that so many other commenters on this article seem to be mocking, all the Church wants is for us to treat the remains of our deceased loved ones with honor and respect.\n\nI'll be buried in the same grave as my grandfather. To keep him from needing to be dug up and then lowered down 46 years (and counting) after his death, I'll be cremated. That way, he can be at rest, and I'll rest knowing that I didn't disturb him. I'm negotiating having my own headstone next to his instead of a new one with both of ours.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "God did take significant steps toward the abolition of slavery; part of the Jubilee is that slaves were freed every 50 years and their owners were required by God to give them a kind of severance pay. Nowhere short of the New Earth does God totally do away with all social wrongs. So long as humanity is made up of sinners that would be impossible. \n\nI don't recall a text which said \"justice should not favor the poor over the rich.\" All the texts I am aware of say the opposite. \n\nThe religious liberty issue is very real. It does impose a limit on how far we can go with imposing Biblical ethics on non-believers or those who believe differently. Most of the Christian social justice advocates that I am aware of are not interested in passing laws, but in convincing people to voluntarily adopt Jubilee principles, etc. That was, in fact, the range of discussion in the meeting that the news article reported on which started all these comments.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Quote: \"There was one more promise that the Trump campaign made that undoubtedly appealed to the bishops' anti-abortion and religious liberty agenda...\"\n\nOh my God! The Catholic Bishops have an anti-abortion and religious liberty agenda. They should know better. They should be pro-abortion. In fact they should be providing abortions. Some Bishops should become M.Ds. and perform abortions for free.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When I first returned to regular attendence, I was given the book Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller as a way to see a 'different way to look at worship' Miller was a student at Reed and I thought assoicated with an active church in Portland for awhile, although I see he's back in Tennesee now. It's was a good reaquaintence with the idea of an more active spiritual curiousity, minus the dislike of many practices of the 'organized' church. \n\nThese days I read a daily writing by Richard Rohr, a Catholic Fr in the Fransiscan tradiion and I really love it, (probably over 6 years now). He's not well liked by many Catholics which I take as a bit of a positive endorsement. I have never attended a Catholic Church although my Father was Catholic and I had an infant baptism in that church. My first father died days before my second birthday. That was the end of my families Catholic experience.\n\nI go search for City Bible, I'm curious.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Tell that to the good Christians that elected Trump.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm glad that \"auto da fe\" is no longer popular with Christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "JPII's argument is \"because I say so\", which is no argument at all. The CDF can say whatever it likes. No Catholic need listen to what it says.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "True, FC\nOur Catholic Sacrament of Orders' and 'Ordination we do not view as 'mere delegation' \u2013 yet it IS also 'delegation' by the Bishop to 'extend his presence' and his powers. For us, that's the point of it, since the Bishop is defined as 'THE Priest' of the diocese territory. At least that's the way Catholics are supposed to see Ordination. The priest is doing what the Bishop does, as his delegate.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Men\"?\nIs there a particular reason why women are excluded from participating in this \"manly\" exercise of \"pull-ups\"\nOur women participants might be interested in this additional exclusion that uber-traditional Catholic young men alone are privy to. \nFrom the sound of it, you should be sorry.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "While it's hard to get recent figures on how many Catholics actively participate regularly, the percentage seems to verge on single digits and continues to nosedive. So wherever they got 38% -- let alone 62% -- is not to be taken seriously for any purpose, at least not without further explanation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The comment I responded to was commenting regarding a transaction by a Christian organization specifically. Also, I am a Christian. That is why my comment was specific, and welcoming as I know most Christian organizations to be. Thanks for checking.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You don't understand the purpose of baptism, and what the church says about its necessity for salvation? Are you really a Catholic? You don't seem to know the basics of Catholic teaching.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Translated: I\u2019m upset there are Catholics who disagree with me.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The same way the Roman Catholic Church does with \"misbehaving\" priests.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And what is not mentioned is that there is an entire - and growing - body of theological opinion that the ordination of Anglican priests and prelates IS valid. It is the general conclusion of some that since the original bishops of the Church of England were in fact originally Catholic bishops, in most cases the rite of Apostolic Succession does, in fact, apply. This means that there are more Anglican bishops and priests that meet the \"criteria\" for validity then there are not. If one sorts the punitive, retaliatory actions of popes of the time towards the English secession, and studies it from the perspective of theological understanding, then different conclusions can be drawn then those espoused by Pandora17. We need to get the whole picture rather then sell-out to old, narrow conclusions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Love thy neighbor, not thy expectation of the perfect neighborhood.\"\n\nExactly, too many Christians don't want to be in community with groups of people they consider undesirable. A Christian welcomes everyone, saints and sinners.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christians and caring??? Hahahahahaha....or as boots would say inevitably: lol", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And the Holocaust was to do with ethnicity, and not religion?\n\nAnd the country was Yugoslavia, not Yogoslavia. And the West (mainly Germany) first instigated the Croatians to secede, thus igniting the civil war. The Orthodox Serbs fought the Catholic Croats and Muslim Bosnians. I would call it a religious war, unless you think the three are the same religion.\n\nI am not Muslim, and therefore can't be a jihadist. I guess that is too heavy a concept for you to understand. Are all your enemies jihadists, in the alternate universe that you live in?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My...my...how Christian of you...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And so do Christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1/2\n\nThe speech was not a \"wink-wink\": it was a straightforward assertion that he would not take orders from the Vatican over anything. The historical/theological context was that in 1960, the Catholic Church still taught that the notions of separation of church and state and of religious freedom were anathema. (Vatican II's Declaration on Religious Liberty was still five years in the future.) Most American Catholics did not know these things and few would have agreed with them -- but the ministers to whom Kennedy was speaking did know them, and at least some of them had good-faith concerns about how those ideas would translate into presidential policy (this despite the fact that American Catholics had fought and died in every American war and had held virtually every other public office at every level of government and served honorably.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I understand that it is complicated, no \"but's\" about it. But the reality is that there is no movement of powerful groups towards RC recognition of ssm. Therefore, no liturgical forms are available, so certificates of Catholic marriage have or will not be issued, and there is currently no avenue available for a dialogue on the matter. The LG students I know well, some of them seriously coupled, have no intention - or need - for a church wedding in any church that rejects them, or for a growing number of them, any church-related wedding at all. What you hope for is wonderfully Christian, but not a possibility in the Catholic church, and will not be for many, many decades yet. I well understand why those who do want a church wedding go elsewhere, and for their peace of mind, they should.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"However, there are some trends to be seen in the data. Those states that do consume the most porn tend to be more conservative and religious than states with lower levels of consumption, the study finds.\u201cSome of the people who are most outraged turn out to be consumers of the very things they claimed to be outraged by,\u201d Edelman says.\" Here's the link: https: //www.newscientist.com/article/dn16680-porn-in-the-usa-conservatives-are-biggest-consumers/\n\nThere are dozens of links with the same conclusion: Conservatives are the top consumers of porn.....As I say, from my experience with Christian Conservatives, the sexism and misogynism fits with the demeaning and objectifing of women I've seen. That's just an opinion... However, the data about porn viewing is factual data. Gary Crum", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"May\" - there's hard news for you! The Saudis may convert to Christianity and Donald Trump might apologise for his lies and step down.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sher, can you give a few examples of the teachings of Jesus\n\nthat Copts follow\nand \"Romanized Christianity of Europe\" does not \n\nand where do Protestant Christianity stand on the teachings of Jesus\n\nThanks", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have been to 12 step meetings of 10 atheists gathered for spirituality and I solemnly assure you that Jesus was there. It is why such programs work (and it is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit to say otherwise, so save your soul and keep quiet - a sentiment that also applies to denying gay marriage).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The bishop\u2019s statement was likely a staff product and the staff is likley led by people who put the USCCB relationship with the GOP over abortion above all other issues. In other words, they think like they preach. This is why it would have been helpful for Catholic politicians to change from pluralism or a women\u2019s rights get out the vote theme to a detailed analysis of why overturning Roe is such a bad idea (and how it is more about winning elections than protecting the unborn). Gratefully, there are bishops who speak more strongly on immigration but they need to also speak truth on abortion politics if they want change in the conference. There is nothing in the Gospel about sending doctors or mothers who obtain abortions to jail.\n\nIt is fortunate that the judicial system and the ACLU and generating the outrage over these orders that the bishops cannot. Let that one sink in for a bit.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Let's be honest - Jesus didn't even promote \"family values\" as they are preached by modern Christians. He stated that if anyone was not willing to walk away from everything, including family and possessions, they they were not fit to follow him. Too bad so many people believe so many things *about* him, but they don't really believe they need to do the things he plainly stated are required in order to know him and to experience spirit directly.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Charles - You can thank the Christian founders of America that you will never be forced to worship anyone or anything that you disagree with.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dennis, I think Jesus being a sacrifice is just a theme that would have resonated with Pagans of that time. But there are also passages indicating sacrifice is not suitable, \"I desire mercy not sacrifice\" and \"you are worth more than many sparrows,\" etc. Yahweh would never accept a human sacrifice and Jews knew it then and still know it (story of Abraham's attempted sacrifice of Isaac). \n\nThanks for all your defenses of me, Dennis, very much appreciated !!! However, religion is just a hobby for me as I bide my time with medical adventures. I wasn't schooled much on religion, just Catholic high school, and I am actually very narrowly focused in my writing. But I try to be careful and factual, so maybe that is what you noticed. Thanks again.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In a previous post, I said to ATF: \"The reality of Christ's Real Presence in the Eucharist exists independently of anyone's believing in it. If any one those ten atheists consumed the host, his non-belief would not prevent him from consuming the body of Christ. The atheist would not consume bread. Bread is no longer there.\"\n\nWhich of these assertions do you disagree with?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You may be a rogue, but you're no Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well the article is about Islam, so I naturally thought that's what we're discussing here. \n\nI'm glad your here to step up to the plate and discuss this issue. \n\nHow do we go about making sure you and I don't support intolerant cultures of any kind, love to hear your ideas. \n\nYou mention: \" What I find ironic is how some won't hesitate to point out issues with \"diversity, woman's rights, and gay rights\" in fundamentalist Islam, yet ignore similar instances in historically Western religions\". \n\nHistorically you're correct, but remember that is past history, that's been resolved via reformations in both Christianity and Judaism. \n\nThat is why is very important that reformation takes place in Islam, which moves the religion away from a sectarian view into a secular one. \n\nWhat we're concerned with here is the current situation, the here and now, not long ago history.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If I were to say that I would not be telling the truth. I know nothing about that young person-I would hope with all of my heart that he is in Heaven for, \"God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not PERISH but have everlasting life.\" Yet many will perish because they think that their good works can outweigh their bad works or they think that going to church twice a year makes them Christian. Or maybe they got saved when they were younger and thought they had a \"lifetime membership.\"\n\nThen said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. \n(John 8:31-32 KJV)\n\nHe is looking for disciples not believers...the devils believe-and tremble. We have an appointment with death (Hebrews 9:27) and we will be on time. There is One who conquered death and He is Lord. There is salvation in NO other name but Jesus Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Come on! There is no admission in St. John's Gospel that Jesus had given up on himself. Nor did He \"lay down his life\" simply to display his frailty or to disclose it. He did it to take up his life again. Injecting residents with lethal doses of poison at these Catholic Christian homes is hardly nearing them to Christ's redemptive aim. Needless to day, if the Brothers wish to drown residents in suicide, as it were, they needn't torture them with the shallow waters of the Gospel. Send them to a down-reaching ocean of death in some secular institution. Suicide is legal in Belgium and I am sure there are plenty of non-Catholic death sites for this endgame procedure. But why groom vulnerable residents for suicide in a Catholic residential home.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The HOLY Bible is Christian. The New Testament is Christian. The Old Testament is Judaism, kept intact for reference.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I treat women who I see here in hijabs with the utmost of respect. My Christian relatives, the few remnants left in Turkey, emigrated to Australia a few years ago. Not only did they receive no respect in Turkey, they feared for their lives after a prominent journalist and a young member of the Turkish military was assassinated. Respect should go both ways. The answers that Anil Uskanli gave the interrogators reveals that he views himself as a victim. This is what the Turkish government is teaching its people, that they are victims of Western civilization.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You have NO idea if those who brought the woman to Jesus were forgiven or not. They were given the opportunity to leave and consider their own actions - perhaps repent? It is perhaps you being a bit pharisee-like in your blanket condemnation of the Bishop? Where is the mercy, understanding, accompaniment you are offering?\n\nMercy is not the equivalent of approval. Mercy is teaching with respect in the dignity and humanity of every person. Pastoral accompaniment and discussion is intended to convey and explain the teaching of the Church - once that is achieved, individuals can make their own decision to stay or go.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Abortion is a heinous moral evil, a crime which cries to Heaven for justice.\n\nBeing poor does not alter that fact, nor does it being legal.\n\nAs a Catholic I am concerned with moral evil in our society, and so you should be as well.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are right ergoe a true Christian would have no other choice but to denounce Trump entirely. PCM2 is a confused Christian that doesn't quite get the teachings of Jesus. If you ever support any war, believe guns are acceptable you are not a follower of Jesus.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As I previously stated in the interest of full disclosure, I have now and have never had a relationship of any kind with either party in the suit, nor with the USCCB, other than being a baptized Catholic.\n\nI also have no relationship with the plaintiff's attorney, who is mentioned in the article \"Hammond is represented by Bruce C. Howard and Richard S. Wilson of the Chicago law firm Siprut PC.\"\n\nNow you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "God's infinite love and mercy and grace are a free gift. Jesus invited sinners as they were. The Pharisees. who separated themselves, were rejected. I'd rather join Jesus and the sinners than your excluded club. Jesus called us to the Kingdom of God where mercy and forgiveness are are unconditional. Restorative justice is about love not gaining grace which is a free Divine gift.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Once more we have an example of the price we pay for living where we do. Jeremy Joseph Christian's murderous assault did not happen in the absence of disturbing red flags waved over the last 15 years. The quandary we face as a society is that in our legal system, it is to a large extent true that each criminal act is adjudicated separately, and we have a difficult time preemptively locking people up because they crossed some nebulously defined line of \"too many bad deeds.\" That's the problem, maybe not precisely in this case as Christian was a convicted felon, but there are many examples of murderers who previously committed no crimes that rose to the level of serious jail time, but nevertheless had reputations of being \"seriously bad dudes.\"\n\nWhat to do? Well, we could go the way of some other civilized countries like England where police are allowed to stop, detain, and hold citizens with little or no cause compared to what's now permissible in the USA. Or then again, maybe not.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "<>\n\nTotal myth.\n\nChristianity is Hebrew scriptures redux with Jesus as Messiah and access to all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are no longer a Christian, I glean.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'll tell you.\n\nThe Catholic Church's teachings are consistent with what's called Natural Law. The teachings of these others are no longer based on Natural Law. \n\nBeginning at the Lambeth conference in the 1920s they departed and became largely \"consensus\" driven, and thus the \"drift and dissipation.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sizable Minority.....this is exactly the tone of news that is trying to grab a headline. I for one am weary of this type of reporting. It encourages dissident behavior and inflammatory reactions to something we have done since becoming a country. Immigrate. This \"idea\" that Muslims are all bad is quite like saying that all Catholics are bad or all Christians are bad. Its sad that this type of thought pattern is being encouraged by journalism. Man Made fear over another belief,color etc. Wake up people and stop being controlled by what you read to the extent that you are willing to harm others. Immigration is how we here in Canada make enough to run our country. They are generall the hardest working. We as a population have the biggest issue with getting our own to work. Stop comparing to other countries, get educated about how our country works before you single out others. We are Canada and we represent many great things including a society that is inclusive", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But Mormons are facing internal issues, have to deal with retention rate drops in many locations, etc. In Chile, for example, they are shrinking. And if Salt Lake City can have a Catholic cathedral and parishes, I guess Rome can afford a Mormon temple (alongside Mosques, Synagogues, a Hindu temple and Protestant churches). As tourist and/or pilgrim sites, they are all practically non-existent (except for their own adherents). Nothing can match the nearly 2,000 year old historical presence of some CC sites localizing early Roman Christianity. Anyway, St. Peter and Paul are meeting Joseph Smith in a new Roman setting! And all three claim they knew Jesus Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I've followed your frequent comments about your father, including the fact that you yourself aren't an NDP supporter. As a life-long NDP supporter, I can tell you that you're wrong about party activists laughing at churchgoers. \n\nOpposed to 'Christians' who remain opposed to same-sex marriage TWU) or abortion (too many to mention) - yes. Opposed to religion or clergy in public office? No. Read the names I listed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "GUN CONFISCATORS ARE MURDERERS\nPastors and churches are telling their congregations that Christians are obligated to surrender their firearms should civil government require them to do so. Such teaching is an egregious violation of the Word of God.\nToday the debate over firearms rages, and on the heels of national tragedy and death, schools and other places have become \"gun free zones.\" In addition, many in government are attempting to pass laws disarming the American people\u2014especially after a mass shooting like what happened in Las Vegas. And, sadly, a host of pastors and churches are telling their congregations that Christians are obligated to surrender their firearms should civil government require them to do so. Such teaching is an egregious violation of the Word of God.\nPastor Chuck Baldwin", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Just wondering if there would be that much uproar if a Christian cemetery had been rejected?Don't think so.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually I do understand them. Their origin goes back to the BNA act and was intended to ensure that the Catholic minority in Upper Canada was able to maintain their religion in the face of a Protestant majority. Not unlike Muslims facing a Christian majority today wouldn't you say?\n\nAlthough the difference is that Muslims aren't asking for a whole separate school system, they are asking for a room, one day a week. And what's even better is that the Muslim students are part of the same diverse school as all the other kids from all different backgrounds, and they are all learning the same subjects side by side. They aren't having their education framed in a religious context unlike publicly funded Catholic schools today.\n\nYou do know that the checkbox on your property tax is only to indicate which board you vote for in municipal elections right? It has nothing to do with where your tax dollars go.\n\nHow's that? No research necessary.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why do you feel the necessity to address yourself as LGBT people or LGBT community. We are Catholic people or community who follow the Catholic faith. Is your sexual preference the only thing that defines you? The Church teaches that homosexual acts are sinful. No different than heterosexual acts committed outside of marriage. Should the Church now redefine or classify certain acts as no longer sinful because a certain group fails to agree with them? If I committed the sin of Adultery with another parishioner that suddenly became public knowledge of the congregation, and I continued in that sinful behavior, should I expect the priest to welcome me to the reception of the Holy Eucharist, which clearly would cause scandal for the Church? I would expect the priest to counsel me on the grave errors of my actions and the necessity of Confession and repentance for my salvation. Nothing else matters. That is the simple purpose of our faith - entry into heaven.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Part two of two parts) When Muslim lives and health depend on dogmatic teachings on gender, it's academic if Christianity is just as misogynistic as Islam. And add, when ANY lives and health depend on dogmatic teachings on gender . . . especially when such dogma is based on so-called \u201cnatural law.\u201d Natural law is different from Revealed law and is amenable to academic discussions, Papal forbidding of such discussion, notwithstanding. See the censure of the administration of The (Pontifical) Catholic University of America, in place since 1960. https://www.aaup.org/our-programs/academic-freedom/censure-list.\n\nIt isn\u2019t Christian or humane to ignore injustice committed against those of another religion . . . as the movie \u201cSpotlight\u201d illustrates. One of the spiritual Works of Mercy is to \u201cAdmonish the Sinner\u201d, which is what the Faithful do when they object to human injustice of any type.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "All it means is that the vote is split more or less down the middle, Peter.\nThere's no confirmation of the \"sensus fidelium\" here - just the usual confusion, fuelled (in this instance) by the US Bishops' refusal to support or defend Christian values.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Officially the Catholic Church does not recognise the validity of Anglican ordinations - male or female - considering them to be \"absolutely null and utterly void\" and, for this reason, does not consider the Church of England to be a \"Church\" because it lacks a priesthood and therefore the Eucharist.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Whether you agree with Shannyn or not or Paul Jenkins or not we can never outrun the \"slant\" in what they say. Whether that feller in North Carolina stopped and helped was a matter of his choice. (free will). Shannyn by her \"slant\" assumes that he was a Christian. She doesn't know that, but she played on your belief. I guess the Creator told Shannyn that he was. So what if the \"lord\" told him to move on what does that mean? Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and on and on refer to a higher being as \"lord.\" I know that if I saw a legislator in the ditch, (except for perhaps a very rare occurence), I'd beep the horn, give 'em a wave and drive off. That's the human side of us all. It's not for us to get really too \"preachy\" and define if someone is good or not. Prejudice never shows much reason.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I was reading the catholic encylopedia on abortion and it said that inducing labor when the child is not viable, even if necessary to save the mother, no other means being available, is still not permissible. Is that still the stance? Anyone know? If that is still the stance, then I must be honest and say I disagree with it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Respectfully, I would disagree.... A same sex couple would not meet the religious criteria for getting married as Catholics.. even before the same sexual orientation issue would come into play. It is not an easy process even if they are a typical man/ woman couple with one not being Catholic. The Priest/ Deacons have the power already.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ah. \"Christians\". That's a bit of a difference from \"born again\" Christians, now isn't it? I looked at the survey as you suggested and the 77% indicates the percentage of Americans who 'identify with' a Christian religion. That's even more vague and includes people who were raised Christian but no longer are an active member of any church. \n\nWhy the hostility to being asked simple questions?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you for your posts and those of AnneMargaret in this string. The points you both make are helping me work through the role of the priest in this process of discernment. I have been rather stuck on the idea that Francis is requiring a priests okay, a priests acceptance of the discernment made by the remarried Catholic. I do think ultimately the discernment is that of the individual and the role of the priest is that of helper. But, I also think that some people don't really need some sort of agreement from a priest - a seal of approval - they have already reached an understanding that they are walking a path of faith in a new marriage, that \"solace of conscience\". \n\nIt is hard to break habits of thought and untether thinking that ties both mercy and faith to the law of the Church. And scary.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In regard to the WW review of the Glenn Beck article on Portland as the #1 place to avoid...\nAs usual, Willamette Weekly is incapable of journalistic maturity due to the noise of their own existential beating drum. You've completely missed the point of the poll which identifies Portland, OR as having the highest population of religiously unaffiliated persons per capita. If WW were less interested in their own flag waving and more in tune with correspondent reality, you might have gotten this right.\nIt's not that people in Portland are more \"fallen\" than any other city in the country. That is not possible so please, curb your enthusiasm for being the top denizen of iniquity in the atheist's list of who's-who in the country. \nThe bottom line is that this city has a population that is uniquely ready to receive the good news of salvation made uniquely and exclusively possible in and through Jesus Christ. \nI understand this is a liberal journal, but stop the Nietzsche-loving flaptrap.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Without Christ there is no church. Priests - not so much.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Arab Spring captured the imagination of every country. As we speak, Montreal's main Museum has a show that glorifies \"Revolution\" . The Syrian scenario envisaged by the youth AND by the US/EU was Assad surrendering in the face of mass demonstrations as did the leaders in Tunisia and Egypt, or failing that we would intervene to kill the leader (as in Libya). \n\nThe problem was that the Syrian mainstream (secular, Christian, commercial, as well as the Shia Alawites) had lived through previous Muslim Brotherhood uprisings and, rightly or wrongly, judged that a firm response was essential to the survival of a viable Syria. After three months of futile watercannons and police action at the start of 2011, the Army was deployed under orders to squash illegal demonstrations - which it did. Seven years later, with a half million killed in a civil war financed and supported by us all, we are realising we should have helped Assad in 2011 to do what Sisi did in Egypt in one day.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Curran is one of the giants in theology in the 20th and 21st centuries. The Vatican stripped his license to teach in pontifical universities or on pontifical faculties -- i.e., those chartered by the Vatican. They did not (because they could not) issue an order preventing him from teaching in other Catholic institutions. Any (non-pontifical) Catholic university or college in the country (or the world) could have hired him. In an effort to continue teaching at Catholic University, he offered to teach social ethics (not sexual ethics) in the School of Philosophy (not the School of Theology.) The offer was rejected. No Catholic school in the country was willing to hire him, though there was nothing (other than cowardice) to prevent them from doing so. Now in his eighties, he continues to teach, speak and write as a professor at Southern Methodist University. He is and has always been a priest in good standing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "According to the Church, especially Vatican I and Vatican II, there is only one Church.\n\nIf this is not the Church Christ founded, charged to go forth and teach all nations, led by the Holy Spirit, which on earth subsists in the Catholic Church, where should folks be looking?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Up to now the options for fallen-away Catholics have been \"nones\", \"dones\", and other denominations.\n\nChurches taking overt political stands will likely eliminate the \"other denomination\" option. The result will be an even larger percentage of the Catholic population (and indeed the entire population) spending Sunday mornings sleeping in.\n\nAs DonInKansas remarked, they just might get what they wish for -- and regret it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mr. Sherman... Quoted from Patrick J. Buchanan, \nAmerica has been the best country on earth for black folks. It was here that 600,000 black people, brought from Africa in slave ships, grew into a community of 40 million, were introduced to Christian salvation, and reached the greatest levels of freedom and prosperity blacks have ever known. Jeremiah Wright ought to go down on his knees and thank God he is an American.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "to continue...\n\nNow that you've been schooled in Ontario's education funding, and I assume you're in Ontario although you could be in another province which has done away with religion based school boards. It's actually quite easy to do despite the handwringing about section 93 of the BNA act, let's move on to your comments about Muslims shall we?\n\nFirstly, public schools aren't \"denied\" religion. What was denied was an entirely state sponsored program of exclusively Christian prayer and the exclusive observation of Christian religious holidays. Any religious group can ask for some accommodation for their religious observances. After all, Christmas and Easter are already days off so what's the big deal about Muslims using a room one afternoon a week? Especially since Christians already have Sunday's off to attend their churches. The mere fact that you put the word \"them\" in quotes in your earlier post underlines that you're not thinking rationally.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Since 1969, the number of Catholics in the archdiocese had declined by 69 percent; the number of priests had fallen by roughly two-thirds.\"\n\nIn business terms the Catholic Church is no different than any major corporation faced with shutting down unproductive facilities or stores and downsizing personnel when its product, services, or business model are viewed by consumers as out of touch with their needs. Think of Sears and K-Mart in an Amazon world. \n\nCorporations respond by either closing their doors completely or changing their management team and approach to their markets in the hope of reversing the trend, often with harsh but necessary actions that are always accompanied by much angst. \n\n\"a sweeping and painful reorganization: consolidating 212 churches down into 126\" is the first and easiest part of the solution. The hard part is what comes next...how does a global calcified organization like the Catholic Church change its approach to its market to reverse the trend?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Spoken like a true Christian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Finally, the pope says that one of the great sins of the church is its infantilizing of the laity. It is time for the laity to educate themselves, speak out and act like true disciples of Christ in spreading the joy of the gospel.\"\n\nExactly! Burke and his crew of miscreants want an infantilized laity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree entirely that persecution of Christians in the ME has been underreported. \n\nThis story has been given prominence because of the (former?) moral stature of Suu Kyi.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "All those cremains have to go somewhere, typically to the person or persons responsible for paying the bills. The Catholic church has NO authority in the matter!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You're right. It's the NT use that matters. But I thought that was what the Catholic Dictionary addressed. Where can I read more about this?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I see Kevin Paulson has an ongoing article about original sin and the \"Brinsmead Awakening\" on ADvindicate.\n\n\"THE BRINSMEAD HERESY AND LAST GENERATION THEOLOGY, PART 2\"\n\nHis superficial view of sin and atonement is a real disgrace to the SDA church but it is right in line with the LGT (Last Generation Theology). Let's hope their false doctrine never gets control of the SDA church. We have enough non-Christian cult ideas and theologies in the church and this one is the ultimate lie of the devil to deceive anyone who will \"buy\" it.\n\nWe see a lot of people who respond don't really know what he is contending for and assume he is only affirming that we can have victory over sin. But his false view goes way beyond the idea of victory over sin and claims we can be inherently sinless in ourselves with the help of Jesus. The is classic Roman Catholic theology.\n\nThe imputed righteousness of Christ is an eternal principle and to deny it is blatant apostasy and evil.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Maybe a bit, but Pence has repeatedly said: \"I'm a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican, in that order.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Neither canon law nor Ad Tuendam Fidem are obligatory on Catholics. It is nothing more th as needed the CDF pretending that they can issue \"definitive\" statements. Nothing in actual Catholic tradition gives the CDF that power.\n\nAlso, as I keep saying, we are saved by faith in Christ, not by dogma.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Quote: \"our quality of immigration has changed in the last 4 decades\".\nGood thing too. I am an immigrant, 45 years in the country, and even though I am a good Christian from Europe, but not anglophone, the only people in Canada who ever gave me a hard time where the old stock anglophones. Never had a problem with any of the multicultural folks.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Five things that are recognized as inherently harmful in Islam and when they are repudiated and nullified will a true Muslim Reformation have been achieved: \n\n1. Muhammad's semi-divine and infallible status along with the literalist reading of the Qur'an, particularly those parts that were revealed in Medina;\n\n2. The investment in life after death instead of life before death;\n\n3. Sharia, the body of legislation derived from the Qur'an, the Hadith, and the rest of Islamic jurisprudence;\n\n4. The practice of empowering individuals to enforce Islamic law by commanding right and forbidding wrong;\n\n5. The imperative to wage jihad or holy war\n\n\nThose 5 points must be addressed by the Muslim's in Canada and around the world, otherwise we'll always have a problem. The Christians went through a reformation, which took time and I'm sure Islam has the ability to do this too.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pence is the winner here. Pence and Moore co-sponsored the most outrageous right-wing legislation introduced in Congress since the days of segregation: the Constitutional Restoration Act of 2005, an attempt to turn us into a Christian Reconstructionist theocracy. This legislation seeks to make it possible for Congress to remove any judge who refuses to acknowledge that the basis for all law, liberty, and government is God. It is designed to reverse 140 years of legal actions to the states, whereby religious fundamentalists can have more control over the outcome of decisions. State supreme court decisions would be the final word when it comes to the way that local governmental officials apply the \u201csovereignty of God\u201d to their decisions, and would erase many constitutional protections that the CRA claims to restore. The CRA would \u201crestore\u201d the Constitution to the Dred Scott days. Pence is beyond thrilled to have another soldier for his Evangelical cause. Creeping theocracy at work.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Alas, one who has repeatedly misread the comment now feels it compelled to point out an error already noted by another...but does this mean the poster who claims a special level of education in English will now go back and note the poster's own erroneous reading? Sigh...not likely as it is not consistent with traditional Catholic values to ever admit error...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That last is over-the-top, but there is justification for the like in some remarks of Pope Francis that were not included in the commentary online by NCR.\n In essence he said it is is better to be an atheist than a hypocritical Catholic. A rich Catholic caring nothing for the poor, compared with a humanistic atheist in good conscience serving with DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS for example, serve to make the point. \n The abortion issue is an excuse for self-righteous political maneuvers. Trump promises Gorsuch will repeal ROE vs.Wade. He cannot without a consensus and their is no indication that he will try to get one. Bernard Law was an active supporter of the pro-life movement. Let me repeat this again: Law was an avid supporter of the pro-life movement. \n I am pro-life. I also have a conscience that is outraged at the duplicity and insipidity and deceit of many contemporary Catholics. Pro-life is a term I refuse to let the demented co-opt for their personal use.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Again, you are correct, alternative energy sources cause more impact than coal and gas, so logically they cannot be supported as they are detrimental to the environment. We should continue to use fossil fuels as they are the only logical source of energy with little impact on the environment. As always, a truly illuminated view from a traditional catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"I am honored to have been asked to offer a reading from Scripture at the upcoming presidential inauguration, and look forward to asking almighty God to inspire and guide our new president and to continue to bless our great nation,\" Dolan said in an email to Catholic News Service.\n\nWell, what can one say? This is a payoff to Dolan for helping to get the white Catholic vote to turn out for Trump. The p***y-grabber-in-chief knows how to reward his friends.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Conservative or Christian or neither, I think \"thought leader\" is an absurd phrase, possibly straight from a press release from either convention.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, Natural Law. Pufendorf and Grotius made this clear. Don't forget that until fairly recent times, Natural Law held the dominant place in legal theory. It is the basis of Catholic moral theology, the basis of the legal thinking of Blackstone, our Founding Fathers (\"We hold these truths to be self-evident, . . . that they are endowed by their Creator . . .\"), Montesquieu, Locke, Aquinas, etc. etc. Even in your own thinking, you appeal to Natural Law. Your opposition to Jim Crow laws (positive law) is that it they are unjust. You correctly believe that if a positive law is \"unjust\" --- \"just\" being defined by reference to something higher than man-made law --- it is no law at all. The founders of international law believed the same way.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wrong. More \"post-fact\" ignorance of religious history.\n\nIt isn't about \"not following to the letter\", it is about how a religion defined itself from its early beginnings.\n\nWhen Jesus stopped a stoning, he was saying the old rules about stoning adulteresses was no longer to be followed.\n\nWhen Paul and his disciples said pagans did not have to become Jews or follow the Jewish laws or get circumcised first, he was making a statement about the relation of Christianity to Judaism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It seems the governor needs a refresher course on general Christianity and/or specific Catholic precepts of charity --- love, empathy, sympathy, understanding, patience, assistance, corporal acts of mercy, .... etc", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Correctly stated, much of what Martin Luther taught was Catholic.\n\nIt was the non-Catholic part that led to the split, the wars in Germany, and the rest of it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "OMG - with the challenges the Roman Catholic Church is facing it is worried about the matter for Eucharist? This is the mythic-magic level of development. Time to grow up?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You know it's not like the Christians aren't forgiven because they are for everything every sin and Christ's central message was love and forgiveness. He didn't tolerate certain things like idolatry and the things that happened in the temple at times but he didn't save with harsh criticism of lifestyles he loved on people and offered a different path that was their free will to choose from.\n\nIt's not like throughout history Christians have been blameless or upright either.\n\nWhy not get along? State your position but get along anyway because that's what the lord would have done", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Archeologists think the Sphinx was an object of religious worship, not a work of art. You are making the same Western-centric mistake that 20th century writers made of African masks, a mistake (looks like art, must be art) that was corrected by folks such as Leon Underwood.\n\nThe Christ statue was not commissioned by government or a \"large public donor\", it was fueled by private citizen Catholics who wanted to battle falling rates of Christianity in the city, and the donation drives in their churches funded it. It was built by them as a religion-spreading tool, comparable to the motivations of huge cathedrals 500 years ago (and the David statue, built as a cathedral decoration).\n\nYour items do not fall under the category I specified, tax money-bought \"preachy, one-note noise of cloying proselytization\". There is no cloying proselytization in marking major HISTORICAL events, such as a major war or abolishing slavery or establishing freedom.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"It is no more closed ....\"\n\nWhat part of \"no\" do you not see understand? Even Pope Francis, whom many here adulate, said \u201cConcerning the ordination of women in the Catholic Church, St. Pope John Paul II had the last clear word on this and it stands, this stands.....women can do many other things better than men.\" \nPope Francis has said this many times. Time to move on.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1.) Giuliani did apologize for falsely accusing Clinton of claiming to have been in the city on 9/11; another poster has given you the link.\n2.) Your second link did work. I concede that in the short clip you posted, Clinton did say she was in NYC on 9/11. Thus I do apologize for saying that she had never uttered the words. On the other hand, in the context of everything else she has said about that day, and probably in the context of the rest of the speech, it is clear what she meant: that she was a sitting senator from NY on the day of the attacks.\n3.) She who recently asserted (wrongly) that no Catholic bishop had ever associated himself with the Republican party or candidates ought to tread lightly about Google references.\n4.) Not for nothing, but Gugliani made the most explicitly anti-Catholic reference during this campaign and pretty much go away with it. Do you know what it was? If not, I'll be glad to tell you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The longer this papacy continues the more I'm convinced that Benedict was booted merely for being too rigid in how he presented Catholic teaching. Francis was brought in not for a difference in his actual perspective from Benedict but to give the impression that there is the potential for change on certain matters. \n\nDiscussion makes liberals feel better, as they think they can debate away sin. Whereas Benedict would say, \"No discussion,\" Francis says, \"Let's look in to it.\" The outcome is/will be the same, but taking the ostensible rigidity out of it gives people hope and softens the outward appearance to the world.\n\nThis change in the doctrinal head will likely lead to no change at all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Christian right should be very happy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are a bit confused I think about what Jesus enacted, and what was added by human beings later, including the ordained priesthood. Perhaps read the NT again, as well as some histories of the early christian communities.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I just checked and I see I am still at \u201cNational Catholic Reporter\u201d rather than \u201cNational Science Reporter\u201d.\n\nI also do not get any impression that you\u2019re a competent scientist, since many of them are devout Christians.\n\nSo, I think that about wraps us up.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You might want to consider the notion of \"non-duality\" that is being discussed amongst contemplative Catholics/Christians. Non-duality is derived from Advaita philosophy (Hinduism). I know, I know, it's not \"Christian\" or \"Catholic\" but Jesus talked about \"truth\" not just coming from Judeans, but from Samaritians and Gentiles as well. What nondaulity empahsizes is the notion of \"not two.... but not one.\" It is a paradox which could generate understandings of a triune God, christology, but more importantly, ourselves, even physics in our universe. It offers a creative tension between diversity (difference) and unity. I'm more interested in news ways of understanding, not so much old arguments going back to Chalcedon (they don't go anywhere except divide people).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Please provide citations for your assertion that the Constitution and Supreme Court have rejected the concept that America was founded on Judeo-Christian principles.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Interesting. Taught by Catholic nuns early on, but she's Jewish.\n\nMaybe Feinstein is too Jewish to be a Senator. Maybe she has anger issues against Catholics because she's a Jew?\n\nWill the press ask that question? Will NCR?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree with you. We should be Christian and not apply them to Bishop Paprocki.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We would refer to historic Christianity, but I do not claim to speak for all of them. Why would it make him \"not connected\" ? The Bible states clearly God is active in his creation, but not part of it, and Christ was born God incarnate. As far as not conceiving God, I guess that would depend on your definition of conceive. We can identify with Christ and he with us, and we can begin to understand God, even though he is infinite. Even some of the outspoken atheists claim humans could have been placed here by an outside intelligence (Dawkins, Degrasse-Tyson and others). \n\nWhy is it so difficult to believe:\n\na) There is a God greater than us\n\nand\n\nb) He created us with a purpose in mind", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Monica: \"The idea that we all stand convicted before God unless redeemed by Jesus needs revisiting.\" \n\nIt sure does need revisiting! But I doubt that any of our 23 Catholic Eastern Rites/Churches in union with Rome...or our Roman Opus Dei Church (re-branded as Evangelical Catholicism) is interested in this task. \n\nWithout a Vatican II Rite/Church or at least a Vatican II personal prelature, are we not just crying out in the wind when it come to doctrinal \"revisiting\"? https://RiteBeyondRome", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree completely! We should model our governmental policies on those of the Roman Empire, however, we should also proclaim our country to be a christian nation. By that, we mean we oppose those who do not describe themselves as christians; we are not necessarily trying to imply some code of conduct or anything.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's not my teaching, it's the Church's teaching. If you don't agree, please be consistent, and go elsewhere. You are free to do so. No one is compelled to be Catholic. I personally find it a tremendous privilege, but your mileage may vary.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would like to know: Does adherence to \"welcome the stranger\" require that a nation have no borders? Does it make reasonable restrictions on immigration immoral or un-Christian? Does it require welcoming every stranger?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Islam, like its progenitors, Judaism and Christianity, offers a variety of pre-packaged versions of the nature of reality and how people ought to behave. Those with good hearts find comfort and value in these philosophical systems and, like the convert in this article, find a path to a productive and meaningful life. Those with bad hearts exploit the bigotry which forms much of the basis of all these faiths and cause sorrow, grief, and destruction. \n\nThere is no evidence at all that a superbeing pulls the strings of our fantastic universe and science has explained much, if not most, of the mystery that was traditionally credited to an all-powerful God. Yet, atheism has produced individuals of no better nor worse character than religion. \n\nSo...the path to human harmony lies not in ideologies but in the goodwill of each and every one of us.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "while I am pro life, I have struggled with the concept that being catholic means I must not vote for any body who is pro-choice. Here's my thoughts, a huge buzz phrase in America is \"keep church separated from state \". I think when it comes to issues regarding a person's moral beliefs it is not my right to force my morals on another. I can share my beliefs and support and love people and in so doing love them into choosing life. If sharing God's love doesn't help them choose life then I must pray for forgiveness and peace for them. I DO NOT get to judge! EVER! That is for God and God alone. Having said that I will be voting for the candidate that has the best diplomatic skills and the maturity to deal with other world leaders that come across as loose cannons.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Exactly! Which is why every Catholic must resist tRump's tyranny.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So, Monsieur Galon, when Jesus said \u201cI am the way, the truth, and the light\u201d and told the Church to go forth to teach all He commanded, and the Holy Spirit would lead them to all truth, He meant \u201call the truth which is pleasant to hear\u201d?\n\nI do not know his confessor, nor is who his confessor is irrelevant to the fact, not opinion, that the dogmas of the Church are to be believed.\n\nIs it charitable to stay silent in the face of such egregious misinformation?\n\nI think not. \n\nNor is it a \u201cmost intimate relationship\u201d when it becomes a broadside in a discussion. The very announcement of it indicated the recipient of the bad advice was surprised.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There's a crucial difference between recognizing God's redemptive transformation of our pain versus asserting that pain is needed and thus pain is God's purpose. The biblical testimony is that \"an enemy has done this.\" To claim otherwise makes God the author of suffering and death. Pain isn't always constructive and can't be assumed on this side of eternity to be so in proportion to suffering. Christ died of a broken heart. The toll of suffering takes our lives, too, in the end.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hi Monica\nI can't find any scripture reference where any Apostle, or Paul, actually presided at a 'Eucharist'; though Paul's epistles do indicate that Christian communities were doing them. Christ's command to 'do THIS in memory of me', I take to be a command to his followers, what came to be called his 'church'. There weren't any 'priests' for quite a few years. Everyone was just a 'Christian' - a 'lay' person, since the whole separation of people into 'cleric' and 'lay' came about centuries later.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have never felt strongly about the liturgical wars and can certainly appreciate the beauty of the TLM. In either form much depends on the priest and the parish culture. I'm not at all familiar with the 1945 missal! I don't care for the Douay-Rheims and prefer the RSV.\n\nI would highly recommend both books. I should warn you that the Kertzer is unflattering to Pius XII, though it is mainly concerned with his career as Secretary of State Pacelli and barely touches on his papacy. I'm a great admirer of Garry Wills. His devotional books were among the discrete influences that led me back to Christianity and eventually the church. It makes me sad to think of it now.\n\nAnyway, I hope you enjoy!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I wonder how Henein feels about Iqra Khalid\u2019s M-103? She is renowned as one of the best in her field so perhaps she can she some light on the issues of criminalizing criticism of religion? Of course there are similar laws in Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan, beacons of free expression and liberal thought. In Europe, cartoonists need safe rooms and 24 hour armed guards if they address certain sacred cows. I suppose we should censor the creators of South Park and Family Guy for their regular satires of Jews and Christians? But it's not politically correct to discuss the double standard of how certain religions are off-limits to satire and comedy while others are fair game. How do we draw the line with M-103? We'd certainly have to censor Monty Python's The Meaning of Life. Oh well, Europe clearly hasn't had any issues defending artistic freedoms for satirists and artists... with M-103, I guess certain religions are beyond reproach", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One surprisingly large portion of the Church needs to give up the idea that words, ceremonies, events, apologies can re-write history \"and take their pain away\"\n\nThey need to face the harder realities, and the beautiful grace God wants them to receive\n\nThe Catholic way is through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, particularly the 'purpose of amendment' that should accompany every trip to the box\n\nThe will - aided by the intellect and grace - needs to form a decision: I can no longer harbor or nurse resentments. I can no longer let injuries and resentments \"take up room\" in my interior life, room that crowds God out\n\nCatholics need to realize that secular psychology of the 1970s can't help them. \"Closure\" is another form of pride, a desire to rework events to one's own desire and intentions\n\nGet to the Sacraments and be ready for a lot of good interior work aimed at growth and new vitality..not the work of nursing resentments and sharpening bad memories, and crying on others shoulder", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Lovely that you, not a Catholic, have come here to tell us the Catholic Church has to \"change A LOT of things...\"\n\nTell me. Since your Church is losing members at a high, high rate - what does YOUR Church have to change? And do you tell THEM about it, too?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Victor van Heerden, obviously the ACDP's reality is different to\nyour reality. Their policies are Bible based. The Bible clearly instructs Christians to take an active role in the process of\nelecting officials to represent them in Parliament, therefore the ACDP has every right to be there. They've been put there by eligible voters, just like any other party. Sadly, far too many Christians have been duped into voting for parties that don't represent Biblical principles. Hopefully this tendency changes in 2019. Any self respecting Believer should know that the Abortion policy will always be high on the agenda. So please excuse them while they get on with the job that their electorate put them there to do. We didn't vote for them to shut up and sit in church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree.....and I like Francis a lot, too. But he is wrong on women...in a number of ways....not just ordination.\n\nAnd I genuinely believe the Church is wrong on the contraceptive issues as well. In that case there are overwhelming stats to illustrate the problem. I continue to worry about third world access to contraceptives.\n\nAnd I am not in love with the Vat abuse management either...slow, lacking in punch etc.\n\nFor folks to choose to stay in the RCC, who have these concerns or others, ....it seems to me that they/we have a lot of practice in the use of personal conscience AND it is important to live in parallel universes which for instance, respect women's multiple talents abilities and accomplishments, work to protect abused kids, and actively support family planning choices.\n\nBeing a Catholic in my view requires very adult decision making....and the integral use of personal conscience, and a certain amount of \"contrarian effort\".....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No. St Paul is commenting on the immorality in which Christians find themselves. Timeless. The world is 'always ending' for many people. Now is the time to fully live out the Gospel in purity, trust & faithfulness, many are dying even now. \n\nThis is the only time that God gives us to sanctify: Today, now. There is a real danger in thinking that \"the world\" is going on and that we have time. \n\nToday's Gospel from Mass bears on these points. \n\nMany Catholics won't recognize these words as Jesus'!\n\n\"Jesus said to his disciples:\n\"Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine,\nlest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.\n\n\"Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.\nThis is the Law and the Prophets.\n\n\"Enter through the narrow gate;\nfor the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction,\nand those who enter through it are many.\nHow narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.\nAnd those who find it are few.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hi, Bob - Interesting comment. I don't think councils are ever fully implemented. My guess is that a majority of Christians are still Nestorians. I'm definitely a Pelagian.\nI agree with what you say about the college of bishops, but I think we'd have a better chance of implementing Vatican II by convening a new council and reading the bishops the riot act instead of holding their hands and hoping for the best. - Monica.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It was a rhetorical question underlining the point that Canada is arguably the most open, tolerant and non-racial society in the world and we should celebrate this but not allow political opportunists at either end of the spectrum to play racial politics. This includes lefties like Nenshi who have an unfortunate penchant for crying racism every time someone disagrees with them about anything.\n\nWhat is happening in Indonesia is tragic. The 4th largest country after the US, Indonesia is the largest Muslim majority country. The rise of Islamist fundamentalism including terrorists has been frightening and destructive. While the Muslim president of the country Joko Widodo is considered a moderate, Islamist intolerance threatens Christians in ever larger parts of the country. Now, just 1 of 16 states is controlled by a Christian governor. And you have accurately described the mob reaction to a Xian running for Jakarta mayor.\n\nNenshi could do with more humility and more perspective.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One of my American Legion comrades also was there at the liberation of Buchenwald. He took his own photos. There were tears in his 95 year old eyes when he showed them to me. He was a Gentile and a Christian. NEVER FORGET!!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You wish I were, your excuse. But I'm not. I AM A CATHOLIC WOMAN, 18 years of Catholic schools all over the world. I think the nuns and priets taught me something very important, which is not taught in public schools, and that is to THINK FOR MYSELF, not to follow the crowd.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A clinging to tradition, and thereby referring to God by solely masculine-gender grammatical forms, and perhaps also by imagery associated with male human beings and other creatures, is not in itself heretical. A positive statement to the effect that it is ONLY permissible to refer to God with such masculine references, and that attempts to represent God in a not exclusively masculine way are themselves heretical or at least wrong-headed, is in any case poor theology. Whether it is \"heretical,\" I can't judge.\n\nJesus was wrong, or to put it more justly, in his own world, on all kinds of things. That he referred to God not just as a masculine being but as \"Dad,\" quite against his tradition, is an important indicator of a theological truth, marking just the beginning of speculation about God. \"Heresy,\" or rather, poor theology, comes with making an idol of the gospel portraits of Jesus, and treating them as exclusive models of our own beliefs and practices.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is an awful lot of political posturing here, but unless I am mistaken, this is still a Catholic website, so where does the Gospel come into all of this? For the pro-life crowd, lives (all lives) matter, even after birth. As Christians, we have obligations beyond political ideolgies. Unregulated Capitalism does not mesh very well with God\u2019s law (you have heard of God and the Gospels, haven\u2019t you?). Teddy Roosevelt understood this when he busted the trusts. FDR understood it when he took on moneyed interests and ameliorated suffering in the 1930\u2019s. Of course, he was labeled a \u2018traitor to his class\u2019 for his troubles, and if that isn\u2019t an indictment of privilege, I don\u2019t know what is. LBJ understood it when he took on Civil Rights issues. Richard Nixon understood it when he created the EPA. Where are the Bishops? Wringing their hands and waiting for their large donors to tell them what to say. Perhaps those unloved millenials will be the ones to save the Republic after all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I disagree with those who post that Pope Francis is, indeed, being seduced by power.\n\nI would say that, if he is being seduced by anything, it is his vision of what the church might be. In my Protestant, justice-seeking Christian opinion, his vision is a faithful one, though, to many establishment-oriented \"Vaticanites,\" it is risky and unpopular.\n\nWisely, courageously, he is using the power available to him to lead the church in a path toward that vision.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But how to do God's will? Is it through the compassion of Christ or the rigidity of the Pharisees, who used the Talmud like Benedict uses the Natural Order.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A voice of sanity, at last.\n\nThanks for speaking truth to power, Mel. Justin and Sophie will be cheered and proud to read your comments on the haters in our midst who deny the havoc being wreaked around the world, not just the UK, by militant Christian bigots.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, regardless of your apparent fatwa envy, YES, the Muslim should, by law, be denied the \"right\" to discriminate, just like a Christian, a Scientologist, or anyone else. \n\n\nA business doesn't have religious convictions, and since he was acting as that business that must serve the public, what he did was against the law. Pretty simple.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's a strong Christian base company. They can do their business any way they like.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "no, as per Jesus in Luke's Gospel, who was being attacked by the Trads of his day. I'd say go to confession, but some sins are unpardonable because if you commit it, you close yourself to the Spirit of Love and Consolation needed to seek repentence.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I thought belief in a God is the foundation of religion in general --- any sect, any denomination.\n\nThe Christian faith, I think, is based on a Triune God with one being the Christ as God in human form. And for Christians each godhead (for lack of a better term) is equally God with all the powers and authority that being God implies. For one or two of the three to have a lesser set of powers or authority sort of rules out that one being God, doesn't it?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "DoninKansas,\nSo sorry Don. \nWe all are with you, our spirits are one and with total compassion for you and so many others.\nHere is or might be a comforting thought. I have a friend who is a now retired Protestant pastor. He and I have talked about this issue. The Protestants and the Jews deal with this issue as well. BUT - BUT both faiths deal with the issue way-far more effectively and efficiently than our Catholic Faith. \nThose faiths deal with child sex abuse immediately and permanently. Any pastor or Rabbi is banned forever from ever having another congregation. Sooo, if they can do it so can we -- no one has to reinvent the wheel, but only to learn from those others who do so with great fortitude and in proper spirit.\nDon, many thanks for sharing your experience with us a making this problem very REAL for us all. \n \nAll the best to you and yours--\nbob", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Perhaps now Christians and Catholics in particular will finally have the protection they need to be able to practice their faith in security, and all will say Merry Christmas at the proper time, as commanded by God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They aren't, although I expect it's because they are following the lead of the Christian west which underlines just how pervasive a Christian, Euro-centric perspective is. I'm not saying that's a bad thing but to ignore it is naive.\n\nHowever it's not terribly relevant since the discussion at hand is about Canada.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Vatican II's Decree on Ecumenism, affirms that while the separated Christian brethren have elements of truth, God\u2019s will is that they all come to completeness found only in Catholicism:\n\n\"For it is through Christ\u2019s Catholic Church alone . . . that the fullness of the means of salvation can be obtained. It was to the apostolic College alone, of which Peter is the head . . . that we believe the Lord entrusted all the benefits of the New Covenant in order to establish on earth the one Body of Christ, into which all those who already in some way belong to the people of God ought to be fully incorporated.\" \n\nIn 2007, the CDF restated \u201cDominus Iesus\u201d (2000). Protestant \u201cecclesial communities....cannot be called \u2018Churches\u2019 in the proper sense ... these Communities do not enjoy apostolic succession in the sacrament of Orders, and are, therefore, deprived of a constitutive element [the Eucharist] of the Church.\u201d", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "However, Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego is calling on activists to disrupt society until we have open borders and an unrestricted supply of tax dollars for Catholic orgs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of course only the rednecks are agreeing with me. I should make clear that to my mind this applies, for example, to all Catholic paraphernalia. To Cynic11: yes, duh, nuns wear religious garb. They're nuns, not doctors or police officers. I think it is a fundamental affront to someone to have a police officer come to your door in response to a call wearing religious garb. What if you fled a country where that garb was the costume of your enemy?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Those who are concerned about the separation of church and state seem to forget that religion is making its way back into publicly funded schools in Canada. Although the Lord's Prayer cannot be recited in our public schools, the prayers of another 'faith' are now sanctioned by school board officials in several Canadian communities. The same people who rail against Christian \"indoctrination\" of public school students are remarkably silent when those students are being indoctrinated by another ideology - an ideology that is much more at odds with the concept of a liberal education than the most conservative Christian denominations.. If we are to have separation of church and state, then there must be separation of all other houses of worship and state as well. Otherwise, we are back to square one.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Pope cannot change the teaching of the Church whenever he chooses. Apostolicae Curae cannot be set aside. AC only referred to orders conferred up to the publication of the Bull. The participation of Old Catholic bishops in Anglican ordinations might re-open the question but it is unlikely to make any difference. The defect of intention was manifested by the deliberate use of a rite with a defective form. Old Catholic or Orthodox bishops may well have had the correct intention but their use of a defective rite has still to be taken into account.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You'll find historically that Christianity is very adept at supplanting previous practices. A look at ancient Rome provides a good example. There is no historical evidence that Jesus was born on Christmas day (more likely, in September about 3 years earlier) but the founders of the ancient Church used the celebration of Saturnalia and the birth of Jesus to seamlessly slide in their creation story. The same goes for Easter. There is no historical evidence that the crucifixion happened on that particular lunar holiday but it was a great way to give people a celebration to take the place of pagan Spring rituals. Christianity has historically been very malleable and thus has been very successful.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "2/ <>\n\nhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/news/global-opinions/wp/2017/02/09/how-pope-francis-can-cleanse-the-far-right-rot-from-the-catholic-church/?utm_term=.2bb0355c3256", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The bishop has taken Trump's hate now, hate later agenda to drive people out of the Catholic Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Here's a hot tip for ya. Invest in broom makers. \n\nBTW, thanks for the heads up on that Bible reference, I'll have use that the next time some dufus trots out the \"Christian nation\" canard.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not all Evangelicals are Protestant. Catholics tend to use the word \"Protestant\" as a shorthand for \"not Catholic or Orthodox\" but technically it means members of the churches that were formed in the Reformation.\n\nIn general, Lutherans, Presbyterians and anything with the word Reformed in its name is Protestant. Methodists and Congregationalists, kind of. Mormons, Adventists, Christian Scientists and Pentacostals, not.\n\nIn Germany, \"Evangelikalismus\" just means, more or less, Lutheran. But in the US, \"evangelical\" is a pretty mushy word. All sorts of people call themselves \"evangelical.\" Sometimes it just means \"I like to talk about my religion.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So is Pope Francis. Pope Francis is doing what Popes do. He is gathering around him those he can support his vision of what the faith needs in these times. That his vision is not the same as JPII or BXVI does not mean it is wrong. It only means it is different. \n\nFrancis has inspired people all over the world. He has renewed faith and hope for many people that lost that faith and hope under JPII and BXVI. Not, perhaps, because they were wrong, but because what they emphasized and how they they presented what they thought \"Catholic\" means is not what could resonate with millions. \n\nPerhaps what we need to do is develop the capacity to respect different ways of being \"Catholic.\" The JPII/BXVI Catholic and the Pope Franci Catholic are both Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Let any baptized Christian preside at Mass.\"\n\nRight. Even those Christians who don't believe in the Eucharist. To any Catholic, the quoted sentence is a reductio, but look at how many took it seriously AND APPROVED.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Huh? It's not my interpretation. It's the history of Christianity.\n\nOf course I'm not sure what Judas's hope was. Neither is anyone else. I speculate that Judas (or someone) may have believed Jesus was the Messiah, only to panic after the disruption at the Temple. But we will never know.\n\nThe ONLY thing Paul ever said about his experience of the risen Christ was that Jesus \"appeared\" to him. The Damascus event is described by Luke, not Paul. Invoking Damascus and throwing in a Greek term has what exactly to do with the early Christian conception of the kingdom? Likewise the Feast of Saints Peter & Paul? Try to focus.\n\nI agree with kari2. For the early Christ followers the kingdom was near; Jesus commanded the disciples to anticipate the kingdom by conducting themselves as if it had already arrived. It is for us to create the kingdom \"on Earth, as it is in Heaven.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think many non-catholic clergy would object to their calling being referred to as simply a job. They feel \"called\" to their ministry, not simply answering an ad in classifieds.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "However, at least until the time of Luther, there was general agreement on the usefulness of the Aristotelian definitions as a way of understanding the mechanism by which the transformation of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ was done. In 1551, the Council of Trent reaffirmed transubstantiation with the statement: \"This change [of bread and wine into body and blood] has conveniently and appropriately been called transubstantiation by the holy catholic church.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not surprising that a religious school like CCU would protect the establishment. \nThe goal of the school is to continue the indoctrination of young people into a narrow view of Christianity while giving them a \"college degree\". Since education began taking an independent path from the church, intellectual honesty and morality are more often found in secular universities.\nShame on CCU and other \"Christian\" universities for impeding social progress and stifling debate.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\" Pope Francis is allowing open discussion and debate in the church. He is not scandalized by disagreements, even over doctrine.\"\nPope Francis seems open to understanding that all physicality radiates, messages 'spiritually'. Sight, sound, smell, touch, all register and speak to the physical/ spiritual dimensions of \"thingness\". In a true sense, everything is 'religious' in nature because everything 'communicates' and has value in context.\nAs 'church', we need to critically examine the vibes we bring to the conversation. Church vibes radiate from church people; if we as 'church people' fail in radical humanness, we fail to communicate authentic divine messaging. Integral human relationships are critical to an authentic understanding of \"Church\". Until now, institutional Roman Catholicism lives by a logic of top-down control, indoctrination - not so much listening to and learning from The People. Pope Francis is taking Church in an authentic new direction - truly, Church is all People.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christmas is just the modern western hemisphere's iteration of winter festivals the world over that celebrate the end of the darkest days of the year and return of the light. They've been going on in some shape or form many centuries before any of the Abrahamic faiths were conceived. You don't need to be a Christian or believe in any gods to celebrate the passage of time, the circle of birth life and death and the human experience with close family and friends.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bishop Paprocki's option to skip voting is irresponsible, un-American and un-Catholic. Write-in votes are possible and there are other candidates besides the two major parties' running.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I've been to many catholic schools and although some have garnered more public funds than the public system, no doubt through politics, they usually lag academically behind the public system, in my experience.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hannity (and every other show) would do us all a favor by not inviting Coulter on anymore. \nI cringe every time I hear her voice. She thinks much more highly of herself and her opinions than she ought. She claims she is a conservative and then touts Chris Christie, she waffles between pro Trump and Never Trump views, and as a Jewish believer in Yeshua with dual citizenship with America and Israel, I can't stand listening to her uninformed opinions when claiming support for Israel and Christianity. For the life of me I don't know how she managed to become such a wide spread mouthpiece. And she does have a very loud mouth.\n\nMy vote is to dump her.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Because for many evangelicals, a disconnect between government and religion exists. Okay to promote policies against the poor in government because it has no business providing services as religion is supposed to do that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm Christian and it doesn't upset me. Maybe that's because I don't take the Bible as literally as some Christians do, and I don't believe that we necessarily interpret what the Bible has to say accurately. I believe that all the religions of the world are dancing around the same great truth. We have some inkling, but we don't quite KNOW. Which is how it's meant to be. And this great universe (and other universes?) and space debris, etc. etc.are all part of it and everything makes sense. In the end.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "NEKO - thank you for the history and documentation. You have put the *lie* to the Lori, DiNardo arguments that have skewed the Catholic historical positions in the name of power and their right wing base.\nOne other note - this has nothing to do with the current, past, or future PPACA - this was an HHS ruling. Lori, DiNardo, Dolan, and company all but sank the PPACA and its value per CST because of an HHS mandate ruling. They threw the baby out with the bath water in the name of their religious liberty ideology. As Francis says - reality is more important than ideas (or ideologies). Realities as espoused by those who actually serve the poor, families, middle America and deal with unwanted pregnancies, abortions, lack of family wages, lack of affordable housing, lack of jobs, escape via drugs; family breakdowns, etc. This is where abortion is reduced (as studies prove) - not the failed Forenight for Freedom travesty.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bob, thank you so very much for your kindness and concern. Yes, the Catholic Church could take a more proactive approach to these matters. I wish that the church would really take this seriously. If they did, they would have put an end to the problem years ago.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As I understand it, though, the four Cardinals consider Amoris Laetitia to be non-magisterial ONLY and precisely because of its lack of clarity, which they charge leaves it open to \ninterpretations which contradict Catholic doctrine and moral theology. I am not expert enough to have an informed opinion. They are. Why not clarification to clear up the the problems seen by acknowledged experts in the field?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They had one on the Skinners butte but, they took it down and put it at New Hope Christian College.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part of being a Christian is dying to self and taking up one's cross. If the man doesn't will such a feeling it is not a sin but Jesus tells us whoever looks at a woman commits adultery with her in his heart. Perhaps he does have issues in his marriage to address but one must not give in to every impulse one feels.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Israel is a rogue nation, a pariah state, for no reason other than its own conduct-- a state which places one group above others, based on religious differences. \n\nYour attempts to characterize critics of Israel as \"jew haters\" is just part of the hasbara you deny exist.\n\nYou seem to forget that not all Israelis are Jews, and not all Jews are Israeli. In addition, not all Jews are Zionists, and not all Zionists are Jews. \n\nZionists should stop conflating Israel and Judaism. One is a state, the other is a religion. Conflating the two, as Netanyahu has done, for example, is anti-Semitic, because it suggests all Jews support Israel's illegal conduct towards Palestine and Palestinians, when in fact, a great many do not. \n\nIf someone criticizes the Vatican over its policies, is that \"Catholic hatred\"? \n\nOr do you suggest Jewish people, or the religion, or Israel, are special or exceptional compared to the other faiths, or states, extant in the world today?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is a marvelous insight and accurate description of my own experience. I went through a faith crisis after I began to explore my faith in an adult way, acknowledging the doubts and inconsistencies I didn't want to face...for me the crisis was about how I could be an authentic, feminist woman and still be a Catholic. Fortunately I was able to come through the crisis with a resolve that I still need to be a part of this faith community, still hold to what is good in Catholicism, while also being a tangible witness to what needs to change. So I didn't leave, but it has changed how I approach getting involved at the parish. I have learned not to say yes just because \"Father\" or some parish committee is trying to sell me on their pet project. I have to discern what the Spirit is truly calling me to use my gifts for, which are not always the most popular initiatives. Some gifts are better used outside the official church, or cannot be used inside the official church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As a Mormon may I respectfully commend NCR for this kind article. For me personally I have always had an abiding love for Catholics and the Catholic Church. Of all the other churches the Catholic Church is the one that I find most similar to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. \nWe have much we can learn from one another as each of us seeks to pick up the cross of Jesus and follow him. \nAgain, my deepest things for your kindness. May His Peace be upon each of you and your families.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Are you referring to the hierarchy - organized, or are you including responsible Roman Catholics with moral values, intellect, acumen and good will?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.\"\nA fundamental tenet of your \"Christianity\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We were once a Christian nation. Get back to that and majority of problems are solved by individuals themselves without the help of government.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Let us consider for a moment the proposition that the Catholic church needs to play a positive role in healing the nation's severe divisions and how it might go about accomplishing that.\n\nWhat seems to be happening is that post-war attempts to fashion a \u201cnew world order\u201d have proven futile; the UN appoints dictators to head \u201chuman right\u201d organizations and wrings its hands as children die in Syria. Were it not for the USA and it would accomplish nothing.\n\nA focus on America - its own problems, its own people, and its own unique role in the world - has returned to prominence. Patriotism was a major theme of Trump\u2019s appeal.\n\nMuch of America has demanded a return to traditional values and an end to the war on the sacred in public affairs.\n\nCalling that \u201cfascism\u201d or its proponents \u201cdeplorables\u201d accomplishes nothing.\n\nThe Church can nourish and support patriotism led by the higher spiritual motives: love of God, love of family, and then love of country in that order.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Many Catholics contracept...\nMany Catholics are prideful\n\nSome Catholics plagiarize. \n\nDoesn't mean the prohibitions against these sins are wrong.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, I found the word in discussions about the Sacraments when I became a serious Catholic 20 years ago and have since sat in discussions with priests, Catholic writers, canon lawyers, and a bishop or two. \n\nAs for my pomposity, I plead guilty. I also plead guilty to hypocrisy and many other faults per my fallen human nature. Better? \n\nNow, is a sacrifice offered at Holy Mass?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Reaffirming the requirement that seminarians study Catholic social teaching, the document says the education must include a study of climate change and other environmental threats.\"\n\nI say, I am impressed. Too bad so many priests keep telling us there is only one issue.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually, the groups have excommunicated themselves ex latae sententiae. I'd just like to see it in writing (preferably a full page ad in the nearest metropolitan newspaper) so all and sundry can se what does and does not constitute the actions of a faithful Catholic. Kind of a \"clarifying teaching moment\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes! Thank heavens, Christianity never deviated onto such a terrible path! \n\nEr ...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Please God take those who have died to peace; the injured, all families and loved ones to healing. \nWhat can the hierarchy and clergy, the entire Catholic Church DO to lead when the \"Amen\" concludes the formal prayer. Christ in the world continues to wait for His body to act in the society where hostility, division, acrimony, violation of truth, reason, civility compassion feed the conditions for such harm and hurt?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Through his Church. That provides Catholics a leg up on others since we belong to the Church He founded, charged to go out and teach all the nations, \"Who hears you hears Me\", and gave it the Holy Spirit to ensure it taught all truth. You yourself said that those in Hell have placed themselves there.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Let's not talk about the proverbial elephant in the room - the fact that Canadians of European origin and Christians now suffer bias on a daily basis.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Trump's \"return to traditionalism.\" Too funny. Yes, the traditionalism of kleptocracy and white supremacy, which is unlikely to have much of an effect on the Catholic liturgy. My that was a wild leap.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It would be accurate to say that neither every single thing in the Catechism or Humanae Vitae is the word of God. It would be accurate to say that both contain authoritative teaching based on the Word of God by His Church, which of course dispenses with \u201cadvisory at best\u201d.\n\nI have not said that Laudato Si' was nothing more than the personal opinion of Pope Francis and you will be unable to quote me so writing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In retrospect if practicing Catholics, I wonder if their parish priests warned them of the consequences......\nThe thousands of undocumented families under scrutiny from Ireland were probably not counselled either.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "and Christianity and Judaism isn't? LOL", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Observant Muslims or Jews don't celebrate Christian holidays. The examples mentioned by skyofblue are following their faith as much as a jew who eats bacon.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In these times, a legal marriage isn\u2019t necessary to be considered a Committed couple if they\u2019ve been together for that long. Apparently, his family had a low opinion of HER, however, because of the lack of a legal marriage, even though HE was half of the relationship. It is sad, IMO. They obviously accepted her gifts all those years and acted as though they shared her affection, while obviously they looked down on her because she wasn\u2019t \u201cmarried\u201d to their family member. I\u2019m just sure they consider themselves a good \u201cChristian\u201d family, too. Judgmental bunch.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No person can follow the exact teachings of Jesus. Read the sermon on the mount, Matthew ch 5. However, it is computer and total error to think that fishing or hiking equates to Christ mission, that is to offer YOU salvation. \n\nYour article is good at pointing a political finger in a typically liberal way.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Marty, you spent some time organizing this post and thanks for your efforts.\nI don't approach this topic as much from Church Teaching and Catechism as Spirituality. \nI have mentioned that I see sin more as a refusal of mutuality or closing down into separateness. Essentially the Holy Spirit is absent from our lives. \nJesus can easily help us regain our divine connection by following his teachings such as Happy are the merciful for they will be shown mercy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I still don't get it, catholic and orthodox are interchangeable terms, katholikismos means \"universal doctrine\" as in a universally true doctrine, and orthodox is \"correct belief\".\n\nIsn't it like being a tennis player, actively playing tennis and disliking chess, but saying to everyone you are a chess player?\n\nI am not even from the US so I had no part in voting for Trump. \n\nIf you believe in the Episcopal church, doesn't that make you Episcopalian and therefore not Catholic?\n\nSorry, I still don't think I understand your beliefs, but thank you for the lengthy reply.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You have a VERY odd take on history -- or do you just make up stuff as you type? The majority of 19th-20th century immigrants were from Eastern Europe, Ireland, Italy, Scandinavia -- and many other countries that had horrific internal economic and political problems, famine, and offered no kind of employment or subsistence to their mostly uneducated but hard-working people. (Or maybe YOUR ancestors had \"great minds\" and were \"ambitious leaders.\" The rest of the immigrants worked in steel mills, coke factories, sweatshops, built small businesses from long and hard labor, settled and farmed homestead land...) Do you think a \"real Catholic\" is xenophobic?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ask the leader of Christendom, the successor of St Peter a question, is one not entitled to a reply or at least an acknowledgement. Pope Francis has been lauded for the number of 'phone calls he has made to people from all over the world yet he cannot reply to the Cardinals or grant them an audience to discuss their doubts.\nHis failure to do so has left the Catholic Church in turmoil upon the issues raised by Amoris L\u00e6titia", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Just as a matter of interest do you claim to be a Catholic?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How do you gerrymander a Presidential election? You would have to redraw state lines, which I don't think happened. The active military and veteran vote went strongly for Trump. American citizens who are members of the Christian Right or Alt-Right have as much right to vote as you do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I love your letters, Francie. They make me happy that my shoes aren't too tight and that my hair isn't pulled back in a severe bun. \nHow do you feel about children being taught \"Jesus Loves Me\" and \"Onward Christian Soldier\"?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Canada's unelected courts eliminated school prayer in public schools. Now the muslims have the daily prayers in a school in Toronto. Why is that? Why is Islam a better religion than Christianity and why shouldn't we expect newcomers to Canada to embrace Christianity? It's the hypocrisy that stuns me about the liberal-left.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So you are advocating censorship ? Posting Bible verses is that offensive to you ? I thought Liberals were all about free speech ? What power does a \"Fundamentalist Christian\" have over you, or others ? The answer is none, God alone has that power, and it is not the \"Fundamentalist Christian\" you have the problem with, it is God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sharpie\nThe Muslim faith has always collided with Judeo Christian faith \nThey by creed don't assimilate with Christians \nThey subjugate Christians \nBetween 700 AD and 1200AD Islam killed 50% of Catholics in North Africa Middle East and Southern Europe \nTell me one good invention from Islamic countries in100 years \nGet a clue \nThere not here in general to assimilate only future subjugate", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of course the Orthodox liturgy is a sacrifice. Where do you get the idea from that it isn't? The Orthodox are as far apart from the Lutherans as Catholics are.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Communion with the poors. LOL. As I'd advised remarried people in the past, if some neo-conservative priest or lay group Camino a Nazareth gives the Communion with the poors spiel to you, tell them that you (and your money) will go be in Communion with the poors over with the Episcopalians (who will also let you receive Communion.) The only reason to remain Catholic is to receive the Sacraments. Period. Priests should accompany people back to the Sacraments (without suggesting that married couples not have sex.) There are some cases where they can receive annulments but others where they cannot. Amoris Laetitia is especially helpful to people married to non-Catholics (or non-practicing Catholics) who don't wish to get an annulment and to people with abusive exes or other difficult family circumstances that rule out an annulment.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The news in the past several centuries and history itself shows overwhelming proof that some Christians have murdered in the name of God. Be careful when your plant your head in the sand like that, it makes it very difficult to get oxygen.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Convening it around July 4th, one can surmise that religious liberty will dominate the agenda, particularly in the RCC's hierarchical demands for religious freedom regarding sexual issues, gay marriage, transgenders. I wonder how much planning of the agenda was composed of non clerics to lead committees? While the idea sounds nice, it can be a very controlling convention. Meeting in Disney World underscores the fantasy parallel that voices of the People of God will be unmuzzled. Then again, who are the delegates? How were they selected, vetted, etc.? Will there be a prophetic willingness to unequivocally stand in solidarity with the 11 million immigrants whose lives are in jeopardy by this soulless administration? Yuge number of immigrants have been watered in baptism. Will these members of the Household of the Faith be given sanctuary in RC churches. \"Sanctuary\" has had a 1,000 year Christian Catholic tradition. Stand with it. Bet they won't matter beyond pious pablum.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I take it you mean 'male' chauvinism. \ud83d\ude09\nThere is no consensus within Orthodoxy on the nature of the diaconate and in fact there isn't really any absolute definition of the Sacrament of Holy Orders in the Catholic Church ether. Do the different degrees of Order mean there are three separate Sacraments or just one Sacrament with 3 different degrees? For example ordination to the episcopate comfers the 'fullness' of the priesthood. In the Tridentine Rite the deacon offers the Chalice together with the priest and says the prayer, 'Offerimus (We offer) tibi' with him. Could this be construed that there may be some degree of 'sacerdotality' belonging to the diaconate?\nBefore any decision on whether women can receive Orders, the precise nature f each Order needs to be defined.\nAs for getting used to women in vestments the experience of the Anglican Communion needs to be taken into account. Google Peter North, bishop of Sheffield for the latest twist.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The history I read about that related that the Gestapo reacted by arresting people and putting them into slave labor camps. That's how all those Catholics and professors and such got there. \n\nAnd the children were trained to turn in their parents for any non-approved statements. \n\nTalk about the camps and go into one yourself? \n\nIgnore them and survive?\n\nMake your choice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The technicality of only covering some of the dioceses catholic priests is unfair to the majority of victims. I was molested by a catholic nun in a catholic school in a catholic church. But if I lived in that diocese I would just suffer in the unfairness of the compensation because the pervert that molested me belonged to a religious order. All victims deserve to be treated equally. Even though some deserving victims get well deserved compensation it only causes greater pain to the other victims who have never been recognized in anyway by the catholic church. Their masses for the victims are a joke. I will never step foot in a catholic church again in my life. You would think a bishop could take the time to at least apologize to your face instead of acting like you don't even exist.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Maybe you should read a little about Christian history.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "R&R must also believe that since Jesus chose only Jews as apostles, then gentiles cannot be ordained. Don't give me any bushwah about the two being different:, since the logic is identical: Jesus chose only members of group to be apostles, therefore non-members of cannot be ordained. The two differ solely in what is put into the variable .\n\nAlso, by \"faithful Catholics\", R&R means \"Catholics who agree with ME!\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "DD.\n\nThe question is not if issues exist about which Christians should be concerned, it is whether we will be working in the power of God, or the power of politically-correct people who often are working directly against God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "All this is true. However, the \"Jewish Question\" in Britain, 1936, was about refugees from Germany and a bit about \"Jewish bankers\" in London City. Mosley was high-profile but not a real mass leader. In the USA, isolationism was partly driven by German-American sympathies + rural anti-Semitism. The Jewish Question, in Canada, was about the relative weight of the homeland francophones of Canada in their own communities. Arcand was a nationalist-fascist, but had pan-Canadian ambitions. Groulx was a traditional Catholic sectarian who would keep the flock away from modernism and linguistic taint -- by establishing what he called The French-Catholic Nation of Quebec. I'd love to know how Peladeau spends his time these days and whether he ever recovered his kids from Mlle Schneider.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Indeed! \nAnd by insisting on strict obedience to the church\u2019s authority, a generation of children grew into priests, becoming a generation of bishops that all met in Rome for Vatican II. There they looked at how they were raised and saw the problems, the restrictions and illogic, and called for changes. Christians should respect the dignity of every human person, we are a pilgrim people, etc.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "<>\nI suppose that's perspectival; but the right, at least in the church, tends to organize better than the left does. It would be pretty difficult to write an article about the Catholic left that enumerates groups, as the Wikipedia article did about traditional groups.\nI really don't have a problem with Burke challenging the pope. The church would be in a much better place today if there had been more of that during the Wojtyla/Ratzinger papacies. Of course, I think that it is Burke, not the pope, who is wrong in this instance. As I said in my first post, I don't think a schism would necessarily be a bad thing. Pope Francis is loved and respected around the world, and the People of God know who their pastor is. If Burke and his colleagues lead a group of like-mined believers out of the church, I don't see the harm. Let them go in peace. Francis is helping us to focus less on the law and more on the Gospel. Let's get on with it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.\nI confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins\nand I look forward to the resurrection of the dead\nand the life of the world to come. Amen.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"CATHOLIC CHURCH ROCKED AS TOP CARDINAL...\"\n\nI guess you missed that part of the headline?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't know what C. O'Malley is made of? How could a MEN (much smarter, & holier then women according to CI (Catholic Institution)) and no less then Cardinal be so gutless to manage not accomplish a thing in three years before the whole world is beyond me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What exactly can be matter if a men like that follow orders from anyone?\nOh, he is good for wasting everyone's time: I heard that was exactly what Pope F. wished for him to do! That is a rare talent only CI have use for I guess!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why would you be concerned over anyone, including a Christian, asking you about your beliefs and giving you a pitch for their own? The only reason is if you are not completely comfortable with your own thoughts and actions and do not want to be challenged. Christians believe this is God himself working in you, encouraging you to recognize the right ways of living he has gifted you with in your heart. The mere existence of Christians is a reminder of this, which you would prefer not to have to tolerate.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree whole-heartedly with your sentiments. I wonder, if after a few centuries of allowing married (or not) clerics of any genitalia or orientation, we might consider this whole discussion silly. Why is marital status, gender or sexual orientation even relevant to spreading and teaching the way of Christ.\n\nOn another note, I disagree as to the need for having specific trained teachers (ie. priests). Not all of us have this gift, time or interest to devote our lives to this particular charism. Having a trained teacher to help and teach a Christian community is critical.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "religious possibly,but not Christians for sure. religion can be evil after all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.\"\n\nThis hardly supports your position. How did Jesus treat pagans and tax collectors? Traditionally, the author of this passage was believed to be a tax collector. Jesus was known for eating with tax collectors and sinners.\n\nMost Christian denominations have used this as a basis for shunning and excommunication, but that is not the only way to read it. It seems cut and dried to you, but for some of us, Jesus counsels reaching out and accompanying.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I hope they pray for the Christians also, especially in Egypt.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pope Francis has given the independent catholic movement the wonderful gift of all those women called to serve in ordained ministry who will be unable to fulfill that calling, Thank you, Francis!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic teaching does not require the presence of the Holy Father at the council, only the Holy Father\u2019s approval of its decisions. Know thy theology.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thanks for a thought provoking comment. I am not sure if \"secularization has mutated into a militantly anti-Christian and anti-Church ideology\" or if Christian ideology has not mutated into a \"militantly anti-secular society\" ideology. Both \"sides\" are battling. .Same is true in Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist societies - the religion is trying to control the secular society.\n\nIt worries me that we need the influence of faith based people to know how to live together, to not fall into traps of nationalism, which is tribalism writ larger. All these faiths do teach us a basic respect for one another, of the God given humanity we all share. But each faith wants to determine social rules that all must live by. Maybe they just want villages of their own faith and separation of people by faith groups. \n\nThat isn't going to work. We are in a time of globalism, of movement of people across and around the world, of instant and constant communication capabilities. Faiths must learn to get along", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In an era where belief in the Real Presence is waning among Catholics, adoration helps bolster our belief that the Eucharist is truly Jesus Christ. BTW, it is the young folks who are in love with adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Many vocations come from spending time before the Lord Jesus in the Holy Sacrament of the altar.\nWhy would anyone want to end or reduce it? Most parishes are increasing times for adoration and many dioceses are placing the tabernacle behind the main altar.\nWhat a gift the Eucharist is! We should receive Him with deepest preparation and reverence and adore Him in the Blessed Sacrament.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "From the sources I have read, the Catholic vote actually was split almost 50-50.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think what Saint Peter Damian said, laying out the full effects of this should be read by every Catholic over 18. He put his finger on the central issues quite well.\n\n\"...he forgets his own identity.... It makes way with justice, demolishes fortitude, removes temperance, and blunts the edge of prudence. Shall I say more?\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Liberals and the Democratic Party are anti-Catholic.\n\nDeal with it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm not at all sure what this has to do with cremation and Catholic tradition and teaching......", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You mean religions like Christianity & Judaism?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"God's love, he said, nourishes Christian hope that \"doesn't separate us from others, nor does it lead us to discredit or marginalize others.\"\n\nNo, but apparently the various interpretations of \"God's law\" does.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And that was horrible for the Catholic Church. That is the whole point. We don't want that to happen again!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Please advise, o sarcastic nic, which Bishops have proclaimed Catholics must \"support the republican party, which means voting for whomever it runs.\"\n\nI'm sure we'd all be interested to know.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you want to receive the Body and Blood of Christ, you will pick the Catholic altar.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jane I can relate completely with your comments. I too am a child of the early 40's. You have just reminded me of when we had impetigo as children and had to have the red sores lanced. You are correct; \"boils\" are an excellent analogy and speaks volumes. \nI have always wondered why the church-going laity to this day, cannot see or do not want to see the reality of the situation. Perhaps if they question it, they will find that all they believed in, is not true and they will have nothing. You have correctly identified the \"aloof\" factor to this day. I find over the years that has changed my total perception and I embrace the emphasis of Christianity, rather than the absolute rule following dogmas and doctrines of the Vatican. Their objective is to sustain their narcissistic culture. You seldom hear any of them commenting about Jesus or his life. They are too preoccupied with their hierarchal structure. God knows where it will all end.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This quote by Ghandi says it all: \"I like your Christ; Your Christians, not so much.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not all our clergy or Ireland's is so old it can't fight. Many of the priests in AUSCP & Future Church don't really want women ordained beyond the meaningless deaconate. No one should support these groups until they change their stand on equal ordination publically. \n\nYes, since these men did not stand up for right when they were young, they have put themselves in the position to have to stand up for right when they are old & tired. Which is why one should never put off, to another time, the good they are able to bring forth now.\n\nAbraham, Sarah & Moses were all very old but that did not stop God from requiring them to act according to his commands. All were scared. Abraham could have died in the dessert & caused the death of all of his loved ones that followed him. Sarah could have died in childbirth, Moses could have been killed by his own rebellious people countless times. \n\nIn every age, and by every Christian, faith can only prove itself genuine thru acts of courage.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This article at Mercatornet actually bears on this topic/article.\n\nhttps://www.mercatornet.com/above/view/the-empire-of-mood-over-mind/20478\n\nAside from the heavier style language of the philosopher-author and his pointer to Belloc I do think it's quite relevant here with this discussion of other religions. \n\nThe tension - and it's seen with the latest correction given to the pope - seems to turn around whether anything at all can be considered heretical.\n\nHeresy claims typically bring in assertions, logic, contradictions.\n\nThey're dismissed by those that actually reject this form of coming to the truth about any matter that doesn't involve matters proper to science. \n\nThe tool of science only applies to the material world. \n\nRational inquiry is a technique used to explore both the material world, and by largely Christians alone the immaterial world as well. Aristotle, Aquinas, etc. used rational inquiry.\n\nCS Lewis did too.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No im not CoE, & while I live in a village now, I was born & raised in south west London on a council estate I'm sure you call them housing projects?! That's if you are American I'd be wrong to assume. I have been to a CoE church service many years ago & have to say it's nothing like the Catholic Novus Ordo mass that I attend.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So do you guys just not care what the church teaches about the sacraments or what? I don't get it.\n\nYou call yourselves national Catholic reporter but there's nothing Catholic about this. :s", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You expect to be able to make the allegation you did --- that \"he wants to impose the beliefs of the Catholic and Evangelical Churches\" --- without backing it up at all. Right, this is not a scholarly journal. Neither is it a place for irresponsible, groundless accusation. I read M Cuomo's speech years ago. If there are many holes in the Patriots' front line as there are in that speech, the Falcons will come home with big rings.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you for this. Loved how you explained it. God is Great! And to all the atheists out there.\nIf the Christians are wrong and there is no God. We will still be okay when we die. But if we are right and you are wrong. How will you stand before God Almighty?\n\nA Christian", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Multiple spouses at one time versus multiple spouses in succession. It's an apt comparison. \n\nHiding the Church's teaching because it's difficult is not pastoral, and it's not what Jesus did in His ministry.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The author missed mentioning a very important woman deacon for St. Paul. Read up on Phoebe:\n\nPhoebe (biblical figure)\nFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia\nhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoebe_(biblical_figure)\n\n\u201cPhoebe (Koine Greek \u03a6\u03bf\u03af\u03b2\u03b7) was a first-century Christian woman mentioned by the Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Romans, verses 16:1-2. A notable woman in the church of Cenchreae, she was trusted by Paul to deliver his letter to the Romans.[1] In writing to the church that almost surely met in her home,[2] Paul refers to her both as a deacon (Gk. diakonon masc.) and as a helper or patron of many (Gk. prostatis). This is the only place in the New Testament where a woman is specifically referred to with these two distinctions. Paul introduces Phoebe as his emissary to the church in Rome and, because they are not acquainted with her, Paul provides them with her credentials.\u201d", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "kpare,\n\nWhile I wholeheartedly agree that atheists are just as capable of and do perform charitable acts, a greater understanding of Christianity would also inform you that charitable acts cannot be used \"as leverage at the Pearly Gates.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I never called you a heretic. I said that you rejected by your own admission, many of the teachings of the Catholic Faith and that it was a matter between yourself and God. I made no judgement.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Episcopal service of an Episcopal community in my city that I watched on YouTube was celebrated ad orientem. I suspect it's more common among Anglicans that at Catholic Novus Ordos. They seem more eager to not discard their traditions as many Catholics are won't to do (wrecking high altars and altar rails). \n\nAnd yes, the freak out among progressive liturgists when Cardinal Sarah suggested more priests celebrate ad orientem illustrates Welby's joke exactly.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Um, doesn't work that way. If it did, then it'd be one religion. There are differences in their definition of their \"god\". And, there sure as heck wouldn't be wars between them because of their belief (e.g., Muslims and Christians or Muslims and Judaists).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That makes it- NOT CATHOLIC", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Interesting that only one member of the Evangelical Council has resigned, and that was today. So much for evangelicals moral compass...but no surprise.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "He can't claim religious freedom because his actions aren't in any way Christian", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you mean Catholic as following the magisterium of the Church, Obama was in no way a friend of the Church. Let's see: abortion up to and including the ninth month, same sex marriage and let's not forget that Obama promised in his speech at Notre Dame an exemption from the ACA for religious beliefs and soon after said there would be no exemptions. Why do you think Trump won the Catholic vote?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I do know about the men whose lives I was discussing. They were the men I saw around me when I was growing up, the ones who provided the role models for me. I don't know how Obama has anything to do with the discussion. Are you seriously holding Trump out as an example of how catholic men should behave?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "apatrick's question is a fundamental problem for Christianity, and you're taking it personally. This is not about you and your charity, it's about reconciling a loving God with the indifferent destructiveness of nature.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "By most Catholic of strategies I mean one which encourages economic justice for working families. Why I am sure you would be comfortable jailing some doctors, that really won't stop abortion. It never has before. Catholic or no, enacting unenforceable law simply destroys the rule of law generally.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "NSDAP & Fascism differ. Fascism= Mussolini's attempt to unify & modernize Italy. Both have been reduced to epithet by propagandists. Imo it's extremely important to understand the those labels fully and objectively, not from pov of the enemies of Catholics, Christians and USA. \nFrankly I'm not that Catholic anymore. Catholics today seem to be far more cloistered than my semi-cloistered convent.\nI'm extremely concerned about US foreign policy; I thought RCism was in best position to be a counterweight to the real threats to Christianity (as well as Muslims) but too many RCs remain willfully blind to the real threats, out of a combo of ignorance, cowardice, laziness, and more understandable fact that they've been lied to for most of their lives. It's difficult to penetrate the shell of lies & confront reality 1st, to make the effort, 2, to contain the rage at having been lied to; 3 form a positive solution.\nColleen WAS used & wasted her energy in pursuit of undefined, empty goals.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "CDF withdrew Charlie's license to teach Catholic theology in 1986. He retired a few years ago after decades of teaching at Southern Methodist.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Behold the \"Christian charity\" to which some of us are subjected on a daily basis. Can't you just feel the love of Jesus emanating from every syllable?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I tend to be a bit lenient with Frankie on some of these concerns. What is that old Vatican saying, make haste slowly? Even though as pope he is supposedly to say jump and everyone says how high, but we all know that isn't true. The Curia has always been pretty independent, but under the the past two pontificates have been especially resistant to ANY modernization. He has an uphill battle just dealing with that! The Curia is a major Augean stable that even Hercules would have trouble cleaning out.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Only if they do it in the name of Christianity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Vatican Polyglot Press, after JP II PROMULGATED the CCC as \"a sure and authentic reference text for teaching Catholic doctrine,\" and subsequently REVISED the text. Check out the Catholic teachings on the death penalty. That will explain to you why the CCC itself in NOT part of the Magisterium any more than YOU are!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The church currently has no women in its hierarchy so how can it be feminized at all?\n\nSexism is hatred, and sin, and it breaks the great commandment of Christ to treat all the same and with love. \n\nJust because you were not called to priesthood does not mean that plenty of married and celibate women and men were not called to priesthood. \n\nJust because you don't want to do something, or don't like women, does not mean that those women should not have the right to answer their sacred calling to serve God as priests. \n\nFYI - W.O.C. or Women's Ordination Conference, as of February 2016 has slightly more male Catholics as members, fighting for women's equal ordination, than female. Many men who like women, and love their sisters in Christ, are completely repelled by our leadership's misogyny. Many men do give the refusal to ordain women the same as men as a reason for leaving Catholicism, especially our young men.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My bishop says he is waiting for the Holy Spirit to solve the vocation crisis, and so he has no suggestions except the usual pray for vocations spiel. A PEW poll says 60% of youth and young adult Catholics have had no religious formation, a surefire predictor of a huge crash in Church membership not so far in the future. No bishop shouting the alarm, including my own bishop. I am resigned to it all. Sort of explains why the Reformation happened, don't you think? I learned long ago not to put my hope in a bishop. You can always count on them not to come through.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I do not see anything about political action in the article. I think you are making assumptions. I read many reports every day from Adventists and other Christians concerned for social justice because of Bible teachings on the topic, and very little of these projects include political action.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "BXVI is known for a statement he made long before 2009: \"The Christian believer is a simple person; bishops should protect the faith of these little people against the power of intellectuals.\u201d\n\nFor over 30 years, priests and bishops and many of the faithful, have lived out of that earlier picture of the parishioner as a \"simple person.\" He selected (and helped JPII select) bishops, cardinals and staffed the Vatican with those who seem to have firmly believed in their duty to \"protect... these little people...\" And to silence those who thought otherwise.\n\nThen, by 2009, BXVI realizes a need for \"... a change in mindset, particularly concerning lay people. They must no longer be viewed as 'collaborators' of the clergy but truly recognized as 'co-responsible,' ...\"\n\nNow these \"little people\" are \"co-responsible\" (with the big people, I suppose). Wow! somehow, we grew up and are to be trusted and respected as adults. \n\nSo, lets talk about contraceptives, roles of women, ...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When it comes to ecumenism Pope Francis certainly has his work cut out for him, considering the lengths to which his predecessor went to erase Vatican II's legacy where ecumenism is concerned. \n\nOne of the most un-ecumenical things B16 did was change the texts of the mass without any regard for the work that had been done during the Council specifically to have input from other Christian denominations regarding the texts of the Eucharist. Ever since Vatican II Catholics have been saying many of the same prayers as our Protestant brethren because John XXIII and Paul XI obviously felt that was important. After all, people who pray together stay together, or so it is said. B16's flagrant disregard changed all that, further ensuring that Jesus' last prayer on earth, that \"they all might be one\" stood less of a chance of coming to fruition. Sad.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Calling church dogma false is anti Catholic. To be a Catholic means to literally hold to the universal belief. \n\nIf you call yourself a faithful Catholic, would it not be prudent to find out in humility the theology behind the dogma. If you still reject the dogma after humble reading, would it not be more earnest to reject the Catholic faith?\n\nAnd if you already have rejected the Church, then why are you here?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why not encourage both Protestants, Orthodox and Catholics, all Christians to become more accepting of one and other. All these sects are both right and wrong AT THE SAME TIME!!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why--to remain intellectually and morally consistent with Catholic teaching--isn't this to be applied to the billions of \"natural\" miscarriages inside the home and the many, many \"elsewheres\" where the burial is anything but \"proper\"? Why is the focus solely on the methods, locations and addresses of the miscarriage?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As a hospital chaplain I have developed the thought that our patients are our texts and getting beyond the text involves becoming involved with the family and trying to understand their culture and spiritual needs. So I understand this approach to liturgy. Very thought provoking.\n\n I have been invited to be a deacon in my church- ucc- ( I am an ex-Catholic) so I may need to buy the book. I really want to help my church reinvigorate our liturgy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Faith and reason go hand in hand. It is why for the last 2 thousand years Christianity has led a column of progress not seen by other faiths.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would also like to know, John. But by today's standards, the Vatican Bank is quite poor (for its constituency of 1.2 billion self-identified members), considering the amounts that other religious groups handle -- the hundreds of billions the Moslem Saudis handle for Islamic causes, the building of new mosques, etc.; likewise the tens of billions the Mormons in Utah manage (for its 12 million members); or even universities like Notre Dame, whose endowment -- for educational purposes -- is well over 10 billion, or Harvard, whose endowment is more than three times that. But genuine accountability exists where there is open and honest financial reckoning. We -- Catholics on the globe -- should expect that from the Vatican. But I've a question for you: why don't German Catholics or UK Catholics or French or Canadian Catholics complain? Why always American Catholics, NCR readers like us, who want accountability? German Catholics I know call Francis a \"guest worker.\" They don't expect much!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Posts talk about how Trump in 2017 is accomplishing what Hitler accomplished in the 1930s.\n\nThat reveals a shocking degree of pampered parochialism in their thinking.\n\nRight now the TV is on, NBC from America. The first reports were these:\n\n- Trump's bans against Muslim majority countries are causing chaos for travelers of many types\n- The tweet from Justin Trudeau is read out word for word (\"... Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith...\")\n- a Muslim mosque in Texas burned down last night, and investigators are probing it as possible hate crime, having arrested a local man for a hate crime a few years ago involving that mosque.\n\nHello?\n\nGermany's 1930's press was no conduit of empathy and facts about minorities. Indeed, Goebbels, the government master of newspapers then, fired all Jewish journalists in 1933. Cartoons of Jews as rodents then appeared, and claims that Jews needed blood of Christians for rituals.\n\nGet a grip. America is not 1930s Germany. Not even close.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"There is a perception that the hierarchy of the American Catholic Church is in lockstep with the Republican Party.\" \n\nWhat do you mean \"perception?\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, kag1982, you are not Catholic if you do not follow the teaching of the magisterium. You have walked away and are following your own counsel.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I do not understand social justice as necessarily involving laws that redistribute wealth, although clearly that is what God instituted in the Year of Nubiles, is it not? Most of the Christian and Adventist projects that focus on social justice are not interested in such laws. But, is there anything in Scripture that prohibits taxes that collect money to help the poor? The civil laws God instituted in the Old Testament under a theocracy included such taxes. Maybe there are economic or political arguments against this practice, but are there Bible-based prohibitions?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Some years back I did write an article for Buddhist-Christian Studies about: \"A Mahayana Theology of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.\" Buddhist philosophy offers an alternative to the ontologies of the Platonic west and can help us ratchet down the highfalutin' insistence on ideological views. No one is saved by having the roght view.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The homeless issue is about addiction to alcohol and other substances to numb the mind to hopelessness. In terms of homeless Natives, and there are many who are, that started 100 or more years ago when missionaries came to tell them they were created from the devil because of they sang and danced to satanic drum beats and Native songs. That was wrong then, and it is wrong now.\n\nThose Natives songs and dances were either prayers to the Great Power or in thanks for life. These homeless people have broken spirits. There\u2019s nothing left. Only a return to their original spirituality and beliefs will save them. That\u2019s the key. \n\nSpending millions of dollars a year to fix symptoms to save a few hundred broken souls is not a wise thing to do. Fix their spiritual beings and no, not with Western Christian religion. That\u2019s the worst thing to do to any aboriginal whose culture has been completely erased in order to \u201csave\u201d them from hell.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part 1\n\nCyril can be criticized. First, some background.\n\nThere are two major approaches to the study of Christ and our relationship to him. \"Descending christology\" says that movement towards God is possible only because God reaches out to us first. \"Ascending christology\" begins with the premise that we can grasp God only in the context of our experience.\n\nIn the early Church, descending christology was associated with Alexandria. They said, \"only that which is assumed is healed\". If we are to be redeemed, God had to take on human nature in its entirety. The Alexandrines said little about Jesus' humanity. \n\nAscending christology starts with the human Jesus, and was associated with the school of Antioch. In explaining how Jesus\u2019 divine and human selves cooperated, Antiocenes compared it to marriage, citing Ephesians 5:31, \"And the two shall be made one\". The problem with this analogy is that it makes the union of divinity and humanity external. Marriages can break down.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In other words, he was Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why just children? What about those people subject to capital punishment? We as Christians have many duties and even the best of us fails, dismally, to truly live in accordance with the Gospel.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Now Christians are being denied their rights to live as they see fit.\" \nBy not being allowed to deny others rights? That's what Christianity is?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hate to tell you but I didn't say Catholic priests were perfect. Where'd that come from?\n\nI said Jesus was the perfect priest. He is the model that all Catholic priests attempt to follow, up the inclined plane never getting there. \n\nUnmarried priests have nothing to do with any fancy gnostic talk. They have everything to do with St Paul's admonition and good common sense that the Church has had regarding availability.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hey Sam...one has to respect to share values and I'm sure the folks in the city think they hear from the citizens...they hear a lot. But there's need on all sides to construct and share common goals...values are so, well, values laden. I have a lot in common with stalwart Christians, even though my source of insight and faith rests elsewhere. We respect community, in taking care of things, being responsible...it's more Ben Franklin. But when one sees the homeless as the problem instead of a symptom of unregulated capitalism, then we separate. Drugs and alcohol are serious issues. Texting and cell phones are a barrier to consciousness. Schools, parks and trees are good for everyone. 'Take a little less so the least of these can have a little more' might be a start. The more time folks voulunteer in schools, the more hope and respect for teachers they have...and they are more willing to pay their fair share. There is too much whining and victimhood...a symptom of individualism for sure!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I beg to differ with the author. In Canada, tax money has followed the child to whatever school he or she attends since the Quebec Act of 1774. We moved to Colorado from Alberta, where tax money followed children to district-run, Catholic, charter, other religious, and privately run non-sectarian schools. All of these schools could choose to use the model provincial curriculum which was tighly aligned to provincial academic standards. And all students who received taxpayer financing were required to take the Provincial Achievement Tests (now only required in Grades 6 and 9, because in a province that has banned grading on a curve, teacher assigned grades provide very powerful feedback). Alberta's PISA scores are among the best in the world; when converted to NAEP scores, Alberta outperforms Colorado by a large margin. So, Ms. Spiegel, just how has the use of a voucher system adversely affected education results in Alberta?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One wishes that? \nWhat you mean is YOU wish that. \nAnd what you mean further is that you imply those people don't support that; what you mean is to suggest that the people who are against anti-muslim hate speech here are all for anti-christian hate speech somewhere else. That's an obviously irrational position that you baselessly invent just so you can insult those people. It's triple-irrational: 1) baseless invention 2) implied not stated 3) that's an absurd false dichotomy. \nJews and Muslim Arabs and Persians have lived side-by-side peacefully for centuries. Centuries. So if you're genuinely concerned about anti-christian and anti-semitic sentiment there (and not just using it as a cheap ad hominem) then do some research and find out what has changed, because the religions haven't.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They say St. Mark, an apostle of Jesus, started the Coptic Christian church in Egypt around 42 AD. It is probably the oldest Christian church in the world. \n\nIslam didn't start until around 630 AD.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Here's the kind of \"Peace\" Ben-Gurion and his followers envisioned when they prepared to invade the region in 1948. His words, not mine:\n\n\"We should prepare to go over to the offensive. Our aim is to smash Lebanon, Trans-Jordan, and Syria. The weak point is Lebanon, for the Moslem regime is artificial and easy for us to undermine. We shall establish a Christian state there, and then we will smash the Arab Legion, eliminate Trans-Jordan; Syria will fall to us. We then bomb and move on and take Port Said, Alexandria and Sinai.\"\n\nDavid Ben-Gurion, May 1948, to the General Staff--from \"Ben-Gurion, A Biography, by Michael Ben-Zohar, Delacorte, New York 1978\"\n\nNow be honest, what kind of \"peace\" can be negotiated with such a nation? None, as neither the peace of the grave nor the peace of the slave are acceptable options. Khalas.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Again, the priest was out of line. The Church teaches that contraception is a sin. What's your job as \n Catholic? To resolve to sin no more and avoid the near-occasion of sin. \n\nYou got the vasectomy, confess it. My wife and I have used contraception in the past; it's a tough one to resist, but a lot of sin is tough to resist. We can only do the best we can. But what infantilizes the process is when the Church comes out and says, you don't have to use birth control; this assumes that we don't have the maturity and will to resist sin. \n\nI don't know if I would have the will to not get a vasectomy in your circumstances, but I would respect a couple who has decided abstaining from sex is more important than risking her pregnancy or that one's sex life is so important that sinning to preserve it is ok. What more could Christ demand from us?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I may be a Christian but when I am playing tennis I play by tennis rules. I don't have some kind of exemption just because I am a Christian. When I cook I still follow recipes... there is no special \"Christian cooking\" that I must abide by. When I garden I pray that my veggies do well, but I don't scatter Bible pages around the ground to ensure it will happen. When I am involved in politics I expect the freedom and liberties that are accorded to all citizens. And when you find the right to keep and have an abortion in the Constitution we can discuss that issue. \n\nGo ahead and disagree... but you sound like a person who has never seen a bowling ball, never held a bowing ball, never been in a bowling alley yet you are declaring that bowling balls are really cubed instead of round. You can imagine how those who bowl every week for fun consider your \"disagreement with round bowling balls.\"\n\nDoesn't require gun control, either, eh. A Bible guilty by association? You're better than that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh, give me a break: are you comfortable with a person who believes they 'know' what God wants and would love to tell you? What if it's a co-worker you wish to remain on good terms with, but don't want to waste time on irrelevancies? I am very comfortable in my secularist beliefs (humility, self-discipline, kindness to all) and have no problem with Christians and their code of behavior.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The number of spaces in certified law programs is limited and setting some aside for 'Christians' is wrong. Put the shoe on the other foot. How about them apples?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Interesting comparison between the founder of Christianity and the founder of Islam:\n\nhttps://www.thereligionofpeace.com/pages/articles/jesus-muhammad.aspx", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes I am and from everything I have read in scripture it is an accurate comparison. Sorry you disagree...? I don't think of your friend any differently than I would think of any other believer dealing with their own personal journey in following Christ. You keep using that word but seem to still lack a grasp on it's meaning...\n\nIf my beliefs manifest into an intolerant attitude then that would be bigoted but again, I am having a hard time seeing that in my previous posts. There may be some of that in my mind but it's surely not where my heart should be and of course is not the attitude the church should have towards those it disagrees with. Thank you for the reminder to put my own beliefs below the respect of others. \n\nDo you ridicule your friend for his belief in \"sky gods\" and association with such a bigoted religion? Or do you save that for people you don't know trying to give a respectful counterpoint that you disagree with on the internet?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You appear to be rather confused about what Our Lord taught us concerning the importance of Christian judgment.\n\nIn John 7:24 he said, \"Stop judging according to outward appearances; rather judge according to righteous judgment.\u201d\n\nIn other words he told us that we are called on to judge our own actions and the actions of others by the righteous judgment revealed to us by Jesus Christ himself.\n\nAs the Apostles taught the Church Fathers what Christ first taught them, and since the Church Fathers then passed on those teachings to us in an unbroken fashion, we can be sure that what we believe through the Church is what Christ chose for us to know.\n\nAnd what we know through Christ is what we are called on to believe and is therefore how we are to live.\n\nAll those who reject what Christ has chosen to teach them through his Church, which is his mystical body, are indeed lost souls", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Yes, Chris, for you, and for many others this may be the case. But for me the Spirit of Christ is all I need\"\n\nI'm not sure what this means. Don't you read any other devotional or religious books; or any other books?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yet another supremely flawed article from the Washington Post. Most Christians have a conservative ideology and conservatives believe in self determination as opposed to the liberal viewpoint that poverty is always someone else's fault. The Post makes a classic error to say the Christianity is the reason for belief in self-determination whereas it is actually a conservative trait. I guess I would expect nothing less from such a poor media source as the Washington Post and its little parrot the Denver Post.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Exactly, it's just like Christians that feel compelled to proselytize, I say do what you want, be what you want, believe what you want, but please - don't share, keep it to yourself.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of course, of vastly more importance is the fact that nothing, not even Bergoglio's hatred for Catholicism, can destroy the Church.\n\nAs economist Herbert Stein said: \"If something can't go on forever, it won't.\" The current regime in the Vatican seems to be reaching a crescendo. Appointments of vicious anti-Catholics like Cupich, McElroy, Farrell, Joseph Tobin, Martin, Paglia, etc., etc., are coming faster and faster. This can't go on forever.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Cardinal should sit down with the governor of Texas who is a Roman Catholic that pushed and passed this law. Prior to becoming law this bill was in the media. I do not understand why the governor was not confronted by his own pastor, and bishop. The church wants it both ways. They want to criticize after the fact while not saying anything before when they can have an impact.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You think that having a closed way of thinking is \"Catholic\"? Yikes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hi,,,my name is Gene Strong, of Haines Ak. I find that it is very dishearting that you do not see the whole picture in the American problems and the economies...America is broke from all the socialized governments...Over 20'ooo trillion dollars in red not to mention all the other depts and the big give always this cerrent Democratic Party and President has done to this Nation. And Hillery says that she is against Christianity and for all immoralities that is happening now..She s a continuation of president Oboma is doing and giving our soverinty away to the U.N. She will increase the depts as free collages and other giveaways to get elected as PRESIDENT. Oboma has done the last 8 years..our Nation needs to come back to the Moral clarity of the Christianity and Judao life styles our country was built on..plz read , Ii Chronicle 7:14...and. ISA 41:13 ..PSA 33:12...this is our last chance to save our country from dictatorship...ISA 43:18-19 the Lord wants todo somthing different.to fix", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Why do so many non-Catholic pro-life evangelical clergy who strongly condemn abortion accept and even heartily endorse contraception as at least part of the solution in responsible Christian family planning and marital relations---and, most of all, in abortion reduction?\"\n\nBecause they're non-Catholic?\n\nGenerally there was a united Christian front on contraception and abortion until the Anglicans buckled August 14, 1930, at the Lambeth meeting.\n\nAs Humanae Vitae correctly points out, contraception and abortion are joined at the hip logically, and the experience since 1930 demonstrates that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That interim time to reflect is another good idea. It lets folks explore the idea to leave or stay in ministerial life and test life lived in another way. It also recognizes the point made in your second comment, about people moving into different callings at different times in their lives. The Catholic Church needs to recognize this, especially for those called to the priesthood but not celibacy. It really should not be either/or.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I got the YMCA advice and was also told about the mortal sin of entering a protestant church. My parents weren't quite so sure about all of this and allowed me to have a lot of protestant friends. So far none of us have gone to hell for 'too close association' with protestant heretics or Catholic papists. The truth is, some protestant sects weren't much better about this kind of thing than Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, it does feel good to blame Fox News, not that they aren't every bit as responsible for the wedge that drives us apart. Of course, all their viewers keep them going, many of whom profess to be adherents of a more \"muscular\" Christianity.\nGood day to you, Elagabalus.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When you say you'd agree with me if there were \"no cross and someone wanted to erect on on public land.\" I'm not sure what the point of disagreement is to begin with. I've stated nowhere that I'm in favor of removing this or any other cross. To the contrary: I have said that I'm in favor of a plurality of religious voices being representation, including Christian voices. There was a point when no cross stood on that public land; at what point does it achieve status as \"historical?\" 10 years? 20 years? Was the John Sunday house protected by such considerations of being \"historical\" by that metric? My point is that it is a difficult criterion to define and we've seen the City already doesn't care to enforce such a criterion. It seems to me that your ire is not best directed at me or my view, but at the person who judged that the cross must come down, viz., the federal judge. Again, I favor letting all religious voices be heard; given time they'd be historical as the cross.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As a Catholic there is only one choice...Hillary Clinton.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Is this now the Globe & Islam or why this heavy advertisement for a religion that is less than 5% of the Canadian population?\nOr is this part of a series? Then I am waiting for a similar story about orthodox Judaism/Buddhism/Hinduism/Christianity and so forth.\nThank you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "History is history, despite the revisers and deniers. As a Christian Bible believer, I think God has the history on display in heaven of how He Himself used Spain's Queen Isabella to fund the Christian Christopher Columbus' voyage, and I believe God led his quest to the American hemisphere in 1492, for the purpose of later explorers and the Christian migration to Plymouth Rock in 1620 and following! God's Plan surely included the new \"Shining City on a Hill\" USA Liberty and Freedom people's meritocracy government that has attracted so many immigrants, legal and illegal, to come to this Land of Opportunity, which also \"grew\" the Evangelical Churches to spread Bible Gospel throughout our 50 states and then to the entire world! Jesus Christ is the only Savior for any human on earth, and Praise God for His Plan and accomplishment, using believers to do His \"mysterious\" will! Happy Columbus Day!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I read about that, and disagree on that interpretation.\n\nFrom what I saw, they were teaching kids ABOUT Islam, at a level kids could understand. It was badly handled and some christian evangelical parents panicked.\n\nhttp://www.snopes.com/islam-tennessee-school/\n\nThere's plenty of real events to be worried about, we don't need to make any up.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is great! Let the church be free to practice the christian faith as it is suppose to be. Give freedom to christians just like you have given to muslims e. t. c", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Let me ask in another way, he for example doesn't even believe in the immaculate conception or the virginity of Mary. How far from Catholic beliefs does he have to stray before it is factually correct to say he is not faithful to the faith of the church? \n\nIsn't there a contradiction between claiming to be Catholic but rejecting Catholic beliefs? I really don't understand. I get that there are a lot of things that are hard to believe, but isn't there a difference between that and outright rejection. \n\nHe seems more concerned with making people happy now in this life than their salvation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Whether the paucity of an ageda is due to President DinNardo, Committee Chairs or USCCB staff is hard to say. I am sure that behind the scenes and on the floor, this will be discussed and corrected. The bishops know amongst themselves who pushed Trump last year as a pro-life candidate. I am sure that crowd will hear a few harsh words on their terrible choice, at least in the-context of the Pro-Life Activities Chair election. There should be more than a few words about the seemless garment of life, although I wish at least one bishop would raise the possibility that maybe Roe was decided correctly, given the constitutional law involved. Of course, if John Murray\u2019s text for Dignitatis had not been watered down, we might even get a reasonable defense of Catholic Democrats.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If your were in nazi Germany 1930s would you be concerned about bad brewed beer or the holocaust \nGet a clue \nDemocracy doesn't run the Catholic Church and thank God you don't \nGo to confession", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No....I did NOT say that at all. I stated no such thing....\n\nWe were talking of the current Church...and discussing whether the five....apparently only five....women were actually ever \"ordained\" in the history of the Church.\n\nCertainly, they are not now. Certainly women who claim to be \"priests\" in the Roman Catholic Church now.....are not.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Connecting Islam to terrorism in the name of Islam makes about as much sense as blaming all Christians for the Clan, or the IRA, or the Crusades. And by that I mean that it makes no sense at all. Is Couillard caving to xenophobia?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is one of the (many) reasons why Catholics no longer pay attention to the magisterium. The arguments put forth for the premise are not persuasive.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually, if we as Christians believed as we're constantly claiming we do, there's a guaranteed cure for ALL sins: The Indwelling Jesus the Christ, and yielding the ENTIRETY of yourself to Him in the Power of the Holy Spirit. Read Galatians 2: 20 and Romans chapter 6, and mull and reflect,people!! \ud83e\udd81", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "All the Administration needs to say is that the Christians are at higher risk of prosecution and should get priority due to that fact. The 14th Amendment does not extend to the non citizens outside of the US borders.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I did. Don't shrink Jesus message to us. He said that and He also said \"all your heart, mind, soul, strength...He also said \"pick up your Cross daily and follow Him...He also said unless a grain of wheat falls and dies.\n\nYesterday in the Holy Mass He told us \"to be perfect as My Heavenly Father is perfect\".\n\nDon't shrink Jesus. He wants us to be saints.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Good article and a healthy reminder. Thank you. \n\nIndeed, as the author points out, compromise calls for personal sacrifice, and the happier and more abandoning the sacrifice we give the more growth that will occur within us. \n\nPerhaps another way to look at it is that if we're not constantly feeling a little bit of complaint from (in St Paul's language) \"the old man\" we may not be living Christian love well enough, and we won't likely be growing on the inside, where God wants most of His work to be going on anyway!\n\nI guess then it's not compromise that is the glue of relationships but real love, which is always sacrificing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "SCM said; \"...with special privileges for the French and the Christians...\"\n\nAfter the establishment of the Canadian Federation (1867), the English speaking several provinces attended helplessly to the adoption of several LAWS and regulations, anti-Catholic and anti-French in English Canada, especially in that regard to denominational schools outside Qu\u00e9bec.\nAnti-Catholic and anti-French attitude drew its source, among others, the fact that many of the Loyalists who came to Qu\u00e9bec after the American Revolution of 1775 (Eastern Townships/ Ontario and Western Provinces) were \"Orangemen\" convinced. Orangemen advocated an anti-Catholic and anti-French doctrine, inspired by the reconquest of England in 1690 by the Protestant Prince William III of Orange.\nAnd Paf ! Problems started across French Canada ever since !", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus didn't start a Church. He was Jewish and started a movement (Jewish sect) based on the Kingdom of God. \"Authentic Catholicism\" can't seem to understand this historical fact. Paul later started communities in area of modern day Greece and Turkey.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Here's a problem. A Christian accepts salvation by faith, state of the dead, second advent and the created Sabbath. Can he be baptized into Christ without joining the church? Can he join the church if he doesn't accept the teachings of EGW?\nThe answer to both questions is no. SDA pastors will not baptize without making it a case for membership and they won't allow a Christian to join if they don't believe the contradictions of EGW. The one being baptized must make a vow that they believe the fundamentals of the church which impede his free will to worship in his own conscience. \n\nClaiming EGW to be the exclusive authority to interpreting scripture is heresy especially when it can not be of private interpretation. \n\nA member is baptized in the name of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit and EGW. \n\nCome out of her my people isn't limited to the Catholics. We have been deceived and are held in the winds of deception by the 28 fundamentals.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Baloney. Numbers stabilized, priest laicizations declined sharply between 1979 and the mid 1980s, and vocations slowly climbed. The \"enthusiasm\" and \"vibrancy\" of bland ecumenicist liturgy and substance free catechesis by 1990 was driving a generation to be \"nones\". Under JPII and Benedict we recovered enthusiasm for Christ, and in the Roman Rite for romanitas. Confident and joyful Catholic identity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of course, exactly. Christianity is in deep, deep trouble. Loren's prescription that we Adventists devolve our center and move towards autonomous, decentralized authority will only hasten our dissolution. It is not a prescription to resuce Christianity. It is the Doctrine of Equality applied to the organization and it will destroy it. As I have made clear it will only pressurize and polarize our current divided opinion. I know you want to put the Women's Ordination arguments behind us Bro. Noel, but I think they the WO question is on the verge of wrecking us.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am sorry your comment was judged uncivil. Comments so tagged are not published, so no one gets to see them. I also have been tagged uncivil at least once. Since that is truly a rare event for me, with Civil Comments or Disqus, I take it to mean that some people, presumably newbies, are not distinguishing between Good/Bad and Civil/Uncivil. That could be what happened to you. \n\nFor what is it worth, Trid, some folks regard the suggestion \"one is not a Catholic\" or that \"ones is a heretic\" as inherently uncivil because it does go after the author rather than the content. I do think you have been \"guilty\" of the first phrase more that once in the past????\n\nI never reject such language, or virtually anything else, directed at me, but may tag such remarks as uncivil if directed at others, especially someone I don't know. \n\nI assume you know there are rewards available for compiling a stellar record of civility over a large number of comments?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Have you considered that very many faithful Catholics may have agreed with Donald Trump's assessment of Pope Francis?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is another near-by parish in Concord, NC which has seen a phenomenal growth. St. James the Greater Catholic Church. Sunday Masses, esp., the children's Mass, are usually packed. The pastor is Fr. Jerome Chavarria, a Redemptorist.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Is it a ray of hope that all the rubes that moved here during the pipeline and even all the nut job so-called christians are tepid towards The Orange One? Naw, temporary amnesia only.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are also aware that you do not have to read my comments or respond to them as well? I came upon this site three years ago following a google search, looking for additional information on the Catholic Faith. All it would take for me to never post another comment would be for the site to remove the \"CATHOLIC\" from the National Catholic Reporter name. There is very little Catholic represented by NCR's viewpoints and agendas. I cringe when I think of someone interested in the Catholic Faith accidentally finding this site, and believing it represents the true Catholic faith. I simply provide a different viewpoint.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Now, I read the litmus test for a true church is to be against abortion. Now, this issue is irrelevant for me, as I don't wish to procure and abortion for myself, being male, and neither to I wish to facilitate another's getting one. I am forced to deal with the issue because some Catholics can think of nothing better to do. \n Sr. Simone Campbell manages to do better, as does Pope Francis. American Catholics are a problem for themselves which I am not going to solve for them. I hope we don't have to have a national catastrophe before we come to our senses. \n Cardinal Bernadin promoted the concept of the \"seamless garment\" where moral issues contributed to a whole, after the pattern of Jesus' cloak for which the centurions cast lots on Calvary. He was pilloried by the extreme right for moral relativism. \n It might be better to stop reading this online altogether. The lack of sophistication and self-understanding and spiritual maturity displayed is sad.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "ATF (Fed?), I never really felt ontologically changed. Even now there are IECs (Intentional Eucharistic Communities) who chose there own \"priestly\" leadership and do quite well, often with very active social and outreach ministry. Legalists claim they are not catholic and don't have the \"real Jesus\", but it doesn't seem to bother them. IMHO there is room for this to happen within the church system.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regardless of the amount of federal subsidy, the real sponsors of political speech by clergy and non-profits are the donors who provide the money. The ban saves the clergy from themselves. Lifting the ban may increase the partisanship of charities, but it may also give donors and church members a clearer view of what their employees (and clergy need to start considering themselves as such) really believe and what they are doing with donor funds. For example, not all Catholics support the pro-life movement, but tolerate it because it the clergy are not blatently Republican. If the pro-life priests let their GOP freak flag fly, Democratic Catholics, including priests and bishops, could also share their POV, resulting in healthier debate than what we have now. Currently, Catholic pro-lifers assume obedience. More honest disclosure would make it more obvious that the priests are speaking for themselves, not the Church that votes. Let\u2019s do it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We can get more entrepreneurs in Ontario - if we dropped core french from the english stream curriculum and replaced it with coursework in Computer Science starting in Grade 4 to Grade 10. Honestly, most people I know who studied core french in public school can only remember bonjour and a few other phrases. Had we been introduced to coding young maybe the province doesn't have a deficit of STEM talent and could better compete with the US and other jurisdictions. Learning French in public school should be a choice not compulsory. If parents want their kids to learn french enroll them in immersion or extended programs (which are increasing in enrollment with scarce resources). Let the english stream be just courses taught in english. Wouldn't mind introducing financial literacy in high school as a compulsory course though and de-funding the catholic school system to better allocate education funding for all students in Ontario regardless of religion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Indeed. I was betting you would comment on this story. Enjoyed our visit and, now that your name has popped up again, will get to reviewing your Conventional and Ultimate Truth, a volume I can recommend to the readers of these comments as a deeply Catholic challenge to naive dogmatics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Joe, we would have much happier Catholics if we had more confessors with the wisdom of yours. \n\nI happen to belief that for very specific historical reasons, we are in the middle of a long period of doctrinal development which will involve recasting much old material in new forms. It may well be traumatic, because a great deal of theological education, which most of us do not have, will be necessary to grasp that a bronze ball recast as a bronze cube is the same bronze, the same core belief.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Faith Proposition: God Created Cosmic/Earth Order;\nLogical Proposition: Natural Order in the Present is Earth-Cosmic Order evolved from the past;\nLogical Nexus: all existence in the present, remembered forward from the past is graced by Creator-God, that is, \"Sacred\";\nSacrament is Sacred Remembrance, that is, Natural Order Remembered forward from the past in the Present;\nCelebrating The Bread of Eucharist, from the Sacred, Natural Order,\nIs taught in Catholic Teaching from times immemorial.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Aw gee, Michael. It all depends on whose ox is being gored when religion and politics attempt to ride in the same cart. As I said yesterday in response to another article on this subject, if the judicial candidate was perhaps Muslim and that person had made public statements, verbally and in writing, that implied their religious beliefs and teachings were above the Constitution and rule of law, you had better bet the GOPers and their bishop BFFs would be all over that person with even more questions... and not very friendly accusations too. There is nothing anti-Catholic about holding folks accountable when they seek a position of power that has real consequences in the lives of ordinary citizens. Actually, we need more accountability in the secular government AND in the Church, not less. No one, regardless of religion, should get a free pass.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Coming from a Christian perspective I do not see how a person can classify this situation as \"sad\" - Perhaps for the Child, but most definitely not for the adult. Jesus (who is God) is infuriated with those that work lawlessness, especially in his name, and is just as angry as many here on this site are. Here are several direct quotes:\n\nMat 7:21-23\u00a0 \u201cNot everyone who says to me, \u2018Lord, Lord,\u2019 will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. \u00a0(22)\u00a0 On that day many will say to me, \u2018Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?\u2019 \u00a0(23)\u00a0 And then will I declare to them, \u2018I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.\u2019\n\nMat 18:6\u00a0 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not so! The RCchurch does NOT presume to pronounce upon the validity of a civil marriage entered into by an ordained priest. That bishops are selected from celibate clergy is a matter of human tradition! And in the Christian East. those celibate-bishop candidates were celibate because they were monk-priests. Neither does the RC church presume to intermeddle with husband-wife relations in cases of married former Anglican and Lutheran priests who have swum the Tiber and become RC priests. Yes! The times (and \"rules\") they ARE a'changin'!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There's the spirit of civility and dialogue: \"strident professed militant Catholics\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Justin Martyr's First Apology Chapter 66 circa 155AD. \nJust because it is dated circa 155AD does not mean that it dates from that time. St Justin was describing something which was a regular happening in the middle of the Second Century. All the basic elements of the Mass or Divine Liturgy are present: 1) Taking bread and wine, 2) Giving thanks, 3) Blessing, consecration, becoming the flesh and blood of Christ, 4) Remembrance, anamnesis, 5) Communion.\nThis follows pretty much St Paul's description of the Eucharist in 1 Corinthians 11:23 et seq, and the narratives of the Last Supper in the Synoptic Gospels.\nFurther evidence regarding the sacrificial nature of the Mass can be obtained from the Didache ca 70AD, Clement of Rome ca 80AD, Ignatius of Antioch ca 110AD and Irenaeus ca 189AD.\nThere, a bit more than the shred of evidence you asked for.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think the answer is that once a Catholic person adopts the label \"gay,\" and similar labels, his/her membership becomes one of rebellion against the Church. with membership providing standing to demand that the Church change its teaching.\n\nThose who have adopted the homosexual label refuse to consider the Church's pastoral care offered in organizations such as Courage; but many who have not taken on the label have managed to overcome their same-sex attraction and either live in chastity or embrace the life that God wants for all of us: to be united with an individual who with us forms the whole of the human species.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So the Eastern Orthodox have been orthodox all along, and Rome has been unmerciful for centuries. Then why be Catholic? \n\nAmoris Laetitia, if accepted as an authoritative document, destroys the indefectibility of the Church. I hope this debate is far from over.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Some days ago I shared about a conversation with an old devoted Catholic woman and long time Democrat, that had been told by her Parish priest that she had to vote for Trump if she did not want to me complict in abortion. I wondered, if this was happening in other parishes, influencing the vote of other women, that would be voting against their own interest. Yesterday this piece on the Washington Post highligthed my suspicions.\nhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2016/11/07/a-catholic-priest-put-an-aborted-fetus-on-the-altar-in-an-appeal-for-donald-trump/?tid=pm_local_pop_b", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The main religion in South Sudan is Christianity. They weren't talking about North Sudan.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And most conservatives never bothered doing research on WHY things were written in Vatican II's Constitutions, Documents and Decrees in the first place. While changes did occur, Vatican II provided American Catholics with an officially sanctioned language for comprehending and discussing the sociocultural changes so many were already experiencing. \nLong before Vatican II, questions which had lain before the Church for many centuries---without open discussion were:\n1) the role of bishops in their relationship to the bishop of Rome.\n2) the place and role of lay people in the life and operations of the Church.\n3) the understanding and place of religious liberty in the modern Church.\n4) the Church's teaching on divine revelation and its source.\n5) the Church's attitude toward and desire for relationship with the Jews.\n6) the way Christian unity should be approached.\n7) the reform and restoration of the Liturgy [in the vernacular], the catechumenate, and the diaconate.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am not surprised that Francis has patted OD on the back. Francis is not liberal at all when it comes to Catholic laity. He talks social justice for others but not for Catholic laity. He always supports the status quo while speaking hypothetically about issues that effect Catholic laity. OD is right up his view of things. The new periphery has been OD's target for decades and Francis knows that perfectly well. Keep professionals acting like spiritual children and he doesn't haven't to confront the major clerical issues confronting the Church. You go Ed, as you have repeatedly written that laity are spiritual children with zero clue as to what that really means.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm increasingly convinced that the separate school system (which many decades ago I attended for my primary education) should be merged with the public system. However, in Ontario at least, the Catholic school system is protected by the constitution, which in case nobody's noticed has as of this year been in effect for 150 years. It was hardly discriminatory against any other religion to establish a separate school system in 1867. In fact, it was seen as a means to protect minority language and religious rights. The religious role of the separate school system is probably redundant in an increasingly secular and diverse society. But I believe the argument favoring the accommodation of other religions within the publicly funded school system on grounds of the continuing existence of the separate school system is only weakly logical, at best. We can't effectively move forward by taking a backward step.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is a real problem with The Catholic University if this man obtains a PhD from them with these dogmatic beliefs that are full of gibberish and thoughtless, fossilized dogma. There is a problem with The Catholic University of America when it can not stand up to accreditation for academic freedom by getting rid of much more wide thinking theologians such as Curran and allowing this juvenile, dogmatic thinking in a doctorate program that is nothing more than poor academics. Gibberish like this should be beneath any university.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The issue here is one of governance. There is no legitimate disagreement about the fact of climate change -- those who deny the fact of climate change constitute the twenty-first century Flat Earth Society. There continues to be some disagreement about how much human activity contributes to climate change, and also about what can and should be done about it. Assigning a climate change denier to direct the EPA Transition Team is dangerous, reckless and irresponsible as a matter of governance.\n\nAs for Catholic teaching about the climate and the environment, Pope Francis' encyclical, 'Laudato si' is the most comprehensive and authoritative statement we have on the subject. Denial is not an option.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I was at Mass today and I never felt so alone in my life. I did not feel the comfort that I needed to understand how someone who has shown himself to be a bully, who capitalized on hate and fear, who attacked women could be elected President. How do we teach our children that bullying is wrong, that hate is wrong, that disrespecting women is wrong, that lying is wrong when the President of the United States has exhibited these vices? Yes abortion is a terrible thing but I believe that to support Donald Trump because of his alleged ( Donald Trump is an opportunist) stance on abortion while ignoring all of the other things he has said and done is a great injustice. Further, his values are not the values in the Gospels which we Christians are supposed to exemplify. Since 53% of Catholics supported Trump and since some bishops and clerics encouraged them, I do not think the Church is going be a healing presence. At least it was not for me this morning.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ensoulment likely was fully developed when the ability to have language was acquired. Of course, all animals have some kind of soul - some say plants and all matter do. Even rocks have a soul guiding their \"rockness.\" Whether the soul is eternal is another matter. Even apes have moral rules, but not alturistic ones. Some spiritualists say dogs have rational souls. It is nothing we can really know and this is the kind of question equated with the number of angels that can dance on the head of a pin. The important thing to remember is that there was no act by our first parents in Africa or Eden that became original sin. The wisdom of the author of Genesis was that Blame was what doomed us, starting with blaming God for not making us like him with the knowledge of evil in others. This tendency to find evil in others comes naturally. Just look at our comments section. Christ is the solution to that - forgiveness in his name. He came to experience our emptiness, not to remove a stain.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I was amazed that 55% of Catholics on both sides said they \"consider the bishops but make up their own minds.\" In my experience, about 10% of Catholics actually know their bishop's name and only about 2% would recognize him on the street.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Someone once said there is no such thing as bad publicity. It seems that the small firestorm of controversy that was created when Fr. Martin's speaking engagements were cancelled has actually encouraged people to read his book BUILDING A BRIDGE which Amazon ranks as the #1 best seller in the Christian Social Issues category. In addition, after all the personal attacks I think open minded Catholics are more interested in hearing what Fr. Martin has to say on the subject. If the intent was to marginalize him the effort has been a failure..", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's time the hierarchical clergy stopped analyzing lay marriages and attend to their own. \nJesus is the Bridegroom, the Church is the Bride of Christ and they are called to Marriage (Rev. 19:7).\n--the Marriage is NOT the end of the world. It is how we learn to live together in peace, reconciling our differences through LOVE.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The quote first appears in Ezekiel 3:18-20 and in the New Testament where God tells Ezekiel that if He tells him something and Ezekiel does not warn the sinner, both will suffer his judgment and then in Matthew 18:15 where we learn that if we find our brother transgresses we should first speak to him one on one. The trinity is One. Christ is not contradicting the Father in Ezekiel but rather is talking about how to go about correction. We also have the story of Cain and Able and Cain asking if he is his brother's keeper. (yes) And the parable of the wealthy man and Lazarus where we see a version of this principal when Lazarus was in heaven but the rich man was not because, although he did Lazarus no harm, he did not assist him. There are many examples - like Christ's condemnations of the Scribes and Pharisees based on their failure to do God's will rather than their own. Christ warns of the judgment to come in all these examples for not speaking up in truth to those in sin.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sir, I am NOT dodging your question. What I am doing is giving you an answer that you don't like. Just because I am giving you an answer that does not resonate with your liberal ideology does NOT entail I am not answering the question.\n\nFor the fourth time now:\n\nTHE ENDS DO NOT JUSTIFY THE MEANS. For liberals the ends DO justify the means.\n\nUnderstand? \n\nBecause the ends justify the means for you, the idea that death is preferable to living without integrity and purity of heart, the idea that death is preferable to compromising with evil is something you will never understand. Liberals will never understand that self fulfillment and personal happiness are NOT, I repeat NOT the most important end goal for a Christian. \n\nHOLINESS, in the end is the only thing that matters to a Christian. Sacrificing one's life rather than have an abortion will not lead to personal happiness or fulfillment in this life, but it DOES lead to holiness and therefore salvation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Limitless numbers of immigrants\" nice use of reactionary buzzwords. Can we not discussing this rationally? And you do know that Muslims have been in Canada since Confederation so labelling them all as the migrants is simply willfull ignorance and a gross generalization. \n\nYou still haven't pointed out any actual affect this is having on Christian heritage.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "irt hapaguy, what Christian Extremist Group killed 53 people? The Cops? I heard of a Loon killing Black Parishioners of a Christian Church. Haven't heard a Republican Leader spewing Hate on that Church, have you? Was that gunman a KKK member, idk myself.\nI'm not blinded by Political Party Lines", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have many similar sentiments about the church hierarchy and priesthood. The Catholic hierarchy has demonstrated repeatedly over time that it is dangerously alienated from and hopelessly irrelevant to the lives of the very people it is suppose to serve.\n\nAs Catholics watch this painfully slow implosion of the hierarchy [it could take centuries - they don't call Rome the Eternal City for nothing!] Catholics need to take matters into their own hands: The Catholic priesthood must be renewed and reformed from parish to pope.\n\nThe PEOPLE are the only ones with the competency to re-think and re-envision the Catholic priesthood.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"All Lutheran bishops and/or officials are not in agreement with their doctrines, how they interpret them.\"\n\nThis phenomenon of bishops and/or officials (Lutheran, Catholic, etc) not in agreement on doctrinal interpretation is more common than we think. It even extends to the secular world, countries having the same problem with polarization around the interpretation of government constitutions.\n\nWhen the Second Vatican Council made a move in a direction away from absolutism in interpretation of traditional doctrine and practices...then the divisions between Catholic doctrinal absolutists and those who see other interpretations inherent in doctrine brought about a divisive reaction between two groups, each vying for righteous positioning over the other.\n\nThis divisive reaction will continue to echo out all over the world until we STOP EQUATING DIVERSITY WITH DIVISION. https://ritebeyondrome.com/2017/06/17/vatican-ii-compromise-documents-as-creative-tension/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not 'new' to most Catholics under 55.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So predictable. Katholyks who claim to be pro-life always give out with a torrent of whining and criticism anytime a Republican DOES something about abortion. (Many contraceptives are abortifacient.) Reason: Republicans who fulfill their pro-life promises might induce more Catholics to vote Republican. And all katholyks know that THAT is a far greater evil than 61 million abortions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "TUC. I sort of agree...one of my favorite Eugene bumper stickers is \"I wish Christians acted more like Jesus and less like God.\" My read is that he asked us in our personal life to be the best we could be and to make this the example, not to inflict, legislate or punish. And Pence's fundamentalist view is anti-science, anti-reality, anti-thought and should be walled off from American politics, by his own choice if he reads the Bible.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When Evangelists scam their flock and tell them the only way you can get to heaven is if you pay the church at least 10% of your earnings that may be a contributing factor to their flocks poverty. A particularly greedy con artist with a broken halo may scam people out of more than that through out and out fraud. Then they'll scam you again and claim that the reason you're poor is because you didn't give the church enough money and the reason you're poor is because you've sinned by not having enough money to give them because you've already given everything you have. Then you're banished because you are no longer useful. I don't think Jesus would like most evangelists because there's a fine line between being religious and a bigoted fear mongering extremist.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is good to hear the Holy Spirit is alive in the Church today. That is what Jesus wanted when He said \"Father into your hands I commend my Spirit. As Catholics we believe in a triune God, we must cease from searching for the historical Jesus and look for the ngood the Holy Spirit is doing in the world. We must join those who are acting out the work of the Holy Spirit and embrace and rejoice at there witness. Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father. He is watching how we respond to the Holy Spirit who wants the Catholic Church to lead us to \"Renew the face of the Earth. Deacon'82 Environmental and Social Justice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If Jesus had come to 21st century US, He probably would have consecrated pizza and coke. In 1st century Palestine He used the familiar items at hand. I defy anyone to tell me that God does not accept gluten-free hosts as the Body (and Blood) of His Son. It is the faith of His children which confirms the Sacred Mystery, not the grain content of the materials.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Given that two of the invocations will be given by preachers who espouse the \"Prosperity Gospel\", unless Cardinal Dolan does not stress the teaching of Pope Francis that \"Preferential treatment must be given to the poor\", he will not be saying anything.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You couldn't be more wrong BB. There is little doubt about the role cannabis played in the Judaic religion, including the recipe for the \"holy anointing oil\" found in the Old Testament, as in \"Christ\", the Greek word meaning the anointed. The \"anointing ceremony\" was at the center of Christianity. Why take the name Christ and why anoint his flock in oil before sending them out to anoint others? Mark 6:13: They cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick and healed them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree with your point 100%. In my previous comment I was really about attacking the base logic of Paprocki by allowing for his view of gay relationships. Even giving him that much, his stance is more Catholic abuse on innocent victims. When does that ever end?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...anything smacking of Catholicism that isn't entirely derisive will probably be snubbed....\"\n\nNot necessarily! MANCHESTER BY THE SEA, for example, depicts \"impaired\" or conflicted Catholics, with the main character, played by Casey Affleck, reminding his teen age nephew that \"we Catholics are also Christian\"; but, by the end of the film, most viewers recognize the main characters as neighbors, people whom we know, allowing us \"an opportunity to learn and heal through someone else's personal pain and suffering,\" to quote reviewer Nate Zoebl. Indeed, redemptive grace is everywhere by the end of the film, engulfing both grief and humor.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "True - But it is important to note that in most other European languages, the name for the Christian celebration is derived from the Greek word Pascha, which comes from pesach, the Hebrew word for Passover. Easter is the Christian Passover festival.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As I'm sure you realize, it depends on the denomination. Outside of Sydney Australia, I'm unaware of any Anglican diocese pushing for lay celebrants of the Eucharist. From the Reformation Lutherans, Anglicans and some others have always taken the view that God set aside some called to ministry, and lay people could not preside. Even lay preaching was not allowed, which is one of the reasons the Episcopal church was, and is, small and Methodism with its circuit riders and open air revival sermons and Baptists with the tent preachers flourished on the frontier, and soon vastly outnumbered other denominations.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ariel Milano.\n\n Very well said.\nBut the legal profession has undermined what remains of Christian generosity.\nThe majority of Canadians can't afford to hire a lawyer no matter what egregious crime has been committed against them. \n As well, lawyers have made a mockery of democracy, the rule of law and \"social justice\".\n Without legal representation in a court of law, there is no justice for the majority. And without equal justice for all, there is no democracy.\n The essence of Judao-Christian principles should be the foundation of a secular liberal democracy based on justice for all. But precisely the opposite is the case.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That would be your gang, right? The ones always terming themselves \"Faithful Catholics\"? They are the ones calling the pope names?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Shoots down criticism of KoC as self-selected political arm, power broker, or king maker....credibility of funding process...the search for truth...fairness...rights to know....an open marketplace of ideas...absence of bias...supporting unity of Catholic intellectual pursuits...journalistic rigor...varied media as crucibles...access...many voices make beautiful music...common cause must be mutual...prevents KofC as \"official voice\" beyond itself....................for starters.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, Paul was a Pharisee who never left his old \"conservative\" ideology behind even when he converted. It is very disheartening to live with the fact that the Catholic Church has not learned its lesson. For centuries it demonized and dehumanized the Jews. The Nazis used the same tactic in their horrific \"Final Solution\". Now the Church is targeting the LGBT community with the same demonization and dehumanization of the past making them somehow \"less than human\" just as the Jews were \"less than human\". All reputable and peer reviewed medical and scientific sources regarding homosexuality are NOT in accord with the opinions coming from the Church and its conservative allies. So straight people have the option of getting married if they refuse to be single. Gay people have NO such option except to remain celibate their whole lives if they want to be \"saved\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Let's love one another! We, who know Jesus are under God's Grace! Let's be careful what we say: ( Touch not mine anointed. Psalm 105:15. ) This situation will all turn around for God's Glory. Watch and see. The Lord did it in my life! Beauty for ashes!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But ordination is not mere \"delegation\" to celebrate Mass or celebrate sacraments. That is the issue. For Protestants--ordination might be akin to mere delegation to do ministry. Catholics do not see ordination that way.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am. It's quite obvious Catholic teaching is not an issue for MSW, unless it gets him a freebie.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So at last you agree that there are restrictions on who some religious cemeteries will allow to be buried. Perhaps my initial comment should have read 'Try getting a plot in SOME Catholic...\" Would that have made you happier and prevented your accusation of \"false facts\"? Remember I said \"A Catholic...cemetery\" not \"ANY Catholic cemetery\"\n\nIf so, then it's absurd that this back and forth has gone on so long over such a minor interpretation in wording. I'd suggest that it's pedantic of you but I'm concerned you might accuse me of spelling \"pedantic\" incorrectly.\n\nAbsolutism is bad, the epitome of it is what causes people to drive trucks into crowds.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is remarkably irresponsible behavior for a public official as well as for someone involved in broadcasting. The fact that Ms. Demboski has chosen to dig in her heels and defend her poor judgement rather than apologize only increases her culpability. At this point she has no excuse. \n\nEvery Alaskan needs to stand up and tell Amy Demboski that her behavior is contrary to Alaskan values, American values and Christian values, all of which she claims to uphold but clearly does not.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, Imago Dei is pretty sneaky about admitting that they are Conservative Baptist, and you can bet their clergy doesn't share everything with outsiders. The Pew Research people said as follows back in 2011:\n\n Pew asked if \"more people of different races marrying each other\" was good or bad society. Overall, only nine percent of Americans said it was bad for society. However, 16 percent of white evangelicals said this, more than twice the opposition found among other Americans (7 percent). The survey found that 27 percent of Americans overall said more interracial marriage was good for society, compared to 17 percent of evangelicals.\n\nSo, until Imago Dei comes out with a strong statement in favor of\nmixed race marriage, I can't blame Sparrow/Sharrow. I note that Pastor McKinley remained silent during the whole Jules for Jesus controversy. He may be reluctant to talk openly for a reason....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"Mandatory celibacy was also chosen because the Church did not want church lands to be left to heirs.\"\n- Truly church wealth as a significant reason for presbyteral celibacy in the dioceses using the sacramentaries from the church of Rome, which signifies their union with the Archbishop of Rome, is an historical fact.\n- Disallowing such wealth in the poor church of Our Lord Jesus Christ would remove a stumbling block to the understanding of presbyteral or episcopal vocation and ministry. \n- That is, the administrators of any 'wealth' of a local church would never be presbyters or bishops and so the clerics' marriages would not be related to or a consequence of said wealth.\n- The real question then becomes, 'how well a parochial or local church provides for the families of clerics. That is, the clerics should not need to subsist on stole fees, or on gleanings of parochial or local church properties.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Australia Comment 2\n\nOn May 2, Catholics for Renewal issued an Open Letter from Catholics of Australia, addressed to the bishops and saying: \"Church credibility has been squandered. To rebuild trust, there must be reform of governance based on Gospel values, reflecting servant leadership and engagement with the faithful. There has to be accountability, transparency, and inclusion particularly of women.\" Their letter lists 7 specific reforms the writers hope will be discussed at the upcoming Australia Bishop's Conference May 4-11, 2017. \n\nThe press release about this letter says: \"The Open Letter attempts to reflect the sensus fidelium of Australian Catholics on the state of our Church. It was prepared with the benefit of wide consultation to ensure that it reflected the views of diverse Catholics across the nation. The Open Letter is informed by that consultation and by the Open Letter process, as well as the comments and feedback received up to Tuesday 2 May 2017.\" \n\nSee Comment 3", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The united church for the most part is spiritually dead and do not even believe the Scriptures.\n\nJesus loves you.\n\n He paid the price of your sins on the cross. Those that receive Christ he gives the right to be Children of God. Repent. \n\nJesus is the Way the Life and the Truth. Those that call on His name shall be saved. John 1 and 3. You must be born again to enter the kingdom of God. You can find Jesus and experience His love.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Pope assigned us a new diocesan bishop a couple of years ago... a Franciscan. It was THE BEST thing that could have happened to our diocese. Our former bishop and a great deal of our diocesan priests have started living like little priests. Not only do they become a financial drain to our parishes, they also begin to behave differently in public- not wearing the collar, behaving rudely in public demanding unwarranted respect and acknowledgement (you command respect through your actions). Diocesan priests that park illegally in handicapped spots, flat out lie about their priestly privileges saying they can grant annulments, live in houses that are nicer than his parishioners, the list goes on.... and this is in a mission diocese. I am aware that diocesan priests don't take vowes but rather 2 promises.... live a life of celebacy and to be obedient to their bishop. Removing the former bishop who was a diocesan priest and ordaining a Franciscan as our Bishop was THE BEST move!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Trump's administration will spend $10 to protect one cent. There will be bad men coming to the US. We can vet and delay and deport and detain, but the bad guys will slip through. We can spend $billions and uncountable good will and reputation trying to wedge out the last very bad guy. But we cannot lose focus on the much less heralded threat in America - the home grown, Bundy-ish terrorists and the racists like Dylan Roof. And the hyper christians advancing their exclusionary, intolerant and evidence-free beliefs.\n\nHere and out there, bad things are driven by ideology. Moderate that and we might get somewhere.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "While that is certainly true of some, I know for certain it is not true of all. I would have to question the basis for your making such a blanket indictment. I have had the experience of meeting and working with many, many priests - some from religious orders and some from diocesan positions - and am impressed with most of them as trying to do their ministries in the most trying of circumstances. I must say that I cringe when all of those in one group are painted the same way. Part of me has learned to accept it as a result of the sex abuse crisis, that the trust between ordained and professed and the rest of the Church and the public has been so damaged, so deeply, we are going to continue to pay a very high price in the lack of trust or positive regard from most sectors. But I do object to lumping together those who strive to be the followers of Jesus, and those who abandoned that goal. Your comment makes me very sad.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Congress is made up of mostly old KKK Christians. White House has there's too. They call themselves gods. Its always been that way and it will always be that way. Mazie and Colleen, and other Asians are few wealthy Buddhists who has to vote with their party line or else get punished.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholics in America vote just as other Americans do. The moral, religious as well as civil reverberations from each candidate effect voting Catholics. If parishes can have \"Voting Guides\" included in their weekly bulletins, why can't the NCR discuss politics?\n\n\nPerhaps you could volunteer to write an editorial on the religious, moral, ethical superiority of Donald Trump---and how he would really utilize this stance to Make America Great Again.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well of course trump will do more for the people than liberal, Obama, because he's smarter, he's a Christian, he's a man that loves his country, so you see this is why Pres. Trump will do more this great country, USA!!!!!\n\n\n\nsmarter", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The dog and cat eating \"myth\" was common in the 80's. Over time, we tend to remember the outline of what we had \"heard\" but few facts. As with most of these things, there is usually a grain of truth that gets emphasized. 1982 N.Y. Times: \"...there has been growing resentment among some lower-income whites, as well as blacks and Hispanics, who feel that the refugees are taking jobs and housing that would otherwise go to them; and after some refugees admitted to news reporters that they often ate dogs and cats in their native lands, they are blamed whenever a nonrefugee family's pet disappears.\"\n\nI asked a friend who had managed housing with Asian immigrants. Many had never seen a range top or oven. He said a few tried to make a fire on the top of them. I am sure they only tried it a few times.\nIn a land of diverse lifestyles, what is \"our culture\"? Isn't it at least the effort to accept other cultural norms: Atheist, Christian, Jew, liberal, conservative, green, consumer, media, etc.?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you read my comment closer, including the portion you copied in your reply, I was not referring to myself. I am not Catholic nor do I attend a Catholic Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I guess I'm concerned that in my criticisms of Cardinal Burke (and of some of those other relentless zealots you note) I have started to SOUND like Cardinal Burke. And that's not good for my self esteem. Or for a healthy Church family.\n\nThere is no room for perpetuating internal enemies lists, denial of sacraments, branding our fellow Catholics CINOs, and other punishments in the mode too many \"Trads\" have found acceptable or even virtuous.\n\nIf we get into a payback mentality in our demands for retributive justice, when the pendulum swings...\n\nCan't we risk (right word, I admit) showing how intelligent, tolerant, forgiving, and experienced Catholics behave and declare the relentless zealotry of the Catholic McCarthyism of Burke and others unacceptable in ourselves as well as in others? In the past. In the present. In the future.\n\nCatholics shouldn't behave like this. On the Right. Or anywhere else. Thank you for your thoughtful and hard-to-argue-against reply.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "While some will love seeing Cosby taken down just for the sake of it, I have deep deep reservations about charges in cases like this that are associated with large cash payments. Each of the \"accusers\" may be in line for big civil case payouts that are somehow engineered despite any temporal limits on suing as in the Catholic priest cases. Also, as cited in the article, the age of the case, means that there is no evidence. None whatsoever that can be used in defense. The case will be decided purely on the words of the man and woman involved and how they carry themselves in front of the jury. Absent evidence, no justice can truly be achieved. Regarding his \"admissions,\" I can't help but wonder whether that was a condition of settlement in the civil case, i.e. that he \"admit\" to a list of things in order to settle the case for a less than insane amount. On top of all this, ten years for a hand in the pants? Murderers sometimes get less. Rationality?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Daniel Rudd, Homer Plessy, Thomas Wyatt Turner, A. P. Tureaud, and Victor and Constance Daniel and many others were voices of conscience calling the U.S. Catholic church to acknowledge ways it had capitulated to American racism and to use the social teaching and moral power of the faith to work for racial justice,\" Moore said.\n\nWhat \"ways\"? Since the author of this piece doesn't care to mention any of them, I will mention a few:\n\nThe Papacy's moral silence on the American Civil War. No Southern Bishop or priest spoke out against the Confederacy before or during that war.\n\nSouthern churches, particularly in New Orleans, had segregated pews. Southern Catholic schools in the region were also segregated.\n\nLoyola University wasn't de-segregated until the 1950s (Bryant Gumbel's father was refused admittance to Loyola because of skin color).\n\nCatholic schools weren't desegregated until 1962. \n\nWhy? Resistance of both laity and clergy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But the article has false information. Is that how we want to administer \"Catholic social justice\"? By false information and deception?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholics need to get better at explaining the Catholic position and principles on this debate. And get it behind us. \n\nDeath penalty is theoretically a just and legitimate means of protecting a people. \n\nIt is, however, a \"last resort\" means.\n\nIn the US there is no conceivable case where putting someone to death is the only way to protect the people.\n\nTherefore we must NOT put people to death. \n\nAnd we must happily pay any price to keep known dangerous people away from the population.\n\n50K a year? No worries. 100K a year? No worries. \n\nWe should be very happy to spend the cost of 2 Prius's to keep one person in jail for a year. \n\nWe waste more money on spilled beer or thrown out Gouda cheese. \n\nAnd we must not give into starry-eyed ideas that all murderers can be rehabiliated with sufficient confidence. \n\nPut them in jail. Keep them isolated. Let them grow and develop in jail. Pray that they find God and do apostolate in jail. Shed no tears for murderers.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Slavery did not exist in all societies - and it was a lot worse in the Americas, where millions died in terrible conditions after being separated from their families. There is no need to justify it on the grounds that everyone else supposedly did it.\n\nChristianity, Judaism and Islam explicitly condoned slavery. That is the reason that slavery was legal in free European and Middle Eastern kingdoms till the 19th century.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As a young Catholic, I have more respect for the USCCB and their mindset and agenda than I do that of Pope Francis. The USCCB and most of its members represents a defense of and commitment to traditional Catholic teaching and belief. Pope Francis does not. The fact that in Rome, Pope Francis spoke to the John Paul II Institute for Life (which has championed the pro-life teachings of Pope John Paul II and indeed the whole Catholic tradition on the sacredness of life), shoving aside the pro-life Cardinal Sarah who was scheduled to deliver the keynote address, in order to give a different address himself which did not emphasise the pro-life stance was very troubling, and telling. The fact that now the Institute had discarded the previous rule that members must adhere to Church teachings, especially regarding the sacredness of life (apparently after pressure from Francis and his Vatican), is even worse. \nIN light of that and so much else, I would rather follow the USCCB than Francis.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Let's pray for Christian unity and that the lost sheep return to the fold that we may be one. \n\n\"We trust in God's grace and providence, knowing that the Holy Spirit will open new doors and lead us into all truth.\"\n\nThat said, given the Anglican positions on women's ordination, homosexuality, divorce and remarriage, contraception and abortion, reunion is nigh on impossible without Divine intervention. To say nothing of Anglican views (noting there is no one view in the \"via media\") on free will, the nature of Christ's sacrifice, how salvation is attained, the Mass, the Sacraments and Papal authority. The differences between Catholicism and the 39 Articles is insurmountable and cannot be fudged or glossed over.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In other words, God is Ogre. I'd rather teach that the Eucharist unites us when we take it in rather than stare at it and that Christ is our strength in bringing about justice for workers and the poor, as the Church\u2019s Social Magisterium clearly states.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "With all the problems in the Catholic Church today, if I had been you, I would have stayed Protestant. Really! No joke!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus DID say, \"That which you do unto the least of my brothers, you do unto me.\" The poor are the least among us. When we write them off, we write off Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Whatever we write and say about Syria, its war and future remains a glimpse, only a window from the outside on reality , impossible to grasp a full spectrum of the tendencies, feelings and aspirations of the Syrian people themselves. This article is not balanced. It does not analyse the positive possibilities the end of this war may offer. I personally see a unified country purged from its divisive forces, physically, militarily and even ideologically, at least for quite some time to come. It seems outsiders, especially the Sunni Arab countries at war with Iran, want this war to be a Sunni-Shiah one. while up to now only a handful of Rebels talk about such divisions. It looks the whole clergy, Sunni and Christian, back Assad.\nIt is undeniable that the country is weakened. But so are its enemies be they Turkey or Saudi Arabia and they too are losing their support from the West. The whole order of the ME is changing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Obviously it is a private Confessional matter especially for the priests involved. However, I really haven't heard of remarried people posting on Catholic forums or secular forums like wedding or divorce help sites about using AL to return to the Sacraments. If it was a big and widespread thing, then I would expect at least a handful of stories to make it to the Internet.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Maybe. He may have been an archtype of a certain kind of person who would mislead. Prophesy is more about current affairs than the future. You should hope this is true, because his opponent, the promised Great Catholic Monarch, is said to be a socialist and a modernist.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Granted, they may be ordained, but not in the Roman Catholic Church. It will have to be something other than ordination if they so choose to remain in the Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nailed it. Most of this is culture war stuff and identity politics. If the president* is not a conservative or Christian, but says he is and acts like a strong daddy that will keep out the turrists (but only the Muslim kind) that is good enough for them. \n\nOh and he will \"end PC\", meaning they think they'll be entitled to engage in unwarranted special privileges again.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have asked this before, but why are you Catholic when you don't believe in any of the churches teachings? Please explain to me in a charitable fashion, I genuinely don't understand. \n\nhttp://www.catholic.com/quickquestions/given-the-evidence-for-evolution-are-catholics-required-to-believe-adam-and-eve-exist\n\nhttp://www.catholic.com/tracts/adam-eve-and-evolution \n\nI came to the Catholic church because of belief, so I am having a real trouble understanding how one can be Catholic and not believe in church dogma, I sincerely don't get it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are wrong again...quick to judge me by my ??? For one thing, I am not a Republican. Now I am sure you will have some choice words to say about that. I am a Christian, and I do read the bible. So what?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Perfectly sound Catholic position by Bishop Paprocki. What's the big deal? \nGood responses by him too.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Surely you've got it wrong. The Christians victims were not targetted . They got hit randomly. And it's obvious the attackers were generic killers probably under the influenec.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You think Rome invented the sacrificial nature of the mass, eh? When you take Rome's word for it, it is quite easy to be hoodwinked into believing just about anything. From a solidly Jewish resource, for example:\n\n\"Sacrifice is an ancient and universal human expression of religion. Greeks and Romans and Canaanites and Egyptians all offered sacrifices to their gods. Sacrifice existed among the Hebrews long before the giving of the Torah. Cain and Abel offered sacrifices; Noah and his sons offered sacrifices, and so forth. When the laws of sacrifice were given to the Children of Israel in the Torah, the pre-existence of a system of sacrificial offering was understood, and sacrificial terminology was used without any explanation.\" (jewfaq-dot-org)\n\nDo you not know that early Christian worship was forbidden under Rome's purview, and that early followers gathered in people's homes for worship and thanksgiving? Rome didn't even differentiate it from Judaism until about 50AD--c'mon now Trid!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I know of the \"council estates\". South west London -near Dartford?\nI have attended CoE Masses. Midnight Mass at Crouch End one Christmas was more \"Catholic\" than the Catholics. The degree of incense almost drove me from the old church. \nIt seems that the CofE I have been exposed to have managed to be liturgically traditional and socially hospitable and pastoral, without the clericalism we experience with \"traditionalist\" catholicism. Do I have a point?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I can envision situations where it would not only not be an abuse for a priest or bishop to oppose a candidate, but a moral imperative. You may wish to acquaint yourself with the career of Archbishop Joseph F. Rummel in New Orleans.\n\nThe Church is mandated by Christ Himself to preach the Gospel, and that includes pointing out to the faithful what constitutes a grave offense against God's law.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's not a \"need\", I don't think, to feel that we are in possession of the Great Light, but the reality that God came into time in the Person of Jesus. While there are other faith traditions that may possess elements of truth, its fullness resides in that Church founded by Jesus. One may certainly choose not to believe that, but many of the faith traditions to which you point engender far more incredulity than a monotheistic faith with a personal God. Yes, there is no certainty in some instances, like the fate of the individual unbaptized, for example. But that which is key to our salvation, like our relationship with God the Father or the resurrection of Jesus are just a few of those certainties to which Christians can point as touchstones to their faith. Far from patronizing, it is recognizing that all are called to this relationship and God has granted a way for them (and us) to answer that call.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Saudi Arabia very progressive democracy having a very good record regarding, gay rights, Christians, Jews and other religions. Respect for women and open to all views.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"We need them to fill our churches because the Catholic Church in America has been in danger of becoming an upper middle class club for people with conservative ethics. \"(MSW) This is a salient, yet cynical observation. If one were to attend different churches in the same diocese one would observe different demographics. Some parishes, like mine, are exemplars of Michael's observation. However, nearby parishes show a large number of working class and lower middle class faithful and others with large numbers of immigrants; Latino, and Asian, and others largely African-American and their parishes are equally viable. The Catholic Church is in many respects congregational since individuals tend to gravitate to congregations where the members have much in common. The new arrivals, legal or otherwise, will find parishes that are welcoming and culturally familiar.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree with your comments, with the clarification that many who call themselves Christian, and think they're Christian, actually aren't (people who criticize bad Christians may actually be looking at false Christians). There are some bigger discussions of how mistaken can a person identifying themselves as Christian be in their doctrine and practice and still be reconciled with God, but there are lines that if crossed means one was never actually a Christian, or ceased to be a Christian. \"Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.\", \"\u201cNot everyone who says to me, \u2018Lord, Lord,\u2019 will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, \u2018Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?\u2019 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me you evildoers!\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The growing numbers of spiritual but not religious, who seek God and a spiritual community outside formal religion of any kind, and the numbers of people from specifically Catholic backgrounds forming intentional eucharistic communities indicate that your observations are on target - your comment, as usual, is delightfully snarky and absolutely true. \n\nSee \" Religion does not have a monopoly on faith.\" by Krista Tippet at the America website.\n\nThe early christian communities did not have priests, nor a hierarchy, which evolved over a period of centuries. The sacraments were not formalized and did not require a priest to mediate. The adoption of the Roman model of hierarchy and the power grab by the clerical class resulted in the church developing into the imperial model that held the church firmly in its grip for 1700 or so years. It is slipping now and its fans are fighting to hold their power, but it seems that Jesus and the gospels may yet triumph over the clerical monarchs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't have to 'know' what every Catholic thinks. I have Catholic doctrine, catechisms, all sorts of things where the Church tells them what to think. I can get similar doctrinal publications from the Mormans, the Jehovahs Witnesses, the Baptists, the Lutherans, the Episcopalians, the Church of England; they all will give me their version of 'Christianity'. \n\nYou post your scripture, I post another scripture. You post another scripture, I post another scripture. This goes on over and over infinitum and at the end you believe and I do not. And neither of us are posting 'scripture' in its original tongue, unless you speak Aramaic or Greek or Latin.\n\nIt is too much trouble with no useful result.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do your really believe that a God who creates a universe by fiat, and directly grants each individual human person immortality, can not be Eucharist for sincere believers using whatever rite they believe is proper conducted by priests ordained in whatever way they believe is proper.\n\nSomehow I just can't wrap my mind around the idea that God submits to our Catholic rules and ignores the rules of equally God loving Anglicans? \n\nYour God, Jay, just seem to very small for me. Yahweh, I suggest, is very must bigger.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "President John Kennedy - a good Catholic boy - when speaking of political defeat once famously said: \"Don't get mad, get even.\"\n\nThat's the way politics works. For their political gambit in service of their corporate masters, the Repubs will inherit the wind. Here's where I would start: Investigate Mitch McConnell, his wife Elaine Chow - look into especially that political plantation they're running down there in Kentucky.\n\n\"stops catering to its fringes?\": You really think that Merritt Garland is a \"fringe\" appointment? McConnell and the Repubs were motivated to make sure that Barack Obama didn't get to nominate Scalia's [now there's a real corporate w***e] replacement. Gorsuch's appointment has its roots in racism - plain and simple. Live with it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If it does and somehow he gets impeached, we end up with Pence. Pence is a true believer who actually knows how Washington works and can probably get a very extreme right wing Christian agenda through. Do you want that? As much as I dislike Trump, I would rather have him in office, since he is ineffective, than Pence who would most probably be fairly good at getting things passed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Psst. Luther is the most famous anti Catholic who has ever lived.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you review the authors' performances as senior Liberal Cabinet members you will find that they never spoke out publicly about many of the \"ethnic cleansings\" which took place while they were in political office, such as the cleansing of most Christians and Jews from all countries in the Middle East with the exception, of course, of Israel. And yet they were no friends of Israel. Why, then, are they now proclaiming their self-righteousness and condemning Canadians for doing nothing about the Rohingya?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The inexhaustible richness of this sacrament is expressed in the different names we give it.. It is called...the Breaking of Bread because Jesus used this rite, part of a Jewish meal, when as master of the table he blessed and distributed the bread, above all at the Last Supper (Catholic Church #1328 -1332)\n\nMelchizedek was king of Salem and a priest of El Elyon, \"God most High.\" The order of Melchizedek refers more to his act of \"eucharistein,\" thanksgiving, and the exchange of tithes between Abram and him. There is no mention of sacrifice.\n\nIn Hebrews 10:14-18, we read that \"First [Jesus] says, 'Sacrifices and offerings, holocaust and sin offerings, you neither desired nor delighted in ..For by one offering he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated ...Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer offering for sin.\"\n\nI suspect that God prefers the breaking of bread to the spilling of blood.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't know that I would consider them a failed experiment. They served the people of the time. The ethnic parishes kept Catholics together and in the Church through those first years in America; they often built schools, also tied to the Church. Their identity was as [Ethnic]-American Catholics; their children went to those Catholic schools. Without those parishes, I suspect a good many of those people could have been gone before the first generation was, lost in a crowd of \"others\" with no real sense of loyalty. Especially when their \"home\" countries were antagonistic or at open war with each other.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Having to make pleasant conversation with Trump fits right in to the Catholic 'suffering' thing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your assumptions are amazing. Do you not know that 54% of our discretionary budget goes to the military, 1% to food and agriculture, 6% to housing, 6% to education, 6% to medicare and health? \nDo you not realize that not all tax revenue comes from you? How do you know that none of the people who have problems with this sort of 'Catholicism' do not assume any of the responsibilities of Matthew 25? How do you know that they do not approach Congress? Why do you assume that none have dedicated their lives to Catholic Social Teaching? Some things you can assume, especially that those who would disagree with you are more in touch with what Christ taught than you appear to be, based solely on your comment.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You mean faith didn't matter when the person faced abject poverty and seemingly insurmountable odds? Or was it the Christians at the Rescue Mission who provided shelter, food, water, clothing, medical care, love, respect, financial support, volunteers, and succor? While the Christians were proselytizing about their faith, \"bearing witness\", did the person continue to be nourished with food, water, shelter, a shower, new clothing but chose to ignore what faith provided the individual and others? It takes a lot of hard work, dedication and faith to overcome adversity. Today, most people choose to believe that they're alone in this world. They choose to believe that no one else and certainly not God helps them in any way.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Priesthood existed in different forms well before Jesus's time. Jesus gave us the perfect example of what God had in mind.\n\nThe reason that God chose Israel to begin the eventual Christianization of the whole world was because they were 'handy' in a theological sense...they were monotheistic, they had a sense of God as father (vs. God as an amorphous, undifferentiated \"one\"), and they had a priesthood, which Jesus perfected as perfect priest/perfect victim...He became the offering offered!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\u201cThe most critical change the church must affect: Intransigence on clergy sexual abuse is the scandal that must be torn from the soul of the church root and stem, or talk of dialogue, discussion and discernment on any issue is but empty rhetoric.\u201d---------------------------------------\n\nI have an article on http://www.v2catholic.com/background/2015/08/2015-08-15the-web-of-clericalism.htm\nThat deals with the culture of clericalism that spider that has caught so many in its web of deceit and arrogance.\nPerhaps some of you may consider read it.\n\nkevin your brother\nIn Christ", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Hand Maids Tale\n\nA story written by a liberal about a fictional Christian America that doesn't exist, but describes real life in Islamic countries.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Is there not a bit of irony in that the \"Church\" seems to have universally accepted the term \"Reformation\" for the beginnings of Protestantism? The irony is compounded in that we have adjusted nicely to the Catholic response as \"The Counter Reformation\"?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I could not be more disappointed in this article. For starters, you challenge President Trump's honesty, yet claim he \"gives little or nothing to charity.\" On what could you possibly base such a statement? We also teach our children to treat everyone as we would treat Jesus. Does that not apply to the way we treat our president? Would you have written a similar article about Hillary Clinton? Ask the Secret Service about her behavior. The unborn will be much better protected under the Trump administration than they would have been under another Clinton. Or don't they matter? I am thrilled with the way President Trump is running our country. I am embarrassed and disheartened by the treatment he has received by so many so-called Christians, and particularly by other Catholics. May God forgive us.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"My problem with those who favor the traditional worship of the church is not their taste, it is that they twist that taste into an ideological framework\"\nMSW, you have expressed my thought exactly. Thank you.\nTears well and soul soars for me when I hear music as the Kyrie you provided. Nor, did I flinch when the costumed troupe of Godspel paraded up the Easter morning Mass aisle chanting: \"Prepare Ye the Way...\" at the children's mass years ago.\nJesus didn't die so that we could only weep at his passing but rather rejoice in his return. I think that's why I love Gregorian Chant: it doesn't whine, nor does it forget its reason for being.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"by Amy Hart: Utopian communities or communes enjoy a long, diverse tenure in the United States. From isolationist and anti-technology Christian communities like the Shakers and Hutterites to primarily economic-equality-focused utopias like Oneida and Brook Farm, communes have existed and even thrived in the United States for centuries ... The social and political events of the late 1950s and \u201860s produced the ideal environment for the rise of new religious movements, and out of them, new religious communities. \nUntil this period, most religious communities shared at least some link with the Judeo-Christian tradition, but the new communes of the 1960s adopted the emerging religions of the East as well as the \u201cNew Age\u201d spirituality made popular during this time.\"\nCertainly constitutional, but the neighborhood folks can feel uncomfortable with things that they aren't familiar with. Get to know them, mingle, put your apprehensions to rest. They're normal people and they don't bite.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Cont...Vat Conference Bannon/Burke:\n\n\"The remarks \u2014 beamed into a small conference room in a 15th-century marble palace in a secluded corner of the Vatican \u2014 were part of a 50-minute Q&A during a conference focused on poverty hosted by the Human Dignity Institute, which BuzzFeed News attended as part of its coverage of the rise of Europe\u2019s religious right. The group was founded by Benjamin Harnwell, a longtime aide to Conservative member of the European Parliament Nirj Deva to promote a \u201cChristian voice\u201d in European politics. The group has ties to some of the most conservative factions inside the Catholic Church; Cardinal Raymond Burke, one of the most vocal critics of Pope Francis who was ousted from a senior Vatican position in 2014, is chair of the group\u2019s advisory board.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, now we know who the nominee is. It's interesting to me that he sees no irony in this statement: \u201cThe law ... doesn\u2019t just apply to protect popular religious beliefs: it does perhaps its most important work in protecting unpopular religious beliefs, vindicating this nation\u2019s long-held aspiration to serve as a refuge of religious tolerance.\u201d He wants to impose the beliefs of the Catholic and Evangelical churches, which have definitely achieved the status of a \"popular religion\" in this country, on everyone who happens to disagree. And this is the way to provide religious tolerance?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The hilarious thing about the Gorka cnning is the Secret Service memorandum that was sent out to all White House staffers after he was fired telling them not to let him onto White House grounds. And in nicer news of Catholic ex-Trump staffers, Spicey finally got to meet Pope Francis.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholic Charities has received over $12.6 billion from the Federal Government since 2012. Pretty good reason to put abortion on the back burner and illegal immigration, climate change on the front burner when it comes to politics, right?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you, Sister, for your usual insightful column. I heard a Christian friend voted for Mr. Trump simply because \"I always vote Republican,\" without thinking about the issues. Another voted for Trump simply because of his dubious pro-life stance: dubious because he has been on both sides of the issue, and his attacks on women don't seem to me to be the attitude of a pro-lifer. What I find most incomprehensible about Trump's support among evangelicals (80%) and white Catholics (60%), however, is the free pass these Christians gave him on his hateful comments. After thinking about those issues, I came to the conclusion that Jesus would not have voted for Mr. Trump. But as Sister suggests, I think many of Trump's Christian supporters did not think hard enough about their vote. I found it interesting that in the post-election days Hillary Clinton found it natural to quote Scripture; I cannot imagine Mr. Trump doing that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Chittester quotes Biden--an excommunicated Catholic.\nHilliary did not represent Catholics-- which is why Trump won the Catholic vote.\nThese posters represent PC--progressive communists and propaganda suckers. They seem to soak up every piece of propaganda issued by progressive operatives.\nI' m sure they all \" believe\" in AGW and population control as the remedy through abortion, they \" believe\" Adam and Eve are mythological but evolution-- long ago debunked-- is fact, they\n \" belive\" women' s rights and feminism are not really code words for abortion and they \n\" believe\" poor Hilliary missed her chance to make partial birth abortions taxpayer funded, religious rights non- existent, create more world chaos, incite more racial riots and divisive conflict, shut down oil companies and erect windmills, gut the country of any remaining blue collar jobs, ensure no conservative speaks outbin any college classroom, make sure all young college men have no rights when accused by disturbed girls.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "By definition, a muslin is a pagan, by Christian standards. Yet we allow them to denigrate us. Agnostics are far better at not being murdering psychopaths than pagan Muslims are. That's the entire problem. We let a bunch of Islamic pagans ferment hatred towards us for being kind enough to allow them into our Christian/Agnostic countries and then we end up to regret it very much. So much for kindness. How much kindness did the author forget she got to be there spouting off like some kind of enabler of evil?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Nazi's weren't terrorists (which is not to say that they didn't use terror to maintain control). But terrorism, in the classic political sense, is a tactic used by groups on the outside against the established power structure. In the case of the Nazis, they were the established power structure.\n\nSo if you're looking for a parallel to the Nazis, look to today's right-wing demagogues. And, yes, there is an object lesson in the way German Catholics went along. The mistake they made was in accepting the notion that because the regime was elected into power, it must be benign. \n\nThey didn't learn otherwise until it was too late. The question is, will we repeat their error?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My allegedly Christian parents literally thought I was their property. Most children get allowances. My father stole money I earned washing dishes from my wallet while I slept. When I caught him doing that he tried to order me to continue working and turn over my pay cheques directly to him. The next time he shook me awake to go out and work at 6 am I told him I had quit. He was quite startled, since he had ordered me not to quit when I told him I was not going to work to keep him in booze and cigarettes. I told him I thought he was joking. He broke into tears and cried, saying that he would never joke about something \"so important\". He had elaborate money plans based on the idea that each of his 5 sons would get jobs as adults and start turning their pay cheques over to him. One of his brothers even warned me about that because of the way he went on about it. I told Uncle I was already aware and coping with it. Ah, good old Christian family values, nothing like it, thank goodness.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wrong on all counts! Perhaps you're not yet aware on the \"intervention\" by certain self-styled Catholic \"academics,\" or their backstory. Your ref to the NC Register or Ed Pentin scores Zero points for you!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Tridentinus, shortly after responding to your invitation not encourage GayFordhamPrep, I stumbled on this reply to Sarasi1. Please place yourself in her shoes, and imagine receiving this reply...civil language to be sure, but huge insult of her intelligence and faith. \n\nWhy????\n\nIf you think you have a better take on this issue re Orthodoxy, why not gently proffer your view, or ask her to elaborate?\n\nBTW, she is quite correct. The Orthodox are far more likely to speak of the priest acting in \"persona ecclesiae\" than the \"personna Christi.\" \n\nAnd yes, I believe she is a convert to Orthodoxy; and not unlike many converts to Catholicism, she is very well read and conversant with modern Orthodox theology.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Phrogge - no association with the feds. It is kinda amusing to me that my initials make people think of a federal agent/agency, but I would not have the mind-set for such work. God bless those who do. \n\nI think a confederation of different forms of the practice of Catholic faith would be fantastic. There are many who love the rituals, the dogma, doctrine, and find faith enhanced by a celibate and \"ontologically changed\" priest bringing the sacraments to them. But not all people are called to worship in the same way or to believe in that way. Yet, they embrace some aspects of what it is to be Catholic and Christian. We need space to explore the best ways to practice, explore, and walk the path of faith. \n\nI appreciate your contributions to the discussion. You make a difference.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I asked you why you had no respect for your elders, including your Catholic elders, years ago. It must be very very grim when you're not trying, because it's still pretty grim in its deficiencies when you say you are.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "LGBTQ and whatever letter comes next week, swimming in a bottomless ocean of money and attorneys, will continually win these battles for \"preferential treatment\", not \"equal rights\". Now Christians are being denied their rights to live as they see fit.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are the strange one. What qualifications do you have which would persuade anyone that your interpretation of Scripture and the teaching of Christ is the uniquely correct one? Of whom should we take more notice, you or the Church founded by Christ?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The former Anglicans who have been ordained Catholic priests have been a blessing to the Church. They are solidly orthodox and believe what the Church teaches. Of course, discipline is a separate matter from doctrine. If married men being ordained priests resulted in a priesthood with men of the caliber of our converts from Anglicanism, I'd have no problem with married priests. \n\nCatholic priests at the same Mass who can't receive Communion...perhaps there is a reason they can't? Like going AWOL without getting laicized or not being in a state of grace?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As \"God's definitive words to the woman\" (Ratzinger) quoting Genesis: \"he shall rule over you\" confirm - if God demands that man can \"order\" woman and obedience is a virtue, therefore holy then.....(long sentence).... it is absolutely clear that Scripture demands that women are not only admitted to but also required for \"holy orders\". The bible says so definitively.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The issues of sexual offenders and priests are not always as linked as you present them to be. Even if women were to be ordained as priests, we would still need to screen them as we do males. There are, you know, female offenders as well. The real issue is one you present well later in your comment: it is true that the Church would be a healthier place if it's doors were opened. But that has never been the case since the earliest days of the Christian community, and from this report, it will never be until it lays in ruins and a new Church is born. Let's not hold our breaths.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We also have a Christian duty to build a Christian culture. It makes no sense to import people who are devoted to opposition to that culture. This isn't a theory. Social immigration experiments throughout Europe conclusively prove that Muslims from certain nations, certain cultures, pose a distinct problem to the peaceful citizens of Europe. \n\nhttps://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=europe+muslim+immigration+\n\nThe American people have voted - - we do not want this to happen here.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I know that for some, like this bishop, the voting trends in democracies seems a terrifying thing. I'd suggest that for all of us, it might be good to drop back a few steps and recognize something. These kinds f votes reflect a profound dissatisfaction in the way things have been long done, coupled with some fear, and a great deal of mistrust in our old systems.\n\nWhy is this bishop so dismayed? Might it be that he's part of a system that has itself lost the trust of not only the public, but Catholics themselves? Might it not be that the church has long had tentacles into governments worldwide, and sees this trend to be a threat to the church's hard earned power structure? Is it really as simple as he doesn't like populism, or might this really be a bit of fear that people in democracies actually might go in a direction not approved by bishops, suggesting a growing irrevelance for his caste?\n\nOr is he angling for a job as a political pundit on the French version of CNN?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Compare this situation to the fear of Coptic Christians during prayers in Cairo.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "ohttp://www.borgenmagazine.com/9-quotes-from-Jesus-on-why-we-must-help-the-poor/\n\nIt's hard to know if posting such a link will serve the purpose I hope. My concern is that those who aren't church inclined, may not know the roots of modern liberalism were nurtured in liberal Christian churches. \n\nMany political liberals are morally/ethically shaped by Christian traditions and text. Many others find these basic truths about life, (compassion is good), through sources other than a religious text or, church pew. I'd hope for both groups to acknowledge common values should be celebrated, not used to drive division. \n\nSo I offer these quotes from a human Jesus.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dave Phil, we have Eastern Catholics who use the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom as do the Orthodox and they are in full communion with the Pope of Rome. \n\nIf anything, the post Vatican II liturgical changes that were put in place to make our liturgy amenable to Protestants are a stumbling block to Eastern Christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "More protest stories and photos. It's now an everyday fare here. \n\nThis is what the Catholic life is? This is what we've become? This is what God had in mind? That's it?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Apologists could spend some time pondering on\nreligious persecution of Coptic Christians in Egypt\nand Christians in the Middle East, Pakistan, Nigeria etc", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pope Francis is an absolute monarch who can change Roman Catholic belief if and when he chooses. Apostolicae Curae was issued by Pope Leo XIII and can be set aside by Pope Francis if and when he so chooses. Of course, the case can be made that the Church of England, being a state church in a country without a constitution separating church and state with a parliament which can and does regulate religion, could simply require the Roman Catholic Church to recognize Anglican Orders and officially practice open communion as a condition of continuing to operate its churches in Great Britain. The point is, both sides are in a position to change the status quo.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Be fair. Pence claims that he's \"Christian first, conservative second, and Republican third\". American somehow didn't make the list.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your attempt to put it all on the Western or White races is racist in its own right. Go to China and their attitudes towards those who are not \"the same\" are similar... and have been for most of recorded history. Or Africa. Some people will pint to teh Islamic states and say \"you see, blacks are accepted here\"... which is perhaps true, ut tehn see what their attitudes are towards Jews or Christians... there will be \"racist\" elements to their thinking on those criteria. Every religion somehow magically thinks that they are superior to the other religions.. it is all learned responses, but it exists in every society, of every colour, every race, every culture. The fact that babies don't seem to have any problem dealing with the differences is proof enough that they are learned cultural responses rather than innate.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This man supports gender segregation and the complete subjugation of all women in our church under all men instead of seeking our pope to uphold the Gospel way of respecting & treating all human beings the same. NO injustice was done these married men who broke their vow to God & us the church. Yet many women who serve as pastors in many churches in Brazil with previously consecrated hosts may lose their parishes. \n\nPermanent Deacons are a joke. This ministry was restored to subjugate women in our church & if we allow optional celibacy for men now then this purpose will be cemented thoroughly in this ministry, the cage women can never escape from while all men can be anything in our church. Deacons have no voice. Permanent Deacons also have no real importance or purpose unless we restrict the laity to give deacons a false sense of importance. Deacons can do no more than most lay people do now, especially in Brazil.\n\nWe are being tested. Do we really care about human justice?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Two dozen out of the thousands of Catholic clergy and theologians in the world. I wouldn't bet on that \"groundswell\" if I were you.\n\nHistory has no waste bin. It only has a recycle bin. The same old, dusty ideas resurface again and again and refuse to go away. But progress happens just the same. Vatican II is here to stay.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Only Justice Roberts adhered to the conservative principle of deferring to the legislature\". This is indeed a staple of originalist jurisprudence--with a significant caveat: that the statute at issue is constitutional. AFCA was blatantly unconstitutional, and the contortions into which Roberts bent himself were beyond intellectually and legally embarrassing {finding that the penalty for not purchasing health insurance wasn't really a penalty, but a tax; notwithstanding that the administration, i.e., the proponents of the law, argued that it was not a tax.}. More significantly, why does the author characterize the Garland scenario as a \"brutal wrong\". Garland almost certainly would have ruled against DOGMATIC Catholic teaching on the two issues of most concern to the serious Catholic--abortion {infanticide} and homosexual marriage. What--pray, tell--is so \"brutal\" about that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There was a fellow survivor there who could not put two coherent sentences together because of the psych meds that she needed to cope with what she had endured as a six year old. There were several older Catholics who had struggled and were still struggling with staying in a Church that allowed the abuse to occur and repeatedly covered it up. There was a significant amount of pain shared that day. As a survivor, I had always considered that it was an\" us versus them\" scenario. I learned that day that things were not so black and white. There were priests and lay people that really cared about what had happened to me and my fellow survivors. As a recovering alcoholic, I have attended meetings that were not the same every day meetings. They rise to a spiritual level when someone shares aspects of their recovery that touches everyone in the room. The \"healing circle\" was like that for me. I thank the people who attended for taking a day out of their lives to actually listen to me.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I do have one question, when Jesus ordained the Apostles, were they invested with Roman or Gothic vestments? And did he use the Roman Pontifical?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So do you keep quiet at Mass when his Epistles are read and it's time to respond \"thanks be to God\" if you don't believe Paul's writings aren't \"the Word of the Lord\"? Personally, I couldn't reconcile a belief Paul didn't write inspired Scripture and the response expected of me at public worship if I thought I knew better than all the Christians who accept the canon of Scripture.\n\nThe same Church on whose authority we accept the Gospels as canonical teaches same for the Pauline Epistles, Dei Verbum of Vatican II affirms this...it's not for is to pick and choose which books of the Bible are inspired.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic Church consistently behaves in ways that are in direct contradiction to the teachings of Christ.\nAlmost every diocese has played kick the can down the road with victims. These are the \"lost victims\" \nChurch leaders have refused to aid these victims in healing by providing the truth and fair resolutions.\n\nChurch leaders and many parishioners want to start fresh, abandoning the \"lost victims\" who were stonewalled for years. \n\n\nThe first casualty of the so called \"scandal\" was the truth. The church refuses to come completely clean. Healing begins with the total truth. \nThe church has become morally bankrupt. They attempt to twist every law to sidestep accountability. When a law does not favor the church they will hide behind freedom of religion.\n\nBankruptcy is just another way for the church to sidestep real accountability and to hammer down the cost of destroyed lives. \nWe are not hurt Catholic victims, we are a dreaded liability that should be cheated not healed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It seems that most people who long for \"spectacle\" are the same people who point to the evangelical Protestant churches as some kind of model for doctrine (conservative) and say that is why they are growing. You say the problem with the RCs is that mass is too low church.\n\nI don't know if you've been to services in these churches, but they are as far from ceremony, rites, ritual, and mystery as you can get, and many are held in \"conference center\" type faciltiies. However, there is very often \"spectacle\" - preachers in business suits, or preachers in T-shirts and jeans - who know how to grab an audience. There are fog machines and christian rock. There are giant TV screens, and juice bars. These churches attract thousands on Sundays\n\nMass is packed at Christmas and Easter because it's Christman and Easter. It has nothing to do with how people dress up their kids. It's nostalgia time, playing on emotional sentiment (and when visiting home, Mom and Dad still want you at mass).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"In the United States, immigration has increasingly become a question of national security.\" I don't think so. In the sense politicians on the stump express it this way, perhaps, but that is a mask. Visiting friends tonight from Upper Michigan, really nice folks.. It is clear that ordinary folks, including others we have talked to recently, are wanting to restrict immigration because they are racially bigoted, , full of hatred of others, fearful of other religions and colors. They have bought the classic Koolaid. Also voted form Trump because they could not vote for Hillary because of abortion, even abortions as late as nine months. Practicing Catholics, most generous, caring, genuine folks one could meet..\n\nNo N-words in this conversation but several folks used it at a meeting spouse was at, all US northerners down south.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Maybe ... all priests, but especially hierarchs, have sworn oaths to protect the church, which they interpret as any attempt to hold them accountable by the People or the civil courts. Almost identical to the religious ethic and ideology which allows ISIS to murder with abandon. Hierarchs believe that the rules and laws that govern the rest of us, don't apply to them. Literally, hierarchs believe they are above the law. Nothing will change until Catholics completely dismantle the way we do priesthood.\n\nI don't know Pell, but you have to hand it to him going back to Australia to face justice instead of hiding behind his diplomatic immunity: either Pell is deluded about his innocence [most likely], or he was placed under obedience to face Australian justice by the pope.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you for mentioning Elie Wiesel a great admirer myself: \nIt brought to mind the story of a Holocaust survivor, searching for identity. He was baptised a Catholic to be embraced into the bosom of Christ [the saving of his life only secondary so it appeared to me]. \nNow a nineteen year old in 1948, the words of priests in print in the daily press, many were mortified to hear of confessions of parishioners, Christian enough to give charity to the pigeons in the Piaza: \"Father, I have sinned but not intentionally. I gave bread to a beggar who turned out to be a Jew. I only found out after wards.\" The author making the verbal observation. \"These confessions must have come from good people, who had not been made aware of the subtle changed attitude to Jews by the Holy See\"..........\nNB.\nReading history, The Holy See was against the UN declaration they given their own homeland of Israel in 1948 and not acknowledged until 1993 when diplomatic relations were established.\nHow sad", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Understood...I was clarifying, albeit perhaps a bit clumsily, that the Catholic Church was not granted special status by Obamacare....\n\nThere are a number of reasons churches and other entities are exempt, including staff size. Status as a 501 corp as well as other specs could apply...ran out of room before I got to that....\n\nAnyway...this and the doctor situation you allude to are among the many things that must be addressed. \n\nThe fact that your plan was Diocesan does not mean you were a member of an over 20 employee entity, btw. Was your paycheck issued by the parish or the Diocese? Another thing to consider.....\n\nEither way, I hope your situation resolves to your benefit shortly...pax et bonum.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually, every person can get in touch with God, not just Catholics, so yes. What they understand from that is tempered by what is already in their brains, so the result is often different. The Astrologers aka the Magi who found Christ were from that part of the world, so God must not have forgotten it. No one has a perfect reception unless totally filled with the Spirit, but the Spirit goes where she wants. Some forget inspiration and rely on doctrine, which is why Christ was crucified and why much of the Church still gets the Eden story wrong, not to mention when life begins (gastrulation, not conception).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Just to let non Catholics know, this is a liberal Catholic rag that anyone who really follows the teachings of the Catholic Church, pays absolutely no attention to.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I understand that Dolan like all of his brother hierarchs today are dangerously alienated and hopelessly irrelevant to the very lives of the people the hierarchs are ostensibly called to serve. \n\nI also understand that Dolan and his brother hierarchs are complicit in the serial sexual abuse and exploitation of hundreds of thousands of children across the world by priests over decades, even centuries, thereby rendering them corrupt and having betrayed their priesthood and high office - to say nothing of how they have failed to protect the very people they are sworn to shepherd.\n\nThe only way out of this disaster is for the Catholic community, the People, to reject these hierarchs, and totally reform and renew the priesthood from parish to pope. Only the People have the capacity to conduct this reform.\n\nBetter sooner than later, or we might not have a church anymore. Please NO more confidentiality agreements! \"The Truth will set you free\" - but first it will make you miserable.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And here I thought the language of Jesus was the 17th-century English of the King James Bible, that inerrant, perfect composition by God, about God, that definitive definer of the divine.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As long as NCR pays its top staff well over $100,000 a year, I hope no one renews their subscription. This Church has far too many professional Catholics who insist on getting huge salaries for selling grace.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are a lot of themes here. The Psalms, the prophetic books and Revelation are all part of an apocolyptic tradition that decries injustice and perceived evil (although in terms of Revelation, the Judaizers the author supported faded from history and Pauline Christianity won out). Holy Week takes us a different way, toward forgiveness being required to receive it. Moral philosophy states that evil comes from free will, as the intellect can only chose between lesser goods, the absolute good being absent. Marxists would say that our hope in a resurrection or in a day of the Lord is a weakness, deradicalizing those we need to radicalize.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I suspect the problem is so widespread in the CC because of celibacy. And it has obviously been going on for centuries. It IS a Catholic problem. To think and say otherwise is an affront to Survivors... all the millions of obedient, innocent children and adolescents marched off by their parents to Catholic Schools all over the world for hundreds of years and you are trying to minimize it. Please stop.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They are certainly not showing the same charity to fellow Catholics that they are demanding from them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Terri - according to the website catholic dot hierarchy dot org, there are 17 Cardinals listed for the USA. Other than those named in my earlier comment who are under 80, the name below are all over age 80. I don't know why the last two are on the list as U.S.A cardinals - I don't think they ran a U.S. diocese or archdiocese. Don't know if others are born in USA, but check out the names:\n\nWilliam Keeler\tBaltimore\nBernard Law\tretired from Boston, now Roman Curia\nJames Stafford\tDenver\nAdam Maida\t Detroit\nRoger Mahony\tLos Angeles\nJustin Rigali\t Philadelphia\nWilliam Levada\tSan Francisco, retired from Curia \nTheodore McCarrick\tWashington\n\t\nAgostino Cacciavillan\t once papal nuncio to US\nLubomyr Husar\u00a0\t Archbs Emeritus of Kiev, Ukraine\n\nto AnonAJ's point. If the U.S. has 7% of Catholics, 7 cardinals out of 120 means the U.S. represents 5.8% of voting cardinals; 8 U.S. cardinals would be 6.7%; 9 U.S. cardinals would be 7.5%. Francis could \"fairly\" appoint 1 or 2 more.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I was raised in a Catholic family-5 children in 9 years...yikes.\nIt was also a very unhappy home. I have known other large\nCatholic families with similar stories of dysfunction... way too \nmany kids for the parents to provide for.\n\nI noticed that the pope hasn't been saying much since the movie\nSpotlight won the Academy award. Yesterday-noticed in the paper\nthat he was again speaking against birth control.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually, The Shack works because it resonates well with Catholic theology. As for my favorite specifically Catholic films they are The Song of Bernadette, Of Gods and Men, A Man for All Seasons, Into Great Silence, Shoes of the Fisherman, Amazing Grace (with Tom Conti), Habemus Papem, Keys of the Kingdom .... and on and on.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh, that's just pillow talk to keep the laity happy. Christ is of limited relevance to a church steeped in and loyal to 2000 years of intervening tradition. The gold rings and coats of arms will continue to be issued, with Francis' blessings, as it has always been.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is a song and Bible verse I really, really like: \"Standing in the gap.\" It seems that it takes a great deal of courage to \"stand in the gap\" for God...for the outcome may be very, very good; or it could be very, very bad. The faith that prophets must have to do this must be tremendous. My faith began as a \"mustard seed\", but each day up to the present I have deliberately done something that \"stretched\" me in a way that has increased my faith and belief in God. Prophets of old must have done this, also; as have many modern people, such as Pope Francis which you mentioned. This gives me encouragement to know that what I am doing has great possibilities even beyond my wildest dreams. Thanks Sr. McGlone. :)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hi Pat. You don't get under my skin. I know what your quote from me means, I just don't understand your response. Rather than pointing me to a website, I'm hoping you can clarify it in discussion. I don't understand what Baptism has to do with desiccation. Thanks.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are any number of rational ways for a Christian to vote for Clinton. A Christian could examine the voting record of Republican appointed S.C. Justices, and see that they have played key roles in passing and maintaining abortion rights law. It couldn't have happened without them. That is a slim peg to hang your hopes on.\n\nA Christian could also acknowledge that prior to Roe v Wade, many women had abortions, but there was no way of determining how many. With abortion safe and legal, we began to have accurate numbers to grieve over. We also began to see, demographically, who was getting abortions, and why. With that information, we can begin to see how social and economic conditions affect the rates, and what conditions help women make happier decisions. A rational Christian could easily think that outlawing abortion was a bad strategy in the struggle to change the world for the better.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Rogue I certainly hope you are castigating First Things and the National Catholic Register for never printing articles from progressives. Why do conservatives insist progressives have to do the very things conservatives won't consider?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\" St John Paul II and Benedict XVI came under criticism over Assisi and for their failure to turn back the tide of Modernism which is flooding through today's Church unchecked.\"\n\nAh. \"modernism\", the traditionalist's way of rejecting doctrine he or she doesn't like. \n\n\"Those two popes did not, however, threaten any dogma or doctrine like is happening now.\"\n\nAnother slander on Pope Francis.\n\n\"The charge that orthodox Catholics reject the Church's social teaching is absolutely false.\"\n\n\"Orthodox Catholics\", a code phrase for \"Catholics who agree with ME\". Trid has told us, repeatedly, that his views are \"congruent\" with the magisterium. Some time ago, I found an exception, but Trid denies it.\n\nAlso, \"orthodox Catholic\" quite often do reject the Church's social teachings, claiming it's \"prudential\", a code for \"we are at the cafeteria, but we won't admit it\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"But the real surprise was that he did not give Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez a red hat.\"\n- Probably not so much a surprise if catholics in Canada, United States, Mexico and the Caribbean are perceived as one regional church by the Holy See and probably by the Archbishop of Rome. \n\n- From this point of view we note that there are 5 Hispanic men in Mexico who are cardinals and one cardinal designate; excludes Bernard Law who was born in Mexico. Also excludes, Archbishop Jose who is a native born Mexican.\n- For those who consider the Caribbean as a geographic part of North America we note the cardinals of Hispanic descent in Cuba and Puerto Rico.\n- Also, if Archbishop Jose of Los Angeles is perceived still as an Opus Dei bishop rather than a Los Angeles Bishop in communion and union with the Archbishop of Rome then no surprise that Archbishop Francis does not want him in the circle of advisers constituted by the cardinalate.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "From the Walford article:\n\n>>...why are these signatories \u2014 and the dubia cardinals for that matter \u2014 rejecting the clear teaching that not only are popes protected from error in faith and morals (regardless of it being defined infallibly proclaimed or not) but that all acts of the magisterium derive from Christ...<<\n\nWith regard to Communion for the divorced and remarried, John Paul II, in Familiaris Consortio, specifically and directly reiterated the constant teaching of the Church that the sacrament could NOT be imparted to such persons. If we are to believe, as according to faith and reason we should, that JPII's restatement of the Church's age-old teaching was NOT in error and represented an act of the magisterium \"derived from Christ,\" are we now to conclude that Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the magisterium had gotten it wrong for all those centuries -- until Francis came along to correct them by means of an ambiguous footnote he later claimed not to remember? Please.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Interesting reference, Warren, to the RCC hospitals seeming duplicity in taking advantage of laws that conflict with Catholic doctrine. How is that relevant to whether Adventist hospitals should claim an ERISA exemption when it comes to funding pensions? Try as I may, I cannot lay my finger on the SDA FB that addresses this issue. \n\nOn the larger issue of intellectual consistency, one of the signs of maturity is the ability to recognize that \"double standards\" often exist primarily in our own eyes, when we refuse to see the issue on a higher level of abstraction where the contradiction might dissolve. I could claim that SCOTUS justices don't really believe in the supremacy of the Constitution because they tend to cite their own prior opinions and interpretations more than the Constitution. This would be a foolish oversimplification. \n\nI understand the headache that Sola Scriptura has been for SDAs. But authoritative use of EGW is not proof of intellectual inconsistency.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "While Christianity has never been about \u2018blind obedience\u2019 to any earthly authority, it is about \u2018conscientious obedience\u2019 to the truth, and Jesus is \"the way, the truth and the light.\" For Catholics, the supreme authority in matters of faith and morals has always been the individual\u2019s \u2018informed conscience\u2019 which the Church teaches \"is man's sanctuary and most secret core, where he finds himself alone with God, whose voice resounds within him.\" As John Paul II wrote in Crossing the Threshold of Hope, \u201cIf a man is admonished by his conscience \u2013 even an erroneous conscience, but one whose voice appears to him as unquestioningly true \u2013 he must always listen to it. What is not permissible is that he culpably indulge in error without trying to reach the truth.\u201d This has been the Church\u2019s teaching since the beginning.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is room for both single and married priests. Those who wish to remain celibate could enter a religious order. Those who choose to be married could be diocesan (secular) priests. The same would apply to women priests.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The force of the argument here is signficantly blunted by your rather cowardly generic references to \"some on the left\" or \"the left\" without naming specific names. If you're so willing to point out by name those clerics, persons, and organizations on the right you feel require correction (and it doesn't take much to identify them: Chaput, Weigel, EWTN, etc.), then you ought to have the courage of your convictions to name those on \"the left\" that are in for some criticism. It is telling that in a piece about challenges to the left, the only Catholic politician you manage to identify by name is Paul Ryan. It's as though you want to be seen as speaking truth to your own side, but without wanting to be too critical, all while signaling your own virtue.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "#2. After Vatican II, there were priests who did their best to meet the needs of their large congregations, but they often found themselves alone in parishes with several thousand families, trying to respond to often competing demands.\nWhat I'm trying to say is that the problem is structural -- not enough priests, too many people, no vision to change the equation -- and that allowing married priests is only part of the response we need. We're choosing our priests for all the wrong reasons, giving them the wrong training (24 hours of classical Philosophy?) then blaming them for not meeting our expectations as ministers. \nI appreciate your insights into the lives of married clergy, but I think we need to begin by asking ourselves what it is we're trying to accomplish. If it is to meet the ministerial needs of several thousand families, we need to make radical changes for which we are manifestly ill-prepared.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"As far as it being due to his religious beliefs, the other problem he runs into would be that it is unlikely he checks to make sure none of his heterosexual couples have committed sinful acts.\" That's a judgment of how he chooses to practice his religion. You may find it inconsistent but it isn't up to you. \n\nSome say it's inconsistent to make a wedding cake for a couple living together. But in fact the wedding celebrates the end of that particular sin. Nonetheless, he can believe as he chooses. He doesn't do Halloween cakes. Something other Christians might view differently. That isn't for government or anyone else to decide is right or wrong religious belief for another person.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The previous generation of fragile priests is the current generation of bishops, archbishops, cardinals, and other hierarchs. Back through the generations, back through the centuries. Fragile, err-prone, self-protecting, all-too-human, claiming always the keys of heaven, claiming infallible leadership through the Holy Spirit, claiming they stood in the place of Christ, claiming their decisions were sanctioned by God, clinging to an insistence the Church they command could never fall into error.\n\nIt's no wonder some refuse to see the hierarchs' hands in this -- to acknowledge such grave failures and crimes raises far too many questions about the leadership and direction of the Church through the centuries.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Self promotion? Excuse me, but Ive been a business professional for 30 years here and do not make any $ from promoting or selling Cannabis. My mother died of breast cancer when I a teen; searching for cancer cures has been a lifelong avocation. My brother, retired investment company president, Marine and staunch Catholic in FL, told me he now thinks that Cannabis should be considered medicinal. My lawyer bro and nurse sister ditto.\n\n I could suggest Essiac tea, Budwig Protocol, Gerson Therapy, Hoxsey, other cancer treatments researched. King Kong of cancer cures: Cannabis, ignorance is not bliss. A CA Dr. recently told a pal who had both breasts removed that extensive research needs done: selected terpenes target various cancer types. If people uninformed, they will not influence their guv to expand research: like the CO woman whose scientifically motivated cultivation was shut down by the Feds. A Harvard researcher discovered Cannabis a remedy for dementia in case that is your issue.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I tend to go with the \"one size\" that Jesus recommended: \"whole heart, soul, mind and strength.\"\n\nThe \"narrow gate\" is one of those teachings of Jesus's that progressives ignore. \n\n'The personal Cross? Oh, Jesus did that for me. I am an Amercian, ya know!\".\n\nEven though Jesus specifically spoke about the personal cross for each one of us \"daily\". \n\nThe real Jesus was just too demanding for the comfy Americans whose belts groan from opposing forces!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am not \"talking for others\". There is more historical and archaeological evidence for the existence of Jesus than the existence of Socrates yet many of those skeptics do not question his existence. And if you think about it, Socrates only had one person write about him, Plato, but by canonical and gnostic gospel accounts there were plenty for Jesus.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Absolutely excellent exposition of the chronic nature of sexual abuse braided into our Catholic cultural understanding of power relationships.\nLay persons hold up clericalism and enable it to continue, as family systems enable alcoholism and sexual abuse. Facing the need to become responsible adult Catholics means putting aside reverence in favor of respect, and requiring systems change and individual transformation.\nThis, like all seemingly impossible change, is completely within our ability with God's assistance and our commitment.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "eric, i know about it. just cant understand how rich, white, christian men became involved.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Perhaps we now get valid change in the papal electorate and American Bishops, maybe that will also be true of the US Supreme Court. We can all pray to the Lord. The litmus paper appointments of the hastely canonized JPII and his leader of the modern theological inquisition have now run their course. Let us pray to the lord.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When I was a child, I noticed when the new Mass started because they moved Jesus from the center alter to the side. Upon visiting my home parish almost 40 years later, I found that they had put Jesus in a separate chapel. The more interesting question is whether the presence in the tabernacle has any efficacy besides any other icon (or idol) or whether it is reception, rather than reservation, where the miracle happens.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It was uncle-Christ before the SRS.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Like they say in show business: anybody can criticize. Criticizing is easy. Performing is hard.\n\nHealth care can't be conjured out of thin air. It's expensive and it has to be paid for somehow. Just demanding more money for healthcare for \"the poor\" is not a relevant statement about legislation. \n\nThere was an election and the election said the middle-class taxpayer who has an employer-provided health insurance plan does not want to cough up more money to pay for health care for \"the poor.\" The US is a democracy. The majority wins. \n\nIf the Catholic Church wants health care for \"the poor,\" they should feel free to sell of some of their opulent real estate and pay for it themselves. Timmy Dolan is paying to heat some very valuable empty churches.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And most of those who approved would claim to be Catholics!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually despite talking about rendering onto Ceasar , Jesus was radical in his view of faith and behaviour . My Neighbour as thy self does spring to mind. It requires people to understand what is meant by turning the other cheek, it does not mean to be neutral where there is injustice but to fight it with all means without being violent.\nWe need more bishops like McElroy preaching the gospel of the Christ as his early church if you read about it was essentially socialist even communist. I remember in a Christian Brothers school in Belfast a primary one being told the only real difference between real Catholicism and Marxism was that Marx denied God .\nBy the way I do object as I am Irish to you using the mofit \"Erin go Brath\" especially if you were to understand when your forefathers were the Mexicans and Muslims in the mid 19th Century not to far from where the current US Furher thinks from...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We can ask the simple question, what would Jesus do? The Samaritan woman at the well was told by Jesus that he knew that she was correct when she said I am not married now because Jesus said further \"you have had five husbands & the man you are with (sexually is indicated) is not your husband. Jesus says this while offering her the drink of water, which only he can give her, and which will cause her to have eternal life and never thirst again. In this case, Jesus has not said, first tell me that you will go back to your original husband & stay with him in a state of marriage again (even if that were possible & her x wanted her back which is most unlikely), & then I will let you drink to your salvation. Jesus puts no conditions on her at this point. \n\nWhat I glean from the gospels is divorce is wrong so save your marriage if you can & don't remarry if you can't. This is ideal. However JC does not tell us to use Holy Eucharist as a punishment for those who fail to remain celibate.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pope Paul was protecting the reputation of the Papacy for infallibility. His attempt did more to damage that authority than conceding that Pius XI was ill-informed (as well as his predecessors). Instead, he told Catholic heterosexuals exactly what the Curia thought about their sexuality. The Curia assumes personal holiness and tradition is behind their views. It is not. It is their own personal sexual peculiarity, asexuality, that informs their views. HV let their freak flag fly in a way the laity could not ignore, so instead the laity ignored Paul and Otavanni. Clear enough?\nDoubt this? Compare the Platonic/Augustinian/Aquinian/Pauline (both Saint and Pope) sexual ideal with what asexuals say about themselves and professionals say about them. It will astound you. I am not denigrating their sexuality at all. I merely want them to realize it is theirs and not mine or God\u2019s.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(2)\nThe famous \"who am I to judge quote? Why not recall that was made in the midst of a discussion about the danger of lobbies?\n\"The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains this in a beautiful way, saying ... wait a moment, how does it say it ... it says: \u201cno one should marginalize these people for this, they must be integrated into society\u201d. The problem is not having this tendency, no, we must be brothers and sisters to one another, and there is this one and there is that one. The problem is in making a lobby of this tendency: a lobby of misers, a lobby of politicians, a lobby of masons, so many lobbies. For me, this is the greater problem. Thank you so much for asking this question. Many thanks.'\n\n\"\u201cThe union of man and woman in marriage [is] a unique, natural, fundamental and beautiful good for persons, communities, and whole societies.\u201d", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One of the stumbling blocks in the path of unity is the ontological understanding of ordination, which was not part of the New Testament theology of ordination, but quickly became so as the church was institutionalized. In the New Testament, people are chosen for ministries in order to have someone who can perform the functions necessary for the good of the community, including church order, but that ordination does not confer on them a special, indelible character that effectively elevates them above the heads of the people. If anything, Jesus seems to have emphasized servant leadership and criticized those who wanted something that conferred status and prestige. Ironically, the designation of a cardinal is tangibly ordered to the function performed by cardinals, i.e., advising the pope, and does not confer ontological status. I wish they would give the whole business up.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But as I mentioned above, bringing the Blood if Christ to the homebound is not unheard of....as an Extraordinary Minister, I do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hef did not cause consumerism. The post-war generation demanded it and capitalists were more than happy to provide. Washers, driers, TVs, AC and the modern refrigerator made all of our lives easier, both housewives and single men. Consumerism is what makes continued capitalism without revolution possible, and during the Great Depression, many flirted with revolution. Unionism and consumerism took the pressure off, along with governmental Social Security and unemployment.\n\nThe Depression and the War were a time of stoicism, into which moral stoicism naturally was magnified, especially in the expanded role of the Catholic Church in securing that morality. It was not to last, nor should it have. Hef helped bring back Epicureanism, as did the Beat Poets and many others. His movement was not amoral, although it was hedonistic and humanism is hedonistic. American culture had experienced enough pietism. If Hef had not come forward, we would have had to invent him.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Which explains why the consecration takes place on an altar beyond the iconostasis where entrance is highly restricted.\n\nIn Catholic theology Christ is the High Priest, just as in Orthodox theology, and the priest is the anamnesis of Christ the One High Priest who offers Himself for his Body the Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is about supposedly secular school boards, i.e. the Protestant ones, making special accommodations for particular religious groups. No one has expected Protestant school boards to be Protestant for quite a while, they were supposed to be secular and booted out Protestantism.\n\nWhile Catholic school boards have been quite specifically Catholic...for ever.\n\nYou want specifically secular school boards? Do what Quebec did in 2000, abolish religion-based school boards.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Man! I am so glad that someone here knows better than Jesus how to pray!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That's a great message from you, TO you! If you had taken your own words seriously, you would have discovered that most priests do NOT take a VOW of celibacy. Not that that fact would have influenced your postings in the least! Despite your avatar, you are NOT the pope, and that cannot but be good for the entire Catholic church and world!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ya sure, Christian biblical scriptures also contain reprehensible script, but Christianity has by nature evolved as imperfect men strive to improve.\n\nIslam, by its very nature, is prohibited from evolving. The above scripts are being followed to the letter today as you read this.\n\nI think of Canada as a land of free dialogue so that we all may educate ourselves, make free choices and evolve, but there are forces that detest that ideology and Islam is one of them.\n\nWhile the west obsesses over minority rights, some children of those minorities learn martyrdom from primary school texts.\n\nI am disturbed by the direction Canada is taking at the hands of those who think they are liberal minded, but instead are just uninformed.\n\nThe situation is already out of hand enough that, in Canada, that I find myself going out of my way to express my opinion anonymously, because of the potential for verbal or physical backlash.\n\nIslamism scares me!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is no physical hell. It was added to the Bible with the Latin translation. Pope JP2 said hell was a state of consciousness. In other words we put ourselves there. When we do, we are no longer connected to the flow of the Holy Spirit, and no longer sense God's Love. \nThere is a reference to ever burning garbage dump outside of Jerusalem which is sometimes confused with hell. Dante's novel also helps continue the belief in hell. \nAn angry and vengeful god does not belong to any rational theology. God is Love, Mercy, and Forgiveness and God is infinite i.e no limits.\nIt is not my framework. It is part of God's creation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jay, Jesus did not require acknowledge when he offered forgiveness while on the cross. Instead, he said \"forgive them for they know not what they do\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why should a classical Presbyterian, like President Trump, consult a Roman Pontiff on issues concerning the governing of the United States. In this 500 year celebration of the Protestant Reformations, shouldn't we Catholics realize that the separation of church and state are of paramount importance especially to Americans who value this division. Anytime a Roman Pontiff interferes in the affairs of any state, whether American or European, especially how it should control its borders or how to define its sovereignty, we have a serious problem. The successor to St. Peter should govern on matters of faith and morals, not on politics and what constitutes sovereignty and appropriate budgetary priorities.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Take a look at those words \"public scandal.\" Which public and what behavior creates a scandal? \n\nIn a recent homily, Pope Francis deplored the \"obtuse mentality that believes in the self-sufficiency of salvation with the fulfillment of the law.\" He talked about the \u201cstupidity of the ideological pastor.\u201d He asked people to pray for priests who use this \"obtuse mentality\" and \"close the doorway\" to salvation citing the example of a priest refusing to baptize the child of an unwed mother or a case of a priest who would not allow a father to be present at his child's baptism because the father was divorced. Is \"public scandal\" what these priests feared?\n\nMorlino, we are more educated and have instant access to much news and information - we don't all agree on everything, even Catholic doctrine and teachings, which are developing right in front of your eyes. Some Catholics will be scandalized by your acting, some by your failing to act. Ideology is not the answer.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholics are evenly split between parties (46R to 47D). \n\nPersonally, this seems like some pearl-clutching to me. Every single judge appointed to a federal seat is asked about Roe V Wade; typically, in the context of 'will you uphold the decision and do you have any personal beliefs that could influence your decision on this matter?'. Par for the course.\n\nSure, Catholics suffered discrimination in this country probably more than any other Christian denomination other than the LDS. JFK was lambasted as being a tool for the Pope when he 1st ran. That said, I don't think Feinstein was getting at that. From what I could tell, she was asking the same sort of question that gets asked at every judicial appointment.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As far as explaining Primacy of Conscience you already know that you and I have different concepts of it.\nInviting the couple to to delve into scriptural commentaries is exposing them to false interpretations as well as genuine ones. Human nature is such that the choice of interpretation is likely to be that which favours their desires.\nYou did not say that they should be apprised first and foremost as to how the Church judges their situation.\nPresumably Jesus regarded marriages between Jews as being joined together by God, hence His words, \"whom God has joined together, etc\". St Paul was referring to gentile unions which he obviously didn't regard as 'joined by God', so he wasn't overriding Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "At St. Euthanasia Catholic Walking Together Community, we hold hands as we sing::\n\nChrist has died--so all are saved.\n\nChrist has risen--in our hearts.\n\nTrump is not my President.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus didn't come to reconcile us with God, He came because He loves us and wanted to be with us. We are God's beloved children, He has always (and will always) love us. God doesn't need a \"middle- man\" to intercede for us and He doesn't need His Son to be scapegoated for us. Jesus came to show us the face of the Father.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am a life long Catholic but I am so tired of the abortion issue taking over our whole church. Single issue Catholics helped get this infantile person elected. Now millions are paying the price.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Perhaps the data alone--that is read in isolation from Tradition and the authority of the Church, one could argue is inconclusive. \n\nThe thing is--I believe that just like the founders of our country created a judiciary to resolve disputes involving how the data of the Constitution should be understood, so too God founded a Church and endowed this Church with His authority to teach, preach, govern and sanctify. When disputes arise about the \"data\" of revelation--whether Jesus actions do or do not have soteriological significance for example, I believe the Church, like the SCOTUS has the final word. \n\nIn the case of women's ordination, the Church has essentially pronounced on the issue: Jesus actions DO have soteriological significance, thus the Church cannot ordain women. Whether or not I personally believe the conclusion is warranted, I know that the Church has spoken and answered the question, thus--I submit to the teaching.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's because the Church has not been aggressive enough promoting getting over it. We need a jubilee month of \"Over It\" with novenas, golden vestments, and similar things. A special entrance hymn, \"We're Over It,\" will be sung at every Mass. Then the Church will withhold sacraments from those who give scandal by not being over it.\n\nPew Research will show that the fraction of Catholics who are over it will have significantly risen.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I see, the Curia aren't Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"But nothing in Jesus' words or conduct demand that the sin involved in divorce and remarriage must be conceptualized as a sin that continues indefinitely, without the possibility of effective repentance.\"\n\nYes. Not once in the Gospels is Jesus portrayed as expecting people to live perpetually with the consequences of old mistakes. He was always about going forward, not dwelling in the past. If the Church has nothing more to offer those with failed marriages than \"Tough. You made your bed, now go lie in it,\" how can we seriously speak of being compassionate or merciful?\n\nAmoris Laetitia is nothing more than an attempt on the part of Pope Francis to deal with reality.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Max, you have just receive my first \"Flag\" ever. The fundamental of civility here is to discuss ideas, not attack the author. You have directly attacked Walter without engaging his heartfelt, honest, and intimate revelation of his personal beliefs. \n\nWalter Rogers, under the name Jesuitical, has been a welcome commentator on this forum for a very long time. His honesty and challenging thought is an important contribution to this forum. \n\nNeither you nor I have the authority to declare any baptized Catholic as no longer a Catholic. Please refrain from doing do. It is fundamentally uncivil. More than that, numerous self-professed non-Catholics are regulars on this forum, and they have always been and remain most welcome. \n\nBTW, it is not true, as you state, that \"To be a Catholic means to literally hold to the universal belief.\" Not to put too fine a point on it, but on your definition, infants baptized into the Church, are not Catholics; for they do not yet hold any beliefs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm not sure. There hasn't been any court cases involving private schools (even the on-going OGOD case is only involving public schools). In America the standard is that the full constitution applies if you accept any tax-money. \nIn South Africa the constitution is different though - it prohibits discrimination by private entities as well as public entities and requires private entities to not intrude on constitutional rights same as public ones.\nSo it's possible that the court would find that a private Christian school must allow non-Christian students to join, and respect their religious differences. On the other hand the court has shown a deference to religious beliefs in terms of discrimination before (which is why we don't force churches that oppose it to perform gay marriages) - so it may go the other way. It's a bit of an unknown right now, but I would guess they'd be left alone - if only because other groups have a stronger case against government schools if they can say TBC", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Would HRC defend Christianity? Not likely! Can sinners love God? Yes! We are Saints under construction. CREATIONS PLAN? Bring out a sewing pattern for a dress. Follow pattern=good dress. Make a wrong cut=mess.\nYour body is a pattern. Holes have functions--follow pattern! \nConfusion, get help to mold to pattern! \nBody mutilation to be something other than your pattern, is unwise. I don't know why things aren't easy!? Just Love!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why Catholic bishops continue to believe that Republicans in Congress care one whit what they think about anything is beyond me. The next time Republicans will pretend to care is around 2019 when they will use the bishops to help them capture the reliable Catholic vote for the Republican nominee because of abortion and gay marriage, and of course it will work like a charm. And then it will be three more years of ignoring them. Rinse, repeat. \n\nThe bishops are as clueless as Mitt Romney was when he allowed Trump to humiliate him by pretending that he was interested in appointing Romney as Secretary of State when Trump wined and dined him at Jean Georges in New York only to plop Romney onto the junk heap afterwards. You'd think the bishops would take the hint that they're being similarly used but they seem completely oblivious. They might as well be whistling past the graveyard - Republicans in Congress just aren't interested in helping anyone with taxes but the tippy top one percent.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part 2: For anyone interested, there is some discussion of this issue among the Orthodox, but there has never been any real debate about whether the priest acts in persona Ecclesia. The great theologian Paul Evdokimov wrote about the issue in some detail (i.e., priest is not in persona Christi) and most modern Orthodox theologians take his position, but Evdokimov also acknowledged that the priest acts in the \"name\" of Christ, something I can accept. Rather big difference.\n\nI hope I have cleared up this matter. I am not a \"latcher on-er.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Roman conquest of Egypt took place in 30 BC. Your assertion is false \u2018Alexandria was under Roman rule in 80 B.C.\u2019 You wrote about me \u2018Your knowledge of the world is narrow\u2019. Contrary to you I will not use such words as a result of your mistakes. Besides we write anonymously, what do you know about me?\n\n\u2018(the major civilized part of the Greek and Roman Empires was in the Middle East, not western Europe).\u2019 What we call today the Middle East was first part of the Greek empire created by Alexander the Great, then 300 years later it was taken over by the Roman empire, and when it was split between East and West, the region fell under the Byzantine (Greek- speaking) empire. All along the culture and the language of the people was Greek for about 1,000 years. When the Arabs came they had all the texts, written in Greek, translated by local Christians into Arabic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "the moslems invaded israel and built their sign of conquer on what they believed to be the temple mount. that land of israel was given to abraham, isaac, and jacob. the book is not a trilogy- the Lamb of God is the beginning and the end. you call the God of the Jews and Christians 'ha-satan'? yet you claim to be the final chapter? so interesting.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Remember that the question was simply whether or not the apostles celebrated the Eucharist.\n\nNow we stretch to make not only Christ's institution of the sacraments myth, but also the Didache, Paul's epistiles, 1 Clement, and the surviving texts from Ignatius of Antioch and Polycarp of Smyrna. Early Church practice is \"myth\"? Mythogenesis spread so geographically widely and consistently does not work!\n\nThis may have been a tenable position in the early 20th Century before patristics (or study of Paul) really took off, and indeed you will still find Protestant \"ministers\" and others who don't know we have writings from the apostolic Fathers or know anything at all about the early Church. But for a Catholic to hold such a position in 2017 evinces an almost abecedarian antiintellectualism. Previously the orthodox were accused of ignoring critical scholarship. But after, at long last, the historical-critical method supported orthodoxy, the heterodox deny the possibility of understanding.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Michael, I'm trying to remember what I said that you might be disagreeing with. Yes, there needs to be training and a workable selection process. I like that Protestants vote on who may be hired to serve in a particular church. I like the notion of Jesus as servant leader. When I did a word search on 'servant' and 'serve' in the Gospel, I found much emphasis on the servant leadership of Jesus. He did not go around proclaiming himself to be 'infallible' and 'in persona.' He did not wear a lace dress. He said, 'Do not worship like the Pagans,' meaning ritually repeating prayers in a vain attempt to magically control a god. The current leadership is like a caste based on gender/orientation; they will fight for its preservation. Notice that the Pope addresses his bishops as \"brothers.\" This is their way of life. And many millions find this entertaining and gratifying to watch and they want to believe in the magic. That if you pray enough times in a church, God will comply -- eventually.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh boy...\n\nNCR progressive desperation grows apace...first MSW brings out Mussolini and Hitler and the Rape of Nanking, and now the ultimate -- the anti-semitism smear card.\n\nMeanwhile, Trump's job performance poll numbers keep rising.\n\nKeep going NCR, dig the hole deeper!\n\nUltimately, there will be a backlash from your financial supporters. \n\nYou can't keep vilifying a U.S. president and the million of Catholics who voted for him in the most extreme measures there are, without some of your sponsors pulling the plug.\n\nDon't doubt me on this.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Most miracle stories have Jesus ask his Father as part of it. He used superatural power. He claimed equality with God not something to be grasped at (Thessolonians). He was the man of faith, not an ubermench.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Roman Catholic priests?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Therefore, let the Church proclaim to all that the sin of racism defiles the image of God and degrades the sacred dignity of humankind which has been revealed by the mystery of the Incarnation. Let all know that it is a terrible sin that mocks the cross of Christ and ridicules the Incarnation. For the brother and sister of our Brother Jesus Christ are brother and sister to us.\"\n\n\u2014U.S. Catholic bishops' 1979 pastoral letter on racism, \"Brothers and Sisters to Us\"\n\nNot the date: 1979. That was a different time with a different generation of bishops. They would not have backed a racist demagogue like Trump for president.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am not sure either Phrogge....but according to the stats on the catholic vote I just cited actually Catholics vote pretty much the same way everyone else does....\n\nI suspect the real kicker is \"educational attainment\"....love to see some stats on EWTN viewers and THEIR educational attainment....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The problem isn't Pell's guilt or innocence. The problem is he is not being treated by the protocols of Australia or the ones advocated by the Vatican when it comes to credible accusations. He should have had his public priestly faculties suspended and he should have stepped down from all offices when these charges first appeared. He most certainly should have lost his faculties now that the prosecutors are going forward. While one can not pass judgment on his guilt or innocence, one can certainly say with this level of legal involvement, these are credible allegations.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I was being sarcastic. \n\nThe Jesuits these days aren't exactly known for their knowledge of real and substantive theology. (Pope Francis is a perfect example of this.) Back in the day the Jesuits were the best and brightest. They were the intellectual powerhouses of Catholicism. They provided robust defenses of the Catholic Faith that were unparalleled. By the time Vatican II rolled around, the Jesuits decided they didn't have much use for Catholicism or Catholic theology and they sold out. As far as the Jesuits are concerned any theology that is dated prior to 1965 is bad. So--the meaning of my post was this:\n\nPope Francis is a Jesuit. He has probably never even heard of Saint Thomas.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wow, that was a mouthful, he is basically not catholic in belief at all, why wouldn't he become protestant if he doesn't believe in any of the central Catholic beliefs? \n\nHis Christological ideas are so out there that I don't even think confessional Lutherans are so far gone.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hi Marilyn,\n\nI can feel your pain. We are dealing with a bland, very conservative, super clerical priest in my home parish. He is home grown in New England but still the wrong priest can wreck a parish and the laity need to fight for their parish's survival before everyone leaves. Often, if enough laity complain to the bishop, in time, he will replace the pastor. \n\nIt is true that because we don't ordain women priests, & then also married priests, we are left with those men who are willing to be celibate, often these men are far from the cream of the crop of those called by God.\n\nHowever, we also should not create Gender Segregation thru optional celibacy for all men, only, so all men rule over all women in our church because deacons have no authority. We should not put gasoline on a fire, or create more severe sexism in our church. We need to demand equal ordination for all called & then optional celibacy for all priests.\n\nI suggest you join Women's Ordination Conference.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "At least Trump won't force the University of Notre Dame -- and thousands of other Catholic and non-Catholic colleges, hospitals, institutions -- to violate its conscience by making it provide, pay and facilitate services (access to abortion-inducing drugs, to dispensing them, etc.) to others contrary to its sincerely held beliefs. After honoring President Obama in 2009, the university felt betrayed by him, especially after he had promised Fr. Jenkins, the President of Notre Dame, that he would not authorize the Government to force ND to violate its conscience. I just don't think Trump will carry on like this.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Vatican I documents... Holy Mother Church... anathema... really?? Did you not get the memo from Pope Francis seen and understood by most of the known Catholic world:\n\n\"Before the problems of the church it is not useful to search for solutions in conservatism or fundamentalism, in the restoration of obsolete conduct and forms that no longer have the capacity of being significant culturally.\"\n\n\"Christian doctrine is not a closed system incapable of generating questions, doubts, interrogatives -- but is alive, knows being unsettled, enlivened. It has a face that is not rigid, it has a body that moves and grows, it has a soft flesh: it is called Jesus Christ.\"\n\nThis... or you can continue to cling to the rigid, elitist theology of yesteryear. Rational Catholics know better but do as you wish with your free will.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Although I encounter some inquirers from time-to-time here, I don\u2019t often encounter anti-Catholics.\n\nThe issues deal with celibacy, not marriage. Since among the rites which permit married clergy it is generally required that a period of celibacy be observed before presiding at the Sacred Mystery, it is salubrious indeed to note that.\n\nYes, exceptions prove the rule.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Larry,\n\nGod can't even change people if they don't want it. A lot of wishful thinking out there. Only 5% of dieters are successful. Most homeless don't want change. What did you bail out of, just being a clergy? You are here on this site, so still involved at something. Jesus worked with just a few men. Made effective use of time. I put my effort in what I think are key areas. I don't care about WO, LGBT, IJ, EGW, or TW. I take on ministers, homiletics, clich\u00e9s/platitudes and try to promote communication through polls, surveys, reviews, feedback. People at church talk to me..candidly.\n\nAll SDA churches need reduction in fanaticism and increase in accountability.\n\nBTW..... attitude = reality/expectations.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Colkoch, you don't get the point of that gospel do you?! Forget Jesus siding with the woman, forget him humiliating the Pharisees, forget him refusing to condemn. The whole point of that gospel is Jesus hysterically screaming at the woman at the end telling or not to sin again, or else she is getting bricked!! I'm sure someone will be along shortly to correct...... oops! I see they already have!! (Good post! \ud83d\ude09)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Church in the past has been described as the Church triumphant, those who gaze at the Beatific Vision, the Church suffering, those souls suffering in Purgatory assured of salvation and the Church militant, those in the world at any one time soldiering to convert it to Christ.\nThat is the sole goal and objective of all these sites who are maligned here.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ex Catholics represent a larger congregation than any protestant sect in the US. Catholicism is not immune to the issues experienced by Protestant denominations.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I must disagree with you. Francis is not only doing his job, he is doing it very well. He is following Jesus, who preached the reign of God. The reign of God is not some distant future, it is \"at hand\" (Mark 1:15). You might read the recent Apostolic Letter \"Misericordia Miseria\". The objective is to be more responsive to the Spirit of Christ who lives in the human heart, which is a journey.\n\nDiscernment is not about getting permission from a priest or bishop. It is about coming closer to Christ. The love of Christ is the point of reference, not the law. As Cardinal Cupich noted in an interview more than a year ago, the process of \"accompaniment\" is to assist with discernment, not to preempt or supplant conscience. The role of the Church is to encourage people on their journey toward greater responsiveness to the Spirit of Christ in the human heart. The law is not the end of that journey.\n\nThe examples you give reflect a focus on the law. Mercy has a different direction.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is really nothing dicey about accepting \"the church's premises\".\n\nIf you accept them, the Church is Mother and Teacher.\n\nIf you do not accept them, the \"The National Catholic Reporter\" becomes \"The National ???? Reporter\".\n\nThere is no debate.\n\nIt should be pretty clear where I stand; I have made it crystal clear.\n\nMore perplexing is where you stand.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, congratulated Trump the day after the election, noting that the election \u201cwas characterized by a large turnout at the polls.\u201d (See \u201cVoter turnout at 20-year low in 2016.\u201d) He praised Trump: \u201c[T]he future leader has already spoken like a leader.\u201d Parolin said the first issue on which the Vatican would \u201ccollaborate\u201d with Trump was peace. The second was \u201cthe internal [i.e. domestic] issues\u201d of the US Church such as \u201creligious freedom,\u201d i.e. the Church's ability to discriminate against women and LGBTQ persons while receiving taxpayer funding. \u201cAsked about the polemics that arose earlier in the year between Trump and Pope Francis over the question of immigration, Parolin responded, \u2018Let\u2019s see how the president acts\u2019 \u2026. Normally, they say it is one thing to be a candidate and another to be president, to have that responsibility. It seems premature to make judgments,\u201d Parolin concluded.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's their job to ensure that those who receive are in fact receiving.\"\n\nIsn't that what Jesus does? We can all be thankful that the RC hierarchy is making sure that Jesus does his job right.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "if only the Second Vatican Council had never happened!!!\ni pray that Holy Mother the Church acknowledges the errors of that sorry council and that its reforms are discarded and its spirit forgotten", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I, too, was struck by the testimony of priests, brothers, theogians, Catholic psychiatrists - and there is more to come.\n\nProfessor Neil Ormerod, a professor of theology with the Australian Catholic University, said \u201cIt\u2019s a clerical club. It\u2019s very difficult for them to make assessments about their brother priests or religious, because they\u2019re the ones whom they spontaneously identify with when complaints are made, when action has to be taken.\u201d He also \"told the royal commission he is not aware of any theology courses in any seminary in Australia 'where they actually look at the professional and ethical responsibilities of the power that they have as priests'. They don\u2019t reflect ethically on their own performance in priesthood. They have a very fine theology of priesthood, but they don\u2019t know anything about the ethics of priesthood...'.\"\n\n\"...they don't know anything about the ethics of priesthood.\" That is eye-opening coming from a professor of theology at a Catholic university.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "to nitpick...the \"love thy\" phrase is one of the few actual words quoted to be spoken by jesus , and his final answer. I believe the \"first will be last...\" is matthew and luke(?).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When has mankind not known 'fake news'. Even before the realization that history is written by the victors never by the vanquished have we experienced fake news. In the earliest of times, even prior to recorded history we can be assured 'stories' have been told. Myths and superstitions flourished, sometimes in earnest, but most of all to direct and control thought. Religion might have been the best tool of all conveying fake news. We don't even know who wrote the Jewish Bible, certainly Moses never wrote the Pentateuch. Many knowingly think no such person as Moses even existed. None of this has stopped or even slowed. Today close to half of the people in America take the Bible literally, deny evolution. Yet science has proven there was no Garden of Eden, no Fall, and certainly no such thing as innocent babies born into sin due to the sin of one man.\nSo, you say; choose to stop fake news. Who might they be; certainly not the traditional Catholic, or evangelicals...who then.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"LGBT Catholics are called to treat those in power with respect, compassion, and sensitivity\" - Well, in the words of SNL's \"Church Lady\": \"Isn't that special!\"\n\nPoor Martin, his book arrives just as news from the Vatican rocks the church that not since the days of the Borgia popes, high ranking members of the Roman curia are romping around in naked gay bacchanals in the private apartments of a cardinal!\n\nJames Martin's argument for compassion for the self-loathing, hypocritical hierarchs would have more punch and salience if most hierarchs and priests didn't have to lie every day about the fundamental truth of their lives.\n\nI seem to remember that Jesus said: \"You will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.\" Apparently for Martin and for most priests and hierarchs, they need to understand that the \"Truth\" [will first make you miserable.]", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So called \"primacy of conscience\" can't be invoked to trump God's word though, at the risk of becoming a new sola: that of sola conscientia. Who needs to form their consciences in the Bible and Church teaching when you can just invoked the conscience card as long as you justify to yourself what you already want to do anyway?\n\n\"Discern in flow of life\"...hmmm the only flow of life I want to be discerning in is that of Our Lord who holds the words of eternal life.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bishop Tom,\nJesus was perfectly human \u201clike unto us in everything except sin.\u201d His life\u2019s vocation task was \u201cto reflect the Father\u201d in every one of his human acts. It was no more easy for Jesus to fulfill this vocation of His, than it is for us to fulfill ours, whether we are in the \u201csingle state\u201d, the \u201cmarried state\u201d, the \u201creligious state\u201d or the \u201clay state\u201d. He had his ups and downs, good days and problem days, joys and disappointments and finally He even sensed everything having \u201cgone down the drain\u201d when on the cross He found it hard to believe: \u201cFather why have even You forsaken me\u201d.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The liturgical reforms of Vatican II may indeed be irreversible, but if they are it is because the People of God embrace them, not because a pope (even one I like as much as Francis) said so. \n\nThe various factions within the Church fight for control, but it is still the Holy Spirit that guides this Church into the future. And if history has shown us anything, it is that the movement of the Spirit is usually from the bottom up, not the top down.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hooded Claw is implementing the kind of Church Pope Francis envisions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Jesus will fix it\" - Republicans", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nope - Jesus who is supposedly your Lord & the our Church's Lord gave no allowance for his church to break the Great Commandment which this ban against women does break.\n\nHe founded his church on the Apostles & disciples, male and female, who followed him on earth. With only apostles and no other followers there is no church. He did not tell only Peter that he had authority over the Church but the 72 male and female disciples too. He tells them too that those who they forgive are forgiven and those who they don't are not.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Maybe you could let the gentle healing and mercy of Christ work on you for awhile. You seem to be incredibly angry... I'm terribly sorry that you are.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Where do the souls of these corrupt politicians go, when they die? They claim to be the right hand and have the blessings of their jesus and they love to say they are the most pious wallowing in their religiosity. But their actions and ideals are exactly opposite of their jesus. According to the Christians, their jesus lived and breathed to help his fellow man and woman, the sick, weak, poor, helpless, diseased, hungry and the dying, and he kicked the monied money lenders and changers out of the temples.\nMcConnell and his Republican ilk, are defunding the health and social programs that help the same kind of people that their jesus advocated for, and instead have been and, are, giving the same money to the same kind of monied money lenders and changers that their jesus kicked out of the temples, who in turn are funding the same kind of colonialism that the Imperial Roman Empire foisted on others in jesus day, that America and the colonial European governments are foisting on others", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When the comments are as vile as some of the ones I have seen, then removing the specific commentators is the reasonable response.\n\nYou want censorship? Go to a conservative blog and disagree with the party line. I got banned from the Catholic Answers blog in less than a day, it took two days to get me banned from NewsMax, and while I was not banned from Crux, it was made quite clear I was not really welcome.\n\nI notice that you post your whinge on a mostly liberal blog, where you have not been banned.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "On the subject of \"revisionist history\" in Quebec: With the wisdom of years and an interest of the subject, I now wonder if perhaps all of our written history is not \"revisionist\" to some extent depending on the historians' own language, religious and cultural backgrounds. Who is to say which one is right? I was educated in the English Protestant school system in Quebec in the 40's and 50's. Canadian history taught in the English and French Catholic system there always differed somewhat from ours, even back then. I know this because I used to read the history textbooks of my friends and we would have arguments about which was right. Give credit to Quebec for one thing - they have done away with the religion-based educational system. Perhaps future historians will one less bias. Language and cultural background of the writer will always be an issue. C'est normale, n'est ce pas?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They ignore Pope Francis because his attacks on clericalism threatens their power structure.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't know if it will be an end game scenario. It may be that Catholicism evolves into something less mega corporate and centralized. Nothing inherently wrong with that. It forces an organization to get real with what is essential and to promote and protect those essentials. In Catholicism one of the major questions which has to be answered is what is more essential in regards to the Mass---the person who presides at Mass, or the actual availability of Mass for Catholics. The answer will result in very different solutions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part 1 theology of abundance:\n\nMoving from a Theology of Atonement to a Theology of Abundance, Notes by Bridget Mary Meehan from Richard Rohr's book, Eager to Love\n\nImportant Insights from Richard Rohr\u2019s book Eager to Love: \u00a0From a Theology of Atonement to a Theology of Abundance\nBy Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP\nThe Franciscan School of Theology's focus on\u00a0God's extravagant love and abundance taught\u00a0by Saint Bonaventure and John Duns Scotus provides an alternative to Atonement Theology taught by St. Anselm and St. Thomas Aquinas.\nThe Franciscan theological position was never condemned and was always held as an alternative by the institutional Catholic Church.\u00a0 However, most Catholics were not exposed to Franciscan theology, but this worldview fits well today with the spiritual journey of contemporary mystics an emerging universe", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The church also teaches that missing Mass on Sunday is a grave sin. I agree with Pope Francis that many of us have become obsessed with abortion, obsessed with other people's sins, when we should focus on our own sins. Speaking as a man, how many of us is absolutely certain we were never responsible for an unwanted pregnancy? Even if we are certain, we should be very slow to speak and condemn, as we will never know what a woman with an unwanted pregnancy goes through. Also, those who openly speak and condemn most probably know some women who have had abortions, perhaps someone close to them who never could tell them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The one problem I have with your comment is that you have left out the historical fact that our church, in the 2nd thru 6th centuries, and even beyond, destroyed, intentionally, any & all documents, which evidenced practices the church no longer wanted people to continue, in the future. It is more likely, than not, that we ordained women priests and deacons and possibly even bishops since there is some evidence, as late as the 1200s, women abbesses may have ordained male priests in their abbys. \n\nIf any organization has been on record for destroying possibly 5 times the amount of its current scriptures and/or historical documents, as our church is on record for having done, then the past is not known so no one can honestly claim we have based our current practices on the early church's practices. Our history, in many areas, especially those areas of women's church leadership, were destroyed & therefor are unknowable. \n\nFor ex. There is no proof Jesus existed but still he did exist.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And Ethan's wife is the one helping to bring the immigrants in...her living depends on them coming...so her opinion should not be reflected in this news article...she has a conflict of interest in the area of immigration law...she works for Catholic Social Services as an immigrant lawyer so of course its a great thing for her and her pocket book.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is an unusual take on serious problems we face daily, which many of us try to see in the light of our Christian education and convictions. I see it in terms of confronting the forces of illegitimate and/or over-exercised use of power and control in our institutions, our politics and our culture. The chaos of 2016 tells me a LOT of people, forming into cohesive groups, are out of patience and ready for whatever confrontation may bring. \n\nI see more empathy for people and causes not necessarily directly related to oneself, and by exercising empathy through joining others' causes, bringing focus and possible solutions to light (BLM, police violence, gun control, higher minimum wage, compensation equity, SSM opportunity, sex-based discrimination, health care insurance availability, etc.). I see it in the RCC with women's ordination and leadership as well as continued investigation and accountability re child sexual abuse. \n\nThere is a time when impatience is the real virtue.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I suggest you dig a bit deeper yourself. \n\nYou keep saying this - but several of us have asked you to provide some substantive proof (which means proof - not opinion pieces) that women have \"held this post\"(priest\") - and you never do.\n\nAnd what does it matter that some women and lay leaders are in charge of parishes? They are NOT ordained priests - as even you mention. They may offer Word and Communion services - but they are NOT ordained in any sense of the word. None of what you have mentioned counteracts what I said - there are NO women priests in the (Roman) Catholic Church. \n\nAs far as paying their clergy directly - yes. A Church tax. So?? IS that what you are recommending - you would like the government to collect the tax and distribute it to the clergy? Uh-huh.....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This part of the thread is quite timely. See what the recently released report on the Catholic boys' German choir (Domspatzen choir) said: \n\n\"The whole system of education was oriented toward top musical achievements and the choir's success. . . . Alongside individual motives, institutional motives -- namely, breaking the will of the children with the aim of maximum discipline and dedication -- formed the basis for violence.\"\n\n547 members estimated to be abused between '45 and '92. Ratzinger's brother was the director. He has been faulted in the report for \"looking away\" and failing to intervene.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part 2 of 2\n\n\"All I ask for is honesty and courtesy. NcR is not honest when it identifies itself as Catholic.\"\n\nSome of us who have some differences with some teachings with the Church, thru sincere prayer and discernment feel the Holy Spirit calls us to remain Catholic. This being the case, I would disagree with your judgment about our integrity. For many of us, it has been our integrity, with the grace of the Holy Spirit, that gives us the strength to stay.\n\nI understand NCR does not see being Catholic as you do, but I ask that you have the honesty and courtesy to not pass judgement. I can only think of a few issues that has taken more humility then leaving who is and who isn't Catholic in the hands of the Holy Spirit. I hope, at some point you will be willing to do the same.\n\nI believe, despite our differences, there is a way we, as Catholics, can journey together. I believe this is the desire of the Holy Spirit. \n\nKnow that I wish you well on your journey.\n\nGod bless,\n\nJohn David", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What is the polling threshold for a teaching be considered part of the sensus fidelium?\n\nDo we only count Catholics alive now, or all Catholics that ever lived? Catholics in the West, or do we take into account Latin American, African and Asian Catholics who liberals might deem \"less enlightened\"?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The sheep metaphor was useful in Biblical times. Today, it has its limitations. Human beings are not mindless beasts. We give glory to our Creator through the use of our God-given intellects.\n\nBesides, whenever people are referred to as sheep in Scripture, the point is that we are all under the care of the one Good Shepherd. Jesus told Peter to feed \"my\" sheep. He didn't say they would henceforth belong to Peter himself.\n\nI have no problem with the notion of Jesus as my shepherd, but that relationship doesn't extend to clergy. I respect them as religious leaders and I take their authority seriously. But, no, I don't consider myself part of a flock to be herded.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sorry - you might want to have a conversation with some of the actual folks named in this editorial. Folks (such as in Denver) who were Chaput targets and had their names, integrity, and well being publicly questioned by Chaput; and, at times, this made the papers.\nHave you ever had a conversation with Bishop Wm. Morris? Have you read his book about the nature of his investigation?\nWhat if Chaput is the correct one - really? The job of a shepherd, I beg to differ, is not to treat Catholics as children to be corrected.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That is \"your\" (questionable) interpretation of the anti discrimination \"law\", but it is NOT the prima facie 1st amendment right. A license from a city is only in order for the City to Control sales tax and determine if a business is \"legal\" (not in violation of state and city health regs, fire regs or engaged in criminal activity). The baker is in business to make cakes and using his artistry. No one FORCES the gays to come into his shop and demand a particular decoration on his cake. A catholic bookstore is not forced to carry atheist books or jewish books or muslim books-why should a baker be forced to decorate any cake for any reason? It is NOT a necessity to have a wedding cake, nor is a wedding cake a necessity of LIFE, HEALTH, nor should/can anyone be forced into a personal services contract.\nA city or state \"business license\" does not give government control over the individual owners or their \"religious\" beliefs or business activities.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I understand why you would think that the story of the falsely accused clerics ought to be told. However, before we can get to that, the institutional Church needs to accept responsibility openly and completely for the abuse, for the denial of the abuse, for the cover-up, for the continued efforts to deny and/or minimize responsibility, and for the continued efforts to deny and/or minimize restitution. \nIf priests were accused falsely, then this was done within the context of the immeasurable harm that the institution was causing those who had been abused and, by extension the entire Body of Christ. The hierarchy kept insisting that many who were actually guilty were being accused falsely. How can one know for sure who was accused falsely? Most of the accused priests were not subject to a judicial process, and if any were found not guilty by a court, that only means that there was insufficient proof of guilt, not that they were innocent.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "He was hanging with people who were DRUG ADDICTS. His so called friends got him addicted. YOUR father then started selling and using drugs. He was a DRUGGIE. So what if he was a business man, family man. A persons success or failure is DEFINED by your current behavior. Years ago I knew this awesome married family man, father, dedicated christian, everyone in the community loved this family, and their kids. Oooooooppppppppssss. At around 45 years of age, HE decided to Rob Banks, Bye, Bye. So what if your father did not have a CRIMINAL History, that means nothing once you are busted. I am SORRY that YOU are in DENIAL about him being a DRUGGIE. If he were alive to go to trial, I believe YOU would be Extremely disappointed in the verdict, and YOU would still be in DENIAL anyway. There is Professional Mental Intervention available to help YOU with YOUR DENIAL about this situation, I would advise you to seek it out for closure.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For those of you outwith the U.K. You may wish to look up comedian Dave Allen on YouTube. He was an Irish Catholic who used to do sketches which poked fun at the Church for all of the things, justmaybe describes above. That was in the sixties and seventies. Very courageous man. They tried to silence him too.\n\nOne of his best quotes was that he loved that period of time between one Pope dying and another getting elected. He said, \"Its a magnificent few days where absolutely no one on earth claims to be infallible.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have heard and read that the Pope cannot change the teachings and documents of a Council. The Church needs governance. I think Pope Francis' attempts to go back to Vatican 2 is part of his commitment to provide governance which was missing with his predecessors.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\u2026the great movement of apostasy being organized in every country for the establishment of a One-World Church which shall have neither dogmas, nor hierarchy, neither discipline for the mind, nor curb for the passions, and which, under the pretext of freedom and human dignity, would bring back to the world (if such a Church could overcome) the reign of legalized cunning and force, and the oppression of the weak, and of all those who toil and suffer.\n\nWe wish to draw your attention, Venerable Brethren, to this distortion of the Gospel and to the sacred character of Our Lord Jesus Christ, God and man, prevailing within the Sillon and elsewhere. As soon as the social question is being approached, it is the fashion to first put aside the divinity of Jesus Christ, and then to mention only His unlimited clemency, His compassion for all human miseries, and His pressing exhortations to the love of our neighbor and to the brotherhood of men.Pope St. Pius X", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I wanted to see what the questions were. I remember the questionnaires they put out before each session of the synod on the family, and it was terrible. For example, the first question on the first questionnaire was \"Describe how the Catholic Church\u2019s teachings on the value of the family contained in the Bible, Guadium et spes, Familiaris consortio and other documents of the post-consiliar Magisterium is understood by people today?\"\n\nHow many of the laity have even heard of Gaudium et Spes or Familiaris Consortio, let alone read them? \n\nHere is question 41 from the second questionnaire:\"What are the most significant steps that have been taken to announce and effectively promote the beauty and dignity of becoming a mother or father, in light, for example, of Humanae Vitae of Blessed Pope Paul VI?\" They are asking \"how can we get people to accept HV?\", when what they should be asking is \"Do you accept the teaching on contraception? Why or why not?\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What happened to development of doctrine? If the Eucharist is Jesus and Jesus is God (as well as man), why wouldn't God be adored in the Eucharist?\nUnderstandings do develop even in the High Middle Ages!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you for your comment. The consecrated Host, which is the true Body of Jesus, actually and physically present among us, is but one of several dimensions of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Holy Communion is just that ....communion...among, on a micro basis, the worshipers at a Mass.We hold hands to show we are one in Jesus, one in His Body, and one with each other.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I was not condoning violence. My comment was intended to highlight a delusion. \nPeople can excuse away anything.\nThe Catholic Church is proof. It is unbelievable that a church would coverup the desecration of innocent children and spend decades fighting those victims. Using methods so immoral to deny them justice.\nDoes this sound like a church?\nIt is all OK to stay silent or look the other way for many people that believe their eternal life is determined by their receiving Catholic sacraments.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes - and thank you for (inadvertently) making my point.\n\"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.\u2019[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: \u2018Love your neighbor as yourself.\u2019[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.\u201d The two are part of the same instruction from Jesus. Yes, one is first and the other isn't made out to be in second place, but a continuation of the first part. That you split the two apart tells me a great deal about your schismatic thinking in Catholic theology. Besides the Eucharist, and our brother and sister human beings, is there any other way that God is present to us in this world?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We should never be shamed into NOT giving total generosity as our gift to God. \nIt's so clear in the Gospel, when Judas comments about the use of a lot of perfume to anoint Jesus's feet.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You mischaracterize totally. \n\nSaying that we must conform toward a single unity, a truth, which is the mystical body of Christ, the Church isn't being rigorist.\n\nIn fact saying that one can make up their own rules of moral behavior as you do, is actually being rigorist, unopen to a larger truth outside of our particular wants and needs and desires.\n\nAdam and Eve were being rigorists when they want to make up their own rules, as you do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, he is a biblical scholar fluent in ancient languages. He has an STD and an SSL in biblical studies. If you follow the link to the lecture, you will see his wonderful intellect at work AND he was amazingly pastoral. Again, I was so lucky, I lived in his dorm, was his student for a number of courses, and he was my spiritual director. He was also a periti at Vatican II. In another time, he would have been an Archbishop or a Cardinal. But we ended up with Dolan, Cordileone, George, Krol, Lori . . .", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You really seem to want to discuss self-esteem. That's a different topic.\n\nI agree that peace is an outcome, but peaceful living must be modeled. Those who are exposed primarily to violence tend to become violent. Those who are exposed primarily to peace tend to be peacemakers. And the skills required for peaceful living -- like conflict resolution, anger management, principles of social justice -- can indeed be taught. I'm sure that's what Mr. McCarthy means by \"teaching peace.\"\n\nAlso, keep in mind that the peace of Christ is different from the peace of the world. In that sense, peace-making is largely a matter of catechesis.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I was struck by the sheer naivete (think this was part of it, and they went in early, after Catholic school) and the fact that the teaching profession had given exactly zero guidelines on the subject at this time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Michael: The \"anti-sex\" stance of many pro-lifers is something to talk about more. Often, but not always, when I hear pro-life arguments, it devolves into also berating the \"hedonistic, if it feels good do it\" act that causes pregnancy--and very nasty things about the \"sex-obsessed\" people involved. As a prominent pro-life leader said, \"The best contraceptive is the zipper.\" \n\nThe fact that there are so few Catholic anti-abortion advocates who support contraception leads me to think that, to them, sex can be as naughty as abortion is evil in some kind of distorted moral-equivalency paradigm. Am I wrong? It wouldn't be the first time. \n\n Why do so many non-Catholic pro-life evangelical clergy who strongly condemn abortion accept and even heartily endorse contraception as at least part of the solution in responsible Christian family planning and marital relations---and, most of all, in abortion reduction?\n\nIn this month of praying for Christian unity, are we not so unified after all?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "LifeoftheLay do you agree with me?\nNCR always seems to write its editorials for a very small audience: Very liberal people who have left the Church or who are at extreme odds with the Church and Her authentic teachings. We should all acknowledge something NCR refuses to accept: the Universal Church is now growing by leaps and bounds in the southern and eastern hemispheres of our globe, and these areas are even more conservative on moral and theological issues (albeit liberal on economic matters) than most Western religious conservatives. Which Western, mainstream conservatives have called for the imprisonment of gays? None that I know of. However, several RC bishops in the developing world have supported those efforts in their own countries. European and American liberals no longer matter; the power now resides elsewhere, and Holy Father Francis has accelerated this change due to his recent appointments \"from the peripheries\" to the College of Cardinals.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are priests who \"get it\". There are priests who don't, can't; who never had or who have stifled that capacity. There are priests who get it who would have made marvelous parents of real children. So as there are mothers who would have brought that wonder and wonder-fullness to priesthood.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well guess what. I'm not Catholic. But you are playing the bias card very strongly, assuming religion exists to control people. \nThere is no \"fail\" at religion. It is not a pass / fail test. \nYour definition is only yours. It works for you. It is not the truth for most people.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "With \"social justice\" being used to justify such a long list of evils, why would a believer in God risk tainting the great purity and beauty of the Gospel by mixing the two? Christians advocating for \"social justice\" makes about as much sense as a bride going mud wrestling in her wedding dress before walking down the aisle and expecting everyone to think she's beautiful.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sure there is a big difference between a spontaneous abortion and a planned abortion. However my point is that some RCC Bishops are attempting to make their own rules about what is a spontaneous abortion and attempting to refuse a D & C until the Bishop is convinced it is a \"miscarriage.\" This is dangerous. This is the call of a gynecologist and not that of an untrained bishop. The next point is that a fetus is not a baby. I know in common colloquialism many people call their unborn fetus's babies. A fetus can not survive on its own until around 22 weeks gestation and in a very good neonatal ICU. Few if any non University Catholic Hospitals have such good ICU's. Once again the RCC does not do it share in supporting the born child in common society as it supports corporate greedy donors over struggling children. You sir are using fake facts or factoids. There is a problem in all large corporate news sources because they slant the news. No one is worse than Fox and Breightbart.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Excommunication is a serious remedy for a serious sin. The excommunicant is called to repent and rejoin the Church. Meanwhile, faithful Catholics are notified that this behavior is grave and cuts one off from the Church and hence the Body of Christ. Consider it is form of ecclesiastical hygene.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Please - try some education and nuance. You may believe that life begins at conception but most catholics, using reason and current medical science, see a development before we pronounce *life*. Guess what, even the Church held that position for centuries and most significant denominations and religions do not have such a black and white life at conception cut off e.g. Protestants, Jews, Eastern Orthodox, etc.\n\nCompare slavery and abortion - really - guess you know from experience about which is worse?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The part of (Sunday's) Mass I remembered - I have a short memory -- was that opening to the Gospel, something about an \"an eye for an eye\". Donald said that it was his favorite Bible verse. He has a brief attention span too. I don't remember hearing him add \"turn the other cheek'. \n.\nI realize that the topic of this listing of comments is not about THE DONALD but about the bishop. I make it just to point that there was something in the liturgy that connects the two.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Have not went door to door like the Mormons. I have suggested to our choir director we sing out in public in a place where artists perform and invite others to our Mass but have not been taken up on my suggestion. \n\nDo you have any ideas how I can give public witness?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Turkey hosts 2 million Syrians, many of whom are Christian. Lebanon hosts over a million. Jordan hosts another two million. There are Sunnis, Shias, Druze, Christians, Alawites, etc in that group. I don't think the border guards only allow Muslims in to those countries.\n\nI have lived in 4 Muslim countries, and learned to read, write and speak Arabic. Out of respect for my host country. Have you?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sister in Christ, although your post is of superior quality, you do Pope Saint John Paul II a disservice by referring to him only as \"the Great.\" He is \"the Magnificent, Arrayed in Glory and Prestige, the Savior of the Western World.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I believe he and his wife have 12 (count 'em, 12!) of their own. There were 4 foster kids at the ranch when Finicum ran off to join the Bundy gang. Those boys were removed from Finicum's care, to which he lamented \"that was my main source of income.\"\n\"According to a 2010 tax filing, Catholic Charities paid the family $115,343 to foster children in 2009.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, let's stop and change then lens of how we are viewing all of this. First, you are leaving out some particularly vital Gospel passages that give full support to regular attendance at Mass. Jesus Himself told us that whenever two or more are gathered in His name, He is with us. I know this doesn't just pertain to a Mass, but the Eucharistic Celebration is the Church's most public communal prayer of all of its rituals, and the Church itself recognized this as it progressed and grew in its second millennia. The symbol of joining as a community in observance of our shared beliefs has it roots in the earliest human groups when a number of those primitive peoples lived together in caves, and shared meals as part of their daily routine. The Exodus story of the Jewish people's liberation from Egypt is full of accounts of shared meals and of course, manna from heaven to save them from starvation. This all formed the basis for Jesus and His disciples (continued)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As per Matthew 18:18 \"Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.\" The Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Church has the authority, given to him by Christ himself and passed down through the unbroken line of apostolic succession, to relieve a priest who had left the church to marry from any impediment to celebrating the Holy Sacraments. \n\nThere, feel better now?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Didn't you get the memo this past election cycle? The Catholic Church, by virtue of their statements released by the USCCB and their actions, has rendered abortion a venial sin. It can be considered with the same moral equivalency as illegal immigration, climate change, higher wages for the \"working person\" (unless employed by the Catholic Church), and the environment.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Unfortunately, it is the clerical church that has been 'hung up' on sex much, much more than ordinary Catholics. It was/is the job of popes [called PONTIFFS---bridge builders] to build bridges to all peoples---including the homosexual community. The last two popes burned bridges more than built them. Not only didn't the hierarchy and some members of the clergy not build bridges, they didn't even bother to TRY to listen to what the LBGT community was saying.\n\nNONE of us are responsible for the elements that contributed to our conception and formation as humans in the womb. And none should be judged guilty for the results of that conception. The only \"disordered tendencies\" are coming from those, both hierarchy/clergy and laity who refuse to educate themselves on the nature of same sexual orientation in all of God's creation of animals.\nSince humanity belongs to the animal kingdom [as opposed to the plant kingdom], some humans are also CREATED same-sex as God directs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Very interesting column.\n Speaking of \"Pastor\" Mansbridge my choice for news anchor is Luba Goy.\n Luba may be a Goy, but she can pass for Jewish.\n \n And that's what this country needs - some of that ol' time Judaeo-Christian ethics - the Jewish humour ethic and the Christian love-your-neighbour ethic.\n With Luba Goy telling Canadians like it is, I would watch the National religiously.\n I know the gay folks in this august forum would disagree (I would settle for Rick Mercer), but, hey, they are only 95% of posters here. Give the other 5% a break.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The constraints of what a writer-friend of mine called \"TEMPORAL PROVINCIALISM\"--the natural limits of looking at the past and predicting the future with only what we know now--preclude lasting assessment, but...I think Francis has set the stage for:\n\n. Begrudging respect for the laity heretofore disallowed and mocked...\n\n. Continued limited assent to the wisdom of women...\n\n. A priesthood that--but not appreciated until a century later--was changed but not revolutionized...\n\n . Taking human sexuality off the table as a credible issue for celibates...\n\n. Telling cardinals and others, \"Catholicism is elite, but not elitist; put away your finery and your arrogant claims of special authority\"....\n\n. In the short-term re-adjusting a pendulum that had been guided far right by immediate predecessors...\n\n. Changed demographics of Church leadership, \"far more so than was appreciated at the time\"...\n\n. Set the stage for a damaging over-reactive \"return to JP II\" movement.\n\nI could be wrong.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sure, denigrate people because the facts make you uncomfortable or challenge what you think you know.\nMarty, I say this without meaning to make it sound like a put-down, or that I think I know everything. I don't. But I have studied a lot of history including Church history. From what you have said on several Church related topics (Paul's writings, history of celibacy) you have some misinformation or lack of study on the subjects. Now you can respond with a put-down of me or of scholars if you like, that's your choice, but if you care about all this (and since you are here discussing it, I assume you do) you should seek out some books on the subjects and read up. Find out the FACTS. The history of celibacy for instance involves facts which are easily checked. Celibacy was not the norm. It was an idea which gradually spread (and was gradually adopted as the rule) but did not become universal in the church until about a thousand years ago. You can look it up!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I accept your apology. Did you learn anything from this episode? Please reconsider your position on the proposed changes to the ACA. Please open your mind to the suffering and pathos of those less fortunate than yourself. You are a rich man. Not everyone will have your good fortune. You claim to be a Christian....show us what you can do on behalf of those less fortunate. I believe that a true believer would focus on spreading good will and good health, not act in vengeful ways. Show us that you have changed your ways from bullying to broad-based social responsibility. Can you apply some of your wealth to the welfare of the poor and weak?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The polemical denunciation of us \"cafeteria\" types always struck me as a misguided sublimation of gluttony as a virtue, and a corresponding abandonment of the traditional doctrine that \"discernment is the mother of all the virtues.\"\n\n\"Meant to convey something of importance\" is key here. Jesus, the authors of the NT, and the Fathers, all men raised in a sexist environment that privileged males and masculinity, no doubt had the best of intentions, regarding Love, Mercy and other fine things; but if they thought insistence on the male identity of the Persons of the Trinity was an adequate way to convey all those fine things, well, it seems they were at least as much passing along the prejudices of their societies, rather than getting to the \"something of importance.\"\n\nBTW there's no need to be cynical here. It wouldn't be fair to accuse them of seeking deliberately to crush the dignity, equality and aspirations of women. They were what they were, children of their times.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\u201cAddress a message\u201d? Precisely what is your message?\n\nTaking a scientific approach to the topic, I would expect that I would favor what produces the positive results and disfavor those which do not produce positive results.\n\nIf religion, with or without \u201cmyths and superstitions\u201d, produces more positive results than talk therapy, why would I not favor it?\n\nIf the issues is \u201ca fixed religious belief system\u201d, wouldn\u2019t that exempt the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints which has ongoing revelation?\n\nWouldn\u2019t that dispel \u201creligion \u2018never\u2019 does\u201d?\n\nI am growing concerned that you\u2019re exhibiting anti-intellectual attitudes based some a priori prejudices against religion rather the simple observation that it produces positive results, which is the scientific method.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Cardinal Wuerl's example of the woman caught in adultery seems an odd choice to defend Amoris Laetitia, as Jesus finished by telling her to \"go and sin no more\". In other words to stop committing adultery. Which surely is the position of the (supposedly) \"very small number of Clergy and their media supporters\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think you are reading your modern day social justice mentality onto the story...the people being fed spent three days with Jesus listening to His teaching. It doesn't necessarily relate that they are poor. Jesus would have been a bad host if He turned them away without feeding them and they collapsed on their way home. It is Jesus who multiplied the loaves and fishes not because someone in the crowd shared what they already had...otherwise why would Jesus needed to perform a miracle or the Gospel writer found it noteworthy to write if it wasn't a miraculous sign from Our Lord?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\" I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and turning to a different gospel\u2014not that there is another gospel, but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, If any one is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed.\"\n\nGal 1:6-9", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "John - I had posted a reply to your comment a couple of days ago, but it is \"caught\" in approval for some reason and I can't get it free. I'm going to find it and paste it in reply to this reply. How does one contact Civil Comments in such cases?\n_____________________________________________________\nOkay - I found it and here it is:\nJohn, let me first express my condolences on the passing of your mother. I think you plan for your mother's remains is a beautiful one, and one that illustrates that the dust that our bodies will revert to - one way or another - carry a far more symbolic meaning than just having to do with the resurrection. It is very much about sharing oneself in death just as we do in life. It is in this matter that one should consider and listen to their conscience as it speaks with the Spirit of God and provides us with direction as much as with any other Church teaching. Bless you and your wife in your journey of love.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The only \"indefectible\" teachings are the Creedal statements. Everything else is open to interpretation, enlargement, and understanding. To realize the meaning of our existence Jesus has given us His ineffable example and the Two Great Commandments. We are to love God and love our brothers and sisters. That's it. That's all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I politely disagree. This papacy has seen an excessively overreaching of papal power not seen since the days of Pius IX in the 19th century. Unlike most popes, who consider themselves to be just another pope in a long line of Roman Pontiffs, Francis considers himself to be \"The Pope\" supreme and unquestioning. How all this will develop remains to be seen. I shudder for my dear Catholic Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That is like claiming that the power of the SCOTUS os self declared. It is also like claiming that the SCOTUS believes judges like the guy from Arkansas who told the state judges to ignore their decision on gay marriage are seen as dangerous and need to be silenced. \n\nFunny thing is--the pope does not go around condemning Protestant theologians who hold similar views to dissident Catholic theologians. What that means it that the pope does not condemn theologians based on fear. They are condemned for not adhering to the Catholic Faith.\n\nThe difference between a dissident Catholic and a Protestant is that the Protestant has integrity. If a person wants to be a Catholic theologian, then they need to teach the Catholic Faith--not their own agenda or personal whims. If a Catholic theologian wants to teach things that aren't Catholic, yet are religious and have to do with God in some way--let them go teach at a Protestant university. Then the pope won't care what they teach.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Can Religious Charities Take the Place of the Welfare State?\n\nNo. As we know, Catholic \"religious charity\" is primarily funded by the government. Not the local St. Vincent dePaul society, and many other local efforts. Important work, but limited in scope.\n\nDoes anyone really think that some reduction in taxes (primarily for the wealthy) will end up being given to charity? \n\nLet's see - now how much has, for example, Trump given to charity over the last ten years? Oh, we don't know because he refuses to release his tax returns. But Trump, and people like him, the truly wealthy, are the ones who will benefit most from tax cuts. How much of that tax cut will be donated to help a poor person pay a heating bill, or help fund after-school programs, or provide enough funding for Meals-On-Wheels? \n\nIn Georgia, the state legislature has chosen to give tax breaks to people who will donate to a rural hospital, rather than designate funding. How do you think that is working?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Just a reminder - the liturgical reform post-Vatican II were the works of a full Church Council. It carries a bit more weight than your opinion and pining away for a form that no longer fits our needs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's just so \"Catholic hierarchy\" to be consumed with curiosity about who is clicking which buttons. Ahem.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Proportion. Relative to all Catholics how many people pick up and go to far flung places to do their vocation, and (2nd mental operation) compared to that proportion how many articles in NCR are about the quirky, the hyphenated, the outback, the trendy, special?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "AMEN, Mike! Barbara Blaine did more for the victims and their families than all of pour bishops put together! It's no small wonder that she lasted twenty nine years. Now what we need most is a pope who will hold our bishops fully accountable!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thanks, BROohthor - I live in southern California, where there are four main dioceses: L.A., Orange, San Diego, and San Bernardino, with about 8 million registered Catholics. I'm not sure these folks are drifting away from their respective churches because of the Vatican culture. I think the church has not evolved in its ability to speak to modern society in credible ways and people sense that. Some, wanting a more inclusive church, move to Anglican communities, but most, by far, move to congregational and/or evangelical communities, which are, if anything, less inclusive. In short, although I agree that the Vatican culture is a problem, I think the larger problem is that the US Church doesn't have a message people find credible -- unless I'm missing something. I am hearing impaired, after all....monica.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Arvid attempts dismissal by claim of hypocrisy. It has nothing to do with the original argument, but simply raises a new distracting charge. At its base, it assumes no one can critique another unless, by comparison, a similar claim cannot be made against the other side. \nIt may have religious roots (let he without sin cast the first stone) and so I call it the \"Jesus Principle\": Unless one is perfect, one cannot critique another. And since we are not perfect, the dismissal by claim of hypocrisy can be limitless. \nAs I posted below, the definition of fake news has been perverted. In effect, the charge of \"fake news\" is fake. As a summary of Orwell notes: \"Orwell criticised words with formally precise definitions being used badly and the vague slide in meaning for many of these words. He was a fierce critic of Fascism but he would freely mock the promiscuous use of the word\"\nhttps://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/25/world/europe/fake-news-donald-trump-hillary-clinton-georgia.html?_r=1", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you think that I was justifying cruelty, those thoughts come not from anything I said nor quoted but from your own imagination. I am pointing to the murderous thoughts and actions that ONLY come when you walk away from God (not the god of your imaginations but the God of the Bible as He reveals Himself through His word).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When Christ was asked, \"Will many be saved?\" He said the path is wide that leads to destruction And narrow is the path and few who find it that leads to salvation. He is merciful so that we repent. He does not embrace the sin. He is holy. The sinner must repent. How COULD the Church ever say who is in hell aside from the devils? God is the judge. That doesn't mean we think Christ lied.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Lumen Gentium, from Vatican II, tells it differently.\n\n\"Although the bishops, taken individually, do not enjoy the privilege of infallibility, they do, however, proclaim infallibly the doctrine of Christ on the following conditions: namely, when, even though dispersed throughout the world but preserving for all that amongst themselves and with Peter's successor the bond of communion, in their authoritative teaching concerning matters of faith and morals, they are in agreement that a particular teaching is to be held definitively and absolutely. This is still more clearly the case when, assembled in an ecumenical council, they are, for the universal Church, teachers of and judges in matters of faith and morals, whose decisions must be adhered to with the loyal and obedient assent of faith.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Right or wrong, I think any peer assent, let alone voting endorsement, will be received as support for Archbishop Chaput's smaller and purer wish for the Church. On the heels of his recent startling Notre Dame talk, laity are looking to the bishops for a CLEAR and UNAMBIGUOUS response to the Chaput vision; after all, he famously has said \"confusion is of the devil\" and both he and the laity are owed a USCCB response that is NOT confusing. \n\nWhile Chaput is obsessively (my word) focusing on CINOs, the bishops have to assure us that they are not SINOs (Shepherds In Name Only) and that they reject Chaput's dream of a Church that's focused on purging fellow-Catholic \"enemies within us.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A friend of mine once quipped \"Jesus said, 'take and eat'...he didn't say sit and stare. \" \nCommunion with Him is about becoming one with Him in is His giving Himself for the benefit of others...this is the \"do THIS in memory of me.\" With Me give your bodies to be broken and your blood to be poured out for the benefit of the many...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Now THIS is a perfect example of why I read NCR. \n\nIf reviews got reviewed, this one would get five stars. \n\nA film that isn't a crowd pleaser, but one that is a must-see---sounds like a paradox that honors a story of paradox in a faith of paradox..of clarity AND ambiguity...of canons AND nuance...of certainty AND doubt...of order AND confusion. \n\nThis review and this movie remind us why we must resist the conclusion offered in 2016 by Archbishop Chaput (amid praise and affirmation from many Catholics) that \"Confusion is of the Devil.\" As Sr. Rose and Martin Scorsese tell us, it often is of the angels--nothing less than a prerequisite to optimal faith. \n\nNothing can be heard so loudly as \"Silence.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Parts of the area that is now Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Colorado, Utah were first inhabited by the various Native American Tribes who had migrated here thousands of years ago from Asia.\nMexico was where a variety/tribes of indigenous people who descended from ancient civilizations, (I think they were referred to as Mesoamericans) lived.\nIn 1519 Spain invaded Mexico and by 1521, conquered Mexico. \nSpain then invaded the area that later became U.S. territory.\nThey \"conquered\" the indigenous people, created Spanish Land Grants, established the Franciscan Catholic Missions and set up Spanish rule. \nThe Puelbo People revolted and kicked them out for about 12 years. \nThe Spanish ruled until the Mexican Civil War when Mexico, in 1812, became independent.\nA dispute between Texas and Mexico over boundaries caused, in 1847, the Mexican-American War. \nThe U.S. won and 1848, ended up with the territories that are now States. \nFor short time France ruled Mexico. \nA lot more to it", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Gary - Nobody alive on this earth condemns you, that is Gods decision and Gods alone, and no true Christian would stand as your judge. But obviously in this topic you are unable to understand, Jesus said \"This is why I speak to them in parables: \"Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.\" There are some who are simply not going t understand, \"At that time Jesus said, \"I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The glory that surrounds him is unsurpassed by anything that mortal eyes have yet beheld. The shout of triumph rings out upon the air., \u201cChrist has come! Christ has come!\u201d The people prostrate themselves in adoration before him, while he lifts up his hands, and pronounces a blessing upon them, as Christ blessed his disciples when he was upon the earth. His voice is soft and subdued, yet full of melody. In gentle, compassionate tones he presents some of the same gracious, heavenly truths which the Saviour uttered; he heals the diseases of the people, and then, in his assumed character of Christ, he claims to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday, and commands all to hallow the day which he has blessed. He declares that those who persist in keeping holy the seventh day are blaspheming his name by refusing to listen to his angels sent to them with light and truth. This is the strong, almost overmastering delusion.\" GC 624\n\nDo you see why the delusion is so deceptive?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh you mean like the Westboro Baptist church trolls at military funerals? A cemetery is a public place. How about some modicum of respect instead. Because you sound like you are trying to justify.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There\u2019s something so tragic and sad about the silence on guns, nuclear arms, unregulated availability of opioids, too. Prayers are not enough for the 90 people who died daily from opioid overdose. Or the hundreds who have died from gun violence since the Vegas domestic terror attack. Most of these life and death issues are linked to profit and corporations. When the Church does not speak out others fill the vacuum. As followers of Christ we cannot accommodate this culture of profit that goes against life, the common Good, human dignity, solidarity and care for the earth. It takes moral courage and strength to stand for something. Thank you for your courage MSW.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Or political controversy. That's especially true of Judge Gorsuch since the Episcopalian Church allows birth control and isn't vehemently anti abortion. They are however, prolife in the broader sense. VP Pence has done quite well politically by becoming an Evangelical in a state where black and white theology brings rural votes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There has been no change in the temperature of the globe in 20 years.\n\nThe temperature of the globe has been higher in the past, with myriad benefits for mankind.\n\nCO2 has been much higher in the past, resulting in abundant food, lower danger from fire, etc.\n\nThe whole Carbon Hoax is a totalitarian tool to batten down confiscatory taxes and controls.\n\nWhen you hear, \"reduce carbon emissions,\" what is really being proposed is \"murder millions of the poor.\"\n\nIt is no coincidence that the same Pope who is pushing the Carbon Hoax is the first Pope to appoint pro-abortion ideologues to Vatican commissions and to welcome them to one Vatican conference after another.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Agreed. The problem is that too many of the hierarchy and clergy believe that God takes orders from the magisterium of the Catholic Church. God doesn't and never did.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "More misconceptions and assumptions made of a place you refuse to visit. Your accusations can not be backed up with any proof. Easily 80-90% of folks at ID have never read those position papers. It was odd Beth Slovic linked to them, because of what I just said - no one hardly looks at them. \nLet me know when we can expect to see you picketing a Catholic church, being that you are concerned with male leadership.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Charming. \n\nAnd what makes you so sure, by the way, that Pope Francis is not talking about your \"recent words\"?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If the bible is the word of God, then it should apply to all and be crystal clear, but being written( and mostly fabricated ) by mere mortals it is neither. How would you know what God's purpose is, has he told you? Hey, like I said you want to believe, believe. Everyone should be entitled to their fantasies as long as they don't hurt others with them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "St. Gregory of Nyssa thought so (from Commentary on the Song of Songs):\n\nNo one can adequately grasp the terms pertaining to God. For example, \"mother\" is mentioned [in the Scriptures] in place of \"father.\" Both terms mean the same because the divine is neither male nor female (for how could such a thing be contemplated in divinity, when it [does not] remain intact permanently in us human beings either? But when all shall be one in Christ, we shall be divested of the signs of this distinction together with the whole of the old man). Therefore, every name found [in Scripture] is equally able to indicate the ineffable nature, since the meaning of the undefiled is contaminated by neither male nor female.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "sadly true, Violet, but the church of Jesus, the Christ, is still maturing into the scope of His message...SLOWLY over the past centuries! Maybe as the myriad cultures of His Church bring wisdom to influence that maturity, it will come about as He envisioned it. Peace, with patience and blessings!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"To the extent that we believe the historical Jesus is accurately portrayed in the gospels, or reflected in the Letters, we find that conditions exist for mercy and salvation\"\n\nDoesn't that go back to the original question? Does Scripture have epistemological sufficiency and necessity so that the many conditions enumerated there can be trusted to be sine qua non imperatives.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus specially commanded his disciples to go into the world and \"make disciples of every nation,\" and doing justice is at the heart of discipleship. Indeed, 'doing justice' is one of three things the prophet Micah says the Lord demands of each and every one of us. The bottom line is that 'doing justice' is evangelization. If we're going to evangelize, we have to do justice, and that's what's going on here ...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My obligation is mine to make and not to be shamed by badly formed Catholics.\n\nA vocation provides priorities...a vocation helps us find serenity. God knows that his incompetent and limited children can run around all the time with their hair on fire pretending they care for everyone in the same way. \n\nWe are limited in time.\nWe are limited in energy.\nGod wants us focused mostly exactly where He placed us.\n\nIt;'s quite reasonable that some people are very tired of a certain class of poster who wants to control what others think and do with their time.\n\nThey really hate freedom, at least in others. \n\nYou can recognize these people by counting up the number of \"I's\" in their comments. Yours had at least 7. \n\nSomething to fix..take to prayer. Too easy to become self focused.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Natural Law? It comes from ancient Greek Philosophy. I would prefer modern science that reveals creation is a process of evolution and incarnation started with the Big Bang. Church Teaching needs to be updated. Fortunately Pope Francis understands this.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You know perfectly well that that is not what I am telling you. You are attributing words and statements to me which I never wrote. That is unworthy of you.\nThe basic form of the Mass is described in the Gospel accounts of the Last Supper and in St Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians. I also gave you Justin Martyr's account of the Mass in the Second Century AD. The same basic structure is found in the Mass today as existed in apostolic and post-apostolic times: taking bread and wine, giving thanks, blessing/consecrating the elements, anamnesis and communion/eating and drinking the Body and Blood of Our Lord.\nYou say Modern Catholic scholarship as though all modern Catholic scholars supported the Protestant \"once and for all time\" 'tenet'. I bet if you named them they would be no more than a handful of progressives and/or dissidents as well.\nYou need not take \"Rome's\" word for anything if you don't wish to, orthodox Catholics most certainly do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Saint Pope John Paul II:\n\n\"Wherefore, in order that all doubt may be removed regarding a matter of great importance\u2026I declare that the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women and that this judgment is to be definitively held by all the Church's faithful.\"\n\nCongregation for the Doctrine of the Faith:\n\n\"This teaching requires definitive assent, since, founded on the written Word of God, and from the beginning constantly preserved and applied in the Tradition of the Church, it has been set forth infallibly by the ordinary and universal Magisterium (cf. Second Vatican Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium 25, 2). Thus, in the present circumstances, the Roman Pontiff, exercising his proper office of confirming the brethren (cf. Lk 22:32), has handed on this same teaching by a formal declaration, explicitly stating what is to be held always, everywhere, and by all, as belonging to the deposit of the faith.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That is short-term thinking, there is agreement with large-scale automation that many current employees will not need to be replaced. We need to get ready to deal with that.\n\nAs for \"Christian white European stock\", that isn't the issue, what is is continuing the culture that makes Canada a good place to live, i.e. that western culture. People of any color adopt that western culture and values when they have a chance to integrate properly, but when the numbers are so high there is no \"mainstream\" society around in which to integrate, they won't be able to.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I said the Roman Church teaches that the Church of Christ is present in other churches and ecclesial communities. Other Churches also have the means to offer the fullness of salvation, according to Dominus Ieus. If you read the recent Lutheran/Catholic agreement Declaration on the Way, you'll find that there is a possibility of intercommunion between Roman and Reformation churches, a possiblity which Pope Francis has hinted at.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Greetings......Discernment.......Discernment.......this is the Ignatian mantra! For all of you Tradies get used to this mode by the Holy Father! Blessings and prayers to Pope Francis as the jackels circle!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Political Islam\"? Is that anything like the political Christianity we see in the Republican tea party movement, or among the ranks of our own conservative party here in Canada?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part 5\n\nAgain to the Church\u2019s glory, it does appear that this clear-heading thinking about sexual orientation long accepted in Catholic moral theology, is not yet fully accepted by all secular peoples or cultures or legal system, although it is now taken as virtually self-evident by almost all educated people, and by the overwhelming majority of young people of high-school age in western democracies.\n\nThis understanding of sexual orientation as a fact of nature is essentially what zoology, ancient and modern, has long called instincts or drives. Instincts in scholastic philosophy are understood in terms of their objectives, their \u201cfinal causes,\u201d the activities towards which they move us.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"No one is suggesting otherwise.\"\nEverything else in your post suggests you haven't understood that you are precisely claiming \"otherwise\"!\n\n1. Statistically, I think you are deluded in your claim that Fatima is \"what what most Catholics believe to be the most important event of the twentieth century\".\n2. Even if they did, the Church says it is not an essential part of their faith.\n\n( By the way, repeatedly throwing in the adjective \"modernist\" in such an inappropriate way does not help your argument.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "LOL. You should be happy because it really hasn't changed things on the parish level. And yep, I think that there would have been at least a couple stories at a wedding planning site, Catholic forum, or divorced persons forum when someone asks about advice in this situation. I have yet to run across one. But thanks for conceding that AL does allow remarried people to receive Communion sans annulment and it is a perfectly legit option. \n\nAs for annulments, I've talked to a few acquaintances who investigated filing for annulments in the past year because of the new norms, I know that at the very least the Chi-town tribunal is still a bureacratic nightmare.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is a recurrent conflict in the Church. The first heretics were the Gnostics who held that \u2018knowledge,\u2019 gnosis, was the needed to ahieve enlightenment. The attempt to turn salvation into a form of knowing, instead of being a product of faith in Christ, has been a constant temptation ever since the time of the Gnostics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Never would be a very short time if women simply went on strike and stopped supporting the church both in money and time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I believe you\u2019re describing the Episcopal Church. The first problem that you encounter is that, like the Episcopal Church or RCWP, the result would not be in communion with the \u201cother 22 Catholic Rites\u201d none of which ordain women and all of which adhere to the Church\u2019s teaching on the impossibility of doing so.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pope Francis 'walks the walk' as well as 'talking the talk' ... the Church militant is in good hands!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Many thanks for this article. My wife and I live on the South Side of Chicago. She told me she was turning Catholic last Summer, and would need to go to Church regularly. She doesn't drive. \n\nBeing familiar with our nearest Church, I gave it a miss, and took her to St. Sabina. We joined straight away. \n\n It's heartening that Cupich affirms the understanding of Church and Christ that Fr. Pfleger and St. Sabina pursue so ardently. Pope Francis is doing good work here.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Capuchin \"Bone\" Church in Rome down the street from the US Embassy will have to dismantle its display in the basement. Also, on the day of his resurrection, John the Baptist will sport at least a hundred fingers from Italian churches alone.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Then why does the Ordinariate for the Anglican usage say explicitly: \"Permission has been given on a case-by-case basis by the Pope for former Anglican priests who are married to be ordained Catholic priests....\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm of the view that there is an alternative way of viewing Jesus and his message: I increasingly view the entire Jesus' story as a huge metaphor \u2014 not necessarily thought up by the particular person named \"Jesus\" who was reputedly a carpenter born in a place called Bethlehem with the surname \"Christ\" \u2014 but a \"metaphor for life\" thought up by millions of people, beginning with the earliest writers of his Gospel and New Testament stories, which reflects on the life journey all people have to travel through. Life, sadly and inherently, is all about chance, randomness, injustice, unfairness, pain, suffering and anxiety. None of us can escape it, even with all the money in the world, although we all try or crave to escape these inherent characteristics of life. (Concludes in next post...)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Even after 5 days, The Herald has not changed their headline for Tom's story. Didn't you see my happy face txt character? THEB may be enjoying the confusion one might think. Realize, they once informed us the author doesn't provide the headlines, rather, the paper does that.\nIt's pretty much impossible for one who doesn't believe in our risen Lord Jesus to understand his teachings in the Scriptures. I applaud your study, but know you must hear it, and believe it in your heart, which is not possible here.\nEasily as difficult is your attempt to peg me on your understanding of Trump, who I rarely listen to, if at all, and I certainly don't follow his tweets to know what that is all about.\nMaybe it's the ridiculous, hateful spin applied to him, the Republican Party, and to everything they supposedly do that causes me to agree with some things he's doing. And, it's certainly the decline of my own party's platform into the abyss. I would rather they stop their own bleeding.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No one does. HOWEVER, the priest is an archetype. There were probably priests (shamans, etc.) from the beginning of humankind (from the time that human beings first became 'conscious' -- which most likely is what The Adam and Eve story is about). There have always been spiritual leaders, and there will always be people born to be spiritual leaders. Women had leadership roles in the very early church -- until the men took over. I'm just saying: it doesn't matter if it's a man or a woman -- there always have been and always will be people who are 'called' (born to, whatever) to spiritual leadership roles. Jesus had women disciples. The reason he didn't have women apostles is because that simply would have been totally unacceptable in those days in Israel and no one would have listened to him.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm sure the liberal press demonization of Catholicism doesn't exactly help...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Very well written.\nA religious cult designed to defend the \"sacred\" living \"god\" and the \"holy\" homeland from foreign invasion can tend to be suicidal.\n The US is as well a politico-religious semi-cult, built around irrational love of a constitution 240 years old and beloved Founding Fathers who owned slaves. Add American mythological jingoistic love of all things military and US exceptionalism, rationality and compromise fly out the window. Top it all off with a pseudo-Christianity in which Americans are purported to believe in the 10 Commandments but live by the 10 Delusions, the US is a cultish politico-religious rogue regime.\n\n \"Like people everywhere, they reflexively conform to the norms of the world around them without thinking through their merits.\" This is true of Americans as well as Koreans. As Bruce Springsteen sang, \"Blind faith can get you killed.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree, William, that one of our biggest losses as a church is that we now ignore the non-combatancy status that so many Seventh-day Adventists worked so hard to defend. We will someday look back at it as a marker of the time when we lost our uniqueness and became like all other American protestant fundamentalists, more invested in patriotism than in following God's word.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That is Gospel, not Dogma. Dogma are those credal issues agreed to at Calchedom, Ephesus and Nicea. They are issues that depend on Gospel revelation but went further and, because they mainly involve the Divinity, cannot be known in this life. They were deemed true by agreement, not evidence and so that factions would stop killing each other over these issues, which did not stop the poor people of Alexandria who were massacred because they were not in agreement on some minor point. Theology as blood sport. Kinda sinful, but Catholic hisotry seems to have a lot of that. To be so dogmatic is to join that shamefulness.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, we actually don't know if anything was \"covered up.\" If you read the essay, you'd see that what we know about these early women church leaders is directly from Paul's letters. That is, the letters of Paul's that are in a book we call the Bible. So what we know about these women and their leadership roles has been in plain sight for nearly 2000 years. And what is in those letters is still all we know about these early churches and precisely who started them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pope Francis is operating exactly how a pope SHOULD be acting in today's world. The church should be stressing every day, every year, every decade, every century, what Christ taught as the two MAJOR commandments ---Love God above all things and Love of Neighbor. In fact, Jesus didn't hesitate to 'change' the human trappings around the commandments when it needed change. This was what was shown in today's gospel at Mass [9/11]. \nWhat Francis is doing is speaking and enacting what teachings ALREADY exist in the Church\n1) Gaudium et spes [1965) which states that the church must be completely immersed in human affairs and for the church to share the joys and hopes of people.\n2) Pope John Paul II Centesimus Annus [1991] A theological dimension is needed both for interpreting and for solving present day problems in human society.\n\nThe Catholic church is destroyed when its members fail to LEARN what the church has really taught and because of that---fails to LIVE it in their LIVES.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think having good Christian beliefs is essential to many people and probably would be good for those who don't think so. I'm sorry, but I stand with the churches and wedding cake bakers, whatever not having to be forced to provide services to people of same sex marriage. It doesn't matter whether I'm Christian or not. Some people have said that well if the church can discriminate against the LGBT community they can start refusing to allow African Americans, Asian, Hispanic, etc. people into their church. As I see it there is a big distinction between the two because same sex whatever is prohibited by God. Being of a different race or ethnicity is not a sin. I'm a Christian and I am conflicted about the LGBT issue as I have friends that are LGBT. I'm told I'm supposed to turn my back on them. I still think that Christians have a right to exclude marrying same sex people as well as other Christian that are asked to be a part of a same sex marriage.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "MarkWilliam, surely you jest? The comment was made on a public forum and we do not know each other to address each other in any other fashion. Also this Brother is spreading the error in a public forum so it should be corrected in that public forum so that others are not led astray. I am following Jesus' admonition since I became aware of the remark here and have replied here. I didn't go on a different site and malign Brother Robert. I didn't take out an ad or write an article about him. I responded to him where he spoke as Jesus would have me do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sunday's also off in India, China and Japan. Since when are those \"Christian\" countries?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Princes of the Roman Catholic Church still just don't get it. Survivors are still being shamed for coming forward, still being blamed for \"bringing down the Church\", still being dis-believed, still being held responsible for churches closing. Has anyone on this forum heard from, or about, Danno ??? It is difficult not to give up hope. But we must not give up hope", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yet, Jesus did not always or solely rebuke. He called, invited, taught, challenged, inspired, attracted, reached out, showed compassion, showed integrity. The people responded to all of these.\n\nLet us not get carried away with \"rebuking\". God can anoint words. The Holy Spirit can convict hearts. It is not all up to us.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "THE stories of the missing women get more and more lurid and horrific with each telling. The inquiry will offer no opportunity for anybody to ask any questions about why new or even conflicting information wasn't given to the RCMP years ago. Whole new events will be reported out of the blue , and be accepted as sacred gospel of native orthodoxy. As Bennett says, it is to respect native traditions and cultural sensitivities. But no men will be called to speak.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Part two of two) \u201cSir, here is your gold coin; I kept it stored away in a handkerchief\u201d (Luke 19:20). The Faithful do well to remember \u201cHoly, holy, holy Lord, mighty God! (Psalm 150:1b). And to remember, \u201cWorthy are you, Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power\u201d from your Faithful who exchange your security for the security of earthly matters, \u201cfor you created all things; because of you will they came to be and were created\u201d (Revelation 4:11). Liturgy of the Word, Reading 499, Wednesday of the Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time II.\n\n\u201cOne attendee (of the Catholic Volunteer Network\u2019s National Conference on Faith-Based Service, whose theme was `Justice Matters: Bringing Good News to Light\u2019) told a small group that the conference showed that we need to `pray and work and see what we can do\u2019 \u2014 perhaps a more accurate theme than the original.\u201d Amen to that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Absolutely not. I would never pay for such dissident and heretical viewpoints. I only comment on the articles to provide a true vision of the Roman Catholic faith, not what is falsely professed here by many.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For those of you not acquainted with \"The Catholic Thing,\" please be aware that Fr. Robert Imbelli would be considered a left-wing progressive by the majority of folks who either write for or read that blog, if they really understood what he was saying. This theologian is worthy of deep reading. MSW may well be correct in what he writes as a critique of Imbelli, but if the folks who read \"The Catholic Thing\" would seriously parse what Imbelli writes, visitors to and commentators on that blog might undergo a subtle change in tone from the screed that one usually finds there.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Continued)\nMary Ward, of 1600's England, tried to avoid the demands of being cloistered by the local bishop and eventually went to Rome (in 1621 and 1624) to plead her case of keeping the Institute she founded, the English Ladies at St. Omer in France, with teaching as their mission and having adapted the rule of the Jesuits, the entire group was suppressed in 1631 because Ward and her ladies refused to wear habits and live in monasteries. So this is the historical record on which the view of women and their place in the Church rests. So now we jump forward to 1994, and Pope John Paul II's Apostolic Letter \"Priestly Ordination\" which stated that the Catholic Church does not have the authority or faculty (power) to ordain women. Then, the CDF under +Ratzinger, issued at the same time a commentary on \"The Declaration concerning the Question of the Admission of Women to the Ministerial Priesthood\" which showed the initiative for ordaining women is a fairly recent thing.\n\nContinued...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Protestant ethic. Doing well materially shows that God approves of you. If you are poor, sick, destitute then you need to get right with God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Vatican is a separate country. The Pope is also the Head of State of the Vatican.\n\nDidn't your farm school teach you that?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The laity --- everyone --- needs correction and needs to be reminded of the word of God. The great immaturity of Post-Modernism is that we're all just fine and don't need correction. Yes, I am like Adolph Eichmann, in that my superiors speak, and I obey. The Trinity is my Superior. I do my best to obey. I fall short and need correction. The Church is an instrument of God's voice, and I submit to the magisterium even when I disagree. You, on the other hand, disdain those who obey, and you think you need no correction. My view is realistic and God-centered. Yours is of a fairyland --- self-centered, without a Superior, and hence, in no need of correction. Essentially Godless, because your own self-made conscience is your God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Always good to learn and/or remember that both of the Genesis Creation stories are myth literary forms.\n\nAnd that myth stories are based on and incorporate lived human experience. However or whenever the custom and 'law' of 'Sabbath Rest' developed \u2013 whether from Moses, or a custom pre-dating that \u2013 the first creation story is attributed to Priestly origin and , as usual, makes a god into the 'image and likeness of man' so as to make man into a likeness of that God-image.\n\nThe myth describes even God 'resting' \u2013 and having to do all his 'labor' of creating everything in 6 days so that even God has to observe the 7th day Sabbath and take a break. Though just saying 'Let it be\" does not seem so strenuous!\n\nBut first came the human experience of Sabbath' observance -- and THEN the Biblical authors develop the myth story that explains the practice as being based on God and Six Days of creation work so that on 'the seventh day God rested' as giving a 'why' for the law about the 'Sabbath'.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Liberal Democrats, led by Sen. Ted Kennedy, took over the US Catholic Church in the 1970\u2019s and 1980\u2019s, and quickly admitted Gay men to the Priesthood in the 1980\u2019s. Note that the pedophile scandal (priests molesting boys) erupted in the early 2000\u2019s.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A married priesthood IS a respected part of the Catholic tradition -- just not in the Latin rite (or Church in more modern parlance). I understand that Roman Catholicism, as in Latin rite, is the norm for those in that rite. But it's not the norm for all Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The fact is, however, that one cannot be a Catholic and pro-choice or even tolerant of the pro-choice position. One can, of course deceive oneself that being a Catholic and pro-choice are compatible but that is all it is: delusion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nice looking church, and it's not decked out in Nats accouterments like another church I seem to recall being decked out for some football team. \n\nDon't like the attitude of rushing through Mass to get it over with as soon as possible. Surely we can give Our Lord at least a full hour on Sunday?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is a \"Third Way\". That way is the independent Catholic movement, called by Pope Francis as \"parallel Churches.\" I am not a Roman Catholic priest, but I am ordained in the Apostolic Succession. We celebrate Mass and offer the other sacraments. We minister to those whom Rome cannot or will not serve, like women who want to be ordained, and same sex couples who want to marry. Locally, we have celebrated a number of baptisms where the Roman churches have refused to baptize the children of unmarried couples and gay couples, or imposed other hurdles like requiring attendance at classes and exacting fees for baptisms. Working families often can't get the time off for classes and cannot afford the fees. We are all laborers in the Lord's vineyard, regardless of canon laws, magisteriums, or general conventions. Serving people comes before institutional integrity!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Holiness has been long ago defined.\n\nIn fact, the pagan Aristotle got quite close to it with his definition of happiness, which is totally unknown to today's crowd, including sadly most Catholics. \n\nA \"whole life well lived\" (virtuous, moral) was Aristotle's definition of happiness. \n\nAquinas took that long view - a life long view of never quite getting there until death - and elevated it.\n\nHoliness is living in unity with God's will, totally corresponding to His will for the sake of His glory (not for our sake). Holiness has the Other, Himself, built into it, unlike Aristotle. \n\nAquinas showed that all human virtues (the matter of the Greeks) at their vanishing point..or their point of perfection touch on the good of God. \n\nAnd so happiness (properly understood in terms of this deeper Greek meaning) and Holiness are highly related. \n\nHoliness is partaking in the divine life of the Trinity, our thoughts and desires become what He planned for us.\n\nInclined plane, a lifetime's work.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\",,, no reason why a church should be allowed to endorse ... talk about the electorate voting with its informed conscience....\"\nAfrican Americans church communities, however, do both: endorse a candidate and attempt to cultivate informed consciences among their believers. They don't have an identity crisis over this, either. In the last campaign, some African American pastors felt very comfortable inviting Hillary Clinton to a Sunday service and endorsing her there, either explicitly or implicitly. However, owing to the CC's non-homogeneous congregations, different history, among other things, this would not work.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Church has total responsibility in encouraging the married vocation. Absolutely.\n\nWe were not meant to be solitaries. Leads too easily to selfishness, and creating walls, borders if you will. \n\nOn average (large average) marriage is the path to holiness that we were designed to follow, including taking part of the ongoing creative acts of God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I just listened to a Webinar sponsored by Oregon Catholic Press about Encuentro V. Members of my diocese (Salt Lake City) have participated in previous ones. Those responding here to this article by keying in on immigration, have missed the focus and the importance of Encuentro. It is a process of dialogue, of listening from the ground up, starting at the parish level, moving up to the national level. The objectives are to improve ministry to people of Hispanic spirituality by listening to what problems they face. The process has its roots in how the Central/Latin American bishops responded to the hemorrhaging of Catholics to fundamentalist churches. As an outsider looking in, I sense that the Encuentros, both in process and outcome implementation, are responsible for the vitality of Hispanics in the American Catholic Church, especially in the Southwest. As a life-long US Catholic, I wonder what the English-speaking church might look like if we'd had similar opportunities.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You should read my comment again. It is book that said that not my Pastor. Relationship is what Jesus taught. Love is relationship. Healing is relationship. Forgiveness is relationship. Look at the Beatitudes and the Kingdom of God, it is about relationship.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "comintern-globalism. \n.....Henry Ford [dearborn observer]\n........The Jesuits: The Society of Jesus and the Betrayal of the Roman Catholic Church\nby Fr Malachi Martin", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ebes64, may I suggest that the more compelling observation is that Violet, self-confessed agnostic though she be, knows her scripture far better than many believers. And with all due respect, I suggest that in this instance, her knowledge of the text and how it get written and how it got accepted by Christians as a guide to our faith, appears to greatly exceed your own. \n\nI have no problem with your preference for faith over scriptural knowledge (and I do share that preference), but I do have a problem with you apparent inability to recognize Violet's apparent knowledge of modern scriptural studies. \n\nAs a fellow believer, I am embarrassed by your attempt to belittle her evident knowledge of the NT because she is an agnostic. \"Faith truly seeking wisdom\" must begin by respecting knowledge, regardless of the faith of the teacher.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\nSure I do. I'm asking you to connect the dots, to show how anything Cardinal Bernardin said, did or wrote \"opened the door\" to justifying abortion. Maybe you've already tried to do this and you realize that anything you write along those lines will be gibberish.\nCatholics may, indeed must, exercise prudential judgment on how to oppose abortion. Do they support policies that reduce the number of abortions? Or do they support policies that demonstrably increase the number and frequency of abortions while holding out for a law that will ban them? One can make a good faith case for either approach, but here in the U.S. (I forget whether you are a US citizen or resident), the latter approach has given us not only the most corrupt, incompetent, unstable president in our history, but also the most virulently, militantly anti-life, pro-death president, too. Infant mortality, maternal deaths, abortion: they will all increase on Trump's watch.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I suppose the fact that some folks greatgrandparents, grandparents, parents, and children's graves will go untended, or that marginal parishes attended by the poor and the elderly will close, matters little in the face of the \"good\" these attorneys achieve.\n\nI suppose the fact that these attorneys have lobbied successfully for laws abrogating the statute of limitations, often FOR ONLY THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, counts for naught.\n\nFixing an injustice with an injustice constitutes an injustice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, I see the connection, or, rather, the complete lack of connection to the column.\n\nYou seem to be wholly disinterested in your fellow human beings or in your country. I thought that Marines were supposed to pride themselves on patriotism. It would seem that you missed that. Or perhaps you have too narrow a view on what one should believe in. A parody of the Beatles's \"All You Need Is Love\", \"All You Need Is Christ\" is running through my mind.\n\nAny spiritual book you might recommend is one I shall be happy to avoid. Your spirituality is, at best, shallow as a child's wading pool. It is also marked with hypocrisy, since you have called for humility and honesty in one's spiritual life, two qualities that are remarkably lacking in many of your posts.\n\nI am still waiting for you to apologize for calling me a liar.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why? They are practicing (unlike Bannon and Pense) Catholics who hold to Church teaching including the primacy of conscience (cf. Gaudium et Spes).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Latin Rite liturgy was accepted in every continent and culture for centuries prior to Vatican II without complaint or objection. Since the conciliar reforms everyone wants to do their own 'liturgical' thing.\n\"Many trads are very uncomfortable with liturgies that reflect the cultures of non-European and non-Europeanized (such as Latin America) areas of the world.\"How do you come to this conclusion, how can you speak for 'Trads' when you are not one yourself? \nYour arguments re: Our Lord not having the benefit of Latin, Bach, Mozart, etc holds no water unless you object to the efforts of mankind to do everything to the Greater Glory of God (AMDG) building, painting, sculpting, composing, etc.\nGreek was the lingua franca of Roman provinces at the time of Christ.\nAgain you claim to speak for \"many Trads\" when you say they are uncomfortable with non-Western music, etc. How many 'Trads\" do you actually know?\nCardinal Sarah's preference is for the Catholic culture he was brought up in.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus used real bread and wine and told us to this in memory of Him, we don't get to change what He left us. \n\nGod can also raise up children to Abraham from stones but it's not the point.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Most certainly, they did not call into question the doctrine of the church, and enthusiastically supported the traditional practice I mentioned. I am glad to see in we are in agreement on this point. Most Holy Saint Pope John Paul !!, The Divine, also recognized and restored the clergy to the status they deserved. If only He had not been taken from us so soon, He might have restored the Latin Mass and put the laity back in their place, as servants of the Church, the Church being the Clergy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you, Mr. Tammeus. I'm Catholic and I also hope Pope Francis addresses some of your questions.\n\nAlthough I have some skepticism about apparitions in general, so can't say much about Marian apparitions, I do know people who are/were certain that they have experienced apparitions. I was astonished when a wonderful salt-of-the earth former neighbor told me in all seriousness that her recently deceased sister appeared to her one evening. And my own mother told me that my brother who had died at ten years of age was taking care of her in the nursing home where she resided. I suppose these might be, as Scrooge said, an \"undigested bit of beef\", etc. or the beginnings of dementia. But who knows? \n\nAs for Mary, I love her but don't think she was the milque-toast person sometimes depicted. She had to be one strong woman to undergo the travails of her life.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Intelligence surveillance tapes... This one could get interesting. Perhaps Trump shouldn't have bashed the CIA after all.\n\nMust be kind of sad for Pence. Brought on as VP for the evangelical vote, then being tossed in the corner after he served his one purpose.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "First of all, it is not my plan, it is Scriptural and based on 2000 years of Church teaching. \nMy take, and this is my take alone, is that, due to the nature of God and the nature He gave us in His image, there are certain actions that harm our souls, weaken them and in some cases kill them. These actions are called sins and God hates them, not because He arbitrarily doesn't like them, but because they harm our souls to the point that when we die, our souls will not be able to withstand the Fire of God's Love (you read about the burning fire of God in scripture and other spiritual writers). God hates these sins because they destroy our souls and He desires for ALL of us to be with Him for all eternity. But due to His own nature which He cannot change, grave sin-which is not subjective or arbitrary-keeps the human beings that He loves so much, from being able to withstand being in His presence when they die.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't consider myself a leftist. I have always been registered as Independent, and have frequently voted for Republicans. Of course, they were Republicans like John Heinz and Dick Thornburgh; however, appointing a white nationalist as your chief of staff and another supporter saying internment camps could be a useful tool doesn't really require anything additional from me to inflame the worries of a new fascism. As for Margaret Sanger's beliefs, I certainly would not rule them out in our time, especially if they proved beneficial to Christian coffers. In that case, they would then be known as sacraments.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": ":Thankfully, most folks at Imago do not take it all literally.\"\n\nYour pastor does. Take some responsibility for attending a church whose take on the bible is both mushy and offensive. The Conservative Baptist churches like Imago Dei actively oppose civil rights for gays, They pick and choose people to condemn, without rhyme or reason, from the Bible. \n\nBiking and recycling does not negate the fact that you support a pastor who preaches offensive doctrines.\n\nYou go because the music sounds lie Mumford & Sons? Get an I-Pod and listen to the real thing.\n\nObviously, one of the Elders has come up with the idea that the blistering criticism on this thread is \"group think.\" No- just the standard critique of fundy christianity.\n\nI get the feeling that you don't understand the denomination you belong to and what they so politically.\n\nJules Bailey will lose the election due to the company he keeps.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholic teaching on environmental responsibility is the one few areas where church teachings resonate with the typical US Catholic voter. And what does the USCCB do but ignore it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think very many people have questioned her progressive credentials, including prominent progressives like Bart Dame. Do some of the people who oppose Tulsi do so strictly because she is not Christian? Sure. But the vast majority are concerned that the person who she has basically admitted to looking for her spiritual guidance, has preached things that are the very opposite of progressive ideals. How is that not a legitimate concern? If someone attends a christian church where the pastor preaches white supremacy, I would question their progressive credentials as well, especially when they clearly started their career off as a conservative. Add in all the shady political things Chris Butler has already done, and where there is smoke there is fire. Butler could be her financial adviser, and I would still have legitimate concerns about his influence over her. The type of religion is irrelevant. https://jacobinmag.com/2017/05/tulsi-gabbard-president-sanders-democratic-party", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus' life and death demonstrate without reservation, that God seeks us out first in mercy.\n\nIn the Old Testament, we have the story of Jonah, the reluctant prophet, who was told to go to the people of Nineveh----a large city of pagans. In his initial command to Jonah, God was not only concerned about the people, but also concerned about the animals [cattle].\n\nI would like to know what you consider in talking about \"reform\". Is it not for humanity to strive to be the best that it can be? And is that not, to Love God and to Love others?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"In Christ there is no East or West\" William A. Dunkerley \"Judge not and ye shall not be judged\" Jesus Christ", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "ATF, I was inaccurate. Ratzinger said this. He changed his tune as he ran CDF, and even more so as pope. Regarding \"live under rules\", IMHO God gave us intelligence and we need to use it. At the risk of oversimplyfing, the Gospel speaks to us in the setting of what is really going on in our life and calls us to grow and act. The rules tend to protect the good order and prerogatives of the institution and its management. We have to do what we believe the Gospel calls us to do. Today's Story of the Woman at the Well shows Jesus doing this. Francis says the church cannot be \"self-referential\" and still serve the Gospel. It has to go out and know real life as the folks live it. Management is not doing this now, but questioners are.\n\nOf course all of this is based on a prayer life of some sort that leads us to be open to the Spirit in everything. Again IMHO, the fact that so many are questioning the church system these days shows the Spirit is doing things.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In ta he 2015 Supreme Court ruling making gay marriages legal, the Supreme Court also ruled that it only applied to civil services. In their opinion they also ruled that no pastor or priest had to go against their religious beliefs and marry a gay couple. They used the example of Catholics priest not marrying a divorced person because of Catholic beliefs. So how many times has the Catholic church been sued for not marrying a divorcee? None. how many times has the church been sued for not holding a religious ceremony to marry a gay couple? None. Just more pandering to the base so hopefully they won't see what the real problems are. Just like the law to keep PP out of the classroom. Just like the law to allow guns on campuses. The legislature just justified spending $32.5 million on the LIO. And they haven't even gotten around yet to the budget deficit. Except for passing a bill for cutting state funding to the municipalities and putting the problem of paying onto them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Personally, I think every water supply in town needs a hefty dose of Prozac added. Or we need the Ontological Lapsometer Walker Percy's Love in the Ruins. (a classic Catholic novel if ever there was one!)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Praise God, to Him be glory forever and ever. And where are the Catholic activists? Inspecting the Host to see if it is the appropriately consecrated matter? And has no-one read the Bible, where the Prophets cry out Mercy! Justice! while the priests engage in ritual sacrifice that is not pleasing to the Lord. \"He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but \nto do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?\" (Micah 6:8).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hi, John. I'd accept \"the search for the skinny Jesus.\" I'd love to discuss the historical value of the Synoptics with you offline sometime. I love John Meier's work, but I'm very suspicious of the JBAP tradition. - Monica.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The future of the Catholic Church in the U.S. is dependent on Immigrants.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Unless you teach in a Catholic School where your Master's degree is worth half what you'd be paid in a public school.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A teaching that is not a dogmatic definition of a divinely revealed truth is not infallible. JP2 reiterated what the Church has always done, not what the Church has always believed. We believe that the Church is \"one, holy, catholic, and apostolic.\" We have never professed that the Church is also patriarchal.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is ample reason to believe that was true of both the Doctrinal Assessment of the LCRW and its member congregations, and with the equally assaultive Apostolic Visitation. I would add that a major reason for the more positive resolution of both actions was because of the arrival of Pope Francis, and the new Prefect at the Congregation for Religious. None of it would have resulted in this atmosphere of respect and dignity under Benedict XVI, as he was the one who unleashed his dogs on our religious women in the first place. All of the reasons mentioned (the Pope, US laity, the Sisters themselves, and key Vatican personnel) so far went to see the resolution that was only hoped and prayed for just a few short years ago, with no good end in sight. The Holy Spirit works wonders when the right people are gathered in Christ's name.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Which involves far, far more than the Church \"requires.\" Its restrictions on how to \"inform\" a conscience is rather erroneous and ancient in nature. It has its place for Catholics, but is only a part of a very large mosaic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "@ Nora\n\n\"Teach your kids about God & respect for others and they can rely on the Holy Spirit in times of trouble. Especially, boys need to realize that God expects them, as much as the girls, to use self-control. Our church has not always taught this lesson and it shows in the streets later on, or on Fox News\".\n\nI most certainly agree with this part of your post.\n\nkevin your brother\nIn Christ\n\n\n\n\n\nFlag", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Each community has its 'haters' who try to destroy by creating a sense of fear...not always clear why, but mental illness and isolation play a part. But we did move out of the caves, created communities to serve and protect our needs. But we too create isolation, foment fear in too many people who feel powerless...they see changes happening in what little they can rest on, climate change and fundamentalist Christians, racism and equal rights, all create fear of change. We as a community have a choice, build walls or broaden our welcome. But we are not required to loss what guided us, values of justice and fairness, and rationality.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bishop Tom,\nToday you really hit the nail right on the head when you tell us to \u201clive according to the way of Jesus\u201d; \u2026 \u201cdo the work of Jesus\u201d;\u2026\u201dtransform the world into the reign of God\u201d. In the \u201cOur Father\u201d which Jesus teaches us, we ask for \u201cThy Kingdom come, on earth just as it is in heaven\u201d, and this is \u201cthe life, death, resurrection project of Jesus\u201d. If we could only live by accepting THIS as the center of our lives today instead of those simple cold dogmas of the \u201cNicean Creed\u201d, there would be no wars on our planet, no climate warming destroying \u201cOur Mother Earth\u201d for our grand children, no millions of our brothers and sister dying of hunger today in our world that produces food that gets wasted, nor the horrid lack of equality in our countries where a few have captured 90+% of the wealth of our world, and the rest of us subsist on the left overs.\nJustiniano de Managua", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The question comes down to priorities. Are close human relationships to be only driven by 'functionality', like breeding animals? Or is the official church unable to recognize that the primary status in marriage/priesthood/consecrated life--- is LOVE first. Indeed---Love was the primary status that Jesus set, as the cornerstone for ALL of his followers---\"Love one another as I have loved you.\" \n \n\nThe church in the Western world is hemorrhaging members at an alarming rate. Are today's younger people to be obfuscated by anxieties about sex, while the official church works out its complex and contradictory relationships dealing with gender, sexuality, and the millennial generation? Young people aren't waiting. They have lives to live and work to do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part 7\nIf one buys that interpretation, then much falls into place. The other Gospel passage on divorce does not describe the dispute, the two options presented to Jesus, but simplifies that divorce is proscribed \"except for adultery,\" which just so happen to be the choice Jesus made in the parallel passage. In other words, an apparent discrepancy disappears--Jesus accept divorce on the principles of Leviticus (adultery), and reject divorce as a male prerogative that can be exercised for any reason. \n\nAnd that leave Paul as the ONLY passage that has Jesus rejecting divorce without exception, and Paul demonstrated with his action, that the Church had the authority of override Jesus as Paul understood him.\n\nFinally, after all of that, I would invite them to read Amoris Laetitiae, and understand it as the Church still struggling after 2000 years to deal with divorce. \n\nThe purpose of the internal forum is not to defend the magisterium over against individual conscience, as you suggest.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Obviously the Mexican archbishops didn't receive the memo from the USCCB that Catholic clerics everywhere are supposed to be behind the GOP 100% of the time. Who will be the one to tell them?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Francis isn't splitting the church. People who don't understand the Gospel and how Christians are to LIVE Christ's words ARE splitting the church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ummm, what if you're wrong about the thousands of other gods? It's not Christ or nothing you know.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I was interested in doing prison ministry at a church I attended. Pastor said, \"Oh, we have a prison ministry writing letters to prisoners.\" I wrote letters to prisoners 20 years ago. Total negativity from him for working outside the established parameters. Basically, I ignored his counsel, got a pass into the prison, and eventually baptized 8 inmates into the body of Christ.\n\nThis particular pastor hated Dr.Ford but the prison chaplain, a Baptist loved him. He didn't like the Amazing Facts brand of Adventism. When he interviewed me, I said I was a vegeburger eating, Sabbath keeping legalist who had learned the gospel. \"Come on, you are welcome, he said. He was a former JW.\n\nThat church talked about gifts, small groups, etc. but bottom line was near absolute control by the pastoral staff. Church members wanted to have a meeting about prison ministry and hear my experience but the pastors wouldn't allow it. \"My way or the highway\" was their motto.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of Trump, Pope Francis said, \"he should understand that the family is the cradle of life and you must defend its unity.\" and \"removing young people from their family is not a thing that bears good fruit, neither for the young person nor the family.\"\n\nThat's \"destroying Catholic church?\" Please elaborate on how the above quote from the Pope Francis goes against long-established Church doctrine. (*hint: it doesn't)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nora, I agree with nearly everything you say here. But requiring the ordained to have a certain gender/orientation -- asexual male -- would have to be a violation of civil rights in every other case, in the case of the hetero male, gays, asexual females, hetero females, lesbians. Only asexual males are not discriminated against by the Church demanding male celibacy. There should be no married male priests and no female deacons until all ordination is open to women and all LGBT, etc. The Pope says in the article the deacon study is not a matter of opening a door (to women's ordination presumably). And it would seem he is about to snatch the job of parish administrator away from all the women running parishes in remote areas. After four years of this, I would hope no one is under the illusion that this Pope can think his way out of the box. He doesn't know anything about women deacons, only 'deaconesses'? Who will educate this Pope?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Billionbibles.org? Seriously?Here's a hint. If you want to be taken credibly you should choose sources that are unbiased and neutral or have at least some credibility of their own\"\n~ ` ~\nGot a problem with 'Billionbibles.org, Al?\nWell, how about that.. & of course, you would know how one should present reference material wouldn't you given the obvious 'superior' & 'in-control 'biased' perspective.\n\nHere's a hint for you.. before kicking up snarky-snide straw-man fallacy in order to minimize the current religious realities engulfing the Planet in flames in this 21st Century.. perhaps you could, at the very least, speak to the issues presented by the G&W article at hand.\n\nHere's an icebreaker -- do your kids go to Public schools in Peel?\n\nIf you believe deprecating a 4-year web-discussion outlining basic comparative issues between religions Christianity & Islam is wrong -- then perhaps you could provide a point by point correction of same.\n\nSecular is Best.. Don't like it? .. Tough.\n\n/.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This comment has been quoted in the context of the Pope's meeting with some cardinals on his birthday. The Pope's homily on that occasion was a reflection on memory and history, on \"beautiful moments of faithfulness and brutal moments of sin.\"\n\n In that context, he speaks about how others might remember him and his attempts to fulfill the central Papal task of securing the unity of the Church. He is not saying \"I intend to split the Church\" but that history might see him that way. He trusts in the Lord, who says \"Go forward!\" Look to the final judgement, by God, not the judgement of history. Not the judgement of a few dissenters who refuse the challenges of his teaching.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No Jesus doesn't exist and whomever he is they not coming here.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sean, can you explain to me why Pope's only divide and confuse when it's the conservatives who feel divided and confused. 100 plus theologians were silenced under Cardinal Ratzinger/Benedict XVI and yet the left was somehow supposed to take that as a sign of unity? One of the goals of global Catholicism, and the papacy for that matter, was supposed to be unity in diversity, not unity in complete uniformity. I sometimes wonder if conservatives really compute the difference.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree that Pope Francis has never promoted anything other than Catholic teaching. And, yes, it is, ultimately, about implementation. But the \"gentler\" approach isn't really about gentleness so much as emphasis.\n\nSome bishops have, perhaps unintentionally, reduced their focus down to a few issues, like abortion, gay marriage, etc. They are the ones who -- fairly or not -- are perceived as culture warriors. Francis' approach is to emphasize the principles behind the teachings, such as respect for life, the inviolability of human dignity, the importance of living simply, etc. His conviction (with which I agree) is that if the conversation is more about these things than single, contentious issues, more people will choose to engage in it.\n\nThere was a time when the USCCB was defined by what they were for. Today they are defined more by what they are against. I'd just like to see the conference do a course correction back to the way it once was, when they were listened to and respected.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, some progress here....Now you're attacking Democrats instead of liberals. The Democratic Party is not monolithic...I think the \"Bernie\" movement shows that. The arnarchists are not \"registered Democrats.\" I find the claim that the Democratic Party is \"intolerant\" a bit amusing. The Democratic Party, over my 74 years, has been the Party of tolerance....especially, since the Civil Rights days and the break with \"southern democrats\". I readily acknowledge that there is, today, an element of \"leftists\" who are intolerant of dissenting voices and opinions....however, I contend they're not representative of the entire Party. Using your analogy of Christians, I would say you have it backward....I favor the open discussion of all issues and feel that is what is in fact representative of liberalism and the \"old\" values of the Democratic Party. I confess I have some issues with the new Democratic Party leadership at all levels. Maybe I'm an \"obsolete\" Democrat. Gary Crum", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No doubt to me having see this unfold in decades that I lived in Alaska that men like Prevo and Minnery who though their public platform of intolerance, fearmongering and actions they took in denying LGBT citizens rights, have helped to give the LBGT the rights they have today. Now Minnery has changed with the times and the new attack is to deny the LBGT community basic civil rights based on the their new \"ideal\" that it impedes the rights of Christians to continue to hold on to the inntolerance and fearmonegering of the LBGT community they have held as a tenet of their belief.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is a common fate for many gun owners. Eventually, your gun will turn on you, and kill you.\n\nRemember what our Lord Jesus Christ said: \"Those who live by the gun, will PERISH by the gun!\"\n\nRenounce your guns, and have them destroyed. You will then have a longer and happier life, and avoid this man's fate,", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is this exact attitude that pushed me out of the Catholic and into the Episcopal Church. For many years I was able to reconcile my understanding of Christ's teachings with the work of the Catholic church, but then I realized that the church does not really have a desire to welcome women fully and with dignity. We are instead treated either as the cause of all of mankind's woes or as inhuman statues on pedestals. In both cases, we are not seen as equals. It is always hurtful to hear the leadership in the Catholic church make pronouncements such as these.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ex 3:6, Mt 22:32,1 King 18:36, Act 3:13 and 7:32. No one is disparaging Hagar and her son. It is simple truth: the Jewish and Christian God claims Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob followed their God. The other faith claims another path. They are vaguely similar stories, but with different actors, different outcomes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are sooo funny. :) \"Assults the Gospel\"? Your selective, politically correct and ideologically transfigured reading of the Gospel has nothing to do with the Gospel, but you knew that.. :)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "LOL - Latin is not \"the language of Jesus.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "6. Already a Catholic position (without getting into an argument about priestesses).\n7. Clumsily Catholic. Not that much different from 6.\n8. Also clumsily Catholic. \n9. Marion Zimmer Bradly would be so proud of this little myth.\n10. A throw-away statement.\nMost of these are not connected in any way to a \"divinity\".\nRegarding Adam and Eve, I'm not sure what there is to disagree with. The Church accepts Theistic Evolution as a valid theory - not antithetical to faith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yves Congar, in his \u00ab Martin Luther, sa foi, sa r\u00e9forme \u00bb, places Luther firmly within a well-established Catholic theological tradition. Yes, Congar obviously does not agree with Luther on such things as Sola Scriptura, but he points out that in Luther's day, both sides were more interested in scoring debating points than in understanding their opponents.\n\nIn the early 1970s, I attended a seminar in which then-Father Joseph Ratzinger made much the same points.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Divine Mercy\nI have proposed that all those who cannot receive the Sacrament of Absolution for whatever reason apart from the sin against the Holy Spirit should be permitted to receive the sacrament of Holy Communion in fellowship with all baptised Catholics.\n As I believe the Church has been given the means to permit them to do so through the true Divine Mercy Image an image of Broken Man. But to date I have not shown how this can be reconciled with present Church teaching on the Sacrament of Absolution so I will now try to do so see link.\nhttp://www.acireland.ie/eucharist-and-the-mass-teresa-mee/#comment-9869\n\nPlease consider reading\nkevin your brother\nIn Christ", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Part two of two) \u201cFor just s you have borne witness to my cause in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness in Rome\u201d (Acts 23:11), meaning that just as Easterners need to shed some of their anti-Western biases, so does Rome need to shed some of their anti-Eastern biases. Thomas Merton began to show the way. \u201cAnd I have given them (the Faithful in Myanmar) the glory you gave me so that they may be one, as we are one (i.e. one Faith in Jesus Christ), I in them (the Faithful, both east and West and wherever) and you in me\u201d (John 17:22-23). Liturgy of the Word, Reading 300, Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter I.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am a physician that used my name for a number of years on these boards so that people could actually lookup and find my CV. However, my office began to receive threatening calls from some people who called themselves traditionalists and real catholics. After notifying the police, I took their suggestion and began to use the initials that you see. I do think that some of the dogmatism on this board is not only immature, on the level of about a seventh grader, but also can be threatening and dangerous because some believe that they Know THE MIND OF GOD. It is not hard to see who these people are.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Law enforcement officials told NBC News that Artan was a Somali refugee who left his homeland with his family in 2007, lived in Pakistan and then came to the United States in 2014 as a legal permanent resident. \nHe lived briefly in a temporary shelter in Dallas before settling in Ohio, according to records maintained by Catholic Charities.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Okay, show us your biblical scholarship. Where does the Christian Bible mention the \"Taliban\" by name at all? Are you spreading an argument here that's devoid of meaning?\n\nReligious intolerance, authoritarian suppression of free culture, misogyny and degredation of individuals on the basis of gender are dark anachronisms of the few religions, sects, and cults that have failed to successfully transition to peaceful coexistence in this 21st-century postmodern era of social plurality. They feel threatened by our ideological independence, by our spiritual freedom, and even by our non-cisgender culture. They missed the flight. That's not our fault!\n\nConsider that a female God who never left the world and never surrendered primacy still stands open-armed and ready to accept all the refugees from extreme paternalistic practices that intransigently remain unwilling to cease the wrongful disparagement of entire classes of individuals on the basis of dogma, animus, superstition, and male wrath.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The only circumstance I can imagine where that might be the case would be if an Orthodox of Old Catholic (the so called \"Dutch touch\") bishop participated in the ordination. But there would probably be a conditional ordination to remove any doubt.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Masonic death threats? No, it would be the Illuminati. Granted, the Masons are much more of a powerful bloc in places like Mexico and Italy, but the election of Ratzinger was all about the fact that he seemed the one eyed man in a room of people blind on how to handle clergy sexual abuse. John Paul II is easily explained by people who thought Vatican II had gone to far. As for Bergolio, if the Masons would be agaisnt anyone, it would be him, unless you are saying that his ideas of universal brotherhood in Christ would somehow gel with the masonic outlook. I can see that, but that is also a scriptural outlook. My-grandfather was a Mason, and I assure you, there is no grand conspiracy. Indeed, it would be nice if Fracis lifted the excommunication, since my mother's family has a long history in the Lodge.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I love my kid but I teach her rules to live by and punish her when she doesn't follow them. God loved David but punished him and Bathsheba by taking their son. God is a parent and sometimes parents have to lay down the law and provide consequences for violating it. God is all love but love is not all hugs and kisses. True love requires telling your loved ones the truth, even when that truth hurts their feelings. True love requires the setting of boundaries, not an anything goes attitude. True love guides a person to the truth that will save their soul rather than one that coddles their feelings. \n\nHow should we handle the Eucharist with the divorced and remarried? I don't know. The CCC and Canon Law are in conflict with each other. The situation needs to be resolved with papal infallibility instead of the incessant dueling in print by cardinals and bishops. All we are getting is opinion. The Pope needs to have the guts to say what he means and say it clearly.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, he doesn't -- until Francis and his secret \"commission\" drive a truck through HV next year, with the now familiar blather that is being used to roll back age-old Church teaching on the sacrament of matrimony. \nAt that point, Walford will announce the sudden revelation that the Holy Spirit was wrong for two millennia, that the Holy Spirit has seen the error of His ways, and that the Holy Spirit will dutifully submit, as must we all, to the New Moral Order of Francis and his minions. \nNot to worry. It's all in the name of \"mercy.\" Count me out.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not necessarily true. My bet is more of those Catholics rejected HRC over specific accusations than intentionally rejected anything Pope Francis has ever said.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus expanded the 10 commandments from 'thou shall nots' to include a series of 'thou shalls' most notably in the Sermon on the Mount. Love of another for Jesus was more than 'shall nots'. It also included actions that furthered and enhanced their state in life and that included forgiveness for transgressions. That's why His two great commandments transcended the ten. No, He did not abolish the ten, but he took things up a level, which is why I use the term 'transcended' when comparing the New Covenant with the Old Covenant.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Like most Baby Boomers, Fr. Daly has known the pre-Vatican II church, the Vatican II Church, and the post Vatican II \"reform of that reform\" Church. \n\nThat perspective is one we should seek---Fr. Daly, can you oblige us? What are your hopes and fears, based upon what you have learned...and lived. ..and examined? What are your predictions? \n\nAs we have been told, a religion not examined is not a faith, but a superstition. What has your examined faith told you? What has it not told you? What are the essentials? What are the superstitions? \n\nThanks, Fr. Daly. You have been a pastor far beyond your parish and your diocese. Thanks, too, NCR for extending the boundaries.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The greatest obstacle to metanoia isn't submission to the way things have been done in the past.\nAs Jesus tells us SO MANY TIMES in Scripture...echoed by SO MANY saints..it's \"self-love\", pride. lack of kenosis.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The poetic sentiment does not reflect the will of the American people as expressed in law. The inscription on the Statute of Liberty is not a statute; it does not express the will of the American people. The only American will of which we as a people may take cognizance is that expressed in the U.S. Code. That is the meaning of \"a country of laws and not of men.\"\n\nThe American people have not forgotten to express Christian values in their legal code (although many on the left bristle at the notion that we were founded as a Christian nation). Immigration law makes adequate allowance for those who seek entry as refugees. What immigration does not do --- and what was not advised by Jesus or required by Christianity --- is that we welcome and receive all who wish to come here --- in sum, open borders.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What do you care what the Christ does or says?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ron, I know that calling it \"Obamacare\" makes you feel good, but the Republicans played a large role in making it what it was. It began as a Republican idea (remember Mitt Romney in Massachusetts?) which got chewed up in Congress. Republicans (Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, for two) who offered to cooperate with Obama were told by their leadership to desist. The single payer concept never had a chance (funny that Trump thinks its a good idea for other countries). Obama messed up, too, selling out to the pharmaceutical companies to get it passed. But please pray for both sides. Where in the Bible does a phrase like \"hate Children\" come from?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh I am not the Pandora you may have confused me with. I am only agreeing to married priests because they are already educated and ordained. BTW I have had the pleasure of attending Eucharistic celebrations regularly for over 15 years that were conducted by ordained women.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"....you have nothing to offer.\" So hard to believe (or perhaps not) that you would say such a thing! Where is your commitment to Gospel values, to Christ's own words to care for those who need help?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If a group of people - in their own freedom - decided to organize a religion around a set of absolute truths - and those truths include the Catholic Church's formal teaching on same-sex, etc, a whole lobby of people would pester them intolerantly. And you know it would be so. \n\nThe \"lobby\" is at its base intolerant.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not just the Ukrainians, members of the Russian Catholic Church fear that they may be forgotten by Vatican officials anxious to improve relations with the Russian Orthodox Church, reports Francis X. Rocca of the Wall Street Journal.\nNot just ecumenism, the joint declaration with Kirill also included a denouncement of same-sex marriage. Putin \u201calso takes the position held by Pope Francis that \u2018tolerance of gender choice results from a Western imperial ideology.'\u201d (blog.oup.com) \u201cThe Foreign Office of the Moscow Patriarchate held an international seminar at the end of January [2017] during which the Orthodox and Catholic Churches jointly addressed the issue of abortion.\u201d The seminar was \u201ca direct result\u201d of the pope and patriarch meeting. (zenit.org)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "GBA: Actually, I think we secular humanists provide a good deal of the support for charitable organaizations...including those with religious affiliations. \nI have yet to have such an organization refuse my contribution or assistance because I'm an agnostic and secular humanist. I will, however, guarantee you one thing. If any of these organizations ever displays the nastiness toward me because I'm not religious that you habitually display, they will never get another dime from me. I think, sir, you represent Christianity at its very worst. We all need to assist our fellow men and women regardless of their religious beliefs or non-beliefs and regardless of our own religious beliefs or non-beliefs......is that asking for too much? Gary Crum", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The wisest of the wise have always accepted and proclaimed the proverbs, or poetry, of King Solomon, who asked God for nothing more than the wisdom to lead and rule his nation righteously . The principles of godliness in the Holy Bible direct the men and women who preside in government to be moral and spiritual examples of righteousness. There is no \"separation of church and state\" in the U.S. Constitution, but, rather, a First Amendment mandate that the federal government shall not establish a religion or restrict its free exercise. Thomas Jefferson coined that phrase in letter to a Christian church. It was stated as opinion, not as a law. I believe what Jefferson meant was that the men and women who constitute the government bring to it their morality and Judeo-Christian godliness to make the republic function on Judeo-Christian righteousness and principles. This is merely obedience to the Ten Commandments, and is only natural law and common sense! Roy Moore has common sense.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I\u2019ve gotta tell you Bill, you can be a real party pooper. \u2013 Expand your horizons, use your imagination.\n\nSo let\u2019s start here;\n\n\u201cThere is the problem with the guards being asleep at their posts.....\u201d \n\nDidn\u2019t your read my post? Daylight savings time started the night before. They fell asleep. So yeah, maybe they were executed. Maybe they were flogged. Maybe they were sent to some frontier post. Britain maybe. Who knows; I don't, you don't.\n\n\u201cAlso, they put a spear in his side to make sure he was dead. Are you also saying the Romans did not know if somebody was alive or dead when they took them off a cross?\u201d \n\nWell jeez Bill, of course he was dead. Haven\u2019t you heard of miracles? God felt bad about not answering Jesus while he hung on the cross, so he came in during the night and patched him up and brought him pack to life.\n\nAnd Bill just so you know, there\u2019s a good chance none of what I\u2019ve written here is true. Sorta like the Bible. You know, myth, hearsay, made up stuff.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is not a two-way street. You, correctly, follow the lead of our Courageous Bishops, and support the President Elect. We US Catholics should do what our Bishop-leaders direct, and support the man they have endorsed as the Christian Leader of America. No need to consider the other side, they are wrong. We can, like our Holy-Spirit chosen leaders, disregard those who are wrong. Like to continue posting my support for you, but have to catch the ferry for an early dart game tonight.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Old Soul: The empty tomb posts are not just for you. They are for everyone who reads these posts. They are also for you to think about. I am hoping at least one person will take me up on the challenge and investigate Christianity more thoroughly. Some of our best writers and others have come to faith by taking up the challenge.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In Catholic school, we were taught, over and over, to be more patient, that greater patience is higher virtue. Perhaps this message was right for some, maybe even for 90%, of the squirmy, demanding kids in the desks in the overcrowded classrooms (50 students sometimes). But for some of us, such as myself, this was the wrong message, but I took it to heart. Looking back, I should have been much less patient with my parents, who kept me isolated, made me amputate myself in many ways for being different from their vision of a family member who will not bring the family shame, threatened me for being creative (I was told many times that I have so many ideas that some day I will \"crack up\" and have to be \"put away.\") I should have discarded patience and risen up, demanding over and over to have playdates and friends, being allowed to pursue the person I was born to be. But always back then I was patient with my parents, always hoping for their enlightenment. Patience is not virtuous per se.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "...\"To receive Holy Communion whilst persisting in a state of mortal sin is compounding that sin by committing sacrilege. This is not disciplinary it is straight from Scripture.\"...\n\nI presume you are referring to that often mis-interpreted passage in 1 Corinthians. 'Joy of Love' gives a correct interpretation of that.\n\nJesus Himself gave no rules bout it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Trump poses no fear to Catholics---didn't you read the enthusiastic post-election assurances of Cardinal Burke that the President-elect has our backs on all the important issues (even if the Pope doesn't)? \n\nAfter the election, Cardinal Burke rushed to say something that would have been even too preposterous for a \"Back to the Future\" headline: \"Catholics Finally Have Our Moral Leader: Donald Trump.\" You can look it up, as Casey Stengel used to say.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree that the ACA has deficiencies. In all fairness to Barak Obama however, a jump straight from the previous parlous American health non-system straight to a British type NHS would have been too much for even some Democrats to swallow.\nIt would the equivalent of the huge jump from pray-pay-obey to autonomy that most Catholics made after Humanae Vitae.\nAt least the ACA was a step in the right direction, even if an inadequate one.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "OK - I believe the Bible teaches that he guaranteed your salvation in full, provided you trust in him and him alone:\n\nJoh 10:15\u00a0 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.\n\nJoh 10:27-30\u00a0 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. \u00a0(28)\u00a0 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. \u00a0(29)\u00a0 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. \u00a0(30)\u00a0 I and the Father are one.\u201d\n\nPhilippians 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Candy, then explain why with 8 years of liberal leadership this nation has a massive racial rift driven through it. Answer? because liberals do NOT believe in liberty for all, just themselves. Christians must give up there beliefs so you are not offended. Bakers must bake cakes with slogans the disagree with so you are not offended. Little girls must share their bathroom with your confused little boys so you are not offended. Your worldwide view of liberty seems to be pointing a gun at all who just want personal liberty.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Keep dreaming about women's ordination! Francis is being clear: NO, NO, NO! Don't we get it yet? This Church is never going to change on this matter! For how long are we going to ask for Rome's permission to follow the inspiration of the Holy Spirit? This childish and dependent behavior demonstrates how much we have been clericalized by the Roman Curia with seudo theologies (like the fictional distinction, lacking of all biblical and historical background, between Petrine and Marian dimensions. And also it shows how far are we from the courage to follow the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Right or wrong , decisions have consequences. I don't know what the student\nexpected , a Christian school basically has no choice if it is to keep its' reputation. Seems the student could have waited until after graduation.\n\nHe otherwise seems pretty smart considering the accolades he claims. Youth has little patience.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually, there is no verse in the Law stating that a woman cannot be a priest (assuming she was a Levite). There may have even been some form of them but the evidence is not clear. All Leviticus states is who definitely will be priests, excluding no women, he tell us that all of Aaron sons will be priests. Leviticus excludes anyone who is bleeding, or sickly or crippled in any way. This is likely the reason women were not often, if ever, made priests, the law regarding Menses was strict, as blood can corrupt the sacrifice, so it would have been difficult for women, in many years, to act as priests.\n\nJesus ordained no priests & the apostles he called to be judges, not priests, per two Gospels. The apostles had to be Israelite Men to fulfill the part & gentiles could not fulfill it, so none of our clergy are legitimately ordained if we go by this standard for ordination. \n\nAlso, no one's blood can corrupt Holy Eucharist. Jesus is not corruptible so menses issues are gone too.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Maybe the disconnect is that \"Community Organizer\" has a specific, generally accepted meaning and it is definitely not \"creative non-violence\" but that of obtaining power. Since at least the 1940s, the decidedly non-Christian Alinskian model has been that of the majority of \"Community Organizers\". Sister seems to have her own definition that is not clearly spelled out.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The USA is the biggest loser with trump as president. What a wonderful Christian Man trump is. Hope the evangelicals continue to back and support him. I would love to have my 10 year old son grow up to be like trump, right!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And you know this how, exactly?\n\nThere is certainly anecdotal evidence to suggest that seminaries have become hostile to priests who support tradition. Perhaps Fr. Z's experience is an example of that. It would be charitable of you to entertain that possibility in his case. But you seem to have made up your mind about him.\n\nAnd as for any suggestion that a love of tradition makes a man unsuitable for the priesthood, that would depend upon a definition of suitability that is of very recent vintage and has a decidedly ideological tinge.\n\nAnd let's be honest: it has been decades since a love of traditional Catholicism has been anything but a hindrance for a man entering upon the priesthood. But somehow scores of men who had no business being in Holy Orders managed to slip through. The Church has barely begun to recover from this failure. \n\nI wouldn't bring up the recent entrance standards of the seminaries if I were you: it's poor salesmanship.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If memory serves one in 10 US citizens is a former catholic.....currently around 21% of citizens self identify as Catholics....used to be 25% I think....\n\nIt's not clear to me, what percentage of that 21% actually attends mass weekly...think it is significantly less....around 8% of citizens....suggest checking with CARA.....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "-An Evangelical speaks: https://baptistnews.com/article/evangelicals-killing-lgbtq-youth-inside-soul-first/#.WaiQBdKosdV--", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "http://www.markmonmonier.com/how_to_lie_with_maps_14880.htm \n\n\"a humorous, informative and perceptive appraisal of a key source of information that most of us have always taken for granted.\" \u2013 Toronto Globe and Mail\n\n\"will leave you much better defended against cheap atlases, shoddy journalism, unscrupulous advertisers, predatory special-interest groups, and others who may use or abuse maps at your expense.\" \u2013 Christian Science Monitor", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The lack of lay engagement with the life of your standard Catholic parish is not a mystery, and it is not (as Lowney suggests) some sort of moral failing on the part of the laity. It is a perfectly rational response to the structure of the Catholic Church, in which everything the laity does is subject to a complete and unilateral veto by the clergy. Why waste your time when the fruits of that time can be tossed out, with no recourse? \n\nThis is a structural problem, which can only be fixed via a structural solution--opening the governance structure of the parish (and other levels of the Church, too, but let's start local) to real lay oversight. If the lay people feel they have a legitimate say in the direction of the parish, then they will engage. Right now, lay people understand that they have no real say in the direction of their parish. That's why they don't engage.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When someone who claims US military service, training and security clearance as well as Catholic identity and refuses to acknowledge public statement by a coordinated plethora of intelligence and security statements of his/its own nation to which he/she has pledged allegiance that person should be placed in a secure place where he/she can do no further harm or disruption to anyone. \nIf such a person can so ignore reality, what does it say about its \"faith\" allegiance?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Saint Ignatius in his spiritual exercises outlined a path for discerning the nature of the spirit whispering in our ear. Just as Eve was deceived, men and women down the ages have been.\n\nOne doesn't have to be an ordained priest to offer spiritual insights or to serve God in the role He's calling one too. What's with the desire for \"leadership\" and control? We're called to service. The priest is restricted to men because that's God's will. This isn't a political/sociological question. And to say God incarnate was constrained by His culture is, frankly, ludicrous. Jesus, if He had so desired, was more than able to appoint women Apostles. Some even have the delusion that He did and the big , bad early Apostles wrote them out of history.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yeah, right! Mark was with Paul in his early evangelizing missions. Later, Paul and he had words, because Paul considered Mark to be too ostentatious regarding his dress.\n\nMark came to Peter, and remained with him. In writing the Gospel of Mark, many of the comments made by Peter to Jesus or others are recorded by Mark.\n\nMark would have had NO TIME to go to Egypt to learn and then to teach the people the writing of their language that is used in the written Coptic. By that I mean using the Greek alphabet and the six letters that. represent Egyptian consonantal sounds not found in Greek. In addition, there are the dialects of Sahidic and Bohairic which Mark would have had to master.\n\nI don't think that Mark was the one who began the Coptic rite---it would have sooner been someone who was already speaking the language, was Coptic and perhaps was in Jerusalem at the time of Pentecost.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And we're not. What IS un-Christian is letting them twist in the wind with no resolution. Its not fair to them or our own system to just kick the can down the road a few more years. These people deserve to have resolution and get on with their lives at some point. Fake 'news' is telling DACA recipients they are just fine without resolving their status.\n.\n The Congress will find a way to permanently legalize their status and pave the way for citizenship, what's wrong with that? Why is Trump the bad guy because he wants to help these people resolve their status and become self-sufficient Americans and not 'dependent' on the next crop of control-freak politicians?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mormon belief in two segments: Wiki\n\nSegment 1\n\nIn common with other Restorationist churches, the LDS Church teaches that a Great Apostasy occurred. It teaches that after the death of Jesus and the Twelve Apostles, the priesthood authority was lost and some important doctrinal teachings, including the text of the Bible, were changed from their original form, thus necessitating a restoration prior to the Second Coming. That restoration, according to church doctrine, began during the life of Joseph Smith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "- Love God and love your neighbor.\n- Go and sin no more.\n- Baptize in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.\n- One failing to listen to the Church should be treated as a heathen and tax collector.\n\nThose are just off the top of my head. \n\nOne might make the specious argument that \"we really don't know what Jesus said,\" (the silly tape-recorder comment from \"the black pope\") but that argument cuts both ways - we really don't know, then, that He didn't say any of this. We only have the authority of those who came before that testify as to the belief of the earliest Church - those closest to the apostolic age - to the authority and canon of Scripture.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Good. Then you can tell us the purpose in hauling out a year-and-a-half old op-ed hit piece that was factually suspect and downright deceitful....\n\nWant just one example? The referenced article states \"More than 90 Catholic theologians and scholars at the Jesuit university argued Ryan was \"profoundly misreading church teaching\" and distorting Catholic social doctrine to fit his political agenda.\" Stuff and nonsense..unless everyone is now considered a \"theologian\" if he/she disagrees with Mr. Ryan?\n\nThe truth of the matter? According to HuffPo, it was \"nearly 90 Georgetown University faculty and administrators\"...later referred to as \"scholars\" - not \"theologians.\" (btw - the op-ed never referenced the actual university, either...)\n\nWhether you agree with what was proposed almost 2 years ago or not..(it has changed) the minute the referenced article distorted the truth to suit the author's agenda, it lost ALL credibility.\n\nAnd therefore the question remains - why drag it out again?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh the particles in non-anointed hands! And ftr, in our parish there are an equal number of servers of both genders from grades 5-12 when they are trained and the age which they are graduated to other ministries of service in our parish. The practice of female altar servers is allowed as are EMHC. Do not like that fact, then go where they are not part of liturgy. I grow wear from people who want the things they want to the detriment of allowing others to actively participate. Also, I am sure you mean OCP, not OCA. Oregon Catholic Press is the other larger publisher of approved music for our Roman Catholic Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The bishops of the Buenos Aries area worked together (did their job), wrote guidelines to understand Chapter 8 of Amoris Laetitia in their pastoral practice, namely, the part of the Pope\u2019s document on the family and marriage that refers to access to sacraments for the divorced and remarried, and submitted them to the pope. Pope Francis wrote back approvingly. \u201cThe document is very good and completely explains the meaning of Chapter VIII of Amoris Laetitia,\u201d he told them, adding: \u201cThere are no other intepretations.\u201d He said it, there are no other intrepretations. \nThe USCCB had a meeting recently and discussed (I forgot what they even discussed). Couldn't they have followed the lead of the Argentinians, drafted guidelines to be used by USA priests, and submitted them to the pope. Alternatively, they could have saved some effort by voting on approving the Buenos Aires guidelines, for which 'there are no other intrepretation' and then stop wringing their hands.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Restorationism: \"renew[ing] the renewal\" of Vatican II by bringing traditionalist approaches to liturgy\"\n\nWhat is being \u201crestored\u201d?\nWhat did Jesus wear at the Passover meal? As a humble Jew, Jesus wore sandals, which were left at the entrance after the foot-washing, a head-covering, a Talith or upper-cloak, a girdle, the Chalug or under-dress, and the Aphquarsin or innermost covering. When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. (According to most depictions of the Crucifixion, Jesus also wore a loincloth.) No mention of copes, chasubles, dalmatics, stoles, miters, copes or buskins. Any croziers were left at the door. \nAlthough they may have spoken the vulgate language, Latin, Jesus and the disciples probably conversed in Aramaic. Their liturgies were probably in Hebrew. \nSo what is being \u201crestored\u201d?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Since you deny Jesus Christ is the union of divine and human natures in a single person, is His nature human or divine?\n\nDo you also deny our Triune God - in Persons three, in substance one?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I know your pain ...born and raised Catholic and during the real start of my journey to Christ I would find myself at least 1-2 Sundays a month up at City Bible over by the Grotto in NE Portland for a real shot of Jesus. If we look we will find the right pathway", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So man up and volunteer eric. BTW we are no longer just a Christian nation per Barack Hussein Obama. Maybe your Islamic friends can take over socialized medicine?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "i dont need to see your tax return but i want to see every connection you have to any business, non-profit, association or other institution that might sway your voting one way or another. we know there isn't a person on this planet that is un-corruptible, for the right price. i just dont want to wast time, and cut through the bs and focus on where you will go with your influence. the entire republican party is down on their knees, waiting in line, for their turn to blow trump. that's how much they want to impose christian (the bible) rule on the country.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "In Turkey's case, the label 'islamist' is a pejorative description, but Western Europe and North-America are 'upholding Christian values' and Israel is under the thumb of zionist religious zealots at all levels.\nPretty hypocritical, if you think of it.\nSeems, like 'democracy' doesn't do much for secularism, but dictatorship does, like in Syria.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "the ideology you describe would bother most people. seeing as this is the ideology of extremists and not the ideology of the other nearly 2 billion muslims who have similar beliefs to Christians and jews and don't wish to subjugate anybody, I think perhaps we should get rid of the extremists and get to know the other 2 billion muslims", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "This is what happens when you treat women as less than human and don't ordain them the same as men. \n\nNothing says, I hate you, in Christianity, more than watching a parish needlessly close because the women God called to be ordained and lead those parishes are deemed obviously too unworthy and unsacred to be allowed to keep them alive, or even cause them to grow and gain more Christian souls to the fold and to God. \n\nMarried priests are not a bad idea, as long as they only come, after women being ordained priests, without any restriction to becoming Bishops, Cardinals and Popes. \n\nOrdaining only married men to priesthood would be an extreme sin against Justice who is God and the Human Dignity of all women, as it would represent outright Gender Segregation in our church, giving all authority and sacred powers to all men over all women. These suggestions are the problem with our church not the answer. \n\nSexism is hate in all of its forms and Jesus condemns it in all Gospels.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Oh yes it can! Bishops do it all the time! The surest way to suppress dogma is to EGNORE it, as the hierarchy has long been doing in reference to the Catholic clergy sex abuse crisis. Did they skip Catholicism 101, or what?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "On the contrary, it shakes no orthodox Catholics to the core. Never have they hung on every word uttered by the popes. St John Paul II and Benedict XVI came under criticism over Assisi and for their failure to turn back the tide of Modernism which is flooding through today's Church unchecked. Those two popes did not, however, threaten any dogma or doctrine like is happening now.\nThe charge that orthodox Catholics reject the Church's social teaching is absolutely false. There are many differing opinions as to how the social teaching is implemented, the Church does not endorse any political system or economic theory: despite what progressives think or desire, the Church does not preach Socialism.\nCafeteria Catholics have long falsely accused orthodox Catholics of also being in the cafeteria. \"You're as bad as us is a common cry,\" from those who wish to minimise their guilt.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Having grown up Evangelical and now a normal Catholic (some would call a liberal Catholic) I can witness to the fact that most Evangelicals' supposed hatred of the things you mention above are reversed projections of how they actually feel. By the time I left the Evangelicals I hated them because they taught one thing and acted completely opposite! (For example, and to be completely snarky, my buddies and I always thought that E's would make great pornographers because they knew so much about it!)\n\nMay their association with this bigot be their final action toward becoming a footnote in Christian history.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "a bit tough but we're not talking of he's raided the children's trust funds and is now going in for fraud. he molested his daughter - beans on adopted or not - and she is the victim. he is a criminal, an especially heinous one, and has been judged guilty by the law of the united states. he will serve his time the best any child rapist can. ++jesus, and the way his \"justice\" ultimately gets meted, is not on this earth. \"jesus\", \"god\"...whoever as a Christian you consider to name that ultimate \"authority\" will sit in judgement of each and every one of us.. after we move on. what is the \"strength of jesus?\" this guy is better off hoping for strength from steroids and a weight bench at this point.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You remind me of my mom - \"The one who Overcomes\" (all the stupid choices she made in life and raises the flag proudly every chance she gets) who has experienced all and knows all...Hogwash - There is no need to experience debauchery and defilement to be wiser. And please don't claim to be an \"evangelical\" turned atheist - Biblically speaking there is no such thing, once one has been made new, one does not become old again, that is clear in the Bible. This is just another example of your wisdom through experience, any time anybody tells me they \"used to be a Christian\" I immediately write everything they say off as nonsense, because there is no such thing. I Christian has been given eternal life through the spirit of God dwelling within them, not because of their wise choices.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Yes. Your comment appeared in support of the comments of utilitas. \nI probably should have written:\nWhen one supports statements attacking or criticizing a holy book of a certain religion for certain content, the it makes sense to check out if the holy books of other religions have similar content.\nSharia law is a term used to refer to the way one ought to arrange one's relationship to God. The Bible contains such instruction, as well. Just as the Q'uran directs believers to violent action in certain circumstances, so does the Bible. John Hobson pointed out one such passage; he could point you to many more. To suggest that Muslims are more violent than Christians, on the basis of scriptural writing is no only unfair, but disingenuous.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "When you invite the murderer into your house why are you surprised he kills? Unfettered, zero- vetted hundreds of thousands of Muslim invaders who have been targeting Western Christian lands and people for over 1,400 years and they are surprised they will be killed, raped and maimed? Some times you have to wonder if the STASI in the GDR needs to be reinvented to protect the average German citizen in the unified Republic of Germany.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The Huckabees are conservative Christian.\nThe way I see it, Plunkett's column is using their religious values to point out the Huckabees' hypocrisy.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Try reading more carefully. I put the word religion in quotes. This isn't about codified religion. Whatever the motivations, it's deep hate that is at the core of virtually all these acts. Yep, it's small-minded to try to elevate one act of barbarity over another but some people just can't help but keep trying to do so. Heaping the ills of the world onto Muslims alone is hardly going to change anything for the better. This \"Christian\" nation had no qualms about going into the Middle East and igniting a firestorm but now wants to claim it is the one that is the victim. It would be laughable it if wasn't just so pathetic.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Try flying into anyone of the 7 countries (and others in the region) listed for the ban and see what happens to you\u2026 you\u2019ll be turned away because you\u2019re white and Christian and they don\u2019t want you, you\u2019re not welcome there.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "God says, in the Bible, it's perfectly ok to take a life. Have you actually read the Bible? Or did you skip all the parts where your god emphatically promotes his followers to kill? \n\nShall I list all the verses? Your god most certainly does not prohibit mankind from killing each other. He encourages it. It's as if Christians don't read the Bible at all when they spout this nonsense.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I applaud Gardner for saying this, but it's too little too late. The entire GOP has to take a stand and forcefully rebuke the racist scum that make up the KKK, neo-nazi groups and right-wing Christian identity groups who spew hatred and ARE part of Trump's and Gardner's base and part of the modern GOP who rely on racist dog-whistle politics to stoke racial resentment and divide our nation. Shame, once again, on the GOP.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "And Christians have been killing other Christians. Give me a break! If the problem was Muslim on Muslim violence, where would the impetus to attack the West come from?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You can't know how much I appreciate your comment, thanks. \nAfter my mother accepted that I as a gay man--indeed human--and her loving son, she cringed and even shook every time DP spewed more of his radical Christian hate rhetoric. He is a radical, no doubt. Sooner or later her will go after divorced folks, blacks and on and on. His is ayatollah behavior. Be safe you and your brother.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The MSM like all Religious leaders hate criticism and support anything that can reduce criticism of themselves.\nThis is a ridiculous editorial calling for censorship - WHERE IS THE EDITORIAL DEMANDING MUSLIMS STOP HATING JEWS, CHRISTIANS, ZOROASTRIANS, ATHEISTS, WOMEN, GAYS?\nIt is just crazy what is going on here, a total tyranny is being put nto place and we must fight it to the death!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "David Grisham, it's difficult to imagine how much hate and ignorance it must take to inspire you and your group to fly from Texas to Anchorage with the only purpose being to spread your hate and ignorance in a place where you have no business, no connection, and absolutely no concept of the community you come here to try to smear. You and your group are reprehensible humans. Yes, you are very similar to the Westboro Baptist group. What you represent is the opposite of what Jesus taught and lived. You, your group, and the Westboro Baptists are as opposite from Christians as possible. PLEASE, go home and NEVER return to our state.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "To say he is simply not doing his job gives him too much credit. He is deliberately, with malice aforethought, trying to destroy Catholic marriage. Why? Because he thinks he can.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I'm all for that, as long as we ban Christianity and all other sky fairy daddy religions too.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Not on the same scale and not in the recent past has Christianity been misused to justify violence. Suicide bombings seem to be a peculiar characterization of Islamic inspired violence. \n\nWhat if those who do violence in the name of Islam are acting in the manner their sacred texts intend them to be acting? Is that even to be entertained as a possibility?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "It is astonishing that a Catholic bishop can leave it up to locals, members of his flock, 'the sheep', entrusted to him by Our Lord in his diocese, to decide for themselves upon the issue of same-sex 'marriage'.\nNot only Catholics but the whole human race is prohibited from indulging in homosexual activity by the Divine and Natural Laws. If people can make up their own minds about what is good and what is evil, what is the point of Christ and His Church; what is the point of this bishop and those like him?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "... I'm getting used to feeling disgusted by 'em. They aren't really surprising anymore what I didn't realize is how many straight up MORONS we have that vote here in the USA. 80% of Trump voters consider themselves Christian ... lessee that must mean .. ;)", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The Church does not teach that Mary \"never died'. Projecting your sexual issues, much?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"I have seen the political cartoons decades later of the Irish portrayed as apes (very similar to those of Negroes at a different time)\" That time would be now. The Obamas have been portrayed as apes for the last 8 years. The KKK is a Christian organization. Islam doesn't have a monopoly on rape, robbery, torture, or murder. Christians thought race based slavery was God's will. Today many still believe being white means being superior. They just elected Trump. They have not been shy about this.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Just another evangelical Christian extremist being a bigot based on what he thinks his imaginary god tells him to think. I wouldn't step foot in his bakery.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "''What has your pointing and illuminating accomplished so far?''\nit's got us a spotlight on an international disgrace, disaster, and a very likely future despot who screams at ''fake news'' TV sets in the White House when he's not screaming at his justice obstructing AG and anybody else kneeling in front of him as he incriminates himself further with every irrepressible tweet. ...sad.\n''Has it produced more jobs''\nprobably more than the guy with all the promises has so far\n'' Has it won special elections in Georgia and South Carolina?''\ncloser than ever before\n''Has it reduced violence in Chicago?''\nyour guy flew over Chicago a few times\nHas it reduced illegal immigrants on our southern border?''\nhas it forced out intellectuals? professionals? mothers? children? mid-E. Christians? heroic war interpreters?\nbtw, where is that wall which will cost US $BILLIONS$?\nor that 30 day plan to defeat ISIS, now he's joining ISIS?\nbut, you're more concerned with peace loving pussy hats?\noh, COVFEFE!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Donald Trump is on the record for bragging about being a sexual predator. U.S. Catholic Bishops have a long well-documented history of protecting sexual predators that otherwise conform with their positions. No surprise that the bishops would overlook Trumps major character flaw.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Well, I guess I have to cross community supported shelters off my charity list. If they are willing to turn away the homeless based on their genitals rather than their needs, I for one, cannot support them. St. Vincent's does not turn away non-catholics do they?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Islamic radicalisation is ingrained into young minds around the dinner table, as the family enjoys mom's home cooking, and children listen to their elders talk about killing Jews, stabbing infidels, beheading Christians , burning churches, and bombing Israel for Islam, for Allah. It is the same way young Christians are taught about Jesus's charity to to help the poor and sick.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Biblically speaking? Please cite the chapter and verse that says human sexuality is much more important than God's ceremonial or moral law. \n\nYou cannot, of course, because there is no such verse; I just checked. This must mean...how did you phrase it? Oh, right: \"you are ignorant of the true Christian position on these matters.\" \n\nI have no problem with you misrepresenting Christianity, but if God actually exists, he might not look too favorably on your trying to make him fit your image when it's supposed to be the other way around.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"We reserve the right to refuse service to ...\" Blacks, Jews, Irish, gays, Catholics. That what you mean?\n\nThe right of the private owner to practice discrimination is a bogus \"right\". \n\nThe government has always defined the rights of citizens. It's one of the things that governments do.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "A guy taking money out of elderly poor people's mouths to sustain share holder profits for some of the most amazingly profitable corporations in the history of the world while they have a financial hiccup isn't just ignorant of his professed Christian religion, he's an active enemy of everything Jesus of Nazareth stood for and advocated. The devil really can quote scripture, I guess.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "What's your point? Democratic turnout was very weak, how does that possibly translate to evangelicals who are more likely to vote Republican anyway? Trump won big in rural/exurban counties, sure and so what? Again, doesn't translate to some stealth evangelical conspiracy to wreck the country, any more than it does those millions across the political spectrum, who declined to vote this election cycle(vs 2012). Focusing on exit polls in two states in a lame attempt to explain why a candidate with virtually every advantage possible couldn't wipe the floor with as foul a candidate as Trump is myopic to say the least. \nYour barking but you have no bite. Keep trying.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Strange to see white catholics defending white supremacists attacking hispanic catholics. I guess some feel they gotta stand with their race, rather than their religion?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Have you checked out who the Australian Christian Lobby are? Maybe those Australian politicians are right. There's no question ACL has an anti-gay agenda. Not that such an agenda would justify a violent response, and at this point its not exactly clear that it did. Though the ACL leader is going to great lengths to gain sympathy for this horrific \"attack.\"\n\nMy original comment was aimed at people yesterday who suggested this incident was a terror attack by Muslims on Christians. They did so without waiting to see what the facts were.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Shar,\nWhen the scandal story first broke, there was a protracted effort by the bishops to define the scandal VERY narrowly. They zeroed in almost instantly on \"ephebophilia\" (I believe that was the term) in an effort to define this ONLY as being gay predators on pre-pubescent teens. Think about that for a moment in the context of what we now know. Sadly, I fear this strategy has served them well ever since. But the strategy is also a bit of a bet that other scandals wont pop out...\n\nSeems to me that not only did the bishops long know about the problem, but they likely had contingency plans depending on how the story might ultimately play out in the press! THAT recognition is chilling. If for no other reason, it made it clear that the bishops had no intent of truly cleaning house: only damage control. I see little to suggest they've changed their tune since.\n\nI think Sr. Sally did a great job of describing what so many feel about the institutional church today.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Children are being abused by priests right now. These children see how these priests are revered by their parents and the community. These children have been taught that a priest is Gods representative on earth and they have special powers because priests are ordained. The spiritual power of the priests creates issues and fears that prevent children from coming forward, for many it takes a long time.\nI doubt that you are capable of understanding this. I am making this comment for others to read.\nPlease do not respond to me as I am going to mute you after I post this comment. \nI am muting you because...\nIt gives me great pleasure.\nI do not have to read your skewed views followed by your accusations to people that disagree with you as\" hate poisoning their mind\"\nYour Catholicism seems to be based on the man made institution and seems to disregard the teachings of Christ.\nMuting you was a perfect end to this day. \nTomorrow I may un-mute you for 6 seconds, just so I can mute you again!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "RD is saying \"You can't call me a liar because you are a liar\". Even if I am a liar, it has NOTHING WHATSOEVER to do with YOUR lying. It is an excellent example of the Tu Quoque logical fallacy. Would you come before a judge and say, \"You can't say I'm a thief, since Joe Doaks is a thief.\"?\n\nSince I have disposed of your fallacious response, how about you doing what you say others should do and apologize to me for your having lied about me? Do you need to be reminded of your lie? It was when I called you on having said that the Turing machine was another name for the Turing test in the \"Pope Francis discusses married priests, women deacons with German newspaper\" thread. You replied in the \"Delve into the Bible during Reformation anniversary\" thread \"Except I never said 'the Turning [sic, Turing; he got it wrong twice] Machine is another name for the Turing Test.' That my dear friend is a falsehood, a lie.\"\n\nIt was, in fact, the complete truth, as shown by actual quotation. You lied.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Plus, like the Church today, the APA was incredibly over focused on gay men which made the APA appear to discriminate when it came to homosexuality.\n\n The APA finally bent to three facts. The first and foremost being their treatment paradigms didn't have any effect on the mental illness they were stating they could cure. The treatments had no credibility. Second, many of their own came out of the closet and lo and behold they weren't neurotic. Third was the political pressure, but that was given more credence because of numbers one and two.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You seem to be forgetting that a deranged individual took a rifle into a Maryland pizza joint because he believed the story from Alex Jones about a Hillary Clinton-run child prostitution ring existing in the restaurant's basement (even though the place doesn't have a basement).\n\nTed Nugent also \"encouraged\" Obama to \"suck on his machine gun\" (while holding a rifle) at a concert. He also held up said rifle and told Hillary Clinton to \"ride of into the sunset on one of these, you worthless b-\". Nugent has since jammed out with Mike Huckabee (that \"good Christian\") on his old show on Fox, and has been to the White House this year.\n\nNot saying liberals are innocent, but don't try and tell me conservatives are.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You forgot gettingvthe sisters back into habits, getting sent to hell for a hot dog on Friday and all Catholics wearing at least one scapular 24/7. Oh, and getting rid of girl altar boys.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Didn't Jesus forgive and give mercy to everyone?\n\nDo you think His Mother would undercut her own Son?\n\nI think words like \"lesbian porn\" are just other forms of \"walls\" that people throw up, so that they can draw back into themselves.\n\nWe need to break down those sorts of wall, and be open to surprises.\n\nWhat would Francis say and do?\n\nDidn't he just meet with prostitutes and so forth?\n\nOr is it the lesblian side of things that prejudice doesn't allow you to forgive?\n\nYou're forgiving about heterosexual immorality, but draw the line on homosexual immorality?\n\nHelp us sort this one out.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "There is nothing more disgusting than a bible-quoting hypocrite who runs around acting holier than thou in public, but who, behind closed doors, schemes how to best the least among them so they can get the majority of their small cut. Thank you, Shannyn.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "hapaguy\n1 hour ago\n\"I said that the vast MAJORITY of terrorist shootings/bombings etc... in this country since 9/11 were perpetrated by RIGHT WING \"Christian\" extremists. Since 9/11 there were 21 instances of right-wing, white extremist, \"Christian\" terrorist attacks in the U.S. that caused 53 fatalities....\"\nhapaguy\n44 minutes ago\n\"Nowhere did I say that a \"Christian Extremist Group killed 53 people\". I said that since 9/11 there were 21 attacks that caused 53 fatalities....\"\n\nYou making me work haad tonight, lol\nI don't know hapaguy. Maybe you misrepresented yourself or it's nai nai time. No worries\nhahahaahahaha, who's on 1st? What's on 2nd! I don't Know is on 3rd.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "so happy to leave this religion behind, and now it is morphing into a political advocacy group. they are the kings of the shakedown, there's a big difference between religion and god, and there is not so much of a difference anymore between catholicism and political propaganda masquerading as a church which is welcome to all. The fish of catholicism is rotting from the head down. Good bye and good luck.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "These charlatans have no shame. Bigoted bible thumpers that don't even follow the teachings of Christ. It's all about power and the dollar for these folks", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "When a person singles out certain religious groups (Muslims) for instance and accuses them of being terrorists, disparaging Mexicans many of whom are Catholics/Christians of being rapists and murderors, then it is hatred speech - nothing kind and loving in those type of remarks. It is NOT hatred speech to push back against such. Is everyone supposed to roll over and play dead when trumps utters such statements?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you, Sr Joan. This election was devastating to me as an American, as a christian. Devastating not only because a totally unqualified, uneducated in policy issues, con man manipulated voters by playing on their fears and prejudices, but also for what it says about what has happened to our country. The ideals of America - the shining city on the hill, the ideals engraved on the Statue of Liberty (give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free) - are gone, destroyed by voters who chose a man whose statements and rhetoric are both un-christian and un-American. America now turns its back on those who suffer. Jesus said to love, not to hate. \n\nWhat has happened to the American people that they would choose such a man? Hillary was very flawed in countless ways. But her flaws, weaknesses and even lies pale next to those of the man who was elected. His were beyond any normal political candidate - yet he won. A demagogue. I weep for our country.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "One can't help but wonder if this was the plan from the get-go.\n\nThe US right wing is a puppet of the alt-right and anti-science Christian fundamentalists. Pence is a creationist who gives fundamentalists their best wet dreams: he really thinks that evolution is a lie, that climate change is a lie, that the earth was created 6000 years ago and that the second coming/rapture is imminent.\n\n\"When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross\" - Sinclair Lewis (attributed)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Are you saying that accepting discrimination, humiliation, being treated as inferiors are all things that should not get in the way of our ultimate goal to live with God in heaven for Eternity? Women are not sheep who should accept the fate you believe this male dominated version of Christianity is the ultimate truth. If you listened to Pope Francis's speeches and kept up with the media reporting on extremists reaction to his liberal views, like that Fundamentalism is the evil that should be deleted from religion, you know that he received death threats for his public declarations. He does not cond emn women who have had abortions. He has been called an Anti-pope, a sinner for befriending the devilish Jews, for supporting inclusion of all religions and genders. He is afraid now of stating his support for equality for women and not be able to continue ridding Christianity of its cruel , evil and controlling political Fundamentalism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How many of those Bishops that the Pope spoke to were women? I grew up in the Catholic Church, and was constantly told by the Church and my parents that women were not as \"human\" as men. I had to wear a covering on my head--and my brother did not--because lowly female gender was not good enough to go before the presence of God with my head uncovered. Whenever I voiced my desire to go to college, I was screamed at to, \"let some man take care of you!\" I was one of the smartest girls in my huge school. The Catholic Church has long preached inequality and hatred of anything that is not \"human male.\" Little kids and women were to be abused and demeaned (thus the horrible and inhuman abuse of young children by priests). After all, children were lowly like women.\nIf the Church wants to encourage healing, then give up your misogynistic ways and prejudices that are so common in societies of this world.\nOf course, I left the Catholic Church as soon as I left home. Don't preach your lies to me.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am with Ibbotson on this. Ms. Payette's transgression is serious. And it is even more serious that neither she nor the prime minister can see it. \n\nMs Payette needs to learn, and fast, that being GG does not give you the right to pontificate on the beliefs of others and insult the significant minority of Canadians with strong religious beliefs - Christians, Jews, Muslims and others should not be mocked by their GG.\n\nLesson #1 for all incoming GG's. It is not about you. It is about Canada.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"With young Latinos claiming a majority of Catholics under the age of 18, bringing them into the fold of the church and allowing them a platform is imperative with regard to the future of the church.\" \n\nThe future of the Catholic Church in this country is Latino. Either we embrace this reality or we run in fear. I for one welcome it. For most of the history of the Catholic Church in this country, Catholic were regarded with suspicion at best and outright hatred at worst. Latino Catholics are going through that right now from the white majority. When they become the majority, hopefully, they will be less fearful and unwelcoming than the Catholics descended from European ancestors.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In order to prove \"you make it quite clear that you loathe homosexuals\" rather than \"you are a faithful Catholic\", you have to demonstrate that the Catholic Church does not call same sex acts immoral and supports the notion that it is a civil right.\n\nAs anyone can confirm, I have never called homosexuals themselves \"immoral\".\n\nYes, no one likes it when you state \"unpleasant facts\" about them, or call them names like \"ignorant\", or claim that they take \"Adolf Eichmann as ... (a) ... role model\", or make statements like \"Adolf Eichmann as your role model\" because it's uncivil, boorish, and a consistent pattern of name-calling and personal assessments.\n\nAnd unfortunately that is all you have.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes indeed, they should worry... they are being asked to behave like responsible adults and mature Christians and many of them are not up to the task.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "she was hired as a single mother of 2... she was in a secular position. and its a christian college...hopefully teaches the gospels about do untos...forgiveness...judge not. and the real biggie - we stand before god, and ONLY god, in his judgement chair on our day of reckoning... being a christian college, they should welcome lepers, prostitutes, and the raised dead - as did their Master. isn't that the model? forgiveness and love?\n i'm glad she's won her suit. showed the school as being hypocritical, and lacking of the Golden Rule of Christ, in a christian school.... a million dollar hypocrisy...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pretty mean Christian values, if I may say. But at least you're a Christian, lol", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One, the word is \"nonsense\", not \"non-sense\". Your ignorance of the English language is proven with every post.\n\nSecond, a lot of Muslim conflicts can also be presented as tribal/ethnic. For example, the Armenian genocide was related both to ethnicity and religion. The Sunni-Shia conflict can also be presented as a mainly Persian-Arab conflict, dating back to the Battle of Qadisiyyah.\n\nWhere exactly do you see genocide against Christians? In the Sudan, the genocide has gone from Muslim-on-Christian to Christian-on-Christian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The election of Trump has been a clarion call to progressives in the Protestant and Catholic churches in America to move out of a place of primarily professing progressive policies to really taking action,\" she said.\n\nIt is so sad that it took the election of a racist demagogue to get some people to take action. If Trump, Paul Ryan and their soul mates in Congress hadn't proved themselves so inept at getting things done, it might already be too late.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hawaii Christian Coalition...the anti-Life anti-Christ agenda of the Hard Left...\n\nJesus wept...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Keeping in mind, of course, that Wills us the same guy who told Stephen Colbert the Eucharist is \"fake.\" \n\nAlthough calling himself \"Catholic,\" albeit one who does not believe in most teachings of the Catholic Church, he is much closer to Lutheran. But it sells better as an unhappy \"Catholic\" I guess....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What tells you it was inspired by \"radical christian\" ideology, whatever that means? Because the perpetrator was white?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Um, I did state a command of Christ (the Luke passage) but you dismissed it, so I'll change course here.\n\nSo now you are the final arbiter of who is and who is not a Christian. Got it. Where do Catholics fall on your scale of believers/non-believers? If us Lutherans are full of dead orthodoxy, then the Catholic Church must be well and truly dead then. Are all organized churches unbelievers as well? Or are evangelicals ok in your book?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"we would feel so dirty doing it\" \n\nThe DNC staff certainly didn't have that problem in going after Bernie:\n\n\" top Democratic National Committee (DNC) official suggested that the party should raise questions about Sanders\u2019 \u201cJewish heritage\u201d in key primary states\" \"My Southern Baptist peeps would draw a big difference between a Jew and an atheist.\u201d \"It's the Jesus thing\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Good Luck on Bringing in Priests from other Countries. We have that here in the US and the majority of the time We can't even Understand what they are Saying! The Church brings them here and just dumps them, they don't speak English, they don't know are Customs; frankly We feel sorry for the Priest. And......We get Nothing Out of The Homily! My Brother recently passed Away and The Foreign Priest couldn't find his way to the Cemetery! When one of Our Own Young Men becomes a Priest, they ship off to somewhere else???? The Church here has become Some Kind of Club, with little or NO regard for the Parishioners......So They are leaving the Church in Droves. The Church has done it to themselves. They offer 1 Mass on the Weekend if you are Lucky and Good Luck trying to go to Confession; that changes so often that when you do find one you will be waiting in line so long you might want to bring a lunch. Frankly, The Catholic Church has Failed Miserably! Looking for a Good Orthodox.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Straw poll for all the churchgoers out there: Is a head tax (i.e. PFD confiscation) morally justified by the Gospels? Do you believe Jesus would be cool with pulling the same number of dollars from Bob Gillam as from a 4-year-old kid in a low-income family? Just curious. I'm an atheist and couldn't live with myself if I were that selfish.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A Christian cannot vote for Clinton for no other reason than she is actively promoting abortion and wants to withdraw the rights of religious groups to opt out of funding these. Abortion is evil, so then there is no rational way for a Christian voter, true to his faith, to vote for her. \n\nPlanned Parenthood has called Clinton its \u201cchampion\u201d and implied that she could replace President Barack Obama as the most pro-abortion president in U.S. history. Clinton has promised Planned Parenthood that she would repeal the Hyde Amendment and force taxpayers to fund abortions. She also promised to nominate U.S. Supreme Court justices who will ensure that Roe v. Wade and abortion on demand up until birth (and now \"partial birth\") remain the law of the land for years to come.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "All religions are equally irrational. The fact that adherents of the various Christian sects do not habitually wear conspicuous symbols of their religion does not make them any more, or less, worthy of support than Ms. Singh. I believe that Trudeau and Scheer are both Catholic. Sikhism is not a proselytizing religion, and Sikhs do not generally seek to compel non-believers to comply with Sikh religious tenets. Catholics, and many other Christian sects, are another story; wherever they dominate, they seek laws to compel the entire population to obey their rules. Irish abortion laws are a horrible example.\n\nGiven a choice between a Sikh and a Catholic, other things being equal I will support the Sikh.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And to think that when JFK was running for President, everyone was concerned that the Pope would be controlling him because he was Catholic. At least Bernie doesn't have to worry about the Pope calling him out on his lack of Christianity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are holding me accountable for questioning your fact-less based post, while countering with more of the same?\n\nI have responded, with facts, to your posts (spewing the same non-sense) somewhere below.\n.\nTo repeat, I question your motives to present ethnic/tribal conflicts and civil wars all around the world as genocide perpetrated in the name of Christianity? \n.\nWhile quietly ignoring crimes (bordering genocide) against Christians happening today?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, Breitbart certainly carries stories like that.\n\nThat survey isn't convincing though Doctor Demento. I have little doubt that you would get similar responses in the US (and most parts of Canada) from Christians and secular Christians, and other religious groups. After all, there was the heavily publicized case of the law clerk in Kentucky who refused to issue same sex marriage licenses because of her religious beliefs. And there were people who agreed with her.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Are you okay with Catholic cemeteries, of which there are many? Are you okay with Jewish cemeteries...of which there are many? Is it just Muslim cemeteries you're opposed to? Why? Are you even afraid of DEAD Muslims en masse?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"God\" wasn't able to stop the governments from the death and destruction of over 100 million people that was world war part 1 and 2. Considering part 3 is dangling before our faces, just like part 1 was a little more than a hundred years ago, I'm pretty sure that a god had nothing to do with it. Just as god couldn't prevent the Spaniards, carrying the Christian banner, while beginning the slaughter of over a 100 million people living in the Americas 500 years ago. Although back in the early 20th century, I'm pretty sure that millions of good folks thought that god would intervene somehow before it was too late. But the rest is an ongoing history of said \"greed.\" On that point, I agree.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Look up the \"No True Scotsman\" fallacy.\nThe fallacy is used all the time by conservatives.\nIf a Muslim kills someone, why s/he must be a terrorist.\nIf a Christian kills someone, why s/he must be crazy. Because no true Christian has ever shot anybody. The Crusaders weren't \"real\" Christians, for example, using their logic. Neither were the participants in the Spanish Inquisition.\nSee: Planned Parenthood shooter, where the entire El Paso County law enforcement establishment, from the moment the shooter was apprehended, has been bound and determined to show the guy as crazy, despite the fact the shooter provides as arguments standard pro-life rhetoric. They have an economic and philosophical self-interest.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "what do they feel they have achieved killing innocent Christians (children no less)?\n I think it would be very important for the Muslim leaders of the world to take a united stand against these murderers.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Since you were permitted to say that Catholic women \"certainly have more sense than Catholic men,\" I have the freedom to say the reverse is true, as evidenced by their voting for a woman who destroys women who make truthful allegations of sexual depravity against her husband; a woman who should have been indicted under the Espionage Act; who is \"extremely careless\" with communications bearing on our national security; who voted to go to war in Iraq, a war that Trump did not support; a woman who supports Obamacare when consumer costs of Obamacare are going through the roof; a woman who would appoint judges and justices who would read Roe v. Wade as permitting partial birth abortion, which will take the lives of thousands of children in the womb. A woman who repeatedly lies to Congress and to us. Where is the sense in voting for THAT?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My reference to the Evil One was merely to make the point that not all developments are positive for two reasons, human and evil; I did not in any way implicate Satan is this issue.\n\nI do not content that adoration ought to be denied those who find solace therein, but merely that it, IMHO, is not a felicitous historical development in its historical context, and that alone is reason enough to ponder whether it ought to be fostered or allowed to wither today. We will disagree on that one.\n\nRe ecumenism, I am working from an unstated image of how Christianity might grow back together again. I take the plaintive cry of Jesus on the eve of his crucifixion that \"We may be one\" to be a moral imperative for all Christians, and I suggest that if every group were to strive to grow together by putting aside peripheral practice and peripheral theology, we might indeed one day once again become one as Jesus wishes. Benediction is, IMHO, just such a peripheral practice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Faithful Catholic - hogwash!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Sorry\" doesn't cut it. Christian,and fellow evil companions deserve a harsher penalty. Do not be deterred to administer a 'right',and 'fair' justice. Time to fit the crime would be the better teacher.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"it is an impossibility, it doesn't exist.\"\nIf same-sex marriage doesn't exist, why are Real Catholics and the Holy Oligarchs obsessed with it?\nAn obsession with something that doesn't exist is usually evidence of serious psychological imbalance.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not sure I quite follow, Monte. But the political aspirations (social justice passions) of 1st Century Jews were very much tied to flesh and blood suffering at the hands of the Romans. It wasn't simply theoretical injustice. By any rational standard, Roman oppression was the overwhelming cause of Jewish want and suffering. \n\nI think Christian social justice combatants have to grapple honestly with the theological significance of Jesus failure to endorse political solutions for social injustice before urging the church to engage in divisive political battles. To repeat myself, Jesus' refusal to seek political reform or avail Himself of political power are like \"the dog that didn't bark.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How warm and welcoming...but certainly you prove the point about progressive, liberal people. \n\nAs you said, if you wanted to hear other opinions, you would seek them out. Therefore, since you don't - you do not. You only wish to hear opinions that agree with your. You do not welcome disagreement, despite the pretense of being accepting of all people. And if it takes name-calling (\"trolls,\" for example) and nasty attacks \"you(r) rants are meaningless\"), you will use them to chase others away.\n\nLovely. How very liberal. Not Catholic - but liberal.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is truly epic, what a wonderful idea. These violently insane right wing Christian Republican terrorists are being laughed at around the world, but they constitute a serious threat to Americans, so much so that school children are too afraid to go to class -- because these terrorists often slaughter whole school rooms full of children to \"be taken seriously.\"\n\nI'll be donating to the Friend of Malheur, they'll be needing money to clean the Republican stench off once the FBI snipers drop these terrorists.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My seat in hell awaits me for not wanting to befriend and house those who view me as an infidel when we can't house or feed millions of natural born children and veterans? \nYou must have failed economics if you believe we can support an influx of refugees when the federal government has shut down multiple times already and the state can't fund itself at the current level.\nIn biblical times armies of Christians killed these people by the thousands, I'll take my chances with them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "this is a symptom of intolerance, not just some silly municipal 'right'. \nThe Muslim community has the right to have a cemetery to bury their deceased just like Jews, Christians do. Denying this right is undemocratic, unCanadian and wrong. Simple.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Excellent post, gadabout1. \n\nBehaving in a mean-spirited way and making snide remarks about their opponents seems to be all the Conservatives have to offer. Do they realize that calling Trudeau a \"shiny pony\" for the umpteenth time garners them NOTHING in the way of support outside of their base? \n\nI honestly believe that the Tories, both at the Federal level, and in Ontario, have become the \"we despise the Liberals\" party, and that's about it. \n\nWhen they do come up with specific policy issues, like Tea Party Timmy Hudak's plan to gut the civil service in Ontario, they wind up driving the majority of voters back into the arms of the Liberals, as the lesser of two evils. \n\nKeep focusing on Christian fundamentalist values, throw some red meat to the Islamophobes in your base with proposals for another \"snitch line\", and by all means, organize more photo-ops with the likes of the Ford Brothers of Toronto, and you'll remain in the political wilderness indefinitely.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"I worship Jesus, not Mother Earth,\" Erickson tweeted. \"He calls us all to be good stewards of the planet, but doesn't mean I have to care about global warming.\"\n\nStatements like this show the moral and intellectual bankruptcy of the Trump Christian movement. They know nothing and want to learn nothing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have no rude awakening about a liberal Tulsi. I love that about her. Plus, she is a true patriot having served our country in uniform.\nAs for \"God,\" simply quoting our pledge of allegiance verbatim seems to have upset you. \nBut why?\nAre you an anti-Christian bigot? There is such a thing. And, bigotry is divisive, is it not? Why not be respectful of that large segment of our citizenry, and reach out to them? Or, do you consider them deplorables beneath recognition as equal partners in our Great Nation?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Christian allegedly stabbed two men to death and seriously injured a third amid what witnesses called an anti-Muslim tirade on a commuter train. Christian had given Nazi salutes and screamed racial slurs at a right-wing rally in the city in April.\"\n\nSounds like a Trump supporter to me.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "2017 will be 57 years of Fellini's film \"La Dolce Vita\" \n(Palme d'Or, Cannes Film Festival in 1960 and Oscar nominations for Best Foreign Film) \nAt the Premiere in Rome; HUGE HUGE Scandal !...\n(But the media fuss will remain completely unknown outside of Italy) \nMaterials to scandal on several fronts; \nfirst the 'clan' of famous Italian politicians and aristocrats they want to 'burn in' the negatives to having been portrayed (with such biting authenticity) by Fellini (age 40) (the aristocracy as the middle class continues to 'Hate' homosexuality on behalf of Catholic morality, he said). Many know Fellini's film but many are unaware of the other 'reading' the HUGE scandal; for the first time in the Italian cinema (and world cinema) Fellini shows 'gays' proud to be. (by Arrival of 'speaking' movies, Hollywood has become a ' moral' code (code Hayes); \u201cProhibition of gay characters for the Big Screen\u201d from 1930 to 1965) And Paf ! for Hollywood\u2019s morality in the mind of Fellini!) \n(more", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The bishops, in their role as teachers have a duty to lay out our responsibilities as christians and to call us to accountability when we fall short. As I see, if we refuse to do what we can to help those who need our help, especially the poor and displaced, then there are really only two possible positions here. Either you have read the bible and believe that Jesus and the prophets of the old testament were just being disingenuous or deceitful when they spoke of our duty to the poor and to immigrants, or we can admit that we know what we should be doing and just choose to selfishly ignore it. No amount of \"rationalization\" can change this.\nHappily, Mr Bannon provoked the bishops to come out and say something they should have been shouting from the cathedral door all along.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think Marty's probably right. I don't remember any bishops condemning anyone to hell for ANYTHING. I don't think they have he power to do that, do they? And they probably know it. Are you sure you're not exaggerating? You sound pretty hostile to the Church. Are you Catholic? I don't get it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yeah, glad I was a kid growing up as a teen in the 1960's where we had political chaos and my devout Catholic parents and adults in my family never said a word about the adult world to kids and never about sex. That was the way it was in the \"good old days\" of my youth attending Catholic High, the adults just told us what not to do. All the information I got on being a teen and growing into young adulthood was from my own dumb & dumber peer group. Sure miss those days but at least I really talked to my teens about real issues so then they hit 18 they were not dumber than a box of rocks at that age like I was and they were more realistic about how life works.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Gregory visited my college.\n\nHe spent about 40 minutes insulting white Christians and was paid at least $15,000 for his gratuitous insults.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The ACLU defends anyone BUT Christians! They oppose Bible Believing Christians every chance they get!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is true that 'fake news' carries the connotation of 'intent to deceive'. I also agree that whoever the writers of the Gospels were they were sincere in their conviction. However, I should have said was false or incorrect news. We have no original copies of the Gospels. What we have were embellished, added to, with many copying mistakes. 13 encyclicals of Paul, 6 are considered as forgeries...forgeries are fake news. We also know with certainty, and so does the church, that there was no historical Fall, thus no Original Sin. Yet priests today giving a homily constantly refer to Adam and the fall from grace...that is fake news. Another, and there are many, Jesus went to pray alone in the garden. Yet we have His prayer that if possible the cup be passed from Him, that the Father's will be done, not Jesus. The apostles were illiterate, no recordings, no witnesses wrote anything...this also has to be fake news. Worst; Gospels are Word of God...God wrote no book, nor did Jesus.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And now you support the ignorance an evil sin of Gender Subjugation and Segregation. How very sad how we Catholic Women have been so beaten down spiritually and have been so mentally manipulated by that hierarchy that many of our women can't see misogyny even when it is right in front of their faces.\n\nFor me, this is a call to arms. The bullet shot that demands real lay pressure upon all priests calling for immediate priestly ordination of women and the boycott of any priest ordained who is married as he has sinned against his sister in the support of their subjugation and used a sacrament as a tool for hatred rather than love.\n\nFor the record, celibacy does not cause pedophilia. However, all male groups with access to children, even married male groups, attract pedophile males at much higher rates than non sexually exclusive groups.\n\nI do thank you for advertising clearly by the 666 who you are really representing. As this decision does definitely benefit Satan.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And then they wonder why people leave the Church when they replace preaching the Bible and the Gospel with leftist politics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The alt right movement itself is ethno-nationalist, and this was an invasion by alt-right trolls. So whatever they may be raving about, they're still affiliated with a toxic movement.\n\nI agree \"Disagreement about immigration or whether the poor are to be assisted by private versus public means are legitimate issues Catholics can disagree on.\" But sloganeering and smearing isn't discussion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A) he may have done it with certainty they would refuse. That doesn't make it right or commendable. Like other people in the scriptures he did a number of very stupid things that were nowhere close to God's instructions. \n\nB) I have never seen anything in the Bible or a commentary on the passage that said it was \"okay\". Have you? There are many actions recorded in the Bible that are not there because they were right or pleasing to God, but because they are a part of Hebrew history that God inspired men to record. There is no way to read the events in scripture and assume because they were written down they were all good and worthy of praise and emulating. The Bible includes the history of a people and unlike one might expect from religious writings, gives the good, the bad and the ugly.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus said NOTHING on the subject of contraception. No, those unmarried men, who had no experience whatsoever with married life or the place of sex in married life, made it up out of their belief -- derived from the Stoics, Gnostics and Neoplatonists -- that sex had to be \"justified\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Here is Abraham Lincoln commenting on a similar period in our history, when the Know-Nothing party was working to keep my Irish Catholic ancestors out of the country.\n\n\"As a nation, we begin by declaring that \"all men are created equal.\" We now practically read it \"all men are created equal, except negroes.\" When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read \"all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and catholics.\" When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretence of loving liberty-to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocracy.\"\n\nPerhaps we could hire Russian mercenaries to vet the vetter vetters?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, white people are responsible for the privilege we carry, part of which is due to oppression of other races. Similarly, heterosexual people are responsible for the privilege they carry, part of which results from placing themselves on pedestals they deny to other loves.\n\nAs for my knowledge of Christianity, I am a Christian. I'm simply not an Evangelical, which is a modern, Western, anti-intellectual sect, which tends to idolize the Bible as some form of Cosmic Rule Book, rather than actually practice Christ's commandment to love God and neighbor. Having been at the receiving end of Evangelical political hostility for 30 years - right here in Portland - I'm speaking from experience.\n\nIf Imago Dei doesn't want to be identified with its Conservative Baptist brethren, it should disassociate from that denomination, and treat women and LGBTQ people as equals. Until it does ... it can expect to be treated like any other right-wing church. Tattoos cover skin, not hardened hearts.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jason attends a mainstream Christian church.\n\nYou are still equating homosexuality with various minor sins (greed, lack of respect etc.)\n\nYou have bigoted opinions about homosexuality. Your \"compassion\" is really just your feeling that you are morally superior to Jason and are such a great guy for not expressing your prejudice in an open or political way.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is an apocryphal story about Senator Kelly meeting with Sr Prejean 15 or so years ago. She was in Juneau to lobby against a capital punishment bill that Kelly and other hypocrites were pushing. Kelly, you will recall, wanted to give the government he hates the power to kill people. Consistent with his rather perverse love of symbolism, Kelly, I am told, made sure to have prominently displayed on his desk, between the nun and himself, a toy guillotine. \nDear Pete: life and death is not a joke in the context of public policy. \n\nJesus was not a macho tough guy taking nails for God; he was a man who led a political movement against the established religion that favored the rich and powerful and got killed because of it. And in the midst of the loneliness of his own death he cried out to God in doubt and fear: \"My Lord, my Lord...why hast thou forsaken me?\"\n\nChrist's service was to afflict the comfortable and to comfort the afflicted. Not so, Pete Kelly. \n\nThank you, Shannyn.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh please. The Cons agitated for the Yazidi as a way to embarrass the Libs and because the Yazidi are Christian.\n\nIt was the crassest of self serving & divisive politics by the Cons. Who never lifted a finger to help the Yazidis when the Cons were in power.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wrong question Larry.\n\nFathers reserve the right to interview their daughter's dates. Dads want to know if he is decent and would he behave in a decent manner? Would he treat my daughter with kindness and respect? Could he be trusted to bring her home on time? Is his language, actions, and decisions, would he be a decent guy? Decency matters to dads.\n\nDT ridicules a war hero; made a mockery of a reporter\u2019s menstrual cycle; made fun of a disabled reporter; referred to the former first lady, Barbara Bush as \u201cmommy,\u201d and belittled Jeb Bush for bringing her on the campaign trail. He routinely calls people \u201cstupid,\u201d and \u201cdummy.\u201d One writer cataloged sixty-four occasions that he called someone \u201closer.\u201d These weren't off-line, backstage, overheard, not-to-be-repeated comments but were publicly and intentionally tweeted, recorded & presented.\n\nSuch insensitivities wouldn\u2019t be acceptable for a middle school student body election and all while brandishing a Bible and claiming to be Christian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you can't love gays as they are sexually, than you can't love God or have chosen not to. To deny love in the lives of others is to blaspheme against the Spirit. You may be beyond help.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"No, and abortion is not any other garden variety sin.\" It has been almost treated as adultery was during in Christ's time. The man was allowed to 'get away' and the woman was caught to be tried and stoned to death. The pattern of sexism is blatant. By the way, abortion was permitted in Judaism before 'quickening' occurred.\n\n\n\"I would hope that a woman who procured an abortion would be remorseful and seek the godly counsel of a priest? What does the priest even know about the psychological, mental and often physical situations that often leads a woman to procure an abortion? \n \n\nHas the priest, personally, ever been in the same situation as the woman has? You write about men confessing incest----but no special \"juridical process\" was needed to forgive that sin, either. A man could sexually abuse a vey young child---little girl or boy. But the priest didn't have to go to the bishop---to forgive the creep.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Conservative Catholics?\" If we are going to confront the \"fake news and the election of Donald Trump,\" let's start with some that truth telling: 'Conservative Catholics' is code for angry and afraid white folks.\n\nAmong the ways that the media has got it wrong is it's complicity in making many white people more comfortable in expressing and acting out their prejudices and fears. Sitting next to us in the pews are fellow sheeple who harbor the dark motivations of racism, misogyny and fascism.\n\nAcknowledging the evil among us is the first step to overcoming it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am curious, how exactly is a single, celibate, male of any persuasion able to relate as a kind of marriage counselor than anyone else who has to examine the institution of marriage from the outside? \n\nAs for \"practicing falsehood,\" the gay priest has to pretend to be something he's not because the organization insists he do so. Of course, that opens up a whole other can of personal and institutional worms (...Cardinal O'Brien, anyone?)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No kingdom will rule untill Jesus Christ come back, that was insult to Christians; Let anc fall as they have said on other day, when we ask about the Inflation, They say, Let the Rand fall they will pick it , those people of anc they don't feel pain about the black majority who not working walking around searching for jobs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes and they incorporated this in themselves when they were children. This early neural patterning is very hard to break. One of the easiest solutions is to become exactly what created your dysfunction. Hence pedophiles are frequently child sexual abuse victims themselves\n\nI have said repeatedly, ad nausea, that until the theology supporting the priesthood is totally revamped the abuse crisis will continue. I would certainly hope it isn't true anymore, but the way I was indoctrinated into the Church in my Catholic elementary school certainly caused some experiences that qualify as Adverse Childhood Experiences, otherwise known as ACES. I would encourage people to google ACES and inform themselves of what this means in terms of addiction, chronic illness, autoimmune diseases, and suicidality. It may help folks understand why clerical abuse victims are so far behind the 8 ball and why some Catholics just can't get the abuse crisis in it's entirety.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Which version of how Christmas originated? The pagan solstice festivals commandeered by Christians? Will the lesson include the fact that Dec 25 was chosen by Roman Emperor Constantine? Will the lesson include Christmas in America being born of wild parties and debauchery? That Christmas was once illegal? \nOr did you mean the fairy tale about mangers and wise guys?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"( the group) agrees with Catholic teachings on sexuality,\"\nDoes the group understand that they can observe their own rules but when they tell others how to live they provoke anger? People have the right to free speech but sometimes shutting up is the right thing to do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The \"Francis program\" is itself a rubber stamping of the same old, tired Catholic agenda, highlighting misogyny and homophobia, labelling the laity as sinners and not sacred, and emphasizing difference instead of Oneness. The only distinguishing feature of the \"Francis program\" is that it couches its rehash in touchy feely language without addressing the bias and discrimination upon which the Catechism and various pronouncements are based. As Jean-Baptiste Karr pointed out in 1849, \"The more things change, the more they stay the same\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "With regard to one reference in the article made aslant, viz. John Podesta's leaked e-mails, \"some of which relegate Catholic beliefs to the 'middle ages'\": It should be clear that neither Podesta nor any of his Catholic correspondents, e.g. Jennifer Palmieri, meant that ALL Catholic beliefs are obsolete and deserve to be dismissed and passed over. They should not be accused of doubting ANY Catholic beliefs without asking them directly. And we for our part should acknowledge that \"Catholic beliefs\" do not all deserve the same respect or adherence, some of them being relatively parvenu and ill-founded. From what I can see, they were trying to encourage one another to be part of a great good in the church today, to question structures of authority. If they have high hopes for e.g. Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, a most worthy group, then good for them!, say I.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The Bride of Christ won't capitulate even if most of its members do.\n\nFor several centuries the Bride of Christ has carried on an adulterous relationship with secular wealth and power. And, of course, in recent times the Bride of Christ has had an adulterous relationship with young children.\nGiven that the Bride is now experiencing institutional collapse, the evidence would certainly suggest that Jesus has decided to end His marriage to the adulterous Bride.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Don't look now, 678, but your guy didn't have any public service under his belt. tRump's candidacy set a new low bar for the presidency. In past elections one couldn't be elected because of their religion, but Kennedy (Catholic) broke that mold. Before one had to have served in the military, but Clinton broke that mold. Now one doesn't have to have served in any elected position, and now tRump has crashed that ceiling. Wonder what's next...one can have a felony record and still be elected as president.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think more subtly.\n\nI think the USCCB should \"be all in\" in communicating about how to live Christian life fully and completely, including providing formation to Catholics on how to live a morally sound life.\n\nThe Church should provide moral principles and various moral tests.\n\nHow to think through moral decisions..\" intention\" \"object of the action\" \"circumstances\" what really is \"double effect\", bioethics, etc,\n\nAll this needs to be better taught: The objective disorder in abortion, and that of same-sex couplings, divorce, contraception.\n\nThe Church needs to teach its teaching more soundly and beautifully and confidently. \n\nIt should have no reservations whatsoever about teaching the truth, in the image of Jesus who spoke the truth.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "dennism, you absolutely do not have one ounce of substantive thought in your head or you are woefully incapable of translating it into words. Your \"poking fun\" at persons for liking their own posts is quite annoying and very uncharitable. I've found that to be true of most liberals. When they can't intelligently respond to views they disagree with, they always reach for the straw man, which in your case, is very uncharitable and un-Christ like.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The true believers fall back on their non-existent controllers to justify every evil act against humanity perpetrated by the vile Republican terrorists currently occupying the highest levels of our government. Ryan, Trump, and all of the Repulican Part are equally evil in their intent and actions to destroy our nation's governing system to be replaced with a combination Corporate/Christian Oligarchy demanding absolute obedience to the self-proclaimed spirit messengers. When you start with lies, very unlikely to generate any truth.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not necessarily Christians, Ben W; perhaps you meant to say radical religious fundamentalists? Then your paragraph makes much more sense.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We should now also rename Toronto's Jack Layton Ferry Docks. He too was racist. He was a white man who used Asian women for his sexual appetites. He was found in a brothel with an Asian woman, even though he was married to Olivia Chow. It is no different from what white Catholic priests did to Indigenous people at residential schools.\nJack Layton doesn't deserve memorials, despite him being beatified by trade unions and the left. Of course, they will be outraged if Jack Layton's reputation is sullied in any way, but they have no such qualms about inflicting the same indecency on the memories of other perfectly fine people.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christ who needs ISIS\nWe have the Liberals\nThey are taking out christian societies 10 times faster than ISIS is.\nAt 500,000 Muslims a year in 10 years + 4-8 births per family white - anglo saxon Canada will be gone.\n\nAnd you all do nothing but smile an accept the demise of your heritage, your race, and your culture.\nShame on you", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You know, I read comments like yours and I think, how is it possible that 'westerners' can be so self righteous about murderous terrorists like those in London? Hate is hate, no? A white supremacist just murdered two people in the U.S. last week. Is the hate 'here' that drives the dylan roofs and the jeremy christians any different than it is 'there' - that drive these terrorists?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For many reasons this is a big, disappointing deal to me. It's difficult to even know where to begin my response. Call me crazy, but this is such a sad attempt, yet again, to blame the sex abuse crisis on homosexuality. Would that it were true!!! Then the solution would be easy. I look at the catholic clergy sex abuse crisis in this way now: It is more like the way some men act out sexually in prison. It's not about love, it's not about homosexual assault... It's about sexual release and, probably, domination. These convict-on-convict sexual couplings are mainly happening between straight men. Stop marginalizing homosexuals, please. It hurts very deeply", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Firstly, the bishop is making a temporal judgment based on conspicuous actions. The act of marriage is a very public action - banns of marriage, newspaper announcements, priest or deacon asking any to come forward as to why this man and this woman should not be joined - all very public. \n\nSecondly, too many here believe the bishop is hate-filled. I see it as just the opposite. If what he truly believes about homosexual actions are going to cause someone to lose Heaven, out of love, he wants all to get there, just as our Lord does.\n\nShould the bishop deny a Christian burial to a known and conspicuous racist?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's just a continuation of them agitating and promoting their trendy lives: denying without repentance the Church's teaching, then demanding to be served and praised in death. It's like the homosexuals showing up at the Christian bakery. It's an attack.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Looks like a bunch of rich, conservative \"Catholics\", are willing to make a deal with the devil to get what they want. I'm pretty sure the German citizens that went along with Hitler's war and genocide looked the other way when he promised them everything they wanted also. Can such people even be called Christian much less Catholic anymore? I think not! Such titles such as I'm a Christian are meaningless now. I'd probably find a better class of human being hanging out at the nearest homeless shelter than the rich vicious hyocrits that attended that dinner at the Trump Hotel!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "very much so and I wonder if that may have helped get rid of the jerk in KC. I live in Kansas, but work in KCMO and work with many Catholics there. most of the ones I knew said they stopped giving as long as Finn was there and I understand there were many people who did the same. there would be a lot of things changed if more people did that. and they can earmark donations to be used only in the parish. I knew some who did that as well.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "No Jerry Burle, you cannot be a Christian if you practice murdering the unborn, just like the Canaanites who sacrificed their children to Molech/Baal.\nStop deluding yourself Jerry Burle.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The genocide against Christians in the Middle East continues. These are the refugees we should be taking, not Syrian or Iraqi muslims. They have countries. Middle Eastern Christians do not.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Christians who have kiled are not acting in accordance with their faith and the teachings of our Lord. They are actually going against the commands of the faith and are committing grave sins. However, Muslims who commit murder and terror are doing so in accordance with their faith and following the commands of their prophet. That's the difference. You should get your head out of the sand and educate yourself.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Well, Islam, Christianity and Hinduism all believe in invisible beings who never, ever show themselves and who apparently have super powers used to direct some sort of a petri dish experiment here on earth. Try raising that idea in any arena other than religion and 'lunatic' is precisely the word that gets applied. I don't see why religion gets a pass, but it does. In terms of 'infringement' I again go to the simple question...when was the last time an atheist was knocking at your door trying to convert you?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"Is everyone here really that ignorant about the kind of fanatical extremist religious sect the Nation of islam is?\" No, they just choose to ignore it and rail on Christians for things that happened a thousand years ago because it's the hip thing to do. (Btw I'm not a Christian.)", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "(Qur'an 9:5) aka Kill infidels\nSo when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captive and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them.\u201d \n\nSo tell me why I shouldn't be fearful of Islam? Muslims near a school yelled at catholic students that they would kill them. Muslims spray painted ISIS on churches, and even last week a Muslim rammed a vehicle into people. Islam is a cult. If M103 goes into affect Trudeau will lose 2019 and a conservative will remove that anti free speech bill.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "What's the difference between a Catholic Priest and a pimple?\nThe pimple waits until after puberty before it comes on your face.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Just as pseudo Christians/ pseudo conservatives have destroyed the GOP, political correctness has destroyed liberalism.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Why single out Muslims? The guys who blew up the Murrah Bldg. in Oklahoma City were Christians. Most religions have their violent extremists. Christians have killed far more innocent people, especially Muslims, than vice-versa. Sanctions alone, before we began bombing Iraq, caused the premature deaths of a million & a half Iraqis. Clinton's Sec'y of state, Madeleine Albright, when asked if the deaths of half a million Iraqi kids had been worth it, said \"We think it was worth it, because it showed sanctions were working.\" George W. Bush, phony Christian, waged \"Shock & Awe\"bombing on Iraq that killed or caused the premature death of up to another million & a half, & forced 4 million to flee their homes to suffering & poverty in refugee camps. \"Born-again Christian\" W later admitted freely that Saddam had NOTHING to do with 9/11. This \"Christian\" nation is the only country that's used nuclear weapons, on civilians yet, killing over 100,000 of them, & even a bunch of American P.O.W.s.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"Rural folks want to \"take back America\" ... from whom? Gay people? Non-Christians? Non-conservatives?\"\nPeople who want to burn and walk all over the flag of our country. People who refuse to accept the results of our elections. People who are okay with handing our nation over to foreigners who have no intentions on joining into our society but create their own within our borders.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Egypt used to be a majority Christian country. Now a minority, Christians are persecuted and fleeing. History repeating itself in so many countries. \nGiven the healthy demography of Muslim population, same will happen to countries such as France, (more than 10% Muslim), Great Britain (more Muslim than Christian babies born in Birmingham) or Germany. It has already started: a non Muslim can no longer walk safely in some areas of France. The police is scared to go there. \n\nIn the meantime our dear Canadian leader continues focusing on \"Islamophobia' laws, and 'diversity is our strength' nonsense.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "OregonBorn: Look at what the Catholic Priests have accomplished over the last how many centuries, AND, the Boy Scouts of America. They have been raping boys, FOREVER.\n\nRead the Sign: FOREVER................", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "So LGBT people are \"dogs?\" What about fornicators ,\n adulterers, or clergy that buy an anniversary cake or want a photographer at their church event - how does the business know that they're doing business with an apologist for child sex abuse and trafficking? \nAlso, as far as even Catholicism is concerned, even in Latin America as in the United States, the Church was segregated ; in the former, special chapels were built for Black slaves. All this so called \"religious objections \" to serving LGBT people is a smokescreen and a slippery slope down the road to making it legal in the name of \"religion \" to refuse to do business with non White people hence, a return to Apartheid.\n\nIf you don't wish to serve the public, then cease being a business owner that does just that. \n\nAlthough I don't doubt that a return to Apartheid in America is what Trump supporters want.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic Church has never needed permission to pick and choose for whom it would perform any ceremony.\n\nThat has not changed because the *states* are now required to issue marriage licenses to same sex couples. There is no relationship between the two. Obergefell does not require any church to do a single damn thing. And everyone with an IQ above room temperature knows that or is capable of reading the decision and figuring that out. \n\nThe Catholics used to be focused on things like orphanages and priceless artifacts and poisoning each other at the Vatican. They should stick to that, and stop trying to gin up more false grist for the propaganda machine that is rapidly destroying our democracy and turning the U.S. into ungovernable factions where every problem has to be solved in federal court. Sorry, boys (and it is boys, because the nuns *do not care*) we aren't going back to any of the centuries you would like to return to. Go back to arguing about angels and pinheads.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Better to brainwash them about Jesus Christ, the evils of s-e-x, the need to keep guns, the horrible things Obama has done, the damage illegal Mexicans cause, etc etc etc?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The most idiotic thing the hierarchy could do would be to try to depose Pope Francis. It would trigger an immediate schism and throw the Church into chaos at a time when it's already struggling to keep its moorings in a rapidly changing world. \n\nIf they really want that smaller, more 'purified' Church they're always clucking about, this is the perfect way to get it. But I doubt they'd think the price was worth it in the long run.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "the level of paranoia and delusional thinking on the catholic religious right is astonishing. forget about francis, he is lost, one of the beasts out of Revelation.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"Catholics in general voted for Trump over Clinton 52 percent to 45 percent.\"\n\nThis takes my breath away. 52% of my fellow Catholics decided racism, xenophobia, misogyny, meanness, bullying, bragging about sexual violence, etc., etc. are OK?????? That those characteristics should be set aside to elect Trump president?\n\nI have no words.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"Our own political agenda must be supportive of our lay vocation, which is to become saints, and to bring souls to Christ.\nIt's time we raised the bar a bit around this petty ante political place masquerading as a Catholic website.\"\n\nReally, RD? This is your usual comment. You claim spiritual leadership for yourself and make an empty attack on NCR. How is being a snide rightwing political troll bringing any souls to Christ?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "To blame evanagelicals for beating gays 500 years ago, when the movement only came into being less than 50 years ago show your ignorance.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "What would happen if a person stood with a sign saying\"WHITE CHRISTIAN GUN NUTS OUT OF POLITICS\"? Think Trump voters wouldn't get off on harming that person?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The Republicans longest running lie is that they don't recruit white racists into the GOP. That recruitment started with Barry Goldwater. They have been very successful with their recruitment efforts. I remember when Ronald Reagan kicked off his successful run for president with a speech in Philadelphia, Mississippi. That town was famous for one thing, the murder of Swerner, Goodman, and Chaney. They were murdered for registering black folks to vote in the 1960's. The Christian KKK did the deed with the help of local law enforcement. The crowd of white folks loved his speech.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "So you, as a Christian, are lecturing people on the semantics of atheism/agnosticism? You wrote:\n\n\"Actually, atheism is a belief system as it is predicated on the disbelief in the existence of God or gods.\"\n\nDisbelief is the opposite of a belief system. Why do so many Christians feel the need to make not accepting their unproveable views a system of belief? Try to get this; I am not defined by atheism. Not believing in your deity is an almost inconsequential part of my existence.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"It is unclear how Burnham, a Roman Catholic, has come to the conclusion that Salman Abedi is 'not a Muslim.' \n\nhttps://www.conservativereview.com/articles/manchester-mayor-muslim-terrorist-not-a-muslim?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=052417crcontentemail&utm_campaign=newslettertraffic\n\nNo...I think it is very clear. Very.\n\n\"Andy Burnham was elected Manchester\u2019s mayor on May 5. Less than three weeks later, his city has suffered a massive Islamic terror attack that killed scores of innocent teenage girls. All indications appear to say that Burnham will continue to engage in willful blindness and coddle radical Islamists, much to the detriment and safety of his citizens.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Such compassionate and merciful behaviour, with a focus on others, is actually in the \"catholic rulebook\" too.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Interesting observations, Stephen. I don't think you can attach the same significance to Jesus refusal to be pressured into fulfilling the deep-seated social justice aspirations and messianic expectations of 1st Century Jews that you attach to the fact that He didn't have children. He sure had plenty of affirmation for children. Why no endorsement of, or even reference to, the social justice activists and protesters? \n\nThe dog that didn't bark isn't always significant. But sometimes it is. \n\nI agree that God inspired the entirety of Scripture. Does that mean we should have a theocracy? Should we have the death penalty? OT prophets condemned exploitation, dishonesty and disrespect for personal property and personal autonomy. We moderns all agree that what they condemned is immoral and illegal. OT prophets were not egalitarians. They would have drooled to have our rule of law. Christian social justice advocates engage in OT eisegesis in order to rewrite the gospel mandate.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is a fiction that the seamless garment philosophy ever included the death penalty. There are obvious moral differences between killing the innocent and killing guilty murderers.\n\nThere are 2000 years of Catholic teaching showing death penalty support.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Francis,an obvious Marxist and underminer of what the church[!]\"\n\nFrancis is following his namesake Francis of Assisi. If you find Christianity Marxist you've missed the point.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As have the Catholic bishops and they have a lot more power and money behind them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Is Muslim a race? Last I hear it was a religion and from what I have seen and read regrading negativity toward Christians my comment would be considered mild.\nThis is my personal opinion and if you take a good look around the world you will see analogy playing out time and time again.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What I find terribly upsetting is that the Pope is more worried about illegal immigrants in the US than Christians being slaughtered by Muslims in the Middle East. After one of his priests was killed in France, during Mass, he still fails to see it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "With unimaginable suffering convulsing constantly our planet, we, I, would expend an iota of consideration of the forms of liturgy! Card. Sirah and ilk seriously need a serious day job! End ecclesiastical welfare now!\nHe bemoans Europe \"But the first to have abandoned her Christian roots and past is indisputably the post-conciliar Catholic Church.\" Forget Europe abandoning her Christian roots when the institutional church who's supposed mandate is the gospel, and not Europe's, has abandoned its roots in not prioritizing the least ones but concerned about liturgical housekeeping.\nThe RCC is irreformable.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "America is not a secular nation! It is a pluralistic, and free nation that was founded based on Judeo-Christian principles.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Considering the slanderous, mean, and vindictive tone that 95% of your posts contain while attacking any right leaning entities you obviously lack the same substantial character of those you want to champion.\n\n\"Back to the Bible Hour\" ring a bell?\n\nWhy is it the left always draw religion into their attacks when pretty much every politician has some religious background? Can't wait for your assassination of Trudeau's Catholic background or Jagmeet Singh's Sikh affiliation come into your post.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "CAEL - just how wealthy are Catholic religious orders?\n\n\"Measured by assets entrusted, the most important group of clients was religious orders. They accounted for ...54 percent...\" Assets of 5.7 billion euros, times .54 is 3.078 billion Euros. At a conversion rate of 1.2 euros to the U.S. dollar, that is $3.7 billion (rounding up). \n\nBut that only includes what is held at the Vatican Bank. The real values are in the lands and buildings and businesses they own. \n\nWe have no idea of the wealth - or poverty - of religious orders. The Jesuits and Christian Brothers have selectively declared bankruptcy in several districts. Who knows what assets are really held by them? The religious orders in Ireland involved in child abuse agreed to pay into a compensation fund - but most haven't done it. Dioceses that declare bankruptcy - what are they really worth when all their assets are added up? \n\nWould Jesus beg for help to feed the poor while wearing a piece of gold jewelry?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why can't the Jews living the West Bank live n a future Palestinian State? Are there no Arabs, Muslims, Christians living in Israel with full citizenship? Netanyahu is the current PM. Previously, there were may Israeli leaders who offered to leave the West Bank (and already left Gaza). What of the Palestinian side? When are the next Palestinian elections? This article is ridiculously biased and serves no useful purpose. it continues the false narrative that the settlements are at the heart of the problem. There was no Palestinian State prior o the settlements. I am not saying the settlements are helping but they are not the obstacle to peace. Only another convenient excuse.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What the Council and recent Popes teach is that the one true Church of Christ is present and active in the other Christian churches and ecclesial communities, and also that God uses the other religions as instruments in the salvation of their adherents. They share a ray of the Eternal Word and impulses of the Spirit that moves in all hearts. Please google on this.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The town I grew up in had a Catholic cemetery. Will you call on them to assimilate as well?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I do not have my own view of sin, I accept what the Church teaches regarding sin. My arguments are based upon this and nothing else. I am aware that many Catholics reject the Church's teaching on this and it saddens me. I just don't understand how people can do this.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If there is one God and savior how do you know it is your God that is the one true God and not Vishnu or Loki or Horus, or any of the other myriad gods throughout the ages? Because the bible tells you so? A book written by man? \n\nIn the history of man kind and our religions, Christianity is a quite young religion. Building on the idea of one true God you put forth, why, then did this one true God take so long to emerge and why, then, have there been and still are so many different religions? One would assume that if there is a singular true creator that religion and worship would be universal and immutable - a single right answer, if you will, much like 2 + 2 always equals 4 regardless of culture or beliefs or language.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Harder doesn't represent Lethbridge; she represents her church. They all bought memberships in the Conservative Party just before the nomination meeting and outvoted the long-time Tories to give her the nomination, knowing that the area has enough knee-jerk Tories that they would vote in a dead rat. We don't need evangelical Christians trying to take over our democratic processes; look what they've done to the States.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yeah, that was piling it on a little thick. \n\nGiven the unholy stink of bloated metaphor, it's unsurprising that they fantasize about sheep. \n\nAnd I share your admiration for the Witnesses. They visit often, but not too often. The Catholics a few blocks away march around their building once or twice a year, but apart from that they don't seem to like the light of day.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are probably a hundred or so more places in the Bible that condemn heterosexual adultery. I am still trying to figure out why conservative Catholics spend so much time worrying about the souls of gay men when there are millions and millions more adulterous straight men who don't seem to merit the same care and concern for their souls. Seems positively discriminatory to me.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The kkk is a Christian movement.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "KellyAnn made the same statement...we must respect the office - I agree - but not the officer. He has done nothing to gain my respect, in fact the opposite! I am disgusted by little d, his cadre of advisers. He seems intent on creating a Christian, neo-fascist nation for whites and patriotic minorities. I suggest we respect the constitution, the role of of the judiciary to judge...they said the claims of the \"Trumpette's\" were bogus...I read the findings, seems pretty clear.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic hierarchy in Milwaukee got some help from a federal district judge (trial court) by the name of Rudolph Randa, whose parents occupied plots in a Milwaukee Catholic cemetery. Randa was removed from the case completely by the appellate court for his failure to disclose and deal appropriately with his plain conflict of interest. Randa subsequently died and is now interred in the same system. RIP. With $50 million worth of perpetual care here below!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I've always thought the Church was incredibly provincial in these matters....the old \"whisper when you get to heaven as the Catholics think they are the only ones there\" deal.....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not \"my words\", but all too amply demonstrated fact. There is one and only one reason for not ordaining women -- the belief among the all-male hierarchy that women are inferior.\n\nWhen a supposedly Christian Church insists on acting in a non-Christian way, why should anyone stick with it? (I would make similar statements about the way the institutional Church treats LGBTs.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I gave you a star because I agree that all religions and religious practices should be entirely removed from public schools. However, admittedly, I am an atheist and have no use for religion. As long as the law requires that religious needs to be reasonably accommodated, I don't think asking to use an empty classroom to pray is unreasonable.\n\nWhen I was a kid in school, I would get detention when I refused to stand for the Lord's Prayer.... now THAT was unreasonable. Muslims may want to practice their religion, but at least they've never tried to force me to practice it... which is more than I can say for Christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "<<\"But women can do many other things better than men,\" the pope continued, before repeating remarks he has said in the past about the Catholic church having two dimensions: a Petrine, apostolic dimension led by the bishops and a Marian dimension, which he called \"the feminine dimension of the church.\">>\n\nBut in Christ, we are neither male nor female.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Prosperity Gospel nonsense is heretical and a complete misreading of the Gospels and Christianity. We should really call it what it is.\n\nAnd the last two popes were complicit in at least giving aid and comfort to the alliance between the EWTN Catholics and Evangelical Protestants. JPII and Benedict may not have shared the views of conservative American Christians but they spent most of their time chastising the left and rarely critiqued the right. Why didn't Benedict, who wrote Caritas en Veritae, do more to criticize this Prosperity Gospel nonsense? It seems like JPII and Benedict shared the same siege mentality as the American Christian right and that unfortunately blinded them to the sins and heresies of the right. Francis doesn't see Christianity at war with the modern world, but in dialogue with it. This is why he is comfortable calling out the sins of the right as much as he is those of the left.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't know how many Male Deacon's there are in the church, but I know a few married Deacons and they would jump at the chance to become priests. I know many women who are Eucharistic Ministers who would jump at the chance to become Deacons and / or priests.\n\nThe Catholic church is missing the boat in not opening up these positions to all those who want to be in them. And, it might cure the stigma the church has with the pedophile priests and nuns and the scandal of the bishops and cardinals hiding the abusers.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Very few Catholic groups noted! Sadly, our leadership is nowhere in evidence vis a vis the subject of this article rather they're outspoken supporters of the Republican agenda. The USCCB and it's leadership and Catholic lobbyists have little if any credibility. What is the purpose of your article? To make it seem that the American Catholic Church is anything but duplicitious in the goings on of the current administration? They worked overtime to undermine the Obama administration for one reason and played a part in the election of D Trump. Shameful!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why Allan, the one word I changed in my post was \"Christian\". And it kept getting censored, yet when I changed it to Muslim or Islam, the post wasn't censored. Isn't that amazing?\n\nThis post censored 4x already....why is \"christian\" a dirty word to the progressive left?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Duh! PR seems to think this pastor has a unique insight into authentic Christianity! How many have been making it with more depth, eloquence, and compelling to it constantly fall on deaf ears, hard hearts!?\n\nHe refers to attack on Coptic Christians on Palm Sunday when the more recent murder of 26 Copts, mostly women & children, has had little attention in our national media. One day! Birmingham merited 2-3. New normal; numbers slain & we move on to the next \"15 minutes\" of interest!\n\nMeanwhile, Lori & KC cabal are revving up the Freedom fiasco.\nOf course, after \"The Keepers\" focused on Baltimore clergy, no problem with clerical sexual abuse. We've turned the corner.\nLack of freedom the \"real\" (reel) problem. Make media noise of how religious suffer when women are denied access to complete health care choices.\nChoice of hierarchy has priority because the males have all the power.\n\nOne doesn't have to believe in hell to be in hell!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No one is expecting you to diss the Pope. The point is that when Protestants and atheists start praising the Pope the suspicion amongst Catholics is that he must be doing or saying something wrong.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You show a lack of historical knowledge concerning Christianity. There are lots of churches that existed as \"heretics\" under the hegemony of the Roman Catholic Church. Baptists, Mennonites, Brethren, Amish ... look to any \"denomination\" that grew out of the Swiss anabapist movement. They pre-existed the Reformation and survived horrible persecution for centuries prior to Martin Luther's nailing his treatices to the church house door. So the contention that they were created from the \"Holy Roman Catholic Church\" is a sign that you don't know history very well.\n\nAlso, most historians agree that someone named Jesus existed in the 1st century. They don't all agree that He was God incarnate, but His existence is not under any real dispute among actual historians since non-Christian historians in the 2nd century wrote about Him and the movement He spawned. Might want to read up on the subject.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Right. Kinda hard to tell the difference between Christian and Atheist fundamentalists without a score-card when they pretty much talk and act the same toward anyone who doesn't share their beliefs. Of course if you dispute this, you're welcome to 'educate' me concerning Stalin's Mao's, or Pol Pot's religions, or try and explain away their more recent ideological heirs like Sam Harris' foaming at the mouth at the thought of inflicting nuclear immolation on millions of folks like me in the name of 'no God'. I'll try to keep a straight face while you do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"THIS is surely the wedge that drives us against each other both within the Church and outside it.\"\n\nNo, Sisters, the \"wedge\" that drives us against each other is called Fox News, and the sooner you come to terms with that truth, the better. Assuming someone else's guilt just so that they can maintain their delusion when that delusion is causing harm to our democracy cannot be considered Christian by any stretch of the imagination. Quite the opposite. It's time you move beyond your dewy-eyed adolescent understanding of Christian charity because time is not on our side - what's left of our fragile democracy is at stake. At this point a more \"muscular\" Christian response is what's needed, and I, for one, intend to do my part to provide it. Good day.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This opens a big can of worms. Are Catholic students allow a room for praying and fasting during Holy Week? Or for Jewish students during Passover? Why is the government allowing the district to play favourites?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Let's not mince words here. It's a Muslim only ban from these countries. For example, persecuted Christians from Syria will be welcomed according to Donald Trump in an interview.\n\nThe repercussions for a permanent ban will be ongoing for years with unpleasant consequences for the United States. Iran has struck a deal with Boeing to purchase 20 billion dollars of new commercial planes. With a permanent ban, how can Iranian pilots and flight crew travel to the United States for training? Iran will likely cancel the deal and turn to Airbus. There goes thousands of manufacturing jobs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "She literally has said that she would like to completely de-fund public education, on multiple occasions. She has chaired a pretty extreme tea-party leaning Christian education 'foundation' for quite some time. My faith in my government has been quite shaken, seeing the embarrassment it's become, so it's not entirely out of the realm of possibility that some mis-guided program is rolled out of nowhere, with no notice, funding being cut suddenly, without a thought of how it affects actual people. It's not just blind conjecture that a random billionaire with no actual experience in the public school system could bungle up a complicated system like education.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Since you brought up the Little Sisters of the Poor, the Government finally admitted in its supplementary brief that the Government never needed anything from the Little Sisters of the Poor to provide contraceptives to employees, nothing. It was a scam from the beginning.\n\nThe Little Sisters of the Poor should be able to practice their religion unfettered by you or anyone else dictating to them what their religious beliefs are or what infringes them.\n\nThere were never any significant number of back alley abortions and even fewer deaths. It was a propaganda ploy with essentially no substance.\n\nIf Catholic organizations excluded qualified skilled non-Catholics, we'd be hearing about that in these blogs and in the pages of the NCR.\n\nPhysicians did most illegal abortions in clinics or after hours.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sigh, head shake....good gravy!\n\nIt is futile to even continue this discussion.\n\nJust curious: when are you going to share your observations about sexism, etc, with our Muslim brothers and sisters, especially those who live in the Middle East? \n\nJust a suggestion: if you compare what Muslim's believe, especially in Muslim countries with Catholic teaching and how we view women, I think you will find that we are worlds apart. I think you will find when you accuse the Church of sexism you have no clue what you are talking about.\n\nIf you and your feminist cohorts really cared about women and sexism it seems to me you would care much more about what Muslims believe and teach than Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sharia law can be defined as the Law of (a) God for Muslims. The Ten Commandments can be defined as the Law of (a) God for Jews and Christians.\n\nNote that they were all written down by men, and presumably match the writer's opinions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I tried typing once with a straight face but decided it was much easier to go back to using my hands. \ud83d\ude0a\n\nI don't begrudge anybody the form of liturgy they find most fulfilling. If the Traditional Mass (as you call it) leads you to deeper union with Christ and the Church, that's great. \n\nBut I find liturgical snobbery antithetical to Christian charity. The Novus Ordo (I can fairly feel the contempt when some people say it) is no less reverent, authentic or licit than the Mass you prefer. Christ is still made manifest in the assembly, the Word, the Eucharist and the person of the priest, just like any other Mass. And the bloodless sacrifice is just as efficacious.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Everyone makes it up as they go along. They mean well and may even feel inspired. I certainly do when I speak the truth to our modern sexual pharisees. So, yes, I claim the same inspiration as other prophets, as do all of us who stand against the errors of the clergy on sex. My confirmation is as valid as yours and I don't need a credential to speak the truth from reason and inspiration. As for Leviticus, I cite as my authority the cultural analysis of Mary Douglas. I studied that theory directly from her co-author, Aaron Wildavsky. The hierarchy assumes that hierarchy is the natural way of life for everyone, especially Catholics. Happily, that is not the case. Anyone who has studied the history of sacred continence in the Church has the same reaction, that it is a stoic artifact and not of Christ. It destroys the authority of the Church in sexual matters, so it is funny that you challenge my authority.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ok, so how did this fear mongering comment make it through the filter?\n\nReligious race-baiting drivel is acceptable in a forum of adult discussion? Since when?\n\nVery nearly all of the victims of so-called \"Islamic terrorism\" are moslems.\n\nWe have 14,000 firearms murders in North America each year.\n\nSince September 11, 2001, we have had, in total, fewer than 10,000 deaths due to terrorism of all kinds, including service personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan.\n\nIn that same time period there have been roughly 500,000 firearms deaths in the US, of which more than 220,000 have been murders.\n\nThe number of accidental deaths due to children playing with firearms in the US is roughly the same as the number killed by terrorists.\n\nTimothy McVeigh, Charles Manson, and Jim Jones were all Christians, therefore, by your \"logic\" we should label all Christians as potential terrorist fanatics and refuse to allow them into the country ...\n\nKaganovitch merely demonstrates that not all fanatics are moslems.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus was a refugee. How do Christians weigh that fact when they are blocking out refugees based on the color of their skin? Will they go to their Christian heaven?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I met a women coming to work today who rescinded her pledge of more than 1,500. She sent her Bishop a letter that she is so angry how our church's pushing of sexism likely helped Hillary Clinton to lose this last election, she just felt she was not going to pay her diocese this year the amount she had recently pledged.\n\nI am with her! If you want change too - write- restornow @ mail.com (no spaces) help us to set up grass roots groups to act for change.\n\nWe need to end our example of sexism, in our church, immediately, and ordain men and women the same. Our example results in more sexism, poverty and violence in the world, and that has been proven. \n\nWe need equal ordination available to all who feel called by God - starting with priesthood! It is high time that Catholics started acting like Christians!\n\nMake use of your anger - put it to work. I don't care if you are 5 yrs old or 105 there are plenty of ways you can make a huge difference in our church. Please do start today!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Unfortunately, you are still living in the 19th Century and think that the Church should remain there too. Get out from under your bushel basket. The world and its peoples are diverse and are not made on assembly lines---all alike. Vatican II just began to recognize that---and there is still a long way to go on this.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Rob,\n\nIf it's so inconsequential to you, why are you here posting? Clearly you have an agenda you are forwarding, and your proposed definition supports the case you wish to put forward. You ask, \"why do so many Christians feel the need to make not accepting their unprovable views a system of belief?\" Here's my question to you: \"why do so many atheists feel the need to deny that their disbelief in God/gods is also predicated on nothing more than belief?\" If it's such a non issue for atheists like you, surely you'd be find with the fact that atheism is a belief system.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Cardinal Kasper is the last person I would regard as capable of articulating where the Catholic Church stands on Anglican Orders or the any doctrinal issue for that matter.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I profess to be a FOLLOWER of Christ. This symposium of ADMIRERS of Christ have turned their backs on what Christ preached. They want what they want and don't confuse them with TRUTH; they have made up their minds. \nThey really don't care for Trump but like his policies and appointments. \nWe don't like the devil either but it is hard to refuse his temptations!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If a human cadaver \"is not trash\"--and I concur--who would sentence it to eternity \"amid painful, flesh-eating flames\" (check my Catholic school education).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, I think we all understand that you have personal animosity towards the USCCB, the \"Catholic right wing\", and anyone else who disagrees with you.\n\nIt is unlikely that a LGBT advocate with Gretchen Rachel Hammond's curriculum vitae is a shill of any kind for the USCCB.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "hugs her boots for being a Christian man.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The parents felt that the American welfare system was far better than their native land's, and decided to hop aboard the gravy train, by breaking the law, and giving birth to an anchor baby. Then they and their older children became \"entitled.\" The older children are DACA claimants.\n\nIf I, or anyone else, tried to invade and squat in Vatican City, the Anti-Pope's security forces would promptly detain us and then expel (deport) us.\n\nAs for Emma Lazarus' spew on the Statue of Liberty, she was a Marxist Globalist, not a Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not the pope, the bishops, any college administrator, etc. has offered any Catholic facility as a sanctuary.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"Catholics who work with migrants transiting the country en route to the United States express doubts, too, saying those crossing the frontier illegally mostly do so with the help of human smugglers, who presumably pay bribes on both sides of the border.\"\n- In the most positive light it is good to see the ArchdMC taking the stand that it has. The 'wall' is really a bad idea. \n- It will be good if all the bishops of Mex. collected all of their statements that provided moral and ethical guidance about 'lobos' or human smugglers, and those that directly or indirectly aided and abetted them, and published them in English and Spanish as a collection. \n- It will assist those catholics that provided aid to smuggled migrants clarity on how they enabled human smuggling as a business venture. \n- The church in Mex. would also do great good if they looked at why so many Mexicans left Mexico and what social justice needs did it overlook and avoid.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Then where did all of these Catholic churches and their large land holdings originate prey/pray tell? Later of course but missionaries none-the-less.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Being a Catholic to me means to follow the teachings of Jesus. Jesus showed us what is required. Just as Jesus helped, healed, forgave, fed, clothed, we are to do the same. Jesus washed the feet of his followers to show us the need for a life of service. That is part of the relationship. The Beatitudes and Reign of God were Jesus' main teachings. That does not mean I reject Church Teaching you list but I don't consider a set of beliefs as important as following Jesus or a Reltionship.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Read the document. Religion is only mentioned as a right of an individual to practice his/her faith. Nothing about requiring government to join in. America's governing system was founded on the model of the Iroquois Confederation of Six Nations established before the Europeans ever gathered into a governing system. Do some research besides the bible made up by a 3rd Century Pope on orders of a Roman Empire Dictator to get rid of all of those pesky animist gods in favor of one god like themselves.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But, is the Episcopal Church any better? Granted they may \"welcome women fully\", but there is so much division it the Episcopal Church over basic theological points, such as whether Jesus was truly resurrected body and soul. The Episcopal Church, at least from an outsider's view, appears to be far more interested in social action than in evangelization and the salvation of souls. We all must accept that there we have limitations, we cannot all do everything that we think we should. The Catholic Church is the repository of the fullness of the truth revealed to humanity by Christ. Come home!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Other teachings and traditions that were acknowledged and affirmed in the past by our hierarchy have changed this can and must change too. Because the church can not genuinely claim itself to be Christian while breaking a lead commandment gave to all of his disciples that they must treat all the same and with love - so no bias or discrimination allowed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "McElroy is a criminal. It is a crime to provide aid to criminals and/or support any crime while in progress or after the fact. If his criminal position is going to be the official position of the Catholic Church, then honest and patriotic Catholics need to become the \"disruptors and rebuilders\" and fix this problem within the Church and they can start by withholding all monetary support. The act of lying is a sin. As is the act of stealing. In McElroy's case he has lied about families being ripped apart. Those families are free to regroup in the countries in which they belong be that Mexico or elsewhere. In providing support of illegal aliens who steal from American citizens he has in essence become a partner in their sin of theft. This disgusts all decent people.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I must say, it is confusing keeping up with progressive pieties.\n\nIn recent months, traditional-minded folks have been critical of particular priests, bishops and even the pope; and the line from N\"C\"R is that this is bad, bad bad! \n\nBut then we have Fr. Reese talking about \"progressive Catholic parishes\" that disobey the bishops' directive to kneel during the Eucharistic Prayer -- and that is good, good, good!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One of the reasons that Turkey's EU membership was rejected was \" if we let the Turks in, our (Christian) victory in 1683 at the gates of Vienna would have been in vain\".\n\nIf all of us held grudges from 1683, none of us would go anywhere.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Looks like Catholic social services has a bumper crop this year.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree with the part of the article that says: \"Democrats violated major principles on church teaching that Republicans didn't on abortion, same-sex marriage, euthanasia, human cloning and embryonic stem-cell research.\"\nI provide a link below regarding the 5 Catholic non-negotiables:\nhttp://stjoseph-marysville.org/faqnonnegotiables.html\nIt's an easy read and well-worth a minute of your time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Here we go again. This should keep many American Catholics diverted for many years to come. Some of his handlers must be desperate to go for this one again - or they just love division. Either way: Pax vobiscum/et cum spiritu tuo - wasn't that easy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hmmm....from the article: \"If she wanted to keep her job, she needed to either break up with the unborn baby\u2019s father, or get married immediately. After she refused, she was fired.\"\n\nKind of surprised a \"Christian\" university would not prioritize the health of the unborn child over their polices? Nothing like putting pressure on Ms Richardson which in turn causes stress on the unborn child. \n\nHow about(from NCU): \"Ms Richardson while your pregnancy does not comply with what we require of the relationship status of our employees, our primary concern as I am sure is yours too, is to make sure you carry the baby to term and it is born as another one of God's miracles. However within X amount of time following the birth you need to comply with our rules which means either marry the father of the baby or break-up with him.\"\n\nSorry NCU...not really sure what \"Christian values\" your university actually embraces. However, glad to read what appears to be an amicable settlement.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The non-denominational Christian liberal arts university...\" as if the name wasn't a dead giveaway to the religious bent of the place.\n\nThey're avoiding those pesky protests with great religious fervor: What with the Congressmen, police and fire Chiefs and others being exposed for using the N-word to express their horror, the protests have become a Roach Motel for loose-lipped racists.\n\nNo self control for this bunch, and they know it! That's why Mike Pence can't go to dinner in mixed company without \"mother\" there to hold his pants up.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Doing nothing is one thing but encouraging the slaughter is another. Rwanda is one of the most catholic countries in tbe world (perhaps the most catholic) and, at the time, the priests and bishops there were preaching genocide from the pulpit. That's why the Pope is begging forgiveness.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A while back, a friend told me about one of the Ukrainian Catholic bishops whom he has seen on numerous occasions at gay bars. I didn't ask the name, because it makes no difference to me, but the hypocrisy galls me. I remember, as a little girl, my mother talking about Redemptorist priests confiding in her about difficulties with overcoming the temptations of the flesh. Back then, I had no idea what they were talking about and imagined all sorts of scenarios in which flesh could cause problems that would result in sin -- mostly the scenarios had to do with overeating. :-) Now, I do know, and I get so angry about the constant and continuing hypocrisy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The fact that you guys know about it before he does really upsets me as a human being and as a Roman Catholic.\"\n\n???", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's not surprising that Clinton, Inc. is in denial. Every time Winters has pointed out the very obvious weaknesses of Clinton here, he has been shouted down & assailed. There was a sense of inevitability that blinded so many of her ardent supporters, & many of them held the levers of power in the Democratic Party that insulated her. When you take an entire month off to fund raise in Martha's Vineyard, Paris, etc., you have lost your way.\n\nThe cracks were there all along: the NY Times reported yesterday that the Clinton campaign tested 84 different slogans, & were still left wondering \"what does she really believe\"? And they didn't even bother to reach out to Catholics, refusing to speak at a St. Patrick's Day gathering at Notre Dame.\n\nThe same dynamics roiling the GOP are also at play in the Democratic Party. But the idiotic ventures of the Ted Cruzes, combined with the culture war victories allowed the Democrats to laugh at their opponents & ignore the underlying fissures.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Exactly what \"old stock\" Canadian tradition is being disparaged by letting some students use an empty classroom? You do know that there have been Muslims in Canada for close to 150 years I hope? I think that gives them the right to be considered \"old stock\" as well. And since you brought up traditions, you do realize that religious accommodation IS a Canadian tradition, right? After all Section 93 of the Constitution, which goes back to the BNA act and the formation of Canada allows for religious accommodation. That's what there are Catholic school boards.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Once again, these are refugees not immigrants. If integration was that simple, we'd open our doors to everyone and anyone. Many of these refugees are at a serious disadvantage compared to properly screened immigrants. The literacy rate averages 86% in Syria and that's in Arabic abjad which goes from right to left. The number falls to 81% when it comes to women. I suspect the numbers are probably worse than that among Sunni since the Alawites and Christians receive preferential treatment under Assad. Many if not all have been traumatized by death, destruction and, in some cases, living precariously in refugee camps. How much does it cost to teach someone to read and write? How well would they adapt to a technology driven world? How about psychological trauma? Different customs? How much will all this cost? Consider the difficulties experienced by the Somali refugees of the 90s. It's easy to say they'll all get jobs. How easy is it for the average Canadian right now?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Anchorage School District has identified several holidays as \"cultural days of significance,\" on which no after-school activities are allowed. Those holidays are Thanksgiving, New Year's Day, Christmas (Christian and Orthodox), Good Friday, Easter (Christian and Orthodox), Eid al Fitr, Eid al Adha, Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur and Passover. For more information, see the ASD site: http://www.asdk12.org/calendar/cultural", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "MSW is omitting a salient fact. Professor Barrett had a paper she co-authored in 1998 with John Garvey, who is now president of Catholic University of America. Senator Feinstein suggested that the position Barrett took in her 1998 paper is tantamount to proposing that, for someone sitting on a court bench, religious faith should trump law when the two appear to be in conflict.\n\nThis attitude should certainly be questioned, since I would say that a judge's first allegiance should be to the law. His or her religious beliefs should certainly inform the judge's thinking, but the law should take precedence.\n\nI would ask the conservatives who are likely to huff and puff about my belief a question. Suppose a Muslim became a judge. How would you feel if this judge applied Sharia to his or her rulings? What is the difference?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Roe v. Wade is not going away. Not even if he winds up appointing a couple of Supreme Court Justices, a not unlikely possibility. \n\nPutin is going to try to take over the Ukraine and keep the US from putting missiles in Poland and other nations next to Russia. NATO states are the ones who are going to have to accept primary responsibility for the reaction to that position. The US does not have to be the lead on it either.\n\n70% of the US claims to be Christian; only 15% claim to be agnostic or atheist. The odds are many of his advisors will not be agnostics or athiests. Neither are Obama's.\n\nHow many of the death's in Libya can we blame on Obama? He and Hillary went for 'regime change' and caused the deaths of Qadaffi and his sons. How many Syrian deaths can we blame on Obama? He said ISIL was JV and could be ignored. He is the one who drew a 'red line' for Assad and then caved. Obama is also the one who said we would be out of Afghanistan last year. What happened?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh my, is the poster really loathe to do something the poster does on an almost daily basis? Must be quite a life to constantly do the loathsome. But why deny what is so very evident? How does this advance the exchange of idears and discussion of things? I do wish the threats would cease, as they really are nothing but a form of bullying and harassment. And one cannot help but wish the poster would consider the appearance presented by constantly making empty threats, obsessively escalating an exchange while simultaneously claiming to be the victim. Hardly an exemplar of Catholic Christianity. Or is it? Is that perhaps the point? A sublte critique of Catholics who behave in such a way and so cause shame to the Church. But what of the plight of the piping plover? This is what we were discussing, isn't it? If you do not wish to discuss the threats facing this stout little shore bird, why did you even begin the conversation? sigh", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Trump needs something to show his Christian followers. I expect he will be all over marijuana just to make a show for conservative values. Remember Trump is already moving against state rights on immigration, sanctuary cities. He has to throw a bone the Sessions and the marijuana enforcement might be the one to toss out now.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As Catholics cardinals go into conclave fully understanding the concept of free will and the fact that remarkably bad popes have been elected. The notion that they palm off their duties to the Holy Spirit would support the conclusion they select a pope by drawing names out of a jar, which of course they do not.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No Christian was hoodwinked. The safety, security and solvency of America was secondary to the expectation of several possible Supreme Court appointments that would overturn the legality of abortion and gay marriage. A side benefit was having a President with no absolutely no interest in reducing gun proliferation and violence.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So you have a different term to use, instead of \"cafeteria catholic?\" I wonder if the Church historians would agree with your assessment: one might suggest that the Reformation or the schism with the Eastern Orthodox were more disruptive than V2. Perhaps it is time to cut back on the caffeine?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you could choose to be more Christ like or be more like Muhammad, which would you choose?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The fundamentalist christian MatSu culture at its finest.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Weak of mind? Christians were used as candles in the coliseum, fed to lions and sawed in two. No my friend not weak.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Exactly true, which is why the Catholic position on life beginning at conception is void. While embryologists are agnostic about the things of the soul, their findings clearly steer us to gastrulation as that point.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Look at dozens upon dozens of countries around the world, where terrorism is a way of life. What most of these countries have in common is that they are fighting Islam . Not Radical Islam., just plain, old fashioned Islam . The Radical Islamics are the very few that have changed their religion and embraced peace with others. Don't believe me? Perhaps you should read some history. They are like a plague of locusts, it took the Catholics centuries to rid Europe of them the last time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Buckle up ladies and gentlemen... it's going to get mighty bumpy in and around the Catholic blogosphere!\n\nCan someone bring me some popcorn, please?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The confusion seems to be in not seeing that Christ had the supper only with His disciples and after His discourse in John where He distinguishes between His followers and \"the world\". When Christ ate with the tax collectors He did no give them Eucharist. When he ate at the Pharisees home He did not give them Eucharist. Only those who were faithful to Him were present and that was about 130 people. The gift of His body and His blood is not for the uninitiated or those who have transgressed but remain in sin like an adulterous relationship or an embrace of a homosexual identity. It is a statement of faith in ALL Christ's teaching and for disciples who will pray and live to embrace Christ's teaching. The Church has always taught that to receive unworthily is to crucify Christ again. There are people responding based on \"feelings\" and not on knowledge of Christ's teaching and the understanding of the Church for millennia.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Am I wrong to assume every parents goal is to pass on wealth to there children. Maybe I'm working for the wrong reasons, but I expect to set my kids up with whatever help I can financially, and a great work ethic. Whether or not trump is great with money. At one time he did turn a loan into an empire. Even based off his 1 million figure and the fact checkers 30 million or so figure, he made 150 million off that leaked tax return. That's more than enough to cover either figure multiple times over. Next what is wrong with giving a speech to Christian children? We have Trudeau parading around to mosques all over. All you'll hear is crickets from the left. You know those mosques that are gender dividing with the women getting no say. Especially harsh from a dorky self proclaimed feminist like Trudeau.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually Dennism, this argument does not help women.\n\nGod in Genesis stated from the beginning that God created man, one creation, not two, so equals and the same, and deserving of all the same rights and benefits.\n\nLater after both woman & man sinned against God, they both lost perfection & both as unsaved lesser beings, fallen beings, are now going to treat each other as un-equals. Natural man is unsaved, mortal, does not trust his wife, and she is controlled by his greater physical strength. She now is dishonest with him in order to gain the same things he has. \n\nGod taught the Israelites differently, that man & women are equals and recognition of this equality, in practice, in their lives, is proof their relationship with God exists greater than with other people. Catholics & Jews often teach wrongly the old & new testaments with many erroneous assumptions. \n\nChristians prove they are saved by treating and ordaining all the same, including women, or we prove we are unsaved.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "First of all, I've not described my Christology, so you can't possibly know whether or not the Church espouses it. Unless, of course, you too are omniscient.\n\nObviously, it isn't a matter of omniscience being a problem for God. But Scripture tells us the Son willingly emptied himself of his divinity and became fully human, like us in all things but sin. 'All things' would include our physical, mental and emotional limitations. \n\nWe were saved by one like us. That's the whole point. We weren't rescued by some superman who never doubted, never struggled with temptation and who fully knew how everything would turn out. Such a 'savior' would never have suffered in the Garden or had his \"My god, my God, why have you abandoned me\" moment on the cross.\n\nAnd that's exactly what the Church espouses. But, again, believe what you like. I'm moving on.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh. So when other people call you a commie pinko, or a pro-abortion liberal, or some other epithet, they simply noting an observable reality while advancing a Catholic discussion?\n\nYou could have fooled me.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So how about Polygamists, Fornicators and Swingers. You can't leave them out of this call to open arms. They too were 'born this way'. Can't the church just accept them as they are? They too have many gifts to share, and their experiences as polygamists, fornicators and swingers has much to add to the conversation. For too long they have been shunned by the Church, but Jesus told the Adulterous woman, 'Neither do I judge you...\". If a man wants multiple wives and they are consenting wives, who is Pope Francis, or anyone to Judge? If a man or woman does not feel called to marriage, but has physical intimacy needs, who are you to judge them for having meaningful sexual relationships? If a married couple wants to open their bed to other couples to experience and share physical intimacy, who are you to tell them who they can love? Love knows no bounds. We can organize a pilgrimage for Swingers, Polygamists and fornicators, Bishop Tobin will surely welcome All.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This layman finds greater affinity with Catholic clerical Latin usage than with the Latin usage of Cicero and his ilk....are you a classicist, Don? ;-}\n\n(BTW, that assumes I am right about triclinaria, and I haven't really checked that out.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is so nice to have you as judge, jury, executioner and controller, as you sit unrepentant at the feet of CHRIST.\n\nThere is room for all of us at the feet of CHRIST, yet many will hear depart. The only requirement is to be Called and Chosen by HIM.\n\nIf you are an unrepentant sinner gathered at HIS feet then change that and grow. Yet instead you wish to preach, but yet plea some sort of privilege as an unrepented sinner?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have to agree with much in this article. The biggest issue it brings to light is that we have a church whose leaders, because they do not wish to learn, make constant bad assumptions about marriage, sex, gender, & love. \n\nStrangely, few apostles speak very deliberately in our scripture regarding sex. St. Paul gets kudos in my opinion for stating some real truth about sex & marriage. Many people get married because if they didn't they could not control their sexual drives and remain chaste. This is really the only reason Paul gives for marrying in our church. He never mentions marrying in order to make more Christians but instead to keep yourself from fornication you should marry if your will is weak. You should love & treat each other as you would wish to be treated no matter who you marry. \n\nThere is no allowance for homosexual marriage with St. Paul but Paul is not Jesus. Jesus is never quoted as saying anything specifically condemning of homosexual couples in any Gospel.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A thoughtful piece, Also Christmas is a beautiful time to celebrate the renewal of life -- in presents for children -- and the return of the sun after the solstice. \nA less lovely aspect of Christianity is the intolerance practised by his followers in his name, in the millennia after his death. The Spanish inquisition and the crusades made one of my children exclaim, \"You can love the guy, but you have to hate the fan club\". The exclusivity, smugness, and irrationality of \"only-if-you-believe-will-you-be-saved\" made me shake my head at age eleven and walk away.\nAs an almost-lifelong atheist, therefore, I can reassure some of the other commenters that there is no shortage of opportunities to help others outside church-based food drives. One can live one's love in professions such as medicine, and in celebrating mankind's diversity, and in championing social justice all year.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thanks, Monica; I was just trying to remember the details of the last supper, whether Jesus had poked bits of bread into the mouths of the apostles, or just passed it around and let them have at it. Now I know. Until I forget again. But, I thought they were mostly eating fresh-water fish, in those parts? Isn't it more likely He'd have made His point with a cyprinidae? Or is that part of the miraculousness?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christian have been creating war in America since the 60's. A war against men, a war against drugs, against freedom, against sexuality, against the internet, against language, against islam (with jews in the middle.)\n\nAll we want is peace but as long is there religion in Canada and the USA i won't happen.Canada is particularly bad off because it is written in the Constitution, special rights for religion which we have to keep paying for.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, that is not the purpose of the block function. The block function is to screen out trolls, self-righteous finger-waggers, fake news spammers, internet Inquisitors and assorted pests who routinely set up court, derail discussions, make conversation unpleasant, and project an image of Catholicism as a dungeon of sorrows. In the Venn diagram this lot overlaps with people one disagrees with, but only to an extent.\n\nPlease, Civil Comments, give us blocking for Christmas.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Gary - I have had a discussion with you about \"religion and spirituality\" before, Christians believe God is the creator of morality (which includes right and wrong etc.), without that one falls into a situation of moral relativism that will devolve into nihilism and societal chaos, as we see society heading into now. You have judged Trump to be a sleazeball (my paraphrase), but have no moral basis to make that judgement other than your own opinion. \"Religion\" cannot and never will be a \"private\" matter as true Conversion as described in the Bible creates a new person who is born of the spirit, in addition to the flesh. The reason you and Icon cannot understand this is because you are not born of the spirit and unable to comprehend what we(including Agirl) are describing. I hope this helps. Why did Busch win the election in 2000 ? Because he openly spoke to those who were born of the spirit, I have my differences with him so don't bother with the critical analysis of him.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Incite, thank you (and others) for standing true. Though not entirely similar, I had my hell being raised a Catholic; after fifty years, I'm still recovering from how they tried to bend me.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This saga reminds me of the story in the John Gospel chapter 8 about the Pharisees trying to snare Jesus in an legalistic trap when they drag to him a woman caught in the act of adultery. Jesus is clearly annoyed by their excessive legalism so he pretends to write in the dirt in order to show them how bored he is. Then he says, \u2018Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone.\u2019 Pope Francis should shrug off this nonsense by telling his latter-day Pharisaic accusers the same thing, for they deserve no less. It is all much ado about nothing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "David, my sentiments entirely. For years discussions and deliberations and even blogs (such as this one) on this subject have been very toxic, with people talking past each other. Innuendo, stereotyping, over dramatizing, over generalizing, etc have been part and partial to the subject of child abuse, be it clerical, secular, or domestic. SNAP was organized during the days of panics over proposed Satanic cults engaging in child sex orgies, day care center sex abuse, recovered memory hysteria and fraud. Regrettably this was at a time of very significant sexual abuse of under aged by priests. \n\nSNAP may have had some members with good intentions 25 years ago, but recently the leadership of SNAP has been associated with radical anti-Catholic bigotry and polemical street brawling. \n\nLet us hope that a reorganized SNAP or some new org of another name emerges that will work for the good of victims and be helpful to the Church in addressing the problems. Must not be angry all the time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I only have what you post to go on. Certainly nothing you post is from a particularly Catholic perspective.\n\nOh, someone \"butted in\" to an open discussion?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's the fault of that Jesus guy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I do notice that, on a daily basis, you follow all conservative Catholics around this forum, and post little messages that they are liars. Pretty poor form Steven.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And I disagree. \n\nAs I have said elsewhere, the virulent dislike of the Church stand on abortion and ssm has taken over many people here, and in some ways blinded them to other teachings the Church proclaims.\n\nIt is in fact true that Church teachings embrace elements of BOTH party platforms...and THAT is what the Bishop's have \"proclaimed\" (easily verified if you read any of their letters published in their Diocesan papers).\n\nWhy is that so hard for you (the general \"you\"of posters here) to admit?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think everyone is too busy picking at silly little points of \"he said/she said\" to remember values around here many times. It's sad. I'm glad Clinton's not president. That doesn't mean I'm anti-gay, or even anti-Christian, etc., etc. Too many people are venting more than thinking and reaching out to their fellow humankind. In *that* regard, I'm glad there was a march. If we're out to ruin the president, however, I'll resist that. Our voices should be working to help, not hinder. I had to do it when Obama was president for 8 years; I know it can be done and I have faith in my fellow Americans.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I guess your answer is no? I find it interesting that you accuse her of being uncivil, yet I read your comments, mostly because you told me you are a Catholic Priest, and find them very unorthodox to say the least, and very angry at the Church that has existed for the past 2000 years. You call me shallow and not loyal, and at the same time accuse others of being uncivil. Priceless.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus was crucified because he preached love, forgiveness, and that we are all part of the Kingdom of God. Of course when he was suffering and dying on the cross in severe excruciating pain he cried out Father, Why has thou forsaken me? He was the son of God. God resurrected him and 2,000 years later his life and death are celebrated. It would have been disrespectful not to refer to Good Friday and Easter by Senator Kelly.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That there are plenty of people who commit less public, overt, egregious acts against the Church than people in same-sex \"marriages\" who are denied Catholic rituals.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, you didn't answer my question, Martel. \n\nI asked WHY you chose the name, and you answered with who he was.\n\nThat didn't answer it, so I asked why, more specifically.\n\nYou didn't answer at all.\n\nEven so, here's the answer to your new question: In 732, it was the moors of Spain attempting to control lands further north. Martel also took land in offensive wars against other 'Christian' territories, including Bavaria, Alemannia, and Frisia.\n\nAnd now you can finally answer my question: Did you chose his name for yourself because you're calling for another war against muslims?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "According to So It Goes, to be progressive is to embrace followers of a homophobic misogynistic church.\n\nHmm, not seeing the logic, nor the political reality.\n\nBut enjoy your dream world where fundy christianity is hip.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...is interested in this task.\"\n\nBut neither are many of the various Lutheran bodies interested in revisiting this. Lutherans do not have unity among themselves, among their own bishops and overseers. Officially, for example, the officials or bishops of Missouri Synod Lutherans speak with one voice but not with the same voice as officials of other Lutheran bodies. All Lutheran bishops and/or officials are not in agreement with their doctrines, how they interpret them. Catholic theologians (including Cardinal Kasper) are always left with the impossibility of deciding which voice speaks for Lutheranism, for the Lutheran Federation of Churches (as CC theologians are likewise left with the impossibility of deciding which voice speaks for the fractured and broken Anglican Communion, whose Anglican bishops in Uganda don't even want to pray, celebrate the Eucharist, with their fellow American Episcopal bishops).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Deistic natural rights are in his realm. By the way, render under Caesar was about loyalty to Rome v. Israel. The priests lost the argument because they had the unclean coin that was used to pay the tax on their persons. The legal question on gays is settled, by the way, on a natural rights (deistic) argument. The real argument is now whether Catholic families or gay couples can demand a marital blessing from the Church. I say yes, because we pay the freight - Church property is ours, not the clergy's. When the Sense of the Faithful agrees that gays are born that way and are entitled to (indeed already share) sacramental marriage, gay weddings will happen. Some clergy may be forced into eating humble pie, but that has been a long time coming.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Church was sadly not leading society (although Catholic Worker is still vital on the left). They stopped leading public morals, which is a good thing. It is sad Lenny Bruce turned to Heroin and died, his voice would be a lovely thing nowadays. We need more prophets and less loyalists.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm reflecting more on last Sunday's feast of Christ the King, and wonder if I might provoke some comments. Might have to do it in two sections.\n1\nFirst, calling Christ a 'King' is something Jesus said was not of this world. When the people wanted to make him a king after the multiplication of the loaves, he fled from it. He did preach the 'kingdom of God' where 'God's will be done'.\nBut by and large our putting a crown on Jesus and drewwing him up like royalty is a romantic notion taken from faity tales and has not served the Church, or Jesus, well.\n\nCalling Jesus a King is what got Him killed. And it has led to making Popes into Kings and civil Rulers, and Cardinals into 'princes' with all the fancy regalia.\n\nThe reality of hereditatary kings running in the family has been mostly a disaster. Even Biblically, only 4 or 5 of the kings were good ones. And same with kings of Europe - most were a disaster and a disgrace. Often the 'heir' had to kill of the rivals, as did Solomon and som", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't know what you are talking about, \"closed the case onto yourself.\"\nIn case you didn't notice I used the word \"wets\": Mrs Thatcher used when referring to spineless (left-leaning) members of her cabinet.\nI may be politically on the right but as there is no religious right or left, only orthodox and heterodox Catholics, I consider myself to be an ordinary, orthodox believer.\nI have noticed that most of the heterodox posters here tend to be politically left wing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I never said your statement was uncivil. I just was saying that YOU support homophobia. You have certainly shown support for both Burke's and Paprocki's homophobic statements. You pretend this is \"skewed\", whereas it is not. You STILL have not said anthing even remotely critical of Paprocki.\n\nTobin is a complete Red Herring. He has not issued the unchristian statements of Paprocki and Burke. But I suppose that logical fallacies are all you can give, since you know in your heart that Paprocki cannot be defended by any actual follower of Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholicism should never be used to baptize neo-liberalism in the Clinton wing of the Democratic Party, however the Democratic Party won't survive if it remains identified with that wing, which won elections because it got funding. It will never dominate the far left wing of the Democrats, but the Christian Left can become part of it, whether it is a separate party or part of the larger coalition. The Catholic Left should not only be a part of the far left equation, but should also be the yeast for change in the Church itself. It must be in the vanguard when resisting the anti-abortion wing of the USCCB, showing the impossibility of overturning Roe or gay marriage because doing either would baptize rule of the Catholic Right Mob. It must lead the movement toward ordaining women deacons and later priests and in removing control of Church property and institutions from the clergy, for example Bishop Olmsted, giving it to the laity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When I think of Jesus, I always think of the song Macho Man. Jesus, being the son of a carpenter, probably looked like the construction worker in the band.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Absolutely true! And much support and blessings to the \"human chain\" - they did the right and truly Christian thing to do....\n\nHowever. That was not the point of my comment - nor, do I believe, was it the point of EFC or LotL - the point I was trying to make - and I believe them also - is that the post we were responding to was as bad as what these 8 men did...name calling, unsupported allegation, sweeping indictments of large groups of people....\n\nYes. Just as bad.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dividing the problems in Human Services will not solve the problems in the GOA. There is a culture of no accountability and no transparency that indicates to this citizen that simply changing the political party from PC to NDP did not solve the problems in performance.\n\nWhat is needed is disruption that can only happen with the pruning of the staff. What this means to me is that the ABCs--agencies, boards and commissions that absorb major sums of taxpayer cash have to be cut to the bone and new staff hired to replace the ones who aren't performing.\n\nWe also need to get deliverables. I don't see much in terms of deliverables from the two health authorities-AHS and Covenant Health. Nor do I see satisfactory results from the two school board systems--public and Catholic. We could have one health authority and one super school board. These changes are necessary.\n\nSimply dividing up a department as Ms. Notley has done means nothing without the political will to make change happen.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"To my progressive friends who are disappointed that the pope has not changed the church\u2019s position on birth control, celibacy, women priests and gay marriage, I urge you to look at what he has done. It is revolutionary. Let us celebrate and give thanks for Francis.\"\n\nFr. Tom, you are obviously a patient man. Many of us do want to see more progress in our own lifetimes .", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ireland had and used kneelers as well. I recall the parish right outside Dublin airport had some hard wood kneelers. \n\nStrange Fr Reese is using the NFL controversy to promote not kneeling during the Eucharistic prayer. We kneel because Jesus Christ becomes present Body. Blood, Soul, and Divinity under the forms of bread and wine.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Okay, I'll save you time. I assume you also believe that God is just, loving, and kind. \n\nIf you believe that God is omniscient then he already knows the fate of every soul before creation. If hell is eternal (or has the possibility to be eternal) then God willingly created individuals with the full knowledge that they would spend eternity in damnation. People were created simply to rot in hell. This God fundamentally cannot be both benevolent and omniscient. Spare me the \"God's ways are not our ways\" because I've heard that before. I'm not getting at who God may or may not be. \n\nOnly the fool says in his heart \"there is no God\". I do not consider myself a fool. Don't think that I am pushing this as a justification for disbelief. However, It fundamentally is what unraveled my adherence to modern day evangelical Christianity. I started to understand how man twists the good intentions of those seeking God. The God I believed in (based on The Bible) no longer fit the \"religion\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Given that so very few young Catholic girls have any contact with the churches in this culture, what you suggest seems moot. And those very few who are in the churches most likely are taught and looked after by their parents, and thus not really threatened by sex trafficking. \n\nIt makes no sense to advise people to avoid and admonish their churches, then complain that those very people take you up on exactly that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus F. Christ. Are you kidding me? He has got to go. Now he's giving the Russians classified information. Unbelieveable.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sher-e-Hindustan: Without meaning to seem rude here, you seem to be demonstrating that you have absolutely no valid argument. Lebanese Canadians who return to Lebanon simply aren't immigrants in Lebanon when they return to their homeland. Neither are Chinese or Indians migrants who work elsewhere and then return home immigrants in their homelands. As far as I'm aware, most Middle Eastern countries are tribal and don't broadly accept immigrants. Many foreign migrants are permitted to live and work in some Middle Eastern countries, although for the most part can't easily, if at all, become citizens. How many Christian westerners become citizens in Saudi Arabia every year? I believe the UAE, seen as one of the most progressive Muslim Middle Eastern countries, permits non-Arabs who have lived in the country for something like 30 years and can demonstrate proficiency in Arabic to apply for citizenship.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So, it is OK for the Church to carve up and (in my opinion) desecrate the bodies of people who might be or become saints, but I can't have my ashes scattered at sea? I can't have my ashes divided and put in lockets or such but saints can have parts of them in reliquaries around the world and Canon 1237 (2) REQUIRES relics to be placed in an alter.\nSo, who is this directive aimed at? I can't be kept over the heart of a loved one but the actual heart of St. Padre Pio was ripped out and is paraded all over the world.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You've reminded me of this James Alison interview: \n\n\"Given the most traditional Catholic understanding of the relationship between nature and grace, I wonder whether it is genuinely possible to defend the following thesis: 'The comparatively recent human realization that there is no objective psychological or physiological disorder that is intrinsic to people who we now call gay, makes no difference to our understanding of the forms of flourishing to which such people are called by virtue of being what they are'. But that seems to me to be the real question here: is it compatible with Catholic faith to claim that an authentic human discovery of this sort makes no difference to the shape of the flourishing of the people involved?\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Trudeau isn't really Catholic. He supports Islam and he is anti-Christian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dennis, I like your list of the \"minimum set\" of changes. \n\nI think the important point in the way the church is organized, is to realized that it is best served when it represents what people really believe, at least to the degree possible. I'd not ask it to reject Jesus, should society ever go through such a phase. But at the same time, so many of the church's positions have rather clearly been categorically rejected by the laity, that the church's ongoing formal position becomes a matter of obstinacy. Such a situation needs to be met head on: a dialog of sorts between church leaders and the people they serve. If such a dialog cannot lead to an agreement, then I think the laity should prevail.\n\nAs to the definition of abuse/evil, I think you're missing a bit one (inferred, but not stated).\n\nWhen the organization finds itself selling out individuals (ESPECIALLY the weak/vulnerable) so as to protect others, alarm bells should ring.\n\nThanks for the post: well done.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Lastly, I humbly say that I think your heart is in the right place, but your solution is not. What America may need to do is send more workers to the places who need us. The Jesuit Refugee Service is devoted to helping refugees all over the world. (I applied a few years back, but they wouldn't take me. Too old, and I suspect they don't like conservative ex-prosecutors.) Or maybe go with a church group that does charitable work in foreign countries. The Mormons do incredible work in Africa. Or go on your own! My plumber, a poor man himself (at $60/hr???), goes to either Haiti or the Dominican Republic every summer, not to lie in the sun, but to be among the poor and help them with whatever they need. He loves the people. This man is a marvel, the very model of Christ. I envy him. But we can do these things for the foreign poor without jeopardizing our country, which we have already done by our divisive approach to immigration.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"It is part of the deposit of Catholic faith, infallible and unchanging.\" \n\nAs usual, it is all black and white for R & R. Apparently, the church has NEVER changed in 2000 years, right?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Poor people in third world countries are under attack by \"christians\" every day---maybe it's time you get your head out of the sand and start paying attention...", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "All Christians, Jews and other religious denominations are angered and will retaliate every time another Muslim demand is made and honoured. This is beyond ridiculous that Muslims are allowed to force their religion down our throats. This is a very serious situation and there will be more violent attacks when our government refuses to curb this activity. Muslims can take time from their days at school to pray, yet our Lord's prayer has been dismissed as being controversial. Yes, this is going to get very ugly and could easily turn into civil war. That comment is not outrageous. Muslims have come from that very climate and they didn't leave that on the shores behind them. This is just the beginning of a rally.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "radicalized christian terrorists", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "So what if muslims become the majority? Anybody who knows any muslims knows they are little different from any other religion or culture. How often have you heard the muslim community balk at usury? Almost never, and its too bad. Personally I think we ought to subscribe to that jewish and christian notion of forgiving debts every seven years. But what can you do?\n\n It practically goes without saying that in a century Canada won't be predominantly white. So what? I lived in Waterloo where some streets by the university are in chinese. So what?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "This action by these bishops is disgusting and has nothing to do with the christian life. The only people \"causing scandal' here are the bishops with this mean spirited and cruel directive.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "All of the sarcastic remarks about radical Christian extremism are offered in an attempt to get people to think about the fallacy of attributing all violence by committed by Muslims or people loosely connect with Islam to Islamic terrorism. Christians are responsible for the holocaust and Christians dropped the atom bomb and Christians have exploited people all over the world using some the most brutal means to to accomplish their goals that the world has ever seen. Here in Alaska Christians decimated Native populations thru disease and brutality and raped countless children all the while forcing the Christian god on them. Christians bombed the federal building in OK. I am offering this up because if you want to make a case against Christians there is plenty of fodder. I happen to believe it is a lot more complex than the things I have outlined above. But never forget there is a strong case to be made against the white devils. Think about it.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, yes, yes. He is slandering his confreres and fellow Christians to build himself up. \"*I* am not like *those people*. They criticize; I think you're good just the way you are...\"\n\nThe age-old patter of chatlatans and womanizing cads, but applied to a different problem.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus said the 2nd greatest commandment is love thy neighbor as thyself, the Golden Rule, which Mr Phillips and the rest of the fake Christians like him violate regularly.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "When are we going to acknowledge this radical Christian extremist terrorist? Why are so many cowards afraid to label this what it is? His religion is the basis for his hate and desire to murder so many of our American citizens. How is this any different from \"radical Muslim extremists?\"", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The rise in anti-white sentiment is a reflection of the rise of radical whites within the white community. \n\nChristianity is a dark sinister force and for some reason the right continues to turn a blind eye to this.\n\nUntil so-called \"moderate\" white Christians publicly condemn and disavow the white-suprecacists' exhortation to remove all non-whites, there's nothing to talk about; except perhaps the banning of a hate organization.\n\nYes, of course not all Christians should be painted with he same brush, that goes without saying, however if a show of solidarity needs to happen one would expect that our Canadian Christians would perhaps show their outrage and disapproval when atrocious acts are perpetrated by white terrorists.\n\n (amended from other posters' comments about Islam and Muslims)", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "As a one more, Where do the souls of McConnells and his ilk's supporters, go when they die? Do they go to their white mans heaven? Or hell? I recall that their white mans jesus was a refugee fleeing a guaranteed death from a propped up Roman Empire despot, who was no different than the double digit despots we prop up worldwide, for the same colonial reasons the Imperial Roman Empire did.\nI recall that the Jewish priests had the Romans kill the jesus, for messing up their corruption, no different than the Vatican being built off the backs of hundreds of millions slaughtered Natives through the centuries.\nYah,I would say that McConnell, his ilk,and their supporters are on a one way ticket to their Christian hell, no different than the Islamic terrorists created by McConnell and his republican and democrat cronies, are on their ways to their Islamic hells, without their 72 virgins, for slaughtering so many thousands of innocents", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"I also teach them how to honor the ladies they are attracted to by respecting them enough not to want to violate them physically and waiting until they are ready to make a lifelong commitment.\" \nSo once you and your \"lady\" made a lifelong commitment did you physically violate her? Now I see why evangelical Christians like you AlwaysThere, have so wholeheartedly embraced Trump--you have similar values--you wait to \"physically violate\" until after marriage while Trump doesn't.\n\"Grab \u2019em by the p***y. You can do anything.\" Donald Trump", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"The problem is that\"........\nThe diocese where the abuse took place hired the attorney brother of the accused priest (who ended up dying of AIDS), and has used this attorney to handle all of the complaints against all abusive priests this diocese has received. Also, the chief of police in this small Catholic city where this now dead priest committed some of this abuse is the brother of yet a second priest who abused kids. The second priest (whose brother is the chief of police) just happend to attend a high school that the first priest (whose brother was the diocese attorney) taught at. This is all true, you can't make this stuff up. Would anyone like some names? Several bishops in this diocese have covered these facts up for decades. I hope God has special 'rewards' for scum.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You certainly do not know what I have studied or with whom I have been in communication. \n\nHave you read \"The Ordination of Women\" by Jan Voerman? \n\"Research shows that women were ordained only as deaconesses. The church historian, Joseph Bingham, explains\u201d \u201cYet we are not to imagine, that this consecration gave them any power to execute any part of the sacerdotal office, or do the duties of the sacred function\u201d (Bingham, Origines Ecclesiasticae, or the Antiquities of the Christian Church and other Work, vol. 1, p 254). \u2026 He adds: \u201cWomen were always forbidden to perform any such offices as those. Therefore the author of the Constitutions calls it a heathenish practice to ordain women priests,\u2026.for the Christian law allowed no such custom. Some heretics, indeed, as Tertullian (Constit. Apost. Lib. Iii, c. 9) observes, allowed women to teach and exercise and administer baptism; but all this, he says, was against the rule (Tertul. De Praescript. C. 41) of the Apostles\u201d (Ibid).\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "OR did God intend that Catholic life would be right-wing Internet trolling?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Layla responded to your comment specifically referencing Catholics by saying \"Catholics\", and you blame her for responding with \"Catholics\" rather than \"non-Christians\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Another cherry-picking Christian, applying only the parts of their bible they agree with and ignoring the rest.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not just women, the majority of Catholics disagree with this ban against women being ordained equally to men. It is one of the top reasons women and men leave our church - Sexism. Sexism is hatred just like racism is hatred. It must be cast out of our church completely and immediately or we will continue to dissolve. I know many Catholic women who will not remain Catholic because they don't want to damage the self-esteem of their daughters by our church's teaching example that women are less sacred or capable than men. This is just wrong and it always has been sin.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I bet I have been to more Muslim countries than you brother Frederick. And I find that the most radicalized muslims I have ever come across are all in western countries. Why? Because our two ways are incompatible my friend. According to your sermon, what is happening to Christians under the \"Aegis of the Islamic Nation\" in Palestine? Iraq and Iran? Sudan? Nigeria? Southern Thailand? Borneo? Mindanao? Kurdistan? Lebanon? Well they are being driven out at a minimum and slaughtered in the extreme. \n\nIt is only a religion of peace if you submit. \n\nYou may have the liberals fooled, but not the other 98% of American counties who voted in this last election.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Those aren't Christians, even if they think they are.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If Christians aren't doing what Jesus would do, they're not Christians. It's that simple.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you had ever been to a Christian wedding, you would have heard what \"St. Paul\", one of the first apostles to Christ, said in his Letters to the Corinthians. Almost all the ministers start out with that text because it is the text about marriage in the New Testament. He wrote those letters from Ephesus and Jesus' mother was supposed to be with him at the time.\n\nIt talks about the immorality of sex outside marriage and such things. \n\n1st Corinthians 7:1\n\nYou can't get more \"Christian\" than that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So Christians believe that it requires hard work to rise out of poverty. They also believe that it requires hard work to be a Christian. Faith isn't handed to a person. It's a matter of choice and effort. Therefore, the fact Christians extend their views of embracing faith to overcoming sin or poverty or sickness or hardship makes perfect sense.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And rural folks talk down to urban folks, rural folks insist they're the only \"true Americans\", etc. Rural folks want to \"take back America\" ... from whom? Gay people? Non-Christians? Non-conservatives?\nWithout urban folks buying that food, where would those rural folks be? If urban folks weren't providing the loans that tide farmers over until the crops come in, where would the farmers be? Urban folks are subsidizing rural folks' Internet access. A very urban fellow, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, came up with, or supported the idea of, rural electrical associations, without which dairy farmers wouldn't have the electricity to run their milking machines.\nMaybe rural and urban folks need each other, and we're all American, hmmm?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"That is Catholicism 101 stuff.'\n\nIf by that you mean \"this is catholicism as condensed by someone who has no idea what it really is but was asked to make it easy to read\", then you might be right.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually, I suggested just that: Refuse funerals to all hierarchs and priests who are compromised, complicit, or corrupt by the serial sexual abuse and exploitation of children by priests ...\n\nBTW: \"Come una madre amorevole\" reads \"As a loving mother.\" [The actual title of the document in the parlance of the Vatican to which MSW refers] Tells us a lot about the world view of Catholic hierarchs, hence their ideology that always celebrates patriarchy. \n\nNo matter their fantasies or intellectualizations, the hierarchs can never hope to earn the affection of \"loving mother.\" They have too much to answer for. \n\nPaprocki and his brother hierarchs should just go, retire or resign, live the rest of their lives contemplatively. Catholics generally would be a lot better off without them in our dioceses and parishes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I appreciate your honesty, Nathan. Again, I've heard great things about Image Dei and who knows, I may visit, but I doubt that's the direction I'm heading. I used to identify as a bible-believing conservative Christian, so I feel I've already explored that path. \n\nI know that there is a genuine theological basis for Christians' view that gay sex is sinful. However, I question how supposed bible-believing Christians can conveniently question other biblical prohibitions (e.g. usury, women head coverings, women speaking in church, etc.) and yet draw the line at gay equality. \n\nI guess this goes back to my original comment that I find it troubling that straight Christians like Jules Bailey can dabble in conservative Christianity while otherwise claiming to oppose anti-gay discrimination outside of church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have been to Apartheid ISRAEL that daily terrorizes the PALESTINIANS, particularly children, has illegally established Jewish settlements in PALESTINE. Now ISRAEL is threatening holy CHRISTIAN & Muslim sites. Most certainly all funding $38 Billion from OBAMA at the urging of Mazie and BRian must immediately stop. AMERICA should not support ISRAEL Terrorism. IfAmericansKnew.org., Jewishvoiceforpeace.org. Chritianpeacemakers.org.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "<\"So today, Catholics should join Protestants in celebrating the anniversary of the Reformation.\">\n\nJust what is there to celebrate? The division of the Western Christian Church? The deaths of between 3 and 11.5 million people during the Thirty Year War? The birth and spread of that disturbing ideology, Calvinism, with its double predestination? We only need ecumenism because of the schism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is much w/ which I agree in this article. However, there is also much that confuses me. It doesn't appear to me that ALL or even many of our bishops are \"on board\" w/ this. Why is it we hear our bishops speak out LOUD and CLEAR their positions on issues such as abortion, contraception, LGBTQ, religious liberty yet remain silent addressing the many other serious decisions in our society today being tossed aside by the present administration? Our leaders, secular AND religious MUST be challenged to examine what they openly support and also what issues they refuse to speak out on for unknown reasons. It is ALWAYS time to speak truth to power. Jesus did so time after time and we've been hearing about it the last several weeks in the Scriptures. Of course, we know full well what the powers of His day did to shut Him up. Perhaps that's why they choose to remain silent, to \"pick and choose\" what they will/won't address.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus knew what was in others hearts. Being omniscient doesn't make one \"psychic\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree wholeheartedly with your condemnation of this bishop and his motives and agree Jesus would never support civil disobedience to the lawful orders of a president who is the correct color to lead the nation. Jesus would support strong borders, military enforcement of civil law, and the use of force on women and children who break the law.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "More specious nonsense.\n\nCaught at what?? Do you often condemn others based on .... nothing??\n\nBtw....You have never answered me. Are you a Roman Catholic priest?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pandora claims to be a Catholic. Since she supports homophobia, this claim is open to doubt. But given that you also support homophobia, I'm not surprised that you support her.\n\nYour claim that homophobia is Catholic doctrine simply confirms the doubts about your claim to be Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Simple solution -- entire family moves to back to Mexico.\n\nYou see, the foundation of Christian ethics is to welcome the stranger. And so the Catholic nation of Mexico should welcome this Mexican family with open arms.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Along with your ignorance of Catholic teaching, you also do not know what \"Ad Hominem\" means. It is not a synonym for insult, it is rather an attack on the arguer instead of the argument.\n\nYou reject the teachings of the Second Vatican Council. This places you in schism with the authentic Catholic Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But let's face it, the Catholic Church is losing attendance numbers at a high rate too. Some of the reasons for this are the same as for the non-Catholic churches, some are not.\nSee Dr Bob Dixon's lecture on this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0VBTzT5yqE&feature=youtu.be\n(most of the interesting stats are in the last 15 minutes).\nHe's suggesting a drop to below 10% Catholic Church attendance by 2030 (which is not actually that far away). It could even be worse as it is possible even now to go to Masses where the number of attendees under the age of 70 can be counted on one hand. In just 10 years' time nearly all of them will be too frail to attend Mass regularly. Result: empty churches.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The second coming of Christ is the most described and prophesied event occurring all through the Bible, including the Old Testament. The theme runs clear through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Claiming its only in Revelation tells me you are probably closer to atheism than being a Christian, which is fine. What isn't fine is your race-baiting which has turned from blacks to Jews and it is anti-Semitic now.. \n.\nYou are attempting to turn this into another religious 'divide and conquer' debate which I refuse to do.. The Bible came to all of us through the Jews. Jesus Himself is Jewish and all 12 apostles are Jewish. \n.\nJerusalem will one day be the capitol of the entire Universe. It will be populated by every race and nationality that has ever been on earth and the world 'then' will truly be 'one' under Jesus! Someone 'imagined' that long before Lennon was ever born.\n.\n Heaven is a very beautiful, rich and large . Hell is just very large... Goodbye.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "All ancient religious justifications for patriarchy in any text are fit for rejection, Christian included.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Who is paying for all the futile legal costs? Is it the Catholic church or are they using tax money that was supposed to be spent on teaching children?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Very biased article, but what else is new.\n\n\"Maybe someone will point out that in last year's election white Catholics supported Donald Trump, and still do, and that this fact serves as a precise measure of the degree to which our bishops have failed to provide their flocks with an adequate moral education.\"\n\nConservatives have been saying this FOR YEARS about Catholics who vote for pro-abortion candidates like Clinton and Obama: The inadequate moral education.\n\nMSW is just starting to notice that now when the shoe is on the other foot???", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mr. Speaker,\n\nAre you suggesting that minority-elect \"President\" Trump should also ban Mancunians? Or, maybe everyone born in the UK?\n\nHere's a list of terrorist attacks which have taken place in May 2017:\n\nhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_terrorist_incidents_in_May_2017\n\nBy some definitions, there have been Israeli Prime Ministers who have been terrorists. Israelis, too?\n\nShould American-born terrorists prompt a nation-wide ban on American births? Should Christian terrorist attacks on abortion clinics prompt a ban on immigration from Christian nations?\n\nI read the claims by other commentators that various American Presidents are \"war criminals\", the the USA itself is a terrorist country. (Just look at the devastation the USA caused in Iraq.) Is it time to ban Americans from everywhere? And us...remember Alexandre Bissonnette?\n\nLinking terrorism to national/religious/ethnic groups rather than criminals or criminal organizations creates absurd situations.. The court is right.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Niqabis are as representative of most Muslims, as the Westboro Baptist Church is of most Christians. I don't see mainstream Christians defending the Westboro Baptist Church by claiming opponents are \"Christianophobic\".\n\nPlease stop calling disapproval of the niqab with \"Islamophobia\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That is a lie. Since I think it's impossible to know what Jesus actually thought about his self-identity I would never say such a thing. At best one can speculate on the basis of the various profiles of Jesus described by the evangelists decades after the Crucifixion. Of course, St. Paul, whose letters predate the gospels, never met Jesus and describes him only as an \"appearance.\"\n\nYou are simply wrong about the Pauline epistles.\n\nThe Church doesn't circumscribe these matters. The scholarly discipline of NT historical and text critical studies does the heavy lifting to approximate the provenance of the NT texts. It's telling that you simply switch off at the boundaries of church orthodoxy. If there's anything that will continue to undermine the Catholic Church, it's this stifling attitude toward intellectual inquiry and the search for truth and accuracy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Here's another N\"c\"R remove catholic from your name for you are the furthest thing from it. Be true to yourselves be honest you are not Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "@Neighbor\nThat's from the Hebrew bible (the OT). Doesn't mean much to today's Christian unless A) You are also a very strict Jew, or B) You take the whole bible literally. Now that would be backwards. We agree! Thankfully, most folks at Imago do not take it all literally. Yes, some are quite conservative. Most are moderates who probably voted for Obama, they recycle, they bike, they drink micros, and the main reason they are at Imago is because the music sounds like Mumford & Sons. Really! Not because of the theology.\nEver thought its the far left that is guilty of the group think?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why clergies too busy raping children & have no time to take complaints?\u2014yjin117 Frontier justice is as wrong on the frontier as with the RCC. Courts have their place.\n\nIs faith life in the church not part of life?\u2014yjin117 Up to a point, faith life in the church is part of life . . . that point is crossed badly with the sexual cover ups.\n\nI am out raged that CI (Catholic Institution) condoned clergies raping our children\u2014yjin117 that is charging the whole CI with the crimes of some CI. The better part of throwing the baby out with the water, is cleaning up the water, as \u201cSpotlight\u201d is doing. Participating in this blog also helps.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Women have often accepted the teaching of their male religious leaders, whether Catholic, Muslim, Hindu, or other, and accepted that they were inferior and should be relegated to the back of the room, etc.\n\nWomen accepted that they were secondary to men and shouldn't have the vote or go to university or be doctors, etc., that it was their responsibility to make sure they didn't get raped.\n\n Women accepted that Mohammed wanted them to be \"modest\" and not show their face or hair, or interact with unrelated men.\n\nIt took modern feminism to change that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is no such animal as the \"Faithful Vatican II Catholic\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Is Church Reform A Viable Option?\n\nFive hundred years of Protestant Reformation has not made any substantial change in the way that Catholicism operates today. \n\nEven the Vatican II Council/Movement resulted in significant backlash from the Vatican, with the Church identifying itself much more strongly as ROMAN Catholic in the past 30 years. Influence gained by ultra-Roman Catholic $$$ support of Vatican, as well as that faction's growth in numbers ...alongside the disappearance of Vatican II Catholics & offspring...all make REFORM a far less viable option for change in the Church.\n\nANOTHER OPTION APART FROM REFORM...RIGHT WITHIN CATHOLIC TRADITION\nThe option of separate but equal Rites/Churches in union with each other and the Pope. A unity in diversity solution to major differences of interpretations and practices in the Church since ancient times. Had Luther considered this option as opposed to separation/schism, no Reformation or Counter-Reformation! Google Rite Beyond Rome", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Paul in his letter to the Romans noted, \"...all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God\".\n\nLet's run with this bit of Christian scripture and apply it to the case at hand, shall we?\n\nThe student body will do what it likes, no matter what the Rule says (so will the staff). The student body will have as much sexual contact as it wants and with whom it want, no matter what the Rule says (so will the staff). If accused, the student body will just deny-deny-deny (so will the staff).\n\nLook around you. Do Christians display more moral conduct than non-Christians? Not from what we've seen. Just read the news.\n\nIt's a toothless rule.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Very amusing to read, in a \"Catholic\" paper that promotes, week in and week out, contraception, sodomy, abortion, and collectivism, another smug denial that the Church is riven by schism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "AND, Fox News added these details....timely details:\n\nThe Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York said Thursday that it has created a compensation program for people who were sexually abused by priests or deacons and are willing to forego lawsuits in exchange for an award to be determined by an independent mediator.\n\nSome advocates for sex abuse victims immediately assailed the program as an attempt to squash cases quickly, before New York's legislature acts on a proposal to make it easier for victims to sue over abuse that happened years ago.\n\nUnder the plan, announced by Cardinal Timothy Dolan, people with abuse claims already pending with the church would have a limited time window -- until Jan. 31 -- to apply for compensation.\n\nThe archdiocese said it had hired mediators Camille Biros and Kenneth Feinberg to evaluate the claims and decide how much victims would be paid. Fox News", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I disagree that \"fundamentalism\" and \"non-fundamentalism\" are the right ways to separate this. (Disclosure: I am strong United Church - once a \"mainline\" denomination!). Jim Wallis and the Sojourners are fundamentalist in their Christian path, I believe, and any justice-seeking Christian would be pleased to have the Sojourners on their side. And there are mainline Christians of all denominational ties who would be Franklin Graham fans.\n\nFundamentalism is a specific late 19th Century movement in response to mainline indifference. I believe it is better to differentiate along the lines of violence. Two or three decades ago someone wrote that the most rapidly growing spirituality was \"belief in the redeeming power of violence,\" or words to that effect. Franklin Graham really does seem to fall into that category, and so do many other Christians, some Muslims and some Jews. And it is belief in violence that some people desire to see cross into the state (or vice versa).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Its a shame he wasn't a catholic, and has rightfully been sent to the pit for his crime of being a pagan.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This news report does a good job of reporting on the constitutionality matter of Trump's recent move on refugees, for example from Syria, to ban all Muslim refugees but to have a case-by-case basis review of Christians for possible admittance.\n\nMy prediction would be that a US Court judge (or Supreme Court) would likely rule against Trump. The establishment of religion clause of the US Constitution has been widely interpreted as providing a muscular freedom of religion, and a requirement for hands-off from government in he area of religious favouratism.\n\nI predict that Trump does not have a leg to stand on, legally, with that part of his proposal on refugees.\n\nI do note, however, the Globe and Mail was remarkably quiet about Obama's system, which reportedly took in massively greater numbers of Muslims than Christians from Syria (greater numbers taking into account the per capita distribution there, about ten percent Christian but refugees to US well under one percent Christian).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do you have a rational fear of Christianity, Buddism, Hinduism, Baha'i, Zoroastrianism, and the religions of the First Nations as well? I don't. I don't fear Islam. I fear Leitch, Alexander, Drumpf, Hitler, Stalin, etc.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Quite the double standard: Notley is pushing for the promotion of secular values public schools, but somehow objects to the promotion of christian, muslim or jewish morality in faith-based schools? Does the constitutional protection of the freedom of religion not apply in Alberta?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, we are discussing different concepts of choice and consequences. God can still be surprised by our choices. Knowing everything before choice is made does not make any sense for a God whose creation is always in evolution. Surprise is good. \n\n I can't believe in a God who supposedly condones that the vast majority of people who have been born into this world were not Catholic, had no choice about that, and are still supposedly 'destined' for hell. That's just pure unadulterated patriarchal tribalism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "He's a babble believin' christian hillbilly.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have a number of concerns about the article. While the concept of openness and transparency is admirable, this problem cannot be solved by \"after the fact transparency.\"\n\nCatholic laity has been calling for accountability for bishops since at least 2002. I would suggest we MIGHT see new direction, but only after all the involved bishops have been allowed to die off. Living out their years in a relatively comfortable retirement. This approach parallels the decreases in numbers that drew the gasps in that diocese. \n\nSo I think it unreasonable to expect the laity to get engaged, volunteer, work (etc), to make thing right, when they are and long have been held at bay until there is almost nothing left that can be done. Cleaning up after unrepentant and sometimes almost arrogant bishops is not what will excite people.\n\nI get the problem, and the need. But until bishops hand the church over to the laity, I see little hope for change.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Protestantism started in rebellion to the corruption of the Catholic Church. Facts matter.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you don't think Catholic and Christian vendors are being targeted...\n\nHow about a BNB?\n\nA hundred BNBs in a town...and which ones get targeted.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think there's a lot of misinformation abroad in the land...the notion that 24% of US citizens are Catholic may be technically true as a preference but my fussing with CARA stats and others suggests that about 7% of US citizens actually attend church weekly...with percentages \"once or twice a month\" \"several times a year\" , \"major holidays \"... Bringing up the balance. \n\nAND these \"Catholics\" have very varied views on access to contraceptives (Vast majority approve) to death penalty, gay issues, etc...Pew does a lot on this and it's clear that these folks are anything but monolithic in their views. There is also the stat that 10% of the US has left the church.\n\nAnd then we come to the balance of our citizenry...the vast vast majority of our population...many of whom are going to be severely impacted by this election..and why in heck would they want to sit around with a Catholic official relative to the matter..they have friends, family, other faith traditions and associations?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "40 years of of focusing on other peoples families. Time for these \"Christians\" to remove the log from their eyes and focus on Jesus' greatest commandments.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I thought that since norstog questioned the 'Christianity' of NCU's position on immoral sex and marriage, that he might benefit from the actual writings of one of the primary leaders of the faith at the time of Christ and shortly thereafter.\n\nI have my own opinions about sex and marriage; they do not coincide with \"Saint\" Paul's.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This Catholic is most certainly intolerant of ambiguity when it's used to cause confusion and distort Church teaching. It seems to me, some Catholics are intolerant of clear doctrinal teaching which doesn't square with their secular, progressive world view - which is kind of a sad commentary, really. It reveals a certain disdain for orthodoxy, don't you think?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Really which side in WW1 was killing Christians or Muslims because they were Christian or Muslim? Oh yeah that didn't happen. So this 'point' is completely worthless to your argument.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, it doesn't show a lack of understanding. It shows an understanding that the Church will stick to a women being less than equal but \"we'll put you on a pedestal to make you not realize this\" attitude and it isn't good enough. Either we are equal under Christ (our Church IS Christian isn't it) or we are not. The earth is flat - or it's not. Disease is caused by a sin we committed or it's not. So many things people used to believe we now know are wrong and this one is being clung to just as the birth control is but that doesn't make them right and it never will. In the meantime, the young people (and the old but the young are the future) find it unacceptable, unbelievable and plain ludicrous and leave.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For someone masquerading as a faithful Catholic, you are revealing considerable ignorance about the sacrament of confession and the canonical penalty of excommunication. Go read your Catechism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "She \"nailed\" nothing.\n========\nLet's say I walk into a Jewish Bakery, a Gay Bakery, a Muslim Bakery, and a Buddhist Bakery because I didn't know they were Jewish, Gay, Muslim, or Buddhist.....and I ask them to decorate a Christian Wedding Cake with \"crosses\" and \"May Jesus Bless Our Marriage\" written on it......and they decline because doing so goes against their religious beliefs or same-sex values.\n-\nSure, I might be sad. But wouldn't I just find another bakery that (1) wants my business (2) will gladly create the \"edible art work\" I want? Of course I would.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "After that you still call yourself a Christian.\nFor your information the Captain of the Belgrano in his memoirs proved Margaret Thatcher was not lying about the circumstances surrounding the torpedoing of that battle-cruiser.\nHaving given you that 'fact', I'll get back to my 'gloating'.\ud83d\ude09", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "he wasn't a Christian.\nhe also was an Atheist.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A Pharisee in bishop's clothing. Embarrassing judgement on Christian burial. Hopefully he will face the same mercy on his judgement day.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How frequently do 'white and/or Christians' go 'off the rails' in relation to Islamic terrorist events?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Doesn't the liturgy war problem go way beyond inclusive language and cultural translations...way beyond to the very theology of Eucharist and the sacred mysteries? As liturgical expression varies, so does theological interpretation. Must we have winners and losers of the \"only valid interpretation\"? \n\nWhen Pope Francis dies, will the traditionalists not have the opportunity for liturgical comeback? Until and unless we recognize the different ways of being/seeing/practicing Catholic...with each way as valid and separate as the East from West...until we do this, will we ever let go of all the wrangling about who is better than the other?\n\nPost-Vatican II Catholicism is NOT the same as Leonine Post-Trent Catholicism, yet they are connected one with the other and need each other. What an example to the divided world if the Catholic Church could further embrace and accept its differences as ways we can challenge and call each other to sanctity. https://RiteBeyondRome.com", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I can't for the life of me understand why right wing groups in the states are anti-semitic, when American and Canadian jews are not responsible for one single death. They don't drive into groups of people nor strap exposives to their body. They are not seen in the streets of Canada and the States, brandishing AK-47s, 74s, AKMs and AKS's, while invoking whatever deity. How can Jews possibly be removed from Judeo-Christian society.\n\nWhat would we have left - NASCAR, Dixie Beer?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I know, because you think of them as bigots, racists, fascists. Half of America, that's your opinion of them.\n\nLet's keep restating this view of your idea of Christianity over and over again so no one misses it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Today, in the Guardian, German Chancelor Angela Merkel, a true Lutheran, was called the \"Moral Voice of the Free World\". Compare her message with the tepid words of the Vatican nuncio in the USA and you'll understand why: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/11/09/angela-merkel-congratulates-donald-trump-kind-of/\nAs a Catholic, I feel deeply ashamed to think that 60 per cent of \"catholics\" voted in \"that man\" (paraphrasing the words that Mr. Winters used to define President Obama, after attacking him with one of the most prospeterous pieces in \"catholic\" history, the pastiche called J'Accuse, a noble writing which did not deserve such exploitation) and that he was elected by a cohaliation of \"catholics\", evangelicals and mormons.\nAt the moment, my prayers go to the world, to the poor, the migrants and the victims of conflicts, who will suffer much with the sheer lack of discernement, reason and reliability of this Narcisist Liar. And beg God: Have mercy on us!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "People are imperfect vessels for revelation, but it is all we have. Like I said God does not give dictation. What part of NOT don't you get. Example, Paul relied on his Rabbinic past when writing his letters and his deeply held belief in the imminent return. The second did not happen. John of Patmos was deeply affected by the loss of Jerusalem and the belief that Pauline Christianity was the Harlot. He also believed in imminent return. No again. Imperfect vessels.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Baptists go back long before America was even thought of. So does slavery. In fact, slavery predates Christianity by centuries.\n.\n Slavery is not unique to America although it was Christian principals that helped end it. 'Google' SLAVERY. It goes back to ancient times and no race or society was immune. \n.\n The left seems to want to blame every evil on Christians, or Christian denominations. Even though some of the worst human traits developed before Christianity ever was, they still blame it all on Christians. Just like ancient Rome blamed their failures on them and fed them to the lions, I have to wonder if there aren't more than a few on the left that wouldn't be too unhappy to see that again today. Very sad.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nonsense. Western nations, including the US, pride themselves much more about division of church and state and/or their secularism than their Christian heritage. \n\n\nIn the US the church-state separation is not only part of the Constitution, but practically speaking, it is a preamble to the Ten Commandments. \n\nJPII pleaded, argued with EU leaders for a decade to include 'some' reference to Christian hereitage in the Preamble of the new EU Constitution (only the Preamble, not th Constitution itself) to no avail. \n\nTo compare this to Islam, where church-state separation is a sign of weak religious commitment, or religious laxity, shows a lack of understanding and, as such, it I s simply nonsense.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Must be nice for Christians not to have to get their hands dirty to make their feelings known. They wage war each day not by picking up a gun, machete, or driving a car into a crowd but by casting a vote and turning a blind eye to the worlds suffering. How very Christian. Through isolation and popularism agenda America seems all to gleeful to cut off its nose to spite its face.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Congratulations on this initiative to support women seeking priestly ordination. The male-only priesthood is a consequence of original sin. It is the religious manifestation of Genesis 3:16. The patriarchal priesthood of the Old Law was subject to this curse, but the sacramental priesthood of the New Law is ministerial, not patriarchal. Patriarchal religiosity is a diabolical malignancy that can be healed only by the Holy Spirit. This is my summary of where we are in the healing process:\n\nReligious Patriarchy in the Judeo-Christian Tradition\nhttp://pelicanweb.org/CCC.TOB.html#CHRONOLOGY", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm happy to explain why John takes this path. He is famous here for trying to jam words and attitudes into people who hold opinions divergent from his, even if these opinions are consistent with Catholic teaching. He's really intolerant of diversity and quite judgemental in how he goes about discourse. He needs to make \"caricatures\" of other's views in order that he can dismiss them, because he's not able to do so on purely rational grounds.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The windows are beautiful. The buildings are useless other than as a Catholic Church or Catholic-themed museum. The acoustics of the sanctuary are awful, so it's not even useful as a performance center or lecture hall. Few Issaquah School District parents would want their kids to attend a school with a catholic church themed artwork, even if it were legal for a public school to have it. The school district desperately needs a site for a new high school. There are few options other than this property With this facility locked up as a heritage site, housing our students will be extrememly difficult. Get ready for many more portables, more overcrowded school facilities, much longer school bus rides, and additional traffic (especially on and off the plateau).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The latter. We are no longer obliged or even allowed to try to impose Catholic doctrine on the polity. We can, of course, argue the merits of issues, but imposing our will on the polity as a faith is no longer the goal of the Church. It was actually always cynical to evangelize in order to promote Catholic political power.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Surely Metropolitan Kallistos' \"healing of the alienation within us\" is a bit more modern than \"the more ancient view of baptism.\" ;-)\n\nBut of course your point that his point that baptism as integration into the new life in Christ is more ancient that the dominant Western dominant notion of washing way the mark left on the soul by original sin. In the West, I think alternate notions never dies out, but removing the stain of sin was pushed in catechisms and thus became the instinctive first thought in the minds of Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is going to really upset the Christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Closing schools on Saturdays and Sundays, the religious holidays of Christmas and Easter, a legal and moral system based at least partly on Christianity. There are others. Christianity is one of the pillars of Western Civilization.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In fact if you were to go back to class you would find out that islam attempted to take Europe first - but then again most folks are always looking to excuse islam and nail Christianity to the cross - no pun intended. Apologists abound.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Especially if a Muslim refused service to a Christian on that basis.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Does this quote even come close to resembling your interpretation of \"migrant?\"\n\"Dedicating his entire general audience in St. Peter's Square to Caritas Internationalis' new \"Share the Journey\" campaign, the pope said Jesus asks Christians to welcome migrants with arms that are open and ready to give an \"affectionate and embracing hug\" to people escaping war and violent conflict.\"\n\nThe US campaign will likely be useless since news today indicated institution of a cap of 45,000 refugees in the near future. Another blow to common decency, historical spirit of aid to disaster refugees, basic principles of all world religions. Don't worry, Rogue; it looks like policy will fit your wishes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We had a pope who was declared a saint although he was involved in protecting pedophile priests in open defiance of Christ's teachings about protecting the sheep from wolves. We had popes who fought wars, fathered children, bribed their way into office, sold positions in the church, how can we say we won't have a pope who will do just about anything? Being infallible and having the keys to the kingdom in their hands, so they can forgive any sin they want, or lock the gates of heaven to the innocent, they really can do whatever they want. And it will be Right, and Moral and Just.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Im old, Im white, I have 2 masters degrees, AND Im an evil Christian conservative -NOT republican--ergo I am your enemy and no fear I would never work around you or with your \"firm\".\n\nyour intolerance is predictable though", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What is \"OUR\" language?\n\n\"a variety of ethnicities and religions\" So this dude was screaming out against Catholics, Jews, Mormons, Protestant, Lutherans, Christians, etc. John Badman, hopefully this home-grown red-neck didn't speak out against YOUR religion, if you have one! Maybe we can ALL assimilate into your religion?! God knows, we don't want to be different.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Opus Dei describes itself as \"a personal prelature of the Catholic church that helps people seek holiness in their work and ordinary activities\". In other words, they try to help others through their regular work and their day-to-day life.\"\nhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/subdivisions/opusdei.shtml\n\nYes...sounds really scary. The stuff ridiculous novels some people think true are based on....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm at a loss. I would lose what?\n\nWhat the Catholic Church believes and teaches are what we as faithful Catholics are to believe and live. The conversation which the homosexual community wants to have and drive forward is to accept their behavior. If we don't and wish to hold to our Christian values, they wish to drive us out of business, to deprive churches of tax-exempt status and to embrace a lifestyle which is harmful to our eternal souls. \n\nNone of this is to deny a homosexual that they are a person loved by God as any other human on the face of the Earth. That is the dignity with which they are to be treated. Homosexual behavior, as with any other sinful behavior, moves us away from God, and as we turn our back to Him, we cast our own shadow and live in its darkness. I would love for everyone to turn to God and live in His light.\n\nAs for Dawkins, in his world there is no objective truth, be it from Creation's beginning to the miracles happening today. I feel sorry for him.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Especially for Christians, whose faith is centered on Christ\u2019s unjust execution, there is surely an obligation to campaign for the abolition of the death penalty which denies the condemned the right to life and the opportunity to reform. It is to be hoped that just as Francis has spoken out against its use, Christians, especially those with public platforms in the United States, will do likewise.\n\u2014Audrey Wells\n\nDudley Sharp seems to agree with Wells.\n\n\u201cHowever, if a prince or judge kills someone, that\u2019s by our Lord God\u2019s word and command. You yourself do not bear the sword, but God . . . as if it were in God\u2019s hand, as if an angel and not a human bore it, because god\u2019s word clings to it, which commands to punish the wicked and to protect and defend the pious.\u201d\u2014Martin Luther.\n\nVVV, Marty E, and the second comment by Dudley Sharp seem to agree with Luther.\n\nTimes, they are a\u2019changin\u2019.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "P.1\nThe vitrioleurs writing the Cattolica article and their getaway driver, MSW, choose to disfigure those with the temerity to hold positions always held by the Catholic church and find \"ecumenism of conflict\" and \"ecumenism of hate\" where little ecumenism exists. Politics makes strange bedfellows and the arguments that some evangelicals and Catholics make are political ones based, in large part, on the shared understanding of Biblical and Traditional Christianity. This does not make for ecumenism but for political alliance.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Marie Dennis, co-president of Pax Christi International, said she has been in the business of protesting for many decades. \"Catholics have a record of being visible in the streets, as we are today, and being open to deep, meaningful reflection about what it means to be faithful.\"\n\nWell said, Marie! Many Catholics including priests and religious marched with Dr. M.L. King. Unfortunately, there were also many Catholics who were actively opposed to the Civil Rights movement. Many bishops received angry letters from white Catholics demanding that a priest or nun be disciplined for associating with Dr. King and his movement.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Interesting that should falsely seize upon this notion that I was abused by a priest for having used it among other examples (including students, athletes and simply children in a family), and now have tried numerous times to discredit my points by claiming I have that particular ax to grind by using it as a battle ax. Sounds like you have a personal issue with victims of the catholic cover-up, as well as a great deal of psychopathic cruelty, but just to reiterate, I once failed to protect a kid from a pervert which drives me to argue for continuing scrutiny of such perpetrators after witnessing the convoluted narcissism and disregard for the well-being of others which drives such behavior. It doesn't end with time served, and just like a recovering junkie should NOT later dispense morphine in a pharmacy, these kinds of sex offenders shouldn't be able to intermingle in communities without a means of continued scrutiny, but one that makes sense.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christianity was the basis for the Revolution and the Dec of Indep. Law and jurisprudence grew out of belief in God as the Law Giver. Testimony was for centuries taken on swearing by and on the Bible. The morality of the Founders was based on Christianity and everyone who became a lawyer, read for the law with pastors and ministers. Harvard (Law School) was founded as a Christian University. NOT irrelevant at all but Foundational.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The other group, along with Christians, that the left bashes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Good on Christians for imposing limits on themselves, but lose the halo. Most secularists (agnostics) live by as stringent a set of disciplines as the most devout Christian. Those who are truly comfortable in their beliefs won't have an issue with secularist beliefs and lifestyles. However, too many times I have been asked on a first meeting: 'Are you a Christian?' That is usually a lead-in to a pitch for their own beliefs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bit hard to follow if we want to be honest. Not that long ago Francis tells us \"Joy in tribulation is the mark of a true Christian, the sign we are following this path of everything and nothing, of fullness pured out is joy\" meaning nothing to those who have [and continue to be] suffering at the hands of the church.\nThe Foster family grieving for the recent loss of a father and husband who fought the good fight for his daughters where both of these statements rang hollow and is an insult really.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I know of only one annulment, and it took a little time and effort, but that would be expected when one is making the claim that they were never really married. But I do know several Catholics who divorced and didn't even bother looking into annulment; as I said elsewhere, there are Catholics who stay married, Catholics who get divorced and seek annulments, and \"Catholics\" who get divorced without even considering annulment because they don't really have belief in Church teaching. Oh, and the go to Communion in the rare times that they attend mass.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...move on gay marriage.\"\n\nIt will be interesting to see how Intervarsity's \"move on gay marriage\" plays out on Catholic campuses like Georgetown University and, say, Assumption College. The evangelical Protestant organization is trying to make inroads on Catholic campuses (Catholic higher education, in general), which campuses seem to be more tolerant toward LGBT employees. Everyone puts on airs of tolerance except ....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Joe Dick (quoting himself) - \n\nEvidence that Harder is anti-abortion ... she proudly proclaims this and other evangelical Christian beliefs. Also, as I wrote in another reply:\n\n\"The members have served on the committee (Status of Women Canada) together for 2 years and Harder has a voting record. She did not support transgender (Bil C16) rights and she was a sponsor of the private members bill \"Molly's Law\".\"\n\nAs chair Harder can set the agenda which gives her more leeway to promote anti-abortion views. Or not but hopefully we won't have to find out.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "--The reports allege that some Catholic clergy exploit their financial and spiritual authority to gain sexual favors from religious women, many of whom, in developing countries, are culturally conditioned to be subservient to men. The reports obtained by NCR -- some recent, some in circulation at least seven years -- say priests at times demand sex in exchange for favors, such as permission or certification to work in a given diocese. The reports, five in all, indicate that in Africa particularly, a continent ravaged by HIV and AIDS, young nuns are sometimes seen as safe targets of sexual activity. In a few extreme instances, according to the documentation, priests have impregnated nuns and then encouraged them to have abortions.--", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "2/ As an aside no sooner had I reverted than self-appointed gatekeepers online urged me to get the hell out of the church. At first I was shocked by their mean-spiritedness but eventually got used to it. Well, now I'm in self-imposed exile, so all you trads rejoice! However, you may not take credit, except insofar as you participated in the neo-fascist uprising that now plagues the United States.\n\nYesterday I attended an Episcopal service celebrated by a woman priest. It was wonderful, and I plan on returning. I'll always consider myself a Catholic, though. That's just the way it is.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm not a Catholic. But why not simply say that as soon as the human brain reached a certain level of sophistication, we gained the power of choice, to act for the good or for the bad, selflessly or selfishly? I don't doubt sin in the least. The fact that Adam and Eve are fiction can't be denied but shouldn't interfere with the reality of sin.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are, indeed, the king of irony. Of all the reasons one might choose to be Protestant rather than Catholic, Mary's Assumption is second on your list.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Although the founders were careful to omit direct reference to Christ, it's clear that the US became a great nation for the next 200 or so years based on Judaeo-Christian principles. You can't name a Catholic/Muslim/atheist country that's done nearly as well during the same period. Of course, it's all going to heck in a handbasket now...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part 2 of my post was deleted. That's another thing about the Catholic sphere. I've been banned from three Catholic sites and get censored for posting perfectly legitimate critiques.\n\nThe second part of my post was harsh, but it was not \"uncivil.\" It's just not what certain Catholics want to hear.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "While I certainly care about the welfare of the Puerto Ricans---there are political realities that need to be addressed in Congress first, before many other issues can be treated by the bishops. \n\nHowever, what about the issues that the USCCB CAN and MUST address: 1)pastoral concerns about divorced/remarried Catholics---who have not been made welcome at the Eucharistic table; 2) establishing in every arch/diocese synods addressing the needs of Young Adults [18-38 year-olds]; 3) establishing synods to dialogue with the LGBT community; 3) establishing real links with Hispanic youth [and other immigrant youth from India, China, and Syria and others]; 4) dealing with the 'nones' and their disconnection with organized church and ritualized worship. AND THIS IS JUST FOR STARTERS!\n\n\nIt is time for the 'silent' but pastoral bishops to speak up and let Chaput and his cronies know that when the Holy Spirit acts---it is messy, hot, and windy. It is not about 'business as usual.'", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's not just evangelicals. Most Protestants don't think Catholics are really Christians since they place extreme emphasis on Mary and other non-biblical rituals.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And the only American bishop who backed him up was the Romanian Catholic bishop, John Michael Botean. \n\nhttp://justpeace.org/botean.htm\n\"Therefore I, by the grace of God and the favor of the Apostolic See, Bishop of the Eparchy of St. George in Canton, must declare to you, my people, for the sake of your salvation as well as my own, that any direct participation and support of this war against the people of Iraq is objectively grave evil, a matter of mortal sin. Beyond a reasonable doubt this war is morally incompatible with the Person and Way of Jesus Christ. With moral certainty I say to you it does not meet even the minimal standards of the Catholic just war theory. \n\nThus, any killing associated with it is unjustified and, in consequence, unequivocally murder. Direct participation in this war is the moral equivalent of direct participation in an abortion.\"\n\n\"such direct participation is intrinsically and gravely evil and therefor absolutely forbidden\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why do we scoff at Catholics who love the Latin Mass and tradition? Could it be that some Catholics grow in grace and NEED the stability and comfort of the Latin Roman Catholic Rite? \n\nIn war-torn places like Nigeria \"Catholic traditionalists see...the Latin Mass as a sign of their faith\u2019s stability and unity... some of its strongest adherents...in places...where historical tumult and ethnic strife have given traditionalists special reason to value this aspect of their faith. \" (NY Times) http://tinyurl.com/y8dr342m\n\nWHY must the progressive wing of the Church force uniformity in the name of unity...JUST AS Popes JPII andBXVI did? Is this the way of +Francis?\n\nWHY so afraid of diversified unity? Or is it some sort of payback for decades of suppression of Vatican II? \n\nThe Church has a tradition of diversity...inter-independent rites, ordinariates, now prelatures . The future holds other ways to be groups in a Cardinal Kasper's Multifaceted Unity. See https://RiteBeyondRome.com", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Totally agree with Marie Collins. It was bizarre when Pope Francis put Pell in his high position at the Vatican when so much was known about his mishandling of abuse cases. And that commission that Marie Collins resigned from, that commission was set up purely to appease the two U.N. Committees that were holding hearings on the Catholic Church's handling of sexual abuse of children. That commission never really did anything. It could barely figure out a way to even hold meetings. \n\nPope Francis has all kinds of great ideas about immigrants and the environment, but his handling of his biggest problem, his priests abusing children, has been deplorable. I would like to think that this matter with Cardinal Pell would cause the Pope to give this whole worldwide mess a little more thought, but it may be more likely that he'll just let Pell go home and continue doing nothing about the huge problem he's in charge of and continue telling other world leaders what they should be doing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Part one of two) Among the primary reasons for her (Marie Collins of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors) despair, she listed \"lack of resources, inadequate structures around support staff, slowness of forward movement and cultural resistance.\" Those first three are easily remedied: more money, more staff, pick up the pace. The last one \u2014 \"cultural resistance\" \u2014 is the impenetrable\u2014Tom Roberts But cultural resistance is no excuse for neglecting the first three.\n\nthe Catholic community, fully informed and hearing sincere requests for mercy . . . leads to a level of truth-telling that, in turn, places one starkly reliant on God's mercy.\u2014Tom Roberts After all, \u201cHis mercy endures forever\u201d (Psalm 136:1). On the other hand, \u201cThe Pharisees went out and took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. When Jesus realized this, he withdrew from THAT place\u201d (Mathew 12 14-15).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"live\" forever in heaven (if you are good), partially true - We live forever because someone else was good (Christ) and his goodness (sinlessness) is attributed tot those who believe. The question of why is there sin (including the 6 million Jews) in the world can only be answered the following way: And that is because God has a greater purpose in mind that the temporal, which could include those children being with him now. Sin is being dealt with and put away, and one day will exist no more. This argument always fascinates me, in that the manner of death seems important, why ? Everybody dies and sometimes a \"fast\" death is better, I don't see much difference.\n\n\nLooking at this at purely a rational level, I don't see why anybody would want to believe in ultimate meaninglessness, it doesn't give a person much reason to exist or to even get up in the morning. I will not end with a condescending comment, but will say I appreciate your sincerity and forthrightness. Have a great New Year.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"77% of Canadians are Christian\"\n\nGimme a break. Only one Canadian in three is still religious. As far back as the 1980s Sociologist Reginald Bibby found that for most nominal superstition believers being Anglican, Baptist, Catholic, Jewish, ... made no difference in their lives, apart from determining what genre of ritual was performed when they were born, married, and buried.\n\nhttp://www.people-press.org/2002/12/19/among-wealthy-nations/\n\n\"Among Wealthy Nations \u0085\nU.S. Stands Alone in its Embrace of Religion\nSix-in-ten (59%) people in the U.S. say religion plays a very important role in their lives. This is roughly twice the percentage of self-avowed religious people in Canada (30%), and an even higher proportion when compared with Japan and Western Europe. Americans\u2019 views are closer to people in developing nations than to the publics of developed nations.\"\n\nhttps://www.irreligion.org/2011/09/16/half-of-canadians-think-religion-more-harmful-than-good-poll-finds/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholic school boards are publicly funded.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Speaking of double standards.\nHow many conservatives in politics and the media who had a field day over Clinton's behavior were doing the exact same thing then or later? I'd list them but I don't want to spend all day on this thread. How many so called Christians took to their fainting couches and smelling salts over Clinton and then turned around and voted for Trump?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My mother struggled with my sexuality. Charlatan Dr. Prevo made her struggle worse. He demonized me, my tribe and my value as a human being. \nI don't care what he and his followers believe, but we have a secular Constitution (frequently ignored in Alaska) that guarantees I have the same rights he and his church have. He wants me disenfranchised. Dr. Prevo, this is not some nightmare Christian theocracy similar to the Muslim one in Iran. But, that is what you want.\nI don't know how many gay kids were terrorized by Dr. Prevo. I don't know how many gay people met violence or death as a result of the hate rhetoric with the lies that evoke violence--even death--in my gay tribe. \nI do not believe God created me to view my body with shame. I do not believe God made me gay for torment by Dr. Prevo and his ilk. Religious freedom stops where there are calls for death to a whole class of folks. You know, like no human sacrifice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Another wannabe dictator acting the opposite of all of the claims of the Republicans of less federal government intervention in local affairs. A billionaire demanding her way or the highway as typical of her ilk. A dedicated fundamentalist christian attempting to loot the treasury to fund christian schools under the false \"charter\" scams. She never should have been nominated; nor should she have been confirmed. Joining the worst appointments to head government agencies in the history of the nation since Reconstruction. Time for a Revolution.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would submit that Faithful Catholic (and I will ask him) perhaps misspoke.\nI....and many pro-life Catholics do not limit the definition of\"pro-life\" to \"anti-abortion.\" In fact, most....if not all...of us consider the dignity and vital-ness of ALL life, from conception until natural death, to be of paramount importance.\n\nAnd I think you know that, John. I think you may use the anti-abortion label as an excuse to have \"a major problem\" with us.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Another intelligent essay containing biblical passages so loved by the Alt-Right pseudo-christians to show the disparity between the privileged brat and people totally tied and dedicated to the earth.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is a fascinating article on the historical Jesus, thank you !!! If he existed, he was not Harvey the Rabbit my best bud, but a real person living in a real historical context. Much that has been said religiously about Jesus actually does not honor him, but dishonors him, making him into something that as a Jew, he would never have agreed to. \"Zealot\" tells me that Jesus was a participant in a civil war, his opponents the wealthy Romans and their collaborators the wealthy Jews -- a class war, with Jesus just your everyday insurrectionist; and the Gospel just propaganda to turn this violent person into a 'nice-nice' Jew, so as to sell Christianity, if I understand correctly. But I would prefer to think of Jesus as really wise and peaceful, not a soldier. Keep in mind though, the Gospel may be not so much history as it is agenda-driven and reactionary. Nevertheless, the Gospel lessons on non-violently disarming your opponent are relevant always, as the analysis in the article shows", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hi John,\nWhy people worry about what happens after they die?\nDon't they know God is immanent in us as well as omnipresent in this universe?\nOne's spiritual journey is always in now in here before God, not yesterday neither in tomorrow! \nTo think that mere human Pope can grant you to go or not go any where after you die is absurd notion. \nGod bless", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The idea that we should be able to make other people's thoughts go away simply because we don't agree with them is more related to childhood fantasies than to the adult world we all live in. In some measure, it was our collective unwillingness to listen to people outside our own circles that led to the election of Mr. Trump. \nNeither the Constitution nor, a fortiori, the Gospel, is strengthened by cutting off debate in the name of civility.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am scrathing my head here, Charles the title says why, but this article mearly talks about him. I attended his school at 13, and I can say shortly after leaving I got it, there was a lot of brainwashinga and manipulation maybe even lying. This is man who says \" because I am a Christian\", really? Yeah who lives in a huge mansion behind a 8ft fence with a guard dog and huge shop and airplanes to boot. \n Look I won't get into the debate about what the bible says about homsexuality but that sentitment is rooted in selective literalism. There are many, many things the Old Testiment says that Christians ignore every day. Crops, clothing, heck the sabbath, so get real. Christians are follwers of the teachings of Jesus, guess what he said about homsexuality.....that's right nothing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You reflect an ignorance of liturgical history, I'm afraid. \"Problems\" have accompanied every liturgy of the Church. The last major reform of the liturgy, of 400 years before Vatican II, and despite the more minor but significant changes in the interim, gives witness to the shallow nature of the view you espouse here, mjmchale. And of great importance, the Church forced the Latin mass on the faithful in Asia and Africa, whose cultures were far, far from Eurocentric culture, and whose complaints of neglect and suppression were first heard publicly at Vatican II, constituted significant problems for those churches, did they not? The more contemporary liturgical reform movements - culminating in Sacrosanctum Concilium - were well underway in the later 1800's. So, your claim of \"[n]ever had this problem with the traditional Mass, did we?\" is ill-considered and incorrectly revisionist as well as fully self-serving.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The bishops are pro-life. Trump claims to be pro-life, therefore the bishops endorsed Trump in the minds of liberals.\n\nYou see, whenever Catholic priests or bishops start talking about the evil of abortion, liberals start accusing them of endorsing the Republican party. As if it is the fault of the bishops that the Democrats define themselves by abortion. Doing so and they can scare the bishops into silence, forcing the bishops to have to start defending themselves against political campaigning. \n\nFunny thing is that whenever the bishops ram rod Catholic social teaching down the throats of everyone, they are never accused or endorsing the Democratic party.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A cruel death is not necessary to show people how to live a good life. However, Jesus knew full well living the good life as He taught was not something the ruling elite were going to embrace because it dis empowered them. When power is threatened cruelty follows.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Then you might want to learn the distinction between \"reply\" and \"reaction.\" Your commentary here is typical of Catholic right-wing REACTION. You seldom REPLY to anyone here!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Indulgences were bad mainly because Jesus intended that the whole life of his believers on earth should be a constant penance. And not just \u201cinward\u201d penance; Jesus desires that we show atonement outwardly, such as by mortification of the flesh.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Gripe and moan, gripe and moan. My health insurance premium has gone up $208/year since 2010. Oh dear.\n\nLots of folks have their anecdotes of premiums skyrocketing or tripling or whatever, but the data shows that for most Americans, and most Alaskans, the increases were modest. And the payoff is that some twenty million more people have health coverage. TWENTY MILLION.\n\nI won't sit here and claim that the ACA is perfect, or even ideal. There are absolutely fixes to be made. But it isn't the death knell that so many made it out to be. Jesus Christ, people, it's an improvement, even if an incremental one.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't quite agree those were the issues, unless you mean to imply that white Catholics are more pro life anti gay marriage uber Catholics than Latino Catholics who went Clinton by a very large margin.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My, yet another Cafeteria Catholic pretending to be Faithful and Orthodox while putting forth progressive ideas supporting schism and sowing confusion, which, as Cardinal Burke has told us, is of the devil. Citations to conspiracy theory websites and might be considered proof of alien abductions, but they have no place in a serious discussion about the Infallible and Inerrant Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Good points, political correctness has real consequences and real victims, just look at the 1,400 girls from Rotherham who suffered prolonged abuse because police forces didn't act due a fear of being labeled racists. M-103 only perpetuates a double standard (a common theme in the Globe) that affords certain religions more \"sensitivity\" than others as if Salmon Rushdie is somehow different than South Park or Family guy because his satire focused on Islam while Christianity and Judaism are fair game. The point is that no religion or belief system is beyond reproach, especially one that demands absolute submission from women under the guise of piety. When private schools in Canada teach their pupils that boys and girls are forbidden from physical contact, this is not a function of cultural relativism - it represents a regressive belief system that is only common in countries where gender equality and freedom of expression are non-existent.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What part of \"ISIS\" do you not understand?\nBTW the only correction for this problem, and other \"unsurmountable\" problems, is Jesus Christ.\nWhether or not one is a veteran.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The tenor of your article I whole-heartedly agree with. The story and picture from St. Ignatius were especially poignant. Where I disagree is when you state that the NFL players protesting get to define what they mean by it and we have to accept it. What if during the Eucharistic prayer a group of parishoners decided to jump to their feet and blow noise makers? Sounds disrespectful right? What if they defined it not as disrespecting Christ and his Church but simply protesting the child abuse that happened in the church? I think it is hard for someone to co-opt someone else's symbol (or sign) and then redefine it as their own symbol. You certainly can do it, but then you should expect backlash from people that defined that symbol first.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Really? Before, when there was a relative democracy in the Philipinnes, Cardinal Tagle and the bishops where prodigal in organizing marches pro-life. Now that President Duterte, an assumed killer, is in power they are silent like mouses. Exactly like Cardinal Dolan and company while facing severe threats to the right to life in the US. It was not the way of the really Catholic Cory Aquino, don't you think?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "explain what the Church has been doing to change the old culture that allowed abuse to continue and to put in place new policies, structures and protections to safeguard children and vulnerable adults.\u2014Most Reverend Vincent Long, OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta. \u201cThe just man is a light in darkness to the upright\u201d (Psalm 112:4a). The Faithful will judge how much light the Australian Bishops cast on the shame of the Australian Church and the whole church. \u201cShelter the oppressed\u201d (Isaiah 58:7) rather than repress the sexually repressed, repressed by the sexual cover-ups. \u201cI did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom\u201d (1 Corinthians 2:1), indeed, not in Australia so far. \u201cJesus said to his disciples: `You are the salt of the earth\u2019\u201d let the Faithful pray so for those testifying bishops before the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, beginning tomorrow, February 6. Liturgy of the Word, Reading 73A, Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time A", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you wish Scripture over Catechism, here's a thought:\n\nJesus Christ was a victim of Capital Punishment and never condemned it. The Good Thief said, \"We deserve this, but this man (Jesus) was innocent...\" Luke 23: 41-43 \n\nSt. Paul says in Romans 13: 3-4 \n3For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; 4for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. \n\nIt is better not to use Capital Punishment, but it is not intrinsically wrong. The Church has never totally condemned it in the last 2000 years.\nAbortion is always evil. Not on the same level. \nGod bless...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"The bishops, of course, will continue to rest in absolute security, their rights protected, their privileges untouchable, their every need taken care of.\"\n- This is a good article.\n- While bishops, especially those called to a local church, have authority of their office as head shepherd, the power for them to execute all the aspects of their office, sanctifying, teaching, governing, resides with the body of Christ, the pilgrim church, the laity.\n- Bishops have too easily forgotten the lessons learned from the laity's episodic discoveries of the rape of children and molestation of young people by clerics. That lesson being that the power over those you shepherd dissipates and you will find that besides loosing respect you will find your authority is dead to the community.\n- The laity then need to step up and remind the Bishops that our church is not for sale to the highest bidder. If a Bishop thinks that this is so then we should give to him 30 pieces of faux silver.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, I never understood how \"Catholics\" could vote for politicians who are pro-abortion. I have never understood how \"Catholics\" could vote for pro-abortion candidates despite Church teaching about abortion.\n\nSo--if you want to understand how \"White Christians\" could for Trump----the exact same way White \"Catholics\" could vote for pro-abortion candidates.\n\nIf \"Catholics\" can justify votes for pro-abortion candidates despite clear church teaching on abortion, I fail to see why \"White Christians\" cannot vote for Trump.\n\nDissidence, you see, works both ways. Liberals aren't the only people who have Conscience rights.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is very difficult to believe that Jesus had the same obsession with male genitals that the Holy Oligarchs have.\nHis plan was to build a church, not a phallus cult, which is what the RC priesthood has become.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "McHale practices what is known as Taliban Catholicism... to be avoided at all costs!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And why might that weak turnout for typical Democratic demographics have been , oh wise and learned one? And why aren't you as perturbed that Dems didn't turn out in massive droves for Hillary as you are about your evangelical tormentors. In 2012 Obama cleaned Romney's clock in those two states by roughly 8 percentage points each. What happened in the intervening four years? Two states I might add, that have gone Democratic in six(Michigan) and seven (Wisconsin) of the previous Presidential elections, in otherwords DEMOCRATIC STRONGHOLDS in the extremis! I guess aliens turned all those voters into evangelicals just to sabotage Hillary. LOL\n\nYou really should quit trying further(your just digging your hole deeper), and get back to that barking and baying you do so well when your not busily engaged in searching for imaginary reasons for Trump beating Clinton.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No I didn't. I could care less what Hobby Lobby thinks.\n\nIt's not a hard thing to NOT read what you don't want to see. I think we're on the same page and yes, it's a good observation that some Christians do indeed feel compelled to share their religious beliefs to non-religious people. I've seen it done well and I've seen in done abusively. I disagreed with the SC Hobby Lobby exception that allowed them to deny service to their non-Christian employees. \nI don't believe as a company marking to all people, that they can claim religious exception from the health law, but the case is settled, so, oh well. I'll obey the civil law as the SC defines and modifies constitutional intent.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I believe sex workers rights is the next big civil rights issue the USA will face. The opposition is very powerful though. They have funding and support from a broad section of Christian groups who have fought and mostly lost on several other moral issues and don't plan to lose on this one. They have allied themselves with radical feminist ideology and the dialogue of sex slavery and trafficking. Their propaganda films can be seen every week on MSNBC. Media has paid lots of attention to their side while virtually ignoring the sex workers movement. A cottage industry aimed as saving sex trafficking victims has gown up in the last fifteen years with a vested interest in hyping the numbers of such victims and painting a scary and largely inaccurate picture of sex work in general. These are the people being listened to by government. Changing this dialogue to one based on actual facts and logic will be an enormous challenge.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is a much better critique of Kurtz's leadership (or lack thereof) and the failures of the USCCB:\n\ndotCommonweal - A. Annett\n\nhttps://www.commonwealmagazine.org/blog/who-or-what-blame-trump\n\nTidbits:\n\nThis is a fateful moment for the U.S. Catholic Church. We will need to see what happens next. Let\u2019s not forget the ruinous choices made eight years ago. After barely uttering a word about Bush\u2019s catastrophic war and legitimization of torture, the U.S. bishops immediately declared war on Obama. In doing so, they allied themselves, however unwittingly, with the unsavory financial interests seeking to undermine his presidency for their personal financial gain.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The early Christians were peaceful. Like the Coptics still are.\n\nIt is the Romanized Christianity that was violent. And that strain has remained till today. The original Christian communities in the Middle East and South Asia are very peaceful, and more true to the teaching of Jesus. The NRA type evangelicals are not.\n\nWhen the first Portuguese Christians came to Kerala, where they encountered a Christian community older than their own. The Portuguese insisted that true Christians could only be followers of the Catholic Church. The Christians of Kerala trace their origins to St Thomas, who predated the Catholic Church by over 300 years.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "From the far side of the Tiber, and closer to the land of Cranmer and C.S. Lewis I found a lot to ponder in Fr. Reese's essay. Without a hint of schadenfreude, I'd note that divided membership attributes might easily fit your church, as much as any mainline Protestant church. That said by one who has no reason to view the fever swamp of traditionalist RC blogs, where I hear third hand they are praying for the early death of someone whom in Christian charity I will not name.\n\nThe ecumenism of the foxhole has given way to the ecumenism of the indifferent society. No one, except the tiny minority on religious blogs, frets over the issues driving the events of the 16th century. Most in the West can't define the words \"grace\", \"sacrament\" or \"justification\" and wouldn't know an indulgence unless it was describing a new sugary dessert. They are much more interested in one true bargain in high tech devices and not \"one true church\". Like it or not, we need to get along where we can.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I didn't say they did. I said that they discussed how to address the situation of a heretical pope. One does not have to \"agree\" with a pope who is not teaching in conformity with the Church's dogmatic magisterium. That is papalotry.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "His tweets and statements also lay the blame on immigrants in general. With \"more extreme vetting\" (whatever that entails) and merit based immigration (code word - White Europeans who speak English and are Christian). I do not recall him attacking all middle age white men with guns after the Las Vegas attack. Of course I may have missed it. :-)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Kurgan,\nDo you know what sedevacantism is? If you do not investigate the claims of the sedevacantists you will not understand the issues at stake in V2, and with the various heretical popes, if indeed they were heretical. It's accurate to say that V2 was basically a nuclear bomb dropped into the church. There has never been anything as disruptive in all of catholic history.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Church has just nailed the coffin on getting more priests with the homophobic statement about gays. What, may I ask, does it mean to \"support the gay culture??\" This sends a clear message to me that GLBT people are not really welcome in the Church. It should come as no surprise that in the U.S., for every one Catholic convert, more than six Catholics leave the church. Taken a step further, Catholicism loses more members than it gains at a higher rate than any other denomination, with nearly 13 percent of all Americans describing themselves as \u201cformer Catholics.\u201d I am proud to consider myself among that number.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "His/her children? That statement alone should disqualify you from serving the Catholic Church. He is our Father and Jesus is His Son and second Person of the Trinity. This is a perfect example of why these women should never be priests in the Roman Catholic Church. As a woman, it has always been perfectly clear the high esteem the Church holds women. I find it sad that these women are confused. It sounds as if they have found ways to serve in the Church with out being a priest, why not concentrate on that service instead of dreaming and wanting something that will never happen. Like children that always want the toy a brother has, simply because it's a boy and the old green-eyed monster raises its head. They want the priesthood because the Church says no. Thank God the Church will not change its mind on this. The Jesuits need to go back and follow its founder, instead of spreading so much dissent and encouraging these women with false ideas and hopes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Try being gay or a theologian in the Church under BXVI or JPII. On the other hand, if you were a conservative--who brought in big bucks-- you could build a mausoleum dedicated to your future sainthood like Escriva and Maciel. One made it and one crashed and burned. If Pope Francis is creating a climate of fear in the curia it's only because he learned how it's done as a bishop under JPII and BXVI. Your comment is laughable, not ironic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yeah, as long as you forget all the violence god commands. His letter is really good for anyone who hadn't actually read the Bible or has selective memory.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Man you just don't give up do you... I never claimed to be the smartest so why the insults?(which I have flagged btw). And narcissistic?? You have the self-imposed audacity to (nearly) single-handedly take on an entire forum of progressive Catholics, day in and day out, and I'm the narcissist? LOL another good one... I do however owe you a debt of gratitude for your comedic contribution to this forum.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Because with repentance and love of Christ comes salvation. If she were to refuse to repent and obstinately continue in sin, salvation would not be granted.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...think it is significantly less...around 8% of citizens...suggest checking with CARA.....\"\n\nCARA's data: 24% of the \"parish-connected\" Catholics go to church weekly. (CARA makes distinction between \"parish-connected\" Catholics [just over 68 million] and \"self-identified Catholics\" [81 million]).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I witnessed our Bishop and Vicar-General come in and take out a priest for sinning, nothing criminal. This priest was treated so badly and unprofessionally and certainly not how Christ would have treated one of his followers, that he is seeing a therapist for PTSD caused by the action of these two so called followers of Christ. I will ban against this type of behavior in our church. There is no room for bully Bishops in God's church. What a fine example of forgiveness they expressed. This same bishop destroyed pedophile files when he was a priest in another diocese. How was he treated for that type of behavior, he was made a bishop to serve in a different diocese!!! A lot of issues still need to be addressed when it comes to bishops. They need to be held accountable for their wrong actions. We all can make mistakes, but bishops are never called out on theirs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When the entire judiciary agrees, you can be confident it was based on law and natural rights, not politics. The politics favored pandering to the bishops, which is why people went to court. Marriage has always been about building a legal family, not necessarily the kind with children. It still is. When a person gets married they leave their parents and cling to their spouse. Catholic hospitals were not allowing gay couples to do that. Even without the recent decisions, by the way, they do now.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would be embarrassed to be on the same dais as White who preaches:\n \"I feel impressed of the Lord to ask you to do something that I believe will create a memory in the mind of God and this will change your future. I want you to give a seed offering that I call a \u201cGratitude\u201d seed. This is an extremely powerful seed for you\u2026 especially at this time in your life. This seed will do two things for you. \n\nThis seed will get God\u2019s attention. Remember, God sits high and looks low. He is looking for faith on the earth. This seed will require strong faith.\nThis seed will be seen as a \u201cGratitude\u201d offering. Gratitude always produces favor and favor will cause you to receive in a moment, more than some do in a lifetime!\"\n\nHow does Cardinal Dolan reconcile White's \u201cprosperity gospel\" with true Catholic Christian teachings?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholics are no longer 25%. According to PRRI (9/22/16) 20.9% of Americans identify as Catholics. Among all registered voters: white Catholic 13%, Hispanic Catholic 5%, other Catholic 2% - total 20%. (Pew Forum 7/13/2016)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The cult of Lili'uokalani is a powerful propaganda tool calling for either racial separatism (tribe) or ethnic nationalism (secession), depending on the activist's preference. Celebrating Lili'uokalani is a polite way to protest the overthrow of the monarchy, to express anti-haole feelings without appearing to be blatantly racist. See webpage \"The Lili'uokalani Cult -- A scary but true Halloween story. Hawaiian secessionists try to inspire winners for 21st Century battles by conjuring the ghosts of 19th Century losers.\" at\nhttp://www.angelfire.com/big09/LiliuokalaniCult.html\n\nLili'uokalani reigned for less than 2 years, and was a miserable failure. But as the last monarch, and the \"victim\" of the overthrow, all the activists rally to her as Catholics rally to the Virgin Mary. Some pray to her as to a saint. Some believe everything in her book is the gospel truth, and protest angrily if anyone dares to challenge anything in it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would add, if mortal sin is as hard as you make out, what did Jesus mean when He talked about wide is the gate and broad the road to distraction and the small the gate and narrow the road to life and those who find it are few?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your last paragraph speaks for me, too. Thank you for saying it so clearly. No, I do not \"submit\" to priests, bishops, cardinals, or popes. But I do listen and consider carefully what they say. They are all human. God promised to always be with His church, His faithful, but He did not promise to make a one of them or us perfect. He will stay with us through all our foibles and failures - those of the Church and those of each of us.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I hold a much less charitable view of Trump because he openly advocates for sexual assault of women and is using his power as president to do the bidding of the woman-hating, far-right evangelical Christians who want to deny American women reproductive healthcare. Actually, a \"much less charitable view\" is an understatement since I actively hope for Trump to have a massive myocardial infarction and would love to see Paul Ryan get hit by a bus. Obviously, America is a substandard country when it comes to women's rights being respected. America has a long history of pro-life terrorism. I never keep appointments with my physician without carrying a loaded firearm--just in case.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For too many Catholics, Churchianity trumps Christianity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm with you, and this creature was a domestic terrorist. Perhaps a good Christian one.\n\nThus, I'd hate for the delusional Trump to decide the right response to this atrocity is to attack Iran.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Trump is revered by the Christian \"evangelicals\" who supposedly follow the Christian doctrine established on jesus christs principles of helping the poor, diseased, weak, infirm, hungry and the dying. He purportedly, booted the money changers who were in collusion with the temple priests, out o the temples\nWe see the Christian conservatives and evangelicals frothing at the mouth to ship out the refugees, without the intelligence to remember that Jesus Christ was a refugee himself. We see them frothing at the mouth to get rid of entitlement programs, the health and social programs helping the poor, sick, weak, diseased, hungry and the dying, but bending over backwards to ensure the money saved from defunding those programs, goes to the same kind of money changers that was kicked out of the temples.\nWhere do the souls of the Trumps,Cheneys, Bushs,Clintons and others go, when they die? Hell?\nThem chanting jesus's name and doing unjesuslike things to humanity, makes me think they go to ?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Neko,\nI totally agree. You provided an excellent rebuttal and fini to an apologist. \n\nBush proudly said something like: we don't do nuance. And so we see it even among some on these sites. The last two popes and the American Catholic prelates also never do nuance, they are like sharks -- they are always on the hunt, they attack, they kill and they devour. Light stopped escaping the Event Horizon when Pope John Paul II hooked up with Ronald Reagan and the GOP. \nRight wingers never stop, no matter whom the malign. Nor how badly and incorrectly they are. They, who bear false witness, covet steal and kill for profit and idelogical American Exceptionalism reveal themselves for the evil they are and so very often against so many of us who are innocent of their false witness. \nEven the church ignor's the Catholic philosophical dictum that says\" one cannot use ignoble means to achieve a goal. \n\nSo glad your back. Your grasp of history and it's many nuances is very welcome and greatly needed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sorry that RD is blind. \"Pro-life\" protestors harass women all the time. Some years ago, I went to a pray-in at an abortion clinic. I left because the people I was with were harassing every who went in. It was both disgusting and anti-Christian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I know, Motley, and I suspected that knowing you can find anything in the Bible, you would look for an oppositional text. However, I find plenty of evidence for Christian opposition to self-righteous hypocrisy and using that hypocrisy to shun others you think to be your inferiors.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Also may I ask why is it you felt that the TCSB is the be all to end all? School boards each have their own requirements & much of that is based on the size of the school, enrolment & location. I think you need to do alot more reading. As an added bonus if you can answer this question, my children's school has Muslims attending as do many other Catholic schools. How can that be? It is disheartening Allan that you are so very ready to fight Catholics and indirectly, Christians for exercising their religious rights and yet you come out in full fight mode to defend Muslims. Christian churches welcome anyone into their places of worship without oppressive dress code and without segregation. Can you say the same for Muslims? As a final thought, you continue to bring in the time off for Christmas, Easter etc. If you are so offended by it then I guess it's safe to say you'll be first in line to pay back any time & half for working it or not taking it off at all right? Have a great day.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think anti-racism is already being taught to death in our schools. The teachers will simply have to explain: there are hindu whack-jobs, christian whack-jobs, sikh whack-jobs, muslim whack-jobs, jewish whack-jobs..not so many Zoroastrian and Buddhist whack jobs, and some regular garden variety whack jobs..\nKids simply do unto others...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wilfredo Tungol. What constitutional rights are being violated by Trump's travel ban? If there are Christians still alive in the travel ban countries--those who haven't already been raped, shot, beheaded, or burned--presumably they are subject to the same ban as Muslims or anyone else from those countries. If a country is governed as a Muslim theocracy, it is possible there are no travelers who aren't Muslims since to be anything else means off with their heads. Sorry, pal, but your argumant is a sieve.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I wasn't accusing you personally of being intolerant of ambiguity. I meant Catholic intolerance in general. Sorry for the misunderstanding. I thought that was pretty clear.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Unfair comment. Islam, and its 1.5 billion adherents, are NOT busy killing Christians this weekend. However, in an ironic twist, we Christians are also guilty of killing Muslims \"The US has said it carried out an airstrike in Syria against an al-Qaida meeting but denied deliberately targeting a mosque where 46 people were reportedly killed.\" - 17 March. 2017, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/17/syria-mosque-airstrike-kills-dozens-of-civilians-near-aleppo", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "MSNBC is real news, although some of the opinion pieces are slanted, but their facts are right. You are obviously ignorant of both Dignitas Personae, which does not require we become a Catholic nation, including on abortion, even if we have Catholic legislators or equal protection law, which states that it is not the manner of the fetal death that makes a difference, but their legal status before that happens. Right now, they have none, largely because the one body that could grant it, Congress, has not. If Congress did grant it in the first trimester, than what happens in the eyes of the state must be equal as far as tort relief and criminal investigation for all embryos and fetuses with personhood. Otherwise, every medical chart for every abortion would be listed as a miscarriage and that would be that. Since the idiots who went to Liberty Law School would aggressively prosecute as their ticket to Congress, parents of the miscarried would fight back and rightly so.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Real Christians are appalled at the LIAR IN CHIEF.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Perhaps I should have said many good Christians, as in some circles the term \"good Catholic\" connotes a cult-like response, likened to the total surrender of the will and intellect... I call it a Catholic lobotomy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "?? - pal give your head a shake\n-\nhorrific behavior is horrific behavior and the prosecution of criminal activity is always appropriate\n-\nI mere point out the interesting Canadian dichotomy of allowing public scorn to be heaped upon accused Christian communities whilst not allowing the comment boards to function following various Islamic honor killings and after the uncovering of first nations fiscal chicanery -\n-\nCanadian 'sacred cows' would seem to include most belief systems other than orthodox Christianity it would seem", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The church of Cassie-01 is probably more than half of the Catholic Church. Don't feel sorry for me that I haven't bought into the male worshipping, fetus fetish church. The only time you respect females is when they are in the womb. Have you adopted? I have as well as given birth to two ands uffering multiple miscarriages. Do not lecture me! You are not qualified.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Motley: pedophelia and homosexuality are two different things. The plague of the Catholic Church is pedophelia. I won't bother to argue with you. But, the literature is readily available... Yes, in '73 the APA removed \"homosexuality\" from the DSM as a \"mental disease or defect.\" I also remember in 1960 a family friend being imprisoned for having homosexual sexual relations with a consenting adult. Indeed, things have changed. However, as this thread of conversation shows, there is still a lot of hatred and bigotry directed at homosexuals. I find that very sad. Gary crum", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Disgraceful.\nI have met many Catholic priests in my life - but never one who does not seem to believe in any Catholic belief. And never one who consistently belittles the belief of others.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You're making my point for me. You don't hear about it when Muslims condemn the violence any more than you hear it when Christians condemn the violence. The Norway terrorist attack was in 2011. Why should the Muslim community claim nutjob extremists \"as one of their own\" any more than the Christian community would claim a crazed killer as one of theirs?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Judges much, but mainly prattles lengthy pseudo christian gibberish.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So she should teach them to hate gays, and kill people whenever we have a political dispute and to condemn religions other than Christianity, like you want, right? Sounds like some high quality education you are advocating...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It does not matter what your excuse is, we do not want religion in public schools. Period. Adapt to our ways. or leave for a place that is more religious and thus suitable for you.\nThe powers that be are being nice to you because they represent the aspirations of corporate christianity - Anglicism, Catholicism who have always sought more and more footprint into the public sphere. \nWe will never accede to your demands. STOP IT!\nStop forcing your religion on others by holding services and practices in public schools. Using the police is a sick and twisted policy that will only create more hatred against muslims. Stop doing it. Keep religion private, period.\nWe won;t roll over for religious fascism which is what your DEMANDS represent.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So should we hold our breath for the regular columns from the Catholics, Jews and Buddhists too? Right, I thought not.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Rest in Peace Chris.\n\nSoundgarden's first big hit was Jesus Christ Pose. It was a damning song about Christianity solidifying Cornell's position in grunge's anti-establishment rock pantheon.\nHere's an excerpt from the song which flies in the face of today's culture political correctness.\n\n\"And you stare at me\nIn your Jesus Christ pose\nArms held out\nLike you've been carrying a load\nAnd you swear to me\nYou don't want to be my slave\nBut you're staring at me\nLike I need to be saved\"\n\n....Lyrics by Chris Cornell.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The shooter's blog is full of atheistic rantings. Atheists are responsible for the pogroms of Christians, Jews, and other believers.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If the terminally ill want to be dispatched to Hell, and drag me along with them, how is giving them what they ask for compassion?\n\nThe root words of compassion indicate \"suffer with\", not taking what appears the easy way out and putting immortal souls in danger of hellfire. I know liberal Catholics don't believe in Hell but we who hold on to the faith given by Jesus still do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If anyone thinks that Christians regard unchastity as the supreme vice, he is quite wrong. The sins of the flesh are bad, but they are the least bad of all sins. All the worst pleasures are purely spiritual: the pleasure of putting other people in the wrong, of bossing and patronising and spoiling sport, and back-biting, the pleasures of power, of hatred. For there are two things inside me, competing with the human self which I must try to become. They are the Animal self, and the Diabolical self. The Diabolical self is the worse of the two. That is why a cold, self-righteous prig who goes regularly to church may be far nearer to hell than a prostitute. But, of course, it is better to be neither.\n\nFrom Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They interviewed a bunch of Sunni Muslim who, of course, will condone any action against any other sect, being Muslim or Christian. One day, after they attend local mosques, these people will be driving trucks on our sidewalks. Great refugee policy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's a struggle to put into words how silly and trendy and vacuous the left side of the Catholic Church has become. \n\nIt's really one endless broken record of: \"Transform (not self, but others.. :> ), protest (not self, but others). \n\nEach week..a new survey, a new meeting, a new photograph, a recycled article, a re-birthed slogan from the 1960s.\n\nI am really surprised they have not yet put themselves into a coma with their slogans.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well then, get all you \"christians\" (including you Boots) together and contribute to the fund. Why don't you start it Boots. Put your money where your mouth is.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If they disagree about the Hypostatic Union and the Triune God, then they are not Christian, let alone Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Maines: You lost all credibility when you claimed that liberals, \"side with ... evil over the good. \" That's the depth of your analysis? That's kindergarten level stuff. You insult the smart people on your side.\n\nYou republicans ought to consider your Titanic failure of Trumpcare. The so-called president and the republicans in congress failed. And failed badly. The right is ineffectual and weak and you don't own the high road.\n\nAnd to h**l with the christian nonsense. Christianity demands submission of intellect. To me, if you claim superiority and wisdom through supernatural thinking, you've lost your case before you stated it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"sodomite rainbow banners...\" LOL! This is the first truly amusing thing I've read from Catholic.org, which has banned me five (5) times from its holier-than-God forum. \ud83d\ude2c\ud83d\ude2c\ud83d\ude1c", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For 500 years the Muslim Ottoman Empire protected Jews, fellow people of the book, from the murderous Christians of Europe.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually he should, he is a member of an insane cult with ritualistic practices and is in the wrong country at the wrong time. All religion is bad but the active cults like Islam and Catholicism are the worst. Their ideals and propaganda are ludicrous at best and dangerous to all involved. The Islamic belief in a so called prophet who was a pedophile and murderer is only one example of the danger here. The Qur'an clearly states that \"anyone not following the prophet is an infidel and must be destroyed\". Now many Muslims will say they don't follow that protocol, however how in a religion or cult do you cherry pick what you believe and what you will ignore?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"IS said in a statement from its Amaq news agency that the attacker \u201cin Berlin is a soldier of the Islamic State and carried out the attack in response to calls for targeting citizens of the Crusader coalition.\u201d\n\nTranslation... \"you let in a million of us Merkel... it was only a matter of time... We don't care if you're not actively fighting us we'll attack you anyways. Why? You're Christian, crusaders, infidels and most of all because you let us!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Google \"map of Islamic terroism\" here's what comes up...\n\nhttps://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1i_O_lT5CPsJ0orP_jp5A9ZnrtWY&hl=en_US\n\nThen google \"map of Christian terrorism\"\n\nhttps://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1VuDe0s4k_7dcWp6_qEIsx6LJ2rU&hl=en&ll=12.132512400346576%2C-6.606374899999992&z=1\n\nSee a difference? Lol", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Let Muslim refugees go to Muslim countries where they share common cultural traits. We can take those who are persecuted by Muslims ....Christian...Baha'i , Buddhists etc. \nwe don't owe anyone anything. We need to be masters of our own collective destiny as a country..not slaves to irresponsible pandering to left wing nut bars masquerading as concerned Canadians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If Gretchen Rachel Hammond is in any sense a \"whistleblower,\" she is also and ipso facto a shill for the USCCB and its membership, who don't like SNAP one doggone bit! Indeed, they have no more regard for SNAP than you, or the rest of the posting-here Catholic right wing!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are the one sneering and dismissing, RD, and you are dishonest when you claim you don't.\n\n\"The main problem with the Catholic Church is a large base of stagnant and lukewarm lay Catholics, most here who like to point fingers elsewhere.\"\n\n\"No, I pretty much focus on the left side of the Church, so prone to sloganeering as they are.\"\n\n\"It's a struggle to put into words how silly and trendy and vacuous the left side of the Catholic Church has become.\"\n\nAnd such similar sneers from the arrogant RD, who in his pride believes that his way is the only way. Ignorance, arrogance and dishonest -- the perfect Opus Dei cultist.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This column has been bothering me. Yes, for most Catholics, lay and clerical, the \"past battles\" mean nothing, or little. However, as with the Trump base, there is a hard-core that is unmoved and unmovable, who use the origins and \"protestantization\" argument to decry a more merciful, inclusive, principle driven Catholicism in favour of the rote dogmatic authoritarian model. The corollary being: trad cath'ism good; protestant bad. \nThe other dimension that bothers, is the validity of the Civilta Cattolica premise of \"surprising ecumenism\" - the putting aside of just about everything Christian, not only \"past battles\", to coalesce around anti- of gay, abortion, and pro- the furtherance of privilege, tax-exempt accumulation of wealth and political influence. \nIt almost seems that the \"secularization\" of remaining church goers and (whether through ignorance or irrelevance) the diminution of theological distinction is humanizing religion. Isn't that where Jesus is - when a few \ngather?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "- the global sexual and physical abuse of children by clergy, covered up.\n- women not to be ordained, proclaimed to be true for all time.\n- mandatory celibacy not to be spoken about at any clergy meetings.\n- homosexuals banned from seminaries.\n- priests must wear clericals at all times in public.\n- 25 years of the work and of ICEL ditched.\n- Individuals who were clearly not saints, proclaimed Saints for political reasons.\n- female altar servers banned, women not to be admitted to sanctuary.\n- Vatican II Council described as causing \"rupture.\"\n- Extremely conservative clergymen from Anglican Church welcomed.\n- Discussions opened to welcome back Marcel Lefevre's crowd who had been previously been excommunicated.\n- Other Christian Churches labelled as \"cults.\"\n- The Moslem faith insulted.\n- The Jewish Faith insulted.\n- Opus Dei given free reign.\n- Barrier contraception fought during AIDS pandemic.\n- Popes to dress like Dorothy from Wizard of Oz\n- Millions leave the church.\nJPII, Benny \ud83c\udfc6", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Because to people, e.g., people who are resisting their urges to engage in same-sex acts, THEY are good Christ-centered people doing what the Church asks of them and Martin, et al., are the ones needing an exorcism. Open up the discussion and let's hear all sides; why not?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Why would any woman, black or LGBT vote for a Democrat?\" Because they want to. \nRethuglican's don't give a rip about them. They haven't for decades and they're not about to start\nnow. You know 4:20, this is what extreme Christians want - \"...treat women like dogs, believe homosexuality is punishable by death, and that all \u201cinfidels\u201d must convert...\" So what do you get when you cross a Christian radical with a Muslim extremist? A radical extremist.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Spicer was irritated when Trump overlooked him on Trump's phony visit to the Pope. However, Spicer isn't the only phony to make the trip to Rome. Callista Gingrich, a Catholic and having] slept with the philanderer Newt for 7 years while he was still married, is Trump's new envoy to the Vatican! Let\u2019s not leave out our duplicitous first lady, also a Catholic.. She was known to have cavorted with our Liar-in-Chief prematurely. Then, leaving her Stilettos in the WH she accompanied Trump to the Vatican. She humbled herself before the Pontiff by wearing a black veil. I don\u2019t know how the Pope deals with the phonies?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think we need to all remember the basis for where the questions came from. They put it nicely when they said \"Orthodox Catholic when the meant to say \"Old-school\" Catholic. There are the so-called \"New Age Catholics\", that many younger Catholics identify with (not in title), where as the former version is identified with the likes of Representative Paul Gosar and that man is most vial. There are Catholics who double as racists who use their religion as a weapon against others and the main reason I left the Knights of Columbus. Many of the questions are completely valid and I hope her answers were truthful. Catholics have a bad enough name in this country already, we do not need another Steve Bannon to represent us.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Yet, funeral rites are not denied to Catholics who pay employees an unjust wage, publicly advocate for the death penalty, or deny climate change.\"\n\nGood news for NCR, which pays its employees an unjust wage (in the form of huge salaries to those on the top), and publicly advocates for the death penalty for certain Americans (by accusing those who voted for Trump as being \"evil,\" \"crazy\" and Nazis).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Liberal and Catholic are oxymorons", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What a shame, the fanatics on the left prefer politics to the well being of the country. Should we manage to survive other extraneous issues threatening our society, historians will not be kind to the lunatics who hate christians and conservatives. A house divided cannot stand and we have never been more divided.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Since Sept 11th, 2001 there have been 28 incidents in the U.S. that were considered terrorist acts that resulted in a death. 25 of the 28 were perpetrated by 32 Americans that resulted in 145 deaths. One attack was by an American and his Pakistani wife that resulted in 14 deaths. The remaining two attacks were perpetrated by 1 Egyptian and 1 Kuwaiti and resulted in 7 deaths.\n.\nZERO attacks in the U.S. by someone from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. So is this \"winning\" or is this just so much baloney fear mongering to pacify a certain ideologically aligned group of people?\n.\nP.S. 65% of the 28 terrorist acts mentioned had nothing to do with Islam or Muslims. Many of the terrorists were anti-government and/or neo-Nazis. A majority grew up as Christians. So given the numbers, who should we really be targeting?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The rich and powerful are like nuns in the Catholic schools.\nThey like to keep order, keep the \"children\" down and submissive,by scaring us in many ways and metaphorically rapping us regularly on the knuckles with a steel ruler.\n They had no sense of humor and didn't tolerate their children laughing.\n Laughter to power is like garlic to a vampire.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sorry- the Catholic Church cannot play a role in healing the country after its holy ordained representatives supported, and even told its flock to vote for -the pu$$y grabber! Any trust- any esteem GONE!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"I think your questioning of the legitimacy of the equivalence avoids the actual problem\"\nI was merely responding to Mamdani's argument. Had he said what you have written, I probably would have said something like: I don't agree with that, no religion should be above criticism. I can be fairly certain that Rose wasn't worried that the christians would issue a fatwa against him or hunt him down and try and kill him.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "To Catholics, the Pope is Our Holy Father. To Jesus, Holy Father was God. Strange, isn't it, that the Pope gets the same title as God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Allow me to suggest an audacious historical parallel. \n\nI'm told that in the 1930s, 1/3rd of Germany was Catholic. You know the rest of the story (although a book needs to be written about just how and why the average German Catholic was persuaded to go along with the Nazi regime).\n\nBut this much seems clear: It was far more often the case that the German Catholic went along with that age's terrorists, rather than resist them.\n\nAgain, you know the rest of the story. And the conclusion: working with those terrorists only strengthened their power. Concordats and Half measured and heartlessly vague scoldings by Church authorities? Their effect in serving the cause of peace was nil.\n\nIn hindsight, we must conclude that absolute resistance -- not sympathizing and hope -- should have been the German Catholic response.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why should Muslims speak out against their extremists? None of the nice Christians stopped the European \"extremists\" from taking North America from the indigenous people. C'mon, it's obvious, when our tribe is on the march we humans are pretty much all going along with it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The article didn't mention his religion. Why are you assuming he's Christian? The left is quick to label and attack unless it's someone who shoots up a gay nightclub in the name of ISIS and Islam....then even when his own admission states his allegiance to Islam y'all claim he's just \"mentally\" ill and doesn't represent Muslims...LOL. Threatening to blow people up is crazy but the left I this country takes the cake on hypocrisy and crazy", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I know from my personal experience with SNAP since 2010, as a victim/survivor of a sexual assault by a Catholic Carmelite priest, and as a family physician, that the leaders in SNAP are full of integrity. They are focused on helping victims and their families to cope with what happened to them. SNAP is doing for victims, what we Catholics would have assumed that the Church leaders would be doing, that is, protecting the innocence of children and vulnerable adults from sexual abuse and rape. It is shocking for me to have to admit that the pope and bishops are still ignoring the command of Jesus to protect the innocence of children. All I can conclude is that Gretchen does not realize the shame and shock that victims have experienced from clergy that have no conscience about their own crimes against children and vulnerable adults. It is very hard to talk about to anyone since the Church leaders keep denying that it is true. The Church is full of liturgy, where is its integrity?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I looked, but I cannot prove my accusation about deleted posts. I withdraw it, and I apologize. I should not have said it unless I could back it up.\n\nHowever, in the 'Laudato Si' ' at 2: Have Francis' words been taken seriously? thread at https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/eco-catholic/laudato-si-2-have-francis-words-been-taken-seriously you write:\n\nAbortion, contraception, etc objectively are either right or wrong and are exclusively moral isssues. Catholic Social Teaching extends into the sphere of politics. \n\nWhich is you saying \"I disagree with the social teaching, so I will just bleat 'prudential matters' and pretend they aren't part of the magisterium\". In fact, you are doing exactly what you complain about in others, picking and choosing which teachings to accept and which to reject. According to you, rejecting any teaching is the same as rejecting all.\n\nI will not say you are being hypocritical, because that would be uncivil.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you Ward: that was a wonderful Ali interview! What a great guy, brilliant and funny. What he said, of course, absolutely is true, in its day. Black men walking around with white women were in grave danger in much of this country (still are, in places in the S and W\u2026). \nWith the destruction of the black race (drugs and incarceration) and identity that took place in the 20th century, a \"black is beautiful\" message was a wonderful one to focus on. Black Muslims were law-abiding, brooking no criminals in their church. No drinking.\nYou may wish to note that, until very recently, Catholic priests STRONGLY urged catholic boys NOT to propose to non-Catholic girls. Aren't you outraged?\nSame with Jews: intermarriage is frowned upon, though, unlike Catholics, a woman really can't become a Jew in traditional sense.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Even Jesus was portrayed as a Caucasian\n==================\nWell.. isn't it because he was a Caucasian? You know.. his mother was Jew... And his father was also .. hm.... Jew.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My God! I knew whack jobs existed, but I had not personally encountered one in a long time. Let's take you piece by piece, shall we? You say: \"You hate the Sioux Indians, extolling the judgement in law against them.\" Hate the Sioux? I feel bad for them because what MAY have been a decent environment case was so poorly presented on their behalf. Indeed, they presented no environmental case at all. I saw merit in a well-written judicial opinion by an Obama appointee.\n\"You side with the oil companies totally ignoring their malevolent influence on American politics.\" Wrong. See above.\n\"You hate homosexuals, repeatedly quoting obscure scripture texts from thousands of years ago, even justifying them being stoned to death in one of your posts and agreeing with gay people being sacked.\" You lie. True, I quote Scripture texts about the immorality of homosexual acts. I have never said gays should be stoned. To the contrary, I approve the Church's stance -- respect. \n\nYOU hate.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For him to say there was equal blame to be had is equivalent to saying \" yeah, it was rape, but look what she was wearing.\" don't kid yourself that trump is being held to some different standard. The alt- right , which by the way is their own coinage, is comprised of hyper-masculinists/ white nationalist/christian identity/kkk/neo-nazi / groups, somewhat more tangentially anti- government militias. The rhetoric and historical actions of these groups have been consistently provocative, intentionally menacing and frequently violent . Funny how disdainful the grass roots right is of \" political correctness\", yet will sanitize violent nationalism with a suspiciously pc-like term such as \"alt-right\". But this is a crowd that accepts \"alt-facts\" from their leader . trump isn't being held to a \"different standard\" , the standard among rational people of good will is objective factuality and intellectual honesty. trump has consistently fallen below that standard", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't believe that Raymond is inferring what you imply at all. Sex trafficking of underage girls and boys is abhorrent to all ethical humans whether they be Catholic, other religions, agnostics or atheists. Seems that Catholic clergy were involved in their own form of trafficking when Bishops simply passed offending priests to other parishes. Perhaps we could call it trafficking of abusive clergy.....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pope Francis will go down in history as a weak pope, possibly an anti-pope, who pandered to sinners and encouraged them down the path of least resistance instead of calling them to holiness and the straight and narrow path. The situational ethics that he is essentially promoting has limited shelf life. Hopefully, somebody like you will eventually realize before it is too late that you really don't want to be part of a church where your conscience is superior to the word of a supernatural God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The bill will pass in time. Cowardly legislators feared the Catholic lobby. Times are a changing in any case.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "He makes wedding cakes for heterosexuals but refuses to make them for gays. That is completely different that not making Halloween cakes at all (lol at those christians, Halloween is great). He is in violation of Colorado law by only making wedding cakes for some and not for a protected class. \n\nIt is very clear. He agreed to follow state law when he signed his business license application. \nHe might have been better off to putting up a big sign outside that said, \"We do not make gay wedding cakes.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "@Progressive\n...And don't tell me that these occupied lands are YOURS for centuries and how can you pretend to be people chosen by 'YOUR' God of 'YOUR' religious sect when this same God of 'YOUR' cult kicked out your ancestors Adam & Eve from the \"Holy land\u201d ?\nHow can you claim that these LANDS (traditional, Biblical, fantastic fairy tale, according to) belong to YOU when 'YOUR' God of 'YOUR' religious cult has put at the door of the Earthly Paradise your ancestors of these same lands YOU just claim today ? \nSomething wrong in your head ???...still suffering PTSD for that ???", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Johnny - sadly \"Christian\" terrorism is just as real as \"Islamic\" terroism. \n\nMcVeigh's horrific crime wasn't the last terrorist incident in this country to be carried out by a self-described Christian. \n\n * Tim McVeigh carried out his bombing in 1995 (168 dead, over 600 wounded).\n\n * Eric Rudolph carried out four bombings before he was finally caught in 2003. He didn't blow up a marathon - he did bomb an Olympic celebration.\n\n * \"Christians\" have murdered doctors and attacked (arson, shootings, bombings) medical clinics on a regular basis from 1995 to the present (e.g. Colorado Springs 2015).\n\n * White Supremacists - who typically see themselves as defenders of \"Christian\" culture - have carried out terrorist acts of various kinds from 1995 to the present (e.g. Charleston 2015).\n\nWe (I am a Christian) live in a glass house. We should think carefully before throwing stones.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Under the loathsome Trump, the U.S. is quickly retreating from its position as leader of the free world. And worse, the many evangelical christians at its upper levels of power (can you spell \"Mike Pence\") are committed to imposing their religious prejudice on everyone. With one SCOTUS appointment, American women will lose their right to control their own bodies and reproduction and will fall into the evil and desperate world that existed before Roe v. Wade.\n\nAll Western democracies must act together to counter to the greatest extend possible what will be for the U.S. four very dark years that will be cuasing harm not only in the U.S. but globally.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "According to Ms Flowers womens bodies are slaves to any male sperm that impregnates them, regardless their circumstances or how that sperm got there. The Holocast happened when government assumed/was given the power of life or death, and Ms Flowers wants to give our government the power of life or death over the unborn. Sharia Law, which says and means very different things to different Muslims, is simply religious rules describing acceptable Islamic behavior. Ms Flowers wants to create an a Christian version of Shaia Law regarding women's bodies, based on Conservative Christian religious beliefs. What would they want next, Christian Jihad? Women would be able to make their own choices, not the government!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If the KKK asked this guy to bake an anti-black cake and he refused .....how many people would support his refusal?\nIf someone asked this guy to bake to bake a cake that was derogatory of Jews, gays, Muslims, or Christians.....and he refused.....how many people would defend his right to do so?\n==========\nMaybe.....everyone who doesn't support him now?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "He was actually a really cool guy. He spoke much of the same great philosophy we find in other religions.\n\nI wish the GOP would follow their own claimed religion. I wish this was a \"Christian\" nation because we would get along with other religions,stop bombing people we don't know in other countries and actually help people in our country.\n\nJesus never said anything about abortion and gay marriage.\n\nThe Christian right has never read the Bible, they are just blind followers.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"In the name of Islam\" doesn't mean these people are fighting a religious war. You call the Planned Parenthood shooter a psychopath, but he shot a cop and two other people just because they were there - he didn't break in on an abortion in progress.\n\nLook up these names \nMichael F. Griffin\nRev. Paul Jennings Hill\nJohn Salvi\nEric Rudolph\nJames Kopp\nScott Roeder\n\nMurder at or because of abortion, which is legal here. \"Rev.\" as in Presbyterian until they excommunicated him when he started advocating violence against abortion - on religious grounds.\n\nYou'll probably say they were all unstable. Yet why don't you notice the same about the others who are mentally unstable enough to find a reason, pick up a gun or bomb, and start randomly killing?\n\nIslam, like Christianity and Judaism all descends from Abraham, and anyone who looks in the Bible finds enough bloodthirstiness to twist that into a \"cause\" too. When they lose it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Crimean Tarters kidnapped Ukrainian and Russians and sold them on the slave markets in the Middle East. The Turks kidnapped Christian boys who were brought up from the age of 7 to serve in the Janissaries (infantry units). The slave trade is the reason why there are so many blond and blue eyed people in the Middle East.\nWorse still, slavery continues in the Middle East to today\u2019s date \u2013 although it no longer involves white children. Type into Google the words \u201cslavery Saudi Arabia\u201d or another country and read what appears.\nThe Muslim countries have never apologized for the white slave trade. No compensation has ever been offered to the descendants of the victims. No monument exists on the sites of the slave markets to commemorate the victims.\n4. On 3 occasions, Muslims nearly conquered Europe. Twice the Turks reached the gates of Vienna. Muammar Gaddafi, when he was Libyan leader, predicted that Muslims would conquer Europe through numbers and their birth rate.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm very sad to see Catholics give the time of day to this nasty man who had to be removed as archbishop of St. Louis because of his incompetence. I'm sadder to see these Augustinian Friars welcoming him to their parish and removing the altar so that he can celebrate his museum mass. \ud83d\ude1e", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Could you define \"inflammatory/gruesome rhetoric\" about abortion? I've never encountered it on here - just rational, reasonable objections to it rooted in Catholic moral teaching. Why is one being a \"troll\" when presenting the case against abortion? It's not \"demonising\" women, nor is it \"cruel and sadistic and downright loathsome\" to argue the law should not permit such a choice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I ought t know, I'm a Native who sees the church sponsored mayhem foisted on my people when the illegal aliens stole and murdered their way across this county with the slaughter of 100 million Natives, in exchange for part of the loot and lands. Terrorism 101, brought to you by pious corrupt and self serving individuals foisting the civilized version of capitalism, or How to rip each other off so only one is left on top of a contaminated hill, by trickery,outright lies, and ingrained corruption.\nOsama Bin Laden said the only way to beat America is to bring it down financially. I think he was correct. We spend the $trillions and the corporations guiding our invasions and occupations, rake in the billions that go to themselves, dictators and our politicians. I think most of the hierarchy in the churches will be frying in their Christian hells when they die. Look at the secretive Vatican with its intrigue. Why would a religion have to be so secretive, holding secrets from its members?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So, women have not been the recipients of Holy Orders in the Catholic Church but in their minds.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Whether there is a spike because of Trump, I have no idea, nor do I care. This is just a list of teens who have taken thier lives over transgender issues. It is disconcerting that ANY child commits suicide and more so when the number is significantly disproportionately high for a small group. The saddest is that many of these kids are bullied by their piers, sometimes even their own parents, and their communities in general to the point they feel there is no hope and their life is worthless. \n\nSo again .. how many transgender people have you taken the time to know personally? Or is your knowledge of transgender people just what you read in the \"christian\" media? Or do you just support suicide in general?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Perhaps you should mind your own business as Catholic Schools are Private schools and perhaps you shouldn't be teaching Islam in public schools and perhaps you shouldn't be teaching five year olds, primary students sex education, what their vaginas and penises are and in Grade 3, homosexuality and gender identity. These are children not adults. Oh yes and their teachings of masturbation in Grade 6. Of course, they don't teach them what you call \"SELF CONTROL\" and what kind of diseases they can get until Grade 7. Should be minding your own business as it is the parents' responsibility, not yours.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In what cases are you allowed to discriminate against protected classes?\nSo you are saying if the baker wins, others will not be able to discriminate based on religion?\n\nHard pressed? No, there are many racist Christians that interpret the bible so their religious views would not allow them to serve blacks. It is pretty easy to,say the bible means this or that. It is full of wild contradictions and half truths.\n\nDid you read the article? The baker already stopped making wedding cakes because he knows he is in violation of the law that prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation.\n\nHe is asking to legally discriminate.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What about Traddies who always seem to defect on matters of actual Christian living? We won't be judged by Christ on dogma. Only on the WAY that we lived and imitated Jesus in HOW we lived.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I admire Albino Luciani as much as anybody, but come on. Are we canonizing people now based on what they might have done but didn't get the opportunity to do?\n\nThe appeal of John Paul I is that his unfulfilled papacy is a blank slate that anybody can project their own hopes and wishes on to. The truth is, we have no idea what he would have done had he lived. He might have been a great reformer or he might have succumbed to the management of the Curia. Who knows?\n\nJohn Paul I seems to have lived a life of gentle virtue, but so do millions of other Christians. Unless his having been elected pope is itself enough to elevate him to formal recognition, why set him apart for canonization?\n\nTo me, this smacks of trying to set a precedent more than anything having to do with Luciani himself. Is that how it's to be going forward? Is every pope now to get sainthood as a kind of posthumous job perk?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, really. Or don't you read, say, Tridentinus, who questions whether those who don't accept every jot and tittle of magisterial teaching should consider themselves actual members of the Catholic Church. And will also go through quite remarkable mental gyrations rather than accept the fact tjat at least some teachings have changed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How old are you, if I may ask? You sounds to me about 15 in spiritual age.\nYou have figured all out and you are ready to save everyone including, ' the current regime in Rome' from this 'heterodoxy'! \nWho told you all these? It is often a sign of teenagers who knows it all without a doubt! So are you all out to start 'Luciano' Catholic religion?\nYou are not hanging around some 'cult guru' are you? \nCome back in ten years and let us know how your 'crusade' work is progressing!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In Mere Christianity, CS Lewis compares the various Christian sects to rooms off a common corridor. People wander the corridor looking for the correct room for them. He wrote:\n\nIn plain language, the question should never be: \"Do I like that kind of service?\" but \"Are these doctrines true: Is holiness here? Does my conscience move me towards this? Is my reluctance to knock at this door due to my pride, or my mere taste, or my personal dislike of this particular door-keeper?\"\n\nWhen you have reached your own room, be kind to those who have chosen different doors and to those who are still in the hall. If they are wrong they need your prayers all the more; and if they are your enemies, then you are under orders to pray for them. That is one of the rules common to the whole house.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thanks for the info, Betty. I took a look at the article about Irish Catholic Church. Many religious order are worth hundreds of millions. \n\nIt is unfathomable to me that the government was going to pay for a hospital and just turn ownership of it over to a religious order. Not sure how it worked out - understand the religious order has turned it over to a non-profit. But I still don't understand why the government doesn't want ownership.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "if trump is such a Christian then he should try that some day", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Shouldn't you thank the non-Christian founders to an equal degree?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes. I think you have stated the root problem of the Catholic Church.\nA late uncle, by marriage, of mine had a sampler of embroidery made to order and hung on the wall of the house. It stated, \"The opinions of the husband of this household are not necessarily those of the management.\"\n\nThe opinions of a large number of Bishops of our Church are not, nor have been, necessarily those of large numbers of its members, present and gone, many of whom were/are cradle Catholics. Therefore, we have ceased being a cohesive group whether in USA or worldwide. We are not our grandmothers' church.\n\nOne can not expect an unthinking norm of obedience sans input to be static over the course of the two generations who have experienced formal educations and a worldwide information/communication explosion of incredible magnitude compared to their grandparents/great-grandparents. \n\nDownton Abbey and Follett's \"Fall of the Giants\" are the secular allegories for the RCC, at least in developed countries.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You say, \"The Eastern Catholic Churches accept all the teachings of the Catholic Church.\" YES, they ACCEPT all the teachings..BUT interpret and practice them differently. That is indeed WHY there are DIFFERENT Catholic Rites/Churches today...different interpretations of the SAME teachings. \n\nSee https://ritebeyondrome.com/2016/05/02/diagram-of-riteschurches-from-jerusalem/ for a chart of different Catholic Rites from as far back as the earliest Jerusalem Church. In a Living Church, is there still room for other Catholic Rites? A Vatican II Rite Church?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "attributing authorship and a time frame to any of the gospels is iffy at best. any opinion at this point in time is speculation and there are many, many valid opinions from credible experts. it does seem more \"myths\" are being found to be valid or have basis in fact. +++ some of the letters, on the other hand, are from paul...those targeting the roman demographic. other letters were targeted towards different places- different languages and authors. considering paul's relationship to jesus at that time...conversation most likely didn't happen. ++++ the lost books are not lost because of when they were written , but because of what they said. they were written during the time all the other books were written - along the same time span. it was the pope and roman catholic church that decided what made the cut into the new testament. .. yes?.\n the whole concept of time has changed....over time. time , itself, is a debate of Christian scholars. +++fascinating stuff for me...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I've known many many Catholics who work with and among the poor. Every word of the article rings true to my experience. The liturgy there is, unlike that of us Sunday Mass attendees, linked utterly and seamlessly with the daily service to Christ in the people attended to. At root liturgy means work, and dedicated Christ bearers like Day and Berrigan did that work until their dying day.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wm Abbott wrote, \"For the whole of history, Christianity has taken for granted the bible and the natural order subordinated woman to man.\"\n\nThe problem is taking any interpretation for granted. Like Christianity did regarding slavery and the Sabbath for almost two millennia.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pope Francis counters: \"The debt for being alive, the debt for being loved is only repayable by mercy'\u201d;\nwhat is the answer to \"imposition\", that is, to be eucharist to one another, to all other, as we are commissioned by Jesus, The Christ - to be Persons of Second Coming.\nEucharistic response converts unhappy imposition to a \"happy\" fault - Life's 'Universal Riddle', life's surprise gift.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "He certainly breaks most of the stereotypes about \"Christians\" and displays a refreshing kind of faith. And, unfortunately, brings out the prejudices of some who fancy themselves intelligent and faith unnecessary.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I, for one, look forward to government enforcing St. Paul's admonition to \"Give to the poor, not that you would be impoverished, but that you would be equal.\" 'Beats a sales tax for a litmus test for Christianity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Excellent point about Trump winning the Catholic vote.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You can do that, as part of your Easter-cynicism towards you persecuted Christian brothers and sisters.\n\nThe rest of us will appeal to justice and solidarity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I want to say more clearly, that I like very much many of your ideas about death and dying, and also intimacy with Jesus.\n\nBut I don't recognize at all what you say about \"our\" Confirmation and Baptism, \"compelling us\" to help others in the very meddlesome way you seem to have in mind. Nor do I know of any Catholics who have that notion.\n\nNor do I think you characterize at all accurately or fairly the kind of death chosen by John Shields and others. There is no despair, of a spiritual or theological sort; there is no abandonment. And it is hard to see how the devil could abide the presence of so loving, thoughtful and intelligent a company.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bishop Douglas Crosby of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop Fred Hiltz of the Anglican Church of Canada and Rev. Douglas Rollwage of the Presbyterian Church in Canada warned in their open letter that both sides in South Sudan are committing atrocities.\n------------------\n\nWhy are they appealing to the government and not to their own congregations, who would have an opportunity to practice Christian \"Love thy neighbour\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As a head of state, diplomacy, respect for another and for the United States, all say that he will meet with President Trump. According to his principles, Francis will meet Trump. As our Pope he has a clear obligation as well to signal what he stands for, what we should stand for, illustrating intelligent Christianity in a fractured world of people and a fragile planet.\nOne suggestion would be that he consult with Canada's Prime Minister Trudeau on how to anticipate and counter the Trump domination moves - no, not the \"grabbing\".\nIt might also be worthwhile to gift Trump with something he cannot simply throw away; that would stay and stand: maybe a sustainable cutting from a Vatican garden tree for the White House garden. Make it clear that it is a gift to the United States of America through its President?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Eastern Orthodox\" is an umbrella term covering many autocephalous churches. Some of which have discreetly changed their traditions and policies, somewhat like Missouri-Synod and Wisconsin-Synod Lutherans. Some Orthodox and Missouri-Synod congregations in fact have gone a step further and employ married formerly Roman Catholic priests in their Eucharistic ministries, especially those parishes which have sizable numbers of former Roman Catholics!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Note that Christians can know of a movie that questions or makes fun of their faith without killing the people that made it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The worst thing that has happened to the Catholic Church is the physical, sexual and psychological abuse of millions of 'originally' innocent children.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Alicia,\n\nI appreciate your refreshing and challenging insights into complex topics. \n\nI think the real heart of your discussion was your statement \"What an oasis church would be if it were a place where we could stop worrying about whether we agree with everything and whether we approve of everyone\u2019s behavior... and stop policing each other. \" Our focus on evaluating others grows in direct measure of our distance from Christ because, the closer we draw to Him, the more we want to life each other up so they also can be transformed by His love and power. I have tasted of both that oasis and the desert of judgement and hope to never again return to the latter. Even so, as many of the judgemental comments posted in this form illustrate, a lot of people are viewing the oasis from a very dry distance.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Being liberal has nothing to do with supporting abominable things. And you have consistently defended those accused of committing perversions and abuses towards women and children here on this website. And now you wish to defend this monstrous, inhuman murderer, and argue that he deserves mercy?? Someone who would kill a helpless 76 yr old woman? \n\nHave you read Deuteronomy 17:12? \"Anyone who shows contempt for a judge or for the priest who stands ministering there to the LORD your God is to be put to death. You must purge the evil from Israel.\"\n\nThe holy word of the Bible is simple: EVIL must die. Those who go against God's law must perish. \n\nIf his vile killer had been arrested and brought before Jesus, he would have ordered him restrained. The citizens of the town where the woman lived would then have been given stones to use to slowly stone him to death. That was what would have been done to people who behaved like this in the times of Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Again, I am taken aback by your accusations. I think when you are making accusations against people, it is best to be accurate. You would be hard-pressed to point to one single statement I have made that could be considered bullying. In the spirit of christian good will I have continued to engage you in what I hope to be constructive discussion. Please do provide some citations to support you contentions. This conversation would be most beneficial if you would define your terms and then clearly state your position, without resorting to rhetorical devices like claiming status as a victim. Have a Holy and Blessed Day.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No mention of Mary! But devotion to Mary and the belief in her bodily assumption into heaven are required of all Christians, and always has been!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As you would write off the entire USCCB, can you please explain exactly what failure(s) you're speaking of. That's harsh language if all you mean is a quiet disregard for two of the most controversial, arguably activist exhortations/encyclicals written in recent history, let alone by the same pope within a matter of years. Does whether AL contains doctrinal errors not concern you? Does the fact that LS attempts to definitively rule on unsettled science, a matter that is outside the pope's 'jurisdiction', not concern you? I'm all for valid and civil criticism where necessary, and have had some supply for Francis, but at least substantiate what you're saying before you denounce the entire USCCB.\n\nAnd regarding the 'outflow': Catholicism is only intriguing, a light calling people home, when it is difficult and authentic. The world has no use for a worldly church; it has an infinite of such equivalents.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But the point of the study is to analyze the thinking of people (different types of Christians, non-Christians, progressives, conservatives) toward poverty. It is a helpful question because we can't actually diagnose or address the real reasons for poverty (which are complex) until we find out the attitudes people hold that prevent our doing so.\nWhen a significant portion of the population believes that poverty is, for the most part, simply a matter of people not working hard enough, the possibility of complex causes or solutions is ignored. When the problem is only seen as merely an individual one, there's no need for us as a society to bother with it at all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That is the traditionalist's standard dodge. \"Dogmatic teaching does not change. If the teaching changes, it isn't dogma.\"\n\nThe Council of Chalcedon said that the bishops of Rome and Constantinople are equal. This teaching is rejected by the Catholic Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why is it that some people are unable to comprehend that Welfare Queens are a brainwashing concept? That substance abuse, mental health issues, and other debilitating conditions aren't something to hate people for but to thank God that they don't suffer from? That leaving people with these issues to rot only hurts all of us? Abject poverty and hopelessness produce crime and worsening health in the affected populations: are you sure you want to pay for prisons and ER treatment? This is a zero sum game: you're going to pay for it one way or the other. I won't bother to bring out the Christian concept of helping one's neighbor when he is in need. A lot of folks are what my granny used to call \"Sunday Christians.\" Two hours on that day alone, they believed.\nYou won't be any richer, monetarily or spiritually, by hating the less fortunate.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "....\"Other Christian communities must accept the fullness of truth that is found in the Roman Catholic Church.\"....\n\nAh, yes. That's the attitude that will surely prevent any sort of \"unity\" from happening. \nCatholics have seemed to learn to respect the various Orthodox Churches and just alloat they are what they are. Same with Judaism. Maybe even some non-Christian Religions.\nWhen people demand that everyone else has to capitulate and \"accept OUR fullness of truth\" neither Unity nor Respect will ever happen.\nWonder if there just might be something Roman Catholics might LEARN from other Christian bodies???", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"a greater understanding of Christianity would also inform you that charitable acts cannot be used \"as leverage at the Pearly Gates.\"\n\nYou present a particulalr position held by SOME Christians but not others. Unwittingly you struck upon one of the greatest weaknesses of theocratic appeals: religion cannot even agree with itself.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"As in the past, the growth is due to a continuous influx of immigrants. Today, they aren't white Europeans; they are mostly Hispanic but also include significant numbers of Catholics from Africa, Asia and the Pacific Islands.\"\n\nIronic that white Catholics are working so hard to keep their fellow Catholics out of this country. It used to be Protestants that tried to keep us out. Could it be that for these twenty-first century nativists that their skin color is more important than their religion?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Fact check: Trump and his spokespeople called it a ban.\nFact check: Obama's ID of those countries was for one extra interview before entering the US for travel.\nFact check: there have been zero fatal attacks in America from those 7 countries.\nFact check: the EO \"does not include any countries from which radicalized Muslims have actually killed Americans in the U.S. since Sept. 11, 2001.\"\nFact check: essentially the EO prioritizes Christian refugees.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, any law school that required students to take a religious oath as a condition of attending the school -- whether Christian or Muslim or whatever -- would not be accredited in Ontario. \n\nThat is the point that the Ontario government is making in their intervention: that Ontario hasn't allowed religious oaths to be required of those practicing law in Ontario for over 100 years so that everybody has the same opportunity to go to law school and practice law regardless of what religious beliefs they may have.\n\nThe position Ontario has taken is to protect the religious freedom of everybody.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Holy Spirit said a lot of profound things through St Paul's writings.\n\n\"Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking* in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church\" (Col 1:24).\n\n\" for I bear the marks of Jesus on my body\" (Galatians).\n\nIt's easy to quote the soft sounding parts of Christianity...but to actually \"do this in memory of Me\"...takes a lot more grace and cooperation with grace than most people around NCR want to face. \n\nThe \"do this in memory of Me\" point from Jesus wasn't just \"do the meal\".....St Paul got it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Exactly. The Catholic and religious support for Trump is extremely disturbing to me. What on earth is going on here?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One of my favorite lines from Hamlet, where the priest tells Laertes that Ophelia doesn't deserve full burial honors: \"I tell thee, churlish priest, a ministering angel will my sister be when thou liest howling!\"\n\nThere's debate about if Shakespeare was Catholic, and if so to what extent. I believe that line tells us to what extent.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Kudos for \"substitute sycophant\".\n\nI can't say I pity Sarah Huckabee-Hyphenate. She purports to be a Christian, but now her job is to lie on behalf of the \"precedent\". (She's already shown she's quite adept at lying, sadly.)\n\nNow, consider that bearing false witness is a sin, I would wager that she won't last as long as Spicer did. It will destroy her ... er, 'soul'.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When Pope Francis refers to conscience, of course, he means a well-formed Catholic conscience, one that is in agreement with all that the Church teaches. A conscience is weak and highly fallible which has not been well-formed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "EXACTLY. I've NEVER heard Trudeau mentioning Canada is a Christian State. Which is a really good idea.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The final self-aggrandizing puff? He should be proud in comparing the Catholic Church with when he started his \"mission\" 50 years ago - mission accomplished I would say.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "most of this is just a distraction from what the NDP are trying to do concerning parental rights in schools.at this moment a bill is being passed that keeps parents from knowing what goes on with their children at school.There are 2 examples of what happens when governments invade family life \n1 is hitler the other is residential schools and we all know how that is turning out.\nHow many Christians were told they children had to learn about the mechanics of gay sex? That was alright according to our political leaders. Even if it was against their beliefs!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholic sisters took part in a walk whose organizers refused to allow pro life feminists to participate. Are the Catholic sisters who participated pro choice?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Right; and my neighbors I grew up with that survived the camps were in on the conspiracy. They weren't even jewish; both Christians who opposed the regime. They watched their friends disappear month after month at these camps; but you are so sure they are lying. Their pictures of the camps they took when they went back 40 years later are all fake; right?\nOh; and their parents were killed on kristallnacht defending a storefront.... they are just in hiding since 1938.\n\nBobby Groth; stop lying to yourself.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mary Fran that is exactly what they want. It is Catholics like you and I who will keep it from happening because we truly accept Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ah, another conservative whose knowledge of Marxism is nil, and uses \"Marxist\" to mean \"someone whose political views I disagree with\".\n\nMcHale pretends to be a Catholic, but does not want the poor to be helped by the government.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why does the media always construe opposition to religions pushing their way into schools as anti--Muslim? It's not anti-anything to keep our schools as secular institutions. \n\nFor years Christians have been forbidden from saying the Lord's Prayer before classes. Christmas celebrations have been re-named \"Winter festivals,\" Easter is now \"Spring Break,\" but when Muslims want to do what other religious groups are forbidden to do, we are suppose to accommodate them.\n\nThe answer is \"NO!\" Practice your religion outside of school.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wow, I never knew this fact. I thought it had to do with Roe v. Wade that legalized the killing of the unborn in the womb. How silly of me to believe differently. Thank goodness the Catholic Church still stands against this atrocity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "She's under no obligation to speak but if she wants to leverage supposed feminist credentials, people are free to call her out on her silence. Just like how you're not under any obligation to help people or be humble, but if you call yourself a Christian, you're expected to act according to that ethic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, Pandora, my brother is much better. Thank you! And all the others for your love and prayers! It doesn't matter to me a jot how strongly we may disagree with one another, I shall never think of any one of you in any way other than deep affection and gratitude. Please believe me.\n\nYou made an excellent point about the Commandments. Yes, they were given to us in love, but as a preparation for Love itself: Jesus the Christ. They were a preparation for the incarnation, the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. They were a lesson that God alone can fulfill the Law (in essence, the Commandments).\n\nThe mistake, so very frequently made, is that we (mere humans) must obey the Commandments. Pandora, we can't! They are beyond us, but not beyond the only son of the Father, Jesus. And his spirit, the Holy Spirit, present in each and every one of us.\n\nPandora, the appropriate posture for every Christian is on his or her knees, not in self-hate, but in gratitude for such unconditional love.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "These reflections from Mary on the Sunday's readings often have for me a very diluted Diet Coke effect. She picks any point that even very distantly (or not at all) hints at a \"Power to the people, right on\" element, and then the agenda talk.\n\nThe Gospel passage is far more direct, more beautiful and pastorally helpful than what Mary has given us.\n\nOur Lord foretells for a reason: to fortify the apostles when these events unfold. They will begin connecting the dots, throwing more trust into everything Jesus has done or has said to them.\nThen He says: \"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.\"\n\nHere is a program of life.\n\nHe says in a sense 'Your life must become hard/giving/sacrificial/loving like My life; You must desire to imitate Me'. Later He says \"Do this in memory of Me\", more than \"do the meal again\", but live Calvary too for others.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hi AnonAJ,\n\nI am not holding my breath waiting to see the USCCB come out with anything supporting the \"sanctuary\" movement. But I do expect that a good number of parishes will become 'sanctuary parishes' [and that their bishops will give tacit permission/blessing for them].\n\nHopefully, at these sanctuary churches [whatever the denomination], adults will be given training for work, coaching for citizenship, and a lasting place to find community. The children should also have tutoring for school when needed, and also an opportunity to feel accepted an loved.\n\n\nLet's hope that the sanctuary movement grows all over the U.S. There are many good folks who need the help and hopefully Catholic Charities, with good people like you can, once again, be a leader in this movement.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wish his church empire would pay property taxes.The largeness of his empire is not instep with the bible tenants of humility,frugality and modesty.Rich church leaders seems to be out of step with true christian doctrine", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Muslims and Christians co-existed historically more than Germans and the French. Europe has had continuous wars from the 1st century to the mid 20th century. The peace we see now in in the EU is the longest period of peace in the last 2000 years.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In my Protestant, justice-seeking Christian opinion, his vision is a faithful one, \n-------\n\nwhat has justice seeking to do with your Protestant Christian opinion?\n\nsmacks of superiority ?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Good reporting, Tom. In general, I'm pleased with the moves NCR has been making in recent weeks. I hope the trend continues because there are a lot of Catholics who wouldn't recognize the name SNAP and couldn't care less about episcopal squabbles, but would be open to reading how the gospel can guide us through the choppy waters of modern life, including reflections on money, power, science, and sex. \nIn my view, a balanced Catholic website should have more in common with Cosmo than it does with Osservatore Romano. The latter starts by reporting what it thinks people need to read, while the former starts by reporting what readers are actually interested in.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Marie Collins' resignation from the papal child-abuse commission says it loud, and clear: the institutional, Roman Catholic church is NOT going to be reformed, or transformed, from within. Nothing will change -- NOTHING! -- until the non-clerical part of the church realizes this, and starts moving, in a different direction.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Perhaps every congregation needs to be a Healing Church for their community.\nHealing of Body, Mind, Spirit.\nHealing of the Body, Mind, Spirit was the Ministry of Jesus.\nJesus did NOT do his work in the Temple. Did NOT do his work in a synagogue.\nHe went where the people were and promoted healing. Healing of Body, Mind, Spirit.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well whatever concepts you encountered in your degree courses, you missed the point of my comment.\n\n\"How amateur of me to think that Christ's words in John's Gospel could have ANY obvious meaning for any Christian beyond the year 120 CE!\" My comment explicitly mentioned the world in front of the text, which is all about the meanings/interpretations a text has had in the time since it was written until now.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus recommends mortification. Fasting is a form of mortification.\n\nProperly done and directed it leads to an increase in the dominion of the intellect and will over the passions and the appetites. If not done properly it can lead to prideful behavior or worse.\n\nOne of the best ways of mortification is to \"look at the little things\" of each day, what are called the passive mortifications, and turn those occasions into a loving conversation with God. A prayer of the senses.\n\nToo many Catholics have bought into a rather protestant idea regarding our involvement with God's ongoing redemption of the world, our active participation with Him.\n\nWe can spiritually help Jesus carry the Cross 2 thousand years ago, by being more attentive to the little efforts given to us each day to \"deny ourselves\" and \"pick up the cross daily\" as Jesus told us to.\n\nSmiling when we don't want to.\nFinding little ways to make our spouse's life more pleasant, in hidden quiet ways.\nChasing away an ugly thought.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Fr. Neuner says, \"We should try to overcome the differences, which separate our churches today and hinder courageous steps toward a community of Christians.\" \n\n Is there something wrong with differences? Must a \"community of Christians\" all have exactly the same interpretations and emphases on Catholic doctrine and liturgical celebration?\n\nWouldn't a Church that could sustain unity in diversity be a wondrous example to an egregiously polarized world?\n\nAccording to Cardinal Kasper, it is not hierarchical thinking but \u201ccross-thinking\u2019 that unites identity and plurality creatively.\u201d http://dc2015.ei-research.net/wp-content/uploads/Origins-45.9-July-2.-2015.pdf\n\nhttps://RiteBeyondRome.com", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\u201cI like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.\u201d\n\n\u2015 Mahatma Gandhi", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "See this link for a discussion of the most grievous change to the missal - the change that says Christ did not die for ALL, but for the many! This is heresy. We need to restore the 1998 translation ASAP. \n\nhttps://www.americamagazine.org/issue/761/article/you-and-who-else", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is another instance of the hierarchy acting like Pharisees worrying more about tradition than meaning. By denying a percentage of the faithful the body of Christ they are denying them complete inclusion in the Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"Cardinal Cupich is a Christian!\"\n- As are all those people who contributed to creating the amount of the cheque; paltry though the amount might seem in light of the immediate need.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"I'm against negative social change.\"\n\nJust curious, sounds like you left a church. Are you still a Christian? If so, what kind of social change do you support?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So now all Kenai Peninsula Borough taxes go up to pay for the lawsuits because the Assembly is so misguided? This is going to cost the Borough more money than we have and for what? So that only \"christian\" or the \"right kind\" of people can give a prayer that has no place in public office to begin with. Good lord what odd priorities the six members of the Assembly have. Religion over official duty will be their downfall but once again it will cost tax payers plenty.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You confuse me. You claim to be a Catholic yet you refer to the Catholicic Church as 'my Church', is it not also your Church?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So if you're a Christian, then ipso facto you believe in superstitions? Perhaps you need to remove your blinders and understand that many self-described Christians also believe in science. There is no necessary conflict between the two.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "yes perhaps \"Christian\" liberal politicians so obsessed with Bill 103 and Islamophobia in Canada\n\nwould now turn some of their energy to Christian-phobia in Middle east", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Unfortunately it is still often the case that the best the laity can do to be \"co-responsible\" is to resolve to drive elsewhere on Sunday. Pastors and (these days) professional church staff too often set themselves up as impediments--or worse, wreckers--against the laity working to build the church.\n\nEven if a parish was going well, a new pastor with personal or ideological axes to grind can destroy the good work in a month or two--too fast to be protected by a diocese. (And dioceses are reluctant to act against priests from confraternities or orders, even if the confraternity is in a death spiral, because it would mean they'd have to staff the church themselves immediately.) \n\nIt seems like the only thing that is solidly protected is the Extraordinary Form. While that does a lot of good for the Church and probably saves souls at the margin (as economists say) it does not get to the heart of the attrition problem. Would that the Ordinary Form and faith formation were as protected!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Cont'd)\nLet's face it, those adolescents who cannot leave home need more help than sympathy. Those who refuse or spend the rest of their lives resenting the leaving need a very different kind of help or a good swift kick. This is, to my mind, especially true of those, say priests and catholics, well or reasonably well educated who actually prefer and claim righteousness of privilege, the absoluteness of rigidity for self and others and the deliberate distancing of themselves from their and others humanity. That is even despicable for those who, in addition to their disdain, seek to thwart, demean, decry a compassionate Christ Church and who seek to undermine it at every turn, even creating \"turns\" to undermine with a conscious deliberation that contradicts the very Jesus in companionship they \"embrace\", or more correctly seek to strangle.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The reason that NCR is so fun to visit is because of the stories you can read about day in and day out. \n\nI don't come for the involved analysis of theological or political topics, or for practical spiritual or pastoral help, or for new insights into God, or for the teaching about the beautiful and personally useful Catholic faith (there are many other sites to go to for these things), but instead, I come for the stories and especially to hear about the feelings of others about their stories. Stories and memories about stories are enough for me.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "U.S. Constitution, Article II Section I: \"Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:\u2014\"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.\" Clearly, the Constitution recognizes the Judeo-Christian principle observed by many that swearing an oath in God's name is forbidden. \n\nThe U.S. Supreme Court opens with the prayer, \"God save the United States and this honorable Court.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I've been to a Byzantine Catholic Church that doesn't have one. I was under the impression they haven't yet raised the funds but wondered if an Orthodox Christian would find the lack of iconostasis scandalous, perhaps a Latinization. Of course many folks here would complain \"the priest turns his back to us!\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Using my own well-formed conscience. Just as all reasonable Catholics do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So all the concessions need to be made by the Catholic side? Is that how ecumenical relations is supposed to work?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not only did he not \"castrate... the Catholic resistance\", the most recent evidence from the Vatican files show he cooperated with the plotters who attempted to take Hitler's life.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The idea of Christ is much older than Christianity.\" George Santayana", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The leader of genius must have the ability to make different opponents appear as if they belonged to one category.\"\nA. Hitler\n\nSo you agree and want to encourage the practice?\n\nHistory only looks simple looked at from afar. It is a lot less so when looked at up close.\nThe history of the Western world is a complex one, not a unilinear one, with conflicts between factions of Christianity, between the Church and political rulers, between rulers and the ruled, etc., conflating it all into \"the Christian world did this...\" is rather simplistic. \n\nEvery society has its social conflicts, there is nothing unique about that, we are just less familiar with those in other societies. What is dismaying is the glee with which some seem now intent on extracting some kind of vengeance for past sins from current populations, even anticipating the destruction of western culture as \"just deserts.\" As if the alternative will necessarily be better.\n\nBut you are heard loud and clear.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So for you fentanyl cleans the gene pool and saves taxpayers money. Jesus said that what you do for the lowest among us, you do it for him too. \n\nBut then maybe you are not a Christian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Very well done, Elder Patterson. This represents a similarity to legal brief writing, per my law school days. I appreciate that this work stays focused on established policy, with very helpful commentary on context and parallel analogies. Such a writing is a helpful tool designed for those who desire to make an informed judgement on a matter. Thank you for this very careful and informative presentation of our Church structure and its intended function. \n\nEGW: \"As our numbers increased, it was evident that without some form of organization there would be great confusion, and the work would not be carried forward successfully. To provide for the support of the ministry, for carrying the work in new fields, for protecting both the churches and the ministry from unworthy members, for holding church property, for the publication of the truth through the press, and for many other objects, organization was indispensable.\" --Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, p. 26; see 1T, 210-216.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The land actually legally already belonged to Israel in the first place, it was captured in 1967 war from Jordan who occupied it illegally for about 17 years. During that time they ethnically cleansed West Bank of all jews, through expulsions and massacres, They also destroyed many ancient Jewish temples and other historical sites. \nJews could not even enter Jerusalem at that time. After 1967 under Israeli control Christians, Jews and Muslims all live and pray in Jerusalem in peace and security.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Who systematized Christianity as we know it, Paul of Tarsus or John Paul II?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If the Seventh-day Adventist church is the fastest growing Christian denomination in N America, perhaps the problem is not structural. It is unlikely we are not progressive enough; membership in progressive protestant denominations has collaped. \n\nIf we were organized on a congregation model, we wouldn't be and couldn't be Seventh-day Adventists. We would be like Seventh-day Baptists whose N American membership of five thousand is the same as it was in 1850.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We boomers may be a sizeable portion of the population, but still a relatively small minority. \n\n\"The aging of the baby boomers is creating a dramatic shift in the age composition of the U.S. population. Projections of the entire older population (which includes the pre-baby-boom cohorts born before 1946) suggest that 71.4 million people will be age 65 or older in 2029. This means that the elderly ages 65 and older will make up about 20 percent of the U.S. population by 2029, up from almost 14 percent in 2012.\"\n\nThe percentage of Catholic boomers that voted for Trump (see https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2017/04/06/new-data-suggest-clinton-not-trump-won-catholic-vote, 2nd graph) suggests that less than half of US Catholic boomers understand and give a whit about Catholic social justice teaching. Add this half to the millennials and others who weren't around for Vatican II suggests that there is a much larger group who can benefit from Social Justice teaching.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "May I suggest you read on the meaning of natural marriage, sacramental marriage and the specific requirements for a valid marriage as contained in the Catholic catechism? Then we can discuss.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part 2:\nWhether the bishops can ever fully understand just how condescending, how dismissive their position may be on women, I think we live in a society where we are more and more focused on what to do with the time we have. That awareness of time is gonna work against the church, and as has been noted, will lead to that smaller church. The question I keep circling back to is whether smaller is really better. I think not.\n\nAt the end of the day, the church will need to undergo a massive change if it is to remain the kind of force in society that it seems to want to be. It cannot get there by demeaning half the population, and holding the rest in a sense of servitude. Either the church is a community of Christians, trying to find its way, or it's a tops down organization modeled off of the court of Constantine. it can't be both and be successful. So in that context, I think the \"days of our lives\" becomes an important factor.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Van i cannot speak for the rest of Ontario but in Toronto this is the history.\nBeing old as i am i remember distinctly the Toronto School Board cancelling what was then the mandatory Lord's prayer. Up until 1953-54 the standard for Toronto schools was an opening exercise in every class which included, at that time, God Save the King and the Lord's Prayer. In 1953 or 54, i was 11-12 at that time, when our home room teacher, who was also a devout Christian, informed us that the Toronto Board had dictated that the Lord's Prayer was dropped from the opening of the day. He then proceeded to make a class assignment of writing out the prayer and submitting it , for marking, stating that he would make it part of his class study. \nThat lasted one day as i presume someone complained as it was never mentioned again by him.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Anglicans have their own ways of discernment and their own theology of ministry. I am not familiar with it. Thus, I have no business answering such a question. I am not Anglican. \n\nThus, if an Anglican asked me how I know 'this\" is call from God I would tell them that they should talk to their clergy person about that. Anglican discernment process and spirituality is not my concern, it is their concern. If Anglicans think women are called to ordination, that is their affair. That is precisely why I tell Catholic dissidents that if they want to be ordained join up with a Protestant church and get ordained.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am trying to understand the mind-set of people on this site. It seems that the scriptures, the traditions of the church do not constrain you on faith and morals. So why bother with the catholic church? If you want people to just love each other, why not join a new age religious group? I don't see catholicism in this, except perhaps that you were born into a religion you do not like but are afraid to officially leave? Come clean.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Kag, I think Debbie is inelegantly pointing to a distinction between the political sphere and the sphere of faith. For some Christians the distinction is fundamental. It allows them to adopt one set of principles for reflection and conclusions and action (including voting) in the political sphere, and then embrace scripture and faith principles whole heartedly as applicable in the private realm of faith. I, and I assume you, do not agree. For us there is only one moral sphere and both politics and faith are involved. So our faith provides moral guidance that we believe ourselves obliged to follow in the political sphere as well as our private lives.\n\nBoth views (Debbie's vs ours [yours, mine, and Father Peter's] are further complicated by Lawrence Kohlberg's stages of moral reasoning, but that is another issue; and therein one finds I think a foundational difference between traditionalists and progressives as subsets of those who embrace Father Peter's perspective over Debbie's.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What you espouse is the very antithesis of Christianity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This article seems to focus more on a critique of Rodney Howard-Browne than the prayer event in the Oval Office. THAT is the true story of interest, and I wonder who else was there.\n\nYears ago I participated in the \"holy laughter\" phenom...and in it I attained a deeper understanding of the intensity and reach of God's self-sacrificial love for all of us prodigals. But I walked away because I needed to focus my life on the simplicity of what the Bible says we must do in these times. And the times are talking! \n\nNevertheless, that a large and significant group of Christian leaders laid hands on our President in prayer is a huge development. Conservatives, especially Christian conservatives, should take heart. Our President has been blessed by protective prayer by a multiple of \"two or three\"! Let the nation rejoice, no matter what one's spiritual convictions are. The Secret Service do their job, and countless Christians protect Trump with their prayers...a hopeful sign.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are several philosophy of incarceration and corrections theories. Retributive and utilitarian punishment are two. The word penitentary you may know originates from the Christian concept of peitence that was used by the nation's first penitentiary in Pennsylvania influenced by friends. It isolated inmates and tried to train them toward socially constructive works. In isolation they were supposed to reflect and become repenitent. Eastern State Prison became the archetype for that sort of structure.\n\nThe course I am taking allows one to develop an awareness of the history of prisons from ancient times to the present. The goal is to innovate new ways to address criminal convictions with corrections that work. Retributive justice, or lex talionis (an eye for an eye) was suitable for a more primitive time. The Salic law circa 600 a.d. had many interesting ideas including heavy fines. That was somewhat unfair for the poor, who had unequal rights after feudalism developed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic church now recognizes among the ordained: deacons, priests, Chaplains of His Holiness, Honorary Prelates, Supernumerary Apostolic Protonotaries (no kidding....), bishops, archbishops, cardinal deacons, cardinal priests, cardinal bishops, and of course, the two popes -- all of which can be found in chapter nine of the Gospel according to Medieval Monarchy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I saw that one person was wise enough to be concerned with why these judges must go. It has already been predicted in Scripture that right would become wrong and wrong would become right. Christians, I would seriously and urgently tell you to leave the four churches led by these pastors. You are being deceived. The issue is that these judges have erroneously interpreted constitutional law and, as a result, have taken away parental consent and notification of a major medical procedure for minors. This clearly has begun a dangerous precedence regarding all parental rights. A Christian church is not a Christian church if it supports taking the clothes off of a minor and inserting tools to murder another defenseless minor or pumping a minor full of drugs to murder another defenseless minor without a parent's knowledge or consent. Religious issues aside, this is about parental rights being taken away...Christian and athiest parents! Any parent! The Constitution supports parental rights!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Marty is a traditionalist. Anyone who disagrees with him is, in his mind, not a Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Millions of Catholics do not give a single thought to the needs of the poor. Should we just strike \"lack of charity\" from the list of sins because so few Catholics follow it? According to this crowd, yes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pakistan does matter, but billions of USD are also needed for human rights of Americans, and human rights of religious minorities, including Christians (often forgotten), who are oppressed by Pakistan. Here is a fact: in the past 14 years, U.S. has accepted 382 total Pakistan Christian refugees (27/year) out of 887,873 total refugees. The U.S. views Pakistan as strategically important, but not the Pakistan Christians who are persecuted there. There has been little to no effort to change this, and the billions of USD for the human rights of Americans also cannot be ignored indefinitely. That was the real focus on U.S. taxdollars, not world-shaping.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm a Christian and would like to worship at the Kaaba, do you think I can get in?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No. Christians are also changing their understanding of God, nature, humankind, the relationship with God, what He wants of us, how we honor Him. Or, as Pope Francis recently said: \"Doctrine cannot be preserved without allowing it to develop, nor can it be tied to an interpretation that is rigid and immutable without demeaning the working of the Holy Spirit.\"\n\nWho are you to decide who is or who is not a Christian or who is or who is not Catholic? A fallible human like any other. Leave the judging to God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think that any citizen, even if he is a cleric, has a right to express his opinion on candidates and policies that affect our nation. One also has a right to question the religious bias displayed by candidates and their staff against Catholics and Evangelicals.While I don't want to take my politics from the pulpit, neither do I take my faith from pseudo-Christian politicians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Arab Leaders are very selective. and how they treat other religious minorities in their own countries They should look i in their own mirrors..\n\nAs an example the Christian Copts who were in Egypt well before the Arab Conquest do not have a particularly easy time. . \n\nSaudi Arabia does not allow any other non Muslim religion to practice there.\n\nInterestingly from historical records Jews were an important group in that areas before the rise of Islam.\nNearly a million Jews wee expelled from Arab Countries after the establishment of the State of Israel .wit h confiscation of their f property.\n\nThe long established Jewish Communities who contributed greatly to their countries well being are no longer in Iraq Syria, Egypt Algeria and Libya. .\n\n Alexandria in Egypt was a haven during the 2nd world war for Jews from France, Greece and Italy. \nWhat a difference today. that Jewish people are not allowed to be part of arab countries..", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hazelville: The weekend, as we currently know it, was brought to us by labour unions rather than by the Christian faith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The GOP leadership openly announced they would do all they could to make President Obama's Presidency a failure, and, of course, worked hard to do just that. Now President-elect Trump has pledged to \"undue\" every bit of the accomplishments of the Obama administration possible. This, too, is no secret. \n\nWe also know that President Obama's election \"unleashed\" a flood of open expressed racism across the social media. Millions of racist attacks were posted, his very citizenship was \"questioned\" (among the leaders was Trump), his Christian religion was challenged (among the leaders was Trump). Entire websites were created just for the posting of anti-Obama racist rants. Rather than lead us toward a \"post-racial\" world, President Obama's election brought thousands, (ten thousands, hundred thousands?) of racists out from the shadows. BTW: The attacks were not based on his \"performance\"...they started before there was any \"performance\" to attack.. They were based on his race.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You seem to have missed de Sales' metaphor. He was not talking about bees, but about know-it-all catholics who present the gospel in harsh terms. Being polite is not misbegotten, but simply a Christian virtue. Neither Clooney, O'Leary, or I hide the differences, for often they provide the issues for dialogue. Perhaps it would be best if you read some of Clooney's books?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Gene, the democrats are not in charge. The republicans are. Even here in Alaska. Second, the nation was not founded on Judeo/Christian principals. Third, when Obama was elected he was accused of being everything from the AntiChrist to a Muslim operative. Fourth, Hillary never said she was against Christianity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "WOW. Amazing what people think they know about each of us as individuals (Christian or otherwise). Helps to gain a better understanding and a little more thought before simplifying difficult decisions with such negative, broad brushstrokes!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholics should be very, very concerned about the poor because Jesus was, and because he told us to be. Charity is an expression of Christly love: \"What you do for the least of your brethren, . . .\" But Jesus was no socialist, a point that escapes many Catholics who wear social justice on their sleeves. Like Mr. Bindner, who said Jesus lived in order to end poverty. Good grief! I'd have done better to take my Catholicism from Fidel. And of course you remember all the bumper stickers in 2008 that said, \"Jesus was a community organizer\" . . . as though that fairly summed him up. But please don't make the mistake of going to the other extreme and saying that the poor are only of passing interest to our Lord.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why is everyone so surprised about a Bishop teaching against living in public mortal sin? Catholic doctrine 101.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, as far as I can read, Oregonians of 1857 were said to be mostly guided by the values of Christianity and the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Just as we claim to be. From the beginning Oregon's organic laws were based on the NW Ordinance of 1787 which prohibited slavery and promised fair treatment towards the Indians. While Jesse Applegate was far from perfect, on the most important issues of the day--slavery and the Exclusion law-- he was absolutely right, whereas MP Deady was dead wrong. \nWhile understanding the differing context of peoples lives , I think on these basic values we do have a right to judge historically just as we ourselves might be expected to be judged by future historians. \nBut the Deady case is complex-- if his name is removed it will be in spite of his many great accomplishments; if his name stays it will be in spite of his flagrant support of slavery and the Exclusion law.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "According to mainline Christian myth \"the fix was in\" beforehand anyway. If their god knew all this was going to happen, why do they affix blame to mortals?\n\n\nI remember a movie about WWII (forget title) about Jews being saved by a priest, I think. The casual way they used the term \"Christ-killer\" actually made me flinch. Those kinds of attitudes are what enabled people like Hitler.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So sorry AAJ - I didn't see this until just now (18 hrs. later). To begin, you did a very good job answering your own question! We do have a responsibility to seek the Truth (the Ten Commandments were the basis for that universal value). And when one looks through the centuries of Judeo-Christian theological writings it is replete with the need for honesty as being a necessary attribute of Children of God. This is what is so disturbing about the nature of our country at this point. Just last night I read a very disheartening article in Time magazine that addressed the issue of the purposeful and destructive disinformation websites and radio stations that feed the most irrational, angry, and wild conspiracies ever heard of. My heart sank as it showed how such thinking is not responsive to even fact-checking. Distortion feeds distortion. I felt to me like all is lost. The one hope I have is that if the religions of our country come together and denounce this, we stand a chance?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It must be past your bedtime because your post makes very little sense. I have no idea what you mean by \"As an agnostic, I only see the bigotry when 'religion' defines the argument\" and your follow-up sentence provides no insight into what you meant by the first. \nAs mentioned in my posts, I am the product of a Catholic education and a public education. Although my Catholic education benefitted me, exposure to a heavy-handed religious indoctrination was a waste of my time as a student and that time would have been much better spent in more developmentally relevant activities. I understand that such schools may benefit some children. People who choose to send their children there can pay for it just like my parents did--via scholarships and out of their own pocket. \nStudies have found a negative correlation between religiosity and intelligence. The next generation of Americans needs to be more intelligent than the current one. \nhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religiosity_and_intelligence", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How many Catholic Universities.... align their holiday breaks so that they will not be in session for the Martin Luther King Holiday? nor do they even acknowledge it through community participation at another time when the campus population is present. Inclusive and Diverse are not just measured by\nthe demographics of the student population.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Writing \u201c\u2018'investigated\u2019\u201d doesn\u2019t alter the facts.\n\nFor example in \u201cThe Church with a Human Face\u201d Schillebeeckx argued that the consecration to Catholic priesthood does not necessarily gain its validity from, and can be detached from, apostolic succession.\n\nIt does not take a doctorate in theology to understand why the CDF wanted to discuss this with him.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When you refer to Ukrainian Canadians, do you call them \"Ukrainian Orthodox Christian Canadians\"?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Completely different situations. The Lord's Prayer was part of a compulsory religious observance imposed by the school.\n\nThis is a voluntary religious exercise.\n\nThere is nothing to prevent Christian students from voluntarily exercising the same rights.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Assad is being portrayed as a monster.\n\nThese gas attacks never happened before. He never gassed his people. Christians were allowed to live peacefully in Syria, and Christians were in his government. People coming out of Syria appear educated and able to speak english.\n\nThen everything changed when a teenager scrawled the message...\"Syria, you're next\". \n\nWhen I see the chaos in the middle east associated with Islam and all the different branches, it must be almost impossible for the head of any of those countries to keep the lid on all the warring ideologies that have been fighting each other for 1600 years.\n\nIslam rebels have tried to take over...this is when we started to hear about gassing. They hid among the population, using them as human shields.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "John Tory when he ran for Ontario Premier\noffered to extend religious funding to other religions\nWhy did you not vote for Tory?\nnow don't complain ONLY Catholics get funding\nanyway it is from taxes Catholics pay", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The \"seamless garment\" (read: \"consistent ethic of life\") does not purport to be \"Catholic teaching\"; it's a way of organizing, presenting, understanding, talking about Catholic teaching -- something like using the shamrock (which has also not found its way into the catechism) to talk about the Trinity.\n\n<>\nAbsolutely true -- and utterly meaningless.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How about some 'solidarity' with Christians who live in countries where they aren't allowed to build churches, let alone ring bells?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are degrees in everything and you know it. Was everything you described worse than what is happening in America today and equaled by what is happening in the Middle East today. Absolutely. I never inferred that the war on Christianity in our country was as bad as what is happening in the Middle East. I will speak up about the war on Christianity as long as First Amendment rights are being infringed upon. BYW, you might look up the definition of false witness.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus told Peter, \"You are the rock, and on that Rock I will build my church.\" Then Paul crashed the scene, declared himself an apostle and the real Rock of the church. And Paul did all this despite having never even met Jesus. And that's just a small bit of the problems with Paul.\nhttp://www.problemswithpaul.com/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I absolutely disagree with everything you write above. It is certainly not the teaching of the Catholic Church and even a lot of Protestants would disagree with much of what you write. I suggest that we leave it there as we are never going to agree.\nCivil Comments have reinstated that deleted comment of mine, by the way.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Christ\u2019s life stands as a template for acceptance, tolerance and generosity.\" Until the Christians came along.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree. The bishops are of very little interest to most Catholics anymore. They blew it and threw out any moral cred long ago.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(cont'd)...\n3. Any profession that self-selects\u2014the law, medicine, the clergy\u2014inevitably adopts its own peculiar agenda and becomes self-serving rather than providing service to others. What Fr Ruff & Co. really want is for seminaries to continue to cherry-pick candidates who agree with them in all things, so they can continue to turn out \u2018Spirit of V2\u2019 clones like themselves (even though such candidates are getting rarer and rarer). Anyone potential seminarian who disagrees with them is rigid, spiritually immature, or psychologically imbalanced. It doesn\u2019t matter that so many Catholics feel ill-served by their prot\u00e9g\u00e9s: the profession must call the shots.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My comments have NOTHING to do with immigration. I was addressing the main theme of the thread, and in particular the notion of baptism as \"welcome\" into the Christian community.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm not exactly sure what Ontario is arguing in its intervention. But if it's in support of LSUC's refusal to accept TWU law graduates, the irony looms large. 200 years ago Ontario insisted that everyone should be able to become a lawyer. Now they seem to be arguing that evangelical Christians may be excluded from the profession.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually, the story at the time was that no human remains were found ... and that the media were Catholic bashing etc. At least the state investigated ... a large number of human remains have been found ... in side chambers ... something the sisters could have admitted up front ... this is a NEW story with horrific new facts ... get over it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "None of the examples were Chirtaisn carrying out anything in the name of Christianity. Sorry- you'll have to get your stats from somewhere besides Vox.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Good point. One of the most, reactionary, b-----d, aggressively obnoxious persons I have encountered would answer a call for help from anyone, at any time and ask nothing in return. He would never entertain a \"discussion\"; but an argument any time. We were friends. A confirmed misogynist, he lived with a wife who was a piously traditional Catholic and his wife's mother. They both loved him.\n\"CHRIST-like actions\" are key.\nMore often than not I think we do not know where our own hearts really are. So, difficult as it may be, why judge where others' is/are. Jesus knows, I guess.\nThank you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is not a religious test to ask such questions, even obliquely as Feinstein did. The Air Force and Navy ask Nuclear Weapons Officers if their morality would prevent them from launching a missile if ordered to. They are given a short course on just war and lawful orders to prime them for the question. They must answer yes or they are allowed to resign with no penalty. That is not a religious test, per se, but one as to whether your religion will get in the way of your job. Sadly, some Catholics, especially those favored by the Federalist Society, must be examined. Sadder still, unless they answer in a way to make pro-choice Republicans squirm, they may be confirmed anyway.\n\nOriginalism, by the way, is no longer a thing apart from historical analysis. The Court came to an agreement on how the views of the original founders saw their creation and even Justice Ginsburg can call herself an originalist.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I do, and i hope for your conversion. \n\nBut that isnt the situation here. Here we are talking about someone who is Catholic and thinks like a Manichean. That calls for more than respect. Discernment is needed, to both learn from your insights and share my own when we disagree. That becomes more difficult if every criticism or divergence of opinion is used to split us irreparably apart, ie if you continue to think like a manichean to the detriment of respecting the Pope, or other Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Tell the Pope and all the Catholics (from south of the border) that. Denver will provide.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, it does not make perfect sense. It's actually completely irrational because it conflates two completely disconnected things-- the narrow hard theology of their particular sect or charismatic cult, self-representing as they do under the umbrella \"brand\" of Christianity, and actual real world demographic circumstances. They can't make their faith about their souls, they can't make their morality about participating in a world with Christ-like empathy for the least among us. They believe people must be low because the wrathful sociopathic version of God that they would celebrate and elevate must will it so. It's so deplorable to me, like some warped Halloween funhouse mirror image of Christianity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One wonders how you arrived at your conclusion. Did you miss the part where Martin's book was endorsed by cardinals and bishops? Did you miss his appointment as an advisor to the Vatican's Secretariat of Communications by Pope Francis? If this isn't the \"Institution of the Catholic Church\" building bridges over schisms one is hard pressed to think what might qualify in your world view. The Catholic Church is no different from any voluntary assembly of individuals, it has smaller groups within the larger whole whose views are not always exactly the same. Why the same people who take great pains to say that all Muslims shouldn't be painted with the broad brush of their extreme adherents go out of their way to do precisely that to Catholics is puzzling to me. Would you care to enlighten me as to why you do this?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I await your apology for \"Another Christian who in effect rejects the Cross.\" Upon what--if any--basis do you make this personal charge? Please be specific, since you, in effect, have accused someone you don't even know of \"rejecting\" the Cross because he doesn't agree with your take on things. Can one make a more cutting remark to a fellow Christian?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part 1\nI was raised in Saskatoon where there was but one Ukrainian church, and because of secondary waves of immigration, that community was unwilling to yield to the needs of parents with minimal Ukrainian and fourth generation kids who spoke not a words. My parents were among the founders of a second parish intended for such as themselves. Unfortunately, shortly after the founding, we moved to Moose Jaw where the only Ukrainian church was Orthodox, which happens to have been the church of a Great Aunt my wife and I later came to love dearly. (When I was ordained deacon, she caught my eye questioning whether she and her family should approach to receive in a Ukrainian Catholic service, and of course I invited them forward.) In today's atmosphere, I image we would have gone to the Orthodox church, but back then it was out of the question. (My father was raised Orthodox but became Catholic when he married.) So, for the rest of my years at home, we went to the RC church and RC schools.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yeah, starting a \"purely Islamic\" village, or enclave, is a really great step in uniting Muslims and Christians.\nI call b.s.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That's not proven true. Stalin was raised Christian and studied for the priesthood. Fanaticism and large scale slaughter is attributed to fanaticism not religious or non-religious.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1. That was the Catholic church, not scientists. We've argued the earth is not flat for thousands of years, since the ancient Greeks. \n2. Again, see above. If it doesn't use the scientific method then it isn't science. \n3. There was a financial interest in those studies. Nowadays studies are required to state their funding sources. Also, you don't have multiple institutions competing with claims in terms of client science. \n4. Again, see above. Sugar industry paid off many of those studies. \n\nYou see, we can look at this mathematically. The basic theories of Anthropomorphic Climate Change have been about for approximately 50 years, and 10,000's of scientists have researched that. The likelihood that climate change IS a hoax and hasn't had someone come out with evidence of faked evidence is approximately 0.0001% and declining with every year. \n\nYou see, Humans aren't good at keeping secrets. Hence why we know about your #3 and #4 examples.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "While I believe people who have been abused deserve some sort of retribution causing the parishes/churches to sold to pay will be at the cost to those who go to services now. Since these people who committed the crime are mostly died and the crimes long ago it is hard to know what to do that is fair to all. I would think the requirement that the church comes up with a system to investigate any new cases immediately and ways to deal with the issue when it comes up instead of covering it up need to be part of the suit. Training for everyone who works in the Catholic Church should also be required. It is not only important for the church to reconize the abuse, admit to how bad it was and that they purposely covered it up, but that programs and policies are put into place to stop this from happening again or deal with it in a timely manners when does happen.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's Christ's Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As a catholic observing the US election reality tv show I am surprised that so many in the Catholic church support Hiliary Clinton? She has a frightening track record when it comes to foreign policy - her aggressive and jingoistic stance is evident in the failed states of Libya, Honduras, Haiti, Iraq, and her current work in progress in Syria. Wikileaks just this week has revealed that she was aware of the state sponsored funding of ISIS by the states of Saudi and Qatar who also support her through donations to her foundation! She has supported drone strikes and her pivot to Asia is next on her warring agenda. How can any followers of the prince of peace Jesus support this person?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do you not think that when the \"Catholic teaching\" resembles exclusively the rhetoric of one political party something has been lost? The leadership of the Knights continually shows a preference for the Republic point of view, which is fine for an individual, but needs to be called out in the case of this charitable - not political - organization.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Saullie: seriously! That is quite the comeback and also somewhat of a stretch coming from you. The preacher always gives and as you should know: mass is a Christian Sacrament and not restricted to Catholics. But then you won't know, if you were wrong, on all accounts, would you? I believe Graemie has a valid point, here and you don't. When you give it, you should learn how to take it, better than you do, pal. Those waters simply don't flow only from Niagara.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It used to be that people would put off baptism until the last possible moment. For example, Constantine the Great was baptized on his deathbed. As Edward Gibbon said in his Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, \"The sacrament of baptism was supposed to contain a full and absolute expiation of sin; and the soul was instantly restored to its original purity, and entitled to the promise of eternal salvation. Among the proselytes of Christianity, there were many who judged it imprudent to precipitate a salutary rite, which could not be repeated; to throw away an inestimable privilege, which could never be recovered.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "While you are of course right that \"the church will eventually ordain women to each of the three clerical orders,\" I beg to quibble as to whether Francis \"is just plain wrong.\" \n\nAs reported here, Francis first said \"On the ordination of women in the Catholic church, the last word is clear...It was given by St. John Paul II and this remains;\" and then in reply to the further question as to whether this means forever, Francis said \"If we read carefully the declaration made by St. John Paul II, it goes in that direction.\"\n\nThis surely is absolutely correct...in the mind of St. JP2, his decision was forever. I recall reading at the time that JP had wanted to make an infallible proclamation to this effect, but was persuaded not to do so by none other that Ratzinger. So they developed (together?) and new brand of papal statement significance, and JP2 declared his declaration against women priests as \"definitive.\"\n\n(continued)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As I've written before, it is high time the term 'Novus Ordo' was retired from service. It has no official status and, when used by the Society of St Pius X and others of like mind, always has a pejorative connotation.\n\nI belong to the last generation of Catholics who still remember the Mass as it was before 1965. I respect that liturgy for what it was and meant to those who came before us, especially those who lived under persecution, but have no desire to return to it. The world has moved on since 1965. So has the Church. To use the biblical metaphor, we cannot go back to Egypt.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When they were senior Liberal Cabinet ministers did the authors say or do anything for the Christians and Jews who were being persecuted and expelled from their homes in Iran and several Middle Eastern countries? I am pretty sure that they didn't, but let everyone know if they did.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So here is some real education for you:-\n\nThe world's largest Christian country (USA), by population, only has Christian festivals as public holidays.\n\nhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_holidays_in_the_United_States\n\nThe world's largest Muslim country (Indonesia), by population, has Muslim, Hindu, Christian and Buddhist festivals as public holidays.\n\nhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_holidays_in_Indonesia", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "May the Newman and Sycamore societies and others who blast Notre Dame for \"giving up its Catholic identity\" read this and be ashamed for making false charges. Notre Dame is soooo authentically Catholic. More than ever. Fr. McNeill's story proves it. His students over years and over miles confirm it daily in 2017. He helped make Notre Dame both a great Catholic university and a Catholic great university. Deo Gratias.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Founding Fathers were Protestants, many of whom were heavily influenced by Deism and anxious to protect the fledgling republic from the carnage of the wars of religion in Europe. Hence the wall of separation between church and state. Political factions anxious to insinuate theology into the civic order fail to respect this fundamental principle of the republic. Trumpism, a white supremacist, ethno-nationalist movement, is not primarily concerned with church-state tensions except insofar as Christianity is a tribal marker for the Euro-American state envisioned by the racist architects of the alt right.\n\nThe USCCB is politicized and has been enmeshed with conservative politics for decades, and over 50% of Catholics voted for Trump. Therefore, despite the large minority of Catholics who wanted nothing to do with Trump's agenda, the church overall is in league with Trumpism.\n\nI've never been as certain of what patriotism is as I am this moment.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What is going to happen about this issue is the same thing that happens to virtually every other issue: nothing! The present structure of the church just isn't working. Some future iteration of Catholic Christianity will be one without clergy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What is a religious encroachment into secular society is demanding public institutions accommodate sectarian religious rituals.\n\nWhatever \"Christian influences\" still exist in society are just a result of our society being based on 2000 years of Christianity. What's wrong with that? Anyone getting indignant about that fact of life are the ones guilty of \"bigotry\" and \"intolerance\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You claim to be a Christian?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This book is going on my Christmas list. I think Catholicism and Christianity are stuck in Western thinking and that there is much we can learn by exploring concepts of the divine that are fundamental to other faiths. What would we understand of Jesus' life and message if He had been born in India or China and taught what He knew of the Creator God from an Eastern philosophic (??? - is that a word) perspective. \n\nWe need to better understand each other in this world where we are more in touch with people from so many different backgrounds, cultures, faiths and since the \"superiority\" of Western culture is no longer assumed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, I remember what happened to Harvey Milk. As far as being homophobic, that is a slur, like racist, that people like you to accuse those of us on the right of. I am as homophobic as the Salvation Army is. Or the Catholic Church, or the Family Resource Center, or the Mormans or any of a number of other organizations. I believe you will find none of these organizations promoting violence or shaming of homosexuals, et al. Neither do I. Do I believe the behaviors are healthy, no I do not. Do I believe that it is a mental disease of some kind? Yes, I do. Do I think some people are pushed into following the behaviors? Yes, I do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "IRT: BS\nI think they are catching trump's illness of telling lies. First Spicer, now Huckabee-Sanders just lies and lies and lies....her father is a Christian Minister! Now Gen. Kelly. This administration is morally bankrupt! Abe Lincoln (Honest Abe) must be turning in his grave!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Henry Nouwen is beloved among Christians of all denominations, and none. Perhaps the similarity to Protestant forms of worship is a good starting point for building bridges of faith and charity and good will between Christians of differing traditions, and those with none. \n Unity of form is not needed; and neither is perfect agreement on matters of dogma and theology. There is already the ground for common agreement on the basics of the faith-God, the Holy Spirit, Jesus, the Word of God. \n The tribal meaning of groups and institutional forms and laws and rubrics is provisional; it has a practical value in promoting unity among the members of a congregation and a church. Ultimately it fails in its mission if its concerns are limited to those pertaining solely to the survival of the institution bearing its name. \n Here is where the \"we believe\" had a greater meaning and a more inclusive vision that the self-referential \"I believe\" common in today's liturgy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I can cite a number of references [by church historians] that refute Voerman's research. They are:\n\n1) Mary Ann Rossi, \"Priesthood, Precedent, and Prejudice: On Recovering the Women Priests of Early Christianity\" Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion 7 [1991] pp. 72-93\n\n2) Haye van de Meer, WOMEN PRIESTS IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH: A THEOLOGICAL-HISTORICAL INVESTIGATION [Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1973].\n\nWhen Benedictine abbesses held episcopal authority until 1873\n\n4] Elizabeth Connor, \"The Royal Abbey of Las Huelgas and the Jurisdicton of its Abbesses,\" Cistercian Studies, 23 [1988] pp. 128-55.\n\n5) F. Donald Logan, A HISTORY OF THE CHURCH IN THE MIDDLE AGES [London: Routeledge, 2002].\n\n6) Ida Raming, THE PRIESTLY OFFICE OF WOMEN: GOD'S GIFT TO A RENEWED CHURCH [New York: Scarecrow Press, 2004]\n\n6) Gary Macy, THE HIDDEN HISTORY OF THE ORDINATION OF WOMEN [New York: Oxford University Press, 2007.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So in a nutshell Jesus was a Jewish man and had followers. Clearly you don't think he was divine, was resurrected, or performed any miracles. He was simply a good man. You don't believe Jesus was the Christ and therefore you are not a Christian. \n This begs the question why you regularly post your opinions as a non-believer(thinker) about matters of Christian faith to others on this site. Is your intention to convince all other that the Christian religion is a sham? Are you trying to lead questioning and disgruntled Catholics astray from the true faith and if so why are you doing this? This site is full of lost and searching Catholics who are close to complete apostasy. What is your end game? A world without religion or superstition?\n I will never understand why a Catholic would accept advice about the Catholic Religion from a non-believer(thinker) of that religion. I hope you do not have nefarious reasons for doing so.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We live in the Post Christian era of narcissism, de-socialization and globalization.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm not afraid of Protestantism. I am Catholic and like being one. If I wanted to be a Protestant or subscribe to Protestantism, I'd go join a Protestant denomination. Why can't you people leave those of us who want to be Catholic in our beliefs in peace instead of trying to turn the Catholic Church into a clone of one of the thousands of Protestant denominations and getting mad when people point out there are many places that have the things you are advocating for? I suspect if you got your way and were able to change the Church according to the image you desire, once there was nothing more to fight the Church on, you'd get bored and fall away. Note the Episcopalians do everything you want and yet they are declining.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Absolutely correct. The bishops have spoken, and strongly, in favor of only the most christian of teachings. They speak and act as true paragons of the values Jesus taught, insofar as those values are in accordance with church tradition.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Any ordained minister has vowed fidelity to Church teaching. Since this gentleman is speaking on a public forum against that teaching he has broken the vow. As a Catholic, I am told by Christ that if someone is doing wrong or sinning and I do not speak up, he will bear the consequences of his sin but so will I for not speaking when I should have. He is leading souls astray if he does not lead them to the annulment process or out of adultery.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree. Liberals should be willing to do what they always tell us Conservatives that we must do; compromise. As a conservative I am perfectly willing to compromise our immigration policies or the death penalty (which, from a Catholic standpoint, are matters of prudential judgement) if it means greater religious freedom and an end to abortion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is NOT a \"privilege\" to exercise one's 1st amendment rights whether a Christian or not. It is a Constitution 1st amendment RIGHT, a Natural Right. If Christians are a lesser % of the population, then THEY NEED the protection as a minority that you claim is a right of homosexuals. Afterall, the anti discrimination law puts religion as protected long before homosexuality.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Early American life was colonial, not Protestant/Puritan.\n\nFor example, Maryland was founded by the Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore, on June 20, 1632, in fulfillment of a request by George Calvert, 1st Lord Baltimore, before his death from Charles I for the territory between Pennsylvania and Virginia.\n\nMaryland was specifically founded to provide religious tolerance for Roman Catholics. In the 1640s during what was known as \u201cThe Plundering Time\u201d Puritans forcibly seized Maryland, captured priests, imprisoned them, and sent them to England.\n\nLeonard Calvert arrived with troops in 1646 and restored order. An act was passed in 1649 granting religious liberty to all Trinitarian Christians.\n\nAnd so on. The religious history of the United States outside of New England decidedly included Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Has he been very vengeful and ultra-conservative with you? Can you give examples how this has manifested itself or are you merely repeating unsubstantiated hearsay?\n\nI find him to be a demanding administrator with uncompromising standards. Do you think it is easy being a bishop in today's day and age where the media jump at every allegation to take down the Catholic Church, be it abuse of minors, the elderly, financial malfeasance, and any other improprieties by clerics? He has an obligation as head of the organization to investigate and review all facts. He's not taking part in a popularity conquest.\n\nAs for me, I have had personal dealings with him, going to him hat in hand, laying out facts, and asking for his support. He has been nothing but kind, gracious and generous to a fault.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I didn't know that about Eastern Rite Catholicism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What world are you living in? I'm sure you've heard of those florists, photographers, bakers who have been fined, jailed, etc., simply for trying to follow their conscience and not participate in activities (gay weddings) that they, in good conscience, cannot do; kind of like how some in D.C. refused to take part in the latest Presidential inauguration, you know-citing their consciences and all. And, these Christian business owners did not refuse to service their gay customers in other areas- they just drew the line with weddings. But no, that is anathema in today's upside down world.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Calling people who dusagree with you \"unreasonable\" does not suggest that you will play a part in the Great Catholic Healing-of-the-Nation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In the real world, discussions continue between the Roman Catholic Church and the SSPX so that the latter may continue \"on the way to full communion\" (May 2016 statement).\nThe tail cannot wag the dog.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I met a freshly ordained priest in the Archdiocese of Washington, DC, around five years ago who sounds like he went to the same church and school.\n\nWhen he in college he was talking to the priest at the Newman Center, who casually related the Catholic belief in the Real Presence and transubstantiation. He was stunned. In 12 years in Catholic schools and attending Mass no one ever bothered to tell him that.\n\nHe began to study Catholic teaching from books at the Center, entered the seminary, and is now an assistant at a parish. And he is enthusiastic!\n\nWe have good news. We ought to share it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, you very cleverly elided the point for the moment. But the point you missed is that the reality of Christ's Real Presence in the Eucharist exists independently of anyone's believing in it. If any one those ten atheists consumed the host, his non-belief would not prevent him from consuming the body of Christ. The atheist would not consume bread. Bread is no longer there.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So, remind me why taxpayers support multiple school boards (including English and French Catholic) in Ontario?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bust Judaism, Christianity and Islam are all Abrahamic religions tracing their origins to the patriarch Abraham. They are all related.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Cite your research on this [no woman has ever been ordained to the Catholic priesthood]. \n\n St. Brigid of Ireland was ordained a bishop [she already was ordained a priest, as an abbess of the Benedictine community].\n\nWe have the letter from Pope Gelasius [in 494], written to the bishops of southern Italy and Sicily---stating that they were no longer to ordain women as priests. Italian scholar Giorgio Otranto cites him, \"Note sul sacerdozio femminile nell'antichita in margine a una testimonianza di Gelasio I.\" Vetera Christianorum 19 [1982]: 341-60.\n\nYou stated that \"the Church has no authority from Christ to ordain women...\" The Church has NO AUTHORITY to ordain men either. Jesus did not just have 12 Apostles. He had 72 Disciples ---men and women. The\ninner circle of the Twelve were ONLY called Apostles when they went on missions to preach [sent out by Christ]. There is NO EVIDENCE in any Gospel or the Acts of the Apostles that Christ ordained the Twelve as priests.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What \"attitude\" toward the Protestants are you talking about? \n\nYou seem to misunderstand my point:\n\nIf you/these women think that the Catholic Church got the question of women's ordination wrong, but the Protestants got it right--then join a Protestant church and get ordained. Heck--you could even get yourself elected to the board of elders/trustees if you want and then you would get to boss around the pastor. You could vote on decisions, you could build consensus, you could have grassroots stuff---and more. Sounds like a liberal paradise to me. If you think that is where the Spirit is active, why aren't you there? \n\nMy point wasn't necessarily to say where the Spirit is or is not active--simply to point out that if you think the Protestants are where the Spirit is active right now, if you think their system is superior to the Catholic system, why aren't you Protestant?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bringing married priests back is the next step for the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church. Romanist Catholicism has gender bias embedded in its theology, governance and liturgy. Does the Women's Ordination Conference want to continue in this direction?\n\nEven if women were to be ordained deacons or deaconettes, they would never have full deacon-authority as defined by the Roman Rite.\n\nThose who object to Francis' desire to open the Church to Vatican II are stronger than we think. Since Pope Francis is NOT interested in moving doctrine to the next level, there will be little left to sustain his personal desire to reform the Church. We must also take into account that people want security & certainty in an age of change; this they can find abundantly in Roman Rite Catholicism.\n\nWhy is the Women's Ordination Conference fighting married priests? Must WOC be so preoccupied with earning Rome's approval? Aren't they only buying into genderist Romanist theology? Google RiteBeyondRome.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Because the National Catholic Reporter is by its own definition not a Catholic newspaper but rather an independent news source that comments on religious matters, it is not required to maintain communion with the Church nor must it embrace the doctrines and dogmas that have been handed down to us through the millenia in the the Deposit of Faith.\n\nThat being said however, Catholic individuals who work and write for NCR are most definitely expected to believe in and in fact embrace the teachings of the Church without reserve.\n\nThe fact that the NCR Editorial Staff holds to beliefs that seriously contradict the faith is a sign that in their minds and hearts they are neither Catholic nor are they followers of Christ. The have surrendered to the error of the world and the errors of our age.\n\nThe Church will not ever change her doctrines, not today, tomorrow or ever.\n\nMay God help these lost souls.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As it moves away from its Christian roots, Western society and culture is increasingly losing its will to live, it is giving up on life.\n\nBy now, birth rate in every western country has dipped deeply into the negative.\n\nWe are relying on other countries'/cultures' to provide us with children (hence the need and 'joy' for immigration) to manage our selfcentred, futile lives, by providing care in our retirement and old age. \n\nFirst we denounced our children, now we denounce our own lives. We try to present any struggle to live as 'inhuman', yesterday this is what made us human. \n\nAnd we try to dress it up as compassion, mercy and dignity, which is a profound abuse of these terms. \n\nLegally normalized assisted killing is the final step in the glorification and worship of the \"self\" and neglect of the \"other\", and the final stage before ours will the next 'great civilization' grown over by the jungle ... by life, that humans cannot stop from living, no matter how hard they want to.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Many voices, including Dolan supporters, have criticized Pope Francis for the interfaith gatherings he has convened or attended with non-Christians. Yet the jovial pastor of the Big Apple officially accepted praise from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and a church that does not recognize Chistian baptism.\nThe camaraderie displayed at the LDS award gathering was a conspiratorial thank-you to the LDS organization for its stalwart initiatives and generous collaboration with the Catholic church in right-to-life and same-sex marriage issues. The religious visionary took the award \"because a lot of those values are no longer chic.\"\nEve took the apple because \"it was pleasing to the eyes\" and she wanted to be \"chic,\" or in Bible words, \"like gods.\" Sadly, Adam colluded.\nArchbishop Dolan took the award because \"we need to be together, shoulder to shoulder ...in a world that sometimes considers faith and religion superstitious at best, dangerous at worst.\"\nNow that's a big colluded apple.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your bishop is a perfect example of why significant numbers of Catholics and the general population have absolutely zero interest in what these self-proclaimed spokesmen of Catholicism have to say about almost anything.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Facts are important and truth matters. Your opening sentence is meaningless. The early Christian gathering preached the 'end times' were upon them. They were to prepare themselves, by purification of chastity...which is the early substance of Paul's preaching.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well the way I heard the story was more in keeping with Catholic theology. Prevailing sentiments has it that a few bands of Christian women kind of kept the Roman Empire at bay. You know the Jesus thing and all, Peter and Paul. The Roman catacombs the entire deal. I know it is very complex but eventually the Roman gods were replace and monotheism became the rage. So here we are.\nA planet that hates humans and a God that has broken his covenant with the Jews. Mr. Richard Johnson Esq., the planet hates people and sees us as a minor problem. God tolerates people but he does not like us either. We have not always been here and the odds of any single human being going away is extremely high. The probability of humanity going away is high but I cannot bet on it because I won't be around to collect my winnings. The conservations are delusional but nice people. They want to save the world. Very noble of them. I just want social security and medicare to be around as long as I am.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1400 Iraquis are under deportation orders. Why? Because they have committed crimes in the USA. How did they get here and why are they allowed to stay? Some have suddenly converted to Christianity? Wow! Wonder why?.....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "georgelenard\nWe do have Catholic, Anglican cemeteries all across the country.\nIn most provinces, there is a Cemetery Act which states the local government - municipality has a duty to bury the dead. Regardless of religion or how they died.\nNo referendum, nor wide vote.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A diversity of opinions and representation.\n\nWhy do you believe having a multifaceted committee is a bad thing?\n\nJustin is on record as being a devout Catholic and anti-choice BTW.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I know, I know. And there's no global warming, and the earth was created by a super being 6,ooo years ago, and humans rode on dinosaurs and Adam and Eve were the first people (yet somehow their children never committed incest when they began marrying and producing offspring), and Christianity is the only real religion, and whites are superior to all other races and up is down, and down is up, and bad is good and good is bad and you've gotta have faith. \nTell that to the 17 intelligence agencies that think there's a link.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Syria was once a peaceful, Christian-friendly, progressive country till USA, Yurkey, and the Saudis started nasty meddling. I have sympathy for Globe journalists, who have to toe the official line of misinformation. They have even less freedom of expression than the climate scientists \"muzzled\" by Harper.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So, don't tar all liberals as gun grabbing anti-Christian socialists.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not sure about all that Ms Sideco is referring to. Most of those who were \"freed\" to become Catholic by Vatican II, can, and by and large did, identify with those who suffered a sense of loss. The fact is that those who were \"set free\" by and large also experienced a sense of loss. It is a matter of degree more than qualitative. It was a matter of the rightness, the need of the challenge and the willingness to forgo certainty and predictability and absolute and dignity of status and deference to position. As with any adolescent, leaving home is a two-edged sword but leave we must leave the security of conformity to the challenge of quest.\nI really have to question Ms Sideco's Jesuit who bemoaned the challenge of the change. The Jesuits - most of them - I was associated with ached, prayed for, prepared for the challenge of that change - to some extent - before as well as when it was happening.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ask a Catholic if those holidays no longer have meaning. \n\n15 minutes of prayer in an unused classroom is hardly a \"public\" declaration of faith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic Church has been the world's \"Rainbow Coalition\" before America even existed. The Catholic Tradition includes much that can be used to provide a common basis for the building of authentically human civilization. This includes the way it employs \"Natural Law\" philosophy to social issues and an abundance of political, theological and philosophical works. Of course the Church's social teaching provides a basis that I think no one could possibly object to, in principle. \n\nThere has to be an intellectual aspect to our striving for unity. These intellectual resources that the church has are really the property of us all as they represent a very large part of the patrimony of Western Civilization and indeed of all the world. If you are an American, whether you are Catholic or not, what the Catholic Church possesses is part of your history and inheritance.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Once again, Gang Plank Dolan abandons his diocese to run off and engage in national politics.\nOnce again, Dolan abandons concerns for Catholic morality to cavort with the wealthy and powerful. \n\nPerhaps Dolan hopes to associate with the right people just in case the Russians hack the next election of the college of cardinals.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Believe me that most of the churches of the Quiverfull Evangelical types demand women be even more subservient to men than the Catholic Church. Headship, wearing skirts, only being housewives, etc. are Protestant ideas being adapted by far right Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would give a lot to join you all. !!!! in the meantime of reality, I will be ''present ' to you all (or ''you will be present to me''). it is almost comical. talk about ''not knowing what you do!!'' they don't even try to make this go thru the ''Jesus sieve.'' it is all about 'ideology.....theology' not Jesus. bottom line is that we need to help ourselves and others to listen to what Jesus wants us to do, ....and then do it. nothing else matters: neither ideology...nor theology.... etc nothing else matter. just shifting sand in the wind as we move through the centuries to our own destruction or....jubilation. you choose.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The proof is that Catholics understand the bread and wine of the Eucharist to BE the actual body and blood of Christ, a miracle of transubstantiation. There is no transubstantiation when three Christians have Bible study at Panera, no matter how good the bread is.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Man, to use your language, try civility. Educating a portion of children is no answer. Catholic parish schools began because public school were openly Protestant. Need is to educate Catholic parents to educate their children. Follow Francis' lead on poor which is straight from gospels. Happy to provide you with two clues out of my abundance.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Instead of trying to restore something past, why don't we start looking at the present and plan for the future. Let's concentrate on what words and symbols speak to people today so that Christ could become real and meaningful to them. Enough of romancing with the past; let's focus on the present. These are difficult times for the church. In this digital age there are new forms of communication that are attracting people. New forms of secular ritual, marking significant events, are being created. Liturgist need to find the language and ritual that will be faithful to Christ and the Gospel and will speak to people today.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is an excellent article. I think both sides of any debate are absolutely integral to any idea, albeit politics, religion, freedom or any other sticky subjects. If we do not have a right to our left or vice versa, we do not have a balanced opinion. M-103 is a perfect example of this, a study of Islamophobia, by only mentioning one idea, the feeling of the other side of the argument is not being represented. How about the Muslim family that escaped from a war-torn country and came to Canada to start anew? They've become Christian and love their peaceful lives. Then more people come, perhaps some they've known in the past, Now this family has become apostates to their previous religion. Or how about the Jewish family who've no representation, or Hindus, or Buddhists.\nWhen an idea has representation from only one side and not the other, it becomes illogical to even investigate in a biased direction.\nWe need true equality and freedom of speech no matter the opinion, or we all lose.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Gorsuch is Episcopalian. He was raised Catholic and attended Catholic schools but apparently switched.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I hope to let this be the last time I address this issue in this forum. To continue: the message included in this translation is that the old way is better and the renewal was a mistake. The church will lose a large number of the next generation, not because of a failure to market the product (although the failure is evident) but because of a failure to achieve a necessary level of aesthetic excellence consistent with a living Gospel. A failure of this magnitude will only become apparent to the blind when the church is truly smaller, if not holier, as Benedict would like to see. \n The sins of the church are very grave. To refuse renewal is to refuse to admit to the need for change-it is, in effect, to say that the church has no need of repentance, that is innocent of the crimes committed. It was always right, always beyond criticism. It is an exercise of idolatry.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The danger right now is the revisionism going on by those who would have us believe that Vatican II wasn't really about reform but only a minor course correction. They're the ones who use the pejorative phrase \"spirit of Vatican II crowd\" to describe those of us who insist on a clear and honest understanding of the council.\n\nThese people are not unlike holocaust deniers, global warming naysayers and the doctors the tobacco companies got to sell their souls. They're banking on the age-old tactic that two conflicting interpretations of history will cancel each out, or at least cause confusion. \n\nFortunately, the Vatican II documents are the best documented of any ecumenical council in Church history. The truth is there to be seen by anyone with the courage and integrity to take an honest look.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Uh, Islam takes many forms, and in Saudi, a fundamentalist approach is very much in place, similar to Christian fundamentalism. Culture often dictates how the religion is engaged in its culture. If it were actually a religion of violence, billions more Muslims would already have taken over the world. \nLook at the United Arab Emirates. Jennifer Anniston is in two of Emirates Airlines major television ads. \nI lived in Saudi Arabia, and I know how the religion, which is actually very split when it comes to \"sects\" around the world, varies due to \"culture\". Shia vs Sunni is just one example. (I also took social psychology in college.) \nFundamentalist Christians in different denominations and sects have and have had strict more codes on dress in the past. Cultural development, not religion, has changed this. The Amish still dress like they do. Mormon women are criticized by peers if they wear hot miniskirts and low-cut tops, etc. \nThat they released her says volumes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am anti-abortion.\n\nI am anti-abortion because a law which permits the extermination of an entire class of human life is an abomination and I don't wish to live in such a society.\n\nAs a Catholic I oppose contraception, but my own legal issue is to oppose attempts to force those with religious objections to provide contraception, which flies in the face of everything this country stands for.\n\nThus, being anti-abortion and anti-contraceptive is not illogical.\n\nSince I don't adhere to situation ethics, I don't begin with the proposition that the goals is to reduce abortions by any means, and then try to back into some sort of position supporting that goal.\n\nDoing that is illogical and a non-starter.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus never stated that people could not appoint their own bishops. This was the custom in the early Christian era. Both St. Ambrose of Milan was elected bishop BEFORE he was even baptized, and St. Augustine was elected bishop of Hippo as well. St. Leo, the Great was elected bishop of Rome by the people. \n\n\nI am sure that the people prayed BEFORE they selected their bishops, just as Jesus did. If Christ dwells with his people, then he continues to pray in them, before a bishop/pope is selected by the people as well.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Maybe you should look at the number of Jewish children that were saved in France compared to other European countries, ( statistics available from Jewish sources ).\nYes , there is always a number of people ( in any countries )who will try to get money or favours in any situation.\nI grow up in France (borned 4 years after the end of the war )on the Swiss border and ,our Pastor and a number of catholics nuns in my village have been recognized for passing hundred of jewish children through the forest at night to Switzerland. Did you ever ask yourself how many French citizen were shot by firing squads by German Forces for trying to hide Jewish ,to blow train tracks , to refuse to cooperate etc...My father was 18 years old when he left occupied France to reach Africa to meet with the Free French units.\nYes this was a very sad , shameful time for France , but maybe you should always ask yourself how much better or how perfectly you would have handled yourself in this terrible time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Fine - But you are wrong on several of your generalizations (as if a generalization can be proven anyway). The very fact you seem to indicate Catholics as being Christians is very telling. You are the one who told me never assume a fact that is not admitted into evidence, and most of your generalizations (if not all of them) are not factual.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Did the Holy Spirit weigh in on this? Did Jesus say that women should not be ordained, that then purity of her Church would diminish? I'm a man, struggling to hang on as a Catholic because of its continuing institutional irrelevance; my concern isn't equality because the Church is not a secular nor humanist organization. But it is an organization with members. And here the women's spiritual powers are being completely left out, repressed. Shining light contained is to be referred elsewhere. and we miss so much. I refuse to believe that Christ would have kept out a key spiritual source and wanted invite only membership.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholics need to select their priests and bishops on the local level. Catholics are long past the days of these out-of-touch autocrats for shepherds. The PEOPLE need to choose their own ministers rather than suffer under the hegemony of interlopers in a feudal priesthood who are little more than functionaries and vassals of the Vatican hierarchy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Francis seems to make a bigger...splash on washing feet, in contrast to the Eucharist.\"\n\nIt is really very simple, Heartbreaker. Francis, and a lot of scripture scholars and theologians and prayerful people, note with great wonder that the Gospel of John effectively replaces the Eucharist with the Washing of the Feet at the Last Supper as described by the synoptic gospels.\n\nIn the Eucharist we do what Jesus did, take, bless, and distribute the Holy Gifts. Nothing could be more fitting than for the earthly leader of the Christian community, on the day we celebrate the foundation of our Eucharistic practice, to do what Jesus, the heavenly leader of the Christian community, did at that first Eucharist. \n\nIt is a marvelous thing that Francis manages to draw our attention to this fundamental scriptural connection between \"Washing the Feet of Others\" and the Eucharist by attracting the attention of the world media to such a tiny gesture. The invitation from Jesus is that we do likewise.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm going to go way out on a limb here.\n\nI agree that women will never serve as sacerdotal priests as understood by the Roman Church.\n\nI also predict that in time the understanding of the whole notion of sacerdotal priesthood will develop to a new (and hopefully fuller and better) understanding of \"priesthood\", along with a more relational, less esoteric view of the Sacraments. The sacerdotal model arose to meet the needs of the Church in history. I suspect it has outlived its shelf life and must be replaced in time.\n\nThere is much talk about a \"vocations crisis\". I submit that there is but ONE vocation - being a follower of Jesus in the community of those who have been incorporated into the pattern of Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and ascension. Everything else is subsidiary to that \"Great Vocation\" and exists in service to it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It most certainly is not customary in the Catholic Church for the Pope to be referred to or addressed as Archbishop of Rome. I don't know where you get that idea from. He is a a former archbishop and Archbishop of the Metropolitan Province of Rome which is not the See of Rome but never in 70 odd years have I heard a pope referred to as the Archbishop of Rome. Has anyone else?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Very early on the role of the bishop changed from primarily pastoral to inquisitorial.guardian of conformity to doctrine/dispenser of discipline based on deviation from doctrine. The Beguine movement in Belgium, howbver, is a modern (though old) version of a lay intentional community within the Catholic Church. They were suppressed. Another way to create intentional communities would be to form religious oders open to married couples.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "meantime on rorate-caeli : \n\n\"Considerations on the dubia of the four cardinals\"\nby John R. T. Lamont, PhD\n\n.....the Pope by pertinaciously maintaining heresy effectively removes himself from office. However, all these explanations agree that a Pope who is juridically guilty of heresy can and must be removed from office. There is no dispute among Catholic theologians on this point \u2013 even among theologians like Bellarmine who do not think that a Pope is in fact capable of being a heretic.\n It is to be hoped that the correction of Pope Francis does not have to proceed this far, and that he will either reject the heresies he has announced or resign his office. Removing him from office against his will would require the election of a new Pope, and would probably leave the Church with Francis as an anti-Pope contesting the authority of the new Pope. If Francis refuses to renounce either his heresy or his office, however, this situation will just have to be faced.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not just evangelicals but 52% of Catholics! Jesus wept.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Much the same can be said for your ill-tempered comments, here. You do not speak for God, for the Roman Catholic Church or for its Magisterium, neither are you a (reliable) conduit for any sort of doctrine or teaching. In short, we can get along just fine without you and your comments.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic ultra-rights are trying to become the police of the Catholic police state, and the sole gatekeepers of \"orthodoxy.\" What the pope -- especially THIS pope, Francis -- has to say really does not matter to them. They choose dead popes over live popes, popes who will no longer rock their little boats! So they keep on, walling themselves in . . .", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If the priest thinks I am in mortal sin, say, because I'm divorced and remarried, he won't let me take the sacraments. It doesn't matter what I might think.\n\nLuther changed that by saying we are all priests and we all have a direct relationship to God unmediated by priests. \n\nAmoris Letitia is simply the Roman church catching up to the Reformation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Only legal American citizens have the \"right\" to even be here. Race and Christian bashing; the default argument of a typical leftist.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bingo! We know full well that Francis would prefer to see religiously active remarried Catholics receive like everyone else. But at the same time, and indeed more importantly, he wants to put in practice the collegiality of V2 rather that rule with the universal jurisdiction V1 gave the Bishop of Rome. So he held a couple of synods and hoped the wisdom and mercy would prevail. He was probably stunned to discover the depth of narrow mindedness that still reigned among his bishops, so he wrote a masterful piece with sufficient ambiguity that (1) he could not be accused of thwarting the will of the synod to not actually rule mercifully, and as the same time (2) gave good priests cover to use the internal forum to assist remarried Catholics to decide in conscience to receive the Eucharist. \n\nBrilliant, actually. Jesuitical in the best possible sense.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1) Most bishops at Vatican I wanted to get outta town as fast as they could. They were caught in the middle of a War that was about to descend on them [Rome] in a few hours. Many of them did not want to vote for Papal Infallibility, either. Many got out of the Vatican as fast as they could BEFORE the vote was taken.\n\n2) Dei filius is not a DOGMA. It was not and has not be promoted as dogma. Infallibility by the pope was voted upon AFTER Dei Filius . \n\n3) What John XXIII and Paul VI stated did NOT mitigate the AUTHORITY of Vatican II to effect change in the Church.\n\nREAD some Church history.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do you think that he was picked because he is Catholic, or because they thought incorrectly he could deliver Virginia?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thanks for the link to \"The best in Catholic Blogging. \" I bookmarked it. Lot of good stuff there, much better than what is typically found at this website.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "John, you continue to shrink Jesus's message down...it really sounds rather \"over the goal line\" rigorist.\n\nGod wants much more out of each of us while we're here. He invested an enormous amount in showing us how to love as He wants and demands us to love: The Crucifix...\"take up your cross daily...\"unless a grain falls and dies...\".\n\nThere are a lot of Jesus shrinkers here. \n\nHis message is far more grand, awesome and demanding. \n\nWe're not here to barely get over a goal line like our \"are you saved\" Protestant brothers and sisters have defined down the Gospel to...we're here to be other Christs!! \n\nAlter Christus. Ipse Christus.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That is your best refute to my comment? You can't be serious. Does a 2nd or 3rd trimester baby have a beating heart, a functioning brain, the ability to feel pain? You are aware that abortions are performed on healthy 2nd and 3rd trimester babies due to the nebulous definition of the \"health\" of the mother which applies to just about any perceived situation. Keep up the false talking points that those that abhor abortion are misogynists, but how would you describe the large percentage of WOMEN that are against abortion. I guess you don't consider a preborn child, up to the moment he or she exits the birth canal, as a human being. Very sad indeed, especially coming from an educated Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Anglicans accept the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Transubstantiation is merely a supposition on how it is done. Personally, I believe that the Catholic Church should ditch transubstantiation, since it ties Catholic theology to Aristotelian physics, which is probably not a good thing. I would just say that Christ is truly present in the Eucharist, and leave the mechanics of how it happens up to God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Does the future of American Catholicism lie in the megachurch or the microchurch? Or some combination of the two? One thing is clear. Without some changes, the current parish model will no longer be sustainable in a few years.\n\nI can envision coming together in small, home-based gatherings for intimate community and faith-sharing, and occasionally gathering for larger experiences of 'Church Universal.' My hope, though, is that the Catholic model of the megachurch (if that's where we're headed) doesn't just ape the current Evangelical model where the emphasis seems to be on performance rather than worship.\n\nThere is something distinctive about the Catholic sacramental experience that doesn't easily fit the megachurch model. I'm not saying it's impossible for Catholics to adapt that model for our own tradition, but I believe it would be important to go about it very intentionally.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That was my reaction: where are that Catholic clergy? The sad reality is that so many of them are so connected to the Republican party that they have lost their moral compass.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Let's please stop calling Imago Dei a non-denominational church. It is part of the Conservative Baptist denomination, and has been for many years.\nIn the bigger picture, Christianity is a big tent religion, the evangelical version not so much, conservative baptists even less so. \nAlternatively, why does someone who attends church XYZ have to agree with all of what the church leaders believe? Most of what commentators on this thread are bashing Imago Dei for are not specifics spelled out in the churches set of published beliefs, so parishioners are free to think how they want, hence why Jules feels at home there.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do you remember the profound Stations of the Cross from Pope Francis...\n\nO Cross of Christ!\n\nO Cross of Christ,\n symbol of divine love and of human injustice, icon of the supreme sacrifice for love and of boundless selfishness even unto madness, instrument of death and the way of resurrection, sign of obedience and emblem of betrayal, the gallows of persecution and the banner of victory.\n\nO Cross of Christ, \ntoday too we see you in the hardened hearts of those who easily judge others, with hearts ready to condemn even to the point of stoning, without ever recognizing their own sins and faults.\n\n\nAs an Ash Wednesday experience either in private or in community, it really turns the heart toward the\nsteps of the journey through Lent... repeat weekly? daily? as prayer, as an examination of conscience...\n\nIts available through Liturgical Press... and for speed, Amazon Prime has it too. \n\nChrist with us... \n\nhttps://zenit.org/articles/pope-francis-via-crucis-prayer-o-cross-of-christ/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But when the \"saint\" actually lies about what the \"heretic\" said, then he should not be extolled. Cyril said that Nestorius denied the divinity of Christ. He did not.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My comments are not disingenuous at all. Look at the preparation time that is given to men preparing for the priesthood---compared to those getting married. I am surprised at you comments, since you should know that Catholics don't always marry other Catholics, other Christians, other believers in God, or people of any religion at all.\n\nAnd surely you have seen the questions in the Foccus Communication Survey [required by some dioceses before marriage]. It is supposed to assist the couples in recognizing problems in the communication of troubling issues BEFORE they get married. Unfortunately, many don't receive the guidance that they need before they pronounce their vows,\nand issues of excessive anger, jealously, a sense of vindictiveness becomes\napparent only AFTER marriage.\n\n\nIn today's world, it is HIGH time---that more compassion be shown to those whose marriages [and that's 50% of all marriages in the U.S.] fail. \"The quality of mercy is not strained.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, good for you!\nAt least you stick to your story! LOL\n\nWhy bother then? You are not a Christian?\n\nSo what do you believe in excluding your 'oh\nso wise' self?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The USCCB election results will continue to be meaningless to the body Catholic. The bishops have been ignored in general by the laity for a number of decades now for numerous reasons, wayward priests and the subsequent cover-ups of those priests the likely top two.\n\nThen there is the overall ignoring of the bishops' stands on contraception, remarriage, (at least some reasons for) abortions, and same sex marriage.\n\nAnd the palatial estates of many of the bishops while pleading poverty during fund raising drives.\n\nThe bishops have lost control of almost every Catholic subset other than themselves. And very few care.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "2/ You parse \"health\" and \"physical life of the mother\" in the most uncharitable possible way to insist Hillary Clinton is callous about late-term abortion. It's a distortion.\n\nAlmost every single thread on almost every single blog in the Catholic blogosphere ends up being derailed by anti-abortion obsessives. Yet another indication of the unparalleled status of the fetus in the Catholic Church.\n\nI've had more or less the same views on abortion all my life. They will not change from getting browbeaten by men determined to control women. This discussion is over.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes. Georges Lema\u00eetre. And he proposed the theory by leaving his religion out of the lab. The pope suggested that he could make it part of Catholic doctrine and Lema\u00eetre convinced him not to.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"No funeral rites for Catholics in same sex marriages.\"\n\nSimply astonishing, considering all the different parishes I am familiar with that allow a funeral, a Catholic liturgy, for a partner of a same sex marriage. The primary reason being that the deceased desired such a liturgy as a believer and for the sake of his or her family -- siblings, parents (if living), children (if any), Catholic friends, relatives, etc. The poor bishop stands under the wrong temple column, with Scribes and Pharisees. Very sad for that diocese.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That assumption is: \"Given the possibilities which the State now has for effectively preventing crime by rendering one who has committed an offense incapable of doing harm.\"\n\nWhat evidence does the Church have/show for making that statement? None! That is why they have never presented any. This is a new teaching based solely on an assumption, and one that could only be applied to high tech, advanced nations like the U.S. So it is not an absolute \"moral\" position that can be applied everywhere in the Catholic world.\n\nEvidence exist that assumption is wrong. This comes from a \"three-year, $5 million, local, state and federal investigation\" of the newest, high tech prison in CA which resulted in 12 men and 1 women indicted on federal charges of murder, robbery, conspiracy and drug running.\" \"Federal prosecutors say...hundreds of murders have been orchestrated from inside maximum-security prisons, by inmates who have nothing to lose and nothing but time\" on their hands.\n\nPoint 2 next.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Gee. I've read all the comments up to Sunday afternoon. I'm not sure I recall the exact article -- it was something about a papal meeting. Someone must have told the Donald that while bunches of Catholics voted for him they might not like his insulting the fellow who said something to the effect that building bridges might be a step in a Christian ethos. I'm sure it'll be part of the budget -- it is 'free'.\n\nNow back to comments that astound, baffle and entertain!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes it's possible and we shouldn't need any new laws. Christians have been under attack for years now and I don't remember any of us demanding new laws, special treatment, special education etc. Stop this madness, it is a start down the slippery slope of a Blasphemy law under Sharia law. This is Canada!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Maybe if they followed the teaching of Jesus more then Mohammed they would have more peace then war? \"\n\nI agree but...They?\n\n WE are supposedly the \"Christian Nation\" Perhaps if we followed the teachings of Jesus, we(and they) would have more peace than war.\n\nWE bombed Iraq to help them? I don't think that is what Jesus would do.\n\nBomb Syria to 'help' them...I don't think Jesus would do that either.\n\nConsidering the lies about Iraq and how we weren't really helping anyone...why does the government expect us to believe them on the need to bomb Syria?\n\nJesus spoke of the poor and helpless, in need of compassion. He helped heal the sick.\n\nI believe he would want us to use our collective power (money) to take care of people, provide food, health care, and create great works of love! \n\nJesus would want us to use our wealth to spread love around the world!\n\nIf the US wants to spread Christianity we must show how great it is by example and we're not doing such a good job of that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ah yes, lying John Hobson distorts yet again. Vatican II was not a dogmatic council because no dogmata were issued. No anathemas decreed. The pope who promulgated the conciliar documents declared that it was not a dogmatic council.\nNot being a dogmatic Council does not make V2 a bad council however. Its heretical documents do. Its ambiguous language, leaving important matters open to the most extreme and heretical interpretations, makes it a bad Council. The fruits of that council are right before everyones\u2019 eyes, yet you progressives and \u201cconservative\u201d Catholics just can\u2019t bring yourselves to admit it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My earlier comment \"That is my entire point. Violet is highly educated in religion, ten fold than myself, however stated she does not even know if Jesus existed, let alone was the Divine Son of God. There is clear evidence that Jesus existed, are you stating most scholars dispute this fact? What good is knowledge if it does not include the truth? The New Testament is solely about Jesus. An expert in the New Testament, yet she still is unsure of his existence, that makes me question what she actually knows.\" \nYou completely dodged every question I asked. I think my comment is very clear. I look at things from a Catholic point of view. I could not care less what any purported expert has to say that is in complete opposition to the Catholic Faith. How about answer this simple question - Do many learned scholars dispute that Jesus even existed? Would you take the advice of one that did dispute that fact and question that persons actual knowledge on the subject?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No. I never got that far. I certainly was a young man many years ago. As a young Catholic boy, like most Catholic boys I thought about the priesthood. Back then I greatly admired all priests. Then in 1961,as a twelve year altar boy, I was sexually molested in the sacristy of the Church. Yes, it goes that far back. Today, I can't go into a Church of any kind without suffering flashbacks.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How easy and soon everybody forgets.Does anybody remember the Quiet Revolution?Quebecers were sick and tired of Catholicism being rammed down their throats.The rejection of the Muslim cemetery is not a rejection of Islam but a rejection of religion in general and a victory for secularism,something Quebec has been striving for since the Quiet Revolution.Plus la change,plus c'est la meme chose.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My interpretation of 420's comment was that he was making a joke and the comment wasn't to be interpreted literally. The mechanics of such a thing would be to declare that free speech is the 1st Amendment for a reason and Trumps everyone else's feelings and triggers and to find a way to live with it. Free speech means the speaker has the absolute right to be offensive if he or she (think JJP here) chooses. What makes for a more civil society are of course the endorsements of Christian values...just saying", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Although the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic fraternal organization and a longtime ally of the Chaldeans, is circulating a letter on their behalf...\"\nThat must have been a particularly painful line to publish.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"On the other hand, I doubt Francis would offer Communion to a billionaire, married for the third time, who has a history of philandering and says he has nothing for which to be sorry.\"\n\nThankfully said billionaire isn't Catholic. The Presbyterians are stuck with that billionaire.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would add that the Ontario government appears to be blind to the irony contained in the article's first sentence: \n\n\"The Ontario government is likening a proposed Christian law school's requirement of no sexual intimacy outside of heterosexual marriage to a bar against Jews that existed in the province's legal profession nearly 200 years ago.\"\n\nHello?\n\nOntario in recent years has been wanting to ban the licensing of the Christian law school's graduates, and yet it wants to somehow try to paint the law school (?) as akin to those who would bar Jews?\n\nHello?\n\nThe Ontario government needs to peer into a mirror to see the deserving recipient of its Jew-barring pot-shot...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are better now than you were on your off-the-wall rant \"J'ACCUSE\". But still fail to recognize the importance of respect for the conscience right of those who work for Catholic organizations. Provision of something in health insurance allows the individual to make a choice - it does not require someone to make use of contraceptives. Failure to include contraceptives in health insurance denies many families the ability to make any choice but imposes the Church's teaching on people.\n\nIf the Church/bishops want to treat people like adults, show respect for them, then the bishops will use the power of persuasion, they will try to teach people about their view of what is the right choice when it comes to contraceptives. But they should not be empowered to coerce or compel people by controlling them. \n\nThe whole position of the bishops is in utter disrespect for the individuals who work for them in hospitals, adoption agencies, charities, or who attend their universities.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic Church leadership would like a legal shield that allows them to escape scrutiny from many practices that members and non-members alike find unsavory. The Anchorage Baptist Temple would like a legal shield to prevent disclosure of illegal real estate scams exposed by the divorce of the pastor's son. \n\nI would like a legal shield, too. Not for protection from scandals necessarily, but I think it would look cool hanging on my living room wall. And it might intimidate anyone that discovered photos or documents pertaining to those scandals I don't necessarily need protection from.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That Jesus character, he said so many things. Best to ignore that character and worship the man-made church that claims to be divine.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Talk about blanket statements. I'm a Christian. You think I run around murdering people? Personally, I think Planned Parenthood is a GOOD thing. So much for your assumptions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The 'fault for fewer priests' lies in restricting 'priesthood' to clerics only.\n\nIt is our own human concepts of 'priesthood' that creates our own present problems.\n\nFrom Paul's Epistles, the Christian community has the people with the 'gifts' needed to 'build up the body of Christ'. We just are not recognizing them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Imo, instead of creating the Novus Ordo, they should have made minor changes like allowing the Tridentine Mass to be said in vernacular, allow the people to make the servers' responses, and allowing Communion under both forms (either through intinction or administer the Precious Blood via a fistula). Instead of the often politicized, poorly written \"Prayers of the Faithful\", I would use the prayers from the Byzantine liturgy's Litany of Peace. Beautifully written and covers every conceivable human need. And the Latin TLM should have never been suppressed. \n\nSince Vatican II envisioned organic development from already existing forms, convening a committee to fabricate a new liturgy was not the way to go.\n\nI agree that the Catholic minimalism championed by many here leaves people cold and uninspired.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That would be like the Pope denouncing missionaries and Christian doctors and nurses who work in charitable hospitals around the world. It is the faith in action in both cases.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A priest does not have to run the business end of things in a parish or be in charge of that. However, the Catholic Church tried the more \"democratic\" Protestant \"trustee\" model and it was a disaster. That is why we have the system as we have it now. What happens when the priest wants or needs to preach on something politically not popular? The trustees would run him out of town--as they do in the Protestant Church. I have seen many a Protestant minister destroyed by the trustees. The minister becomes little more than a figure head with a trustee model. The model is great in theory, in practice it is a disaster. \n\nIf all you want is a Liturgy of the Word with distribution of Holy Communion, all that is needed is a lay person. However, if you want the Sacraments of Confession, the Mass celebrated, Anointing of the sick, Confirmation, etc, you would need an ordained priest or bishop.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Like the secular Good Friday holiday? Christmas should remain the Christian holiday it started out as. The rest of us can celebrate \"the holidays\" inclusively, without reference to long-discredited Nativity stories (and with a reduction in treacly music). Canada should designate the Dec. 25 statutory holiday with some other name to suit a secular government. \"Winter holiday\" would do. And the statutory holiday for Good Friday should disappear and emerge as another holiday somewhere else on the calendar.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You got it right. What will matter is the bishops using this as a chance to talk about and educate Catholics on what the Catholic church teaches. I suggest they all put a link to Fr. James Martin's video at America Magazine (\"I was a stranger and you did not welcome me\") and ask Catholics to think and pray about that message. \n\nHow many heard anything about this at Mass on Sunday?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Since I have never said that, I cannot still say it.\n\nI do not claim you are not a proper Catholic. In fact I have never claimed you are any sort of Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You don't believe in Catholic orthodoxy then, forgive me I always took you to be a Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I personally do not understand the comments about Pandora. Like all of us True Catholics, she supported the candidate chosen by the Bishops of the USA. She understands that the role of the laity is to obey the Men chosen by the Holy Spirit to lead the Church. When one is doing that, one is not limited to constraints like honesty, or moral theories like \"turn the other cheek.\" No, one who is doing the Church's work may, in fact must, act like the Bishops, attack all who do not agree 100%, and recognize no boundaries in doing so. This is what Jesus wanted. Stand tall Pandora! You are Right and Just.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I put it in the same class as Obama's put down of Pennsylvania voters for \"clinging to their guns and Bibles\" when he was in San Francisco at that fundraiser.\n\nEven an agnostic like me recognizes anti-Christian bigotry when it is that blatant.\n\nAnd we 2nd Amendment types never forget an attack on that issue, either. \n\nHillary promised a rehash of Obama; added to her own warts, it was too much for many.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This book came out over 30 years ago. It seems to me you're assigning current viewpoints to it's success. The book was viewed as dystopian science fiction, winning notable science fiction prizes, among others.\nThink about it, in the early 1980's US (and Canadian) society was predominantly Christian. It's a sensible plot device.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I guess you haven't read much from St Paul or St James.\n\nAnd you must consider Jesus's own words in St Matthew's Gospel even worse (The Spirit Is Willing, But the Flesh Is Weak). Horrows...how un-Christian", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Apparently no need or concern for salvation. Heaven here on earth. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin considered part of the Church remnant, now that is a hilarious statement. I think I'll stick with the Divine Jesus.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic Church that the souls of the justified go to heaven. If they have sinned since Baptism but have been justified again through the Sacraments of Penanance and/or Extreme Unction these souls may not go straight to heaven but spend time in Purgatory.\nThe guilt of Original sin is not imputed to individuals, therefore deserves no temporal punishment. Babies once justified by Baptism cannot sin until they reach the age of the use of reason and so incurr no temporal punishment, time in Purgatory and there is no reason why, if they die they should not go straight to heaven.\n\u201cFaith is a supernatural gift of God which enables us to believe \u2018without doubting\u2019 whatever God has revealed.\u201d (Penny Catechism). I would suggest that \u2018without doubting\u2019 implies certainty rather than pious hope. Knowledge of the Truth comes to us through reason and revelation and is the object of the intellect the function of which is \u2018to know\u2019 not to take a punt or a gamble upon what is true or not true.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What we feel to be true, isn't always reality. Scripture is quite plain about covenant.\n\nIt also begs the question...why did Jesus tell us to become Baptized.\n\nFeelings often lead us down false holes of seeming security and comfort.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus is the High Priest, offering Himself to the Father as the perfect sacrifice. Our priests act in persona Christi, offering sacrifice again of the Son to the Father. This is Catholic teaching. Do you have a problem with this?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"I did know that the Roman Catholic church did not have a monopoly on the Holy Spirit, or the Gospel or the life of faith\"\nIt's sad but not surprising that some disparage your story Thinking Sister. The quote above from your post reminds me of the question I have resolved: If I leave the RC Church do I leave my baptism behind? Of course not. And it simply adds to my faith that the redeeming Jesus leaves no-one behind. I believe He breaks the bonds of time, space, not to mention culture and religious persuasion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Of which you CLAIM to be a member...\" C'mon, Tri, that's a little snide, even for you. Our Faith is not based on a claim or assertion. Be honest, what if I said \"Tridentinus merely CLAIMS to be a Catholic.\" I won't challenge your Catholic bonafides in any way; I never have. Why do you invite a doubt about the validity and authenticity of an other member of the Faith?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic Church, being divinely protected, will survive. Are you suggesting Jesus' promise is unreliable.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am a gerontologist by training and work experience (in a Catholic Charities agency) and I agree....\n\nWe trained literally thousands of parish volunteers and set up programs parish by parish to address your very concerns.....this was well over 30 years ago....closer to 40 and it was a very good idea....one that should be \"resurrected\" today....\n\nStaffing in parishes was not so tight....we found donations to pay a retired sister to coordinate the volunteers for the first year if the parish would match the salary/stipend the second year....in parishes with high numbers of facilities for the elderly....we had friendly visitors visiting weekly and it didn't matter what the residents faith was....although for Catholics we trained a whole bunch of lay ministers...\n\nWe trained other volunteers in the whole range of public benefit and entitlement programs and available aging services (medical, transportation, et al).....\n\nAND we taught our whole approach in summer school.....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Torah was given to the Hebrews from Jehovah. The \"arabs\" had only pagan multi god beliefs until well after The birth date ascribed to Jesus. Islam did not exist until the pedophile illiterate warlord mo hammed babbled on to justify his hatred of Jews and Christians, at least 700 yrs after Christianity spread throughout the known world. No Roman Emperor compiled the texts commonly used as the Bible. That was done by 2 different councils long before mo hammed was born. The texts were vetted on certain principles-one being that they had to be written within the 1st 100 yrs after the death and Resurrection of the Christ, provably so. The Old Testament, rooted in the Torah, is the history of Jehovah's relationship with His Chosen and prophecies of the coming Messiah to save the world and fulfill the promises HE made. You have NO understanding of the Bible at all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Exactly. In order to obfuscate and distract, Doug readily publicizes some attackers were \"from Christian families\". Any mention or explanation of the very real problems behind the actual fundamentalist superstition responsible for the terror and that Canadians are prevented from rationally evaluating and debating, are not mentioned.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "> He is their employee after all.\nI was under the impression he was their shepard. Their caretaker yes, but also their leader. \n\nIt's not so much a matter of liking it or not, it's a matter of what constitutes the Catholic faith. The way we worship effects what we believe and vice versa. If the liturgy is celebrated with disregard for the norms and rubrics of the Catholic Church is it still a Catholic liturgy?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree completely with the poster. A Cardinal has endorsed Mr. Ryan as being solicitous of the poor. I repeat: a Cardinal has spoken. Like the poster, I have no need for facts, reason, logic, or common sense once I have the word of a Cardinal to guide me. As a True (Traditional) Catholic, I understand my role as a layperson is to follow the shepherds and repeat their statements, blindly.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It sure is to many Catholics, too!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Whose God is Singh's, the cow god? Christianity demands you come to the cross to repent and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior for the forgiveness of your sins. Jesus is the Creator Lord and Savior and God and none else. Jesus is the answer, non other. Only Jesus can change your life now \n for the better and allow you to go to heaven. Check out the countries of other gods. Dismal !", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No - any Catholic will agree that a priest who abuses children should be removed from his position, stripped of his rights as a priest and be subject to the criminal law. Fortunately, the clerical abuse of children is not as prevalent as abortion and it is not considered acceptable or legal. Excommunication for abortion, for men and women who participate in it or facilitate it, was established to underline its sinfulness in the face of its prevalence, normalisation and acceptance.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are misrepresenting the Bible. The letter of the Mosaic Law is not binding on Christians. Mosaic Law consisted of symbolic, dietary, and moral law. Symbolic and dietary law were used to foreshadow Christ and prepare a people to spiritually discern clean from unclean, holy from unholy, etc. The Law was given to prepare Israel and separate them from the nations as God's own people. In the advent of Christ, symbolic and dietary laws are like GPS - when you arrive at your destination, following the GPS directions is completely useless. However, God's morality never changed and the moral foundation of the Mosaic Law still applies. Children should not dishonor their parents yet Christians have no Biblical obligation or even right to stone their children to death. Bestiality and homosexual practice are still sinful and yet no Christian is obligated to or justified by the Bible to kill homosexual or bestiality practitioners.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Had some cardinal dared to criticize Wojty\u0142a, he would have received the Catholic equivalent of beheading, that is, so long as Wojty\u0142a stuck to the neoconservative political line. Their myopic agenda of crony capitalism is the direct opposite of what Jesus taught. It is ironic that their actions, if unobstructed, will prove Marx's right would be delicious if it would not result in economic disaster for so many. I do not share the author's admiration for Wojty\u0142a whom I see as becoming the mirror image of the dictatorial communism which he rightly hated. Adieu friends.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My point is in the implementation of the discernment process. I am not sure many priests will see it as a directional role and letting God make His merciful decision. \nMany Catholics reject the Church's position on sexual morals as the Church has rejected many of the morals outlined in Leviticus. Examples like it OK to stone a wife and selling a daughter to slavery. \nReforms should include not just input from a diverse group of laity but also in the decision making.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Part two of two) That vision enables the Faithful to participate in self-governance in the United States, for, as the Responsorial puts it, \u201cThe Lord takes delight in his people\u201d (Psalm 149: see 4a). Mary, the Mother of God, offers direction, \u201cDo whatever he tells you\u201d (John 2: 5). Liturgy of the Word, Reading 210, January 7, feast of Saint Raymond of Penafort, onetime Dominican Master General for Saint Thomas Aquinas. \n\nJohn presents the confidence and self-assurance of Mary as a model for the Faithful as they enter unchartered waters, bounded on one side by Cardinal Dolan and on the other by Donald Trump with Cardinal Tobin in the middle.\n\nFor a \"Faithful Catholic\" you sure don't have a whole lot of trust in the Church's never-ending journey in God's revelation and our eventual meeting with Christ on the last day.\u2014BROohthor Amen to that.\n\nIf you don't mind, I will just wallow in my own stupidity.\u2014Faithful Catholic Can\u2019t help that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "All the best to you. However, show me one reputable commentary of the Bible that holds the Word of God in high esteem that doesn't believe Jesus said these exact words? There isn't one. Besides, don't you think God would know how to protect His own word? So we do know Jesus said these words. As to nature, there isn't one reputable study that has ever demonstrated homoeroticists are born that way. That is one dubious idea that was proven fraudulent a long time ago. BTW, I lived in the Middle East for a year and a half and so know something about the Taliban. If you think Leviticus or God's law sounds anything like them then you demonstrate how little you know of the Taliban or God's law. But then, what you and I both know you are actually saying is there is one pet sin you wish to defend regardless of what Scripture says. Of course, there are many who defend a pet sin. However, Jesus bid them repent as He loves and died for them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sadly, nothing you can say will change the perceptions of the alt-Catholics that perceive they are more Catholic than our Pope.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "All the young at my parish are traditional Catholics since I go to a traditional parish.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Glad to do my part. As I read over my comments on this thread, I probably should have tempered them a bit. Nobody tempts me toward setting aside my Christian charity as much as the current president, I'm afraid. I need to work on that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "An excellent review, thank you.\n\n<>\n\nNot that the hierarchs give a fig, but I left the church because I couldn't reconcile making financial contributions to an organization that funnels millions into politics via mean-spirited culture war crusades and that supported a demagogue who represents the antithesis of the gospel.\n\nTrump is threatening to repeal the Johnson Amendment. Just wait until the church's reputation as a religious arm of the GOP is formalized. Drip drip drip.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It hurt with both groups, as white Catholics supported Trump by a larger margin this time than they did Romney in the last election, and Trump also recieved about 25% more of the Latino Catholic vote than Romney did. The Democrat still won the Latino Catholic vote by a large margin, but the margin narrowed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Evidently Francis has a different read on hope: \"Christians always have hope, no matter how bleak, bad or uncertain the journey, because they know God is always by their side, Pope Francis said.\"\nBishop Libasci of NH came out against immigrants having \"false hope.\" He never parsed what he mean but it was a way of refusing any attempt for an RC parish to become a sanctuary church.\nPaul's \"Hoping against hope\" evidently is false but the poor, illiterate, downtrodden have had this pummeled into them & when they cling desperately for their life to it the bishop pompously pontificate it is \"false hope.\" Francis did nothing to reprimand him. Holy Mother speaks out of both sides of her mouth.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is a remarkably inappropriate Easter commentary. Venting political frustrations is not taking Sen Kelly's call to \"reflect on what Jesus died for\" in the spirit in which it was offered. Jesus was a spiritual rather than political leader, offering \"peace\" (inner peace, serenity) for all who will accept it. Jesus has often been misappropriated for political causes, but one will be hard pressed to find sound scriptural or theological justification for doing that. Sen Kelly actually offered an opportunity to come together, and Shannyn Moore has squandered it by taking cheap shots instead of expressing something Jesus might have approved of, seeking common ground.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am a pro life Catholic that has voted for pro choice candidates. Factors in my decision include but are not limited to: How the candidate feels about the Hyde Amendment and the HHS Mandate, will the candidates overall policies create an environment where the prospective mother will choose life, the Hyde Amendment and the HHS Mandate, has the pro choice candidate displayed actions that are pro life (Joe Biden is a prime example of this, as he literally got in NARAL's face and told them to stand down when he backed Bob Casey Jr.), the Hyde Amendment and the HHS Mandate, conversely has the opposing pro life candidate displayed actions that are pro choice, the Hyde Amendment and the HHS Mandate, etc. Did I mention how the candidate feels about the Hyde Amendment and the HHS Mandate factors into my decision? \n\nThe libertarian in me says if you guys must have your abortion, pay for it yourselves.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is no one Episcopalian eucharistic doctrine and there is a wide range of theology and practice. Most Anglicans will say they believe in the \"real presence\". Some will deny his bodily presence. Some hold a theory that is similar to Martin Luther's sacramental union, or consubstantiation, in which Christ's real presence in the bread and wine is limited to the time of the celebration.\n\nHigh Church Anglicans hold doctrines close to Catholic teaching. These Episcopalians have similar liturgies to Catholics, reserve communion bread, and have benediction. In doing so, they do not feel bound by Article 28 of the Anglican 39 Articles which state that \"The sacrament of the Lord's Supper was not by Christ's ordinance reserved, carried about, lifted up, or worshiped.\"\n\nNo matter what the doctrine, Christ's real presence depends on the existence of a valid priesthood. The Papal Bull, Apostolicae Curae, declared Anglican Orders invalid and was definitive.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What does \"Catholic in communion with the Church\" mean? If you say \"one who accepts without question whatever the magisterium says\", then the discussion may well come to a screeching halt. Especially if you say \"the magisterium has never changed a teaching\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Here's a radical idea. Attach funding to the kid and not the school building. Any child can attend any school licensed in their province and the school gets the funding based on the kids that attend. If the kid goes to a public school one year the funding goes with them. Next year they could go to a Catholic school and a private school (with parents making up the difference) the next. School choice isn't a bad thing. Except for teacher unions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For Reese to say he's a cafeteria Catholic, or that we're all are, is apparently brave, but only apparently so. Does he really pick and choose on matters that define the faith, like Real Presence? Maybe so, in which case, why doesn't he tell us what those points of disagreement are?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "<< I beg to differ, and the bishops agree, the Catholic Church has authority over all matters. When Jesus placed the three-tiered crown on Peter's head He gave him full authority over everything under heaven and agreed that heaven would act in accord with his decisions.>>\n\nSomehow I must have missed that moment in the Billy Bush video, and I know the three-tiered crown isn't even mentioned in Scripture. HELP!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's a 'private university' that has charitable status and that as such enjoys significant benefits from taxpayers in B.C. and Canada. \n\nThis case is a bit of a sleeper from a public perspective but constitutionally it looms large. It could reset the fulcrum between competing rights in sections 2 and 13 of the Charter - between the acquired rights of one and the innate rights of the other. Sexual orientation is essentially a congenital condition while religiosity is a learned one. If not now, then at some point in the future, courts will declare that the former must take precedence over the latter. \n\nThose inclined toward sympathy for TWU based on its Christian heritage need stop for pause. This faith test, if gone unchallenged, could find itself replicated in ways Canadians might not have anticipated or find nearly as benign.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is not illegal and not uncommon for law firms to contribute to non-profits. The question is whether the law firms were making contributions as a form of quid pro quo to the non-profit in exchange for having clients sent their way. The legality of that would depend on the law in the state where the acts occurred as well as federal law if applicable. I expect it is illegal and probably violates the local legal ethical rules. There is insufficient information available at this time to reach a meaningful conclusion. NCR has jumped on a lawsuit before, reporting allegations made in filings as though they were proven facts. Their reporters show an amazing naivete and ignorance concerning the law. At this point, all we have are unsubstantiated statements made by paid advocates. \n\nHowever, all True Catholics will disregard the facts, because this organization criticizes Bishops, so we know it is bad, because, the Bishops are Good.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, as I said, it's a matter of which you believe. As you know, the Church teaches Jesus did intend to instruct the Apostles via the Words of Institution. In fact, theologians thought so even before Aquinas, and there is evidence that the Apostles themselves believed in transubstantiation, without knowing the metaphysics of it. Remember the reaction of Jesus' disciples when they first heard him talk about eating his body. They accused him of advocating cannibalism. When he persisted, some walked away. Belief in transubstantiation is a central tenet of Catholicism. That being the case, you not only left the priesthood, but by rejecting transubstantiation, left Catholicism as well.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Another poster alludes to the fact that Ryan's economic, social and political roots are in the radical atheistic materialism advocated by Ayn Rand. He has credited her writing with inspiring his political career, and he used to (and maybe still does) require his staff to read her. When it became politically expedient for him to do so, he tried to cloak his economic theories in the mantle of Catholic social teaching -- but in the image made famous by Sarah Palin, you can put lipstick on a pig ... Ryan's economic ideas, and especially his thinking about health care, are incompatible with Catholic social teaching.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Like religion, like politics, as in the past - both are culturally divided today between the clash of institutional interest and people interests/ rights. Power politics do not easily give way to people politics, as Roman Catholic history and big money interests testify.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's beyond me why the most important sentence in AL is in a footnote. Huh? What did the bishops actually decide in their all-male synods? Maybe reissue AL and expand the footnote to a chapter so it makes sense\n\nIt's beyond me why some here, pure as the driven snow no doubt, have to go around calling other people sinners. Take a look at your own soul and your continuing serious sins. We are all learners, not sinners.\n\nAnd this article has as its main point that popes can never be wrong? I guess that is an opinion. Certainly not a fact. Popes are human just like anybody else.\n\nI would like to hear people calling out how they will have solidarity with their brothers and sisters who have been banned from Jesus' Table. Have solidarity with your adult children who have walked away or been banned\n\nI don't mind hearing from 'marginal' Catholics, but seriously, what are they saying? Francis is not a heretic. Popes are supposed to lead, not just be parrots of previous popes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thanks Liliane:\n\n\"not real Catholics\"!!!!!! The triumph of authority over mercy. \n\nOne of the most-used, unfair challenges to inclusion, debate, freedom of speech, education, advocacy, searching, and learning is to cavalierly declare and dismiss as \"inauthentic\" those doing the holy work of discernment and conscience formation, an oft-agonizing and demanding exercise.\n\nAlso, on the topic you noted, nothing brings the discussion to a halt more so than all-male authorities merging \"abortion and contraception\" as equal threats or as \"immoral equivalents.\" \n\nExpertise and experience are necessary but not sufficient components of teaching and learning. Authority must reflect those components or it relinquishes its credibility and its ability. Ergo, \"not real.\" The voice of women must not only be heard and tolerated, it must be respected as the valid voice of \"real\" Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Agree on a single public system with optional training.\n\nAs a kid in Berkeley, I attended public school but we had release time religious ed....\n\nIn our own family (not far from Berkeley) our kids attended a mix of public, private and catholic schools and we paid private school tuition and didn't expect the general public to pick up our private or Catholic school choice costs.....\n\nHave 4 grandkids in college right now and our kids make too much for assistance so they are looking at three 60k tuitions and one state university 45K tuition....the LA Times did a piece on this...come to find out one grandkids picture was included in the article.\n\nLiving costs in coastal cities are high and as my kids often point out to me those yearly college costs are paid with after tax income!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Elizabeth - surely you jest. Christ most certainly said the words of consecration - in Latin - while standing ad orientem at the altar, and most definitely using both a paten and chalice, after which the apostles all knelt at the altar rail. That's in one of the Gospels somewhere, I'm certain of it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What is wrong with Jerry Falwell Jr. and other evangelical leaders supporting this president come hell or high water no matter what he says or does? As an evangelical myself I am beyond disgusted!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The \"imperfection\" of humans is a view unique to a single religion - Christianity, even the other two Abrahamic religions don't subscribe to it - and while others have a notion of imperfection they, such as Budhism, do not include a belief that it cannot be improved.\nSo for people who don't subscribe to Christianity that statement is laughable at best and utterly insulting at worst.\nYour second cliche makes no sense in this context. These things are bad, companies have a responsibility to create environments where they are as rare as possible.\nIf your intention is to claim that putting in place the needed systems to ensure that would lead to \"hell\" then you will have to provide some actual evidence. I don't see how it can have any negative effects at all.\nIn the meantime, just last week, I was asked by a manager to keep an eye on a shy female colleague when we visit a site - he was afraid she'd be harassed. How is that better than just making it a firing offense to harass women ?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is sad to hear this. My daughter raised in christian faith center 1997 we are all there. I find this to be untrue! Casey amd Wendy are an amazing pastors and parents. Great models. I will stand with CFC. AND PRAYERS FOR CALEB AND FAMILY AND THE CHURCH. GOD WILL SEE THIS THROUGH!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The constitutional argument over life is two fold. First, there is federal jurisdiction, which says states have no power in this area of privacy (like in marriage equality, sodomy, contraception or Catholic rights to have parishes in Alabama, and eventually funded Catholic schools). To deny federal supremacy is to support mob rule. Second is the issue of personhood, which Roe puts at viability, which is more general that the constitutional standard of birth. Under Amendment 14, Congress can enforce, meaning, change this interpretation, but it can only go as far as it can get votes, probably week 25.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Polish Catholics and Old Catholics are two branches of the same tree. It is not accurate to say that they are schisms from the left. The main issue, at the founding, was papal infallibility. It was their contention that they, not the Vatican I definition, represented the authentic Catholic tradition. Like Burke & Co. today, they styled themselves as the guardians of authentic Catholic tradition. I suppose the American Catholic Church is more from the left, inasmuch as they were not part of the Old Catholic movement at the founding. I won't quibble about Womenpriest: that is a movement from the left.\nBut the many variations of the sedevacantist ideology and the Lefebvre schism are from the right, as are a whole host of movements and associations that are not formally schismatic, but advance reactionary ideology in the church and society. The Feeney schism was from the right, and it was only partially healed.\nBurke and Womenpriest would make for odd bedfellows, no?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The term \"Koin\u00ea\" for the \"dialect\" of the NT is accurate, but misleading. It's the same as Attic Greek, with just a small number of changes, here and there, in spelling, morphology and syntax. Then there are a few traces of Hebrew or Aramaic expression, \"semitisms,\" esp. imitating the great Jewish Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures that is the foundation of Catholics' Old Testament, viz. the Septuagint. Also, the NT authors each has his own style, Mark, John and Revelation being pretty simple, but Hebrews and the deutero-Pauline Ephesians and Colossians being more complicated and affected (and ugly IMHO; Oscar Wilde said somewhere, \"One of the principal arguments against Christianity is the style of St. Paul,\" and I suspect he meant Eph and Col).\n\nMy degrees are in classics, but my interests are quite theological, e.g. regarding the Near Eastern and Greek pantheons. Lately I'm studying the development of the cult of Yahweh, or better (I think), Yah\u00fbh (Yahoo!).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Grazie, Vincenzo. I think it's important to treat the gospel as what they are, and not what the church would like us to think they are, which is a set of scriptural endorsements of church authority and privilege.\n\nAlthough it's difficult for us to accept, the primitive kerygma of Christian faith says nothing about the existence of a hierarchy. As the church began to take shape, its leaders felt the need to justify their claims to authority, and words not found in the primitive kerygma were attributed to Jesus to make their point, or invented by Paul to impose order on his unordered communities. As you say, the church has consistently stated that its hierarchical structure is divinely ordained, most recently in Lumen Gentium, but that should be taken for what it is: an ecclesial statement that happens to be self-serving, and not a Dominical teaching. \n\nIn the final analysis, I'm not entirely opposed to hierarchy, but I do object to a hierarchy disconnected from the people. -Monica.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Kurgan,\n\nSorry, but in our world today----many of the younger people are fed up with pompous authority figures, heavy ecclesial legalisms and made-for-past-centuries-doctrines.\n \n\nNothing in this entire article spoke of 'how do BOTH communions\n imitate' the Good Shepherd? The Body of Christ is hemorrhaging members---and all we can think of is more 'blood-letting'.\n\nThe Vatican II Decree on Ecumenism recognized that there was SIN on both sides, which brought about separation---not just on one side.\nThere is MORE that joins the Catholic church and the Anglican church, than separates it. One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How about some Know Your Rights under Canon Law training for Roman Catholics?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "SC: I have real trouble with the idea that \"morality\" can't exist w/o Christianity and all those who are \"non-believers\" (including those of other religions) are, by definition, immoral or, possibly, amoral. I know very kind, compassionate, loyal, etc individuals who are a)of other religions, b) athiests, or c) agnostics. By the definition individuals such as Agirl use, these folks simply cannot be moral beings and, sorry folks, are also destined to spend eternity in Hell. I also know, and know of, \"Christian Believers\" who are, in my opinion, (and using Agirl's term) sleazeballs, but they're \"with God.\" \n\nSorry.....if that's the God, god or gods you worship, I want nothing to do with him/her/them. regards. Gary", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Inquisition is nothing new to the Catholic Church. Let the burning and Guillotining of Conservatives, Republicans and law abiding citizens begin.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think this is a world conspiracy and that it is linked to\n the Committee of 300 orchestrating the New World Order through a network of secret societies which control the world's largest financial institutions and governments. The most prominent of these groups include Chatham House, Bilderburg Group, Trilateral Commission, Council on Foreign Relations, Ditchley Foundation, Club of Rome, RAND Corporation, PNAC Feemasonry etc. Rothschild, Rockefeller, Oppenheimer, Goldsmid, Mocatta, Montefiore, Sassoon, Warburg, Samuel, Kadoorie, Franklin, Worms, Stern\u00a0and\u00a0Cohen\u00a0families dominating the financial and political systems of the world are said to be the kingpins who have to destroy moral fibre, national unity and pride, the Christian religion, supress new scientific development such as fusion, bring about post-industrial zero-growth societies, capture policies and world governments and bring about wars and starvation to reduce the world population by half. Please investigate for yourself.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Greek word for their pagan god is Zeus. The god that the Greco-Roman societies coupled with the Christian Church created is Deus [who bears a curious likeness to Zeus.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hatred for anyone for their religious beliefs has no place in Canadian society. That includes Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jews, Christians, and those who practice other faiths. Religious freedom is a cornerstone of societal freedoms and must be protected. So you are correct that Anti-Muslim hatred has no place in Canada. The difficulty occurs though when you isolate and elevate one particular faith for special treatment - which is of course a passive form of discrimination. Lets stick with equal rights for all and special privileges for none!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Update: Sunday 7:00 PST\n\nClinton leads popular vote by over 630,000.\n\n\"there\u2019s a sufficient amount [of votes left to count] to put her within striking distance of Obama\u2019s 2012 turnout, and help put an end to the argument that she simply didn\u2019t work hard enough. ... Wasserman estimates that Clinton could be ahead by 2 percentage points in the popular vote.\" -- The Atlantic\n\nNY Times analyst Nate Cohn estimates a final margin over 2 million votes.\n\nThis blows away all the \"if only Sanders\" and \"Clinton was so disliked\" theories.\n\nIt boils down to the electoral college \"rigged\" system and high turnout by fanatic white Christian evangelicals in Michigan and Wisconsin.\n\n-- Paul", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your snarky sarcasm is duly noted, albeit inaccurate in reality. First off, Bishop McElroy is perverting Christianity, specifically Catholicism, with his misguided promotion of civil disobedience. Bishop McElroy is not making his comments based only on religion. Bishop McElroy's actions are based in part on self-promotion and ego in my opinion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are right absolutely, but this site, most of its columnists and lot of their readers convict themselves as non Catholics by dissenting from Church teaching. They have decided for themselves and I just don't get how they can be so hypocritical and still insist on calling themselves Catholics???\nLet's try this analogy if I was a member of the Democratic Party and publicly spoke against its policies would you say I was faithful democrat?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't speak for Christian tradition or American social/political tradition, except to clarify what those traditions state. When I express an opinion it is myself alone that I represent. I believe in a consistent ethic of life. I do not condone either capital punishment or euthanasia, however well intentioned. I also believe abortion is unjust, but because of its uniquely personal nature, I believe women should be allowed to make that choice for themselves.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Re what Jesus knew, and what he may have thought about himself, as questions inviting division among Christians: I remember a very fun episode of Oprah Winfrey's program (which my late mother used to watch, and I joined her this time with great interest) in 1988, around the time of the release of Martin Scorsese's \"The Last Temptation of Christ.\" She had on her stage three men of the cloth, a Baptist (who had grave reservations about the film), a Lutheran, and a Catholic (both of whom thought it was a grand thing and quite orthodox). Their explanations and conversation were quite entertaining, and became even more so when Oprah opened it to questions from the audience, and a Greek Orthodox priest stood up and condemned the film as blasphemous. There ensued between that priest and the Catholic priest an exchange that could have taken place in the 5th century: \"He has one hyp\u00f3stasis!\" \"Yes, but two ph\u00fdseis!\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The pope is not Christ, he is a magisterial head, in other words a head teacher. Can't we expect a teacher to be clear and not ambiguous?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1. That particular cross is not 75 years old. The cross that is there is not the original cross. The standing cross has been there since the late 60's. 2. If Becket has led you to believe that they represent religious freedom for people of all faiths, you've been bamboozled. Simply took at their case database; clearly they represent just one faith. I doubt Becket would represent Satanists' or Muslims' efforts to put up their own monuments alongside Christian ones that stand on public ground. 3. The plaintiffs (some of whom are local) would be happy if the cross were moved to private property for Christians to enjoy; it doesn't have to be destroyed. 4. This case is not about the \"right to remember.\" 5. Thanks for wasting public funds fighting a losing battle. This case has already cost us over $130,000. \"Pro bono\" representation will not cover AHA attorney fees if Pensacola loses this case.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ask any muslim, including the long and well established in Canada, what would they do to their daughters, if they were to decide to marry a christian boyfriend. That should clear your thoughts.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am Catholic and I know that Catholics hate no one. Just because they follow their doctrine, it does not mean that they are haters of anyone. Stop creating drama where there is none.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Spicey showed the world how a Good Catholic conducts himself during his tenure in the Trump administration. Truly an inspiration to everyone who espouses the teachings of the One True Church. Maybe not so much those who espouse the teachings of Jesus, but He's really no longer relevant, is He?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Dallas Charter requires that once an accusation of sexual abuse is made that the church must investigate said allegation and the subject must be removed from his position until the results of the investigation are released. It is the Catholic Churches own rule and applies to everyone under their employment. Pandora are you saying that Pell should be exempt because of his position of power?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When you say \u201ccheck it out,\u201d is this usage to underscore the value of your Catholic universities education in Rome or an invitation to research something you have learned? On the one hand, I currently regard your education at Catholic universities in Rome as remarkable. On the other, I will need to be pointed to a source associated with your assertions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you mean Catholic as in following the magisterium of the Church, Obama was no friend of the Church. Let's see: abortion up to and including the ninth month, same sex marriage, and no conscience exemption. He said in a speech at Notre Dame that in the ACA there would be an exemption for religious groups and then said no exemptions for anyone. He persecuted the Little Sisters of the Poor, which ensured that Trump receive the Catholic vote.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thanks America. Today epic mess in Afghanistan is the direct result of American invasion and epic mismanagement of occupation. \nBut why did the U.S. invade Afghanistan? To wipe out the Taliban government and kill bin Laden. But why did bin Laden go there? Well, he was in Sudan but the U.S. launched missile strike on this country, an act of war, but failed to hit him. But why did that? Because U.S. suspected he was complicit in the bombing of its embassies in Africa. Yes, suspicion, no proof of direct link. But why bomb the embassies? Because the U.S. installed massive military forces throughout the Arab region including Somalia. Right smack in the middle of Islamic most holy lands. Yes, a repeat of 12-13th centuries Christian crusader war. There you have it. You hit them, they hit you back. \n\nOh yes, the last Christian crusader war lasted 200 years. We still have about 180 years to go on this one.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually, he and his wife came to Alaska with the intent of explaining their faith. It was his mission. It was his goal. \"The Islamic Post, heralded their arrival: \"Shuaib and Maleika Ahmed recently departed to a new frontier in the Alaskan tundra to establish an independent, self-sufficient, purely Islamic village. The family's intentions are to further the mission to unite Muslims and Christians on their similar values.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Colorado business law cannot limit Constitutional protections. Note the recent Supreme Court case ruling that Colorado could not deny religious schools subsidies for non religious purposes. These laws were enacted to undermine Catholic schools. This will not be a contract law case.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You're right. \n\nIt is great that members of the Hawaii Christian Coalition have chosen to practice only opposite-sex marriage and to carry all pregnancies to live birth. As a good American, I believe they deserve peace and happiness, every one of them.\n\nGarrett Hashimoto believes the state should require all of its citizens to behave like the members of the Hawaii Christian Coalition, regardless of these citizens' own religious beliefs. \n\nAccording to its web site, the Hawaii Christian Coalition is interested in protecting religious freedom from secular assault, but this is exactly how to characterize the assault on religious freedoms of non-Hawaii Christian Coalition citizens by this 501(c)(4) organization. \n\nKeep America free, please, regardless of the community information level.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thanks, Bill. It isn't only Protestants who don't know quite what to make of Marian apparitions. This lifelong Catholic struggles with them too.\n\nI think it needs to be said that all apparition stories aren't created equal. The legend of Our Lady of Guadalupe, for example, resonates mythically because it represents God's love for the poor and indigenous people of the Americas (and, incidentally, a certain chastisement for the powers-that-be, including the Catholic hierarchy of the time.) The Medjugorje incidents, on the other hand, seem a bit heavy-handed in their duration and their long-winded and politically-charged so-called \"messages.\"\n\nI consider myself something of a skeptic regarding such things, but I try not to let that skepticism slip into unkind judgment of those for whom they are important. But I do draw the line at the militancy of some apparition fans.\n\nWhen it comes to religion, whatever leads one to a peaceful, just and harmonious life is okay by me.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bill Nye has always been at the forefront defending science. I'm grateful for his passion, putting himself in the line of fire and agreeing to debate in forums that are inherently setting him up to fail (his debate with Ken Hamm at a Christian school comes to mind). Of course, he will win the debate but after the editing for this joke of a documentary I'm sure they'll make him look like he's agreeing with her.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "AT, you resort to insult. You call me a \"stooge\". You say I \"throw tantrums\". You are a poor person. You don't care about the peaceful followers of Islam, why? One can only assume that you don't care about the peaceful followers of Christianity either. When you say \"we\", who is the other person\"? Maybe Peter, your best friend? Most of us care a little about peace-loving people. I would like to have only peace-loving people around me, like Syrian refugees who have a great deal more intelligence and education as well as better personality than you apparently have.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So man up and volunteer eric. BTW we are no longer just a Christian nation per Barack Hussein Obama. Maybe your Islamic friends can take over socialized medicine?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "First error in this article: what constitutes schism. Code of Canon Law 751: \"Schism is the refusal of submission to the Supreme Pontiff or of communion with the members of the Church subject to him.\" There is no need for illicit ordinations or new quasi churches. All you need is precisely what we have and will have in greater degree once the formal correction comes out. High ranking ecclesiastics declaring that the pope and his ardent supporters have fallen into doctrinal error = de facto schism.\n\nSecond error in this article: Jesus forbade divorce to economically/socially protect women. Three Gospel accounts have Jesus strictly forbidding divorce (twice in Matthew). None of the Gospel accounts offer any context except that Jesus was interested in restoring the fullness of marriage from Genesis 2 as well as concerned that men and women committed sexual sin (adultery) through remarriage. \n\nFor MANY, Francis' efforts oppose the words of Jesus and the Tradition. This ain't going away.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of course in 2000 years of history there have been contributions from other cultures as well, the Muslim one being important in the Middle Ages in serving as a conduit for Ancient Greek and Roman culture. So were influences from China and other Asian countries, India, etc. I never implied there were not.\n\nBut our basic institutions are based on our Roman, Greek and Christian heritage., e.g. the 7-day week, our calendar and holiday traditions, our language and expressions, etc.., and there is nothing wrong with that, and there is no reason we should be striving to extirpate these influences from our culture because they happen to have religious origins. That's my point.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "He rejects the CDF's suspension of his facilities. That is where my comment came from.\n\nYou seem to think that the CDF is the same as \"the Catholic Church\". It isn't.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Fr. Z left me off the list. I am crushed, especially because I have the most damning criticisms of the pro-life movement and effectively communicated them to NARAL and the Obama campaign, which used them according to the NARAL Public Relations person who confirmed their impact, which was Catholics voting for Obama at the same rate as the general population. Of course, ignoring the opposition is often the best way to marginalize effective dissent. I wish my fellow leftists would not join them. Troll fighting keeps them too far under the radar. My attacks on the Dubia as the ranting of washed up former bishops provide the best defense of Francis. It is not that I am trying to get to Burke\u2019s level but that he is sinking to mine. Lastly, to defend Francis is to defend Vatican II and the entire Church. All of us who do so wear that as a badge of honor.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"embrace the teachings of the Church without reserve.\"\n\nWe can use Cardinal Law as our example. Will we be rewarded with a nice apartment in Rome like he was?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "youre a catholic?? lol", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bannon was right and said so.\n\nAnd the Catholic right pummelled the USCCB's facebook. Wow. That was fantastic to see.\n\nIt's indisputable that the Federal government has doled out billions to the Catholic Church.\n\nWe're hooked on gov money. Hooked, like a crack addict. \n\nThe Obama admin saw it as a way to buy their support, and corrupted the USCCB over the last years....but it began before that. \n\nNo question.\n\nThe USCCB will go 'gun shy' now, fearing the loss of both Fed gov money, now controlled by Trump (how good is this?) and also now on the right side of the pew$ which give more than the left side of the pew. \n\nI've already sent my well-written letter to my bishop on this topic.\n\nWe need to fully \"detach\" from government money. It corrupts us.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Patriarchy is an artificial culture, not essential for the Christian faith. The sacramental priesthood of the New Law is ministerial, not patriarchal.\n\nFor your consideration and prayers:\n\nReligious Patriarchy in the Judeo-Christian Tradition\nhttp://pelicanweb.org/CCC.TOB.html#CHRONOLOGY", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Once again we get the same old tired tirade.\nCatholics who reject the Church's social teaching can hardly be orthodox. Amongst orthodox Catholics there are differing opinions and beliefs as to how this teaching is implemented. When you say Catholics reject the social teaching you don't define that teaching so one can only conclude that you regard yourself as the sole interpreter of it. In other words anyone who rejects your political convictions is rejecting Catholic social doctrine.\nAs for the code phrase, \"only Catholics who agree with ME,\" are Catholics jibe, you are accusing me of the very thing you do yourself time after time on this site. Not only do you summarily dismiss those who disagree with you, you brand them as liars and worse.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "While yours would make sense were we Anglicans rather than Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And they waived the time period, too.\n\nI'd like to see them dispense with the requirement of miracles, and focus instead on this question: What is it this person's life that Christians can admire and emulate? What in his/her life constitutes a contrary witness? (There's the Devil's Advocate.) A careful, honest examination of those questions should be far more important than miracles in the process.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thomas, you are saying something right given from whom the first three negative comments come. Kudos to you.\n\nI can see how some of Christ's teaching can leave wiggle room for those who don't wish to take their faith really seriously - The poor you will have with you always - for example. It's kinda let the Church off the hook for centuries (about 17 centuries.) \n\nBut you have to do some serious mental contortions to arrive at the conclusion that Jesus endorsed violence, as these posters predictably do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But then, this is the model many clergy prefer, since they have never come to terms with the Vatican 11 model of Church set down in 'Lumen Gentium'.\n\nA fly in the ointment, I know. But there it is.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why is Bannon getting a 60 Minutes interview? He is a has-been whose job is to tell right wing lies. You may as well interview Satan, although I am guessing he was not available. Like any devil, Bannon was right about the Church having problems, although some of them come from dealing with right-wingers like Bannon. It was interesting to agree with Cardinal Dolan on anything, but even he could see how off base Bannon was on immigration. Most Latinos, by the way, are not European (except the light skinned ones), but are mostly Native American. Imagine if Aztec people were given tribal rights. The southwest would never be the same.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Once upon a time, France was \"the favourite daughter of the Church\". Not anymore. So why a conference in Paris? I've suggested before that it is because the French presidential elections are approaching, where the very very right wing Marine Le Pen try to fish in \"tradicionalist\" waters. In her case, as in her father's, tradicionalism is another form of fascism. The party is known by it's Holocaust deniers. I think this tells a lot about \"Front Populaire\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Celiac Disease is quite common in my wife's family. Two of our adult children have it. My daughter's is so severe that even a crumb of gluten will set off a reaction. For many years, our parish priest did have gluten free hosts for her. With or without gluten, she received the Body of Christ. Now, she will be unable to. Do the big shots at the Vatican honestly think it makes any difference to Jesus? I'm sure Jesus has a sense of humor and is laughing hysterically with these new \"regulations\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Catholic school boards are publicly funded\" - I don't think that's a real retort to Old School's comment. He said religion has \"no\" place in publicly funded schools.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Married life provides the \"raw material\" for us to become more than we used to be.\n\nIt helps us to become saints, perfecting our patience, our industry, our generosity.\n\nMarried life is like one long obstacle course designed to make us look and act like Jesus Christ,\n\nMarriage was designed by God for \"kenosis\"...self empting.\n\nSo that's why the Church recommends it. \n\nThere's no faster or better way to become a saint than to become married and to cooperate in God's creative action. \n\nWe become saints in and through the zillion tasks of married life.\n\nIf we let it, if we draw daily streangth from God, in prayer, through the frequent and well-disposed reception of the Sacarments. \n\nIt's like \"BUDS\" for Navy SEALS. \n\nMarrriage - well and heroically lived - will make us saints. \n\nBut if we hold on, if we don't trust God, if we make up our own moral law, if we draw lines in the sand, etc...marriage will just make us bitter and little. \n\nMarriage is an endless source of growth.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm afraid the single greatest expression of polarization in the church is clergy v. laity, and creating layers of clerical hierarchy is probably not the best way to heal that polarization. Sometimes we do things because we've always done them a certain way, without realizing that they fly in the face of the gospel. From what we can tell in the sources, the historical Jesus was opposed to hierarchy in every form, urging his followers not to be like the rulers of the gentiles who lord their position over others (Mt. 20:25). Draping oneself in scarlet robes is not the way to smell the sheep.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Joan - Thank you so very much. I read Richard Rohr's daily emails and over the last six months, he was so brilliantly presented this. For me (and I was a RC seminarian for 10 yrs with a Master's in Theology), the \"atonement\" theory just never worked. At best, I saw it as God not getting over \"Adam and Eve\" and at worse, child abuse. I remember one day when I was in third theology, before a class, one of my classmates look at the cross on the wall and said to me. \"If he did that to his son, imagine what he has in store for us.\" I actually wanted to throw up b/c I had been thinking the same thing for a long, long time. \n\nAs you so well state, the Christ event is Plan A - there is no Plan B. I truly believe as St. Paul so eloquently states, \"nothing can separate us from the love of God.\" Nothing, not our foolishness, arrogance,or sin. Nothing. My mother loved me dearly fully knowing my faults and failings. I refuse to believe that God the Father loves me any less than her.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank god? I don't think the white mans god has anything to do with this. As a matter of fact, since jesus Christ was himself a refugee fleeing a guaranteed death by a propped up despot by the Imperial Roman Empire, just like the many 2 bit dictators that America and Britain props up today, and who lived and breathed to help the less fortunate..... I would say that Trump, his cabinet, and his many racist christian supporters, will all have to stand in front of their Creator when they die, to explain their lives actions against other less fortunate that their jesus Christ helped before being murdered by the Imperial Roman Empire.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Render unto Ceasar what is Ceasars.Render onto God what is God's. \nIt don't come any simpler. There is no reason why a church should be allowed to endorse a candidate but it can talk about the electorate voting with its informed conscience.\n.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My bad, Parker is considered conservative, though she is a Trump basher. So call it 6 to 3. The point stands, the R-G holds a significant liberal bias.\nWhen the R-G makes it 5-4 on a regular basis I'll give it a rest. I'm not looking for Breitbart, just balance.\n\nAs far as Trump goes, he has serious flaws that, as President, don't begin to compare to Hillary's issues, yet he has some skills that will help this country. But the vitriolic nonsense you manufacture (or parrot) about him and Christians bears no semblance to reality and makes the right wing Obama haters look like pikers. Take a break and get a grip. You're far too smart to construct arguments like that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Kudos to you for accessing and reviewing the link.\n\nLiturgical experts have done a historical-critical study of that phrase and it has a history dating back to King James bible but we are talking about 2000 years of liturgical history and experience. You canonize one period which skips the practice of the apostolic church or that the phrase was *inserted* 500 years and dropped after VII. That biblical image has little to do with the Eucharistic action that is going on at that time.\n\nFrom dotCommonweal: https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/it-doesn%E2%80%99t-sing\n\nKey - \"Alas, the translation we are about to receive is clunky. \u201cEnter under\u201d doesn\u2019t sing. It plods. It\u2019s also not idiomatic English. One has to stop and puzzle over the idea that the Lord is entering something or someplace by means of passing under my roof. I\u2019ve found that not a few Catholics have assumed that the word roof refers to \u201cthe roof of my mouth.\u201d", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My God, LoL, the person just died; his/her family is grieving; good memories are being shared; a Catholic funeral was sincerely wanted; pain and tears can be assuaged; and God--far above even the bishop's pay grade--has already made a judgment about the deceased's eternal soul.\n\nThe family just wants a funeral and an honest obituary. How trendy. \n\nBut the bishop wants to do what all loving shepherds and compassionate pastors should do at a time like this--he wants to draw the line! So is it not the bishop who is using a family's grief and a dead person's good name to make a point? Hubris or the \"Joy of Loving\"?\n\nEven after we die, it's the bishop who calls the shots? I hear God saying, \"Hey, Morlino, that's MY call\"? \n\nThis is what happens when clericalism and legalism unite to rid the Church of ambiguity and confusion through Rulebook Religion. \n\nIt's time for other bishops to challenge this rigid--yes, I said RIGID--enforcement that, in itself, gives scandal. Very public scandal.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Really - JPII and Ratzinger publicly removed; restricted; or banned over 80 significant theologians, etc. to squash any and all questions, etc. Sign of fear and weakness masquerading as strength. Catholic justice is not afraid of dialogue, disagreement, etc. Unfortunately, JPII learned something from the Polish Communist Party - how to be authoritarian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why tax the Catholic Church, or any church for that matter, when every dollar that goes to them has already been taxed, in some cases more than once.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In Solidarity as God's People, we are united in mutuality, complementarity and subsidiarity. In solidarity as God's Church, we are united in faith, family and future.\nThere is one ecology of life, ascendant in conscious understanding on the helix ladder of DNA. In solidarity we flourish, in divisiveness we perish; solidarity is not sameness, rather it thrives in openness to differences, in differentiation, whether as People, or, whether as Church.\nWhen we are truly CIVIL, we are truly RELIGIOUS; when we behave with conscience toward one another, toward all other, we are civil and religious.\nThis is how we are Family United, Church United, with a future, in solidarity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My, my! Haven't you read the early Social Encyclicals from Pope Leo XIII like Rerum novarum [1891], Pius XI Quadragesimo anno [1931] [which defended the rights of workers to safety on the job, the right to unionize], John XXIII Mater et magistra [1961] which defended just wages for workers.\n\nThese HAVE BEEN in place for all of this time. But you also failed to understand that just as Christ defended and cared for the poor, so the Church gives a preferential option to the poor---the refugee---the displaced.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I mainly try to emulate him by trying to dampen any dissent to the traditional church, but so many on these boards have gone over to progressive thinking, it is tiring work.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christ however had said that His Kingdom was not of this world according to St John's Gospel. You obviously do not take the Gospels as truth preferring your own interpretation which suits what you want to believe.\nAre you sure that this was the hope of the Zealots among whom was one, Judas Iscariot? \nThe letters of St Paul do not necessarily attest to that belief. He, after his experience upon the road to Damascus experienced a revelation of what Christ willed for the future. Again I mention \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03c1\u03cc\u03c2 ((kairos) the opportune moment, the man for the time; St Paul. That is why his feast day is the same as that of St Peter and they stand together upon the Vatican Basilica.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is also a comment made by Professor Francis Moloney, a senior professorial fellow at Catholic Theological College and current provincial superior of the Salesians in Australia. \n\nMoloney \"told the commission that seminaries in Australia are actually returning to clericalism, rather than training young men to be whole, good priests.\" Quoting Moloney: \u201cThe seminaries are closing their doors, they\u2019re putting garments on the boys, they\u2019re having long Latin liturgies, they like to walk around the streets with their (gowns), that\u2019s what\u2019s happening. so don\u2019t tell me things are changing. A lot of people believe this is the solution to the problem \u2013 make them more clerical than ever. So we\u2019ve got to face these truths.\u201d \n\nThe transcripts of this testimony is available here: http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/case-study/261be84b-bec0-4440-b294-57d3e7de1234/case-study-50,-february-2017,-sydney \n\nYou can listen to today's testimony starting at 6 pm Eastern at the RC website.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That's right, today's evangelicals are guilty of the original sin of their forefathers 1000 years ago! This is a very warped reading of history my friend. Yep, most all the harm of the last 1000 years came from religious conservatives.... However, again, not factually correct. \nSame trend as most critics on here, let's just lump everyone into the same boat.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Phan states repeatedly, for example, that to acknowledge a complementary relationship between Christianity and other world religions is not to claim that the teachings of those religions are in any sense equivalent\u201d \n.\nWithin the article \u201cKey\u201d in the link below, I attempt to demonstrate what the early Greeks understandings were of the Truth, and spirit/soul on the Spiritual/ Astral plane. While also within the drawings provided, what the early Egyptian knew of \u201cDream Structure\u201d that incorporates their understanding of the divine spark /soul held within the confines of that structure.\nPerhaps some may consider reading my article in the link, with the other links, that relate to this matter.\nNote the link to \u201cDrawings\u201d sometimes takes a few minutes to open also it can be downloaded.\nhttp://www.v2catholic.com/background/2012/08/2012-08-17key.htm\n kevin your brother\nIn Christ", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I should have added my parents' reaction: \"Learn everything you can. Think for yourself. You'll figure it out.\" I had no idea that my mother's prosperous farmer family in Ireland supported the labor movement and the Dublin General Strike of 1913, or that my mother's niece had married, in Paris, an editor of the Encyclopedia of Anarchy (anarcho-syndicalism). \n\nAnarcho-syndicaism was a left wing movement that believed in and practiced direct worker ownership of the means of production as opposed to capitalist monarchical proprietorship or capitalist absentee investor ownership or government or party ownership of the means of production. In the Spanish Civil War the Communists, conformists to the Soviet model, came to believe that the anarcho-syndicalists were even greater enemies of the working class than capitalist or fascists.\n\nLater, using Catholic Social Teaching, a priest helped the poor people of Mondragon (Basque) to form what have grown into successful worker owned businesses.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"That is 47 words when only one is needed: Chastity\"-----------------------\n\n\u201cChastity\u201d yes Eliane you are correct, but you could have tempered your response with gentleness and compassion for those of us who know that we are not perfect and in so doing joined the human race.\nkevin your brother\nIn Christ", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Remind me of the Scriptural clarity of who was present at the last supper. I can pull up a visual of a painting--with a womanly apostle at Jesus' side--but no clear Scripture. Help me out here.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Church refers to the LGBT \u201corientation\u201d, quite much the direction in having in it as much as the Titanic setting out a course on the wrong footing, with the lessening of lifeboats (and I imagine preserves as well), wherefore other engineering factors were neglected in the construct of the vessel set out at sea. The Church as well refers to the negligence of the LGBT Community. Mainly it doesn\u2019t work that way. Children, life, exists biologically between two opposite sexes.....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No one can deny that possibility, but it is not necessarily true. Both Orthodoxy and Catholicism hold that there is one sacrament of Holy Orders shared by bishops, priests, and deacons, and that IMHO is the reason the female diaconate is resisted so violently by those opposed to women priests. Phylis Zagano also argues that since deacons are clerics, there are many administrative positions in the Vatican and Chancellories that canon law reserves for clerics that women deacons could occupy. The acceptance factor of having women vested on the altar at Sunday liturgies and preaching regularly will be powerful. There is a risk, but my drachmas are on the table in favour of this as a wise strategic step. If the female diaconate was being offered by those who oppose women priests, then there would be reason for concern, but that isn't the case.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In 1960, then U.S. Senator John Fitzgerald Kennedy-MA and the Democratic Presidential Nominee was invited to visit Texas to speak in front of Protestant Pastors. He said, \" I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute, where no Catholic prelate would tell the president (should he be Catholic) how to act, and no Protestant minister would tell his parishioners for whom to vote; where no church or church school is granted any public funds or political preference; and where no man is denied public office merely because his religion differs from the president who might appoint him or the people who might elect him...and always omitting, of course, the statement of the American Bishops in 1948, which strongly endorsed church-state separation, and which more nearly reflects the views of almost every American Catholic.\" [SOURCE: JFK. Major speech to the Greater Houston (Texas) Ministerial Association. Speech delivered on September 12, 1960).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In listening to the speakers, noting the signs, & costumes, it would appear the whole thing was an attempt to derail the inauguration of a candidate they didn't like, promotion of free contraception, & abortion. As noted by pro-life women's organizations being dis-invited.\n\nFor many years there has been the mantra on keeping the Bishops (Catholic for starters), & clergy out of the bedroom. \n\nYet it is ironic, that those \"free\" contraceptive prescription items are recorded on government or insurance files in who knows how many places, & how many years. And with all the hacking of government files & personal records, we know how safe that is. \n\nSo while there is opposition to clergy in the bedroom, the door is wide open for the government & insurance companies.\n\nKind of the old Si Fi adage about not inviting a vampire into your house, you then have no power over it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not all of Church teaching is Jesus' teaching.\n\nYou need to be more discerning, like a good wine connoisseur.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Baptism, specifically, means washing or cleansing. I don't believe that it is some mystical celebration of water-as-life. If it was sacramental to drink the water, I could see a mystical connection. As we are only sprinkling it (Ezekiel 36:25, etc.) or immersing a person in Baptism, however, I don't believe that the Sacrament \"reflectively\" celebrates \"water to life\" as it would apply to desiccation, hydration, or even a necessary constituent of human evolution.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Life would be so simple if we all were to just follow the Bible and its teachings. If you haven't been reading and following the word of God on a daily basis as Jesus died for us to be able to, please read the following scriptures:\n\nLeviticus 26:27-30\nTimothy 2:11\nDeuteronomy 22: 20-21\n\nTake these scriptures and follow their teachings to the word, and every other teaching in the word of God for that matter, and the world will finally be a sensible place.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The bishops should trouble themselves a bit to look at how much debt our country is carrying (20 trillion), how much our states and municipalities are carrying (more than that) and how much personal credit card debt (nearly 1 trillion) there is.\n\nThis should help explain some of the spiritual malaise and fall off of Catholics.\n\nWe spend more than we earn.\n\nWe expect someone to forgive our financial debt simply \"because\".\n\nWe're too attached to \"buying experiences\" (eating out, etc.)\n\nWe desire \"things\" more than God. \n\nHealth care costs are exploding because people feed their face too much and exercise too little. \n\nWe divorce and that drives up consumption and spending. \n\nWe make wrong choices and build bad habits and then we have spend money on counselors who tell us that \"we should positively affirm ourselves\".\n\nWe drink too much...\n\nPorn use is off the charts\n\nAnd the bishops want to focus on Trump's budget and so does Tom.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Quite right.\n\nAs the Pope has his monthly prayer intentions, NCR has its monthly manufactured crisis intention; this month it's racism. Overuse the term racism as much as possible. Wear it out.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You might want to check out a Catholic Bible.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Amoris Laetitia merely reaffirms (1) the current magisterial positions on remarriage after divorce, and (2) the primacy of conscience. The sole role of the priest in the application of the latter process is to assist remarried divorced Catholics to understand the issues involved. The decision, whether or not they consult a priest, is, as it always has been, one for their own conscience. The ultimate judgement on their decision is, as it always has been up to God. \n\nAny suggestion that any priest has the authority to make the decision in conscience for the couple is a perversion of the Catholic principle of the primacy of conscience, a fundamental ethical position strongly reaffirmed by B16.\n\nThat is the theology. In practice, however, we do have wiser who get it, and less wise priests who abuse their role and incorrectly tell those they counsel what conclusion they must reach. In that context, \"shopping\" for a wise priest in the pursuit of spiritual peace is a good thing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "None of us is worthy, but Jesus promised when 2 or 3 or more gather in His name, He will be present. Who would deny Jesus' promise to anyone?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Pope Francis referred to detractors of Bishop Juan Barros as 'lefties.'...'Think with your heads and don\u2019t be carried away by any accusations made by lefties,' he said.\" (Buenos Aires Herald.)\n\u201cThere\u2019s an expectation that the relationship between Trump and Pope Francis will be difficult to establish [but] that is not the case at all,\u201d Louis Bono, temporary charge d\u2019affaires in the U.S. Embassy to the Vatican, said. (ncronline.org) After they met in May 24, the Vatican press office: \u201cThe two men discussed the good bilateral relations that exist between the U.S. and the Holy See. They also spoke of their \u2018joint commitment in favor of life, religious liberty and freedom of conscience.'\u201d The Vatican expressed hope for a \"serene cooperation between the State and the Catholic Church which is engaged in service to people in the fields of health care, education and assistance to immigrants,\" meaning continued tax-payer funding of Catholic schools and agencies. Trump has delivered for the pope", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "...\"the unbloody reenactment of our Lord's sacrifice on Calvary.\"....\n\nWhile Paul's letters remind us that the Eucharistic liturgy is a \"Remembrance\" of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, if the Liturgy 're-enacts' anything, it is a re-enactment of the Passover supper.\n\nWhich pointed to the coming death on the Cross he next day. Maybe a 'pre'-figurement, but not a 're'membrance, since it had not yet happened.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "With all due respect Your Catholic Church(NcR's version) is not based on any theological foundation but a construct of heterodox teachings started in the early 1900's (modernism) and coming to fruition in the rupture of VII; it is a feel good religion where there is no personal sin and one can do as he pleases and still be in communion with the Lord and with the almighty community. It is embodied in the teachings of modernist nuns and priests who have largely abandoned the teachings of the faith, the latest being the Jesuit General stating we can't be sure what Jesus really said as he wasn't recorded and that the devil is a symbol. \nTHE Catholic Church has a set of traditions and magisterial teachings that one tries his best to adhere to and when one fails, seeks mercy through confession. It is a structure instituted by our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus for the salvation of souls who repent, change their ways in conformance to HIS teachings and live as believing faithful members.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What does Vehementer Nos have to do with Latinos, and colonization? It was written by Pius X about the political situation in France in 1906. In other words, it was an encyclical explicitly directed toward white European Catholics.\n\nPius X was hard on everyone, and that very much included priests. We may not like his style, but if you look at the obedience he required from priests, you'll see that he demanded everyone, laity and cleric, live lives based on strict obedience to the church's authority.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Are you inferring that sex trafficking only involves Catholic girls? That the Catholic Church and bad Catholic homes are responsible for girls going online and being trafficked? That it is then their fault and not that of traffickers?what are the sources for your view? See the film, sir, then comment. Please. Thank you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In all of his \"preaching\" about Catholic social teaching, curiously he didn't mention ABORTION which the crowd he was speaking to is so enamored with. These \"Catholic\" bishops, priests etc. might want to bring up the fact that Trump is pro-life and has no problem saying that publicly. They could learn something from a man who has the courage to stand up for that and not pander to a crowd of leftists.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The CBC presents the Toronto white Anglo-Saxon Protestant Liberal perspective on the world. I am sure that they were very proud of the series until they released it in the real world.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not everybody's elders found the period immediately after Vatican II to be a golden age of Catholicism. Some were saddened the Latin Mass was taken from them. Some were told how they pray was wrong, whether that was the Rosary, the Stations of the Cross, Novenas, processions,and other traditional devotions. Some had their beautiful churches wreckovated...beautiful vestments, statues, high altars, Communion rails, paid for by the sweat of the brow of generations of immigrants discarded like yesterday's trash instead of gratefully accepting what was passed to them. The common witness of Friday penance binding together the faithful, gone. Is it and wonder so many walked away, if what was held sacred one day could be thrown out the next, people thought, what's the point?\nI get that not everything was perfect, but why throw out the baby with the bath water? Fortunately, there are those, including younger Catholics who are preserving and restoring traditions that some wished would disappear", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "According to RNS and Pew, 60% of white Catholics voted for Trump, while only 37% voted for Clinton. http://religionnews.com/2016/11/09/white-evangelicals-white-catholics-and-mormons-voted-decisively-for-trump/ ; http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/11/09/how-the-faithful-voted-a-preliminary-2016-analysis/ That's quite a wide margin.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The pope's hands may be tied, but The Peoples' are not.\nThe future is yet to happen and the will of The People yet to be discerned.\nThe Divine Feminine is above the ideological presumptions of controlling males!\nA New Church is birthing!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That was meant to be a paraphrase of your post. The thought of digging out quotes seemed moremtedious than I wanted to do. Take \u201c...Benedict XVI came under criticism over Assisi and for their failure to turn back the tide of Modernism\u201d for what i described as picking and choosing added to \u201chave long falsely accused orthodox Catholics of also being in the cafeteria.\u201d\n\nThe recourse to infallibility as the only things you must hold or believe is the first step on the road to the Cafeteria. Infallibility pertains to what we need to believe, there are other levels which demand assent, such as things we must hold, though not neccesarily believe, and things we accept with a religious submission. I doubt that JP2 would have limited the cafeteria to just matters of faith, and I am sure Benedict would not have.\n\nIf you simply did not know about he different types of assent, then it makes sense that your comment sounds so confused, and you were not aware of it. My apologies.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You want context? \"Mr. Colbert asked the author why the priesthood is a failed tradition. Mr. Wills responded: \u201cWell, they continue to pretend to turn bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus, which doesn\u2019t happen.\u201d When Mr. Colbert mentioned that the Eucharist is \u201ca mystery,\u201d Mr. Wills responded: \u201cNo, it\u2019s a fake.\u201d A very awkward three-second pause ensued.\"\nhttps://www.americamagazine.org/content/all-things/questioning-garry-wills\n\nTry reading some of the Commonweal articles on him...start here\nhttps://www.commonwealmagazine.org/what-wills-misunderstood\n\nSomehow, I don't think calling the Eucharist a \"fake\" and pretense is particularly Catholic - but perhaps you find it to be one of those \"multiple expressions of meaning\" ?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I applaud the pope's desire for the College of Cardinals to better represent the population of the world. Right now, the deck is heavily stacked in favor of the industrialized nations of Europe and North America. The inclusion of more cardinals from the global south is long overdue.\n\nThat said, there is no predicting where this will take us in years to come. The Church in the developing world has a whole different world view that defies our traditional notions of liberal/conservative and orthodox/progressive. When it comes to what kind of pope this new group of electors will choose in the future, all bets are off.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No death is good. The question is not whether two deaths are better than one, or whether it is good or bad that someone dies.\n\nThe question is whether the ends justify the means. You seem to suggest that the ends justify the means. The end result is all that matters. If we have to kill a child to save the child's mother, we do so. The ends justify the means.\n\nI do not think that way, nor does the Catholic Church. For the Church the ends do not justify the means. For the Church not compromising with evil even when it brings about a good result is what is morally superior.\n\nYes--death is preferable to compromising with evil, even if it means bringing about a good. \n\nI am not saying we can force a women to sacrifice her life to save her child---but---we cannot enable a women to kill her child to save herself. Thus, the women should be sent to another hospital after everything possible is done to get her and her child stabilized.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"They must also ban divorced and remarried Catholics who have not received annulments, women who have or men who father a child out of wedlock, members of straight couples who are living together before marriage, and anyone using birth control. For those are all against church teaching as well.\"\n\nThat's a correct conclusion. Even a broken clock is right twice a day....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I wonder if woman are allowed to become Catholic priests? No? Then why do we have an entirely taxpayer funded school system for Catholics? Shouldn't you be more concerned about that than students using an empty classroom for 15 minutes once a week?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Things Fall Apart.\nBanishment is an ancient secret buried underneath the OTZ Catholic Church. A century ago we missionaries removed above-ground traditional burial stands surrounding Kikiktagruk dumping them unceremoniously in a mass grave. Then we built our church upon these 1200 poor aboriginal souls, thus creating the never-ending psychic distortional havoc we all feel. Nightmares and Day-mares roll up and down our village continually. \nUs Catholics brought an end to the practice of banishment: albeit too late. My missionary predecessors arrived \"too late to save a drowning witch\" (Frank Zappa).\nThey also couldn't reverse time and the traditional banishment of NANA's beloved Prophet Maniilaq. Smart dude prophesized the arrival of my Catholic ancestors, near obsolete Tribal Doctors, Lunar Travel and \"Immik\" (liquor). \nKarlNBun's Grandma Magdeline Tikik lectured that preaching radical gospel got you banished to Nuvruq, near Sheshalik. \nJesus arrived today, we'd do the same.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Michael, I tend to agree with you, but I think we have to be careful not to assume that our experience in the US is normative for the worldwide Church. It may be that Cardinal Sarah, who is way too conservative for my taste, is responding to experimental liturgies taking place in other parts of the world. I find it interesting that he can speak so freely under the presumed aegis of Pope Francis.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Whether a woman was \"prominent\" or \"emerged as a leader\" is beside the point. Considering the patriarchal times in which they lived, it's a miracle that even one or two female figures made it to the Book. During my formative years in the Church there were several good priests and many,many good Catholic women who mentored or led me as needed at the time. Most of them have either died or \"disappeared\" and their names will never be mentioned beyond the oral histories of their own families. The point is those women (and men) were so inspired by the Spirit of the Lord that they made an enormous difference in my life then and continue to inspire me now. They were Church for me. In these more enlightened times and considering the fullness of women's contributions down through the ages, bickering about the propriety of their insurgence into more prominent leadership, such as the diaconate, seems a bid absurd.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have no problem with the Church's concern for reality if the Church confines that concern to it's own reality. The gay marriage issue was a secular issue, not a religious issue. The reality for gays is they did not enjoy the same secular advantages in benefits and tax structure that married straights did. Even if a gay or lesbian couple was raising children, and many of these couples were raising their own biological children, they could not qualify for many benefits to help raise that child. This was a secular issue, not a religious issue. \n\nI would hope you wouldn't have backed a political campaign to support the religiously defined 'reality' of the Southern Baptist Convention when it was using the bible to politically institute Jim Crow laws. But once you step down the road of insisting a religious reality should trump secular reality I don't see how you can avoid supporting another religion using the same rationale unless....you advocate for a Catholic theocracy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I understand that the Democratic Party and the DNC openly abhor and ridicule people of faith. The fact the Democratic Senators openly questioned a judicial nominees Catholic faith was dispositive. The 1A Freedom of Religion clearly doesn't apply to the Democratic Party.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Cont) Most of this is in response to your saying that the Church teaches that the soul is given at conception. While any number of clergy and faithful may be saying that is so, and thereby giving the impression that it is established truth, it is not an official teaching of the church, and the soul's presence at conception is not part of the Church's official pronouncements and arguments against abortion. (For whatever it's worth, I also found it odd that the Church was officially agnostic on this matter.) \n\nI am very much in favor of moral caution, as a general principle. But in this debate, moral caution is widely replaced with an unsanctioned moral certainty, -- that a zygote is, in fact, already and completely a child. What the Church says, officially, is, first, that it could be, and second, that it might as well be. But admittedly, it's hard to get those nuanced positions onto a protest sign.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Phyllis Zagano should bone up on the difference between a day of fast and a day of abstinence before criticizing John Shields's chicken dinners on Friday nights back in the 1960's. And check her calendar as well. \nAfter Pope Paul VI's Apostolic Constitution of 1966, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops relaxed the prior obligation of abstinence (not fasting) on most Fridays of the year. That relaxation covers the years of John Shields's chicken dinners as a young cleric.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"How was the church able to survive for nearly 2,000 years with Scripture alone?\"\n\nThe world is different now than it was before. It is for these last days that God has given a little light to lead people back to the great light in accordance with biblical prophecy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Robin get in touch with reality, if you haven't suggest you read the exec order in it's entirety, these 7 nations in fact harbor and support ISIS. Why are these muslims seeking refuge in jewish & christian nations vs islamic countries?, kuwait, qatar, saudi, bahrain etc. are not letting them in stating fear of terrorism, effects tourism, costs & expenses of harboring them. Any immigrant seeking refuge in the U.S. should justifiably go thru extreme background checks to insure our countries safety. Non-vetting results 2 incidents in France, Belgium, Nece and others all due to extreme islamic ideology, Read the order all countries will be involved. with 911 & the 50 following islamic based acts we are close to 4,000 innocent lost lives. Give the plan sometime to get fined tuned and to work. It's necessary, those with approved visas & green cards are & will continue to come in. Immigrants of course want to come to the U.S, we will get you jobs, food stamps, childcare, education, etc.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Can you explain to us why many of your co-religionists do not recognise the female leading your parish as a priest and therefore incapable of offering the 'mass' or administering any sacrament other than Baptism and that illicitly?\nOn top of that, now that you have 'women bishops' whose orders many Anglicans do not recognise so that any ordinations of men performed by them must be invalid. How does any Anglican congregation know whether a male priest is validly ordained or not. Some years down the line meticulous searches into a priest's ordination pedigree will be necessary in order to distinguish him from being a layman.\nFor your information, as someone who was around at the time, there was no demand whatsoever from Catholics in the pew for any council or any change. The demand came from modernist theologians and who were accommodated by the Pope of the day.\nMuch the same is going on today.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jay, your experience is not the Latin American experience. The priest shortage in Brazil, and the impact of mandatory celibacy on those numbers has been an ongoing topic in Rome since before Vatican II. One solution was the Basic Ecclesial Communities which were lay led and neighborhood or village based. They were very successful in stemming the river moving towards Evangelic/Apostolic churches. There was a fairly extensive training program for the lay leaders, many of whom were women. JPII and Cardinal Ratzinger, as well as some Latin American conservative bishops, soon began to see them as detrimental to the purity of the Catholic faith in Latin America. Specifically for two reasons. The first was the fear of Liberation theology and the second was JPII's belief lay leaders were somehow eroding the perogatives of ordained clergy. Hence, they BEC's were disbanded and the river to Evangelical storefront churches became as wide as the Mississippi.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Simply speaking, many Canadians accept the right of the individual to practise whatever faith she or he chooses on a personal level, but believe when it comes to the collective, religion has no place in Canadian democracy.\"\n\nThe author laments this development but to me it equates with social progress. My father spoke of the stifling role of religion in pre-WWII Ontario society, where communities were deeply divided on the basis of chauvinistic (Protestant vs Catholic) faith and one couldn't venture far beyond one's own faith or identity to find employment, socialize or (God forbid!) marry. WWII, where everybody came together in a common cause, was the equalizer, and after that, according to my father, the increasingly secular society that emerged was more harmonious, cohesive and equitable and offered greater freedom and dignity for everybody. Should this not be the goal in a diverse society? Unfortunately, the nature of religion is to divide. So keep it a private matter.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Really, Rogue Catholic? Welcoming the stranger is in the Gospels. That precedes the internet.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jay - Your assumption is that there is only one way to be Catholic. I am saying that Catholics come in many different varieties. Some, like you, stick with the absolute belief in the \"2000 years of Catholic Tradition.\" That is fine with me for you to believe in that way. \n\nBut there are millions of Catholics who do not accept it all. They, too, are Catholic.\n\nI do not want to \"divide\" the Church. You find strength in your faith your way - that is wonderful. Others find strength in their faith in different ways - and that is what does not appear okay with you. \n\nIt is not either/or. It is both/and. Either/or sees others as those who \"embrace novelties\", such as believing that contraceptives are a blessing in the modern world, that LGBT marriage is an important civil right, that women voting, being educated, having careers is wonderful, that traditions evolve in the face of new knowledge and changes in the world. Either/or divides. Both/and unites.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Had the 70 recommendations of the Commission's report, Population and the American Future, been implemented, a comprehensive U.S. population policy would have resulted. America and the world would be a very different place today. Adoption of this policy would have provided leadership vital to coping with the world overpopulation problem. According to John D. Rockefeller 3rd, the U.S. Catholic Bishops threatened President Richard M. Nixon politically, and bowing to their pressure he disavowed this report. None of the 70 recommendations was ever implemented. The U.S. continues to have no population policy.\"\nhttp://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Report_of_The_Commission_on_Population_Growth_and_the_American_Future", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mr. Rambusch, RIP.\n\n\"Owing to significant popular opposition, the project foundered, but not before I, a young university professor with a bourgeoning liturgical consultancy of my own, learned of how Catholics can go about breaking the Ninth Commandment in the name of defending their view of the Fourth.\"\nFrom this, I gather that the \"typical church-building project in our time [being] a 'team effort'\" involving the laity is true if and only if the laity agree with the \"liturgical consultant\". I am unsure, however, in what manner one might commit a sexual sin when disagreeing with said consultant.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "First of all, the definition of schism given by Fr. Reese is inaccurate. Code of Canon Law 751: \"Schism is the refusal of submission to the Supreme Pontiff or of communion with the members of the Church subject to him.\" There is no need for illicit ordinations and the setting up of another quasi-Church for there to be a real schism. Even if the results of the four cardinals' intervention/formal correction did not mean canonical schism, you'd still have a very open, ugly, public de-facto schism between those with and those against the pope as we already do. \n\nMore to the point, Fr. Reese makes it clear that he doesn't take Jesus seriously. Three Gospel accounts report the ban on divorce and remarriage as adultery. Jesus' rebuke of the Pharisees is not contextualized by concern over the social/economic difficulties of women put away by husbands (although I'm sure he cared about this). The sole context Jesus gives is the Gen 2 plan for marriage and the avoidance of adultery. Full stop.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A gentleman by the name of Lee Strobel in a book called \"The Case for Christ\" uses the question to try to disprove Christianity but ends up converting himself. He was a atheist reporter at the time that he started. He ends up running into various facts that have been run into before. That there is books beside the Bible that mention Jesus, that we have more early copies of the Bible than any other book. He also comes up with my support statements. In short, he makes a pretty good legal case for Jesus being God and the Messiah.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What if the vast majority of Canadians identify with the view that Canada is a country with a Christian heritage, even if it\u2019s just in a cultural sense, and want to ensure that legacy is preserved? Would that be wrong of them? Don\u2019t other cultures elsewhere do the same?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, he rejects biblical liberalism. The same Bible that says the Earth was created in six days, and all species of animals in the world were wiped out in a flood.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It could mean that, I suppose. But do you really think that Jesus meant that? Or that the Church has ever understood it in that way?\n\nOr are we past all that now?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The percentage of \"real Americans and Catholics\" seems to be on the decrease.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Lovely reply Kevin thank you......unfortunately the humility of Jesus has be overshadowed by legalities so obvious within the institution, but understandable when those at the top have made their allegiance not to the church -not to God but the Pope.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm handicapped by a California public education (with a couple of years of Catholic school stuck in there).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "66 in total, 39 in the old, and 27 in the new. those that study say there are no real issues, though non-believers often tout there are. i am in error, i thought it was the woman at the well. but that is not the point. the point is this: Jesus did not just wink and smile and say go on your way, He said: Go and sin no more. I am Protestant- so have no knowledge of the Catholic beliefs about the books included in their version. I am not concerned with exactly when the books were written- but believe the Bible to be, as stated, wholly inspired and without error. but then you say you studied alot, but i don't know what ccd is.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Powerful. Thank you ATF. I go to Mass - occasionally; let the collection plate pass, take the alpha male pontifications with a grain of salt, fester in my ire anxious for (heretically unmerited) Eucharist asking myself whether I believe but strong in my faith that Jesus broke the bonds of space and time and that I am dying, rising too, bit by bit- through him; in Him; with Him.\nI leave angered. If that parish had nothing it could stand; because it has much it fails itself - strange. \nIf the church had nothing it could stand for what it is. Because it has so much it won't and forfeits what it is for. Strange, sad. \nSo, I come here and rant.\nJimmy Breslin said it: the homeless found warmth from the freezing cold in the vast 5th Ave. St Patrick's Cathedral - ill 8pm -when it really got cold. They are told to leave so we can \"lock up\", keep \"us\" safe from you.\nAnd then there is the \"woman thing\" - another rant comin' on...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, I do not buy into this \"war on Christmas\", it seems to me that Christmas celebrations are everywhere...and earlier. If a store wants to say Happy Holidays, then I think that is great, they are wishing everyone a good holiday whether they are Christian or not. I am not a big lover of more stuff, so I have scaled back on that over the years, and hope to have a more quiet Advent by adding more prayer time, more reading of real books, not the internet, and less news. Less is more. As for waiting on the tree...no thank you. I love sitting and looking at the lights, it is very relaxing to me. Happy Holidays everyone...oh and Merry Christmas!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus dealt with reconciliation with God and salvation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is not an opinion Debbie. This is standing in the values of the Gospel.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, you really misunderstand Baptism not only at a deep level but at a superficial level as well.\n\nAnyone who says \"Baptism is merely an outward sign\" misunderstands Baptism. \n\nAnyone who says \"Baptism is merely an outward sign\"..doesn't understand that Baptism \"is necessary for salvation\" (CCC)\n\nMere outward signs have no standing in such weighty matters.\n\nIt's really troubling.\n\nCCC: \"Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit (vitae spiritualis ianua),4 and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: \"Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the word.\"\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Tell that to Jesus. He deliberately chose men after a night of prayer.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Scandal?? Perish the thought! The Church must not have a scandal. Scandal should be avoided by any means necessary, as Jesus repeatedly told his followers. The Infallible Church has deemed Scandal an impermissible state of affairs. Perhaps the Irish Bishops should threaten him with excommunication for threatening this Scandal, the same way they threatened the victims and parents of predatory priests who might cause scandal by speaking out about the crimes of the priests. I, for one, agree with you and certainly disagree with those who claim the Irish Catholic Church is so covered in its own filth that it cannot even pretend to have the moral authority to criticize this priest saying mass in public.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, Roman Catholic priests. The truth was buried though after the collapse of communism. Quite a lot of info on it if you google.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How are we to respond? Well, certainly with an appropriate level of outrage-- have the victims of this massacre even been buried yet? The pastor of the church is thinking of tearing the building down. \nRecall the millstone passage in the New Testament.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\u201cTake the complaint to court\u201d \nWhy clergies too busy raping children & have no time to take complaints?\n\u201cThe point is to get on with life, do what one can without being stymied by feeling sorry for oneself\u201d\nIs faith life in the church not part of life? I thought that is the purpose of life!\n\nI am not feeling sorry for myself; I have not raped children.\nI am out raged that CI (Catholic Institution) condoned clergies raping our children, thus ruining children\u2019s lives and 1.2 billion Catholics faith life! And look at the CI clergies/prelates acting as though they are above the law of God and men!!! That is an extreme thick skinned dishonesty!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, perhaps \"responsible\" is not the right word - accountable might be better. Each of us can only be damned for those things that we \"will\", I agree. Does this mean that we don't have some complicity in the sin, however remote, if we fail to do what we can to mitigate that? I believe that, in some sense, \"tolerance\" can be \"complicity\"; I convict myself of that all the time.\nI don't think in my read of Church action and (admittedly selective) Scripture, that we are totally free of corporate accountability and I believe this particularly true of those appointed to teach, our bishops. For example, on First Fridays we atone for offenses against the Blessed Sacrament, making reparation for the sins of others. While not accounted guilty of their sin, we atone for something done by others. Likewise, in a corporate sense then, bishops may be said to be accountable for their brother bishops and, I feel (not something you will usually read from me), that public atonement is appropriate.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My point was quite clear and had nothing to do with abortion. I have written about abortion in this thread and if you want to respond, go to the appropriate paragraph, but don't justify ignoring my points by addressing an area not mentioned. \n\nTo unpack it my words for you, the bishops are afraid of gay marriage for a very selfish reason. The model of their authority is hierarchial marriage. If marriage is no longer hierarchical, then there is no justification for their lording their power over us like the gentiles do Wait, there is no justification for that anyway, according to Jesus. That is why Francis scares them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Trump, addressing religious leaders in a signing ceremony at the White House, said: \u201cWe will not allow people of faith to be targeted, bullied or silenced any more\u201d.\n\nI assume this includes Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, Daoists, Catholics and any other religious belief system as it rightly should although it is more likely that he is pandering to the Christian right and his idea of targeting, bullying or silencing is likely far from the ideal that all faiths should be free to practice their beliefs without persecution. \n\nThe line between church and state should be clearly drawn to ensure that religionists of any stripe cannot impose their personal beliefs on others and it is certainly troubling that he intends to allow them to participate in political activity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "2/2\n\nI think -- and I hope -- that far more than 50% of American Catholics support civil same sex marriage. I think far fewer support abortion and euthanasia.\n\nHere's the connection I see:\n\"Action on behalf of justice and participation in the transformation of the world fully appear to us as a constitutive dimension of the preaching of the Gospel...\" 1971 World Synod of Bishops", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Although the individual bishops do not enjoy the prerogative of infallibility, they nevertheless proclaim Christ's doctrine infallibly whenever, even though dispersed through the world, but still maintaining the bond of communion among themselves and with the successor of Peter, and authentically teaching matters of faith and morals, they are in agreement on one position as definitively to be held.(40*) This is even more clearly verified when, gathered together in an ecumenical council, they are teachers and judges of faith and morals for the universal Church, whose definitions must be adhered to with the submission of faith.(41*)\" (Vatican Council II, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium 25, 2)\n\nNot every decision has to be settled by a Council. Only those where there is a lack of consensus. It has always been the Church's position that the priesthood is reserved to men. Saint Pope John Paul confirmed this infallible position of the Catholic Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think the title of the article is a mis-quote. I believe he said \u201cCannon law must support Vatican II VERSION of the church.\u201d", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Nicole Sotelo and editor-at-large Tom Roberts talk about the Knights of Columbus and the organization's immense financial influence in the Catholic sphere.\"\n\n\n\nAnd this at the heals of three articles in a row on the same subject, in the same adversarial vein :))) \n\n\n\nLadies and Gents, the season on the K of C has been officially declared OPEN! :)) \n\nNo need to be shy ... bring on as usual the mighty fury of \"tolerance\" and \"inclusiveness\" you are accustomed to. :)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Probably we have milked this play on words more than is waranted, already!\nBut \"indulge\" me one more time \u2013\n\nIf Pope Frncis has given up what Popes indulge in, what a good way to remind people to give up their own private indulgences than by visiting this indulgent Gondolfo garden and saying some prayers for Pope Francis' intentions. Nake it a permanent \"holy door\" and grant a Get out of purgatory free\" indulgence for indulging in the visit.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In addition, Mike, what else is known is that +Ratzinger never wanted to become what he saw +John Paul II become: horribly incapacitated both physically and mentally while in public office as pope. It may be +Benedict's vanity or a simple sense of self dignity, it matters little. But then Cardinal Ratzinger saw what happened to the Church in (St.) John Paul's slow and agonizing decline, and - much to his credit - wanted to save the Church from what he knew was happening to him. All other considerations aside, we are talking about a man who devoted his entire adult life to his Church and to Christ. That is to be respected, and valued, I believe. May God bless Joseph Ratzinger, and may God bless Pope Francis.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I already commented a minute ago about the interpretation of those \"gold-standard\" verses.\nI had to laugh at the comment about faith costing. What hardships does a man like Jerry Prevo endure? He is one of the richest people in Anchorage. He lives behind a gate, drives fancy cars, flies in his own plane etc. \nAnchorage Christians assembly every Sunday in air-conditioned churches. They won't work on the Sabbath but ironically frequent restaurants where harried servers deal with their demands for usually a crappy tip and a religious tract. (Been there, done that.)\nFaith costs? Not really.\nMeanwhile I have a dear friend and her husband in a backwater, village in Africa. They built an orphanage with their own hands and have 147 children they care for. Every day is a struggle. Insects have damaged the corn and beans they planted and will salvage what they can and then start again. They suffer when they are sick. And yet they are the most joyful people I know. They know about real cost.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus is not part of this gun issue in the US. Phony prayers for slain innocents does not stop the proliferation of guns. The shooter in this instance could have carried his fully automatic machine guns in full sight of law enforcement with no problem. The handwriting on this issue was on the wall at Sandy Hook when twenty 'innocent' white children were blown away by a military assault weapon. The second amendment folks said \"Well this is OK as long as you don't come after my guns.\" NRA supporters can just live with the death and carnage caused by unfettered gun access in the US. I just wish they would shut up about 'innocent babies in the womb' because the two seem to co-exist in a very compartmentalized way too many Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You don't achieve eternal life in the Christian faith. Maybe the author misquoted the pastor here but he is dead wrong if he used those words. God's grace through his son Jesus Christ is the only way for eternal life and salvation. There is no \"achieving\". The holy spirit lives within a believer and if that believer continually seeks it out, the holy spirit will take that person where they need to go. Politics aren't black and white, no racial pun intended, so it is not easy for churches to choose a side in the democrat vs republican world we live in in the US. Sexuality is very much a part of the bible both old and new testaments. To properly teach the bible a pastor must be ready to teach bible based sexuality.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Does it matter whether or not I attended UO? Though I did attend the University and obtained a degree, that has no relevance in regards to my support. \n\nAnd no, I don't have any knowledge of your educational background. I can only surmise the quality of said education -- or lack thereof -- based on your comments and the way you write. \n\nTo clarify, what exactly is a \"UN in response\"? I have responded directly to each of your claims, from the one that stated that Trump is following through on his promises to the other, which somehow came out of left field. \n\nAnd to clarify, I am Catholic. My mom is from the Philippines and dad from Iowa. They raised me in a strictly religious household. Just giving you, and others, a bit of perspective that religions are meant to be INCLUSIVE and used for good, not to be exclusive and segregate the world's population.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, I said that, as does Thomas Aquinas.\n\nHowever, saying that the conscience is flawed is also a reasonable statement. Paprocki's conscience leads him to reject his brothers and sisters in Christ, which says to me that it is flawed. Would you agree?\n\nI also notice that Paprocki has not made similar statements about those who use contraceptives, those who are divorced and remarried, even those who have had abortions. His rejection of \"sinners\" seems oddly narrow in focus.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't think the author of this article is a practicing Catholic! Instead of announcing the resignation of the Bishop due to his arthritis he spent 3/4 of the article rehashing why he doesn't like Bishop Henry. 3/4 of it is fake news.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't recommend any politician advise priests or bishops to preach anything and I don't approve of any Bishops or priests pushing politicians overtly to pursue their religious agenda. I believe in the separation of church and state. This separation protects both the church and the state from corrupting each other. \n\nYou need to stop putting all liberals or liberal Catholics into one basket - we don't all agree on every subject. Your assumptions are therefor often incorrect. \n\nI don't like Nancy Pelosi telling Catholic Priests how to preach any more than I like our pope telling Congress how to run our government.\n\nIf a bishop or priest wants to preach that abortion is a sin, I have no problem with that and I agree with him. However, if his preaching is not convincing to his congregation, and they do not follow what he preaches, that does not give him the right to lobby politicians to make his religious agenda into law.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, I'm not of that camp, but not for any ideological reason. But one thing strikes me about Mark's portrait of Jesus (and John's adds some fine shading), apart from Jesus' titles, viz. his teaching with \"authority,\" unlike that of the Scribes and Pharisees. When we consider that this man was able to gather to him a fellowship of deeply committed and not unintelligent followers, who went on to lay the foundations of a major world religion, in the course of a very brief ministry (in Mark maybe no longer than a year; probably a bit longer than that, but not much), we really must attribute to him an extraordinary, unique charisma, the plain sign of the divine presence.\n\nPerhaps the extreme counterparts to the Jesus Non-Christ gang are those who insist he knew everything that would happen to him, and everyone he would ever meet, already when he was a fetus in Mary's uterus, and to say otherwise is heresy. There's an orthodox logic to that; Cyril of Alexandria would have loved it. tbc.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Most \"norms\" love Pope Francis. My conservative (formerly Republican) parents love him, but they do tend to hold moderate positions on issues like gay marriage. It seems like the malcontents are a very small minority within the Catholic world who have a very loud voice online. They aren't \"confused\" about this. They know exactly what Pope Francis is proposing and don't like it because they enjoy people who they think are \"inferior\" to them being excluded. They are basically the parish bullies and gossips who use religion as a weapon against others.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is the whole living Jesus whose body , blood soul and Divinity that is given us as true food .\nNot a ghostly , etherial lolly pop to melt-in-the-mouth . This is serious eating . Savory enjoyment like that of finding delight in the marrow of the bone . That can only be done by holding the food in the hand . And we are taking responsibility and interacting not like baby birds in the nest .\nThis disgust regarding hands needs to be examined for what it is . Didn't God make hands ?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Pope condemns making people feel unloved, unwanted, and unaccepted because they have been told over and over they lack the \"merits.\" Don't we often so abuse many fellow Catholics who, authorities claim, do not \"merit\" full and unconditional trust, voice, and acceptance within the Church?\n\nIf you're told often enough by secular society, by the Church, by teachers, by spouses, by media, or by parents that you lack the merits, you come to believe it, as Francis wisely said. \n\nAnd that sick sin of intentionally creating unworthiness is seldom--if ever--admitted,\nworsened by a familiar abuser's voice, \"We hurt you out of love, for your own good.\" Francis says for the sad and lonely love is the \"medicine;\" but some folks think that's artificial mirth control. \n\nThe loneliness epidemic Francis notes is real, and never more so than for a discerning, prayerful, dissenting-on-some issues Catholic isolated from her/his Church family so cruelly, so frequently, and so unnecessarily.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "To this point since the election I have unable to find, nor has anyone in this discussion to this point been able to cite, a single instance of a priest or bishop endorsing or supporting one candidate over the other.\n\nWhat appears to have rubbed some folks\u2019 fur the wrong way is that they were presented a hierarchy of Catholic teachings with abortion at the top, the platforms of the parties, the positions of the candidates, and told to vote as Catholics.\n\nIf your favored candidate\u2019s position, and that of his or her party, led Catholics to vote for the other candidate, the solution is to lobby that party to change its platform and select candidates more compatible to a Catholic voter.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "After visiting the Providence facilities on many occasions I'm convinced that they are totally inadequate to support the needs of Issaquah & Sammamish high school students and the expected populations. It's unrealistic irresponsible to expect the school district to expend funds to preserve this facility. If you want to preserve it as a historic site you need to find some other Funding source, preferably one that doesn't come out of my tax dollars. Go to the Catholic church or a foundation that has a lot of money for preserving empty 1960s buildings.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Maybe you and your ilk should start a christian NFL. Either that or stick to watching cars drive fast in a circle hoping for the ultimate wreck!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You're missing a piece.\n\nGrace, mercy (and you conveniently forgot justice) are realities as well. \n\nGrace is aid that God freely gives us, more when we ask for it. \n\nMercy is what happens when charity meets suffering. \n\nJustice is a criterion of truth that God uses to judge us! You know, the 'narrow gate', and all of those other teachings of Jesus Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Progressive111, where have you been? I've always been aware of Jews during my school years as they took off for the High Holidays. And the school always accommodated them. I've known a few Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists, but not well enough to know how they'd need to be accommodated. As for Evangelical Christians? What on earth do you mean? Sundays are holidays. So are Christmas and Easter. Holidays, as in HOLY DAYS. And our local school celebrates \"Orange & Black Day\" instead of Halloween because fundamentalist Christians equate it with Satanism", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus warned about strangers and the Bible is full of warnings about keeping borders closed. Your remarks reflect exactly the attitude God mandates for His Followers.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I can legitimately question it and whether any disagreement is consistent with God's will. I respect your right to vote as you choose - I don't have to accept your reasons are valid or consistent with giving proper expression to clear Catholic teaching in these areas.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I know churches that do let women be elders. Does Imago Dei still require females to cover their heads and keep silence, as commanded in I Corinthians 11:5 and 14:21? Of course not: you pick and choose, as \"Neighbor98\" says above. Imago Dei could easily treat women completely equally if they wanted, just ignore the culturally irrelevant verses in the New Testament that prevent them doing so.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If the Church wants to save more souls, it's looking to the wrong demographic and it's using the wrong tool. \n\nThe primary group it needs to focus on is the parents of children about to be baptized, receive 1st Communion, or Confirmation. And at the same time, the children that are the subject of those Sacraments. Why? They are the captive audience. They want/need something from the Church: a way to hedge the bets on their children. That is, they might not like going to Church, but they don't want to miss out on those Sacraments, lest there really is a Hell.\n\nThe tools? The old Catechism questions, oldies but goodies. Help your kids learn them or they don't get the sacraments. Learn them yourself, or you don't get your child baptized. \n\nPeople are not committed to the Church because the Church doesn't' seem to stand for anything anymore but that which is already known: Be nice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mancini: \"It is a document that places the protection of young people as an essential responsibility of the bishops as leaders of the gospel and the church\".\n\nWell seeing will be believing. I just wonder how they are going to get around the Pontifical Secret & Canon Law issues. It is a familiar episcopal statement of intent, that has been articulated many many times. I wonder why I am sceptical. They appear to be updating their drafts to be in line with the Vatican. That does not give room for much optimism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "God has never told us women cannot be called to ordination. If you're referring to the man-made, man-governed institutional church (NB - Not the entire People of God), that's another matter entirely.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I suppose the fact that some folks greatgrandparents, grandparents, parents, and children's graves will go untended, or that marginal parishes attended by the poor and the elderly will close, matters little in the face of the \"good\" these attorneys achieve.\n\nI suppose the fact that these attorneys have lobbied successfully for laws abrogating the statute of limitations, often FOR ONLY THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, counts for naught.\n\nFixing an injustice with an injustice constitutes an injustice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1/2 Gaudium et Spes, Ch 1, \u201cBut in their manner of acting, spouses should be aware that they cannot proceed arbitrarily, but must always be governed according to a conscience dutifully conformed to the divine law itself, and should be submissive toward the Church's teaching office, which authentically interprets that law in the light of the Gospel.\u201d\n\nGaudium et Spes, 16, \u201d .... Conscience frequently errs from invincible ignorance without losing its dignity. The same cannot be said for a man who cares but little for truth and goodness, or for a conscience which by degrees grows practically sightless as a result of habitual sin.\u201d", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"At least none of the bishops followed the lead of Cardinal Raymond Burke who, in an interview published yesterday, again asserted that Amoris Laetitia is not a magisterial document. \" \n\nIn my opinion, the total silence by the USCCB on Laudato Si and Amoris Laetitia is just as scandalous as Cardinal Burke's vocal dissent on a magisterial document of the church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are persistent in your error.\nI do not interpret authentic Catholicism the Catholic Church interprets that and I accept its interpretation.\nTheir is a difference between interpreting what someone says and twisting their words in order to discredit them which is what you do to everyone with whom you disagree.\nAn example of that is your accusation that I disagree with the Magisterium. You say on at least one occasion but fail to point that occasion or any other occasion out. When exactly was that occasion when my disagreement was \"shown\" (presumably by you) and I deleted my post? I have no recollection of either being \"shown\" or deleting a post because of it. I trust you will give us chapter and verse; no paraphrases, mind you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I certainly hope Posner is right. Then, once again, the evangelicals will get whacked. They're on the decline anyway. Time for them to go back to their churches and pray for what they want rather than serving as Republican dupes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Maybe should acquaint yourself with The Bible.\n\nMatthew 25. \n\nCommonly referenced as \"The Judgment of the NATIONS\" Jesus will return and gather the NATIONS before him and divide the sheep from the goats (the goats would be YOU!), justifying his judgment with\n\n\u2018Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.\u2019 Then the righteous will answer him, \u2018Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?\n\nJesus taught us to build a \"giant government\" that's big enough to fulfill his mandate", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pope of the NFL? Pope Francis seems to get a lot of flak for NOT kneeling! By the way, I recently got back from France and the UK and every church (not TLM incidentally) had kneelers. Most used them and some didn't.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I worked in California for 30 years in high school and college environments. About 40 percent of the population is Hispanic and just about every one of them I met was a was a practicing Catholic. Nationally, about 57 Percent of adult Hispanics self identify as Catholic. Over 75 percent of all Hispanics in the United States indicate that they grew up in the faith. About 71 percent remain Catholic into adulthood which is a much higher rate than other groups. Almost 40 percent of all Catholics in the United States are Hispanic and they represent almost 50 percent of young Catholics in the 18 to 29 age group.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "FAITHFUL CATHOLICS:\n\nIn fact, it'd be a good use of the creative aspects of the intellect to generate a whole set of options for resisting evil in this manner, in order to get both the will and the intellect again working toward the good. \n\nMaybe we could use this space to generate some ideas which would work to maintain such interior rectification mentioned above. \n\nSlower service\nOvercooked cake\nOverly loud music\nPower outage\nNoisy machinery next door\nSlow responses on questions before the event\nPrice quotations that are hard to understand\nTepid food\nB team for waiters and waitresses\nBad timing of various sub-events within the wedding reception. \nSlightly dirty dishes\nSlightly wilted flowers\nTable clothes that may not match.\n\nAs NCR reminded me from the webathon recently it's time to \"RISE UP!!\"\n\nIf someone wants to take their \"special day\" in order to \"send a message\"...it's perfectly ok to send a little message back \"just under the threshold\" of obviousness.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What's heartening to me is that the seeds of a more robustly authentic moral methodology have already been planted within the Church and yielded fruit for the world. Catholic social justice teaching precisely complements a deductive natural law approach with personalism's inductive, relationality-responsibility model. These teachings are considered credible and authoritative and are almost universally esteemed in both religious & secular spheres. As Curran has emphasized, this same methodology holds the key to a more authentic understanding of personal morality.\n\nWhat's incredibly heartbreaking to me is that when so many in the teaching office so rigoristically hold to positions grounded in such a seriously impoverished moral methodology, it scandalizes both the faithful and secular society who then question their teachings on central creedal matters of the faith. If they are that out of touch regarding human anthropology, why trust them theologically, they wonder? It's tragic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Th US bishops had many chances to take positions that were consonant with the message of Jesus and chose not to. \nThey may think that they have much to gain with the Trump presidency, but I believe that they have already forfeited so much that anything that they might \"gain\" will be pretty much worthless.\nFrom my perspective, they are reaping the results of an accumulation of of very bad actions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually I am not sure what \"traditionalists\" actually means.\n\nI believe in Scripture and Tradition, tradition in the sense of a lot of corporate thinking and decisions made over 2000 years on mostly matters of faith and morals, and how God wants to help us and deal with us. Unity over space and time. \n\nI absolutely deny that traditionalists say that we are not to think.\n\nI believe God wants us to never stop thinking our way toward Him, and thus toward each other. But we have to get the order right.\n\nIt's an obligation in fact for Catholic when he/she runs across some matter of teaching that appears unacceptible or notrright to unflagglingly think about the matter, read about it, consult others on the matter, until a \"unity\" is worked out, where there is no conflict left remaining.\n\nConflict, in this case intellectual conflict, is a form of disunity....and we are called to be one with Him, using all the means and faculties He gave us.\n\nAnd one of the means He gave us is His Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Jesus had to go to Jerusalem because to avoid confronting the powers aligned against him would have been to admit the impotence of his own message. Jesus wasn\u2019t courting death.... He was simply teaching his disciples that his integrity demanded that he not hide from danger. He had to decide between being true to his message and saving his skin. He decided to leave the latter to God, trusting that his father would also give him the grace and strength to accomplish the former.\"\nHow is it that the custodians of Jesus' message and \"Person\" in the world seem to have either missed that class or have deleted it from their \"play book\"? \nHow is it that these same custodians demand we trust, follow, have faith in them when they seem to have abandoned faith in \"their/our Jesus?\nYoung people see this and leave. The next generation will see that just walking away does not do justice to the job. \nSacrament without transformation is not simply hollow; it is empty.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Would that the lay were more bold and sincere and big in their apologies.\n\n\"We can never be sorry enough for divorcing our wife\"\n\n\"We can never be sorry enough for our adulteries and acts of unfaithfulness in our marriages\"\n\n\"We can never be sorry enough for our many acts of selfishness and licentiousness\"\n\n\"We can never be sorry enough for aborting our own children\"\n\nYes, the lay have much to examine and to be sorry for.\n\nHow comforting it is to ENDLESSLY point fingers at priests or bishops when we have so many things in our lives that we've constructed shabby excuses for. \n\nIn fact, until we face up to our own defects and sins, there will always be the milieu of sin and unfaithfulness surrounding the Church.\n\nWe're a very bad 'support system' for our struggling priests.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Gerry O'Hanlon, S.J., Dublin, Ireland made a really good submission to the Aussie Royal Commission that gives a picture of how the church has moved over the past 1000 years from a more synodal and collegial to a hierarchical and centralized structure. But what is important in this paper is his discussion of culture and context and what made it so difficult for the bishops and the Church to see and respond to the problem of child sex abuse. He, like many others, calls for a more synodal church \"in which the voice of women and men, sexually active and celibate, are heard ...\"\n\nthe submission is here http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/exhibits/261be84b-bec0-4440-b294-57d3e7de1234/case-study-50,-february-2017,-sydney \n\nThere is a second - very good - exhibit by O'Hanlon at the same place.\n\nThe CARA study doesn't deal with what structural changes the Church needs to make. It assumes a status quo that is unrealistic for the future.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Continued from above....\nIf an appeal to Rome were to be allowed who would hear it, the Rota, the Signatura, the new Dicastery for the Family, the CDF; it by no means clear at all.\nIf an appeal was unsuccessful and the bishop who refused Communion was vindicated, would that not answer the 'dubia' posed by the 4 Cardinals and others? \nAll over the world their will be bishops at odds with their Conferences, some in a minority some in a majority. For example there will be a least a few German bishops at odds with their Conference and the Conference has no power or jurisdiction to overrule or discipline them as each bishop is the sole authority under the Pope in his diocese.\nFrancis's failure to clarify his Exhortation has ramifications far beyond the ' Communion' issue. The unity of the Catholic Church is being called into question and only the Pope even through the CDF can ultimately resolve this. If Rome speaks the matter is settled.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually BRian I am a Democrat, and I didn't say what you implied. Those are your thoughts, your words about Clinton. But I am glad to add that the U.S. is directly responsible for inequities in ISRAEL toward the Palestinians that include repression of civil rights, voting rights, water rights, land rights.according to CHRISTIAN Peacemakers in PALESTINE, restrictions to access religious sites which is considered a violation of Freedom of Religion by the UN. Clinton gave an extremely offensive speech at this years AIPAC gathering, offensive to those who value human rights, freedom, justice.. ISRAEL does not, yet, Hillary disregarded our Constitution in allegiance to another country in her speech.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Polish National Catholic Church and the Old Catholics are not two branches of the same tree.\n\nWhile the PNCC obtained its orders through the Old Catholic see of Utrecht, they have never been in complete agreement doctrinally, and some years ago their communion was severed with the ordination of women in the Anglican Communion.\n\nThe founding of the Old Catholics had nothing to do with papal infallibility, which was defined in 1870 at Vatican I. The separation occurred in the Netherlands in 1724 over some arcane jurisdictional issues. It was 146 years later that the Old Catholic see of Utrecht provided orders to the schismatics objecting to papal infallibility.\n\nAt this time the \u201cOld Catholics\u201d are somewhere left of the Episcopal Church in theology and shrinking, while the PNCC is growing smaller by the year and superannuated.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It seems that some 52-60% of white Roman Catholics don't feel the need to go anywhere else, right?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part 1\nLike I said Tridentinus, sounds to me like you haven't read the syllabus in a long time. Go back and give it a read, along with commentaries placing the list in historical context. Over and over again, the emerging ideas the syllabus condemned, have become truisms for virtually all modern people, including arch-conservative Catholics. \n\nAs for Ratzinger, we have to distinguish the early (pre-1968) Josef from the later Josef. The early man was as progressive (in our terms) as they come; the later man was definitely interested in turning back the clock, but back to 1960 not 1860. Neither Ratzinger was an anti-Modernist as defined by the magisterium. \n\nAs for scripture, I would suggest that Ratzinger's acceptance of modern scriptural scholarship as a method was complete, and this is perhaps a prime data point for establishing that he was not anti-Modernism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "All I know of this case, is from the article and comments that I just read.\nBut, it seems that this is now being played in the court of public opinion.\nI truly wish the best for these children.\nAll I can say is what is on my heart.\nOver a half a century ago, before ICWA. I was a abandoned white/Indian kid, who was left on the steps of a Catholic orphanage. After being fostered out for show and tell, many times. A lady who volunteered her time at the orphanage. Took interest in a scrappy kid with coal black hair, and dark brown eyes. I am the man I am today, because out of the goodness/love in their hearts. As they went through the long and expensive ordeal of actually adopting me, and my little brother. Many people will \"foster\" children out of the goodness of their hearts, while others do it for the monthly income. \nAs for ICWA,I have seen both good and bad.\nBeing born a mixed breed. I DESPISE this culture, of Indian rule vs White rule.\nAs we are all one family in God's eyes!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If what you say above is true, then you best explain in some detail why the Orthodox, like Eastern Rite Catholics, permit remarriage after divorce, and the reception of the Eucharist by the divorced/remarried. Be sure and pay particular attention to any limits which these sui iuris CHURCHES may impose on either practice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "cont'd from above --\n\nPope Francis might begin by admitting that the church cannot run or control our American politics as politics are much too complicated for simple religious beliefs - thus in effect refusing the FACTS.\nI wish Pope Francis well but I do not have much hope that he can do anything. \nCome to think of it Pope Francis should begin by excommunicating those Catholics and prelates who empowered the GOP. \nOr, the pope can make such future actions an excommunication.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I mentioned above parity of women and men. Collegiality is different from democracy where there is an attempt to discern beyond political postures.\nMany models of collegiality exist and function. No need to expend endless energy on recreating the wheel. Need goodwill which is not something the boys club of the RCC have in large supply. The Vatican clings to power, repudiating the call to serve. Better minds than I have articulated on this issue & yet the Vatican remains entrenched. It will be extra extraneous to bring the Vatican to its heels. Perhaps the indictment of Cardinal Pell?!\nIf there had been goodwill, collegiality would be in place from top to bottom already.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "128 posts - what a waste of time. Let's break these down:\n16+ posts from RD\n15+ posts from Tridentinus\n15+ posts from TomZ\n10+ posts from mystikali\nwhat happened Rogue Catholic?\nThus, almost half the comments from four right wing, biased, ideological posters - all of the comments repeating the same message with various ad hominems, citing irrelevant points, and always defensive in tone and context.\nHope that the British writer just ignores these responses.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "At the last Catholic parish I attended, the pastor announced about two years out that he was going to be retiring. He told the congregation that he wanted to leave some sort of legacy before he went out, so he set up a consultative process that would have made Mr. Lowney proud. For months, there were meetings and surveys and discussions about what the parish needed, and the conclusion that was reached was that we needed an expansion on the school that included a new gym. This resulted in a set of plans and a roll out of a model of the new building.\n\nTwo weeks before the pastor retired, there was a note buried in the bulletin that the building project had been shelved \"so that the new pastor could be consulted on the project.\" On the first Sunday the new guy was in charge, the first item in the bulletin announced that the rectory was going to be renovated, beginning immediately.\n\n\"Co-responsibility\" is a joke as long as a pastor can overrule any process unilaterally.\nCont...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Principal of the school should award Claudia 100% in an equivalency credit for her tenacity in pursuing this obvious fault in the Catholic school system. It was really the Board's responsibility to develop and introduce this option for all of its students!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As the Bible says, those of you who haven't been left naked and handcuffed to a bedpost after a night of anonymous friskiness, throw the first stone.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I do not agree. Do you believe that God would care who partook of the Eucharist - Jesus shared Himself for all mankind. It would be meaningless as a spiritual source for someone who does not believe that Jesus told us to \"do this in memory of me.\" For the unbeliever, it is a piece of bread. But for someone who does believe, it is a sacred act and Jesus presence is realized by believers in the communal sharing of bread in His memory.\n\nChrist is present in spirit because of the faith of the believer.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Trent,\nYou will see I was commenting on the word 're-enactment'. That's a different word than 're-presentation'.\n\nWhen I offer Mass with the people we are obviously 're-enacting' the words and actions of Jesus at the Passover, before his death. \nThank God! I don't want anyone to think they have to crucify me to 're-enact' what Jesus did on the next day.\n\nOf course, the sacrifice of the Cross did not exist until it happened. You make it sound like it was there from all eternity!\n\nThis does raise an interesting question. You, or others, might like to comment:\n\nWhen Jesus asked the disciples at the Passover supper to 'take and eat' the matzoh, and to 'take and drink' the wine, was he 'present' in two different ways?? Was it a 'transubstantiation' of the passover bread and wine? After all, he had not died yet. \n\nHe was telling the disciples HOW to remember him and his death, for later on, after his resurrection. And gave us a means to share 'communion' with his sacrifice, for later use.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I continue to affirm: yesterday's generation of \"brick and mortar\" bishops have been replaced by the \"lock and leave\" generation, adept at patting themselves on the back into whiplash over their vaunted \"stewardship\" even as they destroy what previous generations achieved. Yes, Catholics have \"made it\" in America, 100 years after Kennedy's birth: we have lost the faith and our parishes, but we are culturally in sync a la Nancy Pelosi, Teddy Kennedy, Rose de Lauro, and the whole generation that proclaimed a \"theology of secularization\" -- right out of the Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Unless Good Pope Francis can stop the Right and the Religious Right here in America his call for peace will go nowhere. Especially given the fact that the American Catholic prelates are/were the ones who were so outspoken that Trump must be elected. \nPopes John Paul II and Benedict XVI were the very ones so demanding that Repubs must be elected, and thus taking their elections out of the hands of the voters and putting our elections under the control of the Religious Right voting bloc. It was they who USED Communism, Socialism, unionism and abortions to deliberately inflame and empower their voting bloc. They used evil means to achieve their ends. Thusly it is they who added to the weight of evil in the world and thus helps no one but those who believe that ANY means justify THEIR end goals. And sooo - we had Reagan, Bush, Bush and now Trump. \nJust maybe Pope Francis should denounce both previous popes. Who am I kidding. Never gonna' happen. Actually admit a mistake nope - no such.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "...said Jesus as he took the lash to the money changers in the Temple.\n\nA lash is a \"weapon\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"After all this time you accuse me of bad faith? Christian of you.\" \nAfter all the discussions we have had in the past, when did you get so sensitive? Did you delete your comment as I stated or am I spreading lies?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For the first time in my lifetime the Catholic Church has a leader with gumption.\n.\nYet merely for having gumption he is labelled \"Progressive\", as an insult.\n.\nAnd the reactionary nutcases in the senior clergy are set to do the \"et tu brute\" dance.\n.\nThis is an organisation that could tolerate and cover up institutionalised child sexual abuse, but it can't tolerate a Pope who isn't obsessed with either abortion or homophobia, and who wants to do something about Climate Change. I.e., the Pope is a normal person, and they just can't stand it.\n.\nIt speaks volumes about the Catholic Church.\n.\nI like Pope Frank. He is a good guy, and his heart is in the right place. But if this is how the rest of them behave, it is long past time to shut the whole thing down under the RICO laws.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I doubt you'll ever be able to make any medical decisions for me against my will anymore than I can do the same to you. You're just another American citizen like me. I don't murder with my body nor do I vandalize or commit hate crimes and what forms of birth control I use are no more your business than it is my business what you say to your children or what you do to your wife. I can tell you that the day that changes will be the day things change for you too so don't go hoping for people's rights to go down the toilet too soon Christian because your religious rights will go the same way. If women aren't safe accessing medical care because of religious fanatics, religious fanatics won't be safe accessing their religion. See how it works?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If WE want to make America great again, then first WE must respect the immigrants among us, for God and the Spirit of God are no less present in them than in US! Maybe that's why Jesus of Nazareth spent so much time and energy calming anxieties and just holding peoples' hands. Even more than our splendiferous places of worship, these \"tired and poor\" ones are the real sanctuaries wherein God makes her home!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"We have a pope who is very worried about the environment.\" the priest said. \"The church's social doctrine also talks about taking care of our common home,\" he said, in reference to the papal encyclical \"Laudato Si'.\"\nBy getting involved in the anti-mining referendum, Sanchez inserted himself and the parish in a national debate over how to use the country's resources.\"\n\nLaudato Si is making a difference. Pope Francis has empowered Catholics to build the Kingdom of God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm commenting based on what conservative Catholics say on this here blog. They claim higher ground because they worked on a soup line once without knowing whether the other person does it every day. \n\n\nNo one gives as much money to charities of any kind as they did in the 1960s proportional to their income. Neither political extreme volunteers as much as they did prior to the 1960s. The culture wars and the increased focus on individualism have eroded any shared commitment to the common good to the degree we once shared that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It IS troubling, indeed. It seems to be true, given the history of the articles, but it is troubling. One is left to wonder what the intent is......\nAnd it is true no organization is above criticism....but one be must be careful about casting aspersions when one is not very forthcoming oneself. In other words....until NCR provides detailed info about contributions received and donations made, perhaps the claws should be retracted?\nAlso - you mention that the real issue has not been addressed. What IS the real issue in your opinion?\nAnd the support both monetarily and philosophically of Catholic teaching is now considered \"political extremism\" deserving of scrutiny?? What do you then think of NCR's \"political extremism\"?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hi KAG,\n\n Good to hear from you. I was in Chicago for a week in August for a vacation.\nHow about my buddy, Joe Tobin, \"smelling like the sheep\" he serves in Newark? We sure miss him in Indy! Blase, too, is authentically pastoral as well.\nI was mentioned in the 125th edition of Chicago Catholic (aka New World), maybe you can figure out my identity. I lived and ministered in Chicago for decades. \n\n Blessings,\n JATK", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "On this issue the Council of Trent is quite explicit: Catholics are required to believe Adam is the single father of the human race and that Original Sin is passed on by physical generation from him to the entire human race. Its not something symbolic or allegorical (although mysterious). The First Vatican Council reiterated the doctrine, as did Pope Pius XII in his 1950 encyclical Humani Generis.\n\nThis does not deny evolution. It does mean that however Adam came to be, there were no forebears who possessed immortal souls and therefore were truly humans comprised of body and soul.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This report deserves close attention, and a second or third reading as it tells us far more then what most comments would indicate. The questions are greatly nuanced and posed in ways that are designed to check for \"accuracy\" (consistency and revealing of detail). What this survey confirm for us, as we have been discussing on these boards for years, is that the Church is in a period of great transition and that the laity is going in a different direction than the hierarchy. The \"fight\" about loyalty to the Magisterium, traditional Catholicism and its practices, and the moral rigidity of outdated beliefs, as well as the failure to recognize and act on the equality of male and female Catholics, creates he growing divide but is basically over. The laity is doing what it places in great importance: the individual conscience determines their choices. Period. The Church missed the boat years ago in not joining with its people to assume a true teaching role: now no one listens to them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree with you entirely.\nWhat are the ways that these women are called to serve the Church? I hope they discern what God is saying to them, so that we all can hear God\u2019s voice more clearly.\nAnd I hope with you that we can do it without biting, devouring and consuming one another.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pretty well versed actually. What part of a series of counter-attacks, defensive wars to regain traditionally (since the 4thC) Christian (and remaining \"pagan\" faiths) states from the 7thC invasion and conquest by Islam makes the associated \"violence and destruction\" of those wars any more \"objectionable\" than any other military-related mascot?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ryan claims to be a Catholic. \n \nI say actions speak louder that words, claims, and his actions are not that of a person who works for the benefit of all. No, Ryan works only for the rich who will never be able to pass through the eye of a needle. Ryan belongs among and takes care of his favorite people, the Scribes and Pharisees of our modern world.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You believe in a soul ? If so, what is it ?\n\nMy God (the God of the Bible) Converts the Dead into Life, because of his mercy and grace. You CANNOT PROVE A NEGATIVE - I THOUGHT WE AGREED ON THAT, SO WHY DO YOU KEEP SAYING THIS ?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Questioning? They should be expressing outrage. \nBut, of course, they will not.\nIt is the Catholic bishops who have supported the party that has been continually obstructionist in the immigration legal reform debate. It is the Catholic bishops who tacitly (and sometimes openly) urged their flock to vote in the current president. \nSo, maybe, instead of questioning, the US bishops ought to be doing acts of penance for doing so much to help bring about the current disaster.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do you think that the way to bring about the Kingdom of God is to make sure a Catechism is placed in the nightstand drawer of every hotel room?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus is equally fully present in each one of us.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Marie Collins first \"litmus test\" on Francis overcoming Vatican reluctance to address handling child sex abuse: \"...First, a mechanism for holding church leaders accountable, operating transparently and justice being seen to be done...\" \n\nAccountability, transparency, and justice. A T J, for short.\n\nAccording to USA Today and Pacific Daily News, a decision has been reached in the trial of Archb Apuron of Guam of multiple charges of child sex abuse, but its' release is \"awaiting judges signatures.\" ++ Burne, appointed to replace Apuron at some point, \"has only been notified that there is a decision, but he does not know the specific charges, the verdict or the penalty, if any.\" Byrnes also said he doesn't know who the judges are. \n\nByrnes also said there will be an opportunity for appeal. So the \"no appeal\" Pope Francis talked about evidently doesn't apply to a bishop. ???\n\nHope the written decision will have lots of detail, so we can see if A T J is accomplished.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Donald Trump's gospel is not the Gospel of Jesus\"\n\nYAHBUT (like rabbit) the USCCBN sure thinks so.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "According to Jesus, God is/was always the 'God of the Living' and Abraham and Moses, the prophets and all humans were always 'immortal' in their spirit. At the resurrection Jesus even paid them a visit. 'Heaven' - in Jesus' time - seemed to be conceived of as being 'in the bosom of Abraham', in the Lazarus parable.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We don't know for sure he did it because there has not been an independent investigation. Also it looks like our bombing killed 9 more civilians including 4 children. That seems to not be simply \"lousy\" but morally wrong and inconsistent with Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Fine--go join a Protestant Church and believe whatever you want.\n\nI choose to be Catholic and I choose to believe and profess the Catholic Faith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Good question. With respect to the religious establishment, the shoes of Jesus and the shoes of Francis might be very similar.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(i)Pope Francis doesn't belong to \"progressives\" or \"conservatives\". Catholic Social Teaching doesn't fit neatly on the left-right spectrum. On Issues like abortion, Birth control and gay marriage it is socially conservative. On issues like poverty, workers rights, capital punishment, war, migrants and refugees, the environment it leans liberal. So the Pope strictly speaking isn't a \"progressive\" or a \"conservative\". He's just a follower of Catholic Social Teaching which contradicts both. \n\n(ii)That is a lot of selective quotations and misquotations there. He didn't compare Trans people to nuclear weapons. That's a popular meme on the internet that has not independent verification. He actually is the first Pope to meet Queer and Trans inmates, states Jesus would not marginalize the Trans community, and when a Trans man and his partner where kicked out of their parish in Spain for transitioning, he forced the parish to accept them back.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The dropping of one nuclear bomb on a city of Japan alone was immoral from a Catholic moral perspective, as was the indiscriminate night bombing of German cities by the British, and the firebombing of Dresden, among other immoral acts during WWII.\n\nThe justification by President Truman was an application of situation ethics, a moral analysis which purports to weigh an action by its results.\n\nSituation ethics is not consistent with a Catholic moral analysis in any situation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Young men radicalized.\nA radical Mormon will leave you a book.\nA radical Buddhist will meditate on universal harmony\nA Radical Catholic will pray for you soul \nA radical Protestant won't talk to you\nA radical Hindu will burn incense\nA racial Muslim will...well just read any newspaper on earth. .", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The evangelical churches in Brazil are cleaning our Catholic clock the way another Brazilian, Amanda Nunes, cleaned up Ronda Rousey last night. They can ordain all the priests they want, but the Church may be too far gone.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes and no, depending upon our perceptions. Personally, I think the CC has a high ceiling for so many, many things owing to its size, global outreach, institutional history/theological tradition of two millennia, and vast demographic spectrum of international adherents. But assuredly one can call China (1.2 billion people) \"another Lichtenstein\" (with its 32 thousand people) and get away with it, too. But Catholicism does not operate as a sect. It is too complex, historically and theologically. It has the same Creed, for example, but different expressions of practice, of the divine, of spirituality (through its religious communities) and a fairly high ceiling for private revelations and miracles. For this reason, Rome's degree of theological accuracy and fluidity (mystical, at times) must be sacrificed to theological conciseness on occasion. A sect, however, does not operate this way. There is no complex, historic spectrum of belief, narrative, nuance, tradition, or mystery in a sect.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christianity is NOT under attack in this country.\nChristian churches are thriving, and anyone can go to them.\nWhat has changed, and what conservative Christians resent, is that conservative Christian values are no longer totally embedded in societal outlook and law.\nGay people are no longer in the closet, in jail, or in mental hospitals.\nWomen are free to work, and not just be content with being housewives.\nContraception is legal throughout the land.\nOther religions are tolerated or accepted. In theory, that was always supposed to be the case. But in practice, it hasn't always been the case.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Just out of curiosity, would you happen to know how many of the cardinals and/or bishops in the US are actually US citizens? I never actually gave it any thought before and it strikes me as odd that non-citizen Catholic leaders might be influencing voters, although they, too, are covered under the First Amendment as far as I know. It would be like a US-born Bishop in Africa influencing votes on birth control there.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What I don't understand, and wish the article had made clear was the reason for this student attending a Catholic school in the first place. Sure a public school would have been the appropriate choice", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Part of the deal?\" Part of the \"deal!!??\" What is this--God's Church or a car dealership? Part of the deal! Good heavens! There is no \"deal\" when it comes to the gifts of God. \n\nBaptism is a gateway to the sacraments in the sense that once you are baptized you are eligible to receive the other sacraments, but Baptism does not bestow a \"right\" to receive the other sacraments. One must be called to receive the other sacraments. God's election of someone for Baptism does not necessarily entail God's election of someone to receive the other Sacraments.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Part one of two) The priest (Tony Flannery) was also told to maintain public silence as he was being investigated.\u2014Joshua J. McElwee Looks like something out of the annals of the administration of The (Pontifical) Catholic University of America, censured for a policy not giving a hearing to professors before firing them. It is well for the Faithful to remember \u201cBecause he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested\u201d (Hebrews 2:18). The problem is doing so with a public Mass, scheduled for January 22, while the Papacy is denying liceity. \u201cGive thanks to the LORD, invoke his name; make known among the nations his deeds\u201d (Psalm 105:1), as distinct from the unwitting deeds of the hierarchs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You wrote:\n\n<>\n\nAgain, this is a straw man.\n\n<<...and claim Catholics in America who vote Republican are not really *pro-life* because of this.>>\n\nProgressives contend that the monomaniacal emphasis on abortion neglects pressing life issues among living, conscious, already-born persons. In the US, the anti-abortion movement is politically aligned with a party vigorously committed to the interests of an economic elite and indifferent or hostile to services for the poor, all in flagrant opposition to the gospel. Therefore the anti-abortion movement has little credibility with progressive Christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you for this reflection. On its own merits it stands for the compassionate understanding that is the Church I stand with. It stands out in such blatant contrast with those Cardinals, and the source of the so-called \"academics\" who not only oppose but are seeking to dis-grace Pope Francis, people like yourself and, yes, it seems, Jesus Himself.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "...\"Original Sin and the Fall from grace is the only possible explanation for God's becoming man in order to redeem the human race.\"....\n\nThe 'Word could have become flesh and lived among us' simply out of Love. God so loved the world that He came to live among us. We all do, indeed, have plenty of personal sins to be redeemed' of. But inheriting someone else's sin is not the ''only ' possible explanation for why Jesus came.\n\nAs Scripture scholars tell us : if there was not actual Adam and Eve there could not have been any actual historical 'sin' or 'fall' to be inherited. It was inspired by God to be a myth form of writing. So there must be a better explanation.\n.. \"could an absolute, perfect God have deliberately created such an imperfect world?\"....\nThat is what the author(s) of Genesis tried to explain in their myth story. The real answer is : Yes. This is the world God gave us. God created what He did. Maybe even, He created evolution. We better learn to live with it & in it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No researcher I, however did a rough calc of RC numbers to population in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Found stats on the percentage of Males and Males RC's who are aged 50 plus. The concluding number was plus or minus 879,000. If white catholic males aged 50 and over had voted for Clinton at the same rate as white Catholic women the resulting number is around 430,000. \nThe total popular vote reported differential in those three states seems to be around 107,400.\nIn so far as my amateurish attempt has some validity \"vous avez raison mon ami, peut etre\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It would be equally weird if you, a white Christian male, wore a turban around town all day, or carried a Kirpan, or wore a Mennonite hat, or dressed like a hasidic jew. \n\nBut Canada is a country that respects religious differences, whether or not they make people uncomfortable. It's in the supreme law of Canada.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christ himself called married men to the priesthood (calling St. Peter's mother in law, anyone?) Natch, of course, eventually the hierarchy decided they knew better and restricted the priesthood to celibate men (in the Western Church). After all, what would a poor carpenter from Nazareth know about running a church; why he did not even own a watered silk red cappa magna!\n\nThat said, Frank you are the pope, you can do it via a pronouncement from the window, but yet we still \"study and talk.\" St. John XXIII was only in power for a year before he decided to call an ecumenical council of the universal church...you've been in four years! You've pushed us to the point where I feel like Eliza continuing to listen to Freddy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As Comment noted, concurrent navel-gazing and star-gazing are physically impossible. At any rate, the image is a flat abstraction.\n\nThe image seems to simply evoke Christ, the Tree of Life, who instituted the Eucharist producing the cosmic, transcendent Body of Christ (in whom there is no male or female). The flower wreath has a variety of spiritual connotations: Love, the Spirit, renewal, the Gardener.\n\nThe negative space you mention is created by the hourglass silhouette. Maybe this is a reference to femininity, though that might be a stretch.\n\nI'm just not seeing a narcissistic motif here at all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I guess you have not been to many sessions of any legislature, either in Alaska, or other states, or the Federal Congress. Sen Kelly was not outside the historical norms, nor did he \"expound\" on his own views in any detail. It is also arrogant to claim YOU know what is in sync with \"Christian teachings\" or not. It is hard to say who is more out of sync with \"Biblical\" teachings? One of which is to leave judgement to God, and not be judgemental ourselves.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ah, Tom, you are right: the cost of discipleship is just that, costly.\nBuilding authentic communities requires the art of compromise--respectful listening is a start.\nCHRIST-like actions come next.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, & the \"Church\" consists of both institution & individuals. And each member will be judged, not on what the institution does, but what that individual does. \n\nAnd when much is given, much will be expected.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What \"hard and fast rules\"? There are precious few \"hard and fast\" rules\" in the post Vatican II Church. As for \"fewer people under the age of 30 in our faith\", go to any traditional Mass and you will find the Church or Chapel packed with \"young people\". They go precisely because they see today's Church withering on the vine of relativism and modernism, and they know there is such a thing as objective truth--truths that were taught clearly and unambiguously taught until VII. They are sick and tired of kumbaya Catholicism. You sound like the post-election democrat spin masters who think the Donald won because Hillary was not sufficiently leftist, and that the party ought to track even further toward a pseudo Marxist nanny state. They, like the modernists, simply don't get it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I understand the need for quality control in the materials used for Holy Communion. We should have some reasonable expectations that bread is bread and wine is wine, without any extraneous additives.\n\nThat said, this is one of those times when the letter of the law might be overriding the spirit. Jesus used the bread and wine at hand when he instituted the Eucharist. It was probably provided by the innkeeper who rented out the 'upper room,' and I doubt he first did a chemical analysis of the product.\n\nBut the greater point is that Jesus used common elements. Wheat-based bread and grape-based wine were staples in first century Palestine, but does that mean that for all times and in all places only those materials should be used? I think that's worth discussion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Funny, none of my elder in-laws (wife's grandmother's uncle was an escaped slave in Arkansas) ever fought for the Confederacy. Average estimate of black soldiers fighting for the Confederacy is 6,500--less than 1% of Confederate forces and, more importantly, less than 1% of black military aged males in the south. May have been as few as 3,000.\n\nAnd this doesn't take into account that most were conscripted (it's not as if it can be argued they had any rights under the Confederates), and \"volunteers\" were frequently of the sort motivated by the desire to avoid starvation. Military rations were better than nothing.\n\nAnd yes, it was about slavery. The first blow for emancipation was also the first blow for the civil war. It was struck by the great Christian martyr John Brown (rah'matullahi alayhi) and his followers at Harper's Ferry.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Vatican II, a pastoral Council, confirmed existing Church teaching.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The laity is as much a part of the Church as the Magisterium. If the laity are angry with the direction of the Catholic Church, most of the blame falls on the Magisterium for their failure to explain their decisions to the satisfaction of the laity. Since God is supposed to support those decisions, this explanation should be easy. Please explain why it is so difficult for the Magisterium to say anything other than \"We told you so, that's why you must obey!\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Indeed, \"You shall not commit murder\" was authored by the Author of us all.\n\nCatechism of the Catholic Church 2270: Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person - among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life.\n\n Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you. - Jeremiah 1:5; cf. Job 10:8-12; Psalm 22:10-11\n\n My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately wrought in the depths of the earth. - Psalm 139:15.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Come on George, everyone knows what you can buy for real money. At the governor's palace early one morning. Pilate, the Roman governor, examines Jesus and decides he is innocent; the Jewish leaders and the crowd demand Jesus\u2019 death; Pilate gives them the choice of saving Barabbas, a criminal, or saving Jesus. (see; Democracy definition) In response to the screaming mob Pilate sends Jesus out to be crucified. According to the Gospel of Matthew, Judas, the betrayer, is filled with remorse and tries to return the money he was paid for betraying Jesus. When the high priests say that that is his affair, Judas throws the 30 pieces of silver into the temple, goes off, and hangs himself.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Here is a quote from a school official, Dr. Christina Connolly, from PBS Newshour. As a Catholic dad of 7 kids, 4 of them w/mental illness, I don't see this show saving lives:\n\"And then they \u2014 in the end, they show Hannah's death by suicide. But they don't show, where can you go to get help? What are things that adolescents can do when these things are happening? They show the substance use, binge-drinking, drinking and driving, the rape, the stalking, all these things, but never does the show go into, where can you go and how do you get help?\n\nHow does your friend help others? When you see your friend who is going through this, where can they get help? But also that Hannah more than likely has a mental health disorder. Over 90 percent of individuals who die by suicide have a mental health disorder, and the show doesn't discuss that at all.\n\nAnd mental health disorders are treatable, and so that, if we help to treat the mental health disorder, that helps to us prevent suicide.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It appears to have screwed up and listened to Jesus and St Paul instead of you and your pastor.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "All the priests, all the bishops, all the cardinals, and all the lay activists who spread the word that illegal immigration was not a sin but a Christlike virtue. \n\nIf anyone besides the truck driver bear responsibility for this tragedy, it is you.\n\nYou're the ones who told these poor people they had a moral right to take residence in the U.S. by any means possible.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Cardinal invited a \"priest in good standing\" to give a series of spiritual reflections about Jesus for Lent. What's wrong with that?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "IMO, empathy is the single-most important virtue/quality lacking in ALL presentations and applications of (supposed) moral law within the institutional Church. I believe empathy precedes mercy, and lord knows Francis is having a hard enough time promoting a merciful application of \"official\" Catholicism. (We see a remarkable lack of empathy in this forum when some get on their white horse of righteousness, waving flags of rules and laws. Funny that Jesus was associated with the humble donkey in the Gospels.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "IMO, the misogyny that is (almost) foundational to the institution is one of the Church's biggest problems. Solve that and welcome women into real leadership roles and perhaps many of the other problems will begin to be resolved. Excluding half of the human race from responding to a call from God and serving in ministry is not the action or philosophy of a church that calls itself the \"People of God.\" \n\n\"But I also felt rage at the fact that, 40 years after my own studies, these women are still plagued by the same issues that I confronted.\" That rage is not limited to women seeking ordination. It can be found in many, many women who have been assigned to second place at the table. These are, BTW, women who are expected to rear their children in the Catholic faith, follow faithfully the no-ABC mandates, serve cheerfully in parishes where they have no deciding voice, and provide male priests for future generations. As EB said above, either ordain women or stop baptizing them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "**FAKE NEWS ALERT***\nFirstly, Evangelical was a word the Europeans used for the term Protestant, but in America is generally used to describe a person who realizes that every person needs to repent and be born again . A Christian means one who believes in Jesus Christ and seeks to follow ALL of his teachings, including the need to be born again, and not just benevolence, charity etc. Calvinist, is so far off the mark it is humorous, I suspect he is getting this confused with the Prosperity Gospel. Calvinism teaches that without God's intervention (being born again), man has no ability to believe the saving message of the Bible. And no genuine Christian believes the Old Testament law applies today, as Christ said himself he fulfilled that law and therefore we do not have to. The Bible teaches life begins at conception, and nowhere does it teach a baby should be sacrificed in any circumstance. Last but not least, how does this person know what \"most Christians\" use for Birth Control ?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mercy flows from humility, which is the chief among Francis\u2019 virtues. Humility does not bow to modernity, but it does listen to what it has to say about the human condition. Francis\u2019 critics show a complete lack of humility in their objections to what Francis and the Gospel say. The sacrifice of Christ, and indeed his life, was the ultimate act of humility, humility before us, not just the Father. No triumphalism here. Jesus was gentle and humble of heart, his yoke (morality) is easy and his burden light. Chaput and Burke don\u2019t seem to be lightening the burdens of LGBT and divorced Catholics at all. They have no idea.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In his reply to that non-Catholic, Podesta implied that his astroturf groups were there to do just what she was requesting: turn the people against their bishops and break the church apart in support of dissenters' position concerning sacramental doctrines.\n\nThis is a far more clear-cut case of conspiracy against the Church than (American) Freemasonry. Why is Canon 1734 not being applied?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"At the same time, leaders such as Reed and Jerry Falwell Sr. never hid their desire to bring change through the election of a president who could elevate and enshrine conservative Christian values on issues such as school prayer, abortion, marriage and gay rights.\"\n\nAdmit it: that could just as easily describe the USCCB.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes it does just keep rolling on and for once, well maybe twice, I agree with you. The reason is my cynical side is kicking in because starting this canonization process is all about affirming Francis' papacy against the trad assault. I certainly recognize that Pope Francis is in the mold of John Paul I, but I don't really think pushing this canonization at this time is much more than a political act. I'm actually kind of sad because JPI was and still is my favorite pope.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I find it very disturbing that a journalist of a reknown newspaper compares \none of the most accomplished athlete and tennis player of our time to a despost and mass murderer! what is the commom point between defending the rights of a minority to sending millions of people to death or to the Siberian gulags? \nM. Court like every celebrity has a direct impact on society especially toward the younger part. It is a fact that suicide and bullying among gay youth takes place too often still nowdays. Denouncing intolerance and discrimination lies in the hands of each citizen but even more so with influential people. M. Court is hiding behind a so called religon to send a message of rejection toward a part of society. She calls herself a Christian but how could she miss Jesus Christ's call of inclusion versus exclusion?\nHad she spoken against a specific race she would have surely faced more uprising than one brave and outspoken athlete such as M. Navratilova.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What is \"menu-crushing\"? I'm not familiar with the term.\nWhether one chooses Matthew or Luke one runs against the same non-conditional call to \"Father\". By \"masculine principle\" I only mean the relationship to which we are called by God - Him as the Loving and Merciful Father, Jesus as our Brother and Savior, and the Holy Spirit (referred to as \"He\" in John) as guide for the Church.\nBy the way. I \"like\" your comments not because I always agree with them, but because they lead us to deeper discussion. Thank you for that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not leave the church entirely, just find a new one that suits your personal interests and beliefs... or maybe you could form your own church and elect a new pope... Pope Fitzpatrick has a nice ring to it, don't you think?!?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ironically, trid is a citizen of a country with a history of persecuting Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "rangerMC, american thinker? you sound like you believe it is unbiased. 'some spiritually enlightened micro-meddler', sounds like it might be mike pence and jerry falwell's kid. the point is that the democrats and the republicans have the same handlers, one step up from them, and it's the same small group of rich, white, christian males that run everything else. they have convinced you, and apparently 62M other americans, that if you believe it, it's true. sad.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As a physician (retired) who worked with county health care systems, mainly persons who are indigent (economic status) many, millions. persons will loose health care access. scandle for our great nation especially in comparison to the health care in the other \"Western democracies\" the inequity in delivery of our health care is a scandel of our wealthy country. I will pray you can access health care maybe through catholic charities if the little we accomplished with ACA is itself destroyed by the upcoming administration.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christmas is a secular holiday in Canada for family and friends and it only a religious one for those that attend some sort of church or place of worship during the holidays..", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Holy Spirit is in charge. He chose Pope Francis and guides him. I pray for Pope Francis' safety several times a day, and ask St. Michael the Archangel to protect him from all danger, not only from those wishing him harm and seeking to do so from outside the Church, but from all those within also. I firmly believe that he is in more danger from enemies within than without. Some, who outwardly pretend to be loyal, are his enemies. These are the insidious gossipers, who spread rumours and insinuations. He knows them well. He means it, when he asks everybody to pray for him. He needs all the Prayer he can get.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Even if it is not a surprise, a father passing away is devastating. We can only pray for his soul that he will find peace on his way to Heaven and that his time in Purgatory is short. That you were able to find grace in the Catholic Mass is a wonderful thing. Thank you for sharing this story.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Layla4 asks \"How does one define being \"from\" a place?\n\nDoes one have to have been born there? Lived there for a certain number of years? What is the cutoff? Five years? Fifteen years? A percentage of one's age?\"\n\nHow about Justin Trudeau and Andrew Scheer were both born in Ottawa. \n\nJustin left first attending Coll\u00e8ge Jean-de-Br\u00e9beuf founded by the Jesuits in Montreal. Andrew who stayed longer attended an Ottawa Catholic high school, Immaculata High School which until 1978 was an all girls institution originally run by the Grey Sisters.\n\nPurely as an aside, former Liberal Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty was born in Ottawa and remained there the longest, attending St. Patrick's High School (once all boys) founded by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.\n\nI would think a more important question for conservative forum commenters would be with Andrew having just turned 38 a week ago whilst Justin will turn 46 on Christmas Day, which one are ewes all going to call \"Junior\" now?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In that case, perhaps the Church should also pick up again its ancient teaching against giving loans at interest, and thus condemn capitalism absolutely. After all, this teaching, unlike the one against contraception, was founded on explicit declarations in Scripture.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are completely correct. For almost 2000 years the mass was said in Latin, by priests wearing the proper vestments, accompanied by Gregorian changes, traditions that began as soon as Peter put on the three tiered crown in Rome. Now, people act as if the ancient traditions of the Unchanging Church were just man made constructs created in the medieval and renaissance periods.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If the Republicans troubles follow the same path as the Progressive Conservatives did in Canada then we could see the emergence of two or more conservative regionally or ideologically based parties. Some varients may include an American First Party, a Southern Christian Heritage Party, and a more electorally viable Libertarian Party. This will happen at the national level for the Republican Party brand will continue to exist on the state and local levels of government just as Progressive Conservative parties continue to be found in most Canadian provinces. The conservative parties will eventually coalesce under a new name just as the Reform/Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservative parties reunited after a decade of competition as the Conservative Party of Canada. Not much of a change in name or ideology in the end. If such a similar course of action takes place in the USA the only change will be that the national conservative party becomes the Alliance for Republican Virtues.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part 2.\n\nNestorius, an Antiocene, was Patriarch of Constantinople in 428. His problems started when his chaplain, Anastasius, said, \"Let no one call Mary 'Mother of God', for Mary was just a woman; and it is impossible that God could be born of a woman.\" This challenged both popular piety and the Alexandrines. Nestorius defended Anastasius, saying,\n\n\"Was Paul a liar when he testified that Christ was 'Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life' (Hebrews 7:3)? No: Mary was not the mother of God. For 'What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit' (John 3:6) A creature did not brought forth him who is uncreated; the Father did not beget from the Virgin an Infant God.\"\n\nNestorius pushed the Antiocene position too far. He posited two \u201csons\u201d of God, one natural and divine and the other adopted and human. Since Mary bore the human son, she can be called \"Mother of Christ\", but not \"Mother of God\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Exactly Steven. None of us who protested nuclear weapons ever stated we were attempting to bring about \"the Kingdom of God\". It is right wing Dominionist Evangelicals and Triumphalist Catholics who have that precise LITERAL agenda. I'm beginning to wonder if MSW isn't purposely trying to minimize that fact in all his articles on the Civilta Cattolica article, an article which is somewhat boldly attempting to point out this fact between the GOP and conservative Catholic believers. This agenda is most certainly effecting US politics and US politicians. To minimize, distort, or 'trump' up some sort of false equivalence with left wing religious progressives is not the least bit helpful.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "El Duque 2\n\"There are no Christian terrorists\"\nThere are several examples, US Presidents brought terrorism to Vietnam and SE Asia. George Bush certainly brought terror to innocent Iraqis.. Canada to Afghans ...............", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Will you post m-d-yyyy for that remark? The only reference I can find for anything like it is sort of blurry, and the quote there means something quite different from what you mean.\n\nI'm hoping your remark is a recognition that the words addressed to the Curia are so that their actions will not cause the little ones to stumble. They are part of a proper discipline to a group that has caused much stumbling through out the world.\n\n\"We look too at how it was in history as it was in our own life, that there've been beautiful moments of faithfulness and brutal moments of sin. But the Lord is there, with his hand stretched out to pick us up and say: \"Go forward!\" And this is the Christian life: go forward, toward that definitive meeting. This path of such intensity, in keeping vigil for the Lord's coming, never loses the grace of memory, of looking inside on all that the Lord has done for us, for the Church, across salvation history.\" Pope to cardinals on his birthday 2016", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is sad, I read one of his books (\"A Bold Fresh...\", you can check it out from the Hawaii State Library with your library card) .....raised Catholic........why did he get off the path?.......Sexual harassment is nothing to dismiss.\n\nWatch this guy land on his feet at some Cable program or Blog spot.......he will not just go away.....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Curious, as to how many real brothers of charity are left?\nSeems lay persons are doing the managing.\nDidn't Jesus proclaim the right to die in one's own way?\n\"No one takes my life from me. I lay it down of my own accord.\" John 10:18\nWhen was the last (first) time you ever heard a homily on this test?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thanks, CAEL. I'm not surprised by any of this. I know what the pattern has been with other seminaries and Catholic universities. Bishops come in who don't like what they consider the \"liberal\" bent of a long-standing institution, so they reinvent it according to their own preferences.\n\nMy observation about such situations is that the primary qualification these bishops look for in their new faculty members is loyalty to the magisterium. Such things as scholarship, pastoral sensitivity and the ability to actually teach are secondary considerations. The priests they produce tend to be long on rules and regulations and short on much else.\n\nI think the sad result of all this is a chipping away at the authentic Catholic intellectual tradition that has been the crowning glory of the Church in the U.S. Revered bastions of Catholic higher education like Notre Dame and Boston College are being replaced by uninspired schools where inbred thought rules the day. It's a real shame.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Trump needs to pass this despite the Americans hurt by it as he can just lie about it later. Senator McConnell's agenda is tax cuts for the rich and he knows beyond the shadow of a doubt what a colossal mistake it was pairing that to his original \"white males only\" health bill. Pass this and the poor, oppressed, rich folks can get their tax cuts later. Senator Sullivan, being somewhat insulated, by wealth and easy access to healthcare, hasn't been in politics long enough to know that the mob supporting him can also turn on him. They won't take responsibility anymore than the President. That leaves the D.C.educated Alaskan daughter of a former Governor/Senator that, raised as a Catholic and experienced in small state politics, knows that doing the right thing is rarely a mistake. Being on the morally right side may increase, not decrease, her power down range. One thing is for sure, this has to be the worst time ever to be a Republican Senator, after all they did promise death panels.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Aspen7, don't prevaricate. The onus is not on people who are bothered by dangerous dogma (that has indisputably caused centuries of misery for many) to entertain irrelevant doctrinal niceties or theological musings. The onus is on Catholics to justify the still very official Vatican dogma that casts women as lesser beings and LGBTQ as sinners. And to justify the ongoing oppression against both classes. Period. Layla4's remark has everything to do with what the article spoils against, homophobia. Layla4 simply points out that the basis for Catholic persecution of LGBTQ is a bunch of made up stuff. If LGBTQ weren't suffering, she wouldn't have had to say it. Please deal.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, authority comes from God, and the Church is not a democracy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You know, I find it curious that Jesus on the cross never has any body hair (even armpit hair) and wonder if since Our Lord is perfect, His six-pack came naturally.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is correct. About 10 years ago, a close friend was called by her Baptist congregation to consider ordained ministry . They helped support her when she went back to school to earn a Doctor of Divinity. I attended her ordination, which was held at her church. She was invited to pastor several churches, but decided to be a chaplain instead. The associate pastor of the Episcopal church we attend, a woman, was at one time an ordained Baptist minister and pastor of a Baptist church. After a lot of prayer and reflection, she left the Baptist church and joined the Episcopal church, returned to seminary, this time an Episcopal seminary, and was ordained a priest. She is a wonderful priest. Her Baptist background also prepared her to be an amazing homilist.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I speak for the Word of God in Scripture and in the Magisterium of the Catholic Church which condemns sexual activity between couples of the same sex. You know perfectly well that my posts simply repeat what the Catholic Church teaches and from the tone of your comments it annoys you in much the same way as Herod was annoyed by John the Baptist for continually reminding him of the truth.\nNo need to worry, I am here for the duration. \ud83d\ude0e", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you for this.\n\nYes, Chrysostom has a number of very nice sound-bites on this broader understanding of the \"Body of Christ\".\n\nI quoted the Augustine Sermon because there it is accompanied by a theological argument (designed for the \"newborn\", newly initiated).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Let us pray that the new leadership leads the church in the US the same way the old leadership has. The only way the church will grow in the US is by returning to the roots of the church: traditional ritual, obedience to the clergy, and strict adherence to all rules and regulations.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't believe it. \nHow many churches and Priests could there be. The fact is that the genocide was the fault of the world not intervening when they where at the door.\nIt would have taken just one attack helicopter to stop it all. But no. We told our troops to pull back and let the genocide take place.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am simply acknowledging that some catholics have attained the stature where their passing merits the attendance of bishops and clergy. Unfortunately, too many catholics are merely average. Bishops, after all, cannot expend time for mere average catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, and isn't it interesting that he didn't use this opportunity to state that Moses was wrong to do what he did ? \n\nInstead, he defended Moses and his decision. Yes... very interesting indeed! \n\nMoses was dealing with a stiff-necked people and was struggling to just \"keep it together\". Could it be that Jesus understood the difficult circumstances that Moses was in and didn't hold the divorce decision against him? After all Moses was focused on the higher goal of establishing the covenant relationship between the Yahweh and his people.\n\nNow Jesus does state the ideal of marriage that we should strive for. Pope Francis agrees with that ideal as well.\n\n However as the \"Moses\" of our age, the Holy Father is also focused primarily on that precious relationship between God and his people above all else.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Good points, Pat. Dialogue takes the speaker speaking his/her truth, and a listener who opens his/her heart to that truth. I think a lot of dialogue gets blocked by limitations on what Catholics are allowed to talk about in \"listening\" sessions with bishops. Dialogue gets blocked when people won't open up. And dialogue gets blocked when the listener discounts what her or she hears or dismisses it as just wrong. \n\nI think if the Church does create forums for dialogue, the first few will need to be lead by someone who knows how to create the right atmosphere for those who want to speak their own truth and for those who need to hear that truth being spoken. \n\nWe all bring our own prejudices and fears and intentions into conversations. It is not just bishops. But bishops have the responsibility and the power and, I think, need to learn how to facilitate real dialogue. At least, they do if they care about evangelizing and helping people live a faith filled life.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And not all evangelicals are fundamentalistic regarding either faith or morality.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Or perhaps he does know and agrees with what the pope has said and how he said it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We are not talking about the Bible we are talking about sharia law as enshrined in the Koran. No comparison is being made here between the Bible and the Koran so why introduce it?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are unsuccessful kingdoms too - Saudi Arabia, Oman, Swaziland, Cambodia, etc.\n\nThe Queen is also the Head of the Anglican Church, and thus the antithesis of a secular leader (she joins the Pope and the King of Saudi Arabia as heads of government and the majority religion of their country). The Queen cannot be Catholic, or cannot marry one.\n\nSurely an outdated idea in the 21st century?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"But I believe SDAs overwhelmingly endorse the doctrine of Sola Scriptura.\"\n\nYes, most do because they have been told (brainwashed or not informed properly) that there are no differences between the Scriptura and the \"boox.\" Just ask around, whether the Bible and EGW's writings have the same theological and spiritual authority. EGW basically became the foundation of the \"Adventist Dogmatic Conversation.\"\n\nAny long term Adventist knows thi. Not everyone will admit to it, of course, but this does not change the facts. And Elaine is right, Ted Wilson has been a bastion to the \"Sola SOP\" principle. Maybe because, as many others, he believes that the SOP is, in fact, Scriptura as well...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well that makes more than 90% of all Catholics worldwide not true Catholics. That seems downright silly given the fact that Jesus never led anyone to believe he ever had a problem with birth control and there were some types available at his time. \n\nYou are right about them fighting for the wrong issue however.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And the Church is less likely to criticize the government when the government gives it money for refugees, immigrants, and social services, and the Church downplays its Catholic identity to keep the money coming. Perhaps they like it that way but it's not good for promoting the Gospel. If the Johnson amendment were to not apply to churches, priests would lose an excuse to not preach on abortion or other hot topic issues.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Dad was hardly around.\" \n\nMy experience was different. My father was around and knew his faith very well. His generation and older were around and knew their faith. But for the past fifty or so years, we've become weaker and weaker in our knowledge of and commitment to the faith. Increasingly, fathers are not around because families have been broken, first because of divorce, and then even no-fault divorce. Catholicism cannot be expected to thrive in this environment.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Don't think I said anything about being more morally righteous than you, Jay. \"Bigger God\" is obviously a metaphor for an image of the Divine that is more unlimited, unconstrained by our conceptions than you would appear imagine.\n\nI am sorry that you don't feel the Real Presence in Protestant churches as you do in a Catholic church. I know what you mean by \"feel the Real Presence,\" and I most definitely have the same experience when I am in an Orthodox church and unable to receive because Orthodoxy invites me not to, or in an Anglican or Evangelical Lutheran church and do receive.\n\nLutheran, Anglican, Orthodox, and Catholic priests are all more or less equally trained, and all are ordained. \n\nBTW, the Catholic magisterium full accepts the validity of the Orthodox Eucharist without question. So your expectation not to feel the Real Presence in an Orthodox church places you rather on the wrong side of Catholic theology. Why not test you feeling by attending an Orthodox liturgy?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, the Church is not a secular humanist organization, and because it isn't, it has lost touch with it's flock. It prides itself on being the mostly self determined voice of God. It isn't now, it never was, and it never will be. The sacramental inequality of women is the rock on which the Barque of Peter implodes. There is no Jesus for which men can bring forth His body and blood if a woman hadn't literally done that very thing with her own body and blood. That's the way God made creation work and to deny that fact, and do so in the name of God, is to deny God's creative intent.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mr. DeCuir - this observation, IMO, is correct:\n\n\"...collapses any meaningful distinctions of persons & groups within both Evangelicalism & the Catholic right\"\n\nSorry, you mention Trump's evangelical critics - keep in mind that this opinion piece is about the Civilta article .......those same critics were for Trump before they were against Trump. And, by the way, they are still part of the Evangelical-right wing Catholic union - since Civilta had little to say directly about Trump (you are shifting subjects).\n\nThink Garnett would be much more nuanced than Ross on religious liberty but you are correct - find Garnett to over-react and take positions on same sex marriage, birth control, and gays that fit more into a cultural war attitude. And the USCCB - still fighting the last century's wars - nothing more needs to be said.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well done Father.\n\nI greatly thank you, as just another soul, for fighting the good fight, for running the race, for giving God your all.\n\nMarvelous, marvelous.\n\nAnd still, ready to serve in whatever capacity you can. Marvelous.\n\nIn your words:\n\n\"...I will still be a priest, helping out in parishes around the archdiocese. I will relieve priests who want to go on vacation or simply get a day off. I will celebrate funerals and burials, hear confessions and give retreats. I also hope to do some work for migrants and refugees with Catholic Charities. As with many people, retirement does not mean that I will not be busy.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\u201c'Faith is a supernatural gift of God which enables us to believe \u2018without doubting\u2019 whatever God has revealed.' (Penny Catechism). I would suggest that \u2018without doubting\u2019 implies certainty rather than pious hope.\u201d\n\nIf that is what the Penny Catechism says, then in the words of Dorothy Parker, this is not a book to be set aside lightly, it should be hurled with great force. Hebrews 11:1 says, \"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.\" Faith is not certainty, this is theology 101. Doubt is an integral part of faith, for if we do not question, how can we grow in our faith? S\u00f8ren Kierkegaard wote, \"Without risk there is no faith.\" There is no risk in blindly asserting certainty; the risk comes from facing uncertainty.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And in my lifetime, men who wore belts that said \"Mitt Gott\" systemically killed 6 million people, by name, number and religious identification as Jews. And they went to Catholic and Luthern churchs on Sunday and there were Nazi flags on their altars. I wish it were not true, but it was. My father helped to liberate Dachau. He was in military government and one of his assignments was to take the German citizens of the village of Dachau through the concentration camp so that they could never say they did not know what happened there. He was a devoted Catholic and had majored in German in college. What he saw tormented him his whole life as he tried to make sense of what he knew happened and what his faith was. \n\nSpeak no more about a \"war\" on Christianity in the US. Don't bear false witness.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Read the Scriptures. Listen carefully and deeply every time you come to the liturgy, but even on your own, get to know the Scriptures, get to know Jesus in the Gospel. That's what he did. He listened deeply to God's word so he was ready to confront the devil when the devil confronted him. But then those specific examples today of the temptations of Jesus, if we listen to what is happening in each of them, we discover a meaning in the life of Jesus, but also how we can reflect that.\"\n\nAgreed, Bishop Thomas. I remember Fr. McBrien saying that back when he was in seminary seminarians were supposed to avoid women at all times because they were \"an occasion of sin.\" That twisted thinking damages the Catholic Church to this day. There is no avoiding temptation. Life is an occasion of sin. With Jesus' words and examples we can face temptation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You can tell from Marty's post that he is a climate denier. Now why is that? Why does Marty feel threatened by modern science? What else besides the theory of evolution and climate change does Marty deny, and why does he feel that he must do so in order to be a catholic? That is the fruit of Vatican 2: exhibit A: Marty E. Simple people like Marty think that their reaction against the heresy of V2 means that they must be in reaction against science and progress in mathematics, philosophy and logic. There is no precedent for that reaction in church history except for that unfortunate reformation era thing with Galileo.And that was retracted.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What if Justin Trudeau, a Roman Catholic, wore a large crucifix outside of this clothing?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Here's the problem for many Catholics, including me: On economic, climate, and healthcare issues I'm progressive, but I am adamantly opposed to abortion and identity politics, which the Democrats have appeared to embrace. To me, the right to life is the paramount right and the preeminent right upon which all other rights are built. Therefore, I feel that I have no other choice but to vote Republican. Now, if the Democrats became pro-life, supported traditional values, and stopped catering to identity politics, I'd give them my vote. I doubt this will ever happen.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are 7 USA Cardinals under the age of 80, although I use that \"USA\" with a caution. Four (O'Malley, Dolan, Wuerl, DiNardo) actually \"work\" in the U.S. Three (Edwin O'Brien, Raymond Burke, James Harvey) are more functionaries of the Vatican than actually run an archdiocese in the U.S. or anything in the U.S. These are the cardinals from this country who can vote for the next pope.\n\nIn addition to hoping for a female cardinal (or two or ten or twenty), I think our cardinals are over-concentrated in the eastern part of the country. Perhaps some representation from Chicago and points further west would be in order (but not, I hope, San Francisco) and even from the South (but not, I hope, Kentucky). \n\nI have to wonder if it would be better to have those electing the pope who are immersed in the actual life of an archdiocese - or does all the specialization of Vatican functionaries lend some equally valuable perspective to who would make a good pope?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes. It was never really the Church's fault how things turned out in all Latin America. Secularism prevailed from the beginning as Spanish and Portuguese \"Conquistadors\" did not come to America to colonize but rather plunder. Catholic Priests were brought along to \"convert the heathens\" but had zero power and little real influence over those mostly aristocratic plunderers. Even today modern Mexico is a very racist society - only the descendants of the \"Dons\", Europeans, are the rich and the politicians. It is the Indian and mixed peasant poor who are fleeing to the USA. The reverse situation would be if African-Americans were still basically under segregation laws and the only answer they saw was emigration to somewhere else. Yes, a few do and have in the past - but never in the millions and certainly not now. People here might be interested in looking up Bartolome de las Casas and the Vallalodid debate and it's aftermath.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree with you, Elagabalus. I find all of this insistence on the \"unchanging nature\" of Church teaching to be tiresome. if people truly believe that it is God who established all of these rules, then we ought to go back to Leviticus. Also, those who insist on taking what is written in the gospels as the exact words of Jesus, then many of them ought to be minus hands and eyes and feet, and there ought to be many people on the bottoms of bodies of water, with millstones keeping them there. Or, if people say that interpretation has changed, then why can it not continue to change?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Greetings....with Daniel De Nardo in charge nothing is going to change for helping and assisting the average American Catholic who's not a Republican Country Club White Male\ud83d\ude0e", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I believe that, ultimately, living the Gospel is not optional but our only hope for salvation. I am not thinking so much about eternal salvation as about the salvation of humanity here on earth. If we don't soon learn to live together in peace and love then we are on the road to destruction. Christ showed the way, but we seem to insist we know better and find all kinds of ways to water down the Gospel and impose our values on it. We need to learn to read the signs of our times and realize that the message of Christ is our only hope.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Problems aren't solved by ignoring them either. Ignoring the increase in overt hatred directed at minorities in this country does nothing to solve the problems of racism, bigotry, and white nativisme. The group in Portland is real, they bigots pretending to be christians. The good news is that there don't seem to be many of them in this self-designated group of \"Bible Believers\". However, they should be clearly told that the majority of Americans do not support their hate, that they are not christian. The week after they showed up to yell obscenities at this church, a group of about 200 anglos showed up outside the church to form a human barrier between the hate group and the parishoners coming to mass. THAT is what you should think about supporting IF you are a christian, as you claim to be.\n\nhttp://www.wweek.com/news/2017/01/30/youre-going-to-hell-belligerent-men-screamed-at-portland-parishioners-outside-of-a-spanish-mass/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Therefore, the Catholics who attend Mass every Sunday and support the Church financially do not support such a notion, and only their views count.\" If that were true PVI would have reversed Humanae Vitae's ban on ABC. That didn't happen. Only the Pope's view counts.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you but that is just one Catholic scholar.\nIt matters little to me who they were written by they are still part of the Canon of Scripture so the Word of God.\nProtestant scholars have a vested interest in challenging the Scriptures.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Honestly, I believe that is what they need to do, and we may also need to do so, finally, in some form, so we can move forward. Let the traditionalists break off and go and do their thing. In both churches, the majority of people want equal ordination and treatment of women, at all levels, so let the minority go. They will be happier and we will finally be able to gain back for Christ what he had at the very beginnings of Church, a building of human stones who strove to keep the commandments of Christ above all. A church to finally feel good about again. Such a church is easy to evangelize. The church we are dealing with now is extremely difficult to evangelize as we have to re-direct any new people away from our sexism and LGBT hatred.\n\nI agree they should consider becoming some sort of Federation instead. So all their churches can worship in peace.\n\nI don't like the idea of a divided Catholic Church but I am tired of being ignored and seeing women's human dignity being abused.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How did the Wheat Lobby secure this exclusive contract? I can imagine Jesus plodding up to Cavalry and being asked on the way to sign an exclusive deal with the International Wheat Association to transfer the licensing rights for the confection of holy communion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There already is informal schism from the teaching that has been handed down from Christ and Apostles to us in the Church for 50+ years. It's been papered over up to this point. Will there be a formal schism? I don't claim to know, but I do know Christ promised the gates of Hell will not prevail against the Church. Any schism won't come from those loyal to Christ, and what His Church has always believed. \n\nAgain, I don't think Francis would like how it would look if he excommunicated the Four Cardinals for asking questions...it just wouldn't go with the whole \"mercy\" theme. He would have to excommunicate all his predecessors and all the faithful gone before us who believed the same thing! \n\nI do think we're Burke to issue a formal correction, he would dot his i's and cross his t's and give Francis three warnings. It's an interesting question if a pope can schism from Christ or from the faithful members of His body.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Please remember that what is quoted in Sacred Scripture is what was written by humans from a human perspective. Fr. Rohr states that \"we call it the \"word of God,' but the only Word of God unequivocally endorsed in the Bible's pages is Jesus, the eternal Logos. The words on our inspired pages are the words of men and women.\"\n\nSince the 13th Century, the Franciscans have never subscribed to the so-called \"Penal Substitutionary Atonement\". The reason is because this risky theory implies that God does not have the freedom to either love or forgive God's own creation. \n\nAs far as Jesus affirming PSA, he ignored, denied or openly opposed Scriptures when it was: imperialistic, punitive exclusionary, or tribal. Some examples: in Nazareth, rather than proclaim that foreigners are enemies and objects of God's vengeance, Jesus turns around and praises foreigners from Zarephath and Syria, while reproaching the attitudes of his own fellow 'chosen people\" [Lk. 4:25-30]. \nAnd there's more.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Such is the case of a woman who is denied the right to choose a husband freely, to embrace a state of life or to acquire an education or cultural benefits equal to those recognized for men.\"\n\nThe last part has not been fully embraced, especially in the Roman Catholic Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We can pray for groups or individuals or both. \n\nThe grace available to the Church in EACH MASS is INFINITE.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus did, and He told us about it, because He tells us the truth and wants the absolute best for us. \n\nI think every Catholic should read Scripture, all of it, not just the easy on the mind and body points. NT should be read each year. Clearly the human memory of some people is selective.\n\nAnd I think every Catholic should read the Screwtape Letters yearly, which reveals so much about our fallen human nature through simple mental exercises and rational inquiry.\n\nHere's one example, for others curious about it: \n\n\"...The great thing is to direct the malice to his immediate neighbours whom he meets every day and to thrust his benevolence out to the remote circumference, to people he does not know. The malice thus becomes wholly real and the benevolence largely imaginary....\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The bridge is collapsing.\n\nIn 2016, one Monsignor Inzoli was convicted of sexual violence against five boys between the ages of 12 and 16. When the allegations arose in 2014, Pope Benedict removed him from the priesthood. One Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio interceded on behalf of Inzoli to the then newly elected Pope Francis. Ignoring the advice of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Francis made the decision in 2014 to return Inzoli to the priesthood.\n\nCoccopalmerio is known to be one of Pope Francis\u2019 closest collaborators and supporters. This same Francesco Coccopalmerio recommended to Francis that Monsignor Luigi Capozzi become a bishop. Capozzi was (allegedly) caught recently by Vatican gendarmerie hosting a cocaine-fueled homosexual orgy in the Cardinal's apartment. Coccopalmerio is on record as advocating the Church must \u201cemphasize\u201d the \u201cpositive realities\u201d that he believes are present in homosexual relationships.\n\n\nJoin the dots .....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Damage: Erosion of our freedoms and transparency in government. Reporters don't pass the laws, they don't make the decisions. They report. All they've been doing since Trump got elected is to REPORT his crazy TWEETS and point out when he's wrong about a FACT. Free press is a cornerstone of a free nation and one of the things we NEED to help prevent your \"Amerika\", whatever that's supposed to mean. I assume it means you think the Lefties will go so far left that they become fascist (which is actually far right)? Or are they commies? I guess it doesn't matter, right, left, fascist, commie, Democrats are all of those things to you! That's really sad. The right spends so much time making up insults for other people and so little time finding out what's actually happening in the world. Racist, god-loving, white, christian heads stuck in the sand while the rest of Earth is now looking to the CHINESE to lead because Trump is going backwards. That's the real situation out there.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Groucho,\n\nActually, they did quite a bit that wasn't preaching. The majority of what Jesus did was demonstrate the love of God in the powerful miracles that He performed and sent His disciples out to do. The problem is when we go out to do those things in the pursuit of \"social justice\" and doing them in the power and authority of government instead of the power of the Holy Spirit. \"Social justice\" is a purely socialist/communist concept designed by Satan to distract us away from the power of God. People turn to concepts like that when they are not seeking the Holy Spirit so the power of God can be seen working through them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am not suggesting one of religion or science is \"correct\", but I would suggest your thinly veiled aggression toward religion may be blinding you. Religion requires faith. Atheists similarly have faith in science, evident in its adherents' apparent disdain of religion and the obligatory condescending comments about made up stories. Science\u2019s scripture is not a book, but a collection of theories. A couple of the more notable ones, the big bang and dark matter, each require a leap of faith. The material for an infinitely large and growing universe came from? There was nothing before? The dark matter which makes up the majority of the universe\u2026where is it? At this time these foundational theories are \"made up stories\". And science is finally asking what was before the big bang. \nWhatever the religion, be it Christian, Hindu, Islam or the book of ever changing scientific theories, no one has all the answers. Don\u2019t be so full of yourself. And have a little faith in humanity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "An important step. But it needs to be supplemented by supporting state laws that would open a door for people who cannot sue now because of statutes of limitations. Open a door - a two or three year period - when those abused in the past can seek justice through the justice system. What victims are required to do even with this new step is depend on a structure set-up and controlled by the Catholic Church to receive justice for sexual abuse that occurred by a Catholic church affiliated person or structure. \n\nShould a Mafia crime family be allowed to determine the recompense that a victim of the crime family should receive? This seems an extreme comparison, but is it really?\n\nOne more thought. Where will Dolan get the money to repay the loan? I don't know what is missing from the list of those sources of funding that he says will not be used.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dogmatic pronouncements do not a council make, and far from diminishing the marks of the Church, Vatican II has clarified and enhanced them for the modern world. \n\nBut I don't expect you to agree, so let's part company here. Peace.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The \"physical\" body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus - Yes The spiritual body - No . \nDo you truly believe in the actual physical presence of our Lord in the Holy Eucharist? If you answer yes then how could you agree with the comment above? Too many commenters on this site have problems with the priesthood, which for the life of me I do not understand.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You're right. Russia is a plutocracy. A small group essentially owns the place. The point of the bishop's remarks is that Catholics read \"God made man in is own image\" is that the noun has both individual and mankind connotations.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Uh, no. Those numbers pertain to votes that were cast, not to the total eligible voter population. Big difference.\n.\nThe problem with vote suppression is generally the votes that were not cast. For every 100 votes not cast, the Republicans lose 20 - 25 votes; the Democrats lose 75 - 80 votes. That is why Nate Silver was using a 3:1 estimator. That is the slope of the curve at a 50% - 60% voter participation rate.\n.\nWest of the crest of the Appalachians, and south of the Susquehanna, the whiter, poorer, more rural, more poorly educated, and more evangelical Christian a county is, the more strongly it voted for Mitt Romney, and the more strongly it voted for Donald Trump.\n.\nDonald Trump's victory came from getting poor, blue collar whites and a fair number of blacks in the Great Lakes basin simply to stay home on election day as a result of vilifying Hilary Clinton.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One of the most troubling things to me when I was trying to be a believer was that more than half of the New Testament was written by Paul, the only apostle who never knew Jesus. He'd been a tax collector, and the other Apostles didn't trust him. The only witness to his claimed epiphany on the Road to Demascus was Annanais, who spent the rest of his life making a living on Paul's road show. Do yourself a favor and google the contradictions between the precepts of Jesus and the teaching of Paul. Jefferson referred to Paul in his letter to Dr. Benjamin Rush as \"the great corruptor of the Christian religion.\" Jefferson said he was \"dedicated to the precepts of Jesus' teachings, and thought him to have had the most perfect of human qualities, while never professing any other.\" Jefferson also didn't believe that the resurrection happened. His \"Jefferson Bible\" includes only the quotes attributed to Jesus that were consistent with his character. It's a very short book.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would say generally on the topic of abortion morally I agree with the Catholic Church in the sense that I subscribe to a consistent life ethic. And the Pope does too. So Francis speaks out consistently against abortion as he does against Capital Punishment and War. And I think Christ would be against abortion morally as well since not killing was a part of his pacifist ethic. \n\nAt the same time legally and culturally it's much more complicated and simply condemning women who have had abortions or criminalizing is not the answer from my perspective. Whatever your views there needs to be sensitivity this issue devoid of ideology which is why I like the Pope's pastoral touch here. \n\nI would also encourage people to look at the other things Francis has done in this year of mercy and not just the things related to controversial cultural war topics. He got the Cuban government last week to release 787 prisoners which is the 7 works of mercy in practice. It's great t see mercy practiced.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Recent history is no less valid than that which is ancient. And the movement of the Church since Vatican II (and I know how you love that council!) is toward the primacy of conscience and a compassionate pastoral response for those who have made mistakes.\n\nSpeaking of perrenials, my wife used to always plant agapanthus in the front yard, but this year she switched to climatus. Beautiful! Change can be a wonderful thing, don't you think?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "With all those 'unanticipated' costs, the increase in PERS funding requirements, etc. etc. I'm going to say somewhere around $53.8 million. Close to the original figure Christian Hill posted.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I hate to tell you this but ALL mainstream Christian churches, including The RCC, are losing members. Hand over fist. The only two countries where is it gaining members is Africa and South America, in that order. Also remember that lots of people call themselves Catholic, but do not participate in The RCC in any way. Also remember that the number of atheists, agnostics and simply 'unchurched' are growing at a pretty good pace. (Perhaps a surprise to you, the vast majority of atheists, agnostics and 'unchurched' are not immoral.) Considering that an estimated 10% of the RC priests are homosexual (and most are celibate) and that around 10% are/have been pedophiles, church affiliation or no church affiliation does not have a lot to do with sinning and being virtuous.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "When you lay down with dogs you wake up with fleas, the old saying says. This right-wing absolutist Christian would have little appeal to thinking people. But American isAmerica.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "What a disgrace this Archbishop Chapult is to the Church and to decency of human beings... \nHe considers himself to be more catholic than God, and God is not even Catholic", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Religion doesn't teach morality, it teaches you to obey what your church leadership wants. Evangelical \"christians\" voting for any republican and especially Trump is just proof of that. They love Jesus, but ignore every thing he taught. And they wonder why young people today are less religous.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"Fanatics\"? \"Lunatics who hate Christians and conservatives\"?\n\nRather strong words to describe those who believe that personal freedoms as long as they do no harm to others should be preserved and that corporations should not have equal standing with citizens.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Rally, People! Vote out the Democrat's Anti American pro Muslim One World agenda. I'll go for one world when Jesus says, not the Traitor Hillary.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The bishops long ago hitched their wagon to the RNC to keep the attention of the one-percent and their largesse. If the past election taught us anything it is that many 'Christians' are hypocrites. One can add the USCCB to that cabal. Abortion rates drop under Democrats and rise under Republicans. Why? Because the latter create a toxic social environment. We are seeing more evidence of that with the increase in IUDs provided through Planned Parenthood since Trump's election . The bishops, like their evangelical brethren, ignore the evidence but 'facts' are hard to dispute. As long as we have bishops who 'smell like the 1%' rather than 'smell like the sheep' we will see decreasing influence of the bishops on mainstream Catholics social attitudes and teachings will be completely ignored. We all have 'Religious Freedom\" and many of us may express it by ignoring the bishops.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, extremism. Within Christianity, plenty of denominations have no issue with gay people (Episcopals, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Methodists, UCC, MCC, even some non-denominational these days). If your church is bigoted toward certain people, it's extreme. Nothing more than using religion to spread hatred and bigotry.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"If the idea that Jesus had two natures makes sense to you, you need to have both your heads examined.\"\n\nIt is Christian dogma that Christ had two natures, he was fully human and fully divine.\n\nI wish that idiotic 1000 character limit was removed, so I could post on the christological fights of the early Church in proper detail.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Great! When can we start addressing polygamous and forced marriaged in the Muslim population of Canada? They pose a much a greater risk. It seems liberals are willing to punish Christians for misbehaving, but not Muslims. Time to even the score.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Crux is an independent publication. DUH. And by what ridiculous stretch do you fancy that Crux is favored in any way by the faithful Catholic remnant. Truth, please.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "They remember it 'cause it was named after the real General Robert E Lee. BTW You confused \"Dukes\" with \"Smoky and the Bandit\", another classic from the 80's. Hollowood already did a politically correct remake of the \"Dukes\" and \"removed\" the Confederate flag that had been on the top of the \"original\" Gen. Lee. They did not, however change it's name Do at least a little bit of research before posting next time. Burt Reynolds doesn't act anymore and Jerry Reed is dead. \n.\nYour hatred of Christianity certainly does show. Baptists go back long before America was even a nation. You are as misinformed as you are spiteful.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Either you or Hooded Claw complained about it so I changed it.\n\nI am devotee of the Catholic Church, the Church that Christ founded and ordered to go forth to teach all the nations.\n\nYour personal assessments of other people's inner thoughts and motivations are not appreciated by me at all.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "That includes the CBC ,Star, and most Canadian media who will never admit knowing precisely what the problem is, despite it being stated plainly by the perpetrators. As nations fall to Islam in bloody civil war, the op-eds innocently ask, \"How could this happen?\" and then blame Trump, or Bush or Christians,", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"The annulment process is available to see if a valid marriage ever existed.\"\n\nNo, Pamela, that's what the prenuptial enquiry which every Catholic and their partners must fill out - before the wedding takes place - are there to do. The fact that a wedding takes place at all is the Church stating that this marriage is valid. \n\nAnd before you come back with - ah, but the couple, or one of them, may have lied - well that applies equally to the annulment.\n\n\"Oh, you can't write that because that will prove that your marriage WAS valid. Let's just put this instead....\"\n\nIt's a complete joke. People make mistakes, some relationships don't work and break down. It's time the Church grew up and realised this and stopped making a fool of itself with this 'valid/invalid' stupidity.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Tell that to the more than 100,000 Iraqis we killed when George W Bush, the Christian Crusader, unilaterally invaded a sovereign country on the pretext of WMD.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I'm one since I don't believe in your fairy tale christianity.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"neither Catholic nor are they followers of Christ\"\nAt least the poster implicitly recognizes that \"Catholic\" and \"follower of Christ\" are not synonymous. We have many examples of that. JPII was very much a Catholic, but as an avid protector of pedophiles, he cannot be considered a follower of Christ.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Look, these endless one sided stories of the poor poor Muslims is not helping. Please stop trying to portray the Muslim faith as an innocent. Muslims have been murdering Christians for a very long time. To try to rewrite reality, and push aside that fact is causing many hard feelings. Schools are not allowed to have Christmas Concerts, why is Muslim prayers being allowed? We are not a Muslim based or founded country......thank goodness.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I had two boys go through the Ontario school system these past 20 years and there was no attack on Christianity or war on Christmas. Indeed, the school board renting out the school on Sundays to a fundamentalist church.\n\nThe Muslim kids aren't being given prayer rooms. They're being given a room to pray in for about 15 minutes each Friday. It's not a dedicated space.\n\nI think it's really about Haters who failed to banish LGBTQ rights and Gay-Straight Alliances and so have moved on to the Muslims as their Two-Minutes of Hate project. Why? Because it masks what they're really up to, which is promoting their own sectarian religious beliefs.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You think this only happens in Australia?\n\nThe Catholic church has paid out over $3 billion for covering up sexual abuse in the US alone...\nhttps://www.ncronline.org/news/accountability/ncr-research-costs-sex-abuse-crisis-us-church-underestimated", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "T.S., well said, but you're being too kind when you never once mention the word 'Catholic.' The church in 2016 was supposed to pay 25 million to help survivors but it got off on a technicality. The gang is still at it: some bishops ask Catholic girls not to get the HPV vaccine; many still anti-gay; women can never be priests--and it all gets pretty toxic this stuff in poorer countries. The worldwide sexual assaulting priest scandals...sigh.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I don't think folks would have objected, but these clowns limited invocations to Christian only. Wrong!! Personally, I prefer they just get to work and pray at home before they come. This will only result in a massive lawsuit, which they will lose at a lot of expense to taxpayers.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Let's not forget that other adorable example of good Christianity, the Salem Witch Trials. Let's hang 'em in the name of God!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"Rage, rage against the dying of the light.\" They voted for a fascist. The Germans accepted that Hitler was elected. Trump was endorsed by the KKK and neo-nazis and did not reject them. He doesn't believe human caused climate change exists. He wants to break the Geneva Convention's rules against torture even though this is our law and doing so puts every American military person at risk. He wants to ban people on the basis of religion and race thereby going against the U.S. Constitution. His positions fly in the face of the heritage of American and Christian values and morals. He is on the record as a pervert. What kind of person are you?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Appalling! Cory Gardner didn't mind spending time with fine champagne, and French cheeses at the Koch Brothers retreat 8 days ago. But he spat on the suffering of the disabled, and policing of the civil people protesting as the constitution allows? This is Un-American, and Un-Christian. What would George Washington, or Lincoln do, and what would Jesus do. We certainly learned what that Koch-Knob Cory Gardner would do and in fact DID - he is nothing but a tax the poor and middle class and suck the workers dry for the Koch's and company.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "They should ignore and dismiss the poor and sick just as Jesus did.\n\nI just don't get how Republicans can claim to be Christian with their greedy, uncaring behavior.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Ah, when clarity reigned and ambiguity was a sin. In all seriousness, there is a growing Cult of Clarity in the Church that does long for the days of yore. In fact they insist we go there, leaving behind the evil and sinful modernity of Vatican II, altar girls, nuns on buses, contracepting couples, popes who don't judge, bishops who don't excommunicate, a Notre Dame that doesn't indoctrinate, laity thinking they have a voice, and a publication calling itself \"Catholic\" without an imprimatur. \n\nBring back the great homily: \"The Twist, Gateway to Lust.\" Make scrupulosity a virtue again. License theologians. Make 8th grade girls stand in front of the classroom to make personal pledges of chastity. Ban Hans Kung and Gary Willls books from the church library. \n\nCAEL--I'll bet you have some examples too. All 100% factual. If not believed. \n\n\"It's a grave sin to watch the Miss America pageant.\"\n \"Peyton Place is a condemned book.\"\n\"Catholics can't go to Woodstock, but they can go to Nam.\"", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The article says \"At least 44 people were killed in Egypt in bomb attacks at the cathedral of the Coptic Pope and another church on Palm Sunday, prompting anger and fear among Christians and leading to troop deployments and the declaration of a three-month state of emergency\".\n\nMuslims in Egypt have attacked Christians and their churches before.\n\nAnd Muslims have attacked Christians and burned their churches in Pakistan.\n\nI don't think the Christians in Egypt and Pakistan are attacking Muslims in Iraq or Syria and I don't think they are attacking Daesh (ISIS/IL) Muslims so why would Muslims attack Christians in Egypt and Pakistan? That doesn't seem very tolerant. \n\nIf Muslims aren't following the verses in the Qur'an that call for the destruction of Jews, Christians and non believers, why are Muslims attacking Coptic Christians in Egypt and why are Muslims attacking Christians and burning their churches in Pakistan?\n\nPlease explain the reason.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Good try. Try harder. WORLDNET DAILY IS MOSTLY libertarian with a strong Judeo-Christian influence. It's why they often flipped GW Bush for some of his policies. A much more thorough job of ripping than the standard \"Bush lied, people died\" horse crap. Unlike the talking heads on PMSNBC, CNN, ABC, CBS, etc., Worldnet daily used logical arguments and factual events to go after Bush (North American Union, freeway from Juarez to Alberta, illegal immigration, etc.). Tell me FRZMAO when did the mainstream media ever go after Obama or HRC? Name two incidents.....\n\nPersonally I'm surprised you had the guts to try an throw anything from Salon magazine at.me. Talk about biased! Why not list the Huffington post while you're at it.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "scheer needs to drop a few things...scheer was taught well by harper with his white supremacist/christian fundamentalist views from the days at the northern foundation...", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Ridiculous ...most of those claims can be debunked just from the top of my head ... The cell phone was invented by Martin Cooper, born in Chicago Illinois to Ukranian, NOT JEWISH parents. He was working for the US company Motorola. \n\nDennis Gabor (holography) was an agnostic lutheran \n\nMost Israeli \"inventions\" are financed with American taxpayer money and are only possible because US corporations actually share their trade secrets with Israeli ones...\n\nHere are some other notable Jewish inventions:\n\nHolocausts (Jewish Bolsheviks ...60 million dead Christians and Russian Orthodox) \nHate Crime Laws\nHolocaust Revisionism Laws\nUsury\nCommunism\nfractional-reserve banking \nFederal Reserve system.\nanti-white racism\nand their worst contrivance ....Zionism because make no mistake, the issues of Israel are not \"Jewish\" issues, they are Zionist issues. No one should confuse Zionism and Judaism, The issue is 100% with Zionism, an areligious cover for White supremacy .", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "There are bad people in ALL religions, look at this week's arrest of a long-time teacher/ child molester at a Bellevue, WA Christian school, the Warren Jeffs who have sex with 11-12 year old \"wives\" in the name of religion, and the multitude of Catholic priests who molest and rape boys.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Walker just stole $1000 dollars from every person in the state today. \n\nHe stole families food, heating oil, medical supplies all of which provide our kids with their future.\n\nTo deny a child a future in such a way is to molest that child. So I think we can say that Bill Walker is now effectively the most prominent child molester in the state history short of the Catholic Church.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You are entitled to your opinion, but you are not entitled to claim that your opinion is Catholic, or that the Catholic Church must employ people in gay civil marriages.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "As a Native, I will say that America was tricked into Vietnam as the anglo oil companies in America coveted the South China Sea oil, just as America coveted Iraq's oil fields where the anglo oil companies were denied contracts that they got after Saddam was conveniently killed before he could blab about the CIA. If you look at the root cause behind 9/11, you will find America is attacked because of the $trillions of dollars worth of policies of colonialism America foists on countries worldwide, so the elite leeches and parasites who own the oil and mining companies can go in for free and make their billion dollar profits with the CIAs help. As a Native I see those same policies were used to slaughter Natives, in order for civilized Christians to steal the Natives resources and lands.\nColonials refuse to admit those policies are theft and murder, and rewrite the history leaving out the colonial bloodbath used for the \"pioneer\" colonial leeches and parasites to steal what is not theirs.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Of course. But lets be clear, ignorance is not a good thing. Satan is called the prince of darkness for a reason. We are to bring the Light to the world that is in darkness. \n\nWe are obligated to seek truth and follow it! We are to know the teachings of the Church and spread this truth through evangelization. Remaining willfully ignorant or allowing someone else to be ignorant of a sin to avoid culpability is in itself sinful. \n\nSin is always a bad thing, regardless of culpability. If someone is contracepting when ignorant of the Church's teaching that it is wrong, they may not be culpable and will not be held liable, but it is still an offense to God and we should help those ignorant of a teaching to know the truth.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "FUNNY, ALL ADN POLLS reflect THE LEFTIST IDEALISM of the NEWSPAPERS RICH ELITEST OWNERS who actually LIVE outside of the State of ALASKA... Which of course, was their reason for buying the ALASKA DAILY NEWS in the first place, TO RESHAPE STATE POLICY TO MIRROR THOSE of FAR LEFT STATES like CALIFORNIA... DON'T BE FOOLED!! The only people beside a few CONSERVATIVE JOURNALISTIC WATCH DOGS like me, that are paying any attention to THEIR POLLS are the same OUTSIDER RESPONDENTS paid to do so by the DNC!! \n\nTAKE YOUR LEFTIST IDEALISM AND START SWIMMING SOUTH!! You can pick up a couple of LEFTIST HOLLYWOOD MOVIE STARS to carry under EACH ARM as you pass CALIFORNIA!!! ALASKA HAS THE LARGEST CATHOLIC POPULATION per capita of ANY STATE in the NATION!!! WE DO NOT SUPPORT SAME SEX MARRIAGE!!! WE DO NOT SUPPORT LEFTIST IDEALS!! WE SUPPORT THE POPE!!!\n\nWhat part of the 2016 ELECTION DIDN'T YOU IDIOTS UNDERSTAND!!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "rocky \u2022 5 hours ago\n\nIn defense of Donald Trump: Try to keep these points in mind,\n\nDonald Trump did not steal your money.\n\nDonald Trump did not raise your taxes.\n\nDonald Trump did not quadruple the price of food.\n\nDonald Trump is not starting a race war.\n\nDonald Trump did not leave any US soldiers in Benghazi to be slaughtered and desecrated by Muslims.\n\nDonald Trump did not send the US Navy to fight for Syrian Al-Qaeda.\n\nDonald Trump did not arm ISIS and systematically exterminate Christians throughout the Middle East. \n\nDonald Trump did not betray Israel.Donald Trump did not let this illegal Alien in the USA,o dump@$$ an the demoRATS did. Donald Trump did not create a 20,000,000,000.000$ debt! LIBERALISM Is It Mental Illness or Demonic Oppression?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The whole anti-white-male underpinnings of contemporary liberalism is just one of many irrational, pseudo-intellectual pathologies that has been adopted by the Democratic Party. This pathology is a subset of the overall assault on the masculine and manhood that we find in the culture. Any culture that has such an approach to men or the masculine is sick, sick, sick. It is this sickness that the above article advances. \n\nWe have seen what this anti-male, anti-masculine spirit has done to the Black community and what it is now doing to American culture in general. We see that this anti-white male view is actually a form of racism against the white race in general. This theme has infected all of Liberalism and the above article with the animosity it engenders not only lacks charity but is thoroughly anti-Christian.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Rich,\n\n Don't you think Trump's supporters appreciate his twittering as having the common touch, keeping in touch with the people, and being transparent?\n At first I thought it was juvenile, stupid and unpresidential. But it has its upside. At least we all know what's on his mind - as opposed to, say, Stephen Harper.\n In my view, the juveniles are greedy middle class liberals who don't want to spread the wealth around, don't want to upset the !%, are afraid of their corporate employer, and refuse to admit any responsibility for all America's ills.\n They need to repent and change their evil ways.\n They should don sack cloth and ashes and parade down main street flagellating themselves with birch tree twigs. A little Christian repentance is a good thing.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Why would it? Why would the Pell matter force Francis to do anything? He didn't do anything about Card. O'Brien, nothing to change his status as a cardinal of the Church. He just let him retire. Is the standard of the Holy Roman Catholic Church no more than civil law standards?\n\nMaybe, if Pell is found guilty in a civil court of actual child sexual abuse, Francis may act. My concern is that Francis already has tons of reasons to have acted against Pell for all that was revealed about how he covered-up abuse and how he treated victims - there is enough there already for Francis to have retired Pell. And he didn't. Admittedly, he got him out of Australia and into a place where he couldn't keep on treating victims like trash. He removed Pell from the environment in which Pell was doing great damage to the Church and actually put him in a job for which he might have some useful skills - guarding money. \n\nThis Church has no standards better than - greater than - civil law. Sad.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"Why is it that so many people who claim to be the most faithful Catholics see Christ in gold vessels and silk vestments but can't see Christ and his Mother in the face of the poor?\n\nBecause they are liars, they aren't Catholic. They only pretend being Catholic while trolling the internet.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "OMG, are you serious?! Focus on the Family, Oregon Citizens Alliance, Christian Coalition, Moral Majority, Eagle Forum, and any number of other Evangelical Christian political organizations have been at war against the LGBTQ community for over 30 years. Wow. It's scary that you appear to have zero awareness of the hate-fueled history of Evangelical political activism of.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The Pope is called far worse by regular Catholic bloggers on here for his teachings on women, gender theory, homosexuality and abortion.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Ordination of women is bad enough but women as bishops is and will always be a deal breaker in the eyes of the RC church. (Bishops can ordain priests you see - a double whammy). My husband is Anglican and I am RC. His bishop is a delightful woman, full of wit and humour, who has shaken up her diocese from top to bottom, reassigned old hangers-on and put the lait in charge of the direction they wanted to go, re: the church. My bishop, on the other hand, hardly ever goes out of the city limits, refuses to follow the more liberal of the pope's commands, in almost 10 years has yet to visit his more rural parishes, is only concerned about having photo ops in the diocesan newspaper, requires the common folk to come to him, etc., etc. If everything else were agreed to except ordination of women, there would be no agreement - ever! It is the dealbreaker, ergo of primo importance.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"DiNardo said Catholic teaching clearly \"supports the right of a sovereign nation to ensure the integrity of its borders and to enforce its laws. We object, however, when laws and policies fail to respect human rights or fail to ensure due process in its justice system. Often the U.S. immigration system does not meet this test.\"\"\n\nAnd you feel the same way about laws that protect children from pedophile priests -- because they interfere with the \"human rights\" of religious freedom and separation of church and state.\n\nProg and Trad Catholic clerics are equal masters when it comes to double-talk and hypocrisy.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "At best, these potential slaves were bound for factory work (with low pay and poor conditions), as likely, work in fields and at worst work in the drug trade or prostitution (likely catering to undocumented migrants). My bet is that the person who is buying these people likes immigration law exactly the way it is, with a compliant workforce that can be deported if it demands humanity and a local sheriff that will track down runaways (undocumented migrants don\u2019t get cars). At the heart, the problem is not immigration. It is capitalism. The driver knows who he was delivering to and who hired him. Getting the information from him should be no problem.\n\nThe Texas Catholic Conference is pathetic. To sell out immigrants for school cholice and abortion provisions (that likely will be overtruned) shows how much they are in the pocket of the Republican Party. The USCCB is as pathetic, but that is because Archbishop Kurtz is an arch-Republican. That is outrageous.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Nope, your bible verses don't apply to illegal aliens. Out they go!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Trump and Weinstein are in the same position. Both have been accused by a large number of women of patterns of sexual harassment and abuse going back decades. Weinstein rightfully has lost his career, his reputation, his power and after the lawsuits are done presumably most of his money. No one in Hollywood will work with him again. Democratic politicians are rushing to return his donations. He is a pariah.\nTrump, on the other hand, somehow remains more powerful, wealthy and popular than before. He is a serial adulterer, alleged sexual abuser and thrice married former casino operator, yet to conservative evangelical voters he is a hero and a rightous man of god. His election proves once and for all that American conservative Christianity is a hypocritical farce and a sham. Weinstein's supporters rightfully condemned him when they found out what kind of monster he was, Trump's just shrug their shoulders and say \"who cares as long as he puts our guy on the court.\"", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You wrote:\n\n<>\n\nYou're not grasping the argument. I doubt Bannon has \"some ties\" to the KKK. The point is he actively and aggressively promoted an ideology congenial to the white supremacist mission of the KKK.\n\nYou wrote:\n\n<>\n\nTypical conservative hand-waving. Note the Confederate flag represents a treasonous rebellion to defend slavery and its legacy of Jim Crow, systematic terrorism against African Americans, and social and institutional racism.\n\nI have got to wonder how you reconcile Christianity with the ideology of Donald Trump and the alt-right. Hypocrites!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "This is comparing apples and oranges. GLBT Catholics first start at a severe disadvantage the minute they come out of the closet. Secondly, you are describing heterosexual adultery which harms a married spouse, always and every time. Monogamous gay relationships do not harm in other adults.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "No kidding:\n\n\"Jesus made Peter a Pope and told him to go set up an opulent royal court in Rome. I don't care what Scripture says. I know it's true because I want it to be true!\"\n\n\"Through the merits of her Divine Son, Our Blessed Mother was miraculously preserved from Original Sin. I don't care if it doesn't make any sense. I know it's true because I want it to be true!\"\n\n\"Mary was a virgin her whole life long. I don't care what Scripture says. I know it's true because I want it to be true! Women who have sex are yucky!\"\n\n\"Laypeople owe their priests filial obedience and big wads of money. I know it's true because I want money and hate working for it!\"\n\n\"Jesus says priests are too ontologically precious to be subject to secular law. I know it's true because I don't want to go to jail!\"\n\nSome religions are upwards from ninety percent truthiness.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Hey Jack Phillips, show me where in the Bible Jesus ever said anything about gay people. Too many Christians don't seem to have ever actually read the Bible. It takes a lot of convoluted logic that has been debated as to actual meaning over and over again for the past, at least, 40 years to find any support for the current USA Christian anti-gay bigotry. The Bible is ambiguous on gay people. It is not ambiguous about Jesus who it describes as the most saintly person to ever live and seems to have loved everyone purely and defended those downtrodden against hate mongers. Likewise, there is little ambiguity in the Bible about other rules that homophobic Christians don't seem to care about one hoot: does Mr. Phillips make cakes for people who violate the sabbath, eat pork, use the Lord's name in vain? Please stop trying to hide behind religion doctrine that is made up. Let's call a homophobe a homophobe not a Christian.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Indeed, good to see someone on here who isn't a pinko or other anti-american type, like this bishop with all his \"christianity\" and whatnot.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Are you now implying that traditional minded Catholics who are anti-abortion are now Nazi's? Unbelievable.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I've traveled 186,000 plus kilometers in the last fifteen years. Like all Canadians who travel as much, we see the world differently. Lining up to board a flight at any major airport around the world, there are people from many countries. Muslims rub shoulders with Christians who rub shoulders with Jews who rub shoulders with Buddhists, Sikhs, and people of intense spirituality and faith and people of no faith. Fundamentalism, racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, and hate must be rooted out. Disrespectful people like Drumpf and Leach don't rule goodness. Quite the opposite. The repulsive behaviour in this horrifying (think of the children) does not reflect (are you listening Kellie) Canadian values.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Just more evidence that NCR is the vanguard of the new Catholic Coughlinism. \n\nBy repeatedly castigating everyone who voted for Trump as racists and fascists, the National Catholic Reporter is engaging in the same style of shallow and hateful propagandizing that characterized fr. Charles Coughlin's media career.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Parents are deciding the gender of a child instead of nature\"\nWhat the heck do you mean by that???\n\"Christianity is under assault as well as white males\"\nOh, you poor, poor dears. I don't feel under assault as a white male. Many Christians don't feel under assault.\nBut, once again, you reveal what the organized defense of this man is really about. It's about the \"freedom\" of conservative Christians to discriminate against gay people. It's about conservative Christians' ability to show their superiority over gay people.\nYou and your fellow conservative Christians want to return our society to a time when your values were supreme. When gay people were in the closet, in insane asylums, or in prison. You and your fellow conservative Christians want to reassert yourselves, knowing that people couldn't discriminate against you because of your religion while being able to legally discriminate against gay people in the name of \"religious freedom\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So, we can count you as a Protestant, right? Or do your ideas about slavery put you outside of Christianity altogether?\n\nAs far as sexuality is concerned, the word \"disgusting\" is one you ought to refrain from using, lest we get into an open, honest discussion over its applicability.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It seems to me that some Christians who are unable to convince others of the rightness of their particular beliefs have a need to resort to bullying. This entire matter is silly. I agree with Emigree. It is good that he stepped down. If he cannot find a way to be able to interact in the political arena with people of divergent religious beliefs, he has no business being in that arena.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Link to Jones clip?\n\nThe SPLC site says: \"refers to the alleged \"Jewish origins of bolshevism, Jewish dominance of Hollywood and the media, [and] Jewish control of Congress.\" \nWhich of those statements is not factually correct?\n\nEver ask yourself WHO insisted you believe that \"Nazism is evil,\" and WHEN did that happen?\n\nSPLC labels Catholics evil bcz critical of Jews; says readers should be sympathetic toward \"Jews\" and reject Catholics who are critical of Jews. \nWhat if, for example, \"Iranian\" is substituted for \"Jews\" in each of the 68 times \"Jew\" appears on that SPLC page; or \"anti-Iranian bigotry\" substituted for each of the 41 times \"anti-semitic\" is used? \nWould you still be so angry and still have \"Croesus 'pegged', Neko?\n\nAre Iranians not entitled to be defended and their human rights and sovereignty protected?\n\nAre Catholics forbidden to hold and speak opinions critical of Jews, or anyone else? Muslims?\n\nWhy are \"Jews\" entitled to special treatment but Catholics aren't?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic Church, through its approved Biblical scholars, and in the Vatican Council 2 Document on Revelation, teaches us that God inspires biblical writers to use Literary Forms.\nThe Literary Form or the Genesis Creation stories is the 'myth' form of writing.\nEach section of Scripture, to be interpreted as God intended, needs to consider the literary form the authors - both human and Divine - intended.\n\nIt is not a question of being 'liberal' \u2013 it is just a question of being knowledgeable about what the Church teaches about the Scriptures.\n\nThe Sodom and Gomorrah story, according to Bible scholars, is not 'myth' form, but it is 'legend'.\n\nTo misinterpret the bible is to make it ridiculous.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(...CONTINUED FROM ABOVE)\n\nYou said: \"You know well as I do that it is not ethnic differences that is creating the havoc today but religious difference. Palestinian Jews and Arabs are divided by faith, not race. So it really don't matter who was there first.\"\n\nThen why do you keep inaccurately arguing that Jews continuously inhabited it \"since the dawn of time\"?\n\nYou said: \"Who do you think the Zionists are.....Ewoks?? They are Jews, Freddie...Zionists are Jews.\"\n\nSorry, I've known many Zionist Christians, and quite a few anti-Zionist Jews. And you've again contradicted yourself. Don't feel bad, Zionists Jews do it all the time. Is \u201cJewishness\u201d determined by faith, or by ancestry? You claim the former in arguing that both peoples in this conflict are Semites.\n\nYour problem, then, is to explain how your criterion applies when (1) 70% of Israelis are ATHEISTS, and (2) how Israel\u2019s ruling cadre\u2014the Ashkenaziim\u2014are NOT Semites. \n\n(CONTINUED BELOW...)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "M.E.F,\nI see you are quickly drifting into the same style that ran afoul of Civil Comments once already:\nSnarky and snotty, eh. You thus lose your case and any hearing we would have for you. \nThat is exactly what the American Catholic prelates are doing with their hate, viciousness and venom.\nOne NEVER wims others over to ones thinking by attacking others with such viciousness and venom. Didn't you learn anything in pastoral counseling or are you so vicious and ambitious that good counseling techs don't matter any more. \nRemember, as you spread evil it just may get you nowhere and will even engulf you. \nReagan and his pal Pope John Paul II did great damage to the church by his worship of Trickle-down economics and the terrible effects that had on the poor and the middle class. \nBaby Bush and BXVI and the American Catholic prelature also did evem more great amounts of damage to the poor and middle class as well as causing millions to leave the church. \nLook at what Trump is doing!!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Interesting pivot there, Pandora. But the point was Luther's motivation, of which you were unaware. The catholic church of Luther's era was openly and blatantly corrupt and worldly. Many were repelled by this corruption, just as many are now repelled by the Church's ongoing support for pedophile clergy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Transformation is limited by personal conversion, daily happy interior struggle to get closer to God. \n\nThe main problem with the Catholic Church is a large base of stagnant and lukewarm lay Catholics, most here who like to point fingers elsewhere.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is also welfare for large military contractors who make bombs and killing machines. Instead of making thins that would actually improve society, they make things to kill people. So very Christian. Eisenhower was right when he warned against the military industrial complex.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I now lie and the lie denigrates female sexuality? What exactly do you know about our Blessed Mother? Where do you come up with such balderdash? I follow the teachings of the Catholic Faith, unlike many Catholic Priests on this site. I think the Catholic theologians of the past 2000 years might know a bit about the truth, but apparently you know better than them all. What false pride my good man.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Pences are probably a loving and super trustful Christian couple in the old fashioned way\"\n\nMore like some weird outlier to the standard anti-diabolism cult.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sorry to burst your bubble but many of the terrorist attacks on that list of 21 where committed by \"Christian Terrorists\" like the Charleston shooting and the Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood shooting....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "All those in favor of this privileged, arrogant, self important, high minded Catholic Church, signify by saying, \"Aye\". All those opposed, signify by saying, \"I resign\"\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Except Bible believing Christians!\n The aclu hates them, that's why they are called the Anti Christian Litigation Unit....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Technically the bar was not against Jews since Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists would have also been prevented from taking the oath\n\nBut somehow this particular argument has been conflated to a bar just against Jews\n\nAs Canadians we were all required to say the Lord's prayer in public school right until the 80s (85 to be exact)\n\nPeople could choose not to participate if they so wished\nso this whole \"equivalent to\" argument gets you nowhere since opting out is always an option\n\nThe real issue is whether a person who graduates from this school can uphold the law without recrimination or prejudice\nAssuming they have passed the bar .....\na lawyer is a lawyer is a lawyer\n\nWhether they are christian, muslim, jewish or atheist", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "ADN, why are you allowing all the anti-Christian comments? If these same remarks were towards another religion or race of people you'd be deleting them.\n\nNo where in this story is Christianity mentioned. This is a hate attack but then again, ADN is a liberal rag that supports it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Mass murder of men, women and children---and not one excommunication.\" What this tells me is you've been reading Jack Chick materials.\n\nRodney Stark, a Protestant, has a book out by Templeton Press \"Bear False Witness: Debunking Centuries of Anti-Catholic History\". He debunks this allegation.\n\nBy your fruits you will know them, and you\u2019re repeating one of the most insidious anti-Catholic libels.\n\nThe book is currently offered on Amazon, and it is well-reviewed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Shameful, but not surprising, based on the fact that so many evangelical \"Christians\" voted for trump. Just goes to show that these so-called \"Christians\" haven't got a clue what Jesus said in that book they claim to be living by.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think parents who talk about gays as being out of sync with biological fact (and in the case of Catholic parents they are informed by Catholic teaching) are a major cause of suicide. http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/21/churches-contribute-to-gay-suicides-most-americans-believe", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Some Muslims want to apply some aspects of Sharia Law (which includes protection of widows & orphans and alms for the poor) in some family disputes, just a Christians and Orthodox Jews have the right to do. Nothing that contravenes the criminal code or the Charter would ever be allowed to stand in such a resolution.\nThere is absolutely no basis for a fear that Sharia Law will \"(replace) our judicial system...\". That's just absurd.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"This Catholic is most certainly intolerant of ambiguity\"\n\nThere was never any doubt about that, R&R.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, it's not a \"christian program\", but it is a christian thing to do (not to kick them out). Guess some people may think it's a 'Muslim Program' because of the haters to it's creator -- Obama. BTW, there is nothing wrong with being a hater of Trump -- I don't like him either. Neither was there anything wrong with haters of Obama. We all have the liberty to decide. It's 'fake news' like Pizzagate (Comet Pizza) that's wrong.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pope Francis has a number of people who join him for meals. Usually they are members of the staff [and the Swiss Guard knows them], but Burke still had his office in the Vatican. So, I'm not being \"silly\" at all. Burke and company---have NOTHING to do with ordinary Catholics. They are nothing but stumbling-blocks who care only to hang onto their dead arguments. God is the God of the living, not the God of dead laws that bring no life to anyone.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Or they can watch President Trump's clip on Access Hollywood to see how \"real men\" expect women to respond to their advances. A real Christian response to the issue of teenage sex.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Differences \"within the range\" are not the problem, and \"Extreme Christians can be more radical than any Muslims that I know\"? You only know more moderate ones then. Funny, no Christians I know or even have heard of have more extreme beliefs than conservative Muslims.\n\nWhich extreme Christians believe adultery should be punishable by death, and that \"modest\" women should not go out in public with uncovered faces?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Perhaps the bishop in question is, indeed, an outstanding Catholic in your eyes. but to many he is indeed a very poor Christian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bill, I see your \"screw prayer\" comment not as irreverence, but as the Broken Hallelujah of Leonard Cohen's song of the same title, in the second verse where he confronts those who would attempt to police and control his spiritual expression. We need to grieve, lament, experience righteous anger and hunger for justice. Those who would limit Christian behavior to passive niceness or stoic piety are depriving themselves of their full humanity and I offer them a resounding \"No!\" Your verse from Isaiah is apt and fitting. If it was originally written to Sodom and Gomorrah, this would make it all the more fitting for this country which is also idolatrous, of power, guns and self-absorption. I also feel the need at times to take a break from NCR's comments but hope you won't stay away too long as your comments are worthwhile.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "During the Obama administration, 11+ million illegal aliens entered the country. Sending 2.5 million back leaves a net gain of 9+ million entering. Furthermore, if anyone honestly believe 2.5 million were sent back during the Obama administration, why weren't you people up in arms and decrying Obama? Where was Bishop McElroy's outrage? Bishop McElroy and the vast majority of commentators here are hypocrites! The most sinful party is Bishop McElroy. He uses his position of authority in the Catholic Church to promote his personal agenda as if to represent the official teaching of the Church. Part of Bishop McElroy's message regarding disruption is inciting violence or, at the very least, encouraging people to participate in an activity that threatens the safety of the disruptor and innocent bystanders. Why would Bishop McElroy encourage disruptive behavior in light of the fact we have seen many of the acts of disruption lead to violence and rioting?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Says a white, Christian man.\n\nWomen find them VERY relatable.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Luke verse is God stating what he will do to his enemies (which God has the right to do) and used in a PARABLE, and the Sword is referring to division, not violence. Nowhere do either of the verses advocate or order Christians to violence. Even your Old Testament verses are out of context and meaningless. If you truly go to a church, I doubt if asking your Pastor is going to do any good based on your method of Biblical interpretation. There is a big difference between a crowd and a church, you clearly are attending the former. And ignorance is, in most cases, blind.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The issue I have with conservative Catholics is their suggestion that voting for a certain candidate is mortal sin. Let's tone down the rhetoric and keep God out of our politics. He loves both Democrats and Republicans.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"But to me, the most ironic one of them all is the marriage of convenience between Catholic hierarchy and Evangelical pastors\"\n\n.Especially since many of the same religious groups with which the Catholic hierarchy has been in bed don't believe Catholics are 'really Christians', and have some truly disgusting opinions about the Catholic Church. I know personally since I used to encounter them in college constantly once they found out I was Catholic. And the Catholic hierarchy of course believes that the RCC is the 'one true Church', thus relegating their 'bedfellows' to 'second fiddle with Jesus' status. It's kind of like a couple telling each other how much they love each other with their fingers crossed behind their backs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I can love the neighbor and think their beliefs are silly. \n\nIsn't that what Christians say as well? \"Hate the sin, not the sinner?\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And the Catholics and the Protestants, both relying on 'Jesus', killed 6 million of each other during the 30-years War in Europe.\n\nThe Crusades? \n\nOliver Cromwell and England?\n\nThe Irish and the British? \n\n\"Gott Mit Uns\" belt buckles and the Wermacht?\n\nThe Conquistadores 'converting' all the heathens in the New World? (Convert or Die?)\n\nGood followers of 'Jesus' every one!\n\nThat's your 'Religion of Peace\"!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have to only generally agree. Facts \"should\" matter. They unfortunately matter far, too, little today, generally supplanted by opinions more closely tethered to myths. Americans, and most of the world, has more access to facts than any other time in the history of the world -- and that, ironically, has mainly just given us more to ignore than understand. But, then, understanding requires thinking, and that, too, seems on the decline...at least about things other than sports, entertainment and whatever \"celebrity\" is.\n\nBeyond the moral and traditional reasons you cite, this action just creates a bigger market from which to recruit terrorists. It's a 90 day strategy for fostering a larger problem long-term. I suspect it's not making Christians in those countries any safer either. This is just to go foolishly and boldly into the future.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Assad is the only one in the region looking out for the Christian minority. Syria was an oasis for the Christian Assyrian populace that have been their since their people first heard of the gospels, this terrible civil war is the first time they have been dislodged.\n\nAssad is a horrible man, but he is the only one that has looked out for the eastern Christians, not the Islamist or secular rebels, and most shamefully not even western Christendom. \n\nhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sectarianism_and_minorities_in_the_Syrian_Civil_War#Attacks_on_Christians_and_churches\n\nBetter the devil you know, I suppose.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The practice is carried out by both Muslim and Christian communities, although it predates both religions and is not sanctioned by the Quran or the Bible.\"\n\nDo you really think that is an honest statement? Do you really think you will help young girls to escape mutilation by stretching and deforming the truth? Shame on you!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm not much of a christian. I'm one of those who gave up on organized religion a long time ago. But when I do talk to christians who I respect, they express outrage that christianity has been hijacked by charlatans who focus on issues like homosexuality. As usual, the most vocal 'so-called' christians get all the media attention. The ones who silently follow their beliefs get little or no attention.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Isn't it a bit ironic that Catholic Churches ring the Church bells on Patricks day to welcome destroyers into the country, and, right on cue one such savage kills our people in London. The clergy are complicit! They step up to the pulpit and pray for 'world peace' as if they are dimwitted beauty pageant contestants. The clergy have despised their noble birthright and sold it away for the sod pottage of social-work. 'Preaching' enviromentalism as incompetent 'scientists'; they make themselves fools addled alongside 'global warming' hot-shots who have been ridiculed for decades. [even 'global-warming' has had to have been changed to 'climate change' because the 'scientists' are always repudiated by the evidence...which contradicts 'warming']. [Or, 'cooling';...because in fact the nature of it is CYCLICAL; driven by the sun][indict me for mortal sin of 'climate denial', or, call me Capernicus]", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "While I'd rejoice in sincerely and honestly revisiting current sexual teachings, I think Francis has chosen a reasonable approach. Sex is still too hot for this fractious crowd to handle. The better path is to de-emphasize the subject until the current cadre of so-called leaders is replaced by a younger group. The sexual fundamentalists, mostly career opportunitists, still have too much high energy support from the minority of congregants, mostly elderly, who have real problems with sexuality. The number of sex-haters will shrink and their energy will fade.\n\nFor now, though, anybody promoting the ill-founded and dare I say it immoral teachings of the Church today should be told to pipe down and mind the gospels. Jesus may have had a view on sexual matters (who doesn't?), but He kept pretty quiet about it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If Canadians get the electoral reform they need and deserve, the CON's problem will not be beating the Liberals but proposing policies that are supported by a significant majority of Canadians (and benefit nearly all of us).\n\nInstead of creating a bogus government agency to promote fundamentalist christianity in the Third World, we should get a law that ensures that all tax deductible donations to religious groups are used for real charitable purposes and this is rigorously audited.\n\nInstead of policies helping real estate speculators evade their taxes, perhaps propose laws that eliminate these curses and promote real investment in job creating industries.\n\nAs well - no more meatless bones to their bigoted core supporters since such voters will be marginalized voting for a party whose policies benefit so few Canadians.\n\nOnce the curse of minority CON gov'ts overturning quality legislation has passed, I'm certain that the other politicians will find a way to work together. Can the CONs?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Almost as authoritarian as a Polish pope whose priesthood was shaped under Nazi and Communist systems, or a German pope who was a Nazi youth. So, your comparison is an apt one.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Simple question: can a women kill her born child in the name of \"choice\" and \"self fulfillment?\" Then why does she get to kill her unborn child? What is the difference?\n\nThe Catholic Church believes birth control is a sin---but---no one is asking for laws against birth control. Have your free contraception if you like, so long as the Catholic Church does not have to fund it or otherwise be involved with providing it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I had to chuckle at his remark \"Phan states repeatedly, for example, that to acknowledge a complementary relationship between Christianity and other world religions is not to claim that the teachings of those religions are in any sense equivalent.\" Just ask the hierarchy about the complementary relationship between male and female.\n\nAt times they seem confused about the meaning of \"confusion\" -- it's not a synonym for \"disagreement\" or \"theorizing\" or \"exploration\" or \"h*r*sy\"; and \"you're confused\" should not be the beginning of a threat to put the hammer down.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Established by a man who was also God and made up of men and women. The sin of the Hierarchy is the hubris to believe they have a morality on moral reasoning, which they do not. Indeed, on all sexual issues (from sex itself to the role of women to Continence for priests) they get it disastrously wrong. Their teachings are Stoic, not Christian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How ridiculous. It takes 14 people on a commission to \"enlighten\" \"The One Church of Christ\"..... Enlightenment 101seminar\nAM. session.....\nRaping kids is wrong.\nHiding pedophile clergy is wrong.\nHurting victims is wrong.\nKeeping dangerous secrets is wrong.\nTransparency is good, coming totally clean is the only way this organization can move forward.\nPM Session......\nRelease all of the secret files, This is good\nQuit Lying this is also good.\nRemove offenders.\nPunish enablers.\nReach out with loving concern and take care of victims.Yes this means quit fighting them.\n\nFor decades, this organization has been told countless times by many experts, what needs to be done to move forward from the Churches ruthless response to the rape of children and it's cover up. \nThis stonewalling dog and pony show is a disgusting delay tactic to protect complicit bishops allowing them to retire with dignity. \nThe church still places the protection of the ordained over the protection of your kids. \nSad", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So some voted for a man as Commander in Chief who wants to gut NATO, has frightening admiration for Putin - a brutal leader - a total disregard for world political reality, a National Security Advisor who propagated lies and admits it (he also used a private server for his official email), a man who thinks the word of Julian Assange is more reliable than multiple national intelligence agencies.\n\n Bush was pro-life. For 6 years there was a Republican controlled congress. Abortion remained legal. Those who fell for Trump's last minute conversion to being \"christian\", to being \"pro-life\" are sad victims of a very gifted con man. He was elected because Americans have chosen to betray both the values traditionally represented by America, and the real teachings of gospel in favor of a \"prosperity\" gospel where the \"preacher\" promises them wealth if they will put up a wall against the poor, and turn the refugees back into the sea. Just like Jesus said to do in Matthew 25:31-46.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "> If the Holy Spirit has been so assiduous in guiding the Church, then either the Holy Spirit is really bad at it or else has a very nasty sense of humor.\n\nPlease give an instance in which the Holy Spirit has lead the Church astray.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Most people recognize that there are other challenges facing our culture that are at least of equal significance as gay marriage.\" If this is all that is at stake - gays marrying, I would agree. But gay marriage implies and opens up the door to many other situations such as children being adopted, business owners being forced to comply in a gay wedding ceremony (bakers, hall rentals, etc.), and same-sex sexual relationships as being acceptable, which , for a Catholic is problematic. As far as Catholic teaching and Canon Law, Bishop Paprocki is not wrong in what he is suggesting, but perhaps somewhat imprudent as the writer accurately says funerals are about the grieving family.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I wish Father Reese had gone into why a majority of white Catholic men are for Trump. And what it says about the Catholic community in the US.\n\nI fear that the racism and misogyny espoused by Trump play a great part.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I hardly think the Evil One would lead us to worship Jesus in the Eucharist. Jesus is his arch-enemy.\nOf course the Eucharist was instituted primarily to be received in Holy Communion. In this era, it hardly competes with Communion since almost all the congregations partakes. \n Careful discernment leads us to follow the Spirit's guidance, through instruments like Pope JPII, Benedict and even Francis to see Adoration as an extension of Mass and to lead us to want to receive even more often. It is a deep meditation and continuation of the mystery of Holy Communion.\nBecause our separated brethren (with the exception of Anglo-Catholics and some Lutherans) don't practice it, doesn't mean we can't. Most of them don't believe as we do re the Real Presence. They, also, don't have Apostolic Succession as we and the Orthodox do. BTW, the Orthodox will tell you that it just didn't develop in the East just as high veneration of icons, as they practice it, didn't develop as much in the West.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "More guns, less crime. Do the bishops ever look at the empirical data? Of course not.\n\nThe bishops call for No Borders. They call for disarming the law-abiding. (And they never acknowledge that no law ever disarms criminals.) The bishops mechanically call for more taxation and more spending. The bishops promote the Carbon Hoax.\n\nAnd Catholics are rightly ignoring them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It really is quite ironic that these easily led Catholics have voted to bring all these 'unborn children' into the world, - while voting against everything that will give that child any quality of life once it arrives. It really is culpable ignorance.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Native Hawaiians shouldn't get lost in the forest due to the trees. The choice is simple, keep hanging on to an independent sovereign monarchy Old Kingdom, or accept Nation status recognition from the US government. Choosing a Nation is not a loss, it is a gain. It gains the right to legal recognition, and with those rights, the rights to begin petitioning. The Old Kingdom was a Monarchy. Monarchies are obsolete in the reality of a 21st century Earth. Also, Queen Liliuokalani was a devout christian, devoted to a sacred jew god. The only sacred lands she recognized were in Israel. The Hawaiian islands were not sacred to her, since that would have been blasphemy to the jew god religion. The Hawaiians always distinguished between aina (food producing land), aokuewa (worthless land) and kapu (tapu) aina, kupua ohana land. Queen Liliokulani viewed her Monarchy lands as Crown Lands. There was still a distinction between aina and aokuewa, but the tapu aina was just crown land, for sale.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\". . . the universality you speak of appears to be of relatively recent Christian and Islamic manufacture.\"\n\nYou left out Judaism. I would not regard their ancient texts as \"relatively recent.\" In any case, you regard historical recency as a factor that argues against traditional views, forgetting that your view of homosexuality is far, far more recent. Don't forget that by your lights, even the Dalai Lama is a homophobe.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This isn't the first time that Burke had opposed Pope Francis. On the eve of the Episcopal Synod of October 2014, he was one of five authors who published a book [Permanere nella virita di Cristo] \"To remain in the truth of Christ\". In it they emphasized that they are 'united in firmly maintaining that the new Testament portrays Christ UNAMBIGUOUSLY prohibiting divorce and remarriage. In plain words----They accord themselves all rights and privileges of their state----but those laity, who have marital problems aren't to be even given a sympathetic ear. They fail in the service of the people---no compassion and no mercy.\n\nBurke certainly deserves to be included in the title of 'bad shepherds who load crushing burdens onto the shoulders of folk without lifting a finger to help them bear it.\" [Pope Francis' comments at the Inaugural Mass on October 5, 2014]. He is nothing else but an ecclesiastical businessman.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There was a lot of hatred directed towards Irish Catholics there - I agree that it did not seem to translate into generalized hatred of us.\nAt least any more than was already there. When my grandfather and family arrived in Canada - it was \"No Irish Need Apply\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm wary. We know from Hillary's emails that the Catholic Church has been infiltrated and subverted. If I were Catholic, and I'm not, I would stay home & read the Bible with my family rather than subjecting them to pedophiles, communists, and Marxist infiltrators. I regard this guy and all leaders of Cathlic churches & organizations with level Orange suspicion. I suggest you do the same.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes. We should just encourage little monsters who scare off parishioners with their fundamentalism, immaturity, and hate to become priests. That certainly is going to help the Catholic Church grow. And Cardinal Cupich certainly believes in the Church but he is not a far right nut about it as does the rector of the seminary, Father Kartje. I am sure that there are men (and unfortunately it is only men) who feel called to the priesthood because they want to minister to people and have a true mature spirituality. This is much different than wanting to play Latin Mass dress up and fake pre-Vatican II priest where you get to boss around the laypeople like serfs (and shooting guns and spewing warped adolescent boy talk on the side.) Those types encouraged and nurtured by the last two popes, especially Benedict, have done much to harm the Catholic Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"In Latin America the flight from the Catholic Church is spreading, where 20 percent identify as non-Catholic Christians.\"\n\nOut of the frying pan, into the fire.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So, as I said, the important point is, as a fiction writer, you choose if your anti-environmental/profiteering/totalitarian villain will be an outer space mining company, or a dinosaur genetic engineer industrialist, or a radical Christian, or a radical Muslim. \n\nAnd look, you are the second person on this board who has raised the ridiculous notion that oh, well, way back then, no one was concerned about Islamist threats. Hello? As I already said, Clancy's book came out around the same time as Atwood's, so clearly some were concerned. But even if they weren't, who cares? You even used the word \"absurd\" - are you KIDDING me? The Manchurian Candidate and Mars Attacks and Being There, they all managed to be hits at times when takeovers of Washington by simple-minded English gardeners, by green song-averse Martians and by Chinese puppet-masters was hardly high on peoples' lists of everyday worries!!!\n\nThere IS a double standard in the arts community - my thesis is nicely intact, thanks!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "imagine, if the gay community was as militant and zealous about defining, demanding and defending they're rights as Americans as these good end times Christians prophesizing Armageddon. \nthere would be rivers of blood. \n\nthe thought of losing the ability to deny the rights of a group of people,\nthe thought that gays could push legislation to deny you freedoms long taken for granted as divine and not given by man...\ngives you an aneurysm. \n...just the thought. \n the irony.\n\n\"patriotism\" is relative.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Tridentius - why is it your business if someone is in an \"irregular relationship \"? It has absolutely nothing to do whether the world keeps on spinning? How someone else lives is none of my business. People are free to choose unless one lives in a police state. It's interesting that right-wingers in the church are so focused on this one particular item. They conveniently overlook other more serious problems that do not get properly addressed such as lack of access to birth control, misogyny, excessive uncontrolled wealth of cardinals and bishops and their benefactors, women treated as second class and are only useful as brood mares and cookie bakers.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Deplorable that so much money is wasted on regalia for prelates to prance around in when there so many poor people in the world. The church needs to get out of the monarchical mode and do away with all the silly costumes. It has absolutely nothing to do with Jesus. He didn't Run around dressed up like a clown to talk to people.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Your examples of moral equivalency fail to hit the mark by a long shot. First of all, the United States is not a Christian nation. European countries -- forget about it! Secondly, no one commits atrocities in the Name of our Savior. Islamic terrorists regularly kill and enslave in the name of Islam and even cry out \"Allah Akbar\" when committing their crimes against humanity. A genocide against Christians is taking place right now in Islamic countries. The atrocities against women and gays are unspeakable. \n\nChristians and Muslims have a different understanding of the God of Abraham. For Muslims, this God is pure will. For Christians, God is love.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "there is a difference between anti-Muslim hate and concern regarding the spread of Islamic thought. \n\nConsidering that there are large numbers of Catholic and Jewish cemeteries in Canada, if you would deny someone the simple comfort of the burial custom of their religious affiliation, you seem simply filled with animus. \n\nBeing wary regarding the spread of Islam however is another matter. The Islamic world, after reaching it's competitive cultural and technological peak 800 years ago, has stagnated since. Islam itself has never undergone a Renaissance or Enlightenment and it has never been forced to confront its theocratic assumptions as Christianity was forced to do under the West's expansion of pure science, philosophy, political theory technological innovation, and secularization... where are the Islamic world's da Vinci, Galileo, Kant, Voltaire, Smith, Marx, or Watt, its Oxfords or MITs, or even its defenders of the simple concept of the separation of church and state ?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You might be Catholic but \"those guys\" are sanctimonious \"holy\" ROMAN Catholics.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Why does the G&M always turn to this wind bag when it wants a story that involves the Catholic Church. He is about the worst \"Catholic\" you could recommend. He is not a real Catholic. He is all for wild, unfounded interpretations of Church teaching and only follows that his narrow view agrees with. . Hardly a real Catholic in any way. The G&M can do better. You should be ashamed of yourselves.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Um, how is that straw man of yours?\n\n\n\nThis isn't about me, it's about this awful pResident. \n\n\nThe point is that Donnie Two Scoops professes to be a Christian, at least to get the rubes to vote for him, but really worships Mammon.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Do you actually want the media to ignore what the President says? Do you also want the media to ignore criminal wrong-doing by Presidents? Why do you find ignorant and hate-filled messages, whether in tweets or speeches, to be a media-created problem rather than something to be reported and exposed to the 'light of day'? Would you say that the real problem with the lynching of blacks in America during the 20th century was simply the media reporting those crimes? It appears you simply want to turn a blind-eye to repulsive, and often anti-Christian, rhetoric by politicians you support.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "SNAP neither confirms nor denies accusations. The do however give victims a voice.\n\nOdd, why don't priests stand up alongside the victims? It's a brotherhood, that's why.\n\nAnd those abused and denied a childhood and adulthood are denied by the catholic church's lobby efforts again,,, horrid", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "And the history of the world is in large part a history of religions.\n\nRefusing to expose your child to any religious information is stupid. \n\nHow can you understand the 30-years war if you don't even know the difference between a Catholic and the varieties of non-Catholics which resulted in 6 million deaths.\n\nOr the Crusades. \n\nOr the Inquisition. \n\nOr the Holocaust.\n\nOr why most of South America speaks Spanish but Brazil speaks Portuguese.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I can just see Jesus in heaven rolling his eyes and saying, \"Why did I ever agree to go down there in the first place.\" These village idiots do not understand what I was doing, asking of them. First, it was a nice cabernet that was used, but any wine will do, it's just what was on hand at the time. Secondly, it was a barley loaf, the food of the poor. And we added salt and honey to the recipe, hey, it was the last supper and a good loaf of bread was expected. Geez, you'd think I was handing out oreo's or twinkies, but then again what can you expect after 2000 years of not doing my will.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Ken, it was inevitable that you would re-post your already rejected post of your tired, hoary old homophobic chestnut. \n\nWe all know that \"[T]he [John Jay] researchers found no statistical evidence that gay priests were more likely than straight priests to abuse minors\u2014a finding that undermines a favorite talking point of many conservative Catholics. The disproportionate number of adolescent male victims was about opportunity, not preference or pathology, the report states.\" https://www.americamagazine.org/content/all-things/john-jay-report-not-blaming-homosexual-priests", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "and just how is he \"foisting\" by not decorating a wedding cake according to the desires of the gay couple?\nAnd who are you to decide/judge his in your opinion hypocritical and non Christian teachings? He is not a hypocrite if he acts on his beliefs, whether you agree with his understanding of Christ's teachings or not. Logic is failing you.\nBTW, his business preexisted \"public accommodation\" interpretation to include a privately owned bakery, not engaged in interstate commerce....", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I don't know if the bishops ever told priests that if they rape a child and celebrate Mass they are committing sacrilege. But even if they didn't, the priest should know that...it is pretty basic Catholicism that receiving Communion with a mortal sin on your soul is sacrilege. \n\nBy the logic of your second paragraph, there can never be a mortally sinful sexual act, since sex acts by definition occur in a state of passion. Which begs the question, why in this case would the Scriptures go through the trouble of condemning sexual immorality? This sounds like something your example of a rapist priest could say to himself to justify himself taking Communion in a state of mortal sin.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Ridiculous comment. Coptic Christians are the original population of Egypt---pre-Arab and pre-Muslim----and have no connection with European imperialism post 1500. And their history of being violently suppressed goes back a long way. So, for example, back in the 8th and 9th century, when they were still the majority in Egypt, there were many revolts by the Copts against their Arab conquerors that were brutally suppressed. Discriminatory taxation was one of the causes. (The Coptic Church hierarchy, which was granted a position of privilege by their Arab overlords, sometimes aided the suppression. ) History is written by the conquerors, and it doesn't much matter whether the conqueror is a 19th century European or an 8th century Arab.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Oh, \u201cBIGOTRY!\u201d\nHomosexual acts are sinful, and, according to Sacred Scripture, one of the four sins \u201ccrying to heaven for vengeance.\u201d A gay marriage is (un)naturally going to involve said acts. Are you capable of comprehending this? The baker doesn\u2019t want to participate in a wedding that promotes this sin. Now, a bigot is \u201ca person who is obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices; [you certainly fit that description to a tee] especially :one who regards or treats the members of a group (such as a racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance.\u201d\nThe question boils down to obstinacy and intolerance. Well, when bases his opinion or belief of something as crystal clear as\u201dhomosexual behavior is sinful\u201d, is it obstinacy or principled dissent? And why do you think we should be tolerant of sin? That certainly isn\u2019t Christ-like, being as that Christ admonished everyone to \u201csin no more.\u201d You are the obstinate bigot here, clearly.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Muslims and liberals excoriate us about Islamophobia, but we should bear in mind Islam's entrenched racism, xenophobia, homophobia, misogyny, anti-Semitism, hatred of Christianity, Europe and America, destructive iconoclasm, and even Islamophobia against each other. Ancient tribal wars between Kurds, Shiite, Sunni, Wahhabi, Druze and other Islamic sects, ISIS , Taliban and Al Quada are the root causes of most of the wars and social chaos happening around the world today. It is worse than anything expressed in the west, even by Trump.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "If he keeps this up, he might be elevated to Cardinal, but San Diego Bishop Robert McElroy is ignorant and will have people leaving the Catholic Church! Apparently he forgot that he cannot serve both Caesar and God! He wants to serve the Caesar of chaos and disunity!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "White Imperialism is protected by the US Military/ Prison System for Profit. #DepletedUranium. White Power owns the Global Economy & is responsible for the Genocide of Thousands of Species, Deforestation, Pollution, etc. White Power controls ALL MAJOR TV Stations, Newspapers, Radio Stations, & had a monopoly on Normalized Christianity a White Power Religion. Hitler was a copy of George Washington at his worst/best", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "How wrong art thou? Let me count the ways:\n\n(1) I'm an 'Ahmed', not a 'Judah'\n\n(2) And you offer yet another example of what my dear friend, returned to his Lord eight years now, once observed--no people make a greater show of their 'humility' than so-called 'Christians'\n\n(3) And none so frequently--and falsely--claim 'persecution'\n\n(4) One who admonishes keeping God's Law while failing to do so is not only a hypocrite, he embraces arrogance--\"Anna khairum min'hum; I'm BETTER than him\". Satan first uttered that blasphemous fallacy before God Himself\n\n(5) I'm a staunch critic of both the Zionist entity and Da'esh (wrongly called 'Islamic State'--there's nothing Islamic about them). I've denounced the Sa'ud family--their ideological and financial backers--in Minah, Saudi Arabia, and was threatened with death for it. Can you say the same?\n\n(6) To paraphrase Sidney Portier: \"ASSUME\" makes an A$$ of U, not ME\n\n(7) eindama yunaqish rajul maequl, fazt--eindama yunaqish al'ahmaq, afqad", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The attack in Quebec was a cowardly attack that must be condemned in the strongest terms. Canada is a wonderful country that protects anyone's right to pray in peace without fear of violence or persecution. Canada is also a champion of free speech, this includes political and religious satire. We should be able to discuss all religions respectfully, even if the topics are uncomfortable. There is a double standard when it comes to religions, perhaps because Canada has evolved into a liberal secular society, most people accept religious satire of Judaism and Christianity, it's common in Monty Python or South Park but one religion is beyond reproach. Certain cultures governed by religious laws are hostile to free speech under the guise of pious submission, these cultures also lag in terms of gender equality and freedom of sexual orientation. Which brings me to Liberal MP Iqra Khalid's proposed M-103 - free speech is either free or it isn't, which is why M-103 is very concerning.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And these feelings of theirs, like the hierarchs they are defending, is why the crisis is still continuing and will continue. They are the whitened sepulchres Jesus talked about, the same ones he said should be tossed into the sea with a millstone around their necks. They are full of evil and spewing their filth in Jesus' name. All in \"christian \" love of course.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Crusades.\nThe attempt to reclaim Christian lands from Islamic invaders.\nWhat is your point about Islamic Invasions?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Repeal it, YES. Replace it, NO.\n\nGet the feds out of the health care business!!\n\nObama\u2019s legacy? He destroyed our economy with measures like the ACA and immigration amnesty. The \u201cAffordable\u201d Care Act has been nothing short of a disaster. My health insurance bill is up to $550/month. (Compare this to my $25/month auto insurance from Panda or my $10/month renters insurance\u2026 both private enterprise!) And he is anti-police, anti-white, anti-Christian.. you name it!\n\nThe ONLY thing the federal government should be doing in health care is smoothing the lines between states, so that when one needs health care out of state they can have it under the commerce clause.\n\nHealth care is neither a right nor an entitlement....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You mean those socialist nations which provide full public education and healthcare for all citizens and which you and your ilk hate so much? Another example of your wild flailing search for anything, even socialist nations, to support your false ideology. Only the U.S. is headed toward christian theocracy formed in the image of the Holy Roman Empire of which Germany, Trump's heritage, was the center.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"No One\": please at least have the courage to show who you really are.\n\nI think your questioning of the legitimacy of the equivalence avoids the actual problem.\n\nIt is well known that Rose and his publication refused to publish cartoons that criticized Christian ideals and ideas because they knew it would offend their Christian readers. Why was the same courtesy not extended to readers and practitioners of the Islamic faith?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Good for him. All voices should be heard also includes conservative Christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And, Jesus, being Jesus, would probably start out as a bishop (because He is too important to be a priest or lay person) and then quickly rise through the ranks to Pope, showing everyone the value of tradition and the importance of appreciating the value of fine lace and other fine accoutrements.....\nYou are absolutely right. I value your guidance and patience with those of us who lag behind in our understanding. \n:-)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How would you like it if King Soopers wouldnt let you shop there because you are a Christian?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Simpering virtue signalling vomit.\n\nHave you ever lived near a cemetery or a church, mosque or synagogue? They don't make for great neighbours. I would vote no in a referendum too. And I would want to lever municipal bylaws to prevent them, just as I would for a strip club or a nightclub.\n\nOur media and politicians are falling all over themselves to make this issue an \"anti Muslim\" one. What utter nonsense. They should be ashamed of themselves. And the sponsors of the cemetery should look for another location. They might follow the example of the Jewish community in Toronto - look for open fields with good roads and no near neighbours.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Interestingly, the Mamluks, a slave dynasty, became the ruling class in Egypt for centuries. Find me a Christian equivalent?Barack Obama?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This drastic situation is not without its parallels in our own Catholic cultural crisis. On one side, both mentally and ideologically, we have the law & order folk, with their multi-books of statutes declaring all that is legal and illegal, all the just punishments for infractions. They have the rights, the history, the might, and absolutely the self-righteousness fueling their compulsion to enforce all law, no matter what the human -- and in immigration enforcement--taxpayer cost. \n\nI'm sure without my typing it out in tedious detail, we each know the \"other side:\u201d Yes, maybe continued deportations of convicted criminals, especially gang-related, but also a reasonable course of amnesty-toward-citizenship after thorough background checks, the intentional preservation of families, the ultimate value of then-legal immigrants who can bring all their own richness to our common life and homogenization of our mutual culture. \n\nOn which \"side\" would the weight of the Gospel fall?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "'\nFemale Genital Mutilation is not mentioned in either the Quran or the Bible.\n\nBut let's look at a little perspective.\n\nUNICEF reported in 2013 that, for example, 55 percent of Christian women and girls in Niger had experienced FGM, compared with two percent of their Muslim counterparts\n.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Reporting the settlement for an incident that happened 33 years ago is \"abundant proofs that the Catholic church's sex abuse crisis and cover-up are not over, .....\"? \n\nReally? \n\nYou guys would rather faux outrage motivated by ideology over decades old instances rather than deal with the rape and abuse that is happening under your collective noses elsewhere right now?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The bishops need to speak up now because Protestant fundamentalists have been using Catholics for decades, piggybacking on, hijacking, and twisting the pro-life movement for their own purposes. Protestant fundamentalists, especially prosperity theologists, think Catholics aren't Christian (go figure!) and they're ready to discard their Catholic allies if they get to establish their mutant form of Christianity is enshrined into law. They think the Church Christ himself established is the Great Harlot and THEIR religion is the real Church of Christ. And their leaders act as if Christ died and left them in charge instead of St. Peter and his successors.\nI'm sure they'll persecute us to the point of torture if they succeed in making Protestant fundamentalism the law of the land.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Except for the Christians in the southern hemisphere....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Did you even read this article?\n\u201cThey want survival, legitimacy and prosperity, in that order,\u201d said John Delury, an expert on North Korea at Yonsei University in Seoul. \u201cThose are not crazy goals.\u201d \nMeanwhile Drumpf brags he does not read books and dislikes reports, saying \"I just know.\"\nThat is called omniscience. A trait associated with divinities, including the Christian God, and now, The Orange Oracle.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No one but Bishop Shori had any idea what she was talking about, which is why it became news.\n\nIn the Catholic Church the teaching authority is clearly defined, so when this sort of thing happens, the strangeness of it stands out like a sore thumb.\n\nThere, not so much.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They don't seem to have a problem with prayers at the Catholic boards, hence the hypocrisy. There should be no religion in government funded schools and that would only be fair to all beliefs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And that was offensive to anyone not an anti-Christian bigot.\n\nKeep up the War on Xmas, it is stoking the division that created Trump.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The initial argument made by the baker was religious freedom, however, there is no defense for the baker to discriminate based on his religious beliefs, so his attorneys will now argue artistic expression because as an artist you are allowed to discriminate? That makes no sense.\nI find it laughable when Christians hide behind scripture to defend their bias and hatred yet they ignore the other parts of the bible which deem their bias and hatred as wrong--for example: Romans 2:1 Romans 14:10 Romans 14:13 Luke 6:37 and John 8:7.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's nice to read your Catholic faith position since it matches my own; IMO Jesus' 2 greatest commandments are the \"need to haves\" for humans to have any meaningful relationship with the unfathomable Mystery underlying what we percive as Creation. Doctrines, dogmas, and rituals are \"nice to haves\" but only to the extent that they help one access the \"need to haves\". \n\nChristians have long taught that our universe and earthly existence had a beginning and will have an end, much more compatible with a 13 billion year old universe expanding at an accelerating velocity than the pre-1900 prevailing scientific view that the universe is eternal. I find it interesting that some physicists now suggest that the underlying ground of reality may be \"information\", which sounds very much like another way of saying \"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What exactly does MSW think is \"wacky\" about the Register? \n\nI followed the link to the best of Catholic blogging he cites here....I have no idea what MSW finds so off putting. I'm not exactly a big fan of the Register, but I can't deny that it's legitimate Catholicism. Hardly the views of its extreme conservative wing (for that, visit Crisismag). But even with its ever dour and deploring tone, Crisis too is Catholic.\n\nSerious question: Does MSW think Catholicism itself is wacky? Or that only his conception of Catholicism is legit?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Andrew: Thank you for your post. I can imagine how difficult it is for you to watch this pillar of the Church continue to deny what he did to you and many others. Denial was the first response, victims like you and I met when we started to tell our stories. Denial remains the foremost response that victims still meet. Priests don't sexually abuse children, we were told many years ago. Even today many still believe that it never happened. When a fellow victim, resigned from the Pope's commission, she cited the fact that the Church would not even respond to victim's letters written to the Vatican about their abuse. In some ways a response would have acknowledged the abuse. To remain in denial has always been their response.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1/2 Mussolini was not Hitler.\n\nMussolini was not anti-Semitic, anti-Catholic, or a Nazi.\n\nDavid Kercher in \"The Popes Against the Jews\" argued that the Church provided the groundwork for the Holocaust. Unfortunately his selective history reads like a polemic:\n\nhttp://www.catholicleague.org/david-kertzer-the-popes-against-the-jews-3/\n\nhttps://www.firstthings.com/article/2002/02/002-case-for-the-prosecution\n\n\"Although an excellent and well-written piece of historical research, The Popes Against the Jews goes out of its way to magnify the role of anti-Semitism within the Catholic Church. Indeed, it greatly magnifies the importance of the Jews for the Church, and compounds this by viewing every aspect of the Church\u2019s attitude towards the Jews with post-Holocaust eyes.\"\n\n\"But The Pope Against the Jews is a one-sided case for the prosecution, distorting the central antimodernist ideology of the Catholic Church in this period into something that it clearly was not. \"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Knew a lot of kids who went to catholic school, some through college. Most left the church a long time ago. Guess the secular state found some other way to brainwash them?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It has nothing to do with \"Lefties\", they're not the only smart rational people in the world.\n\nAs to the Niqab, maybe we should be wary of peoplein baseball hats?\n\nYou probably haven't seen Christian terrorists either, however you don't obsess over those.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thx for espousing real Christian beliefs unlike the rhetoric coming from The Anchorage Baptist Temple", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wow Miss. Quite the evangelistic racist...as your statement stereotypes and casts a wide net painting your own inaccurate beliefs as facts. I'm an evangelical who isn't disgusted by everything that isn't approved in the Bible - saddened at times for the need for abortion, wars, and capital punishment. With a couple of master's degrees from secular institutions, I can distinguish form from substance. The one thing we can agree on is the problem with Trumps' values though I'd classify him more as a dangerous narcissus cult leader in the making. Lastly, I'm a lousy Christian, failing everyday but don't hold hatred for people who don't believe what I do. Doesn't sound you can say the same...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sorry Marty, dominion theology no longer applies; adult Christians can discern for themselves now, in some cases with the help of a priest or spiritual guide. You seem to get off on regurgitating fossilized and imperial-crafted doctrine. You convince no one here yet you persist in your vain attempts, is there a point to your rambling or are you just overly scrupulous?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "10 percent of Indonesia is Christian, 1.7 percent is Hindu, 0.7 percent is Buddhist. 87 percent are Muslim\nhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Indonesia#Religions\n\nWhile Jews make up 1.2 percent of the US population, and control a good section of the US economy, there still is no Jewish public holiday. Because in Christian countries, non Christian holidays are not allowed. It is enough that non Christians are allowed to live in the country, and allowed to practice their religion.In Indonesia, all religions are given equal respect by the law.\n\nFor every Saudi Arabia, there is a tolerant Muslim country like Indonesia. In fact, Indonesian has 6 times more Muslims than Saudi Arabia.\n\nSomething most people on this forum know nothing about.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You remember a time when no one locked their\u200b doors and no one was afraid to walk the streets? You must not remember talking to a single black person, Irish person, Chinese person, Italian, Catholic or Japanese person during that time. Or gay people, or people in mixed marriages. Or many women. That time only existed for you because you happen to be a straight, white, protestant Christian male and sorry friend, but the majority of Americans are not all of those things. And I guarantee all of them were locking their doors and were frequently afraid to walk the streets back during your so-called golden years.\nEdit: Listen, I'm glad you could have that kind of childhood. That's the kind of childhood we should work for as a country to provide to every single American. But it is a total myth to pretend that every American back in the 40s, 50s, 60s, or whatever era has had access to that kind of childhood. And it is a myth to pretend that Christianity provided that childhood in the US.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Many Anglican nuns still wear the habit. Many Catholic nuns did not want to change to secular clothing.\nSurely a person can make an individual choice as to how to live his/her faith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "OMG! A Catholic cleric who is also a Christian!!! Who woulda thunk?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Second degree murder is your contribution to the confusion. In the USA second degree murder is a non-premeditated killing resulting from an assault in which death of the victim was a distinct possibility. Thus it is distinct from both manslaughter and first degree murder.\n\nSince this is the National CATHOLIC reporter and the topic is the Holy Father giving the power to absolve in what had been reserved matters, like the previous participant's reference to manslaughter, the reference to second degree murder is completely irrelevant.\n\nAbortion is the direct killing of the unborn with intent.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Religious accommodation laws in Ontario are for all religions. \n\nIf Christian students also want prayer rooms, no one is stopping them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sigh...again resorting to multiple attempts to post a comment deemed, correctly to be uncivil...just snarky and nasty. No attempt to engage in a discussion of the article, just more bullying and harassment...perhaps more of an attempt at humor? While others discuss the issues raised by the article, some will merely come here to lash out and attack others. I guess it is therapy of a sort, but hardly beneficial to civil discourse and certainly not a good representation of christian conduct.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Are you a Catholic? Do you know what the Catholic Church teaches re: marriage? Do you accept that teaching or do you reject it?\nWhen a Christian marries a Christian for the first time that marriage is a Sacrament and the vows are for life. When one partner divorces the other and goes to live with another even though this is permitted by the civil authority, the original sacramental bond still exists therefore the second relationship is adulterous. Adultery is a mortal sin. Tridentinus does not say this, the Catholic Church says this.\nI did not say that adulterous couples do not love each other. I have no doubt that many of those in invalid second marriages love each other very much but that is beside the point. Our Lord, Jesus Christ, Himself, declared such unions adulterous and therefore gravely sinful against the Sixth Commandment.\nMost properly catechetised know this. The uncatechised can hardly claim to be Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "NCR doesn't cover politics very well. Hugely biased and light. \n\nStick with Catholicism, lots of room for improvement here.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "SNAP is, was and always has been, fraudulent. It's a false flag for the church itself, by picking our lawyers for us. Think of having a false flagged, Church run, sweetheart union. One created for a scandal that the church knew was coming? By having an organization in place for victims to come to for \"help\" in finding lawyers and other victims to organize with. The church itself preplanned a bottle neck or holding pen from which the church could control our choice of lawyers, victims, and our voice to the world through the media. Not bad for the church with just a little pre-planning. And Fr. Tom Doyle was just the boy to do it.I worked next to SNAP for 7 years, daily. I've been a leftist activist since I was 16. I am now 70. Did anyone else notice the lack of Jewish lawyers representing victims? In California all but one were Catholic. I'm a Californian and searched for a Jewish lawyer amongst SNAP recomended lawyers. Thought I had one. Turned out to be a Catholic one.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I didn't say he gets a pass on women priests. I'm against the Catholic Church's misogynistic take on it. I'm saying though I would like the headlines to give us a more in depth discussion on the Pope's interview. \n\nBecause the issues such as migrant justice and ecological justice are just as important and Gender equality. I'm afraid that now those issues are gonna go into the shadow in this news cycle because of these statements(for the record I support female ordination). \n\nSo that's all. I want an depth view of his statements. Critiques are perfectly fine with me because I just posted a comment criticizing him and saying that he needs to recognize that Gender equality is just as important as all the other social justice issues he cares about.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How wrong are thou? Let me count the ways:\n\n(1) I am a practicing Muslim. Have been probably longer than you've been alive.\n(2) I'm not a member of the Democratic Party\n(3) I voted for neither the Repignicrat nor the Demopignican candidate in the last election.\n(4) Shari'a doesn't apply to non-Muslims. The first (and still binding) Shari'a \"constitution\" if you will, dictated by the Most Noble Messenger Muhammad and transcribed by his son-in-law al-Imam 'Ali ibn Abu Talib (alayhimus-Salaam) mandated that Christians and Jews under the aegis of the Islamic Nation were to be free to follow their own faiths and live according to and be judged by THEIR OWN LAWS. Sorry, you wanna come under Shari'a you gotta become Muslim.\n(5) While I am a practicing Muslim, I doubt I'm as good a Muslim as Brother Jones.\n(6) Which is why it's probably a good thing I had to work and was unable to attend tonight's Assembly meeting. Amy Dunbitchski would have gotten an earful if I had. I'm not nice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm proud to say that in another lifetime I once knew Serene Jones. Three and a half decades ago as a student at the Yale Divinity school she was a lovely, gracious...present person. That's the thing I remember most about her - she was fully present and gave you her full, undivided attention when she spoke with you. You can't say that about too many people these days, it seems. If she's becoming a leading voice in left-wing Christianity, I'd say that's a good thing. She's one of the kindest, most genuine persons I've ever met.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"All the advantages of Christianity and alcohol; none of their defects.\" - Aldous Huxley", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How do you feel about the War on Christmas? - Santa doesn\u2019t think there\u2019s such a thing.\n\nHow is the War on Coal affecting your operation? - Santa doesn\u2019t keep track of those markets. See, that\u2019s like the War on Christmas. It doesn\u2019t really exist. It is the advancement in technology that people are resistant to. I live at the North Pole and we use a lot of solar energy up there.\n\nSuch typical left wing piffle from G&M journalists! Totally disconnected from reality! So why do Christian traitors feel the need to say Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas so as to supposedly not offend anyone? So how the heck does solar work at North Pole those six months of the year where the sun does not go above the horizon?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ah yes, the imaginary right wing war on Christianity. ASD has been doing this for years, although before this year it was always for the Jewish holiday, but now that there\u2019s a Muslim holiday there, all of a sudden people are triggered. I\u2019ll admit it is strange Anchorage is the only district in Alaska doing this but it\u2019s whatever. It\u2019s Alaska High School football. If they wanted to play all their games on Thursdays I\u2019m sure the parents and few students who attend would be ok with it and the public would be none the wiser.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Is it too much to mention that there is virtually nothing Christian about Christmas?\n\nKeep in mind that this was an old \"pagan\" holiday to celebrate the winter solstice. There's a reason why you won't ever find any mention of decorating evergreen trees anywhere in the bible. This, and most other things we do around Christmas time, have absolutely nothing to do with Christianity.\n\nThe injection of Christianity into the winter solstice celebrations has a variety of historical roots, but was mostly done for the sake of convenience. Christians wanted some day to celebrate the birth of Christ so why not lump in with a day that was already being widely celebrated, hence the selected the (northern hemisphere) winter solstice in the Roman calendar, December 25th.\n\nSo what do we celebrate? Well mostly a mix of pagan traditions combined with modern consumerism and the celebration of a figure who's modern likeness was popularized by a soft drink company.\n\nChristian? Not so much.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Last I looked it was Christians demanding the end of Halloween as a pagan or Satanist celebration. Christmas and Easter are legal holidays. No school then. And if you want to pray at school, go ahead and ask for a room. You'll be accommodated. Just don't ask for the Lord's Prayer to be broadcast over the PA while everyone is told to stand.\n\nNo one is asking you to attend Muslim prayer. No one is asking for Eid to be made a legal holiday. If you're envious that others have holidays when you don't, get over it. You are not the centre of the universe.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Since I don't want to live under Sharia law I am an Islamophobic?\nI am not a racist.\nI am a non practicing christian middle class business person who has every right to fear Islam and Christianity. It is expanding into the West and is undermining our way of life.\n\nIslam's record of murder, torture, terror, genital mutilation, misogyny, hate, etc. is without question. \nYet Islamists and liberals tell us we are evil for telling it like it is......\nI will never back down, this group of people are threat.\nPeriod.\n\nThis constant barrage from the Islamists and liberals that to fear Islam is racist is utter BS.\n\nIslam is a religion of control, terror, fear and expansion.\nJust like Christianity was. \nBut it grew out of the Dark Ages and became civilized, \nIslam didn't. It hasn't evolved nor has its people.\nAny women who would be subjugated and accepts it clearly is backward.\nAny man who subjugates a women is also stunted and backward.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do the readers of this heretical publication ever read the writings of St. Paul who clearly condemns the sexaul perversion that the NCR apparenlty approves of? If you are a real Catholic do not be deceived by the opinions of this paper. I refer you to Romans and 1st Corinthians. NCR is not biblically based. It is the work of Satan. Take notice of this massive deception by its illegal use of the word Catholic in its name. It is not Catholic. It is not Christian. It is a secular humanistic publication.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is such a tragedy. First, of course, for the victims, if these allegations are found to be true. It has been said that even just one instance of clergy abuse is one too many and that must always certainly be true.\n\nBut this is also a tragedy because of the inevitable smear on other priests (Catholic and other denominations), the vastly overwhelming majority of whom are decent, incredibly hard working men devoted to the flocks entrusted to them. I have known several of them personally over the years and I think most people would be astonished to learn of the relentless, multi-tasking, long hours that they put in, often in circumstances of extremity for the parishioner.\n\nThe transgressors, overt and by cover-up, must be found out, shamed and punished but let us not condemn all the others (who are more appalled than we are).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "At least your consistent in being abysmally wrong. Islam is as much a western tradition as Judaism or Christianity--between the three the latter was subject to the most 'eastern' influences (mostly Hindu). I'm a product of western culture. I like it just fine. That doesn't mean I'm incapable of acknowledging its warts and rejecting its moral failings, any more than it means I'm incapable of denouncing crimes perpetrated by those identifying themselves with my Faith. Your problem is you can't conceive anything other than lockstep acceptance of ALL western 'cultural precepts' and rejection of all others, therefore you're incapable of seeing anything OTHER than 'one-dimensionalsim' despite the reality I accept what's positive from many human cultures and traditions (including this one). In short, when you bleat \"projection\" you accuse me of that which you yourself are most guilty. And as for feeling 'inferior', once I stop pointing and laughing I'll try to respond to that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Demboski is most likely a christian - so sad, so sad", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually, the church both agrees and disagrees with me as it is Catholic Dogma to uphold the Great Commandment and Catholic Doctrine that it is acceptable to ban women even though this breaks the Great Commandment of Christ. \n\nBasically, the hierarchy refuses to put this doctrine under the scrutiny of the Gospels of Christ because if it did, it would immediately have to change the doctrine and rid our law of this ban against women priests. Already our own church's experts have told Pope JP II there is no Gospel reason to reject ordination to women at any level of ministry.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christian Identity has nothing to do with Christianity, aside from internalised crusading.\nThey're actually just as dangerous to their own, part of the development involved responding to the growing 'pagan' worship amongst far right nationalists (funny how that seems really familiar to the rest of us...) which they, in today's parlance, saw as \"cucked.\"\nIt's unfortunately ill-researched by the people supposedly in charge of tracking these kooks, but that's one reason they're the most likely to follow through their rhetoric, as well as always talking about 'fighting for america's souls' and 'being warriors of god.'\nFunniest/oddest thing about them though is some of THEM are pretty bad Christians themselves, like Klavern Dragon and pastor Robert Miles from Howell MI who was essentially a mislabeled Mormon, down to having his followers go about their day with 'holy undergarments,' and a lemony twist of Scientology to boot (angels originally being alien giants) Also, he bombed schoolbuses.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When dissidents, Protestants and atheists start praising the pope, it is time for orthodox Catholics to start worrying.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Perhaps this Christian can explain:\n\n1. The god knew that the fires would occur, that good people would killed and rendered homeless. Why did he do nothing to prevent it?\n\n2, What is the point of praying to the god after he has been quite happy to allow the disaster to happen in the first place?\n\n3. What are you praying for: that the dead people become alive again, that houses will be miraculously replaced? Are you expecting that mumbling to yourselves will make your god changes his plans?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "from above --\nMarty e f, \nYou probably don't know or adhere to this but I learned it from a couple of brilliant priests while in college. These priests each had three Ph.ds and either attended or taught at a number of the foremost universities in the world, in France, Germany, Italy and in America. Their teachings in Catholic philosophy held a lecture hall full of students spellbound. Many of us would gasp for breadth, such was their teachings that we almost forgot to breathe. \nThe philosophy tenet was that one cannot use ignoble means to achieve ones goals, no matter the goals. So we asked WHY. The reply was that ignoble means increase the weight of evil in the world. \nSo then we ashed\" how are we to achieve those goals. The answer was: you must use your higher order God given brain to employ actions that are not ignoble/evil. \nIt seems that you, the last two popes and the American Catholic prelates either don't know or in their extremism, they don't care. \nObserve -- their evil.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Andrew Greeley frequently said that Catholic right-wingers just pretend Vatican II never happened.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Tomas. I like your statement that Pope Francis \"might need it as a hideout from the Trads while his reforms are instituted...\" You may be right because a number of them will be looking for his head. They already consider him to be the \"anti-Christ\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "...and Trump won't win the election!\n\nApart from a few dissenting voices here (the same ones who said Hillary was a sure thing until the last days), the larger group of Catholics - and not coincidentally the ones who put their contributions in the basket - KNOW that something is wrong with Bergolio's silence on this matter.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "America is a colonial government, using its name to legitimize, invading and occupying other countries of brown and black skinned Natives, so pale skinned people could steal and coerce that countries resources and lands for profit. With propped up regimes meant to provide legitimacy for resource theft, to keep the Natives in line with violence and murder as the Natives resources were stolen, none of the profits ever went to the Native owners. America spends the trillions but get nothing in return. The profits go to the corporations who pay nothing, the dictators, and the politicians. American lives are spent acting as security guards for corporate holdings the corporations don't have to sacrifice theirs. And America gets the terrorist attacks the corporations don't.\nRacism against the minorities is meant to keep them in their place, to soothe the mindset of the thieves and murderers who use other races of people, for colonial theft and genocide.\nChristians... Are you going to heaven?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If Christians asked to build a cemetery in a town where there were no Christians lived and they were turned down would you have written the same article about a \"ban on Christian cemeteries\" or would you have ascribed this to the local population not wanting a cemetery of any denomination next to their properties?\n\nThere are many reasons why someone might reject a cemetery next to their property of which religious bigotry is only one. There are also several reasons for the tone of this article, of which religious bigotry is only one. If we assume the worst possible motive in the first case, why not in the second case as well?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In the pre60s, our Catholic grade school classes typically had seventy students per chassroom. Sometimes there were two such classrooms! Of course that was before \"the Pill\" AND Humanae Vitae. Thanks for the memories!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Gay and sodomy, you can't have one without the other, as the old song goes.\"\n\nMuch like REAL CATHOLIC and bigotry, you can't have one without the other,", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For dummies like me:\n1) In the eyes of the church (canon law) there are no \u201cmarried\u201d gays, lesbian, mice, moose or anything else. Canon law states that matrimony occurs between a man and a woman human. Bishop Paprocki\u2019s statement about married lesbians or gays is irrelevant as his only concern is limited to the guidelines of canon law. \n\n2) The Catechism of the Church, Chapter 4; Other Liturgical Celebrations Article 2 Christian funerals states nothing about the life of the deceased only that being Baptized gives you the right to have a Catholic funeral. Paprocki\u2019s statement is ludicrous on the face of it as we do not deny funerals for murderers, rapists, or any others rightly or wrongly recognized by society as \u201cevil.\u201d In fact, the Church teaches us that all should be recognized as having \u201crepented\u201d if necessary, before they died.\nHow someone as poorly educated in the working of the Church was even ordained a priest let along become ordained a Bishop is beyond comprehension.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Since you adhere to a Protestant denomination, \u201cone wonders why you camp out here\u201d.\n\nAs to \"anti-Catholic propaganda\", explain how your \u201ccitations\u201d dealing with the first half of the 20th century, Hitler, Mussolini, and the Church relate to \u201cCatholic bishops could do more to promote the common good of the people of the United States\u201d, which was the content of the article.\n\nI stand by my assessment.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Were they to be private events just for Christians, or official school events? Because if it's the latter, it didn't involve a proposed accommodation.\n\nIt sounds more like school boards wanting to have morning recitations of the Lord's prayer. As the Ontario Court of Appeal said in 1988:\n\n\"The recitation of the Lord's Prayer, which is a Christian prayer, and the reading of Scriptures from the Christian Bible impose Christian observances upon non-Christian pupils and religious observances on non-believers.\"\n\nAllowing private muslim prayers in a classroom doesn't do that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's not about feelings. It's about relationship. If we recognize humans as creations of God the Parent. (Mother or Father is irrelevant) we are God's children.\n\nWe are not \"souls\", we are persons,. SOme say \"body and soul\" but can you separate the two? Really?\nBaptism is merely an outward sign used by Judaism and then Christianity. The unbaptised are no less God's beloved creation than the baptised.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Just like Christianity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You're sure about that which you ought not be. One thing I can happily disprove: with a few more words!\n\nMany important figures in our religion's history were married. Some actual, living Roman Catholic priests are married today. Speculating on whether and when married persons have \"relations\" with their spouses seems mentally insalubrious.\n\nI certainly agree with you that the marital status of clergy is a matter of internal church discipline. You previously acknowledged that the familiar discipline concerning married clergy has allowed for exceptions.\n\nMerry Christmas to you! Now, back to those fish...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not only are the gang bangers not Catholic, but I'm sure that none of them could care less about whatever the Archbishop of Chicago might have to say.\n\nRather than going on about the single of pride, how about giving some specific examples of how the cardinal might change things. You say he isn't doing what he should, so what should he do?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Conservative Party\u2019s effort to pass a new motion cleansed of the word \u201cIslamophobia\u201d and replaced with condemnation of \u201call forms of systemic racism, religious intolerance and discrimination of Muslims, Jews, Christians, Sikhs, Hindus and other religious communities\u201d is obstructive and, frankly, misses the mark. It does not help to alleviate the incredibly hurt sentiments of many Muslims.\n\ngive me a break. obstructive how? misses what mark? i don't care about your feelings, snowflake. you have no right to have your \"feelings\" protected. the jews have suffered far more than muslims and not just had their \"feelings\" hurt. They've been discriminated against, murdered, their houses of worship burned, their nation constantly under threat of nuclear annihilation, all by muslims. And then theres the holocaust. How dare you suggest the \"feelings\" of muslims trump the actual injuries and threats to jews.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Our lawyers were preselected for us. Jeff Anderson a Minnesota lawyer has been THE go-to lawyer for victims since the '90's at least. Why? He selected the lead lawyer (Ray Boucher) in L.A. by bringing him the most clients ( Ray had over 300). Where did Jeff get those clients? Why in large part from SNAP. \"My life\" being \"spent in weaved tales of intrigue and skullduggery by all people who are not sexual abuse victims\" is an extremely odd thing to say about me. Do you know me? I'm just asking good Catholic people to look into my claims and see if what I say is accurate or not. Is that too much for a victim to ask? False flagged events started WW2 in Europe. Hitler's excuse for invading Poland for example. Just look who sponsored SNAP's non profit application. The Dominican nuns of Sinisiwa. Why was a former convent, that is still church owned, the address for SNAP in Chicago in SNAP's early years? Why did SNAP nullify elections of leaders? Why did SNAP have no elections of leaders?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "May I suggest you read on natural marriage and sacramental marriage and all the requirements listed in the Catholic catechism to have a valid marriage? Then come up with you specific objection and I am willing to discuss it with you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do you understand the concept of \"opening a door\"? \n\nIt was the pacifist Eileen Egan who first coined the term \"seamless garment\" to challenge those members of the pro-life movement in favour of capital punishment. It now covers issues of migration, arms control, war, poverty, global warming and the environment. A Catholic can rightly exercise prudential judgement on these issues but_not_on_ abortion. Progressive modernists do justify abortion because the world is not as it should be and claim Catholics in America who vote Republican are not really *pro-life* because of this.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You believe that God condones murder??? That is a most bizarre concept for someone like yourself who falsely claims that he is a Christian to say.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "@Karan,\"If pot is so benign why isn\u2019t it legal all over the USA\",,,,,\nCannabis was legal in this country prior to 1937, anyone could go into a drug store and purchase tincture of Cannabis. If you read the history of Cannabis prohibition you will understand that it had absolutely nothing to do with it being a \"dangerous drug\".\n Christ was pro Cannabis.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I believe communication between people is key to a better world. A good start is to get to know one another w/o labels. When someone asks me on the very first meeting 'Are you a Christian?' or 'What church do you go to?' that immediately implies I myself don't matter, only my religious belief. We are all affected by this. How would you feel if on first meeting a person tried to talk you OUT of your Christian beliefs?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are correct. But\nAs a Milwaukee victim who reached out to Commission member Marie Collins to make sure that Francis knew of the intentional pain directed at victims of the ruthless five year Milwaukee bankruptcy scheme.\nFrancis knew and did nothing as we were emotionally shattered by the bait and switch tactic of being asked to come forward for healing resolution and fair compensation as promised by AB Listecki. This was just a ruse to get as many of us to come forward as he immediately spend most of the bankruptcy estate on legal efforts to throw out every single claim of everyone that he called forward for healing, resolution and fair compensation. How low, to offer healing to hurting victims when knowing all along you only were going to provide pain, rejection and betrayal. Francis knew about this emotional slaughter and did nothing. He has shown that his past disdain for victims has not changed. Clergy and Milwaukee Catholics were mostly silent to this public duplicity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So we are supposed to lie and pretend that they are a Church to make nice?\n\nEven Vatican II says communities that arose out of the Reformation are not Churches but ecclesial communities since they don't have valid bishops and valid Eucharist (as the Orthodox do). So you must feel Vatican II's Decree on Ecumenism is looking down on Anglicans and other Protestants.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't think so. The \"gospel\" never did anything to Christianity, writ large, nor Catholicism, more specifically; the same can be said for Ms Pagels' book on the subject. The whole thing was a tempest in a teapot; woohoo, another Gnostic writing. So, does Judas deserve a halo because, unlike the other eleven, he has a soul?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Kindergarten Christians deny Noah did, but current research suggests that Moses, Jesus and the rest of the Hebrew clan, most likely did.\n\nhttp://zzco.org/chris_bennett/christ.html", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And for everyone one of those cherry-picked scenarios I can point out examples in modern day Christianity. \n\nCherry picking works in both directions, so don't pretend your entire identity is blameless and others are wholly corrupt. There's bad on both sides, even if you don't happen to be involved in it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But a story on Christian singles is old news. \nCheck out the legal and cultural history of women in the Western world over the course of the last 500 years, for example. Lots of news there, of the kind you want. Besides, PEOPLE, newspapers have changed in the Internet age. News is everywhere instantly. 'News' always included stuff like this, you're simply seeing more of it now, which is fine. Troubles accessing late breaking stories?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Don't use a capital G in God for atheism xbt. It doesn't exist just like your \"Church of Fake god\". But keep posting your nonesense as it gives all of us something or should I say someone to laugh at!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What kind of \"devout\" Catholic is such an unashamed liar for personal gain? Where is his Catholic guilt?\nHis \"big show\" doesn't change the fact that he is a lost soul not worthy of forgiveness unless he admits his guilt and asks for forgiveness. Wonder if he even considers what he has done as needing a confession? I would guess not.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Odd how the bishops haven't been grandstanding concerning the ratio of Syrian Muslims to Syrian Christian refugees over the last few years. \n\nThey do have their agenda to push.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Donald Trump's voter base will be emboldened by this speech. It will probably Garner more support from those that have been on the fence where he and his agenda are concerned. The Jewish and Christian faith have been under attack from the liberal media and ALT left groups for a number of years. A double standard considering all of the other groups that the alt left supports.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"we never had immigration on this scale.\"\n\nAh . . . yes we did. \n\nImmigration was actually higher compared to the size of the population of Canada at the turn of the previous century and again following WW2. BUT, the difference back then was that everyone was white and Christian (aka European for the most part). It was policy. \n\nBy the late 60's immigration from Europe began to dropped off because there was no longer an economic incentive to level one's country. Following the collapse of the USSR, immigration from eastern Europe increased the Caucasian immigration, but it has not outpaced the non Caucasians.\n\nI do not mean to suggest that current immigration is low. With the temporary foreign worker program and the fact universities are so under funded by government, causing them to aggressively market to foreign students @ twice the tuition or more (education is now a major export) immigration is high when compared to employment the opportunities of today vs. the 1950's.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "These US bishops have become so ensconced in their \"absolute moral norms\" that they cannot dare question whether their a priori assumptions might be ... er ... fallible. Building a house of cards on presumed absolutes which are anything but leads to ... sudden collapse! Imagine their terror at even the thought!\n\nYet one of their heroes ... St Augustine, no less ... was quite pragmatic. \u201cThe writings of bishops may be refuted both by the perhaps wiser words of anyone more experienced in the matter and by the weightier authority and more scholarly prudence of other bishops, and also by councils, if something in them perhaps deviated from the truth; even councils held in particular regions or provinces must without quibbling give way to the authority of plenary councils of the whole Christian world; and even the earlier plenary councils are often corrected by later ones, if as a result of practical experience something that was closed is opened; something that was hidden becomes known.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When I'm no longer taxed (and when the Catholic church supports that policy) I'll drop my advocacy of taxing this freeloading entity lobbying for my country's demise.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes but the truly great private schools are really just a few: Iolani, Punahou, Mid Pac, Le Jardine a few others. There is one on the big Island. Most private schools are Catholic schools which are probably not that much different from the public schools. Some are special schools for special kids. I think a measure of a good school is basically how many percentage wise go off to college and are successful there. Iolani and Punahoe are basically at 100%. I think the Catholic schools are probably better than the public schools but are far from 100%. But I admit it has been a long time since I had contact with this information. \n\nAs for an external audit, I am not against it. Not sure what it would accomplish though. A common characteristic of our private schools is that they are not cheap. But they are when compared to elite private schools on the mainland. I think those can easily run 30 to 40,000 a year.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholics DO hold different positions on abortion. It's obvious or we wouldn't be having a discussion about it.\n\n*I* don't understand how any good person can think one rule of one religion can decide ahead of time for each and every person ever under all circumstances, even if they are not of that religion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Talos IV, what we call the Lord's Prayer comes from the gospels of Mathew and Luke.\n\nBoth sides in the 1988 Ontario Court of Appeal case argued it on the basis that it was a Christian prayer.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why do you hate the Christian horde? I've got a free ticket for you to \ncuba, but you won't get the \"hell\" out!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, Egypt wouldn't be on the list as it is the largest recipient of money from the U.S., followed by Israel. Saudi Arabia, a nest of Wahabi extremism ruled by force and intimidation, is a very good customer of buying goods from the U.S., especially their military equipment. Egypt's Muslims are increasing their attacks against Egypt's Coptic Christians, yet no ban here. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/in-post-arab-spring-egypt-muslim-attacks-on-christians-are-rising/2016/11/13/f50a18e2-84fc-11e6-b57d-dd49277af02f_story.html?utm_term=.ac3c7c158ab3\n\nJared Kushner, son-in-law and top advisor to the President, along with the newly appointed US ambassador to Israel (who is pro-settlements) are both financial supporters in Beit El , a hardline settlements project.\nhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/01/25/trumps-unquestioning-support-could-lead-israel-to-disaster/?utm_term=.10304847ab40\n\nWake up, folks. Trump will destroy the world.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As a christian, I am among the religious minority in my community (about 1/3 of my town is christian). Most are Jewish, but also a significant number of Muslims, Hindus. and others in our multi-cultural, multi-religious community.\n\nYet every store, even the gas station, is decorated in red and green, with wreaths and other secular symbols of christmas. Given the make-up of my community, one also sees Chanukah symbols, although fewer than for Christmas. Most stores display menorahs, sometimes also garlands of silver and blue. The churches have large, lighted outdoor creches. Everywhere I go, kind people wish me, a religious minority in our town, Happy Holidays. Those of all religions in the community jointly fund a Santa firetruck to go through the neighborhoods to give candy to children, and collect for the local food pantry.\n\nThere is no war on Christmas, just recognition that our country is (is supposed to be) a safe home for those of all religions.\n\nHappy Holidays to all!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If the USCCB had business savvy combined with the desire to fully live the spirit of Laudato Si in the US, they could create an organization that would aggregate the roof space of all US Catholic churches and other church-owned properties into one solar energy-to-revenue project that could help fund Catholic Church activities in the US. Such an approach\nwould have economies of scale that would drive down unit costs for equipment and installation, and if 8 year payback is typical, the stable rate of return would be attractive to many investors.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Western countries (based upon Christian principles originally) have become democratic and rich.\nOther countries with different cultures have become poor and/or repressive.\nCulture matters.\n\nDo we want to import cultures that have led to poverty and/or repressive governmental systems?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, that is true. But they go elsewhere for the ceremony, and certainly not the Catholic Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In your alterna-Catholicism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What if the Bishop decided that a lay person was fully qualified and trained and met his requirements to be his delegated person to represent him in carrying out the Sacramental functions he delegated. And ordained him as his priest delegate to celebrate Mass and even confer Sacramental absolution in confession.\n\nThe only thing stopping a lay person from receiving the Sacrament of Holy Orders is our custom of restricting the Sacrament of Orders to people who first become 'clerics'.\n\nIt is our choice to preserve the custom of dividing Christians into those who are 'clerics' and calling everyone else 'lay' people. In the beginning, everyone was simply 'Christian' even if they served the Community in some office.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Should they have to? \n\nChristians, whether as a whole, or split by denomination would never submit to such a requirement. If a religion, any religion, had to offer an apology, or disclaimer, every time a criminal invoked their god they would never have time for anything else. \n\nNow that I say it, perhaps that would be a good thing after all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why is the theological issue not an \"issue at hand\"? Even the historical issues are not resolved by the fact that Paul wrote first: he wasn't there. He wrote \"what was handed on\" to him, and his choices were driven as much by theological concerns as were the choices of the evangelists. After all, \"the centrality of the Resurrection\" is far more than a historical affirmation; it is also more than \"a\" theological claim: it is THE theological claim on which Christianity is founded.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Trump's choice for ambassador to the Vatican, and the Senate's consent, show a profound lack of respect for the Vatican and the office of ambassador. Both he and his appointee have given sinful examples of marital fidelity. \"Is this some kind of joke?\" one might ask. No. This is the sad reality of the Trump administration which, even with the support of \"Christian America\" - including the USCCB - had to rely on the Electoral College to override the popular vote. Trump and Gingrich are glaring and glowing examples of a \"fake\" President and a fraudulent ambassador.\nThe choice was ours, whether vocal or tacit. Now what?\n\"If you do well, you can hold up your head; but if not, sin is a demon lurking at the door; his urge is toward you, yet you can be its master. (Gn, 4:7)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Will there be any Christian refugees or will they be only Moslem?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So, is it a SINFUL community, and EVIL community? Considering all the static and roadblocks placed in front of these young women by the Roman-Rite officials---why not? This is not the first time that women have put up with this malarkey. Most Catholics today do many things with other Christian groups---working with Seniors, working in concert to deal with the opioid crisis, providing early child-care services, pooling food banks and delivering Meals-on-Wheels. And many Christian groups train members of other Christian groups in providing chaplaincy services in nursing homes, hospices and hospitals.\n\nBesides, there are many people who would rather have women as pastors---and that includes men. So often, God does have a woman's face.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am unsure how you are using the term \"liberalism\" here, Christopher, although it smacks of a typical right-wing blame game that has no basis in fact, at least that is the way I assume you are using it. Liberalism brings its qualities of openness, risk-taking, experimentation of new models without the usual conservative cautiousness, of listening and of discussion, and of the sharing of power. It causes friction with the more controlling, rule-oriented, structured, cautious, closed-system conservatism. This is true not just in religion, but in every area of human endeavor. Every single institution in the developed world (and we are now seeing it in developing countries as well) has gone through the same period of reorientation and renewal as the Catholic Church has. Societies great and small have changed and the cultural shifts are considerable. Many have shed the shackles of control and oppression. And blind obedience to a religion is what creates decay, often in dark places.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Christian Lord's Prayer was outlawed years ago in public Canadian schools.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Greetings......Thanks Fr.Daly for reminding us Catholics that it's essential to install the Beatitudes in our daily lives! Since Mr Trump does not follow the Beatitudes he cannot be a member of any Christian sect IMHO! Blessings to all Consecrated Religious on the holyday of Presentation of +Jesus Christ+ to the temple.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And how does this have any impact at all on Canada's Christian Heritage?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"No, sounds like he thought the Episcopalians got certain things right.\"\n\nMike is simply saying if Elagabalus thinks the Episcopal Church is setting a good example vis a vis Christian teaching/doctrine on marriage, why not join that church to console one's self? Why deprive one's self of that church's Protestant Episcopal singularity? Elagabalus is like a skin diver with the wrong oxygen tank.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Faith and the Catholic Church do not evolve, they develop. There is an eternity of difference between them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "His actions are inconsistent with Christianity. If a Muslim, Hindu, Jew or whatever acts in a way that's inconsistent with their religion I will call that out also.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Kurgan: did you say -seriously-that Catholics don't need the Gospel?!?!?!where do you think all the traditions etc. come from?!?!?!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am with her 100 percent. So are my children, grandchildren and all but one of my many Catholic friends. But then, no one asked us for our opinions in any poll.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Love how the Pope frequently comments on how Christians should behave and conduct themselves as opposed to merely \"professing\" a rigid set of beliefs... giving ever more credence to the old axiom of \"actions speaking louder than words.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well done, MSW. \nthe article says \"Cardinal Blase Cupich issued a blistering statement in which he stated, \"The world is watching as we abandon our commitments to American values. \"\n\nMay I suggest that world and Catholics are watching, as the U.S. Catholic bishops abandon Jesus and our faith.\n\nContrast these statements with the post by Fr. James Martin \"I was a stranger and you did not welcome me.\" http://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2017/01/28/i-was-stranger-and-you-did-not-welcome-me \nRead the statement and watch the video. At the time the article was published, it is noted that the video had already been seen 3 million times. Notice the counter on the video - it is now at 4,703,987. In the last one minute, it increased by more than 100.\n\nThis is the the Christian response to Trump and the call to action that Catholics need. Write you state and national elected officials and tell them that the USCCB does not speak for you. Give them the link to Martin's video.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree with you that all lives matter. It fits me spiritually, it fits me socially. I can not speak for others. If you expect 100% agreement you will be disappointed. There are white, black, and any other color, size and shape people, that see enemies in their brothers and sisters and certainly care very little for their welfare.\n\nI don't think that happens until humans find agape* and that's not going to be anytime soon. Taking your question seriously, you would have to add all people earth wide, (and for some of us it might be finding a connection with all living things).\n\nI don't see how law or politics will every reach the goal that all lives matter. Those institutions can help, they can provide a legal framework, but they can not change or heal hearts.\n*Christian love, especially as distinct from erotic love or emotional affection. (Knowing other religions and philosophies seek the same compasion/empathy for all living things, I prefer 'universal' love).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I hear you, but to clarify, Timothy McVeigh was supposedly Catholic, however nothing about his faith or religion was ever directly tied to the actions he carried out. He never used his faith as a reason or cause to carry out his actions. Will have to go back a little further than him for an incident of a Christian attacking others in the same magnitude or frequency as Muslims.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The founding fathers at the constitutional convention were asked (by Ben Franklin) to open their meetings each day with a prayer. The delegates, with the exception of two or three people, felt that opening with a prayer was unnecessary, and the convention went on for 4 months without opening prayers being held. I guess those founding fathers really showed us secular humanists what a Judeo-Christian nation this was founded to be, huh?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, really!! And you can't name even ONE that's even its equal. Not even L'Qsservatore Romano. N Catholic R even tolerates most comments from the Catholic far-right, and from Pandora17!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This has not been shown to have had anything to do with religion. \n\nRadical islam has as much to do with islam as the KKK has to do with christianity. \n\nThink.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Greek civilization was over around 100 B.C.? Greek culture was dominant in the Eastern Mediterranean well until the Arab invasions of the 600s. Some of the greatest philosophers, pagan, Jewish and Christian, lived in Alexandria, Egypt, to name one centre of Greek culture, in fact the predominant one, until it was taken by the Arabs in 641 AD. Several Christian theologians were from Alexandria, like Saint Athanasius of Alexandria, a theologian and Church Father, c. 297 to 373.\n\nThere is less than a thousand years from 600 to 1100 AD, the zenith of Arab knowledge. It has been on the decline since then, and not rebounded. Rehashing the old stories about algebra and gunpowder serves to deflect from the fact that modern science has been the result of European and Western endeavours for the last four hundred years. All the technologies used today were born there. We are talking about the here and now.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "i'm a Christian , perhaps the one of the most non traditional Christians - I would say think of others... the golden Rule...what jesus told the disciples after they ground him down about what's \"right\" and \"wrong\"..... , \"Love thy brother as thyself\" ie: dear wagon driver, yield every chance you get - obviously not in a hurry. don't make those people behind you live by your choice...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Empower all followers of Jesus ... without counting the cost\" is a mistake. Prudence requires the cost be counted.\n\n\"If you, though a Jew are living like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?\" (Galatians 2:14). In this Presidential election season in the USA, the Faithful need to engage the electoratge and follow truth wherever it leads. One candidate consistently tells the truth and the other candidate consistently denies the truth, as should be evident if the media shows what the Catholic Vice Presidential candidate said in contrast towhat the once Catholic candidate denied.\n\nPaul, with the Liturgy of the Word, Reading 463, Wednesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time II, shows the Faithful how to follow the truth in the contest of a Teaching Magisterium that is just learning the message. Catholics need not be afraid to \"Go out to all the World\" especially in the context of the just-finished (to be continued)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That was my point. \"Right\" is ideological extremism, whether Democratic, Republican, Evangelical or, what I term, selective traditionalist Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is ironic and hypocritical to ignore the religious origin when people post things like \"why can't they just pray after school, everyone else does\" or \" keep religion out of school\" which fly in the face of the fact that the work week and school week are designed to accommodate Christian worship. It doesn't have a conflict with the school schedule because the school is inherently designed to allow for religious services on Sunday. When we have students whose religion isn't Christian and who have a different holy day then it's natural in a pluralistic society to find ways to allow them to both practice their religion and attend school. There is nothing inherently contradictory about that despite the bleating of so many posters here.\n\nI'm not, and have never suggested we eliminate those old religious derived elements. I'm saying we need to recognize that we have those origins and that others don't and so we should find a way to reasonably accommodate their needs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Just how wide spread is this practice of enthroning the stars and stripes in the sanctuary of American churches? And how does this practice stack up against the practice in other countries. \n\nIn Canada, the only time I can recall seeing the Canadian flag in a Catholic church is the celebration of our national holiday (July 1) and of war veterans (Nov 11), and this practice is far from universal.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are right Oftenconflicted, it has been said by several Supreme Justices that Roe is settled law, just as marriage equality. It would take a case coming before them, and they would have to decide to even take the case. My belief is that any good lawyer could argue that it can not be changed based on religious freedom....the same thing the Bishops want so badly for only Catholics, will hurt them on this issue. I have done some research on this, and other religions have varying opinions and beliefs on when life begins. For example Jewish believers have a very different take based on ancient scripture. You can look it up...but it is not conception. I also think most Congress and Senators know this, because many are lawyers. I think Trump may even know this, he can appoint his conservative, say he did his job...and watch it play out, without ever overturning Roe.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mr Fry: While I'm an agnostic and don't spend time debating the worth or lack of worth of any religious beliefs, I think I do understand the actions of folks like the Greens who own HobbyLobby. These folks believe they have found \"the way\" to salvation....the ONE way to salvation. They feel morally obligated to convince others to follow their lead and join them on that ONE path to salvation. They have the money to utilize those full-page ads in their campaign and do so. I suggest that to do less would, in their eyes, be failing to fulfill their role as Christians. \n\nThey take a very aggressive tack....but, hey, it's their religion and their money. My guess would be that those who bother to read the ad are the folks who already believe its message anyway. The rest of us have the option (which I took) of simply ignoring it. Gary Crum", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I know I am not saving a life. How many times do I have to tell you that preserving one's physical life is NOT the end all and be all for Christians? Physical death might be evil---but spiritual death is far worse. Better to die and preserve yourself for eternal life than live, gain the whole world and loose your soul in the process. \n\nI know--I am speaking a language you don't understand. This is the problem with liberals. For them, evil is anything that interferes with their pursuit of happiness and self fulfillment. For Christians, evil is anything that interferes with their relationship with God and their pursuit of holiness. This is why for Christians, the ENDS DO NOT JUSTIFY THE MEANS.\n\nLiberals on the other hand are justified in doing anything and everything possible to remove all obstacles to the pursuit of happiness and self fulfillment. For liberals, the end result is all that matters. The means are irrelevant. \n\nSir, we have different values. Is this not clear?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Vatican II was a pastoral Council. There were no solemn definitions of doctrine, because Catholic doctrine is already well defined. It was supposed to put the doctrine in modern language, lead to a New Springtime and all this wonderful stuff, but we got mass apostasy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The pews are less unorthodox but full with orthodox Roman Catholics\nBecause grave mortal sin in the souls of unorthodox Catholics burns so deep they cannt face the Eucharist \nBut confession is available", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "4/ \"It\u2019s part of a philosophy that has found support among a group of Catholic bishops who have become some of the most persistent critics of President Obama and the Congressional Democrats. George serves as their intellectual point man. In the past few years, many of the evangelical Protestants who once defined the religious right have turned inward after their disappointment with President George W. Bush. In their place, George\u2019s friends among the Catholic bishops have stepped to the fore, hammering Obama for his pro-choice Catholic cabinet nominees, for being invited to speak at Notre Dame\u2019s commencement, for his stem-cell research policies and most recently for his health care proposals.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Just update your facts, Canadians are not allowed to immigrate to the middle east if you are Christian even fellow Muslims from Paksitan are given a hard time in Saudi Arabia. Canadians work in that area.\nNext Europe Greece, Italy has been so called civilized for over 3000 years. Northern Europe since 900 AD which would be over 1200 years not the 600 years. Over wise yes China and India had superior culture before Western Europe. The problem was it became stagnet and did not grow any further. Muslims (Arabs) came to the Sub Continent of India and converted Pakistan, Afgan and parts of India to the Muslim faith.\nThis happened in the 10 century. Question is why did India and Pakistan give up its culture and religion to the Arab invaders?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How does \"I realize your time is spent memorizing the catechism\" advance a Catholic discussion?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So faith in Christ is not enough? It sure seemed to be enough for Jesus in records that have been handed down to us. \n\nBTW, I am intrigued by the way to use the terms \"FAITH in Christ\" and \"FIDELITY to the teaching of His Church...\" \n\nWhat, may I ask, do you understand \"faith\" to mean in the NT? And are you aware that our Catholic use of the same term \"faith\" is decidedly different?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus said (John 10:10) \u201cI came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.\u201d As Christians, our mission is to carry on with Jesus\u2019 work in our world. If sending someone back to their country of origin is likely to shorten their lives, or make their life more miserable, then \u2018sending them back\u2019 is contrary to the ethic of life as first proclaimed by Jesus, and carried on in his world by His Church. To reduce the \u2018abundance\u2019 of a person\u2019s life is to betray the mission of Jesus. Making life more difficult for children, which is precisely what killing DACA does, is never acceptable for disciples of Jesus. Jesuit universities are already defending DACA students, and ought to follow their lead. \u201cIf any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea.\u201d", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mr. DeCuir - have read the Commonweal editorial a number of times. From one perspective, I see their point of view but wonder why they did not articulate with a documented and well thought out response with examples. So, they wind up being critical but, IMO, repeat the exact *error* that they try to point out with Civilta Catholica?\n\nOTOH - we may not make distinctions between converts and catholic from birth and we share the same rights but the *truism* espoused by MSW has little to do with either of those points. MSW's repeating a stock phrase in this world of FAKE NEWS underlines a reality that Civilta brings out - too many without the necessary study, experience, or knowledge can publish and be published (as an expert) when, in fact, they have little background, little actual historical/theological/scriptural knowledge and yet trumpet their opinions as if they are - interchangeable words - tradition, true, wisdom etc.\n\"disjointed, almost impenetrable style\"- NO, IMO-proof?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think you meant to say \"The current Conservatives...ARE much less appealing\". We current Conservatives at least know how to write English properly. I do miss the Progressive Conservative, more specifically the Mulroney government's, commitment to price stability when it introduced the inflation targeting regime at the Bank of Canada and thereafter. In his 10 years in power, Harper kept to the 2% inflation target rate he inherited from Paul Martin and never sought to lower it, as he should have done. However, it had nothing to do with Reform or Christian fundamentalism. In some ways, the new Conservative Party is a little too much like the Liberal Party.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...best newspaper in the country, Catholic or secular\"??\n\nNot really. Rather than newspaper, it would seem to be opinion journalism or even advocacy journalism. But newspaper? In the generally accepted understanding of the word? No.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "....\"The doctrinal congregation is tasked with promoting correct interpretations of Catholic doctrine and theology\"....\n Maybe they will now tackle the task of getting our ''doctrine' on 'original sin' in line with our Scriptural interpretation of the Genesis Creation Stories to be a myth literary form. If there was no 'Adam & Eve' there was no 'original sin' to be 'inherited'.\n If that can be done, much else might follow!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I left Christianity behind after being raised as a Christian due to the dichotomy of most people spending time in church singing and speaking of goodness, right for all, helping others, acceptness, tolerance,etc., and then spending the rest of the week in bigotry, intolerance, hate, and all things contrary to the goodness of Christianity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Fortunately, the bishop to whom you refer does not own the use of the word \"Catholic.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Muslim births projected to outnumber Christian births globally by 2035\"\n\nVery interesting, how quickly this article became buried by NCR editors: out of sight, out of mind. \n\nThe news is not surprising. The difference could be succinctly summed up as follows:\n\nIn our \"enlightened\" and \"progressive\" Western society and culture people by their mid or late twenties tentatively manage to identify (often with extensive professional help) their gender and/or sexual orientation. \n\nAt the same time, in Muslim countries and culture, people in their late twenties have already raised a family of four.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Robb Myers, the Bible tells a different story. When Moses brought the commandments down from Mt. Sinai, he created/God created (depending on your views) a Theocracy. The Torah was a religious document, but it was also the law. Jesus made a new covenant with the people, which replaced the laws of Moses. Jesus spoke against the Sadducees and the Pharisees, which ran the legal system of Jewish communities, even under Roman rule. He was very political. He was, in essence, a legislator leading a grass-roots, political revolution, since in his Judaic world, religion and politics were one and the same.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Unfortunately the Supreme Court, in District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 U.S. 570, in an opinion written by arch Catholic (and future saint) Nino Scalia the qualifier is ignored as just a \"prefactory clause that announces a purpose but does not limit its scope.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "U.S. Supreme Court on Ten Commandments monument.\n\nActually, I am glad the Supremes are staying out of it for now. It would just get a huge backlash if they ruled in they only way it is possible to rule - that the monument has to be removed. I don't want to fan the flames of religious/Christian rightists. There are enough political issues to think about right now. \n\nIt will come back to haunt us, though, unless it is soon removed. The monument was put up in 2011, long after it was clear the courts would not let that sort of thing stand. Thought is was paid for by private donations, it was allowed to be placed on government land by government officials. They tried to put some distance between government and religion by adding a marker: \"Any message hereon is of the donors and not the city of Bloomfield.\"\n\nThey gonna say \"No\" to the next \"religious\" group that wants to put up some marker of their faith? How about Muslims, of Satanists, of Hindus? Should be okay, shouldn't it?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You're advising people??? Wow.....\n\nThe ONLY reason to remain Catholic is the Sacraments? Really? Yet you're advising people to go to the Episcopalians because they'll let you receive. \n\nThe only right thing you've stated here is that priests should accompany people back to the Sacraments - accompany. That does not mean rubber-stamping all actions and behaviors. That does not mean saying \"It's okay - whatever you want to do is acceptable\" - it means exactly what you said - accompanying them back to the Sacraments - from which they strayed. Best to read what the Pope actually said, kag....instead of what you think you'd like to hear he said...\"But there are those who say, \u201cNo, I want to receive Communion, and that\u2019s it.\u201d Like a rosette. An honorary award. No. Reintegrate yourself.\" (http://www.osservatoreromano.va/en/news/two-years-pontificate)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wherever there is light, there is also corresponding shade. The greater the light emitted, the less shade there is.\n\nChristianity, unfortunately, is often more noted for shade than light: for evil rather than good. This anomaly cannot be blamed entirely on contemporary cultural ignorance of the world, but on Christians' ignorance of the torch they claimed to hold aloft: the Gospel.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "though I am not a supporter of the settlements I still think Obama did this as a last slap to Israel and the PM. Obamas attempt at smooching with other middle east countries was a failure. They still hate POTUS and everything western democracy and Christianity/Judaism stand for. I am not surprised by Obamas feelings. His arrogance and lack of knowledge of foreign affairs\nwas laughable. He is seen as a weakling/coward on the world stage (Russia/Ukraine/Syria etc).\nHe should read about 1929 Hebron massacre, WW2 and the Nazi/Arab coalition. He might understand things a bit better. He blames Israel for all the problems of the middle east. This was predictable 8 years ago. He supported a racist church minister too. Some president.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nope, I can theologically address all of those too. We can study the original language, the meaning of the words and the customs of the days. I just started with the OT because it is a favorite of loving Christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pot meet kettle. You have done exactly what you are accusing others of doing - the danger of partisan Christianity-in your pretend attempt to be neutral you have labeled others, determining that your view is the \"center\" and labeling those who don't agree with you with terms that are hurtful- is this the Gospel you preach in your churches?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Trump is the first effective pro-life President since Reagan. He won the Catholic vote with his promise of a Supreme Court nominee in the image of Scalia.\nHe has kept all his promises. Pray for him.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"David Clohessy, activist director of the Survivors\u2019 Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP), resigned after a SNAP employee sued citing a lawyer kickback scheme.\"\n\n\"The named defendants in the lawsuit are [the now-resigned] SNAP President Barbara Blaine, the now-resigned Executive Director David Clohessy, and \u201cOutreach Director\u201d Barbara Dorris who declined to comment for the NCR article. The lawsuit alleges that SNAP claims non-profit federal tax exempt status as an organization with the purpose of providing. \u201csupport for men and women who have been sexually victimized by members of the clergy [with] moral support, information and advocacy,\u201d while in reality it is a commercial operation \u201cmotivated by its directors\u2019 and officers\u2019 personal and ideological animus against the Catholic Church.\u201d\"\n\nThere are two quotes for you. I will get you more, Kurgan", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I tend to think that most large human institutions are now like Ms Brown describes gubmit: the banking industry. the auto industry and the Catholic Church for three eloquent examples.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hillary Clinton said, \"Laws have to be backed up with resources and political will. And deep-seated RELIGIOUS BELIEFS HAVE TO BE CHANGED.\" In other words, Hillary Clinton sides AGAINST RELIGIOUS LIBERTY. \nThe following is list #2 (I ran out of allowable# of letters in list# 1) of Christians who have been persecuted for being faithful to their beliefs in recent years:\n- IRS targeting Catholic organizations\n- Catholic chaplains in the Army (re: Obamacare)\n- Dept. Veterans Affairs forbids references to God during burials\n- Catholic Charities and Dioceses having to get out of the adoption business (because of forced acceptance of nontraditional \"marriages\")\n- United Nations openly attacking the Catholic Church for her teachings.\nThese attacks will only multiply and get worse if we elect Hillary Clinton.\nDonald Trump supports religious liberty, in contrast to Hillary Clinton.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"You sank or swam on your own.\nThis is no longer a Judeo-Christian nation.\"\n\nSo sinking or swimming on your own is what constitutes a Christian nation? It sounds like you have been reading atheist-materialist Ayn Rand instead of the Gospels.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yet, they have nothing but disdain for all other Americans paying into the complete system ... really weird. Most of 'em consider themselves 'christian' too.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are 3 races. Caucasian, Mongoloid (Asian), and Negroid (Black). These are their scientific names. Anthropologically, they refer to relative frame size & shape of the head. Everything beyond that, including soft tissue, brain and other body systems, are exactly the same, just changes in melanin in the skin. They just look different because of environment.\n\nMexicans are both Caucasian and Asian, as are most Central and South Americans. Many American Blacks are Caucasian and Black. Judaism is a religion, just like Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism. If you're Jewish, there are ethnicities. It's just like being Italian or Irish.\n\nAskenazi, Sephardi, etc. If you're Ashkenazi, you are most likely at or within 2% of being 100% European, mostly living in colder climates. Being European, to most white supremacists, means white. So basically, I bet if they did a side by side study, you'd find most Ashkenazi Jews are as \"white\" if not \"whiter\" than most supposedly \"white\" supremacists.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Funny, the Eastern Catholics and Orthodox have been doing it for centuries and wouldn't have it any other way. In fact, the Slavic Orthodox churches in the USA thank the Roman Church for her stand on the issue, as they got a huge boost by the American RC bishops ideas on married priests.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Holy Spirit came to sanctify the Lord's disciples ----men and women----enabling them to preach the gospel. Amazing that Peter and the rest stayed in Jerusalem preaching in the Temple. Why didn't they go out to build new churches immediately? They believed themselves to be Jews [as they had been their whole lives]. They did not think of themselves as different.\n\n\nJesus did not reward the Pharasees, the Scribes, the Lawyers of the Law or the High Priests---who believed that their righteousness and following the law would save them. And Jesus did not always go after those who repented. He sat with them, FIRST. Where did the lost sheep repent? Or where did the lost coin repent, when the woman [feminine version of God] go looking for it? God ACTED FIRST in our behalf. God did not wait for us to come repentant first. You changed your name here---but you still preach the tired and false message. God so loved the world.....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually, the Pope has a degree in science--chemistry, I think.\nAnd Trump may have once attended a Presbyterian Sunday school but he's no Presbyterian because he's no Christian except when it's convenient to get votes/.\nAs for budget, we are to care for the poor. How is it not the business of the successor to Peter if a country's budget doesn't make allowance for caring its most vulnerable?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ryan 'defended cuts to social welfare programs in specifically Catholic terms during a\u00a02012 speech at Georgetown University. \u00a0... Ryan said, \"We put our trust in people, not in government.\"' That's \"specifically Catholic terms\"?\u00a0\n\n\"Here are a couple of highlights to entice you to read the full story\". Sorry. So not enticed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is much controversy about what was going on in Irish Christianity. We do know that Patrick handed out the Torah when converting pagans to Christianity. We know that the Irish were accused through the Middle Ages of Judaizing-observing Jewish feasts, using the Jewish date for Passover as Easter, having a clearer understanding of ancient Christian/Jewish doctrine of the resurrection of the body with little thought of the separation of body and soul. As for Judaizing practices, my parents' families in Ireland held to practices characteristic of Jews though they did not think of them as Jewish, just as handed down to them as ancient binding customs. For instance, one of my uncles felt obliged to marry his brother's widow. When a person died the family and neighbors sat together with the body over one night and buried the body in the morning. A Requiem Mass was said 3 days later and a Munce Mine (?) Mass thirty day later for those who had to travel from a distance.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In this comment of yours, Marty E, I find an amazing lack of scriptural understanding especially of the OT. You do what the biblical fundamentalists do, in opposition to Catholic Church teaching and practice - you take a phrase from scripture and state it as a literal tenant. Your comment here is therefore invalid. Sorry.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A vocation is a calling from God. I can't say whether or not most Protestants see ministry as a vocation, but I know many Protestant ministers do. In any event, the issue is how Catholics understand vocation, and there is nothing in our tradition that says a person can't be called to a unique or complex one.\n\nAs you stated, some priests have, in fact, balanced married life and priesthood. It may not be ideal, but then leaving large Catholic communities without benefit of a pastor because of priest shortages isn't ideal either. In every age, the Church adapts to meet the needs of the times.\n\nI also think the witness of a healthy married priesthood might well be a gift to the Church today. But that's for the Holy Spirit to know and, so far, I've been given no inside information on what the Spirit has in mind.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Real Catholics still believe in this stuff...we follow Jesus, not you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Maybe the Globe could support one of the more aggressive Arab countries, actually I can not think of any others. The rest are either in the Sunni bucket with Saudi or the Shia bucket with Iran. Some are split like Jordon which used to be 80% Christian, no more.. Sure Qatar shuns Shia, shuns immigration, makes a home for terrorist as long as they do not act out, exploits slave labor from everywhere, but they do seem to be trying to make the Arab citizens take some responsibility. Really who funded the ISIS of course it is Saudi Araba and friends, even Qatar. Qatar is not a big oil producer, they are the number one exporter of natural gas at 5 times the amount we get for the natural gas we ship to the US. Canada is the number two exporter of Natural Gas in the world, but our market is locked up in the US, so they get it for basically nothing. To me this is a crack in Saudi control and must be amplified.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The first sounds like, they have only ever ehard it spoken and not written. The est is lack of understanding.\nHowever, a lot of Christians also don't understand Christianity.\nI have friends who simply live their life as good people because that is what their faith is about. Not trying to force their views on anyone else. They lead by example.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Can it be any more obvious that the political divisiveness that has created the Left-Ultra Right rift has also overtaken our American Catholic church? We see it here in our NCR rancorously opposite opinions and comments that reflect, I'm sure, one's true faith orientation and spirituality. \n\nI haven't been able to say with the congregation the phrase, \"One, Holy, catholic and Apostolic Church\" for a long time as I see the institutional Church as none of these. It also hardly seems we are all the \"United States\" in any meaningful, honest way either.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Important that we don\u2019t allow ecumenism to turn into ecclesiastical cuckoldry on our part...which Catholics celebrating Luther\u2019s revolt is.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What confidential information? Survey results? Really? A pregnant pro-abortion activist goes to a Christian pregnancy counseling center and then attacks the group in public testimony, outing herself as a pregnant client of the center. Confidentiality WAIVED by the activist who obviously had no problem finding her way to an abortion clinic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Eucharistic experience is in the supernatural; it is further from the \"natural\" than quantum electrodynamics is from a worm. Jesus fully present to us in the species of the Blessed Sacrament.\n\nAs for AGW, I'll leave that to the geologists and climatologists. As with GMO, once politicized, always polluted.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We might have no evidence for the God of Moses (a.k.a \"Adonai\", \"Allah\" or simply \"God\" to the Christians), but just because we don't doesn't mean they don't exist. Similarly, we may have believed the existence of yet-to-be-discovered elements, but we didn't have evidence of its existence until these elements found its way into the periodic table. That's why we got to study these objectively.\n\nNow, about previous discussions, it's true that the Bible's books aren't written in what should be Jesus Christ's time BUT the Bible is not \"one source\". The Bible are many books in one, with different writers writing in different times, so we need to validate these now: somehow. And again, we wouldn't know of the existence of some elements now if not for someone who believed and sought it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part of the problem is the 1,000 years of European Christian propaganda aimed at stirring up the peasant masses to defend European kingdoms from invasions from Islamic countries. Everything from the Crusades, the Reconquista of Spain in 1490, the battles for Malta in 1565, the defense of Vienna in 1683 to the Barbary Pirates in North Africa up until 1830 (the U.S. Marines still sing about it, \"to the shores of Tripoli\"). Then what about those French Foreign Legion movies painting the Islamic tribes as barbaric animals, \"Beau Geste\" in 1966 or \"The Mummy\" in 1999. It is inherent in our European based culture to be Islamophobic. I was taught it in Sunday School, really. (You should hear some of the people in my family... think of Marlon Brando at the end of \"Apocalypse Now\"... the ignorance, the ignorance, the ignorance.)\n\nAnd do not pretend for a nanosecond that it doesn't go the other way.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you, sir! \nJudaism and Christianity were splitting apart when the Gospels and epistles were being written down over a 40 year period -- starting 30 years or so after Jesus of Nazareth's execution. \nThat split caused animosity in both religions.\nWhich is reflected in St. John's Gospel and elsewhere.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Is Donald J. Trump a Christian?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "and I often wonder how much of what is considered early Christianity was a construction of Paul, who we remember never met Jesus or heard his teachings. I find more from reading the Didache and the gospels, especially John, than reading anything written by Paul.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yet centering prayer is (or tries to be) a Catholic spirituality based, in part, on the Hindu spirituality. \nThank you for the discussion. I appreciate the way we can have this talk without bile and verbal violence.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How about this, leave non-believers, non-religious, secularists, Atheists or whatever you want to call us, to peace without God! THANKS!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When and where was this utopian world you speak of, Mary Schultz. I know people who were asked if they were Catholic or Protestant when they moved into town. Jews were looked on with great suspicion. And, of course, Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, and Buddhists were to be avoided. It would help if you didn't mention mainstream churches of the UK. And the United Church of Canada was created by a union of Methodist, Congregationalist, and Presbyterian churches. I'd say you led a rather sheltered life.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That article on the alliance between Evangelical fundamentalists and conservative Catholics made me think that perhaps Paprocki should ally himself with the Westboro Baptist Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "...about 'mass preparation' before \"Mass preparation\":\nChristian inclusion commonly ordains intuition's uplift of conscience above consumptive instincts. Jesus' Life Lesson witnesses universally the ordination Call to service. His 40-day Desert Temptation lesson discerned Universal Eucharist in the Sacrament of Natural Order. In the continuing and continuous celebration of Sacrament, Divine Intuition trumps survival-of-the-fittest instinct.\nTrinitarian co-ordination process (faith/hope/love) brings to life the divine insight of Word/Light/Love. The political dynamic of the moment is antithetical to Jesus' Word Way, which counters consumptive self-interest appetites in favor of Eucharistic interest.\nIt is the universal Jesus-Gospel that reveals and ordains Divine Intuition over dog-eat-dog instinct. Altruism inspires faith; selfishness suppresses faith - where is America today? Where is Church?\nChristian sensitivity compels open-arms embrace of all people of good faith!\nIte! Missa est!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christ is our King, and the pope is like His prime minister so, no, I've never said the Church was a democracy. Since when did we pretend it was? In any case, we can't overrule Christ's words by popular vote. Just pointing out that any claim that Communion for divorced \"remarried\" getting two thirds vote of Synod bishops is not accurate.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Trid...it doesn't matter if they're Catholic. The theological disposition of NT scholars doesn't (or rather, shouldn't) factor in to analysis of the texts. Whether Paul authored a letter may be determined by scrutiny of syntax and other stylistic features, vocabulary, historical clues within the text, theological disposition, and other data intrinsic to the texts, as well as external, corroborative evidence. The scholarly consensus on the Pauline epistles is so accepted that John P. Meier, the Catholic favorite of historical Jesus scholars, refers in \"A Marginal Jew\" to the \"authentic and pseudonymous\" Pauline Epistles.\n\nThat's not to say there's agreement on the pseudepigraphic (non-authentic) letters. They're still DISPUTED. The consensus lies in acceptance of seven of the epistles as authentic. They are, in chronological order:\n\n1 Thessalonians\nGalatians\n1 Corinthians\n2 Corinthians\nPhilemon\nPhilippians\nRomans", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm more worried about fundamentalist Christian types who want to impose Christian Sharia law here in the USA, eg denial of equal protections for gay persons in work, housing, medical & personal relationships, etc ...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Central African Republic, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Syria and Vietnam.\n\nWhat do nearly all of these countries have in common? They're led by authoritarian dictators. Put in place a leader with authoritarian tendencies and you can rest assured that one of the first things they'll do is demonize a non-dominant religion. The next thing they'll do is outlaw said religion. If the dominant religion happens to be the one to which you subscribe then everything is hunky dory. If not, well, that's a different story. Just ask the Jews who survived Hitler's reich.\n\nWe just elected a leader with strong authoritarian tendencies. His first step has been to try to demonize Muslims. If we don't stand up for our Muslim brethren now and defend their religious freedom before anti-Muslim sentiment gets out of hand then we're no better than the German Christians who looked the other way during WWII.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Gee, count Jesus among the protestants. He did not have his back to the Twelve or the disciples when the Last Supper occurred. After 'Humanae Vitae' was published, Pope Paul VI realized that this encyclical alienated millions of Catholics. He never published another encyclical again. Your understanding of Marxism is confused. The Church's teaching of \"preferential option for the poor\" was supported by the CELAM [Latin American Bishops at Puebla, Mexico] in 1979. There is nothing \"Marxist\" about it. Jesus stated many times in his preaching, that he came for the poor [Mt. 11:2-7; Lk 7:18-23].", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is not hate speech when one takes up hateful and unchristian speech in self-defense. One is not restricted in how one conducts oneself once one believes one has been attacked. Would Jesus expect us to simply put up with someone who has the effrontery to disagree with us? Certainly the Church does not expect this of us. No, all restrictions are removed if it is self defense. Hate, snark, nastiness, lies, whatever, it is all allowed. I believe this is the only reasonable way for a good Catholic to conduct themselves. Of course, one would not expect progressives to comply with this standard of ethics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Don't make this partisan. I'm 100% sure that Stephen Harper's Conservative gov't would not have done anything different. Now, if the Rohingya were Christian,,,", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Did he tell you that you'd be denied a catholic funeral?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The miracle here is Jenkins.\"\n\nI thought so, too. He is on target.\nI also thought Sen. Feinstein only half knew what she was doing when questioning Barrett. (I can't imagine, for example, the Senator, under a different disguise, asking a Jewish judicial candidate if he/she would carry on in court like an Orthodox Jew [like, say, former Senator J. Lieberman] or Reform; or questioning a Protestant, if he or she was evangelical or mainline.) Of course, questions like Feinstein's have their own pathology, political and ideological. But she cut the throat of her rooster too soon.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why do you believe the two are mutually exclusive? Where do \"tradies\" defect? They most certainly do not defect from \"Christian living {whatever that means}\" where the Church has taught authoritatively.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Our representative democratic republic needs a strong, independent judiciary to check the power of the legislative and executive branches. This is especially important when those two branches are in the control of a single political party.\n\nWhat will be more damaging to our country will be when the GOP successfully completes its theft of a Supreme Court seat. With all three branches under GOP control, we will be stuck with a government in service of billionaires that tries to install Evangelical Christianity as the law of the land.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Religious kids are allowed to form clubs in schools, like the Inter-School Christian Fellowship Club or Pathfinders. Christian prayers are excluded from official use and at school functions because the schools, as an institution, are secular and students of many faiths attend them. When Muslim students gather to pray it is not an official school function any more than Christian students gathering in a club meeting. Where I teach, the Christian kids gather at the school flagpole some mornings to pray for the school and the community. There is no great conflict or mystery here, except this one: why do posters not know what they're posting about so often?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is no war on Christianity in this country. You assert something that is not true. That, in my opinion, is to bear false witness. I reject this comment of yours \"There are degrees in everything and you know it\". I have no idea what you are talking about. I don't think you do, either. \n\nI know that there is a 14th Amendment in this country which guarantees \"equal protection of the law\" to everyone. I support the Constitution of the United States. In Colorado, there is a Public Accommodation law which forbids discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. I support Colorado laws.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ditto from one who depends on the honesty and integrity of NCR as a vital link to the Church and Catholic community.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The evangelized-evangelizing dynamic of the disciple-apostle pattern of the earliest Christian community remains normative & formative today & for the future per Cameli. Rather than a total over against engagement of modern scientific, cultural, economic, social & political realities, we can affirm all that is authentically, even abundantly, true, beautiful, good, unitive & liberative in them, even being evangelized by our encounters of the sacred within the secular!\n\nIn turn - not by proselytizing, but - by joyfully communicating how our further realization of truth in creed, beauty in cult-ivation, goodness in code, unity in community & freedom in love can all serve to augment those same value-realizations, and superabundantly so, we can evangelize both a world & a Church, which are always in need of those consolations, which strengthen us to serve! Our shared desiring, behaving, belonging & beatitude just might bolster our own believing, while inviting others to believe, too.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "the vast majority of Catholics who disagree with you both", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1 - why wouldn't it be accommodated? \n\n2 - of course those devout Catholics could also avail themselves of AN ENTRE SCHOOL SYSTEM designed to support their religion. When you consider that effort and expnse makes the 15 minutes on Friday that Muslims are asking for (and have been getting for 20 years with no problems) seem like a no brainer.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Except that what you say is based on a particular understanding of where we find the Body of Christ in the Eucharist.\n\nThere was a time when finding the Body of Christ in the other members of the assembly was at least as important, if not more, than the presence on the altar.\n\nTo give just one example, read Augustine's Sermon 272.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And that makes them different from Christians how, exactly?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Much thanks and appreciation needs to go to NCR for its consistent efforts during this year to stoke fear and anxiety, deep mistrust and even hatred of fellow Americans and Catholics, and an overall feeling of resentment and despair.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Unless you happen to be a Syrian Christian in Khan Sheikhoun.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Documentary evidence independently written 1000 and 600 years beforehand points to the Messiah being crucified. The events described in Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22 fit the crucifixion so perfectly that it is impossible for them to have been fulfilled by random chance. Therefore, the only conclusion is: someone or something made these prophecies come true. \n\nChristians conclude: The \u201csomeone or something\u201d is divine, therefore there is a God, and Jesus is the Messiah.\n\nRespond.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "NPR has an anti-Catholic bias? Kertzer is \"in it for the money\"? You clearly know nothing about academia, are talking out of your hat and can't be taken seriously.\n\nYour accusations that I'm \"anti-Catholic\" are scurrilous. You are here to pounce on dissent and whenever cornered, you resort to cheap invective. Oh well. You discredit yourself.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "MP's should condemn anti-Muslim, anti-Christian, and anti-Jewish behaviours and get on with more important matters. Our existing laws should be able to handle any contingencies.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How can many of the bishops be so indifferent to Pres. Trump's immigration policies and their effects on innocent children - many of them our fellow Catholics? Why aren't they speaking out loudly against the deportation and detention policies of ICE?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I find no evidence of his EVER being published in a Catholic publication.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Church only cares about keeping the remarried people in the pews and tithing. Money buys access and special privilege in the Catholic Church. I witnessed this first hand when I was in Catholic school. The best way to never be punished was to have the same last name as someone who had endowed a new wing for the school. So the only way to wake neo-conservative types up is to say that you will be withholding donations as this is all they care about.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It varies province to province, DC Toronto. When Manitoba became a province Franco Manitobans were guaranteed the right to educate their children in French, out of which came the tradition, I guess, that French language education be provided by the Roman Catholic Church. In Quebec, I suspect the issue was rooted in the idea that education meant education by the Roman Catholic Church until that was changed. Saskatchewan and Alberta are different again. I honestly don't know about Ontario.\n\nI can provide no reference re. constitutions, though I have seen posts to this effect that seemed credible to me in earlier news stories about Roman Catholic schools. However, you may find interesting reading on the topic in books about the Ku Klux Klan in Canada in the late 1920s and early 1930s by, for example, William Peter Baergen and James M. Pitsula. One of the dominant issues that gave the KKK an opening was religiously structured education, and it was always policy, not constitution.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In one sense only God can forgive sins.\n\nHowever, as a Catholic I do not believe that the sacrament of Penance is a vain invention of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who instituted it.\n\nThe resolution of a crime under Canon Law is completely separate from the sacrament.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "all the Abrahamic religions, dependent on an indispensable Monotheism, are at their cores, incompatible with liberal democracy...it's a top down system, which any reading of the various religious texts would easily clarify. Which is why, during their heydays, all three were easily aligned with top down political and social systems...kings, and Popes and emperors and sheikhs, and princes and emirs...the religions lend themselves to acceptance of authoritative rule\n\nThe difference between Christianity , Judaism and Islam however is that Islam was never confronted with pressure to change, secularize and adapt to a new set of ideals through either a Renaissance or Enlightenment....the age of competitive Islamic scientific and cultural advancement generally stalled after ~ the 1200s...one might ask, where are the Islamic world's post golden age philosophers and scientists who have challenged the very central tenets of the religion and forced it to confront its ideological constructs.....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If America is a \"Christian\" nation, then which specific denomination should be in charge? If you don't understand why that's an important question, then you have no idea why the Founders structured America as a secular nation to begin with.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It seems like certain converts, namely former Evangelical Protestants, are the ones who enjoy judging who is or isn't a good enough Catholic. I agree that it is unfortunate to smear all converts like that but it is interesting that all the critics seem to come from that small subset. It suggests a very superficial understanding of Catholicism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh I looked up RCIA/RCIC and it's clear that it's a intended for those who are converting to Catholicism. The wording is clear, if I'm not participating in that then my children are NOT welcome to attend a Catholic school. Which means your assertion about anyone being able to attend regardless of religion is not accurate. One has to be ready to convert or you're not welcome. You can spin that anyway way you like but it's clearly a barrier to attendance.\n\nNice to see you giving up on your school tax argument. I guess that's as close as you'll get to admitting I was right and you were wring. Feel free to call up your local Catholic school board to confirm what I've posted if you have the courage to do so.\n\nExactly how have \"Public schools have made it quite clear that religion does not belong\"? Just because the Lord's Prayer is no longer forced upon all students by the administration as an ersatz \"state religion\" doesn't mean that religion is banned, only the promotion of Christianity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Fr. Martin envisions a bridge that one day will be smooth enough to allow everyone to encounter one another easily.\"\nCould that bridge be the ancient Catholic tradition of separate yet one-with Rites/Churches which Archbishop John R Quinn writes about in his book, EVER ANCIENT, EVER NEW: STRUCTURES OF COMMUNION IN THE CHURCH.\n\nEach rite/church or \"patriarchate\" as Quinn calls them, each with its own understanding and practice of theology/doctrine, governance, and liturgy.\n\nA Vatican II Rite/Church in union with Rome and its 22 other sister rites/churches could be the bridge between so many issues that go round and round here on NCR and within our Church today. https://RiteBeyondRome.com", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christianity is a profoundly, radically social enterprise. Jesus recognized the centrality of the temple in the religious experience of the people to whom he ministered, which is why he was there \"day after day\" (Mk. 14:49 and parallels) teaching and preaching. Likewise, the parish is the hub of the Christian experience for most people -- the locus of teaching, preaching and celebrating Word and Sacrament as nourishment for living the Christian life. I think Father Senior's book will be a great help to parish ministers, ordained and laypersons alike.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Romans executed Jesus for treason against the state. To declare oneself the messiah, as it was understood among the Jews in Palestine at that time, was to present oneself as an heir to indigenous rule and in opposition to Roman rule. Jesus' ministry was, in essence, in complete opposition to the Roman empire. (Which is why the Gospel of John had to be manufactured at a later date than the Synoptic Gospels, to make Jesus less of a threat and more palatable to Roman audiences.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Unfortunate to see someone do something then try to backtrack and deny they did it...where is the....integrity? But more importantly, why lash out at motherhood and use the Catholic Church as the excuse to do so? If one has no children, by choice or otherwise, they are not justified in attacking those who do have children...I wonder if this isn't yet another unfortunate offshoot of the misguided view of many ascetics who elevated virginity over parenthood....but... a disturbing world view that produces such conduct, and justifies the constant pivoting from position to position...saying something... then denying having said it...claiming a belief....then abandoning it...sigh...all of which does not lead to....civil discourse and the discussion of idears and things....regrettable...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jim Jenkins\n\u201cThe only way out of this disaster is for the Catholic community, the People, to reject these hierarchs, and totally reform and renew the priesthood from parish to pope. Only the People have the capacity to conduct this reform.\u201d\n \nYou are right on!!!!!!!\nI have been saying this on the other postings. The Vatican hierarchy proved that they are not capable to stop or reform this mess. \n\u201cBetter sooner than later, or we might not have a church anymore. Please NO more confidentiality agreements!\u201c\nYes, yes, and yes!!! \nGod have mercy on us!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Trump's\"victory\" has inspired like minded haters to crawl out of the sewer to spread their hateful message. It is our Christian duty to oppose them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"And then his gracious apology to the youth of the church: \u201cJesus Christ is the most magnificent figure in all of history, and by the way we have acted we have made Him irrelevant to you.\u201d\nLeaders & pastors need to follow behind Jackson, WITH THEIR APOLOGIES.\n\nI am not a person who suffers from Institutional Adventitis. I liked this report of concern.\nDoes the creator of the universe God bite His fingernails and wring His hands because of the \"remnant church\" infighting?\nThe SDA church is reaping what it sowed. It has been so busy focusing on institutional pride...on denominational numbers and $$$$ that it has become ignorant on the Christian basics. By surveys...see who really knows what the \"gospel\" is, what \"grace\" means, what \"saved \" means to church members. How often do you hear about outreach and sharing the 3 angels' messages to make more..\"Adventists\" instead of Christians. What about all of the calls to \"share Jesus\"? What does that mean specifically??", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You obviously - and sadly - do not read essays and comments very closely. What you accuse Pope Francis of is the same as the dissent letter under discussion here, and so the corrections in the essay above apply to you, too. Let me make it easy for you to understand, if you will cooperate: Pope Francis has not in any case, changed Church doctrine. What he has done, as a number of previous popes from time to time over the past 2000 years, is to emphasize the ways out from a state of sin to one of forgiveness in the Light of Christ. He has pushed the bishops to be the pastoral teachers their office was always intended to be - disciples of Jesus. So the angst you and other known trads are consumed with here is old, boring, predictable, lacking in real theology, and driven by both a fantasy and preoccupation with a clericalism that saw the death knell sound at Vatican II and move at variable speed ever since. Let's move on.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Except NOT in the Roman Catholic Church.....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Roger that. All of that...you forgot the part about founded as a Christian nation. Is there something wrong w/ that? And it's Clapham. A nation is defined by its borders, language and culture. I'm sure you could agree that all of what makes us American has been under assault for quite some time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One might add that the Obama administration also gave more grants to Catholic Charities than any previous administration. Nothing anti-Catholic about Obama. But there is definitely something very un-christian (anti-Christ's teachings, anti-gospel) operating in the current administration.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The infatuation with the empty tomb is because it is a crux of Christianity and it is a question you can not answer without admitting that Jesus was not just a good prophet and teacher. All other answers have been shot down over the years.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Living a good life here on earth. Being generous, loving, understanding, and compassionate; not in order to get into Heaven but rather, because it is the right thing to do. The last thing I ever think about is \"going to heaven.\" It seems such a selfishly motivated way to behave. In my opinion doing good in order to \"go to Heaven\" is one of the biggest errors in the interpretation of what Jesus said and did that Christian churches have made.\n\nFrankly, I don't really believe that Jesus died for our sins. I don't really believe that God is so human as to require that. I believe that Jesus came to show us the way to live a good life. And he did. \n\nIf we choose not to see it, that is our fault.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "AD I would not suggest otherwise. There is not a single group/classification/stereo type that does not have wayward individuals. But RADICAL CHRISTIAN EXTREMISM is not a group. It's a bigoted name for a religion that is fundamental peaceful.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I disagree with you completely that Catholics in the 1970s got deeper into belief in the Real Presence. If anything that's when belief in it tapered off. Of course the deepest intimacy with Our Lord in the Eucharist is receiving Him, but how does a Eucharist procession take away from that? Or spending time in adoration and prayer? If anything, processions bring Him outside the confines of the Church building and is exactly the type of evangelization we need today. I fail to see how faith in the Real Presence is deepened by keeping Him to ourselves and not getting our feet dirty and taking the source and summit of our faith into the street. Once I heard something to the effect we don't have processions anymore because now after Vatican II \"we are the body of Christ\" which obscures the distinction between the Mystical Body of Christ (The Church) and His Eucharistic Body (The Head of the Church) and is a complete misreading of Vatican II which never told us to throw out our devotions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why is the writer surprised. She cites examples of why I supported Donald Trump. Many of us are not to the far left or to the far right. We are in the middle. Middle class Americans like Trump because of his emphasis on national security and jobs. We are tired of losing our own jobs because of national companies taking them elsewhere. Every time Trump speaks, he addresses the issue of finding American well paying jobs. This means a lot to those of us who live in the Rust Belt. We might have voted for Obama, but this time, we voted for Trump. He understands our pain and perhaps so do the Catholic bishops. I would consider that to be a good thing. Not every Catholic voter is obsessed with social issues. When you get right down to it, we want to support our families and we want to live in security. Obama did not help us; he did everything to prevent us from losing our jobs except give us more hand outs. We don't want hand outs. We want to work.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Their ordination rituals were invalid in themselves, perhaps, at one time. They probably do not still have those \u201cdefects.\u201d\nApostolic Succession is a more thorny issue, but the Old Catholic movement after Vatican I probably means many, if not most, have a fairly solid line of Succession from the Apostles, not that it means much.\nThen there is the questions that arise when Popes give Anglicans, usually the Abp of Canterbury, symbols of the episcopacy, like pectoral crosses. Or when the bishops of Rome and Canterbury pray together as bishops, etc. The issues are murkier than \u201cabsolutely null and void\u201d suggests.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How to make sense of Trump's victory?\n\nUh, it's called the verdict of a democratic election.\n\nToo put it O so mildly, I wasn't thrilled with Bush's victory, nor Obama's. That's 16 years of not being thrilled.\n\nHowever, I never questioned or disputed the democratic system that put both those men in office. Nor should anyone question this nation's verdict for Mr. Trump.\n\nCertain quarters of the media are busy trying to use the results of this election as a reason for civil war and anarchy. \"Catholic\" blogger Andrew Sullivan went so far as to pen an inflammatory column that America is now a \"tyranny\"....amazingly, he did this not 24 hours after the election's finale. \n\nMessage to all Catholics -- respect democracy and American civics above all else -- that is the best road to social harmony.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A Christian cannot become president in any Arab or Muslim country, except for Lebanon. Hey, non-Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindus, etc, are not even allowed in Mecca. Egypt did have a Christian prime minister, Boutros Ghali, 1908 to 1910. I reckon it would next to impossible for this to happen now. This simple fact is only one indication of the drop in religious tolerance across the region.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Now this is a substantive article that NCR should publish than so many paplum pieces.\nEach Christian church needs to address its own constituency.\nThe RCC has been promoting the so-called the Fortnight for Freedom, seeking to create a nonexistent issue. But when racism is persistent and tenacious in American society there is no concerted effort to address it on the local level. American bishops are afraid to have a program on the parish level on racism. Too many would find no problem with being racist and being RC. As RCs historically could be anti-Semitic at one and same time. And were!\nFrancis has been promoting more exorcists because he infallibly believe there is a real entity called a devil bewitching people Yet racism is pervasive, not only in USA, yet he and hierarchs make no meaningful effort to address it on the parish. An occasional generalized statement from on high misses the target: members in their own pews who need to be engaged directly.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not entirely agreeing with you MSW. AmeriChristian Integralism is a profound danger that alarms both conservatives and progressives (both terms understood in its original positive, not negative, meaning). Sadly, the evil of ideology (the condition I call nomodoctrinophilia) has crept into the church for far too long, and too far. Extremists of every sort want to have a THEIR King, Law and Order. Gods answer: Jesus Christ on the Cross. In good Ignatian Spirit, Pope Francis invites us to join him in following St. Ignatius Loyola's advice: place yourself under that Cross and speak with Jesus Christ as a friend speaks with a friend, then discern what you are called to do as God's friend (\"God's friend\" respectfully borrowed from St. Gregory of Nyssa). Spadaro's and Figueroa's article presents the real view people, not only Catholics, from OUTSIDE of the US have on what happens there. What they see is certainly cause for some serious reflection for all everywhere, not only in the US.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And yet in BC a CBC reporter sceptically questioned someone promoting freedom from religion in BC. She also had an open line show where Religious Representatives were invited and they all concluded that \"Religious Education\" should be reintroduced to BC schools. People calling in with contrary views were treated with disrespect by the CBC announcer, even though \"No Religion\" has overtaken Catholic as the top response when Stat Can pokes its nose into that aspect of our private lives. At least 4 out of 5 BC parents have chosen not to give their children any Religious Instruction at Churches, Mosques, Synagogues or Temples. What business does the state have interfering with that freely made choice?\n\nAre you aware that all Canadian Cable Subscribers are required to pay a monthly tithe to Vision TV, even though the CRTC's own opinion surveys repeatedly found that over 90% of Canadians have no interest in viewing a Religious Channel, even if it were free?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "News flash Sher, you live in Canada, not Alabama. !!!!\nWe voted to increase immigration from 3rd world countries that had deplorable human rites records, it was the Christian thing to do.\nTruly do you have anything to add other than endless divisive politics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you, my husband (not a practicing Christian) and I came to this decision long, long ago...(we are in our 70's), we are peacemakers who have resistance violence in many different forms in and out of our circle, and felt the sting of rejection, etc. from many...However, our resolve is strong. It is such a pleasant relief to see this being brought to the fore...People committed to peaceful resolutions with others have few who openly encourage efforts made here. So, I would like to commend you Sr. Schenck for tackling a very volatile topic...One that needs to be...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Steve, I do not use my name because I am worried about the responses from the right-wingers. I read too many angry posts from folks who believe the 2nd amendment is the most important thing in their lives and that maybe a 2nd amendment solution is appropriate when they lose an election..\n\nYou might say I am paranoid but one of my biggest fears is to see a day in the USA where roving bands of armed Christians with crosses held high and flags waving go hunting down their liberal neighbors.\n\nAnd, the only opinion I offered here was about the children dying due to their parent s crazy beliefs. Do you disagree?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One thing I love about these articles is that they promote investigation. Here's a link to an article by an evangelical who had a \"Come to Jesus\" moment when it came to climate change:\n\nhttp://thestewardsjourney.com/as-a-conservative-evangelical-republican-why-climate-change-cant-be-true-even-though-it-is/\n\nThe article describes why the author was initially a denier. It's a good description of how someone's subjective world is manipulated to deny objective reality ;)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This case against Hobby Lobby only appears in this publication because HL is a Christian owned company. The Supreme Court struck down the contraceptive mandate in for-profit companies on religious grounds. \nNo one else is really interested in this case.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Eastern Rite Catholic Churches, in communion with Rome, do not permit divorce and remarriage or reception of the Eucharist by such couples. As for the Orthodox Church, I'm not a member and it's not for me to explain their departure from Christ's words about the permanence of the sacrament of marriage. Only the first marriage in Orthodoxy is celebrated as a true sacrament. \n\nYou can click on the link provided and find the answer.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Her observations and interpretations are merely dealing with aftermaths. More than half the Canadians are of the opinion that religions are intrinsically damaging opinions and hurtful to humankind, and being wedded to old-old ideas in the modern world is hardly helpful for a saner society. Christianity is surviving as a peaceful religion today solely because of reformation 500 years ago and leaving the cruel practices to dust. \n\nThere is no such evolution in the current conflict with the society. For instance, Canadians and the West inherently believe women are subjugated in some religions and demonstrating a religion in one's face is hardly a matter of displaying spirituality. Proactive reformation is the key to successful integration. But it is virtually impossible in a closed society and regrettably only analysis of aftermaths will be routine.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The teaching on only Catholics going to Heaven is largely discredited. Being born again is not miracle or magic, it is to see things anew. McHale, you have not been. The true meaning of the Kingdom of God escapes you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "From the article:\n\"Multiple looters were arrested overnight, police said\"\n\nI am glad to see that Osteen's mega church was finally persuaded to take in refugees. Christian charity.....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Trudeau blew it by trying to fill his cabinet with people that aren't qualified, but are the right gender. The reason there are more male chess masters than females is because Trudeau didn't get a chance to balance the ratio. If Trudeau could use his influence and power to create more female chess masters, the world would be a better place, but chess would be less. What about all those Catholic Priests? Trudeau isn't doing his job. He should make certain that 50% of Catholic Priests are female. There are more men in engineering than women. Trudeau should get all those men out of engineering to make room for the females that should be engineers. Not good engineers, just female. Just like his cabinet, not good ministers, but they are female, and that's what's important. All those more competent men will have to sit it out for Trudeau to do what's right in his mind. Dion was a good minister, but Trudeau dumped him because he was more intelligent and qualified than him.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You'd think Jesus' words would carry more weight. But our bishops have 2000 years of tradition that carries more weight with them. Hence they seat themselves at the head of the table, place burdens on others that they do not bear, and so forth.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Wherefore, in order that all doubt may be removed regarding a matter of great importance, a matter which pertains to the Church's divine constitution itself, in virtue of Our ministry of confirming the brethren. We declare that the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women and that this judgment is to be definitively held by all the Church's faithful.\" (St. John Paul II)\n\n\"On the ordination of women in the Catholic Church, the final word is clear, it was said by St. John Paul II and this remains.\" (Pope Francis)\n\nWhat about this don't you understand?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"workers and bosses unite\" - actually St. JPII basically said that in his1991 Centisimus annus ... also the importance of unions to achieving just wages that could support a family and safe working environments. He also distinquishes between two types of capitalism/free enterprise. The one we have is not the one he was supporting. Interesting all those who call him \"Great\" while slamming Pope Francis. He also says there is an important role for the State in protecting the natural and human environment. So - while he is so celebrated on EWTN and their media empire ... why are these never mentioned? Or how consumerism and materialism as it flows from unregulated capitalism is a threat to the environment. Hummmm ... and who gives all sorts of money to that \"Catholic Global Media Netowrk\"? Catholic Social teachings are part of our Official teachings ... so why don't we know about them? why are they not part of RCIA programs?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Just to the Internet. Heterodoxy is about early Church credal issues, not every word that comes from the pen of the Pope. By the way, the Filioque is considered Heterodox, an addition to the Creed by Rome. So much for it not changing or being corrected. DF was about the Church having a monopoly on explaining the revelation of scripture (which modern study has found is not pure revelation at all but a mix of myth, natural law reason, didactics and social commentary (in the OT) and pastoral letter and recalled events (NT). Such analysis is important in understanding scripture and morality. That Pio Nono did not think so does not surprise me. You should know better and if you don't, please seek the truth. Most parishes include programs on scriptural history at some point as do local Catholic colleges. Or just find a book on it that does not promote Triumphalism. And don\u2019t put it down or walk out when something is said that you don\u2019t agree with, starting with Eden.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I can see this bunch worshiping the 4 time bankrupt who wants to 'restore\" our economy. The same guy who learned to stand aside from the door when shaking down renters in New York while McCain was dodging bullets for his country. The same cadre of supporters who were lined up (with their hands out) t0 support the 'Rent-a-jails'. And of course, the modern proponent (with his high moral stance) of the \"parsonage' tax dodge for his church. If you want to see real Christian humility look of the value of his 'Parsonage'. They, along with the worst governor that we ever had pretty well symbolize who and why Trump has appeal.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I gave an example of a wealthy CEO from Argentina who is being considered for sainthood for just being a good guy and good boss who put his workers before profits. I'd actually prefer it if the Catholic Church highlighted saintly normal people like Enrique Shaw rather than just priests and religious. It is more egalitarian. \n\nEach person should be judged on his/her merits rather than on being part of a group. You are judging all remarried people the same and deeming them unworthy for Communion. This includes innocent victims and people who just made one mistake along with serial adulterers. You are judging that whole group unworthy of Communion regardless of individual circumstances. I am pointing out that if we are going to judge remarried people as a group, then why not the wealthy?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The problem is that Pence would be no better policy-wise, and perhaps worse since he is a full-blown believer in government theocracy (his religious beliefs only). Next in line would be Paul Ryan... does anyone seriously want that?. The GOP controlled congress will continue to sit on their hands where Trump is concerned. We are in a real mess with few good options until another election... assuming a conned electorate wakes up and makes better choices... and the other party offers some reasonable progressive candidates as an alternative. Catholics who voted for this current cohort culpably 'own' it... too late to complain now. Meanwhile, dead fish and sea lions are washing up on the west coast due to proliferation of toxic algae... the result of warming oceans.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Merely pointing out the inconsistency, and using the posters's own words because said poster seems to have difficulty reading what others write. Shirley the poster realizes the irony of condemning another for \"persisting\" when the poster is, himself, \"persisting.\" But what drives one, who claims to find the experience upsetting, to continue to participate? Is it courage, to withstand the cruelty, nastiness, and bullying? Is the poster a Hero? Is that the image that gives the poster the strength to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous postings and to take arms against those who would suggest the poster has ever erred? Whatever the source of this noble adventure, perhaps the poster would do well to go back and read his posts, and consider that rather than appearing a christian martyr, he is giving the appearance of one who has issues that need to be addressed? I ask the question to encourage discussion and the free exchange of idears.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Two points:\n\n1. I was specifically replying to the atheist-op-ed writer, who, while writing cogently about Jesus Christ's commandment about loving others, didn't mention what HE (the writer) did during the Christmas season as to helping the disadvantaged. The core message of atheism is that of denial of God through Christ, without actually doing anything substantive to help the poor.\n\n2. Yes, of course there are SECULAR-based charities that do good work. But atheists have not really organized themselves into \"\"churches\", until recently -- something that would give atheism the potential to do good work as atheists. The three monotheistic religions (Christianity, Judaism, Islam) all emphasize helping the poor. On this point, where are the atheists? I mean, really?\n\nBack to the op-ed piece, the writer makes good points, as ideas. But for me Christmas is a time of giving and the sharing of Christian love. -- David Murrell, Economics, UNB at Fredericton", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If they claim to be Christian communities following scripture, Church Councils and Church tradition, they are objectively false in their belief and whatever they claim is based on human authority and not Divine authority. These women may well have been properly ordained in the eyes of the Ecumenical Catholic Community, according to their rituals, but this does not mean they are objectively validly ordained as priests with the ability to dispense the sacraments. At best, its role play and rather sad.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It\u2019s important to compare apples with apples. Islam is not like Christianity or Buddhism. It has socially and politically ideological implications as well as religious. Think of Marxism or Fascism. But the author succeeds in making it all sound so simple and innocent.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree. Godparents must be delusional enough to believe in a magical invisible being, the existence of which has no evidentiary basis whatsoever. Rational people should not apply. After all, good Christians must be careful not to raise children who are likely to believe only things that are real.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regardless of formal oath, every Catholic-- by virtue of Baptism and Confirmation-- is most certainly bound in obedience to the Holy Father. As an aside, every time we recite the Creed we pledge fidelity to the Most Supreme Roman Pontiff as Christ's Vicar. This is really Catholicism 101 stuff here.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Trump's illegal orders should be resisted vigorously. His legal orders are the product of a legal election. Winters and the people he supports on this issue --- including the bishops --- need to remember that so long as a law is validly enacted and just, it is un-Christian to resist it. \"Render unto Caesar . . .\" The alternative is disrespect for rightful authority and ultimately, a breakdown of peace.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This article skirts around one of the most frustrating aspects of being a Catholic in the 21st century: the agonizingly slow pace of change. We live in an age where change is continual and information is exchanged in the blink of an eye. But where the Catholic Church is concerned, you'd think we were still living in the dark ages, when the pace of change could be measured in centuries rather than in nano-seconds. \n\nSo on the one hand there's this statement from the pope: \u201cWe must trust the Spirit, trust this journey and most of all trust ourselves.\" contrasted with this one meant to put on the brakes: \"and he rejected both 'an immoderate desire for total change without sufficient reflection or grounding.'\" Sounds nice enough, but in truth he said that merely to placate conservatives who resist any change for any reason. \n\nThe pope is clearly trying to move the needle forward, but in this church that's easier said than done. It's always one step forward, two back - or vice-versa.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What about the Hate crimes occurring world wide against those that are non-Muslims.\nWhat do you think the life span would be for a young women that rejected Islam and became a Christian. You have not prepared a balanced article. .", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In the early years of Christianity, people joined The Way, because it had a meaningful application to their lives. You \"confident and joyful Catholic identity\" of the JPII and Benedict years clearly has not resulted in any stabilization in the numbers of the Catholic Church in the so-called First World countries. Rather than laying the blame at the feet of those who are leaving, perhaps some soul-searching might be in order.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bill, maybe you should have spoken a Catholic priest from a church that has always had married priests, like Ukrainian or Melkite, for starters. I have known several of both churches, both ordained here or in the \"home\" cultures. Your story might be entirely different. With them the priest's wife has a very special place in the life of the parish.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Seriously, Neko?? \"Her life as an adulteress is irrelevant\"? To whom,sir? I am simply astonished that you would actually say that! Someone who presumes to be the Ambassador to the Vatican's character is IRRELEVANT??? WOW.Just...Wow.If I didn't say before,let me say it again,with emphasis: THANK ALMIGHTY GOD I AM NOT A ROMAN CATHOLIC!!!---\"Be ye holy, because I am holy\"...Thus COMMANDS the Lord our God in His Holy Word. That's all I have to say on this issue,Neko; no reply is warranted. Go be with you,my friend.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How odd that devout Catholics are castigated for defending Pope Francis in their own parish church. As for those pleading \"freedom of speech\": A. This is Italy and not the USA. B. The parishioners were expressing their own \"freedom of speech\". C. Can you imagine the outcry if the reverse had happened under JPII the Great Enabler or Benny the Grand Inquisitor? This priest would have been in a fast boat back to India and possibly suspended as well.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Presuming? Not at all.....discussing.\n\nAnd what makes you so sure I am not a \"lifelong\" Catholic....with a degree? \n\nI remember too - I also remember being asked to leave, being told this is a \"liberal\" site FOR liberals, being asked why I come here. Yes....I remember.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do you understand or is it that you simply reject the Catholic Church's teachings of the infusion of grace by means of the sacraments properly dispensed?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You do realise that the Nobel committee is a Northern European organisation, run overwhelmingly by practicing Christians? Nobel himself was a devout Lutheran. Over 80% of Nobel winners are Christian and most of the Jewish winners were secular. Muslim winners are mostly from this century - hardly surprising when you know the roots of the Nobel organisation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "AT: Obviously, you find great comfort in your religion. I have absolutely no problem with that. I'm comfortable being an agnostic. However, I don't condemn everyone who believes differently from me to Hell. I'm, additionally, interested in people's actions, not their beliefs. A person may profess being a Christian while being, to use that phrase, a sleazeball. I'd consider Trump an excellent example. \n\nYour position is \"self-protective\". You're \"born of the spirit\" and know the \"truth and the light\"....anyone who believes differently from you, is, my definition, a \"non-believer\" who simply CAN'T understand. So, essentially, there's no room for discussion......regrds, Gary", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Exactly correct, left wing voters are all bout the single issue of sex, reproductive rights and homosexual marriage, not to mention all the rest. Fortunately, the US bishops have a man they can wholeheartedly support because of his clear cut devotion to christian values.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, notice. And compare with where the Democratic Party has traveled over the past 50 years . . . . the party of abortion, gay marriage, and general disdain for traditional American and Judeo-Christian values. Do notice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, I don't this so. \n\nThe problem with Palestine was that it did not belong to England, or the UN, both of whom had no right to partition anything, let alone Palestine. \n\nAnd it sought to \"accommodate the right of the Jewish people to self-determination and self-government\" at the expense of the people already there--Muslim and Christian Palestinians, who formed the vast majority of the existing population. .\n\nMoreover if the partition of India (a British colony) caused such displacement and loss of life, why would anyone think it was a good idea to submit Palestine to the same treatment?\n\n\"Colonialism\" is exactly what it is about. As for \"Euro centric conceit,\" that describes the founding of the State of Israel quite aptly. It's ironic you should use it against critics of Israeli.\n\nThe two-state solution has failed. Let's see whether Israel-Palestine becomes a democracy for all the inhabitants, or continues on the path of treating the Palestinians as untermensch.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Intellectual integrity is not a value shared by all. Your colleague Pandora generalized from an specious interpretation of an \"alleged\" contact to a generalization about all those \"feminines\" who consider their equality of persons before God include within the earthly church.\nIf one could ask for a classic example of pseudo-Catholicism....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wonder what percentage of the student body is African American at Colorado Christian University? Heaven forbid we offend God and Country while protesting inequality and hate in America. What would Jesus do?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "i don't think he calls himself a catholic...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sorry you feel that way. Many people feel their lives have been changed for the better by being involved with a Christian organization. Each of us must choose and you would be welcome should you ever change your mind. Best regards.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The earliest recorded set of baptismal questions (or vows if answered in the affirmative) was the Interrogatory of Hippolytus. It is still a very good summary of what it means to be a Christian.\n\nTo be an Advent Sabbatarian Christian (so as not to infringe on the various GC trademarks) we might add some \"distinctives\" to this early list. These might include (in no particular order of importance):\n\n1) The Seventh Day Sabbath as a memorial of Creation (cf Genesis and Exodus), Redemption (cf Deuteronomy and the Gospels) and Restoration (cf Isaiah and Revelation).\n\n2) The literal and imminent pre-millennial return of Jesus Christ, triggering a bodily resurrection of the Saved.\n\n3) Conditional Immortality, death as a \"sleep\" and eventual annihilation of unrepentant fallen creatures.\n\n4) The earthly Sanctuary as a teaching metaphor for Divine activities on behalf of fallen humanity, both Earthly (in the Courtyard) and Heavenly (in the Tent).\n\n(continued)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "10/24/12 Truthout: Focus on the Family-associated Alaska Family Council President Jim Minnery laid out his plans for the future of the religious right - and why there was a movie-size poster of the arch-conservative businessmen Charles and David Koch on an easel by the door.\n\nThe Alaska Family Council (AFC) is a Focus on the Family-related group, as the AFC explains on its own web site: \"Throughout each stage of its development, the Alaska Family Council has worked closely with Focus on the Family, one of the most respected and effective pro-family organizations in the country.\" AFC's Minnery is a cousin to Focus on the Family's Senior Vice President Tom Minnery. Tom Minnery is not only the VP of Focus, but also runs its affiliate, the advocacy organization CitizenLink.\n\nFocus was against Mitt Romney, because he was the wrong kind of \"Christian.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We think all young women are unhappy with the Church's ban on women's ordination. I observed hundreds of thousands of happy young women celebrating their faith in Krakow, and I will see thousands of young women participating in the March for Life in January.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The banning of Islam is totally Constitutional. The facts are that the Moonies, Mormons, and even our Native \"religions\" were compelled to end practices that violated \"religious protection\" standards. For the Moonies, they had to stop \"coercion,\" the Mormons, \"plural marriages\" and the Natives, their \"vow of the Sun\" ritual that our government deemed as \"torture\". The Muslims side-stepped exploration of their \"practices\" by providing huge amounts of monies first to the Clinton that created the \"inter-faith office in the White House to $1.5bil in Saudi contracts to Bush and associates after he left office. The USA is not a multicultural nation, but is based upon assimilation into a new form of government versus Islamic ideology that has the goal of replacing secular and Christian value governments with sharia law which makes its followers \"domestic enemies\". They jump on and use minority issues to cloak their real intent. They should be both banned and deported.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Now let's make clear about our terms here. Do you mean \"Holy Father\" as Jesus used the term? Or are you applying that term to a human being? Of course, some might say calling a human by the same name as God Almighty is blasphemous, but we do have 2000 years of tradition, so we know it is OK, even correct. to call the Pope Holy Father.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You obviously have not been reading The National Catholic Reporter, which provides information which is dependable and relevant. The USCCB is in NO position to absolve itself or its membership of (criminal) wrongdoing!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The CELAM is just as bona-fide as the USCCB is. The base Christian communities of liberation theology have been primarily the work of poor Christians, supplying in their own local communities for the absence of traditional parochial structures, and using their gatherings to reflect on the relationship between the word of God in Scripture and the necessary initiatives for the promotion of dignified human life in a context of poverty and oppression. Their energies and courage over many years now stem from the awareness that the God of the Bible actively sides with the poor. To the poor, the Word is a blessing; to the rest of us, it can be a challenge or a condemnation. The choice is ours. \n\nWhile the economic and educational level of North American Catholics might be quite different from that of our brothers and sisters to the south, we have much to learn from them about how to conduct ecclesial life in he context of diminishing traditional resources.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Global warming in now and is partly caused by green house gases.... co2 and methane. Deal with it as you will. Irreversible looped cycle.. We have environmental refugee's already leaving areas caused by famine and heat. Compounded by flooding, war and unstable governments the process grinds on. Nothing grows, nothing works, nothing eats. The extinction of certain species is inevitable. Homo sapiens may be one of those species. Man, as we know him, has been around for about 200,000 years. That is a long time for any large land mammal to survive. The modern Christian God has been around for 2,000 years or so. Man and God were not always on the planet. In geological time man is a new bee. Fragile little man... determined to destroy himself. This blue planet will dust us off like unwanted dandruff on a dark sweater. Mankind will eventually outsmart itself and even god cannot save him.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The agonizing over vocations to the priesthood while keeping tight rein over opening the priesthood only to men, while keeping jealous control over how Catholic sacrament and ritual are allowed to be conducted among people, and while prohibiting diverse and creative explorations and variations of Christian thought and celebration by individuals tells me that the underlying motive of the Catholic hierarchy is not the spiritual life and well-being of people but, rather, maintaining the institution. This ultimate lack of caring for what is most important: the spiritual life of individuals in all its variety of needs and seasons, regardless of how it affects tight control over the Church institution, is, I believe, sensed by many and is what is driving the Church into irrelevance and disrespect.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Part one of two) We Catholics need to re-theologize the Confiteor. I sometimes say to myself \"I have erred through my lack of mindfulness.\" It shouldn't be about \"me-bad\" it should be about a healthy recognition of where we can further grow into God's love.\u2014Robert Foss\n\nSeveral of Sr. Sally's comments rang very clear for me -- one can lose faith in the hierarchical church, but never lose the relationship with Jesus, that's what matters. But no one can tell us to leave the Church, not when there is still hope and determination to make it better, to heal it, by focusing on people.\u2014Shar_M\n\nIt is also fair to say that if the bright lamp of Truth is not held above the church now, all new models of Church will eventually follow the same path that is one of on-going degeneration.\u2014Kevin Walters\n\nit is courageous to trust again in anyone, including the Divine when betrayal has been so deep.\u2014Mary Gail Frawley O\u2019Dea\n\nSee part two of two.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I used to believe the same things that you do until I spent a lifetime there one week. Israel is not a democracy ... it is an apartheid state that treats arabs as less than human. Israel's treatment of the Palestinian people is criminal and it's not just a matter of taking their land and building more settlements ...they actively fly over and poison Palestinian farm crops, poison wells, build sanitation facilities on hill tops that drain into Palestinian water sources ...you name it they have done it. Despite the lack of Semitic blood or DNA evidencing their ties to any of that land the Israeli's have bought into their own press about being God's chosen people...despite rejecting Jesus as the Messiah and centuries of killing Christians and disobeying God's commandments", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Just to confirm them, the canon law of the Episcopalian Church is not fully protected by the First Amendment? But the canon law of the Catholic Church is fully protected by the First Amendment?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "MSW, I corrected your statement for you. You're welcome. Next time I suggest submitting your writings to an editor before posting.\n\n\"In reading PROGRESSIVE reactions to Pope Francis and some of the reforms he has begun, it becomes clear that for many of our co-religionists on the LEFT, they thought that they owned the Catholic Church and that their interpretations of its doctrines were the only valid interpretations available.\"\n\nThis describes you and the other SJWs very well.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part 2\nBTW, as you know, there is a papal document (divino afflante spiritu, Pius12, 1943) which essentially freed Catholic biblical scholars from the constraints of the syllabus. So modern scriptural scholarship is in fact modernist (as defined by magisterial statements against Modernism), but this strain of modernism is formally sanctioned.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Most Catholics don't really care whether women can be ordained . They know so little about their religion these days that when asked they just say, why not?\"\nLaxity and the adoption of secular values is the highest reason why anyone leaves the Catholic Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, because we Christians have never done that before, right, Corbeil?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bishop Tom: I personally consider that for our people today it would be better and more \u201cprofitable\u201d to speak about and emphasize \u201cthe life-death-resurrection project of Jesus\u201d to establish here on earth the Kingdom of God by \u201cloving one another, just as I have loved you\u201d. \u201cOur Father, \u2026Thy Kingdom come\u2026\u201d 1)This moves us out of the realm of dogma, beliefs and all kinds of magic and rubs our noses into the nitty-gritty of everyday showing our love for one another by our actions toward every human person with whom we come into contact.\n2) This makes our \u201cfaith inclusive\u201d i.e. nobody gets excluded for \u201cnot believing\u201d. \u2013 we recognize that many \u201cnon-believers\u201d are doing much in the world today \u201cto make it a better Mother Earth to live on now and for our great grand children, and helping us to live more \u201chumanized\u201d which comes down to being the center of the life and teaching of Jesus", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hope you don't expect me to post my friend's name and place of burial here. \n\nCall St Peter's cemetery in London (ON). My friend is not interred there, but St Peter's is yet another catholic cemetery who accepts all faiths.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If all the Eastern Catholic Churches interpret all the Church doctrines in the same way, then why are there distinctly different Eastern Catholic Churches in union with Rome? Eastern Rite Churches do not consider the difference to be merely in liturgical rite as Roman Rite Catholics often claim. \n\nIt was, in fact, the Eastern Melkite Rite that contributed significantly to Vatican II in regard to use of the vernacular language and concelebration in liturgy, collegiality and synodality in governance and a unique theological approach to Catholic doctrine.\n\nArchbishop John R. Quinn explains the East-West diversity in his book, EVER ANCIENT, EVER NEW: Structures of Communion in the Catholic Church.\n\nDiscussion of the unique theological approach of Eastern Churches in union with Rome can be found on https://east2west.org/faq/doctrine/\n\nAs for possibility of a Vatican II Rite/Church, Eastern Rite Churches now in union with Rome were once condemned as heretical. https://RiteBeyondRome.com", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Have you every read the Epistle to Diognetus...a non Christian writing about how early (early) Christians lived. Marvelous. Very early writing.\n\nhttp://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/diognetus-roberts.html\n\n\n\u201c\u2026They marry, as do all [others]; they beget children; but they do not destroy their offspring. They have a common table, but not a common bed. They are in the flesh, but they do not live after the flesh. They pass their days on earth, but they are citizens of heaven. They obey the prescribed laws, and at the same time surpass the laws by their lives. They love all men, and are persecuted by all\u2026They are poor, yet make many rich\u2026they are insulted, and repay the insult with honour; they do good, yet are punished as evil-doers. When punished, they rejoice as if quickened into life\u2026\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I fail to see how the politicians today live up to the Christian beliefs they are shoving down Americas throat. The evangelicals, and Christians want the anglo church into the US government saying we are a Christian nation.\nTodays Christians or evangelicals, or whatever they call themselves, are deluded if they think they are going to their fabled heaven when they die. They castigate.refugees, although their jesus was a refugee\nThey gut the health and social programs that help the same kind of people their jesus helped, and give the same money to their corporate sponsors who are no different than the ones their jesus kicked out of the temples.\nThem thinking they are going to heaven makes as much sense as the Mideast terrorists expecting to go to their heaven with their 72 virgins after slaughtering so many innocents. \nReligion is bastardized by despots desperate for power, to align with whatever nefarious reasons despots want to control people.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's too bad that the majority of our bishops seem to be working out of a sense of careerism rather than servant-leadership. It is natural, then, that the careerist will do all in his power to protect the kingdom he has struggled so hard to build up. We all know that this has absolutely nothing to do with Jesus or the gospel or the Reign of God, but they don't know that (or maybe they do and have just sold out). The Catholic Church as an institution led by careerists is dying a slow death. It is too bad, no, it is tragic, that the faithful priests of Ireland and elsewhere are the martyrs who must endure the corruption of a system that is crumbling before our very eyes. The good news, however, is that there are Catholic and ecumenical groups sprouting up everywhere that are worshiping in inclusive communities, working for justice, and participating in all types of important ministries. And don't be surprised ... I believe that Pope Francis has a number of tricks up his sleeve!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Excommunication is more a means of vengeance by an exasperated member of the hierarchy---than any spiritual remedy. In today's world---such threats only arouse anger, resentment, and retaliation. The Church is not just Bishop Paprocki. It is ALL baptized Catholics. The vast majority of them [sensus fidelium] do not agree with Paprocki's extreme pronouncements [or with other bishops who share his concepts]. His actions will do more to bolster people to stand against him---rather than not.\n\nSecondly, Paprocki only speaks for his diocese. Other arch/dioceses have not adopted his extreme pronouncements, and they probably never will. We have had too many cases in the Church's history where people have been threatened with excommunication or actually excommunicated. Today, these people who were threatened with excommunication or actually excommunicated, are considered as great persons within the Church or revered as actual canonized saints.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The problem is the Charter of rights can be over written by laws. As we see with Trudeau and Harper, the Charter is nothing but paper these days, a joke. We have already seen speech criminalized.\nThe Charter was suppose to protect us from Harper's and even Trudeau's! Save us money, save us time, give us freedom, real freedom.\nWhat it did was give special rights to 'god' the Christians(jews and muslims), The French and the Natives. Pushing the rest of us as second caste citizens.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't think Chaput cares about Trump speaking at Notre Dame as much as he cares about making Notre Dame squirm. Past high profile political figures spoke at Notre Dame, figures Chaput thoroughly denounced because they didn't toe the line on culture war issue Chaput considers uber Catholic. \n\nWhat Chaput wrote is just more of the culture war battling, despite Pope Francis asking that it stop. Chaput just keeps egging it on, an exemplar of divisiveness and how to keep the culture wars fomenting trouble for the unity of the Church..", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Greetings....Paul Ryan and his band of fellow Neo Fascists really showed their true anti Christian agenda! This man goes home every weekend to Janesville to worship with his family at the local Catholic Church......He needs to follow the Beatitudes given by Jesus Christ!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Abandoning US citizens is not an option. It is also the actions of a real life anti-Christian. This is on the GOP in congress at this point, they could have impeached him with just Manafort.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Answer these. Simple yes or no is fine.\nIf somone was marching past a synagogue amid a crowd of torch-carrying, hate-slogan chanting, Nazis/KKKers, would it be correct to label that person as deplorable?\"\n Yes. IF they are actually part of the Group....NOT if they were 'swept up in it'. \n*****************************************************\n\"Do the non-white, non-Christians who are threatened by these hate groups have the right to stand their ground?\"\nHmmm...on the face of it, Yes. BUT What does that mean? \"Stand their ground\"?\nIf someone is purposely Blocking the way of Protesters (in this case Nazi-Wanna Be's), then they are creating a ripe situation for violence. That is exactly what triggered the \"NWBe's\" to violence - When ANTIFA locked arms and prevented the \"NWBe's\" from entering Heritage Park.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It does not seem like mere baggage to me. He needs to completely change priorities, to change his mindset, to get down on bended knee and beg forgiveness from God Almighty, and make a pledge to do God's Will each and every day, to acknowledge Jesus as Christ, and his savior. It would be wonderful to see a politician with the courage to do so. It would be beautiful to see him publicly ask forgiveness of all who he has belittled and scorned. Then...I might feel comfortable as him as our president. Unfortunately, even if he did so confess, we will have to deal with his choice of administrators, many of whom in which I have no trust, or respect.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...we will have a Pope who will wave a checkered flag for the ordination of women....\"\n\nAn Ecumenical Council of bishops and theologians will wave that checkered flag (if at all), not a Pope. It will be all enterprise, all theological, all collaborative, all collegial to avoid institutional quarrels (among the different Catholic Churches and their bishops) and schisms (whose ruins are eternal). At 79, Francis is wise to stay away from this issue (unless he convokes a Ecumenical Council on his deathbed). Anyway, Francis knows there is somebody wiser than a pope, and that is an Ecumenical Church Council, a corporate body of believers led by the Holy Spirit.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well - Let this be a warning to those who did not vote against this guy and told themselves it didn't matter who got in. It matters that we vote, and vote with a knowledge of the history of the candidates in mind. It matters we vote responsibly and not emotionally or based on \"trumped-up\" fears. \n\nDemocracy is beautiful just like the RC Church. However, both of these entities require all of their members to stay awake and care deeply that their basic ideals are supported by those who would lead them and be willing to aggressively fight against those who would corrupt them. \n\nDemocracy needs voters that love her enough to vote for the best person to lead, the most sane an qualified individual, even if you don't love that person's personality. Comparatively, The Roman Catholic Church needs a laity that demands it's leaders behave according to Christ's Gospel and Christ's Commands.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus gave us the Eucharist during a meal, seated at a table, not an altar, and using a cup, not a chalice. He Himself was not a priest and He ordained no priests. There was already an active priesthood in His faith community of Judaism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, many \u201cexperts\u201d bandy about theories about Paul\u2019s authorship, the authorship of the Gospels (all three synoptics of course relied on a text called \u201cQ\u201d, which text has never been found nor is it referenced anywhere in the first 19 centuries), and so on and so forth.\n\nThey even incorporate these theories at \u201creputable\u201d catholic colleges - Georgetown and Notre Dame are two - coursework.\n\nThe only problem is .... these are theories. They rely primarily on techniques developed in the 19th century by German Protestants, many of whom abandoned Christianity.\n\nThat \u201csome of the Pauline epistles\u2019 authorship are questioned\u201d I believe that to be accurate. \u201cX, Y, and Z question the authorship of some of the Pauline epistles\u201d is even better since we can discuss X, Y, and Z.\n\nBut \u201ctake a Scripture study of St. Paul at a reputable Catholic College\u201d is of no value at all. Sharing erroneous \u201ccommon knowledge\u201d does no one any favors.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is terrible to see the nastiness and snark some use here. Pandemic has always been a voice of reason, a shining example of True Catholic Values (as defined by our Courageous Bishops), a generator of respectful postings, and an all around excellent example of exactly what the US Bishops would like all US Catholics to be. Really, enough. As vice president (remember when they were just called \"head cashiers\"?) handling matters of international finance (those money orders don't sell themselves), she hardly has time to respond to all the uncalled-for attacks and harassment we see here. In many ways, she is a martyr.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What's the beef Skookumjoe? Can't you revel in the wildness of specific places like Yakutat and Disenchantment Bay? Geologically, the Canadian mountains above and beyond Yakutat are the most mixed up, tangled mash of time and type. Isn't that interesting?\n\nAre christians in Syria the most important thing?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pope John Paul II declared that the Church is called to perpetual celibacy--and celibacy is a vow to not marry. \nBut Jesus is the Bridegroom (Jn 3:29) and there is no Bridegroom without a Bride and without a Marriage. \nIf the Church is the Bride of Christ then there is going to be a Marriage (Rev. 19:7). (A marriage that had to wait until the equality of men and women was beginning to be recognized). \n\nWith his declaration JPII rejected the Bridegroom and the future of the Church. JPII was wrong! But Peter also denied Jesus--because he was afraid that night of the Passion. And Peter repented. What has more authority--the Gospel or Tradition? \nSo if God intended there to be a Marriage--(and Isaiah speaks of the Bride and that the Bride was Forsaken until the time of her vindication)--the time will soon come when things will change.\n\nNotice that Pope Francis cited JPII--he did not cite the Gospels.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "With all do respect to the author, we need to take the checkbook away from the clergy, and by that I mean all administration, and vest it with a deaconate that need not be male, permanent or celibate, but must be both elected by the parish and election the diocesean admiistrator. Let the clergy operate on a different track, although getting rid of celibacy, maleness and hierarchy would be good steps too. And give clerical permanent deacons the power of absolution as well. More people might come back to confession. You could even ordain Catholic therapists. What a way to end the hour!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "...., not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.\"....Matt 5:18\n\nGuess everything was 'accomplished', then; since Christians - especially Paul - set about abandoning the Torah Law as soon as they could. No more circumcision, no more ''Sabbath', no more kosher food laws.\nMaybe the Big Ten (except for Sabbath on Saturday) and what Jesus said was basic: Love the Lord thy God and love thy neighbor.\n\nThe great majority of those Laws of Moses were pretty much just chucked by the early Christians and by Christians ever since.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Cardinal Parolin has certainly availed of this unique occasion to drop a clanger. How can a man of his stature; being number two at the Vatican, express himself as he did. It is a travesty of Christian justice & thinking.\n\nI will only quote from the report; that for me sums up his contribution;\n\n\"to disparage infancy and to abuse children\" .. \"is for the Christian, therefore, not only a crime\" .. quoting Francis .. \"sacrilege, a profanation of that which is sacred, of the presence of God in every human being\".\n\nMarie Collins commented when she resigned from the Pontifical Commission; \" I find it impossible to listen to the public statements of deep concern in the church for the care of those blighted by abuse, yet to watch privately as a Vatican Congregation will not acknowledge their letters\".\n\nIt sums up the narcissistic gap at the Vatican; between reality & delusion. Unbelievable.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Greetings.......blessings and prayers of support to Archbishop Cupich and all who evangelize under his wise orchestration in the name of +Jesus Christ+", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Considered in the Bible to be against the moral directives of the day by persons writing their own opinions on the subject. You probably refer to Leviticus, as most Christians do. Those proscriptions were written for the Levites, not Christians. Christians were thousands of years away from even being invented. Why Christians even read the Old Testament is beyond me. That was written by and for those of the Abrahamic religions of the day (Jews and Arabs). Christ came along much later, and only then did people start calling themselves \"Christians,\" or followers of Christ. Interestingly, even then, they were Messianic Jews for almost-400 years, until a Roman Emperor compiled his own version of the Bible, which is still largely in use today. So you may follow the opinions of ancient scribes if you wish, but just know of what those consist, please.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm not sure what you mean when you say the Ordinary Form isn't protected. It is the only liturgy one is likely to encounter in the vast majority of Catholic churches throughout the world. The Tridentine Rite is the most vulnerable as it can be banned overnight at the whim of the Pope as happened to the Friars of the Immaculate.\nThose who follow the Tridentine Rite are more likely to have a Catholic understanding of the Mass than those who attend the so-called Ordinary Form.\nNear me a group of Irish schoolchildren visiting England attended Sunday Mass at an Anglican Church which advertised its Sunday service as High Mass. The vicar, a friend of mine, told me that they left at the end completely unaware that they had not attended a Catholic Mass.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "http://media.gettyimages.com/photos/greek-orthodox-patriarch-of-jerusalem-theophilos-iii-holds-a-cross-picture-id484550761\n\nAnd they are not Roman Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think Papa Francesco helped. But I also think another factor that helped was the huge reaction of Catholic men and women in this country to what was perceived as the powerful beating up on the less powerful and doing it as some sort of right that required no explanation. \n\nI have more hope that Francesco's insistence on dialogue and listening is beginning to have some effect.\n\nMay he live long in good health. We need him.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Agreed. Yet: at least we can soon expect two new cardinals, Cupich and Tobin, to make papal weight, eyes, and ears more present in the USCCB. I certainly hope that both, though neither of them is the conference's president or vice-president, make clear through strong and decisive action (and, if necessary, words) in which direction Pope Francis wants the bishops on these shores to move - namely, closer to their \"smell of the sheep\"-flock. Sheep, as nature shows us, know where to be and are there sooner than their shepherd. The Church on these shores is already there where bishops still need to go; it is not going to be the other way around. Let's hope that where the Church is, the bishops will eventually also be - without fear, and trustful instead of mistrustful of their fellow Catholics. Then they might appropriately be called shepherds again....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hi Monica. I do think we can develop a clear picture of the historical Jesus, although it is rather skinny. We know his dates, 4BC-30AD, that he was a disciple of the Baptist, that he taught in stories and parables, that he was regarded as a healer and miracles worker, that he entered into interpretations of halaka, and that he died by crucifixion. My sources are the four volumes of John Meier and the works by James D, G, Dunn. When it comes to individual accounts in the gospels, each has to be treated separately and weighed historically.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "With the exception of King Henry VIII, virtually every disaster in the church has been caused by the \"ontologically different\" clergy with the laity as their victims. The present church model just isn't working. The hierarchy either doesn't care or is incompetent. Judaism and the Bahai Faith illustrate that an organized religion can function very well without a clergy. While it will not happen in our lifetimes, a future iteration of Catholic Christianity will be one without clergy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "T., I am a Catholic. As such, I'm not interested in anyone's \"position\", but I am interested in the truth.\n\nCan you recall Jesus' words to Dismas, the Good Thief? Dismas had declared to Jesus not only his repentance, but his faith in him. Nothing else was necessary (no \"good\" works) to elicit those wonderful and memorable words from Christ: \"Today you will be with me in paradise.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Rob,\n\nI'm not agnostic, I'm Christian first of all. Second, I have no idea what scientific evidence would look like that could prove/disprove the existence of God/gods. That's because it's not a scientific question. Also, I challenge you to present even one element of what you refer to as \"the overwhelming preponderance of evidence [that] indicates that tehre is no God.\" Amazing that you state this as so obvious, yet I can't think of one single think that would support this supposed \"preponderance.\" Finally, I don't luxuriate in the faux superiority of agnosticism as I'm not agnostic but I do respect scientists who are intelligent enough to recognize that the existence of God/gods is not a scientific question and thereby acknowledge this through their agnosticism. That is rational if nothing else.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Greeley situation is not irrlevant.\nYour side wants to constantly shove Christian materials into public schools but deny other religions the same opportunity.\nFeel free to hand out Christian tracts or Bibles on public sidewalks, in shopping centers (with the permission of the center's owner), or in churches. But, if you want to hand out Bibles in schools, be prepared to let other religions do the same. Or not at all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wow. $1.4 Billion taxpayer dollars for so-called \"free\" contraception. Even if I weren't Catholic I would have a big problem with that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Before Mr. Singh parades his religious garb further in front of the Canadian electorate, perhaps he should read the comments that readers have penned to the article on Quebec's banning of face coverings. The overwhelming support for the measure by Globe readers - probably a fairly literate, liberal group - should send a signal to Mr. Singh. Canadians have pretty much banished Christianity from the public square, and, are in no hurry to allow religion back in different garb.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How did the writer and at least two editors let this out?\n\nParagraph 10 reads \"White Catholics favored Trump, 60 percent to 37 percent.\" In paragraph 15 we read white Catholics \"support for Trump this year was not as strong as the 59 percent they gave to Romney.\" That is impossible on its face. Theoretically, the absolute number of white Catholic votes may have been down, but if that was the case there is no statistical citation of it and use of percentages confuses the matter. \n\nDiscussion of the Mormon vote is muddled. We get the percentage of Utah voters who are Mormon and the percentage of the Utah vote for Trump, but no indication of the overlap. I would wager that in Utah and nationwide, Trump got a weaker plurality of Mormons than of the general population.\n\nSloppy writing. Disgraceful editing. How does something this weak get published? RNS and NCR need to improve standards.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think it is important not to call people names or state they are Satanic as some are doing. This is an example of the black/white; good/evil; Manchean thinking the article raising questions about the \"ecumenicism of intolerance\" from sources \"close to the Vatican\" raised.\n\nTo move forward, we all need to dial down the emotional rhetoric, learn authentic dialogue skills, create safe places for people of differing points of view to come together to understand each others perspective (not necessarily agree with) in order to then work together to co-create true cultures of life reflective of our rich Catholic Social Teachings which are ground in the life and teachings of Jesus.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Although I don't care one whit either way about the theology behind his comments, the determination of whether they are \"questionable\" depends upon which side of the roman catholic fence one is sitting.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You write: \"IMHO, these words pretty much sum up how Jesus calls his followers to live. Not sure how the decree fits with these words. But maybe the bishop doesn't use this Euch Prayer.\"\n\nThe operative word is: IMHO. And you OPNION it is. Nothing more. \n\nThe Church is welcoming but accommodating. It expects people (everyone) to fully conform to Christ. No ifs and buts. If you don't realize this, you signed up with the wrong team.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of course many Catholic thinkers hold that view, and others see it differently. But as to the statement, \"The Church teaches...\" I have looked, and so far been unable to find a magisterial statement that the soul comes at any particular point. If there was, I'd think it would be in the catechism, frequently cited and easily found, given current disputes. But it doesn't seem to be there, or elsewhere. Absent such a statement, it is available to think otherwise, and the Church's arguments against abortion treat the possible absence of a soul as immaterial. As always, I crave correction on factual matters -- just let me know where to look.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Meryl Streep's speech deconstructs the power imbalance between Trump and the reporter. He got a cheap laugh out of mocking disability.\n\nHow we treat the weakest among us is a sign of our moral character. That we shall be judged according to how we treat the weak is basic Christian doctrine.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Part one of two) Speaking via video feed from Los Angeles, Mr. Bannon, a Catholic, held forth against rampant secularization, the existential threat of Islam, and a capitalism that had drifted from the moral foundations of Christianity.\u2014Dennis Coday \u201cO bless the Lord, my soul!\u201d (Psalm 104:1a). Meaning that blessing the Lord is not easy these days in the company of Bannon. \n\n\u201cExcept the tree of knowledge of good and evil. From that tree you shall not eat; the moment you eat from it you are surely doomed to die\u201d (Genesis 2:17). The knowledge of good and evil, unanchored by truth, seems to have come forth from both Rome and Washington. \u201cThe link of Bannon/Burke and the alt-right is the `deplorable\u2019 road to authoritarianism disaster of church and state.\u201d\u2014dennism looks like just that link to the tree of knowledge of good and evil. \u201cYour word, O Lord, is truth: consecrate us in the truth\u201d (See John 17:17b, 17a). \u201cThe things that come out from within are what defile\u201d (Mark 7:14).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We live in very different times, where expectations are not what they used to be. Bishops are trying to impose rules that worked when hospitals were staffed by nuns and when there was a great deal more acceptance of Catholic thought on a lot of issues among Catholics and more cohesion between Catholic and the non-Catholic Christian world on health care. \n\nThe \"freedom\" of bishops is a loss of freedom for those who work for them. This isn't going to work. There is an absolute lack of respect for those who work for Catholic organizations in the bishop's viewpoint about what they should be able to control. \n\nI won't support Catholic hospitals or nursing homes. They exist in a competitive market place and when the last one is standing, I don't want it to be Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Any pope who would adopted a totalitarian style of government and model the church's government after it---is reactionary. Both JP II and Benedict did this. Perhaps some Catholics, and sadly Catholics who would never put up with this in a civil government, could be 'brain-washed' into believing that religion should be oppressive---that God is also oppressive.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bingo. This is the real source of the lack of vocations: lay people not living their Catholic faith or living Catholic lite.\n\nWho is going to give their life for something they believe part way? And how is community of part way believes going to foster and grow vocations?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They like Pence because he won't eat dinner alone with a woman when his wife isn't around, eh? But, they have no problem he's all for military action in the middle east. Funny how some Christians pick and choose which commandments apply and which don't.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, always grateful you keep tabs on the rad trads so we don't have to!\n\nAs we've discussed before, alt-Catholics play into a trend among disaffected fundamentalists to embrace KGB gangster Vladimir Putin over their own country (when led by a Democrat like Obama) because they view him as a savior of Western Christianity. The credulity is just incredible.\n\nBut hey, how about that Colin Kaepernick.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't even know where to begin.\nI live in Public Housing, HUD subsidized, and in Lane County it is mostly senior and disabled Americans who live here. My apartment complex lost three people in two weeks as their serious struggles with age and disease came to an end. My complex has 150 apartments. I suspect many are as worried as I about their health care, delivered by Medicare, Obamacare, or other systems. \nThe building was built in the mid-60's, and needs a lot of work to keep the rain and cold out. But Ben Carson and HUD are saying there is room for a $6 billion dollar cut in money available for renovations and other HUD programs. \nIn Lane County the need for housing is so great the list to get Public Housing is closed, as it got over five years long. \nTo live in a golden palace working very hard to give to the rich and take from the poor is pretty much the definition of Republicanism these days, though it is hard to understand Christians cheering them on.\nHugh Massengill, Eugene", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "On the other hand you readily admit your opinions are not identical with the magisterium.\n\nThe \"case that I know of\" turned out to be a non-magisterial opinion.\n\nWhile simple agreement with the magisterium is not what makes one Catholic, claiming to be Catholic while disputing with the magisterium is no more effective.\n\nAnd, be it slavery or otherwise, the ordinary magisterium properly understood does not err.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Fascinating. So you are telling me Eid, Hannukah, Diwali, Guru Nanak Jayanthi, etc were public holidays in a Catholic school, but Easter and Christmas were not. \n\nWhich Catholic school is this?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How can you have a \"relationship\" with God if you ignore His teachings? Do you honestly believe that if you reject the teaching on the Assumption, Incarnation, or Mary's perpetual virginity, but you have a relationship with God, that you are a Catholic?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How does the USA Constitutional rights apply to non- America citizens?\n>\nIf religious groups can be discriminated against what about rights of secular and agnostic groups?\n<\nWhy is not 'secular' and 'agnostic' consider to be religion with rights?\n>\nWe have the same problem in Canada as the USA, we are theocratic states, run by post Christians!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\ud83d\ude05\ud83d\ude05\ud83d\ude05\ud83d\ude05\ud83d\ude05\ud83d\ude05\ud83d\ude05\ud83d\ude05\ud83d\ude05\ud83d\ude05. Evangelicals call on Trump\ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Is your \"Prayer to whom?\" deliberately nasty, or was it unintentional?\n\nI pray, of course, to the triune God that all Catholics worship.\n\nI study quite a few sources, including the Church councils. I have not, by the way, read anything by Hans Kung in years. I don't agree with his christology.\n\nI know those biblical passages you quoted, and not a one of them says \"obey what the magisterium says without question.\" Unlike you, I think that Adolf Eichmann is a poor role model when it comes to making moral decisions.\n\nI read the teachings. I study them. I pray for wisdom and discernment. I consider them. And if the teaching is not reasonable to me, I reject it. This is what adultshe, including adult Catholics, do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Again, making him more humble is not diminishing him. The greater moral challenge for those with money is not to find identification with a middle class Christ but with a poor one. The point of Holy Week is not the Christ of the triumphal entry but the one one the Cross (and without knowledge of his salvic mission).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As I said, these are not culture war issues-even though the left uses that term-they are serious grave sin issues, and for Pope Francis to confuse this is truly disheartening.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes the word mercy has many meanings such as grace,and charity, and I am pleased you are cognizant of that fact.\nThe request of my husband was a correct choice for him and nothing about it was in any way untoward. Pope Paul signed his release so that we could marry and continue to be the faithful Catholics we had always been and still are. Obviously this Pope understood human nature in these circumstances.\nIn the parable of the Good Samaritan the man in the ditch who was harmed was shown MERCY by the man who aided him. This wounded man was not a sinner but a victim of an assault. \nI hope your new year is filled with the joy of the Gospel, as that direction of thought makes our lives happier.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Go ahead, attempt anyway. Do you think it's any coincidence that Paul Ryan's favorite author is Ayn Rand or that his favorite book is \"Atlas Shrugged?\" Of course he started downplaying that when someone pointed out to him that you can't really be both a Christian and a Rand disciple at the same time. Sorry to break the news to you, but your party really and truly is unconcerned about the plight of the poor. All they care about is tax cuts for the supremely wealthy. If that's painting with a wide brush that's because it's appropriate to do so. Wake up, smell the coffee, and deal with the truth about your political allegiances.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This article was a deliberate act of \"stoking hate and division\" by using such badly cherry-picked quotes from both.\n\nOne would think based on the cherry picking done that Laudato Si read like one of those badly put together the sky is always falling Paul Erlich papers, the \"Bill Nye the weatherguy\" of his time. Nye's credentials, by the way, are that he has a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.\n\nA more scholarly approach would have taken a wider view of their published statements.\n\nA more charitable and Christian act would have spent more energy to find some common ground.\n\nBut we get what we get from here.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, as someone who, due to unfortunate circumstances, must walk with an actual and not metaphorical crutch every day for the rest of my life I would say you have an odd understanding of both crutches and firearms. \n\nI wasn't aware that the Bible supported the right of a democracy to regulate the sale of firearms. I am going to have to check my KJV again to see what I missed. I ~do~ know that the 2nd Amendment highly restricts the \"right\" of the government to infringe upon the right of the people to keep and bear arms. \n\nAnd no, I generally do not think it is my calling to be crucified to redeem the world. And you're confusing the sacred with the secular. As a Christian I have no \"rights.\" As an American citizen I have many rights. And there is nothing, nada, zippo, wala, that prevents a firearm owner from \" identifying with the powerless and helpless, to risk ourselves for the sake of others\" and to provide the best self defense for themselves and family. There is no contradiction.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic Church is a tax exempt entity because is supposed to be religious ,charitable organization but not an extension of the democratic party. If you people want to start acting political then start paying taxes. Jesus Christ was not a Democrat nor Republican and he never spoke against Cesar. You people are way off base as Catholics or as Christians", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pure Christian-Nation-alism", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Still the care of the chalice has remained the deacon's special province down to modern times. Even now in a high Mass the rubrics direct that when the chalice is offered, the deacon is to support the foot of the chalice or the arm of the priest and to repeat with him the words: Offerimus tibi, Domine, calicem salutaris, etc. As a careful study of the first \"Ordo Romanus\" shows, the archdeacon of the papal Mass seems in a sense to preside over the chalice, and it is he and his fellow-deacons who, after the people have communicated under the form of bread, present to them the calicem ministerialem with the Precious Blood.\" (From the Catholic Encyclopedia. 1917.)\nhttp://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04647c.htm\nThis was the practice during Solemn, Tridentine Masses and still is. There are plenty of recordings of Tridentine Masses on YouTube.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "RD believes only members of OD are Christian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sir, all Catholics are Christians. That does not entail there are no distinctions within the Body of Christ. That does not entail that roles are not proper to one as opposed to another, either.\n\nWe do not become androgynous when we are Baptized. Distinctions are not given up upon Baptism. People today conflate equality with sameness. That may or may not work in secular society. The point is that within the Christian Church, equality is not synonymous with sameness. Equality does not imply everyone can have the same role.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Can you think of a better time to challenge the wealthy on their priorities. A large audience and support from all Christians across the spectrum should be forthcoming", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "God's teachings are rooted in the human constitution of individual and community which precede scripture Old and New. There is no understanding (or misunderstanding) of Jesus message or criterion for its validity or \"in-validity\" without human intelligence or lack thereof; equally without good faith or the lack thereof.\nAu contraire to you contention, you can't love God UNLESS you can love your neighbour - and love does not begin with obedience.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is a tragedy. I think the key here is \"radicalized\" which the media has made synonymous with \"angry\" or \"hateful\". I don't see how the religion really matters. I could easily see a radicalized christian performing this same act. \n\nI have a neighbor who loves his guns, he's a decent hard working American who is pursuing \"the dream\". On a hot summer day, you can find him wearing knee high socks, 70s short-shorts, sleeveless T-shirt and a pistol on his hip while mowing his lawn. It's an odd sight to me but so what, he's law-abiding. You're welcome for that image by the way.\n\nOn the other hand, all law-abiding Americans should be looking for a solution that could keep weapons out of the hands of these hateful individuals while protecting the right to bear arms. There has to be acceptable middle ground here.\n\nI have an idea for the media. Instead of immortalizing them, how about they instead humiliate their memory. Dig up all their most humiliating secrets and splash them everywhere.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Prior to the British Conquest of New France there were officially no Jews in Canada because when King Louis XIV made Canada officially a province of the Kingdom of France in 1663, he decreed that only Roman Catholics could enter the colony. One exception was Esther Brandeau, a Jewish girl who arrived in 1738 disguised as a boy and remained for a year before being sent back to France after refusing to convert.[9] ] The earliest subsequent documentation of Jews in Canada are British Army records from the French and Indian War, the North American part of the Seven Years' War. \"\n.............\n\n\"The law requiring the oath \"on my faith as a Christian\" was amended in 1829 to provide for Jews to not take the oath. In 1831, prominent French-Canadian politician Louis-Joseph Papineau sponsored a law which granted full equivalent political rights to Jews, twenty-seven years before anywhere else in the British Empire.\"\n\n\nWikipedia", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think we can agree that an understanding of the times helps us to better understand some of the scriptural stories, and I even accept the idea that we aren't perpetually bound to those vocabularies (my Aramaic and Koine Greek are particularly atrocious :-) ). I do think that there are ideas which we have little choice but to accept, however, like Jesus pointing to the Heavenly Father, even in the repetitions of the Lord's Prayer that we are to offer \"when [we] pray\". That isn't the fullness of the story but (and here is where we may disagree) it is a part of the story that cannot be easily cast aside as a matter of mere patriarchy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Another Catholic progressive for free speech. You're all the same really. Lots of talk about inclusivity and diversity and tolerance, yet when you disagree with someone, you're clamoring to have him or her silenced.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Contact Ernie Martin. He may have some funds available for your exclusive Christian, non-profit preaching the Love of God, revolution inciting coalition.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Reformation has actually done the Catholic Church a favour, which is only becoming apparent now.\nThe non-Catholic denominations have shown that it is possible to have a functioning clergy which includes married and female priests.\nIt's interesting that the main opposition to married and/or female priests seems to come from those hierarchy originating in those European countries where non-Catholic churches are a very small minority.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The assertion was about \u201cbeing rich\u201d rather than \u201choarding money\u201d.\n\nCharles Dickens was not a Catholic nor was did he participate in the teaching office of the Church.\n\n\u201cA Christmas Carol\u201d was a short fictional work, not a teaching document.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "True, our president is not preaching the gospel, nor should he in his current role as Commander in Chief. Rather than respond to our elected leader like one of the men that went up to the temple to pray (not the tax collector), why not all of us come down from our own pulpits and respond like how the apostle Paul exhorted Timothy? Pray for all who are in high positions....this is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior. As for preaching the Gospel of Jesus, that's for all professing Christians who have actually placed their trust in his atoning sacrifice for sins. In doing so, we are (like Paul) to preach Christ crucified - that is to say what he has done for us not how we should try our very very best to live like him. That's the good news and is the message, when heard in the Spirit, that transforms his people.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "At the very least, Francis should revoke the excommunications against the women priests. Excommunication is overkill. And not Christian. And certainly incompatible with Francis' proclamation that we should not put up walls\n\nIf Francis continues to support the JPII arguments, he can nevertheless enter into Christian dialog with the women priests, even while maintaining his opposition to them. Jesus even dined with those opposed to him \n\nThe women priests are merely doing what Jesus asked of us, \"Do this in memory of me.\" Jesus did not say, 'males only' at the Last Supper\n\nLet's be grateful to the women priest trail blazers who are leading the way. And to excommunicated Roy Bourgeois who did not actually ordain a woman, but only attended\n\nLifting the excommunications would be a reasonable step in the right direction\n\nThe crumb of being allowed to have one's feet washed on Holy Thursday does not satisfy. When will women be not only the wash-ees but the wash-ers?\n\nDonate to the scholarship", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That is rank heresy. The Church has declared the dogma of EXTRA ECCLESIA NULLA SALUS perhaps more than any of Her DE FIDE teachings; and each and every Catholic ought to know that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Just words? nooooo. We've already had the violence. And currently, at least one of the Electors is getting death threats by the ton unless he changes his vote....such is the fruit of inflammatory words like racist, fascist, and the implications of such words by the professional Catholic pundits on this site.\n\nThe fact that hillary was endorsed by the American communist party isn't a \"dodge.\" It was an example of how it's unreasonable to get all worked up because of endorsements.\n\nIn any case, you're persisting in wanting to portray Trump voters as racists, sexists...all the things Hillary said of them. \n\nMy point is that this is lazy hate speech and it reflects badly on whoever indulges in it. It definitely didn't help Hillary.\n\nTry, try, try to deal with matters without resorting to words like bigot, racist, fascist, Klan.....that's Utilitas' prayer for this forum.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And how would the National Catholic Reporter be able to tell a real, authentic, genuine, and true Facebook profile from a fake one? The Internet, with all its' superiority in the Information Age, can be arranged to continue to fake profiles and anonymous identities - even if they appear real. Not a reliable source.\n\nThere's one other caveat. If you voiced your own opinion on here with your real name and identity, a potential employer will screen \"Social Media Profiles\" - including the Blogosphere of commentary on the Reporter. If that employer reads your comment, and finds it offensive enough - no matter their religious, non-religious, anti-religious, or political slant.) They may quietly reserve not telling you exactly, accept they've found another successful candidate (which thousands exist with their resumes.) \n\nWilliam Shakespeare, a Catholic, used other aliases and names to escape persecution from the Church of England. Go figure. Life/Death issue.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mr. Adams: There is a mountain of filmed, documented and eye witness interview evidence verifying the Nazi Holocaust. As you say, \u201cThere were thousands and thousands of witnesses\u2026\u201c But your contention that this somehow equates to the life of your religious icon is completely wrong. There is zero mention of the Christ from during his lifetime\u2026never mind documentation of the supernatural events he \u201ccalled out.\u201d We have just celebrated the gentleman\u2019s birth when, in fact, not even Christian scholars can agree on when he was born---not the year and certainly not the exact date. The lowliest victims of the Holocaust had, at the least, recorded documentation of their statistics\u2026their existence\u2026and their demise.\nThe Holocaust and the \u201cmiracles of Jesus Christ\u201d are not even close to being equally true in the sense of verifiable documentation. A totally illogical and rather desperate false equivalency on your part. Sorry to tell you\u2026but as you say: \u201cTruth is truth.\u201d", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh, I completely understand the point you are attempting to make, I'm just pointing out the flaw in your logic.\n\nIf a business person can discriminate against a customer based on their religious beliefs (I believe I have made my point mocking that decision) because it's their right, it's perfectly fine to discriminate against people because of race or religion too, because that is there right. There is no difference between operating a bakery that is open to the public, and operating a lunch counter open to the public. Refusing to serve anyone based on any of the criteria I have listed is discrimination, and contemptible, (maybe even non-christian?) behavior. Congress and the courts agree, with the Civil Rights Act, which invoked the commerce clause of the Constitution to outlaw discrimination in public accommodations (privately owned restaurants, hotels, and stores, and in private schools and workplaces).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thanks, Trent\n\nYou illustrate the point I was making quite nicely.\n\nNow, since even Catholic Scripture Scholars tell us that the Genesis Creation stories were inspired by God to be a myth literary form, it follows that the Bible itself is telling us that 'Adam and Eve' are characters in a story. A story that explains why our human condition is what the authors experienced it to be.\n\n'Adam and Eve' are not actual, real, historical persons. Same with the story of their 'sin'. It's not an event that actually happened. There is nothing to 'inherit'.\n\nSo the Holy Spirit seems to think that we are finally prepared to understand 'original sin' in a different way. And even allow that Jesus became human and 'the prophesied Messiah' because he loves us. We certainly have quite enough personal sin to be redeemed of.\n\nSome people may be ready to follow where the Holy Spirit leads; some may not be. \n\nBut it becomes increasingly difficult to ignore the actual true understanding of Scripture.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ten atheists gather is not equivalent to \"two or three\" gathered \"in his name.\" That, however, does not preclude the existence of the Eucharist. Nor does the gathering of \"two or three\" in his name constitute the Eucharist unless a priest presides over the Eucharist.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "America is already great, if they say it is not, it is highly offensive to all the people who go out in the real America daily and work at jobs that build our nation, keep it going and defend it. I am moved by those Americans and not by a sexist over aged senior citizen whose actions serve to only divide this nation. Hillary for 4 years not a big deal as you make it , spend those 4 years getting a real conservative for the GOP ticket and keep from putting nominees on the ticket who fail despite the hundreds of studies undertaken that show Americans have changed and will not vote for a party in enough numbers to put in office only old white American Christian men.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(continued from above) \n\nAt the beginning of this retreat, there was a Catholic laywoman who became aware that there were Protestants among us who were receiving the Eucharist daily. She objected, was taken aside, and was told (as I reported to me after the fact) any baptised retreatant who believes that what we do here is what Jesus commanded us to do at the last supper, is welcome to receive. A rather wise rule allowing for ecumenical respect for the Priesthood of the Baptised. \n\nBTW, this is not a renegade place; just recognizes that accommodation is required for an ecumenical group engaged in very deep prayer and celebrating privately around the same altar. I have also been told that a former conservative bishop of this diocese used to pass on the the Jesuits every complaint he received, without approval or complaint, just FYI. Even the ultra-conservative may have a pastoral streak when confronted with something that just smells obviously \"good.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As usual at least 30 or 40 years too late. The Roman Catholic Bishops, generally speaking, are like the tubas at the back of the parade: they finally make a lot of noise but they almost always bring up the rear (unless it is a matter of sex). Sometimes they totally miss the parade, particularly if the parade is celebrating women's rights, applauding their competencies, urging their full incorporation in leadership in the church ----teaching, sanctifying, ruling.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Rev. Gabriel Salguero, president of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition, on not taking a position on churches offering sanctuary: \u201cIf they feel they need to protect undocumented immigrants, they\u2019re within their biblical and theological right to do so. But the real preference is immigration reform. Sanctuary churches is a response. It\u2019s not the answer.\u201d\n\nThe church as sanctuary is the example to the rest of the nation of the attitude we need to have towards immigration reform. Such reform will not happen when the appearance is that the most important faith in the U.S., the Christian faith, doesn't believe in immigration reform. \n\nReform will come with action, not with just words. More, reform will not come from deportations but from showing why deportation is wrong. \n\nI am extremely disappointed in the Catholic Church. But, then, this sheltered family are Catholics in Philadelphia who did not feel they could turn to their own Church. I wonder if that bothers Chaput?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "now you are showing foolishness. you either don't know, or refuse to know, what you are talking about. educate yourself a bit, and come back and apologize. sharia law has no place in this country, and you obviously know nothing about Christianity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not accurate. Bernie Sanders may very well be President today if the Clinton camp hadn't played dirty. Bernie Sanders had his Bar Mitzvah at 13. His first marriage was to a Jewish woman from a prominent Baltimore family. Just because he fathered a son from his Christian girlfriend and then married a Catholic doesn't make him any less of a Jew.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Is there ONLY ONE school of theology approved by the Church? NO! There are several--and what they profess are not identical. What is dogma is a very small part of being Catholic. HOW to live as a follower of Jesus today involves much more than dogma.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you Dr Patterson for such a well written summary of such a complex issue. As a life time Christian Adventist it was refreshing to read ... and in such a way that even a truck driver could follow. I salute all of you in His service who are not so concerned with bottom up or top down when it comes to decision making but rather from the inside out. It has taken the Lord all of my fifty five years to teach me that all that really matters is Abiding with Him. Living as if in the face of our Holy Holy Holy Creator. May He bless each of you . \n\n Sincerely, Brian L Schnackenberg", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think the \"dogma that guided\" was the belief that citizens should practice their faith freely, but I havent read his remarks.\n\nSen Feinstein was asking Prof Barrett questions about her judicial philosophy as gleaned from her published works. It was not her Catholic faith that was questioned, but how she would apply her faith in administering the laws of this country. Barrett gave a good answer, she would recuse herself if a conflict arose. I doubt that it was the answer the bishops wanted to hear, since they would be expected to do the opposite, ie adhere to religious principles rather than laws.\n\nSen Durbin's comments are a little dicier, but they go to the issue of prejudice. Does she \"profile\" people, deciding if they fit this group or that based on obscure personal judgments? Or will she adminster justice impartially?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "MSW - an excellent posting. We need comprehensive immigration reform to bring immigrants and the crimes being perpetrated against them out of the shadows. I don't really understand the USCCB's reluctance to speak out more forcefully - especially since many of the victims of trafficking are our fellow Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "-If one trusts a \"distributor\" of (good) news, and, if that distributor demands acceptance of its \"subscribers\"- or else - is there not a possibility that \"alternative facts\" might be proffered \"as if\" they are real/true? Where alternative conclusions might be derived, is there not a danger that the distributor dictate conclusion to the exclusion of alternative(s) or observation?\n-If the efficacy of the contender for leadership is irrespective of his/her moral integrity, is it not familiar to the efficacy of sacrament being irrespective of the moral integrity of the clergy, is that not familiar?\nIs it any wonder that Roman Catholics have minimal concern for deception \"in the world\" as \"in the church\"/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I can appreciate your story, however, a more progressive view would allow you to confess your sins daily to Almighty God Himself. You do this when you recite the Lord's Prayer, do you not? And we may confess to our Christian brethren when the opportunity presents. Occasionally I get around to telling a priest but it is certainly nothing I obsess about. Due to its abuse-prone history and nature, I do not view institutional Reconciliation as a necessary and holy sacrament.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A sad comment for a traditional Catholic. Like Pope Francis, you are perpetuating an uncertain Phog of ambiguity. And, for shame, you were led until recently by a Mason. 'nuff said. Of course, your statement about Calipari reflects authentic Church teaching. Amen.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Will the Globe and Mail delight us with the opinions of a Catholic Nun.? What's wrong with that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jim, Instead of autochthonous rite (indigenous, rather than descended from Rome) - apart from the Roman rite - what about an alllockthonous rite like \"rock originating AT A DISTANCE from its original site\"? \n\nMuch like Boff, no need for schism, keeping connection whether Rome sanctions the intended connection now or in a thousand years...not needing Roman approbation...yet totally dedicated to a Vatican II interpretation of theology, governance, and liturgy...with the RIGHT to be a Vatican II Rite along with the other 22 Catholic Rites which were not always in union with Rome. Google Rite Beyond Rome", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As I only repeat what the Church teaches then you are in effect saying that the Catholic Church itself is not a reliable guide to the Faith and Morals of today's Catholics. Have you not heard of the hermeneutic of continuity? The Catholic Church didn't just come into being in the 1960s.\nBeing criticised for showing discontent for the Holy Father by someone who has spent years criticising his two predecessors is laughable, the pot calling the kettle black.f\nI do not expect the people who post here to abandon their heterodox ideas and opinions but there are other people who read these comments and don't post and I and a handful of orthodox believers are here to remind them of what the Church actually does teach.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Public recognition and support for religion in general (and some religions in particular) are remnants of an era where churches maintained their own armies and were able to mobilize large segments of the population to do whatever they were told to do. In that environment, accommodating religion was not a noble concept--it was necessary to the continued existence of the ruling class. Those days are gone. The time has come to recognize that religion--all of it--is inherently divisive. I wouldn't advocate banning religion (that has never worked), but official recognition and support of superstition no longer warrants a place in modern society. All religious-orientation should be removed from all schools (although I would strongly support a comparative religions course, if taught from an historical perspective) . Public schools should not be based on religion (e.g. non-Catholic v Catholic), and religions should not receive any public funding or special tax exemptions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That's all very well, but let's talk about accountability for the crimes against humanity.....Like the years of suffering of our own lay and religious, during the Argentine dictatorship supported by the church still resounding in our ears. \n.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So from another perspective, taking into account the full Gospel testimony and the realities of human interactions in spousal relationships it is possible to interpret the words of Jesus in another light, apart from church teaching, so-called, where the ideal is given to those who receive it, but not everyone is able to and other options present themselves, celibacy, for example. The purpose of the teaching then is to illustrate how the Kingdom of God is worth the ultimate sacrifice. \n I am not thinking of myself, but the many people who do not live up to this standard who by the working of grace may still receive mercy from God. Blessed are the merciful. \n As for heresy, any call to uncritical obedience to the Pope without recourse to conscience is against church teaching. St. Thomas vs. Peter Lombard: \"Hic magister falsum dicit\". \"Here, the Master (Lombard) is wrong\". Lombard taught one must subjugate conscience to church teaching.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Joan,\nI believe we are at a critical place in our human evolution, especially the evolution of Western society. We are witnessing the death of EVERY institution that was built upon the model of fear, power and control. The Church, government, healthcare, education, banking and finance, etc. etc. etc. ALL of it is in the midst of its own collapse. While it may be painful to watch, our job is to stand back and let it all die. Fear is not self-sustaining. Love is. And what comes out of death? As Christians, we know the answer to this question: NEW LIFE. A new world is in the process of being born out of the ash of the world that is dying. The insanity that we are currently seeing is the death throes of the old. We can be hospice to the dying world, but more importantly we are called to midwife the new - a world based on the foundation of love. The world Jesus saw and all the prophets before him.\n\nLauri Ann Lumby\nAuthentic Freedom Academy\nTemple of the Magdalene\nOshkosh, WI", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As I mentioned I am Catholic and believe Catholic Teachings regarding justification - Faith and works. The sacraments of the Eucharist and Confession of my Church assist me with the graces necessary for my hopeful salvation. Luther was wrong in my view.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Accusations of abuse were publicly known for some time and i believe some or maybe just one delayed a promotion for him. His cruel behavior to survivors and their families was well known. And yet AND YET the pope BROUGHT HIM to the vatican in a very high position. I personally wrote the pope and copied o'malley. Grace o would turn over in her grave. There was a huge uproar in australia over this. Do not think for one moment this is news that is just coming out. He is a horrid man and a true scandal...a real scandal that people have known aspects of for many years. I like the pope, but he has some splaining to do and now and not just to catholics but to humanity. We all pay for the suicides and the wasted lives ..not just catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I use the term to refer to those posters who pop up briefly then disappear. They tend to follow a particular variation of catholicism, and seldom last more than a day. \"They\" may be incorrect, as it may just be one person, using a number of names, disposing of them after a use or two. You haven't noticed this?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you haven't seen them yet, two of the best Catholic movies:\n\nTherese (1986, not the newer one)\n\nPadre Pio Miracle Man", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What is unique about Pope Francis, qua \"Pope\", is that he is first, the first, and foremost a Green Pope, a universal, ecologically committed Pope, beyond the mold and mode of ideological Roman Catholicism. He means to enlighten and live the 'united grounding' of universal, authentic religion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Three-fourths of a century later, the Fourth Lateran Council in 1215 promulgated the dogma that \"the body and blood [of Jesus Christ] are truly contained in the Sacrament of the Altar under the outward appearances of bread and wine, the bread having been transubstantiated into the body and the wine into the blood.\" {Note from JH -- this dogma has been modified so that both body and blood are present in each of the species. See Aquinas ST III, q 76 art 2, in which he explains that while the bread is transubstantiated into the Body and the wine into the Blood, the Blood is present concomitantly in the bread and the Body is present concomitantly in the wine}. Theologians continued to recognize that the fundamental content of the dogma of transubstantiation was the doctrine of the real presence, rather than a particular philosophical definition of substance and accident.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Even Breitbart admits it:\n\n\"How Catholics Helped Propel Donald Trump Into the White House\"\n\nhttp://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/11/10/catholics-helped-propel-trump-white-house/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thanks Nate,\n\nThis thing about \u2018eating\u2019 from \u2018the tree of the knowledge of good and evil\u2019 killing us is instructive. Maybe it wasn\u2019t a test but a simple announcement.\n\nNot having to understand pain and suffering is a bit of a relief, but it wouldn\u2019t be much of a relief if we merely suffered with nothing to confirm our experience as truly human.\n\nThen came Jesus, the Creator God, becoming a human in verity.\n\nWhat if Jesus is, even primarily, confirming that the human experience is worthy enough for God to fully experience it with us?\n\nI'm recently attracted to that way of seeing the incarnation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Why do we scoff at Catholics who love the Latin Mass and tradition?\"\n\nBecause that is the very nature of progressivism --- to laugh, sneer, and scoff at tradition. If they didn;t, they'd have no reason for being.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pope Francis is a reformer and not an ideologue and Magnum Principium is not the latest event in the liturgy wars. That is precisely wrong. It is something that gives us the Great Principle. It points the way forward in a profound way that will help us to get beyond the awful ideological polarized bickering of the \"liturgy wars.\" That is my hope.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Which Church are you talking about? Certainly not the Catholic Church. Of all the modernist nonsense I've observed on NCR comments, this is truly the most stunning; primarily because it is the most blatantly erroneous.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am thinking that I do not want to \"get ahead of grace\" here; that being said, I am hesitant to close off God's mercy and love to others, including the writers of posts that I very much disagree with. The \"Christ\" in whom all things are created is more than a few selected words, even when those words come from Scripture. The old song, \"There's a wideness in God's mercy\" reminds me that the temptation is to claim that Mercy is limited by the lagoon that I happen to be living in.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For Fr. Reese. After reading a number of your columns, it seems you are generally very critical of your fellow priests in a public forum. (See Above article, it is there.) Could this be a cause of division among Catholics?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And what about straight couples who marry outside of the church? Are they too to be denied the sacraments of the Holy Eucharist and a Christian burial? Or is it only gay people who \"give scandal?\" I see straight couples all the time who got married at City Hall for a second (or third) time, did not receive an annulment, and apparently no one is \"scandalized\" by their reception of Holy Communion, and everyone knows it's happening. Ditto for the funerals of such people. I have never heard of a straight couple who married outside the church being refused a burial. Never. Not even once. \n\nThe real scandal is the church's treatment of gay people, and everyone knows it. It is the church's everlasting shame, which is one of the reasons why young people are abandoning the church in droves. They know real scandal when they see it, and it's not married gay people going to communion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Article kind of a paean to Lori. He observed, \"When the violence took place in 2015, Lori recalled making a visit to one of the neighborhoods affected ...\" As a shepherd why doesn't he live among the vulnerable? No, he's ensconced in a snug security sanctuary where he doesn't have to be reminded daily of the lives of the most vulnerable. So he can make his forays and pontificates. Like the cardinal who said, \"I know poverty; I've driven through it.\" For Lori, I've visited it.\nMore important, as a supposed moral leader why isn't he initiating reflection in every RC parish on the institutionalizing of racism and violence? RCs live with cognitive dissonance of the gospel and its institutional reconfiguring of it. You can well imagine how few would show up and the legion who would be angered at even the consideration. \"And Jesus wept!\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "From my perspective, I would articulate the following points:\n- Mercy is an act of Love. \n- God is Love, not a sentimentalism.\n- Falling in love is a myth as is falling out of love.\n- Jesus on the Cross is about suffering, forgiveness, and dying. The Resurrection is about Love of God.The role of the Christian is to turn evil to good. (Lonergan - The Law of the Cross)\n- Love is not a feeling. It is to strive to love as the Father loves!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Anti-Catholic? Funny. Fr. Larry Snyder, CCUSA and Sr. Carol Keenan, CHA, practically had desks in the West Wing. VP? Catholic. Speakers, all Catholic. HHS? Catholic. Obama\u2019s first job? Catholic Soccial Services under Bernardin.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The original poster said they had never heard of a body being turned away. I pointed out that religious cemeteries do restrict who can be buried on their grounds and followed up my statement with supporting evidence drawn from the websites of three separate Catholic cemeteries. In a subsequent post I agreed that not all religious cemeteries do this but clearly there are ones that do which supports my initial response to the starting post in this thread.\n\nIf you are unable to concede that my position has merit and that there clearly are cemeteries who will turn a body away then you're so absolutist that there is no point in responding further.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What does thishave to do with this book? We Catholics don\u2019t have any better track record where this is concerned.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pushing what? There is really nothing that AL has changed in Catholic teaching at all - approach, maybe - but not teaching. \n\nThe Pope has not rubber-stamped receiving Communion by the divorced and remarried, despite the spin some media and liberal pundits have attempted to put on it. He has emphasized accompaniment of those on a journey of discernment. \n\n\"The journey of pastoral accompaniment doesn\u2019t necessarily end in the sacraments, \u201cbut can be oriented to other ways of being better integrated into the life of the Church: a greater presence in the community, participation in groups of prayer or reflection, commitment to various ecclesial services.\u201d https://cruxnow.com/global-church/2016/09/12/pope-okays-argentine-doc-communion-divorced-remarried/\n\nThese guidelines were approved by the Pope.....\n\nWhy does everyone ignore this?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Rodney Stark, a Protestant, has a book out by Templeton Press \"Bear False Witness: Debunking Centuries of Anti-Catholic History\". He debunks this allegation.\n\nBy your fruits you will know them, and HC repeats some of the most insidious anti-Catholic libels on a fairly regular basis.\n\nThe book is currently offered on Amazon, and it is well-reviewed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If engleesh was good nuf for Jesus when he wrote the bible then it should be good nuf for everyone", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I've been off the grid for a couple of days...where's the Sarah Huckabee Sanders moral born again christian evangelical outrage for her new boss...oh that's right...that hasn't been clearly delineated as of yet...Our Donald who art in the White House...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Before you call anybody a heretic, you had better read the Gospels and see exactly what Jesus really did say. \n\n\nYou are not going to heaven unless you DO go out to care and love others. Read the Gospel of Matthew 25:31-47. \n\nOr how about the Letter of James, which states: \"What good is it, my brothers and sister if you say you have faith but do not have works! Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, \"Go in peace, keep warm and eat your fill and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. But someone will say, \"You have faith and I have works.\" Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.' Letter of James 2:14-19", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You seem inordinately concerned with money, kag. That is not what the Church is all about you know - yes. Donations are important in our world to help the poor and needy, and if you want to withhold your money, that's your choice. But don't keep thinking that everyone thinks the way you do concerning money.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Greetings....Ryan the Randian devotee needs to practice the Beatitudes! And Cardinal Dolan as well ...... He should have been out front protesting this event in solidarity with the Catholic Workers group!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My, what an angry, one-sided, totally political priest. What an essay of errors, outright falsehoods and (worst of all) condemnation of half of America. And all under the cloak of doing what Jesus' wants.\n\nHalf the nation voted for this person Father. More than half approve of the job he's doing.\n\nEverything you say about Trump, you say about us. Own it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Believe, not know. Most Catholics in North America and Europe have never read Humanae Vitae.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1. Catholics who are excluded from Communion because they are divorced and remarried are not excommunicated. They are in the same state as you and I would be after having committed a mortal sin and not repented and confessed it. \nIf they are going to continue in an adulterous relationship then they are obviously unrepentant.\nHow does one deal pastorally with sinners who are unrepentant? Our Lord's parting words to the woman taken in adultery were, \".... sin no more.\" That was Our Lord's pastoral advice to that poor woman.\nPastorality does not mean condoning sinfulness, it means in this situation leading someone out of habitual sinfulness until such time as they are able to avoid not only the sin but the occasions of that sin. In the case of remarried divorc\u00e9s it means at least living as brother and sister. Anyone who genuinely desired to embrace the Catholic Faith would surely accept this.\n2. Easily done.\n3. Do you have a problem with my nickname?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As I read Paul in Romans, in his zeal to elevate the role of Christ to a sort of 'myth status'' as the source of 'life' and Grace, Paul goes back to a general impression of Genesis without checking what it actually said.\n\nThe essential error is that he says 'death is caused by sin'.\nIn our present English translations, what it says is that 'Adam' was created with death as an expectation. The myth writers knew that much.\n\nTo 'prevent' death, Adam would have had to eat -- and keep eating, presumably -- of the 'tree of life'. The 'sin' did not cause death -- it just got people expelled from the garden so they would have no access to the magic tree of life.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And what impression would people get of Catholicism is they built it on the comments you make here?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So where's all that filial devotion among that handful of rebellious cardinals? Come on, this \"father/son\" business is so much nonsense.\n\nBesides, Jesus warned against an institutional paternalistic hierarchy among his followers. It is one of the clearest directives he gave.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That's the pattern. The \"Gates of Hell\" will never prevail, not because of bombastic triumphalism, but by the church being willing to follow the pattern of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh my gosh, I couldn't possibly be more confused. I'm an old guy, I have always referred to people of Oriental decent as Oriental in the nicest way. People of Italian decent I called Italians, folks from the islands I referred to as Islanders, people from the northern regions of Alaska I called Eskimos and people from the Aleutian Islands I called Aleuts. All meant in the nicest, most polite way. Now I am unsure what to call oriental food, clothing, art, gardens, music and home design. No more Africans? Or Indians And Caucasians? What about Southerners and easterners and Alaskans? British and Canadians? Mexicans? People from Greece? Scotland? Ireland? I'm scared to say Christians or Catholics or Baptists. What about Aussies? Arabian? Dallas Cowboys still ok, then? I am of Norwegian decent, I came to Alaska from Minnesota in 1962, am I a Norwegian-Minnesotan-Alaskan? \nI'm sure every word I say will be wrong. I feel so miserable, I sure never meant to hurt anyone. No offence intended.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, they don't. You can't impeach a pope by what his [sic] predecessor said in the CCC. And that's germane because that's EXACTLY what certain right-wing Catholics (including the infamous Four Cardinals) are trying in vain to do!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I must disagree with this.\n\nReligion, specifically religious fundamentalism, is very much the problem.\n\nCurrently, the most serious problem is with Islam. If you had asked me in the 1930s which religion was most dangerous I would have to say the Catholic Church and their alignment with fascism in Europe. If you had asked me that in 1960s/1970s Ireland, I would have said Protestantism.\n\nAnytime one group thinks it has divine permission from God, atrocities follow. It has been ever thus.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh dear, not this again. I do wish you would accept a compliment and not try to take every remark the wrong way. Let's not make this thread all about you, please. Everyone on this thread recognizes you as a courageous example of all that the US Bishops could want in a catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well put, thanks. Two additional considerations: personality type and challenge. As to the first, there are \"types\" I would characterize as \"adamantine\". There is no quarter given, no negotiation, no compromise, no reconciliation, to the extent that it is a personality disorder. It is rooted not only in disagreement or sincerity of conviction but a ferocious and even deviant impulse to take any route to achieve their end. I suspect the clerically ambitious are more inclined to this disorder than most, but we have let it happen, let them get away with it. No more! \nAs to challenge, it is rather easy and, in the case of traditional catholicism to rest comfortably in the \"sheep-fold\" and be led. A \"future\" church needs to return to incarnation: making our faith real, to learn civility, caring within a sense of ethical caring, and a concentration of discernment and mentoring rather than \"faith in and observance of \"markers\"\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hierarchy causes income inequality, either explicit or implicit. Certain people are \u201dworth more,\u201d which to Christ is an abomination, although not necessarily to its hierarchs. That capitalism is internally hierarchical is beyond debate. There is no free market in such systetms, wages are set from the top down, with the wage setter getting the biggest share from his workers, his suppliers and his customers. That is what capitalism is and that is what it does. Saying anything else makes the speaker a capitalist fan boy, like Brooks. As for the culture of the gift, look to socialism for it, either democratic or cooperative.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Then eradicate all the social teachings that have been issued since Leo XIII began writing SOCIAL ENCYCLICALS---and state that the TRUE Catholic Church has absolutely no interest or concern in the day-to-day issues of human life. See what becomes of the church! \n\nWomen did not and will not tolerate men [no matter who they are] dictating to them that WOMEN\"S needs and concerns are not to be considered in dealing with Church policies/teachings.\nMaybe you think you know what American women think---but you don't. They are just as much a part of the Church as any bishop, cardinal or pope. They have already left the church, taken their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren with them----and they are not returning.\n\nSecondly, you do not speak for the women of color, and for Hispanic women. Hispanic youth 18 and under constitute more than 62% of all Catholic youth. Your comments do not address their needs either. \n\nGallagher speaks as a TRUMPnic and not as a member of the Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pope Benedict XVI prophecy in 1979 was probably closest to right. But by the remarks on this \"civil\" site, i'm kinda thinking \"when Jesus returns, will He find any faith on earth\". Probably very little in the U.S. from what I'm reading. So much disrespect! Jesus wept. Turn off the TV and try reading the Bible. The Catholic Church has been around for over 2000 yrs.. It's failed many times, but it's still the strongest foundation there is - agree or disagree, it doesn't matter. Jesus was crucified. He's my Savior, He is present in the Blessed Eucharist. His mother is my Blessed Mother and when she next shows up y'all will get another chance. According to St. Faustina, when we die Jesus will offer His mercy. I'm taking it. But you all have an opportunity. \nHe has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8) Challenge word = HUMBLY.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "People who enter into same-sex \"marriage\" are publicly proclaiming that they do not share the Catholic Faith. If such people insist that they are practicing Catholics, then they are insisting that they, and not the Catholic Church, exercise the authority to define the content of the Catholic Faith.\n\nFor such people to hurl invective, or to gripe about not being allowed to receive Communion or a Catholic funeral from clerics is utterly irrational. Since they claim to exercise the functions of the Magisterium of the Church, they should be consistent and simply give themselves communion and give themselves the kind of funerals they wish.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ironic that Pope Francis mentioned \"cutting people's heads off.\"\n\nYes Pope Francis, that is precisely what the U.S.is trying to avoid with its immigration policy. We will have a sane number of immigrants, but we will not have the open border policy that the church desires.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If AL was having an actual impact on the parishes, then Jenny Normal who is wondering about how her previous marriage may affect her wedding plans might mention it and people wouldn't still be griping about the annulment process. I wish AL was having a bigger impact on the ground level but that doesn't appear to be the case. The only talk about it is from conservative Catholics who are spending an inordinate amount of time obsessing over some hypothetical situation. There are very few concrete examples of it helping real people.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A reason for doubt about Church rules on sexuality is the scornful dismissal of expertise and experience--physiological, gynecological, marital, psychological, laity, and more--in considering what is \"normal,\" \"right,\" and \"beneficial.\" \n\n Those who know best are ignored most.\n\nThe \"dialogue\" has been ongoing, but there has been no respect--indeed there's derision--for what the learned laity say. The hierarchy says 2+2=4! Enough! But the laity--comprising females--say, \"But we know firsthand that 3+1=4 is OK too. It's not a competition, Father.\" \n\nFrom hierarchy there is no trust. In women. In lovers. In spouses. In parents. In science. In medicine. In intimacy. In lives lived and loved. Isn't that a sin too?\n\nConsider: Raymond Burke is more authoritative on human sexuality than is the dean of a medical school, a family doctor, a geneticist, a female theologian, or a sexually active Catholic wife and husband.\n\nHe's not IGNORANT. But often he's ignorant. Not a fault. But no virtue.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you for this. As someone pointed out in the comments following the original article, we DO have women priests and bishops currently, although they are \"outside\" of the official institution. \n\nMaybe the interim answer for all of us who see these sins of sexism and exclusion for what they are would be to get behind RCWP, support and encourage the brave women on their journeys, worship with them and embrace their path -- and leave the small-minded, closed-hearted men to their own devices. After all, they'll do fine on their own (for one generation).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In fact, many victims of clergy abuse, in my experience, do not trust the church to give them pastoral care. They want nothing to do with the Roman Catholic Church anymore.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think you are off base here. EPBenedict was facing an entirely different type of papacy than his predecessors of 1000 years ago. He had also observed what happened with his incapacitated predecessor. He was not a very big part of the cabal around JPII actually running the Church. That was Cardinal Sodano's crowd. I think Benedict made the right decision to remove himself before any more damage to the Church was done by political cardinals with access to money and power. His reforms would have been still born if another Pope didn't feel compelled to see some of them through to some extent or another. I am not one of Benedict's theological fans, but I have always respected his integrity and his resignation was an action of integrity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "God reveals to all humanity through reason and leaves clues we call evidence. That is natural law, not papal authority. Can't have it both ways, especially when the teachings are based on stoicism rather than the Gospels.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I always get a chuckle out of reading your posts like this one, monica!\nI see things a bit different. We can't realistically go back to the Biblical model you mention, just as we can't now continue with the \"Bells of St. Mary\" models of the 1930's - 70's. Each served the existing situations of the times, and as this article and most comments show, those times in every way are gone and now part of our history. What is to emerge for the future (while the Church is in a sort of \"Limbo\" right now) is as yet unclear, not even well-formed. What is clear now is that the Catholic Church will be a smaller and \"purer\" Church indeed - but not the doctrinally \"pure\" one envisioned by Benedict XVI or the radical traditionalists insist on. Doctrine will be - as is now a growing case for many - a part of the medieval Church that is discarded to the crypt of history. A far simpler - and therefore \"pure\" = unpolluted - Church will be our home, with a total emphasis on Gospel teaching, IMO.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Really? The mother of Pope Siricius [384-399], has her tomb marked as 'episcopa Q' [exists in the Basilican Cemetery of St. Paul's in Rome]\n\nTheodora, the mother of Pope Paschal I [817-824] was an ordained bishop. [mosaic in the Chapel of St. Zeno within the Church of Santa Pressede in Rome].\n\nMathilda, daughter of Otto I was both a Benedictine abbess and the metropolitian [archbishop] of Quedlinburg [first capital of what is now Germany]. This information is in the Deutches Archiv fur Geschichte des Mittelalters 3 p. 36-70--trans. Edmund Stengel.\n\nSt. Brigid of Ireland was both an abbess and a consecrated bishop---[from the 9th Century---documents in Dublin: Dublin institute for Advanced Studies----trans. Donncha O h Aodha, 1978.]\n\nAnd all of these were either members of the Christian community or Roman Catholic. Our church's history is too long and convoluted to say \"it never happened'. Every year researchers are discovering more and more information ordained women in the Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What I tough? The I literraly a religious scool system that is parallel to he public secular system. Send the religious kids to the catholic school system.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "2/3\nThe usual process whereby a person discerns a call to priesthood and then tries to determine whether he can live in celibacy, let alone whether he is called to celibacy, is backwards. Since the church requires celibacy, one must first be aware of and respond to that call -- because it is only from among those called to celibacy that the (Latin) church will choose its priests. While some small percentage of persons is genuinely called to celibacy, the notion that (nearly) 100% of Catholic priests are to be found among them (and only among the half of them who are male) is preposterous. There is little if any spiritual value or eschatological witness to be derived from mandatory celibacy. The \u201cmandatory\u201d aspect strips the spiritual value from it and reduces it to little more than an instrument of power and control of bishops over priests.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Because when the Holy Spirit came on Pentacost all the fire settled on Peter., \n\nYou are an expert at arguing from authority, which most people consider a logical fallacy. The punch line of your favorite authority Dei Fidelius, is a plea to science not to challenge its ideas with evidence to the contrary. Boo Hoo! Whiing is not Dogma.\n\nIt is up to theologians to cope with how changes in science must lead to adjustments in doctrine (they have no imact on credal dogma, which is true because be believe it, not because of evidence, since there is no evidence on the nature of God). It is not actually that hard if you regard Eden as a myth about who is entitled to know about the Good and Evil of individuals, God or Man. (When man judges, it is blame, which the sacrifice of the cross overcomes).\n\nOf course, I could be taking dictation from Jesus himself and because I don't have a white biretta you would not listen. You have turned the deposit_of_faith into an idol.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think the bishops \"talking to themselves\" at this moment in history is a disgrace and I suspect that history will reinforce that.....\n\nIf ever there was a time for the bishops to express themselves forcefully on behalf of values that are very central to our understanding of justice and truth, and Jesus's teaching....it is now.\n\nIn my view they have failed.... sadly, I am not surprised.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is Jesus who saves souls---not bishops and cardinals. And Jesus has already done so. It is the job of Cardinals and Bishops to allow the Salvific Action and Love of Christ to shine through to their people---not put up barriers to it. \n\nEDUCATION is an important part of allowing the Action and Love of Christ as well as the Inspiration of the Holy Spirit to come to the people. We have too many Catholics who think that God delivers the same kind of vengeful punishments as they do. They are badly in need of information and transformation. Cardinal Cupich is working hard toward that goal. May many more follow suit.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This poster to whom you respond vainly hopes that SNAP will be stomped out by this lawsuit. So does the USCCB and its entire membership, David F. Pierre, the website called \"Church Militant,\" and numerous others from the Catholic ultra-right wing. Notably, they all take the allegations in the pleadings and want us to believe they are facts! As they see things, SNAP \"and its lawyers\" have cost the Catholic church more than four Billion dollars already, and more is in the pipeline unless SNAP goes. They have concocted a lot of impious malarkey about how SNAP is stealing money from retired nuns, \"desecrating\" the graves of children of elderly mothers through non-maintenance of cemeteries. So far, their widows and orphans must fend for themselves!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Rogue,\nI think I can make a strong argument that you're right; it should never have required a Commission: just one Cardinal or Pope with the kind of righteous anger, modeled after Jesus cleaning out the temple. Just ONE could have done it. One who not only wouldn't shut up, but who would not take \"no,\" or any answer less than a full-scale effort to make this all right. That could most certainly require he blow his brethren's covers, he expose records, and wreak havoc. Imagine such a guy not only demanding the change, but transparency, honestly and a change of heart. Just one man, truly catching fire over this, putting his life & everything he stood for on the line, and letting the chips fall where they may. \n\nThere are just SO many images of these kinds of people in the scriptures, and in the Gospels. (Think Pentecost, for example...)\n\nYet not one has stood up: not a single one of them... \n\nInstead we have the shows and charades, the tears and timely words, in the house of cards.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Kate, I think the notion of \"mercy always presupposing sin\" is natural to native English speakers, but I don't think the scriptural concept of mercy (presumably Francis' usage) carries that connotation. I've been surprised that this linguistic peculiarity has not caused more discussion in the past year. \n\nBut as a debating point with Faithful Catholic, nice come back!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "QUOTE: \"I never would have imagined myself living on the West Coast. But it was an answer. I went with it.\" Huh? Jesus after being baptized ran through the desert, then all the way to SAN FRANCISCO?! We know he could walk on water and all, but hey, c'mon!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thinking of suicide? Call on the name of the Lord, Jesus and he will help you turn it all around .Call on His name and make Him the Lord and Savior of your life. He is the real deal not the censored Globe CBC tax payer funded site. Jesus loves you, He is alive, call on His name !", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As you may know, the polity within Anglicanism is closer to Orthodoxy rather than the RCC. Each Province is under its own prelate either as Presiding Bishop or Archbishop. Each Province has slight differences (or as with women's ordinations big differences) as Orthodoxy and its national churches often have their differences.. The Vatican is well aware of which Provinces ordain women, and which do not. A personal appearance is not required, and moreover, working together on charitable and community works can be accomplished even with these differences. The fact that we are talking at all and respecting one another is a major change since Vatican II. My way or the highway does not work.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, YOU seemed to think the Catholic church when you first posted above! The Synod becomes a check on Bergoglio, as do The Four Cardinals!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It was always assumed that the biblical Jesus existed. But now that we have scrutinized the books/letters that make up the Bible, we can say that his existence cannot be, at the very least, known. \n\nAs for being the son of god, that is a joke.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Our Lord is also showing us how to have a marvelous \"unity of life\".\n\nHe's telling us how to rectifiy what may seem superficially as competing demands. He is showing us how to \"resolve\" (so simply) these various demands for our time and love.\n\nFrom the Gospel:\n\n\"Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me,\nand whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;\nand whoever does not take up his cross\nand follow after me is not worthy of me.\nWhoever finds his life will lose it,\nand whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.\"\n\nWhen we do anything we simply need to do it with all our heart soul mind and strength OUT OF LOVE FOR GOD.\n\nIn this way, visiting old Aunt Berta in the hospital becomes prayer, an exchange of our time and self FOR GOD. \n\nAll events become an act of worship of God, so that we can actually (and simply but not without some practice and difficulty and effort) \"pray always\" and \"rejoice always\". \n\nOur Lord is giving a pointer.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The English and Welsh episcopate is apart from a few bishops firmly liberal and politically socialist. They are obviously well out of synch with most of the population including Catholics who practice their Faith and as such ignored by them. In fact it is doubtful that most Catholics know who their bishop is.\nSo perhaps you are right, Brits may not be into Church that much. Churches which have been given over to the FSSP and the ICRSS to save them from closure however, are thriving. Can't be all bad.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dennis, \n\nThere have been people throughout church history that have done a wonderful job of teaching us to find a good balance between the personal conscience, the community responsibility, etc. Part of the problem in the church today is that the laity, the local community has precious little power in the church, so even if folks WANTED to jump in there, there's so little they can do, save for whatever the bishops want them to do. How many parish closings and mergings have happened over the objections of that local community? How many women who are ready and willing to serve, are allowed? How responsive have the bishops (and Francis) been to the massive calls from the laity for episcopal accountability w/r/t the scandal? \n\nI agree about the personal conscience and accountability. But I think in a way, as that rises under Francis, it stands as a reminder of just how \"one sided\" the church really is these days.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A well-considered, reasoned statement from a woman who personally understands the fundamental nature of reproductive rights and personal autonomy!\n\nTo this, I would like to add the following:\nEach day, around the world, roughly 20,000 children under the age of five die due to poverty. Each. Day. Yet, despite this continuous, gruesome toll, we hear nothing of this tragedy from GOP politicians, or the right-wing christians who support them. Instead, we see a continuous barrage of laws intended to limit reproductive rights. Sadly, the fact is that these people don't care about life at all. If they did, real effort would be made to save the lives of the thousands of children who die each day. No, the real motivation behind abortion bans is not to save lives at all -- it is simply to control the lives of others.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Original sin is not my invention, it is the infallible teaching of the Catholic Church of which you claim to be a member. One doesn't need to have a literal interpretation of Genesis to understand the meaning behind it. Ask yourself, \"could an absolute, perfect God have deliberately created such an imperfect world?\" Absolutely not, for God and evil simply cannot abide each other.\nFor obvious reasons God's creation was solely to glorify Him not, however, as automata but as individuals with free will who would freely choose to do so.\nThe history of Creation, Original Sin and the Fall from grace is the only possible explanation for God's becoming man in order to redeem the human race. \nWe may ask why God chose to redeem fallen mankind but that is akin to asking why He created us in the first place: we know not the mind of God save that whatever He wills and brings into being is Good and He afforded us the opportunity to spoil it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus' commanded that we love God and love others as God loves us. The relationship with God implies following his commandment. You are mis-characterizing my Pastor's words. He did not dismiss but prioritized (i.e more important). Please read my comments without adding your spin. Nothing strange here!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We love because God loved us first. (1 John 4:19)\nGod loves us first. God loves us apart from our merits, without conditions.\n\nDoes God change his mind, withdraw his love? It would seem that She does not, at least not in the person of Jesus, who is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He is not alternately Yes and No, but always Yes. (2 Cor. 1:19)\n\nGod is love. (1 John 4:8)\nLove is not just what God does; love is Who God is.\nGod cannot not love.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What are you alluding to here \" experimental liturgies taking place in other parts of the world.\" \n\nMany trads are very uncomfortable with liturgies that reflect the cultures of non-European and non-Europeanized (such as Latin America) areas of the world. They think that everyone should embrace a liturgy that is not only euro-centric, but reflects a European model dating back hundreds of years, and a language that dates back two thousand years. Many forget that Jesus and his disciples did not speak Latin. They did not sing Bach or Mozart. Perhaps they picked up a bit of Latin, the language of their despotic rulers who killed Jesus, and the more educated (which excludes most of those who followed Jesus) may have learned some Greek. Many trads are uncomfortable with non-western music, especially if it includes native drumming, and with any form of dance in liturgy, not uncommon in non-europeanized liturgies. Perhaps Sarah prefers western culture to his own?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I disagree:\nBy allowing priests to marry, more heterosexual men will enter the priesthood, and homosexual men will find seminaries and the priesthood as an inhospitable place to dwell.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Women were not \" denied absolution for having an abortion\".\n\nThe discipline was that under normal circumstances a priest needed to communicate with the bishop and receive permission to absolve or to arrange to have the bishop himself absolve. This has nothing to do with being \"anti-woman\" since it also applies to male abortionists, procurers of abortion, and so on.\n\nAny priest could absolve under conditions such as danger of death and other serious circumstances.\n\nWhat it does have to do with is making sure that the penitent, and the Church, recognize that the murder of an innocent in imitation of Herod is a crime which cries to Heaven for justice and not something that merits \"Sheesh\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\u201cMaybe a difference in Callings?\"\n\nOnly we feel there is a need for a different method for Christ to work through us. But the Words of Christ are \"Spirit and they are life\" (John 6:63); \" 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.\" (Heb. 4:12). So who can know by their own human understanding how to respond to others, causing them to hear that which they need to hear? No one.\n\n\"16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.\" Col. 3:16.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hey, neither I nor you define \"essential part of faith\".\nAfter extensive examination of the individual cases of \"apparitions\", the Church sometimes (not always) will offer its desired opinion that if you want to believe in these apparitions, then it is not against Catholic belief.\nThat means you can be fully Catholic and not believe in the Lourdes apparitions, the Fatima apparitions ...\nFor all that precedes, I am merely stating facts. \n\n(Total transparency: I have been to Lourdes three times, and to Faitma once.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The newly created US Misinformation Ministry located in the East Wing issued a press release this morning with the following statement: \n\n'The Discovery of America by Christopher Columbus was actually fake news story created by the Italian Press and the then almighty Catholic Church. Christopher Columbus actually died when his boat sailed over the edge of the earth.\n\nAs part of the new jobs initiative program the Misinformation Ministry will employ an new group of grey suited black hats, that will collect all history books dealing with the discovery of the America, for a book burning. New books will be issued with the references to the discovery of America rewritten to accurately depict these alternative facts.'", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh, is the Federal Executive Branch openly endorsing hate groups and affiliates now, too?\n\n\"James Dobson, founder of the religious right powerhouse Focus on the Family, met and prayed with a group of eight Christian leaders at a Washington hotel, leading ultimately to the creation of the FRC in 1983 under the initial direction of Gerald Regnier (formerly of the Department of Health and Human Services).\"\n( https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/group/family-research-council )\n\nThe Family Research Council has been identified by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a hate group, and it's one degree of separation away from Focus on the Family. These rotten apples don't fall far from their trees.\n\nThis administration continues to brazenly attack our liberal democratic way of life, giving aid and material support to the social, cultural, and ideological enemies of The People and The United States. It's disheartening and crypto-terroristic to you if you are, for example, LGBTQ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "#1\nFirst of all, Dave, Congratulations! Many folks here don't have your grace in acknowledging gratuitous insults. I hope Sarasi1 happens on this, for she is our resident Orthodox--very knowledgeable, and excellent at bring an Orthodox perspective into our discussions in terms that Catholics can easily follow. She deserves the apology.\n\nYou raise two issue--Liturgy and Papacy--and I choose to reply only about liturgy.\n\nIn fact, Dave, the Novus Ordo owes a very great deal to scholarship about other rites, especially the Byzantine. \n\nFor about a hundred or so years prior to the V2 reform, liturgical scholars worked very hard to reconstruct the evolution of all liturgies through the centuries, and one of their most valuable tools was \"comparative liturgy.\" By systematically comparing what was going on in all of the rites from the meager evidence available, a fuller picture emerged.\n\nThe Novus Ordo is very largely a restoration of the liturgy of the 5th century or so.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Contd... 2\nIncidentally, we do transmit our physical deficiencies and deformities to our offspring via our DNA.\nIf Original Sin is due to a sudden awareness of good and evil by our first parents then this must affect their progeny, the genie could not be put back in the bottle, the next generation could not possibly be unaffected by their parents proneness to immorality. The knowledge of good and evil is passed on through what might be called our spiritual DNA; one can't 'unknow' something which one knows.\nTaking our past and current situation into consideration we ask, \"is God responsible for the behaviour of His Creation?\" If He is then logically He is the author of evil. However, God is the absolute Good so he cannot be the author of evil.\nGod created the world to know Him, love Him and serve Him in this world and be happy with Him in the next. We are not automata, God gave us the choice and we failed initially in Adam. God gave us a second chance through Christ, the second Adam.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not at this rate.\n\nHe better get cracking. From his first off-hand remark of his papacy he has been surrounded by a phalanx of spokesmen trying to explain what he meant.\n\nAnd it is not just Catholics that note it:\n\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEchg1KhmTY", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No the original European founding settler people and the Indians get special status as they were here first. The Indians were too far spread out and disorganized to go it alone and Christian missionaries brought them to Jesus where many today remain. That is how it started and we are no rewriting history.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well said, but it's a bit difficult for me as a Hillary supporter to agree that Trump \"earned Democratic legitimacy\" when Clinton won two million more votes than Trump did. As for the moral legitimacy of a Trump administration, well, let's just say he has far to go before he earns that, at least from me.\n\nAs for American bishops, I doubt we'll be hearing much from them. As long as Trump gives them what they want in the way of Supreme Court justices, they will look the other way on a whole host of issues that are near and dear to Pope Francis' heart and utter nary a peep in the way opposition, whether it be on the subject of immigration, climate change, income inequality, war, or the refugee crisis in the Middle East. They just don't have it in them to get too excited about anything unless abortion or homosexuality are involved. They've been too attached to the notion that they are Catholics and Republicans to a nearly equal degree. I do not see that changing any time soon, alas.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Please see the following regarding one of the most pro-abortion candidates America has ever had: Dailywire.com: 3 Things You Need to Know About Hillary Clinton's Abortion Beliefs. \nAs Senator, Hillary Clinton voted against the Partial-Birth Abortion Act. Hillary Clinton is against the Hyde Amendment. (Translation for the low-information voter: Hillary Clinton wants taxpayers to pay for abortions.). Please see Life news.com, the national review\nCharisma news.com, town hall.com........etc...I can't see how any Catholic could possibly defend a candidate who supports partial-birth abortion. That's one of many good reasons to prefer the businessman over Mrs. Clinton.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "...\"Kingdom of God\"\n\nIs that the 'Kingdom on earth'?...or the 'Kingdom of Heaven\"\n\nIf it refers to the Church on earth, that is why we consider 'Baptism' to be the Sacrament of initiation into membership.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, if a priest believes he speaks for God.....that is his reality. \n\nGood that he's praying for himself, though.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not quite sure I understand what you are asking of me. But I'll make an attempt to answer. \nI believe that God allows circumstances that we may not like or be comfortable with. What He wants for me may not be pleasant or convenient in my opinion and I have a hard time accepting those crosses, but I know that these happenings or whatever are for the good of my soul, so it is for my benefit to humbly accept the crosses God gives or permits in my life. So, yes, I may not outright reject a cross knowingly, but I sure as heck complain and whine about some of them. We all reject crosses in our lives. Why do you think it is \"sinful and damning\" to admit it and point it out when others do? \n\nIt was your comment emphasizing \"ecstasy, letting good times roll\" and other self-indulgences that tells me what is more important in your life. For me, it is , or I am trying to make it be the seeking of God's Kingdom, denial of self, and following Jesus. Just as He asks us to.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Climate change is real,\" the archbishop of Yangon told the 132 participants in a strongly worded keynote speech that outlined \"ecological sins\" and the need for \"ecological conversion.\"\n\nExactly! The fossil fuel lobby pays off politicians and \"scientists\" to tell the easily manipulated that climate change is hoax, so it is the duty of Christians and all people of good will to get the truth out. We must fight this threat while we still can. God Bless this brave man of God!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Making the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) hate group list may mean you are a hate group or it may mean you rubbed Morris Dees and/or Joe Levin the wrong way. Both are trial lawyers.\n\nIn 2012, black pastors confronted the SPLC for smearing as \"hate groups\" pro-family organizations opposed to homosexual behavior.\n\nSPLC considers the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) a \"hate group\", because it opposes illegal immigration and uses demonstrations as a method.\n\nTraditionalist Catholics are another SPLC hate group.\n\nI would steer away from them as your sole source for who and who is not reliable.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Here Pope Francis is affirming that the Spirit of Vatican II is important. The Spirit is the Holy Spirit. There is no other. The Church did not stop with Vatican II, and the question of translation is not a mere technical question based on the principle of literalist fundamentalism. Here once again Pope Francis is gutsy and correct. With all due respect to Pope Benedict XVI this new indication represents a step forward. Perhaps some of the earlier vernacular translations were uncareful (the translation of pro multis as for all was correctly criticized by Pope Benedict), but the principle of inculturization is related to something very fundamental in the Church, and we shall not throw the baby out with the bath.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Tough. This is not your house. And if you can't distinguish between critique and anti-Catholicism, that's your problem, not mine.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yep... say one thing and do another for 2000 years... what a great example to follow, just what Jesus himself would do. \"Oh, but official church teaching doesn't support the bad behavior exemplified by certain medieval clerics,\" you say... well in what universe is \"teaching\" limited to the written word where actions and behaviors are to be ignored in favor of pious pronouncements uttered by the very perpetrators committing the egregious acts? \n\nA culture which enables such contorted beliefs and practices needs to be abolished and rebuilt from the ground up... this time with an eye toward Jesus' ultimate admonition to love God and neighbor, a radical shift away from imperial power, control and medieval pageantry.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not forgetting some of the Eastern Catholic Churches permit married clergy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes. We need immigrants because they will keep us from being secular. May I suggest that we first, then, send them to our Catholic alma maters - college and secondary schools, if still extant - since they seem to stress a lot about how they do, and can, turn out leaders and how much they appreciate \"leadership\" donations. Maybe, they could give honorary degrees and distinguished alumni awards to them. Actually, my own alma mater just did that -- gave a distinguished alumna award to an immigrant. (She came here at age 12.) What was mainly listed was her vast accumulation of degrees and on how many boards and advisory councils she sits.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of course God \"is much bigger than us\". The miracle you speak of though, will only be through us, with us, and in us. That's just how God works in this the \"new testament\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mike, I am not normally a fan of \"heartfelt writing\" where emotional truth is involved (living in the land of DeNile as I do), but your every word, every column, touch me where I allow few people to go. I too lived/loved through a final illness with my husband and so understand and empathize (as well as envy) your opportunity for practical and very holy love with Vicky. I'm also struggling now with a health concern myself and absolutely can't wait to get home to Netflix, Amazon and my little avatar dogperson, Louis. You are a remarkable, extraordinary writer as well as husband and follower of Jesus. Thank you from my \ud83d\udc9b. CAEL", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It would seem that the esteemed author knows little about freedom of religion if he believes that the First Amendment rights of freedom of religion, press, speech, freedom to assemble (form alliances), and to petition the government can be separated one from another, and disposed of as he deems practical. No, these are all human rights and they are 'inalienable,' that is, no one can take such rights from you and you cannot give them away. Here at NCR, it may seem that it is acceptable to censor us for a good cause -- to make us 'Civil' (good boys and girls), and yes, I do realize that NCR is the owner here and can censor as they please. But the government is not supposed to take away our rights, not on any pretext. Freedom of religion cannot exist without free speech, assembly (alliances), petitioning. How to tax religion? Just like anyone else -- tax their excess wealth. In this county, a Catholic pastor lives in a five-story mansion. That's not religion. It is wealth. Tax it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "[Continued from above]. At Masses led by a priest, Monica and the pastoral associate [a woman, also] take turns reading the Gospel and preaching the homily. Monika does baptisms, funerals, takes care of liturgies in the old folks homes and does 'pastoral colloquies' [when people want confession---because no priest would be there for months--and for some, that would be too late]. \n\nCiting Politi again, 'questions still considered thorny in other parts of the Catholic world, such as how to deal with same-sex couples, have already been silently dealt with in many Swiss parishes. Monika wouldn't go on record for this, but it is well known that in quite a few places, priests and lay leaders of parishes do discretely bless homosexual couples in front of the altar.\" p.93.\n\nAgain, the wave of the future. Know what needs to be done and just DO IT. When those priests 89, 91 and 92 years of age die off---Monika and others like her will completely be in charge of parishes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And why not let those who agree with the doctrine of the Catholic Church in peace?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One doesn't really expect USCowadlyCatholicBitchups to challenge the man they wanted elected POTUS, does one? He said exactly what they wanted to hear re: abortion and religious freedom (for Kristyuns only of course!), so everything else is a momentary annoyance.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pandora keeps whinging that women who feel demeaned by the Church are motivated by egotism. She has NEVER addressed the possibility that the men doing the demeaning may be motivated by egotism. She believes in blaming the victim.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't seem to remember the Bible ever mentioning Jesus specially condemning LGBT people. Yet somewhere in history haters and homophobes started controlling the dogma and teachings of various religions. Really people, who is left attending churches who preach this kind of hatred? Old people, haters, homophobes, people scared of living and scared of dying! If your religion is teaching you that it's OKAY to hate, discriminate, exclude, kill, or mistreat people for any reason, you are not involved in something that is good, wholesome, and loving. You are involved in another form of tribalism that seeds families and communities with hate, pain, guilt, and violence! Set yourself free, get away quick and start treating others the same way in which you wish to be treated; with love, respect, dignity, and caring!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "PRRI: \"31.2 % of Americans report being raised in a Catholic household, a loss of 10.3%\" and highest among all religious denominations.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They used action, example, preaching, and wisdom. But we don't live under a totalitarian Roman government. I tire of hearing good works described as distraction from the Gospel. They are a very large part of the Gospel--fruits of the Spirit.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If I was aware of it I probably would, but had no idea this was occurring, as most Christians. There are enough problems within the Church here in Eugene to deal with and everywhere else in this country. Most (including myself to a large degree) are not plugged into the global scene. Homosexuals have a right to live their lives as they choose, it does not mean it is \"right\", but they do have a right to do as they please.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This morning MSNBC Chris Jansing interviewed Elizabeth Lev and a priest whose name escapes me. She tried to get them to give the names of the people to whom Pope Francis was directing his strong words. They were reluctant to name names. Perhaps the interviewees should have said: \"They know who they are.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There you go again, Eliane... with the pejorative dig of \"NcR\" which is designed to be dismissive of other Catholics and the National Catholic Reporter. If that is how you truly feel, why do you come here? ... other than to perhaps vent your anger toward others. It doesn't evangelize anyone or contribute to a constructive conversation. And no, rimrock is not suggesting closing down the comment section. Try reading what is actually said instead of what you assume it means.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yawn. I am talking about regular Mass attending Catholics as well. Most people don't like hardcore fundamentalists and love Francis.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am always amazed the terms \"left\" and \"right\" are used when talking about the environment or the Republican/Democrat divide. \n\nPope's John Paul II; Benedict XVI and Francis have all said that we cannot continue to abuse God's Creation. JPII, although he did affirm the value of private property, also stated there is social mortgage and must be used for the common good. Yet - thanks largely to the Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus cherry picking even his teachings and therefore their distortion of OTC by what they finance ... most Catholics don't know this. \n\nWhen Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson states the only choice in the 2016 US election was Trump and this is a \"pro-life\" moment because of anti-choice people appointed ... most Catholics, including bishops, have no idea of how central is social, inter-generational, and ecological justice is to our official teachings.\n\nSo is \"left\" those concerned about the \"common good\" and \"right\" ? \"profit over life\" ?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ancient churches didn't have stained glass or pews, yet no one writes articles for NCR waxing nostalgic for the days we didn't have them. Ditto things like air conditioning/heat, electrical lighting and sound systems. \n\nTrying to selectively invoke the early church to avoid putting Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament front in center is a wrongheaded archeologism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(continued) find another clean candidate to unseat the one that turned dirty. Also the Repub party in Hawaii had been hijacked by relgious fanantical deep pockets, starting when Linda Lingle vetoed civil unions. Ironic Lingle\u2019s door probably swung the other way yet vetoed civil unions. Lt gov and religious fanatic Aiona further drove the Repub party into uselessness. He was the ideal candidate. He was physically strong looking, Hawaiian, an ex judge and had he channeled his deep religious beliefs like Governor John Burns who himself was a devout Christian but did what was best for Hawaii & did not veto a womans right to choose in terms of reproductive decisions; Aina could have brought some BALANCE as governor that is needed to prevent catastrophic projects like the train to nowhere to continue unabated. Sadly the Feds are last line of defense in Hawaii in dealing with this one sided failure but that is NOT enough. It is time for those with $$$ to help restore balance in Hawaii.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "On the contrary!\n\nA marriage can be both permanent and non-permanent! As a wise philosopher once told me, \"LIFE ain't nohow permanent.\" Think about it!\n\nBoth the writings and the reigns of JP II and B XVI were in conflict with Christian history (all 2000 years of it) as well as fundamental logic as well as common, ordinary stable horse sense. Plus, they set the stage for the current and ongoing conflict over the ordination of women, among other things. \n\nAnd so it is that we live in interesting times!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Who's to say that Jesus called only men to be apostles? The written texts that form our Bible were chosen and edited by men living in a patriarchal society. Since the twelve apostles were named to carry on the tradition of the twelve tribes of Israel, it seems likely that women's names would be the ones that were dropped off the list. \n\nIt's interesting that even with those writers and editors, Mary Magdalene was the person who met the risen Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When I reflect on \"hate\" the old saw comes to mind about the pacifist who discovered his spouse in a compromising position. With a gentle certainty he affirmed: \"I wouldn't hurt you for the world. Unfortunately you are standing where I am about to shoot\". \nEquating \"hate\" with emotional revulsion gives hate a pass. Hate is ALSO the calm, patronizing, sometimes but not necessarily snide, calculating intention to deny, exclude, act in a way that has the consequence of hurt, exclusion, diminution, denial, pain that is irrespective of truth.\nEquating hate with emotion is to ignore the manipulation of reality, of other people, the deliberate, ideology-serving denial of and misrepresentation of fact. \nWe seem to be living in that world. That world is against reality, creation, also Christ incarnate, real. That world is therefore \"anti-Christ\"?\nWe find it here.\nSurprisingly, sadly, ironically, our Roman Catholic Church seems to spearhead, institutionalize it in some ways.\nWhat are we to do?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's a long ride. It start with the Christians, then the natives, then the Jews, now the amazon women of Toronto, every group needs special identity and special right$$$ in Canada. It is an endless waste of time and money.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Try culture of (spiritual) death. Murder (abortion and euthanasia) and Sodomy are two of the four sins that cry to heaven for vengeance, the two sins that show the failure to love God. The other two sins that cry to heaven for vengeance are oppression of the weak and oppression of labor, the two sins that show the failure to love your neighbor. The 4 sins tie together because the failure to love and obey God inevitably leads to the failure to love your neighbor as yourself.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "From the official joint statement: \n\n\"Yet new circumstances have presented new disagreements among us, particularly regarding the ordination of women and more recent questions regarding human sexuality. Behind these differences lies a perennial question about how authority is exercised in the Christian community.\"\n\nIn other words, this is not about any doctrine of the faith, let alone any dogma of the faith, but simply about WHO IS BOSS. Another pathetic display of patriarchal MO.\n\nIt is noteworthy that the Anglican female priest who is Welby's chaplain was not even permitted to sit next to him, while the pope had up to three male aids sitting next to him. Sickening.\n\nThankfully, our faith is that the Church is \"one, holy, catholic and apostolic.\" That the \"apostolic\" mark of the Church is dogmatically patriarchal is nonsense, plain and simple.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Sacrament of Penance is not a therapy.\nPeople go to Confession to obtain forgiveness from God, to restore sanctifying grace to their souls and receive sacramental grace to help them not to sin again.\nYou advocated breaking the seal of Confession if the penitent was a priest who confessed abuse of a child. I wanted to know if there were other situations where you thought the seal might be broken.\nWithout the absolute guarantee of the seal many people might be put off confessing to a priest.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Er, possibly when Jesus gave Peter \"the Keys\" as His steward until His return. If he hadn't, Christian men would be circumcised at 8 days old and we'd still be subject to the Mosaic laws.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "George W. Bush was also a narcissist. In a sense EVERY Republican IS a narcissist. The Bush family and Chaney family are narcissists. \nSo why, you ask. \nIf you don't KNOW why, --- then quite possibly that is because you are also a narcissist.\nPlease recall that a narcissist is NOT-NOT-NOT for 'the common good' but only for his own good, iow, GOP rugged self-individualism. \nPope Francis is NOT-NOT-NOTa narcissist!!! Jesus Christ was NOT a narcissist. (turn the other cheek, die for others, care for others -- the poor. Republicans viciously hate when their taxes are in any way used for the caring of the poor. \nRead Rev. Jim Wallis about caring for the poor. \nChrist clearly and explicitly told us to care for the poor and HE did it MANY times, not just a few times. \nAlso see The Corporal Works of Mercy. Also, see The Spiritual Works of Mercy.\nWhen ones values are totally about money(GOP) and power (also GOP) one does not see any value in the common goo\nI could go on, but you get the idea.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Exactly where did you get that outdated stat that '77 % of Canadians are Christian'? Maybe 50 years ago, but not now.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, if it helps, know that I take both my vote and my Catholicism very seriously. I try to form my politics through the lens of the Gospel, not the other way around.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We Catholics have a problem with: UNCONDITIONAL. Whether it's about mercy or love, we cannot grasp the scope. Perhaps it's because our instruction has been about CONDITIONS and LIMITS that mitigate against belief in \"UNconditional.\" \n\nIt seems we are more willing, even eager, to accept the certainty of punishment than of unconditional love and mercy. We proclaim God's unconditional mercy but always follow it, \"that being said...\" then proving we won't accept the literal gift. Too radical! And a big fear: Too lenient!\n\nMany apologists say there are \"conditions on unconditional.\" They tell us something unconditional is horrific, sure to evoke \"anything goes\" behaviors. They can't accept that unconditional might mean exactly what it says. It's too big a risk to accept that revolutionary concept. \n\nOn love, on mercy:\n\nThere must be rules...\nsentencing guidelines...\n controls...\nconditions.\n\n\nFrancis must remind us there are limits on limitless and conditions on unconditional. NOT!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jerusalem was an ancient Canaanite town, neither built nor named by Hebrews, but conquered, sacked and then abandoned by them. The \u201cCity of David\u201d was not settled until the 10th century BCE. Throughout this time, Palestine has been populated by Palestinians of various cultic persuasions.\n\nJerusalem highlights the tragedy of the dysfunctional family of Abraham, Jews, Christians and Muslims. The two-state solution is organic. The one-state alternative promotes Jewish Zionism, exemplifies American imperialism and disregards the Palestinian presence. It is neither just nor logical.\n\nThe word palestinian means \u201ca migratory person.\u201d Israel means \u201che will be prince with God.\u201d Ishmael means \u201che who will hear God.\u201d Palestine is not about a name nor a way of living. Palestine is about living and journeying together, organically not alternatively.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Vincent Fitzpatrick says \"The notion that the Holy Spirit chooses the Pope is a superstition.\"\n\nIndeed. Here is what Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger had to say in 1997 about this:\n\n\u201cI would not say so, in the sense that the Holy Spirit picks out the Pope\u2026I would say that the Spirit does not exactly take control of the affair, but rather like a good educator, as it were, leaves us much space, much freedom, without entirely abandoning us. Thus the Spirit\u2019s role should be understood in a much more elastic sense, not that he dictates the candidate for whom one must vote. Probably the only assurance he offers is that the thing cannot be totally ruined.\n\n\u201cThere are too many contrary instances of popes the Holy Spirit obviously would not have picked!\u201d", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you for a very helpful, clarifying post -- heretofore, I was taking you seriously.\n\nPope Francis will be remembered as a great pope; but I hope the remembering won't begin for a long time:\nLong live Pope Francis!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I certainly hope I'm not being Islamaphobic if I respectfully and sincerely say, \"I'm fed up reading about Islamaphobia.\n We don't see nearly as much Christianity on TV as we used to. Maybe that's because folks like me got fed up with seeing so much of it.\n As a non-religious person, may I say that I hope we get as lucky about things and people Islamic?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We should advance the notion of equal rights for all and SPECIAL PRIVILEGES FOR NONE! Critics will respond that without special privileges such as affirmative action, the results will tend to favour certain groups. It is na\u00efve to think you can socially engineer ultimate outcomes. Further, I want my son to make it into University because he is academically and intellectually qualified, not because he is white, black, or turquoise. And if a woman is appointed to Justin Trudeau's cabinet, it should be because she is the best qualified person available, not because of her gender. Equal rights for all - special privileges for none. If indigenous people conduct religious celebrations in public demonstrations, Christians get to do so as well. If we have awards for women authors, there should be one for men. And maybe we should have \"Straight Parades\" to celebrate heterosexuality! The possibilities are intriguing!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, that is the problem with Aquinas\u2019 argument against ordaining women. If, as Thomas says, women represent subjection, then they should be the preferred candidates for priests. They better represent Jesus who took the form of a slave, accepting even death, death on a cross! Accepting punishment for a capital offense is the ultimate subjugation. But Aquinas thinks Christ cannot represent subjugation because he interprets ordination by \u201c applying a hermeneutic of power.\u201d That kind of argument just does not work, as you say.\nIt is also hard to see how the scripture argument works. \u201cScripture is the soul of theology\u201d as St Jerome said. To say this issue is absent from scripture is a problem whether you want to say that absence excludes women, or that that absence means we can decide.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I guess we should take the opinions of an agnostic regarding matters of the faith. You tell others to open a Bible, yet claim not to know if Jesus existed, is this a sick joke? If the Bible does not include the truth, as you appear to be stating, then why would you recommend reading it to anyone else?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Climate change, in the sense discussed in the Pope's encyclical, is a dubious theory at best. Also, your claim that 95% of the \"scientific community\" supports the theory is patently false. In any event for a pope to give his imprimatur to a scientific theory is unprecedented. He has no competence in this area and should not \nlend credibility to what is essentially a prudential matter. \n\nThere is nothing wrong with Trump's approach to Russia, and there is no reason for the Catholic Church at this time and under current current circumstances to advise anyone, let alone the President on the matter. Again this is a prudential matter. \n\nRelations between nations have nothing to do with what a country has done in terms of \"Suppressing democracy\". What planet do you live on. \n\nAs for as poverty is concerned, the Pope should speak out against the corrupt governments that keep people in poverty and ignorance. Thinking that America can pay to save the world misses the point.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "McMillan talks of the prejudices which fueled the Reform Party, mainly in the West against Quebec. He forgets or does no know of the hate and bigotry shown by Reform's predecessor in Alberta, the Socreds under Bible Bill Aberhart and his associate pastor Ernest C, Manning. Before Aberhart came to power, they regularly fanned the ethnic flames using his Sunday night radio show Back to the Bible Hour. Particular targets included Ukrainians, Poles, Galicians, Catholics, etc. Even the KKK was in prominence there in this period. From pere Manning to sanctimonious Preston Manning to disciple Harper is not very far.\n\nMcMillan also forgets that even the old PC party was home to embarassing crackpots and worse. A couple of Alberta cowboys, a disgraceful defence minister from the maritimes more recently. Joe Clark wisely left these figures out of Cabinet, but they formed part of a runt that stabbed Joe in the back and gave the leadership to Mulroney, who was an old time pol himself in many ways.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Faithful. \nPlease recall that the Catholic Church was aligned with Hitler and those who caused the Holocaust. See document entitled: Reichskonkordat of 1933 in which Pope Pius XI signed (see the picture of that event) it as presented by Hitler's emissary Count Franz Von Papen, a Catholic, high-up in the German aristocracy and high-up in the German military. The church did that in order to eradicate Communism, Socialism and unions. Same as is taking place here in the USA.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't know where you get it from that such 'ordinations' are valid. That may be your opinion or your wish but it is not the teaching of the Church which I have pointed out to you elsewhere. Any attempt to 'ordain' a woman is neither valid or illicit. \nWhilst God never ceases to love us, it is we who cut ourselves off from God by failing to reciprocate that love.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm somewhat amused but recalling something eerily familiar - didn't the church encourage Catholic Germans to live in peace and cope with the new government of Adolf Hitler in 1933? To be \"good\" and \"upstanding\" German citizens and get along as best as they could? Perhaps this is the message for us today? \nNo, it was a disaster then and will be one now - but roll out your \"plan for healing\" while the chaos unfolds. Fine and noble ideals you preach but it's too little and much too late.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Whatever you do to the least of these, you do to me. (paraphrase). \nThat is one of the ways in which we are specifically invited to see Jesus in other.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As much as I like and respect Gov. Kasich, I see this bill as one more convoluted and politically determined compromise. No where do I find included the facts from a recent CDC study that continues to show a steady decline in abortions to the lowest level in decades as of 2013. Using data from federal health agencies in 47 states, the latest number is (for 2013) 12.5 pregnancy terminations per one thousand women ages 15 to 44 years. By contract that number is down 5% from 2012, and HALF the rate from 1980. The Church must be the point of pro-life dialogue and not trying to dictate social policy. Of course, the foolish prohibition against birth control only serves to diminish our prophetic voice and create the consequence of many women getting pregnant and then needing to obtain an abortion, all when it could have been avoided (and don't enter the argument of abstaining from sex here, as it is ridiculous position). Most women in the world are not Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Under JPII or B16 such an endeavor would have had its plug pulled before it ever got off the ground.\"\n\nAmerica magazine never tried to be the \"liberal\" First Things. But it didn't matter. B16 canned Reese, and America has gotten less and less interesting ever since. The current editor is a bit like MSW - \"liberal\" on social justice, gay related subjects (except for marriage of course, but empathetic), and environment. It is VERY conservative on most other Catholic matters, especially those related to women, their \"roles\", including access to all 7 sacraments, and contraception. Like MSW, no empathy at all when it comes to \"women's\" concerns for the church. There is an anti-contraception article at least once or twice/month. Not surprising. Malone's first hire as female columnist was Helen Alvare, so what else would you expect. Lately they have been featuring Simcha Fisher, an uber conservative. She tries to be cool by using foul language in her blog (a bit too obvious ploy).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Quite correct, Trent: I have posted previously that I am a 90 year old Franciscan Order Catholic Priest, in case anyone should wonder.\n\nWhat I post I invite to be considered on its own merits. I'm not trying to claim 'authority' -- just inviting reason and my own life experience.\n\nOur present Latin, the basis for vernacular translations, is not as clear as some think. I am merely suggesting that it be reviewed to be sure it says what we want it to say, if that is to be 'the norm' for translations.\n\nAs to translations, I recommend reading Ben Sirach and the author's description of the 'Trials of a Translator'. There it is \u2013 in the Bible itself, (if you're Catholic) \u2013 \n\n\"The fact is that sometimes you cannot find an equivalent for things written in Hebrew when you try to translate ideas into another language..You will find on examination that the Law itself, the Prophets, and the other books differ considerably from the original text.\"\n\nTranslating Latin won't be any different.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "He is Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They sacked 120 theologians or revoked their licences to teach in Catholic Universities. They excommunicated others. They fired Bishops and priests for 'asking questions' and covered up for abuser clergy and protective Bishops. They promoted right wing cliques like Opus Dei, wrecked the process for sainthood in order to get their men in (Escriva) to push their agenda. The only people they showed courtesy to were their mental right wing friends who caused schism after Vatican II and went off to follow Lefevre. Ask Bishop Morris of Australia how courteous Benedict was. Benny even wrote a letter personally to him to inform him that he didn't even have recourse to Canon Law as he, the Pope, was sacking him therefore he needn't bother trying to appeal. \nFrancis is being courteous. Courteous in that he hasn't frisbied those four red hats into the Med already.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hi Lumen, I just mean that there are different theologies in different scriptures in the NT: Matthew and his Jewish Jesus, John and his mystic Christ, Colossians and Ephesians and their adoption of Greek cosmology. Sometimes knowing the theology at work enables us to understand the text better, as two or three weeks ago with that man without a wedding garment being cast into outer darkness. It helps to know that Matthew sees the church as a mixture of good and bad, but always needs to have a final reckoning to separate sheep from goats -- however inelegant and confusingly he does that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "2. Both Matthew and Luke shape their respective images of Jesus to distance him from the allegation that he was, in fact, a rebel, and also seek to clarify the relationship between Jesus and John. By the time Luke-Acts is written, there is a \"standard\" portrayal of Jesus as an exclusively spiritual Messiah who was misunderstood by -- everyone. But there remains this persistent tradition visible within the gospels in which both men are followed by militants, both men die accused of or associated with rebellion, and both men remain more or less enigmatic figures for at least several centuries.\n\nPlease understand: I am not prepared to argue that Jesus was, in fact, a Zealot or something of the kind. The Synoptic evangelists (especially Matthew) would have had a vested interest in portraying Jesus as having fulfilled the requirements for a Messiah, and would have had to walk a fine line between myth and reality.\n\nI apologize. Civil Comments imposes artificial constraints on my thoughts.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The SPLCenter is a joke, plain and simple, and I obviously would not take what they publish as factual. Fr Gruner, as well as Christopher Ferrara have been slandered by this far left biased article. Fr Gruner believed in the fact that the Catholic Church was the one true faith, plain and simple and desired the Jewish people to convert to same. Is that anti-Semitic? He had absolutely nothing to do with neo-nazis. Your comment is absolutely scandalous. Fr Gruner believed in the Latin Mass and a profound devotion to our Blessed Mother. He believed the changes of Vatican II were in error. Does that make him a member of a hate group? If it does then I guess you also should consider me a member as well.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One of the true giants of faith, a man who lived out the compassion and healing focus of Jesus, modeling it for young professionals in their education and preparation for ministry in all disciplines. Truly, only God knows how many of our lives he touched and how many he gave a concrete picture of what it means to be an Adventist servant of Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My issue isn't with Pence's religion. It's that he professes all this religious stuff while being Trump's lackey. Trump represents about the opposite of what Christ taught. So if there's a double standard here, it's how Pence is practicing his 'faith'.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What's truly \"funny\" is your grasp of dogmatic theology. Kindly show me a single dogmatic statement in which the Church has declared that Her dogmatic pronouncements are confined to what is proclaimed in the Creed{s}. Allow me to save you the time and just tell you there is none.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Eh. Just as yours could be used as an 'excuse-template' for a coach trying to argue the ref out of a 'penalty' flag when his forwards were caught off-sides.\n\nThis is the irony most eloquently spoken of by John Brown (America's greatest 'white' Christian martyr) before sentencing:\n\n\"...had I [acted] in behalf of the rich, the powerful, the intelligent, the so-called great...or any of that class, and suffered and sacrificed what I have in this...every man in this court would have deemed it an act worthy of reward rather than punishment. [the bible] ...teaches me...to 'remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them'...I am yet too young to understand that God is any respecter of persons. I believe that to have interfered as...I have always freely admitted I have done in behalf of His despised poor, was not wrong, but right.\"\n\nAmiin. That is the difference between us as I see it. You defend the mighty. I speak out for their victims.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When Pope John Paul allowed the local bishop to authorize (or decline to authorize) the celebration of the Tridentine Mass (Extraordinary Form), the bishop was required to make sure that both the celebrants and the members of the congregation affirmed both the validity and the authority of the Mass of Paul VI (Ordinary Form.) Pope Benedict made what I think history will judge as a serious pastoral error in extending the permission without continuing to protect those values and affirmations. I believe that Pope Francis would correct those mistakes if Benedict were not still living; and that he might yet correct them if Benedict pre-deceases him.\nOf more concern than the rite of the EF is the fact that those who celebrate it use a different liturgical calendar and a different lectionary from the rest of the church, both of which are gravely deficient by comparison. I support a wider use of Latin in the OF for those who understand and love the Latin; and also of Gregorian chant.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wow. \"The Sermon on the Mount may be a lie for you shaped by the gospel authors\" \n\nThat is one of the most spectacular misrepresentations of my point if view that I have ever encountered! Eric, I am beginning to wonder if you have a sufficient grasp of the concept of \"genre\" as a fundamental aspect of literature, a concept without which one can not even begin to make sense of anything written in the past that does not fit into any of the currently active \"genres\" of writing today. \n\nThat the genre of our gospels is NOT history as we understand that genre today is essentially a very simple proposition. For you to assume that my evidence that neither the Sermon on the Mount nor the Sermon on the Plain were understood by their authors or original readers as \"history\" means that \"I believe them to be lies\" is so beyond the pale. Do you understand the genres come and go over the centuries, and that Gospels is a genre we no longer practice? Correctly characterizing that genre is crucial.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\". For Adventism it has traditionally been from the bottom up. \"\n\nAnd it still is. Members vote who will hold various offices and when these offices are filled, then the authority is \"top down\".\n\nThe whole presentation is a \"false dilemma\" and is total confusion on the issue of authority. The General Conference delegates authority to the Unions. But the GC states the guide lines that the Union must follow.\n\nJust as a local conference delegates authority to the pastors, but the pastors are not free to \"do as they please\" and assert their own authority outside the stated guidelines of the local conference.\n\nThus a pastor has authority to baptize new members, but he must still follow the stated format and has no freedom to do as he pleases in who he will baptize and on what basis.\n\nThis article is a \"false dilemma\" about authority to undermine the authority of the General Conference who has been elected to administrate policy and doctrine by the whole church community.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I suspect that a lot of converts - who sought the solace of rigidity, strict logical imperatives (regardless of the premises), and comfort in the salvation of submission, not to mention the specifics of moral certitude, exclusion of \"gays\", clarity on women's place \"...in the church and the world\" and a devotion to \"will\" that requires only sufficient individual intellect to read and understand - are uncomfortable with Pope Francis I. \nThat is probably more so for those who took the opportunity offered by Pope Benedict XVI's blind-side of the Anglican/Episcopalian considerations. \nIt should not be surprising that as the truth is setting us free there would be some pain. And, it ain't over yet.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "She racked up 312B and growing in debt - even at the current low interest rates, financing the debt aka making interest payments is the province's 3rd largest expenditure behind a ballooning healthcare budget and an inefficient education budget (why are we still funding catholic schools in 2017 ?). Ontario spends more on interest payments than it does to fund post secondary education (despite alleged free average tuition) or in transfer payments to municipalities (infrastructure and social housing deficits province-wide). Left wing media never attacks liberals or other progressive parties like ndp or greens to the extent they do Conservatives because the latter panders to the public sector workers and labor unions while handing out corporate welfare to declining industries like domestic agriculture and the media which coincidentally includes the livelihood of journalists and reporters.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This article shows a good middle-ground. Jesus can grow in human knowledge all-the-while being the recipient of infused knowledge since His Soul always attends the Beatific Vision.\nhttp://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08675a.htm", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Bishop Paprocki is only upholding the teaching of his Church...\", and (as someone stated here just a few days ago), he and his ilk should do more of it so as to continue the slow-but-steady demise of imperial-styled Catholicism (a/k/a triumphalism).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The below got flagged, but why? Come on, spit it out. Why did some of you flag this? What CC rule did I break?\n\n\"Many Christians are worshiping the little god of their own creation, one that they have control over. \"Name it and claim it\" and \"Standing on the promises\" are but two examples of trying to \"work the Man\", control God. \"In Jesus' Name\" is invoked like a magic charm, little different than invoking earth spirits.\n\nFew want to acknowledge that there is a real Creator, who won't ever dance to their tunes. Atheists and agnostics are not alone in their rejection of the living God, many Christians are rejecting the real God, and embracing an ineffectual replica.\n\nBut, after all, they do have the right to join whichever social club they chose. And the right to support preachers with \"ticklish ears\". They also have the legal right to bring disrespect upon the \"Gospel\", by claiming to follow Jesus' teachings, while living a life to the contrary.\n\n\"They shall be known by their fruits!\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Origins. Plural.\nWestern Civilization has many, many sources. Christianity played a major role, and it fused Jewish monotheism and Jewish ethical values with Greco-Roman culture and philosophy.\nPersia/Babylonia, Egypt, and other ancient cultures also played a role.\nOne small example, there's a huge debate as to the origins of the Western-languages alphabet, which can be traced back to the Romans and then to the Greeks. A lot of scholars then trace it back further to the Phoenicians, but some scholars argue Hebrew is just as ancient as Phoenician.\nThe first four letters of the Greek alphabet are Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta.\nThe first four letters of the Hebrew alphabet are Aleph, Bet, Gimmel, Daled.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The anti-church is coalescing, bringing ever-greater clarity. Bergoglio and the vast majority of his appointees will take a large swath of dioceses with them into the anti-church. Believing Catholics (bishops, priests, and laity) will find one another over time. Currently, the Church and the anti-church occupy the same juridical and sacramental space.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Larry,\n\nWhile that confrontation in Congress was the first real opposition to Sen. Joe McCarthy, what he never recovered from was an expose done by CBS News correspondent Edward R. Murrow, who revealed to America the lies his zealotry had driven him to create and believe. In his commentary about McCarthy, Murrow observed that Communism was \"the great evil of our time\" and that it was based on a web of lies. Then he pointed to the scriptural principle of becoming like what we behold and concluded that, by paying such attention to evil and the lies used to promote it, the Senator had become like it while trying to uproot it from America. \n\nSome say McCarthy's early death was hastened by his public shaming and personal disappointment. Christians can take a lesson from him: by trying to uproot what we think are evils in the church we are in danger of becoming just as evil because our focus is on it instead of Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Then we have different views of the same issue, GerardJoseph. Not surprising. But if one thing is true, it is that Pope Francis, just as Jesus in the Gospels, always always always shows everyone the path to forgiveness, without a myriad of rules and rubrics to overcome when possible, as opposed to a sort of rigid and punishing stance so very characteristic of traditionalist Catholicism. Jesus moved us away from exactly that sort of thing under Mosaic Law (prevalent at the time of His public ministry on earth) and it is exactly what those true to Vatican II have been trying to do, despite those who think they know better. And to be of assistance, I can refer you to better theological writings then Familiaris Consortio. Likewise, I an provide you with excellent readings on the doctrine of Reception, which may help explain what is lacking in so much of traditionalist chatter.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It was difficult for me to watch the \"genocide\" on the West Side..\nI couldn't help but blame the church and governments/military etc as they put \"no parking on our property \" signs in Waianae and Makaha as the thousands of homeless (many Hawaiians and their children) moved to live in plastic bag tents in the bushes at the boat harbor because their own lands were stolen.\nI took photos of the churches and related properties that surround the homeless camps and wrote comments and posted them to facebook.\nI am not a professional photographer or journalist.. . I actually have been depressed and sick from watching the illegal take over of Waianae by those who put profti before people. ie. church and state..", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sigh. Francis pleases me in his progressiveness on some issues, and then makes me critical on other issues. He did well this week in his Ecumenical outreach to Lutherans a the 500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation which was historic. \n\nThis however it disappointing but not surprising when it comes to female ordination to the priesthood. As an Anglican who has a female priest leading my parish I can confirm that having women as priests and leaders does do well for the Church. \n\nI guess it takes more than one individual, however well intentioned to bring change, whether in politics or religion. Vatican II was brought on, not simply by the good intentions of Pope John XXIII(who was a great Pope) but also by the demands of Catholics themselves. The Catholic Church condemned religious freedom as a \"Americanist heresy\" and yet due to the groundswell of grassroots pressure put forward Dignitatis Humanae. \n\nI believe that is what's needed on this issue.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So your response to Jesus in the temple with the moneychangers would be, \"Hey, Jesus, take a moment and cool down, huh? Once you are in control again, you won't make these horrible mistakes.\"\n\nYou keep watching what Trump does. We as a country will still have abortion, to the shame of both sides who refuse to hear the other. Trump will do many things that you should be ashamed of, as a Christian and as an American. I will remain angry and astonished, and in faith as I do so.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Tell your pastor that Catholics were driven out and murdered for 250 years in Japan. The faith passed on despite no priests...through baptism and marriage. When missionaries returned after 250 years....some came forwarded after recognizing the priests crossing themselves..and said \"there are 50,000 o of us here\". \n\nThere is no shame in self-defense. Your pastor should study Pearl Harbor...and the death that began from that point. Brutal brutal people. My uncle was a very refined man...eventually an Ambassador, high intellect, but he was a Marine infantry officer and saw the worst of it in WWII (close quarters, bayonets, eye gouging events)...and to the day he died he referred to them as \"Japs\". \n\nHave your pastor read about the rape of Nanking. Ask the Koreans.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Michael Voris, is responsible for urging hateful comments coming to Madonna University about Shawn Copeland's presentation. He wasn't \"civil\" about:\n1) claiming that she personally made statements, that other people made\n2) misrepresenting ideas about her presentation \n3) making accusations about the religious community which owns Madonna University\n\nFr. Martin, M. Shawn Copeland and Rebecca Weiss should file a class action law suit again Michael Voris and his Church Militant group.\n\n1) Voris violated their right to free speech dealing with issues in American public discourse and life---after they were invited to speak within their competencies by authorized authorities \n2) Voris posted on line and encouraged others to post on line libelous and slanderous comments about the speakers and about their hosts.\n3) Voris operates as social terrorist. He utilizes and encourages vicious innuendo and comments as a means of 'controlling' Catholic universities' promotion of universal concepts.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ask anyone who rides a motorcycle and wears a vest with any type of affiliation - be it Christian bikers, ABATE, any number of veterans clubs and even RUBs ( Rich Urban Bikers - the kind who pull the $35K Harley out on Sundays in July) and they will tell you - NEVER get pulled over in Peel. 99% as the numbers indicate are not a criminal element, do not affiliate with those loosely tagged as OMC's ( Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs - Hells Angels, Outlaws, Mongols etc) yet they are stopped, harassed and pretty much run out or town with the last stage when the 1% are the \"target\". Peel is the most inhospitable police force to anyone within and without their jurisdiction who are not white middle and upper class and driving a nice \"family\" or executive vehicle.\nEvans is not the originator of the problem but is very much the propagator and come October she should be tossed, for a more open and honest concept of Canadian policing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "By \"Luther's Bible\" I mean, OF COURSE, Luther's translation of the Bible. This should have been obvious even to you.\n\nAnd you continue to dodge the topic YOU brought up, that consumerism was a significant factor in the Protestant Reformation. I said that it was Catholic consumerism that was important, and you wander off into irrelevancies about Luther's dislike of James' Epistle. \n\nIt is very annoying when Catholic traditionalists/conservatives pretend that the Catholic Church was in no way to blame for the Reformation (or the Great Schism). Y'all are, as is your wont, denying historical fact -- ie, lying.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\u201cChrist has no body now but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he looks compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good. Yours are the hands through which he blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, you are his body. Christ has no body now on earth but yours.\u201d\n\n\u2015 Teresa of \u00c1vila", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hopefully the American Catholic Church will recognize what a visionary Joseph Bernardin was. Only in his last year did the nation get to see the man's Christianity as he bravely faced his own death. But long before that the thousands who came into personal contact with him felt his humanity and his keen perception of reality. After his death he was reviled by those who were not as understanding. A less Christian bishop would look down on current events and say \"I told you so.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Unfortunately for the Colorado GOP, they have a great habit of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory by insisting that their nominee pass a purity test.\n\nAn anti-marriage equality/ pro-life/ Evangelical Christian Republican will not win a statewide race so long as the Dems nominate someone remotely awake, so long as they actually campaign and keep their nose clean.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am not sure why the Klan diminishes greatly in 1925 in Oregon. A black man, Timothy Pettis, was murdered in Marshfield (now Coos Bay) in 1924. The Klan was suspected but the case was never solved. His body was mutilated and left in the bay. Although a $500 reward was offered by local authorities and another $100 by the local black community, the murder remained unsolved. Previous to this blacks were terrorized, but not actually murdered by the Klan in Oregon. I am not sure if this lead to many people dropping out of the Klan or not as the case was not solved and there was not proof that the Klan was responsible.\nIn Eugene it appears one of the focuses was on getting rid of the police chief who was Catholic and that effort was successful. The Klan did not succeed in denying the hospital (what would become Sacred Heart) non-profit status because it was Catholic or in trying to forbid the Catholic Newman Center next to campus from serving U of O students.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'll start praying for your successful surgery and easy recovery now, Anon. My understanding is that these types of surgeries are now so much easier and far more successful than they were even a few years ago. I wonder if you'll set off the airport metal detectors afterwards? My parents were very active in a couple of Church-sponsored faith movements, such as poverty, ministry to mentally disabled Catholics, and a hunger program at a local Church that fed thousands. It was that work of my parents (and they took their kids with them on these missions) that set my path in both religious life and in human services/sciences, so I really and deeply honor your same efforts as it is all so very close to me. Be well, and know that you are in my prayers. Many blessings and much love to you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Amen to that. Jesus used His words alone to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. False humility is a very subtle way to ensnare a believer.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Again it is easy to assert that but difficult to prove. Where is this multitude of members you speak for, who are they? Or do we just take your word for it?\nThe Catholic Church has only one reason for being, the salvation of souls.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not really - Furthermore, although theories on the origins and evolution of the pristine Anaphora remain in flux, one point of growing agreement among representative scholars, Catholic and non, is that the Institution Narrative is a later embolism\u2014i.e., interpolation\u2014into the earliest eucharistic prayers. For pace Renaudot\u2019s mistaken assertion, not only Addai and Man but several other early Eucharistic Prayers do, in fact, lack these words.10 Those generally listed include: the 1/2nd century Didache 910l1 and the dependent Apostolic Constitutions (ca. 380) VII, 25: 14;12 the 2/3rd century apociyphal Acts of John 85- 86, 109-110 and Acts of Thomas 27, 49-50, 133, 158;13 the Martyrdom of Polycaip (t167) 14;\u2019 the 4/5th century Papjc Strasbourg Gr. 254;15 the O5O; 16and the Ethiopic Anaphora of the Apostles, as Gabriele Winkler has recently demonstrated.17 Furthermore, it seems probable that ca. 150, Justin Martyr\u2019s Eucharistic Prayer did not have them either.18", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So.....you critique my argument....but in so doing prove my point?\n\nMy point was to those that there might be a time when the bishops would be right in saying that there is one issue that automatically disqualifies a candidate.\n\nIn saying that by my logic the bishops are negligent in failing to assert that a Catholic cannot vote for Trump in good Conscience because he is a racist, you are proving my point. There are times when bishops should tell Catholics that a vote for this or that candidate is not compatible with the Catholic Faith.\n\nThe paradox is that you accuse the bishops of being partisan, yet want them to tell Catholics they cannot vote for Trump. \n\nNow, I disagree that Trump is a racist and a fascist, but that is for another discussion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pt. 2\n\nWhat we received from JP II and Benedict was an American hierarchy/clergy who \"championed a select moral agenda and consensus of Catholicism that was evident in the practices of withholding communion to Catholic politicians deemed insufficiently \"pro-life\" over three presidential election seasons; we had reaction to Notre Dame's decision to confer an honorary degree on President Obama; and the 2010 actions of the bishop of Phoenix who declared that St. Joseph's Hospital was no longer Catholic after doctors terminated a pregnancy to save a young woman's life.\"\n-------------------------------------\nRichard Gaillardetz, \"Every Day the Church Should Give Birth to the Church,\" NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER [March 1, 2011], at http://ncronline.org/news/fatih-parish/every-day-church-should -give-birth-Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I thought there were no \"orthodox catholics\" just \"catholics?\"\n\nBut a good point is made, when others praise the pope, it is a bad sign. That is perfectly reasonable.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The scattering of the ashes is a no-brainer. Surely God can accomplish the task of reconstituting the individual without the benefit of Google Maps. What will north, south, east, and west mean in the world to come, anyway? Ironically, the scattering of the ashes is, for many, exactly what the Church is holding up as a model (and rightly so) to dissuade folks from having private shrines--the \"understanding how the loved one belong[s] to the entire community of faith and not just to his or her closest relatives.\"\n\nMore irony: LGBT people in particular often feel that way. I know who many who had their ashes scattered far and wide.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It took the overthrow of Catholicism to remove the Church's hold on the West before we got our freedom.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Havana was also in the news yesterday. There was film footage.\n.\nBoth Cuba and Puerto Rico were hammered by the Irma-Maria hurricane one-two punch.\n.\nBut, without help, Cuba picked itself up, and is back running again, and none of the international news services is saying anything more about hurricane damage in Cuba. (I checked, not a single story yesterday - NYT, CBC, BBC, RFI, DW, Al-Jazeera, NPR, PBS - nothing).\n.\nMeanwhile, in Puerto Rico, the richest country in the world is letting its citizens die.\n.\nYesterday the White House has just discovered that Puerto Rico \"Is an island. Surrounded by water. Big Water. The Ocean.\"\n.\nWe are told the response is \"Incredible\".\n.\nWell, that's one word for it.\n.\n.\n.\nPuerto Rico is full of people who are poor, Hispanic and non-white.\n.\nIf Puerto Rico were full of old white evangelical Christian Republican men, would the mayor of San Juan be begging for help?\n.\nMaybe she should have asked Havana for help, not Washington.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Joe, Any clerical teaching must be capable of being accepted by the laity or the teaching is very wrong. Most educated Catholics understand that there is something very wrong about the supposedly \"celibate\" clergies teachings about sex and reproduction. We are not dumb lambs. We are often more educated and more ethical than are the clergy. Morals are man made and it is important that they remain ethical.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholic triumphalism lives!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So are they actually saying that the Holy Spirit will not (or maybe even cannot) transform the bread into the Body of Christ if it's not \"valid matter\"? How fascinating!\nClearly, these men need to get a day job. They have too much time on their hands.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Let's hope so , Kevin . A companion book \" Catholicism \" edited by Olsen has a chapter on God . \" God is the thought than which there is nothing greater .\"\nI suppose while that statement is not Catholicism it may be Scholastic Philosophy . ????\nMy feeling is neither Ken Burns nor Rick Steves need worry .", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am not making that prediction - The Chruch has changed before- just in the nick of time -We, the laity, are the church as well, and how long it takes to get to the turning point is also influenced by the behavior of the laity. I am always surprise by how deep the influence of the clergy goes. We talk freely on this blog, I observe that the atmosphere get pretty heavy when in the presence of an exacting priest - as if they held th epower of our acuittal or eternal damnation. Following the words of a priest, against our conscience will not get us eternal peace. God lives in our conscience, not in outside noise. Personaly, I have the depp conviction that the clergy, including the Pope are wrong in that interpretation - God has shown time and again, that strong women should be given more power - Sister Claire, Therese of Avila, were revolutionary in their time. St. Therese of Liseux gave a lesson of humility to the bid doctors in the Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Okay, I have to admit my first thought was, this wasn't worth the paper it was written [coded] on.\n\nIn 2001 >[JPII] 'wrote that the Commandments \u201cdemand that the Church itself, in her pastoral solicitude, intervene to avert dangers of violation, so as to provide for the salvation of souls, which must always be the supreme law in the Church\u201d ' \n\nThe hierarchy talks. But where are the actions? Where is the reality? That is the test, that is what matters.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ah, once once starts assessing the Church based on one's \"belief\" regarding the Pope's authority, one is no longer a Traditional Catholic, but at best, a Cafeteria Catholic, or possibly a Protestant. This is basic Church teaching.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I went through the College of Education many years ago and the taught high school for five years. Here is what was missing from my training:\nAwareness that many parents have dismissed educators as having authority in their own classroom. Their kids can do no wrong. As one parent said: \"Our kid only submits to OUR authority\"\nHow to teach with 160 kids a day. That's 2 mins. per kid per day. My half hour lunch was helping kids. I worked after school helping kids. I did lesson planning on Sundays. Paid for and took classes in the summer. Yet, I just could not figure out how to be the teacher I thought I should be.\nKnowledge that I should have accepted the invite by the guy teachers to play poker and drink whiskey after hours. \nAwareness that if you cover evolution, the Vietnam war, our military involvement in banana republics, you will get grief from parents.\nKnowledge that some Christians may label you as \"not teaching according to scripture\".\nSo, you are right, failed preparation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have read that historically the problem with the Pharisees was during the period when the Gospels were being written as your link points out. Jesus was at odds with the Temple priests as shown by turning over the tables and saying he will build a new Temple in 3 days (His resurrection).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank your for your honest reply Pastor Dodd. I hope this moves people toward the compassionate image of Jesus that so many of us embrace. It was never Jesus intent to segregate his 'family' by human hierarchies that 'rank' the worthiness of other people to elevate their own standing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This poll supports the obvious conclusion that the Church has declined because of its abandonment of the ancient Traditions, Rituals, and Rites. The Church must become more dogmatic, preaching to the youth of today how they are failing to comply with God's Laws. The Church must re-institute the Rituals established by Christ in the Ancient past of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, abandoned by modernists and progressives following Vatican II. If more Bishops would stand up and rebuke the young of America for failing to observe the Laws of God, as promulgated by the Infallible Magesterium, stand up to the Oppression of Religion, and don the Ancient Regalia that is one of the keystones of the Church, then the youth would flock to the Churches to gaze in awe at the back of the priest as he chants in Latin, the Language of God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Noteworthy to mention how ecumenical archdiocese of NY has become with Dolan receiving an award from Mormons, a group in which perhaps their common link is preserving patriarchy. The truly visionary NY priest, George Ford, in the name of his parish sent (1942) flowers to neighbor, Riverside Church, on anniversary of their founding. He was excoriated by archdiocese, accused of \"communicatio in sacris.\" Ford was ecumenical before the word had currency. Google him for extraordinary pre-Vatican vision. Hounded by the archdiocese for catholic outreach, never made a monsignor when they were a dime a dozen. Most respected NY priest, embraced ecumenically by all NY communities. Ford was relentlessly persecuted by his own church for an unmatchable vision in word and deed. Dolan isn't near the visionary, by a long shot. Can't hold a candle to George Ford.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wait a minute--you are the one claiming that women should get free birth control--and now you are complaining when you are expected to provide it? I am not the one who is demanding free birth control. All I am saying is that free birth control cannot come from the Church. If liberals want to claim women have a right to free birth control, they cannot complain when they are sent the bill.\n\nBuying and selling people against their will is Chattel Slavery. What did you think Chattel Slavery was? I granted that the bishops and even popes owned and sold slaves. My claim was that church teaching was clear that Chattel Slavery is condemned The bishops and popes ignored Church teaching.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus preached to the PRIVATE SECTOR, not the GOVERNMENT SECTOR.\n\nJesus said we should care for the poor with our personal donations and time, NOT with government tax dollars and government programs.\n\nJesus NEVER asked the Roman government to care for the poor ... !!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\" The iceberg metaphor is so spot on- the church must disorganize, disintegrate so as to reorganize and reintegrate with Christ and one another. Mercy, \"\nThe 2 greatest compulsions of man are the need to reproduce (sex) and (inculcated) religion. Religion tries to control the natural sexual compulsion so as to remain the paramount influence in man's existence.\nThe 3rd ranked influence is greed.\nTill the hierarchy is purged of it's greed - and facile acquisition thereof - please don't hold your breath....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My take on the issue is that Benedict is responsible for enabling the condition he wishes to address. To be \"co-responsible\" is to share in the blame for the problem. I want no part of this. Furthermore,the Kingdom of God is not the institutional church and one does not enter it by joining. One enters by regeneration through the Holy Spirit indwelling us. \n One is (I am) always disappointed when Benedict is quoted in some context or other like this because he did more to bring down the church in our time than any save Cardinal Law, perhaps. Notice the complete absence of any mention of the Bishops Pastoral on Social Justice. This present crop was handpicked by JPII and unless you read PEOPLE OF GOD by Penny Lernoux you are not going to know how JPII worked to undo the work of the Spirit in that era of church history.\n Using B16 as an anodyne for what ails the church makes as much sense as treating a boil with pus. Pardon my French. \n Great comments.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, ignorance often renders opinions invalid. Happens all the time. This is why I tend not to opine about what I am ignorant about. One time I complained to some old ladies about using up all the pearls in their knitting and making oysters endangered. They laughed at me. \n\nYou've never been in a situation -- yet. I've never been in a house fire but I have extinguishers tucked around the home just in case. You never know, eh.\n\nHere's what military vets know -- A firearm is a tool, nothing more, nothing less. And stuff happens \n\nAnd I know many people who understand those without having been in the military. Some people never learn them. \n\nBut honestly... who are you going to turn to for exegesis of the Gospel of Mark... a theologian who has studied and is conversant with the issues... or a person who thinks Christianity is nonsense and has never picked up the Bible? \n\nWho is likely to have a better understanding of firearms? Firearm laws? The firearm owning community? You? Or me?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "read the bible before you speak for God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Suicidal ?Ask Jesus to forgive you and be your Lord and savior and to give you a new heart,", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Harry,\nJust like Jesus would deal with the problem, HUMANELY AND WITH LOVE..", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am a family physician and a victim/survivor of a sexual assault by a Carmelite priest years ago. I have know Barbara Blaine since 2010. In every way possible, Barbara Blaine, Barbara Dorris, and David Clohessy have worked to help victims of clergy sexual abuse by giving them a voice, by monthly support sessions to give them the courage to tell their stories in an understanding surrounding, by annual conferences that both inform and help heal victims who can then become survivors, not by bashing the Church but by letting the Church know that the rape of children is considered a crime in the real world and that children around the world are having their lives ruined by Catholic priests, bishops, brothers, nuns, who are sexually abusing and raping children and vulnerable adults with no need to be accountable, since the Church covers up for them, and governments are allowing the Catholic Church to be above the law. Gretchen might think this is an easy way for her to make money.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Only if you think we are all Jesus.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Whatever happened to the Leap Manifesto? I thought it was supposed to be the greatest book since the bible?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Other bishops felt the emphasis on religious liberty overshadowed concerns about justice and peace. \" My Catholic-raised daughter left the Church at the earliest opportunity. Two years in the Peace Corps in an Islamic country only reinforced her opinion that organized religion in general, and Catholicism and Islam in particular, cause more harm than good for the world. However, she is now going through a Catholic Relief Services vetting process to allow her to be part of a support group for refugee families settled in her community. \n\nThe only chance of getting millennials back into the Church will be through the door marked \"justice and peace\", not \"religious liberty\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's a full on tirade by NCR against anything Trump does.\n\nNearly every article. Total blitz against him. \n\nKind of boring to come here every day and see nothing but less well written MSNBC articles. \n\nIf he didn't go to middle east to \"engage\" NCR would complain.\nbut he did, visiting the worlds three great religions and more in chock full effort, and NCR complains.\n\nWe get it. \n\nGet creative and cast a wider and more charitable net for topics. \n\nHow about \"How can Catholics make better use of summer time for the growth of each of their family members?\"\n\nHow about \"How can Catholics learn to sanctify death and all the events surrounding death\"?\n\nHow about \"how can we become better friends to our friends\"?\n\nSomething focused on \"growth\"...growing virtue...growing in holiness....less about \"protest signs\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Maybe so. But while we aren't religious, my daughter attended Catholic school since it had the best academic record in our catchment area. Upon discovering she didn't believe in God, her English teacher asked, seriously, whether she had any values. She was also compelled to attend religious services, which, predictably, stated that abstinence was the only acceptable method of preventing both unwanted pregnancy and STDs.\n\nNeither her experience nor what TWU does is right, but the Catholic School Board receives direct taxpayer funding. I'd say that is worse than charitable status for a private university, particularly if you consider that law students may choose from dozens of schools. Me and my daughter had two to choose from, one with an abysmal reputation for education, the other proselytizing for a faith we feel is completely out of touch.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Qu\u00e9bec is \u201cofficially\u201d French speaking since 1774-\n(but we all know that it is since 1608) so why are you crying for then ?...Who\u2019s LATE here ?...and who\u2019s got & MAKING a problem with it ?...\nThe past & present MINORITY of the Ghetto Anglo Montrealers (7%) of all of Qu\u00e9bec is to blame here for not consciously recognize the \u201cQu\u00e9bec Act\u201d (an Act for making more effective Provisions for The Government of the Province of Qu\u00e9bec in North America) \nwas a British statute which received royal assent 22 June 1774 and became effective 1 May 1775;\n- it re-established the French language rights (got it Anglo Canada ?);\n-+ Catholic faith; \n-+ French civil law...\u201d\n\n\"separatists who wipe out the English history in Quebec\" said Karen ?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "California has more Evangelical churches than Texas. \n\nI'm sure TP2 would deny earthquake help to them as well.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why extend compassion to those who don't understand the meaning of the word or can't tolerate the potential effect of the effort? I ask myself that question all the time and having no real answer so I keep on keeping on. The groups you mention, KofC-which is really Carl Anderson, President Trump, American conservatism, are not interested in compassion, they are interested in promoting a political world view that is not particularly Catholic. Carl Anderson really angers me because he is promoting a libertarian self centered political world view under the guise of a previously recognized truly compassionate Catholic organization. Why this situation continues is beyond my comprehension. I do know more than one 4th degree Knight who has said enough is enough, and left the organization. I don't think that's intolerance. I think that's being true to one's Catholic faith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Some Catholics have complained about the lack of clarity in the new directive regarding admission to seminaries and homosexuality. Why not be clear? Same problem with L.A. Muddy waters lead to highly varied interpretations an scandal. In order for a penitent to be forgiven of his or her sins, there must be a firm purpose of amendment to avoid serious sin. Conjugal continence in a 2d marriage w/o annulment is required in light of the indissolubility of Christian sacramental marriage. Living faithfully is not impossible. Persons need to avoid the occasion of sin. Subjective after the fact judgments about fault for the breakdown of the marriage and the good of the children to be in a 2-parent home do not make a 2d marriage moral without annulment of the first with ongoing adultery. Henry VIII would have never formed his own church given this new theology. This is not a slippery slope, but rather, downhill skiing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually, he is expressing an idea that goes back at least as far as Aquinas. See the Summa Theologica, II-II, q 66, articles 1 and 2.\n\nJPII, in Centesimus Annus, 30-31 wrote \u201c\u2018man should not consider his material possessions as his own, but as common to all,\u2019 because \u2018above the laws and judgments of men stands the law, the judgment of Christ. God gave the earth to the whole human race for the sustenance of all its members, without excluding or favoring anyone.\u2019\u201d This is referred to as the \u201cuniversal destination of created goods\u201d (He is quoting Leo XIII, Rerum Novarum, 22). Are you going to call Pope John Paul a Marxist?\n\nWhy is it that many conservative Catholics seem to be unaware of Catholic social teachings (and know even less of Marxism)?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Eucharist is insufficient \"spiritual sustenance\"? \n\nPeople grave \"experience\" today and \"feeling\" and \"emotionalism\" and \"participation\" in worship as opposed to silence, wonder and contemplation. A lack of awe and respect for the Body and Blood of Christ is, I suspect, the root cause of disaffection.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Another argument for spiritual communion. More kosher.\nDid Jesus leave a codicil regarding such at the Last Supper?\nWasn't his emphasis on 2,3 gathered in my name?\nGreat issue for any compulsive \"church lady.\"\nWhy doesn't the Vatican take over operations and become a YUGE exporter of these vitals?\nWould be more in line than stamps and other souvenir items hawked.\nOr, perhaps give the Trads exclusive right for production?\nCommunion happens, ex opere operato, regardless of the worthiness of the minister; so why not regardless of quality of the bread and wine?\nSomebody need something to do to pass time in Sarah's office, no?\nThe making of a musical. Calling Monty Python!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Business change-management strategies needed? Is that all it will take to bring Catholics back into the pews? Not to disparage Lowry's book describing \"an 'EASTeR' strategy...to be entrepreneurial, be accountable, serve, transform, and reach out,\" but SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT seems to be missing here! \n\nIf the church is merely a non-profit business with buildings and programs to maintain, then surely these ideas should be the answer that parishes are looking for.\n\nHOWEVER, Anyone old enough and fortunate enough to have been part of a flourishing Vatican II parish will remember Lowry's strategy was common practice ...ENERGIZED, however, by the SPIRIT OF VATICAN II.\n\nMany \"fallen away\" Catholics today remember being told to leave leadership to the clergy and return to post-Trent theology and practice. They GASPED and eventually left when even the \"spirit of Vatican II\" was derided and suppressed by pope and priest alike. Surely, more is needed! Google Rite Beyond Rome(dotcom).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I had two aunts that were Sisters of St. Dominic. Both were very orthodox when they were young, then they became progressive (after Vatican II) in middle age, then, finally, quite orthodox in their twilight years: I was very surprised at that; I never saw it coming! I asked one of them why their Superior General, in pictures, always wore her Dominican, black and white, habit? My aunt answered honestly: It was for political reasons: She knew she'd get a lot more donations from orthodox, wealthy Catholics if she wore a traditional habit. Sad, but true.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why is it that Pope Francis could reply albeit surreptitiously, to the questions posed by the Argentine bishops yet he refuses to reply to the dubia presented to him by several cardinals?\nThere was no doubt in the minds of most of the USA and Canadian bishops and many more around the world that there had been no change in doctrine concerning the reception of Holy Communion by those in adulterous relationships.\nIf the Pope desires to remove all doubt and confirm the brethren, why doesn't he come out and say so publicly? Why does he as Supreme Pontiff, Vicar of Christ and head of the Church not spell out what he means to the whole Church and not just communicate his private opinion privately to the bishops' conference in his home country? What is he afraid of?\nI doubt that the conclave will ever again elect a Jesuit to the See of Peter.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Greetings....Reading the Holy Fathers sermon today about \"spiritual poverty\" exactly describes the US Bishops! Their not speaking out against such crimes against all humanity show that they are spiritually deficet and are not practicing the Beatitudes as prescribed by +Jesus Christ the Lamb of God+ By them reacting late or not at all shows a deep lack of leadership, something that they should be called on! I will pray for them!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The reformation was not an accomplishment but a tragedy. Christ prayed that they may become one. Certain good things did emerge from the reformation (because God draws good from evil) like the counter reformation, but the fracture of Christ's flock in the west cannot be celebrated. Unlike some, I don't think Luther was an evil man by any means. I view him as a tragic figure. If he had not left the Church he could have been the next Saint Francis of Assisi; a great former who \"rebuilt\" the church through his witness and holy example. There would be Saint Luther churches all over and western Christianity would be united. In my view, it is a tragedy history did not go this way.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "https://www.lhup.edu/~dsimanek/mencken.htm\n\n\"The effort to reconcile science and religion is almost always made, not by theologians, but by scientists unable to shake off altogether the piety absorbed with their mothers' milk. The theologians, with no such dualism addling their wits, are smart enough to see that the two things are implacably and eternally antagonistic, and that any attempt to thrust them into one bag is bound to result in one swallowing the other. The scientists who undertake this miscegenation always end by succumbing to religion; after a Millikan has been discoursing five minutes it becomes apparent that he is speaking in the character of a Christian Sunday-school scholar, not of a scientist.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Steve Bannon, good Catholic (?) as Charlie Rose called him, went to a Benedictine \u201cmilitary\u201d school in Richmond VA. (It is still there.)\n\nAm I expecting too much to assume that he had been well schooled in the Benedictine tradition and Rule of hospitality to the stranger (aka. today, undocumented persons)? \n\u201cLet everyone that comes be received as Christ.\u201d", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The studies also necessary because there is a widespread belief among opponents of gay marriage that gay visitors will destroy our tourist industry in Hawaii. \n\nIt was part of their campaign against gay marriage. \n\nFacts like these studies tell us what the real story is. The fact is that gay tourism is an important part of tourism in Hawaii and we need to Market to them if we expect to dispel the idea that Christians in Hawaii dislike gays and lesbians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sure, show Dylann Roof \"peace, forgiveness, and love\" but find effective ways to stop him and his murderous behaviour - and all like him. Jesus didn't question the legitimacy of the death penalty when facing Pilate or when on the Cross.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Another pope as idol article from NCR. Need some new material for writing here. This news site has slowly gotten into a rut. \n\nThe pope has an incredible role in the Church, irreplaceable, but he's not God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Here's a contemporary example of why I am right. A popular cartoon South Park; stay with me now, shows Jesus againand again doing vile and bitter things, with fecal matter smeared all over himself etc. Christians haven't beat anyone up let alone killed anyone. Now let's remember Charlie Hedbo. You tell me that my comment is off target, I say your memory and integrity are in question.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Burning the evidence of actual ordinations during times women were allowed ordination, since it was not against church law in the early church, is not a reaction, it is censorship to keep the truth of our history from the people of the church. You must really love people like Adolph Hitler who burnt bibles in Germany so his people would not learn about Jesus Christ.\n\nLike I said, people only ever burn documents, not to protect truth, but to instead hide truth.\n\nOur church, sadly, did a great deal of this.\n\nIn fact, this destruction of our history and documents makes it impossible to prove either of us is right conclusively.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Those churches are totally different in terms of how and what parishes do. Most of the married priests have full time other jobs, unrelated to being priests!!!\"\n\n\nIsn't that how the Christian communities first began? Did the Twelve and other disciples live apart from the rest of the people? Did they dress any differently? Didn't St. Paul write that both he and Barnabas worked to make a living [1 Cor. 9:6-7]? Weren't most the Apostles accompanied by 'believing wives' in their ministries?\n\n\nMaybe it is high time that priests live a family life, experience the joys and sorrows of family life, and work at a job like others do. Oh, many of the Eastern priests' wives also work---[I know a few of them]---just like many other women do today. THEY also have more in common with other working Moms.\n\nTaking a realistic look at the Apostolic Age---a married priesthood can be an excellent example of how Catholic families really live out a Christian life-style TODAY.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh, Jesus followed the law? So why was he arrested [by the Jewish hierarchy] and sentenced to death by the Romans? To what 'law' are you referring ? The Law of God, or the law/acts of a narcissistic president which runs completely counter to the Law of the love of God and the love of your neighbor as yourself. Or do you think that Jesus was just kidding when he based his entire ministry on serving others and us? \n\n\nRead Matthew 25:31-47 [the Judgment of the Nations] and see what the Son of Man states as the grounds for final judgment. People who call themselves \"Christians/Catholics\" but fail to see that their own bigotry and their legalism marks them as hypocrites. Those bishops who FAIL to speak up as Bishop McElroy did, need to read the entire twenty-third Chapter of Matthew and seriously reflect upon it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "ATF...according to an NCR article the cardinals break out \"The current geographic breakdown of voting members of the College of Cardinals:\n\nEurope: 54\nLatin America: 16\nNorth America: 15 (11 from the United States and four from Canada)\nAfrica: 12\nAsia: 11\nMiddle East: 2\nCaribbean: 1\nOceania:\"\n\nThusly....and I kind of think that the US represents about 7% of the world's Catholic pop and already has a fair share of cardinals....I d guess that Francis will be looking to fill up some of the vast empty spaces without cardinals.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wake up!\n\nThe article may not be 100% accurate, but please recognise this is the image that the US Catholic church has elsewhere in the world!\n\nIn the business world, they are very aware that \"perception\" is at least as important as, if not more than \"reality\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic Herald reported that Cardinal Mueller said that there was no change in the teaching that the divorced and remarried could not receive Holy Communion. However, as head of the CDF he speaks for the Pope and would not intervene in the dubia presented to the Pope unless asked to.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, our deepest conversion needs to be toward a Person, Jesus Christ, not away from this or that thing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Religious Rightist males feel challenged. As rightly they should. They are losing power/ control, even theologically. Mother Church is raising her voice, as well she should.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "RC, you did not really address the substance of my comment. How is it fair, just, or charitable to deport a person, who, through no fault of their own, was brought to this country as a child - - and in this case, a small child. \"She just needs to apply\" is, to me, startling in its callousness. She knows no other country (and she is not from Mexico, FWIW). Here she has children and a home. What would she have in her native country, after two decades or more out of it? Orientstar, feel free to jump in here, since you 'liked' RC's take on this.\n\nI have to believe as a country and as Catholic Christians there has to be a better answer than \"she can apply\" to those who were brought here without a choice as children.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm an expert on what I believe, not you. I believe that we should focus on what unites us rather than on what divides us. To me, rallying under an ethnic, racial, gender, sexual, linguistic, or cultural banner is un-American. Do you believe that white people should have parades celebrating \"whiteness?\" Nor do I believe that a political party should be celebrating identity politics. Remember: e pluribus unum. By the way, I have no objection to CIVIL marriage between gay people, and support civil rights for all people including gay people, but I am opposed to changing Catholic Church teaching on homosexuality because the Holy Bible clearly condemns homosexuality in both the Old and New Testaments.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "God formed Adam from dust, and God formed Eve from one of Adams ribs. God's spirit force impregnated Mary and Jesus was born.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hi Chriz\n\nChecking the story in Luke, it seems Jesus never uses that word 'good' to apply to the Samaritan. He just says the helping man was a Samaritan.\n\nThe 'good samaritan' label is something later bible copiers put on it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's precisely what it does...to all people, not just Catholics. \n\nSome Opus Dei priests routinely provide spiritual direction to Protestant ministers, and to Oscar Romero too!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "keep climbing the ecclesiastical ladder. when you reach the former pope, the ratzinger, then dig. it would be incredulous to think that this man left the papacy, his lifelong coveted pursuit, because of his stated health reasons. he seemed the kind of guy who would rather die in the popes seat no matter how retched his health might have been than to abandon it while still living.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Having ready your link, I find it to be a \"cherry picking\" exercise. Since a \"non-heterosexual\" marriage is not recognized by Canon Law, Canon Law has nothing to say about it. The Catechism does have a lot to say about funerals the gist being; if you are baptized in the Church you get a Catholic funeral. Since the Catechism in reality precedes Canon Law, Canon Law being written to \"support our beliefs,\" and our beliefs being stated in the Catechism, prior to quoting Canon Law, one should always consults the Catechism. If you read canon 1184, you will find that someone really needs to be \"unhinged\" and creating scandal to be denied a Catholic funeral. Note, I did not say funeral Mass. I doubt any local LGBT person who dies is considered notorious and causing grave scandal for the Church. \nhttp://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p2s2c4a2.htm\nhttp://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_P4C.HTM", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But her \"community\" is not Roman Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Rather, God uses HIS creation to communicate to us or in this case to Sister Lucia. Mary said what the sign would be. It occurred as she had indicated and WWII broke out soon thereafter. I didn't say it was a sign of the end. It was a sign that we had not changed our ways and converted as He asked through Our Lady of Fatima and the consequences of that failure meant WWII, the annihilation of many nations, the spread of Communism and much suffering for the Church and the Pope. But in the end, Our Lady promised, her Immaculate Heart would triumph and an era of peace would be accorded to mankind. We are awaiting that triumph. We have seen the truth of this 1917 apparition with WWII, the spread of Communism, the eliminations of many nations and new names for those that took their place, the persecution of Christians, the shooting of JPII, the resignation of Benedict amid scandal, Francis' teaching distorted etc.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, your comments hit a nerve. They brought back a memory of my daughter who decided she would 'keep Jesus with me'. She was eight and figured having a host in her pocket was much better than anything she could wear around her neck for 'protection'. I had to explain that Jesus said 'take and eat' because then He could become part of every cell in our body just like any other food we ate, and that's how He wanted us to 'keep him with us'. She thought about it and said: \"Even the parts that don't work right, like my pancreas?\" She had just been diagnosed as a Type I diabetic. I said, \"especially the parts that don't work right, because He wants to be part of those even more\". How would you have handled this situation had it been one of your children? With excerpts from the Catechism?\n\nThere are times your attempts at whatever you think you're doing here sound like pure desperation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sigh. Two wrongs make a right? That's the kind of thinking one expects of a person raised in a nation given over completely to secularism, such as one finds in Europe. It is so very disappointing to see here on a site devoted to American Catholicism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not every discussion about AL need be, or should be, a debate about it. Those who oppose it have had their meetings, they've had their say, and they will (and should) continue to have them. But it's time and past time for those who support the pope and embrace his teaching to meet, to speak, to write, to share and to discuss the most effective pastoral strategies for implementing the teaching of AL. For many of the church's pastors, for most of them, there are no doubts, no dubia, no corrections: these are distractions and it's time to move past them. The gathering in Boston promises to be a huge step in the right direction.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "While of little interest to non-catholics, the decision of the Pope to confide to the episcopal conferences the responsibility of the translations so as ensure the language used in worship is accessible to the people of a given region / country, indicates his desire to increase collegiality among the bishops and decrease centralization of power to the Curia. \n\nImagine doing a word for word translation from Latin to an indigenous language like Ma'm? Whew", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "St Paul did not override Christ, St Paul was dealing with gentiles in marriages which were 'natural', not 'joined together by God', and unless one of the spouses refused to live with the spouse who had converted there would be no divorce allowed. The Church's teaching on this is quite clear.\nJesus made an exception for 'pornos' but did not say that remarriage was possible. In fact, He said, any woman who marries a divorced man and any man who marries a divorced woman both commit adultery.\nWhy would a Catholic priest draw their attention to what the Orthodox or Protestant practices were? This couple is Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "An interesting article - made me think about TV and avoidance and disability and more about old age. Provocative and evocative!!! \nI saw bits and pieces of me in that piece. \nCan't see, can't hear, can't walk; can't drive. My school friend Casey said we should visit our childhood Catholic church to talk to the single possibly lonely priest for some supportive conversation and to ask if us old alter boys could help out in some way. I thought it was a great idea -- remembering that my Dad and I spent three to four hours every Sunday at the Rectory and in additional Masses ushering and filling in for missing altar boys with Winter colds. And of course with no TV time. \nThev rectory had a TV set but it was on only for Notre Dame games on Saturday afternoon. Otherwise our six priests never watched TV. Even back then it was too provocative. Then TV could only be turned on thru permission of the Pastor. \nThough, even without TV our priests never.rarely rested.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"That assumption is: 'Given the possibilities which the State now has for effectively preventing crime by rendering one who has committed an offense incapable of doing harm.' What evidence does the Church have/show for making that statement? None! That is why they have never presented any.\"\n\nThe statement from the catechism means that since the state has the ability to contain convicted criminals, it need not execute them in order to protect society. No evidence is required for that. It is simple logic.\n\nThe fact that inmates harm one another inside prisons -- and such injuries are not limited to those convicted of capital crimes, by the way -- is an indictment of the penal system but not an indictment of Catholic teaching. Your time might be better spent working toward true prison reform than using the sorry state of prisons as an argument in favor of legally sanctioned homicide.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thus totally making a political mockery out of the entire subject of proper burial for Catholics. Next thing you know they'll be having their rallies on top of the dead. This is getting ghoulish.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Yet a common perception is that racism is worse than ever.\"\n\n-------------------------------------------------------------\n\nIs it really a common perception? Those of us who have actually lived since the 1950s must surely recognize that racism has been pushed back into a corner. That was back when first nations people couldn't vote, Asians were barred by statute from entering the professions, a \"mixed marriage\" was a Protestant marrying a Catholic, and every parliament and legislature was uniformly white. And almost entirely male, for that matter.\n\nThe struggle's not over. But \"worse than ever?\" Is that what most Canadians believe? I think I'll need to see some polling numbers before I'll swallow that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1. I never assumed that \"no one\" has truly grapples with the Church's position. I do maintain there are many who are disdainful toward the Church's reasonable teaching that human life worthy of protection begins at conception. \n\n2. I don't really doubt the Church's ability to heal. What I really doubt is the ability of many of the Church's antagonists to accept the Church's good medicine. \n\n3. You say, \"As a woman in the Catholic Church I'm fully aware the church places greater value on a fetus than on a woman.\" You can't be \"fully aware\" of a Church teaching that doesn't exist. Where has the Church has ever said such a thing? I just see more hyperventilation here,\n\n4. You say abortion is \"morally fraught,\" but it is a serious moral problem because life begins at conception. If it's less than that, no moral problem. But you say it can be done \"only as a last resort.\" Would you say that regarding the life of a newborn? Of course not. Why should such a procedure be made safe?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholics should never push their religion on a secular democracy. \n\nYes abortion has a lot to do with our 14th amendment rights to privacy...\n\n\"If the right of privacy means anything, it is the right of the individual, married or single, to be free from unwarranted governmental intrusion into matters so fundamentally affecting a person as the decision whether to bear or beget a child.\" R v W", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wow. And so the gallery appears. Isn't free speech wonderful? Where else in the world than in our own democratic republic uniquely separating 3 sovereign powers forged from a declaration for independence based upon orthodox Christian values impregnating the more ancient Magna Carta. An observably culpable superstar OJ had been nevertheless acquitted of double murder by grisly means. By decree of the Republic, OJ remained unblemished. That is, until this egocentric armed robber was inevitable felled by his addictive narcissistic nature; and, fortuitously punished more for the failed murder prosecution. Now he is a free man having primarily served his legal debt to the Republic. That's the boring legalities. Now for the good stuff. The crescendo of common folk; peanuts and opinions from hey-dude to sermons; realityTV, game shows seating exCons like Tyson; motivational talks", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Our Holy Father will not be searching out Bishops to punish. He realizes that now and again a cleric may get caught and cannot be saved from the secular law, but that doesn't mean he's going to encourage his brother bishops to turn members of their family, the clergy, clerics over to to the law merely because they abused one of the flock. He is Christ's Vicar. He realizes his job is to protect the Institution, not children.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The \"problem\" of dialog, is that it requires one be open: open to learning something new, open to hearing something new, open to new thinking, and above all, open to change. \n\nDialog then, is much more than hearing words, or saying words. It's a commitment, on some level at least, to the other party.\n\nAs ATF notes so well in her post, dialog can be blocked by structures. It can also be blocked by misguided beliefs, by ego, by a hard heart, and an unwillingness to personal conversion.\n\nFor Catholics (and likely most major religions), all too often calls to dialog mask a system that blocks off certain areas of human though, query and interest. Francis calls us to dialog, but refuses to allow it on many of the usual hot button issues. And even in something as basic as holding his bishops accountable in the face of massive cries from the laity, it's funny how dialog isn't really happening. So the word are good. I like what Francis said. Sadly, his actions still lack...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"if they are not capable, find someone who is\"\n\nWho does the \"finding\"? The parish priest? A parish board of directors? The bishop's search committee? The bishop? Bottom line - how much power are the clerics really willing to give up?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I wish I could make a difference in Canadian understanding of the south border problem of the USA. It is bad, bad, bad. There are many docu-pieces on this and they all show facts that will bring any kind of decent person to tears. It does nobody any good to dislike Trump (most everyone seems to be good at that) and so rant about anything associated with him. To think the pope is a great man because of his title and fight against \"fences.\" If anyone in the world has got it entirely wrong it is the Catholic leadership. Mexican refugees are not improving their lot in life. They are escaping to death and torment. It has to stop.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And Christ didn't water down His teaching to lure the young rich man back, nor the people scandalized by the teaching they must eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His Blood in order to have life in them, but Jesus let them go their own way.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The original combat rosary was small and made of metal beading (or whatever it's called) to fit in the pocket and be durable. It was given to Catholic soldiers during WW I and also WW II. (I happen to have such a one.) The modern one is larger and, as with any rosary whether made from cord, precious stone, plastic, metal etc. is a weapon in spiritual battle. \n\nPerhaps the rosary itself is a problem for those who don't believe there is a spiritual battle...?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Curran did not \"attack the Church from within.\" To me, your verb is hyperbolic and erroneous. \n\nCurran's presentation--in lecture or in book--of intellectual, peer-reviewed. rigorous, research-based, thoughtful, and prayerful theology was never, and is not, an \"attack.\" We demean theologians if we consider their role mere dissemination of pre-approved work of certain others. And we voluntarily give up an opportunity to learn from the minds of so many others. And that's a sin!\n\nBut I agree, Curran was declared only unfit to teach \"Catholic theology\" and that term is used within the Church to give more weight to the adjective than to the noun. \n\nBut, Tri, do you really want to relinquish, discount, devalue, or even punish one of the most sacred and courageous aspects of human dignity and intellectual integrity: LOYAL DISSENT? \n\nWe must celebrate and protect loyal dissent of those with whom we disagree or else we'll surrender the right to dissent of those with whom we agree!!!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I remember the first \"Encuentro\" or whatever it was called in 2000. All these efforts fail because the US bishops hedge their pro-immigration statements with phrases such as \u201cwithout sacrificing our security\u201d and \u201chonor and respect the laws of this nation.\" All the while, it is the civil Democratic administrations of cities such as Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and others who defy federal law to offer sanctuary \u2013 which has its roots in religious institutions providing refuge - to their undocumented populations, not the bishops. Even the pope said on Nov. 1 \u201cMigrants should be treated according to certain rules, because migration is a right, but one which is highly regulated\u201d and \u201cIf a country is only able to integrate 20 [refugees], let\u2019s say, then it should only accept that many.\u201d the pope told reporters.\" The latest figures are from 2013 that 55% of Latinos adults identify as Catholic, but that's down from 67% in 2010. In 2013, 24% of Latinos identified as former Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thanks for your response, Marty. I read this about St. Clement of Alexandria, implying that Phillip was also married, along with Peter;\n\n'St. Clement of Alexandria says that Peter had children, that Philip had daughters, and that he gave them in marriage. The Acts of the Apostles specify St. Philip, whose four daughters prophesied, of whom it is believed that one was married, and that this one was St. Hermione.'\n\nOf course, the above might be interpreted to mean that Phillip also became celibate at a certain point within his marriage. But I don't think that the early Church solely had celibate ministers. In fact, from reading I Timothy, chapter 3, it seems pretty plain that they were mostly married. The translation below reads \"overseer\", but a Catholic Bible might translate it bishop - continued in the next comment;", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Some of them are. Not everything the Holy Father writes is a teaching.\n\nSometimes the Holy Father wishes to draw attention to an issue or concern that Catholics should ponder as Catholics and possibly reach their own prudential judgments about.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "More research reveals that Ted Cruz's church is part of the same umbrella organization/denomination. Imago Dei takes the same approach to the bible as Jerry Falwell did- they're both conservative Baptist churches.\n\nIt looks like Imago Dei is Liberty University without the dress code. I am serious here- I just read a book about Liberty University, and gosh- they are in the same denomination as Imago Dei. Shocking and weird. I am not making the connection up! Bailey and Huckabee's pastors interpret the Bible the same way.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The only people who will be driven away are the dissidents, people of little or no faith. Good, orthodox Catholics will remain", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Greetings.....the Madison Diocese area is an enclave for the ultra conservative Catholics.....Father Z blog, Tridentine Mass Society, Pius X Society .... all with the approval of patriarchal Bishop Morlino ! Pope Francis needs to visit this Pre Vatican II \nenclave!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Just want to mention that in Latin III in a Catholic High School, we learned that the argument \"I will not mention that my opponent is a (fill in the blank)\" was a favorite tactic of Cicero to say that which he did not want to say directly. So Trump is using an old tactic.\n\nYes, I did have three years of Latin in High School in the early 60s. It was compulsory, not my desire.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Numerous Democrats presently holding public office at the legislature and the City were once Republicans. Some of us are old enough to remember when most Republicans were reasonable. We Democrats could build coalitions with centrist Republicans. Then George W, Bush sat Pat Robertson at the Presidential table in the White House and brought those of similar mind into his administration. Robertson, a man who stated on national TV that Ariel Sharon deserved the stroke that put him in a coma. Then Hawaii Republicans nominated Duke Aiona, a man who has membership in questionable international organizations, This in a religiously diverse state with many Buddhists and progressive mainline Christians. Anyone who studies the history of this state will immediately understand why the majority of voters continue to vote for Democrats feathering their own nests. The majority of Republican leaders in Hawaii have done nothing to assuage their tarnished brand.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That won't eliminate the problem.....\nLoyalty of Bishops to the Pope: Their oath of allegiance is to the Pope \u2014 not to God, or the Church and to remain on the ecclesiastical payroll.....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My second comment on this is fr james message that Lgbt people should also love those in the hierarchy. That is a very difficult message given the rampant homophobia and transphobia in the hierarchy but it's the gospel. Jesus doesn't only say \"love those who reciprocate it\". He says \"love your neighbor and your enemy\". \n\nWhen Jesus was being crucified on the cross in the worst form of state terrorism and violence while being mocked he still loved those who mocked and oppressed him among the religious hierarchy and Roman occupation guard. That is the difficult and counter cultural example we as Christians have to emulate.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "God of the Christians the Lord Jesus Christ never calls for jihad but to love our enemies and pray for them.\nGod bless President Trump and all his men and all those in America who follow the Saviour.\nPlease Lord our Prince of Peace let your will be done in earth as it is in heaven.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Bible mentions the Knik River??", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We can sort this out rather quickly.\n\nUnless ScottG is every participant, the conclusion that I post in vain seems presumptuous.\n\nIf at National Catholic Reporter someone takes the position that the Catholic Church actually teaches with authority, he can hardly be accused of sowing discontent.\n\nIf by regulars you mean people who heretofore dominated the conversations and pine for the Block Function, why should they be given veto power over other opinions?\n\nAs a progressive sort of guy, I am sure you believe every opinion should have its day and let the chips fall where they fall.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I wasn\u2019t terribly surprised when it was reported a few weeks ago that Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore is tied to the \u2018League of the South\u2019, the pro-Southern secession/slavery apologism group that wants to lead the South in a second rebellion against the federal government in order to found a \u2018white Christian republic.\u2019\nBut I confess I was a bit surprised that Rep. Marsha Blackburn, who is currently the leading Republican candidate to succeed Sen. Bob Corker, does too.\nIn 2004, Blackburn invited the Rev. David O. Jones, a neo-Confederate, secessionist and slavery apologist, to give the opening prayer in the House.\nAnd that happened and went largely unreported!\nhttp://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/marsha-blackburn-brought-neo-confederate-secessionist-to-deliver-prayer-to-congress", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pope Francis has had no problems in allowing female bishops from another Christian church be on the same platform as he is. Did he not do this in Sweden just recently? The lack of Anglican female presence I think has more to do with the Anglicans than it does with the pope. +Francis is completely open and accepting of anyone who seeks to serve God. But he is not going to even try and change doctrine at this point of time. For +Francis, all of it takes a back seat to emulating Jesus in mercy and love. That is the strength of our pope.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, I mean she agreed with and signed a statement that was pro-murder of the innocent inborn....Including unborn baby girls.\n\nIf you chose to be pro-death for unborn innocents under the guise of women's rights? Your choice. You can call it \"Catholic\" - but that doesn't make it so. \n\nAs far as \"busybody\"? Someone has to speak for those who can't speak for themselves, don't you think? \n\nAnd are busybodies simply those who raise objections to your questionable actions concerning abortion? Or when you tell someone how they should act - are you a busybody?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic faith simply observes biology: two bodies of the same gender can't join in a way that's open to creation of new life --- therefore even *if* modernist heretics were in charge, marriage must be preserved. God bless the bishops who protect sanity, church teaching, and care of the souls entrusted to them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You apparently don't understand what \"religious indoctrination\" and the establishment clause actually mean.\n\nUnless you think the state hiring, say, Christian Brothers Moving and Storage to relocate legislative offices amounts to establishment of an official state religion.\n\n(While Christian Brothers Moving and Storage is an actual Englewood business, I have no idea if they've done state contract work nor can I endorse them, having had no experience with their work. Although I'm sure they're all fine people.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "May God richly bless and keep you for your commitment and service to Christ and the Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Sarovskii is no Swarowski, so much can be ascertained.\"\n\nThis is true, brother.\n\nI make no claims to sanctity, but we both might profit from a close study of the life and example of that most beloved of Russian saints, St. Serafim of Sarov.\n\nChrist is born! Let us glorify Him!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think some people think they know God's mind better than God.\nWe will be better when we understand God's unconditional love by what Jesus told us. \nScience is a process of continuing development of theories, testing, analysis and revise...\nIt is very different from a non changing set of truths that often shows contradictions.\nOur theological process needs input from modern arts and sciences such as physics, psychology, economics, history, ...\nBut we will not progress as long as the Church is hierarchical and celibate and male and not open to discussion and change.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is Catholic teaching that crime merits punishment in this life and as well as the next, and that the State has authority to administer appropriate punishment, including the sentence of death.\n\nThere are four reasons for the State levying any penalty:\n\nRehabilitation. The sentence of death can and sometimes does move the condemned person to repentance and conversion.\n\nDefense against the criminal. It obviously prevents the wrongdoer from committing future crimes. Whether execution is necessary is a prudential judgment, but modern penal systems in some countries have made it rare for execution to be the only means of defending society.\n\nDeterrence. The evidence on deterrence is ambiguous.\n\nRetribution. Guilt calls for punishment. The graver the offense, the more severe the punishment ought to be. And by consenting to the punishment of death (e.g., the \u201cGood Thief\u201d) the criminal can expiate his evil deeds and escape punishment in the next life.\n\nHeinous crimes may require death.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The most reverend bishops have \"a sacristy mentality\" dedicated to getting wax out of the carpet and ironing purificators. Their \"ministry\" is perpetuating the organization (surely no Body of Christ that), exalting themselves, waiting to be served and lording over all \"under\" them.\nFunny how the bishops could easily follow the heavy-handed imperialism of JP II and B XVI. This Francis model scares them because they need to believe in God, especially trusting the Holy Spirit. Now most of them are just waiting for Francis to die or retire so they can get back to their culture wars with no further papal challenges. The \"Year of Mercy\" didn't lead to more heartfelt mercy since God has been merciful to us. It was just another \"program\" to be executed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Maybe this is an opportunity to correct a doctrine that was in error for 2000. years. Just because it is 2000 years old does not make it right.\nThere is this guy they talk about in the book called Jese or Jesus or something like that. It seemed he welcomed all especially those who some might consider on the fringe. Catholic Doctrine was never guided by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was too busy protecting little children from being raped and molested by clerics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm not so sure that the future of \"religious\" life is the conversation that needs to be had. I'd be much more interested in expanding the discussion to include what it means to live a consecrated life in this day and age. That would include various emerging models of Church like small faith communities, the developing relationship between the laity and clergy, living out healthy sexuality, etc.\n\nI have deep respect for the religious men and women I know today and those who helped shape my life in the past. But that doesn't mean we should perpetually work out of a paradigm that developed in the middle ages. Contrary to what some seem to believe, in every age the Church has adapted to meet the needs of the times and it must again if it is to stay relevant.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Are you sure that belief in An Imaginary Supernatural buddy who supposedly made Man, not Woman in its own image did not have something to do with this?\n\nDid you ever see that USA Southern Baptist Family Hierarchy Chart? The one that says the the husband is the wife's gateway to Church and God, with her in the hierarchy between him and the children.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "or from Zen: \n\"A university student while visiting Gasan asked him: \"Have you ever read the Christian Bible?\" \n\"No, read it to me,\" said Gasan. \nThe student opened the Bible and read from St. Matthew: \"And why take ye thought for rainment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They toil not, neither do they spin, and yet I say unto you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these... Take therefore no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.\" \nGasan said: \"Whoever uttered those words I consider an enlightened man.\" \nThe student continued reading: \"Ask and it shall be given you, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you. For everyone that asketh receiveth, and he that seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.\" \nGasan remarked: \"That is excellent. Whoever said that is not far from Buddhahood.\" \nAll religions see the basic rules of life in Christianity. Not all men obey.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A man who is dismantling Medicaid so as to pay for a tax break for the rich is not truly Catholic. That's your man Ryan.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm just writing about a story. The Bible is a book. It's interesting. Some parts are true. Relax.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I certainly wouldn't presume to explain why the Church responded to Cardinal Law's failures the way it did.\nMy point is simple - Flaunting of the moral laws of the Church are wromg whether one is a member of the laity or the clergy.\nUltimately no one gets a pass.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Trump, addressing religious leaders in a signing ceremony at the White House, said: \u201cWe will not allow people of faith to be targeted, bullied or silenced any more\u201d.\n\u201cNo one should be censoring sermons or targeting pastors,\u201d he said.\n*************\n'Merkans gonna be thrilled when hostile religions - like Westboro Baptist Church (the gawd hates X \"Christians\") and yes, likely some radical imams as well, go to town on this.\nNothing\nEver\nThought\nOut\n@ Trump White House\n\nOr is the American State under Trump going to begin to pick and choose what religions it will support? That will go well with the number of religions who will be picking and choosing what political party to support.\n\nWho woulda thought a 3 times married & never previously showed a minute's interest in religion putz like Trump -- would bring on The Handmaid's Tale.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus himself was a refugee from Herod. Jesus told us to welcome the stranger. That is as certain as anything you rant on about.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The Pope and Mussolini\" is an excellent, if distressing, book that has been dismissed in these threads (by people who haven't even read it) as \"anti-Catholic.\" It draws on exhaustive research, including previously unavailable material from the Vatican archives, by a respected historian, David I. Kertzer, the Paul Dupee, Jr. University Professor of Social Science, Professor of Anthropology, and Professor of Italian Studies at Brown University. This book won the Pulitzer Prize in 2014 for Biography or Autobiography.\n\nThank you for mentioning it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you wish to pretend that you are aware of no examples, then I see no point in providing you examples. My main concern here is that, as a True Catholic, loyal to the Traditions and Rituals established by Christ, I find your criticism of Our Holy Father troubling and fear you are sowing confusion, and we know where confusion comes from, don't we now. Declaring the pontificate over seems to question the primacy of the Vicar of Christ, a very protestant position to take.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sorry, but I just don't buy this. (a) Kung still has not returned to Catholic theology in the 36 years since his problems. Frankly, if Catholic ecclesiology said what he advocates, I would wonder why I was a Catholic; (b) I would rather deal with John Paul's theology of the body than the warmed over dualist gnosticism/pseudo-science being pushed civilly called \"gender theory\" as intellectual justification for approving homosexual actions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I discussed the flaws of their agrument and perspective yesterday in Distinctly Catholic and on my blog, Hey, Michael Sean! at http://heymsw.blogspot.com/2017/09/correction-of-francis-reveals-critics.html Now, I will offer the more charitable explanation. It\u2019s all true. Every word, at least in their world. They are cultural authoritarians and Francis is certainly not one of their kind. He may not even be a hierarchist and this rubs them the wrong way. Indeed, if Francis reaches out to them, they will hate him all the more. In their world, the Church should endorse dogma in the strongest ways possible for the preservation of our souls, since dissent from right doctrine is damnable (even though they cite seems to be more about pedersasty than pedantics). Indeed, they will cover up the former for the good of the Church, but they cannot abide the latter, especially if they disagree with what has been said or believe it violates what has been said previously.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We were told nothing would ever change and that we would surely spend eternity in hell if we did not attend Sunday Mass . We just got so used to having no hope we gave up . It was almost a century since a Council so we figured what could they be doing except congratulating themselves over there in Rome . Triumphalism ruled: Holy Mother Church was declared in sermons and Jesus came in second if he was lucky .We were not readers of Sacred Scripture . Actually told not to .\nRosary beads rattled against pews all during mass . Altar boys and priest interrupted one another's lines . How well trained they all were .\nYou would not imagine how the priests rattled off the Latin and distributed Holy Communion ! \nThey raced along the rail where we knelt and seemed to think they were dealing cards with our tongues as the card table and the hosts , cards .\nAt confession the little window was slammed shut as we recited the act of contrition . \nA funeral ? Dies Irae...........no hope", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Don't really care one way or another and consider the custom adiaphora, it really doesn't matter much one way or another. I don't do it, but have no problems with others doing it. As for being disrespectful in front of the the consecrated gifts, nonsense! That is what communion is, not just union with Jesus, but a communion with all believers and with all of creation. The holding of hands, like the kiss of peace is another sign of that union.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "@Joe & his ROC friends;\nIn Canada, Qu\u00e9bec is \u201cofficially\u201d French speaking since 1774-\n(but we all know that it is since 1608) so why are you crying for then ?...\nWho\u2019s LATE here ?...and who\u2019s got & MAKING a problem with it ?...\nThe past & present MINORITY of the Ghetto Anglo Montrealers (7%) of all of Qu\u00e9bec (and ROC) ARE to blame here for not consciously recognize the \u201cQu\u00e9bec Act\u201d (an Act for making more effective Provisions for The Government of the Province of Qu\u00e9bec in North America) was a British statute which received royal assent 22 June 1774 and became effective 1 May 1775;\n- it re-established the French language rights (got it Anglo Canada ?);\n-+ Catholic faith; \n-+ French civil law...\u201d\n(It\u2019s (almost) \u00ab a State into a State \u00bb, oui ?)\nIt also began what was to become a tradition in Canadian constitutional history \u2013 the recognition of certain distinct rights, or protections for Qu\u00e9bec \u2013\nin language, religion and civil law. \n(more to come)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Throughout your history, the Church in your country has welcomed and integrated new waves of immigrants,\" the pope said. \"In their rich variety of their languages and cultural traditions, they have shaped the changing face of the American Church.\"\n\nThis country has always had a love/hate relationship with immigrants. Even Ben Franklin made unfortunate remarks about Germans in 18th century Pennsylvania. One of the most notorious anti-immigrant moments came in the middle of the 19th century when a political party, The Know-Nothings, was founded to fend off the \"threat\" of immigrants, especially Irish-Catholics who brought, \"rum, Romanism, and rebellion.\" Fortunately, the Know-Nothings never came close to electing a president, not even when former president Millard Fillmore was their standard bearer. The Know-Nothings of our day have taken over the Republican Party, nominated one of their own, and won the White House! How did our country become so hateful?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bishop McElroy needs to meet with families like that of Kate Steinley. She was killed by an illegal alien in SF, a sanctuary city. He needs to meet with other people victimized by illegals. The California prison system is loaded with illegal criminals. What does this Bishop say about fixing that? Many LEGAL immigrants came as Catholics to the US, assimilated, and they built the Catholic Church. Maybe this bishop is willing to allow law breakers in as long as they fill his churches. This Bishop and Pope are simply embracing socialism. And as Margaret Thatcher once said: \"Socialism works great until you run out of other peoples money to spend.\" I am not a proud Catholic to be associated with another dreaming socialist. The Catholic Church has lost its way.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The use of the term \"Protestant\" without a modifier here and in your earlier comment is overly broad. Mainstream Protestants (Episcopalians, most Lutherans, most Presbyterians, etc.) do not hold the views you ascribe to all Protestants and the Civilta piece was clear that it was Evangelicals (a considerable number of whom are not associated with any formal denomination) who hold political and social views at variance with much Catholic teaching.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's a women's church! \"Women comprise two-thirds of the students in ecclesial ministry formation programs, with 64 percent being lay women, and 2 percent being women religious.\"\nThey can do the domestic, heavy lifting work without the perks and privileges of priests.\nWhy do women continue to demean themselves in the RCC, the last bastion of patriarchy in the West?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I believe the Catholic Church is the one true faith. Would you have an issue with me if I stated I was a practicing Catholic but did not consider the Church's position on the physical resurrection of Jesus, his divinity or his real presence in the Eucharist to be anything but medieval myth ? These are tenets of the Catholic faith no less than the Sacrament of Confession and Ordination. You questioned me and I gave you my honest answer. Don't accuse me of being short sighted because my beliefs differ from yours. I was not \"born again\" but had the blinders removed from my eyes. It caused me to learn about the Catholic Faith, our Saints and our Blessed Mother.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dei Felius was politics and discipline, not faith in anything but what the Church said about faith. Again, discipline which asserted the Pope is always right. That is hubris, not faith. I wrote an annotated response to DF. I left out the logical fallacies, but there were many in its reasoning, primarily arguing from authority. What you see as a virtue would get you a D in an Intro to Reason class at any Catholic University or College (except Steubenville).\nhttp://xianleft.blogspot.com/2017/09/dei-filius-annotated-modernistically.html", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Martini was at the top of the choices for bishop of Rome . He declined because of his diagnosis of Parkinsons disease .\nA material heretic indeed !!! \nAs Jesus said his true followers would be maligned. So all credit to you , Marty ,for making Jesus' words come true .", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The World Health Organization defines health of the mother as \"any condition that might impact her physical, emotional, psychological or financial well being\". \nThat seems very ambiguous to me. It seems to state that a mother could abort her healthy child up to the day of birth with an excuse that \" I can't afford to have another child due to financial problems\". I believe only in the truth, and I challenge you to prove any statement I have made on this site as false, especially in context with Catholic teachings and beliefs. \nYou have no truth so you resort to name calling. Deep down you know the truth. I am sorry you had three miscarriages, but what does that have to do with the intentional termination of a life?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Neko, I would like to read these works. I have always admired Pius XII. My main problem with vatican 2 is the new mass. I really cannot stand it. I also think the 1962 roman missal issued under John XIII is too vitiated with errors. I go to a radtrad mass every week. We use the 1945 St. ANDREW. You can see from my posts that I am otherwise a liberal catholic, with very many questions and objections. I will read one of these books.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thanks John.\n\nI get so tired of people picking on the Q'uran, as if it were some singularly violent book. The Bible is chock-full of violence, and some choose to ignore that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, it is not that complicated and not that recent.\n\nBack in the 1980s Sociologist Reginald Bibby found that for the majority of so call Canadian Anglicans, Baptists, Catholics, Jews, ... the designation had no significance beyond what genre of ritual was performed when they were born, married and buried. It is about as strong as saying that you are ethnic British, Scots, Irish, French, Belgian, German, ... and no more.\n\nThree decades later we see most young couples raising children in \"Catholic\" Qu\u00e9bec not bothering to get married, let alone by a cleric in a temple.\n\nI agree that Secular would be a better label than No Religion, but the Census category label is No Religion. For most Secular Canadians it isn't a big deal issue of being Atheist or Agnostic. Religion is simply something that does not matter in their daily lives, similar to how many pecks make a bushel.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh, would that Catholics kept their opinions to themselves, personal, and left women and LGBTQ alone over the centuries rather than persecute them. A call to love as a response...is some kind of imposition not to be born? omg", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They have not realized that they lost their influence and credibility with the laity with whatever they had to say about the moralities on any subject matters. \n \nHow incredible is their blindness of not seeing how ridiculous that P. F and all of the Vatican prelates are still forcing rapist condoning B. Juan Barros to the Chilean Catholics, and promoted rapist suspect C. Pell, C. Law, praised C. Timothy Dolan , Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki for persecuting clergy sex abuse victims with five years long corrupt bankruptcy proceeding.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you for your comment. I fully agree. I just don't think the bishops are the ones to represent Catholicism to politicians since the majority of Catholics are not represented by the bishops on issues such as contraceptives, abortion, gay marriage. Turning to them gives an illusion that they represent Catholics in the politics of this country - and they certainly do not.\n\nAnd \"dialogue?\" Bishops don't know how! They absolutely have too little experience in true dialogue. They don't know how to listen and they are not open to learning - to being changed by what they hear. They can exhort their already held positions - but are not open to learning a different view. \n\nI don't want them even pretending to represent me, as a Catholic, to the political establishment.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Despite their differences, they both obviously read the same Gospels \u2014 and read them through a Franciscan lens,\" said Robert Ellsberg, editor-in-chief and publisher of Orbis Books.\n\nNo one seems to notice that the first Jesuit pope is at heart a Franciscan. I wonder if someday a Franciscan pope will take the name Ignatius.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is useful to remember why the Reformation started in the first place. It was over the sale of indulgences. Corruption wounds the Body of Christ. It did that time, and it is now.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What do you class as the political parties implicit role? Ignore the referendum result? For sure labour has imploded largely because of differences between Corbyn and his MPs. The Lib Dems are (and pretty always have been) a non entity. As to the Welsh, I see no problem there. The Scots are not consumed with independence, just Nicola Sturgeon. Northern Ireland may be a different story, with a major shift in demographics over the last 50 years and Catholics now outnumbering protestants they may well unify. This would solve a major headache for the UK.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"In his March meeting with Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi, for example, Francis gave her a 7.5-inch-wide bronze medallion showing a desert turning to bloom in a depiction of the Old Testament prophet Isaiah's words: \"The wilderness will become a fruitful field. The dry, thorny branch that blossoms and bears fruit symbolizes the passage from selfishness to sharing, from war to peace,\" Hope Pope Francis has a copy - not only from war to peace, but also, more literally, from planetary destruction to planetary healing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I guess there was no time left to pray to Jesus or the Holy Trinity. How ecumenical.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Really, r.D? Your ultra-reductive spiritual \"reflection\" shows a hopelessly stilted theology. Christ said, \"Do this in memory of me,\" at the Last Supper, not on the cross.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "At the core of the debate is the fact that we live in a pluralistic society, with more than one strong opinion about the morality of certain actions. The official Catholic teaching is that a human person exists from the moment of conception. Many disagree for very solid reasons. Catholics see any abortion as absolutely evil; others see struggle that arises because of rape or danger to the life of the mother. John Courtney Murray, S.J., is the theologian who has explored this most deeply. \n\nWhat many Catholics seem to seek is the absolute prohibition of abortion, ie, the triumph of their moral perspective over all others. But even the majority of Catholics disagree because of its impact on our pluralist society. It is a tremendous conundrum.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Don't we have a biblical model in some ways as Jethro encouraged Moses to delegate to each Tribe authority to judge local issues?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of course they do and it depends upon how well they are catechised. Younger members of my extended family who only see the inside of a Church at christenings, weddings and funerals still blithely receive Communion. Any Catholic who learned the faith prior to Vatican II would be aware that to do so would be sacrilege", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Rodney Howard-Browne is a heretic and an embarrassment to Christianity.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "One wishes that those who support\n\"Anti-Muslim hatred has no place in my Canada\"\n\nalso support and speak up\n\"Anti-CHRISTIAN and JEWISH hatred has no place in my MIDDLE EAST\"\n\njust to be fair", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I make no claims as to intention. When Trump put his hands on his daughter's gluteus, his eyes cast downward towards her bosom, he was likely engaged in saintly contemplation of the Holy Scriptures--perhaps Song of Solomon 7:6-9. \nA great many Christians--just not Right-wing Christians--voted for Hillary Clinton *because* they support abortion rights and believed her to be the best candidate for the Presidency and is why Hillary Clinton won the popular vote--more Americans thought she was the best choice and didn't buy into any of the nonsense that she compromised national security. Now we see that for Republicans national security issues really have more to do with partisanship as they now embrace foreign actors having a role in our national politics. Their embrace of Putin--a dictator, is revealing and contributes to the perception that Republicans do not support the idea democracy, something their record on restricting voting rights supports.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Arrogant and presumptuous to say conservative Catholics don't care about \"the common good.\"\n\nWho is donating those millions of dollars to Catholic charities? Just progressive Catholics who ladle out soup?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Anti-homosexual, woman-hating religious fanatics are not exclusive to Islam. Christianity-inspired terrorism is something with which Americans are already quite familiar and the fanatics even have their own party: the GOP. \nViolent Christian fanatics vote Republican.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You are absolutely correct. You know that religious freedom garbage we were force fed in school about that being the reason for the pilgrims? Those fanatics were being hung and imprisoned in England for practicing their version of Christianity, so the came to these shores and set up theocracies, killing those who opposed them. In modern times, they would go to prison here too, so they get the government to implement their violence for them, thus they can walk away and say: see, we have no blood on our hands!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Cardinal Law was guilty of shuffling the deck of offenders. That's plain.\n\nBut had there been no offenders, Cardinal Law wouldn't be the villain and scapegoat of the sex abuse crisis.\n\nSo what is the real source of the scandal? The offenders. That is, Priests who were sexually attracted to other males.\n\nAnyone who denies that real source is denying the actual cause of the Church's scandal.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The United Church is no longer a church. They teach no real Christian history to their young; they're too fearful to make a pronouncement about culture, ritual, or morality. My parents were United Church. Most are such cloistered wasps with a guilt complex, you could blow them over with a gust of wind. \n\nI had the opportunity to visit an evangelical church (filled with kids) for a secular meeting. In the basement, I saw lessons on the wall for kids about Christians being the most persecuted religion on earth. Finally, here I see a sense of community. \n\nWhy not turn all the churches into Bingo halls? Jesus would love that one.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Heh. WTG, Shannon. Although many Christians seem to think we Muslims believe only in the Old Testament, we do believe in Jesus (alayhis-Salaam). IMHO his very best speech was the one denouncing the politicians and lawyers of his day: \"WOE be on you, Scribes and Pharisees, HYPOCRITES! You REFUSE to enter the Kingdom of God and would hold the door against those who would enter!\"\n\nHey Pete, are your ears burning? Perhaps you should be thankful it's only your ears. For now.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "So basically all people from Muslim countries can stay, while ones from Christian countries are sent away. What a screwed up country we've become.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "@Micheal Morrow \n\"..Mormon minority membership remains miniscule\" I think you mean minuscule. However the Mormon church is quite successful recruiting non-whites. They have hundreds of thousands of members in Mexico, Brazil, the Pacific in particular. \nIronically, while you might be slightly more open to a progressive form of Christianity, 91% of those types - mainline churches - are white. That's a problem, for them.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Stop allowing Christians into Canada who have been overtly persecuted by Muslims. They are likely Islamophobes.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Ah yes, the four sins that cry out to heaven. One of which is \"the cry of the people oppressed in Egypt, the cry of the foreigner, the widow, and the orphan. So, if you feel so strongly about it, you must strive for foreigners to be admitted to the United States. Or is your citation selective?\n\nNo, you are being a bigot. You want to discriminate against your homosexual brothers and sisters. You are another who says \"You shall love your neighbor as yourself; unless your neighbor is gay. That neighbor you shall hate and refuse to have anything to do with.\" Your \"traditional Catholicism\" rejects love of God and love of neighbor. That is not being Christ-like.\n\nYour bleat that I am a bigot because I refuse to practice bigotry is typical of the nonsense that Catholic traditionalists spew.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Rarely do I agree with Jamie Manson, but I agree with many of her points today.\nTo me, a conservative Republican and practicing Catholic with a gay son, \nFather Martin appears to be very unorthodox in his theological and moral views.\nI've been somewhat successful as a businessman, \nand I've been lucky enough to give generously to the Catholic Church. \nI would never give to a bishop who was not clearly and unambiguously anti-abortion and anti-gay marriage. \nJamie is right about that aspect of this situation. \nBy the way, my son and I get along very well. \nHe knows not to force me to accept his views about homosexuality, \nand he doesn't have to accept mine. \nThough on many issues, \nwe see eye to eye, \nespecially on abortion and economic issues.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "My thoughts exactly, because not only do Sharia Law and Christian Law parallel each other, Christians are bombing and terrorizing right alongside their Muslim counterparts.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "First of all, I think your priest friend (if he really exists) is all wet. I've never heard from any credible source that the fund isn't used for what it's intended for. I need more than hearsay to convince me otherwise.\n\nSecondly, the idea that the promotional materials represent deceptive advertising is ludicrous. Click that link in the second paragraph of the article and it'll take you to the fund campaign website. It features many photos of actual nuns and priests, some wearing habits and some in civies. There's no bait-and-switch going on. \n\nThere's plenty more I could say about the unkind notion that sisters in civies aren't faithful Catholics, but I need to move on. Suffice it to say your ridiculous sentiment speaks for itself.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "And Catholics on this site are quick to opine on the invalidity of non-Roman Catholic orders, their churches, etc. Goose and gander here.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Bernie is not supported by the socially conservative theocrats that seek to make Christianity the national religion like Iran has Islam as it national religion and guiding force. The angry racist bigots who spent 8 years constantly attacking obama and watching their Fox News and listening to their talking heads like rush, hannity etc, for their prescribed rhetoric are the people I'm referring to. You honestly think these people were Bernie supporters and would have voted Bernie over trump? I'm not sure if your post was serious or meant to be jokingly", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You were the one who wrote \"liberal NCR Catholics think the kind of public witness the Mormons do, if done by Catholics is a bad thing\". Unless you perform public witness, your statement is nothing more than a whinge.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The Crusades?\n\nYou find it \"intolerant\" that Christians fought back against Christian lands invaded by Muslims???\n\nIgnorance is bliss!\n\nMerry Christmas and a Happy New Year.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "No doubt this crowd of pious \"Christian\" hypocrites will attend church services today.\nIf the preacher preaches a sermon on Jesus' words about, \"That which you do unto the least of my brethren you also do unto Me.\", they will come with sharpened lances to inflicting more wounds on is body as it hangs on the cross.\nDecent Americans should recoil in anger at the actions of this bunch of Pharisees.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Christ said to be angry but do not sin, I cannot think of anything that would anger Jesus more than killing innocent helpless babies. I have never attacked abortion clinics, but loath them just the same.\n\nAnd I am sure Sekulow will be right behind you !", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "This proposal by the orange Pillsbury boy to our south is offensive, yes, also so ridiculous as to be unworkable. How, precisely, is any security screening to determine who is Muslim and who is Christian? He's not offering refuge to Jews under persecution? What's with that? It is not possible to tell if someone is Christian or Muslim by simply looking at them. There are many Lebanese Christians (Danny Thomas and Jamie Farr are two of many examples of Christian Lebanese Americans). One can't even tell within North America who is a Christian and who is not. Many sincere Christians do not attend an organized church because they find many to be businesses more interested in securing their financial bottom line than in helping people to connect with God. Perhaps Trump and some of his fellow Republicans in the Senate and in the House consider themselves to be Christians? Actively seeking to withhold access to quality healthcare based on income is NOT consistent with Jesus' teachings.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "This is a tired dialogue that serves no purpose except for providing soap boxes to the writers. A winging atheist is as tiresome as a winging Christian.\n\nWhatever you believe is a private affair, and I don't want to listen, read or be subjected to the reasons why.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Richard Corbeil: Our US military and CIA are killing thousands of innocent people, destroying sovereign nations, destabilizing regions...just to steal their resources and keep the Russians from getting them. The low-tech reactions occurring here in America are called \"terrorism.\" This story is about domestic terrorism. \"Radical Muslim extremism\" is token self-defense against the US military and US agents and US-armed nut groups destroying their lives and their nations in business wars. This story is, of course, about a \"radical Christian extremist terrorist.\" Just got caught is all.,,", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Love the Muslim terrorists and open the borders to everyone!\n\nGot it. Thanks Pope Francis, we'll get right on that.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "How often do you see a Christian Pastor advocating terrorism in the name of Christ ? How often do you see a Muslim Cleric advocate Jihad which is a clear command in the Quran ? The Quran contains at least 109 verses that speak of war with nonbelievers, usually on the basis of their status as non-Muslims. You can read them here:\nhttp://www.thereligionofpeace.com/pages/quran/violence.aspx\n\nYou tell me why we should expect the Muslim Clerics to denounce these acts (which they never do).", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "One more diversion and waste of time for the governing bodies to hide the failure of dealing with real issues. The Republican hate agenda combined with fundamentalist christian religious fanaticism continues to gridlock the conduct of the governments at all levels from local to national. A specific agenda and traitorous actions to nullify the governing system to allow the wealthy elite traitorous thieves to continue to loot the nation protected from any regulatory hindrances. One of the most stupid and useless pieces of legislation ever conceived by the ugly minds of the religious fanatics demanding their own strict regulatory controls over all human bodily functions.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Christian, Jew and Muslims are always fighting. Canada should have no part in it or them.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "RD wants the poor not to be helped. He pretends to be a Christian.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "BROohthor, could it be a deliberate step by Pope Francis to encourage +Muller et alia worry their heads over this kind of stuff so they aren't being ridiculous over other things that make much more difference? This will throw some people into a tizzy - but most will ignore it. It will be a burden to those who don't have much money or where the Catholic norms don't fit cultural practices - when will Pope Francis and people like Muller realize this is another form of cultural indoctrination. \n\nJust blows my mind how the Church diminishes God's power and His grace with this kind of nonsense.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"We have to choose to stop invasion of fake news\"\n\nCompletely agree, of course, but as we witnessed the past year in these comment threads and beyond, parsing fact from fiction has zero effect on partisans. If people are convinced that Hillary is a corrupt baby killer BENGHAZI emails! and (my favorite, often accompanied by the wistful asides of the wise) that \"both candidates are the worst ever,\" as if there were not orders of magnitudes of difference between them, no volume of reality-based data matters. There have been far worse candidates than Hillary Clinton, but Trump is the worst of them all.\n\nEvery charge against Hillary made by Trump and his supporters appear to have been sheer projection. Trump's chief advisors are a sortof-neo-Nazi (Steve Bannon) and a professional spinmeister (Kellyanne Conway). They are both conservative Catholics. Conservative Catholics were instrumental in the production and dissemination of fake news and the election of Donald Trump.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "vey sad situation and what does it prove?? No one will change their lifestyle. There will be more animosity \nshown to Muslims in Germany. It is particularly offensive that terrorists choose this time of year to promote their genocide and hatred for Christians", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Call me and many that thinks how I tink, Islamophobists. But the radical Islamist/Muslims are Real, deny it if you must but it's Real in my mind, they are spreading Terror and now Islamophobists are fighting back. Allahu Akbar! Yikes!\n\nAmericans are sleeping while Islam/Muslim brings with them Sharia. Those that create Religious Wars in the MidEast are planting Sharia's seeds with the flow of migrant Refugees into America. You know the Hate these people have and hold within that's taught to their offsprings. The Mosque's don't fool me, they have a hidden Agenda, the Spread of Sharia. Women's Rights Groups and the Snow Flakes jaws will Drop!\n\nJesus, couldn't teach them 2000+ years ago, What makes Americans or for that matter any Christian denomination tink they can change Islam/Muslim's Religion followers to assimilate into the Western World? A Religion that needs to be updated, times changed the World never ceases to Spin the game", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Catholics elected Trump with the complicit silence of the USCCB. I am embarrassed to be an American Catholic. Thank God for Francis.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Oh my God, man. You want to give the state the authority to execute sociopaths? First, as a Catholic state-sanctioned execution is off the table (no matter what Catholic death penalty enthusiasts say). Second, it's dangerous to give the state that power. Third, neuroscience may yet develop treatment for dangerous sociopaths.\n\nI'm genuinely shocked you proposed such a thing.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Oh, then was his comment just an academic exercise, or does he think that all Catholics should adopt his opinions? I really don't see the point of having all Catholics become Episcopalians just because he thinks they should. Much easier for him to go where he already agrees with the teaching; don't you thinks so?\n\nThe fact is, Elgabalus has adopted the homosexual identity which, by definition, means that he thinks all of his problems as a \"gay\" man are the result of a Catholic Church that teaches his attraction to other men is disordered and that sodomy is a sin.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You are joking right? Historically Christianity has been far more oppressive and done far more damage. And today the Buddhists in Myanmar are showing that even that religion can house violent thugs. If you actually look at the daily media space you see far more of it taken up by 'Christian' issues, like homophobia, right to choice, etc. You are blind to your own biases.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I see that your ignorance extends to literature as well as history. I was slightly misquoting Voltaire's Candide: \"All is for the best in this best of all possible worlds.\"\n\nAnd clearly you do believe that the Catholic Church is perfect. Those of us in the real world know it isn't.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "A non-Christian president? Will never happen in our current political climate. Obama set us back decades by enraging the angry racist bigots by winning the presidency. So the socially conservative theorcrats and the angry racist bigots that took their nation back and made America great again will make sure tulsi is never elected and trump or who whatever GOP wacko they select in the mold of pence/sessions/de vos etc. that is so popular right now will defeat her. Bad idea.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The fact is that the Trump regime is white supremacist Christian Republican extremists who hate everything our country stands for.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The \"seal of Confession\" is/was supposed to be a protection for the penitent, not a wall of silence to shelter criminal predator priests with impunity. Priests who weaponize the confessional as an opportunity to rape and sodomize children and vulnerable adults should not be able to use \"the seal\" to dodge and conceal their criminal assaults - ever.\n\nPart of any reform and renewal of the priesthood Catholics should restrict the faculties for confessors to those men and women who have received special training in psychology and certification of their probity. \n\nPriests have been abusing the confessional since the early centuries of the church. The sacrament of Reconciliation is suppose to be a source of mercy and peace - not an occasion of rape for sexual perverts: Time for reform!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I'm truly disgusted by the Alaskans who claim they are Americans embracing hate. I find it ironic that the term snowflake which was started by Trumpettes implying that liberals are delicate. Now they carry machine guns and dynamite? Please stop watching Fox it has totally hoodwinked you. As the founder of FOX news said. I want to start a network for over 50 to dead white males. That are scared. You played right into his brainwashing. If your a Christian, where did your principles go? All I see is money grubbing elitest hell bent on taking away every bit of democracy we have sent young men to war to defend. If you are ok with Russaian collusion, nepotism, out right money laundering, sexual harassment, and the loss of your rights. Keep on supporting the 45th. One day you will either die or regret the decision you thought you made. And no I did not vote for Clinton. I voted for Josnston.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Disgusting.\nThree thoughts:\n1) Donald Trump will throw GLBT people under the bus at any time to keep conservative Christians supporting him. It has nothing to do with political philosophy. It has everything to do with political expediency.\n2) It is amazing the number of born-again libertarians who have come out ever since gay people started getting equal rights.\n3) If a gay or atheistic person refused to offer conservative Christians goods or services and claimed artistic freedom or freedom of conscience, conservative Christians would explode. Such Christians want to be able to discriminate while being protected from being discriminated against.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Given the fact that Black Catholics are scarcer than hen's teeth, I'm almost always startled when they're mentioned on any of these sites.(I'm the Resident Protestant Gadfly on these sites; I'm African-American.)---The papal bull issued by pope Nicholas V in 1452 entitled \"Dum Diversas\" comes to mind; after all, it's responsible for my ancestors being on this side of the Atlantic in the first place. Mull and reflect...PEACE\ud83d\ude10.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Abortion most certainly IS fundamental. If you don't get that, you don't get Catholicism or the pro-life position. \n\nCriminals---criminals---have more rights than innocent, unborn babies. If someone was robbing my home and I shot the person---I would have to prove that I shot them because they were a lethal threat. The act of being in my house and robbing me would not give me the right to shoot them--or even attack them! In fact in some states, there are laws that allow you to defend yourself--only IF you cannot run away! \n\nWhen it comes to an innocent, unborn baby, however, all bets are off--huh? That is the one time where a human being can be killed without any due process needing to be followed. You don't think there is something wrong with that? \n\nAnd abortion supporters have the audacity and unmitigated gall to condemn the death penalty! At least a cold blooded killer got due process!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The U.S. Catholic bishops have, and deserve, little influence in the public square. It\u2019s hard to get too concerned by the recklessness of +Naumann and other members of the Republican Bishops Conference. On the other hand, in Donald Trump we have a candidate who is a notorious racist, fascist and adulterer; an accused rapist, child molester and serial sex offender; a demonstrably unstable personality who should never have access to any of the levers of government, let alone to the nuclear codes; a demagogue who lacks even a minimal understanding of the issues of the day, who is contemptuous of American values and of democratic institutions and processes; a bigot who attacks racial, ethnic and religious minorities, ridicules women, and mocks the handicapped. By endorsing this despicable man, Naumann does more than embarrass himself; he disgraces the church and trivializes and diminishes the pro-life and pro-family causes he purports to support. Let's pray that his priests will oppose him", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You conflate the authority of theologians/historians with the Magesterium of the Church.\n\nAn analogy:\n\nOften times the SCOTUS makes some very bad decisions. They use very bad and very stupid arguments to support those decisions. Roe V. Wade is but one of numerous examples. Their arguments are so bad and stupid--it does not even take a lawyer to drive a truck through them. Even a person without training in law could drive a truck through them. That does not unmake the decision, that does not change the decision. The decision is what it is, no matter how bad it is and no matter how stupid the arguments used to support it.\n\nWhether the Vatican uses good or bad arguments to support their statements, whether theologians can drive a truck through them, whether we like it or not, they, like the justices, have the authority to judge between competing opinions and arguments and render decisions. That is how it works. Some decisions are irreformable. Women's ordination is one of them.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Caiside, you absolutely do not have one ounce of substantive thought in your head or you are woefully incapable of translating it into words. Your \"poking fun\" at persons for liking their own posts is quite annoying and very uncharitable. I've found that to be true of most liberals. When they can't intelligently respond to views they disagree with, they always reach for the straw man, which in your case, is very uncharitable and un-Christ like.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I trust, now that the authorities in Australia feel confident that there is a case for Pell to answer with respect to allegations of historical sexual abuse, I presume the Church will now treat him like any other priest in a similar circumstance, namely;\n\nImmediately suspend him from public ministry\nRemoval from his current ecclesiastical place of residence\nHave him undergo a psychological assessment and other psychometric testing\nLeave him to his own devices until as such time as the legal process has concluded\n\nI would be interested to know whether the above process, experienced by many priests in the UK and Ireland, will apply. Somehow, I do not think so.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Isn't it time for all progressive Catholics to refuse to stand for the Nation Anthem? Or some other form of contempt for the United States for its treatment of Catholic Americans?\n\nYour Jesus wanted anarchy, right?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"Mere animal\"?! The anti-animal anthropocentrism of traditional Catholicism is yet another of its false teachings.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Oh but they think they are enlightened, so does the media...........time for a few of them to look at a truth based, not politically corrected revisionist history book. Muslims are still murdering Christians and other faiths just because they are not Muslim. They still repress their women. Not as innocent and worthy of over the top fighting for as they think.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Abortion makes up 3% of the Planned Parenthood budget. So, either you are willfully ignorant or deliberately lying. Neither is a Christian thing to do. Your remark that abstinence (from sexual intercourse) has health benefits is nothing short of insane.\n\nHere's the breakdown on the Planned Parenthood budget:\nContraception - 35%\nSTD testing and treatment - 35%\nCancer screening and prevention - 16%\nOther women's health services - 10%\nAbortion services - 3%\nOther - 1% \n\nHaving seen the truth, you no longer have any excuse for spreading your malicious lies, no doubt inspired by Satan. At this point, if you believe in a just God, you need to fall on your knees, admit to your malicious lies, and ask His forgiveness. It also would be appropriate for you to apologize to all the gullible people whom you misled with your malicious lies. That may include your children.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Yeah, you're Exhibit A alright. Parroting the GOP talking point of (last) week: Never mind the president's sympathy for the \"fine people\" marching with Nazis and white supremacists. Look over there! It's Black Lives Matter! And how \"horrible\" they are to virtuous, non-racist, Confederate-monument-opposing white guys like you! It's so unfair! Really, Counselor?\n\nConsidering a majority of white voters (and Catholics!!) opted for the racist Trump, I rest my case.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I agree Mike.....and I encourage everyone to go to the SPLC website and explore it thoroughly....there is extensive info on sites that deal with alt white, with white supremacist, with neo Nazi, with Klan et al...all the hate groups in the nation ...think it's well over 800 of them..and the Hate Map identifies the locations...and types of sites...there are sites of extreme religious right .......Catholic sites as well and literally loads of info...\n\nOf particular interest are the sites that deal with gays....as there has been much conservative religious hostility directed to them....and lists of Hate Groups ...with Catholic leadership or involvement...\n\nAlso ...please contact Civil Comments and ask that they immediately implement a blocking function as this thread has been taken over by trolls and the data is too important to be treated with literally hundreds of distractive troll comments.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Sure, because such medieval nonsense has absolutely no bearing on having faith in Christ and following his teachings. Why dabble in this extra-biblical nonsense which, as we have seen, so easily lends itself to abuse, corruption and distraction?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I could not agree with you more, Hooded Claw. You can't tell me that many of these \"depressed\" priests didn't know about the goings on of Bishops Casey and Comiskey, but kept their mouths shut; and kept their mouths equally shut when \"thousands of innocents\" were being abused in their parishes. They ought to feel and be \"depressed\" now and saddened in their dark sanctuary of cowardliness and moral incapacity. As you say, the problem confronting their church community is a \"drop in the ocean in comparison to the havoc wreaked on thousands of innocents.\"", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, and no one is more threatening than gays. The Catholic Church is more welcoming of the unrepentant, serial rapist than a married homosexual.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Just checked-out the web site: \"newemangalization\" the author referred to. Yes \"new - MAN - gelization\". This is so ridiculous, sexist and retrogressive that it would be funny if it weren't so insulting. It is something that NCR should shun and not render a shred of dignity. \n\"There is a strong emphasis on Catholic men asserting leadership in their famillies....\"; \"sports luminaries\".\n \"They are told there are dangerous cultural crosscurrents out there, threats to the family that Catholic men need to oppose... (feminism???? wink, wink)\nCardinal Burke would be pleased.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"I have criticisms of this pope, but I never doubted his Catholicism.\"\nI agree with you. He won't make conservatives or liberals truly happy. He's a mixed bag.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "LOL,\nPot meet kettle.\n\nIf anything resembles a \"faith\", it's \"The Church of Climate Blame\" of which you are clearly member. \n\nAs with any religion, it has its sins (carbon footprint), saints (saint Gore & saint Suzuki), gospels (the legend of the 97%), and unbelievers (deniers of the \"true faith\" like Trump).\n\nBTW, as for being getting more isolated, it\u2019s the other way around after with Trumps election gave your \"religion\" a big kick in the junk.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Cool. Sounds like prison is filled with Democrat Christians. \n\nSounds about right.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Epnd writes:\n\n\"G&M. The anti white, anti Christian, pro sharia, and certainly anti women media outlet\"\n\n--\n\nTaking a break from reading Breitbart and Infowars to see what's up at the G&M?\n\n.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Here are several: A Christian student tradition called \"SYATP\", or See You at the Pole Christian students used to pray for the coming school year. After several hostile incidents and being told they could not use a classroom for the prayer day, they started meeting at schools various flag poles. Canadian universities use discriminatory hiring practices against Christians, as well as being told they actually have to hire professors who do not fit into the University's moral or ethical codes. Christian chaplains are being told they cannot speak to Muslim students, because they claim that the chaplains are inciting blasphemy. A multi-use prayer room at Western University gave way for a Muslim-dedicated prayer room. You can google all of these, except the one about the chaplains. This wasn't even covered by media, but was in churches in Ontario.. You can bet if a Muslim Imam was told to stop talking to non-muslims it would be all over MSM. There IS a definite double standard.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Countering Buddhist extremism? Catholic extremism? Amish extremism?\n\nIf only there was a list of extremist violence from those religions -- but there's not.\n\nHowever, the same cannot be said of Muslim extremism.\n\nhttp://www.thereligionofpeace.com/attacks/attacks.aspx?Yr=Last30\n\nOne way to look at the victims of these violent attacks is that they are martyrs.\n\nTo ignore their deaths is to suggest they died in vain.\n\nThat so many are shown the gigantic amount of evidence of Muslim extremism and respond by saying it doesn't exist, and those who say it exists are \"bigots\"......it's quite a strange phenomena of our times.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How is christianity under assault? Can you not go to church whenever you want? You insult real religious persecution when you say you are under assault. Its just a fear based talking point. All your type is doing with discrimination and judging is turning youth away from religion and that is the biggest sin of all. Thanks for doing your part", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The term \"Palestinian\" in the 30s and 40s usually referred to Jews who had made Aliyah to the Holy Land.\nIt is inconsistent to compare the results of war and population displacement of Arab Palestinians and Middle Eastern Jews with the death camps of the Nazis.\nDuring the creation of the State of Israel the surrounding Arab countries, the \"neighbors\", invaded the territory and tried to eliminate the Jewish population. THERE'S your genocide. Jews throughout North Africa and the Middle East were dispossessed of their homes and property. THERE'S your ethnic cleansing. They made their homes in the State of Israel, which has substantial Muslim and Christian inhabitants as well, alone among Middle Eastern countries.\nThe State of Israel has made peace offers, most notably during the Camp David Summit in 2000. The Palestinians under Yasir Arafat would not even recognize the State of Israel. So why do they deserve recognition? The Israelis evacuated their settlers from Gaza. They got rockets!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I get Islam, I have just never understood why the far left is so anxious to destroy western democracy. The only thing I can come up with is their hatred of conservatives, christianity and western culture is such they have decided the enemy (Islam) of their enemy (conservatives, christians) is their friend.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Peace between Islam and Christianity? Highly doubtful. This is a cultural as well as Religious war. There will be tension between the two until one is no more. Islam of course and Christ shall reign supreme. Francis may get an earful from the Coptic Pope. Thank God el Sisi gave the boot to the Muslim Brotherhood, whom Obama supported.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "technically the bar was not against Jews since Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists would have also been prevented from taking the oath\n\n but somehow this particular argument has been conflated to a bar just against Jews \n\nas Canadians we were all required to say the Lord's prayer in public school right until the 80s (85 to be exact)\n\npeople could choose not to participate if they so wished\n\nso this whole \"equivalent to\" argument gets you nowhere since opting out is always an option\n\nthe real issue is whether a person who graduates from this school can uphold the law without recrimination or prejudice\n\nassuming they have passed the bar .....\na lawyer is a lawyer a lawyer\n\nwhether they are christian, muslim, jewish or atheist", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Chuck writes:\n\n\"Are we allowed to ask what type of message it sends to students when females are forbidden from taking part in prayers during their natural cycles?\"\n\n--\n\nHey Chuck, there's no explaining the odd idiosyncrasies of the various religions.\n\nTake for instance....no Catholic female priests, Jewish women relegated to different areas of the temple, Mormons....well, Mormons are just plain different.\n\nIf you start disqualifying religions because of their irrational points of faith, the world will be entirely atheist.\n\nHey..........", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Because as an ultra-right wing Catholic, you are immune to surprises or just about anything less than five hundred yeats old, or at least older than the concilium Tridentinum of the mid-sixteenth centuro", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Market worship should be transformed, keeping in mind the words of Jesus and the apostles to meet the needs of the poor before satisfying our wants. Last Sunday's first reading from the Acts of the Apostles again reminded us of this message: \"All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one's need.\" We aren't going to do this, but we can provide a better safety net for those in poverty if we are Christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How many Muslims are killed by Western Christian fundamentalists worldwide compared the Islamic radicals on a worldwide killing spree of innocent people living their perfectly socially acceptable lives? Double standard? aBsolutely.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Expect more of this in coming times.\n\nSunni Kaliphate and Jewish finance alliance terrorized Christian West for 13 centuries until the English found the silver bullet - create competing land claims by founding Israel.\n\nSince then no war in Europe. Christians at peace.\n\nNow the payback time. Sunnis and Jews will be targeted everywhere. What goes come around.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'd like to see more mainstream US Christian groups denounce the enacting of laws in various African countries that have made being gay a crime punishable by death, these laws were pushed in part by the support of Christian evangelical groups working in Africa.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...Trump's solution is no solution. It does not reflect Christian values. It is a reflection of his racist rhetoric for trolling for votes. The Democrats don't have a solution either. Obama could have pardoned many of them, but the Democrats would rather seek to exploit the situation for votes...\"\n\nTrump's solution is simply to enforce the law. Unless the immigration laws were written by a bunch of druids in sheets, I doubt they are pagan or racist. Obama pardoned 1/2 of the dope dealers in lock-up and 90% of the terrorists at Git-mo. I think he felt he had done enough to hurt America.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Follow the money trail of MSM. Their anti-Putin, anti-Christian, pro-terrorist stances are puppeteered by the same groups aiding ISIS.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That comment has been up for 10 hours now so apparently you can say it. No different than the Christians of the Spanish Inquisition forcing Jews to convert under torture.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That piece of scripture is also Christian. If you claim the 23rd Psalm or the 51st, you must also claim the 137th.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"What is a \"satanic school?\" Where'd you come up with that term?\"\n.\nMuch the same thing as a \"Baptist school\" or a \"Catholic school\", with the relevant religious organization being The Church of Satan or the like. And the term entered this LTE discussion before Thor used it here.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Despite what Catholics are \"obliged\" to do or believe, they don't. But Catholics believe in a great deal of what they have been taught and what they learned by living, by experience. That is why many stay a part of the Catholic Church, because it does feed their souls in a way that they are not fed elsewhere. That does not mean they believe everything \"the holy Catholic Church believes, teaches and proclaims...\" Do you really believe they do?\n\nThe faith journey is not ended upon profession of the Catholic faith. Catholicism gives it a direction and a focus, which is our Lord. It has important teachings on God and the message of love of neighbor that Jesus taught. But it does not know it all. Knowledge is still growing. It is ridiculous to think that they got it all right in the first 300 years after Christ, or finished up all they had to understand in the next 500, or the next 500. The problem with Catholicism is its absolutism in an evolving species in an evolving universe.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Just as Satan would like, as he attempts to destroy the Catholic Church, but fear not, the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary will prevail.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Religious discrimination existed in the 19th century, but it was not part of our official immigration policy. And it has no place in our immigration policy today \u2014 either explicitly or implicitly.\"\n\nAgreed. But, really, do you think Trump is enough of a religionist to give a tinker's damm about the religion of those he seeks to temporarily exclude? Which is more likely? That Trump is such a rabid Christian that he refuses to have Muslims come here? Or that religion has nothing to do with the temporary exclusion, and that Trump's true concern is that those from certain Muslim countries known to harbor terrorists not be admitted without added assurance that they will not harm us? If religion were the basis of exclusion, why make it merely temporary? And why only for some Muslim countries where terrorism runs high? \n\nFinally, it's to be hoped that NCR's readers understand the difference between \n\ncont'd", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It all depends on how far a metaphor is taken. I suggest the Church has taken the sheep/shepherd thing to ridiculous lengths. As John 10 says: \"The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep.\" To me, that means that no-one substitutes for the Lord as Shepherd of his flock. \"The Lord is my shepherd\" is an important prayer.\n\nWe really need to stop thinking that priests and bishops and popes are stand-ins for our Lord.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is funny. We spend years stripping religion out of public schools and then a small group of people want it, so the mass should cave? There is a whole religious school system that parallels the public school system. Send the Muslim kids to catholic schools. Problem solved.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"One again it is revealing that it is the secular - the alleged enemy of the \"one, holy, true, and catholic - that is leveraging the values elevated by Christ and claimed by church.\"\n\nYou are correct. In the case of the child sexual abuse crimes by priests and cover-ups by Bishops, secular moral values are far superior to Catholic moral values.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, Clinton was once Governor of Arkansas but more recently, so was Mike Huckabee, the guy who loved the \"Christian\" TV family where the son routinely abused his sisters. Arkansas is overwhelmingly Republican now and their AG Leslie Rutledge is desperately trying to ride Trumps voluminous coat tails to DC.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Many regular posters here have been banned on conservative websites. I can count Fr Z's blog, Life Site News, and whatever thing Deal Hudson has/had going, as sites that have banned my user name. I did not insist on changing names and going back. I didn't get banned because I was using blatantly offensive language or engaging in trolling. I got banned because my comments were legitimately challenging. The censorship on right wing Catholic internet sites is much worse than NCR. The truth is I don't think most conservative posters understand the amount of heavy censorship used on their favorite right wing websites to keep them free of impure dissenting/questioning thinking. I guess this is why I get semi irritated when conservatives complain about NCR's 'pathetic irony'.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The clergy blaspheme the Holy Pulpit; exploiting its high dignity; ....communists 'preaching' high treason against the Nations, the sedition of globalism. These have transformed themselves into evil POLITICIANS and have made themselves fair-game for ridicule. The vatican has become hillary clinton wrapped in a cassock; ....many authentic catholics now refer to jorge bergoglio as 'the vicar of george soros'. Even EWTN is beginning to anticipate a schism, and no Christian is going to be following team bergoglio ['the forces of evil'] headlong into this apostasy. [why hasn't this apostate vatican defrocked 'fr' tony flannery? ..maybe because he is spiritual-brother to this 'pope'; even now denying the Resurrection while, professing the essential things like climate change!]", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Once again you have misread and taken one of my comments out of context. It's pretty obvious that you don't know how to read and have very poor reading comprehensions skills. Nowhere did I say that a \"Christian Extremist Group killed 53 people\". I said that since 9/11 there were 21 attacks that caused 53 fatalities....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mike was a good governor for Arkansas. Then he sold his soul to fox. Endorsing one crazy conspiracy after another. He forgot the commandment not to bear false witness\n\nHe lied about death panels\nHe lied about the HPV vaccine.\nHe lied about president Obama's birthplace\nThe Christian value his daughter learned was \nThou shall bear false witness for the highest bidder", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Voting for Clinton is not \"condoning abortion.\" It is voting for someone who believes that, in many instances, abortion is not a proper matter for the state to control.\n\nNot all conduct which is sinful is the proper business of government (and, of course, many Americans don't believe all abortion is sinful).\n\nRape and theft are abominations to the God of both Christians and Jews, if I read the Bible correctly. Does that make anyone who votes for Trump not a Christian? That would come as a surprise to many Christians - including, I suspect, some members of the Catholic hierarchy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think it's strange how so many ignore the elephant in the room that the Pulse shooter was inspired by Islam. To hear the bishops quoted, you'd think the killer was inspired by the Catholic faith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That's because it was a stunt and should have embarrassed any believing Catholic including the entirety of the USCCB, but of course there was barely a peep and definitely no tweet.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Gee, I wonder why? When a church or religion or institution says it' OKAY to discriminate based on a so called religious belief, does anyone really wonder why membership continues to decline? How many of those same organizations used to preach that slavery was \"Christian\" by cherry picking some verse out of the Bible? Any decent person with critical thinking skills would have to park their morals and integrity at the door of the church to worship and listen to crap like that! Do I feel guilt or fear or loneliness because I decided to be a NONE? No, I feel strong and free and clean!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If Jesus showed up today, it's obvious that the religious zealots would be the first to once again demand his crucifiction. Obama preached the values of Jesus day after day speech after speech...and was vilified by many so called christians. Trump is the opposite, yet he is celebrated for spewing hate. He is anti intellectual and anti christian. These Catholic who support Trump are frauds and anti Christian to the core.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The thrust of several of these messages seems to be that since the bishops didn't do an adequate job of speaking out against hateful right-wing rhetoric before the election (and I agree they didn't), then they should keep quiet now. I completely disagree.\n\nSilence implies consent. I don't want the bishops to shut up. I want them to reclaim the proper voice of Catholic social justice tradition instead of squandering that voice on futile social legislation issues. Charlottesville is exactly the kind of thing they should be speaking up against. No matter how numerous their failures, there is always a place for doing the right thing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Most scripture references homosexuality to be wrong without declaring it revelation and based on past teaching. It is not privileged over fact because it is a natural law matter. You are putting piety over truth for the purpose of group dynamics/Catholic identity. Not a problem accept young gays who were created by God to be that way face depression and bullying because of that teaching, leading to suicide. Hardly the mark of something being true. The true thing is that by not condemning this farce their blood is on your hands. God avenges the blood of innocents.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "OK, Pat. I guess that you are safe and secure in your world, so Trump will not affect you greatly. Unfortunately, for many, the reality is not different. So many are going to suffer needlessly for this \"shake-up\" that so many (including, I guess you) are apparently wishing for -- as long as it's at someone else's cost. Incredibly Christian, I must say.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Senator misses the point entirely, something common with most of Mr. Harpers appointees. These children were taken from their parents - an evil action in and of itself and one that would undoubtedly be condemned by that great Jewish Rabbi Yussef ben Yoseph (aka Jesus Christ) himself. These were not acts of good Christians, they were acts of racial genocide directed at destroying a whole culture and perpetrated by those who brought also smallpox to this land and then used it to further their territorial greed. Sorry Senator, time to resign and go home.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is not justice- this is Gender Segregation giving all men control over all women. This is evil and the subjugation of all women even if they make a million women deacons tomorrow. Deacons have no authority and those in our church who support such evil men as would seek to perform mass as married priests while their wives and daughters are denied equal priesthood and equal ordination are sinning against God's direct commandment to treat all Christians the same, given us thru Christ, himself in the Gospels. \n\nThis is the support of gender hatred and we will not be blessed as a people for supporting it. Sexism causes poverty, violence terrorism and slavery of both women and children globally. Shame on us if we do not demand a stop to optional celibacy unless women are being ordained priests at the same time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Whelp, if I ever decide to take a Nigerian woman as a second wife, I'll have to make sure she's Muslim, inshaa Allah. That whole post-clitoridectomy thing doesn't sound like it would offer much of a wild ride, and Christians seem to have more than their fair share of sexual hangups even WITHOUT surgical modification.\n\nAnd your right. It's a barbaric cultural practice that predates al-Islam, and was never practiced by the Most Noble Messenger (Saala Allahu alayhi wa Ah'liihi wa Salaam), his family (alayhimus-Salaam) or their followers (radi'Allahu anhum). I suspect he would have been horrified at the very idea. He admonished his followers: \"Don't go into your wives like camels do (thinking only of your own pleasure), and \"The best among you are those who are kindest to their wives.\" Don't see any of that fitting with chitoridectomy. At all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The average Catholic, frankly, doesn't go to websites or read diocesan newspapers, in my observation. The average Catholic isn't going to be aware of this word-from-on-high, I suspect. They'll go on as usual, until suddenly there is a death among family or friends.\n\nAs they sit before a priest, grieving, intending to plan a funeral, they will suddenly be told no funeral if the same-sex spouse is mentioned anywhere, or even shows up, depending on the priest. At such a pained time, hearing such demands, they may well surrender the person they knew and turn their back on someone they'd considered part of the family; or the spouse may swallow their own tears and step away in an effort to soothe the grief of the family of the one they love, knowing that family wants the funeral.\n\nCold and calculating. And every such surrender will be deemed somehow a \"victory\" for the Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The clergy blaspheme the Holy Pulpit; exploiting its high dignity; ....communists 'preaching' high treason against the Nations, the sedition of globalism. These have transformed themselves into evil POLITICIANS and have made themselves fair-game for ridicule. The vatican has become hillary clinton wrapped in a cassock; ....many authentic catholics now refer to jorge bergoglio as 'the vicar of george soros'. Even EWTN is beginning to anticipate a schism, and no Christian is going to be following team bergoglio ['the forces of evil'] headlong into this apostasy. [why hasn't this apostate vatican defrocked 'fr' tony flannery? ..maybe because he is spiritual-brother to this 'pope'; even now denying the Resurrection while, professing the essential things like climate change!]", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your other reasons were irrelevant. The public school system isn't a secular system. It's an All Inclusive system. Anyone with a religious need can be accommodated. Most Christian and Jewish holidays are already taken care of. Offering space for Muslim children to pray briefly on a Friday afternoon is no burden on the system. It disturbs no other students. It's you who has to come up with some reason why accommodation is a burden to the state. And saying that safety is a concern is ludicrous as it's the haters who are creating the threat.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "He was 'constrained' by his culture. For instance, he was a practicing Jew (altho' not always a good one). He operated (almost always) within the structure of the Jewish religion. Jesus was not a Christian. (Hate to break it to you. :-) )", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Will it ever end?\n\n\n*\nThe only way it will end is when the natives have their own land and their own country. Christian socialists have and always make the situation worse,.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm sure that everything that you written is 100% true given that you have taken it upon yourself to define Christians (\"genuine Christians\") as those who agree with you.\n\nAll the rest are going to hell, huh?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your argument sounds just like certain Christians saying \"they are not really Christian because they don't believe exactly the way I do\". These are registered dems. causing the violence Gary, you can deny all you want but the facts are it is the dems. inciting violence, it is the dems. being very intolerant, it is the dems. using fascist tactics to shut down all opposing speech, it is the dems. who are bigoted towards all who have different opinions. Face it Gary, the dem. party is intolerant, it is hateful and it supports violence, yet you continue to support them, how sad. You et. al. have been used, the media and the party leaders have lied repeatedly, yet folks refuse to do their own research to find out the truth. I grew very weary of just being lied to, quite a few others in this Nation have also grown weary of the lies. When are the rest of you going to quit allowing yourselves to be used?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Elagalalabalus wrote: \"I'm not sure their sex work represents violence against women in any way, shape, or form.\" I take issue with that, as well as with the the anti-Catholic stance he takes on sex in general.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The police state is here brought to you by a CONServative POTUS and his supporters, primarily evangelical christians. And we were supposed to be concerned about President Obama. Time to arm yourself America, the theological Fascists are here!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "yes - it works both ways. It is still a catholic social justice issue and failure but using centuries of pastoral theology, that does not mean that you start the dialogue by casting the other person into mortal sin, hell, etc. That does not mean you sit passively by - re-read what Coccopalmiero says.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If a white non-christian goes into a church and shoots the parishioners,what do we call him ? Chances are this would be referred to as a hate crime as it was an attack against a religion, and the shooter would simply be labelled as mentally unstable. A person goes into a mosque and shoots Muslims, and our politicians label this as a terrorist act. Why?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is not that simple. We are not willing to give up or surrender our church. Many now are willing to fight for a genuinely Christian Catholic Church & I am one of them. It may seem foolish but God has shown me that this world needs real Christianity & we can start over from scratch & everyone of us ups & leaves to begin over or we could join the Anglican Church, or we can keep what is holy in our traditions & sacraments & demand same & equal ordination of women & men here and now. Women have allowed a lot of this misogyny, largely due to their own brainwashing, but we are not innocent. However, I see a lot more women and men who have had it and their being careful how they spend their money in our church or not and are organizing stronger lay groups which are demanding justice and equal human dignity in ordination practices & equal respect & treatment for LGBT.\n\nCall to Action and Women's Ordination Conference and Roman Catholic Women Priests are great places to join the fight.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Over the years I have struggled with my church and within my vocation. Deep down, I live a heresy that equates the earthy, pilgrim church with the Kingdom of God, the spotless bride. The sexual abuse of minors, the cover up by the bishops, clericalism, careerist clerics, this sick seduction of power and recognition, the alienation and driving out of so many people who don't fit into the perfect image that we have created for ourselves and so many other things....must die. \n\nDivinity is hidden in this mess that we call church, in all its humanity. It must die so that Christ rises again. It is a slow purgative process and it hurts. Those who cling to their lives in this world will lose it in the next. \n\nWe have not seen the last of these machinations and manipulations of the bishops or the last of a broken humanity in its death throws. \n\nThe iceberg metaphor is so spot on- the church must disorganize, disintegrate so as to reorganize and reintegrate with Christ and one another. Mercy,", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The second you allow a Protestant and a Catholic school system, you have allowed religion into the schools.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Shaking hands with the anti-Christ and Romney knows it. Oh yes, one's CONservative values has no bounds.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Here is the gospel according to Mitch McConnell. A group of lepers were praising God that they finally had health insurance. And the McConnell and the Ryan said, \"Take away that healthcare coverage, and distribute the money saved to the rich.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Correct, now explain to the class why the racist bigots then reclassified marijuana as a narcotic more dangerous than heroin, to put this into a different legal aspect, where they can criminalize..and all they had to do was lie, lie lie just like Refer Madness. It reminds me much of a similar case and Supreme Court. The Alaska Supreme court ruled citizens had the constitutional right to consume marijuana, and you could legally grow 4 plants. The feds never cracked down, why? They already lost this case in 1936. Then the Pentecostal Christians were convinced the mark of the beast was coming, and headed to Alaska by the doves...packed the court...and the Alaska Supreme court ruled pot is illegal. This isn't about constitutional law, and the truths we hold self-evident. It's about political-religious bigotry and this bigotry started out as racist an agenda as they come.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The same literary method is being used.\" Yeah, an untruth. The truth is that St. Francis was a fiery preacher who would preach in up to five villages a day. And James Joyce, while steeped in Catholicism was hostile to the Church.\n\nTheses urban legends are only accepted by the ignorant and the ideological. You're the first person I've ever encountered who tried to spin them into \"truth\". They are false to the \"core\" because they rest on the fact that persons of authority allegedly said them when, in fact, these persons not only never said them, they never believed in them!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"to avoid public scandal and confusion.\" How ridiculous! The churchmen do not realize that today Catholics are well educated and more sophisticated. We no longer get our education from stained glass windows. We can think for ourselves apart from such narrow minded prelates. Is it any wonder that many bishops have no credibility? If there is any scandal, any confusion it is with Bishops who issue regulations such as these. Many Catholics are scandalized by such Bishops. Why should we take them seriously?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm reposting this, since apparently it wasn't deemed \"civil\" by the Trumpkins who have decided to harass us. \n\nTo all the Trumpkins who seem to be spamming this site all of a sudden, perhaps we should all read what Jesus has to say on the subject. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+25:31-46", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am just floored by how really stupid he sounded - or made the USCCB sound. They can't talk about controversial issues because they are controversial and everyone might not agree and \"others\" might find out. \n\nThis false image that all Roman Catholicism is in agreement and that we all listen, heed, agree on everything the bishops say - that is so false. What we need is the discussion. We need to hear the issues in the different ways the bishops see them and THEY NEED TO HEAR THE LAITY and the different ways the laity perceive and experience those same issues.\n\nWe are going to talk about those issues with or without them and learn from the discussions we do have. They have a better chance of both teaching and learning by joining the discussion that we are going to have with or without them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I wonder how much of the demonization of Evangelicals is sour grapes that they pick up a lot of former Catholics and seem to bear more fruit in actually going out and promoting their understanding of the Gospel than 50 years of not doing that in favor of inter-religious dialogue have done for Catholics. Also that the poor in Latin America like the prosperity Gospel better than Liberation Theology (not a fan of either myself, both distort the Gospel in different ways.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "RG: ...\" At least two people in the courtroom could be heard whispering a prayer for him. Said one woman, \u201cHe needs the strength of Jesus right now.\u201d...+++ yeah lady, someone needs the \"strength\" of jesus. BTW..does that mean dead lift or what? there is nothing worse than a brainwashed \"religious\" person. they always seem to miss the point. there is a victim and it is not him. and lady -\" jesus\" will come to whatever understanding with Jackson that \"he\" does, regardless of your wishes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are putting God's words on the lips the Levites of Babylon. Those numerous entries are people quoting them. The story of Sodom is a fairy tale about what happened to the cities, not a contemporaneous account. Jesus was very clear about tragedies not happening as punishment from God. I wrote a column about it. As for the cry to Heaven for vengeance, I agree that pederasty surely does, which is why the modern hierarchy is doomed. You conflate consensual sodomy by adults with the rape of children. Only the latter demands vengeance. Try some perspective with that does of self-righteousness. God gives commands for our good, not to feed his own ego. Why would He create a whole gender type of people and demand they not have sexuality? He instead created asexuals for that niche. Their challenge is to have charity for everyone else. They have done a lousy job of loving their neighbor.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Who is this man that the \"bishops can wholeheartedly support because of his clear cut devotion to Christian values\"?\n\nYou can't possibly be referring to the racist sexual predator who will not even show his tax return ?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There exists a horrible problem of extremism in the Muslim world at present. What is routinely overlooked by those who want to blame all of Islam and all Muslims is that the vast majority of victims of Islamic extremism - well over 99% of them - are Muslims. We only hear about bombings when the happen in the West. To say that Islam is at fault and that all Muslims are terrorists is to say that Muslims enjoy and support having their own children blown to pieces in acts of terrorism. This is absurd on the face of it.\n\nI've traveled in Islamic regions as well, and I too have experienced overwhelming goodness from the people. The same goes for Muslims I know here in the States. I will no more judge them by the acts of a few then I will judge all white Catholics by, say, the actions of the Irish Republican Army (and I'm old enough to remember when some Americans did this). I do not oppose security standards for those entering our country, but I do oppose applying them unequally.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In case you've been seized by the kind of amnesia that routinely afflicts conservatives, here is the video defending pedophilia that caused former senior editor at Breitbart and Catholic Milo Yiannopoulos's downfall. Disclaimer: this video is full of profanity and not for the faint of heart:\n\nhttps://youtu.be/oJhHwspZGcg\n\nAgain, it was perfectly obvious throughout the election season that Trump cheerleader Breitbart was a nest of vipers...but Hillary's emails! Oh no!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "i know Archbishop Rummel's story. It's interesting that you recall him in this context. \n\nThere is little or no evidence that Donald Trump is remotely interested in the abortion issue; he was militantly pro-choice until about five minutes before he announced for the presidency. Meanwhile, her pro-choice voting record and policies notwithstanding, Clinton, by advocating for women, children and families, and especially for health care, has done more to reduce the number and the rate of abortions in this country than Trump ever has or ever will.\n\nBack to Rummel: While there is no evidence that Trump cares about abortion except for whatever political advantage can be derived from opposing it, the evidence is overwhelming that he is a racist and a fascist. The Catholics who supported Trump would be very much at home among the Catholics who opposed Archbishop Rummel.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Before I answer your question, please address for me how two adults of the same sex appearing at dinner together constitute a values disruption to children. Most kids would just think it's \"Ned's friend\" or \"Jan's housemate\" and wouldn't ask for details. (I had adult housemates of both sexes for years.) Most LGBT couples are sensitive to situations in where there is limited approval and are usually on their best behaviour, avoiding hot topics and PDAs. This isn't a situation where the person's issues--addiction, criminality, racism--threaten to derail the conversation at every turn. I agree that those situations can get unmanageable. \n\nSometimes if feels like traditional Catholics don't know any gay people and imagine that all they do is maul each other in public and talk about sex positions. Nothing could be further from the truth. I would ask you to apply some common sense.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well said, AnonAJ. It good to find companions on this journey. Thanks for you reflections.\n\nThe young live in cosmos in which that part of the universe we can currently observe contains more than 200 billion GALAXIES. Is it any wonder they find it difficult to take seriously a tiny group of old, mostly-white males who think they speak for God and that this God considers males generally superior to females who are not allowed even a modicum of equality in the community of Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The vigorous bigotry towards Christians is pretty intense, but not surprising. The Jesus you're all talking about also said his followers would be persecuted and ostracized for their beliefs. So there's that... The miltant LGBT crowd and defenders of their \"preferential rights\" are swimming in an ocean of cash and great lawyers. You have nothing to worry about people. The Christians are going to lose, every time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Let's face it I don't use language like yours in pointing out where a person is in error, I merely point out the difference between what they are advocating and what the Church teaches.\nHere is an example from one of your posts:- \nYou care nothing about human beings, their suffering, their mental turmoil and agony. To you, suffering humanity is a moral abstraction factored in to your casuistic calculations. In a word, you and your kind lack empathy and compassion. In yet another word, you lack Christ...just like those calculating Nazi doctors referred to in the article you linked in your comment.\"\nAnd:-\n\"You arrogant, unfeeling, compassionless...\nI was right about you and your kind: you don't give a nickel about suffering humanity. You are wrapped up so tightly in faux moral principles and abstract casuistry, you forget that people are meant to be at the heart of human concern, not moral legalism.\"\nDo you really think that Our Lord would consider that a work of mercy?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In October 1986, the cardinal who became Pope Benedict XVI stated that homosexuality is an \"inherent moral evil.\" Even celibate gay people are condemned with that statement. So, none of this hatred of gay people is new. The real question concerns Dignity. Why do gay Catholics insist on remaining where they aren't wanted? At what point does Dignity's loyalty to the Church become betrayal to all gay people? We are long past that milestone.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think most Canadians have a fear of what Islam may do to our country .\nOur country was founded on Judeo/Christian values which are a direct opposite to the teaching of the Qu'ran ie; Qu'ran 5 :51 \"Do not take Jews and Christians as Allies \"!\nCan you truly tell me that Muslims will vow to follow our Christian values over Islam ?\nWhy is it that Muslim countries such as Saudi Arabia , Oman , Bahrain , Kuwait and Qatar will not take any Syrian Refugees ?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "95 percent of Christians are going to hell because they worship on the wrong day. Saturday is the sabbath day, not Sunday. Ask any 7th Day Adventist. Also, if you don't give 10 percent of your gross income to the church before taxes you will go to hell. Ask any 7th Day Adventist.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"Concern for those suffering persecution and even genocide in the Middle East cannot be exclusive to Christians, said the U.S. Catholic bishops, but must take in concern for all in that region \u201cwho suffer persecution, both minorities and majorities,\u201d including Muslims.\"\n\nThe US Catholic bishops are the ones at the forefront of this entire destructive mess that has now engulfed much of the world. Do they EVER get it???They are both schizoid and schizogenic.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "It proves that again Christian and Muslim come from the same root, they basically act in the same way when getting angry.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I realize that people who are crazy enough to kill lots of other people seem to pick up some rationale for it. But you are intent on focusing on a small subset. \"Gee, the -white- nutjobs never claim religion\" except the anti-abortion murderers, and all the guys who killed people they thought were the \"wrong\" faith, like Jewish or Muslim. \"Pledged to ISIS\". ISIS isn't Islam, and pledging online isn't theology.\n\nOthers said it in this thread - white guys do mass murder and \"gee, mabye they're not well\" but somehow if someone's imbalance shows up as a twisting of a different faith, suddenly that person is a deep theologian, nothing crazy about them. Right.\n\nRead the Bible, here's Jesus: \"19:27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.\n19:28 And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem.\"\n\nSeems clear Jesus wants to kill non-Christians if you just read it, right? Explain otherwise.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, according to Catholic teaching. A truly objective and persuasive reason.\n\nGimme a freaking break!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "People from Indian National Congress are openly and blatantly racist as long as they are not muslims or chrstians. In 1984, sikhs were slaughtered after Indira Gandhi's assassination. Rajiv Gandhi, dear darling son of Indira said - when the banyan tree falls the earth is bound to shake. I am completely ashamed of the Nehru family members. They have taken the country to the dogs. It is high time to reconcile with Ex Kalistan sympathizers and move on.\nIf you can openly invite and smooch with a terrorist like Yazhar Arafat, you have no bones to talk.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Yet numerous Saudi Arabian billionaires and multi-millionaires fly under the radar as they are simultaneously the primary force behind the surreptitious export of their extreme fundamentalist Wahhabi form of Sunni Islam around the world. This is the form of Sunni Islam that motivates and drives the ISIS caliphate itself. From Saudi Arabia, it comes is in the form of literature, books, school teaching and study aids, video, audio tapes, etc. used in Muslim mosques and children's schools attached to mosques, which propagate pure anti-Jewish, anti-Gay and anti-Christian hatred.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Oh noes, I spoke the truth!\n\nHe falsely accuses me of being a troll with 113 shill accounts, and you condemn ME.\n\nHe flies the homosexual flag as his avatar, representing an ideology contrary to 2000 years of Catholic Christian doctrine, and you condemn ME.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "There's a little secret incentive in Trump's tax bill.\n\nIt was inserted to make self-styled christian hypocrites vote for the bill.\n\nIt abolishes the Johnson Amendment. The Johnson Amendment prohibits preachers from politicizing from the pulpit if they want to keep their tax avoidance scheme of claiming they run a 'church'.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Its pretty easy to figure it out, FC, if you apply your mind to it. Abortion is one issue among many. Donald Trump was pro-abortion until he realised that there were a lot of votes to be had among the Catholic stoopid, if he did a U-turn. And of course there is the fact that the Republicans have had plenty of time in office to do something about abortion but didn't. There is also the inconvenient fact that abortions actually rise in number during Republican presidencies. Critically aware Catholics could not possibly vote for Trump.\n\n48% of Catholics were astute enough to realise this and took other important issues into account, especially issues which are core to Christ's teachings. 52% of Catholics ignored their own Pope, the gospel and principles which contribute to healthy society and voted for a horse's ass for president.\n\nSuch people justify their decision by appealing to Church teaching while completely ignoring specific teachings of Christ.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You forgot to mention a few other differences. American Christians don't force women to undergo genital mutilation; they don't stone people to death; they don't behead 'infidels'; they don't hang gays from construction cranes;they don't engage in \"honour\" killings; leaving Christianity is not punishable by death.....", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "LOL so a hardcore catholic believer says we banned muslim cemeteries. Not even close to the case BUT if we get rid of divisive religious nonsense then hallelujah.\nThe catholic church received 600 million dollars in last budget for 'immigration services\" one 500 million and another 100 million chunk. Look it up. They are greedy pigs helping corporations reduce our quality of life while attempting to force a more violently enforced abrahamic religion on to us.\nFor a peak at immigration reality in Canada:\nhttp://vancouversun.com/opinion/columnists/douglas-todd-why-canadians-need-to-debate-immigration-economics\n\nThe man who wrote this column in the G&M is the enemy of all Canadians and North Americans. His words and actions are clear. He is a traitor, loyal to a foreign religious head, not us.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I agree, utilitas, that the pro-life side cannot (and, I think, must not) win and I also agree that we need pro-life push to force us to draw lines around abortion. We need to work on making planned pregnancies normative - doesn't sound very Catholic, I know, but it recognizes that women who work and have families need to have better control over when and how many children they have. \n\nThe wider availability of effective contraceptives is most important to what has driven down the number of abortions, but so has better sex education. Planned Parenthood is very important to those efforts and I want government funding to them to continue.\n\nState legislatures have been \"drawing lines\" around abortion, with the 20 week limits. They screw up with \"bodily probes\" and artificial restrictions on doctors, required waiting periods - obvious, stupid, wasteful. I don't want abortions driven into the back-alleys and wire coathangers. So we need to reduce it but keep it legal.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I think NCR actually self flagellates Catholicism more than the fictitious \"Opus Dei monk\"from that silly Dan Brown book.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You are probably joking with us but gosh darn it... YES!! (the first part, not the second :-)) It would be a great lesson to the universal church to see Burke taste his own medicine. Jesus was merciful to sinners, one and all, it is the bedrock of our Christian heritage... enough with the dominion theology already, the people of God deserve better and we will no longer tolerate such elitist clericalism... the pope \"gets it\" for crying out loud, why the heck can't many of the bishops and cardinals?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, people forget the bigotries of the past - even those who were the target of the bigotry. It wouldn't surprise me if some of the bitter old men in these comments were Italian or Polish Catholics, who the WASP stock of Canada was once horrified of, bringing their illiteracy, papist ways, and families of 6 and 8 children each to decent Anglo-Protestant Canada.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "When neighbors write stupid, arrogant or unchristian things, then I will criticize them. For example, when you say that the magisterium must be followed without question, I simply point out that this is the attitude that Adolf Eichmann took, and question if you want him as your role model -- a question which you have NEVER given a coherent response to. Or when you take the silly attitude that to disagree with the magisterium on anything is the same as disagreeing on everything, which says that you apparently cannot distinguish between what is essential and what is less important. Or when Pandora says that Barack Obama, America's version of Tony Blair, is an extreme leftist -- which would have any actual leftist howl with laughter. Or when RD preaches humility, but refuses to practice it. Or when I am told that having gays lose their jobs for marrying is just.\n\nYes, I do not suffer fools or hypocrites gladly. I am often not kind or humble. But I do care about my Christian faith.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "What happened to \"just say no? \" Illegal immigration, NAFTA, greed, white privilege, deep, pervasive prevalence of intense self-absorption, selfies and electronic age w/less actual/genuine communication and real intimacy, increase in no personal relationship w/anything bigger than self and the SUV, political correctness in the Christian Churches (so they don't offend anyone) illegal immigration, vast corruption w/in U.S. government and rampant corruption w/in Federal government in bed w/cartels and drug companies-Big Pharma,illegal immigration.....", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "That is just nonsense, nonsense, nonsense, Purgatrix Ineptiae!\n\nFor example, for every Protestant Episcopalian or Presbyterian with a college degree and post-grad degree, making over 100,000 dollars, one can find 10 Catholics of equal income and education, according to Pew Researchers. Catholics overwhelmingly outperform Protestant America, if only owing to their size and critical mass of highly educated and wealthy adherents. Even if all Episcopalians and Presbyterians together were in the upper category, as it were, they still wouldn't equal the 8 million Catholics in the said category.\n\nFinally, I think Sean is alluding to this segment of US Catholicism when he says without immigrants, the CC could become -- quite easily -- an upper middle class rich white church.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Several of the comments below are absolutely right on target! How disingenuous can these men get?? But why are we surprised? \nI was unaware of the depth of the Roman Catholic effort on behalf of Donald Trump until several random events brought the sad reality home to me. First, during an Italian language class, an attendee arrogantly asked our professor, \"how can a person call himself a Catholic and vote Democratic?\" It became quite apparent in the ensuing discussion that this man had been TAUGHT this position by his parish! Secondly, my 90 year-old, Catholic but socially liberal-minded mother was ready to vote for Trump because she feared committing a sin! The third and final nail in this cross was the report by a recent Vietnamese immigrant, the father of a Catholic priest, that the only person in his family eligible to vote voted for Trump. \nSHAME on this \"church!\" The disgraceful, unchristian, reprehensible campaign against Hillary Clinton will cause more pain and suffering!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Some of your classic Christian charity, Michael? For the record, I'm not a Democrat, I had nothing to do with Clinton's nomination and I didn't vote for her.\n\nIgnorance, it seems, is your go-to pitch in more than just religion.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "On the other hand if it were only a domestic dispute Devin Kelley could have just killed his in-laws at their home. Instead, he killed 26 church-goers during Sunday morning services and his in-laws were not even there. People have complex motives that can include more than one issue. Kelley may have had a domestic problem with his in-laws, but he clearly had a problem with Christians to premeditatedly kill 26 of them in their church, including children as young as 5 years old, a pregnant woman, a 72 year old, etc. Whatever other motive may have been involved, it certainly was also a religious hate crime. Denying something this obvious places your manner of thinking regarding Christians more in line with Kelley's than mainstream thought. I recommend you not go there. The investigators will likely realize this soon and change their opinion, or perhaps they were misquoted or taken out of context in the first place.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Shock, horror! Trump holds right wing conservative views and is supported by Christians opposed to large state bureaucracy and abortion! And, for goodness sake, he's appointing a cabinet who supports him. Who would have thought it?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is often a tie between Scouting and Churches. Both are about doing what Priests or Officers tell you to do. Those post ww 1 statutes of angels carrying dead soldiers to heaven seem totally ridiculous now. Most people with a modern education would understand that it was propaganda for the surviving, to try and convince them that our dead soldiers are enjoying the Christian version of those Islamic virgins in paradise for eternity, while the dead on the other side must be in the other place.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ah, \"The Troubles,\" never far away in Northern Ireland. In another generation the Catholics will be the majority, union with the south will be an issue, \"The Troubles,\" won't be far away.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As a Catholic, I certainly viewed these e-mails as demeaning and insulting towards Catholics. Perhaps the writer, who clearly is enthralled with HRC, might want to consider other topic associated with HRC...such as her blatant lies, abortion, deceptive behaviors? Perhaps the writer might want to look at the war against Christians in this country. Perhaps people might want to consider what a country without freedom of religion and freedom to practice that religion looks like. The Devil does not come dressed in red and carrying a pitchfork......The Devil comes dressed as everything you have ever 'wanted'.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "OK, then let me be clearer. I don't understand how you can write the sentence you wrote, without some reference to the several ways in which both Christian tradition and American political and social traditions permit and even encourage taking the life of other living creatures. Do you mean \"must\" in a moralistic way, i.e., \"we should never,\" or \"we ought never to\"? -- as opposed to its more basic meaning as an indicator of natural necessity. If so, fine; but in that case, you are no doubt interested in many other kinds of killing than this rather recherch\u00e9 one of assisted suicide.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is always inspiring when those who proclaim Christianity put into practice what they preach. Bishop Sietz is a very good example of what discipleship in action looks like. Jesus and the Holy Family were refugees. In one of Jesus' better known parables, he lists the characteristics of his followers, and says 'I was a stranger, and you welcomed me.' Well, today in Washington we have legislators working feverishly to turn Jesus away. 'By their fruits you shall know them.' One wonders how long it will be before those in Washington decided have Sietz arrested ...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We must define Islamophobia by what it truly is. We must also define \"Taqiyya\".\nTaqiyya is the Islamic practice of deception for the protection and defence of Islam. Taqiyya translates as \" concealment omission, dissimulation\" . The Ten Commandments tell Christians and Jew they must not \"bear false witness\" or to lie. Taqiyya is the Fifth Column of Islam and tells Muslims they may tell infidels like us half truths (omission) and even blame it all on the infidels (concealment) as this writer is doing right now, to defend Islam. Many westerners have a hard time to accept that such a thing is real.\n\nThat's why so much about M103 ( and other Liberal policies) makes Canadians of good-will stop and say \"Hey wait a minute \". They can see for themselves the wool is being pulled over their eyes. She exonerates Islam and blames non Muslim Canadians of Islamophobia to defend Islam", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Be more gentle with those who have suffered. Perhaps you have not? I have not. Therefore it is not for us to take a high and mighty tone.\nSo far as your comment about 'the State' is concerned: None of this would have been necessary if the Church had done its duty. It failed to do so. Therefore we need the State (and, indeed, also the UN, if necessary) to clip the wings of the Vatican, in this regard.\nI write as a practising Catholic.\nPS - I suggest you leave the Prophets out of this. If any were here now, they might have a scalding word or two, for the cover-up Church of the last 50 years or so.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Perhaps because they profess to be a Catholic social justice organization? Certainly abortion is a matter of social justice, no? Isn't that what the seamless garment teaches?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You're right Cal---It's a theological stretch; a really, really big one. Comparing Donald Trump to Jesus Christ is a belly-laugh over something that really isn't funny, at all. I didn't know you had that much contempt for christianity.\n\nOK, Cal, you've done your part for king and country---You can go back to sleep now.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Meanwhile, back in Canada, our Liberal government dragged its feet for a very long time, well after the EU and the rest of the west, in declaring the killing, enslavement, and rape of Yazidis by ISIL a genocide. And our Liberal government opposed and still opposes declaring the similar treatment of the indigenous Aramaic speaking Assyrian Christians and other indigenous Christians in the middle east a genocide, even though the US Congress--under Obama-----the EU and the British Parliament all unanimously managed to do so. Enough said.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I see you are quickly drifting into the same style that ran afoul of Civil Comments once already: \n\"It is to laugh\", \"Your feeble attempts\", \"barely-disguised extracts\".\n\nWhy you believe scribbling slogans and misinformation from anti-Catholic sources trumps reality is somewhat elusive.\n\nThe number of books of recent publication, many by Protestants, some by Jews, dissecting the slur that you're repeating seems to indicate there is a bit of dissonance over your \"facts\".\n\nhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/comp-reports/ecu/news6pm29072016\n\nhttp://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2016/12/09/bbc-admits-it-underestimated-the-churchs-opposition-to-hitler/\n\nI find anti-Catholic propaganda offensive, and believe that is what you are disseminating.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I believe 1Oakland. Robert E. Lee was indicted. President Andrew Johnson himself a Southerner wanted him hanged. General Ulysses S. Grant, also a West Point graduate, didn't want Lee hanged for fear of him becoming a martyr. So Grant intervened and threatened to resign unless Lee's indictment was dropped. Lee nevertheless became a martyr to the defeated South who believed \"the South shall rise again\". This led to Jim Crow and the KKK, a Christian terrorist organization that burned crosses to intimidate the freed slaves. The Southern Baptists sect of Christianity was created by Plantation slave owners. Billy Graham probably is its most famous spokesman.\nSadly, when people today hear Robert E. Lee they remember the car in the TV show \"The Dukes of Hazard\".\nHarry, Hollywood is making a remake of the \"Dukes of Hazard\" only with a different take and it won't be starring Bert Reynolds and Jerry Reed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Marg has probably expressed how most people feel. The questions that I wonder about are: With less than 5% of the population in Canada, why is so much media attention devoted to issues regarding Muslims and their adaption to Canada? Why are Muslims religious needs so important in our secular society? Why does the Liberal party insist on something as divisive as M-103? Why does our Prime Minster spend a Christian holiday with the spiritual leader of Muslims? The word \"hate\" and racist are now used against anyone who asks such questions. Where is this really going and what is the ultimate objective ?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Gospel portrayal of the Pharisees is a caricature, a wedge meant simply to play up Christian ideas and play down Jewish ones. The Gospels were written as an evangelizing tool to spread the new religion. Not as objective history.\nThe Pharisees were the direct ancestors of modern rabbinical Judaism. They believed it didn't take a Temple to worship God. They believed in a just AND merciful God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bill it sounds like you have gone through a bit of pain in your life and know what it is. You can thank God that your pain was relieved. Try to imagine that pain everyday of your life. If you want to play the Christian card why do Catholics and now allow people that have committed suicide because of depression going to heaven.? As you can see Christianity is in the eyes and interpretations of the individual. So using that as a basis for a argument is not valid. It is just your opinion versus the statistics and lives of people going through this torture. In 100 years the most effective means of torture is going to be not allowing people to die. Torture is what it is and yet you condone it as a Christian because you have not witnessed it. If you tell me you have watched someone you love beg you to help them kill themselves because they are quadriplegic then you might have some more validity. Is this the case?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The dude is a Christian Talib.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What's your point? \n\nI said the matter wasn't that complex. You seem to want to tell us what you've been reading whether it applies or not. \n\nThe 'ugliness' comes - not from this or that effective or ineffective leader, president or pope - but instead from millions of ordinary humans NOT pursuing heroically what another VII document (Lumen Gentium) mentioned, namely the universal call to holiness.\n\nIf more lay Catholics understood this point and taken it to heart for constant action - leveraging all the help from the Church - the means of prayer life, the Mass, the Sacraments, especially Holy Communion and Holy Confession - then there wouldn't be so many hard hearts in the world....some who kill unborn children, some who perpetuate racism, some who cheat on their spouses, some who abandon their parenting responsibilities or who execute them with lackluster attention. \n\nRacism is just an instance of vice, out of many others that lower our world's tone of civility and Christian joy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Telling people the Confederacy was all about slavery is like telling Catholics that Catholicism is all about burning heretics. Simplistic, easy, sloppy, demagogic, calculated to provoke confrontation and prevent discussion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...if ex-Catholics, were a denomination, would be the second largest.\"\n\nIf they were to form such a church, it would prove interesting, to say the least. Let's say they formed a Catholic community or church not in communion with Rome. So in \"ecclesial block\" categories, 21% of the US would be members of the RCC; 10%, the non-Roman Catholic church ( together, comprising 31% of the population in some sort of Catholicism); and 38.9%, Protestant. That would bring Tocqueville's prediction -- that the US will eventually be all Catholic (of some sort) -- even more closer to home, as it were. But ex-Catholics have formed no such church. They are scattered all over the map, everywhere -- half to some form of Protestantism (to hundreds of denominations) and/or to some non-Christian religion and the other half to the unaffiliated category. Had ex-Catholics formed a single church, however, the Catholic/Protestant divide would only be 8 percentage points.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Interesting that SOME Catholics are supporting the least Christian president ever-of any country.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Monica, I agree there is disconnect between Religion and Science. Too many people do not see God in our world and science. It is like oil and water. When in university I asked my friend in physics and found out he was an atheist. I was amazed because I marveled at the laws of physics and just couldn't understand how it could \"just happen\". I respected his point of view. Even evolution is ongoing creation. \nMy Catholic faith is not main stream. The themes of living the teachings of Jesus is most important. Doctrines, Dogma, and Rituals not so much. Relationship and spirituality are ways to connect with the Divine Mystery and with others. I believe it continues on after I \"shuffle off my moral coil\". \nThank you for your contribution, it is food for thought!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Rushdoony has had more influence on Dominionists than MSW appears to credence. The best thing about https://laciviltacattolica.com/june-2017/evangelical-fundamentalism-and-catholic-integralism-in-the-usa-a-surprising-ecumenism/ is that it is shining a light on the darkness called Dominionism and it's influence on conservative Catholics. Now MSW should investigate and write an article on the influence Dominionism has in our military. He could start with the Air Force Academy based in Colorado Springs....the Vatican City of Dominionists.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Let me see if I understand you. You think Islam should be banned because Sharia Law violates the Constitution, i.e. the document that protects freedom of speech and religion. How does that work? How can the government tell people what [not] to believe \"to protect them from Sharia Law\" when the Constitution says the government is not allowed to tell us what to believe?\n\nBy the way, many forms of Christianity and Judaism have rules that would be unconstitutional if the government enacted them. But since we have freedom of religion here, if you don't like those rules, you are free to avoid those forms of religion.I'm divorced, which is banned by the Roman Catholic Church. And I eat pork, which is not allowed in Judaism or Islam. But I'm not Catholic,Jewish or Islamic. My Constitution says the government can't make me follow the rules of any particular religion and I like it that way. Sharia law is not taking over our country any more than the RC church is banning divorce for non Catholics", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It was wonderful seeing that picture of those three beautiful, accomplished women - all doctors - living out their Catholic faith by helping the poor in Nicaragua. BEAUTIFUL!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hello Dement-ed,\n\nI didn't see Chuck criticize Catholicism in any of his posts. If you have, please do point them out to me.\n\nTell me something - have you ever lived in an Islamic country? I have lived in four, and know what I am talking about while discussing Islam or Islamism. I don't mouth off cliches while pretending to be an expert on something that I know nothing substantial about. You, on the other hand, do a fine job of that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "and you also need to remember about 100 years ago the northwest was a hotbed of anti-Catholicism. I'm sure among this demographic it lingers on. Just as in the Ozarks where I grew up, there was a dislike of Catholicism among the working class, even if many of then new nothing about the church or in some cases never had even met a Catholic that they were aware of.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Its not as simple as looking at the Doctrine of Islam... Have you had a look at the Old Testament, the cornerstone of Judaism and a big part of Christianity? My favourite is when God ordered the last 2 tribes of Israel who had not yet found a home after 40 years of wandering in the desert, to exterminate the\"peaceful.... people of Laisch\" ..... alas, some took pity on these people, against God's wishes, and were punished. Reading that caused me to turn my back on \"organized religion\".\n\nBut few people subscribe to such nonsense anymore within Judaism or Christianity... within Islam there are numerous elements who take primitive biblical nonsense seriously, and it seems to be far more prevalent than I had imagined... I am possibly revising my opinions based on the actions I read about and the rationale advanced by those committing these acts of violence.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "mokntx, you're absolutely correct, especially about the lost opportunity to discover, learn, and quite frankly wonder in awe. \ni had great hopes that \"Laudato Si\" would set us in an entirely new frame of mind regarding ecology and catholic spirituality. i know that many saw it as a \"liberal\" document,focused on political and practical earthly matters, but i read it as a document deeply rooted in tradition and with profoundly mystical contents. it seems this sensibility did not carry over to this statement on cremation.\ni guess i'm less uncomfortable with this announcement regarding cremation because is at least upholding something democratic and authentic in the practice of the faithful over the centuries rather than an imposition of a committee of bishops. \ni would say, however, if the practice of the faithful is changing-and clearly it is-, perhaps the bishops shouldn't react with fear that the faith is being diluted and distaste for new developments, but search for the good instead", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mainline Protestants all adhere to the Creedal statements. They (except for two ex cathedra statements) are the Church's sole supply of dogma. All the rest (doctrine, disciplines, rules, rituals, rites, etc.) are not dogma and can be changed, enlarged, or suppressed without damaging the core Christian faith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Good newspapers provide balance, diversity of stories and viewpoints, depth.\n\nCatholic newspapers should seek those thing but more; they should seek the true good and holiness of each reader, and our true and full good necessarily involves the soul.\n\nSo where does that leave us?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The rule is aspirational, just as are many in TWU's community covenant. This one for example: students agree to \"live exemplary lives characterized by honesty, civility, truthfulness, generosity and integrity.\"\n\nAs do many, you completely miss the intent of TWU's community covenant. You see it as a way to rigidly enforce certain beliefs and punish those who fail to live up to them. TWU, on the other hand, sees its belies as something to aspire to. When students fall short of the ideal, the response isn't punishment- it's forgiveness. Forgiveness is one of the guiding principles of Christianity, after all.\n\nAs far as I know, (and their website last year stated) Trinity Western University has never expelled a student for violating the community covenant.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They may have religious meanings for actively religious Catholics, but for most other Canadians they are simply traditional holidays that reflect our cultural history.\n\nThat is very different from the personal choice of group prayers with a sermon,which most definitely IS a public declaration of faith.\n\nA room where individuals can do private prayers or personal meditation is NOT what is at issue.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is actually one thing I agree with the liberals on. I think married clergy would be a good thing for the Catholic Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "- There are Eastern Catholics and they accept the Immaculate Conception.\n\nThat was my mistake. Most people here know I'm Orthodox. That is what I meant when I said Eastern.\n\n- [T]he Orthodox Church as a whole has never considered the Immaculate Conception.\n\nYes, it has because you can find writings about that address the question of our non-belief. \n\n- It is not the Catholic belief that Mary was \u201ca notch higher than humanity itself\u201d. \n\nWeaseling. That is the logical extension of the immaculate conception--conceived without original sin. \n\n- There is actually a wide variety of opinion in Orthodoxy about these matters, both currently and historically. \n\n- I have never met an Orthodox person who ever accepted the immaculate conception or who took it seriously. \n\nI take it you\u2019re Russian Orthodox?\n\nNope.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't think any such priests exist nor do I think that such a priest even if he existed should be placed in a normal Catholic parish.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am curious, not trying to offend or be snarky. \n If Reese had amonished people to become better informed about transubstantiation, what would you have done in response? Read one of the agreed statements on the Eucharist issued since the Council, like the Anglican Roman Catholic agreement? Read Aquinas or Trent on the Eucharist? Pray in the presence of the Eucharist for a better understanding? What would you expect others to do?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "God knows, as does my accountant, that I never took any profit, Mr Snoopypants. So stop calling others cheats or is that a religious experience for you, like advocating for Christ and\nthe Devil at he same time?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't know how anyone can claim to be both a Catholic and and a Republican. It's almost like 2,000 years or so of religious teachings doesn't neatly fit into modern American political labels.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am a baptized Christian making use of my God-given faculties of reason and (I hope) the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Who are you to say that we must throw away our sense, reason, and perhaps even the gifts of the Holy Spirit and forfeit our duty as baptized Christians to keep the Church, and say that anyone who says he wants to be a priest has an authentic vocation and should be ordained?\n\nIf a friend were to come to me and say that he thinks he has a priestly vocation because he feels he is called to be a \"healer\" and the sacraments could be used as instruments to that end (note that the sacraments are secondary), or that he is \"more than capable of being a 'minister'\" I'd recommend that he and I have dinner with a few priests and talk with them about how their sacerdotal ministry is different from that when they were laymen. \n\nIf the reason someone wants to be a priest is neither the Eucharist nor Confession his \"vocation\" is likely to the common priesthood of the baptized.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "you're offended by insults, and claim superiority with your christian beliefs, all while constantly insulting, berating and dismissing pretty much everyone you reply to. And then you hide behind your version of Jesus to boot. Awesome witness, You're just a very special person aren't you eric? Certainly nobody I would ever want anything to do with on any level, so you're safe again", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In those days prior to VII perforce of anti-Catholic prejudice, we Catholics were more of a community than today. I remember as a teenager often being quizzed about Catholic beliefs, practices and devotions by hostile Protestants. Thanks to my parents, school, Sunday-school and the Catechism, I was able to hold my own fairly well. \nAs well as my parish there were several Catholic Churches in the vicinity. In each the liturgy was the same, Low Mass, Sung Mass, Benediction, public recitation of the Rosary, Devotions to particular Saints, Children of Mary, CYMS, Scouts, Guides, Cubs and Brownies and we went to Catholic schools and priests made regular visitations to parishioners. Although spread out in the neighbourhood we lived in a virtual ghetto, rich and poor and were glad to.\nAfter VII everything changed until we ended up as we are today which I described in a previous post.\nWhether you believe me or not this is my experience of the last 70 + years. I don\u2019t know your age.\nContd ..", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What you apparently \"know\" is history viewed through the lens of imperial Rome, for which the Church represents the last vestiges of its wealth, power and control....which is not the same as actual, recorded history. Read up on the Constantinian church and how the political and cultural influences came to bear. Any rational person can see how the early RCC was a product of these influences, which bear little resemblance to the simple and humble beginnings of the early Christian church. \n\nFor example, were you aware that some of the early \"popes\" (a Roman invention of the 5th century) had little to no theological training but rather were chosen for their political and militarian might? Probably not, because it doesn't fit the narrative of your Christ-sanctioned, imperial-styled, infallible \"Holy Roman\" Church. (That's a free one, you can do the rest of the research yourself.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Grave matters, but sensible directions from the Vatican. Reading the comments thus far, this popped into my head:\n\n\"You say either and I say either,\nYou say neither and I say neither\nEither, either Neither, neither\nLet's call the whole thing off.\n\nYou like potato and I like potahto\nYou like tomato and I like tomahto\nPotato, potahto, Tomato, tomahto.\nLet's call the whole thing off\"\n\nSome people appear to be viscerally opposed to the bishops of the Catholic Church no matter what the subject is.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "All evidence to the contrary. And this is not a slam on Christianity, just the belief that this nation has not always had problems and the knowledge that Christians have not always been in the forefront of fixing them and in fact have at times been the cause.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I believe in the Catholic faith and traditions. I believe in our Saints. I believe in Eucharistic miracles as well as the numerous Church approved Marian appartitions, especially Fatima. The prayer I listed above was given to the three shepherd children by the angel in Fatima, 100 years ago. The miracle of the sun that occurred on October 13, 1917 was witnessed by thousands of people, including non believers. They all point to the fact that the Catholic religion and the Sacrificial Mass are the one true faith, established by Jesus. One day soon all the other religious denominations will realize this fact and convert, with the assistance of Our Blessed Mother. She will lead all to her son.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Absolutely 100 correct. Good catch and call. We all \"need concrete barriers,\" or it's clear we freedom-loving, Christian/Western values embracing citizens 'were asking for it.' God, I deplore the Washington Post.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So what? We never disagreed with the Protestant reformers that we are saved by Grace alone. We also always agreed that justification (at least the initial work of justification) is not due to merit on our part but rather due to God's gratuity. That document just explained in modern terms what we have always believed--but may have been misunderstood by the Protestants. The disagreement is in whether God's Grace is operative in human works. It is also in whether Christ's righteousness is infused vs. imputed. \n\nPope Benedict, likewise reflected in his speech what has always been believed by the Church but, again, has been misunderstood and misinterpreted by Protestants and Catholics alike. Novenas, indulgences, miraculous medals and the like are all venerable tools of prayer---but not essential or central to Catholic spirituality. \n\nAnyone who has taken a basic theology class would know this---unless of course they went to a Jesuit university.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Of course, the work has continued outside of the walls of the Vatican, led by Catholic moral theologians who have spent the past four decades developing new frameworks for sexual morality and ethical decision-making based on our evolving understanding of sexuality. Sadly, those who have made the greatest contributions to deepening our understanding of sexual ethics, such as Fr. Charles Curran and Mercy Sr. Margaret Farley, have been silenced or had their work condemned by bishops and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.\"\n\nThere. This is the reason why I am not very optimistic about church leaders to open their closed minds and hearts and listen to people's experiences. A good starter will be to rescind the condemnations of Charles Curran and Margaret Farley. Another good starter would be to incorporate the tenets of Catholic Social Teaching into the moral theological work. As Farley rightly proposes: let's talk about JUST sex, and develop a framework that advances it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "To me, patriotism is a lot like Christianity in this way:\n\nPeople go through a lot show, and demand a lot of conformance to ritual as a show of proof that they belong.\n\nYet, the ritual execution can be as fake as negative news about Trump.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Indeed! What happens between consenting adults is their business! Denying others the same civil rights you enjoy because you don't approve of their lifestyle, sexual orientation, ethnicity, race, religion, etc., is not just, humane, or moral. And if I was a Christian, I would say that a denial of civil rights is unchristian!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you\" does not originate firstly in one's neighbor. That Christian principle originates first in the individual himself. A good Christian condo owner doesn't risk lives of neighbors or government coffers, despite the principle of Divine charity. Tax subsidy is not charity, despite side stories of tragedy and death. The issue is ownership failure exposing the public to expensive risks. As we mourn the dead, Christian principal demands private owners to give up their relevant wealth and walk the path of Jesus. Perhaps give away their condos to the more needy condo owners. As Christians, the condo owners must lead the way. A good Christian would not whine for or expect especially any tax handouts. Christian handouts are managed by pastors and individual apostolic example, i.e. charity. But, Church is separated from State. Ergo, taxes are for public works, not charity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholics who choose to oppose Pope Francis' ecumenical initiatives have much in common with the older brother of the so-called Prodigal Son. Perhaps these Catholics could open themselves to the values which Jesus endorses in this parable, including forgiveness, mercy, and family solidarity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Excellent direction to take! \nThe more trained laity the Bishop has at his disposal, the more inclined he may be to actually make use of them.. \nThey could well be appointed \u2013 even 'ordained, if needed \u2013, to do all the things that Deacons do, and even many of the roles for which we are accustomed to require a 'priest'.\nLaity can do whatever the Bishop needs in order to 'extend his presence'. Using 'clerics' is simply a custom developed over centuries. It may well be time to change the custom, and stop dividing Christians into 'clerics' and 'laity'.\n\nAs in the early Churches, the Community already has all the charisms and powers within itself to 'build up the body of Christ.\nWe only need to acknowledge the gifts and grace and talent that is already there and make use of it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "From my perspective, what you present is correct and the prevailing issue in our shortage of priests. Yet there are other, lesser, issues involved as well, no? The current crop of bishops that are the powers-that-be in the Vatican are all products of the monarchal Church and of the specific European type (no matter where they are originally from). The Vatican is Roman and so are all who is takes in. And, unfortunately, so are the \"successors in waiting.\" The culture of the Vatican is the major impediment to the retention of and attraction of new Catholics because it stuck in previous centuries.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Funny, no prayers or religion classes in my son's public school. But his friends at the separate school next door are made to recite prayers and have scheduled bible (Catholic version, of course) study classes, So how can you say that religion has been banished from classrooms or that all beliefs are being treated neutrally?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you\" does not originate firstly in one's neighbor. That Christian principle originates first in the individual himself. A good Christian condo owner doesn't risk lives of neighbors or government coffers, despite the principle of Divine charity. Tax subsidy is not charity, despite side stories of tragedy and death. The issue is ownership failure exposing the public to expensive risks. As we mourn the dead, Christian principal demands private owners to give up their relevant wealth and walk the path of Jesus. Perhaps give away their condos to the more needy condo owners. As Christians, the condo owners must lead the way. A good Christian would not whine for or expect especially any tax handouts. Christian handouts are managed by pastors and individual apostolic example, i.e. charity. But, Church is separated from State. Ergo, taxes are for public works, not charity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of course, you're absolutely correct. For one example, if the Catholic Church did not have so many closeted clergy and hierarchy, much of this would not be happening. The vitriol is just astounding. As for the posters here, I don't know most of them, so I have no clue, but I suspect that you are right on target there, as well. \nWhat I truly don't get is how these folks can fail to understand that no one in a society is safe and secure when we attack any particular group. When one target is gone, a gang of bullies easily finds another. Even if someone were to find something unacceptable, why mistreat others for it? I have yet to find a gay person who has even tried to encourage me to become gay (and I have known and continue to know, many gay people). How, in the name of all that is good, are gay people any kind of a threat to anyone?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When a stranger expresses an opinion, Progressive111, it usually helps others if you say a little about who you are, that's all. When it comes to assessing the activity of this particular pope, who certainly does echo Latin American Liberation Theology, it is probably worth disclosing where one stands on the scales of justice. Most Christians love justice, I would think, but some believe that actually seeking it is communist, elitist, atheist, hopeless and on and on.\n\nSay a little about why you choose Progressive111 as a moniker.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "there is a difference between anti-Muslim hate and concern regarding the cultural spread of Islamic thought.\n\nThere are large numbers of Catholic and Jewish cemeteries in Canada. Denying a Muslim the simple comfort of the burial custom of their religious affiliation, seems simply motivated by animus.\n\nBeing wary regarding the spread of Islam however is not so simply characterized. The Islamic world had achieved cultural and technological competitiveness with the west by the 13th century, yet since, having never undergone a Renaissance or Enlightenment, it has never been forced to confront its theocratic assumptions as Christianity was forced to do under the West's expansion and gradual tolerance of pure science, philosophy, political theory technological innovation, and secularization... where are the Islamic world's da Vinci, Galileo, Kant, Voltaire, Smith, Marx, Watt or even Coco Chanel, its Oxfords, or MITs, or its simple recognition of the separation of church and state ?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The Ontario government is likening a proposed Christian law school's requirement... to a bar against Jews that existed in the province's legal profession nearly 200 years ago.\"\n\nIs this respectful, even to the truth? Hardly, when anyone can attend Trinity University, including homosexuals or anyone else, no matter their persuasion, and become a lawyer there. This is no ban on anyone becoming a lawyer at Trinity. Here, on this discussion site, we are asked to be RESPECTFUL to everyone, yet perhaps the Government would like to set an example by respecting the facts that NO one is prevented from becoming a lawyer at Trinity. Trinity respectfully asks that the general values of a private institution be respected and that is all and as such the attendee is given the option of respecting the request or not...it is no bar to anyone. If only the Ontario Government would have the same decency and not BAR a college from teaching the law to others. The government's action is draconian overkill.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christ did not establish the \"Roman Catholic\" church, the early church was not beholden to Roman rule and law (to the extent they could \"hide\" from it), there was no Magisterium, etc., etc.\n\nRead some good historical scholarship on early church history before making such fallacious claims. Use of the internal forum is entirely consistent with Christ the Redeemer's gospel of mercy, unless of course you have chosen to surrender your will and intellect to imperial Romanism.\n\nYour choice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "God's stake in this issue is human happiness, generally, not just personally. He has no personal stake and there is no natural order to hold that stake for Him. Paul was protecting the institutional leadership, but he damaged the authority of the papacy more by a baldly Asexual Manifesto that reflected the views and sexuality of 1% of Catholics than if he had conceived that Pius XI was inadequately informed, ignored Otavanni and endorsed a change in doctrine on birth control.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"We asked Catholics.\" Gee NCR, thanks for so much detail on the methodology of your survey.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "More pertinently, one should ask: \n\nWhat Happened After the Council? \n\n\"Theologians openly dissented from Church teaching and did so with impunity, indeed often being rewarded by the guild of academic theology for their putative courage. Tens of thousands of priests abandoned their ministries, convents were emptied as sisters embraced the vaunted freedoms of the secular world, Gregorian chant was replaced by Kumbaya, the number of seminarians preparing for priesthood plummeted, and not a few of the priests who remained decided on their own that celibacy is optional. \n\n Not incidentally, a majority of Catholics stopped going to Mass every week and decided, or were given to understand by progressive priests, that moral truths taught from the beginning are, at most, advisory in nature.\"\n\nhttps://www.firstthings.com/article/2008/10/001-what-really-happened-at-vatican-ii\n\nNow we have Pope Francis .....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's my understanding that, according to Catholic moral teaching, taking \"birth control\" pills, i.e., pills which contain ovulation suppressing ingredients, to treat a disease is not sinful. The sin follows the intent of the user.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is clear that the public schools have never been a place where politics and religion have been left out of instruction. They used to teach Christianity. Now they teach against it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"as Sister suggests, I think many of Trump's Christian supporters did not think hard enough about their vote.\"\n\nWhat an awful and awfully ironic thing for a Catholic nun to suggest. The list of reasons to oppose Hillary was long, and for Catholics, it included her party's contempt for Catholicism. (Read the Wikileaks from Clinton's own campaign leadership, Podesta and Halpin.) But when we see that the list of reasons to oppose Clinton included her opposition to the statute that prohibited partial birth abortion, Sr. Chittister's bitterness at Hillary's loss shows how little SHE, Sr, Chittister, thought about her vote as a Christian. Again, in an alternate universe.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Obviously, we do not agree. There were no priests in those early Christian homes, only those who gathered in His name. They prayed together, talked of what they knew of Jesus, and celebrated the Eucharistic meal together, doing so in memory of Jesus. The bread they shared was as sacred as the bread consumed by a devout believer today.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is more \"emotional\" dissent among Catholics then there is between Catholics and other Christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do the math from Vatican II if you want to know why the pews are empty in those age ranges.\n\nNo, I don't belong to a college community, but I do wonder what percentage of the student body were born into a Catholic family and attend the Merton Centers (which I'm guessing is essentially a social justice center, because that's what the colleges are pushing nowadays)\n\nNo, the Jewish kids live in regular old suburbia on the East Coast, and they attend religious-focuses classes, not social justice, feel-good activities.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am sorry for your job loss...\n\nHowever. You DO know that the cost of COBRA is typically picked up by the employee, NOT the employer, right? In fact, most employers are permitted to charge the employee 102% of the cost of the plan...and, in some instances, much more.\n\nCOBRA coverage is required to be administered by companies employing more than 20 persons...so, not being required to provide it is not an Obamacare benefit offered to the Catholic Church, which is what you inferred. Since your parish no doubt employs less than 20 persons, they are not required to take on the admin of the program.\n\nLosing a job qualifies you for Marketplace coverage for a limited time even if past the enrollment period.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's a Canaanite city where Jews, Christians and Muslims have all lived.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You and I are having a conversation. However, the Supreme Court will be hearing this case. Will they respect and honor the Constitution or start destroying it for the \"Christians.\" Will the Supreme court allow discrimination on the shaky grounds of someone saying this or that is against my religion? If they do, then America, the home of the free and the brave is dead! What religious beliefs will take precedence over civil rights next?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "https://wikileaks.org, which I believe is a legitimate site. \n\nI don't know how you can credibly think Podesta meant \"we\" as in \"we Catholics\", it sounds like you are a Clinton supporter who is convinced that they somehow cannot be anti-Catholic. Podesta is speaking to Sandy Newman, who I believe is not a Catholic, and obviously means \"we\" as in the Clinton campaign, there is nothing in this email that suggests they are looking to promote Catholicism, but to instead confuse Catholics.\n\nAnd I stand corrected on the second paragraph, I had thought that came from Podesta.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Whether one reads the Gospels or Ayn Rand, this society truly is a multi-cultural, secular nation, therefore, the Christian value system is just one value system among many.\nSecularists and liberals have been fighting for this outcome for a very long time.\nThey won.\nAnd I accept and applaud it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Did they vote for Trump or against Hillary and Bill? Did they vote for him because of his stance on abortion and ignore everything else about him?\n\nThe few times I saw him try to say something religious, it was ludicrous! His theological ignorance was displayed for all to see. \n\nThe Pew Trust in mid-2016 determined that the evangelicals preferred him to Hillary on virtually all issues and that his votes were actually anti-Hillary votes, not pro-Trump votes.\n\nHillary was getting the non-religious and the athiests and he was getting the evangelicals. There are lots more Christians than athiests in this country. \n\nAnd I believe that a lot of the non-religious wanted Bernie and sat on their hands when the DNC shoved Hillary down their throats instead.\n\n70% are some kind of Christian and about 23% are non-affiliated. \n\nhttp://www.pewforum.org/2016/07/13/evangelicals-rally-to-trump-religious-nones-back-clinton/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is similar to what I was going to write. Many people make all kinds of statements but fail to use Scripture as authority. They use culture, feelings, statistics, etc. Some would even dare to claim that you must put Jesus first. That is just a claim when their doctrine or beliefs is not based on the truth about Jesus and the truth about His Word. When a person make claims about Jesus not being in the synagogue and working with the people, they attempt to make that comparison to the church. Jesus established the church. Upon this rock, I will build my church. We do know that he was talking about the global and invisible church but He was talking about the church. The synagogues were not the church. All I am saying is that our doctrines, beliefs, practices must be based on truth and that is the truth of God's Word. Every decision the church makes must be based on Scripture and not feelings and statistics and what is popular in culture at this time. We are the light......", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Church teaching now is that society has a right to protect itself, and that if the DP is necessary to that end it is allowed. If the DP is an effective deterrent it then it is allowed as it protects society from future harm. If the DP is not an effective deterrent then there is no justification under christian doctrine. Of course death would be a just sentence but that's an eye for an eye, not christian, which is to show mercy to those who have done evil.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's useful not to know. In addition to being Catholic bishops these men (it should be \"men and women\") are private citizens free to vote for whomever their consciences can stomach. I would no more attempt to tell them for whom to vote than I would listen when they try to tell me.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "All baptized Christians are members of the Body of Christ, and all of us of any faith or no faith are the children of God. Personally, I doubt God cares what we name Him or even whether we practice any faith at all. He asks only that we love Him and that we show our love for Him by loving our brothers and sisters.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yeah, Christians are not supposed to welcome the stranger and the homeless. \"rationalis\" sez so.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You SAY that your opinions are identical with the magisterium. In at least one case that I know of, you disagree. Thus, by your own criteria, you aren't a proper Catholic. (You disagree with the magisterium on who can be saved. \"Invincible ignorance\" is not a requirement for non-Catholics to be saved, even though you say it is.)\n\nBut simple agreement with the magisterium is not what makes one a Catholic. As Paul tells us in Romans, it is faith in Christ that saves us, not adherence to the teachings of the magisterium. After all, as anyone with the least knowledge of the history is well aware, the magisterium has erred in the past. It is not infallible, nor is it to be followed blindly.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Breaking News: Christians demand subservience and submission to authority.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sr. Joan writes about political illiteracy:\n\"...it seems that we ignored the evaluation of ideas in this election...\"\n\n Alan Levinovitz, an assistant professor of religion at James Madison University in Virginia, writes about religious illiteracy at VOX, Jan 5, 2017:\nWhat liberal \u201celites\u201d \u2014 believers and nonbelievers \u2014 find objectionable is not religion, but rather a partisan twist on religious literacy that privileges one tradition, excludes historical-critical study, and maintains, against all evidence, that education and exposure to multiple perspectives creates religious ignorance instead of dispelling it.\nWhat liberals find objectionable is shameless propaganda that turns Christianity into a wedge issue \u2014 the war on Christmas! secular baby killers! destroying God\u2019s vision of marriage! \u2014 as if there were no Christians who say, \u201cHappy Holidays,\u201d or believe God is fine with same-sex marriage, or think abortion should be legal.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, let's see. As of 8 a.m.: not a word about his hatred of Christians on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, Denver Post, and I'm willing to be at any other \"mainstream\" media outlet. Why can't you be honest and acknowledge the \"media\" is left-wing and daily distorts the news to fit its agenda? It's rather obvious, to anyone with integrity. (I found out about this on Drudge, by the way.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are good Muslims and bad Muslims. There are good Christians and bad Christians. There are good atheists and bad atheists. Hate speech is illegal, whether uttered by Muslims, Christians or anyone else. Police prosecute those engaged in hate speech. It is generally seen as a good thing when people report instances of hate speech.\n\nI haven't seen the video; however, I glean from the G&M's article that the reward is offered for those showing someone engaged in hate speech. Since hate speech is illegal, and since reporting it is seen as a public duty, I fail to see why someone offering a reward for the public to report an instance of hate speech is such a bad thing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...because men want to marry. Not a supernatural answer.\"\nOh, yes it is! Who said \"Be fruitful and multiply\" (Genesis 9:7)? Who even invented sex in the first place?\nIt was - God!\nYou are partly right about one thing you mentioned in your earlier post: \"Will celebate (sic) priests see this as unfair.\" Certainly, the ones who have spent decades secretly loathing celibacy but put up with it as a price of serving the People of God. Those priests with a true celibacy Charism (e.g. those in monastic orders) will be, in their charity, only too happy to see their fellow priests be given the choice of marriage within the priesthood.\nI think Thomas Reese is being rather optimistic when he states in the last para: \"If the people of God want married priests, they need to let their bishops know.\" Most bishops only listen to the 1.5% of ultra conservative Catholics who share the views in your comments. Can you see Cardinal Raymond Burke passing on to the Pope requests for Married priests? Ha Ha!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bertrand Russell also converted to Christianity before he died. So, yeah, you might want to rethink using Russell to defend your position.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, as long as right-winger Catholics hold to this view, Anglo/Catholic differences ARE insurmountable. NO doubt about it!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think we need an explicit definition of \"Christian\" here. \n\nLet us remember that the statues of Lee and Jackson date not from the Confederacy but from the apartheid times of US \"Jim Crow\" laws.\n\nGiven Jesus said something like you will know my followers by their \"LOVE\" ... to me that needs to be the criterion used to determine is something is consistent with our faith ... as well as our actual teachings.\n\nTo me ... these legalistic approaches merely help to promote the agenda of those whose interests are served by the likes of the Council for National Policy and all their dark money affiliated organizations.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Leader of the RC (Republican Catholic) Church in America.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Typical news story.\nAnytime the established, 'approved' progressive narrative is challenged then there are media reports of death threats, violence, Islamophobia, racism, sexism etc.\nNothing about threats of violence, death threats etc. against those who oppose this, though.\n\n\"Ontario boards, both public and Catholic, are legally required to provide religious accommodation when it is requested.\"\nHowever very, very few requests for Christian religious accommodation are approved.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The problem for would-be schismatics is that they need a lot of followers or they look pretty silly. Cardinal Burke may be a hot topic of conversation on this board, but your average Catholic in the pew has never heard of the guy. And even if they had, he'd need a sexier cause than this to get them fired up.\n\nMarcel Lefebvre won followers because a lot of people still felt strongly about the Latin Mass. But you're not going to find too many people jazzed enough about their divorced neighbor getting to receive Communion that they'd be willing to throw in with a renegade cardinal.\n\nLet's face it. Shifts in pastoral practice are not the stuff schisms are made of.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I met one of this priest's predecessors while working on a project in the Whit two decades ago. This priest identified himself, pointed to his church, and asked whether I could donate some labor to its repair. I judged him to be a good person, but told him that, regretfully, I couldn't afford to run a crew as charity. He was in fact Eastern European judging by his accent, and I could see that his church was some sort of Eastern Orthodox Christian religion. I had done some projects for churches in the past, but they were able to pay me. \n\nThe Whit is poor. Doing good works among the poor is a Christian calling that I respect. However I was hard pressed to take care of my family and keep a few guys gainfully employed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hmm, 78 [now 83!] comments and counting. Mostly rather argumentative. What could I, as a no-longer practicing Christian, possibly add about Northwest Christian University's policies?\nWell, it seems to me, that while NCU's beliefs are not my own, they have a right to create an educational institution upholding their own values as they understand them without us telling them what to do. That's a right I'd want to have, within reasonable limits, if I were to form an educational group with like-minded people of\u00a0my own. \nHaving attended a denominational university myself I prefer a secular institution such as the University of Oregon. However I appreciate the sincerity of their beliefs at NCU and the richness of the diversity they add to our cultural landscape.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Reading a few of the posts below, who do we support,,\n\nIs it..\nThe attack on an organization that thrives on so little funds.\nVictims of abuse who suffer a lifetime.\n\nOr is it..\nThe catholic church that uses its power and wealth to continue to keep the silence and fight the very victims harmed and a small organization, SNAP, that struggles to survive.\n\nSome people overlook the damage caused and a small support an organization over those who were abused and those who do their best to help.\n\nThere are no excuses, none. If this were a national day care center that covered up crimes of abuse and then lobbied to stop laws that would expose the abuses. How would you now react? Hopes are that you would support the abused and be disgusted with the organization, not look for excuses to throw those abused aside. THAT is how you should feel. Honesty is sometimes difficult and we throw the victims aside to preserve our own comfort..", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You won't find \"seamless garment\" anywhere in the CCC. It's not Catholic teaching.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am sure you are trying real hard too....Again, Laughable. Where would you hope to see Christians \"speaking up\" ? CNN ? MSN ? The RG ? Have you attended any Church services lately and asked ? How about trying that ?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Excellent comment, mgardener. I too miss the informative discussions we once had at the NCR website before the strident professed militant Catholics arrived, and I too find that I must take frequent breaks from what is currently passing for discussion but more often degenerates into who is a \"real Catholic\" and who is not, ...and even worse. We have lost some wonderful discussion participants because of the latter situation. This editorial is spot-on.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But do you excoriate those who continue to believe and practice Catholicism in the same way you challenge Kim Philby (my gosh, what a provocative choice of name!). \n\nIf so, I applaud you consistency; if not, then is it Russian Orthodoxy or Philby that has got you dander up? \n\nPax tecum.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why would it matter how close it is to a church does this law also limit the locations of business selling alcohol? Why would you not only deny a business lic to a tax paying business but give further favoritism to a tax exempt religious center. By the way the Bible does not mention Marijuana at all mostly because it is indigenous to the Americas. Wish we could send abrahamic religion back to the middle east because it is not indigenous here.Stop pushing your conservative/religious values on other people, and business. \"Question with boldness even the existence of God\" Thomas Jefferson.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If I cared about getting religion out of school, I'd start with the Catholic School Board, not a prayer club. To me, this is where the \"keep religion out of school\" argument falls down. I don't see anyone showing up at Catholic School Board meetings to tear up bibles and scream insults.\n\nThis isn't about religious accommodation. This is about Islam.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"Are you serious?! You seem blatantly more concerned with the purported effects of CO2 emissions than with the salvation of souls. Am I at the right place here? You and the majority of commentators seem to think Catholicism is a political tool first. A sad state of affairs.\"\n- Yes, Jesus was sent to redeem the whole world, all of creation, everything in it, humans included.\n- Damaging the environment is very serious. \n- Being aware of the facts of the matter is also important, hence the expectation that essayists like MSW fact check.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For the 100th time:\n\nAll vocations are callings from God, but not all callings from God are vocations.\n\nIf Protestants see their ministry as more than a career path, that is all well and good. Whatever they believe about their ministry, however, they do not believe what Catholics believe. For them, ordination is not a sacrament. Ordination does not configure a person to Christ in such a way as they become an altar christus. Lutherans believe the minister is an altar christus--but not in the sense that Catholics believe. They use the same terminology but mean very different things by it. \n\nIn the end, for Protestants, ordination is more akin to a formal commissioning. It is an ordinance, but not a Sacrament.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So for example, a doctor is approached by a person who follows a religion who's leaders pledge allegiance to a foreign government. He considers this sinful, especially since this allegiance has a history of protecting criminals from american law. So he exercises his religious freedom by refusing to treat roman catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well now, Mr. Trump does not accept the banning of people from certain middle eastern countries is bigotary, He did say that the US would accept Christians from those countries. That leaves what, ah yes, the Muslim population of those countries. Trump has banned Muslims from entry to the US - this is unconstitutional and the accompanying amendments. This could be the basis of impeachment in that he is not defending the Constitution as he vowed that he would when inaugurated. \n\nAs for his spokesoman \"Alternate Facts\" Conway, she tried to spin the line that only a couple of hundred people around the world were refused entry. Everything that comes out of this woman's mouth is BS. She has absolutely no credibility. Trump needs to sac kher immediately, but, yet again, he is full of the same stuff.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "- as Catholics, it defies the natural law and is intrinsically disordered\n\n- for most other Americans - Christian, Jewish, and Muslim - it is immoral behavior\n\n- it weakens our nation's moral consensus\n\n- it makes it difficult to raise children who are morally straight\n\n- it weakens the family as the cornerstone of society\n\nThere are lot of folks with family members, friends, and co-workers who have same attractions who are not \"homophobes\" who oppose same sex marriage.\n\nThat your name-calling doesn't make the grade of civil intelligent discourse has been pointed out to you numerous times.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's not always about hate but what they think is right in their hearts. This initiative is very dangerous. These \"haters\" as you call it are mostly religious folk. That is the real issue here. These so called \"Christians\", will try to make this world Christ like but do they follow in the footsteps they are trying to make? So my initiative that I am going to counter is going to be called, \"Protect Real Christians from False Prophets\"... it's sorely based on anyone who votes for the bathroom initiative will have to take an oath in front of their peers denying Jesus Christ as their Savior. Because we are not the ones to judge as the good book says. We must pray for our enemies and turn the cheek when we are slapped. The outcome of my initiative that I will be imposing should severely cut out any false Christian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "caiside, isn't belief in the literal resurrection the very foundation of the Christian faith?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The church is the body of Christ not the hierarchy and Jesus told us to actually leave matters of right and wrong to the whole church not just the apostles or any hierarchy. \n\nEqual access to all sacraments, to all who are called by God, including to priesthood, is necessary for us to be a just church, and Jesus never taught any Christian that they could treat any sister or brother differently than they wished to be treated themselves without sinning greatly while they did. Equal ordination to priesthood, and equal access to all positions above, including pope, are a matter of human justice and basic Christian Justice.\n\nJesus never supported sexism or any other form of hate.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There was no word for church in Aramaic.\nI do agree that St. Paul did a good job and gave us some insights to Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What about the Christians (including Catholics) who were cremated during the Holocaust?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh, the tyranny of our traditions.\nIn its dogmas,doctrines, formularies and above all its scriptures the Church has managed to keep the cult of Christianity intact and have ignored the simple but compelling call of Jesus to judge no one and to love all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't tell people to leave the Church, but when others agitate to turn our Catholic Church into another Protestant denomination, expect pushback.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And the parents of the Manitoba school child who pioneered that had their barn burned by upset Christians. The die hard zealot Principle who refused to accommodate the student's request for Freedom From Religion attached a character assassination letter to every request for a transcript, until the student realized something was going on and conducted a sting to get a copy of the letter. That defamation proved very expensive for the Zealot Principle, and for the Board of Education that he worked for.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If Trump was a Christian and read his Bible you would see that God's commandments were #1- be fruitful #2- multiply #3- fill the earth. How could they fill the earth with \"closed borders\"? Genesis 1:28. What would have happened to Abraham if Egypt's borders were closed? Why not have an \"Entrance fee\" $1,000 and make money? No waste of money on walls, or police time wasted on \"illegals\". The whole world could physically fit in Texas. I am pro-Trump but disagree with him. I am part Cherokee, what would happen if all the Indians wanted to deport all non-Indians? Is the USA better off having foreigners or not?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That's not Catholic teaching. You just made that stuff up.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As a long-time subscriber to NCR, I am so pleased that Tom Fox received this well-deserved honor. I remember being overcome with gratitude when Bob Hoyt first announced the founding of a propaganda-less (my word, not his) Catholic newspaper that would be willing to speak up in defense of Gospel values even when it might be unpopular or inconvenient. I've seldom been disappointed in their courageous stands. Back in the 80's they were literally begging the bishops to do something about priestly sexual abuse long before many of us had even heard of it. Unfortunately, it took the secular press forcing it into the open to get anything done about it. Coverage of the Vietnam War, School of the Americas, the rush into the Iraq War, the list goes on and on. \nWe Catholics owe NCR for helping us to grow up!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am a 65 year old cradle Catholic. Network influences my vote but the Catholic bishops never have. I don't see that changing any time soon.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You're saying that the Law Society of Upper Canada will accept evangelical Christian law grads from TWU? I was under the impression that's not the case.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The flotsam and jetsam of the catholic left.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually, the Catholic teaching is: because Jesus chose only men to be Apostles and the Church has always followed His example in believing a male only priesthood is God's plan.\n\nPope Paul VI, put it thus:\n\n\"The Church holds that it is not admissible to ordain women to the priesthood, for very fundamental reasons. These reasons include: the example recorded in the Sacred Scriptures of Christ choosing his Apostles only from among men; the constant practice of the Church, which has imitated Christ in choosing only men; and her living teaching authority which has consistently held that the exclusion of women from the priesthood is in accordance with God's plan for his Church.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is no room in publicly-funded schools for religious propaganda, be it Muslim, Christian or anything else. No prayers. No special rooms. No separate school boards teaching their own particular brand of superstitious nonsense.\n\nNor should any tax or other accommodation or exemption be given to religious organizations. They should either support themselves from funding provided by their adherents, or fall by the wayside.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well then you must be rejoicing, as St. Paul, at this opportunity to demonstrate your devotion to the Catholic brand of Christianity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wrong comparison. Violent conquest of lands and people is a human universal not dependent on religion. You are judging the past by contemporary standards.\n\nIt is the spread of the western notions of democracy (i.e. the land belongs to its inhabitants, not its rulers, so cannot be conquered or bartered the way land was by the French, British and Spanish) and human rights and dignity, etc., that made territorial conquest morally unacceptable.\n\nMassacres of populations was widespread throughout history, religion or not.\n\nThe Japanese had no qualms about massacring and torturing the handful of Christian missionaries and converts in the 17th century. That was religious persecution on the basis of religion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "CC is a religion of the anti-western world, specifically attacking Christianity's beliefs. Your comment that CC is \"a scientific consensus driven by evidence\" is wrong. It's a 47+ year long project to line the pockets of so-call scientist with government grants in their attempt to attack God's creation and weaken the belief in western civilization Christianity for the purpose to institute a one world socialist government. Just look at how many anti-life Democrats support CC. They even got the pope on their side - \"Pope Francis appears in 'climate change' movie featuring Obama, Clinton, Leonardo DiCaprio.\" The film is called \"Before the Flood.\" \"The film's climactic ending shows DiCaprio, the United Nation's Messenger of Peace, being received at the Vatican by Pope Francis. According to the film, they spoke about the necessity of the 'world community' accepting the science of climate change. A pope has never done anything like this in history,' related DiCaprio in the film.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The local, Catholic oddsmakers say place your bet on Burbidge from Arlington, VA. A comer in many ways.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, Middle Eastern Christians are being persecuted and I'm entirely in favor of reaching out in compassion to them. I'm just not in favor of granting preferential treatment based on religion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My mistake. I got the impression from the statement \"currently one does not see\" as meaning it is not happening, but it could. Instead, you mean it is not being reported? Or, you don't see it but it is happening? I am confused. Based on those who offered you evidence it does happen, others were also confused. \nIf I was to say: \"one does not see it snow in Acapulco\" I mean it does not snow in Alcapulco i.e, it never happens. \nI agree we are in a war with a sect of Islam that is marginalized in the global Islamic faith. But this is just a renewal of conflict that goes back over a thousand years. But if we're going to group the entire religion together, there has to be some similar generalization from the number (not just one or two) examples of Christians committing similar crimes around the world (we only listed the U.S). In that vein, I'd include religion as a source of much of the world's problems. And inequality. And occupying State actors.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I believe that the editorial by Richard Walker you refer to is neither just \"politically progressive\" nor \"antithetical to Americanism\" at all. Remember - we're all Americans and so love America. We don't want to see it crash and burn. If it does, we all crash and burn with it. \n\nPersonally, I believe that you are wrong (and offensive) on many levels when you write about \"unalienable rights\" granted by the \"Creator\" or progressives believing in \"state control.\" \n\nThe glue isn't taking someone's money away, nor is it declaring more war. It's simply what most Christians and other religions know in their hearts: the Golden Rule, hopefully not too \"sissy\" for we Americans.\n\nDo you think \"Great Again\" means more wealth? Already talk and moves are being made to repeal and deduct from programs for seniors and the poor - and this applies to those Americans that will be one or the other - or both someday. So who's wealth, who's power? \n\nI DO think we need reminders of unification. Often.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think you debase the Ginger or May Ann debate by equating it to the theological debates between different brands of Christianity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'll give you an unintended consequence of V2. The church used to be welcoming of science and progress. Since the loss of leadership in the church since vatican 2 we have an undercurrent of misunderstanding of the relationship of the church to science among certain \"conservative\" catholics. For example, we have people, like Marty E, who believe that the earth is 6000 years old and that humans lived concurrently with dinosaurs, and that moreover, that to be a catholic is to reject modern science, for example the science of climate change. This is an execrable development within the post-conciliar church and it has confused many simple folk like Marty as to what being a catholic means.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Big Glenn, read up on Canadian history. Every problem to you resembles a Liberal.\nBill Davis (Ontario PC Premier, no less) changed the law (in Ontario) and allowed public funding for the Catholic school boards.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We have something in common...I was raised in the Catholic Church too! The church taught me a love for God, a personal relationship with God at Confirmation, the cruelty of abortion, and a good work ethic. Like you, I began to wonder about reading the Bible; but, unlike you, I did not abandon church. I found a church that helped me read and understand Scripture. Now I have everything the Catholic Church taught me, plus a better understanding of Scripture. I also learned not to swear. The many comments I have seen from you do not reflect the teachings of Jesus.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1 / 2\nMaking America \u2018Great Again\u2019\nNo, I did not vote for Mr. Trump, nevertheless, soon, he is our President for the next four years. We are all challenged by what true \u2018greatness\u2019 means; and maybe, \u2018justmaybe\u2019, there is a greatness goal we all might work toward.\nIn this Month of January, we Catholics (excuse the big \u201cC\u201d) focus on Church Unity Octave, a time when we all might challenge ourselves to greater effort in bringing about greater People Unity, greater Church Unity.\nViolence is associated with divisions; when divisions are resolved, a way of religions-coming-together is enabled; when divisions are fomented, so are \u2018religious\u2019 frictions. \nhttp://www.secondenlightenment.org/Churches%20United%20Flyer.pdf", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thanks, David, for reminding us that, like Dorothy Day, we should all be Incarnational Christians. He came to us and we have to keep bringing Him back into our hurting world by standing with all strangers seeking to come to a strange land. Blessed Christmas to you and all who I hope still cluster around you at this family time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree, and thumbs up, but the radical Middle Eastern mystic, I assume you mean Jesus of Nazareth, didn't start Christianity. Jesus didn't worship himself.\nHis followers founded Christianity. Especially a convert named Paul of Tarsus. And Paul took Christianity in a totally different direction. Christianity changed again when Emperor Constantine saw political advantage in using Christianity. I think Donald Trump would appreciate Constantine. Constantine was a masterful politician who embraced Christianity as a state religion, but Constantine never converted to Christianity until he was on his deathbed, as a last minute insurance policy, just in case. Donald Trump is alleged to have become \"born again\", right before the Republican National Convention. As a last minute insurance policy, just in case.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your source is a Catholic website. The Willamette University law professor said that although the law was developed \"apart from anti-Catholic sentiment\" and predates the first Catholic drive to receive funding for its schools, it was used in some cases against Catholics. I assume you can read motleycrew. Both sides of my family are Catholic. I attended St. Paul's parish school. Some of my friends send their kids to both Catholic and Christian private schools. It's not bigotry to believe that private religious schools should not be funded at the expense of public schools. That's why efforts to repeal Blaine amendments are largely unsuccessful as the second link I posted indicates. \nThe separation of church and state is widely supported by Americans, including Catholics and Christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1/ <>\n\nI'm not playing this game. I already told you what I thought.\n\n<>\n\nI'm not \"for\" abortion, though it has nothing to do with the Catholic Church. As a young atheist I discovered I had a visceral opposition to abortion. Call it the law written on our hearts, or what have you. If God is anything God is the life force, so I do think abortion is a sin. However, I have always been pro-choice. As I mentioned previously, I think Roe rightly recognizes the State's interest in protecting human life after a certain point of viability. I'm comfortable that as science deepens understanding this point may shift, and I'm comfortable with the moral ambiguity that often attends a decision to have an abortion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The incidents you describe certainly were examples of \"feelings of superiority\" at work, a type of \"privilege,\" or feeling of entitlement at work. And you are right, it had nothing to do with race. But that does not negate the fact that in many circumstances involving authority, white people are given the benefit of the doubt when people of color are not. My cousin in Northern Ireland experienced the same kind of discrimination as a Catholic teen shopping at a Protestant-owned business --and everyone involved was white. \nThe fact that whites are sometimes discriminated against or looked down on by other whites who have money and power does not negate the fact that MANY times blacks and people of colour are discriminated against in circumstances wherein the white person is not.\nBut you won't be convinced. There are none so blind...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are absolutely right, Grocho. Ordain both mean and women as ministers and the gender distinctions remain perfectly intact. Ordain men in ministry but refuse to ordain women in ministry and you have discrimination, not distinction, in the church. \n\nFor those who appeal to Paul, Paul openly discriminates and justifies his discrimination by creation order and by which gender sinned first. In fact, in Genesis, which Paul cites, the Creator did not discriminate and did not dispute either gender's assertion that the Creator was responsible for their nakedness. \n\nGenesis is written to introduce Monotheism using as metaphor the social construct at the time of Moses. Society was a patriarchy, women were chattle, and slavery was an accepted economic component.\n\nThe Bible never describes an ideal society. But it didn't need to for Christianity to rise above patriarchy, women as chattle, and slavery. \n\nLooking up, not back, is still the path ahead for Christians, it feels like.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The traditionalist Catholic far right is also a satellite of the Russosphere and alt-right. We have a few Fatima Center enthusiasts right here in these threads. Wonder if they ever check the footnotes to the apocalyptic fiction cranked out by that outfit.\n\nAt one time I thought of encouraging Dennis Coday to assign an investigative reporter to this fringe-gone-mainstream, but after his slam of Emma-Kate Symons' polemic for the Washington Post, I realized it was just as well I never did.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"As C.S. Lewis said: \"Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.\"\n\nA rephrasing of Pascal's wager, which seems sensible on the surface if it were not a false dichotomy. If the choices were between Christianity and nothing then he may have had a point. Unfortunately there are thousands of religions present and past that are empirically indistinguishable from one another while also being mutually exclusive, in which case the odds of happening on the \"right\" one is pretty remote even assuming one of them is right to begin with.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": ">>On the other hand, the world's largest Muslim countries, like Indonesia and Bangladesh, have public holidays for Buddhist, Hindu and Christian festivals.\n.\nYes Indonesia - celebrating multiple religious holidays ... and where being an atheist is a dangerous proposition.\n\nCan I write \"God doesn't exist\"? Blasphemy, no doubt, punishable how - please elaborate Her Muslim?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church's teaching does.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I believe the poster is correct. I, personally, abhor irony and avoid it at all costs, but of course I am a liberal only insofar as I support the constitutional rights to freedom of speech and religion, when those rights are being used favorably to the enforcement of Catholic Values.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Steven, what does the Catholic church say happens to babies who aren't baptized?\n\nGo look it up.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "exactly right.\n\nIt's a very Protestant idea that has crept into the working theology of many Catholics. At bottom, it's a less demanding and encompassing Yes to God. \"All your hearts, mind, soul, and strength\" becomes \"well not so much\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "someone is always shrinking the Word of God to the thousand or so words that were captured of Jesus.\n\nThat's why we have a Church to figure out, triangulate issues such a cloning, death penalty, etc. \n\nI am not a fundamentalist...strict literalist...of what Jesus said or didn't mention like you are.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm confused about two things...you make it sound like being a \"Christian conservative\" is mutually exclusive from being a supporter of PETA, and that PETA is not a good group to support. Why do you say these things?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In Pakistan they still stone the odd Christian occasionally. It looks like Muslims are tolerant only when they are a minority.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Kershaw's comment were true but when Cardinal Pacelli (PX) signed the concordat w. the Nazis, he castrated the Catholic resistance and forced compliance with the Nazi regime.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"since a lot of Conservatives lump Democrats, Liberals, and Progressives into 'hate groups' who hate God, who hate Jesus, who hate the Bible, who hate Jews, who hate Christians, and who hate the idea that there are Absolute Truths and Absolute Right/Wrongs that exist.\"\nAnd you are the lead cheerleader.\nYou divide the whole of humanity into Good and Evil. And anyone you don't like, or is not Christian, you call Evil.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nowhere. I am, as luck or spiritual discernment would have it, on board with AMORIS LAETITIA in which case I can say, take it up with Pope Francis. \n I didn't say that one might not commit adultery by marrying someone divorced. I do think that one may be saved anyway. Christianity 101 reminds us that we are not justified by keeping the Law and need Christ to receive regeneration and new life-dead to the law and alive in Christ. \n Take it up with the Pope. You must find some excuse that lets you continue in your Biblical inerrancy and reconcile it with the present reality. Furthermore, if I am justified by obeying the Law then I have no need of Christ. This makes the cross, as St. Paul wrote, \"of none effect\". I am aware that he supported a strict view of marriage, much as you do. There are theological glitches in the NT that need to be examined in the light of present wisdom. Catholic Biblical scholarship is known for this, which is why Bible study is so unpopular.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When's the last time Jewish people rioted, let alone killed someone, over a slight to their religion? Never. Same thing with Christians, Hindus and Buddhists.\n\nThe laws that prohibit Holocaust denial? They were enacted by the non-Jewish leaders of European countries, who were presumably disgusted with the Holocaust complicity of some of their fellow citizens.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The \"cafeteria\" prayer is like a few friends whispering to themselves in the corner of a room. A checkers group could do the same thing discreetly. The Nativity Scene is a shrine to the Nativity of Jesus Christ, placed in a public corridor. Although it doesn't offend me, it tells everybody in the school that the corridor is a Christian place. You either don't know anything about your own religion or you hide behind fake logic and diversion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ok, are those good things or bad things? Each quote is out of context, something you complained about repeatedly when you find media bias headlines/lead lines.\n\nI like this Pope a lot. But he doesn't have dictatorial powers over the church and honestly, as a third world representative, he has no natural power base in elite wealth represented by Vatican City. The Catholic church is a huge business, the individual church's of the Catholic church have very different characteristics.\n\nThere's no good excuse for the Catholic church hiding or covering child molestation. It's also not unusual to find child molestation and extramarital affairs in Protestant, churches or many places of inequitable power; police, teachers, parents, doctors, lawyers, etc.... \n\nJust saying child molestation in not exclusive to the Catholic clergy, and it is not the only 'sin' of excessive personal power that seems to affect the judgement of many people.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I disagree that Americans should not propose and create a Christian Democratic Party that is lay led, ecumenical and committed to Catholic Social Teaching. The Cooperation between EKD Evangelicals, Catholics and others in Germany's Christian Democratic Parties is a great, effective accomplishment. The German economic miracle, the EU and the reunification of Germany would be unthinkable without the CDP and CDU. America's own American Solidarity Party is very much seeking to move in this direction. It is entirely lay led, ecumenical, consistent and determined. Given the wasteland before us, I and many others believe a Catholic inspired, yet open party is our best hope for a better future.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I ran out of space. To finish off my reaction to 887, realizing after the fact that it was an anti-English rant done by an accomplished and skilled artist with a sophisticated technical crew backing him, any good feelings I had about 887 have evaporated. I heard Eleanor Wachtel interview him on Writers & Company on CBC Radio 1 today. Yes, there's lots of interesting stuff there. However, unless you are attuned to English-Quebecois history and those tensions, you will miss the fact that at its heart, 887 is an elaborately-produced slap in the face to English Canadians. Montreal Gazette Journalist and writer William Johnson spent much of his career looking at the history of English-French history and relations in Quebec and concluded that the Quebeois and their variant of the Roman Catholic church spent the last 150 years promoting hatred of the English. That's why I and some 250,000 English Canadians left Quebec in the 1970s and 1980s, the largest migration within Canada in our history.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Milwaukee is an odd form of Catholic justice: victims get 10 K or less, perpetrators get 20 K and church lawyers get multiples of 200 K. The archbishop lawyer oversaw this.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As unlikely as a Catholic bishop announcing that he had joined the Republican party and displaying his registration card?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Perhaps. It may also be that he was incarnated by being SO off-center (https://www.ncronline.org/preview/incarnation-possible-when-we-are-taken-center). Joined with cosmic Christ, like a Christian-ish version of Mahasamatman was with Nirvana (not the band), in Zelazney's \"Lord of Light\". \nMahasamatman called himself \"Sam\"; coincidence?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "AlanSpector has difficulty handling the truth about Israel's atrocities toward the Palestinian people. I would be embarrassed, too, if I was a supporter of Israel. But the issue should be widely discussed because of the misguided support given to ISRAEL by Hawaiis Congressional members. The claim that the US and Israel are \" strong allies\" lacks substance.. The \" alliance\" consists of the American Gov. Giving billions of dollars and weaponry to ISRAEL, dying in wars for ISRAEL and suffering hostility because of our misguided support of ISRAEL. In return the Israeli Gov. Insults US Prsidents, ignores official requests and policies, steals our technology, often then selling it to others, and regularly spied on our government. ISRAEL was created through a war of violent ethnic cleansing, continues to confiscate still more land belonging to the indigenous Arabs, CHRISTIAN & Muslim. People of Hawaii & AMERICA should be clammering for a cease of this immoral relationship with ISRAEL.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ok, you deny the teaching of the Catholic Church regarding Creation, the Fall and its consequences. That is your privilege. I believe the the magisterial teaching of the Church because you cannot provide any other intellectually acceptable opposition to it.\nTo claim that the Holy Spirit is contradicting His previous 'leads' is to suggest that the Holy Ghost is leading us a merry dance.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is in response to Fuad Khayer - Fuad, most people do not have negative feelings toward muslims & i'm sorry that you're experiencing such nastiness at this moment in time.\nHowever, I must say that you should realize that you have come to what was once (& some would say still is) a Christian country. For the last few hundred years, our calenders have been built around this concept, hence the holidays you mention\nNowadays, many people are totally secular & do not follow any religion. Some still do.\nThe point is - our public schools are secular. Religion plays no part unless it's a study of various religions for the sake of increasing knowledge. To accomodate, our schools have bent over backwards to make life easy for those wishing to follow their religions. Most people are happy to allow students to take time off for personal worship, but draw the line at praying on school property.\nWhy does your community not provide a place for student Friday prayers?\nThat would solve the problem.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't want to hurt your feelings, because I sense that you are serious (very serious) in what you say. But, with respect, you sometimes sound like a paragraph from the Catechism rather than a person who, I know, has a jolly-good brain\n\nHere's further to what I think. Yes, God loves my parents and me, but I am not the direct issue of that love, but of my parents love for each other. This is something over which God had no control, since love must be free to be itself: love cannot be ordered or enforced. So with my conception (as with all creation), there is, as it were, an element of chance: of random occurrence. \n\nI do not believe, with the psalmist, that God 'knit me together in my mother's womb': no; chance did. That kind of literal thinking would, in one sense, make me a Muslim, a believer in Ash' arism. This theological school holds that God acts by First Causes rather than through Natural Law.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wow! Nice way to avoid the Christian European demand side of the equation, going back and laying blame on the Arab culture, again, without a mention of American blame. Bravo.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Fair enough. Let's say you see Elagabalus's point as a minor altercation of CC doctrine, as it were, and I see it as a radical innovation regarding Catholic doctrine on marriage, among other things. But Catholicism has a high ceiling for different views from among its various global, regional and local constituencies. OK.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Non-Catholic schools in Ontario were not free from religion. From the start of our school system they required religious teachings and observances. It was never secular, just Protestant instead of Catholic. Removal of Christian observances like the Lord's Prayer is relatively new to our system.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What if Justin Trudeau, a Roman Catholic, wore a large crucifix outside of this clothing?\n-\nwhy would he? Is he Roman Catholic?\nno selfies of him at Church at Christmas and Easter\nyet\nmany photos of him at places of worship of other religions\n-\nif it is not a diversity place of worship you won't see Justin, selfie or no selfie", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Right, yours is exactly the adjustment in understanding that Christians realized they had to make already by the end of the first century. But historians think the expectation of Jesus himself is well reflected in e.g. Mark 9.1, \"Amen I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Kingdom of God coming in power.\"\n\nAlso note that the slightly different form of the saying in Matthew 16.28, perhaps based on an alternative edition of Mark, has another eschatological feature elsewhere used by Jesus: \". . . until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.\" We think that although Jesus did think of himself as the Christ, which truth he tried to keep secret, he did NOT think he was the Son of Man, i.e. the heavenly figure of Daniel 7 (cf. Mark 14.62); but that identity was already recognized and affirmed by the end of the century, perhaps even by Mark. So the church comes to know all kinds of things that Jesus himself never knew! Big things too! (tbc)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That's why the Jewish Lawyer's religion is money. For 30 pieces of Silver, you can get a jewish lawyer to invent a new religion, any day of the week! \n\nThe Alaska Bar Association's Training Camp; shown at the Fairbanks Four Trial, hang up the innocent, and let the guilty go free. Can't pass law school, apply with the Alaska AG's Office.\n\n\"Jesus is brought before Annas and Caiaphas and questioned, with intermittent beatings. Afterward, the other priests (Caiaphas does not accompany them) take Jesus to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, and insist upon Jesus' execution. Pilate tells the priests to judge Jesus themselves, to which they respond they lack authority to do so. Pilate questions Jesus, after which he states, \"I find no basis for a charge against him.\" Pilate then offers the gathered crowd the choice of one prisoner to release \u2014 said to be a Passover tradition \u2014 and they choose a criminal named Barabbas instead of Jesus.\"\nhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caiaphas", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not relevant, given the meaning of virgin birth used amongst Christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We already accommodate the Christian faith in our school system by not having class on Sunday. If school was on Sunday I'm sure allowance would be made to accommodate prayer time for Christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration has already stated categorically that he will not open Canada's doors to Christians. That would be religion faith based immigration policy and against our secular moral standards. He said just a couple of weeks ago that Christians don't face the same dangers as other legitimate refugees. He will however welcome all Muslims fleeing Trump's persecution in the US.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Religions are systems of symbols that point to the mystery we call God. Most religions arise, last a couple of hundred years, then fade into oblivion, their symbols exhausted. Judaism and Christianity are along the longest-lasting extant religions, but they won't continue forever. Ideas that spoke to earlier generations -- covenant, incarnation, atonement, etc. -- will one day be replaced by new ideas and symbols that speak to the people of that time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Except that was NEVER the case.\"\n\nYou might be right about that. I went to Catholic school for most of my upbringing, so it was a daily occurrence to have forced prayer.\n\nBut what about Gideon Bibles? They had a decades long association with Canadian public schools that opened up those schools for distribution of little bibles at a set grade level. Initially, those bible distributions were mandatory for any kids in the school systems that partnered with Gideon, and it was only with significant parental pressure that it was reduced over time to parental opt-in, and then eventually phased right out of the school day and made an annual event that occurred after school ended for the day. Part of why that practice ended was the growing public realization that even allowing time in the school day and use of school spaces for it to happen meant that the public tax dollar was being used to support private religious aims.\n\nEven an unused room represents public tax dollars, right?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thanks and Blessings to the congregation and leadership of the Christian Reformed Church of Oak Harbor. Like Langley United Methodist Church two years ago, you all have taken a leap of Faith and for this act, your more vulnerable neighbors will be sheltered year round. Thank you for Living the Gospel. \nJudy Thorslund Board Member Whidbey Homeless Coalition.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I wonder often, as I age, what a wonderful life it would be if we could live what Pope Francis just spoke about in Columbia: 'values .....not cold attachment to norms' is what the Christian life is about. But, it appears to me that, after reading the bio's of many prominent current controversial figures in the news, their value systems appear formed by adherence to rigidity, righteous and riches than to charity, service above self, and sense of community. So, What has to change?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If the Catholic Church has been such a failure throughout history, why does it still exist today, and why does it continue to be strong--despite everything?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, quite right. When people try to distort a position or turn it into a gross inverse caricature of itself, they aren't quite operating truthfully. They're simply letting pride snuff their charity.\n\nAnd so every Christian is called to make corrections, with perhaps a high-minded, oblique approach, letting the other person come to a conclusion all on their own! \n\nOften they resist, and go even more south. And with that Christians are called to discernment and sometimes abaondonment, but with a parting quiet prayer, maybe a Memorare.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Just an FYI Phyllis -- Catholic Charities immigration programs are usually overwhelmed with clients and understaffed by underpaid people. \n\nI think that the long-term solution to the stuff that you describe is to for those with money not to hoard it, but to work for better and more equitable distribution of resources. They might all take a cue from that part of Mr. Ford's philosophy that moved him to pay his workers a wage that would enable them to buy his cars. Also, it would help if those with all of the money and power realized that a more equitable distribution of resources makes for a more stable society, which enables the very wealthy to live more peaceful lives....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And I thought Ireland in the 1930's was bigoted (but of course we lived in the Republic). Our next -door neighbor was a farmer like ourselves but the family was Protestant (Church of Ireland). However they were recognized as the most Christian family in the parish. When my father fell ill, Fred organized a group to harvest the crops. When the Catholic Church needed a new roof Fred headed the committee to raise the necessary funds. Fred never entered that church. He attended funerals but stood outside and went to the grave for the internment. Fred dropped in several times a week to chat, read the paper and keep in touch. When his mother died in 1962 her funeral procession was several miles long.Fred's own funeral was much smaller and was 90% Catholic including the local Catholic pastor. \nSo please don't tar us all with the same brush.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And why would we need little chapels, temples or mosques within the public schools? Have you thought this through? Accommodation has to do with religious obligations occuring during the regular school day. This rarely applies to Christians as our society has been set up on the Christian calendar. But there are Jewish high holidays and Muslim prayer schedules that sometimes clash with the school calendar. School administrators can give permission to be absent or, as is the case in Peel, try to accommodate a group on school property.\n\nWhy would activists ask for chapels, temples or mosques? No one has done that or will do that. You seem to be one of those slippery slopers. But the slope is never as slippery as the one arguing the point. Most religious practices take place off school grounds. But we live in a country with a diverse population. Some exceptions apply. The NO RELIGION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS doctrine isn't being broken by providing space for private worship if necessary.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Are they Christians? Really?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "BTW, if the Bible is without error please tell us which Bible. After all, there are over 400,000 versions of the bible in existence (that's versions, not translations) and they don't agree. In fact, the major religions can't even agree on the number of books in the bible. The Jews have 24 books, the Protestants 39, the Catholics 46, and the Eastern Orthodox have 51. Which is right, which is the perfect one handed down straight from God?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That is not what the doctrine says. Thomas Aquinas said, in Quodlibet III, 27\n\nEvery judgment of conscience, be it right or wrong, be it about things evil in themselves or morally indifferent, is obligatory, in such wise that he who acts against his conscience always does moral evil.\n\nHe expands on this in the Summa Theologica I-II, q 19, art 5, and concludes that every conscience binds, even an erring one.\n\nPerhaps you should study Catholic theology.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A moderate is someone who doesn't read the Qur'an or regularly attend a mosque, but abides many of the customs enshrined in it because that is how they were raised. Most folks who call themselves Christians follow that moderate path through benign neglect of their family religion. \nIt is the more devoutly religious folk who regularly look to the Qur'an or the Bible for practical guidance on how to live and make choices that are less tolerant, and more of a concern.\nTypically, immigrants to this part of the world bring their religion with them, and cling to it for support during the difficult transition of immigrant life. Their kids however tend to adapt and wander from the faith. That is what we are gambling on to sustain our civil society.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Revolt, how? Everyone quit their jobs?\n\nPerhaps the ideal is to have a job that pays you 100,000 a year for telling the Catholic world how it errs, with all expense paid trips to Europe to attend conferences. It's possible. For some special Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sir or Madam\nBy the way - why do most of the commentators here write under psydonyms? What do they fear? Does the first amandment not apply to catholics in the Catholic church in the US? I lived in an undemocratic state where you went to jail for an unorthodox statement. Then it was not easy to speak out. But I don't see this risk in the secular US. Is it possible that those commentators who are economically dependent on their bishops or bound by a vow of obedience have to disguise? How do you see this?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Surely, on his way to Bangladesh, Bob Rae will stop in some Middle Eastern countries to assess the situation of the Christians and the ongoing humanitarian crisis they are facing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They were made off days to accommodate Christians (Sunday) and Jews (Saturdays) for their religious (Holy-days) to accommodate their prayer rituals. \n---------\nthis country was founded on Judeo-Christian foundation\nhistorical fact\nit is still Judeo-Christian culturally if not religiously \nso it remains Sunday and Saturday off\n\ndo you seriously think we should accommodate whoever and drop Sunday and Saturday as holidays?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So there you have it. Kudos to The New York Times for finally breaking the big story in plain sight: the conservative wing of the Catholic Church is a collaborator with the \"alt right\" (neo-Nazis) and Steve Bannon, de facto president of the United States and mad plotter of World War III, the Holy War against Islam.\n\nThe question arises: what are progressive, or even just decent, Catholics going to do about it?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Protestant and Catholic school systems\nconstitutionally legal\nallowed by British North American Act\n\nsorry but Canada was founded on Judeo-Christian principles\nfact of history\n\nuntil the Constitution is changed that is the way it is\nnot fair?\nthen change the Constitution", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I've read every piece of literature, including \"Finegans Wake\", that James Joyce ever wrote and he never said, or even implied, that \"Here Comes Everybody\" is about the Catholic Church. This is just another urban legend like St. Francis allegedly saying, \"Preach the Gospel at all times; when necessary, use words.\" \n\nPlease provide an original source that \"Here Comes Everybody\" is a statement of \"ecclesiology\". I don't want a secondary source. And while you're at it, provide an original source about St. Francis' statement about preaching the Gospel. Again, no secondary sources -- even if it's the Pope.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\u201cI am so tired of converts telling us that the pope is not Catholic.\u201d Yes, and some \"reverts\" do the same thing. Ideology, indeed, delivered by shared Facebook posts from Life Site News and Church Militant.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I understand the Democratic Party openly reviles Christians. We all understand it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "See Exodus 23:3 and Leviticus 19:15. They both exhort the Israelities not to favor the poor over the rich in doing justice. \n\nSo first you say Jubilee represents God's ideal, and then when confronted with the reality that Jubilee was really not that great, you say, \"Well, it was the best God could do under the circumstances.\"\n\nHonestly, Monte, I have a difficult time believing that most Christian social justice advocates you know aren't interested in governmental social justice policy. What does the call to move beyond charity mean??? \"Justice\" denotes compulsory laws and regulations. I have never heard a definition of social justice that does not include government policy as expressed in laws and regulations. And every soapbox advocate of social justice I have heard strongly urges reforms in laws and regulations. Christians have for centuries been urging charity without resort to \"social justice.\" What does \"social justice\" add if it is not laws and regulations?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why don't YOU do some research? Here's a start:\n\nClarence Joseph Morley (February 9, 1869 \u2013 November 15, 1948) was the 24th Governor of Colorado from 1925 to 1927, serving one two-year term. He was a Republican. Before becoming governor he was a judge in Denver, Colorado. He was a member of the Ku Klux Klan which was an important force in Colorado politics during the 1920s and largely responsible for the division of the Republican and Democratic votes that enabled him to take office.\n\nHe was virulently anti-Catholic and is reputedly one of the most extreme governors in the state's history.\n\nAfter office, Morley established C.J. Morley & Company, a stock brokerage firm in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he was convicted of mail fraud and imprisoned.\n\nhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarence_Morley", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "While cultural factors do play a role, Islam is unique: first, in demanding a close relationship between church and state; second, in justifying violence (as a norm) when religious goals are frustrated.\n\nTo compare current (21st century) Muslim practice/justification of violence (from sacred texts never officially repudiated or rejected) with centuries old Christian violence is a complete anachronism and, as such, nonsensical.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The students at TWU will do exactly what students at all other universities do, plus they'll lie about it to their parents and instructors.\n\nAnyone who's attended a higher level Christian educational institution knows that of which I speak. ;-)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Only as part of official functions. Public schools often have Christian clubs, and pray they do!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not a libertarian anyhow. Not sure about the rest, but I think I've heard he's Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is quite probably the most glaring anti-life action of ANY political leader alive today. It is an act that could imperil the very survival of our entire species. And yet the US catholic bishops, with their monomaniacal obsession with abortion and gay marriage, seem to be quite oblivious to it all. How utterly appalling. Never again should these bishops dare call themselves \"pro-life\". They need to acquaint themselves of Cardinal Bernardin's seamless garment ethic, and Pope Francis' Laudato Si'. And they need to find their collective voice very, very quickly ... lest a whole bunch more millennials walk away, heads downcast ...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Exactly, I came across an article this morning basically about how many of the Evangelical groups have pretty much abandoned historic Christianity and have morphed into another religion that has nothing to do with Jesus and his message. There are elements of Catholicism that have pretty much fallen into the same heresy. As we have seen from some posting on here. \n\nhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/has-evangelical-christianity-become-sociopathic_us_5914ce6fe4b02d6199b2ed92", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Law comes from God because we come from God. Tolerance and liberty come from the existence of free will - they are the divine right of the people to be left alone, which serves the common good. This is not inconsistent with Aquinas, but even then, Aquinas is not Jefferson. If you want to live in a Catholic country, convert of Russian Orthodoxy and see how you like living under Comrade Putin.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Unless you are intimately plugged into alt-right and white supremacist groups, your comment that \"Trump's angry, racist remarks ... have emboldened the alt-right and other white supremacist groups who now feel it's acceptable to attack anyone who doesn't meet their white, Christian American standards\" is pure speculative projection. \nEngaging in that speculative projection on what alt-right and racists feel is a choice, and it is your choice, as is the extra step of tying what they feel to Trump's remarks.\nI'm suggesting you gather some evidence before purporting to read the minds of people you apparently abhor, and likely know very little about.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, let's trot out the old lie of many innocent priests being harmed by false accusations of abuse. Those who peddle this lie don't believe any priest is guilty, even those convicted and sent to prison. Naturally, they consider themselves \"traditional\" or \"conservative\" catholics. Wonder how they'll explain their staunch support of child abusers on judgement day?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes thanks, I had discovered that, the notifications that someone liked my post were driving me mad and I don't get anywhere nea as many as some.\nThere are Anglican Churches here where the Roman Missal is used. Then there are the more traditional High Churches using the English Missal. The vast majority, however, are middle of the road scarf or stole and surplice, neither catholic or evangelical.\nIn England there is only one rite in the BCP. Newer rites only came out with the Alternative Service Book in 1980 when an experimental series of alternatives to the BCP were put together in one book. It has been succeeded by Common Worship. Remember that here in England Liturgical changes have to go before Parliament. Cranmer's BCP is as iconic as the works of Shakespeare and the King James Version.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Some might say \"So speaks the condescending voice of a child of Britannia, a withered shell of an empire clinging to lost glories gained at the expense of the rest of the world, and trying to deny it owes it very existence to this country.\" I, of course would not, because I recognize that most British Catholics, no doubt in response to years of oppression, are truly strong defenders of tradition and ritual and doctrine, which are the most important aspects of the church Jesus founded.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Part two of two) Jesus admonishes those women, \u201cDo not weep for me, but for your sins\u201d of wanting to change the past, i.e. the way God creates the environment of the Faithful. The situation is foggy, indeed, as the Faithful try to leave the earth a better place than when they found it. As the Jews from Jerusalem said to John, \u201cWhat do you have to say for yourself?\u201d (John 1:22) the same query applies to considering \u201cIf you could change the past, would you?\u201d Just who do the Faithful think they are? That is the real question. Liturgy of the Word, Reading 205, January 2.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No wonder Alaska still rates highest in the nation for violence against women and children. This is no different than the letter of support Representative Cathy Munoz wrote regarding those two child predators in Juneau. It isn't surprising. Jenkins and those who support Trump (Ward, Prevo, et al) are the same supporters of Bill Allen. Those who went along are just as guilty. None of them officially condemned Munoz or Allen. Trump spoke about his own daughter in sexually inappropriate terms. His own daughter. But it's okay with those Conservative \"Christian\" Republicans. Lehman even refers and compares Trump to King David. There isn't one Psalm referencing inappropriate behavior towards ones own child or any woman. King David didn't fleece the poor. He protected and defended the land and its people. He didn't make any deals with The Giant either. He showed Zero Tolerance for threats against the vulnerable.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Correction: \"\n\nCatholics who believe in science rebuke executive order on climate, energy policy.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, if its fleecing the flock your worried about, I'd look no further than skinning the 'pig'. On a football that is. Millions of dollars a year are paid to prima donna football players who are paid more money per year than the best surgeons in the world are, all for tossing around a ball made with pig skin.\n.\n One saves lives, while the other is paid to play with a ball.\n.\n Not one football 'player' is worth a fraction of what they are paid, yet their loyal, worshipping fans pay ever higher 'donations' to make it to Super bowl, which may as well be heaven for some football fans. Just like some televangelist who sell tickets to Heaven, the NFL sells tickets to Super bowl, but out of all the teams, only one makes it. Oh well, if people want to spend a lot of money and hope on something that probably should be free, so be it. That could go for some religion's and not just Christian BTW", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Raymond Brown, Roman Catholic priest and NT scholar:\n\n<>\n\nIntroduction to the New Testament, p. 176.\n\nEmeritus Pope Benedict XVI remarked he \"would be very happy if we had many exegetes like Father Brown.\"\n\nAs for your cheap imputation of motive, I respond to persuasive arguments, not personal preferences. It would make life a lot easier if that were not so.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I can only judge your Catholic education by what you write here and what you write here certainly differs from and is contrary to what the Catholic Church teaches in a lot of areas.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Bible, the Koran, and any other religious texts \"matter\" to me only in their impact on the way followers treat others, the creatures of the earth and the earth itself. If those texts promote decent, respectful, compassionate actions....great. If they promote intolerance and condemnation of \"others\",......no so great. Much good has been done in the name of those texts. Unfortunately, much evil has been done as well. Fundamentalist radical Muslims condemn Christianity. Fundamentalist radical Christians condemn Islam. That's working out real well, isn't it. Gary Crum", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Part two of two) I am not one of those who think a democratic church is the answer.\u2014Tom Roberts Yes, look at Washington and see how the free press hampers politics run wild. Remember how the American Association of University Professors continues to announce its censure of the administration of The (Pontifical) Catholic University of America in its bimonthly magazine, Academe. The problem is Father Charles Curran, unmentioned in the article, as if the birth control nonsense has nothing to do with the cover-up nonsense. As Exodus 12:42 puts it, \u201dThis was a night of vigil for the LORD.\u201d Liturgy of the Word, Reading 394, Saturday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time I.\n\nsexual violence against little ones is about as egregious an offense against the community as one might imagine.\u2014Tom Roberts except for the violence done to marital relationships due to misguided pontificating on artificial means of birth control. Here, see Fr. Curran . . . and dennism, eliza lyons", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Are you trying to say that Scripture is not the word of God? If that's what you mean then you are making up a religion as you go along. \nI have asked you on more than one occasion to show where your authority comes from and you don't answer, presumably because it is on your own authority. If you want people to take you seriously then you need some sort of credentials especially since you seem to be mounting some sort of crusade against the Catholic Church. \nSaying that Leviticus is not revelation without any proof other than that's what you believe is totally unconvincing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pt. 2\n\n\"I like the mystery/God is closer to us by choice and out of love\" - - yes, that's it, isn't it? God is a mystery, but so loved us that He humbled Himself to take on a human nature out of love. That is a mystery. Certainly through the Incarnation God is close to us, and moreso, in a sense, when we receive His Body and Blood. I think rather than mystery/otherness as something to be sought, many EF folks seek transcendance - - a sense of the holy and sacred which the quiet and contemplation of the EF fosters better for some people. Another poster in the thread spoke of the Mass as feeling like a supper club (I know this is not your position), and for many, I think, it lacks a sense of the reverence appropriate to the Divine and to our Savior. As in many Catholic things, it's both/and God with us in the Incarnation and the Body and Blood, yet still retaining all of His Divine attributes wherein He is the creator and we are the creatures. \n\nDoes that make sense?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Part 6)\n\nYou also mentioned Baptism and the Immaculate Conception as threatened by modern science. I agree that baptism understood as washing away an indelible stain inherited from Adam and Eve via sexual intercourse, as postulated by Augustine, makes no sense whatsoever given the development of the doctrines of the Fall and Original Sin I am suggesting. But that is not the only understanding of Baptism we have inherited. The East, in particular, has preserved other understandings, above all our incorporation into the new life introduced into the cosmos by the Christ Event. (Recall, that the East was not straddled with Augustine and his conception of Original Sin, and yet they prize Baptism. Obviously, therefore, our Tradition contains alternative conception of Baptism that the West has tended to down play.)\n\nAs for the Immaculate Conception, at the present time I am at a complete loss to make any sense of this particular doctrine.\n\nMay I ask why you dropped Jesuitical?\n\n(END)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Good, better, yes.\nIn the Mass we celebrate the memorial of Jesus's sacrifice.\nI now see that you've quoted the Council of Trent to someone else. I didn't need to consult anything. But I believe my answer accords with what the Church teaches. I'll check later.\nOf course we are also doing other things in the Mass. In the first place, it is a community of Christians meeting in fellowship to give thanks and praise. Where two or three are gathered in His name, there He will be. This we believe.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The homily at mass is not the place to criticize the pope, regardless of who the pope is and regardless of whether the priests doing the criticizing are conservative or the progressive. The mass should be focused on the words and message of Jesus Christ. \n\n There are other ways and places to address what's going on with the pope and the church.\n\n For someone to make such a blanket statement as \"... Pope \"Francis has only been bad for the church.\", shows someone who does NOT have a discerned conscience. A discerned conscience has to actively seek truth from God and has to have an openness to the movements of the Holy Spirit. A good conscience needs to be constantly fed, renewed and purified through the Holy Spirit.\n\n Too make conservatives are so convinced that they already know everything that needs to be known and no one can tell them differently. They mistake stubbornness for faith and neither common sense, nor words of the pope nor the Holy Spirit himself can make if through.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think you're right that the pro-life movement is largely about voting; but precisely because they think that with the right set of circumstances (the right case, the right lawyers, the right judges) they can achieve a ban on abortion, and that the ban will end abortion. I think they're wrong in several respects, but I do think they genuinely believe that they can end abortion at the ballot box. \nI think Bernardin didn't so much try to refute that argument as to lay out the case that it was not/is not the only way for Catholics to analyze the issues, and that any analysis must recognize that the so-called life issues are connected. Bernardin would never have been duped by Trump.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They already get enhanced vetting. We aren't talking about vetting and visas; we are talking about banning people from this country entirely. This will do nothing to keep us safe and is just a political tool used by Trump and Bannon to scare up the uneducated whites who voted for Trump and have been stirred up to hate anyone who isn't a white Evangelical Christian American by Breitbart News.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The apparition did not request prayer for the conversion of Christians who happened to be caught on the wrong side of the Iron Curtain.\n\n\u201cTo prevent this, I shall come to ask for the consecration of Russia to my Immaculate Heart, and the Communion of reparation on the First Saturdays. If my requests are heeded, Russia will be converted, and there will be peace; if not, she will spread her errors throughout the world, causing wars and persecutions of the Church. The good will be martyred; the Holy Father will have much to suffer; various nations will be annihilated. In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me, and she shall be converted, and a period of peace will be granted to the world.\u201c\n\nYou may wish to make direct and clear your issues with Catholics and the Marian apparitions rather than pointing out irrelevancies unsupported by the events or reports.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have always had enormous respect for the United Church. They don't pander to morally self-righteous people who think they have a right to dictate how others should live, and who they should love. The United Church has always been a strong ally to those who are disadvantaged, marginalized and persecuted. They minister without judgement, condemnation, or the expectation that others should give them blind obedience and financial support. \n\nThe United Church is actually showing the kind of love and compassion that Christians have always claimed to embrace.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For example: a former Australian Christian missionary who became Muslim told how his former 'born-again' colleagues would offer to babysit poor Nigerian Muslim farmers' children while the farmers worked their fields.\n\nThe missionaries gave the kids toys, telling them \"These are from Jesus.\" While they napped, the missionaries surreptitiously removed and hid the toys. When the kids awoke and asked for them, they were told, \"Muhammad took them away.\"\n\nTrinitarians usually attempt to justify such disgusting behavior by quoting the Impostor Paul: \"...if my lie redounds unto the glory of God, why do you call me a sinner?\" As if God can be \"glorified\" by lies.\n\nI do NOT equate the petty viciousness of these pathetic \"Christians\" with the Boko Hara'am slave-traders' bloody atrocities. But neither do I fool myself that the former wouldn't be just as bad, given opportunity. They've been so in the past, and not that long ago.\n\nAllah save us from \"Christian love\"--we have enough problems!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Memories of adulterers Jimmy Swaggart and Jim Bakker of the Praise The Lord (PTL) Ministry, the latter who along with his wife Tammy Faye built Heritage USA in Fort Mill SC, a \"Christian\" theme park that in 1986 was only outdrawn by Disney World and Disneyland. \n\nWriter Emily Johnson Oct 2014 \"Heritage USA exhibited a particular fusion of religious and national symbols that was becoming widespread in conservative Protestant theologies at the time, even within ministries that did not make political activism a central concern. Appeals to an idealized American past relied on the same assumptions about national decline that were fundamental to the religious right, and places like Heritage USA demonstrated what the nation could be if it returned to its moral, Protestant roots. It is not surprising, then, that the Heritage Passion Play had its opening day on July 4, 1984\u2014one facet of the park\u2019s annual Independence Day celebrations that year.\"\n\nAnd that so smells of Make America Great Again!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That one was new to me! Thanks!\n\n\"Today the dialectic is active in every political issue that encourages taking sides. We can see it in environmentalists instigating conflicts against private property owners, in democrats against republicans, in greens against libertarians, in communists against socialists, in neo-cons against traditional conservatives, in community activists against individuals, in pro-choice versus pro-life, in Christians against Muslims, in isolationists versus interventionists, in peace activists against war hawks.\"\n\n\"No matter what the issue, the invisible dialectic aims to control both the conflict and the resolution of differences, and leads everyone involved into a new cycle of conflicts.\"\n\nhttp://www.crossroad.to/articles2/05/dialectic.htm", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Is similar legislation being introduced in the parliaments of Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia for Christians?\n\nI am curious...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My thoughts are somewhat divided on these issues. I consider myself a Christian, but I also strongly believe in the separation of Church and State. I also believe there should be no special tax exempt status for religious institutions. I\u2019m not opposed to citizens wearing a crucifix, a head scarf, a turban or a Jewish skull-cap to their place of work. I would draw the line at full face veils and daggers, as reasonable accommodation should have its limits.\n \nCan we all just \u201cget along\u201d in Canada and tone the rhetoric against minorities of every description. I\u2019m a white Christian male and it appears to me that it is this older generation that are the ones who hold the most grudges and animosity against minorities. My children and grandchildren are colour-blind when it comes to accepting minorities and I\u2019m very thankful of that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am surprised both pleasantly and not, by the comments of you good RC on the topic of lay responsibility for congregational matters. From the experience of the mainline churches where lay boards/vestries/ councils have long existed, take heart. It can be done, often well, even when churches in our traditions often exist hand to mouth with far fewer members and church buildings in a state of arrested (or not) decay. If you doubt me, see Google Earth, pick a random medium size city, and the beautifully restored RC churches with new paving and pointed brickwork, and our churches with leaning steeples and down at the heels looks.\n\nMy point is this. You have huge numbers of laity from which to draw unlike us. You have copious financial resources (even outside the K of C). If we can do it with all our limitations, no excuses for Roman Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "'but in the '60s we wandered a bit,\" he said, relating the explosive controversy over the denial of tenure to theologian Charles Curran.' \n\n Really? One faculty member determines wandering? Not only is the description of one faculty member wrong, as there were far more, but many Catholic colleges graduated the best thinkers, both right and left, in the 21st Century in that time frame. Belmont Abbey and Steubinville, based on their national rankings against all colleges, are the last places I would send my child. The fact they both rate so high on the Newman list is nothing to brag about unless you think being an uber Catholic will secure their professional futures.....or you don't care if they live in your basement.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They were invited. And they came over the last 40 years, despite the risks, and the vast majority of them have worked and had families and became American. \n\nIf you are worried about the law, demand that Congress create laws that manage immigration from the south, including provision for seasonal workers for the industries that need them.\n\nIf you are worried about security, then secure the border to the best of our ability, reform immigration as I described, vet those who are here carefully (which will help weed out the criminals for deportation), and put the rest on a path to citizenship. There is no alternative for us to follow and maintain our commitment to American ideals, let alone Catholic principles.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh, let us count the topics on which the VII, at a minimum, called into question the Church's perennial teaching: Religious Liberty, Revelation, Salvation, the status of the Jews and non catholic sects, {false} Ecumenism, the nature of the Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Yesterday morning, Fr. Zuhlsdorf had an article with the headline \"ASK FATHER: Can I wear a Rosary like warriors wear weapons?\" That kind of militaristic, and profane, language is not uncommon at right-wing Catholic websites...\"\n\nOh my goodness! Saint Paul, call your office...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is great that members of churches in the Hawaii Christian Coalition have chosen to practice only opposite-sex marriage and to carry all pregnancies to live birth. As a good American, I believe they deserve peace and happiness, every one of them.\n\nGarrett Hashimoto believes the state should require all of its citizens to behave like the members of churches in the Hawaii Christian Coalition, regardless of their own religious beliefs. \n\nIt seems odd that the chairman of a religious organization would actively campaign against freedom of religion. Ultimately, it's this great American belief that keeps those of us who believe in marriage equality and reproductive choice from outlawing the Hawaii Christian Coalition.\n\nKeep America free, please.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are in error. Jesus chose the original 12, only Jewish men, to be his apostles to fulfill a blood promise to Abraham & Jesus told them that they were chosen apostles to represent the 12 tribes of Israel, along with him, as judges not priests. There was not even one Levite present among the 12. This is stated clearly by Jesus in two different Gospels. Women do not pass down their blood so were not picked as one of the twelve because generally males who can pass down their blood represent tribal lineage. Mary Magdalene is equal to the apostles like St. Paul because in all other respects she is accorded to have done everything else the apostles did. There were other women disciples recorded in the Gospels too. No Gentiles were picked even though Jesus had some gentile followers because they also could not fulfill the prophesied blood promise to Abraham because they have the wrong blood. \n\nIf this standard is that by which our church ordains, all Gentile clergy are invalid too.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My mouth is agape at your reply, my friend, seriously.\n\nThe formal magisterium is not in the business of passing judgement of scriptural interpretations per se. Instead it simply uses scripture in its pronouncements, and that regularly implies an interpretation. Problem for your view is that the Catholic approach to interpreting scripture has changed over time, and the magisterium's use of scripture changes along with scriptural scholarship. Typology and allegory were once all the rage; then there was literalism tainted by a ruthless effort to force complementarity out of outright contradictions (that got us, for instance, the attempt to use Joshua's sun standing still to deny astronomical discoveries). \n\nI suggest Tridentinus, that perhaps when you think of modern scripture scholarship, you are thinking about the very real battles that exist among scholars, and some of the way-out-nonsense that some bring to the subject. Scholarly debate sorts that stuff out over time, as in science.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Not to encourage them\"? Why not encourage them? People were partying like it's 1999 since time began. The whole Christian thing is fairly new in the scheme of things. People - church people - made up their own versions of Easter and Christmas and stories to go along with it. Equinox and Solstice celebrations predate the birth of Jesus and certainly the misguided attempt to use His name to conquer and oppress the masses.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ah yes, Vatican II was \"non-dogmatic\". The standard wheeze of the traditionalist, wanting to pretend he is not a cafeteria Catholic. In fact, VII is as dogmatic as any other council.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Right and the Religious Right will never go along with that, they want a full fighting force to defeat jihadi Islamists. It doesn't seem to matter that the Right and the Religious Right inflamed them in the first place. Catholic church Crusades, Shah of Iran, oil companies, etc.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Helen_Dave:\"\"[Jesus] said to them, \u201cGo into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation\"\"\nif it's all creation, he could be out preaching to the trees. And if one falls on him, well, it's god's will", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "James, if only we could re-write history. \n\n Remember that Russia joined Germany in attacking Poland. Italy was an ally of Germany. So was Japan. And Cossack's in Yugoslavia along with several other independents. Of course, we had the Roman Catholic Church and the Pope cooperating with Germany. \n\nNow if you want RECENT history perhaps we should focus on Russia and the Crimea and Ukraiine, or we could go with the US invasion of Iraq. Lots of places to choose from James.\n\nI'd say President Trump is going to get the US kicked out of NATO or have a European defense alliance replace NATO. Putin must be doing cartwheels!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Amoris Laetitia wasn't, as the article suggests, written by the Pope. It was written by a \"some guy\" in response to a messy meeting of hundreds of bishops. It, in itself, bears no real authority. It has spurred comments from Pope Francis, various bishops, priests, academic theologians, etc., and each of their positions deserves whatever respect they demand. We're not teathered to the text of Amoris laetitia, though.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I must agree with your comment here, Janhoi. I would like to say the same thing but with a bit of a different lens, hopefully to add support and even greater clarity to what you share. In the Catholic Church (and this is equally true for the Orthodox Church) there is more than 25 centuries worth of doctrine and theological writing that supports and reinforces the male-only priesthood and diaconate. By contrast, it was only in 1958 that women were appointed as pastors in the Swedish Lutheran Church, and the first woman ordained as an Episcopal priest occurred in 1970. So to think that Pope Francis - or any pope for that matter - could simply make all of it disappear with the stroke of a pen, or that the protests of a relative few of us will push a pope to do so, or even that there would be enough support for women's ordination at a Church Council, is so unrealistic it is best described as pure fantasy at this point. Let me continue this in an addendum to follow.\n\n(Continued)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sure thing--how do you feel about precious Amy's personal history--specifically her foisting another man's spawn on her then-husband as his own? What a fine, upstanding Christian woman! Let's publicize THAT. No? If you object I'll simply conclude it's just as much a hypocritical double-standard as arguing that it's OK to publicly burn my Qur'an while screeching and wailing that saying \"happy holidays\" constitutes a 'war on Christmas'.\n\nAnd it matters not one whit to me that you claim Brother Jones doesn't accept me as Muslim. Not his call. That's the purview of a Higher Authority, and that's Whom I answer to. So does He. So do you. Five'll get you ten Brother Jones didn't say that. However, I'll ask him, inshaa Allah. Doesn't change my position in any event: he or she who proclaims \"Laa illaha il-Allah wa Muhammadar Rasuulullah (No God but Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger)\" is my countryman (or woman) until by word or deed they indicate they don't wish to be. Khalas.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For a Catholic being pro-choice is not a choice is is an absolute must. \nYou may say that they are not out of the Church but even common sense tells us that if one resolutely rejects a Commandment of God and the teaching of His Church, one is definitely outside it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Trump\nPro life\nPro Christian\nPro lower taxes \nPro border security\nClinton \nPro abortion \nPro partial birth abortion \nPro selling Sec of state office \nAnti traditional marriage\nAnti catholic principles \n\nOur prayers are potentially answered", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Excellent! Your voice here is always exactly what is expected of a traditionalist Catholic! I also agree that you frequently post here without citation, and I am glad you acknowledge that failing. I hope you will correct this shortcoming in the future so your posts will carry more weight.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "<>\n\nYou cannot and do not know this, but it's a quibble.\n\nCatholics should be picketing the General Assembly meeting and complaining to the IRS and church/state watchdog agencies about the clergy's abuse of the Johnson Amendment. The only things these birds respond to are money and bad publicity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Walter007: As a secular humanist I'm proud to accept \"possession\" of the Golden Rule. I must add, however, that your later statement really confuses me. you state \"the false notion that what Jesus said and taught was to not be judgmental, as we all make mistakes, do not focus on the behavior of others, but instead focus on your own behavior and attitude and let it be good.\" Wow......I, though not a Christian (I'm an agnostic), have always had respect for that very notion you dismiss as \"false.\" Did you really mean to say that, in your opinion, Jesus did NOT teach to not be judgmental, as we all make mistakes, do not focus on the behavior of others, but instead focus on your own behavior and let it be good.. Could you help me out here....maybe I just misunderstood your post. Thanks, Gary Crum", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Don't call it \"liberal secularism\". Being against someone because of his religion is not secularism, it is anti-religionism. I know of atheists who are really anti-theists. Being more against someone for being outside a Christian denomination is even worse. And shouldn't \"liberal\" mean to be accepting, not rejecting?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh, and Jesus TOLD you that he did not forgive us? When did he tell you that?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That's not what session 22 of the Council of Trent teaches. As a Catholic, I assent to the ex cathedra teachings of the Council.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Marty, the monsignor who was my confessor warned me about people with your rigid adherence to Canon Law and advised me to simply ignore them. \nThe Church also teaches that ones individual conscience takes primacy. I will decide my relationship with the Catholic Church based upon my conscience, not yours.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mabye Jesus got Pope Peter to baptize Him into the One True Church, after appointing him First Pope, giving him the Keys to the Kingdom, Triple Tier Crown, and Deed to the vatican?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, I just hope all who can financially support those organizations that reflect their values, do so! \nThere are a lot of non-Catholic organizations that act for the common good. And have much respect for folks who support non-Catholic organizations, financially or otherwise for the common good. And I have supported a few non-Catholic organizations over the years when their commitments to an emergency are in places where Catholic organizations have not yet arrived. Feel blessed to support one non-Catholic organization in town 3 hours a week with my time for consultations for the \"older\" and disabled. (have been trained through the state of Ohio in that one)\n\nPersonally, I will continue to donate to Catholic Relief Services. The organization is not perfect, and I've had differences with them. But I've looked at the bigger picture of how much good they do and continue to support them.\n\nAm I able to support more? Yes indeed, and will pray on it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Perhaps the proverb, or poetry, of King Solomon should be exclaimed and proclaimed. Proverbs 14:34, \"Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.\" God bless Gideon's International for placing this significant bit of poetry into its small New Testaments that have gone out free to millions of Christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, the Koran, the Torah and the Holy Bible are ancient writings. They're thousands of years old. Speaking as an atheist who was raised as a Christian, those documents contain some good ideas and some that are not so good. Which if I'm not mistaken is the story of humanity as a whole. \n\nSome things are good about us, and some things are not. And say what you like about religion, it does strive to point out our failings as a species. If secularism would take up that purpose, there would be little left to discuss.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Boomchucka's words are right on !!! Why any honest hard-working American, Christian or not, would believe in a Self-promoting, greedy billionaire New York wheeler-dealer with multiple bankrupcies, law suits, and ex-wives / mistresses in his wake still escapes me. Please wake up America. Jesus taught us the Golden Rule; let's have leaders that believe it and act accordingly.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In the archdiocese where I live there are a number of priestless parishes with religious sisters assigned to serve as Pastoral Administrators. A priest comes by for sacraments but the pastoral care of the people is in the hands of these nuns. I am a friend of two. They loved their Parish work and the people of the parishes loved them. They aren't working like that now because they are pushing or over 90, but their parishes go on under the care of others. Isn't that a good solution 4 parishes that could no longer be staffed by priests?\nIn my city with 4 Catholic churches, the Archdiocese decided that 3 was enough. Just left the whole East Side bereft of Catholic Care. The archdiocese finally decided that it was okay for them to sell the church property to a minister who wished to move her small Church to there. St. Joseph became Oaks of Righteousness. Good works! Wonderful pastor! Vibrant community! All Catholics were told where they should go. Some decided to join that faith community.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Monica! I hope you find this followup to my former post, but I don't know how to manage this site!\n\nYou said: To your question -- what is faith? -- I would respond that faith is the commitment to live my life, implementing the teachings of Jesus, when the world offers me many other options. To the extent that ritual and sacrament assist us in that process, they serve the purpose for which Jesus formed a community of believers. To the extent that they've become replacements for commitment and practice, they are impediments in the way of the gospel.\n\nMy response is, first of all, surprise that you believe Jesus formed a community of believers. I do, too, but I don't think that is in the gospels strictly, but in the Tradition. Furthermore I believe VII's statement (I forget where just now) that God has chosen to save us as a people and not as individuals.\n\nAnd I completely agree with your final sentence. That's Pope Francis' view as well.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wouldn't it be nice if we could all get along, and let each other worship in the way that means the most to us? Let those who actually like the Pauline liturgy have that option, let those who prefer the Tridentine (or Sarum) Mass have that...if only we could stop trying to forcing other people to do things the way 'we' think it should be done! Whether or not Paul VI had the authority to invent a new Mass (and I for one think this was beyond any pope's authority), whether or not it was wise or prudent to force it upon the church (and the empty pews speak volumes here), let those who find solace in it continue to celebrate it...and let those who don't, worship God in the way that works best for them. \n\nReally, the mistakes of Vatican II result from the errors of Vatican I. To achieve unity with our separated brethren, we as Catholics need to repudiate the mistakes of both those councils.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Real Americans are very similar to Real Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That observation says more about you than Paul or the early Christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The best way to solve this \"polarization\" is to accept that laity and clergy have separate and intrinsic roles to play in the Church that are unique to each vocation. The role of the clergy is to \"teach, sanctify and govern\" the Church. The role of the laity is to evangelize the world in our work, our families, our leisure, in the marketplace of ideas, in the public square. The clergy aid the laity in their mission by catechesis, the celebration of the sacraments, through their prayers, example, counsel and support. The laity were never meant to \"govern\" the Church, nor are we meant to somehow assume the proper role of the clergy. \n\nThe best way to resolve this dichotomy is to accept the proper and unique role of our vocations and not to try to usurp a role that is not proper to us.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What exactly is he doing to upset people? Trying to drag the Catholic Church into the 20th century? I know it's the 21st century, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. A little bit at a time, please.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Catholics rebuke executive order on climate, energy policy\"\nThe title of an article should be true, and reflect reality.\nThis title is not.\nIt should say:\n\"Some Catholics rebuke executive order on climate, energy policy\"\nNow that would be closer to reality, and the truth.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Alceste: Public schools are in fact not religious institutions and some will reasonably object to religious rites of any sort being conducted in these buildings. I attended separate (Catholic) schools decades ago and as time went on religious observance was increasingly confined to actual churches. Where once mass on \"holy days\" was celebrated in the school, we were eventually expected to attend mass on holy days like Ash Wednesday and the Epiphany (when it fell on a weekday), on our own time and at church. When I was very young, we were given time off school for \"Catholic holidays\" but this was phased out as the separate school schedule and curriculum were aligned with Ontario Ministry of Education requirements. Few Catholics, except perhaps the clergy, objected. In the context of Western culture, religious freedom is for very valid historical reasons held to be synonymous with separation of church and state. To me, this is the basis of social peace and progress.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "MSW says that the Bishop's decree is \"so completely at odds with the direction Pope Francis is trying to take the church\" - \nCan anyone tell me when Pope Francis changed Church teaching?\n\nAll persons in a state of sin - including those that Fr. Martin delineates- are supposed to refrain from presenting themselves for Communion...UNLESS they have sought reconciliation. That has NOT changed, has it? And that was mentioned by the Bishop - despite MSW's inference to the contrary.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Catholic leaders in Syria criticize US missile strikes\"\n\nBut Catholic leaders in America demanded that Trump be elected so they must agree with him and the GOP war/hate machine!!! \n\nAnd the beat goes on. \nSame-a-same. \nYup, the Pro-life group ride yet again and again.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "He's Irish and if he is a priest he'll be a member of that dissident Association of Catholic Priests.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "May I add - agree with your comment, Mr. DeCuir. BUT, yes, there is always a but......your reply to me was fine until the last part when you just had to add an ad hominem which Elagalabus picked up on.\n\nTo be fair to Fr Imbelli - in his life work, he has been a significant participant in Pax Christi and in the Bernardin committee years ago.\nThat being said, my criticism is limited to and directed at what MSW has posted and also the recent Imbelli writings since his retirement. \nYou may or may not agree but he is no longer being posted at dotCommonweal or Commonweal Magazine (you might want to ask why); and the majority of his latest postings are in more conservative catholic publications, First Things (no indictment - just tracking).\nPersonally, would have loved to have been a student in one of Imbelli's classes years ago and understand that his liturgical style is something that others should imitate. Also, admire that he chose to live in a rectory while teaching.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I know you asked Monica, not me, and she has already responded, but I'll add my three cents for what it is worth. I think the sacraments are wonderful and a great help to being a Christian, but I don't think they are necessary. People can be and have been good Christians when totally unable to attend a Mass or receive communion. But because we are weak and human and need others, it is much easier WITH the sacraments. I would say if we had to boil Christianity down to the essentials, it would be belief in Jesus as the Christ, and a commitment to following what he said to do: love God and our neighbor. Mass and sacraments are helps to faith , they are not themselves faith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I was taught in Catholic high school that there were only two infallible teachings: Immaculate Conception and Assumption. \n\nLater, I pondered this and thought: wait a second, that can't be right. Vatican I itself has to be infallible. Otherwise, if it wasn't, it could have been wrong about infallibility itself. \n\nThere are numerous ex cathedra teachings in Church history, not just two. \n\nThe reason any ecumenical council is infallible on a given teaching on faith and morals, is only because the pope promulgates it ex cathedra. \n\nThe Council of Florence taught about the salvation dogma, and that teaching is ex cathedra because of Pope Eugene IV. \n\nAlso, Vatican I taught that not only ex cathedra/extraordinary Magisterium teachings are infallible.... Vatican I also taught that the universal ordinary Magisterium is infallible as well.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Part two of two) \u201cBut Christ is all and in all\u201d (Colossians 3:1-11). With Bishop Lori, the Faithful can pray, \u201cYour Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages, and your dominion endures through all generations\u201d (Psalm 145:13ab). \u201cBlessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh\u201d (Psalm 145:22). That was my wife Bette on earth and me, now without her, as best I can. But I do weep for how Bishop Lori and his USCCB are maltreating what happened at Charlottesville. Liturgy of the Word, Reading 439, Wednesday of the Twenty-Third Week in Ordinary Time I.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Contrary to the Biblical Myth, Eve (femaleness) did not originate from maleness (Adam) - and as Tradition has (would have) it, 'woman is therefore, subservient to him'.\"\n\nI don't know any Catholic (including theologians and clergy) that take the Genesis story at face-value. Certainly none suggest \"subservient\". \n\nIf, in your last paragraph you are saying that we are evolving to God, I have to strongly disagree.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I grew up in west Eugene and was forced under duress (by my mother) to attend a local Lutheran church. There I was exposed to the teachings of Jesus; caring for the poor, the sick, the hungry, the outcast, and my favorite.. the Sermon on the Mount. I was inspired. But I was inspired in the midst of a largely racist, sexist, xenophobic, tribalist and intolerant church that appeared to have put Jesus on a pedestal so high, they could no longer hear what he said.\n\nI got out as soon as I completed my mother's imposed sentence, with time off for good behavior. But I still remember those teachings from my readings and study among the \"faithful.\" And I try to apply them in my life. I am not a Christian, but neither was Jesus.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hmmm, maybe it's just me, but this isn't one of Brook's better columns. He treats Bannon as if he's just some sort of traditional George Wallace/Pat Buchanan right-wing populist.\nIn fact Bannon is a believer in the most extreme sort of tribal, \"us against them fight to the death\" Social Darwinist ideology. It's all black and white, Good vs. Evil-- and the Good are white Christian Americans.\nNot thinking it possible that Brooks himself harbors such views, I can only conclude his \"Let Bannon Be Bannon\" is satire. I think.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Washington Examiner seems to be full time on CNN panels, the girl from the Examiner sounds more like a person from slate or huffington post or any anti Christian homosexual network... whats up with that?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If the priest is \"facing the real presence of God in the Eucharist\", how do you know which way \"the real presence\" is facing? When the priest \"confects\" the Eucharist facing the people - which you disparage - which way is Jesus looking? I've been there and I couldn't tell. You have privileged info? Are you concluding what Catholics believe from what Protestants don't? Another privilege?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Part one of two) Archbishop William Lori, chair of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Religious Liberty issued a statement that fretted, \"Were the comments of the Senators meant as a warning shot to future law students and attorneys, that they should never discuss their faith in a public forum, if they have aspirations to serve in the federal judiciary?\u2014as reported by Michael Sean Winters, without a peep about the deafening silence after Charlottesville. \u201cThis struck me as ironic, since it was the USCCB that politicized the church so much that senators feel obligated to insure Catholic nominees are not puppets of their bishops.\u201d\u2014Michael Watkins.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As a recipient of a graduate degree from a large Eastern Catholic University I can not claim my faith was influenced one way or the other through my academic experience. I was a always a practicing Catholic even in my 20s when I received my first graduate degree until now, my retirement years. When we are committed to our faith, the environment has no effect one way or the other. The claim that certain \"Newman Society\" approved institutions embellish or even enhance a students religious bearings is not a blanket truth but can only be determined individually by the experiences of each student. The school they attend is irrelevant to their faith formation and in fact that formation may be developed in a secular school depending on that students' social experiences. In other words, if he/she gravitates toward other faithful Catholics and has shared experiences, guess what? They remain faithful Catholics. It is entirely up to the individual.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But Rock - it is more about implementation rather than \"doctrine\" - don't you think? The Pope has never promoted anything other than Catholic teaching from what I have read of his actual utterances (in other words, not including the spin so often found here and in many mainline media sources). \n\nExcept for what may be perceived as a \"gentler\" approach - what is the difference in teaching?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I can only comment in response to the current comment you made, not your history of all comments. I do not see how what I have written fails to reflect a legitimate reaction to your comment which tells readers that it is useless to fight against this hierarchy. There is no hope for actual justice written in your comment. Have you read your comment carefully? What questions should I have? \n\nAs for religious keeping their guns in their holsters, that usually results in religious, who are supposed to be our guides on how to uphold a virtuous and courageous christian life, keeping their mouths closed around their superiors and cooperating with the injustice which only grows more injustice. Why does the request of people like me, to you, to take a stand, make you so angry?\n\nI wonder do you consider Jesus Christ militant since he stood loudly against the injustices of the religious leaders of the time? or are only women who stand up for their human dignity militants in your mind?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "B-b-but you \"Christians\" always tell me you're not SUBJECT to the Law because you're 'under Grace'? Does not compute, Will Robinson!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Slavery and the slave trade, upon which Western Europe and the United States developed their economic superiority\"\nReally Mr Caplan, no other reason.? Not knowledge, better form of government, rule of law, open to new ideas, Protestant Christianity.....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have wondered HOW our hierarchy, \"white Catholics/Christians\" and these wealthy/positioned could back a Trump - as a \"human\", let alone national leader. My ancient studies in (Catholic) social ethics and life as a Catholic finally kicked-in. \nThe Catholic Church holds democracy in disdain, even a threat. As a 50's univ. student the preference for \"enlightened despotism\" as a form of gov. was a given. So, a \"trump\" as leader of a democracy is simply a demonstration of its perniciousness, his demagoguery an added bonus. Support for key institutional issues - abortion, homophob. and misog. warrant reciprocal pandering and \"overlook\" rather than \"oversight\" of vices, lie, self-serving abuse of all kinds.\n\"Republican\" and \"Democrat\" are mostly mislabeling and muddying the water and oil. It is really right-wing Christian types and everybody else.\n\"The ordinary Catholic is a simple person. It is the role of the bishops to protect...from the power of the intellectuals\" (Ratzinger on Kung).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your last sentence speaks volumes. The institutional churches are all, generally, losing membership, but maybe that is not a bad thing for Christianity, although it may be bad news for the various brands.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The MANY would include, for example, the nearly 800,000(!!!) folks who signed the filial appeal to Francis in 2015 to clarify and uphold traditional Church teaching on marriage, family, divorce, and the sacraments. 201 cardinals, archbishops, and bishops in that filial appeal as well.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As I have stated before - A person who claims to be a Christian does not make one a Christian. And being a Christian requires a confession of sinfulness, and once a person is converted it still does not mean a person will never sin again. Paul stated clearly he struggled constantly with not doing what he knew to be right, you cannot have it both ways - meaning you cannot hold sinners up as strawmen and knock them over because they do exactly what the Bible says they will do - which is sin.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, well, well, Tomquinn spoke! Aren't you a utilitarian Catholic! It would've been better if you claim a cafeteria Catholic, then at least you could remain in cafeteria!\nCan you imagine God says unless you are able to pay, I would not have created you!??? or Christ say unless you are able to pay, I would not be crucified for you!!! There are no such religion exist on this earth! You should enroll in religion101 class somewhere Tom!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When will Ontario finally follow Quebec and eliminate Catholic Schools? With respect, and nothing against Catholics or any other of the old belief systems... but money is better spent and more equitable on french immersion for our youth.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Rdp46 has it right: I am not implying what you are inferring at all.\n\nAre you inferring that sex trafficking only involves Catholic girls? Really. That the Catholic Church and bad Catholic homes are responsible for girls going online and being trafficked? Really, really. That it is then their fault and not that of traffickers? Oh, come on. what are the sources for your view? Old age.\n\u2014Rose Pacatte\n\nThe Faithful can do more than wring their hands in a pay-pray-and-obey mode, even while remembering \u201cBlesse are theyu who follow the law of the Lord!\u201d (Psalm 119:1b) Liturgy of the Word, Reading 76, Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, A.\n\nBesides that, Happy Valentine\u2019s Day!/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Doubt you have as someone with family in 'em. Would presuppose being tolerated by others enough to have a family. As for being 'radical', all my record has are a few traffic tickets, so I'm not much good as an 'extremist'. I can live with that. Inshaa Allah someone like you from one of those '98% American counties' won't try to come after me or my family because they think 'winning' an election constitutes 'permission to form lynch-mobs'. You overlook that Iraqi Muslims are standing up and condemning the Da'esh (wrongly called \"ISIS\") for murdering Christians and in turn being killed by Da'esh for doing so. And that, like the Taliban and al-Qa'eda before them, they were armed and financed by the US. Einstein's definition of insanity comes to mind. You parrot propaganda and attribute it to 'worldly experience'. I suppose watching TV is a form of 'experience'.\n\nBut on this we agree: \"Lakum diinukum wa liyya Diin--To you your way, and to me, my way.\" (Qur'an, Suratul Khafirun).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For Catholics, there are NO circumstances where a candidate who has it \"wrong\" on abortion is EVER the \"better choice\". \"For the sake of argument\", even assuming there were fewer abortions under Barry O; those stats do not consider chemical or pharmaceutical abortions. Lastly, there is NO argument that the Church's teaching on abortion and marriage is not DE FIDE. You may not like the teaching, but that IS the teaching.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My humanity strongly suggests that I must trust folks to make their own moral judgements even if those judgements are the reverse of what I would choose. God gave us ALL personal freedom....and the US supports it.\n\nPlease understand that I am no fan of abortion....far from it...and late term are especially awful....\n\nHowever...I genuinely believe that folks must be free to make their own decisions....in a constitutional Republic, which is the best in my view form of govt we have on the planet.....\n\nWe are not a theocracy in the US....we have 324,000,000 folks about 5-7% who attend weekly Catholic services.....and all these folks...all 324 million represent a huge range of views, religious beliefs or the absence thereof, diverse ethnicity, vast socio economic differentials....et al...half are women and I don't feel I have the right to limit their reproductive decisions....\n\nI know the ones I would make....they need to make their own.\n\nSo, I am pro choice AND I am pro life...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...went from slim to none.\"\n\nYes, John Hobson -- another instance of the \"triumph of experience\" over hope. Now both churches are repenting in leisure, rest, and in relaxation because they really don't need each other, practically speaking. At least that is what I pick up in Germany, among Catholics. It seems the best ecumenical exchange or happening between the Lutheran and Catholic Churches will be when the latter is deaf and the former is blind. Still, it is nice Francis, the Bishop of sunny Rome, is making an effort to be friendly, honest and fraternal, realizing part of the cure for animosity is to wish to be cured of it. He is stepping up to the plate, as it were, hoping the 21st century -- the 984 years left of it -- will bring the two churches closer together. Rome is eternal, I guess, at least in its optimism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes. I learned everything I just represented at Catholic universities in Rome. Check it out.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...only 3 points behind schools like Dennison College and Connecticut College.\"\n\nActually, Thomas Aquinas College, CA., along with the College of Holy Cross, MA. (#32), are the only two Catholic colleges listed in the top 55 national liberal arts colleges in the country (according to the US NEW AND WORLD REPORT, 2017). That is impressive!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So much can for the Catholic notion of respect of neighbor. When a consensus among Americans want to slow illegal immigration from very foreign cultures along with the intake of economic refugees, this Bishop does not have the moral high ground in ignoring his neighbors' will. \n\nNowhere in the Cathechism can I find that a nation can't slow the rate at which can we take in economic refugees or illegal immigrants. This topic is just a platform for political Bishops to gain some Progressive credibility.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholics got their own school system as a result of political negotiations when identities were religiously-based and the two big ethnic groups were French Canadians and English Canadians, the first being Catholic and the other being Protestant.\n\nSince then we have moved away from identities based on religion, thank God! (Irony intended.)\n\nQuebec did away with religious-based school boards in 2000, they were replaced by language-based school boards, reflecting the fact that in Quebec, language-based cultural identities have replaced religion-based ones.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": ".\n Dan Jackson's letter\n\nMy Dear Sisters-in-Christ \u2014 My Colleagues,\n \nI am sending out this brief note to encourage you today. Be strong in the strength of Christ our Lord. Human hands and hearts will fail you, but He is strong for you.\n \nYesterday at General Conference headquarters, the Annual Council voted to implement a process to deal with policy non-compliance issues at all levels of the church. We do not know, at this point, what the impact of this will be on the NAD. I invite you pray that the Holy Spirit will guide the church during this period.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes. I am about to cancel my SiriusXM subscription due in part to the talk radio channels (also all the sports channels--get a LIFE, folks--and the Christian ones)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "He is just afraid he will have to kiss a man on the cheek and the temptations will be more than he can handle! Good thing he isn't a Slavic Christian where everyone gives triple kisses willynilly.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Good movie. I can already hear some trads screaming that you are promoting fornication, but oddly the movie does a good job of showing its instability. By the way, people did not just start hooking up in 1959 or 1968. It is kind of not a big deal. Of course, extreme Trads will criticize the epilogue because no Catholic priest was involved. Hopeless.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The most concerning thing about this article to me is what Mr. Gallagher's ideas reveal about academic rigor at Catholic University. If this is the level of reasoning and writing going on in a doctoral theology program, that is troubling. But I also think that whatever article he wrote doesn't deserve as much attention as NCR is giving it today.\nIt is a fact of life that language changes and evolves over time, usually in response to new discoveries about the world and human nature. I am in a book group that is studying the women Doctors of the Church and we sometimes have to step back and investigate how the meaning of words in the documents have changed over the centuries, and how to ascertain the writer's original intent. Our most amusing example is that for Teresa of Avila, \"gay intercourse with friends\" meant an encouraging and lively verbal exchange of spiritual ideas with like minded souls. In today's language it would mean something quite different!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'll take shot. CDF has a long and checkered history, but at least since the appointment of then-Cardinal Ratzinger (1981), has become less pastoral and more juridical-canonical. Pope Francis inherited as Prefect Cardinal Mueller, who has a pastoral side, but leans heavily toward the juridical-canonical work of the Congregation. By appointing Cardinal O'Malley, Pope Francis adds a pastoral voice that echoes throughout many parts of the Catholic world. In this sense, he appears to be sending a signal that he wants CDF to be more pastoral and that, if necessary, he will replace Mueller.\nSome commentators in Rome believe O'Malley is Francis' choice to succeed him, in which case a position in CDF would help make his case in a future conclave.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No. It is an interpretation of what Jesus did that simply fit the patriarchal culture of the times in which the Church was forming. Human's made the assumption that in forming his group of companions Jesus was creating a structure that should endure for thousands of years. Jesus did not create the structure, He brought the message. Men created the structure.\n\nThe story of Adam and Eve is a myth. It recognizes the wonder, beauty, and blessing in creation itself and tries to explain why there is no heaven on earth and why there is trial and tribulation in life. Don't take it literally. The heavens were not formed in 6 days.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Because everyone knows where Catholic social teaching stands on Abortion. Everyone. What this Pope is doing in his Papacy as he outlined in an interview he did in 2013 is say that the Catholic Church needs a \"new balance\" in terms of the issues spoken off. \n\nPro life doesn't just mean abortion. It includes issues like Capital Punishment, War, Economic Justice, etc. And this isn't just Francis or liberals pushing some far left agenda. Pope John Paul II has said some of the same things in his encyclical Evangelium Vitae.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"\"The Catholic Church has been terrible about this [immigration issue]. \"\n- Well no, the catholic church has been very good about working with immigrants of all sorts.\n- The catholic church has done this in a manner consistent with the separation of church and state.\n- That is the catholic church is not an arm of the civil government. It does not take on itself that which falls into the purview of law enforcement groups.\n- This does not mean that individual catholics are prevented from voting are participating in legislative discussions. It does mean that though the institution 'church' is only 'church'.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Opus Dei is literally translated as the \"Work of God\" as supervised by some bishop or higher catholic church authority all the way to the pope. Query, from this perspective what is that \"work\"? Some call it a cult. This I don't know, nor care. But when someone is as obsessed as Dunleavey is with controlling the education of the youth with his track record all the way to Kotzebue before he landed in the Mat-Su I must question the motive.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This story is about the opposite. Observant Muslims would retire to a private space for short private prayer,\n-------------\nexcept Virtulem forgets this private prayer is held in a public school, where prayers of no other religion are said\n\nthe same public schools that prohibit the Lord's prayer and Christmas Nativity scenes in a predominantly Christian heritage country known as \"my Canada\"\n\nperhaps public schools should have Nativity scenes next christmas\nnon-Christians need not attend but I am sure many would not mind attending", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you for the link to that very interesting article. One thing, though:\n\n<>\n\nThis glosses over the fact that mere months before Hitler became chancellor the Nazi party was on the ropes. Hitler assumed power through a tragic series of political intrigues accelerated by the personal vendetta of Franz von Papen against Chancellor Kurt von Schleicher. Had the conspiracy against Schleicher been thwarted or at least delayed, Hitler might well have lost his bid for the chancellorship and the Nazi Party would've slid further into decline.\n\nAs is well known, von Papen was a conservative Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dear Bill, As an active Roman Catholic, who has studied the Joint Declaration of 1999 and has read and reflected on the Reformed Affirmation, I agree that more of all our members must be more .familiar with these and other signs of progress to fuller communion. I too, wish for and desire greater theological and biblical fluency among all Christians. thank you this article, and indeed, I always savor your thought and observations. Pax Christi, Robert Lamb.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have two last questions if I may inquire? \n1. Are you a Catholic Priest?\n2. Do you believe in the Divinity of Jesus?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is not about baking a cake, it is being asked to depict or write something on that cake which the baker finds abhorrent and to do so would trouble his conscience.\nCould a good, Catholic baker not feel he was doing something wrong if he inscribed upon a cake, \" Abortion is a woman's right to choose\". \nThis is but one instance. There will be many other such instances, e.g. a homosexual baker asked to decorate a cake with a biblical quote condemning same-sex marriage. Would he not have the right to refuse?\nIf it is so trivial as you suggest, your Supreme Court disagrees with you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I expect about as much moral leadership from the USCCB as I do from my cat. They are all stuck on auto-pilot, the result of three and a half decades of two ultra-conservative popes breathing down their backs and telling them exactly what to think. Now that a new sheriff's in town expecting them to think for themselves they don't know what to do - they're like wind-up toys that are all laying around waiting for someone else to come along and wind them up again. Unless the subject is abortion, homosexuality, or contraception, nothing seems to wind them up so they sit there inert like a bunch of rocks. And yes, in theory it would be wonderful if they could suddenly find a new voice and exercise some moral leadership for a change. But as MSW points out, that will probably only happen once a ton of new blood is pumped in by new Pope Francis appointees. But that will take decades. Until then it's just business as usual in Indianapolis, and no one outside of Catholic circles will even notice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholics and prodistants they just think they are different its the same religion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I admit I know nothing about the orthodox Liturgy, and I was very surprised to read your original comment about the non- sacrificial nature of the Orthodox Eucharist. I was relieved to receive the response from Tridentinus who refuted your claim. After a quick research on the matter I read the following statement regarding the Orthodox Liturgy \"Unlike many of the Protestant bodies, the Orthodox also see the Eucharistic Liturgy as a bloodless sacrifice, during which the bread and wine we offer to God become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ through the descent and operation of the Holy Spirit, Who effects the change.\" \n It seems very similar to the Roman Catholic beliefs, No?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Many urged calm, patience and respectful waiting. I was there so I can tell you. In fact, King\u2019s \u201cLetter from Birmingham Jail\u201d was written to a predecessor of mine as bishop in Birmingham.\nIn that letter, King eloquently explained why waiting wasn\u2019t the answer and pointedly chided good white liberals for their patient caution and bland moderation.\"\n\nPatience with injustice is sin. Dr. King knew that. His white critics didn't. Now that white supremacy has returned in the guise of a real estate conman president, it is the duty of every Christian to stand up for justice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is no-such thing as a \"Christian God.\" There is only one God, and it does not have a religion. Religions were invented by man. And most of the Founders were Deists, which means they believed in God, but not on the Trinity, meaning they did not believe Christ was the \"son of God.\" I'm glad you don't get to make the rules.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Only the unorthodox Catholics aren't showing up\nIt's a reflection of our sinful society that don't want to confront there sin\nSuppression of the conscience into the subconscious \nCareful don't confront the truth of sin and don't confess your sin \nYou did nothing wrong \nKeep sinning \nThey didn't admit to sin in sadam and gomora", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And women are not allowed to be priests in Catholicism.\nHe who has not sinned......\n----------------\nDeflection\nIrrelevant\n\nare Catholic priests saying prayers in public schools?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"There is a parable in the Gospel about the need for the night watchman to be vigilant. It is a parable the bishops should take to heart.\"\n- MSW, perhaps this well written article indirectly proposes that catholics place too much upon their bishops. Which is to say, that each bishop speaks only for himself and by that and in the best light possible offer examples for how catholic citizens should respond.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The call to \"move beyond charity\" is a call to focus on community development instead of welfare. This is actually a place where ideas on the left and right are in convergence these days. It includes a concern about dependence. Most Christians involved in social justice causes today that I know personally and read about want projects where, for example, women are trained and helped to get started in small businesses so that they can sustain themselves and their families, instead of government entitlements. Government is, in most nations, politically unstable, whereas if a person is enabled to successfully make a living, they are more free of such problems. For example, one project that I was involved with took donated used clothing from church members in the U.S. and gave a bale to each woman in an area in Uganda and helped her start selling clothing in the marketplace, including setting aside working capital to buy more inventory in due course. I wold think you would approve.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Even if we agree with your last line...\n\nIsn't it just as accurate that \"Catholic hierarchy don't want it; they want Protestants to conform\"? \n\nAnd I ask this very, very seriously: How do you and Mrs. Archer handle it when you disagree, stipulating that divorce is out of the question? I'll bet there are very, very few \"deal breakers\" where one of you would say \"Get out and don't come back til you agree with me.\" \n\nI'll bet to you two, unity is more important than uniformity. It better be.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How does your position relate to the majority of abortions committed by the middle/upper class? What additionally should the Catholic Church do for the poor that it is not currently doing at this time?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ordaining only males is a discipline (and an unjust one, at that). If a validly ordained bishop ordains a Catholic (of either gender) then the ordination is valid, though it is presently illicit.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As the NCR crowd needs to be reminded sadly from time to time...our hope is Jesus Christ, not Obama, Hillary or Trump, or fRANCIS.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Never heard mainstream Christianity referred to by invoking Constantine. Interesting and IMHO appropriate description. Are you not a Trinitarian Christian?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If the visible head has cut himself off from the body is above our pay grade as laity to speak on...a future pope or ecumenical Council would have to speak on that (as the Third Council of Constantinople anathematized Honorius). However the invisible head of the Church remains Jesus Christ regardless of the status His vicar on Earth. Our job is to hold fast to the faith. As St. Paul told us, if he or an angel preaches another Gospel, let him be anathema.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Words and gestures often become rote over time, and thus, fail, really, to be working symbols of , in this case, unity. Having said that, perhaps we need to talk more about the supposed unity we share. Were we so unified in Christ Jesus, why is it so, thst we often fail to interpet his vision for us----to serve the common good, to care for those who are widow, orphans, seriously ill, those who are elderly without recourse to assistance. those of all colors, races, ethnicities and creeds. Were we each on board for just on these paths as a way of life, we could say we are united. Finding out why we are so divided among us regarding immigration, health care and many other major issues calling for a Jesus response would be a good start aimed at Christian unity. Maybe we should put the cart before the horse, and live our way into a behavior of genuine unity. Then such handshaking might be a true, actualized affirmation of what we live.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Suicide is still considered a sin, but we bury them now in Catholic cemeteries after Catholic funerals.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Very interesting spin on the decline of the Catholic Church in America and around the world that suggests that the decline of Priests and Women Religious has \"opened the door for the laity to carry out the promises of Vatican II\" and therefore implies that its a good thing and evidence that the church is not in decline! Really? The objective or \"promise\" of Vatican II, was \"Aggiornamento\" or modernization, a so called bringing it up to date, that forever and undeniably created the slippery slope the Church has been on ever since, resulting in a diminishing of the Priesthood and Religious vocations, and transferring those special responsibilities to the laity...not a sign of growth or anything positive, but a necessary action to prevent the all out destruction of the Church. The laity cannot consecrate and can only administrate...Is that what the Church has become? Another large Protestant like, administrative body? Yes", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sydney, in prisons are only the offenders who got caught and not the ones that are still roaming the internet, streets and society, so that is a flawed statement as well as research in itself. Your quote: \"Rather, being better off financially and better educated both makes you less likely to commit crimes and less likely to be religious\"\nAlso Flawed. First off, I think the majority of Jews will totally disagree with you - they are among the world's best educated and smartest people and (most of them) take their religion seriously. The rest of us - I know just in my small circle several architects, lawyers, engineers etc etc who are totally religious(Christian) and I know of an equal amount of highly educated people who are total crooks -they are just smarter about it and do it in such a way that it is difficult to get caught, but they are as criminally minded as any other uneducated, poor, criminal.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This and other writers make things so complicated. Let me make things real and simple.\n\nFor much of the last few centuries European empires led by the British and French empires, and in the 20th century by the American empire, ran and plundered the world. Things were most splendid. The wars sweet, the wealth sweeter. Today the British and French empires are finished, the American on the way out. This exposes a couple of unpleasant things - money is tight, unemployment high, infrastructure in poor shape. But most of all, a cultural mess due to mixing of the elites who used to run the empires and their import of people from all over their conquest. \n\nFrance and UK both have high immigrants from former colonies - North Africa, India, Middle East, etc. The U.S. have a huge population of former black slaves, leftover Mexicans, descendent's of Chinese cheap labor who built the railroad. The white Christian elites, the rulers are now finally facing blowbacks from their empires on all fronts.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Clerical caste yes\". The \"Church\", ummmm....the companionship of the followers of Christ in Christ, not so fast.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of the many theories of atonement, penal substitutionary atonement may be the worst and most damaging. It assumes that God loves us because Christ died for us, whereas the clear message of Christianity is the opposite: that Christ died for us because God loves us. In some sense it's restorative justice, not retributive justice that Christianity teaches, despite the prominence of that theory of atonement. (All atonement theories ultimately fail, of course.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have used them, and struggled with addiction, and overcome it. I lived in poverty, and overcame it. I've lived all over the country after spending much of my young adult life in church. I've gone from a devout evangelical to a staunch atheist (now firmly agnostic). I'm not remotely a deadbeat drug addict but as the child of drug addicts (one of whom died of a drug overdose) I know a thing or two. Your hard-liner \"war on drugs\" approach objectively causes harm and does little to keep your precious children away from drugs.\n\nGood parenting to me means that children should understand that things like drugs and sex are probably the best things they'll ever experience \u2013 and in that lies the dangers. It's important to live a life where you do not depend on any substance or activity for your happiness but rather find your enjoyment in things like your relationships, working hard, and doing well to others.\n\nIf you asked your kids what being high was like, what would their answer be?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, not as big as that Christianist fella would, but yes, pretty big.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Romans reserved crucifixion for treason, and so Jesus of Nazareth was executed for treason against the Roman state. The notion he was executed to appease the Jews appears in the last Gospel, chronologically, written in the late 1st or early 2nd century by authors who were not present and did not witness Jesus' life to better appeal to Roman audiences by shifting blame for his death to the Jews (who were despised in the Roman world by that point due to the Revolt a generation after Jesus' ministry).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Saynomore\n There can be no doubt that religion makes otherwise moral people commit immoral acts.``\n\nFor years I have been trying to understand George Bush. Certainly a religious person, Christian and he certainly committed immoral acts. Then there are our own Jean Chretien and Stephen Harper and Afghanistan. Then there are Canadians in general who did nothing about our obscenity in invading Afghanistan. Well there were what two who took violent action. Was that religion or retaliation. \n\nI guess mankind is pragmatic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "However, we must remember that in Ontario we have a faith based Catholic system. The slippery slope your refer to has in fact, very deep roots in Canadian history. Without religious accommodation Canada as we know it would not exist. This is why we have religious accommodation. If a Christian group wants to meet and pray in schools they have only to organize it. It is not being taught in schools, the accommodation is to allow religious oriented groups to meet. This is not unreasonable and is open to all groups.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic Church had married priests for 1000 years.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I had done my 4 years of philosophy and 4 years of theology and then had spent 25 years in missionary rural pastorals with the Spanish speaking compesinos and several different original peoples of the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua when work \u201cJust Jesus\u201d (\u201cUn TAL JESUS\u201d) was published and \u201csmuggled\u201d into Nicaragua where it was reprinted. Knowing well the mind-set of our Nicaraguan bishops of that time we knew that it would be prohibited because of it\u2019s title. \u201cun tal\u201d in Nicaragua would be translated into English as \u201cThat Ner-do-well Jesus\u201d so our clever Christian university groups of that day changed the title to \u201cJes\u00fas Hijo de Mar\u00eda\u201d into the episcoply acceptable \u201cJesus Son of Mary\u201d. It came out in an edition set of 10 pamphlets all of which were sold out. It became the \u201cCampesino's Bible\u201d for our hundreds of \u201cDelegates of the WORD\u201d and their communities throughout the entire region of rivers and mountains.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Over 40 years ago, Jessica Mitford wrote the American Way of Death which was an expose of the funeral industries behaviour, costs et al.....\n\nI thought of it when I read your comment....\n\nI have buried both parents...one in a casket with all those liners etc that you note, one cremated.....\nBoth are buried today in a Catholic cemetary nearby, along with a son of ours. And both had masses, simple receptions etc which I found very comforting. A smart priest who said my moms memorial mass suggested that we find photos, scrapbooks etc...we did and it was great.\n\nThere is a part of me though, that thinks that particularly the costs associated with the casket flower blanket over the casket, etc...could have been far better spent on the poor here or in undeveloped countries.....and that cremation was more appropriate.\n\nPerhaps we need to rethink these matters....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Correction: What I said was: \"The love of our life should be Jesus Christ, and our greatest celebration should be each Mass we attend.\"\n\nSo, I in fact, continue to bring emphasis to Jesus Christ, not to \"self\". Jesus is fully present in the Mass. We have life through Him. \n\nThe greatest life we've been given is new life in God through our Baptism. Jesus Christ is the life.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jay Edward says \"The Catechism of the Catholic Church is part of the Magisterium\"\n\nIndeed.\n\nFrom: http://tinyurl.com/CCC2ndEd\n\n'... how fitting was the request submitted to me in 1985 by the Extraordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops that a catechism or compendium of all Catholic doctrine regarding faith and morals be composed. Drawn up by the special Commission of Cardinals and Bishops established in 1986, the Catechism was approved and promulgated by me in the aforementioned Apostolic Constitution\"\n\n\"... the task of composing the Catechism, begun in 1986, is brought to a close and the desire of the aforementioned Extraordinary Synod of Bishops is happily fulfilled. The Church now has at her disposal this new, authoritative exposition of the one and perennial apostolic faith, and it will serve as a \u201cvalid and legitimate instrument for ecclesial communion\u201d and as a \u201csure norm for teaching the faith,\u201d ...'\n\nJohn Paul II\nAugust 15, 19978", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I find it encouraging that the folks in Rome are seriously considering reconciling with the Lutherans (and vice-versa). What I am more curious about though is where in the process is the reunion of the Anglican and Roman churches? It seems to me that these two churches are theologically closer than Lutherans and Roman Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The pope has indicated that the Church has become obsessive about culture war issues: \u201cWe cannot insist only on issues related to abortion, gay marriage and the use of contraceptive methods,\" Francis told his Jesuit interviewer. \"I have not spoken much about these things, and I was reprimanded for that. It is not necessary to talk about these issues all the time.\" The pope has said that the Church must go to the margins, to accompany people. How does Lady Paprocki's dictum advance that? All it will do is drive families from the Church, and cause tremendous hostility.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I grant you the legal point as the law stands, but ask that you consider the moral issue, namely, whether we as citizens and as believers should limit ourselves to what the law permits, or should feel compelled by faith to extend a welcome to those who are already in our midst? \n\nI think the issue comes down to the question whether we consider ourselves bound by the laws of the United States or by the laws of the gospel?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The modern day papacy is different than what many of Benedict's predecessors faced. It includes lots of travel. There are trips that the pope must do, including WYD and the World Meeting of Families. Benedict resigned partially because he didn't feel like he was going to be able to do the Rio WYD trip.\n\nAlso, Benedict might have wanted to spare the Catholic Church what happened under JPII's illness.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "According to HPR, Catholic Charities has a $1.8 mil 2 year contract that will require them to keep 2 staff people at the facility 24 hours a day. I wonder what else the contract states.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm just amazed at how quick they are to jump to the defense of Islam while at every turn bashing and belittling Christians. I don't know your leanings but I think it's time we call out politicians on both sides when they clearly work against the interests of everyday Americans", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus Christ, whose birth we celebrate, had little to do with the ninjas ... their choice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Comments along the lines of \"far right fringe (including some neo-fascist) \" indicate some tendency on the part of the left to call anything it dislikes \"fascist\" and to make clear it has no clue as to what fascism was or is.\n\nAngela Merkel's traction in Europe is slipping fast not because she is \"a 'real' christian\", but because the influx of Muslims into Europe she advocated has led to a sharp increase in terrorism and conflict in Europe.\n\nPeople generally do not support high-minded programs that do not work.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The purpose was to document one of the many miracles performed by Jesus. A very important miracle at that. Yes Jesus had supernatural powers, which he revealed at times to show the truth of his Divinity and being the Son of God. If you don't believe in the supernatural then how do you believe in God?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This writer misses, as many Catholics and their bishops continually do - the point of the mandate. \n\nThe mandate is for the purpose of protecting the right that women have to free, safe, and easily accessible birth control no matter where they work. It is not to make the church either strong or weak. Neither would it have accomplished either if the Church and its ministries were made to fill out the form telling the Govt and their female employees that they are against birth control so the Govt will have to give them access instead of the Insurance Co. This form already gave distance and so our Church is wrong to even fight further. \n\nOur stand on birth control, esp. since abortions have been down in the U.S. in the last 5-10 years and it is believed because of this better access to B.C. (a rate lower possibly than when it was illegal to abort in the U.S.), is misogynistic & fatal to the unborn.\n\nWe should not pay for private schools because then the public schools start to fail.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Steve Ericson.\n\nI never indicated that the US was a theocracy. I was responding to what was stated in the article that referenced the Christian Biblical scriptures. \n\nSo, the sanctuary crowd can use the scriptures in a vain attempt to justify their illegal actions but others who are against sanctuaries in the way you want to operate them cannot? \n\n\nLeonidas\nI didn't object to Pastor Boyd's religious comments as he has the right to make any comment he desires. But I will say that his interpretation of that particular passage is incorrect in my religious perspective , which is all that pointed out. \n\nCan you point out any passage of God's Word in Scripture where God, Christ or the Holy Spirit has sanctioned that man should break the law, either God's Law or man's?\n\nIf the good pastor would like to discuss this at a theological level he can contact me and I will be more than happy to politely discuss it with him.\n\nThere just isn't enough room to discuss it here or I would. Sorry.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Roberts report quoted the Knights' own figures and the interpretations were not unreasonable. Trolls can't handle the truth, however,\n\nCardinal Cupich is deliberately nice and deserves having nice open letters addressed to him.\n\nThe difference between Francis and Benedict is mainly style, however I doubt that Francis frets about the tyranny of relativism, but neither has he echoed my comment that papal infallibility and the Magisterium are relativism for Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1)\n\"The kerfuffle over a Cub Scout being asked to leave his den (he's still in the pack, per subsequent reporting)\"\nProof?\nCitation?\n2)\n\"Illegal alien\" may be legally correct, but you do know words change over time.\nAs an example, some Christian churches refer to the Third Person of the Holy Trinity as the \"Holy Spirit\", instead of \"Holy Ghost\", because these days, \"ghost\" conjures up horror movies, silly Halloween costumes, Casper (for an older generation), \"Ghostbusters\" (for a newer generation), the Exorcist movies and numerous knock-offs, etc., so \"Holy Spirit\" sounds more dignified and respectful.\nLikewise, \"alien\" as a noun has lost virtually all meaning of \"a person from a foreign country\" and instead now means \"extraterrestrial -- usually menacing, frightening, destructive, loathsome\".\nAnd I happen to think critics of certain policies use \"illegal alien\" precisely for that purpose.\nI doubt deporting 10-year-olds recovering from surgery will reduce the number of bad hombres.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The article is about SNAP and its alleged treatment of an employee in an alleged attempt to cover-up a fee-splitting or finders' fee arrangement with attorneys, not about \"A lotta priests\", \"a lotta years\", or \"a lotta bishops\".\n\nThose rants involve other articles.\n\nEarlier in the discussion, in the interest of full disclosure, I disclosed that I have now and have never had a relationship of any kind with either party in the suit, nor their counsel, nor with the USCCB, other than being a baptized Catholic.\n\nJust so we're all clear, have you now or have you ever had a relationship of any kind with either party in the suit, or their counsel, or with the USCCB?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Now now, not all the best programmers that are Indian are Hindu. There are Christians, Sikhs, and Muslim students at UW/UW alumni that are either immigrants from, or descendants of immigrants from India that can program very well too.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Istanbul (Constantinople) was the centre of Christianity 400 years before the birth of Mohammed.\nLook what islam has done to the middle east. Guess what it will do for Canada.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"They [the bishop's conference] wore their nonpartisanship on their sleeves, never demeaned a politician personally or by name, and went out of their way to make sure that they were not being co-opted by partisans of either kind.\"\n\nMSW must have been on hallucinogenic drugs when he wrote that. He cannot possibly be talking about our USCCB which went out of its way to align itself with the Republican party to such an extent that made the late Richard John Neuhaus of \"First Things\" positively giddy. Of course, after Neuhaus died his successor at \"First Things\" wrote a column which basically admitted that Neuhaus' attempt to make the Catholic Church the Republican party at prayer had been an abject failure. That came after it became abundantly clear that W's presidency had been an abject failure itself. The failure of Neuhaus' experiment should be a cautionary tale for the Catholic left. As I've said, when you jump in bed with Caesar you're bound to get screwed - but not in a good way.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "More protest photos, a common thing here.\nMore politics, an overly-common theme here.\nMore drama, ....\n\nWhat we \"can all believe\" in is the full and complete meaning of the Crucifix for our daily ordinary life, unemptied of meaning and joy by the feel-good Catholics who more and more resemble Joel Osteen (they don't like him, but they resemble him and gravitate to his message, even though in public they reject the comparison). \n\nLove is always personally costly, love is more in the little of the day, than it is about politics, and our \"identiies\". And costly love doesn't at all mean dour love, or cheerless love.\n\nOur Lord recited Psalms on His way to Calvary. We should too in our ordinary day. \n\nHere's today's verse before the Gospel: \"Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart\nand yield a harvest through perseverance.\"\n\nA generous and costly Yes is how we can come to \"believe\" more and more in Truth Himself, each day.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Gary - What parent doesn't, to some degree, talk to their kids about sex ? Government schools cannot teach the benefits of abstinence because the wackos have made it a religious teaching when it is not. You don't have to be a Christian to agree with me that children should not be having sex. PP's budget is just like any other government contractors financial statement (I know because my company was audited several times and we had to provide one) which is vaugue and filled with nonsensical government accounting terms even learned people struggle to figure out. Have you ever seen a federal bid package or even worse an RFP ? Or a response to an RFP ? I rest my case.\n\nBTW - I invited GBA and Cleanup to have coffee with us when we hit the 90 day mark. I am not going to be in here during the weekdays anymore, I do have a day job ! So, alhtough I know you will miss me, I do have to go !", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Farmers always had some degree of control over their own time, but as Western societies industrialized labour autonomy was largely lost. Capitalist industrialists (who were mainly Christian) weren't much concerned about accommodating Christian observances, which workers for the most part were expected to manage on their own time. Rather, these industrialists sought to maximize labour utilization. Unions sought to limit required work hours and to create a formal work break and thus lobbied for and eventually achieved the recognition of the standard (i.e. 40 hour) work week and the weekend as labour rights. These rights were obtained as a result of class struggle rather than by religious tradition and/or fiat, as some appear to want to argue. In recent times, this reality has faded into lore.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree that at one level he did say it is necessary to accept an entire package. But look at the nuance. He did not, for instance, challenge people who are against optional warfare or who volunteer at soup kitchens to join with anti-abortionists. The brunt of his criticism targeted the latter exclusively, which I and many others quickly and accurately interpreted as an attempt to remove protection of the unborn from valid Catholic activity. It was quite transparent at the time, just as it is now.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The United States and the global Catholic church are in some ways \u201cparallel empires,\u201d says church historian Massimo Faggioli. \u201cThe state of their relationship says something about the state of international affairs.\u201d\"\n\nPresident Reagan and JPII certainly understood they were representing parallel empires and the collusion proved fateful for many a country. I'm sure Bannon has informed Trump of this history and it's ability to foster US Imperialism in Catholic countries. Pope Francis is well experienced in that fact.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The theme of community in its widest sense is touched on in the main article.\nBaptised babies as babies neither long to be baptised or feel welcome or unwelcome in the Church. This article is all about the parents preference for \u2018their\u2019 type of Catholic Community, hence their moving from one parish to another. Baptism is a welcome into the Catholic Church not the local parish.\nFifty years ago there was only one Catholic Community, the Universal Church. Nowadays it seems that very many parish communities go to great lengths to emphasise their diversity from the Universal Church rather than their adherence to its teaching and practices to which they only pay lip service.\nIn my experience of local parishes, the vast majority of parishioners go to Church to avail themselves of the Mass and the Sacraments and ignore as best they can the more bizarre novelties introduced by parish priests and their cliques of liberal, middle-class aides mostly from the professions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"...The Body of Christ in the United States and Western Europe is shedding members like a maple tree sheds leaves in October. This is not the consequence of secularism being newly attractive. It is not the result of some nefarious and latent Jacobin tendencies in Western civilization. It is not Obama\u2019s fault. We got rich\"\n- No doubt being unwelcomed has a lot to do with the 'shedding'.\n- No doubt confusing 'being catholic' with 'obedience to clericalism' has a lot to do with the 'shedding'.\n- No doubt poorly educated clerics, 'wanna be bishops', and longing for ornate and baroque vestments and decorations under the guise of 'honouring Christ' or 'creating mystery' has a lot to do with 'shedding'.\n- ON the whole the relativistic phrase 'we got rich' is at best a stumbling block but not the diagnostic edifice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"So there is no such animal as heresy in our enlightened age of post Conciliar Catholicism?\"\n\nNot quite. Don't forget the new \"heretics\" who question any part of the narrative of what causes \"climate change.\" Or the new \"heretics\" who proclaim that the Sacrament of Matrimony is an exclusive life commitment between a man and woman.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Excellent, ignore the postings by others of a name, focus on the demand for a time and date! Hold to the Script, brother Catholic, and don't worry if you must be obtuse to do it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A brutal rhetorical red herring. If some Christians wish to address God as \"Mother,\" that should not be interpreted as a correction of Jesus and his practice. Jesus experienced God as Father, and so referred to God that way. Some Christians today (we are given to understand; I don't know any, I think, but can believe they exist) experience God as Mother, and they should be not just free but even encouraged to refer to God that way.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm not a Catholic. But flippantly maligning a commenter and a perceived Catholic church affiliation does not fit in this Civil Beat conversation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "St. Peter's doesn't have decent sacred Catholic art?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Maybe the 35 year olds don't believe in a God whose initial sentence for being born is everlasting hell until baptism. In other words, maybe they don't really believe Jesus came to redeem them from original sin.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Like your self , I've been to Burma , and Bangladesh and agree with your last paragraph . The Buddhists of Burma have no problem with the Christians or Hindus or other ethnic minorities because they do not insist upon you believing in their ideology. Unfortunately the Sunnis in Bangladesh are being taken over by the Wahhabi sect promoted by Saudi Arabia . This sect promotes \"jihad\", the \"conversion\" by any means , including force . This has been on going for a good number of years . It began in Bangladesh with the military's (Wahhabi officer corp) taking out whole valleys of Buddhist farmers along the border , and has expanded into Burma . All hatred is ugly , but there is a reason for it .\nWahhabi Islam , not Sunni or Shia , is a very real threat to the world.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mat 7:22-23\u00a0 On that day many will say to me, \u2018Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?\u2019 \u00a0(23)\u00a0 And then will I declare to them, \u2018I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.\u2019\n\nWho said that ? Or does being a Christian have nothing to do with Christ in your estimation ?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Is it your job to determine what her 'Christian beliefs' are?\n\nAs an agnostic, I find all religious beliefs unlikely in the extreme. \n\nBut that shouldn't give me the right to forbid others to have such beliefs or to only practice them in ways satisfactory to me.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Speaking of false impressions, Evangelicals are only 24% or the population of the US, yet people seem to think they are a lot more than that.\n\nCatholics and mainline Christians are 35%.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I know that some Christians believe illegal immigrants are entitled to the same benefits as citizens, but I have seen no polls that I recall. I don't know how widespread that opinion is. I would guess there is a wide range of opinions and that it is not wise to try to characterize them with general statements.\n\nI did not intend to imply that I thought you oppose a government safety net. I know that some conservatives have criticized the practice.\n\nI don't understand why Jesus would care whether meeting the needs of the poor is legally mandated (as it was in the OT theocracy) or personal, voluntary charity. What moral difference does it make if it achieves the purpose of preventing starvation and suffering? I know some conservatives have a big problem with using the taxing authority of government to help the poor. I just do not see any Scripture to indicate that Christians should have any problem with that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I heartily agree. Angela Merkel showed such grace in the face of our president with his Neanderthal manners and self-serving \"jokes.\" I found myself wishing she were our president. She has also shown real humanitarian instincts in her welcoming so many refugees. I read that she is a atheist or agnostic, but she definitely shows more Christianity in her actions than our president and so many of our cowed legislators, in my opinion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I TOTALLY agree!!! \nAlso, let us NOT forget the Reichskonkordat of 1933. That was the document which aligned the Catholic church with Hitler. It made it much easier for Hitler to begin and wage WWII. My dad and uncles served in that war. \nIs another holocaust like event upon us? Let us never forget 'The Holocaust'.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Steve \"did you just say that a practicing Christian cannot function in our society as a competent lawyer ?\"\nNO, NO ONE IS SAYING THAT. \nIt is NOT being Christian that's the problem, their individual faith and belief is not the problem. The problem is an educational institution with overtly discriminatory policies, and whether the law societies should be required to give them a public stamp of approval even though discrimination in access to legal education has been something we've been working more than 100 years to overcome. \nIt's not their personal belief or religion, at all. \nIt's the way they force it on everyone who would want to go to the school, and exclude everyone who thinks differently from them. I'm not sure frankly how you can get a good legal education in such an environment.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually, being Catholic requires, first and foremost, baptism in the Catholic Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You have lied - The Washington Post completely refuted your entire platform. They are a government contractor (the same guys who authorize two thousand dollar toilets), at the end of the day you cannot tell what anything costs there. Your statements of fact have been summarily blown out of the water. And just because you have a beef with anything Christian that does not make it necessarily wrong, but then again we are conversing with a person who believes the \"Big Bang\" (in other words - nothing became something that banged) idea is scientific.\n\nAnd whatever PP lacks, they can make it up in \"storage fees\" on harvested baby organs, right Eric ?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You put racism on a par with abortion. There is an old adage, \"sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me.\nWhen we vote for a candidate we are never going to get a perfect one. Donald Trump may appear to be a racist in your eyes and even if he were, the direct killing of a defenceless, unborn child is far worse than discrimination of any sort. No Catholic can in good conscience vote for any candidate who promotes abortion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "American Wasps, Evangelical fundamentalists, SC Catholics and the Republican Party \u2018have come a long way baby\u2019. In fact the next GOP convention is scheduled for the Sistine Chapel.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pope Francis: \"Gee, Don, we agree on so many things: We are both against abortion and same sex marriage, and we both support religious freedom. I also know that most Catholics voted for you, so, since I want to smell like my sheep in the U.S., I, too, support you. And by the way, I'm really going to enjoy working with Mrs. Gingrich.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think that questions of sexual orientation are down the list of priorities in Pope Francis envisaged seminary formation programmes. What he wants above all is for Catholic Communities to be pastored (at this stage) by men who are thoroughly prepared and committed to serve and not to be served.\n\nPersonally, I am more and more convinced that 'distortion of clericalism' as Francs calls it, along with its culture of implied entitlement and automatic deference, is one of the major blocks in the way of systemic reform of ecclesial structures and governance.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, the bishops formed an ad hoc committee. They are just getting around to announcing its members:\n\nhttps://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/us-bishops-anti-racism-chairman-announces-committee-membership-34581\n\nToo little too late; I'll take Colin Kaepernick, thank you, a man who stood (well, kneeled) on principle and paid the price.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Like George Lucas, I'm surprised Scorsese managed to get this film made. I'm sure it was mostly because of his reputation that he was able to get any support for it at all.\n\nIt's sad to think that Silence probably won't get the response it deserves, partly because films that require thought and patience aren't in high demand these days, and also because, in the post-clerical abuse world, anything smacking of Catholicism that isn't entirely derisive will probably be snubbed by the Hollywood elite.\n\nBut I might be surprised. In any event, I look forward to seeing it over the holidays.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Josh does give us this quote: \"Once an accusation of sexual abuse was made against him he should have been stepped down until that accusation had been investigated,\" said Collins. \"This is the standard that applies to ordinary priests and religious in my country and elsewhere under Church guidelines -- why should rank make any difference.\"\n\nHow is that pre-judging? Isn't she just looking back at what has already happened, which is a matter of open record? One may disagree with her, (the remark about \"rank\" can only be inference) but the thing to argue is why it was OK that a guy who \"mucked up\" a huge abuse enquiry should get the #3 spot at the Vatican, and why, subsequently and contra protocol, he didn't step away from his desk on learning he was under investigation. Those matters have much to do with the Vatican, and Collins' longstanding commitment to reform, and nothing to do with the truth or falsity of the charges against Pell.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There's a gap in many Catholics' formation. \n\nThey don't understand something crucial...and it leaves them lurching from one activity and program to another..one social justice activity to another.\n\nThat \"thing\" is called \"the order of charity\".\n\nThe order of charity is God, spouse, family, extended family, neighbor, needy person 12000 miles around the world.\n\nThey don't understand how the Holy Spirit works either...they think some social justice activty is \"their charity\"....\"their work\"...their program.\n\nOf course it's not.\n\nSo, to rehabilitate some here....we should do everything in our life primarily as an act of love for God. That's called purity of intention.\n\nNext we should love \"right where God put us\"...and he gave most of us a spouse.\n\nBy loving that spouse with supernatural and human love...she grows closer to God, bit by bit..and so do we.\n\nThat spirit of generosity then \"spills out\" into a lager family....then the neighborhoood, and then...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "stillontheslope, Jesus didn't write the bible. It was written by others ABOUT HIM. You know, Mathew, Mark, Luke and the rest of Jesus's home boys. And it wasn't written in English. It was (mis)translated into English later. Now spell Jesus with a capitol J.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...there needs to be other ways to think of God.\"\nPerhaps there need to be other ways to think of \"Father\", \"Lord\", or \"Master\"; like the ways characterized in Scriptural accounts.\nIn which Christian culture is the title \"Father\" unacceptable for God?\nI agree that there are a number of theologies available; all give analogs for God as no one can pretend to understand Him fully. We have only what we can derive by reason or what is given in public revelation. The first, however, cannot contradict the second.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I.o.w as I on occasion have opined, ethics can be taught just as easily using Aesop's fables as the bible, a relatively young human construct and the only \"proof\" that a person called Jesus of Nazareth ever existed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Don't give up Allison. This is the time we are called by Christ to save his Church from the demonic forces clearly at work.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You can go back 2000 years if you want. But the church wasn't speaking about LGBT then. Being a Christian THEN meant that the person had a personal faith relationship with Jesus. One either believed that Jesus was the Messiah or not. Dogmas, doctrines---EVOLVED very slowly within the church's history.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you - MSW could have balanced this by sharing the bias of Imbelli - fits into the First Things world. One thought - NY City diocesan priest who spent his life at Boston College and would cite his *pastoral experience* because he choose to reside in a parish. We used to call that a *week end* priest who masqueraded as pastoral. Imbelli is retired and has grown more and more reactive and conservative since the election of Francis. Like Bishop Barron, his expertise is in the European church of the Renaissance - that is only a small part of ressourcement, MSW. Imbelli has no experience with the missionary church, third world, Asia,South America, Africa - a church that is the image of a hospital and its ministers as sheperds.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your message is correct but explains a grave sadness and harm inflicted on those who asked for release from Rome and were denied by JP II. For those men to marry there was no place in the RC to do so and remain a Catholic in good standing, though they sincerely wished to do so. This resulted in sadness and harm to many sincere couples and their families as their church gave them no religious home.\nWe are grateful my husband was treated with kindness by Pope Paul VI for we could marry in the RC and did so 39 years ago. Because of this we are active participants in our parish, with my husband a Scripture instructor, RCIA and a member of the parish council. As my husband was very successful in his business career, he would gladly return to service, gratis. We have many friends who would serve also.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For a self-proclaimed prophet, you sure ignore the words of Jesus a lot, He who came to fulfill the prophets and the Law. And no, the asexuals or the eunuchs who chose to live like that for the sake of the kingdom of heaven did not make up the words of the triune God from Genesis to Revelation regarding human sexuality.\n\n\u25c4 Matthew 19:12 \u25ba\nNew International Version\n\n\"For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others--and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Perhaps these lovely sentiments you have offered are not quite what the author had in mind . We need to be like Jesus in Gethsemane and sink into reality so painful spiritually and emotionally that we sweat blood at least figuratively. Only after that can we be healed not by willpower but God's Power .", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, in some ways Augustine always displays his Neoplatonic intellectual roots. But Greek philosophical thought -- which by the fourth century meant one or another form of Neoplatonism -- was in the air in any case, and part of the common background of the Church Fathers of the period, East and West. The Nicene Creed is unimaginable without it.\n\nAs for Revelation, I like the new reading of it that Elaine Pagels presents (though it's not original with her) in her recent \"Revelations,\" that yes, John of Patmos is indeed a Judaizer, but his religious foes amongst those calling themselves Christian were members of the Pauline communities in western Asia Minor and the Aegean basin, and fellow-travelers who admired Paul thereabouts. And though Pagels is misleading on the subject of Roman imperial religion, given a date circa 95 CE, toward the end of the reign of Domitian, it seems clear enough what John thought of Rome, aka Babylon, without bringing in the Roman Christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Corinthian 13:13\nIsn't it up to God to judge our actions on earth?\nIf Bishop Paprocki is correct, then why is not every diocese following the same rules?\n\nWhat does this say about Catholics that he would deny a person who identifies as a Catholic and wants a Catholic funeral?\nI thought the Corporal acts of mercy, based on Jesus's teachings, include burying the dead.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Right, Bishop Tom, as you write, \u201cand looking upon Jesus we see him who \u2018was like unto us in everything except sin\u2019 \u201d. Pope Pius 12, in his Encyclical Letter: \u201dDivino Afflante Spiritu\u201d, sept.30, 1943 brought about a revolutionary change in the Roman Catholic Church. In this letter Pius XII demands that Catholic biblical scholars apply all the scientific means and the new studies of ancient languages (cf. the Rosetta Stone --\u201dstele\u201d -- found in 1799) in order to clarify the real meaning behind our Sacred Scriptures. That meant terminating 2,000 years of purely literal acceptation of the S.S. So now we can understand and apply such concepts as PERSONIFICATION and HYPOSTATIZE Here we see the \u201cPERSONIFICATION\u201d of God\u2019s attributes -- active power, active wisdom, active loving care, etc. as so often found in the First Testament of the Bible. This was a very common \u201cform of speech\u201d in the minds and cultures of many ancient peoples.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"There's absolutely nothing about Catholic dogma that is incompatible with U.S. law, and I would defy the senator to offer evidence to the contrary.\"\n\nThe average Catholic, much less the average American, does not know the theological difference between Catholic dogma and Catholic doctrine. Given that understanding, Feinstein was probably referencing Humanae Vitae and it's implications for US Law regarding birth control, abortion, and GLBT civil rights.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The ICEL was not a product of the Vatican II Council. The ICEL was the independent English translators of the Latin whose only contact with the bishops was through a handful of \"liturgical experts\" like Bishop Trautmann of Erie, PA, aka Bishop \"No\" because if he didn't like what the American bishops wanted, he wouldn't transmit it to the ICEL.\n\nNot only did the ICEL do paraphrases, not translations, it composed entirely new texts on its own out of thin air.\n\nIt was not until the CDF not only absolutely refused to approve the ICEL's last Missal translation but provided pages of errors, omissions, and additions that the ICEL was reformed.\n\nYes, the ICEL \"Dick and Jane Do Eucharist\" was rammed down Catholics' - including bishops' - throats.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When Pope John Paul first allowed the celebration of what we now call the \"Extraordinary Form\", he required both the group requesting the EF and the priest celebrating it to affirm explicitly their acceptance of the legitimacy and authority of the Second Vatican Council and the liceity and validity of what we now call the \"Ordinary Form.\" John Paul required, as a condition for the permission,\n\". . .that it be made publicly clear beyond all ambiguity that such priests and their respective faithful in no way share the positions of those who call in question the legitimacy and doctrinal exactitude of the Roman Missal promulgated by Pope Paul VI in 1970.\" (see: https://www.ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CDW62IND.HTM)\nI think Pope Benedict made a serious error in pastoral judgment when he lifted that requirement. I think Pope Francis thinks so, too, though it is not at all clear what he can do about it, or what he is willing to do about it, particularly while Benedict is still alive.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Body of Christ includes all of us----not just the sinless. Communion is not a trophy for being 'good little boys and girls'. It was the original sacrament of forgiveness, long before penance, as a sacrament, even existed. None of the apostles went to receive the sacrament of penance. Paul didn't----even though he approved of the stoning of Stephen [accessory to murder]. They all reflected upon their words and actions and were forgiven by God.\n\nUnity does not equal uniformity. The Body of Christ is NOT uniform----we are made in the image and likeness of God. But that does not mean we're made on an assembly line. This bishop would like to think that is true. Too many bishops in the U.S. would like to think that also.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Are you correct to say \u2018health care\u2019 is my term for abortion, at least in this string?--Yes, Paul, you would be correct although obviously you cannot recognize the use of syndecdoche. \nI don't think I mentioned anything about heart attacks nor did I mention anything about people who work hard or work themselves to death to support families so your claim that I have no sympathy for persons in such situations is entirely bogus-- your hackneyed attempt at subterfuge. \nAmericans have supported (that is tolerated) the harassment of women in medical contexts, they have accepted objectively lower standards of healthcare, civility and privacy for women because the people engaging in the harassment cloak their excesses in Christian religiosity. \nI am indifferent to your support for women pursuing their own muse. I do care about my personal safety as I exercise my right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness like everybody else. American women need glocks to protect what's theirs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We should have done away with separate school boards altogether. Instead, the Catholic lobby managed to extend it from elementary schools to secondary schools back in the 70s or 80s.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I deal with these pieces every day. I am a church historian. And I don't work alone. The best names in biblical scholarship have examined these very issues. The very fact that the Gospel spread as rapidly as it did both east and west, that it began rituals and liturgical practices all over northern Africa, the mid-East and Europe---was miraculous. But we can no more pin down any of the Twelve celebrating a liturgy than we can determine how Linus became the 2nd Pope. \n\nAnd we cannot insist that Jesus ORDAINED any of the Twelve as Priests. Or that Jesus who operated as the only rabbi who welcomed women into this company of learners/disciples would not enable women, among his most FAITHFUL of disciples, to celebrate this gift for his followers.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hello ArtEndsemble,\n\nWrong, I did not change my thesis. My thesis was about fanciful works of fiction, and I named two: Works by Atwood and Clancy. And when another post writer brought out works of non-fictional material (e.g. assassinating Bin Laden in a Pakistan hideout), I stepped forward to emphasize that my thesis was about fanciful works of fiction. It was pretty clear, though, in my original post, given that I was talking about writers choosing villain types from a menu of possibilities. \n\nYour comment is not compelling, about Clancy's fiction having an authentic feel, since Jurassic Park and Avatar also have authentic feels. Good fiction is like that, grounded in real-world concerns like profit and environmentalism and what have you. The functionally important feature, though, is that as a fiction writer you decide if your environment villain will be an outer space mining company, or a dinosaur genetic engineer industrialist, or a radical Christian, or a radical Muslim.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But at least in this case it is more than important to recall and understand the formal teachings of the Church regarding papal authority. How you or I or others want it to be is, for right now, inconsequential. This is an issue of what has been doctrinally taught for centuries, and what some ultra traditionalists have purposely distorted it to be. It is about their own hypocrisy and sinfully selective use of sentences and partial quotes to support a view of Pope Francis based in hate. We see this almost daily right here in these comments by a select few rabid trads who invent theology to give support to their pressing need to maintain a fantasy version of the Church based in their feelings and on nothing else. These are the same folks who refuse to accept Vatican II and post selective parts of sentences from the council documents as if they are authorities on them and know more then the council Fathers. It is all the same:it is THEIR arguments re: +Francis that are the offenses.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you come out with a document that employs \"creative ambiguity\" to empower one faction to believe 2,000 years of Church teaching going all the way back to the Gospels and letters of St. Paul is thrown out the window, how is that not going to create polarization between the conflicting camps in the Church? All the more reason to not avoid your Cardinals and answer the dubia honestly instead of obliquely responding through the media, and clear things up once and for all. Those who hold to what the Church has always and everywhere taught are not the ones formenting division in the Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nicely done! Sounds like a backroom deal doesn't it, Trudeau no doubt a Soro's lackey and puppet for the Saudis like the Clinton's. How can all these leaders be so Anti White and Anti Christian? I mean Trudope doesn't even bring in persecuted Christians from the ME. He sure loves the Muslims and sharia. Trudeau must go!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Michigan's charter schools are a joke as opposed to those in New Orleans. DeVos managing the Pell Grant and college loan program is a nightmare thought. It could be that she will leave the professionals to handle the day to day issues while she indulges herself in her campaign to provide everyone's child a propaganda program called Christian Charter Schools.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "An elegant evasion, your chunking on saddle leather. But an evasion nonetheless. I well very well what the disagreements are, but have never heard you defend the anti-Catholic side. I invited that discussion, and you avoided engaging.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Which brings us to his regard for the papacy, and the Church itself. He said yesterday in his bizarre little speech, again and again, that he was the Bishop of Rome, which is true, but in being the Bishop of Rome the pope is the head of the Universal Church, not just the city of Rome. Francis does not believe this, and even made a reference to the idea that the pope is \"first among equals\". This means that he regards the Church as a mere loose confederacy, and also that he thinks the Church is, or should be, a democracy. The proof of this is, again, his blatant disobedience to Summorum Pontificum. He will never do anything to clean up the sodomite infiltrators in the Church outside of Rome because he doesn't feel that the pope has any authority outside of Rome.Bottom line here: many bishops and archbishops have been kept in line over the past eight years because Benedict was relatively aggressive in booting out extremely bad bishops. Benedict was feared in a healthy way.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We still need to take that final step of joining together in shared communion. We can'y hover around on the outskirts of full communion, lest we continue to build up the dividing wall of enmity Jesus tore down between so long ago.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, I guess that's OK for the most part; but it's not exactly what I was referring to. \"Christ\" is a title given to Jesus of Nazareth by (some of) his followers, and their practice has persisted to the present among the faithful. But saying that Jesus was no less than the \"Anointed One,\" a not well defined figure mentioned in the OT, is one of a number of extraordinary assertions that the faithful make about him, in which they are typically not joined by non-believers. You may very well believe that the story in Luke 2 of the finding of the boy Jesus in the Temple really happened, and that it conveys a reliable datum regarding the identity of Jesus, and his relation to God (\"the Father\"). But not all readers of that gospel are persuaded that that is the best way to explain the origin of that story. And more to the point of your conversation with John Hobson, not all Catholics are so persuaded -- and yet for all that they are undeniably fine and true Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "annexe @therock\n\nIn Canada, Qu\u00e9bec is \u201cofficially\u201d French speaking since 1774-\n(but we all know that it is since 1608) so why are you crying for then ?...Who\u2019s LATE here ?...\nand who\u2019s got a problem with it ?...\nThe past & present MINORITY of the Ghetto Anglo Montrealers (7%) of all of Qu\u00e9bec is to blame here for not consciously recognize the \u201cQu\u00e9bec Act\u201d (an Act for making more effective Provisions for The Government of the Province of Qu\u00e9bec in North America) \nwas a British statute which received royal assent 22 June 1774 and became effective 1 May 1775;\n- it re-established the French language rights (got it Anglo Canada ?);\n-+ Catholic faith; \n-+ French civil law...\u201d\n(It\u2019s (almost) \u00ab a State into a State \u00bb, oui ?)\nIt also began what was to become a tradition in Canadian constitutional history \u2013 the recognition of certain distinct rights, or protections for Qu\u00e9bec \u2013in language, religion and civil law.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And yet, many many liberals are Christian, just not whacked ones that ignore the Bible..\nGhandi had it right when he said that Jesus was interesting and a good person to follow, but that many Christian's do not.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It seems to me that a large part of the problem is that the institutional Church does not want to openly admit that we know very little about what actually happened with Jesus. Also, no one can possibly know what God intends. So, it may be that we are trying to do our best to figure it out, but to pretend that we know and then, to make decisions about present-day issues on the basis of pretense ....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I get my facts from the Bible. The Bible clearly prophesied that the Messiah would return to take revenge against the elites and to overthrow the usurper. I see a number of parallels between Donald Trump and Jesus. Just as Jesus walked on water, Trump participates in water sports. Allegedly.\n\nIs Donald Trump the Messiah? Probably, although you won't hear this important question discussed in the lamestream media.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Remembering Jude 1, some (only some) have compassion and the others save with fear.\n\nYes, HE is always and IS. Yes, we are all different and I think that is the issue. We all have different needs, different chastening from HIM and different growth, if we are HIS. We all have different Callings, Gifts and roles from and because of HIM.\n\nYes CHRIST will sever sin from us. We are to separate from sin and should not give unto dogs or cast pearls before swine. Is HE unable to instill the difference into us? Yes we need to remove our beam our eye first, but how else can we see clearly to help our bothers? The Words of CHRIST in Matthew and John 7 are brought into remembrance, even into righteous judgement and not by appearance.\n\nAre these not HIS psalms and hymns and spiritual songs that we should sing? To respond to others of HIM?\n\nOtherwise, is teaching in Titus 2 or other Scripture bad? Should our children not have such comfort in building blocks of THE Schoolmaster?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's truly amazing how anti-government ideologues can turn every single thing into an opportunity to repeat their magic words. Much as how, for certain kinds of fundamentalist Christians, every single thing comes down to Revelations; or how, for the broken hearted, everything boils down to something their ex said. In other words, this is \"obsession\", and it unhealthy for you and unhelpful to the discussion at hand.\n\nNow as to the \"massive wolf culls\": some culls are being attempted, and I have seen some evidence from Alberta that they are temporarily effective in reducing juvenile mortality of woodland caribou, as you might expect. It's very much as desperate measure, nobody likes it much, and it is the result of governments refusal or neglect, over periods of many decades, to regulate activities in the bush that have led to the present situation. Government was the problem in this instance, and it is the only possible solution. Only the crown can regulate crown lands.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There must be some previously unknown or undisclosed limit on the power given priests when they are ontologically changed. When it comes to the Eucharist, to changing bread into the Body of Christ, it only works in the presence of gluten. \n\nWho would have thought?\n________\n\nSometimes I am amazed at the issues that seem so terribly important to those who presumably have so much wisdom and authority to help us find God and experience His presence in our lives and in our world. Is Christ's presence in the Eucharist really limited to the presence of gluten?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sorry Eric - I am not following your (il) logic. Pipe dreams about the origin of the earth are not in my realm of expertise. And the Bible teaches that God decides who is saved, the Africans in the middle of the forest who have never heard the Gospel are for him to take care of, not you or I.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We are not discussing it, it is settled doctrine which is being challenged. Orthodox Catholics are merely pointing out that is beyond discussion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is some pretty \"out there\" left wing theology...NCR had an article praising someone who said Christians worship a dead man on a dead cross. If that's not out there, I don't know what is. \n\nBelieving what the Church teaches isn't \"out there\". \n\nI don't know what will happen if Burke issues a formal correction. I think he will appeal to St. Thomas Aquinas where he writes: \"A subject is not competent to administer to his prelate the correction which is an act of justice through the coercive nature of punishment: but the fraternal correction which is an act of charity is within the competency of everyone in respect of any person towards whom he is bound by charity, provided there be something in that person which requires correction.\" St. Paul corrected St. Peter to his face. St. Catherine of Siena rebuked the pope of her time. \n\nWe are in uncharted territory with high level winks and nods given to \"irregular unions\" but I think even the pope is bound to Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What troubles me about this nomination is that the Federalist Society endorses it. Their cramped view of equal protection and privacy under the 14th Amendment is a novelty and it is wrong. What heartens me is that Gorsuch clerked for Justice Kennedy and may vote with him, Chief Roberts and Alito on privacy issues, especially abortion. It would truly make my day if he pronounced Roe as settled law and that the approach that the states should have this issue died with Scalia. If it did not, then like Scalia, Gorsuch would be alone in this opinion so it can't do too much damage.\n\nOn the end of life, state interference with suicide is generally meant to help people who suicide out of the despair of mental illness or addiction. The concern about doctors as executioners is newer (and they do it anyway by putting palliative care above life preservation). Whether legislative majorities, driven by the Catholic Church, deserve a say is not only doubtful, it is wrong.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Perhaps if they'd used every ounce of their clout BEFORE last November's election to appeal to the USCCB ...\" \n\nDo you really think organizations like the Catholic Climate Covenant and the Franciscan Action Network have any clout whatsoever with the USCCB? I know members of both groups and I know for a fact that they did everything they could to get the bishops to take a stand before the election. I also know the bishops ignored them.\n\nAs long as the USCCB and its individual members continue down the path of abortion being the one and only issue that matters, they'll continue to cater to the religious right at the expense of every other issue on which they might have some positive impact. Don't blame Catholic advocacy groups like the Catholic Climate Covenant and the Franciscan Action Network for the bishops' tunnel vision.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yip, and Jesus wasn't born in a cave. It was low end, low cost housing with 'natural' heating and a south facing, open terrace.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, he said not all of you can live by this rule, and if you can't, then DON'T MARRY. And you think the implication is, \"But for you who can't live by this rule, then you can marry anyway and break the rule\"?? Does that make sense to you?\n\nYou say: \"One would then see marriage in a new light but not be bound to deny the limitations of human nature and the human condition, as church teaching has sometimes done.\" Tell me: On the issue of the indissolubility of marriage, where is the difference between Church teaching and what Christ taught?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I can't remember Orthodox going on about that, actually; however, we are referred to as the \"so-called Orthodox Church\" in the Catholic Encyclopedia! Orthodox do call Catholics \"the Romans\" a lot, though, in a pejorative way.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Correct, but they must be a recognized person. If you drift into moralism, then the feminists will play the sexist card and you get nowhere. You can move the chains, albeit not far, or recognize this issue as a parlor game that does not compel anyone to vote in any way. Right now, a \"pro-life\" vote has no impact because the agenda is simply getting more pro-life votes and going back to a pre-Dred Scott state-rights regime. Shed that. If you really want progress, hit the economic side. It is the most Catholic of strategies.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Accounts of what I mentioned were published in both the San Diego Union-Tribune and San Diego Reader at the time, so there's at least some documentation of it. And there seems to be some question with respect to your quote. W. E. B. DuBoise worked with her. It seems unlikely he would have if she made such statements as you claim. In any event if that was her true purpose I've done my part to defeat it seven times over. And counting.\n\nAlso, seems that the woman was more of a proponent of birth control than she was of abortion. Church opposition to birth control seems self-defeating as an anti-abortion strategy. I think this stems from an unhealthy Platonic Dualist/Christian view toward sexual fulfillment predicated on the fallacy that sex is inherently 'sinful' and religiously sanctioned for no other purpose but procreation.\n\nWe don't have that hangup--'enjoyment' is very nearly a euphemism for sex in our idiom. Birth control is not prohibited in our faith. Khalas.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Your 2000+ tradition\" is based on what facts? From the days of Jesus Christ, it was the women who remained faithful to him, taught their children, and lived according to the Gospels. They spread the gospel among their family members and friends.\nWomen were martyrs. They were founders of monasteries. They were mystics. They were intellectuals. But they didn't write history. Men did and men promulgated themselves as the movers, shakers and builders. But women were the cement that held all of this together.\"\n\nI don't doubt that what you say is true, except for your statement that it was \"the\" women who \"remained faithful to him, taught their children, and lived according to the Gospels,\" as if to imply that that men did not. Women have done wonderful, sometimes miraculous things for the Church. Nothing I said contradicts that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "<\"According to well-known New Testament scholar, Sacred Heart Sr. Carolyn Osiek\">\n\nThe Executive Director of FutureChurch - who are campaigning for female and male ordination? That \"well-known\" scholar? \n\n<\"Euodia and Syntyche were very likely among the episkopoi and diakonoi to whom Paul addresses his letter.\">\n\nEh?\n\nPaul actually wrote: \"I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.\"\n\nThese were two women who were arguing and Paul called upon his \"true companion\" to assist in resolving their dispute and the disunity it was causing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You misread my comments, and I would guess by intention. You keep telling me what God wants. But the gospel boils down to love (not obey) and let Jesus prepare a place for you. Do we love to get the reward? Or do we learn to love?\n\nYour statement in and of itself is not nefarious. The problem comes from your certainty that you can lead God's actions, that you know what everyone should do. In my opinion, you may indeed be right. But it sure seems like a malleable and useable and somewhat gullible deity. Not the one I'm trying to follow. Not the one in the Gospels.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Where are the \"99% of the Church, the people of God\" in all this Church closing business? \n\nHave we been taught obedience and submission so well that we slink back silently and allow this travesty of justice and scandalous activity to continue? \n\nWhere are the parishes that choose deacon administrators? Where are the parishioners demanding the Church seriously consider married priests and women priests over \"no priest\"? Why so few and far between are these People of God? \n\nOR IS THE PROBLEM the failure of melding two highly divergent theological positions (post-Trent and post-Vatican II)? ...when each position could thrive in its own separate \"space\"...each confident to challenge the other in its thinking, without fear of surrendering defensive and superior positions?\n\nhttps://RiteBeyondRome.com", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "From Ivereigh on the appointment of Cardinals.:\n(agree 150%)\n\n\"Yet for all that Francis wants to bring in voices from Asia and Africa, the main gravitational center in this pontificate remains Latin America, home to nearly half of the world\u2019s Catholics and the most likely provenance of the next pope.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, just the one. \"Jesus answered, \u201cI am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.\" John 14:6.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes they teach so that we can be properly formed..so that we have \"sound criteria\" (aligned with the truth) with which we can make moral judgments. \n\nThey govern so that there will be a visible Church ordered to a stable good for its people.\n\nThey sanctify so that we can receive the Sacarments, which can power us to love God, and serve Him by loving His children. \n\nAll of these visible actions of the Church enable us to sanctify the world.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And yet liberal Democrats--especially \"Catholic\" liberal democrats seem to have no problem imposing Catholic social teaching on the nation. \n\nWhy do they get to do that?\n\nAnd, sir, you can spin it however you want to spin it. The truth remains--Roe was no more a \"valid\" decision than Dred Scot was. I am sure there were very good legal reasoning for why the court decided as it did in Dred Scot. That does snot make the decision correct, right, or just. The same thing applies to Roe. The justices might have very good legal reasons and rationalizations for why they ruled they way they did. That does not make the decision correct, right or just.\n\nJust as this country did not stand for the Dred Scot decision--and eventually took steps to overturn it--or otherwise render it moot, so too that is what pro-lifers are trying to do with Roe.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, Jesus was just using hyperbole when He said those things about all our heart, mind, soul, strength.\n\nAnd when He said, as we heard in the Holy Mass today, \"be perfect as My Heavenly Father is perfect\" He was joking.\n\nI'm going to love my wife more. (Jesus doesn't want this)\n\nI'm going to learn more about what God has taught His Church over time. (no need to pay attention to \"binding and loosing\"\n\nI'm going to clean up my soul by going to Confesssion with greater sincereity, baring the truth about my soul's decisions. (Jesus doesn't want us to tell Him the full truth). \n\nI'm going to give in to interior complaint never again. (what did He say about being quick to point a finger?) \n\nI'm giong to clean my garage (what did He say about detachment and work?)\n\nJust bizzare ideas.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The best way to avoid contact with progressive Catholics is attending Tridentine Masses. And the best way to avoid conservative/traditionalist Catholics is not attending Tridentine Masses.\n\nWe do not share the same faith and we don't want to share the same pews. Why don't we recognize it and move forward?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic Church accepted most of his teaching as correct. Martin Luther was a believer. Just because he understood that Jesus Christ and God aren't Roman Catholic, no need to develop an ulcer . . . or refer to someone by their not-preferred moniker.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We have always known that the GOP was a coalition of religious and cultural conservatives (the Ecumencism of Hate) and the financial libertarians who take advantage of the prosperity gospel to pass tax legislation that makes the rich richer and their Republican comrades poorer.\n\nSometimes this works, sometimes it doesn\u2019t, depending on where the Catholic vote goes. Trump convinced Catholic hierarchs that he was the real deal on abortion. They are easy to convince because for decades, every promise has gone unkept. The jury is out on Gorsuch, but the fact that he is reported as razzing Pence for his pro-life views shows that, yet again, the pro-life movement has been had (a question Pew did not address).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your Excellency,\n\nWhat about the parents, the sons and daughters, the brothers and sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, the friends, neighbors and the co workers The funeral mass is not just for the dead but also for comfort of the living!\n\nWhen you stop having funeral masses for bishops who have reassigned priests to have them re-offend, when you stop burying people who have remarried without an annulment or blessing the bodies of people who live together without the benefits of marriage, then you can get on your high horse.\n\nAlso, you don't mention having these gay married people not buried in a Catholic Cemetery. Oh, thats right you took their money for that.\n\nWe all sin one way or another and we all need Gods help in getting to heaven. Why this particular sin? What is yours we can added it to the list and keep you from having a funeral mass.\n\nRegards\nEugene O'Neill", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Most men in church leadership were those dead of whom Jesus said ....\" let the dead bury their dead . \" \nSo another abuse , now, of the faithful departed ! Pitting the living against them . \n\" O what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive . \"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Back when Stockwell Day and Stephen Harper came forward to get elected PM, we worried about the Trumpesque factions of the conservative party and its supporters. Harper muzzled them and we were told they were figments of hysterical liberal imaginations, no one in the fold was so extreme.\n\nWell, see? Told 'ya. We heard how certain people spoke off record about non-whites, non-Christians, non-straights, non-conservatives, and new Canadians. It was toxic stuff. And we took notes when we learned what sorts of catch phrases got used to code the prejudices in public ('family values' meant 'anti-gay' while 'Canadian values' meant anti-Muslim, etc.). Now, note the excitement in some of the comments here that Trump has risen and that we could emulate him. Oh sorry, I'm still hysterical? You mean it's only about a desire for legal immigration, the more dangerous applicants, respect for Christian values too, and a sincere almost humble concern for jobs?\n\nYeah, right. As I say. We have ears.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bully for you! That is not the case for many children. Catholicism MUST deal with the people who are living in the world that we have. Or do you think that God doesn't know and see what is going on in the world? Or do you think that God is afraid of this situation?\n\nFaith is needed, but an experience of RELATIONSHIP is needed more. One isn't going to have faith, without relationship first. Jesus walked, ate, talked, laughed, with his followers first. THEN he asked them, \"Who do you say I am?\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What? You acknowledge mystery because you can justify heresy and sin more easily? Heresy is actually the opposite, a self chosen opinion that creates clarity at the expense of God\u2019s mystery. An excess of clarity is more likely heretical than an excess of mystery and ambiguity.\n\nAs to Protestants, it is the fact that you don\u2019t care that I find most problematic. It goes against the Catholicity of the Church, a core characteristic of Catholicism. If you don\u2019t care what God is doing in the world, you don\u2019t care much about God. If you see God in action, you should be thrilled. Indifference only means you are closed off. Faith appears very small in the way you present it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hillary Clinton said, \"Laws have to be backed up with resources and political will. And deep-seated RELIGIOUS BELIEFS HAVE TO BE CHANGED.\" In other words, Hillary Clinton sides AGAINST RELIGIOUS LIBERTY. \nThe following is list #1 of Christians who have been persecuted for being faithful to their beliefs in recent years:\n- Little Sisters of the Poor (re: Obamacare)\n- Christy Industries in Missouri (Obamacare)\n- Autocam in Michigan (Obamacare)\n- Archbishop Cordileone, for adding clauses so CATHOLIC teachers uphold Catholic teaching in their professional and public lives\n- Sweet Cakes bakery (for refusing to bake a specialized cake that would be part of a ceremony against their Christian beliefs)\n- the Boy Scouts\n- Houston pastors (their sermons)\n- Arlene's Flowers\n- the Huguenin's photography\n- Masterpiece Cake shop\n- Atlanta's now FORMER fire chief\n- Mozilla founder Brendan Rich\n- President Obama's Defense Department including Catholics in a list of terrorists along with al-Qaeda", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Greetings...the WASPS have been circling this site forever....giving bad vibes too all progressive Catholics\ud83d\ude23!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are dismissing this as a trivial matter when you know it is not about baking a cake at all. Were it just that the Supreme Court would not be considering the case. An important matter of principle is involved here, whether the State can coerce its citizens to act against their consciences.or if it can, where is the line to be drawn.\nAs most bakers will not object to decorating a cake for a same-sex 'marriage', none of this be of concern to anyone. The one's who have declined in both the US and here in the UK have been prosecuted and/or sued have been targetted on account of their conscientious objections, in the hope of putting them out of business and deterring other Christians from following their consciences. \nSuch is the lobby which you are supporting.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What of a different interpretation-where Jesus says not all take this saying but to whom it is given.\nLet he accept it who can-in reply to Peter's saying it is better not to marry. One then sees Jesus in a more pastoral light, as Pope Francis is doing. \n One would then see marriage in a new light but not be bound to deny the limitations of human nature and the human condition, as church teaching has sometimes done. \n And if we are saved by grace then to grace we are debtors come what may. One is not looking for excuses to to what is convenient. I have no personal stake in the issue one way or another-just the truth.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Vatican 2 was intended as an 'aggornimiento' \u2013 an effort to bring Catholics to learn to live in the world we actually inhabit. So it was a start to get us away from a Medieval, and post-reformation, mind-set. We are still working at it.\n\nMeanwhile it becomes apparent that we need to tackle a 'dogmatic' Council. \n\nWe claim to base our theology on Scripture and Revelation. But our understanding and interpretation of Scripture has developed. We have not yet worked our Scriptural understanding into our Theology.\n\nThe most obvious example is our theology of 'original sin' and how we think and speak of it. \nScripturally, we say that God inspired the creation stories of Genesis to be written as a myth literary form. What are the theological implications of that? If 'Adam and Eve' are not actual, real, historical people, then \u2013 obviously \u2013 there was no actual 'original sin' to be 'inherited' and passed to humanity.\n\nDare we tackle getting our Scripture & Theology back in union?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In no way do I wish to diminish the issues swirling around the stated issue I. This article, bit I think there's something else of note here as well.\n\nBy wording things the way it des, the Vatican seems to be trying to create wiggle room for itself. But as we've seen over and over, there are times when black and white might be a better approach. How few of us can u derstand why the bishops have so badly handled the abuse mess? Or this issue of gay priests? Or women?\n\nI would hope that this \"cleverness\" on the part of the insiders could come to an end. They seem to still want everything both ways... If the laity is to believe things are black and white, why not the bishops? I think this dualit mindset is not good for the church these days.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Comment 2\n\nA thought on the pitiful Vatican laws and judicial systems used to divert attention to minor figures so that big guys are protected.\n\nThe Vatican's attempt to try two journalists - one was Fittipaldi - for receipt of \"leaked\" information led Vatican powers that be to realize that the Vatican had no jurisdiction over the two journalists. It was a diversion, folks, and maybe an attempt to \"scare\" investigative reporters. Don't think it worked.\n\nBut now the information is out there so what do they do? They divert attention, again, to non-clerical \"culprits\" and then end up with actually imposing no more penalty than has already been paid by the two in having quit or been fired from their jobs. \n\nDoes anyone think there is any fear among hierarchs or lay big wigs at the Vatican of breaking Vatican rules and laws? Is the next Bertone or Profiti gonna think twice?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When certain bishops in subtle and more overt ways try t convince the 'faithful' that damnation awaits for those who vote for democrats the Catholic Church is not a neutral broker or arbitrator in the ensuing debate. The prelates are as responsible as any other influential group in the election of Trump. The repercussions from his future 'mis-administration' will be borne by the people the church purports to embrace; the poor, the immigrant, those who are ill, etc. These will all suffer the consequences as will the credibility of the bishops.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Incredible. This is another NCR \"stir it up people and go after each other\" article.\n\n\"Liturgy Wars\". Why not name it \"Lives of Real Catholics REVEALED!!!\"\n\n\"Reality news\" Click, click, click. \n\nMercatornet seems to have found a real, solid, middle ground...civil..substantial...positive.\n\nhttps://www.mercatornet.com/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Those cardinals who posted their \"Dubia\" are not asking any questions because they really want any pastoral clarity. They could care less about pastoral concerns for the sake of the people's good.\nThese cardinals are just like the scribes and pharasees who tried to pose questions to Jesus [only because they wanted to trap him in his words]. Francis can recognize two-legged wolves dressed in red.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The diocese and the victims/attorneys were unable to reach agreement on compensation for the clerical abuse, which is no surprise. Having listened to many friends in both Montana dioceses over the years, I am inclined to believe that the diocese could have done better by the victims. And bankruptcy does not come cheap, even in not-so-Catholic Montana!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Gee, moving to a site with a monitoring system designed to suppress opposing points of view is a desirable goal? Unfortunately, that seems to be consistent with theme within the Catholic Church since the election of Pope Francis.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, I see the Eucharist as Jesus Christ.\n\nAccordingly, if I am in mortal sin, I go to Confession so that sanctifying grace may be restored in my soul - lest I commit an additional sin of sacrelige. What benefit would it be to receive my Lord sacrilegiously? Why would I do that to myself?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oddly, papal infallibility, declaring what is true for Catholics to believe is relativistic. Absolutism is based on reason, not authority.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "AnnieO wrote, \"There is no sin in believing that women can be ordained. Period. P. S. They already have been anyway. And will be again.\"\n\nTo which you replied \"Except NOT in the Roman Catholic Church.....\"\n\nYou did not say \"women are not likely to be ordained\", you said \"women will not be ordained\" (and yes, those are not your EXACT words, but it is a realistic paraphrase). So, since you can predict the future, tell us what numbers to pick in the lottery.\n\nOrdination should be more about service than status. However, in the real world -- a place you apparently have only a vague connection with -- it is also about status. The men who would deny ordination to women are concerned about their own status. To quote Governor LePetomaine from Blazing Saddles, \"We've got to protect our phony-baloney jobs, gentlemen.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mix progressive Catholic with a conspiracy theorist, add a big pinch of paranoia,, and top it off with demonology rhetoric.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Germans are Christian Europeans", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "https://atonementonline.com/\n\nI used to get there at least once a year, but have not attended since 2012 due to other matters.\n\nUnfortunately recently the Archbishop of San Antonio removed the rector, Fr. Phillips.\n\nI knew him when he as a priest in the Episcopal Church. He entered the Catholic Church and completed studies for ordination but Bishop Louis Gelineau of Providence would not ordain him because he made an agreement with Episcopal bishop of Providence that they wouldn't receive converts from each others\u2019 clergy.(!)\n\nhttp://angelqueen.org/2017/01/20/san-antonio-archbishop-removes-anglican-use-catholic-parish-pastor/\n\nThis appears to be the reverse of the article's thrust, in this case anti-restorationists quashing a traditionally oriented liturgical practice. Apparently the popularity of the parish was causing ill-feelings among some of the priests in the area.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Are you saying we as Catholics MUST vote as the bishops say...since when? That is not what Jesus wants. He wants us to vote the candidate that best represents his teachings. That is and was not Trump.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Whether you agree with this Pope's views on social issues or not, one thing you cannot deny is his Biblical and Christocentric focus on the topic of Mercy. Pope Francis is practicing Jesus's exhortation to the teachers of the Law \"Go and learn what it means I will have mercy and not sacrifice\". And he is doing it in a deft way as well that is Christocentric to the core. Because remember Christ did not change the Law. He stated \"I have not come to change the Law but to fulfill it\"(Matthew 5). \n\nAnd yet even though he didn't change the Law he stressed Mercy. We see this in the case of the Woman in adultery. Christ didn't change the moral code of the Law on adultery. But he also emphasized mercy as well. In the same way Francis has not changed the Doctrine of the Catholic Church. He has said he is still a \"son of the Church\". But he has also emphasized mercy. Christ balanced Law and Mercy. Francis is balancing doctrine and mercy in a Biblical fashion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Many radical environmentalists can accurately be\nlabeled \u201cnature mystics.\u201d And many of them express\naffinity with religions they generally consider more\nnature-beneficient than occidental religions, such as those\noriginating in Asia such as Buddhism and Daoism,\nreligious beliefs or practices surviving among the world\u2019s\nremnant indigenous peoples, or being revitalized or\ninvented anew, such as PAGANISM and WICCA. Paganism\nand Wicca are considered to be (or to be inspired by) the\nAboriginal nature religions of the Western world, which\nhave been long suppressed by imperial Christianity and\nIslam.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Fr. Reese, with all due respect I disagree. Donald Trump is and will always be a divisive person. He has used disparaging names for anyone he disagrees with, he has offered to pay the legal bill for anyone who wants to use violence. He wants to build a wall and make Mexico pay for it, he wants to ban Muslims from this country and the Catholic Church said President Obama was violating Religious freedom? He abuses women because in his own words on audio tape he has the power to do so. And you are saying we should all get together and work with this person and his cabinet for the better of our country? How do you see that happening? He wants to cut taxes for the wealthy and corporations and yet somehow find the funds to rebuild our infrastructure. The church was very muted on all of the atrocious comments he made on the campaign trail and now you suggest we work with him. I'm sorry I don't see how that is possible.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It was St Philip the Deacon also known as the Evangelist who had the daughters. This is referred to in Acts 21:9. He was one of the seven deacons ordained by the Apostles but he has often been confused with St Philip the Apostle.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus brings God's commandments to fulfilment, particularly the commandment of love of neighbour, by interiorizing their demands and by bringing out their fullest meaning. Love of neighbour springs from a loving heart which, precisely because it loves, is ready to live out the loftiest challenges. Jesus shows that the commandments must not be understood as a minimum limit not to be gone beyond, but rather as a path involving a moral and spiritual journey towards perfection, at the heart of which is love. JP2 Veritatis Splendor 15\n\nThis is how JP2 described it in his encyclical on morality.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is also a vast difference between knowledge of the truth and perceived knowledge of fiction. I prefer the truth. Do you question if Jesus existed?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "To begin with, racism is not as rampant as it is being portrayed. For example, I work with a man who is married to a woman of a different race and my best friend was also in a mixed race marriage. I also work with a gay couple and as an Assemblies of God minister, I know for certainty denomination accepts biracial marriages. I hate to tell the letter writer, but the future arrived a long time ago.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Let us not mistake \"the good ones\" for \"the ones dennism likes\".\n\nThe transition from a series of blocked private conversations parasitically parked at NCR by a handful to an actual open discussion group will take awhile, weeks, perhaps a few months.\n\nOn the other hand we haven't had a post whooping it up about a cardinal's dresses for a week or two, and occasionally we're getting an actual discussion with two or more sides that lasts for awhile without \"traddies\", \"orthodox Catholics\", or \"heretics\" being hurled.\n\nRead the archives in Disqus.\n\nBeing disagreed with is not \"civility by ruse\" except for people that are used to no rules and no disagreement.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The instruction makes sense to me, perhaps because I am accustomed to visiting cemeteries, where my mostly catholic family members are buried and my wife's Methodist family is buried. Ramsay Mac MacMullen (The Second Century: Popular Christianity A.D. 200-400) describes the then burial practices of vast majority of Christians going to eat a sacred meal of food and wine in cemeteries, celebrating the memory of the departed. Today, one can avoid the big costs of funeral homes by working through the Funeral Consumers Alliance. a non-profit, mapping numbers of rather inexpensive options, e.g., cremation and return of the remains in a box or urn, which then allows people to have whatever services they desire. But none of all this has much to do the the dead. It is all about us, the still living and how we remember the dead, whether we hope for resurrection, or perhaps just want to somehow forget. Or, by keeping urns on the kitchen counter, pretend they are still somehow with us.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think it is little late for April Fool's Day. \n>\nCanada has no core identity, that what it means to be Canadian. Canada is bunch of tribes: The Native, the French, The Christians, The Jews, The Feminists, The Old Stock, The Italians, The Chinese, etc.\n>\nTrustin Dudeau says this himself, Canada has no core identity, that is why we have a constant, unrelenting flood of new immigrants arriving who are invited to live in Canada with their own culture, within their own group. You can geo-map these groups in areas of Toronto.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am up to the task of disabusing those who might be attracted to the form of 'Catholicism' which you promote on this site.\nDon't think for one moment that Pope Francis is in agreement with your take upon the Catholic Church.\nDo you really believe that Christ founded a Church knowing full well that it would be capable of \"unspeakable evil\"?\nHuman beings are capable of such evil and have done evil throughout history. Individuals are responsible for this evil not the Church, the Body of Christ. When you accuse the Church of such misdeeds you are accusing Our Lord, Himself.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "On the upside, it is good to see that Jesus is very much alive in the lives and actions of people like Sr. Sally Butler, even though the RC hierarchy and the institutional Church have abandoned Him.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "While the Blaine Amendment is not longer used to discriminate against Catholics, your comment re using public funds for religious purposes is no more apt that the arguments against Planned Parenthood because of their support for abortion.\n\nThe DougCo vouchers are worth about 1/3 the cost of tuition at Regis. Do you believe religious education comprises more than 2/3 the education provided at Regis? Having known a student who attended, I can assure you it's not. No math problems cleverly hiding religious arguments. No Chemistry showing us how electrons respond to God's Will.\n\nI may be one of the least religious persons you will ever encounter here and I can see the difference between secular education at a religious high school and a \"religious purpose\". Similarly, I can see the difference between Planned Parenthood's abortion services and the remainder of their work.\n\nWe separate these functions with accounting, a topic which I believe you have at least passing familiarity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The church is, and will continue to lose conservative Catholics. Good riddance.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Regarding Adam and Eve, I'm not sure what there is to disagree with. The Church accepts Theistic Evolution as a valid theory - not antithetical to faith.\"\n\nContrary to the Biblical Myth, Eve (femaleness) did not originate from maleness (Adam) - and as Tradition has (would have) it, 'woman is therefore, subservient to him'.\nTheistic consciousness [conceptualizing (G)god] is a psychic, experiential phenomenon of evolving human consciousness - NOT external to it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We may have difficultly understanding our faith. However, it has been said that ten thousand difficulties do not make one doubt. To doubt means to be unsure whether a belief is true; to have a difficulty means to know the belief is true but to be unsure just what it means or why it is true. This can be overcome through prayer and study. If Jesus tells us something is true - then it is. Same goes for His Church. \n\nAs Catholics, we shouldn't allow difficulties in understanding Church doctrine to turn into doubts about established truths. The Church has spent its entire life carefully examining ideas and determining which ones are in line with God's law and which aren't. It has discarded heresy after heresy while carefully building up the tenets of the Faith. \n\nThere are thousands of other Christian churches in existence today - all of them had \"doubts\" that led to \"new ideas\" which at one point the Church had decided were outside the deposit of faith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "St. Elizabeth of the Holy Trinity\nWhat a beautiful pure soul!!! \nShe surely is a lotus flower who is a pure beauty from the mud of the Catholic Institution, in spite of it!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "More \"us\" and \"them.\" Who is more Catholic - God or Jesus? Pope Francis or Pope Benedict XVI? George Weigel or Michael Winters? You or me?\n\nI am a big believer in folks who are \"sorta\" Catholic. At least they are still exploring, still questioning, still seeking to know God and to learn how to live to give love into the world. I would make a lousy convert because I would not be able to say \"I believe and profess all that the holy Catholic Church believes, teaches and proclaims to be revealed by God.\" I would have to add \"sorta\" somewhere. \n\nI am surprised that MSW still thinks that even applies to most Catholics in the developed world - they do not believe everything about sex and contraceptives and LGBT that the Church \"proclaims\" and MSW knows it.\n\nMaybe the problem is that converts are told and believe that other Catholics actually believe everything the bishops and popes say is \"revealed by God.\" Truth is, many Catholics think they missed the mark here and there.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I can't understand why Cardinal George Pell isn't suing me for defamation and various other criminal or indictable offences that are available to the DPP \n\nI won't be showing anybody anything until little Georgie Pell is sitting right beside the we can all see it together then", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Whatever people believe about one God, a Trinity, or multiple Gods, etc., how they organise themselves to worship those, or live their personal lives, etc., should be their business, because it does not impact society at large. \n\nWhat matters is the impact on others, and \"our society\" has told the Catholics and BACs in no uncertain terms to stuff their beliefs about abortion and gays , no one worried about \"alienating\" them, no one fell all over themselves being \"respectful\".\n\nBut we fall all over ourselves being \"respectful\" of conservative Muslim beliefs .\n\nAt least be consistent.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The gulf between the L.G.B.T. community and the church is not primarily based on orientation; it is a gulf created by judgmentalism on both sides. That is the real starting point for a dialogue between the Catholic Church and the L.G.B.T. community in the United States today. Father Martin should be thanked for pointing to this reality, not shunned.\"\n\nWhat do you mean? Are you in favor of judgmentalism?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Will any Catholic seminary in the US admit a person whose birth certificate says female but who now identifies as a male? Will an all-male Catholic high school admit a student whose birth certificate says female but who now identifies as a male? \n\nWill the NBA All-Star game be able to be played anywhere in the US? Will California state employees be able to travel anywhere in the US on state business?\n\nInteresting times in which we live.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No. Abortion cannot be banned. Prior to Roe vs. Wade, over 800,000 back-alley and self-induced (coat hanger) abortions were performed each year. Abortions always have been and will always be. Makes me wonder why all the pious men waited until 1973 to jump on the bandwagon and wave their fetus flags. I was a Catholic-educated teenager prior to Roe vs. Wade and abortion was never discussed in our female religious classes. We were warned about accidental pregnancies, the resulting marriages, and that we would despise our husbands after three years. We were constantly warned about the dangers and sinfulness of sniffing glue, but never abortion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I like the way you put that, Bro. I think the Papal deacon study may be useful as something may be learned from it, but of course if the Church in the past failed to include women as full deacons, that does not mean the future Church must also fail to do that. So much of the clericalism (which excludes women) is based on a Vulgate interpretation of 2 Co 2:10 as \"in the person of Christ\" (in persona Christi), whereas now, the NAB/NABRE on the Vatican and US bishops' websites correctly has \"in the presence of Christ.\" Not -- in the person of. Brings down their house of cards, if indeed the bishops bothered to read their own Bible. There is only one Jesus that all should follow, and he is the only High Priest and the only Bridegroom. And while the priest has authority, he is not another Jesus and not 'in persona.' We are all members of the Christ so there is no gender limitation on who may represent IT. At the Last Supper, Jesus said, 'Do this in memory of me' to all disciples present.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Can you imagine Trump giving up all his worldly possessions and following Christ ?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How can you call it Christmas without there being a religious connotation? Christ - mas. As in Jesus the Christ. Get it?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The primary issue has been the history of denial of child sexual abuse and bringing it to an end. It's been as difficult and prolonged as breaking the denial of the moral injustice of slavery in the 1800s. \nThe first public discussion of child molestation was in women's magazines in the 1970s. The first case of molestation by a Catholic priest (in LA) that went public nationwide was in 1985 and was published in NCR. Fr. Tom Doyle, a canon lawyer, has endured a lifetime of extreme pressure after he wrote the first advisory to the American bishops in 1985 calling them to break their denial on the issue of child sexual molestation by priests. Ray Boucher also has given many years of his life. Most lawyers wouldn't touch the cases. And those who did ended up taking many more cases. However imperfect the people and actions involved might be people faced difficulties that Jim Robertson seems to not be aware of. No one has written a short history of it as far as I know.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do you subscribe to National Catholic Reporter?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Confession may be good for the soul, but it's not very popular. Pope Francis began his papacy confessing his own human weakness, trying to help Catholics make their personal good general confessions. The confessional is still open... Maybe a non-believer may heed.\n\np.s. \nWhether it be a believer or non-believer who confesses to the truth, there is never penance. \n\"Quickly, bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then, let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and he has come to life again. He was lost, and he has been found!\" (Luke 15:11-32)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sadly, this is true. I believe the increase of the NONES is proof that not only are people leaving Catholicism but faith in Christ because our example is so poor of what the Gospels clearly command. They cannot reconcile our church's clericalism and misogyny with the Gospel Teachings of Christ we claim to believe in. Therefor all that we teach seems false to them and who could blame them for thinking this way?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I find it \"interesting\" to see Richmond Bishop Francis DiLorenzo call out racism. He has done nothing to work for racial harmony in his diocese, nor to call out a racist priest in the diocese. The Bishop partially attended a Spanish Mass for the Hispanic community in the Cathedral a few years ago. He made no attempts to speak in Spanish dring the Mass and has done nothing to help the Latino community grow, much less the black Catholic commuity. He had a priest of one his largest parishes in Henrico County state from the pulpit that blacks needed to go back to where they came from as a response the the arttacks in Dallas where the congregation applauded him during his homily. I am sure the blessed Mother for whom the parish is named was beside herself. That same parish has a large Hispanic presence where pastor will not allow a Spanish Mass. So I am sure there are many other Richmonders who are finding the Bishops comments \"interesting\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"In that way, you can object to the MSWesque worldview by informing the progressive readers that NCR isn't the only or the best progressive Catholic oracle.\"\n\nReally, Utilitas? So please tell us what is the best progressive Catholic oracle?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I respectfully disagree with you. Bishop McElroy's actions advocating civil disobedience in no way reflects Jesus' actions as it relates to illegal immigration.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Abortion isn't the only thing we need to consider, but it is the most important. Abortion isn't just one issue among others.\n\nI mean consider: if Trump supported slavery---wouldn't bishops and priest be correct if they said--for that reason alone a Catholic cannot vote for Trump in good Conscience?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thanks William. I would be surprised if after 52 years people still had not heard of Star Trek or \"beam me up Scotty\" transporter. But I take your point, which is why I included other analogies, including the Internet, Jesus' sleep and Paul's seed.\n\nI also agree re the hubris of pretending we know exactly what might happen when we die. One might argue that any \"doctrine\" beyond mere belief in God, or not even that, is hubris. \n\nYet for me personally though, there must be a better way to reconcile previously contradictory texts in the Bible. Although incomprehensible, Jesus' through His analogy of sleep and Paul through his analogy of a seed and types of flesh do try to help us understand the nature of the afterlife - if only a little but taking your point about its incomprehension.\n\nBut I overall agree we should approach this topic with a degree of open expectation rather than dogmatic surety of the answer.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It was indeed deliberate and in fact is policy driven by an agenda that has been around for a decade. To be blunt it's a war against private automobiles. It's not just that the mayor and the city engineer are bicycle enthusiasts (which they are), but that they truly believe with a religious fervor that everyone must join their church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not being a woman I will never fully understand that fear that comes a variety of forms of aggression that men don't usually face, (but boy/men also get bullied). We are far behind providing the health services do for women/families in most European nations. Health care in American is not only a woman's issue, men and children also suffer from health care expense and incomplete coverages.\n\nI've never had a woman in my realm of friends and family who has been harassed for getting health care, including abortion. I've been pro-choice now for 43 years. I am a Christian but not affiliated to a denomination at the moment. Not all religious people are fanatics. Have you had such a confrontation yourself?\n\nSince you have traveled a 'little bit,' you might have noticed the rights of women in western nations are not necessary common world wide. Americans also isolate themselves from the concerns of nations that suffer great poverty, civil war, crime on a daily basis.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Let's try this again, since you asked for clarification.\n\nOh dear, I thought everyone here knew the term. Do a google search for \"lenin useful.\"\n\nSeriously....5 adult Catholics here don't know the term \"useful ---\" (again, check google) and how it applies to anyone who's good intentions are used by an organization to further their own ends?\n\nSo gentle progressive, please don't delete this....let Caiside read it, so she can put her whistle down and understand what the puzzling term means.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"the Vatican's first independent auditor who answered only to the pope\"\n\nHe is not an \"independent auditor\" if he is an employee of the Vatican. This is just one more example of the Vatican being a very, very \"intrinsically disordered\" place.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "According to the documents of Vatican Two, 'The Priest' of the Diocese is the Bishop. Since he can't be everywhere to minister his functions of leading Liturgy, distributing Sacraments, Preaching and Teaching, and of Administration, the Bishop delegates some of these tasks to others.\n\nTheoretically, I suppose he 'could' delegate them to anyone he deemed capable. By custom and subsequent 'Canon Law' most of the tasks were reserved to those who became 'Clerics' \u2013 and the requirements for that were laid out in the customs. So also the training required and all the other requirements for such 'offices'.\n\nIncreasingly many Bishops are delegating some of their 'powers' to 'lay' people. Both men and women have been designated to lead services, administer a parish, teach, and many functions formerly reserved to 'the priest'. \n\nIt may be through an 'ordination'. Though usually that is considered a 'Sacrament of Orders' required only for 'priests' or 'Deacons'. Most new roles don't require that", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "CARA\n\nSomewhere around 5-7% of the 324 million US citizens attend catholic mass weekly:\n\n\"From here on Catholics who are parish-connected and who attend Mass with some regularity come into full view. Some 36.5 million Catholics attend Mass at least once a month (i.e., this total includes those who attend more frequently) and 32.8 million are in a household that gives regularly to a parish offertory collection. We must drill down further to specifically focus only on the 17.9 million Catholic weekly Mass attenders (i.e., those attending every week. This is different from the number of Catholics attending in any given week. This total is not shown on the graph and includes approximately 23.1 million individuals on a typical weekend).\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "first, I am surprised by Pope Benedict's statement of \"co-responsibility\". He is the one who promoted the idea of a \"smaller, purer church.\" That suggests to me that he, and perhaps, others in the hierarchy who share his views are not looking for collaboration, but more \"just be willing to do what we tell you to do.\" In my seventh decade, I can see, as an erstwhile and long time parish volunteer and as a staff member for a few years in my parish(s) that suggestions from lay folks were not welcome. Unless they had some good ideas for fundraising.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Living in what way? Marriage partners are not selected by parents anymore. People marry because they fall in love, first. In marriage, they are to support one another and assist one another in growing in love and God's grace. According to the Catholic marriage ritual, couples are to welcome children into their marriage. I know of LGBT couples who have adopted children, who had not had, nor would not have a family life otherwise. They have done everything which a Catholic marriage should be.\n\nThe problem is that our bishops, many of whom had little or no, biological training in h.s. or the seminary----don't realize that being LGBT isn't a matter of choice----it is a part of their conception in the womb. This is true of a certain percentage of every other species of animal on this planet. Humans are no different. But our bishops like their assembly lines. They think that all humans are made that way. Boys in one line, girls in the other. All made the same way.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your comment is certainly Part 1 of a critical conversation, and I agree wholeheartedly. \n\nPart 2 would be the acknowledgement that, as sexy and intriguing as all this esoteric disagreement may be, it has little to do with the Gospel -- and the lack of deep encounter and involvement with the Jesus of the Gospel is exactly why the institutional Church's leadership, influence and membership are reaching a critical meltdown stage.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Division and polarization come from when others seek to depart from the teachings handed down from Our Lord through 2,000 years of Catholic Tradition. It is not those who hold fast to the Catholic and Apostolic teachings of the faith we have received who forment divisions. Trying to introduce backhanded innovations is the source of division and polarization.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A thoughtful article on Trump is here: https://cruxnow.com/global-church/2017/09/20/trumps-un-address-reflects-tensions-catholic-social-teaching/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think you should read the bible, and the Seleucid history that Jesus himself opposed, in the Bible. Not to mention Ezekiel's prophecy. \n\nNot to mention Alexander the Great conquered the area and flooded the area with hellenistic interpretations and ideologies that shaped the new testament after a grueling intertestamental period. \n\nThe evil empire of the seleucids apparently still ring true after roman conquest as all the male syrian refugees preceeded their women and children.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Worth re-posting as Angelo has so succinctly described the irrational fervor that surrounds this activism. I've drawn parallels between these extremists and the religious zealotry during DaVinci's time in so much that questioning the church or even being seen as engaging in any activity that questioned the Catholic church resulted in a heretic brand.\n\nToday, the church is global warming. Fascinating that the more things change, the more they stay the same.\n\nangelo_vancouver\n\nClimate change activism has become a proxy for loathing of the petroleum industry by the environmental movement. The issue has evolved into a belief system with apocalyptic hysteria, blind zealotry and religious notions of exclusion and condemnation of the non-believer. It's somewhat akin to an inquisition. \n\nThat being the case, all right thinking Canadians must fight back against this extremism. The best way to do that is to cast your ballot AGAINST this government in the next election.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Anyone who has read my posts can't possibly conclude I am interested in clericalism.\n\nIn fact, I've pointed out that NCR is itself a very clerically minded place, focusing on Rome, the Vatican, the pope, the cardinals, the sisters, the bishops, as if the only vocations are clerics and professed religious, never the engineer, police officer, swim coach, real estate person.\n\nNote the priority of the items:\n\nCharity\nInteriior life of ordinary Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Both candidates were lacking any sence of character ~~~ I voted my \" Catholic informed conscious \" Top priority ~~~ The gift of life~~ if we honored this maybe all else would fall into place. We pray to change the hearts of Pro- Choice to God's Choice Pro- Life.\nAnd to the \"open letter\" how would you feel if the Suprem Court allowed late term /partial abortion ??? ~~~ at least by voting the Republican Party we have a chance that this will never become a reality.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So with \u201cwill go be in Communion with the poors over with the Episcopalians (who will also let you receive Communion.) \u201c you recommend threatening the priest with their apostasy?\n\nOn the other hand I guess they could lucky, get by with a claim of invincible ignorance, and land a male priest of the Episcopal Church whose orders stem from the Old Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why are some people threatened by public prayer? Why do some people want to ban something that doesn't hurt them? If you believe, fine, if you do not equally fine. Freedom of religion and speech were fundamental to our nations founding. That we were founded based on Judeo-Christian principles is unquestioned. And according to those principals all are welcome to believe or not according to their free will and values. But that now seems to be lost to \"political correctness\". Why?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Converts are always the most brittle practitioners of their new religion. Unlike people who are born into a particular faith tradition, converts expect everyone to abide by their particular understanding of the faith. When people ignore their \"rules\" it upsets their little apple cart and they get frustrated. Ross Douthat is a perfect example of this phenomenon - if anyone's more Catholic than the pope, it's he. And he's hardly alone. Rod Dreher is another one who comes to mind, but now that I think about it, he's already passed through his R.C. \"phase\" and has moved on to eastern orthodoxy, the ultimate destination for protestant conservatives for whom Roman Catholicism is not catholic enough.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thomas, I hope your confirmation group appreciated your prophetic words as much as I did. We are all united as the people of God under God's reign. We just need to listen to Jesus' words and walk with him.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jay Edward: Exactly. The Eastern Liturgies are wonderful, as are the Eastern Rite Catholics. My issue with the \"Orthodox\" is not their liturgies, but that they reject the papacy. \n\nAnd you're right: the Novus Ordo definitely sought to make the Mass more acceptable to Protestants, in the spirit of (false) ecumenism. I just think it's ironic that many of the liberals point to the Eastern \"Orthodox\" as being great (and say they want guidance from the \"Orthodox\"), when in fact what the liberals want would actually increase our differences with the \"Orthodox\", as you point out.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Please yourself what you believe. You have personal preconceived ideas as to the nature of the Catholic Church so quite naturally you go searching for any support you can find regardless of who publishes it. In today's world you will find on the internet a welter of views, opinions and ideas masquerading as truth which suit your own preconceptions.\nI am sure that your intentions are 'good' but you have no hope whatsoever of persuading the Universal Church that your personal blueprint is the correct one. Francis won't be pope for ever, the Holy Ghost will eventually pull the Barque of Peter back on to an even keel. Don't waste your time trying to reform the Church according to your own lights, don't fight against the Holy Ghost.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you, Sister. How I wish today's conservative Catholics would educate themselves about the immigrant, post-immigrant lives of their American-Catholic ancestors. \n\n They adopt the very hating and bigoted beliefs and tactics that were used against their Catholic great grandparents. They enthusiastically align with the Religious Right who proclaimed \"No Irish Need Apply\" or \"Dago Go Home.\" They have traded Hate Micks for Hate Gays, Hate Libs, Hate Feminists, Hate Dems, and Hate Muslims---and see no irony! \n\n\"Hate sin but love sinners\" is always the convenient mantra of those who get to define \"sin.\" And being a Catholic was/is a great sin to 2017 \"allies for the cause\" not long ago (Tuesday?)\n\nGrandma O'Brien and Grandpa Marinelli (Al Smith too) wonder why many Catholics have adopted the very thinking that degraded them. \n\nConservative Catholics eagerly sought and got arranged marriages of convenience (I see Phyllis Schlafly-Donald Trump). There will be a morning after.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If we substituted Catholic Church for Miller/Coors and Protestantism for Craft Beer, you would think were at the beginning of the Reformation with the inquisition dogging our heels!\n\nWhen did beer types or companies become a religious doctrine or experience such that it deserves the language \"a stake to drive into the heart of Eugene\u2019s nascent Beervana.\"?\n\nI thought I read recently that here were almost 300 craft beer outfits in Oregon; gonna need a lot more stakes!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We don't have a separate Catholic school system here in BC.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A statement has to be recent in order to be pertinent? As Catholics, don't we believe that things said 2000 years ago are pertinent?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would support neither candidate that openly displays and proudly espouses irrational beliefs. Regardless of the religion catholic or sikh, they have no place in parliament.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Goodness, guy, are you such a literalist that you take everything so blatantly literal? Surely you have read that passage [though I have never heard of any Pope studying Scripture, actually] and know that the washing of feet was a social custom at the time. Any good host would provide for the washing of guests feet, as the dust of the day collected in their sandals that were commonly worn.\n\nBut it was not the literal washing that Jesus was talking about when He said, \"What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.\"\n\nPeter, much like the Pope here, was shameful in his response, questioning Jesus.\n\n\"If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.\"\n\nIs it coming clear to you, sir? He was talking about Judas. Jesus washed his feet, too.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When the Church adopted it, thus, having decreed it to be so on earth, God was stuck with it being so in Heaven.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Functionally, demagoguery, but maybe accidental. Let me explain.\n\nClassic, or even ancient, liberals are not at all the same thing as Libertarians. There are contrasting differences between the two and they have differing clustered interests. It's not quite right to say Libertarians are \"liberal plus\" or something; they seem to pick \u00e0 la carte from liberalism, but liberalism is closer to a system of morality than not, and you can't really pick it up incompletely any more than you can pick up Christianity incompletely. \n\nLibertarians get into trouble. For example, some advocate laissez-faire capitalism, but this naturally leads to violations of liberalism's principle of equality because it omits that capitalism tends to exploit and despoil. And so Libertarians can habor some moral and sociopathic subversion or turpitude, ideologically. It's best to avoid them for this exact reason. Stick with the authentic good: pure oldschool liberalism.\n\nhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberalism", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Once again Primacy of conscience demands that Catholics stand up, in Catholic Churches, as Catholics, against any church rule that demands we break the dogma which is higher than all other dogmas because the church agrees the Great Commandment is a dogma and of Christ.\n\nThis doctrine banning women's equal ordination breaks the above dogmatic commandment of Christ. This would not be the first time a doctrine or tradition was deemed incorrect theology and therefor was changed in Roman Catholicism's history. So it is not in-Catholic to demand the church stop abusing the human dignity of all its women by keeping one of he most important sacraments from them for no justifiable cause in Christ. This does not make us protestant it just makes us more a church which adheres to the Gospel Commandments of Christ as we should have always done. \n\nIf a person fixes a broken piece on their car, that does not mean the whole car is changed from what it was. Your argument does seem one of fear.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am saddened by the many comments saying that the SDA church do not rely on Sola Scriptura and the many who bad mouthed EGW. It makes me wonder if these good folks have read any of EGW's books.\n\nMay I suggest a little exercise :\n\na) Read Luke 11:1-13 where Jesus taught us the Lord's Prayer and where he went on to explain what the prayer involved. Please read it slowly and maybe even 2-3 times to get the full import of what Jesus has to say.\n\nnow, \n\nb) Read D of A chapter 72 and MB chapter 6. Again read it slowly to understand her commentary on what Jesus said in Lk 11.\n\nthen, here is the final step,\n\nc) Reread Luke 11:1-13 again and see whether you now have a much expanded and deeper understanding of these 13 verses. \n\nFor me, I find that my understanding of the Bible is greatly improved and deepened having added SoP to my scriptural study. \n\nI wish the same for you all. God Bless.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus set up His Church for the salvation for all men. It is man who excludes himself from Jesus and His church, not the other way round. Not sure what you're referring to in terms of the Church's track record - but if your referring to the condemnation of certain practices and behaviors, well, then of course she is going to try and lead men away from those things that will damn them. That is he job.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I suppose it depends on what you are looking for. Some aspirations are well-served by Christ's commands. Others, less so. \n\nTangentially, some of the principle commands are not unique to Christ. People have heard them from other sources, and followed them or not as they were inclined or able. \n\nAll of which goes to the point that this is a question only you can answer. It's a good question to ask.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would hope that the funds for a settlement would come from the vast resources that magically appear to fund high priced church lawyers paid to defend the indefensible or the buckets of money to fight SOL reform.\n\n\n\nI think a better question would be \" How can I as a Catholic really do anything good or charitable while there are fellow Catholics that have been abused and discarded in the most horrific ways. Or should victims continue paying a huge painful price for an innocent childhood choice to be an altar boy as our ruined lives are of no value or consequence, just another unimportant and avoidable expense on church books? We are not even as important as landscaping of cemeteries to Catholics like you. I would think that a true Catholic would want to reach out with loving concern to those who have been betrayed so badly by their church leaders and would make sure that victims were made as whole as possible.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Fathers leavened church teaching with Platonism, the Scholastics with Aristotelianism received from Jews and Arabs, and the best Christian self-understanding today is accessibly only to those who are profoundly steeped in the ecumenical movement.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Given the trends in Europe - Brexit, Hungary, Poland - with far right parties perhaps set to win in France and Germany, it seems we may be willfully choosing to launch a new era of darkness. Fear and hate, embodied in xenophobia and extreme nationalism, are on the rise. The EU is at risk - since the EU was formed, Europe has not had a war - the longest period of peace in European history. If it breaks up, that long lasting peace is threatened. NATO has been a strong counter to Russia's ambitions. Trump may gut it.\n\nTrump's election has given new life to the far right fringe (including some neo-fascist) candidates in Europe. Austria rejected this in the recent election, but not by much. Marine Le Pen is more careful in her racist rhetoric than was her father, and she now has a good chance of winning. Angela Merkel who has shown that she is a \"real\" christian instead of just posturing like most \"christian\" politicians, may not be able to retain her party's control in Germany.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The plea reflects that he made a serious mistake but voluntarily turned himself in. He could have avoided making immigrants look bad if he had not initially fled. His case is the reason why we should not allow illegal immigrants from getting drivers licenses. It is the bad apple who ruins everything for the majority of people. The fact is most immigrants are decent human beings and the government has failed to setup a reasonable immigration system with Latin America and Canada. Trump's solution is no solution. It does not reflect Christian values. It is a reflection of his racist rhetoric for trolling for votes. The Democrats don't have a solution either. Obama could have pardoned many of them, but the Democrats would rather seek to exploit the situation for votes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Excerpts from Euch Prayer IV for various needs: \"For you have given us Jesus Christ, your Son, as our Lord and Redeemer.\n\nHe always showed compassion for children and for the poor, for the sick and for sinners, and he became a neighbor to the oppressed and the afflicted.\n\nBy word and deed he announced to the world that you are our Father and that you care for all your sons and daughters.\n\nOpen our eyes to the needs of our brothers and sisters; inspire in us words and actions to comfort those who labor and are burdened. Make us serve them truly, after the example of Christ and at his command. And may your Church stand as a living witness to truth and freedom, to peace and justice, that all people may be raised up to a new hope.\" \n\nIMHO, these words pretty much sum up how Jesus calls his followers to live. Not sure how the decree fits with these words. But maybe the bishop doesn't use this Euch Prayer.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"I cannot in good faith recommend Roman Catholicism to any living soul....\" I have felt the same way recently, Scott..Now does not seem a good time for cheery, evangelistic outreach. In the Credo of the Mass I find myself stumbling over the word Holy in One, Holy, Catholic & Apostolic because there is so much being revealed that is corrupt and unholy. Granted, there are many good people doing great things within the fold, but we sure need to prayerfully support Francis in his cleansing and renewing effort. He has the highest profile for exposing the problems; getting all the other bishops to enthusiastically join ranks with him is the sticking point.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Esbs64: I'll have to talk to local St Vinecnt de Paul folks who provide food, rent for those who can't pay. Also, the local food pantries that help poor-without them people will go hungry. You seem much more concerned with keeping rules than caring for others. Jesus put people before rules (apostles gathering corn on t", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "tip2, I do recall. In Grade 5, the Jewish boy in my class had to wait in the hall until the Lord's Prayer was over. We all stood to recite the prayer or listen to it over the PA system. The Jewish boy was joined by a Jehovah's Witness boy who would not sing the national anthem.\n\nThere is no War on Christmas. The local schools here still have Christmas assemblies. No one is forbidden to say \"Merry Christmas\". That's all in your head. If staff and teachers say \"Happy Holidays\", it's out of courtesy to their diverse student population. Not because Christ has been banned.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Part one of two) \u201cI had always understood my vocation as that of a missionary disciple, one whom Jesus called to be with Him so that He might send me out to preach and heal,\u201d he continues. \u201cNow Pope Francis has asked me to become a missionary disciple and pastor in another local Church.\u201d\u2014Joshua J. McElwee quoting Cardinal Joseph Tobin.\n\nSo, all the Faithful are called to be missionary disciples. As 1 John 5:21 puts it, \u201cWe also know that the Son of God has come and has given us discernment to know the one who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"First, Pope Francis should give Trump a copy of \"Laudato Si': On Care for Our Common Home,\" ... . \"\n- This is an hopeful article.\n- Best advice to ArchbFrancis is to limit his contribution on any topic to 9 or fewer clausal statements. Otherwise Mr. Trump will hear him even less.\n- Something that the Holy See needs to clarify more firmly is whether these visits of Heads of State to speak with the ArchbofRome are to the ArchbofRome as Head of Vatican City State, or Head of the Holy See and the Holy Roman Church.\n- If Mr. Trump is visiting the head of the Vatican City State, which from the US point of view is the most likely then remarks by ArchbFrancis are limited by diplomacy and the 'art of the possible'. If Mr. Trump is visiting the ArchbofRome then ArchbFrancis could easily declaim to Mr. Trump that which he needs to stop doing for the good of creation and the People of God all of whom are saved by Jesus Christ.\n- I expect little improvement in Mr. Trump's character.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Fundamentally, the God-centered crowd were infected with hubris, as Satan was when he said that salvation should be accomplished through an angelic being rather than a man. Christ did not come to make us angels, he came to make us better humans and to love humans as the Father loves them, whether this be in Mass or in morality. The life of Jesus was lived for us. God did not and does not need anything from us. We can do nothing to make His existence happier. We wants us to be ourselves. A God who would want otherwise would be fundamentally flawed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"As for a Catholic website, I would trust Pope Francis and his MS in Chemistry....\"\n\nHere's a little news item about your \"trust\" in Pope Francis and his boss: \"The 'boss' to whom Pope Francis referred is Esther Ballestrino de Careaga. He has described her...'a fervent communist.' He considers her one of his most important mentors. 'I owe a huge amount to that great woman,' he has said, saying that she 'taught me so much about politics.' (He worked for her as an assistant at Hickethier-Bachmann Laboratory in Buenos Aires.)\n\n\"'She often read Communist Party texts to me and gave them to me to read. So I also got to know that very materialistic conception. I remember that she also gave me the statement from the American Communists in defense of the Rosenbergs....Learning about communism, he said, 'through a courageous and honest person was helpful. I realized a few things, an aspect of the social, which I then found in the social doctrine of the Church.'\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you believe that Jesus established a hierarchic Church and that the Church really is hierarchic and that the obligation of every Catholic is to accept what the apex decrees, be submissive to the apex and that failure to accept it all dooms one and all to hell, then okay.\nThis view has some merit. If, for example, the apex declares all humans are equal as persons then...? \"War no more\" then there would be no war. If the apex declares that we should have compassion on all, heal the sick, raise up the poor and uneducated to peership, great. If the apex declared that the intent of law supersedes the \"letter\", okay. If the apex declares that we be kind to on another in word - typed, spoken - and deed, maybe.\n\nHowever\n1.the Church really is not a hierarchy. To put it into \"geometric\" terms, it's two unequal rhombus (\"i\" or \"es\"?)and a teeny-weeny triangle sitting on top;\n2.the \"image and likeness of God\" does not learn well or for long by dictate. Simple pedagogic reality.\nIt don't work.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes well Urban II, a Pope, needed to raise some cash and decided that the First Crusade was the way to do it. That was in 1095, the 11th century, 553 years before your cut-off date. How did that work out ? Haven't we dealt with the consequences ever since ?\n\nReligion is an invention of men, in order to have power over other men, using fear. That\nhasn't changed since the dawn of what we laughingly call civilization. \n\nThe 'church', any 'church', can NOT be trusted to 'run' society because that's their whole point. To 'run' society.\n\nWell I don't care about their ambitions and I don't care about their rules, because the only thing that matters is how to live like a human being.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Strictly speaking, no one is worthy to receive the Lord. I assume Jesus knew that when He gave us the Sacrament. The Eucharist is food for the hungry and medicine for the sick. Let ALL who sincerely wish to receive the Lord come to the altar.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm not clear about the purpose of this letter. Is it a celebration of Luther's proclamation 500 years ago or is it a serious effort to achieve reform in the Church? \n \n I would be the last person to deny the desirability of change in many Church practices or rules which do not accomodate my personal inclinations, but I question the road chosen by these ladies to achieve that end. Consultation is usually more effective than confrontation unless the real goal is divergence and dissolution. \n\n I also have questions as to the precise changes the various signatory groups are seeking. Has this statement been presented to all members of the listed organizations or does it represent the views of only the activist members of these groups? I notice that no individuals are listed as signatories and I feel that organizations as such cannot sign a document.\n\n I notice that the letter they object to was signed by Bishop Paprocki, not the Diocese of Springfield or the Catholic Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"A key point - lost in some of the reporting - is that Catholic priests anywhere in the world already have the power to forgive the sin of abortion. The penitent walks out of the confessional forgiven and reunited to God\u2019s grace.\nThe issue here is not the sin itself, but the excommunication, and who can lift it. In the Code of Canon Law that power is reserved to a bishop - unless, as in the United States, he has chosen to extend this authority to his priests.\nIn parts of the world where that power had not been granted, the priest would have forgiven the repentant sinner immediately and then have asked the penitent to return at a later time; during that interval the confessor would have secured his bishop\u2019s permission to lift the canonical penalty. (Anonymity, of course, would have been honored, with the identity of the penitent never disclosed.)\" https://cruxnow.com/church/2015/10/12/why-werent-all-priests-able-to-absolve-from-the-sin-of-abortion-already/\n\nSo - anonymity preserved.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Probably correct. But the claim was that the apostles did not celebrate the Eucharist, not that Paul did. If they did not, then much of 1 Corinthians is simply unintelligible.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We can agree to disagree, but it looks to me like your view of human sexuality is consistent with classic Catholic theology, and ignores the primal urge from whence it stems.\n\nYes, sex is essential for procreation. But it is also a source of great pleasure for most of us, relieves stress, and does wonders for self-esteem. Virtually all of the heterosexual couples I know practice birth control, since they view sex as far more than procreative.\n\nWould their behaviour be deemed a disorder given that it inhibits procreative function?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hopeful but naive. I can't help but return to the story of Jesus and the woman caught in adultery. The hypocritical rigourists sought to apply the letter of the law and make a fool of the \"teacher\". They were stymied by Jesus simply writing on the ground, changing the subject and calling out the relative indecency of the accusers? Discussion? Nice, meaningful but something seems missing. Has civility trumped Trump and ilk? Do \"justice\" and \"decency\", \"mercy\" even Christ's message actually stand on their merits? Not one commentator I have seen refers to the possible effect of the \"crowd\" of people - sensitive to the elevated and enlightened message of the teacher - standing with and for Jesus and the vulnerable woman; for the message of pragmatic mercy and for the safety of the teacher and the woman. \nNote that the \"crowd\" only disbursed after the last of the Pharisees and lawyers left. Makes me think. \nThe real \"discussion\" was between Jesus and the woman. Also makes me think.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is no doubt in my mind that the greatest hurdle the US bishops face is one of relevance. One can be a \"culture warrior\" and stick your head in the sand or one can show true leadership and face the issues. Some issues are out of their hands but ways are available to soften the detrimental effects. Why some bishops cannot even go this far speaks volumes of their formation. \n\nChrist spoke many times of the sin of self-righteousness yet our clerics still have not learned the lesson.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So grade school level is the norm for you and this poster? Well, by all means, if you feel that is the appropriate approach, have at it. It is, after all, the proper approach for a follower of Christ, is it not? Have a Holy and Blessed Day!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The comment from Pope Benedict XVI was not a magisterial statement\" is Martyspeak for \"I don't agree with it\". When Marty does agree, it is as magisterial as can be.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think I remember reading this week that a judge in NC ruled that Black Lives Matter can't be sued because they aren't an entity.\n\nThe same would apply even more so with the alt-right, wherein anyone and the mother can take it upon themselves to self-righteously label/smear someone else as alt-right!\n\nNonsense from some limited number of evangelicals.\n\nNCR is quick to over claim some statement.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Much as I enjoyed all the wailing and gnashing of teeth in this comment thread, the lamenting is totally unfounded. I'm not yet 30 and I'm of Anglo and Indonesian descent in equal parts, so not only am I too young to have grown up \"pre-Vatican II\", I probably have more Islam in my family history than Catholicism.... and yet, I love the traditional Latin Mass. As an instituted acolyte, I frequently assist at solemn high Mass in the role of subdeacon despite being married with children, and I hope to continue to assist in the old rite if God wills me to advance to the so-called \"permanent\" diaconate. I also manage my own men's schola for Gregorian chant, which sings for Masses in both the Ordinary and Extraordinary Form. Most of my chanters are under 30. We are the future of the Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "On the one hand, I would not say that \"all traditional Catholic [groups and movements] are schismatic-like\"; but there has always been a strong strain of reactionary theology and politics in the church, and some of it is pretty far out there. On the other hand, you may be right; I grant that the term \"schism\" has a certain precision which \"schismatic-like\" lacks.\nBut rather than get bogged down in a discussion of schisms past and present, let's talk about the one that may (or may not) be in our future. I reiterate that I don't expect that to happen, but I began to see it as a possibility when +Burke introduced the notion that he might issue a \"formal act of correction of the Roman pontiff.\" I don't know -- do you? -- if the other three cardinals joined him in that threat. But if +Burke issues such a document, I think the schism becomes a real possibility. What do you think? What is Burke's end game?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I read about how bishops at Vatican II weren't allowed to issue a condemnation of Communism in order to secure Russian Orthodox ecumenical participation.\n\nThe treatment of Cardinal Mindszenty comes to mind as well.\n\nAlso, we have the current Vatican desperate to cut a deal with China, where faithful Catholics have to practice underground because of the Communist authorities. I'd read up on Cardinal Zen and what he has to say about all this.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I hate to inform you of this, but there is more to the world than the things science can account for. One of these days your eyes will be opened and you will see how blind you have been. Even if you do not want to admit to them demons and angels exist and are influencing our lives in many ways. Right now, you are one of the people Jesus was referring to at the end of the parable about Lazarus and the rich man, where he says that even if people rise from the dead they will not be believed. We have had any number of people rise from the dead and they are not believed. People like you use every excuse in the world including that they were not dead to try to explain away their messages. There is only one problem. These people were dead. Chew on that thought for a while. So yes, there is good and evil in the world, even if you do not want to admit it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Most Bible scholars see both Mathew and Luke using the same words as Mark, hence they believe it was the first (high probability). The range 30-70 indicates uncertainty or range of probabilities. Faith is uncertainty but belief. There are areas that you write about that I don't understand and will not comment on. \nThe Kingdom is taught to be the Church or Future Coming.Jesus said it was here within us. Hence I see it as a consciousness of God or at-one-ment.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why do the pope and the USCCB have to tell people to marry and why has the USCCB chosen this as some kind of priority? It's overstepping.\n\nMind you, the Church has singled out heterosexual couples who marry for the privilege of sacrament. The never-married mother who avoided an abortion and went on to have her baby--where's her sacrament? If I were still a Catholic, I'd be asking where my sacrament is too. I think it's probably off-putting to so many people how some arrangements are privileged, dignified, and sanctified and the rest of us just schlep along despite the fact that we often have similar obligations. \n\nThe articles NCR has also been running on San Diego's synod and their attempt to name and dignify all the people who don't fall into the \"married category\" is a wonderful first step, something the pope and the USCCB should listen to.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I find your comments plausible for Mark, since, if I remember what I read when working of Mark, one interpretation was that Jesus' Galilean disciples were throughly trashed because there was a Jerusalem faction struggling for leadership. But why would that carry over to Luke, Matthew, and then to John, who seem to have distinct theological agendas? Still, there remains Brandon's Jesus, the Zealot, which does see struggles for secular power afoot. Still, if Jesus and John were involved in a secular struggle, it does not seem to appear in the early church communities, which by the end of the century are accommodating more or less fully to Greek philosophy and Roman ethos. i.e., Colossians, Ephesians, Hebrews, 1 Peter, and John. \nWhat I particularly like about Meier is his careful consideration of each periscope. What i find pleasing about Dunn is his attention to the structure of oral tradition (who said Q was a written document?). I am @mac.com", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It however a fault to presume authority on any matter/issue of which we are ignorant!\nIf that is the case, there is very little on which the bishops of the church can presume authority.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If the New Testament is to be believed, many of the twelve apostles were Jesus' immediate family or relatives. The list of apostles includes Jesus' brothers: James, Joses, Judas[not Iscariot] and Simon. Salome is thought to be the sister of Jesus, and some believe her to be the mother of the sons of Zebedee, the apostles James (not Jesus' brother) and John - making them Jesus' cousins. Thomas [the Twin] was a twin to whom? (Maybe Jesus' relative look-alike?) Of course, how do we explain the relationship of the \"beloved apostle\" Mary Magdalene to Jesus? Just friends? \n\nMaybe Jesus really was more about the establishment of a real hereditary leadership for his epic \"Kingdom of God\" as King, Prophet and Priest? Paul's high Christology that we are familiar with probably came much later. Jesus wasn't setting up a church - that we have to blame on the orthodox hierarchs who were willingly co-opted by the Emperor Constantine [in the 4th century].", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My wife's home town is Princeton, Wisconsin. The Catholic population there is heavily Polish, and in the sanctuary, there is an American flag on the left side, and a Polish flag on the right.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "tompaine II,\n\nThe maximum guaranteed price offered by the construction manager/general contractor to build the City Hall building itself is $18.2 million. The total estimated cost of the entire project, including design of the new building, demolition of the old City Hall, permitting, etc., is now nearly $28 million. \n\nI hope this is helpful,\n\nChristian Hill\nReporter, The Register-Guard", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have to read the entire book to know what your comment was about?\n\nDavid Kertzer has made a career out of attacking the Catholic Church, so unless you can entice with something that sounds like it is worth researching, no thank you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But bad jokes don't violate the US Constitution which DF did when she interviewed a political appointee about being Catholic. See Article VI: \"no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yours is a terribly misguided, narrow, and intolerant view. What we have here is a baker who wishes to put his Christian belief into action. You want to discriminate against him because of it. You AREN\u2019T against discrimination... you are against specific FORMS of discrimination. \nI abhor racial discrimination. And I don\u2019t believe that gays should be mistreated. Redefining marriage to accommodate sinful lifestyles hasn\u2019t been an anti-discrimination accomplishment, it has merely been the redefining of an historical institution to accomate a particular group who don\u2019t like hearing their lifestyle is sinful. Re-ordering society in such a manner and expecting everyone to bow down in acquiescence is discriminory. For you it\u2019s \u201cno dogs or Christians.\u201d", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you for that retraction.\nThe social teaching is not exclusively a moral issue, it also involves political considerations and personal convictions. In order to improve the lot of the poor we can simply give them money indefinitely in order to keep them above the bread line or spend the money on helping and teaching them to look after themselves. The aim of both is the alleviation of poverty. So you see there are sincerely held but differing views as to how Catholic Social teaching is carried out. My belief is that in the first instance the recipients become clients of the state which is not good for them or society in general. In the other, hopefully, they will become self-sufficient which is good for both them and society. You may disagree but then you are quite entitled to. That is but one example. \nTherefore, it is wrong for you to accuse me of rejecting the Social Teaching just because you don't agree with the way I would carry it out.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Donald Trump won because, as many fellow Americans, and former Democrats by the way, told me, he was saying things that many were thinking, but \"afraid\" to say. After living in Europe in the 1970's, and returning there several times, the last few visits in the past 2 years, have alarmed me, & I am now afraid to go back. I am terrified to ride on trains, be at train stations, etc. Europe is no longer safe. Frau Merkel has more empathy, love and concern for the refugees than her own people. Pres. Obama also showed more empathy for anyone but \"white Christians\". African Americans, Muslims, illegal immigrants, all are apparently more important, their lives are more important, than regular \"white folks\". Many former democrats here have switched to Republican. I hope Frau Merkel does not win, and that Europe can return to the safety it had when I lived there. Otherwise, I cannot go back, it is extremely dangerous now. So very, very sad. Vote her out, people!!! For God's sake!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's gotta be scary, for those who've hitched their wagon to \"no change, no challenge.\" Those who've been labeled \"cafeteria Catholics\" for the last 50 years are used to it, it doesn't necessarily destroy their Catholicism to differ from the Pope or hierarchs, or to want to talk about beliefs and work through issues, or to be called dissidents of one stripe or another. But those for whom the center of their faith is that they don't have to do that because the Big Man's making those decisions for them and the priorities and rules will never change and all they have to do is fall in line, it's gotta shake them to the core.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pope Francis completely changes the Congregation for Divine Worship and there's nothing in NCR about it??\nOr did I miss it?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The theology of dominion is not something Jesus taught. It is so far removed from what Vatican 2 was about. It's sad that restorationists have become a cult in the RCC from my view.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "People were NOT permitted to do EVEN what WAS authorized in Vatican II.\n\nJP II micromanaged Episcopal Conferences, reducing the bishops to the status of merely being executors of the will of the Vatican rather than as genuine collaborators with the bishops of Rome.\n\nBishops [including the popes] were to work with theologians {International Theological Commission]----but the Vatican of JP II and Benedict favored using the \"court theologians\"---often members of the Curia.\n\nThe Laity had already been defined as the People of God. Yet, JP II and Benedict wanted to keep the laity away from any decisions concerning the church, as if the laity were not baptized. Lay Catholics are baptized and anointed as priest, prophet and king. And that anointing is not a 'lesser' anointing than that of ordained priests.\n\nJP II wrote his own book defining HIS understanding of Vatican II. It was entitled THE IMPLEMENTATION OF VATICAN II in 1979. It looked nothing like the church described by VATICAN II", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Strange that your pastor thinks one can have a good relationship with God while shirking His commandments (dismissing them as mere \"moral laws\"). Jesus told us if we love Him, to keep His commandments.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"or all Catholics in the U.S. to oppose the mass deportations of immigrants beginning in our midst.\"\n\nPlease name one legal immigrant who is being deported and for what reason.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thomas Reese's priorities appear to be a popularist, social and secular agenda, rather than leading souls to salvation. \n\nThe priorities of the bishops do not entail \"preaching complicated doctrines\". What's not \"pastoral\" and what's \"condemnatory\" about them? Or complicated? What's \"harsh and divisive\" about these priorities? Above all else, it is the duty of bishops to protect the human soul from the degeneracy of our age. \n\nAnd, just to remind the author, it is the bishops of the world, in unity with the pope, that constitute the ordinary and universal magisterium - not the pope alone. There is no \"Francis program\" for them to \"get with\". There is the Catholic deposit of faith for them to apply to local circumstances.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I believe my comments accurately reflect the views of the USCCB as a whole, and based on his comments when he visited the US, those of Our Holy Father, High Priest, and Vicar of Christ, Pope Francis.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Here we have the best candidate for the next Pope. He will lead this Church back to the Future! Benedict 17!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus was a semite (Jews are semites). They tend to be a mix between Caucasian and black (Israel is on the border of Africa). Israel is over 1000 kms from the nearest European country.\n\nAnd it is pretty certain he wasn't blonde with blue eyes, the way many churches show him.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That such an active, well-attended parish was the brainchild of a self-effacing pastor dedicated only to bringing Christ to people and, God willing, will continue to remain so after his retirement, I offer a simple HALLELUJAH!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is the definitions of \"priest\" that is open for discussion. What you refer to here is only one model. You are very wrong, however, in saying that \"Destroy the priest, destroy the sacrifice.\" No one is suggesting either of those things, but that the current concepts of 'priest' are derived from an outdated, failing and misogynist system of belief. The Mass will always be the central act of worship and belief for Catholics (and others), but the format will be changed once again and then again still. With the numbers of ordained men and those entering formation dwindling ever so constantly, it seems that the Holy Spirit is doing the work the Church has not yet had the guts to do for itself. It is not really \"destruction,\" as you fear, but it is very much \"renewal.\" Like that old saying: is the glass half empty or half full?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A man nominated by a president whose administration is being legally scrutinized,\na man whose was appointment was made possible by partisan tactics,\na man who favors corporate interests over individual rights,\na man who is an elusive Catholic/Anglican:\nAssociate Justice Neil Gorsuch should feel humbled, especially by the humiliation that his decisions and opinions as circuit judge have instigated among the citizenry who now should feel leery that laws will be subject to his interpretation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You're joking, right? How many bishops have precluded the Nancy Pelosis of the world from receiving Holy Communion or --Heaven forbid--actually excommunicated them for heresy {see Canons 1364, 915, 751, and 752}? You can count them on one hand, and still eat a chicken wing. Does God's law not trump man's? Has not the Church repeatedly condemned the error of \"separation of Church and state\", most brilliantly in Pope St. Pius X's VEHEMENTER NOS?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part 1:\n\nEric, you have left my head spinning. (1) First you reject my carefully expressed proposition that the genre of the Gospels is not what we today would call history; and then when I back up my proposition with perhaps the most widely accepted example on non-historicity, (2) you reply with a disconnected set of statements which appear to say that my view is correct but some how self-evidently trivial?; and then (3) you provided a second reply to my first comment in the form of a citation that purports to say that a newly discovered remnant of a palace of Sennacherib in Neneeh/Mosul is another proof of the historicity of the Bible. \n\nEric, the historicity of the Bible in general is a much broader topic that the historicity (in our modern sense) of the Gospels. \n\nRe Gospels: Which is it: Do you hold that the gospels are history IN OUR MODERN SENSE OF THAT TERM of that term or not?\n\nRe: Mathew Archbold's view on significance of the palace below Jonah tomb Mosul.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I like agnostics. Because they do not know so much. I think the term was first used by Christian mystics like Gregory of Nyssa to mean that knowledge of God was a no knowledge of God, hence< a-gnostic. I doubt thin the Tao Te Ching is particularly agnostic. Rather, all early Chinese philosophy was agonostic, skeptical of gods and spirits. Sung dynasty saying: Respect the gods but keep them at a distance.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thanks for your courage. I hope your message will help in some way. Your son already has, thanks, again, to you. I don't think there are ANY moms or dads in our country who would see a life spent 'using' - even recreationally - as something they would want for, or encourage in, their kids. And yet Canada - for all the 'good things' we've got, is strangely affected by our young people being willing to risk their very lives to 'escape' in some way. \n\nSadly, your dead son is one among many, gone, un-memorialiazed by all who might not have known them. Thanks for giving us all an opportunity to remark on his passing. Whatever it is that some might say 'went wrong', is an affliction shared by a growing number of Canadians - from every aspect of our nation. God bless you in your grief - Jesus said something particularly about 'those who mourn'. And thank-you, again, for sharing your tragedy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No one is arguing that conception doesn't spark life. But a life form without a brain isn't (conclusively) a human person.\n\nThe nativity narratives are theological fiction, so you needn't delve into exegesis. And anyway, I'm not arguing Catholic theology should relax its ethic of life. I approve of it, for the most part. However, the status of a pre-conscious fetus is so ambiguous as to encourage the consensus status quo. The abortion issue is a unique case of competing interests that Roe satisfactorily addresses. Theocrats wish to impose their religious convictions on a pluralistic polity, an agenda that will always meet with resistance in the USA.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus himself said that the greatest commandment is to love God with ALL your heart, with ALL your soul and ALL your mind so you can learn to truly love your neighbor (2nd commandment) so if you want to change that divine sequence of a virtuous circle in order to justify your lifestyle then that's the choice you make. And yes, love does not have to begin with obedience, but obedience to his teachings is part of loving God unless, again, you want to love God on your own terms instead of His terms. \n\nQuoting C.S. Lewis, \u201cThere are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, \"Thy will be done,\" and those to whom God says, in the end, \"Thy will be done.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So you agree with the other commenter that Jesus did not die on the cross for our sins, but to show us how to live a good life? Why is a cruel death necessary to show us how to live a good life?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Canon law must serve the Gospel, not the reverse.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Democrats are the ones in the tall grass and trying to find their way out. The Queer Movement has pretty well fracture the Democrat Party as their blue collar, Christian voters have abandoned them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "3 times in Timothy and Titus it is mentioned, Above accusation or not accused (I think one of the versions states it that way) is probably a better way to put it. Jesus had no capacity to sin - He was perfect by nature - He was not beyond temptation but incapable of sin. That is the only way he could be a perfect sacrifice.\n\nTit_1:7\u00a0 For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain,\n\nTit_1:6\u00a0 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.\n\n1Ti_3:2\u00a0 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Leslie, keep attacking on that point. I've heard it from the pulpit -- \"the reason for living in faith is so that we get to go to heaven.\" It is the most un-Gospel, un-Christlike, unCatholic distillation of faithful life as a barter with God for a reward. Good for you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Flip it around....show a tradition of popes undercutting the teaching of previous popes!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Perhaps then you could define your understanding of a sacerdotal priesthood and what graces and gifts the sacrament of ordination actually imparts to its recipients.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sorry, my bad. I was eluding to a comment by another responder to your comment who stated,\"The Church shouldn't be ordaining anyone; that only confirms and feeds the clerical culture.\" I was saying there is a needed role for those who are trained to be teachers of the way of Christ. Teachers of course and not rulers (ie. princes of the church).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wow. Okay.\n\nUm, to pretend Christians, whether \"Evangelical\" - or your ideological/theological predecessors over the past millennium - are not directly responsible for anti-LGBTQ social attitudes, shows a remarkable lack of education and self awareness\n\nImago Dei is a member church of Conservative Baptists Northwest (cbnw.org). Here is their official statement on the SCOTUS legalization of same-sex marriage. It includes phrases like \"We are grieved\" ... and \"[w]e are called to mourn ... over the sin of our country ...\"\n\nI will not and would never vote for a member of a Church which considers my marriage to the man I've loved and shared my life with for 18 years as a cause of grief and mourning.\n\nhttp://www.cbnw.org/about/identity/docs/CBA-Statement-on-Supreme-Court-Ruling-on-Same-Sex-Marriage.pdf", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Apparently, almost a third of Americans take the bible literally. Most of us, I suspect, could learn more about \"how\" to read the bible. Congratulations to Ken on his recently published book.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As Neko said, you also \"gumpy-faced\" xoxo's touching story about successfully finding a sympatico parish for his wife who is planning to convert to Catholicism.\n\nWith what, exactly, do you disagree? and why?\n- finding a sympatico parish?\n- planning to joint the Catholic church?\n- St. Sabina?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Faithful,\nI don't think abortion was ever the issue. It was used a s a carrot and a stick to get we Catholics to vote for Reagan and the Repubs so that Pope John Paul II could get his private agenda fulfilled. That agenda was his all consuming goal to get Communism out of his native Poland. He succeeded at that but at a tremendously high cost to the American people and their born and unborn. \nJPII and Reagan then went on to attack Communism,Socialism and unionism everywhere in the Latin nations AND in America. \nThis entire disastrous mess of war=death and destruction for godless, soulless, predatory Fascist Reagan Capitalism is THE RACE TO THE BOTTOM. \nRepubs are believers in THINGS -- NOT people. If one reads the history of the GOP one can easily see that. The GOP has always been about: The Divine Right of Kings. In their America that has morphed into The Divine Right of The Super Rich aka Trickle-down economics. In the church that is The Divine Right of The Church and Canon Law.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Did you ever learn that the Bible and all the Jesus lessons were parables? Do you know what that means about the only writings you believe are true and probably can quote or cite phrases you were taught were literally historically accurate, yet are just morality lessons couched in fairy tales", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified of God that he raised Christ\u2014whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have died in Christ have perished. If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. \n\nBut in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. -- 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 (NRSV)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of course we all know that 50 years ago Lebanon was 80 % Christian, and very safe place to be. The window opened again after the muslin civil war 10 years back. But today there is leas than 10% christians there who would like to stay but as they get drawn into the muslim civil war it is just not a good place to be. The country has divided itself in a form to have Shia on one side of the road and Sunnie on the other side and it is not clear where her family was, may have been legacy Christian living in the mountains. My only suggestion to this women is Muslims caused all the trouble, will continue and as a Canadian Passport holder I can only trust you have the good sense to stay home. Since my return to Canada a couple years ago ... We DONOT travel to Muslim countries, they are not safe and all Canadians need to get to the same place.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hi, Russel. The discussions in Rome with a number of US religious women superiors was focused on (1) the order's Constitution and related practices such as financial (2) and any questions remaining from the Apostolic Visitation and the review of the material each order submitted as part of that ridiculous process. It was done with the intention of formally ending the AV after the report by Cardinal Aviz of the Cong. for Religious is submitted to the Pope. It is and always has been Vatican practice that the specific content of those meetings, and even the final report, are never made public, and not even shared with the subject(s) of the inquiry. Somebody needs to work on changing that remnant from medieval times - and Pope Francis himself has on a very few select cases permitted the report to be shared with the \"accused.\" In not one of the cases of theologians disciplined by +Benedict XVI (over 100) did he ever allow the one called on the CDF carpet to even know what was alleged.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you, Kiernan Tapsell,for sharing your knowledge. \nDoes this mean that art 30 in JPII's Sacramentorum could be changed by Pope Francis at any time and he still doesn't do it? Or do they have to call a synod and confer with each other? \nIs this the same thing as the Pontifical Secret? I don't understand how anyone on earth can obey covering up for child raping priests and think it is Holy Orders. And I don't understand why grown men don't stand up and say so. \n\nIs anyone else flabbergasted? \n\nAW", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But the bishop and the priest still have to know the name of the woman involved. The priest literally has to ask the woman her name and communicate it to his superior. This means that the person is publicly known and labelled with a specific sin in the way any other sinner isn't. For any other sin to be absolved, the penitent doesn't have to tell the priest his/her name. In fact, the penitent doesn't even have to show the priest his/ her face. There is a reason why metal grilles exist in Confessionals.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus Christ we have got to do something about the state of unaddressed mental health care issues in this country. Washington state is one of the worst offenders. People with diagnosed serious mental health problems should have advocates but should also be legally compelled to take medication unless released by their doctors and the courts. They should not be allowed to own any type of fire arms unless they have been approved by the court. We need to stop chopping dollars from our treatment facilities and hospitals and treat these people with the care and respect they deserve so that they and we are as safe and sane as possible.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I see a huge parallel between the divisions in the country, and the church today. I have little doubt that Francis will push for mercy, no matter what the cost. And to be clear, that cost will fall heavily on the shoulders of the victims, the survivors, the wronged, and those thirsting for Justice. His logic will probably be focused on the \"no more killing\" aspect of this all, even if that means turning a blind eye and a deaf ear on the cries of those in need of closure, of justice, and understanding. I wouldn't be at all surprised if there are a number of great-sounding commissions, tribunals (etc.) to be put in place while he's there, with both Francis and the president knowing they end when he leaves...\n\nI have little doubt that Francis will have no problem finding Gospel and Biblical quotes to support his position, as so much in there can be read just about any way one wants.\n\nHow can I be so confident here? Because I'm looking at the way Francis has handled the scandal.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Pope's faithful servant but God's first. \n\nMay Cardinal Meisner rest in peace, comforted by Our Lady and intercede for the Church on Earth in these troubled times.\n\nAccording to One Peter Five, he was particularly saddened Cardinal M\u00fceller wasn't renewed at the CDF:\n\nhttps://onepeterfive.com/just-before-death-cardinal-meisner-spoke-to-cardinal-muller-of-distress-over-his-dismissal/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, I'm here to tell you that you are wrong. I am a Catholic on my own terms, not yours. Whatcha gonna do about it? Our truth comes from thinking and weighing situations; not blanket rules. Catholics like you have no effect on my thinking. Rape, health of the mother and fetus are what would influence my decision on whether or not to have an abortion, and every woman has the right to make those determinations without interference from busy bodies like you. Who are you that we must obey you? Women do not listen to men anymore because men do not have our best interests in their hearts.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The bible also talks about planting crops, which is equally irrelevant here. The pope is the curia's boss, not their father.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There will always be the Catholic faith. With all due respect, the conclusions you arrived at after observing the attitudes expressed by your grandkids, and other young people, are not necessarily the same for many of us. My observations differ from yours, possibly because of the type of Catholic parish church I attend. Since our parish has a school which requires that all grades attend Mass with their respective classes, of course I'm going to see a large number of young people every week at Mass. However, I see a large enough number of young adults at Mass who are beyond parental control, to make me believe that they are there because they want to be. I'd say based on my observances, that the example of dedicated, orthodox parents and teachers, will pay off in faithful Catholic adults.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are confusing obedience to God with obedience to the Church. What is often referred to as \"outdated and at times, cruel Church teaching' is really God's teaching. Examples: Marriage is between one man and one woman, in Jesus' own words. Priestly orders are reserved for males, just as Jesus only sent his male apostles out into the world, not females. \nYou can argue that these are the Church teachings and not what Jesus taught. That is exactly what the Protestants said, which is why you are advised to join them instead of trying to turn the Catholic Church into a Protestant one.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You forgot to mention the Episcopal Church whose membership continues to drop since they began ordaining women,", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree with your position here, and am pleased you could state it so well. But then you go and throw a dagger at John with the very last sentence. I could easily say the same about you on a whole bunch of issues, that you insert comments into other's discussions for the intention of setting up an argument. But, \"let (s)he who is without sin...\" John's issue with Faithful Catholic is very specifically about anti-abortion positions. Your \"interpretation\" of it is, I fear, a bit off the mark.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, the KoC has been the target of NCR and many posters here for years...just flares up every once in awhile. \n\nThe main problem, looking at the history of articles available, seems to be that the Knights uphold Catholic teaching on marriage. As you know, that is a no-no here. The second thing the Knights do which is frowned upon here is advocate against abortion. \n\nAs we know, adhering to and monetarily supporting Catholic teaching, particularly on these subjects, is something frowned upon here.\n\nI do wonder what set them off this time, however, to explain the absolute flurry of articles and references to years-old commentary? perhaps an attempt to diversify articles merely about Mr. Trump?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This sounds like a legionnaires of Christ story. They are great at talking little old ladies out of their money...like mrs. Mee in Rhode Island whose family tried to get their money back after their aunt gave it all away to the legion. Does any one know if this priest was a former legionary. Many left to become diocesean priests.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not just in the RCC, but in other households of Christian faith, gay and lesbian men and women have just walked, finally fatigued to exhaustion by sometimes uncivil and most of the time harsh, uncaring language. No other group of people experiences the animus of church -- and in some instances, common sense seems to be suspended so that pastoral care can be provided. Even in these comments, the focus seems to trend away from direct pastoral care observations to things more academic. Why would any gay or lesbian person desire membership in churches with such attitudes?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Trump will work to defend religious liberty -- the defeated side played with sneaky plans for leading Catholics out of the church.\n\nTrump will work with the pro life movement -- the defeated side will not.\n\nTrump will work for ending the homeless situation by stopping the flow of drugs into this country from our \"friends\" down South, and bringing back industry to the U.S. The defeated candidate had a plan to bring in ever more people for ever fewer jobs, and a porous border...this only fed the homeless crisis.\n\nHard to find where Trump poses a threat to the church and its ideals. \n\nHowever, if the Church's ideals are sentimentally defined as open borders and a Mother Theresaesque delight in poverty and suffering, then I guess Trump is a threat to the Church. \n\nBut you say, what about environmental issues championed by the last 3 popes? Isn't Trump a global warming denier? \n\nTo that, I'm sure if the Church just presents the solution to Mr. Trump, no problem. (What is it??)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Troll you? I simply asked you a question, my friend...you Catholics seem a mite touchy when someone seeks to go beyond your self-crafted narrative. Callista Gingrich's own narrative dictates whatever is said concerning her: supposed life-long Roman Catholic, dedicated adulteress for 6 years, marriage to a twice-divorced man...but hey,it's Roman Catholicism; what won't your institution excuse? Give me a break, Neko...\ud83d\ude02.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Let me tell you something: if I was Archbishop Chaput, I would be glad I am not a Cardinal. I wish more bishops were like Chaput. This is a bishop of bishops. He is interested in souls and the Gospel--not kissing up to the likes of Pope Francis so he can advance himself in the Church hierarchy.\n\nHe is more interested in the Gospel and souls than a red hat. Pope Francis can keep his red hat and give it to the kiss ups--those bishops who are a mile wide and an inch deep.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Dali Lama is an outspoken supporter of family planning and has appeared\nin several videos showing situations in India and other areas that one would not believe \nunless they saw it. \n\nI hope that Catholic doctrine on birth control will update for this era; it's unfair to\nthe children, the parents or our world.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I was always very unhappy when bishops supported conservative Catholics who expressed their displeasure with progressive priests who criticized Humanae Vitae or some things JPII said and did. We can't cheer or jeer the principle of a discerned conscience based on content or our agreement with it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In general you are correct. The problem is that humans have a need or desire for companionship. That companionship entails necessary factors like protection, values, traditions, and commonality. As much as each individual is different, humans group together with those factors as a sort of magnet. They become uncomfortable when an \"outsider\" tries to undermine the core factors that \"glue\" the group together. Mind you, these factors help the society or group function. For example, a United States citizen may have no problem eating Chinese food offered by their Chinese neighbor, but that same citizen does not want their Christian values and religion undermined by Buddhism. Likewise, he or she does not want the English language to be superseded by the Chinese language. The food is not a core factor, but the interference into the core factor of the society's values/religion or language is a problem. So...in this respect science can definitely be applied to people.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is not the way any decent person would speak, never mind a follower of Christ. Jesus would not speak in such a derogatory manner of anyone.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If any so-called political agenda of bishops doesn't directly support THEIR prime objective then they risk failing in their vocation...as do you and I. \n\nOur own political agenda must be supportive of our lay vocation, which is to become saints, and to bring souls to Christ.\n\nIt's time we raised the bar a bit around this petty ante political place masquerading as a Catholic website.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are many aspects of Christianity that are very positive and can make a person hopeful. I like the idea that we can be building a Kingdom (or Kin!dom), that we can transform our world, that each moment may contain a resurrection, that we can be Transfigured, have peace within, experience our daily bread, incarnate the Divine, be One with all. Nice to hear from you Kari.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "> Inter-race marriage is something quite different and not something for political parties anywhere!\nNo it isn't, and it never was. And when there was a law against it - it was just supported by people quoting biblical passages in the same way.\n\nYour right to your religious views ENDS at the governance of your OWN conduct, you cannot govern the behaviour of anybody else with them - that is oppression, regardless who does it. It's wrong when Saudi's use it to justify not letting their women drive. It's wrong when Christian fundamentalists use it to justify not letting gays get married or adopt children.\nAnd it's the same evil. Every. Single. Time.\n\nThe evil of abusing the power of the state to enforce your moral views on people who do not share them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, at least this bishop is performing a confirmation. I have been dealing with a diocese where the bishop is handing my son's confirmation off to our parish priest. I really disagree with this hand off simply because, as this bishop points out, this is perhaps the only occasion when the Bishop will actually preside over a sacrament for these young adults, helping them to realize that their Bishop truly cares about them as members of his personal flock. \n\nMy other issue is that the deacons were not ordained - scripture does not state that. They were prayed over. In fairness, the apostles did not ordain anyone male or female according to scriptures. There were male and female deacons and presbyters (priests- by the job description & per the sacraments they presided over).\n\nMy other problem with this article is, as he praises Francis' example he forgets many women are kept from answering their call to priesthood because Pope Francis refuses to end this sexist bias in our church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have several observations : Can you imagine the outrage across Anchorage by liberals had the author been Jerry Prevo ? They'd be screaming for him to lose all tax exempt status , plus a lot of names and hateful talk . Do the authors of this story have so little confidence in their position on the issues that they feel the need to list additional people to back up their position , as if that gives them more credibility ? When reading stories from pastors I ask myself--what would Jesus say or do ? Over and over again the position Rev. Shultz writes in his stories seems to be at odds with what Jesus would do . To this observer he seems to not know what sin is , or he encourages actions Jesus would oppose.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Entering into a same-sex marriage is NOT to reject the Catholic faith (\"faith\" is not capitalized).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think man did the best he could in understanding the whisperings of the Holy Spirit as man sought God. But man has always been limited by knowledge, language, and a vision shaped by culture. While the Bible contains great wisdom, it is deeply buried and what wisdom it contains must always be reinterpreted as we learn about nature, science, the universe, and mankind. Don't assume some \"answer\" we came up with at some point in time is an ultimate, fully understood \"truth.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Corporate media peddling corporate welfare stories - there are multi-million dollar multi nationals in each of these countries - where are they? Why is a \"wealthy\" country such as Canada not being recognized as being hopelessly in debt so not wealthy at all.\n\nThe inconvenient truth that the media does not want to publish about South Sudan is that the largely Christian populations are being pushed into Islam: how about identifying this part of that conflict. \n\nWhy are people fleeing conflict zones rather than taking a stand? If western democracies eliminated social and financial benefits for anyone who is not a citizen, deterred the economic migration, then outcomes would change. More finances could be directed at assisting those first safe countries and enabling the displaced citizenry to take a stand against the conflict.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of course it is final. Pope Saint John Paul II the Great declared that door closed and what He has closed, let no man attempt to open. No doubt our courageous bishops will stand with Our Holy Father to hold this door closed against those who seek change. The church has never changed, unmarried men only have been priests from the first day of the church. Now we can quit discussing female priests and discuss more important matters like what will be the hemlines for bishops this Spring?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "#4. To love like Jesus wants us to love takes happy sacrifice, again and again, until we die.\n#5. The interior life with God is one of beginning and beginning again, daily.\n#6. When we think too much about ourselves we grow unhappy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"The fight over religious liberty was mishandled by the Obama administration, to be sure, but it was also mishandled by the bishops and it is clear they continue to make a hash of it.\"\n- Well, no. The Obama administration if anything was courteous to a fault to the USCCB.\n- What the administration should have said loudly and clearly was that the citizens want this insurance service, and yes, a lot of those citizens are catholics. So unless the citizens tell their government something else then this is the way it will be.\n- Had the USCCB been told this then they might have avoided 'trumping' up 'religious liberty' as a cause for themselves. Or then again, they themselves might have withdrawn from the healthcare ministries all together.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is also the possibility that the whole discussion of justification as the bedrock of Pauline theology is a misreading of the primitive kerygma, and that we have been arguing about something irrelevant to Jesus' life and mission all these years. It would be a real celebration of 500 years if we could explore that possibility together. The idea that we all stand convicted before God unless redeemed by Jesus needs revisiting.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Even in the Catholic Churches there are plenty of married priests with families.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"So the role of the priest is to be some sort of manager of a sacramental supermarket?\"\nSadly, that's what it has come to, with the shrinking numbers of priests, and the resultant amalgamation of parishes. This is due in no small part to the policies of JPII and BXVI.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "First Corinthians 15:35 to 50 should have established what we believe about 'the ressurection of the body.' The human body is made up of the elements of the earth, and to earth it shall return, or to fire, or to water. The remains will be eaten by worms, or fish, or birds, or mixed with the soil. The worms, the birds and the fish will be eaten by other creatures, etc. What about the organs that are donated ? Or the parts that were separated during life. The literal understanding of a permanent linking of the physical body to the immortal human soul/spirit is denied by actual facts. During life, body cells are constantly changed. To say that \"God will bring together the exact scattered remains of a person\" is a mechanistic image of the Divinity. Doctrine should be simple, clear, and consonant with human reality. In heaven we \"shall be like the angels (Luke 21:36),\" and \"we shall be like {God}\" (1 John 3:2). Praise God!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, please do. The wonderful real Catholic women will remain, and be loved as sisters.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "P.3\nThe Cattolica article is little more than John Nash-style pins-and-yarn, making tenuous connections in order to find patterns of religious convergence where few exist. The article appears an attempt to validate Pope Francis' term by belittling many Catholics who have a concern both for the Church and, by extension the Pontiff and his Office. May God bless Pope Francis. He doesn't need defenders who do violence to the truth on his side.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"when Ehud Barak tried to negotiate an agreement with Arafat in 2000\"\n\nHi mythical \"generous offer\" contained conditions that would have legitimized the status quo and left Israel in de facto control of all Palestinian territory. Even prominent Israeli academics and journalists said that, like everything Israel's government has brought to the table, it was designed to be rejected.\n\nThis only continues because Israel's government has made a conscious choice to perpetuate a military, political, and economic campaign to deny the Palestinians their right to self determination and steal their land and resources, in brazen defiance of the UN and systemic violation of the very laws intended to prevent such an injustice.\n\nAnd the US underwrites this campaign and protects it from the law.\n\nGuess you haven't seen how fanatical settlers and the Israeli authorities treat Christians, Muslims, or supporters of Palestinian rights.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We should expect miracles!\n\nWe should live as virtuously as we can living our lives with all our intelligence, growing the human virtues at every opportunity, seeking to know and do God's will in every thought, word and action, drawing all to Jesus Christ.\n\nWe should pray always as we are told in Scripture.\n\nAnd then we should do even more: We should expect miracles.\n\nHe's not suggesting sloppy selfish imprudent living, though in order to have a point you have to distort his point.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So, just to be clear, the most any of us can say is that 1) if there is a Spirit, and 2) if the Spirit is at work within Christianity, then 3) it is reasonable to assume that the same Spirit is at work within other religious traditions. Even that may be something of a stretch, however.\nPhan develops his understanding of Spirit-God in Chapter Three, largely by arguing that the idea is wholeheartedly endorsed by Asian religions, but doesn't explain why we should believe in the existence of a Spirit God at all. Why, in other words, is it more reasonable to conclude from available evidence that our world is imbued with the Spirit of God than to conclude that, as Bertrand Russell and others have argued, it just seems that way to us from our limited perspective? That may have something to do with the fact that this is his apologia to the CDF, but I think he has the resources at his disposal to attempt something more, especially in this friendlier post-Levada, post-Mueller context.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "On the other hand, another Obamacare benefit to the Catholic Church (and all churches) is that they are exempt from having to provide COBRA to employees that are terminated. I just found that out the hard way - a new pastor came in, he wants his own people in place, so he terminated my position (DRE) and I can't get COBRA. The same night I learned of this rule, I attended a Confirmation class where the topic was Mission and we discussed Matthew 25. Where is the social justice in this policy? Where are the marchers/demonstrators trying to protect the unemployed who are in this situation? I guess they follow Matthew 23 instead!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Look who has come to Jesus? In a nut shell, here's the defect in free trade that the IMF can't admit: free moving current account; captive labour markets. Labour can't pursue opportunity as easily as capital because labour immigration is fraught with friction. Capital, however, is as free as air. Policy is still very much unbalanced in favour of capital. \n\nLagarde is obsessed with empowering her friends in finance; people, however, not so much. Angry populism is long overdue, so is the departure of Captain Ahab at the IMF.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "God bless the Central Church's ministry and leadership, and may other Adventist churches join them in offering healing to a nation beset by violence and racism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I presume I would feel the Real Presence in an Orthodox Church since they do have valid episcopate and holy orders. If I ever had the occasion to go (wedding, funeral or other reason), I would definitely have no problem going and worshipping Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. I would rather go to an Eastern Catholic Divine Liturgy because I could receive Our Lord there. And unlike some who complain, I totally think the Orthodox are within their rights to not give Communion to non-Orthodox (and am totally not offended), and the Catholic Church is right to instruct us not to receive at non-Catholic liturgies.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"panhandling is a job - sort of\" \n\nWell of course it's a job! It has existed for millennia. Buddha, Diogenes, Catholic monks are just some of those who have engaged in the practice. Some religions hold that this is the only way their devout adherents should support themselves. Hinduism, Sufi Islam, Buddhism, and Jainism come to mind.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Good job, Oz. By the way, did anyone hear about the van that crashed and exploded at the Canberra office of the Australian Christian Lobby yesterday? Obviously terrorism, right? I mean that's what everyone was saying.\n\n\"Police believe a van crash and explosion at the Australian Christian Lobby's Canberra headquarters was not politically, religiously or ideologically motivated, after interviewing the critically injured driver.\" - www.9news.com.au", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It may be a bit worn, but it is still completely accurate. You have said, in as many words, that your views are \"congruent\" with the teachings of the magisterium, and that those who disagree with the magisterium on ANYTHING are not truly Catholics. Thus, as I correctly said, the only ones you accept as being proper Catholics are those who agree with you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, just like the progressives, to demand facts when it suits them to do so. Hardly consistent, is it? Of course, taking allegations as fact, assuming guilt rather than innocence, now that's not what we Conservative Catholics, in keeping with the Teachings of the USCCB, do when dealing with allegations of abuse by clergy with the aid of the Bishops, but of course, we are correct and right to apply different standards as necessary. So, yes, allegations imply facts here, while allegations, and even facts, may be disregarded when the accused, or even the convicted, are our Beloved Clergy and Courageous Bishops. After all, Jesus never said truth was all that important, did he? And even if he had, we have the tradition of winning by any means necessary from the Church, and tradition trumps scripture.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "He is permitted by God, the way that Pilate was permitted by God, and look what God figured out how to draw out from that meeting with Jesus!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The top three are teachings and Jesus also lived them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dear joellen40\nPerhaps it happens one heart at a time with no going back to the violences that were ok last week. Like giving the finger to the guy who cuts in. Or yammering at the tv when a politician gets on my last nerve. Those acts of violence many wouldn't even name that YET that's where the punch in the nose escalates from followed by a 'nuke 'em til they glow. Today we are asked to contemplate the Transfigured Humanity of Jesus Christ and to search out the reflection of His Transfiguration in our own lives one moment at a time. Being the change sounds so trite until I face the struggle to live it. \n\nThe reviews and comments take us into judging others for their hardness of heart. What bitternesses have I uprooted from my life? Do I frame people by their race? Who won't I sit next to on a bus or ride alone with in an elevator? \nWe can not hate people we do not fear. The Transfigured Christ takes us beyond our fears, beyond our hate into the heart of love. One heart at a time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "National Catholic Reporter has been up and running for 53 years.\n\nAnd in terms of internet traffic, you rank as the 15,361st most visited site.\n\nCrux Now has not yet been active for 3 years.\n\nBut it's already ranked as the 8,280th most popular site. \n\nWhy are the new kids on the block twice as successful as your team?\n\nWhy do twice as many Catholics want to read what they have to say? \n\nIs God blessing them, or have they made a deal with the Devil?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Lot of Catholics talk like the Church was founded at Vatican II.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's their job to ensure that those who recieve are in fact receiving. \n\nJesus took bread, not pseudobread made out of something else at the Last Supper.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your friend had the choice to leave Religious Life long before the 25 years she lived as a Carmelite. Nobody keeps a woman/man against their wills in any Order. Caught in the life? A virus in Roman Catholicism and Orthodoxy? Have you considered that many times it was their families, who were the reason for their endurance in a life for which they were unfitted? Unfitted, yes, but they always had the choice to opt out of it. However, they worried that their families would be spoken about/criticised by relations, friends and neighbors. This I know for a positive fact. So, they endured, as did the seminarians you spoke about. There are no control mechanisms in any Order that restricts one's freedom. Before any member takes vows, she/he is questioned about whether they are doing this of their own free will. As I said, families often call the shots, and people are afraid that if they leave, they will have no support.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think you misunderstand a key principle.\n\nIt's the couple that either made a mistake (they themselves minister their own union in front of the Church) or they didn't live their marriage with great generosity, taking advantage of the ongoing graces that God is waiting to give of them.\n\nThe Church merely takes the couple at their word. In this sense the Church takes their word more seriously than the couple!!! It's up to the couple to show that a previous defect existed PRIOR to their marriage.\n\nThe Church is treating the couple as if they are adults.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If sponge cake and oj were the daily food in Jesus' time, perhaps we might.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If Jesus said, \u201cWhoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise\u201d (Luke 3:11), then what is a closet or a pantry for, other than the common good?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hi, ATF - I think we have to recognize that no one has done the heavy lifting involved in developing a theology of homosexuality, for want of a better word. I have read some sketchy attempts based on a lot of presuppositions, but nothing that would convince a traditional believer, let alone bishop, that the story of salvation embraces same-sex experience. It's one thing to argue that people with same-sex attraction have a right to sit at the same table as anyone else. It's another to argue that divine revelation has to be reworked to accommodate same-sex believers, especially if the evidence were to show that most same-sex individuals would have little or no use for the faith even if it were possible to accommodate them.\nWhat I'm trying to say is that the same-sex cause went forward politically without worrying about developing a new and inclusive Christian anthropology, and I'm not sure the cause can go any further unless someone does that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Woah ho ho... you are tempting the censorship gods there sunshine! M103 is the mantra of the day, in case you forgot. Anyway, no. No, and yes she will have to sit separately. Girls must be separated in the houses of the (islam) holy, and we Judeo-Christian type offspring must accept that and with open arms. Sorry.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus's promise is reliable. It's the men who insist that promise means they get to play god that are of questionable reliability.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Beautifully written. Heart wrenching. Loved the gardening interludes. \nChurch closed due to \"fewer priests\". There are solutions for that, but I won't go there. (!!!).\n \n\"In the past parents were happy to give one of their children to the Church\". In the 50's there was much prestige connected with having a child become a member of a religious community. My mother was ecstatic when my brother decided to go into Jesuit seminary... my Dad less so. He attended our once a month visiting Sundays with a jaundiced eye and, as a Republican, was furious when my brother mentioned being pressured to vote Democrat. After 10 years, two years short of ordination, my brother (like many of that era) chose to leave it all behind and follow a different call. Dad was ecstatic....Mom less so.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Did Christ die for us because we were contrite or should we be contrite because Christ died for us? Is the cart pulling the horse?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's a story of optimism from a time long before there was organized record keeping. One could no more rely on these stories if they said there was a body.\nBut I ask: Why take the body to \"heaven\"? Did Jesus not exist until he had his body back? Were all of his organs revitalized so he could \"live\"?\nIt's a great story that inspires us in times of panic regarding our own mortality. Lots of religions offer such solace. Reincarnation for one. Even new age'ers with their emphasis on melding with the great energy.\nI don't know of any scientific evidence that someone has come back from the dead, other than the testimonials of people who \"nearly died\" and saw a \"great light\". But the mind plays tricks.\nI hope there is a heaven, but I'm a doubting Agnostic: not sure if there is a God, but it does not look good.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus already did....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "TR makes the case that essentially the Vatican is primarily interested in being a political power player rather than a moral movement for humanity. The former are legion; the latter are largely loners.\nAs long as the Vatican persists in demanding to be recognized as a political state (alone among all religions) it has repudiated being a valid agent of the teaching of Jesus.\nThomas Keneally's new book, The Crimes of the Fathers, underscores the nature of the institutional Roman church: behind the compelling mystery of Catholicism, with its foundation in the message of \u2018Caritas Christi\u2019 [the love of Christ] \u2026 lay a cold and largely self-interested corporate institution.\nAlbeit it highly political than moral.\nTR surprisingly is revealing a bit of the real Francis rather than the gaga figure of mass media. Welcome reporting on TR's part to show Francis' slip showing beneath his white gown.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree. I and the car in front of me almost hit a Relay for Life person last year as she darted out into traffic in her \"Fairy\" costume to fill her little butterfly net. Also, the fireman seem to dart out into the traffic trying to get as many dollars as possible from the passing vehicles during rush hour traffic. I would think they of all people would know better considering some of the emergency calls they have to respond to.\n\nI can't see what makes this any less dangerous than the panhandlers asking for money at a street corner.\n\nHowever, I don't believe this ordinance is a true safety issue, I do believe this is an end run around protected First Amendment speech. \n\nMyself, I do not give to any of the panhandlers whether they are at an intersection, a grocery store, or even the Post Office. I suggest they contact St. Vincent de Paul, Catholic Charities, or the Eugene Mission if they are sincere about needing help.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "All this ennui among the hierarchy could be ameliorated very easily by each parish and each diocese choosing the persons who would serve as their bishops and priests. The problem is: the hierarchy is dangerously alienated from and hopelessly irrelevant to the lives of the very people they are suppose to serve. The hierarchy especially is nothing more than interlopers into our lives. If Catholics don't reform and renew their priesthood from parish to pope, we could well not have a church anymore before the end of this century.\n\nThe PEOPLE calling their priests and bishops to service ministry would get rid of most of what Papa Francesco has called \"the lepers of the church\": all the clerical politicians in the hierarchy and priesthood. Instead of being the spiritual feudal overlords of the People, we would have a servant priesthood again as was the rule in the primitive church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Happy 50th!!! Mine was last year. Guess we've changed how we see things since we started out. I grew up as a chaplain in Viet Nam, and learned the ontological stuff didn't mean much when you're hunkered down. I dd learn the impact of the sacraments and mass, and the importance of anointing not only to the sodier, but to all who were there of whatever belief. Fear is a great equalizer. IMHO the best service we offer the folks is our own prayer life. It is the basis of everything we do, and leads us to be aware of Christ continually calling us forward, and also that grace is real. All the best!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What Canon Law says that a bishop or pope can ordain a woman? You keep quoting Canon Law yet never the specific Canon.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Money, power and wealth\" have been used for millennia to get sex. And always will. \n\nAnd when we look at 'power' we must always remember that religious power has been used at least as much as secular power...going back at least to the Druids, Aztecs, Maya, whatever, up until today. \n\nThousands of Catholic choir boys will definitely testify to that!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Soon as a child steps aboard a school-bus, or onto the school-grounds, the school accepts supervisory responsibility for the child, during posted hours. This is so because school is compulsory, creating the nexus.\nA child under state control, as in a foster home or juvenile detention, is fully the responsibility of the state.\nFailure of a parent to properly supervise their child, is an subjective assessment, which can be qualified in a court of law. A parent's failure to properly supervise, usually triggers child endangerment laws, more often than criminal or civil liability.\nLaws which inhibit a parent's ability to exercise full control over their child, can mitigate the parent's ultimate responsibility.\nThe Judo/Christian belief is that \"The parents shall not suffer for the sins of their children, nor shall the children suffer for the sins of their parents\".\nIt's a \"can-of-worms\" no matter which way you turn. Certainly not settled science.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Where are all the Catholic schools in Chicago? Why were they not supported and continue to thrive. Do you think the demographics had something to do with it. People whose children went to these schools mostly for free or greatly reduced rates and the same parents who did not contribute in the Sunday basket brought about the destruction of the school system that only survives in the suburbs. Do you really want this to happen to the rest on the nation with everything you touch, see or taste. Woman, you have no clue.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If these comments are even remotely representative of Adventists, it shows what some were taught is widely different: some were flooded with EGW quotations, while others only recall that the Bible was the metric. It should not be surprising, then, that no one individual represents Adventism today, or probably at any time.\n\nBut one individual is the most influential currently: Ted Wilson, G.C. President. He has the benefit of the bully pulpit of SdA publications, and primarily, the official news weekly and monthly: the Review. Nearly all of his quoted sources in every essay are from EGW, with rarely a Bible reference. His position gives him unprecedented ability to influence members around the world.\n\nHow was the church able to survive for nearly 2,000 years with Scripture alone?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "jesus was largely a creation of propaganda, especially from saint john. to a large degree, he is a fictional character.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ordination of males only is not dogma, it is simply a rule which an be changed. The only dogmas are the Creedal statements and any statements issued \"ex cathedra\" by the pope.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I get that the OT prophets sought out the \"remnants'. It is my belief that Jesus was the civilization call to reverse it. Jesus - as a leader of men, as a philosoper/theologian - was in the line of Aristotle's contribution: the common good; mutual interdependency; safe-sacred space in community; civility and compassion as the basis of, not the end of law. Redemption is Jesus' unique stamp.\nOur church must return to the human, smart Jesus in the intellectual tradition of human kind seeking to understand and care for humankind, elevated to creation itself, and for we humans, as elevated into the opportunity for the divine.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dennis...I am inclined to think that while I would love a democratic process and we see a bit of this with Mc Elroy and his Synod...realistically I doubt that the Church is going in that direction any time soon.....indeed with Francis's death...probably a reverse course....\n\nSO, if folks are to stay then I think it's helpful to their progeny et al to be honest....i.e. As a parent or grandparent \"I am still a Catholic but I don't agree with (name the items).. And yet I see a great value in the sacraments, the community, whatever\"....\"that doesn't mean that I won't support (name the causes) vigorously\"....\n\nPerhaps a mixed message, but an honest one....\n\nFrankly can't think of an honest alternative....except departure.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"after this pope, another comes\" (Pope Saint John Paul II). \n\nWe need to recall often the life of St Athanasius. \n\nWe need to ask for his help to be faithful to the 2000 years of the Catholic Church and not lose our peace with what OCP wants to do with the Mass.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ever see the episode of West Wing where President Bartlett tears into the fundy about Leviticus (it was actually quoting another piece). If you want to claim homosexuality is so bad but neglect tatooing, pork and shellfish than you are using the Bible for your own prejudice. Natural law is by reason. Scripture is authority, but the authority of past actors. It can guide but is not determinative, especially if it is not revelation but instead its own analysis of natural law. If the Church ignores new evidence than it is the Church that is bringing about its own suffering (or rather, the hierarchy - most of the faithful agree with my points more and more each day).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Burke sees himself as another St Nicholas hurling metaphorical slaps at the face of the heretical Pope Francis. I think it is getting close to time for Franky to slap him back with a not so metaphorical suspension, which will probably lead to a reduction to the lay state if Burke isn't careful. But to be honest, I think Burke would love that as it would give him a chance to set himself up as martyr and start a schismatic group with himself as arbitrator of all that is \"orthodox\". If he did that, I would hope that most of his sycophants would follow him into schism. Then maybe the church could finally start to clean up some of the messes left by JPII the Great Enabler and Benedict. In fact, that very scenario might be the salvation of Catholicism in the western world. As for Burke himself, I think this line from the movie Priest suits him perfectly: Te es pustula in corpore Christi. Pustula vivens spirans monstruosa. lam iamque in pus et cruorem...et foetorem eruptura.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Every single person that Jesus healed eventually died.\nDoes this mean Jesus's healing acts weren't perfect? No \nThey were perfect in the sense that they were complete and in the sense that they were perfectly in line with the will of God. They weren't perfect in the sense of \"power\", the power to infinitely keep illness out of a person. Could God have rendered infinite healing into these people? Of course. But it wasn't His will.\n\nPrayer is really an act of \"union\" with God, through conversation.\nThere are other forms and acts of \"union\", such as an act of pure charity (an act of pure charity is done solely for the love of God, not for accolades, not for better friendship with the person that one is helping, etc.)\n\nThe most important thing for our soul that we can do on earth is draw closer to God. So prayer is infinitely more effective when it helps our soul, or the soul of others, than when it leads to a physical miracle, because the soul is that important compared to the body.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I appreciate everyone's comments and additional suggested Beatitudes, especially the ones proposed by the Holy Father. But would it be too rude of me to simply assert \"Blessed be those among us who attempt to embrace with open mind and heart Jesus' original eight Beatitudes, for they will be granted the serenity that these alone will please God.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ortho-toxic is a non-word coined as a pejorative with which to label those Catholics who are not persuaded by the persistent onslaught of progressivism.\nIf the laws of the Sabbath were made for man then it behoved the Jews to keep them. In the Church there are two types of law, the Natural Law written by God in men's hearts, the Divine Law revealed by God in the Scriptures and Apostolic Tradition which cannot be ignored or changed and the Precepts of the Church which the Church has the authority to impose and remit. You don't seem to take this into account.\nBishop Paprocki is only upholding the teaching of his Church, what else ought a Catholic bishop do? He cannot overrule the Law of God, Natural or Divine. Mercy which confirms someone in their sinful state is a false mercy. It can be likened to encouraging the Gadarene swine to go over the cliff.\n+Paprocki offers to all the prospect of repentance, reconciliation and a firm purpose of amendment just as Christ would have done.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The debate over AL may be over for some, but among the pope's harshest critics there will always be new battles to fight. And now that we know that Donald Trump's right hand man, Steve Bannon, is in league with these same forces who oppose the pope, we can look forward I'm sure to more Breitbartian-style efforts to bring down his papacy. The posters that suspiciously and anonymously appeared all over Rome recently smearing the pope were only the first shot across the bow in the new unholy war against the \"liberal\" pope. Like his boss, Steve Bannon sees all things in duality in which there are only winners and losers. Cardinal Wuerl may be always seeking to find that elusive \"Catholic Center,\" what the Anglicans call the \"via media,\" but that is not the way the pope's enemies see things. For them there is only left and right, and for them, only right is right. Expect more battles from Burke and company. For them, this \"war\" with Pope Francis is far from over - it is only just beginning.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not sure a view from Rome is what we need at the moment.\u2014Monicadeangelis Me neither. \u201c\u201dSo also David declares the blessedness of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works\u201d (Romans 4:6), particularly the works of the sexual coverups emanating unabashedly from Rome . . . well abashedly, but, really, not so. \u201cI turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation\u201d (Psalm 32 (see 7). Not having Bette here leaves such joy in the abstract. I cannot wait to be with her and her family again . . . in the meantime, plod on we go. \u201cWhatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light\u201d (Luke 12:3), if anyone cares about more irrelevancies from Rome at this time in history. The Gospel carried on by the Church is relevant; but so much of what Rome makes of that Gospel merits ignoring. Liturgy of the Word, Reading 471, Friday of the Twenty-Eighth Week in Ordinary Time I.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I was baptized as an Anglican, my father's religion. When I was a child, circa 1955, my father converted to Catholicism. He, my brother and I were conditionally baptized as Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I should have said what I mean by a theology of homosexuality. The field of theology that addresses questions of nature and grace, sin and salvation, is usually called Christian Anthropology. The traditional assumptions of Christian Anthropology include the idea that there is a human nature fixed in its substance and that human nature is expressed in beings that are male and female, who come together to partner with God in the ongoing work of creation. \n\nI think same-sex research challenges that idea to the core. (I also think that the traditional categories of sin and salvation are obsolete, but that's a topic for another discussion.) The question posed by a theology of homosexuality would be, in my opinion, whether \"nature\" can be retained as a meaningful category for religious language, realizing that to question it is to question both Nicaea and Chalcedon. The challenge would be to articulate a new understanding of \"nature\" that encompasses the full range of sexual experience.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There's no child. It's a fetus. There IS a difference. And why do you get to decide what a woman does with her body? An abortion is a very personal decision and I don't know any woman who uses it as a primary birth control method. \n\nEvangelicals are the first to care about fetuses and the last to care about poor mothers who brought their child to term and who now need public assistance. They're called \"welfare queens\" and evangelicals usually support the GOP's demonization of them. \n\nLiberals like me don't necessarily like the idea of abortion, but we realize that we need to allow women the power to make medical decisions about their own bodies and there are many factors that create the conditions where a woman may want to terminate. I've heard countless stories of women in Red states who were forced (due to people like you who jump for joy over taking away those providers) to carry a dead fetus or terminal fetus to term. It's sad and cruel but you promote it. We also support sex ed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "....\"The laity cannot consecrate and can only administrate\"...\n\nThe people appointed by the 12 Apostles and Paul to lead the early Church communities were all 'laity'. 'Clerics' had not been invented as yet.\n\nAccording to Vatican 2 the Bishop is the 'THE Priest' of the Diocese.\n \nThe Bishop then delegates his powers of teaching and administration and administering sacraments to others - as determined by the customs developed over centuries and encoded in 'Canon Law'.\n\nCustom, as enshrined in Canon Law, has set up a 'clerical' system for those parts of his powers that a Bishop delegates to a 'priest' or 'deacon'. \n\nBut customs can and have changed. Many of a Bishop's Administrative functions are now delegated to non-cleric 'laity'. Qualified Laity 'teach', in Schools and Universities, and in the parish. Laity give marriage prep. They lead RCIA classes They are Communion Ministers.\n\nIn short, 'laity' do whatever a Bishop delegates them to do. He CAN choose to 'ordain' non-cleric laity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "None of those are moral decisions. The world of power is not concerned with morality and who knows what the ethical constraints are for power structures with no significant fear of prosecution?\n\nMoral is a personal influence for me. There is good reason to mistrust a combination of political and religious alliance. \n\nIMO it is religion that suffers most when they combine. As a follower of Jesus his advice was unequivocal he was not concerned about human institutions. The church gets full of its earthly power and loses it focus as spiritual guide.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We've come across a point which may seem small, but which divides Protestant from Catholics to this day. It may or may not be true that we are \"justified by faith, not by law.\" But when Jesus said, \"If you love me, you will keep my commandments,\" he did not not mean, \"If you love me, try to keep the ideals I have lad out for you. But if you can't, you can find other ways of loving me, like believing me, that'll save you.\" And if you think it is easier for a rich man to pass through the eye of a needle than to be saved, what would you give the chances of salvation of a determined, thought-out adulterer. \n\nIn a way, you are preaching to the choir. I, too, see the sense in allowing an abused wife to divorce. But again, I'm not Jesus = God. My opinion is worthless, in comparison. Jesus knew all about abused wives, yet still clung to the rule that had but one exception --- adultery. If I were Jesus for a day and had the right to make the rule . . . but I'm not. So I submit.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What a shock, the modernist readership at NCR wants to hold hands like a good bunch of evangelicals during the Our Father. We shouldn't even be reciting the prayer, but for the \"sed libera nos a malo\", let alone playing romper room games and raising our hands \"way up high, Joey\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For nearly 50 years, I haven't heard any priest from the pulpit condemn anyone or anything. \nHomilies have been about being kind, and loving, and forgiving.\nI haven't heard aspersions cast on anyone, let alone the divorced and remarried without annulments.\nThe \"hurting\" people in the world have made out like bandits in the modern RCC.\nThey have been given license to behave as they please, and no responsibility for their actions.\nThat doesn't sound like the Old or New Testament God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"I promise you I will tell progressive commentators to tone it down when a conservative commentator tells YOU tone it down.\"\n\nThe capitalization is intended to aid you in recognizing there is no need for a conservative commentator to make a questionable comment. Only that one of them call you out on any of your uncivil comments. Sigh. It really does seem to be clearly stated, one hardly needs a degree in English to comprehend the sentence, much less a masters. Naturally, the promise is an empty one, because no conservative here ever questions another. We all march in lock step. As we should, since we are waging war against the progressives who would destroy the Church with modernist ideas. Jesus calls us to fight, and no tactic is forbidden, no conduct disallowed, as long as we are on the right side. As it says in the Bible, the ends justifies the means.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"If God had willed women to be priestesses, he would have made Mary, the most holy of all women, the first priestess.\" \n\n(Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez, Chairman of the Cardinal Council of Pope Francis)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"We must try to remember and apply more of what Jesus tells us.\"\n\nFeed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, tend the sick, visit the imprisoned. That's what Jesus told us to do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My first recollection of being in the church is probably from when I was four years old. Then, at age 18 I was baptized, and at age 22 I graduated in the school of theology at the SDA Brazilian College in S\u00e3o Paulo, class of 1972.\n\nNow I am wondering... WHERE IS THAT CHURCH???\nThey changed the Church modus operandi, they created a monster with 28 tentacles, they fight fiercely to discriminate women, they are trying to eliminate the most imortant role of the Unions that is to protect the Church from abuse from the GC. They couldn't care less about the Church's most respected theologians, but decided that they will define theological issues themselves. \n\nWhere is the Church I was baptized into? Ah..., I get it now... It is in the hands of a group that appears to support LGT, that is in close cahoots with independent ministries - including deviating money to them - and who knows what else. A Soviet style operated business now.\n\nMy church is completely hijacked now.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It all a matter of interpretation & who controls the interpretation.\n\u201cAll things are subject to interpretation. Whichever interpretation prevails at a given time is a function of power and not truth.\u201d The men who have grabbed the power force their interpretation upon the pew potatoes. \nWith a parity of men and women, interpretation of the emphasis of Jesus' message would be weighted differently. An obscure text, some eunuchs are born for the kingdom...takes a YUGE imbalance over the Sermon on the Mount.\nRight wing political Christians are more fixed on reinforcing celibacy that the non violent, egalitarian message of Jesus. And the religious right wing males have the power. Hence, we keep parsing celibacy, not non violence, etc.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well said, Chrizmart. There will never be complete unity, nor does it matter. That is hardly what Jesus meant when he prayed to the Father that \"all be one even as you and I are one.\" He wasn't talking about religious doctrine! That is of minor importance since no one owns all the truth.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Whatever happened to Jesus' insistence on forgiving 70x7? I don't actually care if you think 'we' can not forgive those who intend to persist in sin. God's desire to forgive is infinite and I try to take my cue from that knowledge.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus didn't defend Moses, He overruled him. Interesting creative reinterpretation of the Scripture passage, but Jesus told the Pharisees that Moses was pandering to the hardness of hearts of the Israelites by letting them divorce their wives by allowing them to ignore the truth of marriage as it was from the beginning, that a man leaves his father and mother to cling to his wife and the two become one flesh, and that what God has joined let no man put asunder. No, this is no mere \"ideal\". Jesus restored what Moses obscured for expediency.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You've hit one of several bull's-eyes on this matter. \n\nIn order to show its disapproval with the belief system at Trinity Western University, the Law Society of Upper Canada made a decision that denies students from that university the right to practice law in Ontario. Yet clearly the 'offending' belief at TWU is the same as many other religions. LSUC does not, however, screen Catholic and Islamic applicants over their beliefs about homosexuality.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Gosh, the liberal Catholics you slander don't disapprove of public witness either. \n\nBut when you whinge about other people's public witness or lack thereof, asking about your public witness is reasonable, n'est pas?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus said that men can divorce their wives if their wives commit adultery. Why do we change that principle?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I was thinking of the woman in Luke 7:36-50. The anointing at Bethany (Mk 14, Mt 26, Jn 12) concerns oil, not tears. John attributes it to Mary of Bethany. Mary of Magdala (in the resurrection narratives of Mt 28 and Jn 20) has nothing to do with those women, though she has commonly been confused with them. There is nothing about her grabbing his feet; Jesus says \"do not touch me\" but it is not even clear that she had touched him.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "People don't understand the Sacraments, & Vatican II itself, let along the whole corpus of beautiful Catholic teaching over 2000 years.\n\nThey're always looking for 2.1, the next shiny thing.\n\nAnd yet they're never really happy, are they?\n\nThey \"vacillate\" happiness because they don't possess a true good: An understanding of sanctifying grace, sharing in the divine life with the Triune God now not just in heaven.\n\nThey don't understand grace, the Sacraments (they refill us, heal us, strengthen us, rectify us with God). \n\nThey just don't get it because they're prideful and want their 2.1. \n\nFor instance, if you told someone that at every Mass that they become present at their own Redemption, there would less bitterness, complaining, griping, and dallying in the occult.\n\nIf you told them that every Mass they can share in a communion so deep, intimate and loving that it makes beautiful marital intimacy seem like it's counterfeit, a knock off, there would be no room in any Catholic Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually about 19% of Americans voted for Trump and more than that voted for Clinton. I'm glad to see Bp McElroy reclaiming social justice Catholicism!\n\nhttps://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.washingtonpost.com%2Fblogs%2Fthe-fix%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F11%2FFeels_0_Splits.jpg&w=1484", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So what? To coin a phrase: what difference does it make?\n\nThe only thing relevant in this discussion is the papal decree--not what theologians believe. So the theologians believed there was nothing in Scripture that forbids the ordination of women. Pope JPII obviously disagrees. Since he is the one with the authority to bind and loose, as well as bind the consciences of the Christian Faithful, what he has decided is the only thing that matters. \n\nOnce the SCOTUS issues a decisions--it does not matter whether a bunch of lawyers think it was wrong. It is the same in the Church. Once the pope or bishops issue decisions, it does not matter whether a bunch of theologians disagree. The case is closed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In other words--when Scripture says things you don't like or agree with you will just throw out the book or phrase and claim \"God didn't write that, man did.\" \n\nLuther did that too--only he didn't like Scripture that didn't teach his pet doctrine Justification by Faith Alone. Either way--throwing out Scripture because of it not conforming to our personal ideology or agenda is a hallmark of Protestantism.\n\nThen again--if you get to do that with moral teachings, I get to do that with social teachings. Thus when Scripture tells me I have to care about the poor--I will just claim \"God didn't write that. X wrote that so I can ignore it.\"\n\nYou know--there could be something to this liberal dissident thing....maybe it isn't so bad after all--because if you get to throw out teachings you don't like, so do I! Catholic social teaching offends me--so I am throwing it out. I don't like the ideology of Pope Francis, so I will ignore him.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pardon me if I am not much bothered by your 'excommunication'.\n\nI am curious as to what you consider ...\"evidence that the Apostles themselves believed in transubstantiation\"... since the concept was quite foreign to them.\n\nJesus' words in John's Gospel, in context, seem to be about being 'fed' on his words. He uses a number of metaphors in that passage, such as 'I am the manna come down from heaven' . The occasion was after the multiplication of loaves, way before the Last supper. We might apply it to that, but it does not mean that John's Gospel does.\n\nIn the Gospels no one seems to have taken him 'literally'. No one carved up his body after death. They prepared it for burial. Nobody thought they were supposed to nibble on his fingers or toes or carve him up into steaks.\n\n'Trans-substantiation' is fine if the philosophy makes sense to you. As for me, as far as I can figure that philosophy out, 'substance' is merely a conceptual 'reality' - there is nothing 'substantial' about it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": ">>The notable difference between now and those days, with their far more numerous terror incidents, was the lack of hysteria over the bombings and the absence of hatred directed at Catholics and Irish people.\n.\nReally? \n\nNow that is as good as proof of 'Islamophobia' ...never mind the actual event.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What about the US sprinter Christian Coleman who came in second? Was he on drugs too? \n\nFunny no mention of Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson who was stripped of his Gold Medal in this 100 metre race in 1988 because of steroid doping, and never won any race of merit ever again", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Part two of two) \u201cWe know that all things work for good for those who love God\u201d (Romans 8:28). It is one thing to know it, it is something else to live it, particularly if one is victimized by abuse of power. \u201cShe will bear a son and you (Joseph, i.e. the Faithful) are to name him Jesus\u201d (Matthew 1:21). Children\u2019s Liturgy of the Word, as used at St. Mary Church, Friday, December 8, 2017.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Kurgan, besides being very flip, you seem fixated on the ultimate end and confused about Mary's role. She does God's will. She appears because He sent her. She is our Mother and cares deeply about us. As a fellow human, she knows our life and its challenges, temptations etc. As the mother of Christ, she also knows Him more intimately than any human and can help us know Him and please Him and love Him. Mary is Queen of Heaven and Earth and Queen of the Angels. They seek to do her will. Mary is all this through God's grace. Christ is God by nature. God is always communicating with everyone but not everyone is open to hear Him or speak to Him. He is love. His creation is a gift of love. Every flower, molecule, star is a demonstration of love. IF He had a specific message to you as He did to Lucia, you would have her experience of an apparition or a mystical experience. That direct a communication is rare but many people who pray sincerely hear God in their heart.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thanks for your opinion. Many disagree with you and find the instructions in the Bible a far better way to live than the \"everyone for themselves\" version of truth that is the alternative.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Love is probably the most misused idea in the history of man. \n\nJesus basically said that ONLY the love of God allows you and me to get the sanctifying grace to expand the boundaries of our natural self-love and self-interest so that we can learn to love our neighbor. The term 'Neighbor' here is used in the most expansive sense of the word to include our spouses and the rest of our nuclear and extended families, our neighbors, and strangers near and far. \nAny other type of love is a relationship of some kind of convenience or dependence. \n\nNote, for example, the 4 sins that cry to the heavens for vengeance: homicide, homosexuality, oppression of the weak and the poor, and the oppression of workers. The first 2 (homicide and homosexuality) involve loving God in terms of following his commandments obediently. The last 2 (oppression of the weak and the poor, and the oppression of workers) involve loving your neighbor, again in the most expansive sense of the word 'neighbor'.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Chrizmart, I replied to you 5 hours ago but for some unknown reason it has been deleted again I doubt that you had anything to do with it so don't think I'm accusing you. I'll try and remember what I wrote.\nI said that Dismas's recognition of Christ, his acknowledgement of his guilt and his plea to Jesus to remember him constituted a collaboration with God's grace; a 'work', no?\nI also said that I didn't regard the Church's teaching as the product of old men but as the teaching of Our Lord handed down through his Church. I said this was due to the gift of Faith rather than intellectual docility?\nNot an uncivil comment would you agree?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well articulated Cal. With her publicized - but far too gently discussed - long history of temper outbursts, uncivil treatment of the Secret Service & military, her compliance in theft of White House furniture & art work (much of which had to be returned, along with a heavy fine), her concealed health problems, HRC should have been shunned from government long ago.\n\nLet us all pray that Judeo/Christian ethics & statesmanship will guide our leaders at all levels and all voters in this election.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have never felt the goal of the pro life movement was reducing abortion. The goal is making abortion illegal. If this movement was truly about reducing abortions, they would acknowledge abortions go down significantly under Democratic presidents and it would not conflate birth control with abortion. Unfortunately these steps are hard to take for Roman Catholics because the clerical leadership insists on birth control is as evil as abortion.\n\nIt's unfortunate the pro life movement didn't spend all it's money and motivation on convincing women to have their babies and then supporting those mothers with the social programs necessary to raise their child as a productive citizen. Instead they chose to use their resources as political revenge against politicians who don't agree with them. Given that penchant, it's no wonder they are falling all over President Trump. I wish one of them would ask Mr Trump how many abortions he paid for while engaging in his sexual Viet Nam.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What you mean is that the Pope's understanding of economics is different from yours. Yours is based on grrrf and self-interest, the Pope bases his on concern for all. Your god is money. His god is Jesus.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, let's just stay close to what Jesus said:\n\nSt Matthew 16: \"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.\"\n\nAnd \n\"heart, soul, mind and strength\"\n\nIf more people would just do a little painful thing every day...such as smiling when they don't want to...how the tone would change.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I find it interesting that in a story about a convocation of American Catholic \"leaders,\" which was supposed to recognize the substantial roles of the laity, only 2 people are quoted, both male members of the hierarchy, and one not even an American. So you'll pardon me if this story merely confirms my suspicions about this entire event....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Being Catholic is not simply choosing which doctrines you will or will not believe. The doctrines are from God and as Catholics we are required to believe and obey all of them. Candidates who blatantly support intrinsic evils are not to be voted for under any circumstances as there are no equivalent issues that can offset those evils. Catholics that do vote for candidates who are actively campaigning on a platform which supports intrinsic evil are putting their soul in grave danger. All Catholics should familiarize themselves with the five Catholic non-negotiables and vote accordingly. To do otherwise is grave matter.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Interestingly, he was considered the most conservative member of the faculty at that time. He was very conventional. I learned so much great theology from him. What I remember the most was his pressing the duality\u200b of Christ: imminent and transcendent and the importance of tradition as part of the Church's teaching authority. Amazing homilist. He was the bishop of Erie for 25 years. He most defiantly would be a Francis bishop.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"You are not in the majority. Trump won.\"\n\nDude. When in Denver, I am actually in the majority. Is that truth inconvenient? Trump lost, here. That normally isn't a big deal, these things happen occasionally, even in a liberal democratic system, but when you have an election that is not credible on account of military-spec Psychological Warfare operations conducted by the likes of Robert Mercer and Steve Bannon's Cambridge Analytica, we have a problem, because that means the results cannot be legitimate, and nothing that's happening now is actually authentic. That's what we call a Constitutional crisis.\n\nBeyond that, the ideology is objectively anti-Christian and anti-sustainable, anti-integrity, anti-progress, anti-morality, anti-feminine, anti-equality, anti-liberty. There's nothing there to like, and they aren't even honest with their own base. This horse is lame, this building is unsound, this is not freedom and we are not free.\n\nNow what?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "More prattle on contraceptives in health insurance. \n\nContraceptives should be mandated coverage in all health insurance. This leaves the actual decision to use or not use contraceptives to the conscious of the individual. This is freedom of conscious. This is respect for the agency of each person. \n\nThis is also freedom of religion for those who rely on insurance coverage to be able to make a choice about health care. This is freedom from economic coercion, the attempt to force people to live by a religious belief they do not freely choose. \n\nFreedom of religion is not just the freedom of job \"owners\" but the freedom of each of us - lets not substitute the power of the owners of jobs for the power that used to reside in those who ruled by \"divine right\", whether that was \"divine right\" kings or \"divine right\" bishops. \n\nIf Catholic bishops and priests want to preach on the \"evils\" of contraception, let them preach on it to their hearts content. But stop the attempt at coercion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "long ago, I realized the story about Jesus and the woman with the issue of blood was about this. I think it goes especially about what the priestly ministry is about...the power of Jesus flows through the priest as it did through his cloak, bringing healing through the sacraments. the same goes for all of us when we receive the sacraments, Jesus' power goes through us to bring healing to one another and the world. the power is not ours, but his. that is why clericalism has no place, the clergy are merely the conduits of grace and the same for all of us as well. that is why those who worry so much about the purity of those who receive sacraments, about the freedom of all men and women to receive them is so misplaced. the clergy do not own them, the laity does not own them, even the church does not own them, they are all nothing but conduits. it is the water company that says who may receive water, not the pipes that deliver it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Never gonna happen. As long as there are hundreds of millions of conservative Catholics, especially in the Eastern and Southern hemispheres, including the Eastern Orthodox Churches, it's not gonna happen. The Church will never, ever again risk such a schism, like the one in 1054. LOL!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Treaties of Canada were signed with the agreement that our fore fathers and fore mothers, whose wishes were thought and agreed to be ..til time immemorial... Canada seems to speak as if the Treaty signers and their families were as a band of horses or monkeys. These agreements were written for families, that at the time, as non Christians, these people had family names and clans that which they were related to by blood. These families had in common a genetic claim to the lands by relationship to the First Families of those agreements. Legal destination of these (First Nation, Metis, Inuit, Mohawk, and other so-called Indigenous peoples means redefining the Indian Act . What people should whose claims are needed for the tax payers to help to reconciliation the monies being spend needlessly and misused by a privileged few. Canada wants to do right for its First Peoples and its citizens who help to progress the land that sustain us all, in this diverse Mosaic we call home. KMW", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in South Carolina - White American Male\nSandy Hook - White American Male\nAurora Theater - White American Male\nFort Hood - White American Male\nColorado Springs - White American Male\nColumbine High School - White American Males\nUmpqua Community College - White American Male\nIsla Vista - White American Male\n\nThis list is just a start - but go ahead and cherry pick events all you want!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "BattleReady - wow! You almost sucked every ounce of oxygen from my body with your off-the wall remark \"anyone who voted for Clinton is NOT Catholic...\" Well what about a woman having the right, along with her doctor, to determine what she should or should not do with regard to terminating a pregnancy? After all it is the woman's decision in the end. Abortion is legal in this country. Whoever becomes POTUS must uphold the law. When did God die and put you in charge of who is and is not a Catholic? Dear sweet mother of dying Jesus - spare me from people like you!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus told the rich young man what was necessary and it was he - the rich young man - who turned away sad.\n\nDid Jesus \"inflict pain\" on this rich young man.\n\nDid Jesus \"cause\" the sadness?\n\nNo, the rich young man caused his own sadness.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Since the issue of women as deacons or priests came up about 3+ years ago, I have cited extensively on this website HARD, DOCUMENTED evidence by noted and world renowned Church historians----the names of persons or situations demonstrating that women, were indeed deacons, priests and even bishops or who acted in the position of bishops. I have done this at least SEVEN times.\n\nThis was documented work done in a number of countries, by a number of people, recorded over the centuries. I cited the work done by the great Benedictine historian Jean Leclercq. In addition, evidence of the authority of Benedictine abbesses was written and recorded in the oldest library in Central Europe at Stift Melk on the Danube about 20 miles south of Vienna. Other pertinent documents were stored in the Archives at St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna. [Continued]", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "OK... and what is your point? Call them by any other name, they are still the indigenous people of the region. Zionism was a European political philosophy, and it was Jewish emigration from Europe to Palestine (yes that was its name) in the 19th and 20th centuries that led to the creation of the modern State of Israel. \n\nFor example, one Benzion was born in Poland in 1910, where the family had lived for generations with the family name Mileikowsky. \n\nOn immigrating to Palestine, they changed the name to \"Netanyahu\". Benzion's son is now PM. What long, Jewish connection to the land does that family hold, compared to a Palestinian Christian or Arab who has lived there for generations?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You say that like you think it's some kind of a threat.\n\nReady or not, we will all be at that gate some day. Looking back through the centuries, the millennia, the ages -- and forward perhaps as far, I honestly can't help shaking my head at an insistence that we humans understand God, that we know as absolute what laws He has supposedly set as the unforgivable line. Societal norms aside, culture aside, necessities of living aside ... they do matter. Abraham slept with the help and was ready to murder his son. Jacob was a bigamist. Christians in Imperial Rome turned each other in for following different apostles. Constantine authorized selling your children into slavery. Innocent III ordered the Albigensian crusade. Crusaders believed they were earning indulgences by committing torture and murder. Etc, etc.\n\nOur faith must be in God, who created and loves us all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And how would you know any of this is true?\n\nAs I wrote, it plainly can't be true: where is the money coming from that keeps Catholic charities and Catholic apostolates going?\n\nIs all or even most of the money coming from progressive Catholics? Hardly. Conservative Catholics are the main financial contributors who keep charity work going.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Betten then the \"scheming, robotic liar with a lifelong appetite for power and an entourage riddled with anti-Catholic bigots.\u201d Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput used a weekly column to excoriate a \u201cscheming\u201d Hillary Clinton\u2019s presidential campaign for anti-Catholic bigotry on Thursday.\n\n\nAnd what kind of person are you that voted for her!\n\n\"Enthusiasm for a cause sometimes warps judgment.\" \t William Howard Taft", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "As a Christian, think we both agree radical religious terrorists are a blight at best and our world would be a much better place if they didn't exist. Sadly for any people of faith (Christian, Muslim, Jewish, etc), our hearts are heavy when people justify horrific actions in the name of their faith, twisting the beliefs as they act counter to what mainstream believers hold as most important. There will always be those who are on the fringe or have crossed over into mental illness.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\u201cYou voted for Trump and you are Christians?\u201d He sneered. \u201cYou will get what you deserve!\u201d\n\nUnless the gentleman is from another country (Even then the President of the United States and the US cast a long shadow.) He to will get what he deserves as we all will.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Fredrick, I'm sure that by now you and I are the only ones following this comment thread. I rate all comments as \"sorta ok\" and \"civil\" also.\n\nAnyway, I mustn't have made my point clear. I don't mean to hint that there is a pro Muslim bias. I'm implying that there is a anti Christian bias. It's no secret that Christianity is fair game, the media and contemporary culture carefully walks on egg shells whenever dealing with issues involving other religions. Don't worry, as soon as the more ignorant members (media/Hollywood/academia) of our society realize that Islam is also monotheistic and is as intolerant (theologically speaking) as is Christianity, they will then attack Islam and Muslims also.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "And 100% of Evangelical Christians and probably all Christians put their faith above the country they call home. What is your point?\n\nAnd you believe what you hear on RT (Russia Today?). Maybe do a little thorough research before using a propaganda network to back your racist statements. Shame on you.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "There has never been a Catholic prelate who has spewed as much venom at LGBT people as Pell, and now we know why; he was desperate to cover secrets of his own.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Those fundamentalists Christians should NOT be accommodated. That is ridiculous!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "What happened to separation of church and state? Who cares what the catholics think.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "This is pure evil. They are concerned about causing public scandal? I have seen priest who were convicted child molesters get a Catholic funeral Mass. That was not scandalous? Just find an Old Catholic Priest and let him do the funeral Mass. Shame on the diocese of Madison I am embarrassed for them.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "No \"good\" Catholics support Martin, who supports soddomy.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"Since most Catholics in the USA are in favor of gay marriage...\"\nDoes your statement refer to Catholics who go to Mass every week, or just anyone who self-identifies as Catholic because I've seen polls that show that 70% of devout Catholics who attend Mass every Sunday oppose same sex marriage? \nI'll agree with you on one issue: If gays who are civilly married are not to receive funeral rites, then anyone who is married civilly, but not sacramentally, should also be denied funeral rites. \nA person can be scandalized by any doctrinal infraction, can't they?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Burying this story under oblique language 'Coptic churches' obfuscates what occured--muslims once again slaughtering Christians, this time in their place of worship, on one of the holiest days in the Christian calendar, Palm Sunday.\nWhere are all the screaming headlines, the soul searching, the gnashing of morality; where are all the pundits decrying this blatant Christianphobia; where are the politicians bowing their heads in Parliament?\nHyprocrites.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "So John, you're saying that the prosecution of any of those \"twisted people\" was only done a Christian judiciary? That there were no Jews, Muslims, atheists, Buddhists, or followers of other religions involved, only Christians? That's a bit hard to believe isn't it?\n\nHowever your post actually proves my point. No doubt many of the prosecutors had some affiliation to the Christian faith. Therefore no one could claim that Christians are \"twisted people\" who murder abortion providers. Islam is no different, there is no basis to assert that all Muslims are terrorists just because of the actions of a small fundamentalist subset.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Muslims and liberals excoriate us about Islamophobia, but we should bear in mind Islam's entrenched racism, xenophobia, homophobia, misogyny, anti-Semitism, hatred of Christianity, Europe. Israel, and America. Islam's destructive iconoclasm is destroying historic treasures across the ME: in just one year Notre Dame in Paris has had three close call bomb threats. They even have Islamophobia against each other. Ancient tribal wars between Kurds, Shiite, Sunni, Wahhabi, Druze and other Islamic sects, ISIS , Taliban and Al Qaeda are the root causes of most of the wars and social chaos happening around the world today. It is worse than anything expressed in the west,", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Catholic schools should be abolished.\nThey are the remnants of a corrupt and outdated way of thought.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Jenifer; What those in the Hierarchy fail to understand is how many Catholics have either left the Church or if still there refuse to contribute financially because of their handling of the sex abuse crisis. Cardinal Dolan, of New York was recently heard complaining that Catholics are not contributing enough. There has been some training for those who work in the Church. That training has been targeted on lay people who work there and not on clergy and especially not on Bishops. Their financial problems are self made. If they were to recognize the abuse, admit to how bad it was/is and that they purposely covered it up, many of their financial difficulties would eventually go away. But that would take leadership. Something tremendously lacking in the Catholic Church.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "People own these beliefs. People hate. People discriminate. They can do that, as long as it doesn't hurt others. But...churches are part of the community. Their religious doctrine does not give them the right to change our laws to allow discrimination against a group of people based on nothing more than who they choose to love.\nChristians, Catholics and most all that worship with the good book, are taught to follow the Lords example. We are told to love our neighbors as ourselves. We are taught that God is Love and God created every single one of us. Why would the church ever think it is ok to pick and choose which of God's children they will accept and which ones don't make the grade? Not only will they not invite them in to worship, the churches want to make the hate towards lgbt the law.\nPeople hate, God does not. I respect the freedom of religion until it tramples on the freedom of others. If they weren't doing anything wrong, there'd be no need for suing or prosecuting.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "NO thanks. I don't need to trade a sexist woman hating bishop for a racist hating bishop. Both would be terrible popes or bishops or priests or Christians. Either bad choice should make anyone who is not misogynistic or racist explode and demand another Pope for the equal sake of human dignity of all members of our church.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"Same beliefs?\" I'll take you seriously the day Christians make their own sharia police force, suicide bomb markets of children, throw homosexuals off the tops on buildings, and sentence women to die for wanting to learn to drive and read. Where do you get your info on religion in society, 'The View'?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "WARDOGOO: \n\nJust askin, per Michael Binder's observation about being anti-sex....Would it also be more truthful for pro-life marchers this weekend to carry signs: \n\n\"MAKE LOVE, NOT ABORTION\"?\n\n\"CONDOMS NOT CONDEMNS\"?\n\n\"MOST EVANGELICALS ARE ANTI-ABORTION & PRO-CONTRACEPTION\"?\n\n\"IT'S MY BODY...UNTIL IT'S ALSO SOMEBODY ELSE'S\"? \n\n\"CATHOLIC SPOUSES FOR MORE SEX AND LESS ABORTION\"?\n\n\"FEWER ABORTIONS: WHATEVER IT TAKES!!!\"", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The Bishops need to hear the truth. To keep raising the doctrinal issue where the legal one aspects are totally ignored is as pathetic as claiming that pluralism is the reason to not act on one\u2019s Catholic beliefs. The result is exactly the same (except that if you elect someone who lied about what they can do about abortion, the movement feels betrayed - which explains the failed personhood movement).", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "JPII still should have abdicated when he became enfeebled. His Trad cardinals ran amok and many, like the leader of the congregation for priests, made it harder to deal with pedophiles in the clergy. I worry more about the asexual mafia than the homosexual one.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "No need wearing a white sheet over your head if you're as brazen of a white, Christian supremacist as Amy Demboski is. The ethical standards that go along with being an elected official apparently mean absolutely nothing to her. What position is she after next, Queen of the 4th Reich?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "It is ridiculous that catholic priests can't marry. This has really narrowed the scope of their clergy personnel, and Alaska (especially rural Alaska) has been gravely damaged as a consequence of Catholicism's systemic abuse. There is no reason why clergy shouldn't be allowed to marry. \"Chastity\" is hypocrisy and ridiculous, and denial of the reality of humanity, and sadistic. The church's position here is especially ironic considering the sexuality of many of their own.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I generally agree with the article but want to point out that Christians are being persecuted by Muslims in some (most/all?) Moslem majority countries.\n\nTurkey is an example. Last year the Turkish government wanted to ban Christmas (whether it actually did, I can't remember, but it was on the agenda). The highlight of the Christian faith is banned!\n\nCan you imagine if it was even on the agenda that Canada would ban Ramadan?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Judge Gorsuch might be a man who thinks for himself and who cares about protecting his children from sexual abuse by Catholic clergy. Even though his mother was a strong Irish-American Catholic, from what I read about her, she was also very concerned that children be protected from sexual abuse. The fact that the judge was raised Catholic, and now has chosen to be a member of the Episcopal Church, makes me hope that he has learned of the ruthless tactics of the Catholic bishops in hiring lawyers that will do their bidding, so that they can continue to protect their predator clergy, and demoralize victims and their lawyers.\nSincerely, Dr Rosemary Eileen McHugh, MD, MSpir", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Another hit piece from the resident Jew defending a self-proclaimed \"victim\" of revelations of abberrant human behavior of a religious fanatic feeding at the government trough while dedicated to the destruction of the same. Dredging up the Clinton's as the latest sinners unworthy of association with the pure, white, holy, christian Trumps, Pences, and all the rest of the immoral, evil Republicans refusing to eat with women, but more than willing to assault their crotches. Goldberg is pure evil in concert with the current nazi, Bannon, infesting the governing system and despoiling the national discourse with vile invective from a modern Judas wallowing in wealth within a traitorous, misnamed \"think tank\" devoted to the overthrow of all freedom and democracy wherever it may be found.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Peter, yes I am saying they bred their slaves like cattle. It was cheaper and more fun than buying adult slaves with skills. If you read the memoirs of Mary Chestnut, you will read her comments about how she and her girl friends resented the fact that so many of their slaves looked like their husbands. She was cited in Ken Burns documentary, The Civil War. Most white folks don't want to know this. Most blacks with English surnames are descendants of slave owners. That is how they got those names. Slave owners didn't consider themselves to be racists or rapists. They considered themselves just capitalists. So much for Christian morality. Raping black women was also common practice throughout the Jim Crow days. Black families sent their daughters to school more than their sons because their daughters would be less likely to be raped as a condition of employment if they were teachers, or nurses. Remember Strom Thruman's black love child?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Once agin you have help enlighten me to a new level of consciousness. Thank God i now know about the Holley Wood & Liberals plans Praise Jesus I'm no longer stupide of the world around me.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "So therefore you will refuse to actually research verifiable sources and confirm or disprove the true and real FACTS behind the argument. \n\nDude. Corporations pay little or no taxes. I know it doesn't fit your made up little alternative fact reality that reinforces your selfish little world view, an that's your right. Just know that it makes you someone that can't be trusted, is inherently corrupt, and someone Jesus himself finds abhorrent. Good luck with that. May God have Mercy on your soul.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "We live in a country founded by deists and Masons. They wrote a series of founding documents that all are endowed by their creator with liberty no government can take away. Freedom of religion and speech are first among these liberties. Better still, there can be no religious test for citizenship or holding office.\n\nThe article above lists countries where being a minority can lead to imprisonment or worse. The supposed defenders of \"religious liberty\" in this country, including many Catholic bishops, look ridiculous in comparison. Much of what now passes for \"religious freedom\" in this country today is little more than ability to discriminate against minorities.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"Behind closed doors\" \"Holy Mother Church\" maintains, funds and [we have to assume] condones an all-male, mostly gay, hegemony over the rest of the church.\n\nCardinal Francesco Coccopalmeri, an official at the Inquisition and host in his Roman salon of naked male sex orgies, apparently hasn't gotten \"the memo\" about just which sexual practices to encourage.\n\nHey Brooks, is this another example of your \"behind closed doors\" regime?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "What an absurd comment, \"J. NEVER asked Roman...\"\nHe couldn't. He wasn't a Roman citizen.\nHe called his Jewish religion to live up to its care of the poor.\nRepublicans largely are Calvinists. You are poor because you are not right w. god.\nJesus upended this view when he said how difficult for the rich to enter the KofG.\nThe disciples were amazed because common interpretation was the rich were right w. god.\nFor Jesus, they were rich because of exploitation.\nIf Christians took J. literally there be no need for government but because Christians here don't, secular government do what Christian don't. Same for government's 14th amendment, equality & due process of every citizens because the dominant Christians didn't treat native Americans & blacks as equal, providing due process. Rather, Indian removal, lynchings, etc, largely by Christians here! Who were the savages, civilized?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"Religious extremism,\" are you serious?! Judaism, Islam, and many Christian denominations,including but not limited to Roman Catholicism and the Orthodox Churches, reject homosexuality.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Women do not do anything better than men except get pregnant and give birth. They don't raise children better or nurture better, we are not better parents. This is more nonsense designed to justify sexism in our church. Men don't represent Jesus Christ better, therefore there is no reason to keep women from ordination as priests, bishops, cardinals or popes period. To insist upon highlighting every flesh difference one group has verses another in hopes of making others see that group as more different and therefore in need of restrictions is a form of hatred. Whites have done this to blacks and so has our church done this to blacks. People do this to justify ethnic disparity of treatment as well. Any discrimination done against a group of people based on flesh is an attack against that group's human dignity and all Christians must stand against the individual who purports this hatred no matter who they are and critique that person's behavior for the sake of that person's soul.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "This case will end up being about religious freedom, but I think it goes beyond that. As I stated earlier, I am neither religious nor against same-sex marriage. I see this case as a freedom of speech issue that goes beyond religious concerns or discrimination. What I am concerned about is that we might get into a situation where a baker is required to make a personal work of art in support of a race-related, sexual orientation-related, or religion-related event. Will he be required to make a cake for all religious events if he makes them for Christian holidays? Will he be required to make a cake for race-related organizations, potentially putting him into a political situation? (ex: Black Lives Matter or White Nation groups/events/rallies/etc.)\nThe baker clearly stated that he would serve anyone the same thing. He will create a cake for a heterosexual wedding for any customer -- straight or gay. What he will not do is create a cake for a same-sex wedding, regardless of customer", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"Christians are tired of being called homophobes and Islamophobes...\" I'm sure they are, Cal. Maybe if they stopped being so homophobic and Islamophobic the name calling would stop?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Too many of these comments reflect limited thought, poor understanding and dogmatic rigidity. This not 2000, or 2010. We have learned a lot since then, and more every day.\nWe now know that the only ways to control population growth are war, disease, famine....and economic prosperity. Today, fewer people die in war than by suicide. Fewer people die of starvation than from over-eating. And fewer people die of disease than from living longer or better. This has never happened in 15,000 years of human history.\nSo for you \"population is too high\" proponents, we can state with absolute certainty that other that the three unpalatable choices, economic prosperity is the only choice. Individuals en masse now make procreation a second choice after economic well being. Even religion is powerless to stop this, otherwise we would have 10 billion more Catholics, and Iran's birth rate would not have dropped below replacement levels.\nFurther, how dumb do you have to be to ignore demographics?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "What is it with you conservatives? \n\nHere you advance the value of following the directions of law enforcement yet your the same type to scream that the federal government is guilty of overreach. Conservatives value freedom, yet some demand invasive peeks into vaginas if an abortion is considered. And conservatives are usually Christian. A Catholic higher up recently declared the circumstances under which sex was OK.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Easy. We voted against abortion & murder. We voted against the lying, illegal, immoral activities of probably the worst person to ever step into American politics. We voted against evil. I ask, how could any decent human being ever vote for Hillary? How low do you have to sink in moral character to think that woman should be our President? I can't understand what I don't respect. Until you & others who voted for her hold to a higher standard there will be no meeting of the minds. What happened in this election was an anti-establishment thing. Congress barely changed. Governorships barely changed. What did change was the election of a non-politican who defied both parties. If you want to know why, you are going to have to recognize us... the silent majority, who are sick of Obama's devisive politics, Hillary's corruption, BLM, riots, political correctness, and all of the other babble of the recent past. Grow up and learn your faith before you dare lecture us on being Catholic.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Kayden, religion has nothing to do with this. Hinduphobia- no it's cult and self seeking power hungry crooks like your man Butler that jump on the religious wagon who have no qualms about lying and cheating their way up the political ladder. In Tulsi Gabbard's case, her guru has taken advantage of her cult beliefs she was born into and abused the fact that she is beholden to him. As he says when he initiates his disciples, you are now mine and I will instruct you how you can serve ME. Fanaticism not religion.\n\nCry yourself silly with all your talk on religious bigotry, homophobic backed support, Hillary Clinton money, and whatever else you can lash out with. \nHow about all the other religions, I don't see Tulsi and Butler supporting them. In fact she down right degrades the Muslims. Butler has always spoken very unkindly of Gays, Blacks, Muslims Christians and Jews. \nBeware Hawaii, Tulsi and anyone who adheres to him, has no place in our democratic system.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Really? The Obama's were consistent in their beliefs?? Which ones?\n\nFor example...Obama was kind of for gay marriage, then against it, then for it...\n\nhttp://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/may/11/barack-obama/president-barack-obamas-shift-gay-marriage/\n\nAnd exactly how do YOU decide who is \"more Christian\"?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic Church has recognized that 96% of what Luther wrote was accurate. The Church needed to reform---it was mired in untruths [buying indulgences, determining who gets into Heaven---rather than God] Luther did not seek to LEAVE the Church. The Catholic Church excommunicated him. The Holy Spirit enlightens whom IT chooses---and the enlightenment is FREE.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually MacDonald makes no such claim. He says that Bissonette was \"Probably a Christian, judging from his name.\" and that Canadian mass murderers are \"usually white and Christian\". Both of these points are in regards to claims that the attack was Muslim on Muslim violence and that an immigration ban would be effective at stopping this.\n\nSeriously sky, you've made a few valid points in other posts but try actually reading the material you reference for a change..", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Fine--why is he not condemning politicians --especially \"Catholic\" politicians who support abortion with the same veracity?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This poster purports to be a Catholic priest, can you believe it?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Funny how the ultra traditionalists such as yourself reject the more modern teachings of the Church - even an ecumenical council, at that - as if they don't count. Hmmm. We've seen this before, David Lanfranchi, from others on the radical right of Catholicism, your neighbors. My best fraternal advice is to be happy and settled with what you choose to believe and practice. That is where your blessings are. But please stop making the foolish and discredited (many times over) assertions that you repeat here, as if Christ the Lord reserves His Love and salvific grace for only those who worship in a Church labeled as \"Catholic.\" That is not just poor theology, it is poor Christianity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What Christian Extremist did den? Spill da beans?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What's more important - what a book says or what the followers do?\n\nChristianity has massacred far more people than Islam. Violence has been a key factor in its success for converting people. Islam was a little more gentle - and that is why it has ruled over other religions like Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, etc. In Catholic colonies, it was either conversion or death. A major reason why not a single Muslim or Jew was left in Catholic Spain, Portugal or Italy(or any non Catholics in all of of South America) in the 16th century. Whereas I can't think of a single country where Muslims wiped out the entire local religion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm not a christian in the least..... but that wasn't murder. She messed up and she will pay for it for the rest of her life.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wow, with such an inchoate congeries of illogic, ignorance and self-serving fabrication, where does one start?\n\nWith the distinction between the ritual law and the moral law? With the fact that Jesus never said a word about rape or slavery either? With the fact that the principles of sexual morality rest on natural law and not on Biblical literalism? With the obvious truism that Catholics are not Biblical fundamentalists anyway? With the point that the Church does not worship merely the Jesus character from the Gospels but also the Risen Christ who revealed Himself to St. Paul? With the rather obvious doctrine that not everything Jesus said got written into the Gospels and Catholics believe much, if not most, of his teaching was transmitted orally to the Apostles and by them to the Church in the teachings of the ordinary magisterium?\n\nReally, no point beginning at all. Cum ignorante principia, nequit disputari.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Garbage - The calls for violence in the OT are for \"Just Wars\" (if there is such a thing) for the preservation of the Jewish race during a specific period of time...I said show one verse in the NEW TESTAMENT where Christ orders his followers to kill anybody. Your bias and bigotry is blatant and recognized by all. Not all Muslims advocate violence but the book does - you are a piece of work...Go ahead -we are all waiting for those verses. Yeah, just what I thought. No I don't remember the Pastor who said that because there is no Biblical command for violence, so it is just him spouting his rhetoric. Your evidence is a joke and anecdotal, and also ignores the numerous times I have asked you for Christs commands of violence, I know you won't respond because their aren't any.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bookies in Vegas are offering 500 to 1 against the driver being a Christian.\n\nI wonder if Obama would like to place a small wager?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The fraction of American evangelical Christians who hold dominionist opinions is negligible. Likewise the fraction who believe in the prosperity gospel or have ever heard the Catholic Church called the you-know-what of Babylon. Anybody who thinks or pretends to think these opinions are characteristic of American evangelical Christianity is displaying abysmal ignorance and prejudice.\n\nIn fact, a significant fraction of American evangelical adherents are former Catholics. They think they have a lot in common with Catholics because they have brothers and sisters and friends and neighbors who are Catholic. And also because the average American parish and the average evangelical church just aren't all that different anymore. The Vatican trying to demonize evangelicals is just going to make most American Catholics laugh.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "She may as well just give ISIS warriors automatic visas to enter Canada for all the good her efforts will achieve. She will not acknowledged that hell fire anti-Semitism is right now the general topic of discussion in mosques across Canada. What we call radicalization is the essence of Islam, but Freeland will say nothing lest she offend Muslims. Radicalization is to Islam what missionary charity is to Christianity, like that good ol' time religion, praise the lord. Without confronting the radicalization at the core of Islam no good can come of her.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, I'm stating that Anders Breivik, a Christian, was guilty of a terrorist attack in Norway that left 77 people dead. He did it in the name of his religion. And there was not an outpouring of apologizing from Christian Bishops, Pastors, etc. \n\nIt was a reply to the above letter from Mr. Walker. Was that not clear?\n\nNow, as far as your statement \"you weren't trying to hear\" that goes for Mr. Walker as well. Go look at the Amman Message, or the website muslimscondemn and you'll be able to find many, many people apologizing for the actions of extremist terrorists. Something Mr. Walker has failed to do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"According to Fox Carolina, Shupe identified himself as a conservative Christian who supports Donald Trump.\" \u201cSomething came over me, I think the Lord came to me, and he just said get in the truck and leave,\u201d Shupe told an ABC affiliate.\nReading those quotes seems to prove that she's spot-on in her assessment of the encounter... no slant to be seen. The whole point of that portion of her opinion piece was to point out the hypocrisy of a man hiding his behavior behind a cloak of religious objection and how it doesn't align with the teachings of Jesus. In that argument... you have none.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nor do their so-called Evangelical Christians have any conception of Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And this adds to the complications! I wonder what exactly you have in mind by \"movement of powerful groups\" towards a church's \"recognition of ssm.\" There is no other church like the RCC, polity-wise. There is a fairly large number of Christian churches which are \"gay-friendly,\" and may affirm or bless the civil marriages of LG couples; the number is rather smaller, of those who will actually give them a \"church wedding.\" Among mainstream Protestants, often individual congregations have the right to be gay-affirming, as they see fit, so perhaps one may speak of \"powerful groups\" on that level. Then there are the smaller churches, usually of recent foundation, who are by ideology or mission gay-affirming, e.g. MCC and Old Catholics, in which case \"movement of powerful groups\" doesn't really apply.\n\nDoes the RCC ever change because of pressure applied by \"powerful groups\"? There was a strong movement supporting artificial contraception in the 1960s, and look what happened there!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Self-proclaimed \"Christians,\" as opposed to real ones, tend to be more judgmental and consider themselves better than others. If they were real, they would follow in Jesus' steps by trying to be more understanding and compassionate. Real Christians are secure in their beliefs, and would find no reason to berate this post.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christianity may well be (or intend to be) fundamentally peaceful but various off shoots are not. Radical Christian extremists find homes in outfits like the Christian Identity movement and The Army of God and so on. \nAre you saying because there is no group called RCE , the people who organize themselves with RCE precepts don't exist?\nOr merely that they cannot be Christians because their ideals are opposite of the larger notions of Christianity ? Like the Muslims who have been saying for years and years that the radical Islamic extremists are not true Muslims?\n I think all these folks need to be owned by the larger religious umbrella they shelter under and booted out on their fannies as sick phonies- Christian, Jew, Muslim,etc. It is inadequate to the problem to just keep saying they aren't Christian. Owning that religion can be perverted is an important step which is missing in the larger Christian community- at least in public.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It absolutely beggars belief that this man is a Catholic priest but I understand that he is, retired. He has written an anti-Catholic book and maybe has an income of his own but if not, he is mercilessly attacking the Catholic Church whilst continuing to draw his pension from it. Typical.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christians want to resurrect a Phoenix from the dead ashes of the bible, but they end up with a sow's ear, not a silk purse. How is that for mixed metaphors?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Progressivism will not be allowed to destroy the Catholic Church...you progressives are new to the Catholic Church and just as Trump was elected to stop progressivism, we will save the Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Lol, it is a work of fiction filled with contradictions.\nIf you ask me, you have to beleive in all of it, not just the parts you like. My comment was not at all about a baker breaking state law, it was about the hypocrisy of Christianity.\n\nI do not condone lawbreakers like the cake maker.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I said it could be.\n\nIf one protests for prideful reasons, out of anger, for vanity, for affiliation...then cheerfully cleaning dirty diapers out of love of God is infinitely more valuable than the protest line.\n\nInfinitely more valuable.\n\nOne can help God redeem the world by lovingly changing diapers.\n\nThere is such appallingly bad formation among\nCatholic adults. They understand nothing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am an atheist, but I will defend Imago Dei as NOT being one of those evangelical churches that gets involved in right-wing politics or campaigning. They are involved with the social needs of the community, including the poor and needy. (Their discreet homophobia and misogyny notwithstanding.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why does this fellow defend atheism on the grounds that it is just as moral and loving as Christianity. If atheists truly believe there is no Heaven or Hell shouldn't they be getting as much hedonistic action and debauchery as possible. While they can.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Let's see.. a group that supports children with very little funds is a bad thing. Attorneys helping the organization and victims, is a bad thing.\n\nYet the catholic church with enormous amounts of donations and funds can manipulate law makers to deny the abused, is OK", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That's it! \n Religious people don't have a monopoly on morality.\nThose once a year Christians are a lotta laughs (twice a year, I forgot Eoster.)\nI will be first to admit that real Christians-those who actually practice the tenets of their religion-are really cool. They are few and far between, though.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So to Trid, Catholic orthodoxy includes fear and loathing for gays. Another reason to reject Trid's version of \"orthodoxy\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is a telling sentence: \"Like Ladaria's appointment as prefect, Morandi's appointment as secretary seems to signify that Francis does not want a radical shake-up at the Vatican office tasked with promoting correct interpretations of Catholic doctrine and theology.\" Is this JM's interpretation, opinion? If so, mortal sin for masturbation and missing mass on Sunday still in! God forbid, that even these items will remain in effect. \nTime to install robots. Empty the offices of clerics if there is supposedly a priest shortage.\nFake Vatican news, priest shortage? Better still, have robots do mass as the form is all important, not the person. Everything is ex opere operato, and robots celebrants will be more reliable, and not deviate in the slightest from the formula. And this may bring kids back to church as they are enamored of robots.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\u201cWhat is the Indulgence one earns for visiting? At least a Plenary, I presume.\u201d\nFor heaven\u2019s sake, Catholics looking for reward for visiting disgraceful papal summer palace?\nShouldn\u2019t Catholic clergy teach how to seek God who is immanent in us and omnipresent in this universe with love of God in one\u2019s heart instead pedaling the indulgences Vatican prelates dreamed up? \nCatholic Institution runs Catholic religion with the faithful rely on clergies handouts let alone the truth whether it will do what clergies claim to do? \nIsn\u2019t it about time to let go of this superstitious indulgences? LOL", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How many years NCR fought with clergy sex abuses of children issues?\nHow far did we change RCI (Roman Catholic Institution) high&low clergies mind/attitude?\nHow any clergy can sex abuse children and bishops hiding/enabling pedophiles, and pope stand with some of hideous sex abuse condoning prelates before the whole world to see, if they really believe God almighty is immanent in children watching them in actions!\n\"a group of men tightly bound by spoken and unspoken loyalties, an otherworldly notion of their station in life, and centuries of layered protocols and accumulated privileges \u2014 reached a point where they could turn their backs on the child victims of ghastly sexual violence in order to protect those who harmed the children.\"\n \n\u2019 Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me; and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. ' (Matthew 10:37) \nIn Christ", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Advocating for the terminally ill in this instance seems to mean searching for a cure for ALS and gaining access to experimental treatments. It could also mean advocating for more palliative care, something that is entirely consistent with the Catholic position. No vile petri dish except the one in your head.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So only straight white able-bodied Christian men have a right to feel safe in the U.S.?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "that was why I posted links to it several times yesterday in comments. I wanted everyone to see it. if we had some good Catholic journalists who are truly interested in doing to digging, I bet there would be several major stories hidden there, some of which just might cook the \"good\" cardinal's goose. and lose him a red cappa!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The government does not and should not have the power to enforce mortal sin. Or employers. Neither is in the business of spiritual direction and, again, that cannot be made mandatory, een within a Catholic setting and not even for Catholic employees. By the way, contraception use is not mortal sin. Neither is masturbation. Life begins at gastrulation. Every sperm is not sacred. Every sect act need not have a Neoplatonic end. You confuse stoicism with Christ. Not the same at all. If anything, Christ seemed more epicurian than stoic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My point is that Burke is cozying up to the thrice divorced Bannon, who he should be denouncing as a blatant adulterer. Clearly, by his standard, Bannon is no Catholic. By my standards, Bannon is not a good Catholic either, but that is because of his racism and antisemitism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You just can't help get over your miserly little spiritual wisdom TomZ! You could very well attract young people to Catholic church, yourself, if you truly care! It is the beauty which moves human being especially the young people. I myself was quite attracted by priest & nuns spiritual beauty. Now it is the opposite with clergies sex abuses of children scandals. They represent a diabolic augliness now! What horrifies me more is that their insistence of keep the sexual rape of children and wants to keep hiding it as they have been doing for centuries. \n\" Catholicism has been losing its children since Vatican II when the Church sought , ironically, to appeal to secularists.\" Well, try to be honest TomZ, the way the Catholic clergies raping children,\nHow do you expect to keep children in the Church? We should shought to the children to run from Church as fast as they can!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So, if I, a white Christian male, wore a face mask around town all day, that would not be considered weird? And make people uncomfortable? I'm sorry, hiding behind the veil of religious freedom is no excuse for this sort of behavior, the wearing of veils!.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree it's not an either/or matter, but it's the so-called \"pro-life\" crowd that turned it into one. They created the false dichotomy between issues that one can conscientiously discern how to vote on and those where there is, supposedly, only one morally justifiable choice at the ballot box.\n \nThe issue isn't whether or not a person accept's Catholic teaching on life issues. I accept that teaching wholeheartedly. But I strongly reject the absurd notion that my acceptance of Church teaching means I must vote a certain way.\n\nMore than 40 years of that false dichotomy -- which, incidentally, doesn't truly reflect Catholic tradition -- has accomplished absolutely nothing in terms of protecting human life. But it has poisoned the American political system and filled our government with vicious, incompetent people.\n\nBut it seems that any monster is okay as long as every couple of years they manage to spout the right \"pro-life\" platitudes. We don't care what they do the rest of the time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How terrible, interacting with fellow Catholics with a different political point of view commenting on a Bishop whose outspoken political views are not in line with the official teaching of the Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Please read the Catechism. By all means if you disagree with the Catholic Church then you have every right but do not misinterpret teachings because you want them to be what they think they should be. Jesus died for our sins....but many refuse to acknowledge sin because it may seem mean or judgemental.\n2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity,141 tradition has always declared that \"homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.\"142 They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be appropriate", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Andrew likes to point out embarrassing truths, which he does very well. For Catholicism, we are in the age of Francis. Sadly, far too many prelates spread the lie that abortion is the most important issue, when sadly there really are no viable proposals to change the status quo beyond harrassment. That these bishops buy into this nonsense in support of the Republican coalition generally and Donald Trump in particular is shameful.\n\nThe Governor and Control Board saved the bondholders from themselves. They only think short term. If they actually learned from history they would not keep making the same shameful mistakes and would quit resisting Dodd-Frank.\n\nTrump is a creature of right-wing fake news, both as its subject and because he consumes it as his source of truth. This is beyond insane.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would disagree a bit with you there; I think that is exactly the way to approach this particular type of case at this time, although more narrowly. It would be difficult (especially for a Christian), and probably counterproductive, to try to convince the justices that practicing his religion entails a broad refusal to serve a certain group. Refer back to my original post...It's a much more tenable argument to say that certain SPECIFIC services require an extraordinary level of personal involvement in an event, beyond that of simply vendor of common goods or services. In this case the event is one he sees as a mockery of one of his religion's sacred rites. Thus, forcing him to be a participant violates his ability to practice his religion. He could reasonably claim the same if asked to make a wedding cake for a \"black mass\" wedding for heterosexual Satanists.\n\nTrying to include the freedom of speech issue would just muddy the waters and endanger success at this point, I think.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...Hispanics who are overwhelmingly Catholic and the future of the church.\"\nIs this true?\nI've lived in the heart of NYC for the past 50 years and I know many Hispanics. \nWith the exception of a few, most either have no religion or they are evangelical Christians. \nBut rarely do they profess Catholicism.\nNow, I'm not speaking of recent immigrants from Mexico, I'm speaking of second and third generation Hispanic New Yorkers from Puerto Rico (who already are American citizens), Dominicans, and others from the Caribbean and Central and South America.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are a Catholic? Then you would understand that ending abortion would involve helping these women and girls have their children. It would also involve the many parents who would love to adopt these wonderful children if a mother cannot afford to raise the child. People can make excuses for abortion, but it really is murder of the most defenseless.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am so confused with the meme Black Catholics must....It sounds like a hashtag a Catholic. slave owner would use if twitter and such existed before the Civil War.\nThere is so much reconciliation that must be done for the past racism of the Rc and the present sate of complicity in the swarm of alt right subtle support by clergy and others who supported a president that took a day to walk a way from statements by David Duke.\n\"Black Lake Me\" is still a must read for all Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Part one of two) \nConference weighs how 'Amoris Laetitia' rejects 'infantilization of laity'\nHeadline for \u2014Joshua J. McElwee Infantilization of laity . . . nuts . . . infantilization of priests would be more like it.\n\n\u201cAfter Cupich, the first talks at the conference Oct. 5 focused on how Francis' apostolic exhortation is being received by Latino and black Catholic communities in the U.S.\u201d So, what about Blacks. Noun/verb agreement in the 2011 illiterate Missal often sounds like colloquial so-called \u201cBlack English.\u201d\n\nThe larger question is: will the USCCB make use of the holy understanding of AL from the conference to move on from the safe place of power and control? Will the laity assert its own power and gifts in new ways at the same time?\u2014BROohthor as Raymond Arroyo and EWTN drone on and on attacking Pope Francis for his common sense toward the divorced and remarried, letting them receive Holy Communion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The good thing about this election is the clarity for whom faithful Catholics can vote for. Abortion is one of the 5 non-negotiables (Pope John Paul II's Evangelium Vitae 73). Abortion is an intrinsic evil which must never be promoted by the law. Hillary Clinton is in favor of abortion at every turn. Mrs. Clinton said that her Supreme Court litmus test includes being pro-choice. Donald Trump provided us with an impressive list of his 20 possible Supreme Court justices (pro-life). Our nation is hanging off the cliff right now, and we have an opportunity to save it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Letter writer is correct. Christians have no moral ground from which to preach. For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. However, working to end sexism and poverty does not improve one's moral ground one bit. For you wind up just as far from the infinite glory and perfection of God's character as the next guy on the sidewalk. Christians have only one moral ground, that being the perfect life of the Savior of mankind, known as Jesus, the Christ, who endured the cross for our shortcomings. Any other claim to righteous ground is false and failing. Any one who claims any other righteousness, such as his/her own deserves to be embellished in quotations.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Blah Blah Blah another bunch of women not being recognized as equally sacred or equally human in a new way. \n\nUntil both Roman Catholicism and Orthodox churches figure out all forms of sexism are also forms of hatred and abuse, they will continue to lose their youth and especially women. \n\nA lesson to all the sexist Roman Catholic folks who say we should ordain married men instead of correct the sin against women and ordain women priests first, you should note, the Orthodox Churches are having a harder time keeping their youth than Roman Catholic Churches are, and they have always had married priests. So optional celibacy, while upholding hatred against women, does not equal a fuller church, especially not one with women returning.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And yet German Christians were allowed to immigrate freely, before and after the wars where they killed more Canadians than anyone else in history.\n\nMy point was that Buddhists weren't treated fairly. Due to their race. I am sure a blonde blue eyed Muslim also gets a lot better treatment at airports. Due to his race.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Divorced and remarried Catholics in Nebraska should move.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is hardly nonsense to point out that some \"defenders\" of the Church look for any opportunity to deflect any discussion of the Church's abysmal tendency to protect pedophiles if the pedophiles are clergy. By doing so, the laity involved join the bishops, popes and priests who placed, and continue to place, the institution over the lives of children.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That's right, it's a white guy. Probably Christian. Just like the statistics say it should be.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Look at the guy in the picture who didn't doff his cap. Someone should have knocked it off. Or maybe he's just not a good Christian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is my summary of the positives and negatives of this document. \n(i)Negatives\nIt reaffirms the decree banning people with same sex attraction. This for the life of me makes no sense. A gay priest should be allowed to serve as much as a straight priest. I would have to ask questions such as\n-What do they exactly mean?Is it people in same sex relationships who can't enter the priesthood or people who's sexual orientation just happens to be one or the other? \n\n(ii)Positives\nSignificant progress on the issue of sexual abuse issue in terms of clear cut training, and guidelines to prevent sexual abuse in the first place\n-It emphasizes a more pastoral approach to the priesthood, putting in practice Amoris Laetitia\n-It emphasizes priests receiving social justice education, with the topic of Climate Change apparently something really close to Francis's heart. \n\nOverall a really mixed document. What Papa Francesco giveth, he taketh away it seems.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A teacher has that authority figure power, but a \"priest\" has that, and the additional 'hypnotic cue' of supposedly being a representative of God. To the intellectually weak, to contest him/her is tantamount to contesting the will of God. \nBTW, Jesus admonished \"Call no man \"Father\", except my Father in Heaven\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We - \"a country of unwalled villages\" - are under attack by the pedo homo Christ-killing slaving Organized Crime Entity identified by our twin prophets, our Founder Mr. Jefferson, and by martyr of God Dr. King, per Ezekiel 38:11.\n\nIllegal immigration by a politically, logistically, and \"religiously\" supported organized army of Hispanic Roman Catholic pawns is \"the real Anti-Christ's\" openly published satanic stratagem for invasion and conquest of God's actual \"Promised Land,\" \"Zion\" foretold by the Hebrew prophet Isaiah: \"Israel Restored.\"\n\nThe Babylonian \"cult of male prostitutes\" ejected from Jerusalem in the Bible's \"Book of Kings,\" relocated to Vatican Hill to ally with the tyrants and assassins of the Etruscans and Latins to form \"an engine for enslaving mankind\" abetted by the cult impalers of Gog and Magog now called false-Jew \"Ashkenazim,\" to build the Roman Empire/Church king/pope Anti-Christ from which we Celts and Blacks escaped. \n\nThey made Latin America slums and brothels.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The CCC should be amended this way -- whether they are laity or clergy, gay people should be vigorously encouraged to come out of the closet.\n\nEnd the ridiculous policy of claiming that \"gay\" doesn't exist. All that policy has done is provide a cloak of secrecy for gay Catholics to pretend they are straight. These Catholics often become priests, and we've seen that decades of rigorous formation didn't change their sexual orientation. They are gay men living lives of desperation, holding on to the hope that the Holy Spirit was help them transcend their ss orientation. And they often prey on young people.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes. Communion with the poors.. That is nonsense that we mock. People can be in Communion with the poors without being involved with the Catholic Church. As I've pointed out in the past, a remarried person who receives that nonsense like that in person should tell the priest that he/she and his/her money (which is what the priest probably cares about) are going over to the Protestant church down the street to be in Communion with the poors there.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Who speaks for \"the US Church\"? Would Catholics here or anywhere listen to that person/those persons? Until the US Catholic hierarchy gets its act together with respect to human sexuality and sexual morality, at the very least, the US church will lack a credible voice to put on the airwaves at any time of night or day!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you had bothered to actually read the article, the girls were flying with a third person on a pass. That means that third person is an airline employee. That's why they were flying with United, genius.\n\nHoly Christ ... do they make you wear a helmet when you go outside, or what?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Another angry rant at someone who is doing no more than reiterate the teaching of Christ's Church throughout its 2 millennia and and prior to that in Sacred Scripture, the very Word of God. This you cannot deny.\nYou constantly create strawman by casting your own spin upon what people write here. How many times do you write, \"This is what [N] is actually saying/really means\". Those who don't agree with you, you label as liars and bigots. Those who in conjunction with Catholic doctrine find homosexual activity intrinsically distorted as the Church has always taught you accuse of unchristian discrimination.\nWhat do you expect orthodox Catholics to do? Are we to change our minds and deny the Catholic Faith , abandon our Catholic Faith and agree with you that the Church's teaching on sexual morality is wrong and has been for millennia? That as long as 2 people love each other whether in wedlock or not, whether of the same sex or not, anything goes?\nIt's not going to happen, even under PF.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, and two of the Catholics believe that the death penalty should occur in this case. Why am I not surprised? I am so glad that it's only two of them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Having the Trump administration side with the baker is all we need to know. I'm sure the baker is proud to have the support of such-fine \"Christians.\" Sounds like the kiss of death to me.\n\nReally, it doesn't matter what any of us thinks, including Trump. The only opinion that matters now is that of the 9 Justices. But I would like to know why so-many people hate gays, and are happy to see them treated differently than everyone else. I would think, when one goes into a business that is open to the public, that he accepts he will occasionally have customers he may not like. The \"professionalism\" part comes in being able to do one's job even if circumstances aren't optimal. The \"religious freedom\" argument is a lemming, as serving those guys wouldn't have affected his \"religious\" beliefs one bit.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Youse guyz - you always leave out the first part.\n\nWhy IS that?\n\n\"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state . . . \"\n\nI could Google around and show stuff about how Tom Paine, slaveholder, got the word \"state\" in there to replace \"nation\" and moved a few commas around so he could keep his slave-chasers armed without a problem. \n\nMr. McCloud is calling the Christians out on some hypocrisy, and GBA came back with the usual pat answer. I'll leave that one to the ladies.\n\nAnyhow, the Supremes in the McDonald case left plenty of what you guys call restrictions in place. Clarence Thomas even used the word \"privilege\" in a sentence.\n\nScary, huh?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You have a point.\n\nActually Trudeau Pere had some Fascist sympathies when young. But that was the norm among the Catholics then as Pope was also a Hitler sympathizer. \n\nLike Catholic Italy, Spain, Portugal, et al, French Canada was pro-Hitler then while the Protestant English Canada was fully with the Allies.\n\nMs Freeland is in good company.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I doubt you could find Cuba on a map and you outa try the loco weed sometime, you would probably make a lot more sense. Jews & early Christians used a lot of weed in the Holy Anointing Ceremony. Look it up.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are not on the journey if you have no desire or intent to leave your adultery or grave sin behind. Peter was very strict about who was a follower. Remember how he caused the husband and wife to drop dead who tried to keep some of their possessions for themselves and then lied and said they had given everything? It is a lie to say you follow Christ and live in adultery. It is a lie to say you follow Christ and label yourself homosexual. It is deadly as Peter shows us. True love and compassion points out the lie and the scandal. Are you saying you expect the separation of the adulterers will occur after the Eucharist? None of the apostles allowed those in sexual sin to remain in the community. They separated them in charity waiting for them to repent and then welcomed them back. The medicine is not for the dead - the apostate, but for the sick. We should be praying for each other and looking at life through the long term spiritual lens.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would hope even those who voted for him recognize what a truly amoral, self-centered person Trump is. His entire life he has valued \"things\" and used \"people.\" He will use right-wing Christians just as he uses everyone else. Perhaps someone can answer this for me: Can a man who shows every characteristic of a sociopath as does Trump, be a Christian at the same time? Thanks, Gary", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If Cory knew what HE was, he would know that white supremacists etc. are not and never were part of the \"conservative base\". They reject the Judeo-Christian heritage that conservatives consider to be the foundation for our excellent western civilization. They deny the inherent and essential equality of \"all men\" explicit in America\u2019s founding political philosophy. Cory accepts it when leftist like Tapper PUT these clowns in HIS base and hysterically argues his difference. The slander is ridiculous on it's face and should be disposed of as such.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Larry, is correct. I've heard many evangelicals over the years refer to Catholics as \"those decadent Romans.\" It sure takes a lot of hubris and conceit to claim other are not what they claim they are. These evangelicals should just mind their own business.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jewish Lazar kaganovich killed 60,000,000 Christians in the Holodomor. Try again.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Disagree because not all sex offenses committed by Catholic ministers are against children. It seems like you are lumping all offenses into the bin of pedophilia. Not the case.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Just wondering. Why have you given the church a capitalized female pronoun \"Her\", when it is ruled by males? It seems to me to be a male only institution. It appears that women are only tolerated if they pray and obey and make up the numbers. \n\nAgain, I ask you, do you really think imprisonment of gays is something Jesus would do? Really?\n\nAs far as NCR's audience, I am an old lady who has been married for more than 50 years. I read NCR. I cannot be classified by being one of the \"Very liberal people who have left the Church or who are at extreme odds with the Church and Her authentic teachings\". I am one of the core members of the church. I married in the church, raised and educated our children in the faith, continue to attend, despite the terrible attitudes of those who would imprison gays for being how God made them. I continue to hope and pray that the Holy Spirit will ultimately transform the hardened hearts and minds of the hierarchy to become more Christ like. One day", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Meanwhile, Christians are getting killed all around the world - literally and figuratively.. In Egypt they shoot them or blow them up, in America and other Western countries, believing in Christ results in scorn and ridicule. This was predicted in the Gospels. No one is paying attention to the eerie accuracy of those testaments.... nothing surprising here..", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "So, Christians can discriminate against gay folks, but gay folks cannot discriminate against Christians.\nNice imbalance of power there.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I wonder, if bishops, prelates and Pope F. realize how this RCI shameful treatment of clergy sex abuse scandals also chasing the God called young men away from this corrupt CI (Catholic Institution!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "When a Christian performs a terrorist act, do you label it a Christian act of terrorism?\n\nPeople of all religions engage in terrorist acts, most North American terrorist acts are perpetrated by Christians, because they're the majority of terrorists in North America.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You make a lot of assumptions, Steve, but can you point to any acts taken by this administration that were taken with any intent but to make the country better? Trump tries to improve the country, and you want to divide it and attack it. I don't know who organized what in Charlottesville, but what were there a couple hundred of them? Wow, sounds like 1968 all over again. Please. Those liberal halcyon days of having something real to protest about are long gone, Steven. Those evil, straight, White Christians vote for Black, homosexual and non-Christians all the time. You're protesting a myth.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Please! One yardstick. One set of rules. Puta si! Puto NO! How is she an \"ex-adulteress\"? And her serial adulterer \"husband\"? This appointment is a slap in the face to Catholics. Neither of those two have ever exhibited any Catholic values. Singing in the choir only gave her some cover to be the mistress of a right wing Baptist. And, Mr. Brewster has more Christian/Catholic values in his little finger than the Gingrich's have combined.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Obama was tracking and jailing terrorists .............. even the Christian ones", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I wouldn't call evangelical Christians ignorant. What I do question is their finding common cause with Trump given his background is magnitudes more immoral than anyone could ever claim of Bill Clinton. The cynicism really doesn't play well for those who aspire to a higher moral position. I haven't seen much in the press about the dichotomy and any internal discussions but I don't see how many in the community could be resting easy with it.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "well said, as christians although not being threatend, are being systematically eliminated from the muslim world", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Governor Otter's attempt to make a distinction between \"preference\" and \"discrimination\" is nothing but a silly parsing of words by a politician. When preferences become policy, discrimination is the inevitable result.\n\nBesides being unjust, establishing religious preferences for refugees is bad public policy. The fact that no committed terrorist would hesitate for a moment to pledge allegiance to a particular creed for his own insidious purposes aside, the consequence of this sort of thing will be the dumbing-down of religious faith to a set of simple criteria that might fit on an index card.\n\nI don't want any government official -- least of all the Trump administration -- deciding what defines an adherent of any religion, let alone a Christian. Faith is too rich and too personal and, frankly, none of their damned business.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Time to start taxing the Catholic Church, these priests and bishops live off of the fat of the land and pay for none of it. No wonder they are so skewed.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "GBA, do you realize how ridiculous you sound? While Trump may be doing what he promised, he is doing so while driving America into the ground. For all you who think that a sectionalist United States -- which is terribly hypocritical -- is the way America becomes great again, you are wrong. Trump has made America a laughing stock in just a week of Presidency because he is doing what he promised. \n\nYou are a terribly uneducated, narrow-minded, hypocritical citizen. If you so purport to be a follower of Christianity and Christ, you must welcome all others just as Christ did. Be welcoming to the downtrodden, the sick, and the needy. Do not shun others because they are different from you. \n\nOh and, by the way, let's not forget Christ and the entire foundation of Christianity was built in...where again? Oh yeah that's right THE MIDDLE EAST.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"That's a warped version of Christianity.\"\n\nReligious authoritarians everywhere are a menace to democracy and peaceful co-existence. ISIS is but the most extreme manifestation.\n\nIn the wake of Charlottesville not one member of Trump's Evangelical Council has resigned. Corporate fat cats acted with more moral principle, however calculated, than Christians. Good luck to the 400 dissociating authoritarianism and racial animus from white American Christianity. We need look no further than the conservatives on this forum, so offended by any suggestion that racism is a persistent evil in the United States, to get a sense of how how tough that row is to hoe.\n\nWhite Christians put Trump in power and despite Trump's appalling tenure thus far continue to support him. It's striking evidence that the prerogatives of the religious right are first and foremost theocratic. And if white supremacy is part of the bargain, apparently for Trump supporters that's a feature, not a bug.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Wow, you just can't get any more ignorant than this!\n\nMohammed was a child molester who married a 9-year-old girl. He had multiple wives, divorcing some of them who displeased him and left them destitute. He advocated the rape and killing of women Jewish and Christian women simply because they didn't choose to join his cult. If that's raising the status of women in his time ... well, your definition must be different than mine.\n\nIf you turn to John 3:16 and read the verses following, you would know that Jesus did not define love as accepting the immoral behavior of others as normal. But, of course, that would require actually reading the Bible.\n\nJesus quoted extensively from the Old Testament (every book but Ester) and made it clear that the Law was of value for knowing how to live a moral life. Before you say what he would have believed in, you might want to know what He pointed His followers to believe in. He expected them to show love without compromising morality.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "A third term for Obama? Yeah! More Muslim prayer rugs and transgender dressing in the military, more national debt--let's go for $50T. Fewer to no Christian crosses and cr\u00e8ches anywhere. More inedible school lunches,. More unemployed and underemployed. More bypassing the U.S. Constitution. More freebies for the masses supported by more taxes for working people. More tribes--class tribes, racial tribes, generation tribes, gender tribes, gender identity tribes. More big government control of everything because we, the people, are too stupid to decide what's best for us in our own towns and states. More hypocrisy--\"do what I say but the rules don't apply to me and my political kind.\" More straw men, so many we will think we are a nation of scarecrows. I am so weary of having my intelligence insulted virtually every time Obama opens his mouth. It's incredibly sad that so many people don't realize when they being called stupid.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Simple. The easiest way for Trump to keep conservative Christians happy is to throw GLBT people under the bus. It's why he ordered the Department of Defense is has six months to discharge every transgender servicemember.\nIt is pure politics.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Again, the Catholic Church - and the religious orders therein - are called out for protecting predators... but when will the language be changed to include all forms of abuse by priests and bishops? Confining the problem to sexual abuse leaves the door wide open for a host of other abuses by these men, which often happen to the victims after the reporting is done, or in \"stand alone\" situations which have nothing to do with sex, but which are equally traumatic for the victims. (Victims of Emotional Abuse by Priests, on Facebook)", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "More treacherous than Nixon? Yet, the outgoing tyrant called white, christian, conservative a domestic terror threat. Hey, Berstein, GPS!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Well, at least these worst element Christians didn't go there and shoot a bunch of people or plant a bomb like the worst element Muslims would have, eh, James?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Y'know, I find all this hubbub somewhat hypocritical. Polygynous marriages of up to four wives have been legal in my faith since its beginnings. Yet most Masajid ('mosques') in the US don't dare perform them, to the point of issuing written warnings to their congregations that they cannot do so on pain of secular legal sanction. I don't hear anyone protesting this clear denial of our religious freedom.\n\nYet secular authorities threaten to coerce Catholic churches to act contrary to THEIR tenets and 'conservative Christians' throw a fit. Why the double-standard? I'd really like to know. If Christian churches can stand up to secular mandate to defend their congregants' beliefs, I don't see why we can't defend our rights against secular authority to abrogate our beliefs and practices concerning marriage. And unlike 'same-sex' marriages, polygyny was recognized in both the Old and New Testaments.\n\nYet another 'Christian' double-standard rears its ugly head. Halleleujah.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Trump is more like the anti-Christ. He literally checks off all the boxes that the Bible warned us about.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "What a load of CRAP! Stop making excuses for the Church. The decline in numbers is due the liberal agenda spreading its venom into the Catholic doctrine with \"social justice\" and \"global warming\" nonsense. Where is the message about our Savior? The Church is losing touch with its congregation and if it wasn't for the rich Catholics funding all the Catholic projects, the Church would have been washed up years ago. They need immigrants because whites are not reproducing at the same rate as non whites! Ouch! \n\nWhy should the Church care where a person is from? Isn't Jesus the same in Latin America as in the USA? Why is this an issue with the Catholic Church? If it is not economics, than the DACA kids should be fine in their home country if they find a church where they can practice their religion. They don't need to come to the US to express their faith, unless the Church is helping those illegal immigrants obtain Federal assistance that can be used as contributions to the Church. Hmmm?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "He was talking about how he was molested by a priest at 13. But that is taken out of context by his enemies who would otherwise proclaim him a victim of the Catholic Church. When he mentioned 'boys' having sex, he was talking as gay men talk about gay men, as in \"The Boys are hot tonight\".", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "they only mean it for the evangelical \"christians\", and I am using the term christian very loosely. once they get control, the Catholics won't be any better off than the gays and Muslims.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "If the shooter was a Muslim man, then Donald Trump would call him a terrorist and a ban on Muslim immigration. If the shooter was a Hispanic man, then Trump would call him a terrorist thug and a crackdown on illegal immigration. If the shooter was Asian, then he would be a criminal terrorist and a crackdown on Triads. If the shooter was black, then there would be a crackdown on gang members. If the shooter voted for Hillary Clinton and the Democrats, then he would be a political terrorist and a member of the Antifa.\n\nSince the shooter was a white Christian male who taught bible school and an ex-member of the Air Force, he is a mentally ill man who needed help. No need for gun control.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You obviously have no problem listening to--and DEFENDING--\"Amy the Talking Mule\" when she reviles and slanders innocent people because of their Faith, seeks to deny others aid programs she herself took advantage of, and gets all self-righteous despite foisting another guy's bass-turd on her then-husband. \"Thou shalt not commit adultery.\" Right.\n\nThink what you want. I already KNOW those ethically-challenged, sanctimonious hypocrites calling themselves \"Christians\" while defending the indefensible aren't good people. Hypocrisy (fasiq) is the second-worst spiritual crime, exceeded only by idolatry itself. Your Book records that the Messiah (alayhis-Salaam more harshly denounced hypocrites than anyone else:\n\n\"WOE unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, HYPOCRITES! Ye REFUSE to enter the Kingdom of God and would hold the door against those who would enter!\" My favorite of Jesus' speeches--and English translators 'toned it down'. He actually said, \"D@MN you Scribes and Pharisees...\" etc.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Actually, that's not true. There were a couple of mentally ill individuals that lite themselves on fire, etc. But otherwise, what you're staying is completely a lie. What does Gov Dayton not jumping to conclusions on a police shooting have to do with Trump not condemning a bombing at a Mosque? You do know that just because someone is a Muslim doesn't make them a terrorist right? Just like being a Christian doesn't make one a racist bigot that in the KKK.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Time for bishops to show they have cojones and vote against the culture warriors and pick someone who stands for Pope Francis' vision for the church. Any other vote sends a twofold message, yet with the same content, one to Pope Francis, and one to the Body Catholic on these shores: take it or leave it, we will obstruct until death.\n\nA wise Jesuit theologian, who taught in Chicago many years ago, once has said that, if there would occur a schism in the Catholic Church, it would be in North America. \n\nLet's wait and see, and hope that a sage USCCB vice president will be elected. If the list in the article is any guidance, then I am not optimistic. \n\nThere is the real danger that it could come to this: where these obstructionist hierarchs are, the Church is not. That would be, in fact, a schism. Caused by fearful, faithless (trust-less, without \"pistis\") bishops. To not obey them would be the moral obligation for each self-respecting Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Will moslems, buddhists, sikhs, hindus, and other non-christian groups enjoy the same freedoms? Don't bet on it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is Quran BTW - Read the verses in the Quran and take them in context, they are commands to the followers, stated plainly and clearly, and I noticed you still dodge the question about the commands of Christ, there aren't any verses. The Lutheran Church as a whole is just about on par with the Russian Orthodox church - Dead Orthodoxy filled with unbelievers because they still baptize babies and have filled the Church up with Apostates. Go ahead and label me a \"loon\" I don't need a kooky website to address a simple issue, I read the OT in context, you have demonstrated your biblical ignorance.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh. So, you're not of the Catholic faith, but are a believer on a more enlightened level. See, Catholics have this ticky-tacky thing - the Catechism of the Catholic Church. (See CCC 124-127). In short, Catholics unhesitatingly affirm the historicity of the Gospels always in such a fashion that they have told us the honest truth about Jesus. I suspect that the \"fashion\" word means \"genre.\" I took this from the Vatican's catechism pages today. I put this catechetical assessment of the Gospels in the same class as a \"modern\" argument of history. This makes room for a \"super-modern\" argument for holding a critical analysis of history. That super-modern genre would be open to asserting that the Transfiguration never actually happened, but Matthew's literary style sure helps provide the great unwashed masses with some darn good imagery about how the Son of God, The Law, and the Prophets sync up in the life and times of Jesus with his 3 key guys as witnesses, but without Matthew, the author.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Torquemada, in your attempt to be cute, do tell us which is the \"True Christian Church?\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "on ward Christian soldiers,going off to war.....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Except they weren't, they were talking about the Rebel. Comments like this are so weak. \n\"... You could be talking about the Conservatives\"\n\"... You could be talking about the Trump administration\"\n\"...You could be talking about the Catholic Church\"\n\nSee weak..", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "... I know many Republicans think Cheetolini is a waste of human skin, but he IS upholding your typical Fear and Loathing agendas based on today's typical and 'normal' super fakey 'christianity'.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Stores were closed on Sunday because the majority of the country, but more importantly the groups with the most wealth and power, were Christian. Farmers don't take weekends, so as far as I know the concept of 'weekends' started around the Industrial Revolution in the 1920s. And as far as I know a 5-day workweek isn't anywhere in our laws, and neither is treating the Sunday as a day of rest, because the Founders tried their hardest to separate Church and State and create a secular humanist republic. I'm trying to find a quote I think I remember from the 1700s, Franklin or de Tocqueville or someone like that, who celebrated that Americans had the right to work whichever days they chose and reap the rewards rather than being constrained.\n\nBut you're trying to make a point here. What do you think is important or telling about stores being closed on Sundays while you were growing up?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dear Muslims;\n\nWelcome to the community of progressive left wing religious intolerance. You are joining a group of Christians, Catholics and Jewish who for decades have been shunned, scorned, ridiculed, mocked and marginalized by the secular progressive community in Canada.\n\nThese leftwing progressives have worked very hard to shut down religion and religious practice in public spaces and public institutions. So this act of inclusion, by joining this prestigious club of the hated, will help support your struggle that so many religions in Canada have experienced before you. \n\nPay no attention to our social justice leaders, who are using tragedies to ram though pet personal agendas that seek to further divide through inequality and prioritizing which religions are more important then others.\n\nStay strong, be of good courage and you will succeed beyond the hate.\n\n\nThank You;\n\nFreedom of Religion", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The slur that \"The church was aligned with Hitler\" has been debunked so many times by Catholics, Protestants, Jews, in media, on television, in books, in articles that even repeating the slur pegs one as at the very best poorly informed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yeah, because we should not give a damn about the poor or anyone else. That's the RD lesson.\n\nActual Catholics disagree.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree with very little of this article. But the most egregious part seems to me Mr. Winters' inability to cite much \"perpetration of evil\" by the US in the 21st-century, as opposed to Hiroshima and central America, the latter of which took place 30+ years ago (and it was that deplorable integrist retrograde Fulton Sheen who, among Catholic bishops to my knowledge, stood alone in condemning Hiroshima). The most current wars, Iraq and Afghanistan, were supported by Rs *and* Ds. \nTsk, whatever happened to American liberal Catholicism's primary sacraments \u2013 diversity, tolerance, dialogue? I guess only for the approved viewpoints.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regardless of whether evolution is true, probable, possible or not true the Church cannot decree that Catholics must accept it as true under pain of mortal sin. All I am required to be believe is that all mankind is descended from a single pair of parents.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The sad thing is in current Catholic teaching extending terminal life is the official 'ethical' thing to do. This has only gotten worse after the Sainted JPII. The problem I have is it's not the moral, compassionate, or more importantly, the spiritual thing to do. When the Church starts substituting their version of ethical for humane compassion, it is off the rails.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I know countless people who are sober but refuse to stay at the Mission due to how alienating it is. *Especially* those who are not Christian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Gerson forgets that evangelical can also be caught up in the pursuit of recruits, to grow their ranks regardless of their theological roots. I would offer the theology of prosperity as an example. And if my friend Motley will jump in, I'm sure he too will mention that evangelical Muslims also fall into the basket of those seeking very worldly power, with little regard to, or a distortion of, the teaching of love, compassion and grace that some of us find in spiritual reflection.\n\nThis is not to damn all Christian evangelicals, but it doesn't let them off the hook either. I like Rick Warren quite a lot and have read some of his books. I dislike, with extreme prejudice the teaching of Kansas evangelical Fred Phelps and his hateful screed. I will defend those of the Muslim faith who act in peace and compassion and I will fight any acceptance of a Muslim theology that allows murder and torture in the name of their saint.\n\nStereotyping is lazy, thoughtless and self serving.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sir you say that with the Patriots in jail that your country would be safer and that you would be happier....Well if I was you I wouldn't get so cozy yet in my recliner...Cause you see with them in jail that just leaves you to deal with those not locked up who are murders, rapist, illegals, drug Lords, ISIS, who cutes heads off and blows Americans and Christians up and are here, refugees who the enemy is among them...those that protest and burn business down and turns cars over and throws bricks at the police. Oh yes I can see how much happier and safer youre going to be...And wait to you come face to face with one of them...And this government you put so much of your trust into to handle these lawless people, oh thats right the gov already has ruled and these people are All walking the streets still Free...Woe I can see with all those Patriots locked up how much safer this country will be for you...Like I said don't get to comfy...What you wish on others might come back to bite...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "yes, and what about climate change, which Francis has made an issue for catholics. Trump wants to ignore the Paris Treaty by getting all this pollution going again, CO2 emissions specifically. This is not a voting issue? Why not? Pro-life only I guess is coming out of the homilies.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In the US a traditional Catholic Bishop was demoted by the Pope for being guilty of not turning an abuser over to the USA.\nPope Francis has as one of his closest advisers who received a personal invitation to attend the synod on the family, Cardinal Daneels a rabid liberal who destroyed the Church in Belgium, a member of the infamous \"St. Gallen Mafia\" who illegally according to church law worked to get Benedict xvi overthrown, and who protected a bishop (Bishop Roger Vangheluwe ) who molested a nephew.\nAnybody see anything wrong here or any sort of double standard being applied?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "See, Monica? This is what I'm talking about. This man, who I think calls himself Catholic, doesn't give a damn about Scripture's condemnation of a man going stem to stern with another man. The problem for most men like this is that by the time they reach this point, they lose the functioning of he frontal cortex, and can't hear the voice of reason, either. Hence the Snoorrrrrre. That's not sleep apnea. It's the sound of a mind dreaming, totally disengaged from reality.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh dear, I must have been drunk. That it can be found in Leviticus, which is in the Bible, proves that it is a Purely Christian ethos. And on further reflection, my lamentably snide observations regarding Confucius only confirm the grandeur of this Christian principle, and stand as proof of our Savior's ability to pass unnoticed back and forth through time and space. As always, thank-you for your fraternal correction.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Odd how NCR knows so much about canon law in this post but conveniently ignores canons 216 and 300 which state they cannot call themselves \"Catholic\" without permission of their bishop - permission they have not received.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I cannot see how this is murder, since the parents seem to have wanted their children to survive. Their adherence to a faith that believes in letting events follow their natural course rather than employ medical intervention led them to allow their child to die, but from natural causes, and certainly not from the kinds of overt actions and selfish motives we associate with murder.\n\nMy own Christian faith tells me that the medical skills and technology available to us are gifts from God to be used for good, and we should take advantage of them. The Mitchells, perhaps being young and inexperienced with the realities of the death of a child, relied on their faith to save the one child but relented and used the medical options available to save the other child after receiving sound medical advice. At most I might consider their actions to be profound neglect.\n\nBut if this be murder, then what is it when a couple goes to an abortionist to purposefully and willingly kill their child?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Children in the womb who are going to be murdered by 'nice' adults are the most vulnerable in our society. They have no voice but ours. If you vote for a candidate who supports abortion you have done nothing to protect that child from an unjust death but have accepted this savagery into our society. The bare minimum we should do as Catholics or decent human beings is to protect the most vulnerable.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I take it you are not a Christian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Going after the repeal on climate change issues is a losing proposition. The conservative faithful don't believe it and do not care.\nThe best and most Catholic approach is Pro-Life. The repeal is going to have significant health concerns. If the Pro-life community cannot demonstrate on this, then we will all know much of the the pro-life movement is best characterized as pro-birth, not PRO-LIFE. \nBut, will they do this. Unlikely as it would mean that they have to realize the conservatives are not Pro-Life and would have to campaign and vote against them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh, but you miss the whole point. \n\nOur life isn't in Rome. Our work - our Christian life - needs to be poured out here, right where we are.\n\nWe should be little in front of God - Lord, I am so tired from a day of loving you at work - I have no energy left to love my family....if you don't help me love them, they won't be loved as they should. I am just a broken vessel, Lord. We both know that. But \"stay with me'. \n\nThe Curia don't effect us in any substantial way from Rome. That's just the devil talking to us. \n\nWe have everything we need to love God right where are. The Sacraments aren't that far away. Prayer is but a thought away.\n\nBeing little has nothing to do with the Curia. Nothing. \n\nLet the Curia run over us...who cares...we can love God right here, but loving our family a bit more every day and learning to love the Mass a bit more each time we are privileged to go. \n\nIt's really phenomenal that we go to Mass and witness our own redemption every time we go.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nicely written and necessary article.\n\nSome outposts of Catholic media, obsessed with culture war and catechization, never mention greats like Dorothy Day or Thomas Merton.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Where on earth do you get this stuff from??? \n\n\"He wants to impose the beliefs of the Catholic and Evangelical churches...\"\n\nPlease provide support for this absurd statement. ..", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In the Charlie Rose interview Bannon kept referring to the Catholic Church as \"they,\" meaning he obviously feels like he's talking about an organization of which he is not a part. Yet it's been my understanding that he considers himself a Catholic. Here's what he said:\n\n\u201cThe Catholic Church has been terrible about this,\u201d said Bannon. \u201cYou know why? Because unable to really come to grips with the problems in the church, they need illegal aliens, they need illegal aliens to fill the churches...They have an economic interest in unlimited immigration, unlimited illegal immigration.\"\n\nIf he considers himself part of the Body of Christ, why would he keep referring to \"they\" rather than \"we?\" Freudian slip, or something else?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"I am so tired of converts telling us that the pope is not Catholic. \"\n\nI share Mr. Winters' frustration with people who say the pope is not Catholic. It's inaccurate and needlessly polemical, and does nothing to illuminate actual disagreements within the church. \n\nI am however disappointed that his tired-ness extends primarily, if not exclusively, to converts. Given that the statement is zeroed in on a group (a monolithic group?) accusing someone of not being Catholic, one might reasonably infer that Winters suggests converts are not real Catholics themselves. It would seem sufficient to say \"I am so tired of Catholics/anybody telling us that the pope is not Catholic.\" If not, perhaps it behooves Mr. Winters to explain what is so specifically frustrating about converts.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Unfortunately, I would expect that many of the ultra-conservative Islamic movements like Wahhabism, IS and Al Qaeda would claim that they ARE the reformation of Islam. Not that the Christian Reformation was a lot better. Calvin and Luther were very intolerant of other interpretations of Christianity. The Reformation also kicked off a series of religious wars. Syria and Iraq are serious conflicts but they pale in comparison to the carnage of the Thirty Years War. In large swathes of Germany the population was cut in half.\n\nIf Islam is to go through a historical process from which the West has benefited I would prefer the Enlightenment.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Islam is a religion, practiced by millions peacefully. Salafism is a dangerous Saudi ideological export, and is behind 99% of these incidents. Notably, that ideology was mostly absent from secular Syria (where Christians and Muslims lived in peace and relative tolerance) before Hillary stuck her nose into the region supporting the Salafi agenda.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The former Anglican priests ARE ordained as Roman Catholic priests, absolutely and without condition that their prevoius ordination may or may not have been valid.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There's a great article on \"a weekend at Jerry Falwell's Florida flophouse\" recently in Politico. The tax evasion shenanigans of the religious right that contribute to wealth and high life suggest that the \"righteous right\" is far from fundamentally Christian. \"Religious freedom\" sounds like a code word for tax advantage in advance of immanent Armageddon. \nThese are the buddies that Catholic hierarchy find \"common cause with\"?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The \"relevance\" of our Lord's \"message to islam is that there is no salvation outside of the Catholic Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...I am very Christian...\"\n\n. You're Muslim.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In the name of cultural accommodation, Canada is turning back the clock on the rights of women and the LGBTQ community. Allowing the tail to wag the national dog is an affront to the memory of all those who made great personal sacrifices and fought tirelessly for decades to ensure that women and LGBTQ Canadians could enjoy equal rights in our country. Canadians have no obligation to roll out the welcome mat for those whose ideology (masquerading as a religion) calls for the murder of non-believers, Jews, Christians, \"apostates\" and homosexuals. . No Canadian with a memory of history would welcome Nazis into our midst. Why then are we supposed to welcome and accommodate those whose Seventh Century ideology is just another variant of fascism?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic Church has always been paranoid...Let it's Dogma sink into antiquity,and tax them for their political involvement ...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I can understand original sin simply by watching the evening news: the competitive struggle to prevail. What I cannot understand is why people think original sin causes some kind of permanent break with a God who in all the Hebrew scriptures used to simply forgive those contrite in heart? Is the Christian God more mean than the Jewish God that he needs a human blood sacrifice? Perhaps some of our ancestors mistook the phrase \"he died for our sins\" to mean he had to die for our sins to be forgiven. But it can simply mean he died because of our sins.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For the Church, the object of that dialogue is not to see whether one day it may deny the divinity of Christ. So, again --- read carefully this time --- for the Church to engage in a dialogue the object of which is to deny its own longstanding teaching and tradition would be absurd.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Catholicism is the one true Church\" is a phrase derived straight out of medieval Romanism, likely a product of the reactionary council of Trent. Knowing what I know now, quite frankly, I cannot in good faith recommend Roman Catholicism to any living soul... despite the needed reforms that are currently underfoot.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"It is the most catholic of strategies\"? Now I have heard it all. The most Catholic \"strategy\" would be to enshrine the Church's dogmatic teaching into our Constitution. And please don't give me that anti Catholic \"separation of Church and state \" nonsense which the Church has perennially denounced {most brilliantly in Pius X's VEHEMENTER NOS}.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are entitled to your opinion. I don't have to agree. I may disagree with you but we are are still communicating.\nJesus told us not to follow the Pharisees because they were hypocrites. He answered their questions when they were trying to trap him. Not really a rebuke.\nHe turned over the tables by Temple to halt the sacrificial system to make the point we have direct access to God and do not need priests to make sacrifices to gain God's forgiveness. Not in a fit of rage but deliberate.\nThat is the way I see it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"It seems like JPII and Benedict shared the same siege mentality as the American Christian right and that unfortunately blinded them to the sins and heresies of the right.\"\n\nYou do realize it was John Paul II who ex-communicated the Lefebvrists? And it was Benedict XVI who insisted they give express assent to all the teachings of Vatican II (while rumors have it Pope Francis is not imposing any conditions on their readmission)? And it was John Paul II & Benedict XVI who criticized the Bush Administration over Iraq?\n\nAnd you do realize that it was Pope Francis who said (last year) that gender theory is a \"global war trying to destroy marriage\"?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Fight those who believe not\nIn Allah nor the Last Day\nNor hold that forbidden\nWhich hath been forbidden\nBy Allah and His Messenger,\nNor acknowledge the Religion\nOf Truth,(i.e. Islam) from among\nThe People of the Book (Jews and Christians)\nUntil they pay the \u201cJizya\u201d\nWith willing submission\nAnd feel themselves subdued\nThe Qur'an, Sura 9:39 (The \u201cVerse of the Sword\u201d)\n\nThe verse above, Qur'an Sura 9:39, is in direct conflict with Canadian values. Support moderate reformist Muslims such as Imam Tawhidi, Canadian Muslim Raheel Raza, along with Ayaan Hirsi Ali and Muslim British activist Maajid Nawaz in their efforts towards the peaceful reformation of Islam.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For gays, its just marriage. Both in their hearts and before the law. The Church will catch up to civil practice, as it always has. It turns out that some gay couples are, in fact, Catholic. So are their families, who would like a celebration. Often the priest is too. When you consider A.L., it just codifies what a lot of priests do with divorced couples. Once they have been married for a while, they privately bless the union and let them back into Communion - and without much investigation. That happens with civilly married Catholics who were not previously married. I am sure it does or will happen with gay unions. These blessings often don't make it onto the registry, but they occur nevertheless. I am not arguing, by the way, I am reporting.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Congrats on Newark trading up from Myers to Good Tobin! And who wants to bet that Dolan is currently sobbing about having to share a media market with someone as gregarious as he is and who is more in line with Francis' vision of the Catholic Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So are many Christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"You've already forgotten WWI and WWII and all the other nastiness of the 20th century. Why?\"\n\nIt's simple:\nTheir reply will be that it wasn't Christians doing the killing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Peggy, one primary purpose of these racists and bigots is to try to stop all opposition to their narrow thinking. Of course you are right that people should not be blaming an entire religion for the acts of extremists. Christians were never blamed for the KKK who are a supposedly Christian group. Nor as you say were Irish Catholics or Protestants called Christian terrorists. \nBut I agree also that it's pointless trying to convince hateful people about what the facts are. Of the millions of refugees, there are very, very, very few \"terrorists\". And those who are do what they do for political, not religious, reasons. Have fun at the market.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Zombies originated from the Vodou religion of Haiti, which developed when traditional African religion met up with the Roman Catholic missionaries. I take the zombie to be a manifestation of limbo, or purgatory, the holding spot for those souls not qualified for heaven. In the Vodou version, such souls can be summoned back to the physical realm. In our current fascination with zombies, I see anxiety about the second coming of Jesus and the resurrection of the dead, which, if taken literally, will be a very scary thing indeed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not according to the Catholic Church, they're not. If you're going to defend tradition, better learn what the traditions are.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I believe that Holy Father Francis is a Pentecostal (charismatic) Catholic and that's why he brings up the devil. I, too, am a Pentecostal Catholic, and our prayer group brings up the devil quite often, as does a priest and two religious sisters who belongs to our group. By the way, the priest and sisters are just members; we have a lay woman leading the prayer group!!! This was way before the condemnation of clericalism by Holy Father Francis.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"What would be left of the Catholic Faith without the Mass and the sacraments?\"\n\nAre you suggesting that the living Body of Christ consists of only the Mass and the sacraments? Matthew 25:31-46 suggests otherwise.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think its probably like the women's ordination argument (into which fray I will not wade, nor is this an invitation, to anyone reading this, to debate).\nWe know some things about what Jesus did and the Magisterium feels that it has no authority to go beyond that. I think there are any number of cultural variations that one might hold up as local, possibly significant, alternatives, yet these are not what Jesus chose. Had He wanted, He could have chosen a fish or egg or anything globally common as matter for the Eucharist; why He chose bread and wine I won't pretend to know.\nThere is nothing undignified about beer and pretzels, but you may substitute Hydrox for Oreo's, as you see fit.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Harper was anal retentive. That image of him shaking his son's hand as he goes off to school speaks volumes. Anyone who was other than a fundamentalist Christian he would greet with pursed lips.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are no Christian terrorists.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "WErner, ( my tablet over rules my typing your name correctly ) I have found our confession to have many elements . The basic one being God's determination to make every human aware of the divine love already bestowed upon us . \nWe are influenced by all those things you mention and more which come our way but all of which God 's care sees and knows and turns into blessing for us .\nOur custom was to bundle up the month old baby no matter the weather on a Sunday afternoon for water baptismat the local catholic parish church .\nHowever even a catholic education can and does militate against faith !!! some of the time anyway due to the human condition .\nI read Richard Rohr , O.F.M. 's books . 2 ways of looking : \nI have to do what I want to do (or) compulsion\nI want to do what I have to do (or) freedom\nEnjoy your celebration of love and unity . May the rest of the world learn from Germany to see the others' point has merit and rejoice as soon as possible .", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Public schools are not allowed to promote any religious worship but they cannot stop anyone from engaging in religious worship on their own either. In my view it's better to have a room set aside to encourage the students to stay on school grounds. If a group of Christian students asked for a room for prayers it would be granted. Of course that may never happen; I woukd guess that youth from the old Christian stock in general fully embraces secularism and has abandoned religion. Atheism is one of the fastest growing minorities in North America thanks in large part to these millenials.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In 2007, Cardinal Biffi stated: \" ... the Antichrist presents himself as pacifist, ecologist and ecumenist .... Today, in fact, we run the risk of having a Christianity which puts aside Jesus with his cross and resurrection ... [If Christians] limited themselves to speaking of shared values they would be more accepted on television programs and in social groups ... they will have renounced Jesus, the overwhelming reality of the resurrection.\"\n\nThe danger facing Christianity today is reducing the Son of God to\" .. . a series of good projects sanctioned by the prevailing worldly mentality .... There are relative values, such as solidarity, love of peace and respect for nature. If these become absolute, uprooting or even opposing the proclamation of the event of salvation, then these values become an instigation to idolatry and obstacles on the way of salvation.\"\n\nhttps://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/say-again-popes-retreat-preacher-speaks-on-antichrist-as-a-pacifist-ecologi", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would give anyone a Catholic funeral to anyone who asked me to. As well as any sacrament that I could administer. (I was an Old Roman Catholic priest for many years.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Marriage is a choice not a right. Government should get out of the whole business as their only interest in marriage is tax purposes. Growing up catholic I was taught marriage in the church was a sacrament reserved for those who were baptized, with special dispensation for a Catholic marrying a non-Catholic. A sacrament is a religious rite protected under the 1st Amendment. If the church wants to run as a tourist attraction for destination weddings performing secular weddings rather than the sacrament of marriage they become subject to secular laws.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If only the Catholic Church could have the DOJ funneling money from fines (without court cases) into the coffers of liberal SJW groups like the Obama admin did to the tune of 3 billion dollars.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Correct, hence the decline of the number of Catholics in America.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree with Fr. Reese that the Catholic Church is in a unique position to initiate healing in a deeply divided nation. However, I don't think it will be able to do so. I say this because of the documented examples of episcopal and clerical bias toward the Republican candidate and party that crisscrossed the country during the campaign. It was displayed from the highest levels (the President of the USCCB), to local Bishops and the homilies and bulletin inserts of local pastors. If one would serve as an arbiter of healing, it can't be when you have shown your bias and urged others to share it.\n\nWhat the Church can do is to confront DT every time his policies oppose the teachings of the Church....just as it did to Mr. Obama. The idea of beginning a dialogue with Senate and House leaders is a good one but only if the one calling the meeting does so as a religious leader not a political pawn.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would agree with that statement, since you are limiting the observations to Catholics (and once Catholics) who comment at NCR. Richard Rohr, OFM once said that his experiences in giving retreats to vowed religious, both women and men, made him realize that many, maybe even a majority, do not believe in God. The surveys indicate that young adult Catholics also don't believe in God, at least not in the way they were taught to believe. Perhaps because the RCC has neglected the gospels ?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus forgave penitents - ONE of the others on the cross, Mary Magdalene. Those who nailed Him to the Cross were doing their jobs in the Roman province of executing someone convicted of sedition. In order to have sinned they would have to be conscious He was innocent.\n\nYou really don't understand God's mercy, not one bit.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Translation: \"real America\" = \"white evangelical Christian America\". Start mentioning some basic mainstream Catholic social teachings, and you will find out that Catholics need not apply . . .", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "PRRI: \u201cA lack of belief in teachings of religion was the most commonly cited reason for disaffiliation\" from all major Christian denominations. I was trying to focus on the Catholic Church. The PRRI poll is from 2016. I don't know the date of the Pew IIRC or how the question was phrased but you're summation seems to be correct.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The bottom line is we have been sold out.\nAnd I look around and wonder why so few are standing up to reverse this tragedy-in-the-making, our one-time resource wealth being flushed into faraway coffers in such a nightmare scenario as we've allowed to happen under Big Oil's boot on our collective neck.\nThe Republican majority is shameless, amoral, and yet most claim to be Christians of high order, yet they do this to their own friends and neighbors, indeed to their own home state because 30 pieces of silver have apparently stood the test of time.\nAnd I find the Governor's approach to this (restructuring the PFD) weak-kneed and obviously subject to the prodding, intimidation and likely sweet-talking embellishments of the big-money interests that actually are behind wanting into the Permanent Fund, their cut of the Holy Grail of Mammon.\nAnd screw the rest of us, especially the least among us. Because they're losers anyway, right?\nThis is a well-engineered takedown of our sovereign state.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am a white Catholic girl who was poor and got my nursing education on a scholarship for poor white people . Since 1972 graduation from one of the largest hospitals in America as a nurse I went from working at a McDonald's in downtown Boston in 1970 to working in 1979 in Juneau with Governor Jay Hammond. Now was it far better to use \" taxpayer\" money and lift me out of poverty into the middle class or should I have held true to my Catholic roots and had 12 kids and live in a housing project in South Boston, MA. and spend my life collecting public benefits? I think the taxpayers got their money's worth with me, never on public benefits, a life long tax paying career woman and I made, and still making the world a better place than I found it. Did you ever hear the expression \"Pay it Forward\"? I lived that, so do thousands of others who have been \"lifted\" out of poverty by those who believed in them and provided an opportunity. And, no one ever made me feel \"poor\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus appears to have been a Jewish reformer without an interest in creating a new religion. Christianity was a \"post-Easter\" affair that began as a Jewish sect and assumed a variety of forms in the 1st and 2nd centuries. Obviously the Pauline, Gentile strain survived to become the basis for \"orthodoxy.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I wonder how this will result if someone sues for violation of the Establishment clause. It is questionable to specify a suspect class based upon their religion in a government action but Congress has plenary power over immigration. Trump's inclusion to favor Christians makes it even more questionable. I imagine a US citizen whose spouse is affected by this ban would have standing to sue in federal court.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Disappointed I am about the accusation of lying, which, oddly, gets leveled by you at all who post in response to you, unless they post unreserved agreement with you. Most disappointed. Sigh. Do you have any support for your claim? It is always best to include some factual basis when making such a statement, otherwise there is an inevitable lack of credence attached to the accusation. Sometimes it is difficult to remember you are simply engaging in an advanced form of humor and one must consider you actually believe what you post. But, really, this is a place to discuss idears and things, and I fear you are not progressing that goal. Truly, I worry your posts can become something of a distraction to the discussion. I know you will recognize that I am merely attempting to dialogue with you as a fellow Traditional Catholic, and take some time to ponder the implications. Have a blessed day and, as always, keep up the Funny! Altho, maybe, toned down a bit? LOL", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I never thought the change back to 'and with your spirit' made any sense. The post-Vat II translation consisted of the priest celebrant saying, \"The Lord be with you\" and the ppl replying, \"And also with you\". That makes sense and is very 'communal' and inclusive. The priest prays that the Lord will be with all members of the congregation, and they return the favor by saying, \"And also with YOU\". But with the 'back to the future' translation, the priest prays 'the Lord be with you' and the people say, 'And with your spirit'. So the Lord is going to be with the 'body' of the congregation, but with the 'spirit' of the priest/celebrant? That makes no sense to me!\nAnd when did Jesus ever tell us to use these particular phrases, and none other in our wkrship sevices anyway??", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So you imply I don't follow the same beliefs regarding my actions? Is it possible that some may be concerned with the salvation of others as well? Is it possible to offer up a simple sacrifice for the conversion of sinners? What about praying for a family member who has lost his faith? Keep your pompous condescending \"It seems such a selfishly motivated way to behave\" for those pharisees you keep comparing to Traditional minded Catholics. \nIf you don't believe Jesus died for our sins, then why was it necessary for such a cruel death? How does that show anyone how to live a good life? Jesus was Divine and was resurrected and ascended into heaven. Why do I think you also don't believe that fact as well?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Are you a Catholic?\nAre you highly paid lawyer representing Catholic Institution? Are you try to help CI (Catholic Institution) get rid of SNAP? Are you a self appointed self righteous investigator to interrogate posters here? Tell us just what are you up to!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Odd comment from someone with your experience. In over 30 years of working directly and indirectly with addicts, I saw no correlation between faith and sobriety. Those with good support systems (often family) and resources (money/access to services) did somewhat better, but even the most fortunate addicts were too often unable to overcome their addictions.\n\nIf you actually worked in the field, I'm sure you observed that the vast majority of addicts are Christians - just like the general public - but they don't have higher recovery rates. Anecdotal evidence supports incorporating spirituality into recovery, but it's nuanced. To some, spirituality does not include a god. Others may feel more comfortable when treatment resembles their faith - whatever it is.\n\nNo reliable comparison data exists, primarily because programs present their data in a way most likely to get customers or support their perspective (http://www.recovery.org/topics/find-a-top-spiritual-and-faith-based-rehab-center/)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Woefully inaccurate, Armchair Canon Lawyer! The reported percentages from those organizations you note vs. the Church is due to the horrible under-reporting by the Catholic Church (indeed, can you say \"coverup?). How could you not note this?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Let me be quick to state that the moderators at First Things delete incendiary posts about civil war and the like. My apologies; I should've made that clear in my post. From what I gather the commenters are in ongoing conflict with the editorial writers, who tend to oppose Trump.\n\nI don't read First Things often, either, and will do so even less now that they've banned me (apparently for posting the same criticisms of the GOP I've made here). In my view First Things is fostering a culture of paranoia and alarmism, and the illusion of persecution, on the Catholic right. This problem isn't going to go away after the election.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I read that Church Militant piece. I suspect that if the author had lived in first century Palestine he would have had a great deal of sympathy for Judas Iscariot, who was similarly seeking a more \"muscular Christianity\" than Jesus had to offer. We all know how that story ended.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't know what the percentage of former Catholics is. However, several years ago I read that Catholics make up the largest Christian denomination in the United States and that ex-Catholics, were they a denomination, would be the second largest.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think the simple answer is he is afraid of Catholics like you that preach the truth. Their goal is to get you to leave so you can't affect their conscience each day that they are reminded what the Catholic Faith actually requires of its believers. Keep up the good work, because it is obviously working. Funny thing is I read your posts and you are always much nicer and complementary than I ever have been, but no one has accused me of being nasty. You have always treated the Pope with great respect.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would argue that different interpretations have emerged, and probably inline with what might be called one's vision of Christian anthropology.\n\nFor example, there are some theologies which are found on humanity's sinfulness ...\n\nThere are alternative theologies (Gaudium et Spes, for example) which are founded on humanity's redemption in Christ ...\n\nFor John's Gospel, I think that the account is coloured by the contemporary experience of the Christian community (= world of the text).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Does it matter to the innocent victims the precise reason and nature of the actions that caused their deaths? Muslims have a long ways to go to catch up to Western Christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "... it NEVER matters what Cheetolini does or says, you 'christians' give him a pass.\n\nFor your voting record over the past 40 years, do you wonder what burning in hell will feel like late at night with your thoughts to yourself ... it'll matter if you 'believe'. G'day.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Disagree. All 3 branches are in disarray with the confirmation of Gorsuch, a White Supremacist, Christian ideologue, continuing the anti-human rights, traitorous decisions by the Scalia Gang of Five. They are the greatest threat to human rights since the Christian Discovery and segregation courts' decisions of the 19th century continued the Native American genocide and deny of civil rights for the same and all Black Americans on into major portion of the 20th century. This latest incarnation of Republican evil demands a return to those halycon days of robber baron rule, indentured servitude, environmental destruction, and equally genocide of all wildlife. The criminally corrupt occupiers of all branches must be removed before another century of evil rule plagues the nation and the world. Time for a Revolution.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Media claim Scheer is backed mostly by christian conservatives, so your reference to the 6th deadly sin is obviously a distillation of MSM brainwashing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And we know \"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.\" (Hebrew 13:8)\n\nSo, no shape shifting Christian doctrine.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The future that Catholic progressives fail to realize: The larger progressive movement views Christianity as discriminatory and the source of Western bigotry, and is intent on its eventual eradication.\n\nPulling down statues of Lee and Jackson was just the beginning; soon they will be burning the book that made these men devout Christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Even the unprivileged can be discerning. Dig deeper into the data and you'll find that Catholic schools tend to do marginally better (overall) than public schools. This is because Catholic schools tend to have a tad more discipline applied. No doubt the quality of instruction is comparable, but the added discipline seems to make some difference. I know of lots of non-Catholic parents who sent their kids to Catholic schools for this very reason.\n\nBTW, my original posting was not an attack on public institutions. Canada's PISA ratings are still pretty good overall, albeit they have been slipping steadily over the past number of years (and that's another issue for another time). \n\nIn today's hyper-competitive globalized world, parents have a legitimate interest in extracting every incremental advantage they can get for their kids. As the subject article implies, FDK is one route. As I implied, private/Charter (or even Catholic) schools are others.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Agreed. One reason I value going to Mass is because Jesus is present, but Eucharist is not only the consecrated bread and wine but the Body of Christ present in the assembly of believers. Jesus is there in our neighbors in a way he is not present when I stay home and pray. Christianity is not a solitary religion (despite the value placed on solitary prayer, etc.); it is a religion that needs a community to find its best expression.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No one denies there are elements in both party platforms that correspond with Church teaching (\"the environment\" became topical under Pope Francis). You shifted the goalposts from whether the USCCB is politically affiliated with the GOP to a generic narrative of what the bishops \"proclaim.\" It's as if history never happened. The fact is the US bishops have been aligned with the Republican party ever since Reagan and the emergence of the Christian right. Why is that so hard for you (the specific you of Pandora17) to admit?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Too much not so saintly behavior and judgmental positions among too many religious leaders. Casting down thunderbolts and slamming doors is not a Christian nor God-fearing response. Jesus went to dinner and discussions with pagans and very much public sinners. They welcomed him and invited him to share what meager provisions they had. But the Pharisees and their ilk condemned him. Which group would we be rat6her be part of?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I really appreciated this article on Dorothy Day & her book: The Long Loneliness. I, too, have been challenged by this remarkable, devoted Christian. I went to a book club review of the book & it was traumatic for me as the people there reduced the book to tiny incidents & \"I liked/didn't like this book\". Most did not even finish the book! There seemed to be no real understanding of this extraordinary book or of Dorothy Day. \nJulie Hanson Rubio has crystallized Dorothy Day, voluntary poverty, being a Christian today, the Church, the Catholic Worker movement, even literature. This is a continuing self-examination of the Christian life in her life, in Dorothy Day's life, & in my own. The book is complex as is Dorothy Day. I believe Dorothy Day is a saint. I find Rubio's blog to be my story as well. Though I'll never be a Dorothy Day, she is my hero & challenges me continually in my attempts to live the true Christian life. Thank you, Julie Hanson Rubio.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And you, like many of your ilk, seem to think that the First Amendment gives you the right to condemn every-other religion, and even atheism, instead of just freely practicing your own religion. Christianity is not superior (or inferior) to any-other faith, just different.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You mean Catholics who know there was a magisterium prior to 1962?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is the best description of the situation in the Eastern churches. Eastern churches hold that a priest living alone is not a healthy situation in most cases, so if a man seeks ordination, he is asked to marry or join a monastic group. A celibate person living alone, with the exception of a Bishop (who will still have some relationship to the monastic community from which he came) raises concerns for his well-being. Eastern Christians tend to think that being in relationship is not a guarantee but is more likely to enable the priest to remain grounded and be open to the views of others than living alone and apart from others.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "how does not allowing TWU's graduates of a proposed law program to practice law ,provide even a single new law school spot for any non-fundamentalist Christian individual seeking a spot in a law school program", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I remain confused how a fellow Traditional Catholic can misunderstand my sincere posts. But then, one who doesn't care would simply reflect their lack of concern by not responding, so one can only conclude that you do, somehow care, or at least feel compelled to respond. Not that it matter, as long as you continue to defend the Traditional Church, the policies and politics of the USCCB, and continue your staunch defense of Bishop Finn, Cardinal Law, and all the clergy caught up in the recent unpleasantness. Have a Blessed Day!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, it is not just as Christianity is.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would say the hundreds of thousands of Muslim soldiers that fought in World War One and Two on the side of the Allies, protected Christians (France, UK, Poland, Belgium, etc).\n\nThe Kurdish militia in Iraq that protected Iraqi Christians from ISIS also qualifies.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Here is a description of the program:\n\n\"This program takes a special look at Qu\u00e9bec's religious heritage. The historical and cultural importance of Catholicism and Protestantism is especially highlighted. However, attention is also given to the influence of Judaism and Native spirituality on this heritage, as well as other religions that today contribute to Qu\u00e9bec culture and inspire different ways of thinking, being and acting.\"\n\nhttp://www.education.gouv.qc.ca/fileadmin/site_web/videos/campagnes/semaine_enseignants/depliantECR_ANG.pdf\n\nhttp://www.education.gouv.qc.ca/fileadmin/site_web/images/dpse/formation_jeunes/ann3_en.pdf\n\nhttp://www.education.gouv.qc.ca/en/contenus-communs/education/ethics-and-religious-culture-program/program-elementary-level/competency-2-demonstrates-an-understanding-of-the-phenomenon-of-religion/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"In 1934, a group of Christians in Nazi Germany signed their names to the \"Barmen Declaration,\" a statement opposing Nazi ideology as antithetical to the Gospel. Eighty years later, Christians in the United States feel the need to do the same thing.\"\n\nIn 1930s Germany Christians gave in hate and fear. They followed a megalomaniac with delusions of his greatness. Here in America over eighty years later, many of our citizens are doing the same thing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A correct gesture and open palm of the right hand does not offset a wrongful action of the sinister fist. The Catholic Church is quite different from any other organization because it is The Church (and even a nation-state) and because it claims to carry the standards of God's morality to her people. Your attempts to conflate this with other issues here appear to be demagogic in nature. This is Catholic and it is an incontrovertible history of the longest-running Institutionalized religious political body that the world has ever known. Take ownership of your worst actions and reform yourselves for the greater good, denounce your wrongful excesses of authoritarianism, paternalism, exploitation, and spiritual genocide. Embrace and extend the full measure of God's love to the entire and full spectrum of our social plurality. We all know Pope Pius XI entered into partnership with Nazi Germany in 1933.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I can only presume that this motu proprio portends a return to ghastly Third Grade-quality grammar missals. \nWhen you read the post-Vatican II ICEL (International Commission on English in the Liturgy) translations, one is left with the sense that a grade school student authored the prayers.\n\nI pray to God that the progressive assault on divine liturgy is not unleashed against the Byzantine Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"The Second Vatican Council stressed the role of the laity and the importance of marriage as a path to holiness. Priesthood and religious life were taken off their pedestals.\"\n- The shift from the view that essentially the church is the clerics; everyone else is there to pray pay obey does show that what we inherited from the clerical reforms beginning in the 9th century (no married priests, virginity is best) to Trent in all likelihood was an huge mistake for these days. That is, all those edicts and doctrines, laws and practices which were in the end not for the good of the church show that all those bishops, including the Archb of Rome, did indeed err in the name of Christ.\n- Once the laity embraces their huge role in the body of Christ this clericalization of said body recedes. \n- Now it is for the laity, from their bases of the Domestic Churches to step and own their parochial churches so that they are alive even if the celibate clerics show up intermittently.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How wrong art thou? Let me count the ways:\n\n(1) As stated in the first post, I addressed fallacies in FOUR of your posts. Do try to pay attention.\n(2) Only my Mom gets to call me \"Freddy\". She doesn't. And \"Freddie\" is the female diminutive. I am male. I haven't disrespected you in this conversation, so don't disrespect me.\n(3) If in fact it's about the FAITH and not ethnic origins (on this we agree), then only those WHO WORSHIP the GOD of ABRAHAM (alayhis-Salaam) HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE THERE. That includes the DESCENDANTS of Abraham through his eldest son (alayhimus-Salaam) who TO THIS DAY worship Abraham's GOD. It DOESN'T include 70% of the Israelis who are self-proclaimed ATHEISTS. Like I said, by trying to argue from both positions, you LOST both positions.\n\n\"And they say, 'Be ye Jews or Christians, then shall ye be rightly guided; Say (O' Muhammad), nay--but rather the Faith of Abraham, upright, true, and he was not among the idolaters.\"\n\n(Qur'an: Surah Baqara 135).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Funded by taxpayers? Liberal Arts Degrees are fine for those students who have influential parents that have their own businesses and have a nice comfortable job waiting for them upon graduation. The rest of us need a better return on the dollar now that the price of College has gone through the roof. If you want to enrich your knowledge in the fine arts, fine, but you pay for it, not the taxpayers. If you seek enlightenment on life how about requiring the Catholic Faith to be taught at taxpayers expense.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree, the tree can also be a Christian symbol as can the snake, although, to my knowledge (and I'm not wedded to this idea) I believe that the early tree symbolism of Christianity did not include the roots whereas pagan symbolism did.\nI do like the symbolism of the bread, broken against the background of the tree (cross). This dates to what some on this site refer to an \"outdated ecclesiology\" referring to the placement of the fracture rite of the mass. The imagery of flowers and mustard is interesting but for the fact that I don't see any mustard flowers. Still, it is Christ who gives Life.\nI realize that in the two factions represented in the arguments on this site we may be on different sides; I think it worthwhile to recognize that and move on. Discussions like this are more fruitful, in my opinion, because they allow us to see the common humanity in one another and not merely the \"jersey\".\nThank you for the discussion.\nYes. I hope the artist or patron can tell us.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your critique of Atwood's glory is weakened by your self-defensive desire to see Islam punished in her literature, not Christianity. Atwood's views have nothing to do with either Christianity or with Islam. She's a feminist, period, and her villains are men, not men's 'religions'. She distorts her own message with the silly stuff about enslaving women in middle-America. All this can be confusing, because religious fundies (like yourself, I suppose) are not going to \"enslave\" women soon, or perhaps ever. But you will restrict their access to birth control, and some, like Mike Pence, will promote a kind of subservience to men and glorify the Abuser-in-Chief, Trump.\nAtwood's \"dystopia\" would have been set in a Buddhist society if she had been an Asian, not a middle-class Anglo from Ontario (where there are more crosses on the horizon than crescents). Your own agenda can be met by writing an anti-Islamic dystopia, which you should do. You really have missed the mark here.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My goal would be to de-escalate the violence if at all possible. It's an 'ideal', it's most definitely consistent with my Christian faith.\nI'm glad to act on that faith in my own life as best as I can.\n\nThe world though, is full of people that know nothing of my ideals, my culture, my values and honestly don't care to find out. Some fo these people are a very real threat to the safety of those I love. They are dangerous individuals, communities, nations. that embrace violence to get what they feel justified in taking. \n\nWe need 'realist' in leadership that understands those threats. We also need people with a positive vision of the future. There is no reason that people of both traits can't cooperate/plan together. We need each other for balance.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I was referring to the statements you made in your own comments posted here regarding ordinations and differences between the Catholic and Anglican Churches. I didn't have to invent anything or attribute anything you didn't write. I hope that is clear now.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My wife befriended the elder Ramsey. He had lived next door to her at one time. She tried to talk him down from his paranoid rage against \"the establishment\" and she visited him in jail for a time. That's what Christian women do. \n\nI was bullied in High School. I also did some bullying. Once I lured a bully who was wearing metal cleats on his shoes (so attached as to make a macho clicking sound) out on some ice (I was wearing good traction shoes) and pummelled the stuffing out of him. We are friends now.\n\nBullies need to be dealt with. The bullied need to be taught how to deal with their feelings. No amount of high school bullying justifies shooting someone. Sounds like the younger Ramsey has some sense of personal responsibility and knows that he belongs in jail for life.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, you are making the claim, YOU provide the proof. And by the way, Brietbart is not a reliable news source.\n\nAs for Jesus's message, suggest you read Matthew 25:35-40. If you don't understand how that applies, I suggest you stop considering yourself a Christian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Any Christian who'd vote for a specific candidate just because his pastor got up in the pulpit and told him to, is a kneejerk, low-information voter anyway. \n\nAs for pastors who think that's an appropriate use of the pulpit, we know there are already a lot of those out there. And for many election cycles, they've been doing it in what they seem to think is a \"clever\" way with a lot of winks and nods. This EO will bring them more out in the open -- which is probably a good thing -- but it may also invoke the law of unintended consequences. \n\nBecause there are a lot of ethical pastors out there who've always abided by this tax law. They're just as free now to speak their minds as the jackleg preachers. And what they have to say probably won't be anything that Trump will be pleased to hear.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I can't believe a person, who obviously does not believe in the truthfulness of a book,(I'm not sure if Jesus existed) such as the Bible, would tell others they should read it. I don't believe in the Koran, so I definitely would not recommend others to read something that is false. The Bible is the Truth, so obviously I believe all should read it because of that fact.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "we're not catholic, we're Chickasaw. And it became a happy home when my freeloading grandfather was thrown out. Your post has absolutely nothing to do with freeloading leeches professionally begging on street corners.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sheesh, this tempest would fain tip the teapot. I mean the bitter disharmony on display here, not that little letter. The letter causes nary a ripple for the powers that be.\n\nThe underlying issue--tell me if I'm wrong--is this. Belief in clear, objective rules of sin became a rallying point for rigorists. That belief is in deep trouble. You don't have to be Irish to think up a scenario--several scenarios are well known--where thwarting an ethically considered abortion would be un-Christian. And it's not hard to think of Christian exceptions to the no-communion rule for un-annulled remarrieds (we have a \"quote\" from You Know Who naming one exception). So good luck with objective rules. Judgment is not ours.\n\nCan we still accompany each other? We've come to the last straws of objectivity, and those are wafting away. Soon all any of us will have left to confront will be our own failure to love. Yikes, I can sympathize! I don't like thinking about that at all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They came all the way from Texas just to display their un- christian hatred? Wow, who is funding these creeps? Who funds the Westboro Baptist Church?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If we were all to keep our beliefs to ourselves, you wouldn't have much to say, nor would comment sections exist at all, right? Think the logic through to its conclusion. Not to mention, as you know I'm sure, that a basic Christian belief is that Jesus told us to tell everyone about what he taught. Keeping His word to ourselves is not an option.\n\nQuestion: how is characterizing my free speech and my attempt to clarify basic and widely held Christian doctrine as being on a \"super-sanctimonias soap box\" anything like the \"basic degree of respect\" you claim to give to all in your very next sentence? I attempt to inform, and you act like I have dictatorial power to impose my beliefs somehow, then try to shut me up by claiming I have no respect for my fellow humans if I don't. Perhaps I hit a nerve? As I said before, those who are comfortable with their own beliefs don't have this problem. Thanks for illustrating my point.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What are American values? As a Native I see the foreign policy of trillions of dollars going to destabilizing foreign governments,invading and occupying other countries so foreign owned oil and mining interests can go in and steal or coerce resources from propped up puppet dictators and regimes. The Native owners of the resources and lands get nothing, only terror and murder to keep them in line as they are robbed by civilized capitalists that depend on profit by any means. America spends the trillions that profits balding old pasty faced neo cons, profits groomed and propped up bribed regimes, and profits our bribed political figures. They get the profits and America gets the trillion dollar bills, unnecessary deaths of our kids, failing and falling infrastructure, and the resulting terrorist attacks from people who would not be committing terrorism except for our capitalist policies. \n\nFor you so called Christians, what was your Jesus Christ, a capitalist or a liberal?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"I'm hard pressed to see why.\"\n\nI think the rest of your post shows why you are hard pressed.\n\nIn one of Ireland's seminaries, it was felt that the seminarians should be separated from the 'lay' theology students, just in case they might be infected by secularism, you understand. Separate dining rooms, separate study halls etc.. Last year there was a major scandal when it was discovered that half these 'holy' separated cherubs were on Grindr! The Bishop is now closing the seminary and sending the students to study in Rome. Where of course we all know that Grindr, or other sex sites, don't exist. How \"joyful\", as you put it.\n\nAnd just another point regarding your support for 'dressing up', parishes don't buy \"nice\" vestments. Priests do - then bill the parish! Why you think any of this has to do with the teaching of Christ is a mystery to me. And I don't think I'll be alone on that one.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Amazing that the Pope upholding a timeless dogmatic teaching of the Church would be met with such surprise and hatred. Anyone upset by this ought to turn their attention to an issue upon which they can have a positive impact, not an unchanging teaching of the Catholic Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Daesh (ISIS/IL) Muslims have been spreading from Iraq and Syria into Lybia, Yemen and Afghanistan and have been influencing Muslims in Europe, in Africa, in North America and elsewhere.\n\nThe U.S. recently dropped a huge bomb on a Daesh ISIS/IL target in some attempt to wipe out Daesh (ISIS/IL) but can one wipe out an idelogy and a belief in Islam and the hadiths and the verses in the Qur'an that call for jihad (struggle) and for the destruction of Jews, Christians and non believers?\n\nLook at the Jewish people. They and their beliefs have lasted for over 9,000 years despite discrimination, harrassment, war and horrible genocide. \n\nIs that what we face with radical Islam? Will their beliefs last forever?\n\nCome to think of it, who is going to change the views of Muslims as long they keep following Islam and reading and following the verses in the Qur'an that call for jihad (struggle) and for the destruction of Jews, Christians and non believers?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Just 60 years ago, the Christians that belonged to the Ku Klux Klan in the USA were doing that, and worse, as have Christians at other times and in other places.\n\nCurrently the Christians in the US aren't doing those things, but give them enough power and some time.\n\n.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The editorial is not about combox moderation at various Catholic sites.\n\nBy the way, I find it ironic that the KOC owned Crux site hasn't been afraid to publish articles on both the conservative and progressive sides of issues. Would that NCR demonstrated the same editorial willingness toward presenting more than the progressive side of things political or Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I thank Bill for his very candid, and very personal experiences.\nIn my humble opinion: Since Vatican II, the Catholic Church has \"protestantized\" itself. \nThe Catholic \"Mass\" is now a protestant service.\nThe music at Mass could have easily come from any protestant church down the block.\n\"Priests\" as \"Mass\" during their homilies talk about nothing of real theological subsistence.\nSo what's the difference? Nothing. \nTherefore, this is the next logical step in that process: So, why not have priests marry? At the same time we should start calling them ministers and pastors instead of priests.\nMy comments may shock my Catholic conservative friends, but it's time to accept the inevitable: Since 1965: There is no difference between the RCC and the mainline protestant churches, and if you think there is, then you're fooling yourself.\nI do not say this as a rebuke to anyone.\nIt is just my most recent thoughts on this subject.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't think the assertion is factual (\"helps you analyze\").\n\nThere's very little content here that would spur on analysis. \n\nNCR might help one get \"an emotional\" sense for how dissenting Catholics feel, but analysis of the zeitgeist? \n\nThere are 3 levels to think about:\n\nSurface/Superficial; sense orientation, emotional reactions....\n\nSubstantial: enduring truths, principles, concepts, relationships, essential questions, virtues. \n\nSupernatural: God, Grace, the soul, heaven, health, life, death.\n\nNow...let's think about the level that NCR tends to gravitate toward.\n\n85% surface/emotion/\"protest sign\" level\n\n10% substantial topics\n\n5% supernatural.\n\nThat's why I am not yet a paying member of NCR.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "He married into a Canadian trailer park family that does that sorta stuff even when the exchange rate is 65 cents on our dollar to theirs...it's all anecdotal and hearsay stuff from the bible thumpin' belts of both countries...the \"Christian thang to do\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "AA 12 step program emphasizes a higher power that will enable one to get to sobriety. A true Christian would not use drugs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"[I]n the first decades after Luther's death, 'there arose a Lutheran orthodoxy, based on Luther's writings. The reformer was regarded as the timeless prophet of the Christian message. The reception of Luther was concentrated on his written works, which appeared almost as the infallible truth. Church historians even speak of a Protestant scholasticism.'\"\n\nI would largely put the blame for that on Melanchthon, who wrote the Augsburg Confession (a piece that did not wholly please Luther) and a Commentary On Paul's Epistle To The Romans. Together, these are the foundations of Lutheran theology.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Did you bother to read the article? It says that by law, schools must provide prayer space to people of ALL faiths. Do Catholic students pay the rent at their Catholic schools?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Since you give \"+++Justin\" respect - perhaps you should do the same for Pope Francis?\n\nAnd basically, you would wish - as someone who is NOT Roman Catholic - for the Pope to toss aside Roman Catholic belief and participate in a rite that is not Roman Catholic in order to do what exactly?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So how many Christian countries allow non Christian leaders? I can't think of a single one. Leon BLum was the PM of France (he was Jewish) in the 1930s, but the President has real power there. \n\nIn contrast, in India, a Sikh person, (which is a 2 percent minority),Dr. Manmohan Singh , was the Prime Minister for 10 years.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do we need any more evidence that taking money from the US or State governments for \"puppet charity work\" is a very bad idea.\n\nIt creates very difficult problems.\nIt builds huge embedded dependencies within the 'Catholic infrastructure'.\n\nIt's just the Government-Religion complex, akin to the miiltary industrial complex. \n\nThe government is in a sense creating \"constituencies\" of paid (or sympathetic) SJWs within the Church.\n\nA whole new \"teacher union\" of sorts, but within the Church. A whole new class of voters who protect their paycheck.\n\nThe limit of the reach of our charity needs to be the limit of our personal contributions, unaided by US Government payments. God only asks for our all...he doesn't ask us to do tricks with the government. \n\nThe bishops angle for the money...to keep their budget solvent...but it was a mistake in the first place to take it.\n\n\"but others will get the money\".\n\nThere is the key problem.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not only vote, but act, speak and think as the bishops command. If Jesus did not want us to obey the Bishops without reservation he would not have given Peter the Keys to the Kingdom and instructed him to set up a vast bureaucratic institution based in Rome to govern all Christians. The True Catholics here understand this, which is why they universally repeat the arguments provided to them by the Bishops. It is all very logical, once you understand the basic premise.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You want to find sex traffickers? Start with the CIA and Hollywood. Catholic churches? Get real.\n\nI am a baby boomer whose peers -- at least in a sizable minority -- continue to attend church. As to the children of our generation or cohort, virtually none attend except for the Extraordinary Form. This is why the churches are closing like a falling house of cards, and it promises to get worse -- much worse -- in the coming two decades.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your statement also applies to the those opposing the Catholic Group. Do they understand that telling others how to live provokes anger? Free speech means that all voices get to be heard. No approval required.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do you have some evidence to support these contentions? I think it helps a discussion if one supports ones opinions with references to factual supports. But I fear a loss of perspective has occurred. One would hope a Christian would look to the teachings he espouses and moderate his reactions somewhat. We have seen Mr Trump does not behave thus. Is he now the exemplar to be followed? Sigh.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Many evangelicals here are against other religions also hon.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't think the church realized how much people despise it. You can not hurt that many children, for that many years, cover it up on every level of the organization, and continue to prevent justice for the victims and maintain your moral position. \n\nThe church has no public pull anymore and if there is any doubt to that look at the catholic state of Massachusetts and the outcome of question 4. The church needs to sit down, be quite, and fix themselves. The church isn't healing anything or anyone. Anything they say people are just going to do the opposite in spite.\n\nYou really messed up and you need to fix it first, actually fix it, not offer pretty words and promises.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You comment shows you do not know what you're talking about or are just biased and anti-Christian. While there are a few, very few when you look at the total number of evangelical pastors, that are flamboyant and appear to be in it for the money and power. There are many more you will never hear from. Quietly leading their churches in prayer and worship.\n\nYour comment is the same as one where one race is painted \"all the same\" because of the few that exhibit the said behavior. So look at your own comment without the disdain you obviously have for people of faith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Our theology makes us Catholic or Episcopalian, not our liturgical costumes, vestments or candlesticks overflowing with wax, etc. Episcopalians might dress up in Catholic liturgical costume, but theologically -- especially in regard to marriage, issues of sexuality, abortion, etc. -- their \"correctness\" is closer to a Unitarian's rectitude or propriety (than to Catholic theology). One can't forge a Catholic sun out of Episcopal gold plate, nor vice-versa. Their theological mirrors, frames (regarding marriage, sexuality, etc.), are made from different metals. And if Elagabalus likes to use Episcopal theological metal, as it were, why not embrace the whole of it? Why run on a Catholic gravel path if one can run just as easily on an Episcopal or Unitarian grass trail!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholic does mean universal. The Catholic church is the universal Christian church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Caiside, all my post was meant to do was to correctly explain the Orthodox Church's position on the relationship between priesthood and matrimony. Any faithful Orthodox Christian would tell you that your understanding was incorrect. And how can being incorrect as opposed to correct be \"a distinction without a difference\", by the way? That lacks logic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You brought this on yourself the moment the MSM favoured narrative based journalism over simply reporting facts. You also hate free speech - you censor comments, or simply don't allow them altogether (as is the cash this mornings article about the 26 Coptic Christians assassinated in Egypt hours ago). Our general disdain for you is a reaction. Let that sink in. Complaining instead of trying to fix the problems you have created, is the wrong approach.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As to Bannon's thesis about money, it's true that the church isn't getting rich from illegal immigrants in her pews (although these people likely do contribute offerings per their means, and if we're talking about 5 million of them, that's not an inconsiderable source of revenue).\n\nBut it's clear that the bishops aren't thinking of just this generation, but of the generations to come. What other demographic holds hope for the Church's continued power in numbers? Looking 50 years on, it's clearly not white America. The Church has always been about thinking and planning for many generation in the future, and it sees the future in the demographic that is still strongly Catholic and has a high birthrate. That would be Latinos.\n\nInstead of clutching their rosaries in mock outrage, the bishops should be be honest and admit Bannon is at least partially right. But no, that's not how politics is played.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Have you been asleep for the last 20 or 30 years? In June 25, 1998 [as approved by JP II], The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, published its Lutheran-Catholic JOINT DECLARATION ON THE DOCTRINE OF JUSTIFICATION---\"By grace alone, in faith in Christ's saving work and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit.'---this was one of Luther's themes.\n\nIn 2011, Pope Benedict was speaking to German Evangelical Lutherans on Luther's key points such as: 'what is God's position towards me, where do I stand before God,' Christ is the interpretative center of the Bible and the heart of our spirituality---not devotions, novenas, indulgences, miraculous medals, etc.\n\nIn October 30, 2015 Catholics and Lutherans release the \"Declaration on the Way' to full unity. This document was published by the USCCB.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christians aren't bound by Mosaic code, never have been.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Apostolic Age [33 - 100] AD---had Christians gathering together in each others' homes to celebrate THE MEAL. The people elected their presiders [and that included bishops until almost the conclusion of the first 1000 years]. Bishops were not at all gatherings of Christians. Your reference to can. 900.1---is TODAY's Canon. There was NO CANON LAW in the very early church [first complete collection of Canon law was 1917] The people celebrated the Eucharist---in Jerusalem and around Palestine, just as we do today.\n\n\nSecondly, nowhere do we have any indication that the original TWELVE [including Matthias] laid hands on anyone to anoint them as bishop. Paul did, and Paul considered himself as both a deacon and an apostle. Paul anointed both Timothy and Titus---but we have no indication that he anointed others.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Just to put the seniority in context.... The Jews first settled Jerusalem about 7,000 years ago - The Christian's sacred sites, 2,000 years - The Muslims, when Mohammad dreamt he rode Pegasus, the winged horse to Jerusalem and God spoke to him, about 1,300 hundred years ago......", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I was raised Unitarian but have always been Atheist. I've been saying it for a while now, what is the deal with all these militant 'christians' ... they should be praying for Peace but most definitely are praying at the alter of personal greed and war.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Depends who you ask. \"The Reason For the Season\" people will tell you that Christmas is about the birth of Christ, period. It's blasphemy to think otherwise. Of course, any good pagan will tell of Saturnalia and the feast of the pagans. The Christians, while conquering the world and stamping out other religions, pretty much claimed to have originated those well-known holidays or celebrations. Except early on when they were forbidden by The Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Through this decision...why is the Netherlands embracing Islam? Why are European leaders embracing Islam? Why are Canada's leaders embracing Islam?\n\nWhy does the media continually embrace Islam?\n\nWhy is no country, or elected leader, standing up to the relentless flow of Islam into Western countries? Are we trying to destroy everything Christian?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wouldn't you know. My first take-away from this is guilt for not \"going to every volleyball game.\" Catholic guilt will dog me forever :-)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I thought I remember reading once that Catholics in Japan use hosts made from rice flour, not wheat, and that this was permitted for cultural reasons. Anyone have further info?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "While presenting as non-denominational, Imago Dei is a Conservative Baptist congregation (see its listing on CBNW.org). While many younger Evangelicals consider themselves \"spiritual but not religious,\" knowing the context one's stepped into is important.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your first paragraph is most likely true for a lot of centrist/progressives. Pope Francis is no savior and won't ever be one. Partly that's Gospel in that there is supposed to be only one Savior. On the other hand, the conservatives continue to hide behind EPBenedict as if he is some kind of Savior. That should have been nipped up the bud when he retired from the papacy, which may have been part of his intent. It didn't work.\n\nCatholics need to grow up across the board. The truth is most likely way beyond what any of us want to hear. It may be time to listen to the spiritual traditions that are older than Christianity and continuous for a much longer period of human history. If tradition means as much as some Catholics seem to thing, there are other spiritualities with a much longer tradition.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Another classy Christian comment.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh no, those conservative Christian organizations must be influencing the authorities in El Paso County. It's a conservative Christian conspiracy!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think many of the Francis episcopal appointments are already convinced of this need. Csupich and Tobin come to mind. I wasn't at the Convocation for Catholic Leaders so I can only go on what I read, but it may be that the rest are beginning to see the need for dialogue and listening. Let's hope.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This act, and his admitting from the start he is a sinner, and for officially making Mary M. an Apostle, I give honor to Pope Francis. He must still ordain women priests and equally to men or we remain a church run by misogyny but I am grateful for this declaration. \n\nHad this sweet pope not been killed (heart attack-Bull!) We would now have women priests & probably married priests. He spoke openly about considering ordaining women priests. By now we would probably have women bishops & people still coming to church & maybe even growth. Abuse would have been dealt with.\nWe would have had a church the youth could have followed & respected since he was not sexist & truly ruled by the Gospel of Christ. We may have already reunited with the Anglican & Lutheran Churches & others. We could have a world with far less poverty & violence since misogyny & poverty are directly linked & efforts could have been about passing out birth control to poor people instead of keeping it from them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus didn't \"gift the sacrament of orders\" to anyone, man or woman. Jesus ordained no priests. There was already an active priesthood in Jesus' time and Jesus was a devout Jew. What we have today in the Seventh Sacrament is an institutionalized form of servant-leadership with decided emphasis on the \"leadership\" part. \n\nAs I see it, we can either junk the whole current form of sacerdotal clericalism and start over based on strict Gospel values, or we can remodel our current requirements to include all those God calls, married and single, male and female. After all, we are ALL created in God's image and likeness.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I believe the faith, as delivered in Scripture, is sound, but many throughout history have taught and practiced distorted versions of it for power and personal gain. While Christ taught that the higher up you are in leadership, the more important real humility, and not even giving the appearance of evil are, look through the ages at how much of church leadership used their positions in corrupt ways, and taught corrupt doctrine to support that. I guess that your \"1800 years ago\" mark was Constatine officially adopting \"Christianity\". Many are right with God in spite of leadership's abuses, and I do believe there are more preachers than you do holding to sound doctrine and practice... (And there are also cult groups who believe only they know real doctrine, but carefully comparing their teachings against Scripture reveals their errors - just because they can easily find fault with parts of Catholic doctrine and practice, or others with false doctrine, doesn't mean they're right either).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In your haste to get a response back on to some track you prefer you missed the whole point. \n\nWe aren't our own authority, at least in the Catholic Church, maybe in yours and his.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "He gave us His Church. Scripture also tells us that the Gospels do not record everything Jesus said and did. That is why we uphold and rely on Sacred Tradition which is what the Apostles learned directly from Our Lord and handed down. What you call \"main stream\" Catholicism is in fact authentic Catholicism, which you admit to not following.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Au contraire, he has everything to gain by doing this. The Alawites and Christians are his base for support. It's a desired outcome from a political stand point to get rid of the majority Sunnis who have always been the main opposition to the Assad family. Chemical attacks and indiscriminate bombing of Sunni held areas means more Sunnis leave the country and go to Jordan, Europe or Turkey. It's working so far.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The fallacy of infallibility\"? According to these two modern Jesuits, Francis and Reese, everything is up for grabs, and that's a good thing. Why people like Kurgan insist on calling themselves Catholic should be a puzzle, but with a Pope like Francis and an organ like Reese, there's no mystery. Even Protestants are Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "BINGO!! Super fakey 'christians' r the norm... been this way for centuries.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One of my siblings married an Italo-Canadian RC, who also teaches in the RC school system.\n\nA few New Years eves' back, (actually a couple hours later) I was present when a group they had over of around 14 or 16 sat around an expansive kitchen island, and engaged in what turned out to be essentially a \"bare all\" session.\n\nAround the table, the majority were RC teachers, and frankly none of them had anything even approaching a solid belief in God, the Bible, etc...they openly expressed doubts any of it was \"real\" - yet they all walked their own children, and their pupils through all the rituals....\n\nI remember a Bill Maher show some years back, were he was trashing the overt Christianity of Presidential candidates, and pointed out that many had not been religious before...his thought, that it was all about the optics, the cultural ritual of it all, etc...Frankly he thought most were agnostic at best..", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It took me a while to discover this news, they were cleverly hidden somewhere at the bottom of the World News. Why is this not in the top news?... So many innocent people died today! But, hey, they're Christians. And, of course, Canadians should not care about Christians getting decimated again in the Middle East. 2000 years old Christianity is being wiped out systematically in Asia Minor but the news are no longer of interest to us... Quo Vadis?...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "God bless Stephen Colbert - my kind of Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That makes no sense since unlike the USA, Canada does not have a constitutionally mandated separation of church and state. \n\nIn fact our Constitution specifically provides for public funding of denominational schools (minority Catholic or Protestant as the case may be) as part of the \"Confederation bargain\" as set out by the Supreme Court of Canada. As the court notes it does not matter that treatment is unequal and does not extend to other religions. See Adler v Ontario (AG), [1996] 3 S.C.R. 609.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "> Didn't he invite Judas to eat with him?\n\nYes, but that is a different story. Judas, for all the grief he gets, had a role to play in God's providential action and he did indeed come to regret his actions. Furthermore, just because Judas would betray Jesus, it didn't mean that he wasn't a good Christian for the time before his change of heart.\n\n> you are quite evidently all that one could possibly hope for in a Traditional Catholic.\n\nThank you, but I would like to point out that what you call a \"Traditional Catholic\" I simply call a Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am reposting this comment:\n\n\"Any who are in manifest sin need to repent. If one has been remarried without benefit of nullity, then NO.\nThis directive, though is not denying a Christian burial, but rather that the conspicuousness of manifest sin not be brought up to bring scandal.\"\n\nThe article itself mentions \"manifest sin\". Kind of makes you go 'Hmmm\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"God seems ... to have allowed countless varying interpretations of the original revelation to flourish;...both other-Christian and non-Christian, many of these look regrettable, or worse.\"\nNow things get interesting, don't they. God gave US, through the Church to which we belong, the mission to enlighten the world. There are those in darkness who need that \"great Light\". But why would those who are to spread that light also be in darkness? God granted some certainty in the body of the Church. Our closeness to that certainty, or distance from it, is our personal choice to accept or reject God's extended hand of Grace in our lives. \"Father\" is not, again, a reference to the gender of a God who has none. It is the relationship He has with us and is exactly how Jesus describes Him. The focus on the gender of the word, I think, keeps people from growing in that relationship. The need to see God as Mother, too, belies the real cultural fixation that is attributed to the Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think it is because a lot of them follow this brand of Christianity.\n\nhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosperity_theology", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That is your response? I normally respect what you have to say, but come on, how can a practicing Catholic profess the elimination of the Sacrifice of the Mass? What would be left of the Catholic Faith without the Mass and the sacraments? A social services NGO? Have you started drinking early for the holiday?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"And also because the average American parish and the average evangelical church just aren't that different anymore.\"\n\nCertainly not so in the South, South West or CA! While Catholics in parishes do see themselves by their likenesses to evangelicals (especially in relation to abortion, social issues), they also see themselves by their differences, especially regarding private devotions (Marian devotion, most especially), the rosary, Eucharistic adoration, sacraments, pilgrimages (popular among Catholics with disposable incomes), formal liturgies, etc. Evangelicals are just not into those manifestations or expressions of faith. What the Lord says in Scripture is the evangelicals' favorite expression of faith, as it were, not knowing what to do with private revelations and miraculous occurrences that arise and come about in the ordinary lives of their Anglo and Latino Catholic neighbors.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is no reason why a nation can't control its borders and evict illegal immigrants who commit criminal acts, and there is nothing in the Catholic Catechism which says differently.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As an atheist I do not have to hedge my bets in the afterlife. I live my life knowing that all people, Christians included, are atheists. Some of us just take it one god further.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No. It doesn't sound like a threat. It sounds like defiance. It sounds like Pride. Like the motto, \"Never Again!\" or \"Live Free or Die.\"\n\nWhat does it mean? You'd need to ask her. But a demand for respect is hardly a threat. Is a demand for Justice a threat? And resistance is not a threat of direct action. It's a response to unfair actions.\n\nAnd what events in Europe are you talking about? Funny how the violent acts of terrorists who's number don't enter double digits can be used to tar millions of people. Dear me! Nero blamed the Christians for burning Rome and he probably set the fire himself.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mr. Selko presents an \"inconvenient truth\" for Christians who might support Donald Trump. I would be interested in reading any attempts to counter the perspective he presents regarding Trump's personal values.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We also had Christian judges who said that slavery was OK. So what's your point? \n\nJust look at the 7-2 decision on the Dred Scott case. Chief Justice Taney wrote that decision and he was Catholic. Judges are as much a product of their time as they are the bearers of religious or non-religious beliefs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Good guess Neko, but actually I meant that because the painting had no women, it could not be historically accurate. But later I recalled that some think that 'John' on Jesus' right in the painting is actually a woman. The modern 'copies' make her face and body appear even more feminine. The downcast eyes are typical in Christian art for a feminine saint, after all, women are supposed to be docile and demure aren't they? None of the men in the picture, except the gentle Jesus, have any difficulty asserting themselves or making eye contact. So perhaps meant to be a woman, not John.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm waiting for the movie to come out. The letter reminded me of sitting through Catholic Mass as a kid.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "IRT \"Kneeling displays reverence, not insult\"\nYep. Christians especially get this. Moses held his fist up to God, not as insult but instead, reverence. It's just that he had a staff in his fist. And today, fist shaking at others is display of reverent mutual celebration, not insult. To fist with one extended finger, other than the thumb, would be an insult. So, perhaps here it is appropriate that the players kneel on BOTH knees, even though your bishop is performing Mass at your church on just his one knee. Whereas, on the gridiron, to keep one leg up may be like extending a single finger?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So a good Catholic could support tightening immigration laws or withdrawing from the Paris climate change agreements?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This article strains very hard to create an equivalence where none ever existed. There was never any left-wing version of the \"Moral Majority\" just as there was never any left-wing version of \"First Things\" which sought to forge a coalition between liberal mainstream Protestants, liberal Catholics, and the Democratic party for the sake of gaining political power. So the equivalence MSW is trying to create is quite simply, false. \n\nI'd like to think there would be enough strong-willed liberal Catholics to embark on such an enterprise, but alas, it has never happened for the simple reason that there has never been the interest from the Vatican for supporting such an enterprise as was the case with \"First Things.\" Under JPII or B16 such an endeavor would have had its plug pulled before it ever got off the ground. If MSW were truly honest he'd admit that. Reading him is like watching CNN - you get the feeling he's always trying to find the exact center between left and right. Poor MSW.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\" I had a checkered youth; mandatory Bible study for years in several denominations.\"\n\n\"Mandatory Bible study\" is unfortunate, as coercion often turns off the very minds they are trying to reach. I know, Motley, as I lost many of my own religious beliefs attending a professed Christian university with required Chapel and Bible classes, more rules than love and more sanctimoniousness than sacredness. It took years to recover my equilibrium.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Was it the gospel according to John, or Matthew, where Jesus first used the phrase \"smash mouth\"?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Revelation. and Elaine Pagels analysis of it. That was what I discussed through harlot. After that I was talking about what Jesus actually meant by being born again rather than the Catholic proof texting.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You're talking about Christianity, right?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well he once wrote a column saying that this is a Christian nation and we should just get used to it. Fortunately the Constitution doesn't agree.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In other news, 400,000 gun wielding Christians applied for the right to blast Bambi inside city limits.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What I see so many persons who discuss secularization failing to do is to recognize that secularization has mutated into a militantly anti-Christian and anti-church ideology. With the rise of secularism discussing secularization as a historical process seems rather to miss the point. The Church, the culture is now having to deal with those who aggressively advocate for a new sort of society thoroughly secularized. This is where the real issue lies and this is the real form of secularization that Christians must contend with. The days of dealing with secularization as a passive historical force are over. Christian failed to creatively respond to secularization, particularly over the last 100 years. Another failure respecting secularism, may be, well who knows?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are many more different varieties of Christianity than there are of Islam, they have been evolving and splitting off into branches for 2000 years, which should make it more difficult to generalize, but that doesn't prevent all those people concerned about \"post-fact\" impressions from depending on their impressions of some US Evangelicals today to claim that is what \"Christianity\" is...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of course, no one expects you to state the obvious! but I would like to see some statistics to support your claims. And while I appreciate your self-deprecating humor, some on this board might not understand you are joking when you refer to your posts as \"more nonsense.\" I do find the last sentence in your post somewhat odd--do you really consider that to be a statement in keeping with Christian values? I hardly think that it is consistent with Jesus' teachings although that sentiment would be more than in keeping with statements by some of the Bishops of the Church. And, natually, you are well aware that there is no requirement that a True Catholic conform to the teachings in the Gospel, the important thing is to conform to the rituals and doctrines of the One True and Inerrant Holy Mother Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dear Rougue,\n A very interesting observation. May I posit an answer to your question of \"where the fruits of Berkeley's progressive efforts can be found\"? They are abundantly evident all around: people are unhappy and resentful and people don't mix but rather self-segregate based on concepts of racial identity. Isn't this the end state of leftism-progressivism? Racial grievance and general unhappiness? A zero-sum struggle of all against all? The lack of Christian love for our fellows which replaced by government mandated \"civility\"? Lack of self-sufficiency and enjoyment of the rewards of just labor replaced by a general ennui and purposelessness? I generalize a bit, but it seems Berkeley, beautiful as may be, is unlovely and unloved by those who live there.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The takeover of the Republican party by anti-government anarchists and the fundamentalist extremists of the Christian right marches on. I wonder how this will attract voters in a younger, multi-ethnic America and how it will play out in the long term? I'm willing to predict this is not going to end well for the Republicans.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I understand where they are coming from.\nI also think that they have strayed into believing the exact opposite of what the Christian principle really is.\nA fact that I often cite as my primary reason for not wanting to ever be identified as or with a Christian (in the modern/American sense)'.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am inspired by this article. Thank you. I will start anew to reach out to the next generation and show them the beauty of God and the importance of our church community for their Christian experience. Elder Jackson is led by God and I am grateful to be a member of the NAD.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wow, Jules chooses to belong to a church that espouses marriage as only between and man and woman and also espouses that men were meant to lead in spiritual matters. (Just read all this on their website). And he wants to be the progressive candidate?? (Are there no other Christian churches he can go to that aren't so conservative?) He can feel free to spend his time in this church and we can choose to vote for someone else for mayor.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I doubt that many Catholics have ever even HEARD of substitutionary atonement or atonement in general. It's not a topic that I have heard preached about in my 77 years of Catholic attachment.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "kanaka, the koch bros alone spent three hundred million last election cycle to do just that. white, christian male dominance.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The various Orthodox jurisdictions have not received the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception. It did not come up at the last ecumenical Council at Crete last June.\n\nIt may seem to you that Mary being non-human is the logical extension of the Immaculate Conception, but it is not part of the Catholic belief. If you shared the Catholic concept of Original Sin you would not so conclude.\n\nThere is a minority of Orthodox who accept the Immaculate Conception:\n\nhttps://orthodoxwiki.org/Immaculate_Conception\n\nbut the Ecumenical Patriarch does not:\n\nhttp://www.orthodoxytoday.org/blog/2005/03/patriach-bartholomew-on-the-immaculate-conception/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Asking about a person's religious beliefs in a judicial confirmation hearing is fair, but what Senator Feinstein did was imply, by the way she posed her questions and the lack of follow-up, that simply being Catholic is incompatible with serving on the federal bench. That's not fair, nor is it accurate.\n\nI also take exception to Feinstein's statement to Prof. Barrett that \"When you read your speeches, the conclusion one draws is that the dogma lives loudly within you. And that's of concern...\" There's absolutely nothing about Catholic dogma that is incompatible with U.S. law, and I would defy the senator to offer evidence to the contrary.\n\nAmy Coney Barrett may or may not be a worthy candidate for the bench. I'm even open to the argument that her views on abortion might be extreme enough to disqualify her. But Feinstein's implication that she should be disqualified just because she's a faithful Catholic is beyond the pale and shouldn't be taken lightly.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The uncomfortable truth is that outside of the western world, western style dating is frowned upon.\n\nThis article showcases an Islamic dating app, but it is the norm in many non-western countries too. There are many for Christians and Hindus in India, where most marriages are arranged. The profiles of suitors are in many cases setup by the parents who choose. Such apps also make navigating cultural nuances with pan-religious/ethnic groups easy. For example, Hindu dating apps allow for specification of caste. Islamic dating apps allow specification of language, since many languages are represented in the pan-Islamic world.\n\nIn such cultures, asking a soul mate out for dinner or for a movie is a great way to alienate oneself from his/her family, and possibly, even killed. This conservatism is more prevalent in Islamic countries and hyper-conservative places like India.\n\nJust ask the Shafia sisters. Oh wait, they were murdered by conservative representatives from these cultures.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So the various hierarchy and congregations have been messing up the liturgy. Stuff like this coming from them is -- unfortunately -- not surprising. Did it ever occur to them to find competent scholars and linguists to do the translations? Or, do the \"ontologically different\" not need to bother with. such considerations? Forgive me for repeating myself.\nA future iteration of Catholic Christianity will be one without clergy. Although it will not happen in our lifetimes, the days of the clergy are slowly coming to an end.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Firstly, most excellent analysis of Chaput's response. 10/10, better than Cats.\n \nAlso, nice work on a sober, open-minded interpretation of the email content. I'm almost swayed but I still think Podesta with his outfits reads as political social engineering rather than some Church internal struggle. No different than behind-closed-doors hijinks at places like Cato. Bigotry - not so much. Battle for money, power, and votes - oh, yes. The attempt is comical really. The Catholic Spring freeing Christians from the Roman magisterium occurred hundreds of years ago leading over the years to a buffet of 'democratic' albeit non-Catholic, Christian options available to dissenters. These orgs will be lucky to make even a flash in the pan. \n\nFinally, sorry, but only an out of touch fool would discount information because it's coming out of Wikileaks or Julian Assange because he's supposedly anarchist, love or hate what they do. I highly recommend reconsidering completely your judgement here.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I find it very interesting that apologists for the Catholic Church question the motives and the effects that such a \"healing circle\" would have for victims of clergy abuse. Perhaps I can add my perspective, as a long suffering victim and a participant in the same \"healing circle\" that Father Paul mentions in his article. It is extremely difficult to put into words what happened at the circle back in February of this year. Myself and the other attendees are very much aware that recovery from childhood sexual abuse is a process and not an event. But the event did have a profound effect on me. Everyone who was invited was able to share the effects that the abuse crisis had on them personally. There was another priest there from upstate New York, I believe, who talked about being a whistle blower and how he was ostracized by his superiors and fellow priests and by members of the laity because he chose to protect children and not his fellow priests. continued in following post.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sigh. As I have said here repeatedly, I am not decrying Canada's Christian heritage. I'm pointing out that it exists and that despite being secular in many ways , that Christian heritage still echoes through our daily life. People who say religion doesn't belong in schools in any way should recognize this heritage and that it inherently allows for Christians to worship according to the tenets of their faith. Allowing students to use an empty classroom to follow their faith for 15 minutes is a very small accommodation to make considering how deeply we have incorporated that Christin heritage into so many other aspects f our daily life even if they appear to be secular now.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Exactly. It took me a few years to accept the evidence that was right before me -- that John Paul was systematically deconstructing the post-Vatican II structures for collegiality; that he was applying a strict \"orthodoxy\" test (narrowly understood) for bishops; that pastoral experience was not valued in candidates for bishop. The result was not only a conservative make-over of the episcopacy, but also a preponderance of bishops who did not and constitutionally could not think creatively or pastorally: \"go along to get along was the rule.\" John Paul was elected in 1978; by 1988 I had come to believe that I would not live long enough to see the damage he was inflicting undone. And I probably won't -- except that I also didn't expect to live long enough to see a pope like Francis. \nThe United States Conference of Catholic Bishops morphed into something very much like the Conference of Republican bishops. It will take a long time to undo that damage.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"I can't think of a single country where Muslims wiped out the entire local religion.\"\n\nAnd I can't think of a single country where Christians \"wiped out the entire local religion\", except for Spain in a specific period of history.\n\nIn both cases there were periods and places where both imposed their religion on MOST of the people, either by force or persuasion, and people who could moved away rather than convert, but there were always holdouts. \n\nWhen people base their identity on a religion, that is what political struggles will be based on.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ecumenism read Love!\nAll christians must receive the Eucharist. Catholic or not \nThanks fr Reese", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Was thinking of the Jews recently found in unmarked graves consigned to a ghetto by Urban VIII. Malnourished, poor hygiene-a precursor of the camps. Any triumphalist view of the church lacks integrity. \n Love Pope Francis and could wish more Catholics had listened to him before voting for the current elected public official presiding as President of the US of A. \n I was once an existentialist, enthused with the view Jean Paul Sartre had of freedom and responsibility. I am still an existentialist, but of another kind. \n To be in good faith is an article of faith almost, in the Existentialist credo. One can't defer to \"authority\" and so abdicate responsibility for one's choices. This an axiom, a universal truth. Here is where the appeal to Tradition as a means of avoiding responsibility for choices made in freedom is inauthentic. If your choices validate tradition it may be, again, of another kind. (posted with another account.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do tell!\n\nPlease share with us the long history of child sacrifice being practiced by Christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I up-voted you because your post is honest; you obviously have major issues with both the teaching of the Catholic Church and its governance and are prepared to be unequivocal in your condemnation.\nHowever, I ask you, how would you feel about the woman next to you in the pew who had aborted her child simply because it might prove to be an inconvenience to her lifestyle (the majority of abortions are carried out for this reason)?\nI think that the remainder of your post is a knee-jerk, rhetorical justification for your decision to leave the Catholic Church because you perceive that your bishops were somehow complicit in the victory of Donald Trump.\nThink about it, please. In the old Rite during Lent the final Oratio super populum (Prayer over the people) was introduced by the words, \"Humiliate capita vestra Deo (Bow down your heads before God). I do this every time I attend a Novus Ordo Mass, this what gets me through it.\nNow it is time for all to bow our heads to God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Arabic calligraphy on the homepage of the exhibit appears to be the Basmalah, the first verse of the first chapter of the Qur'an: \"Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim\", \"In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate\"--a sentiment both Muslims and Christians can get behind.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "zoeygirl59, people used to ask questions in a similar vein about Catholic politicians in both Canada and the United States. Over time, we've come to appreciate that people are people, and only the most rigid people let religion colour every aspect of their lives. There's nothing in this article that suggests that Tayyab Rashid and Afroze Anjum are those rigid people - quite the opposite. That said, I agree we all would benefit from finding out more about people like these two.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Gun control is a moot issue. American citizens currently possess approximately 350 million guns. Its too late! There is no way that additional government \"controls\", short of totalitarian measures, would hinder a would be killer from securing what is needed to commit crimes. Liberals know this. The end game of gun control advocates is government confiscation of all firearms.They are willing to employ totalitarian measures to accomplish this. The problem with this idea is that Americans possess 350 million guns. Get my point?\n\nWe would expect that Catholics would view the problem of mass shootings on a more profound level. We hear little to nothing about how secular liberalism has hollowed out the Christian content of our culture. When there is no heaven and hell. When there is no formation of individual character and conscience. When morals become relative we should expect more violence from soulless creatures like Pollock.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You seem to be contradicting yourself, Monte. You first argued that God's #1 concern is to mitigate want and suffering on earth. That can be inferred , you reason, from His unconditional love. Therefore, whatever God's church does, whether through law or charity, to mitigate want and suffering, is advancing the Kingdom. Your logic is internally sound. \n\nBut now you say (and I agree with you) that the existence of want and suffering on this earth is not a measure of God's love; that the persistence of suffering and earthly injustice is not inconsistent with God's unconditional love and eternal purposes for humanity. I agree. So how does it follow that SJ (the mitigation of social and economic inequities through political action) is the vocation of the church? \n\nSocial justice was the overarching concern for Jews in 1st Century Palestine. It was because the Jews would not trust a messiah who refused to deal with injustice on a political level that they rejected his unconditional love.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Gary - The Bible does that, not Christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We do not hold hands at Baptism. My comment was communicated with a formative understanding of the meaning and responsibility of Baptism. In the Church\u2019s teaching (CCC) about the Sacrament of Baptism, you can read about being incorporated in the Church, the Body of Christ #1267 \u201cBaptism makes us members of the Body of Christ\u2026\u201d #1267 through #1270. Also, #1271 \u201cBaptism constitutes the sacramental bond of unity\u2026\u201d So, with a formative education and understanding as given by the Catechism of the Catholic Church, holding hands for the Lord\u2019s Prayer would be an excellent expression of communal prayer with the Body of Christ hand in hand.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, that was not what you implied at all. Your talk wasn't about the interior but about the exterior. You make an easy leap from what may be the beginnings of a Christian spirituality inside you to politics, slick as snot.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\" lacking of the Golden Rule of Christ \" ?????\nAmong the first thing lacking here is theological understanding and knowledge. There is no \"Golden Rule of Christ\", the Bible or anything else doctrinally associated with Christianity. \n\"The Golden Rule\" is a SECULAR moral which says treat others as you would like them to treat you. This SECULAR moral is used as a basis in the human rights, yet grossly miss-applied as something to do with Jesus and or Christianity. Also this SECULAR misconception is magnified by the false notion that what Jesus said and taught was to not be judgmental, as we all make mistakes, do not focus on the behavior of others, but instead focus on your own behavior and attitude and let it be good.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm pretty sure you have to be French to vote. I'd hate to think you mean 'last chance to be French and white,' or 'French and christian.' France went through the latter issue over a hundred years ago.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What's truly hilarious is that you hysterically gabble about \"Shari'a\", but you couldn't provide ONE authentic Shari'a tenet or ruling if your life depended on it. You're kind of a religious analogy to \"chicken-little.\" Fact is, Shari'a doesn't APPLY to non-Muslims. How do I know? Because the first Shari'a document (\"constitution\" if you will) for the fledgling Nation of Islam at Al-Medina specified that Christians and Jews living in and under the protection of that State were free to practice their own religion and WERE TO BE JUDGED BY THEIR OWN LAWS. I supposed you could complain that we're \"discriminating\" against you by not forcing you to abide by Shari'a. Hate it for ya.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When did civic pride and love of family become religious nonsense. And I have no issue with the value you place in philosophies developed by atheists. I would expect the same tolerance from you for the value I place in the values taught in my Christian life.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't think it's merely a \"small-t\" tradition. Those words attributed to Jesus (description of God as \"Father\") and which Christians consider Scripture belong to the larger Deposit of Faith and \"large-T\" Tradition. I don't believe that Jesus could err - as God that would be impossible - and, again, He knew the cultural traditions into which he was being born. If He'd wanted something different, there were other cultures available.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mormon, Jehova Witness, Roman Catholic and some Protestant denominations are Christian cults. If you doubt me, Google it for yourself. The only \"true\" Christian faith is directly from the Bible. Nothing more. ..nothing less.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The question arises: why are you changing the subject?\n\nThe NPR interview with David Kertzer (not \"Kercher\") concerns his Pulitzer Prize-winning book \"The Pope and Mussolini,\" a carefully researched study that draws on previously unavailable material from the Vatican archives. I've read this book (you clearly haven't); it's very well written, scholarly, measured and illuminating. So anxious are you to discredit Kertzer that you appeal to an earlier volume concerned with Catholic anti-Semitism.\n\nI skipped the Catholic League link (why bother), but read William D. Rubinstein's review at First Things of this earlier work, \"The Popes Against the Jews.\" While highly complimentary of the caliber of Kertzer's work Rubinstein complains that a book devoted to Catholic anti-Semitism too closely scrutinizes...Catholic anti-Semitism. He also accuses Kertzer, un-persuasively, of distortion through \"post-Holocaust eyes.\" But regardless, this book wasn't the subject of the broadcast.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I liked this column. I think we must be careful not to see the faith of a convert as less worthy than the faith of a \"native\" Catholic. But, at the end of the day, Catholics can disagree prayerfully with the Pope on matters that have not been spoken of ex cathedra, but it truly is ridiculous to suggest that this Pope or St. John Paul II aren't Catholic or practicing heresy, whether spoken by a convert or a \"born\" Catholic. Not a huge fan of St. John Paul II, but I never, for a New York minute, thought he was an imposter sitting in the Chair of St. Peter. Those of us who think we need not listen to the voices of others need to get over ourselves.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Evidence? Check into the history of the lost communities in the post apostolic age which died off because they went off on their own. More recently, check into various Catholic Charismatic communities that have fallen apart because of internal theological and disciplinary disputes. But if you are happy being a \"protestant\" go for it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "that parents who want religious exclusivity should just go to private schools or homeschooling instead. \nIn the end though - perhaps you should ask yourself why Christian private schools would not WANT to respect a Rastafarian's religious views ?\nChristians have a religious duty of ministry and evangelism. Having a Rastafarian join your Christian school is a great way to evangelize to him - and you get to have overtly religious activities at school which would be illegal in a government school.\nBut if you antagonize and disrespect the kid - all you'll do is make him cling to the religion of his family more strongly, since they would be providing support while you are isolating him.\n\nTo actually succeed in ministry - respecting the current culture and beliefs of the person you are trying to convert while setting a different example is the proven most effective way. Why would they be so opposed to trying it?\n\nIt's what their religion demands.\nTBC", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"No it didn't. The Catholic Church from the beginning inserted itself as the interpreter of Scripture (in fact it also inserted itself as the determiner of what was Scriptural and what writing wasn't inspired).\"\n\nBut early American life wasn't Catholic. It was Protestant/Puritan. For this group, the Bible was the centre of life. Catholicism was an outsider religion for some time. Even the election of John Kennedy shook some folks up. I think this is what he means.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Quite right. Could you just imagine the conflicts if Christians demanded the same. Is it not a Christian and Pagan belief that their God resides everywhere. Not just one specific place.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Collaboration is not my word it is from the Catechism 2025, my word would have been cooperation. God does not force His grace upon us, He offers it to us and we having free will are capable of resisting it. Acceptance therefore is an act of will, a work. You don't mention the other thief who in cursing Jesus rejected His offer of salvation. Ultimately both thieves were responsible for their fate.\nOne can sin mortally and thereby lose their baptismal justification but not necessarily lose their faith. I still believe, have faith in God when I am not in a state of grace. Luther stated that loss of justification was the result of loss of faith. \nI told you it was a complex issue. Protestants and Catholics have been arguing over it for hundreds of years.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Contd ..\nI joined a Religious Order in my teens and studied for the priesthood both at home and in Rome, pre-Council. In Rome I found the same Church, the same liturgy, the same beliefs, devotions, etc only on a grander scale. Pope St John XXIII despite his critics, never dumbed down the Petrine Office as subsequent popes have done. \nAt such an early age I found myself unable to subjugate myself to a life of permanent, obedience, I left the Order in the very late 50\u2019s and gradually drifted away from the Church. When I attempted to return several years later, I was scandalised by what I found, by the changes not only architectural and liturgical but in how far the Church had come to an accommodation with Protestantism due to what can only be termed a false irenicism; millennia of settled dogma and doctrine publicly questioned, challenged and rejected by \u2018scholars\u2019, most of whom were never taken to task.\nToday, I bow my head, pray to God and attend the NO, it is the Mass, just!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"If a Jewish person was approached at the border and asked for their opinions on men who don't wear yarmulkes, it would be absurd for that to be entered into a government database,\" Mr. McCarten said. \"Equally so if a Catholic priest was asked his opinions about nuns who don't wear habits.\"\n\nHow many global terrorist attacks have been committed by Catholic priests? I'm so sick and tired of this ridiculous political correctness, refusal to admit facts and harassment of security agencies for trying to do their jobs and keep Canadians safe.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I was very surprised to read Ms. Sideco is based in San Francisco as her article doesn't ring true to me at all for the vast numbers of Catholics in California who don't check the \"Caucasian/White\" demographic box. I suspect her questions and conclusions were written to prove the author's premise, rather than using factual data that might cast doubt on that premise. As to her questions about media interviews and profiles, YES, I see other-than-white people on every single media profile (and wonder why she doesn't). Maybe our news is different in NorCal than what she sees in SF, but SF itself is even more diverse than my own metro area. I can't speak for any parish east of Nevada, but the diversity Ms. Sideco desires is absolutely present and accounted for, and has been for at least 60 years, in this state.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Go get em, Jay! I am assuming you are advocating for some kind of action against this bishop to punish him for his views. Or is this just anonymous internet rhetoric? In any event, your views are those of a proper christian and are welcomed here by all True Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am a Christian Conservative that also loves animals. I stop and help turtles across the road, I am sure many others do as well. I hate it when the same people come to every thread and accuse anybody that loves animals as belonging to PETA . All my close friends are Christian Conservatives and they also love animals. I dont see why it is too much to ask for fisherman to watch out for Turtles whales and dolphins etc. I am sure there must be fisherman that love animals as well", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I get so tired of people who want state funding for private religious schools screaming \" that's bigotry against Roman Catholics!\" Vincent Carroll used to play that card all the time.\nMs. Raleigh, please show how, in 2017, the Colorado Constitution's restriction on using public money for sectarian purposes is being used to disparately impact Roman Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Vatican conference was sponsored by a group who had Burke on its Board.\n\n\"Donald Trump\u2019s newly named chief strategist and senior counselor, Steve Bannon, laid out his global nationalist vision in unusually in-depth remarks delivered by Skype to a conference held inside the Vatican in the summer of 2014.\nWell before victories for Brexit and Trump seemed possible, Bannon declared there was a \u201cglobal tea party movement\u201d and praised European far-right parties like Great Britain\u2019s UKIP and France\u2019s National Front. Bannon also suggested that a racist element in far-right parties \u201call gets kind of washed out,\u201d that the West was facing a \u201ccrisis of capitalism\u201d after losing its \u201cJudeo-Christian foundation,\u201d and he blasted \u201ccrony capitalists\u201d in Washington for failing to prosecute bank executives over the financial crisis.\" Buzzfeed", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Still waiting Gumby, you had said \"all recommendations,\" when you were not scripted\u2026\n\n58. We call upon the Pope to issue an apology to Survivors, their families, and communities for the Roman Catholic Church\u2019s role in the spiritual, cultural, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis children in Catholic-run residential schools. We call for that apology to be similar to the 2010 apology issued to Irish victims of abuse and to occur within one year of the issuing of this Report and to be delivered by the Pope in Canada.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The regular posters on this forum at the Globe and Mail who identify themselves as Conservatives are frequently mean-spirited, intolerant, ignorant, and they incessantly quote columnists from The National Post, Breitbart, Fox News, and The Rebel. \n\nMany of them seem to be unquestioning supporters of Donald Trump and are blind to his many faults and failings as both a man and as POTUS. \n\nAt the same time, they have nothing good to say about our current federal government, or any government not headed by a Conservative, and never tire of making juvenile comments about the Prime Minister's hair, or his popularity with the mass media. \n\nTo these people, terms like \"progressive\" and \"social justice\" are ideas to be derided.\n\nPerhaps the old Progressive Conservative Party could cast a wide net and attempt to appeal to voters outside their base. The current Conservatives, with their ties to the old Reform Party base and to fundamentalist Christians, is much less appealing to many voters.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hooded Claw, are you a priest? I have asked you this many times. Are you a Catholic priest? I've seen comments on here indicating that you are, or at least that you \"claim\" to be. So are you? Come on HC, I have asked you this a dozen times and still you fail to answer. Are you a priest? I promise I won't use it against you if you are, it's just a simple matter of interest. Are you a priest? Just forget the dozen posts I've already made in which I have ridiculed you for being a priest when I obviously don't know. So, are you really a priest? (Asked with a look of childlike innocence and genuine thirst for knowledge on my face, while fingering my rosary beads.)\n\nMeanwhile on another planet orbiting her own self-awareness:\n\nCassie-01 - \"Pandora17, who did you vote for?\"\nPandora17 - \"What business is it of yours?\"\n\n\ud83e\udd14", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And let me add, since I do not believe in being \"saved,\" by preachers and bible thumpers, and as I said to a Native christian who told me that just him, Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin, and Donald Trump were going to \"heaven,\" I said: \"Then, ok, I'm staying right here.\" LOLLOL.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If I recall, Jesus synthesized \"the whole of the law and the prophets\" into Two Great Commandments - love for God and love for our brothers and sisters. He Himself told us this will be the topic of our judgment. Love God and love God's children. That's it. That's all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We all live on planet earth but that doesn't mean we are all taken in by this new secular 'religion', environmentalism.\nHurricanes, floods and pandemics have been part and parcel of every day life since time immemorial and yet we are still here more numerous than ever. Mankind has adapted to everything nature has thrown at it and survived.\nOur Lord tasked His Apostles to feed His sheep, the bishops inherited this task of tending to the sheepfold which is putting us on the right path to salvation.\nTo say the bishops are unaware that they are sinners is a sweeping and uncharitable judgement. We are all sinners you would do well to remember that.\nAnyway we Catholics believe that God is going to destroy the world by fire according to Scripture (2 Peter 3:10 et alibi) so we need not concern ourselves about it too much.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When read comments such as I find here, I thank God that I have dusted this kind of nonsense from my soul and moved on over to Christianity as opposed to this kind of religiosity and churchianity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholics believe that the Bible is divinely inspired to explain why. Genesis recounts how God created man and woman to become one flesh in marriage so they can go forth and multiply. Genesis also recounts how the human genetic pool was contaminated by original sin and further contaminated by the Nephalim before the Great Flood. Who were the Nephalim? The most popular view among bible scholars, who do not claim to be prophets, is the Fallen angels view: Satan or his fallen angels bred with human women and had offspring that were called Nephilim, some of whom were left to survive after the Flood to test man's faith in God.\n\nanswersingenesis.org\n\nSo no, God did not create \"a whole gender type.\" God does not make mistakes. Fallen angels - or pure spiritual beings with free will - and human beings with free will conspired in sin which continues to manifest itself through genetic permutation. The challenge as always for a Catholic is to love the sinner and hate the sin.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But their taxes pay for only a small fraction of the cost of the Ontario separate school system. The rest of us pay for a faith-based system that many find objectionable. Support of the Catholic system solely by RC taxpayers would be the end of it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "BTW, last December a talk-how host (CJAD, anglo) invited non-Christians to call in to say how they felt about Xmas, expecting a ot of complaints about feeling like outsiders, etc. It didn't happen, he was inundated with Sikhs, Hindus, Jews telling him they loved Xmas, had a Xmas tree, etc., no matter how much he tried to suggest the reverse...\n\nIt is really only a tiny subset of the monotheistic religions that considers it forbidden, a betrayal of their religion to celebrate other religions' holidays. Those people have every right not to do so, but they should stop trying to prevent everyone else from enjoying it.\n\nI celebrated Eid with a family of Muslim friends, and Holi when I was in India, it didn't turn me Muslim or Hindu. Many Muslims from countries that once were moderate and peaceful, nostalgically tell of Muslims and Christians celebrating each others' holidays.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A few questions:\n1. Is it 'clericalism' when a pope, bloated by the arrogance of Vatican One, believes he has the authority to impose a liturgy (='work of the people') of his own devising on the entire church? Would the patriarch of Constantinople ever presume to do that with the Liturgy of S John Chrysostom?\n2. Conceding that some of the relatively few Catholics who actually still go to Mass actually like the Novus Ordo, is it right to deny to other Catholics the opportunity to worhip according to the older rite, if that is what they prefer? Because that's exactly what Fr Ruff wants to do.\n3. Why is St John's Abbey still open? (See http://www.behindthepinecurtain.com/wordpress/welcome/ )\n4. Exactly what evidence should we require to determine whether the \"reforms\" that followed Vatican II were a success or a failure? Does the massive defection of most Catholics tell us anything about the Novus Ordo? Is it time, 50 years later, to have an honest appraisal of that council?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So, you must be pleased with these same \"regular Catholic bloggers on here.\" Somehow, that's not my recollection of how you respond, but I could be mistaken.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am Catholic and don't believe in mixing church and state, but churches shouldn't be sued for standing up for what they believe and people shouldn't be so greedy and selfish to ask for one to do so, the answer is no, go find some where else. It's that simple. Don't ask don't sue.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Now, we are going to wrap Trump with robes and jewels and declare him a saint. He has already done his three miracles and qualifies for his heavenly reward. He has closed the boarder, built a fence and began deportations. All this is four days. Those are a miracles beyond belief. It's good to have a president for the Christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Trump shunning the global community\u2019s concern about our environment should be \"deeply troubling\u201d the USCCB since they have been among his tacit, and, at times, complicit abettors. \nEven though Trump has said he considers climate change a hoax, Bishop Cant\u00fa continues relying on feigned episcopal naivet\u00e9 to gloss their deafening silence by repeating Catholic teaching, \"I can only hope that the president will propose concrete ways to address global climate change and promote environmental stewardship.\u201d\nTrump has had at least 50 years to propose or promote anything other than himself. If the bishops aren\u2019t aware of this, and if all they can say is, \u201cI can only hope\u2026\u201d as they defend failing institutions, then it is little wonder than the the Catholic church, like this country, is in such alarming disarray.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "While I can agree that Catholic converts tend to be more militant than cradle Catholics....so what? They too have a right to their views. \n\nThe irony here that MSW (still) doesn't get: he's just as outspoken as the converts about who may call themselves Catholic. How so? Nearly every one of MSW's columns focuses on that very topic. The message? Only some of us have the right to speak up, and I wish I were the Catholic columnist for the NYT.\n\nAs for Finnegans Wake, Joyce never said that HCE had anything to do with Catholicism. Before one pats self on the back for being a great writer, it helps to get your facts straight.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Scalia inserted his Catholic faith wherever he possibly could. Ruling from the bench as if his religion was a one size fits all for the rest of the country. Of course this line of questioning is important.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I Converted to Catholic when I married my Catholic husband. I did not know much about Holy Mary or the rosary prayer. I had a small blue statue of Holy Mary and a rosary that my mother-in-law gave me on a small book case next to my bed. One night, someone was waking me and I was in such a deep sleep. Those days whenever I wake up at night, I would pray thinking that someone needs my prayer. I crawled out of bed and sat on my prayer cushion at the end of my bed and prayed. I did not know how long or if I prayed or slept but I awoke from prayer and crawled back to bed still half sleeping. When I was passing the book case, some voice with authority so strongly commended me to stop and pray. It seemed automatic after that I picked up the rosary and this lady started so very slowly and gently, \u201dHail Mary full of grace\u201d I followed her \u201cHail Mary full of grace\u2026\u201d She recited ten Hail Mary. However, I was allowed to experience the most exquisite beauty of her being.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Church teaching= the catechism, the papal encyclicals, the teachings of the fathers and mothers of the church (i.e. Canonized saints of the church) and the basis for it all the Bible\nChurch teaching DOES NOT EQUAL the personal pronouncements or feelings of ill formed consciences of heterodox individual clerical religious or lay \"Catholics\" eg. The superior of the Jesuits stating that scripture is basically false because we are not sure what Jesus really said as his words were not electronically recorded and his latest that the devil is only a symbol. He has not been publicly corrected so I guess the current regime in Rome buys into this heterodoxy also. Extremely sad disappointing and hurtful.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Boff seems to have made a comfortable living out of attacking the Catholic Church, a life in Academia, professorial posts here, there and everywhere, income from books, etc. He claims to be the advocate of the poor yet has no experience of real poverty himself and a Franciscan at that.\nThe most charitably one can say of him is that he is a grossly misguided idealist and leave it there, leave him to God.\nIt is sad, however, that Pope Francis seems to be rehabilitating the enemies of the Catholic Church. \nI know of no other situation in recent times in the Catholic Church when opposition to the Pope has extended to the College of Cardinals. Even after Vatican II many orthodox Cardinals and bishops reluctantly yet eventually bowed to the 'reforms'.\nOf course you will not reply to this as you ignore me and have published your prejudice but some people who are genuinely committed to discussion and debate may respond. Am I hoping against hope?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "More specifically, a Universalist belief. \n\nMost Protestants believe you at least need to have faith in Christ to be saved.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The happiest person on this Earth is Ted Cruz. He was \"stabbed\" by Sarah when the grifter thought the money was with Trump and dumped the \"Christian conservative\" for the glory of gold. I believe the parting words to our beloved Sarah was, \"you're fired!\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Round up all these Catholic priests, thousands of them, and send them to the Ontario Catholic Schools to deliver a 'Catholic' education.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And perhaps part of those \"conversations\" would include instructions to start excommunicating Catholic elected officials--for starters--who openly deny the Church's dogmatic teaching.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The article had too many historical errors in it but I appreciate the generic message. Kahahumanu was not the favorite wife of Kamehameha II. She the favorite wife of Kamehameha I. She misses the leadership of the women of the Protestant Women as well as many Hawaiian women who worked with them to Christianize and Westernize Hawaii.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hardly seemly to brag about being honest about being uncivil. But really, to begin the conversation then claim you want to be left alone? Is this some new humor angle you are exploring? Rather unfunny, one would think and perhaps a bit snarky, maybe even nasty, dontcha think? But of particular note, one cannot help but notice no claim the postings are a demonstration of christian values, so perhaps progress has been made insofar as there is no longer any attempt to justify such incivility with a claim it is based on any religious view.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Kari, although Mark was indeed first written Gospel, that fact does not warrant a leap to the conclusion that Mark is \"probably the most accurate.\" The same think is true about biblical manuscripts...the oldest is not necessarily the closest text to the original. In both cases, it is much, much more complicated.\n\nMore important, I suggest is the fact that each of the evangelists shapes the material they have to express distinct theologies.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"He\u2019s taken a vow of poverty, makes about $40,000 a year as a Catholic priest,\" Lawrence Nolan (lawyer defending Father Jonathan Wehrle from embezzlement) said Monday.\u2014 \u201cThe Lord opener her heart to pay attention, (Acts 16:14), but. Evidently, not the heart of lawyer Nolan. \u201cLet them sing for joy upon their couches\u201d (Psalm 149:5), couches honestly gotten and not under a cloud of embezzlement. \u201cThe Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me\u201d (John 15:26) and straighten out whether or not a crime is involved in the Okemos, Michigan ten acre gated estate, owned by Father Wehrle. Liturgy of the Word, Reading 291, Monday of the Sixth Week of Easter I. \u201cThe Lord takes delight in his people\u201d (Psalm 149: see 4a), no matter what.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You said \"criminal investigation\" Not until the full circumstances of what occurred and a crime be suspected can the investigation become criminal.\nMost people who die are put in the ground and often in mass graves. Because of abject poverty and the stigma of illegitimacy these poor infants were disowned by their families. How do you know what resources the nuns had at their disposal? How do you know they were not given a Christian burial? Why do you suspect the nuns of being criminally negligent? Is it because they were likely to represent everything modern liberals hate about the Catholic Church? You know nothing of the circumstances and the people involved over a long period yet here you are casting the first stones.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I didn't realized you considered yourself a Catholic. As an aside, I'm quite certain you are well schooled in Msgr. Bugnini's CV. LEX ORANDI, LEX CREDENDI.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They'r involved plenty in politics, and your Sunday first collection donations pay for it. They lobby for hundreds of millions of federal funds per year, and will not disclose the hundreds of \"Catholic\" agencies in hundreds of dioceses that receive it. The exact amounts are secret as well. \n\nYou'd have better luck asking your elected representatives to tell you than your bishop, who's got \"golden handcuffs\" \u2013 since the scandals, Says Bp. Kicanas, voluntary donations have tanked, so bishops have turned to the taxpayer's *involuntary* funding. \n\nThey like the Johnson Amendment because it allows them to pretend they're silenced.\n\nJesse Jackson isn't. Al Sharpton isn't. Televangelists aren't. Only the USCCB!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I know this is difficult for the modernist mind to comprehend, but the true Catholic is horrified and scandalized by the unworthy reception of Holy Communion, regardless of the nature of the sin which creates such circumstance.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are Catholic cemeteries in Australia. I live near one in Brisbane, Queensland. The irony is that it has a crematorium in the middle of it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The US Catholic Church is split: The majority of the money comes from a small group of rich white men like Carl Anderson and Tom Monaghan. But the majority of the pews are filled with non-rich, non-white mostly-women. This is also increasingly the image of the global Church.\n\nThe president of the USCCB has to emphasize things the two sides agree on: abortion, birth control, the rosary, Mary. He has to avoid things they disagree on: non-Catholic refugees, welfare, minimum wage, police brutality, pedophile priests.\n\nRotten job. Bet Kurtz is glad to be rid of it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your comment raises an interesting question. Reading Thomas Aquinas back into Jesus' time, I'm sure you will say there must have been a 'transubstantiation' at the last supper. That did not seem to occur to Jesus.\n\nJesus never thought in terms of Aristotle's philosophy. He was thinking more in terms of Jewish practices of a covenant, and Passover remembrance.\n Whether he was 'present' in two different forms that Thursday night \u2013 in his actual human form, and distributing his 'sacramental' presence, likely never occurred to him. Did He 'transubstantiate' himself? Certainly he had not died as yet, so that his death could be 'remembered'. He was giving them a model of something to do in the future.\n\nAnd when they finished the meal, they just got up and left. No 'tabernacles' or anything. I expect Jesus is rather amazed at our philosophical gymnastics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Meal was never called a \"sacrifice\" by the early Christian Church [the Apostolic era---33-100 AD]. That particular title only came later. Calling the Mass the SACRIFICE implies that God sent Jesus to die for our sins. \n\n1) There was NO ORIGINAL SIN---the Jewish people NEVER believed in Original Sin. They do believe in personal sin. But God does not punish people for the sins of their ancestors, so God would never be punishing one generation after another for the sin of Adam and Eve---if there was an Adam and Eve [names given to early humanity].\n\n2) Historically, there was NEVER an idyllic garden for only ONE couple, with talking animals. Humanity, struggled for life among other animals in an often harsh physical surroundings.\n\n3) Jesus suffered and died because of the animosity and inability of the Jewish hierarchy to CHANGE their understanding of God's love and will for humanity, that Jesus demonstrated.\nThat priesthood ended with the destruction of the Temple.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Marijuana has anti-cancer properties, per UCLA's 30-year Tashkin population study. It also has a rich cultural history, as \"cannabis\" in Latin and \"kanah bosm\" in the old Greek scrolls, quite literally the Biblical Tree of Life, used by early Christians to treat everything from skin diseases to deep pain and despair.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I really appreciate this column Ms. Wente. I'm helping a Syrian family: they are Suni Moslems and they are incredibly generous and loving people. I have never known a family more loving in their conduct toward each other, and more patient in the face of misfortune caused by others - such as when key items of of their furniture were swiped by someone. These are really wonderful people. And if you want to dig into statistics, the performance of second generation immigrants exceeds just about any other group. I'm a 7th generation Canadian raised as Tory and a Christian. So the folks who are seeing things so negatively need to open up to better possibilities and help make that happen.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If Jesus thought it right to allow himself to be \"constrained\" by certain things, why should we not think it right that we be similarly \"constrained\"?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thanks for the elucidation, Monica. Now let's examine your statements here. I would suggest that Jesus was a fervent and practicing Jew, hence regular attendance at Sabbath meals and synagogue services each week. Early traditions and writings (Justin Martyr) would suggest that the Way maintained those ritual practices, however moving the \"meal\" to Sunday, the Lord's Day, and ultimately bringing the synagogue service there as well, when they were refused entrance into Jewish communities. As rituals were set from times before Jesus, were practiced by Jesus himself, and followed directly into early Christian practice, so has the Tradition continued. Thus, I would agree that the Church evolved into a community dependent on rituals, but I would aver - more! - that Jesus' practice in his Jewish life and the practice of The Way continued the \"attachment\" even though the gospels do not capture Jesus giving us such \"shoulds.\" see my next reply", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Very bitter, angry and hate filled man. Catholic Brexit. We don't want a Marxist as pope. Popes need to be Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But when you look at the more conservative dioceses like Lincoln NE, you see the Church is stable or growing and that vocations are plentiful.\n\nIn the more liberal dioceses, the churches would be emptying because let's face it: what point is there to being religious or Catholic if the Church is just going to accept whatever cultural or Hollywood fashion happens to be in vogue at a given time? If the Church is just expected to adopt the belief system of whatever whims and trends grip pop-culture at any given time, there seems little point to religion.\n\nIf you want to argue that the Church is about helping the poor--may I remind you that there is nothing unique to the Catholic religion about helping the poor. I can be an atheist and do that. I can be a social worker and do that. I can be a community organizer and do that. I don't need religion and God to do that.\n\nI need religion and God for salvation and truth--things society cannot offer me.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Meanwhile, the living corpse continues to chime-in on Catholic issues. The guy was a traditionalist; not the kind of guy who takes 600 years of life-term Pope elections lightly. He talked about a homosexual mafia, and Francis spoke of the homosexual mafia. And now Jim Martin is promoting same-sex marriage and same-sex acts while accepting a Vatican communications post. You have eyes, but you don't see.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ok,for you dems that will oppose this, \nLOOK. CHRISTIAN. Go get em.\nOk,for you GOP that will push this, \nLOOK. Liberal. Go get em. QUick. They are running away. \n\nOK, for the rest of us who think, let me suggest that you consider writing our CONgress critters.\nRight now, the Dems leaders are going to push for more breaks for 'middle class' and less taxes for lower class, while pushing more on upper class. Is this fair? Nope.\nLikewise, the GOP leaders are going to push for more breaks for upper class, while running up massive deficits. Is this fair? Again, nope. \nThese 2 parties continue to play games because we are not pushing them to be FAIR. \nWhat is fair is that we all pay on the same progressive tax scale no matter where the money comes from. \nGet rid of all breaks/dividends/exemptions. Then no more ability to BS us. \nLikewise, pushing ALL obtained money (inher/lottery/wages/salaries/dividend/gains/etc) are taxed the same is fair. \nTHis is important to balancing budget.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Except Christ, himself, in the Gospels, tells us the church is the whole body of Christ not any hierarchy designed by men. He also warns us that we must treat all the same as we wish to be treated, the same, or we sin and this is to be our highest commandment above all other laws.\n\nThe church body does want women ordained priests, by majority, so that makes your argument and the hierarchies' invalid. \n\nThe church desires women ordained so therefore when you treat, harshly, women, in our church, who had to seek ordination from valid bishops in Eastern accepted Catholic Churches to answer their legitimate call to priesthood instead of the normal route, there is no reason for the harsh treatment. \n\nTherefore the treatment is a punishment and sinful. Since primacy of conscience, which Catholics uphold, demands that these women stand up for the Gospels and stand against the hierarchy bullying its women & acting against what the actual church body believes is correct based on the Gospels.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is not a NEW problem in the Catholic Church. The church tackled this issue during Vatican Council II. The Document Gaudium et spes, citing Genesis 1:26-27, wrote ALL human creation is in the image and likeness of God. The document developed its teaching on human dignity & rights, spelling out the universal rights and duties that flow from the dignity of having been created in the Divine Image.\nFrom the writings of Father J. Bryan Hehir, we read that \"Catholic engagement with the world and its transformation by the penetration of gospel values should be marked by a spirit of dialogue and service and by what some have called a 'confident modest,' mindful that the church both teaches and learns from the world.\"\n------------------------------\nWilliam J. Gould, \"Fr. J. Bryan Hehir: Priest, Policy Analyst, and Theologian of Dialogue,\" in RELIGIOUS LEADERS AND FAITH-BASED POLITICS: TEN PROFILES, ed. Jo Renee Formicola & Hubert Morken [Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2001] p. 201.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Right, exactly, though I didn't spell that out. Whatever \"movement of powerful groups\" there might be among Catholics working for progressive change, there are super-powerful groups pushing in the opposite direction, i.e. backwards; and their power usually coincides with great wealth.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Its wonderful to read today that the liberals are now quoting scripture. Only the ones that're convenient for for this article. What about, \"you should not commit murder,\"(abortion), flee sexual immorality, (anythings ok), or, \"give honor to those whom God has raised up in authority over you, (current president.), etc\n\nIf you're going to start pretending you're Christian and quote God's Word maybe you should try and follow all of it.'\n\nJust saying.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That word 're-enactment' seems to mean to 'act out'. In our Roman Liturgy we do 're-enact' what Jesus did at the Passover on the night BEFORE his death.\n\nBut, thank you Jesus!, he does not ask us to 'act out' the actual crucifixion! That would definitely be a deterrence to priestly vocations. The 'first Mass' would be the priest's 'last mass'!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Paul was also doing the best he could to make sense of what Christ did and said and how to help people accept and remember it all. I think the early Christian homes in which the faithful gathered to remember Jesus and share bread and wine in memory of Jesus had Jesus as present with them as He is present in a Mass said by \"ontologically changed\" priest. Jesus said \"Do this in memory of me.\" And we do. Jesus does not need a priest to be present or not to be present. Do you really think you can keep Him in a box?\n\nThe sacraments were \"discovered\" and developed over time, responding to the needs to evangelization and to remember the guidance Jesus gave. But human beings chose what bits and pieces of Jesus life and what MMLJ remembered He said, to try to make sense of it all and to \"build the kingdom.\" \n\nWhat we need to do is keep developing understanding, discovering ways in which we can understand the message of Jesus based on the world of today and knowledge of today.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If 90% - 95% of married Catholics \"contracept\" for purposes of family planning, it may or may not indicate that the teaching is \"wrong,\" but it is a valuable bellweather that the Catholic religious themselves do not considering this alleged sin to be of moral consequence, as they make no effort to correct this situation under their direct influence. This reality undermines the claim that they have a religious freedom right to abridge health insurance coverage for contraception -- especially to non Catholic employees.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": ">>In terms of mass murder, Christianity scores well above Islam.\n.\n\nYou would like to have this narrative, but what do you back it up with?\n\nIncessant posting of falsehoods, your hate of Western culture is well established already - no need to convince us any further.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How wonderful it would be if the people in Catholic congregations had the spirit of those in Acts 2.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why was my response voted down? All I said was I suggest you don't tell me what to do, before your explicit threat that \"this will end.\" Indeed your energetic efforts to suppress members of this community are duly noted. It appears part of a broader effort to destroy the most vibrant liberal Catholic commentariat in the blogosphere.\n\nNeither was I escalating. In effect you accused Kurgan of lying, so it's only fair to set the record straight.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding:\"Officially, the publication of the cardinals' letter was not of any value, Pinto said.\"\n- True on several levels.\n- However the letter by 4cards and their hidden supporters does underscore what happens when one doctrine or teaching is emphasized at the expense of another doctrine or teaching.\n- On one hand is the teaching that the sacrament of matrimony is life-long as the underlying marriage is hoped to be. On the other hand the Eucharist is food and medicine.\n- The task of the whole church is to act wholly as Christ -- give Him as food and medicine were it is needed.\n- Bishops and laity can acknowledge that hoping for life long marriages (civil and sacramental) and providing food and medicine via body and blood of our Lord Christ to those who need it (which is everyone, including bishops) do not contradict each other.\n- If a 2nd marriage tells us anything, it is that the first marriage/ matrimony was not. Ergo, the business of adultery is basically a red herring.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"We should all acknowledge something NCR refuses to accept: the Universal Church is now growing by leaps and bounds in the southern and eastern hemispheres of our globe, and these areas are even more conservative on moral and theological issues (albeit liberal on economic matters) than most Western religious conservatives. ***** Which Western, mainstream conservatives have called for the imprisonment of gays? None that I know of. However, several RC bishops in the developing world have supported those efforts in their own countries. ***** European and American liberals no longer matter; the power now resides elsewhere, and Holy Father Francis has accelerated this change due to his recent appointments \"from the peripheries\" to the College of Cardinals.\"\n\nHere we have another conservative Catholic - and also several Catholic Bishops in developing countries - that would like to see gay people in jail. It is sad that the Church hopes for growth mostly in countries where ignorance is rife.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If one believes, as the majority of Canadians do, that access to abortion should be something that is available to ALL Canadian women (those that are and are not Roman Catholic) then you don't subscribe to such ridiculous comparisons that basically accuse women that have had abortions of somehow being complicit in genocide. \n\nAnd yes, Catholic schools will teach Catholic beliefs to Catholic students just not at my expense please.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is another of those mixed up things like Humanae Vitae. The group that met to decide if Anglicans had valid orders or not decided in favor of validity. Unfortunately, the Roman bishops in England asked the Pope to declare them invalid so Anglicans would flock to the RCC for \"valid\" sacraments. Of course, that didn't happen. And things got a bit more complicated when the Dutch Old Catholic and Polish National Catholic bishops started being included in ordinations of the C of E and the American Episcopal Church. And too, lots of American Episcopalian priests were formerly RC priests.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Impressive Bro, what a responsibility you have \u2014 looking into a man's heart and deem his fitness as a person and a Christian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm certainly no fan of Trump, but you think his lack of the ideological frenzy of someone like Ted Cruz is not a smidgen of silver lining? I mean, he does have Christian Conservative Sturmbahnfuhrer Pence whispering in his ear and Reince Preibus trying to cast himself as the White Houses's version of Game of Thrones Spider, so how much that potential positive has a chance to peak out is an open question, but someone with no real ideology is much more likely to make political deals than a GOP-drone.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A further \"Yey\"! Maybe empathy is seeping through and leadership standing for civility. Of course each one of us is called to \"lead\" but most of us by being stalwart followers. Standing for civility means being civil; it means standing against its opposing vice/voice, as it does protecting the vulnerable. It also means being the followers. Blessing one you Cardinal Cupich, Fr Martin, S.J., and others of the fullness of the \"society of Jesus\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yep, grown ups think and one of the first things they learn is that giving everybody the power of binding and loosing is ridiculous on its face and guarantees chaos. If you really want to go to a church with no absolutes then I'm sure there is a new and improved Episcopalian church somewhere that can accomodate you. The Catholic Church has thrived for 2,000 years because it has a successor to Peter who is an absolute monarch when it comes to guarding the deposit of Faith, nothing more and nothing less. Francis is a challenge to that unbroken line of succession because he is trying to do in terms of praxis what he and his minions do not have the courage and integrity to do in terms of that deposit of Faith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The ordination of women will continue to be a major and serious obstacle to unity and dialogue, and then some, as long as Roman Catholics are not even supposed to speak to one another about ordaining women, and as long as pope and hierarchy maintain that \"the church\" has no power to ordain women. The whole church desperately needs to take a hard look at this situation!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ah\u2026.John Allen rises again.!!! i was very involved in the early popular parish bases reactions to the church's seeming return to Pre-Vat 2 politics and prayer. activity everywhere . John Allen was everywhere. the Boston Globe\u2026.Boston College\u2026.NCR etc. he seemed to be the elected or self elected press standard bearer for \u2026..what? not sure? i welcomed his nation wide audience. but i always believed that he was 'embedded' with the catholic status quo and the comforts of the Vatican state. he was not going to go out on a limb about anything- especially when the institutional church was struggling with Benedict. did he 'leave' the Boston Globe? more complicated than that; did he leave NCR??? Allen is one of those reporters..writers whom i never read. too predictable\u2026protective. CRUX is more influenced by the Nat Cat Register than it ever was by the Globe..BC\u2026NCReporter.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Re: Opus Dei's \"tenacious grip\" on Catholicism under its re-branded format of Evangelical Catholicism. \n\nAccording to the renowned and deeply respected canon lawyer/theologian, Ladislas Orsy, one must give Opus Dei credit for its \"devotion to canon law after the Second Vatican Council, whereas 'progressive sectors,' including the council of laypersons, undervalued the importance of canon law.\"\n\nFr. Orsy says, \"Immediately after the Council...Opus Dei fostered the cultivation of this discipline (canon law)...and from the creation of the Committee on the Revision of Canon Law, Opus Dei took an active role in it. Today Opus Dei has a flourishing faculty of canon law in Rome as part of their Pontificia Universita Santa Croce.\" Orsy:RECEIVING THE COUNCIL \n\nOrsy: \"Have some bishops failed to realize the existential role of law to create the freedom necessary for the reception of the Council?\" We have to wonder if this is the roadblock which Francis faces today.\nhttps://RiteBeyondRome.com", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wow - this is outrageous. I know that when my family buried an uncle of mine in one of the Catholic cemeteries in the Cleveland, Ohio area, the headstone was $1,500 - the plot had been purchased many years ago. He was cremated and his ashes buried, and I know that the opening of the grave was $800. Where are your plots located? I would like to be sure to avoid that location....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Civil Comments has much bigger fish to fry than NCR.\n\nNPR, for example, would be a potential client.\n\n\"Blocking\" has proven to lead to exactly what it led to at NCR:\n\n- conversion of a public discussion group into a platform for multiple private conversations\n\n- a collapse of civil discourse\n\n- a tendency to speak of the \"blocked\" in the third person\n\n- in this instance an effective banning of Catholics and an influx not of progressive Catholics but of agnostics, atheists, \"Mahayana\" theologists, and so on right out to anti-Catholics.\n\nCivil Comments is a business. There is no money in replicating Disqus' mistakes.\n\nNational Catholic Reporter is trying to present as an alternative Catholic media, there is no advantage to having its public face present a motley crew of opponents of Catholicism.\n\nI would happy to provide examples from the Disqus archives.\n\nYes, \"we had really thoughtful discussions\" ... synoptic, few participants, and outright hostility towards contrary opinions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's meant as a description of, and recommendation for, a professional organization of pastoral counselors for those interested in learning more See the final sentence.\n\n\"In short, if you are interested in pursuing pastoral counselling as a profession, the ACPE is a group to contact for both guidance and inspiration! \"\n\nNot every article is of interest to every reader. I read only a few articles on this site each day, often only one or two. This is one of the two for today.\n\nSome here are primarily interested in science or academic theology, or the problems of reconciling the two. Others are more interested in articles dealing with parish level programs. Some are concerned about the ongoing scandals in the church, and its continuing failure to address them. \n\nSome are concerned about how to use their catholic-christian understanding to address social justice issues.\n\nAnd some are interested in how they or others may use their personal gifts for compassion, listening, and empathy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Good. Then you might want to post your comments on sites where Catholic teaching is not an issue.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Socialism and communism are not the same thing. You really need to update your knowledge. A government in a mature democracy has as its primary duty to take care of its citizens. It does this through taxation. It has to make sure that nobody falls through the net in times of need - unemployment, disability, healthcare etc. You might call this socialism but, in fact, it is Christianity in action - love your neighbour.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There's another article on here about Orthodox and icons. Would you advocate the Orthodox to let their practice of iconography die out to make themselves more acceptable to non-Orthodox Christians and promote ecumenism? Why or why not?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"Belmont Abbey President William Thierfelder told the conference that the role of a Catholic institution should be the \"intentional formation of students in mind, body and spirit.\" He regretted that today \"the primary purpose of a college education is to get a job, and preferably a high paying one.\"\"\n- Thierfelder seems to have lost his way. The purpose of any education is to help the individual proceed in adult life -- which includes making a living which provides the wherewithal for the person to be active in his / her own continuing formation and learning.\n_ Perhaps he met to say, \"an educated person can do anything necessary for the good of that person, and the common good.\" If so, then Thierfelder needs an update on rhetoric.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is true so much of what you stated ATF. Thank you. \n\nOften the problem with Christians too is that we are not careful readers & we make a lot of assumptions off of scripture that scripture was not written intending to have assumed. \n\nGod tells us in the beginning & in the Old Testament that God is Holy & Spirit, that this is the anatomy of God which contains not male or female flesh. When God made Adam (MAN male & female) in his own image, God is referring to the Holy Spirit inside of the flesh not the flesh. There were forms of man in existence in Genesis that are not considered by God as his sons, made in his image. We read Cain married, not a sister, born of Eve, but a daughter of one of the son's of men. When Adam & Eve sinned, only their Spirit died that day but in God's view this was the fullness of death-they lost the part-that made them \"in God's image\" & immortal. God came to earth in man's image-in the flesh. So we only rep. God by the Spirit given by God at baptism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think it was fair to read Violet's definitive assertion as pertaining to the historical Jesus, whose self-identity is sheer speculation.\n\nAs I understand it: The gospel writers, most conspicuously the author/s of John, associated Jesus with the sacrificial Passover lamb. But even before the gospels, the \"Philippian Hymn,\" which is said to predate Paul, implicitly contrasts the disobedient Adam with Jesus the obedient son, \"to the point of death, even death on a cross.\" The earliest Christians apparently believed the Crucifixion was God's will (otherwise \"obedience\" here makes no sense), a sentiment echoed in Gethsemane when Jesus says \"not what I want but what you want.\" Why would God will the Messiah be crucified? Well, as Paul relates in another pre-Pauline formulation (1Cor 15:3-6), Christ died for our sins and was raised on the third day \"according to the scriptures.\" (Personally I don't find this answer satisfactory.)\n\nJesus's Eucharistic Words suggest self-sacrifice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Healing? \nFor what?\n\nHow about this supposedly Catholic magazine write an article about the healing needed for women who abort their own babies?\n\nOr the healing needed for the medical changed tranvestites who suffer a 20x normal suicide attempt rate?\n\nLet's get real.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "On which planet do you reside? Of course every Catholic is bound in obedience to the Most Supreme Roman Pontiff where he teaches on matters of faith or morality AND in conformity with the Church's perennial Magisterium. P.S. Why do you modernists so love the Nazi strawman?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How do you \"vet\" someone from a country whose gov't is in chaos, and what records (reliable) do you use to \"vet\" them? Vetting of anyone from these countries is a joke and people with common sense know it! Meanwhile our own gov't is paying groups including Christian groups to take these people under their care. \n\nYou can get statistics anywhere: Here is another one:\nLudger Woessmann, a professor of economics at the University of Munich, tells German magazine Zeit 65 percent of Syrian refugees fail to meet international standards on basic reading and writing skills. Just 10 percent of the one million arrivals in the country this year have a college degree, which may force unemployment rates and demand for social welfare to rapidly go up.\n\nRead more: http://dailycaller.com/2015/12/08/65-percent-of-syrian-refugees-cant-read-and-write-join-workforce/#ixzz4ed87JdfT\n\nMuslim is not a \"race.\" Muslim is a religion/political system (see Sharia Law) ,", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As a Catholic I have the right to state the obvious. Luther was a heretic. Luther did not believe in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, did not believe in the priesthood, and did not believe in the Papacy, among many other Catholic beliefs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If tv isn't plugged in you can be sure it won't broeadcast or receive a signal. My faith does not ask me to reject proven science, rationality is a part of our being and as such a 'gift' as you might think of it. A fetus can not think nor feel in early development, it simply a fact. \n\nChristians turn many people away from a healthy spiritual life by making irrational claims. The entire creation story is an allegory not fact. \n\n The myth is that either of us could begin to fully understand the mind or heart of a limitless God.\n\nYour sense of a God that rejects all but those who walk your own narrow path is very different than my own belief system.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I just can't stand back and not reply to n article that is so blatantly wrong .\nFirst , the writer must know the subject to be able to comment .\nWe are faced with a Culture that is diametrically opposed to the Canadian Judeo/Christian values on which Canada is based .\nMuslims following the Qur'an know that Killing Christians and Jews is a duty and you can hear it in Mosques across Canada .\nThe ultimate goal of Islam is not to convert the world but to establish Sharia Law over the entire world \nThey will do this by population .\nMuslims have increased their population in Canada from 1 Million in 2001 to 3 million in 2011 .\nI'm sorry to say but in 20 years they will be a force in Canada , and Canada as we know it , will be no more !\nIf we , as Canadians , sit back and do nothing we will only have ourselves to blame .\nWe even let Immigrants change our Laws by insisting on Face Veils at Citizenship ceremonies !\nThis is not hatred of a culture but good common sense .", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As a Chi-town Catholic, I am very glad that Cupich is cleaning out St. Mary's because Barron was pumping out ultra-conservative types from there.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I guess I should have voted for Hillary and Tim Kaine. You know...that CATHOLIC vice presidential candidate who is FOR abortion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm sure you are hoping for a Christian version of Sharia here, so it can be overturned here in the US as well.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'll copy my reply to Elagabalus here:\n\nIt's generally accepted that it was the secular governments, not the Catholic Church, which burned people at the stake. Heresy was a capital crime under secular law at the time. I can find absolutely no evidence that the Catholic Church associated left-handedness with witchcraft. That seems to be a prevalent folk superstition of the time, but the Church, as far as I can tell, has never made such a proclamation. Most of the frenzied mass witch hunts we hear about were carried out within small villages and did not fall under the control of the Church.\nhttp://catholicbridge.com/catholic/burning_times_inquisition_witches.php\nhttp://www.salon.com/2005/02/01/witch_craze/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They don't pay into the government, but they demand government services paid with tax dollars from all others. One more violation of the oath of office by the Catholic/Christian majority overturning the basic tenets of the Constitution to appease a special interest group of worshipers of invisible, non-existent, human-created beings. All wallowing in untaxed revenues gleaned from gullible followers and allowed to influence government content and actions violating everyone else's rights and freedoms. This Supreme Court carries on the violations of Constitutional law begun with Scalia and his gang of five Republican Catholics to legislate by judicial fiat. Actions formerly raged against by the CONservative Republicans. Establishing religion over all other rights violates every other aspect of human rights and freedoms by a traitorous dictatorship now ruling the nation. Time for a Revolution.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Some schismatics called parts of Vatican II in question. Actual members of the Catholic Church have not.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Translation: We at NCR aren't like these \"censors,\" but we only publish writers who represent the Left of Center Catholicism, we castigate the Knights of Columbus, and we criticize conservative Catholics for being, well, not really Catholic at all.\n\nNCR, the day you offer a platform to just one conservative Catholic, will be the day you get to justly complain about censorship in the Catholic world.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "While I favor married clergy--I don't think allowing for married clergy to solve the vocations crunch is the right reason to do so. \n\nI believe the vocations crunch is due to a far larger problem in the Church: people have largely abandoned (practically speaking) a Catholic culture and their Catholic Faith. In other words they are too influenced by secularism. Church is something done on Sunday's if at all. Faith is not who a person is, it is not a way of life, it is what one does when one has time, if one feels like it. The commandments are taken as mere suggestions. A person's image of Jesus is something analogous to a hippie, a nice guy, Santa Clause, a social justice warrior, Karl Marx, all rolled into one. Church teaching can be summarily dismissed when one does not like what the teaching says--except of course when the Church talks about helping the poor or using green technology.\n\nUntil that problem is addressed, I don't think a married clergy is going to solve anything.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "BRO they were in Columbus.....and heading to Nevada next...\n\nIt would be cool to have them meet....\n\nThe family is seriously political and two of my grandkids are heading to law schools and I think some public service...deals....\n\nWho knew 48 years ago when I told the bishops lobbyist that I would split my Catholic Charities time between the local agency and the State Capitol....that it would come to this?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"'Power is like drinking gin on an empty stomach.' You feel dizzy, you get drunk, you lose your balance, and you will end up hurting yourself and those around you, if you don't connect your power with humility and tenderness.\"\n\nAgain Pope Francis, when are you going to start following your own advice. All you need to do to make our church a just and ethical place for all is to ordain one good Catholic Women a Priest. Many have been called by God to ordained priesthood and even to Bishop and Cardinals (and even popes). Many women are already trained and ready to be ordained and start tomorrow. \n\nBut you do not treat your own power with humility and it causes you to hurt many others just like the popes before you. You must learn that it is always correct to stand up for Christ's commandment to treat all the same & with love, rather than just follow in the harmful traditions of past abuse. Humble people do not support the forced voicelessness or diminished dignity of any others.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Read some of the history of the Catholic Church in Mexico, especially the Christos Rebellion. Mexico has had many oppressive laws against the church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I once worked with a right-wing Catholic (alumnus of a conservative RC college) who was judgmental to the max and extreme in his views. I mentioned Dorothy Day to him. His reply: \"Who?\"\n\nWhich answered a lot of lingering questions I had about him.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, consumerism was a major impetus behind the Protestant Reformation. Too many Catholic hierarchs were sending the message \"we're just in it for the money\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "what is the Christian message? God made, God lost you, God bought you back. You are saved through grace alone, through Christ alone, through faith alone. Christ says accept Him, your sins are forgiven, and you spend eternity with God. ALL of the misery we see is the result of (oh gasp!) sin. Our sinful nature, as we grow in Christ, is replaced with the 'fruit of the Spirit': love, joy, peace, patience,\nkindness,goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.\" Now: the Pastor's job should be to preach the Gospel! Then we will see a change in society. But not till there is change in the heart of man. We are warned of false teachers, of wolves among the sheep, the 'social christian'. And people with 'itchy ears' that can't get enough of them. (Believe me, God has done a lot of work on this sinner, and has more to do.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "CATHOLIC universities with law schools also follow the Bible\n\nso tell me why are we going after Trinity and not Catholic universities\n\nIs it because the Catholics are too formidable an opponent?\n\nBully Trinity but try it with Catholic universities\n\nIf you dare\n \n \n-\n \nthe free speech to have DISSENTING views\n\nthe same dissenting views that the Catholic church holds as Trinity but is too powerful for you to bully as you try to do with Trinity Western", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mark - Thanks for the correction, it is \"The Wisdom Jesus.\" I would also recommend her book, \"The Meaning of Mary Magdaline: Discovering the Woman at the Heart of Christianity.\" Have a great day!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am Catholic because I believe the Catholic Church is true, not because of my personal feelings about the man who sits on the Chair of Peter.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "He's wrong. Many early liberals were actual or nominal Christians and their verbiage and terminology reflects this cultural baggage, but the ideas that they and other non-believing liberals formulated stand on their own reason without any God to hold them up.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well actually, Jesus did command them to follow His example. \"As I have done for you, so shall you do for each other.\" But I agree it is no sacrament. Good acts done for Christ can draw His blessing and grace on us though, don't you agree?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Even women\"? The author does not consider the possibility that honorable young men today have no wish to join a misogynist organization. They do not approve of such.\n\n\"Priesthood and religious life were taken off their pedestals\" by Vatican II? Hardly. Vatican II spawned a previously unheard of emphasis on an \"in persona Christi\" priesthood, where the priest is elevated as a Jesus-representative, and acts \"in the person of Christ.\" The basis for this \"in persona\" clericalism was the Vulgate translation of 2 Co 2:10 which has since been superseded by the Catholic NAB/NABRE Bible to read \"in the presence of Christ,\" not in the person of. A Vatican house of cards now without a foundation. We do not need 'divine' priests or 'infallible' popes.\n\nIt would be a sin to increase the discrimination and misogyny in the Church for the convenience of making more priests, while barring women and LGBT. Jesus said, \"Do this in memory of me,\" to all disciples present, both men AND women.\n\nEqual rites.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I fear Christian Sharia as much as I do Muslim Sharia. They are both pretty similar, once you remove the US constitution.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thanks for your reply, Monica. It just may be that I'm obtuse, but I don't understand how a planet's, solar system's, galaxy's, or universe's end is incompatible with Christianity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think I am a bit more liberal than most in the Catholic community. I do ask questions and by the questions they seem to understand that I see things differently. They are not as confrontational as some commentators here. I ask people of other faiths and of no faith. I learn from other people. It is informal. There are not many people interested in discussing Einstein. \nOn the Daily Catholic Mass, you may have seen Father Dan Donovan. He is very thoughtful and kind. He is a Professor Emeritus of Theology at the University of Toronto.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The infalible Pope should stick to religious doctrine. His appeal for DACA and an open border with Mexico is self-serving for the Catholic Church and not in the national interests of the United States, which, he forgets, is a sovereign nation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In an ideal world I agree with your thoughts. But we do not live in an ideal world. Not all parents are equal. Not all situations are the same. While the ideal family would be the place to turn with major choices to make this support network is not always there. So enacting laws that say it will be this way and no other does not fit with reality. As always, in a free will universe, choice should be up to the individual most effected and the law should reflect this and trumps fundamentalist Christian philosophy in America. In God we trust but He trusts you to do the right thing following your own beliefs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think you have a good grasp of the American Christian church. They want to be 'God's' children, but they also want God's love to be exclusive to those in the Church. I serious doubt God takes political affiliation, or your wealth, into account. For that matter toss out race, gender, nationality as things that are meaningless to God. \n\nFor those who like biblical references, Try Eclclesiastetes and the writing of Soloman.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are few things that do more good for the soul of a Christian than people standing up to injustice. Thanks NCR for the beautiful photograph that leads this column. With Steve Bannon fired there is one less alt-right leader in the White House. Unfortunately, another one still has the power to do the hiring.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That's all rationalization, again, promoted by anti-Catholic/non-Catholic activists in the media and other positions of power.\n\nYoung people leave the Church out of the natural childish trait of not wanting to be told what to do or having to comply with rules. In years past, that tendency was offset by a Church that knew how to teach and a public sector that decidedly acknowledged, accepted and respected that people had religion, even as much as to allow Christmas trees in public school classrooms.\n\nDriving the \"anti-religious religion\" government out the the education business would be a good start, for it's there that the war against Catholicism commences with the youth.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Clear Thinker, you don't think that it's special treatment to have Sunday, the Christian Sabbath, as a day off for religious observance?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think Thomas Reece hit the nail right on the head...tax reform might threaten themselves and their donors\nUnless they have enough Catholics in the right places to see that it doesn't.\nIt's always about the money as it was when abuse victims/survivors in a good place began seeking restitution....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Are you talking about the priests that abused little boys for over fifty years before the Catholic Church was called to account for it?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, as does the Church.\n\nThese are called \"private\" revelations. They do not belong to the Deposit of Faith.\n\nThe first test of the authenticity of a so-called private revelation is consistency with the Deposit of Faith. Alleged revelations which purport to improve, correct, or supplant that Revelation are rejected outright.\n\nThe Church notes some very few private revelations as constat de supernaturalitate (evident from the supernatural), giving evidence of supernatural intervention. But they are only to the persons who receive them for direction to a particular devotion or some other purpose.\n\nA Catholic who believes the teachings of the Church, utilizes the sacramental means of sanctification, prays, in Communion with the Church is already employing the necessary means of salvation. They need pay no attention whatsoever to private revelation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Than your pastor is a modernist. \"God is relationship\" may be the single most banal, non-sensical, perhaps even heretical clich\u00e9 of the post Vatican II era.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Very few would consider Trump's bragging to Billy Bush a \"baseless extension\"--it was confession. When Right-wing Christians overwhelmingly voted for Trump they voted for someone who represents an affront to everything they claim to stand for, the key word here being \"claim.\" Now everyone knows what I have known for a long time, that they will dispense with common decency for the sake of naked power. Trump's language makes clear in the Billy Bush tape that his sexual assault of women is a HABIT. \"I just start kissing them. It's like a magnet. Just kiss. I don't even wait.\" The present tense indicates it's a habitual action. As for Trump putting his hands on Ivanka's gluteus maximus at the convention, there's lots of video and photographs so no \"extension\" there. Look for yourself. I've known since my early college days that fascism is at the heart of American society, so I will watch the next 4 years with amused disgust as Trump exposes America's racist character for all to see.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is a good deal in common between current social values and Jesus's teaching about love thy neighbour as they self. But current social values try to avoid the fire-and-brimstone parts of the Christian tradition and the xenophobia that runs through parts of the Old Testament. And current social values are not tied to a set of dogmatic beliefs about a god and her kingdom. So it's not just a different name, it's a substantive difference.\n\n.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why, then, do Anglican clergy that want to be priests in the Catholic Church need to be ordained?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "He is a conservative libertarian \"cafeteria Catholic\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We Catholic fundamentalist do train them well, eh?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "+Cupich says \"Catholics are not scandalized by Pope Francis.\"\n\nThey very much ARE! They are petitioning the Cardinals to voice their objections to his pontificate\n\nhttps://vericatholici.wordpress.com/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Religious instruction in our parishes is not restricted in any manner by the teachers gender. More women than men hold these positions.\nAs a Dominican, I and the Sisters of many communities were the first instructors of the Faith. The majority of our US priests and bishops as well as laity were taught religion by women in our schools. Today lay women, men as well as religious hold those positions in our parishes.\nSince we as women were baptized, we too put on Christ and are equal as receivers of the Faith we profess, and pass it on to others. Paul mentions that Timothy was the faithful Christian he grew to be because of his mother Eunice and grandmother Lois who taught him the Faith. \nPaul sounds like a reliable source who gives testimony for the charism that women have for theological instruction.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is a most useful and well developed article I've read here in a long time, meaning that it truly illustrates the wonderful view forward that so many Catholics have waited for. The discussion of Amoris Laetitia must be wider, and fill the Church with insights such as the ones being expressed at this conference. I am really of the opinion that those who so vehemently oppose this apostolic exhortation are caught in an evil spiral that would serve to collapse the Faith entirely. This pope was sent to us - as the Holy Spirit has done throughout our history from time to time - to show us ways to avoid our own blind obedience to an organization rather than to Christ Jesus. The larger question is: will the USCCB make use of the holy understanding of AL from the conference to move on from the safe place of power and control? Will the laity assert its own power and gifts in new ways at the same time? It is clear that pastors have a lot of work to do. Seminaries, too.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I can't imagine a more prestigious earthly award for a Catholic scholar than one named after John Courtney Murray. As Garry Wills said, faith non-examined is not faith but superstition. \n\nLord make us mindful of the needs of others.\nLord make us needful of the minds of others.\nAmen.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Marty, most Catholic biblical scholars do not credit Paul with many of the letters that used to be attributed to him. That's simply a fact.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Capitalism leads to corruption, not the other way around (which some progressives seem to think). It is a gentler form of slavery and it has always been with the American Republic. It doesn\u2019t have to last forever, however. The Christian Left has some ideas here.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Interesting idea Peggy. The problem might be that no religion is represented by a single voice. My version of a meditative approach to Christianity is going to be very different from a Christian snake handler or those who believe only those speaking in tongues understand the word of God. (Extreme examples but there are hundreds, if not thousands of Christian denominations seperated by conflicts in theology.)\n\nI'm quite sure there are many variation of the other major religions as well. I fully support fear-free discussion on religious belief's, but I'm a bit uncomfortable with the practices of some in my own faith, let alone thinking I have a clear understanding of a religious belief in an unfamiliar culture.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would extend that to society in general where the religion imposes it's will on people, like women for example. Religions were created in medieval times when people were ignorant and needed to believe in something but it has caused a lot of problems throughout history. A lot of religious believers are intolerant/racist to those that don't believe. The West is much more tolerant than say the Middle East, where for example Christians are being persecuted and killed. And you never hear of anyone wanting to immigrate to the Middle East verus the West. Democracies trump theocracies.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "None whatever, seen from that perspective. The issue is complicated when some marriages are broken and one spouse is an abuser, for example. \n People make mistakes and marry too young before they find the right partner. The meaning of the Gospel is that we are justified by faith, not law. \n This means that even if the ideal cannot be realized in someone's life they may still receive the grace of God. However, I don't benefit personally from my opinion. One is seeking understanding and because I know of Catholics and Protestants who are better off in another marriage-John Michael Talbot is an example-one wonders if in fact one might foresee that Jesus is not unaware of the challenges one faces in living strictly by the law. \n I don't believe in the annulment process except as a legalism justifying divorce where in fact it is too easy to get away with this convenience if you have enough money and the right connections.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Evil will fell a vacuum, and our society has allowed that vacuum to be created. When religion and religious symbols, in the name of separation of Church and State, are remove from view. When Christian's can't hold a political view, and a religious view held by Christians is painted as Christians forcing that view on others, hence the vacuum. How is a Nativity Scene on any State lawn or The Ten Commandments is forcing religion on anyone? It's interesting the amount of emotion the left shows toward the inanimate object, a gun, that can't harm anyone until a person does something with it. An how fearful the left is about religious symbols, inanimate objects, that say nothing if one isn't listening. Where right and wrong is determined by ones politics, not ones behavior. Where mass shooters are excused and guns are to blame.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'll stay out of this feisty intra catholic discussion concerning the particulars of the address of His Holiness. However, this comment applies to Christians in general, calling upon us to be childlike, and not mature in our faith. We are about to celebrate the Incarnation. Jesus became one of us in every way but sin. He didn't stay a babe in Bethlehem and neither should we be infants. He came to save our souls and not to take our minds, as fully formed adults.\n\n1 Corinthians 14:20; 1 Corinthians 13:11; Matthew 10:16; Jeremiah 4:22; Ephesians 4:14, and many other references space doesn't allow.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm not a Christian Roy, and the issue is not the ancient past. Ben said ARE doing, not once did.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Small matter of practice. Retired or separated priests already do these weddings. My brother and his husband had one. Catholicism did not suddenly cease to exist. Gay marriage is a small issue and only gays, reformers and trads care. Most don't. Of course, almost every Catholic family has a gay brother, sister, cousin. Change will come, just as it has for divorced and remarried Catholics, whose marriages have been blessed in the rectory after they have lasted a bit. This started way before Amoris. Amoris just ratified the practice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nowhere did JP II enumerate the CCC as a member of the magisterium! This omission would serve to prevent a right-wing Catholic from using CCC snippets to \"correct\" a future pope!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You wrote: \"early American life wasn't Catholic. It was Protestant/Puritan. For this group, the Bible was the centre of life.\"\n\nEarly American life was not monolithic because, until 1789, there wasn't an America, there were thirteen distinct sovereign colonies with their own histories and ethos.\n\nPuritans ceased to be relevant at all circa 1700, and prior to that were only a force in Massachusetts and briefly in Maryland.\n\nThe dominant Protestant church in the early part of the nation was the Church of England, which had absorbed the Church of Sweden where it existed, and the center of their life was the Book of Common Prayer and the Anglican ethos. Congregationalists were common in New England.\n\nCatholicism was common in previously French areas and along the northern border, while in what was to become America Catholicism dominated in California, Texas, and Florida.\n\nOther than that, I am full agreement with you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Trump's wife is a Roman Catholic. The meeting with the Pope must have been heavy with irony, or didn't Trumps earlier marriages count because they weren't done by Catholic Priests?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Would we really expect anything less from a teacher of the New Testament and Christian lifestyles at Marist High School? Perhaps parsing the Golden Rule in a syllabus seems a bit sanctimonious and unnecessarily redundant coming from a \"campus\" minister, even to the most devout teen.\n\nYour experiment did not allow for one very important constant: No one in Eugene is predisposed to hear -- never mind respond to -- words of kindness coming from the saddle of a bicycle. That your cup still runneth over with affirmation is cause for celebration, not dismay, given the circumstances.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sorry, but Vatican II was and is considered an ecumenical council just as much as the other councils. Your comments about the 2000 year old church are amusing. While the Jesus Movement began in Jerusalem, other Christian communities formed quickly with other leaders to guide them. There were general concepts that agreed many to, but the language utilized in celebrating The Meal differed, and customs differed. For example: before the 4th Century, Easter was not universally reserved as the time for Baptism. That only came later.\n\nThe Body and Blood of Jesus is CHRIST coming to his people. When did Jesus ever distain to touch lepers, sit with sinners, refuse anyone who came to him? Jesus did not need anyone to defend him in his adult years---and he doesn't need anyone to put up barriers to keep his people away now.\n\nI know some bishops who are not properly formed. They are trying to play the JPII card against Pope Francis---at the expense of the people.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Canon law is not the free variable you would have it be since it exists for a purpose. But rather than get into that--since it is a distraction you introduced here, as is equivocating by conflating \"canonical gospels\" with the the term \"gospel\" as used in Paul's epistle--we should just observe that your sect preaches a different gospel than the Church. That much is manifest in your sect's literature. And you have no reason to be in schism without a difference in teaching.\n\nThis remark of yours here, in context of what you say you do, affirms the difference. You \"welcome all to God's altar\" not as Christ's church welcomes all, but without asking repentance. You distribute a maybe-valid Eucharist to people even if they may (per St Paul) be eating and drinking their own destruction! And if you are in schism with St. Paul you are preaching another gospel.\n\nThe act is transparent, and one wishes you'd repent of it and come to Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "comment 2\n\nSullivans answer to the two questions applies entirely to the members of the Pontifical Comm. \n\n\"This passivity in the Catholic community, in large part, comes from the encultured way in which even highly intelligent people acquiesce to authority figures in the Church. It becomes what I like to describe as the \u2018altar boy\u2019 syndrome. In truth it is adults not acting with responsibility, not taking part with a mature yet demanding sense of agency within the Church. When this doesn\u2019t happen, as was certainly the case up till more recent times, we are left with blind loyalty instead of mature conversation. We are left with blinkered defensiveness and kneejerk reactions rather than open-mindedness, willingness and engagement. This all leads to a heavy sense of inertia where energies turn in on themselves, people become demoralized, and ultimately are defeated by the system \u2013 or they simply leave. \"\n\nThe people on the Pontifical Commission just haven't left yet.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My studies some 60 yrs ago vehemently protested the idea that anybody other than a priest could do anything of this nature. Fortunately for me, life happened between then and now, and I am more open to vagueness and possibility, and have less a need to be judgmental and dogmatic. \n\nWhen Jesus said, \"Wherever two or three are gathered together in my name, I am with them\", he didn't say anything about faculties, ordination, bishop's or church's permission, gender of whoever was \"leading\", what kind of clothes to wear, how the bread and winewere to be made, what kind of place the gatherig had to happen in, etc. \n\nI'm re-re-reading Joseph Campbell on myth and our understanding of God-related matters. My feel for it is that it suggests varied insights about Eucharist, among other things. He is always an exciting experience.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The long, tortured and triumphant history of Turkey and its past incarnations as Ottoman Empire (Islamic), as eastern Holy Roman Empire (Christian) fills volumes of books. Its recent roles in WW1 and WW2 illustrate the contradiction - friend of Germany then foe. Let me just say Turkey is uniquely Turkey in all respects. It is only for its people to decide, not for any foreigner to meddle. Nevertheless Turkey have tried being close to Europe but this experiment has failed. It will exit both EU (not approved) and NATO. You know what, same thing for UK whose experiment with EU ended. Do you see Turkey meddle in UK?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "With its 140 million Catholics, Brazil needs at least 100,000 priests but it only has 1,800, which is a \"catastrophe,\" Boff said.\nPerhaps the current estimate quoted for priests in Brazil has a typing error and should be nearer 18,000", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If Jesus was a community organizer, he wasn't a very good one. As portrayed in the Gospels, he wasn't particularly concerned with political systems and, in fact, consistently resisted getting dragged into partisan issues.\n\nThat's not to say there's anything wrong with community organizing or that those who do it aren't sometimes doing divinely inspired work. I just think it's important not to impose contemporary political action models on the historical Jesus. They not only limit his mission but also increase the already strong temptation many of us have to view the Gospel through the lens of our own political biases.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Good point, the word father appears in the bible, therefore the pope is the father to his sons the clergy. But aren't you at risk of falling into sola scriptura with this argument?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I always ponder the use of the phrase \"Salt of the Earth\" As it reminds me of Lot's wife who chose to disobey God's instructions and instead, served herself. So following that thread I'd say salt of the earth people, are those \"Christians\" who serve their own wishes before God.\n\nAnd speaking of Lot, wasn't he also the one seduced by his daughters? Hmmm Perhaps Trump is holding bible class after all", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If your aim is to enhance clericalism and you like to bask in the imperial limelight of medieval Roman theology, then yes Pope Francis would seem a huge failure to you. If however you seek to elevate the gospel of Christ above all else, only then will you see the successes of this reform-minded pope.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One Lord, one faith, one baptism. Like Elizabeth I, I tend to believe all else is a dispute over trifles. As was said here it is Jesus, our one and perfect mediator, who heads the church, and to whom we ever look. As scripture tells us do not put your faith in princes (Psalm 146) or all too flawed institutions headed by imperfect humans (even persons clothed in white vestments--as much as this Anglican respects Francis).\n\nThe Word made Flesh is our refuge, our strength our hope. In these conflicted times in which Christianity itself (in all of its manifestations) is embattled on every front, sniping and division are sinful and self-defeating. Working together where we can, and showing mutual respect is essential. The secret which sectarians never admit (or do so only under duress) is that we agree on far, far more than we disagree. Reading some RC commenters and opinions show disagreement is intra-RC these days. I hope you good people work it out with charity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus did teach, yes. But Paprocki isn't teaching. He's spewing out hatred. And the bishop doesn't meet, eat, pray or do anything with the LGBT community. He certainly doesn't love them.\n\nJesus only said, \"go and sin no more\" to a woman USED by the scribes and Pharasees to trap Jesus [who had been teaching about forgiveness]. She was just a pawn. Those who dragged the woman before Jesus---were not forgiven. She was. Whose sin was worse? The woman's or the scribes and Pharasees? I say the scribes and Pharasees. They had time to deliberate upon their plans---not the woman. Most sexual sins, which are sins, indeed, are NOT the WORST sins people can commit. Often, sexual sins are on the spur of the moment---driven by emotions and feelings. But cold, deliberately calculated sins that are geared to hurt many are far, far worse sins than sexual ones. And THESE are mortal sins.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "January 16, 2014, the UN Committee on the Rights of Children hearings on the Holy See began in Geneva. Significant moments include: \n\u2022 The Vatican had to admit publicly that it still does not require the reporting of child sex crimes to civil authorities. Nor does it take this step when priests are defrocked.\n\u2022 The Holy See still refused to provide the data requested on July 1.\n\u2022 The Vatican believes that it is the obligation of the individual perpetrator, not the Church, to compensate victims.\n\u2022 Religious orders, which comprise one third to one half of the world\u2019s Catholic clerics, still are not being compelled by the Holy See to create abuse policies.\nTomasi response: \u201cWe have to keep in mind that even though there are 400 million cases of abuse a year regarding children, unfortunately some cases effect also Church personnel...Some NGOs that support homosexuality, same-sex marriage and other issues reinforced [the committee\u2019s] line of thought in some way.\u201d", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You should have a look at a new piece written by Thomas Williams in Crisis in which he criticizes the supposed ambiguity of Pope Francis who says that the security of immigrants is not trumped by national security. His bottom line is that national security trumps the fundamental human rights of immigrants. This deserves to be unmasked; Mr. Williams couches his argument in unctuous references to Aristotle and Pius XII . I am furthermore in agreement wit Kevin57 below, that this piece is inspiring: \"We need those immigrants because they could be the ones who still hear the words of the Gospel as words freshly spoken. Most of them are still mired in the challenges of poverty, they still encounter the indifference of the affluent and, so, still look to the heavens for salvation.\" I am a priest working with Mayan Mexicans in a rural town in Quintana Roo, Mexico, and I know that feeling which shakes my soul.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You may want to double check your statements concerning IRS legislation.\n\nIt is not okay for priests/bishops to advocate for a specific candidate or actively campaign....but issues are fair game discussed in the context of Church teaching. I don't think any priest or Bishop is unfamiliar with the restrictions....or would overtly defy them. It seems to be an odd occurrence that what is actually said is spun in order to accuse it. Guilty conscience??? I'm not sure. :-)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Welcoming all to the Eucharist is what Pope Francis encourages since it is a balm for the wounded, not a reward for the successful. Publicly dis-inviting the LGBT community to the Eucharist, as Bp Paprocki has done, tells everyone that being welcome is entirely a matter of the cleric's choice and caprice. Fr. Reese, in response, argued to be consistent dis-invite the divorced and re-married, those living together, those who do not practice charity, etc. Paprocki has done more to alienate the Catholic population than anything else he could have done. He has actually set-back the attempt, however modest, of Cd. Tobin in his speech to welcome all people where they are.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is only one Purg. I am both the new Purg and the old Purg and all Purgs in between.\n\nToo many people view politics and religion as a team sport. They choose their team and spend the rest of their lives asking themselves, \"What is my opinion? What do I think? How can I know what I think until I know what my team thinks?\" So they go to the Internet and read up on what the team thinks. \n\nI don't have a team. I am center-rightish on questions of aesthetics, sexual morality, military policy and law and order. I am center-leftish on questions of civil liberties, freedom of thought, and social welfare. I am a patriot, a feminist, a professional data scientist, and a rather skeptical Catholic. I despise fakery and sloppiness of any kind, but I appreciate comedy whenever the universe decides to produce it.\n\nLife is more fun when you think for yourself. The only disadvantage is that you don't have a team to back you up.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pride rears its head in various ways; one glaring way is not listening (in this case reading with a sincere and open heart) to the actual words given in a response. \n\nI did note for instance that the focus on virtues isn't necessarily a \"Catholic Church\" thing, and I also mentioned that the Cardinal could use his influence to suggest the implementation of a solid virtues program (not the one where people superficially say \"I value you\" as they sing Kumbaya) in the PUBLIC schools of Chicago.\n\nPride is of course a vice, and it is countered with cheerful and near constant acts of humility, until it gets put back where it belongs. \n\nA good spiritual director can listen to someone's use of language, and how they interact and help people to tame various evidences of pride, or vanity, and over love of comfort. \n\nTakes work.\n\nThis is the sort of work that is done in a real virtues program. \n\nPride creates a lot of anger, and other unconstructive responses. Can really damage relationships.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholics and the Church would benefit from a little more John Paul II from this Pope, and a little less Hugo Chavez.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Exactly!!!!!!\n\nWHY is your concise statement not the position of every Catholic who ever has both fully loved and been fully loved? \n\nMaybe it is!!!!!!\n\n\"How to show affection\" cannot be prescribed, controlled, or mandated. THAT is natural law at its most basic. The Book of Love is not a manual. The Book of Love is not a rule book. The Book of Love is authored by daring and unselfish lovers, not by grumpy umpires or by \"cold and timid souls\" in the press box who never \"will know neither victory nor defeat.\" \n\n \"The Allowable Ways to Make Love\" sounds like a chapter--a very scary one at that--in a George Orwell novel. And, yes, it can happen here, when control of others becomes accepted virtue.\n\nIt is so ironic to me that those who oppose any interference into their private lives--with a strong, consistent, and credible Conservative tradition to back them up--actually accept being told \"how to and how not to\" behave in THE most personal, private, and intimate parts of their existence.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Then Latin derivation cannot justify reducing the word \"scientia\" to \"knowledge.\" The medievalists/Thomist/Rationalists/Natural Law (Catholic version) proponents use it mean a system of knowledge proceeding from premises t with logic to universal laws.\" This was before the widespread use of empirical observation positioned as an hypothesis to be proven, and when proven, accepted as a fact or a law. Sociology investigates and systematizes knowledge of ephemera, but within the ephemera certain trends or patterns may persist and these can be useful in many many ways.Polls are a sociological invention and we know they can reveal something ephemeral and shortly changing or ephemeral and roughly consistent.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "John XXIII was very traditional. I don't think he ever imagined all the changes the Church would eventually go through.\nBe that as it may, anything Francis changes can be changed back by a future pope, as JPII and Benedict did after they were elected.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well Pan, I could offer your own advice back to you when those with whom you normally agree are uncivil or outright rude, and you say nothing to correct them. It runs both ways. \n\nHowever, when folks post comments that cast aspersions on the Catholic faith of another person or entity, verbally or with lower case \"c\" in NCR, etc., ... that is where I draw a firm line. I ignore a lot of the rude and inappropriate posts on ALL sides, often skipping over them, but I won't ignore abusive comments/digs about a person's faith. NO ONE has the right or authority to do that. My correction to Eliane stands. Her use of \"NcR\" is a tacky backhanded slap at a publication's website where she routinely returns to post ugly comments, and also her slap at the other folks who come here to read and post comments. She is also fond of labeling those with whom she disagrees as the pejorative \"dissenters\". Enough already.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"A father who berates his sons, abusive.\"\n- Archbishop Francis of Rome is first and foremost a bishop. It is a bishop's job to oversee the church and its ministers (cleric and laic) and to make sure that they are doing the work assigned to them.\n- The use of the word 'father' is smoke screen in as much as it expects certain behaviours that are best applied to heads of domestic churches / households of faith. As bishop, Francis' expects those working for the church to step up and act like adults. Adults do not need to be treated as if they are boys and girls who need a scolding by a 'father' or 'mother'. As adults in an organization their demeanor should be open and straightforward and not one of subterfuge and dishonesty.\n- Expecting any cleric to view cleric and laic ministers as 'sons' or 'daughters' is to demean those ministers as adults capable of executing their assigned tasks or failing at them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Understood, but virtually all religious institutions have charitable status, and many are at odds with prevailing social mores. The Catholic church is still against both birth control and a woman's right to choose in addition to sex outside of marriage, for example, and they not only enjoy charitable status, their schools are publicly funded.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus was all about saving sinners from their sin, not leaving them in it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Those with true Celiac Disease--of which I have faithful family members--can become violently ill from consuming the minutest amounts of gluten. For them, avoiding gluten is not a fad. In taking this position, therefore, the Church is denying Holy Communion to some of its vulnerable members--once again putting arcane and rigid rules ahead of the care of its flock. Sometimes I wonder if the hierarchy ever bothers to actually comprehend the point of the Gospels.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Please also advise - when you give the Scripture citation for claiming Jesus was the Rabbi of Capernhaum that I requested from you - where you found that \"cling\" means \"maintaining a marital relationship\"...\n\nEach reference I've seen talking about John 20:17 doesn't mention that at all. Perhaps you should read Fr. Raymond Brown - an acknowledged expert on John.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": ">The two also stopped before a bronze statue of St. Peter, which was adorned with a jeweled tiara, ring and red cope.\n\nHere the article dropped like a rock. Brings to mind the apostles who argued about who was going to be greater, who was going to sit at the right and left hand of Jesus.\n\nMay God guide these men in their service, and remind them they are to deal with people as Christ would, as examples of Christ. \n\nAnd stay away from jeweled tiaras and rings.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do it, you have the votes in Congress if the entire GOP votes with you. Justice is always a social choice, it is legitimate to make sure that everyone has enough toys, which is not convenient if you have too many.\n\nTeens are very pro-life, at least in Catholic school. When they become sexually active, this changes, especially for young males who will say anything to agree with young females.\n\nThe movement needs to listen to reason and law or it will be all about emotion. The emotionalism of the movement gets Republicans elected, but that is all. My question is whether you respect the right to life enough to guarantee the right to a family wage as delineated in Quadragesimo Anno?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sure they do..their ongoing division...multiply by dividing. They higher/fire pastors monthly.\n\nAnother bad comparison. The Church isn't an employment agency. \n\nPriests aren't mere hired homilists.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Muslims and liberals excoriate us about Islamophobia, but we should bear in mind Islam's entrenched racism, xenophobia, homophobia, misogyny, anti-Semitism, hatred of Christianity, Europe. Israel, and America. Islam's destructive iconoclasm is destroying historic treasures across the ME, burning churches and killing Christians. They even have Islamophobia against each other. Ancient tribal wars between Kurds, Shiite, Sunni, Wahhabi, Druze and other Islamic sects, ISIS , Taliban and Al Qaeda are the root causes of most of the wars and social chaos happening around the world today. It is worse than anything expressed in the west, yet we are expected to believe it all stops as soon as they come to Canada.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Respectfully, the Archbishop forgets that the Church exists in America tax free, and exists under the protections of the First Amendment. That Constitutional provision happens to allow all People to exercise their right to peaceably assemble and to petition their governments for a redress of greviences. He forgets that part of our Constitution. He also forgets Jesus said render to Caesar that which is Ceasars and render to God that which is God's.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sister Simone Campbell laid out a Pope Francis litmus test for candidates in the presidential election. I support Hillary Clinton and think she would be a decent leader. At the same time, if we are applying the Francis and Jesus litmus test she has a lot to catch up on. \n(i)War. The Pope has spoken out a lot against war and militarism. Clinton on the other hand during her time as Senator and Secretary of State has unfortunately contributed to the climate of perpetual war. \n\n(ii)Money in politics. Francis has spoken out against the \"idolatry of money\". Clinton has contributed to a culture of the corporatization of our political process\n\n(iii)Climate Change. Francis has spoken of a \"social and cultural revolution\" to deal with Climate Change. Clinton and Obama quite frankly have not measured up to the demand of a revolution to deal with Climate Change and in the case of Clinton supports harmful policies like fracking. \n\nShe's got a long way to go to earn the trust of a lot of people.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nora,\nSadly our church progresses ever so slowly, that this is probably the best we can get so far, and that is, trying to have a more geographically balanced College of Cardinals. This is not even the 'baby-steps' that you mentioned. But Pope Francis is trying to break the dead-lock of European/North American ecclesiastical politics. \n\nWhen can the laity [men and women] get their ideas even considered by the hierarchy? Only the Holy Spirit knows, and even She's not too sure.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Right on AnonAJ.. \nYes ! There were some parishes that gave sanctuary in the 80s to fleeing Salvadorans {mine did] NCR should send the above picture { Methodist Church] to every US bishop and ask how many of his own parishes had a sanctuary meeting by 11-15-16, If none then kiss the pic and say good by to the millions of Catholic Latino immigrants both documented undocumented and native born.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I hope President Trump\u2019s bluster will convince our allies to take the United States and its interests seriously. I hope that countries like Iran and North Korea will crumble in the face of the power of the United States and its new President and I hope that their people are helped. I hope the power President Trump has harnessed will be used to confront the social infrastructure issues we face, like poverty, racism, abortion, and other matters which we as Catholics believe are intrinsic evils. I hope that the jobs the President has promised to bring back do come back. I hope that deficits get reduced; I hope that taxes are used to help the less fortunate; I hope that my Bishops and Cardinals face head on the anti-life initiatives that this President puts forth. . President Trump works for me, not the other way around, and all these political hacks work for me too, as a taxpayer. As their employer, I demand action, not words. I hope that my hopes are realized; sadly, I remain unconvinced", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The problem with the Catholic Church is it says it supports immigrants, sets them up in failing cities, gets them housing and welfare and walks away. It is then up to overcrowded schools, welfare and police to handle them. Lots of talk, no follow through.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sorry, but your comments reek of the church of pre-Vatican II. Jesus NEVER set up any government in the church. That occurred over the centuries. Peter and the other Eleven were not set up as an absolute monarchy [as one poster on this site keeps insisting]. The eventual development of the pope as a leader of western Europe---came as a result of historical and political situations in time. Not the work, necessarily, of the Holy Spirit.\n\nThe ENTIRE Church [hierarchy/clergy/and laity] are invested by the Holy Spirit. This occurs at Baptism and is intensified at Confirmation. God is not stingy in giving great gifts to the people. To state that the \"laity does not have this charism\" fails to note the many members of the laity who did and have demonstrated, better than the hierarchy, how a true follower of Christ acts in her/his world.\n\nThe Eucharist is the Bread of Life, and the FIRST sacrament of Forgiveness. It is not a trophy for the self-righteous.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus was never called Father, he was referred to as Rabbi. So what if a new \"title\" is required, we can figure that out, I'm sure. How about preacher? Elder? Vicar? How about his given name?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Praise the Holy Spirit, the Creator of this Earth, God is good.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus never promised anyone health, wealth or happiness in this world only happiness with Him in the next.\nLoving God, i.e. keeping His Commandments and loving one's neighbour as oneself is the way Jesus taught us to avail ourselves of the salvation He won for us on the cross. Holy Mother Church does nothing more or less than pass on this teaching of Our Lord. It most certainly does not make any attempt to improve on the the message of Jesus.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus turned over the tables of the money changers in the Temple. That was pure civil disobedience.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Psalm 22 is ascribed to King David who ruled around 1000 BC. It certainly pre-dates the crucifixion - it was well known in Jesus\u2019 day, and Jesus quoted it on the cross. The Psalmist writes from the point of view of someone hanging on a cross, surrounded by people who pierced his hands and feet and who gambled for his clothes, yet was confident that after his suffering he\u2019d be highly rewarded. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+22&version=NIV", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you are referring to the Pontifical Scripture Commission, they have no Magesterial authority. They can only report the conclusions of their research. No theologian has Masgesterial authority. Theologians are more like lawyers--in the sense that they argue their case. They do not have the final word on the case, however. That authority lies with the judge. In this case the pope and bishops are like the judges. They are the ones who make a definitive decision regarding what the theologians have reported. \n\nThe Church at ecumenical council and or the pope when he defines something are like the Supreme Court. Once the Church has spoken, the case is closed. In the case of women priests, it might be arguable whether JPII issued a papal definition of a doctrine. What is not arguable is that the teaching is infallible. In other words--JPII likely just reiterated what the Church has always believed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nathan,\n\nI appreciate the distinction you drew between talking about things and actually doing them. That's the real difference between a person who is a Christian in name only and one who lives what they believe. Or, to use another comparison, that's the difference between the actor playing Desmond Doss and the man who was the real Desmond Doss.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I really enjoyed \u201csingle-handedly take on an entire forum of progressive Catholics\u201d as though you and people who agree with you ARE the forum.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "With limited space, labels are easier than trying to write a paragraph explaining the various nuances of someone's position. In the case of the baker, I would call him a religious zealot, which is probably even closer to the mark than calling him a homophobe. If he is that convinced that his religion tells him to discriminate, then he is a zealot, and the sad thing, is that he misses the peaceful and loving teachings of Christianity. I am not a Christian, but I know enough about the religion to realize that people who use their interpretations of the bible as a club to discriminate against others, aren't following the teachings of Jesus at all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No one taught it. Liberal dissidents just like to arbitrarily limit unchanging dogma to the creed because in doing so they think they are on solid ground when they demand the Church bring the Gospel into line with liberal, secular, atheistic and humanistic values.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1) You would have no place for Jesus Christ, either, because he taught that his followers [Jewish or Greek or Roman], place the Love of God---Creator of ALL first. Then, Jesus taught us to love others [not just people of your own nationality/race] as ourselves. So Jesus would be a leftist as far as your thinking goes. Jesus came to bring freedom and oppression to an end. If we don't work to bring about the Father's Will on this earth----don't expect to see good in eternity \"...on earth as it is in heaven...\" [Our Father].\n\n2) Those who come into our nation don't displace Americans' jobs! They do the work that Americans DON'T WANT TO DO.\n\n3) The Bishop is just as Catholic as is your Bishop is [who probably voted for Trump---expecting to gain from government policies]. And Bishop McElroy DID propose to help people----\"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.\" Would you like to be a refugee? People wouldn't be coming to America if life in their own countries was good.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your question is a good one and worthy of a response. As I see it, the teaching of Amoris Laetitia ch. 8 *qualifies* previous teaching that it is always mortally sinful to divorce, civilly remarry, and be sexually active in that new union. The qualification is that valid mitigating factors (a factor of our Catholic moral tradition) may prompt a person to follow this divorce-remarriage-sexual relationship path and that s/he may choose this path with an informed conscience (also a factor of our Catholic moral tradition) after having undergone the work of discernment of fault, goods, etc. in the internal forum. \n\nI accept that this is a negation of the universal statement that it is always mortally sinful to divorce, civilly remarry, and be sexually active in the new union. I believe rather that we should have all along been saying that it is *sometimes* mortally sinful to divorce, civilly remarry, and be sexually active in the new union. I do acknowledge that there is a difference here.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That would not help enough unless you are going to vote for safe, free, and good quality day care and free medical care and free college funding thru taxes which we all know will never happen with either Republicans or many Catholics in office. We need to remember it was us great Catholics who put Trump in office. At least I can say - I am Catholic but had nothing to do with Trump getting in as I did vote against him. \nMany Republicans and Catholics claim to care about unwanted children but only as long as they don't have to pay for them to have a decent life. \nTrump, the great Christian, and his buddy, our great Republican, Catholic Model, Paul Ryan, have already proven that they don't care by their constant desperate attempts to get rid of all health care for the poor and middle class and elderly and children. Let us not forget Paul Ryan's most recent loving statement of \"Why should men have to pay for maternity or pre-natal care?\" Yeah - they so love the unborn.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "2 of 2\nhttps://international.la-croix.com/news/new-jesuit-structure-in-europe-must-forge-spiritual-renewal/5623\n.\nClearly discernment is not working in the on-going dealings of the child abuse scandal.\nGod\u2019s Word (Will) is inviolate we can only bow down before It in humility and in doing so dwell in His Divine Mercy. \n See my post in the link below\n I agree with the four cardinals in that this statement from Veritatis Splendor \u201cconscience can never be authorized to legitimate exceptions to absolute moral norms that prohibit intrinsically evil acts by virtue of their object\u201d as God\u2019s Word (Will) is inviolate. Individual we can only stand before His Divine Mercy in humility as we can never justify sin.\nI all so agree with this statement by Pope Francis \u201cthe Eucharist\n'is not a prize for the perfect, but a powerful medicine and nourishment for\nthe weak\u201d. \nhttps://international.la-croix.com/news/at-the-heart-of-the-resistance-to-pope-francis-on-ethics/5436\n\nkevin your brother\nIn Christ", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I never said I don't do such activities.\nI know you'd like to wedge that one in.\nIn fact elsewhere I've mentioned that our whole family works about every other month in a Catholic Food bank...\n\nand several times of years we make bag lunches for the homeless.\n\nMy point is much larger than your attempt to distort and caricaturize it.\n\nMy point is that home life is where we \"hone\" our ability to give charity.\n\nThus the family is always the most important place to love and be loved. It is the \"priority of our charity\" (second only to the love of God) because it helps purify and perfect our acts of charity beyond the home.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In his 1864 encyclical, Quanta Cura, Pope Pius IX condemned\n\nthat erroneous opinion, most fatal in its effects on the Catholic Church and the salvation of souls, called by Our Predecessor, Gregory XVI, an \"insanity,\" viz., that \"liberty of conscience and worship is each man's personal right, which ought to be legally proclaimed and asserted in every rightly constituted society; and that a right resides in the citizens to an absolute liberty, which should be restrained by no authority whether ecclesiastical or civil, whereby they may be able openly and publicly to manifest and declare any of their ideas whatever, either by word of mouth, by the press, or in any other way.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1}I don't understand why it is so hard for you modernists to comprehend that the Church has dogmatically {for example, DEI FILIUS}declared that dogma does not change. 2} Prior Councils did not change dogmatic teaching. 3} Even if a pope or council COULD alter dogma, Paul VI and John XXIII declared that that VII was \"pastoral\" in nature. 3} Are you actually suggesting that certain fathers at Vatican I voted the way they did because of inclement weather?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I take your point, John, but I wonder if that's still as true as it once was. Historically, the Church has gone through many dark chapters, during which it typically decided that discretion was the better part of valor and limited its interventions to statements it fully understood would be ignored. I think something like that may be happening now, that is, the USCCB making statements just to get their position on the record, but understanding full well that most Catholics take their statements with glaciers of salt.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"To address the changing landscape, Cupich launched his archdiocesan-wide revitalization and reorganization program in February.\"\n- The elephant in the ointment in 'Renew My Church\" is the existence of '\u201cThe Catholic Bishop OF Chicago,\u201d A Corporation Sole\" '. The parochial effect of this application of Illinois' constitutional law is that everything, real estate, and chattel, belongs to the Archbishop of Chicago. \n- Generally, there is an effort not to disregard canon law as it applies to parishes, in such dioceses the bishop or staff will trump canon law with civil law in dealing with parish property, especially after a parish is dissolved. \n- The expectation is that the property or its value from sale should follow the parishioners to their new parish, not just be lumped into the archdiocese's own bank accounts. This parish then decides how the resources should be used (this does not mean the new parish's finance council just decides to give it to the archdiocese).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Beyond the words of consecration and a general order and format (Opening prayer, Penance, Gloria, Creed, Readings, Presentation of Gifts, etc.) why not allow more creativity in the Liturgy, turning it into a living, breathing expression of the community at this moment and in this place?\n\nOur Catholic community had a Franciscan priest, now deceased, known to all of us as \"St. Larry.\" He did the Mass this way, speaking from his heart and soul. I can say these were the most beautiful, meaningful, touching and transforming liturgies of our lives.\n\nWhat a gift not to have to listen, week after week, year after year, to the same boring, unimaginative Eucharistic prayers written by a committee! To me the words around this central act of Catholic worship should be the most wonderful, moving words each priest/community can find to open us to the deepest, most profound experience possible.\n\nTight central control makes this difficult to impossible.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "JP2 taught us a lesson about dignity in suffering. He was asked isn't he would resign and said that if Christ didn't come down from His cross, neither could he.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "JFI is not JFC... you have a link to the Jewish Film Institute. But I understood what you intended. What would soften hearts to hear? Is there compassion burn out. In the US we have had 9/11 Hurican Katrina and Rita, the BP oil spill and Hurricane Sandy we've experienced the rebuilding burdens. We now are reminded of what it means to not even have basics and to want just the basic, yet it hasn't led to lifting up through immigration from the pew side... I don't get why?\n\nAlso Check with Catholic Charities they have many immigration outreach activities at the parish level.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Their official name is the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Monte, Anecdotal evidence could probably be presented on both sides of the issue. Places such as China and churches like the ICOC and certain high profile SDA evangelists indicate that theological education is more or less irrelevant to success as a pastor or an evangelist. One of LGT/perfectionism's most vocal partisans has two graduate degrees in theology from SDA schools. Thank God he was busted out of pastoral work but still spreads his views wherever he can get an audience. ICOC pastors may have been educated but not in theology. One was a former navy pilot who graduated from Annapolis, another a premed dropout. They were both successful as pastors of large congregations.\n\nThe highly educated U.S.clergy, how's that working out? Dynamic growth? Enthusiastic church members? Low attrition? Ryan Bell had a DMin. Doug Batchelor barely finished high school. Who has been successful? Will there even be a church in the States in 50 years?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Besides the obvious trap of succumbing to an argument in support of a theocracy, I believe Christ accepted the human world of governance He was born into. I believe His advice to His followers was meant as means for them to avoid the lure of this world. He wanted them to focus on His values of love for one another because this world is temporary while His world lasts forever.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "52% of Catholics voted Trump compared to 45% for Clinton according to this publication.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As he prefaced it with VII and placed it in quotes I took it to mean pseudo-catholicism, not the same as the real thing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Holy Mother Church only concerns itself with one thing, the salvation of souls.\"\n\nIf the Bible is to be believed, in addition to the salvation of souls, Jesus was also concerned with the suffering of the vulnerable and afflicted in the here and now. Since Holy Mother Church only concerns itself with the salvation of souls, Holy Mother Church has evidently decided that Jesus' concern for the vulnerable and the afflicted here and now was misplaced. It is always reassuring to know that Holy Mother Church is able and happy to improve on the message of Jesus.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So do you think that you're part of the reason for the disturbingly low respect for literal understanding about God and Christ? Catholicism has been losing its children since Vatican II when the Church sought , ironically, to appeal to secularists. The secularists are secular at heart, by definition having no interest in religion. My question is whether the move towards secularism was intentional to destroy the Church?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That's nice that you choose not to refer to Church documents when elaborating her teachings. I prefer to do so since it lends precision one's argument.\nThe Church teaches that the mass has four ends: worship, thanksgiving, petition, and reparation. So part of your statement is correct, if incomplete. The rest of your statement is correct but incomplete and perhaps misleading. Yes we believe Christ is present spiritually when 3 are gathered in His name. So do the protestants. What differentiates us is that we Catholics have Christ truly present body and soul in the Blessed Sacrament. That is an unbridgeable difference as wide and deep as the Grad Canyon that needs to be stressed at all times.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is still a stretch, Michael Bindner. Most prophets of the Bible were married, but John the Baptist was not. Yet Jesus said John was the greatest of all prophets. He was unique. He needed the cravings of silence more, fasting, prayer, etc., owing to his mission, his calling, with too many dark holes to it. And yes, Rabbis were married, but they did not walk on water in front of their wives, leave their wives for 40 days and nights in the desert (rendering Him ineffective to her needs during that time), raise people from the dead; nor were they born of a virgin like some fundamental project of salvation or pinned under the wings of a dove at their baptisms. I am sure Mary secured a place in the eyes of Jesus, but not a commanding seat with Him, never mind bed, as if over the Twelve Tribes. Like St. John, Jesus was too unique, especially with the tension of distance and intimacy between himself and his Father running a double risk, as it were. Would have been unfair to any woman.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This was an editorial and therefor opinion. NCR is perfectly within it's rights to consider Church Militant in any way they want. As to the NY Times, you might want to read the actual article the NY Times did on Michael Voris. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/30/us/church-militant-theology-is-put-to-new-and-politicized-use.html?mcubz=3. They didn't white wash just how extreme this man is or that his politics is the driving force in his view of Catholicism. Personally I think the guy is another total fraud who has found his own niche flock of sheep to sheer.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus says plainly \"I am the way, the Truth, and the life: No man comes to the Father, except through Me.\" (John 14:6) \n\nThis says very plainly that there is only One Path.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Extract from: \"Royal commission hearings show Catholic Church faces a massive reform task\"\nLink: http://theconversation.com/royal-commission-hearings-show-catholic-church-faces-a-massive-reform-task-72809\n\n\"Neil Ormerod, professor of theology at ACU, noted that the Diocese of Adelaide had the lowest rate of child sexual abuse in Australia. He suggested this was because women have been in positions of institutional leadership since the mid-1980s, including that of episcopal vicar.\n\nA number of experts noted that the clerical church was amateurish, lacked professionalism and accountability. For example, priests engaged in pastoral care are not required to undertake supervision or ongoing professional education, something that would now be unheard of in their secular counterparts.\"\n\nThis strengthens your comments.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am going to have to disagree with the Cardinal and JPII the great enabler. Curial drones are not doing anything pastoral. When parishes close because of lack of priests to staff them, there should not be a cleric left in the Vatican except for the pope. Each and every one should be serving in a parish somewhere. The same with every diocese around the world. There are very few chancery offices that can\u2019t be filled with a lay person and the same with the Vatican", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Schools and government really need to become completely secular. If you want to practice your religion I have no problem at all with that as long as it doesn't hurt others but please do it on your own time outside of school/work.\n\nWe also need to apply this same logic to our public/catholic school system. Running two separate systems is a monumental waste of money. We can no longer afford it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, that is actually not true at all.\n\nTake the Anglican Church, it has it's share of problems but it has ample priests. Male & Female, single & married. We don't have priests - this is not a coincidence. \n\nSexism has been proven (so not an opinion) to cause global poverty, division, violence, rape, & child abuse (which explains why many of the children, abused by priests, were those of women who were vulnerable due to becoming recently widowed, or divorced, or suffering mental illness. These priests general lack of respect for women rendered them unconcerned to use impaired women as tools to get at their children.) \n\nCelibacy does not cause pedophilia but a male exclusive priesthood attracts such men.\n\nMany young adults here in the U.S. & Europe site our misogynistic treatment of women & refusal to ordain them equally to men as a main reason for leaving Catholicism.\n\nI did not state sexism was our only problem but it is at the root of most of our problems in Ireland & globally.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When a traditionalist/conservative says something like \"you know nothing\" or \"you are not following the Catholic faith\", what he or she is really saying is \"you disagree with me\". That is what I said and what I meant to say.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I believe the Gospel did make an appeal to women's health concerns when it showed Jesus healing women: \n\n(1) the woman with a hemorrhage (fibroids?) -- Mark 5:29, Matthew 9:20, Luke 8:44; \n(2) the woman with a bent back (osteoporosis or advanced breast cancer?) -- Luke 13:10-17; \n(3) Jairus daughter (either dead or dying) -- Mark 5:21-43, Matthew 9:18-26, Luke 8:40-56; \n(4) Peter's mother-in-law (fever) -- Mark 1:30, Matthew 8:14, Luke 4:38; \n(5) Mary Magdalene (seven 'demons') and Joanna and Susanna -- Luke 8:2 and Mark 16:9;\n(6) Syrophoenician woman's daughter and Canaanite woman's daughter (demon possessed) -- Mark 7, Matthew 15\n\nThen there is the story of Peter's raising of Tabitha (aka Dorcas) -- Acts 9:40.\n\nAlso, St. Mary's labor and the labor of the woman in Rev 12 are what produces the Savior, a positive.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Black Catholics in America are far more common than that. Black Catholics globally is probably the majority of black people.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You not being Catholic to begin with, why WOULD it matter to you?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So well said. Unfortunate that the one you address your comment to will never learn more then s/he knows from 60 years ago, no matter what the Church eventually does. There has already been a change in pastoral approach to LGBT Catholics, but some that rigid have no problem ignoring the change that has started. Thanks for your learned comments, Mike.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You do realize that the Bible is not a historical rendering of events?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Therein lies part of the problem, as this priest pointed out. Back then parents did not expect clergy to conform to some human idea of morality, they recognized clergy as the only means of achieving salvation. If the clergy did something that laity considered wrong, the bishops were there to make it clear that the laity have no right to judge and apply the necessary threats to quiet them. Now, people act as if clergy should be held accountable to civil authority merely because they violate secular law! And, as this priest points out, the bishops let this happen! How can a priest maintain his happiness if anyone can just go and accuse him of something and he will be treated the same as anyone else? This poor, poor brave priest.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "KR, I don't want to restrict your right to anything, but I don't want to pay for your exploits either. I'm already paying for others to have mandatory health insurance that covers all the non-abortion services provided by PP, so why should I pay for it again through federal taxes? Besides, as another commenter here pointed out here (I am not referring to \"Another Commenter for Hire\") PP is only in urban cities in AK while other clinics are all over the state. As a private organization, PP shouldn't be tax payer supported any more than the Catholic Church should be.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you are aware of your own mortality and dependence on other people that is a good thing. We all have our crutches-guns, social standing, economic security-that we use to pretend we are not totally dependent on God.\nYour Bible references above, perhaps support a limited principle of self defense, but I don't see how they deny the right of a democracy to regulate sale of firearms, and you are lifting a few verses out of context to support a predetermined conclusion.\nJesus' task contradicted defending himself against the Roman government, do you think that you may be asked to also walk in that example? Jesus said we all must take up our cross to follow him. One cross we all must bear is that we live in a dangerous, unpredictable world. I believe my Christian calling is to be less focused on preserving my own interests or protecting myself-who said the Christian life was about safety? God asks us to identify with the powerless and helpless, to risk ourselves for the sake of others.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Here we are with yet another example of the difficulties of life.\nIf Pope Francis were to side with progressives he would lose a vast number of bishops who were chosen by Pope John Paul II for their conservative position and so he would lose administrators and the local churches would be in crisis. So he can't take sides. \nHe's in the top position and his first task is to hold the church together. So he says what's needed to keep the church from falling apart and progressives slam him. And every time he says something for progressives the conservatives slam him. \nI find it distressing to hear both sides still fighting each other. It sounds like a bitter divorce and even now when God has put a mediator in place the two sides fighting are trying to tear our spiritual family apart. \nToday I've commented repeatedly. And Civil Comment is going to come along and demand that I read more articles and comment on the comments. That's what happens with an automatic system--Alas.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"How can he be a \"hater\" of LGBT and Immigrants and still go to a show that is so openly pro LGBT and immigrant?\"\n\nExactly! Kind of like how going to church makes you a good Christian, regardless of how you live the rest of your life, right?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"With gratitude we acknowledge that the Reformation helped give greater centrality to sacred Scripture in the church's life.\"\nSacred Scripture must have a more central place in our lives as communities and individuals. Reflection on and prayer with Scripture will help us understand the mind and will of Christ better and make it our own. Scripture will enlighten the Eucharist from within and dispel the fears and hesitations about ordination and intercommunion. What is the Holy Spirit saying to us today? Pope Francis leads by his bold faith-filled initiatives.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part 2\nSee Wikipedia article on \"Eastern Orthodox church architecture,\" with the distinction of sanctuary, nave, and narthex towards the end.\n\nTraditionally, Byzantine churches have paintings of saints on the wall of the nave and sanctuary, as well as the iconostasis, leading to the pious conception of the whole inside of the building as \"heaven\" or \"heavenly sanctuary.\" Don, you may have encountered such usage somewhere, and took this to mean the entire church was understood as sanctuary. I also see in the Wiki article a reference to a practice of calling the altar a throne, a pious practice outside my experience.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That's the prime job of our intellect.\n\nTo make judgments and comparisons about things.\n\nIt's odd how the \"don't judgers\" fill up the pages here with their own judgments. \n\nThats one reason why so many Catholics have \"lost a sense of sin\".\n\nThey've bought into the language of the therapists. You hear them saying things like this:\n\uf0a7\t\u201cHow can something be a sin if doesn\u2019t hurt anybody?\u201d \n\uf0a7\t\u201cHow can it be a sin if it is done in the privacy of my own bedroom?\u201d\n\uf0a7\t\u201cEverybody is doing it.\u201d\n\uf0a7\t\u201cIt used to be a sin, but it's no longer a sin!\u201d\n\uf0a7\t\"I'm no longer in love\". I don't feel love for this person anymore.\n\uf0a7\t\u201cWe are not hurting anybody\u201d\n\uf0a7\t\u201cWe were born that way\u201d\n\uf0a7\t\"Stop judging\" (or \"judge much?\")\n\uf0a7\t\u201cIt\u2019s none of your business\u201d \n\uf0a7\t\"Fix yourself first\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sounds like church politics at work. It is even reminiscent of some of the questions the pharisees would come up with for Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You do realize, I hope, that 1. not everyone is Catholic and 2. birth control is NOT just used for preventing conception. It is used to treat many diseases of the female reproductive system. 3. it would be sinful for YOU because you think it would be, so don't use it. Other people are not in your position.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Rarely do I agree with Archbishop Chaput, but I agree with intellectual consistency. I much admired Notre Dame's welcoming of and honoring of President Obama--and even more so the articulate and public reasoning for doing so. We have no idea how much pressure Fr. Jenkins and his board faced when confronted with \"ND must not honor men who don't reflect Catholic values and the teachings of the magisterium.\" They were threatened by influential and wealthy donors: \"If you honor Obama, you lose our support and our millions.\" They chose principle. \n\nIf we support the principle, the reasoning and the courage attendant to the Obama event, we must not change the rules for his successor. ND said \"assent to Obama's record and policies was not necessarily to be inferred. But he is the POTUS and we have a tradition.\" \n\nThe earned credibility of what Notre Dame said demands consistency. And.....\n\nI don't want to hear from the Newman Society: \"We told you those Irish Libs were lying.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We are duty bound to do more than to shrink God's desire for us down into the comfortable. \n\nHave you noticed how it's done today? \n\nHere's a short course: \"Well the OT is well old, so throw that away..focus on the NT.\"\n\n\"Well let's focus just one what Jesus said...throw out the tough passages in St Paul, St James, St John...let's just focus on what Jesus said, OK?\"\n\nThen..well St John's Gospel is different, metaphorical..let's call it something fancy like: the Johannine Gospel, it gives it a nice sort of academic-sounding name, freeing me from the real demands. \n\nAnd then let's forget about the tough things that Jesus said like \"rebuke the sinner\" \"if you hand causes you to...\"...and focus on the stuff that sounds fun and nice. \n\nSee your own comment.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Paul never examined the subject nor did he ever read the Gospels, some of which were written after his death. He was familiar with the sacrificial victim model and never strayed from it. He had no reason to examine it. Neither had access to modern scriptural scholarship, assuming that the Torah really was written by Moses and put into the Ark of the Covenant just before he died. Neither certainly had any access to Darwin (and if you reject Darwin, just go away). They thought Adam and Eve were real people and not archetypes and that the sin was defiance (and to an extent it was) rather than seeking the knowledge of who was doing good and who was doing evil, essentially blame, which is reserved to God. This fits beautifully, by the way, with what Christ taught about the requirement of forgiveness (to be forgiven), which is different from salvation, which was to escape our old selves and the pain of sin (which Christ experienced in the abandonment of the Cross, which is our salvat,.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "More nonsense and name-calling. You really can't stop, can you?\n\nJust because someone does not accept SSM does not make someone a homophobe. \n\nTobin has perhaps a different manner of speaking - but as I have quoted to you before:\n\n\"If they\u2019re (LGBT) attempting to live a chaste life, then they certainly need the support of the believing community, a chance to pray, and to know that they\u2019re welcomed within the body of Christ.\n\n(question)\nWhat makes some people nervous about these initiatives is that the end-game might be going soft on the Church\u2019s moral code. Not your intent?\n\n(answer)\nNo, certainly not. If anybody asks me, I preach what the Church preaches, and teach what the Church teaches, and believe it with great serenity.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Cheers for the comment to Pence, it was civil and voiced the concerns of many in this country about government leaders who have tunnel vision and want to silence those who do on agree with them, or are not WASP, rich, christian, or have been born different than them, and seem to think that environmental responsibility is less important than keeping certain industries rich.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Luciano, It saddens me that you see belonging to a political party as the same as belonging to a faith/church, as I believe that misses the point that ones faith is a much deeper call from the very depths of of ones soul; that one's relationship to God is so far beyond one's relationship to a political party. Yet, if for you they are on the same level, I can only share with you that for me they are very far apart.\n\nPax, Christi,\n\nJohn David", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes. The Pontifical Biblical Commission recognizes this as a criterion of authenticity. The Church reflects on the whole biblical witness, but it doesn't allow latter day authors to decide what is \"fake news\" by ignoring its criteria for interpretation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If Ethan Bolshevik and Lady Bolshevik of the Catholic Social Services Ethnocide team have their way.... It soon will be.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would not call the Eastern Orthodox faith a rigid faith. In fact, a lot of the recent scholarship on orders for women in the early church was done by Orthodox scholars, many of them women, and resulted in the restoration of the diaconate for women. This is lightning speed compared to the RC's. Are you Orthodox? I am. I fully accept that we are shrinking in parts of the world but I've read quite a bit on this subject and things look healthier in some places than in others. Russia, for example, is said to be bleeding members but that isn't entirely true and once you get out of the big cities, things look pretty vibrant. We also have quite a few converts. Orthodoxy is a faith many are attracted to because it doesn't have a 900-pound catechism and observes a long tradition of mysticism. By the way, if you are quoting the Pew study, it had a very small representation of Orthodox compared to the total number of participants. Small enough to introduce error.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Time for a new country. Canada needs to be divided up: the french, the natives and Catholics. So the rest of us can live in peace.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If I cared about getting religion out of school, I'd start with the Catholic School Board, not a prayer club. To me, this is where the \"keep religion out of school\" argument falls down. I don't see anyone showing up at Catholic School Board meetings to tear up bibles and scream insults.\n\nThis isn't about religious accommodation. This is about people who hate Islam.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not entirely accurate. Residential schools were clearly meant to bring \"education\" to aboriginal peoples, but part of that goal was also to \"educate\" them in European ways and beliefs (aka Christianity). This had been the goals of missionaries since they first started venturing into the Canadian forests. \n\nIt is beyond dispute that there were atrocities carried out in respect to residential schools. Some were officially sanctioned (removing kids from families, forcing relocation, rejection of culture) and some, such as abuse by individual staff were (perhaps) not.\n\nThe term \"cultural genocide\" didn't exist until WW2, so the term could only be used to describe residential schools in a relatively recent analysis of the history.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "He's more Catholic than most on NCR.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The USCCB \u201clooks forward to working with President-elect Trump to protect human life from its most vulnerable beginning, [a] commitment to domestic religious liberty, ensuring people of faith remain free to proclaim the truth about man and woman, and the unique bond of marriage that they can form [and that] migrants and refugees can be humanely welcomed without sacrificing our security.\u201d according to their webpage. Even the pope is hedging. He said on Sept. 1 \"Migrants should be treated according to certain rules, because migration is a right, but one which is highly regulated\" and \"If a country is only able to integrate 20 [refugees], let\u2019s say, then it should only accept that many. If another is able to do more, let it do more.\u201d", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yet sometimes divorce is necessary, or unavoidable! A two-parent household is not always the best place for children to grow. Their safety and welfare MUST be taken into account. Laicization of a priest terminates the \"marriage\" of a priest and the church, much as divorce terminates a marriage.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholics could do more promoting the common good - in their homes and their workplaces, and all moments of their life, right where they are.\n\nOur desire to \"cool or boil oceans\" is a grand act of pride and wretched time wasting, giving us the fleeting sense that we're doing something great while the rest of our life goes on quite lukewarm and fruitless, our marriage, our work, our apostolate, our friendships.\n\nLive heroically in the little. The \"humiliation\" of \"little work\" - of tempering our gradiosities - keeps us usefully humble to God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Gospel of Matthew also states \"The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man shall be betrayed: it were better for him, if that man had not been born.\" Are you suggesting the beloved disciple is Judas? We do KNOW that Judas was not present at the Crucifixion, or are you suggesting differently? You may need to open your Bible and reread it more closely. We do in fact know. You act as if the Last Supper painting was a historical photograph taken during the actual incident.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus seemed to think otherwise based on his words in the Scriptures.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Robert Mueller will dig in the Trump Administration and find nothing but at the same time Mueller will dig into the sale of 20% of American uranium assets to the Russians by Hillary Clinton, the 175,000 shares of stock given to John Podesta by the Russian Bank, the Democratic assassination of Seth Rich and the 200,000 dollars invested in Russian companies by Maxine Waters. We conservatives, true Republicans, Libertarians and Evangelicals welcome the special prosecutor because it will finally uncover the corruption of the Democratic Party. \n\n\"Sounds like they need to clear out a wing at Gitmo\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I was around 5 yr old when Vatican II changes hit American parishes, so I don't know what others are referring to when they (and I hope they are 20 yrs older than me) refer to about the good old days being not so good.\n\nSincere question: what was wrong with the mass then, that's better now?\n\nI've been to Latin masses, so I understand the difference between the Extraordinary Form and the Novus masses at most parishes.\n\nIsn't the difference simply a matter of taste?\n\nTo put it another way, to those old enough to remember: was the 1950s era mass objectionable to most Catholics?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Precisely. Unless you see one kid for every year a lawfully wedded straight couple has been married in the pews of Catholic churches everywhere then the situation is highly suspect and in need of the morality police to come and start asking serious questions. Why are there no more children? Is contraception involved? Such public flaunting of the rules of Holy Mother Church needs to be strictly suppressed lest faithful Catholics get the idea that it's okay not to have ten children if you've been married for ten years, and if that means that couples with too few children are prevented from receiving Holy Communion, then so be it. The rules are the rules and they WILL be enforced! That's my opinion, and I am unanimous in that! (To quote Mrs. Slocombe in \"Are you being served?\")", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You best review your statements, John. Immediately. And reexamine that misguided criterion of yours - for it is sadly lacking.\n\nI have NEVER said the Magesterium never changed a teaching. Prove it - or apologize. I never mentioned Pius IX. Yet ANOTHER \"mistake\" on your part. \n\nI NEVER \"condemned\" the official of the Knights of Malta to Hell - what on God's green earth are you talking about? I didn't mention it at all.\n\nI have NEVER said anyone is going to hell. That's not my determination to make. \n\nHOW DARE you claim I have a lack of \"Christian love\" when absolutely EVERYTHING you have posted here today is false? \n\nWHAT are you smoking today?? I honestly think you need some help, John. \n\nLet's see if your statement to Trid is honest - you know. The one where you state that if you make a mistake you acknowledge it. I fully expect your apology....and an admission that you have maligned me unjustly.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So sad. I remember as a kid the area \"outside\" the Catholic cemitary where people who \"didn't make their Easter duties\", or whatever, were buried. We bury people in the understanding of our connection and of the expectation, the hope of God's mercy. It is not in the \"worry\"- at least shouldn't be - of some scurillous possibility of \"scandal\". It should not be in the declaration of God's lack of mercy. We are supposed to be that very scandal. Whether we agree or not we love....not.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The terminology is deliberately different because it describes two realities which are different. The Lutheran 'mass' is nothing more than a commorative meal where ordinary bread and ordinary wine are consumed. The Catholic Mass is the re-presentation the altar of Sacrifice on the Cross through which the merits of His death and Resurrection are made available for the living and the dead. The elements consumed are no longer bread and wine but the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord. No Lutheran would subscribe to that. Martin Luther called the Mass an abomination. The doctrine of the Mass hasn't changed so as far as he and his followers are concerned, it still is an abomination. I notice that the Swedes weren't too keen on Pope Francis celebrating Mass during his visit.\nIt's not about me being forced to go to a church I don't wish to go to, it is about deceiving people that there is no difference between the Catholic Mass and the Lutheran Lord's Supper.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Men are frail and many mistakes are made that are never addressed. There is no justice. Don't expect it. Institutions are corrupt and weak when dealing with injustice. The church is one among many institutions that is subject to failure. Acknowledgement does not mean correction or punishment. Will children be exploited? Yes. Never leave it to chance. Protect your children and avoid situations that put them in jeopardy. If the church is such a place then leave it without delay. You are the proverbial adult in the room. The duty to protect your child is yours. As to the Catholic Church defying minimum standards of decency. That statement will not play well to the believers. Hyperbole and a gross exaggeration.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Can you name one responsible church...that doesn't advocate for open borders?\" There are many Joe. Churches are also pretty much the only place for positive social change. Just because there are some like this Bishop, or left wing churches of the NCC who care little about Jesus' words, but only for social engineering, doesn't mean all are that way. I have seen many, both Catholic and Protestant who are doing great work, not just in this nation, but worldwide.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is my sense that no issue is more fundamental to Church/ hierarchy getting beyond their stalemate and enabling forward movement than the radicalized tradition of abusive male judgmentalism that presumes they are existentially primary and females secondary - as Biblically supposed in the Garden of Eden myth. This fraudulent, unconscionable position alienates women and drives people of good faith away from institutional Catholicism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The genocide against Christians in the Middle East continues. THESE are the people we should be taking into Canada. And as a bonus, there is no risk of radicalization or \"drive-throughs\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus told us there is a place such as hell. The numerous Saints have told us there is a place called hell, and our Blessed Mother has told us as well. I try to base my actions so I don't offend our Lord Jesus. I'm still working on it, but I try to do better each day, but it is a struggle at times. As Padre Pio is known to have said to a person who stated hell did not exist \" You will believe it when you get there.\" Disbelieve if you wish at your own peril.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am reluctant to say it, but the good cardinal does not speak for me. Our holy father Francis, is indeed and truly pope, and a such deservers and receives our prayers and best wishes daily. But his actions, most recently his embrace of the arch heretic Luther, is so scandalous that a even an 11 year old (admittedly preconscious but 11 nonetheless) can not help but notice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How do you know that the writers of the Old Testament used \"natural law\"? Everyone else thinks that \"natural law\" was invented by the Stoics, well after the OT was written.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When will the Church speak up to protest the destruction of affordable healthcare by the Ayn Rand-loving \"Catholic \" speaker of the House.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Very facile comparison. The question is not the dogma but the ontology. The three surviving Dubia authors are challenging Francis to trip him up as the Pharisees tried to trip up Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mine too... I have four children, and the elimination of the personal exemptions will practically half my deductions with respect to past years. I'm expecting this will bring my taxes up by about $5,000. Charitable organizations, including the Church, can expect a drop of contributions, as many people will opt for the beefed up standard deduction, and give up itemizing with all its incentives.\n\nThis tax plan seems geared towards increasing the wealth polarization of this society. A very modest tax break will go to the lower end of the income bracket, families who are struggling no matter what, but for whom $1,000 more per year are not going to be life changing anyway. A large portion of the middle class will become poorer by thousands $, and only the very well off will become richer (by a LOT!). Families with children - especially many catholic families, who tend to have more children than the national average - are going to suffer. Where's the outrage of the USCCB?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well now, according to no less an authority than JP II, the lack of mention of women at the Last Supper, being that Jesus chose \"men only\" to be apostles, Proves that the RC church has no authority to ordain women!\n\nThe development and evolution of the RC church's positions on homosexuality is not nearly so clear-cut and uncomplicated as your posts let on. In that process, the Graeco-Roman culture (and the Christian reaction thereto) had at least as much influence as \"old testament morality.\" And recall that Saul (Paul) of Tarsus was a Roman citizen!) Hence the concept of (abhorrence of) homosexuality was scarcely embedded in the ethos or culture of early Christianity! Et reliqua.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Good News is that the Spirit has NOT \"chosen to abdicate that role\"!\n\nYou know Alexandra....when I think of Delio and Chardin aND Francis and McElroy and Rohr and so many others...I think of a \"diaspora\" where the Spirit has simply moved very very broadly across the land....(hanging out I think where possible in some catholic enclaves) but very certainly not limited to such.\n\nI think of the UN Millenial goals for the undeveloped world, folks like Amnesty International and the Southern Poverty Law Center, folks developing simple and cheap ways to provide clean water in third world areas...disaster relief organizations with a long view toward global warming....\n\nI think of inexpressible kindnesses found so often where cancer or other terminal disease is real...\n\nAnd I am grateful!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You might want to read the requirements for stoning for adultery.\n\nNo evidence, no stoning.\n\nIf the issue were that no one could ever be subject to a penalty because no one is sinless, Jesus would have gone done in history as the the end of civilization rather than the Head of his Body the Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do I really care about SNAP possible money mis use? \n1. They are not a religious organization responsible for 1.2 billion people's spiritual well being. \n2. Whatever they did, not one guilty bishop who condoned clergy sex abuse of children went to jail yet.\n3. Thus, CI (Catholic Institution) remain a sinful organization.\n4. CI is crippled and can't do the work of feeding souls. Sorry, I am busy praying what will take CI to abandon this dishonest conduct of behaving that they are above the law of God and men.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "2/2\nI don\u2019t think there will be a schism. I think Burke wants to be a player in the next conclave, and I doubt that he will do anything to jeopardize his chance to participate. However, your reference to a \u201cSecond Great Schism\u201d suggests that you think there will be one. What do you think it will look like? Do you think Burke and his followers will declare the See of Rome vacant? That they will elect a(n) (anti-)pope? Or merely bide their time until Francis dies or retires? If there is a schism, I think there will be nothing \u201cgreat\u201d about it. History will record in a footnote that a disgruntled former employee tried to embarrass the boss who sacked him. Whatever publicity attaches to the schism as it happens will serve to secure Francis\u2019 place in history and in the hearts of his people as the pope of compassion and mercy.\nI won't have much time to post for the next few days. Tis the season, you know. But I want to acknowledge the clarity and courtesy of your writing. Thank you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus always taught, an eye for an eye, and did He not also say do unto others as they do unto you? We traditional catholics understand that we operate under the same standards as those whom we despise.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How about you quit telling my why and how I think. For starters, you're wrong. I accept many arguments about Jesus that don't accord with my personal preferences. And anyone whose epistemological habits amount to \"Because the church says so\" has zero standing to dismiss positions arrived at through serious consideration of evidence and argument.\n\n<>\n\nI would've mistaken that for one of Kurgan's quips. Sheer comedy.\n\nFather Brown is hardly the only scholar to have noted the rather conspicuous parallels between Matthew's nativity narrative and the Moses story. There's no evidence to support the historicity of the slaughter of the innocents. It is a fiction meant to illustrate a theological truth: despite the most murderous instincts of men, God prevails.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...while I sing along and change the God pronouns to the feminine.\"\nLike what? \n\"Jesus loves me, this I know/ For the Bible tells me so/ Little ones to her belong/ We are weak but she is strong\"?\n\"Sing a new song unto the Lady \"?\n\"Holy Goddess we praise Thy Name\"?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think you make an important point. It would be a mistake to portray the random connections of Catholicism to individual African Americans as some sign that Catholicism played an important role in overcoming slavery and racism. It played far less a role that many Protestant faiths. \n\nWhile I appreciate knowing of artists I haven't heard of before and seeing what I can of their work, learning of their lives, I hope this is not an attempt to connect institutional Catholicism to the achievements of people who overcame obstacles an old white Catholic women like me can barely imagine.\n\nWhy is it necessary to find Catholic connections to the new Smithsonian African-American culture and history museum? The achievements are those of African-Americans regardless of, and sometimes in spite of, their faith. \n\nWhat matters now is that the Church that stood too quietly while slavery and racism devastated millions does not stand silently now while racism continues. Where are the bishops now?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Southern churches, particularly in New Orleans, had segregated pews.\"\n\nBut people like Sister Katharine Drexel (now Saint) and her religious community (Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament) didn't sit idly by. While it was customary to make blacks stand or sit in roped-off areas at the rear of a church, she and her Sisters (heeding her direct orders) made sure that Catholic churches connected to her Community offered two rows of pews running from front to back, one for blacks and one for whites, side by side. This small gesture in the direction of equality gave Catholic and Protestant (segregationist) authorities no statutory grounds for closing down her institutions, her sites of worship. In 1915, she also founded Xavier University for African Americans, which institution continues to place more African Americans into medical schools than any other college in the US. Sadly, other religious orders, parishes didn't follow suit. But Drexel, St. K. Drexel, was something else!! She had grit.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Using a methodology that is fully consonant with Catholic teaching, employing Scripture, the rich pastoral heritage of the church and an unadulterated realism that makes clear both the difficulty and the imperative for establishing deeper dialogue, Father Martin opens a door for proclaiming that Jesus Christ and his church seek to embrace fully and immediately men and women in the L.G.B.T. community.\"\n\nIt doesnt seem like Martin has strayed. Of course, the Bishop is concerned with the sin involved in vilifying, not the sin involved in homosexuality. Perhaps that is why you dont like his article, since he is pointing out a different sin than the one you want to discuss?\nYour other point is similar. The Bishop does not read anyone's mind, or identify anyone with cancer. The \"cancer of vilification\" is behavior of people within the Church and outside, but always people in dialogue. There is no effort to exclude them, just an attempt to call them away from sin.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Matthew 5:17-20 commands you to obey all of the bible, old testament included, not just the parts you like.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "First, \"overly\" is one of those words it is impossible to measure. So one woman's \"overly\" might be another's \"barely enough.\" The thing is, the mass should be both vertical (directed \"up\" to God) AND horizontally--directed OUT to our sisters and brothers we are worshipping with because God is not just \"up there\" but found in our fellow parishioners too. Jesus is present not only in the Bread and Wine but in our neighbors in the pews. \n\nBut following up on ghost's point (above) would you like to share why YOU prefer the EF? I'd like to understand better.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That's what True Believers in any religion call 'collateral damage'. \n\nDoesn't matter if it is Catholicism or Global Warming. \n\nWhen you are seeking the 'Greater Good' some martyrs will just happen!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When was the last time multiple consenting adults living together and having whatever sleeping together arrangements they cared to make were prosecuted in Canada under bigamy or polygamy laws?\n\nThe Church Elders in Bountiful are being prosecuted because their \"wives\" are teenage girls assigned by the Church.\n\nStop trying to confuse the issue.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...the extent to which we have historically gone to support minority religions in education.\"\n\nOK, but why was it that 50,000 Mennonites decided to uproot themselves from Canada (having recently brave the Atlantic crossing to come here from Russia) to live elsewhere (in many cases, Mexico)? One major reason: they couldn't educate their kids in their own schools, and didn't agree with how Canada's public schools taught them--religiously (at the time) and otherwise. Interesting, too, that the Mennonites were...Christian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Just fyi, defrocking is a protestant term that is never used in the Catholic Church.\nThe correct term is laicization. In the Catholic Church, priests who are stripped of their ministerial powers are laicized or returned to the lay state.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What you are preaching is not the Gospels.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"It has been treated almost as adultery was during Christs' time.\" \n\nDuring Christs's time, there was a lot of barbaric conduct, including adultery and abortion. But the point is, Jesus condemned those things. So thank for giving us some historical context. That the treatment of male adulterers in those days was sexist says nothing about the mortally sinful quality of abortion. You ask: \"What does the priest even know about the psychological, mental and often physical situations that often leads a woman to procure an abortion?\" In the confessional, the priests can gain some understanding of the circumstances. But you sound as if you believe abortion is excusable because of mental stress. But the frequency of abortion tells much about how ill-prepared women are in their Catholic upbringing to withstand stress and spare another's life. The lack of moral preparedness goes back years before the abortion itself. Seems the preparation was by those who think abortion is like adultery.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yeah because that trickle down theory has done anything but allowed wealth to gather at the top, but keep on waiting, it will trickle down any minute now. Just any minute. \n\nCross those fingers and pray really hard cause if you are poor it is not failed Reaganomics it is your lack of love for supply side Jesus and the prosperity gospels.\n\nSeriously, this lie that Dems are bad at the economy comes from the party that has not only pushed the clown car economy into the ditch but then lit it on fire, roasted hot dogs, then pissed on the fire, and blamed it all on the other side.\n\nEconomy disparity is at one of the highest rates it has ever been, the next generation is seeing through the smoke screen of the economic bull their parents were sold, and everyone is quickly realizing the American dream is dead unless you luck into being born well off.\n\nP.S. Yes I know there are people out there that scrap and make it. They are the VERY small minority, also most of them are over 50.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "+Cupich says, \"The problem we're facing now isn't that we're divided over issues, but people are divided into tribes, into camps...We need to recapture, before we get to the issues, that common bond.\"\n\nThe \"tribes\"+Cupich refers to haven\u2019t had a common bond for decades. Not even a common language bond. While one \u201ctribe\u201d describes Catholics as\" children of God\", \"sheep\" to be shepherded, another describes Church as \"People of God\". Tribe Opus Dei, aka Evangelical Catholicism, speaks \"Reformed Trent\" while the other speaks liberation &unity in diversity.\n\nThe 23 Catholic Churches/Rites united with Rome speak \"different languages,\" have different ways; they represent (as Cardinal Kasper might describe them) the Multifaceted Unity of universal Catholicism.\n\nCan Rome NOT see the genius of Multifaceted Unity in regard to Vatican II? JPII gave juridical status to Opus Dei. Will Rome just continue to homogenize Vatican II into one Evangelical Catholicism? NOT if https://RiteBeyondRome.com", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Theodosius supported Nestorius but his sister persuaded him otherwise and Nestorius got exiled. Nestorius's beef was with the exact nature of the word Theotokos. He preferred Christ-bearer (Christotokos).\n\nWhatever the case, this is no parallel between Burke's beef with the pope and what happened at Ephesus.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No treatise. But it's ultimately from Jesus that we get the notion of transubstantiation to begin with. It needed some \"'splaining to do, Lucie\" by theologians, but theologians who know Christ's words have taught for centuries that his Real Presence in the Eucharist is different from his presence when two or three are gathered in his name. I wish I could steer you to theology on the point, but I don't have any handy. Google it. You'll find it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ever notice that Nora's constant, unvarying assault on \"clericalism\" is actually itself another form of clericalism? It's all he/she writes about. A clerical mindset it seems quite clear.\n\nBetter to spend one's whole life living out the Gospel in one's own - non clerical - world, than to continue to pine away on the same old guitar string.\n\nCatholics need to understand other ways than his/her way. \n\nThere's a difference between \"secularism\" and \"secularity\".\n\nWe need to learn the art of \"secularity\", living our Catholic faith - fully, completely, heroically - in the every day, non-clerical way, away from the parish. Living charity, quietly, cheerfully, competently, ever on the look out for small ways to serve God. \n\nNora doesn't understand this; he or she sees only a clerical world.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus told us to do those things, not to get Caesar to force others to.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Can. 900 \u00a71. The minister who is able to confect the sacrament of the Eucharist in the person of Christ is a validly ordained priest alone.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Stephen,\n\nGod offers us His power and guidance so we can do all of those things and working with Him unites people. In contrast, \"social justice\" is based on envy and getting what a person claims they are entitled to receive because they have been victimized by another racial or social group, so the net effects are creating social division and conflict. When a group or individual in the church advocates for \"social justice\" we should ask why they are seeking to do God's work by any means other than what God has directed. They are making it appear that they are attracted to human power because they consider it superior to God's power. Such people have a form of godliness but none of the power and are exactly the sort of people Paul warned us in 2 Timothy 1:5 to stay away from.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Burke and Friends are in process of discovering that the Roman Catholic church under Pope Francis the Merciful DOES have a rudder, and that the rudder steers the ship! That's not what they would like to see, of course, as it does not fit their strategery. Back to your situation room, O Four Cardinals, how far do you really want to take this war or push your luck?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I absolutely agree DoninKansas. Like Father Tom Reese, I see all kinds of issues if this is repealed. I have already had one disagreement with a friend over this. I tend to see more long term, and with the rise of the nones this could turn out very badly. I am a regular church goer and would not like to see the divisions that this could cause, not to mention that I don't go to church to hear about politics! I could see a lot of people ending their charitable donations as well over political issues. All in all...a bad idea for the Catholic church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Alexandra...after a good nights sleep I was inspired to pull up the CARA stats:\n\nhttp://cara.georgetown.edu/frequently-requested-church-statistics/\n\nAnd here is what I came up with....\n\nTo begin with...2016\n\nLowest number of US priests-37,000 (less, fully active)\nHighest number of permanent deacons-18,173\nLay Professional Ministers-23,149\nLay Ecclesial ministers- 39, 651\nParishes without pastors-3499\n\nSeems to me the Spirit is sending us a LOT more lay helpers....\nAnd a lot fewer \"religious\" and many Catholics are leaving... (30.1 million Catholics \"move on\" and the baptism numbers are bad, et al)\n\nThink the trends are fascinating...wonder when the hierarchy will seriously adjust?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The buzzwords of today are discernment and conscience bandied about by those who have no idea what they mean. Primacy of conscience is construed as my conscience (opinion) is paramount. I, I, I am the sole arbiter of what is right and wrong, good and evil, not the Church, not God, only I. Now where have I come across this attitude before? Could it be in Genesis 3?\nAs for discernement, the word is turning up everywhere yet everyone seems be not concerned about what it actually means, it is canonised because Pope Francis continually refers to it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Apologies for the late reply. After mine to you last night, I accidentally \"muted\" you and couldn't see how to undo it.\nI don't think we are in disagreement as to what the literature says regarding Jesus knowledge. We can say that it both supports the idea that He was possessed of supernatural knowledge and that he grew, in some way, in wisdom.\nI don't recall who said it, Newman I think, that Christianity (or Catholicism) doesn't need a Bible. The fullness of revelation is present in the Church itself and transmitted through that institution by the Holy Spirit. I don't know that I'd go quite that far, but I also don't take scripture as the end-all of anything Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"After Jesus had taken the vinegar, he said, 'It is accomplished', and bowing his head he gave up his spirit\" (Jn 19:30). \" \n\nJesus fulfilled the Scripture and the distinct Mosaic Law at Calvary.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part 2\n\nFranciscan School of Theology emphasized God as Outpouring Love, and \u00a0our call is to live love each day.\nBonaventure:\u00a0 \u201cWe come from God reflecting the divine image, our DNA is found in God. Everything in creation is an example and illustration of the one God mystery in space and time. ..We return to the Source from which we came.\u201d P. 166.\n\u201cGrace is inherent in the universe from the moment of the \u201cBig Bang\u201d. (implied in Genesis 1:2, Spirit hovers over the chaos) Grace is \u201cthe very shape of the universe from the start.\u201d In this view, \u2018salvation is not a divine transaction that takes place because you are morally perfect but much more it is an organic unfolding, a becoming of who you are already are, an inborn sympathy with and capacity for the very One who created you\u2026.The Christ Mystery, \u2026is plan A for God, and not a Plan B, a mop up exercise after Adam and Even ate the apple.\u201d\n\u201cFor Scotus and for Bonaventure, the Trinity is the absolute beginning and ending point.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As to \"Catholic church can play vital role in healing the nation\", one is tempted to say, \"Physician, Heal Thyself\"!\nThe deep-down problem is culturally ingrained mistreatment of women as secondary to men, even, as 'play things'. Presidents aren't immune from this social defect, nor are hierarchy.\nIt starts in the Garden of Eden Myth, and continues in male self-identity as divinely privileged over females.\nHere's the place for social action, not just dialogue, but action. A big step forward would be for Church to acknowledge female co-equality, including place in Church, including ordination of women, and ending pretension of divine preference of males over females.\nLet the 'dialogue of social action begin', beginning with the original sin of violating the human right of women, from the 'Garden of Eden' time to the present time.\nThe Church continues to be part of the problem.\nReligious dialogue characterizes political dialogue. Religion profoundly qualifies politics. And always will.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jim Martin is not using Facebook as a personal site. He's walking a shrewd, deceptive line that allows him to suggest that he is uncontroversial, authoritative, and aligned with Catholic teaching. With that authority he censors those who disagree with him, and he protects those in the Church who agree with his anti-Church perspective from having to speak out against him.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is superb fodder for high comedy! (Watch SNL)\nThe American Embassy is in the toney, haute couture Via Veneto. Callista, of indulgent, overspending taste, will be in heaven.\nAll the time she thought her patron was St. Callista but turns out to be Nuke Gingrich!\nWill she present her credentials at the Vatican in high fashion with her frontispiece an emblazoned, jewel encrusted \"A\"?\nWhere is our Tom Lehrer to do an update of \"The Vatican Rag\"?\nRCs have existed for centuries since Constantine with cognitive dissonance and will have no problems maintaining straight faces before the farce. \"And Jesus laughed\"!\n\n\nSt.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "First: I said \"personal freedom for believers\". Is your friend Jason professing belief in Christ and submitting to Gods authority? If no then not only do I not see any problem with that but I have no right to judge or even offer my opinion in the first place! But if yes, then I believe the way in which he denies his own desires for the desires of Christ should be examined. Just like someone who professes Christ but knowingly is greedy, uses porn, is disrespectful etc.. needs to reevaluate their commitment to living like Jesus.\n\nSecond: My different belief is not in itself bigotry. Bigotry is what you do in light of different beliefs, not the harboring of different beliefs itself. My opinion that homosexuality may be a symptom of a broken relationship between humanity and God does not equate hate or intolerance towards a single individual. Compassion for others despite differences is literally why Jesus exists. Not saying I do this well but I make a conscious effort...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"He [BishThomas of Springfield] issued a decree last week setting guidelines and limits for how the pastors in his diocese treat people in same-sex marriages.\"\n- This is a judgement against ArchbFrancis of Rome, and of ArchbBlase of Chicago who is BishT metropolitan archbishop.\n- No doubt the leadership of ArchbBlase in the Catholic Conference of Illinois, the political lobbying group of the bishops, also annoys BishT. \n- An interesting question is, 'did he alert the metropolitan and the other suffragan bishops and episcopal vicars of Chicago before releasing his broadside?' No surprise if he did not.\n- While it is reasonable that anyone would think that a union between two of the same gender is no sacrament of marriage, denying sacraments to those in such union is not reasonable. If the goal is to force anyone to confess a sin which for a person in a same gender union does not know, then that goal is a sacrilege.\n- Refusing funerals is a smoke screen.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "An important point made by Jamie: \"Catholic women who seek equal roles in the church through priesthood are treated with deep suspicion.\" The Church, by its attitudes, full of distortion, prej*dice, and stereotype, toward women (as well as LGBT people) paves the way for all sorts of similarly toxic ideas to thrive in society, contributing to big*try, unfairness, and violence. The Church, by not owning up to its effect on social views that are hurtful, is really either beneath contempt or unbelievably cowardly. This is what is supposed to be a moral beacon? No. Not in my judgement.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wow, pick and mix Catholicism is alive and well, I see.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We need more immigrants. Canada's immigration numbers barely allow for an expanding population and replacements for retiring baby boomers in the work force. The face of Canada is changing and we have to accept that. It's a difficult issue for \"traditional\" Canadians of white European, Christian stock but we're fading fast and we'll be turning Canada over to the new reality.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In his venerable hands. Your most holy...Listen for it at Mass, especially in the Eucharistic Prayer and the Collect. The new Roman Missal tries to butter up God, which fits with the traditionalist belief in a transactional sacrifice on the Cross, rather than a unitive vision quest that God experience suffering through Jesus. Homeless people talk that way to get a few bucks for bottle. The term is bowing and scraping. There is a difference between praying with gratitude and praying like you want something (as if God doesn\u2019t already know what you need, which may not be what you want).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Perhaps, as Christians, we need to take a step back. Assange, an anarchist? Rather extreme. Since when do Christians view those disseminating factual information anarchists, even if we don't agree with their personal philosophy or spirituality? \n\nWe are taught to keep our own counsel and have faith in our Lord, but that doesn't and never should extend to blind faith in man, or woman. The Lord gave us the ability to take in information and process this information. Which means he intended for us to be informed and process t\n\nBlind faith in our mortal political leaders is the antithesis to our faith is it not? The Lord speaks to us in the most unusual ways, often from the most unexpected sources. I do not believe Julian is a messenger of God, but perhaps this man who has sacrificed his basic freedoms has a message of immoral acts we need to be informed of to guide us back toward the tenets we hold dear as Christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What Maddow puts on usually pans out. Enjoy the impeachment trial of Trump, unless they remove him as disabled first, which is the point of this article.\n\nWhether a Catholic politician supports or opposes abortion is irrelevant, because abortion was not legalized through legislation. Advocating that people get abortions is not allowed, but believing Roe was rightly decided is simply a function of a good legal education, especially regarding privacy as the right to be left alone by state government. That being the case, Dignitas Humanae means the Church cannot discipline them without the offending bishop being reported to the Papal Nuncio for inciting sedition against our Constitution. \n\nI agaree with you on Down's children, but if you want their right to life respected, you had better vote for full funding of the needs of their families, including respite care. If you are not, your sentiments are hollow.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "....\"\u201cThe Spirit guides us towards the entire truth,\u201d\"....\n\nThat attitude sums up the basic division seen in these disqusions. \n\nFor some, the fullness of truth is always something to be achieved. We can only understand so much at any given time \u2013 in our own individual life, and throughout history as well. Our understanding can always be improved. That is what the Church is all about. That's why we are Catholic. We see the limitations of the past, and why we need to grow. \n\nFor others, the Spirit guarantees that whatever was said and decreed in the past is 'the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth'. If it was said, it cannot be changed. And that is why they remain Catholic, secure that they have 'the fullness of truth' guaranteed by the gift of the Holy Spirit to protect the Apostles and their Episcopal successors forever. Amen. No change is possible. If it was once said, it must always be said.\n\nTest \u2013 what is your concept of 'Original Sin'? Does it need to change?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Greetings...the blessings of the +HolySpirit+ are being showered upon all Christians, and also being accepted as well.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Don't bother I found your video of the Dearborn Michigan bakery. By the way, I did not support the suit against the Oregon bakery and I would not do so. Not everything rises to a level of criminal charges, which mostly just makes the conflict worse. It could have been a teaching opportunity and a chance to build relationships.\n\nI am not a litigious person and have never sued anyone nor did my parents. Not when another child cost me my eye, not when another person destroyed my knee, not when my brother was hit by a car, not when my wife's cancer was misdiagnosed, her cancer went untreated for a year and she died. \n\nThere is the law, there is right and wrong, there is compassion and forgiveness, They are not the same thing.\n\nI've written about Muslim religious bigotry many times, including the faith based values on the role of women and the despicable treatment of gays. We don't throw out Christians for those reason, we shouldn't bar immigration for it either.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\" He was a priest from 1965 to 1969\"\n\nAnyone really surprised?\n\nYes, Euthanasia is moving across the land because people have no grounding, no depth, operate with virtually no absolute truths.\n\nNot only are there Catholics who know NOTHING about why the Church prohibits suicide and assisting in someone's suicide, but there are many tens of millions of Americans who reject Naturla Law, one principle of which is they must protect life!\n\nWe've aborted by the zillions, what's to cause pause at Euthanasia. Easy peezy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I never go to an Anglican or Lutheran or Baptist forum, call myself a \"dissident (name of denomination)\", and then launch broadsides into their beliefs and attack the participants personally for adherence to their denomination. I refrain because it is not Christian and because it is not helpful to anyone.\n\nDo explain why you feel otherwise about doing the same thing.\n\nIt certainly doesn't speak to the Church's potential role in the healing the nation, although it does seem to say something about your own inability to play that role.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Now why would you suggest that? Fact is, I finished High School in Moose Jaw, and the only time I ever set foot inside Campion as a young man was for a single interview there before being accepted into the Jesuit novitiate in Guelph in 1962 (I left the Jesuits 8 years later.) \n\nIf you are interested in Jesuit things, here's a story you might enjoy:\nhttp://www.cchahistory.ca/journal/CCHA1978/Hogan.pdf\nI warn you that the article is long and detailed, but encapsulates a picture of Catholic Protestant antagonism in Canada during the first world war. \n\nToday, the novitiate property at the heart of this story is now an internationally important centre for Jesuit spirituality; and wonder of wonders, the protestant descendants of those who attacked the place in 1918 are now more frequent retreatants there that local lay Catholics! Go figure!.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "BROohthor, we are hearing that call for a more listening hierarchy and a more open church from different places, both inside the clerical/hierarchical church and outside from lay. BXVI and JPII did quite a job on silencing inquiry and centralizing power - creating a close minded church closed off from the world. Much good information coming out from the Australian Royal Commission in these last few weeks of their look at the CSA scandal in the Catholic Church, asking important questions about what in the culture of the Church added to the inability of the structural church to respond in a way that cared for victims and identified abusers so they could not abuse again. \n\nOn this issue, the Church needs to learn from society, from the outside world, just as they did when it came to slavery. A closed up church can't do that - they need lay people, married and single, male and female inside all the discussions on the Church in the world. Bishops synods without lay input are useless.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sister might have reflected on the fact that today is the Solemn Feast of the Nativity of St John the Baptist, the LAST prophet before Jesus.\n\nWe could turn St John's assertion into a useful aspiration (short prayers, repeated through out the day)\n\nHe said: He [Jesus] must increase, and I must decrease.\n\nHow have we help Jesus increase in our world today?\n\nHow have we made sincere acts of humility? How many?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There needs to be made clear a distinction between religious belief and cultural belief. \n\nThat Christ is the son of God (for example) is a religious belief; many Christians are opposed to homosexuality, but that's not a religious belief and should not be claimed as one.\n\nThe Talaq custom is not based on religious belief and should be outlawed because it's a gross violation of due process.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My condolences for the loss of your dear loved one. We are not beyond God\u2019s mercy, based on Jesus\u2019 shed blood. Luke 23:43 Jesus said: \u201cTruly I tell you today, you will be with me in Paradise.\u201d (a better place) May Jesus words comfort you in your grief and recovery for your loved one.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I appreciate your comment.\nAt the moment of death we will all find ourselves solus cum solo, alone with him who is alone.\nWe will be judged by how well we believed in and embraced his gospel, his good news, and to what extent we lived it out in this world, but to do these things means to be fearless in teaching the truth both in season and out of season.\nWere we kind to the poor and the marginalized?\nDid we give to those in need not only out of our abundance but out of our substance?\nDid we speak the truth to the extent that both our hearts and the hearts of those who heard us were changed?\nWe live in a time of timidity in the Church in which the pastoral is set in opposition to the doctrinal. \nOur Lord never intended it to be so. As was true with John the Baptist and the Apostles, Jesus was never afraid to speak a truth that would cut to the heart of his listeners.\nGod does not tolerate sin and we must be diligent in rooting sin out of our own lives, giving that strength to others.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well I believe any teaching or dogma that no one has disputed is true, among the Bishops, would hold- such as the divinity of Christ, as the Son of God. Any dogma long held as true without any disagreement of bishops and then voted on unanimously as infallible could hold too. By and large both popes and bishops try to avoid making official infallible dogma determinations even on things they truly believe are absolutely true for the very reasons which you gave. Why pin yourself to something that strongly when it is not necessary and most people and bishops are in agreement without going infallible. No one wants the mistake of declaring things infallible that maybe God didn't want and then have to face God later on.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If we were to take an informal survey of Christology, I believe most Latin Rite Catholics would come down squarely on the side of Nestorius. A lot of theologians, too....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "and we know the ending of the story, don't we! amen, come Lord Jesus.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "from above --\n\nMSW, \nDo you recall The Dirty wars, how about The Chicago Five, what about democratically elected President Jean-Bertrand Aristede of Haiti A Jesuit priest who acted on behalf of the Haiti peoples, Pappa Doc Duvalier and Baby Doc and the Tons Tons Macoutes terror squads, what about Sr. Dorothy Kazel and her lay companion Jean Donovan and srs. Ita Ford and Maura Clarke - missionaries and Arbp. Oscar Romeroa, and Sr. Dianna Ortiz, etc,etc. \nI was on local talk radio and said that neither the church nor the GOP were about Pro-life but only about anti-abortion. (I said Popes JPII and BXVI did much death and destruction. A caller immediately ranted: what about abortions - what about abortions - what about abortions. \nIn affect this person was claiming that they could do ANYTHING because of abortions. That is HUGE false logic. \nIn College Catholic Philosophy the priest professor told us that one cannot use ignoble means to achieve a goal -- any goal. That increases evil.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hey Fedup808. Grew up with this guy. He was the guy that my parent did not allow me to play with. Chris was not popular. He was small, had no girlfriends and was a sneaky, squirrelly little guy. I think he like to surf and played little league. He taught me how to play poker and I never won a single hand. Go figure. He got into drugs in early high school and he dropped out of sight. I guess that is when he became god. His brother Bruce and sister Penny were wacked out on acid. Not a very nice person when I knew him in the mid 60's. Is he still in Hawaii? I would like to go and worship at his feet and drink his holy water. Chris had no religious believes or Christian values when he was young. I guess he got attracted to Hari Krishina and became a celebrity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Funny how US law has become both a formidable obstacle to the entire Catholic church in the USA, as well as an umbrella of wishful protection for the USCCB! Insignificance? Not hardly! This \"God's law trumps\" talk Is a sign from heaven that the so-called \"Religious Right\" and their friends have NO clue!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "> Christ did not establish the \"Roman Catholic\" church ... there was no Magisterium, etc., etc.\n\nPerhaps you should take your own advice and do that research. The word Magisterium is simply the teaching authority of the Church (\"He who hears you, hears me\") in which the Holy Spirit guides (\"I will give you a mouth and wisdom\"). So even if you believe the Roman Catholic Church is something different than the early Church, there is no denying that the early Church had this teaching authority and thusly, a Magisterium.\n\n> Use of the internal forum is entirely consistent with Christ the Redeemer's gospel of mercy\n\nNot when that internal forum does not reflect the will of God, which is what we routinely see from the faithful who try to discern God's will without proper formation. Idolatry, abortion, euthanasia, and adultery are all justified as God's will due to a misguided understanding of mercy. Mercy without justice is just good intentions. Good intentions do not justify evil acts.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I get your point, but it's beside the point. \"The generalized response\" is another thing entirely from the question of why God abides the massive suffering inflicted by nature itself. Why does the God of Christianity, who Jesus said was conscious of the number of hairs on every person, and to whom every person is valuable, appear indifferent to human misery? APatrick is simply restating an ancient theological conundrum. The Church explains these evils exist because the world is fallen due to a primordial act of disobedience, an absurd proposition to any modern person.\n\nOf course the heroic activities of ordinary people in response to calamity is wonderful. You may say that their selflessness is a reflection of the love of God. But it doesn't explain the fact that the natural world can be a cruel and terrifying place and that, if the cosmos is an expression of God's will, that God wills it to be so.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well we need to be discussing women priests not deacons anyway. The people and priests of the church need to let all of their cardinals and this pope know that \"No\" to human justice in our church will not stand any longer. We will fight for change! No matter who they put in but it makes things harder for the pope if he continues to replace injustice minded cardinals with other injustice minded cardinals. \n\nSin and abuse only prevail as long as the people are willing to put up with it. Many women and men and priests have had it with sexism in our church. Many are speaking openly against this misogyny in church and need to do so more and more and protest more and more. We need to fight any form of optional celibacy for priests until women are being ordained priests because this is the next form of inhumanity the church is considering against women - outright gender segregation with a decoy of justice and useless permanent deaconate being offered to women. JUST SAY NO!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It goes without saying that institutions like the church are slow to accept change - or the need for it. That said, I wouldn't sweat it in this case. The ingesting of consecrated hosts is a symbolic act. I know, I know ... purists, literalists will say it ain't so - that the little piece of bread actually underwent some physical metamorphosis. \n\nIf you put your hands out, accept the host, and quietly stick it in your pocket, I don't think God will be put out. (The priest might but that's his problem.)\n\nSame goes for not sticking your fingers in holy water. Studies show 86% of the time it contains fecal matter. \n\nBeing a good Catholic doesn't mean you have to abandon all reason.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Call me a hopeless optimist, but I don't see the demise of the church in our future. One of the best homilies I ever heard was from a priest in a former parish many years ago. He made the point that we had historically survived truly evil popes and all sorts of awful scandals and were/are still standing. It was very affirming to hear him admitting lots of sins in our institutional past, yet reminding us that Christ still bears with us. He did, after all, promise to be with us always.\n\nOur hope IMHO lies in the many really good priests as well as wonderful, loving lay people in our midst. Most of the priests I've known labor ceaselessly in their efforts to bring the Gospel to life for us in the pews. As for the bishops, I've had issues with many of them but have to admit they have a near impossible job, and they are worthy of mercy as well as the rest of us.\n\nDoesn't mean that we shouldn't work for effective change!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As an agnostic, I find your religious bigotry and language offensive. I also disagree with your idea that you have some right to object to what anyone gives their own money to support just because you do not support it. \n\nThat is pure arrogance. \n\nThat very attitude toward other Jews resulted in the Holocaust, one of the nastiest events in human history based entirely on scapegoating and hatred of those who had different views. \n\nHave you read enough of Descartes to get to his Causal Adequacy Principle?\n\n\"So, in the end, Descartes claims to have deduced God\u2019s existence from the intuitions of his own existence as a finite substance with the idea of God and the Causal Adequacy Principle, which is \u201cmanifest by the natural light,\u201d thereby indicating that it is supposed to be an absolutely certain intuition as well.\n\nPerhaps you need to re-read all of his works. He maintained his Catholicism based on the above Principle.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This struggle between progressive and conservatives Catholics is not new. It has been going on, at least since the days of Vatican II, if not before. The progressives wanted to implement Vatican II, while the conservatives did everything possible to prevent its implementation.\n\nWhen Pope Francis issued Laudato Si, the conservatives catholics tried to insinuate that it was not an applicable document.\n\nWhen Pope Francis said that he wants the Bishops to get out with the people and smell like the sheep, the conservative catholics rebelled. \n\nIt was apparent form the Pope's selection of Cardinals that he meant what he said about a pastoral Bishop. Maybe that is why +Chaput was passed over.\n\nThis debate will continue for a long time. The only hope is that individuals on both sides can be rational and not use loud harmful rhetoric to describe their position.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Anglicans could help promote unity -- assuming we even need that -- by ceasing for once and all time to ordain women.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Even Scalia believed that a judge should look first to the law. For example, he said \u201cIf I thought that Catholic doctrine held the death penalty to be immoral, I would resign\u201d.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Both sides\"? The Republican party has orchestrated, schemed, and operated for decades to destroy the Constitutional Republic and all human rights contained therein. From the Nixon resignation to the Koch/Billionaire Texas/Okie Oil Barons creation of ALEC, to the same groups funding the Jerry Falwell el.al. Televangelists propaganda machines, Same groups creating CONservative \"think\" tanks for propaganda creation, to packing the Supreme Court, illegally invading Iraq, to Citizens United traitorous Scalia Gang of Five Roman Catholics unleashing the billions to fix the elections, to actually fixing the elections through Republican voter purging and computer rigging. The Republican Terrorist Traitor Party owns Trump and all of evil spewing forth in every branch of government. Time for a Revolution.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, I'm familiar with that 6+ year-old piece. Russell Saltzman, a Lutheran who claims \"to have no ax to grind with the Catholic church,\" describes in some detail an interface he once had with SNAP, which was apparently not up to his legal standards. He may have been lucky not to have been cited for the unauthorized practice of law! His legal judgments are, to say the least, questionable, even if he was, or is, a lawyer (not mentioned in the article, which is below par even for First Things!).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thanks for leaving Christ in Christmas.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Cardinal Dolan is on RECORD, GUSHING over bho, and I was sickened. I sent an email to the NYC Diocese, and told his \"gatekeeper\"--some woman-- the Cardinal didn't speak for me, and that I had lost every drop of respect I ever had for him. Her response was catty but fully expected. The love of my life is Jesus. Not this Cardinal, nor this Pope, can ever separate me from Jesus.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "as a former catholic of 12 years in catholic schools. the church is nothing more than a money machine! when my mother died from breast cancer in 1985 her one wish was to have her last mass in the church my parents helped every weekend for 6 years to build and because she moved to be closer to the hospital they refused to do it unless we paid them 1000 dollars! i left the church for the hypocrites they were! this bishop is no different! catholics are leaving the church more and more every year and all they have is people coming from south america and central america! you have no clue of real life or what god and jesus really wanted! all they asked is you believe in them and follow them and you do not need a building or pay someone to teach you about them as they are in your heart!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The expectation, or at least one expectation, in Messianic times was that God would establish a kingdom on Earth. The imperial oppressors of Israel would be vanquished, the twelve tribes would be reunited, and all would be well. It's clear from Paul's letters and the synoptics that the earliest Christ followers believed the Day of the Lord would occur in their lifetimes. As the Parousia was ever delayed, the kingdom relocated from of this world to not of this world.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The so-called Iran Nuclear deal was negotiated by Iran, US (Obama), EU, Russia, China and UN. The deal was signed as a treaty by all parties, and entered into the UN as international law. The UN has responsibility to supervise and inspect to ensure full compliance. \n\nThe UN experts group have repeatedly reported that Iran has fully, 100%, complied with the deal. Even the U.S. Sec. of Defense and State has said Iran complied. The deal is UN law, treaties of sovereign states, and cannot be cancelled without all parties agreeing including Iran.\n\nNo matter. Trump hates Iran and does not like its 'spirit'. He want to pull out so that he can impose draconian economic sanctions, do a military invasion. Even Israel-Iran hatred of each other do not come this far. Such is the stupidity of the man. Maybe Trump wants Iran to be Christian?\n\nBut there is another hatred from Trump. He hates Obama and his accomplishments even more than Iran and has devoted his entire presidency to destroy it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sigh....\n\nTypical liberal. Sir, the point is NOT what pleases me, but what God has commanded. If they are pleasing to God, then by definition they would have received Baptism in some form.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wow. I think 80% is too high. Over the years, the vast majority of the priests I have known are Jesuits. From that experience I have trouble accepting 50% as a reasonable number. Unless Jesuits are different (or my gaydar is defective), our experiences just do not jibe. Well Jesuits may well be different, but not so much in that way!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Eugene,\n\nThank you for asking that \"elephant in the room\" question of \"What are we known for being FOR, or for actually DOING?\" because it is going to make a lot of Adventists very uncomfortable. Why? Because, as you've pointed out, we're not giving the world a powerful and compelling example of applied Christianity for others to emulate. \n\nMy family and I had the blessing of meeting Desmond Doss on several occasions and I can tell you that he stands tallest in the memories of my children as a positive role model. We need a multitude such positive role models who are making a difference in our world in a variety of ways. We need people who are recognized for applying their faith to improving the lives of others as Jesus did instead of just talking theology that is theoretical because it doesn't change then or anyone else.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And, just as expected, it's quite alright to slag Catholics on these pages. Civil Comments, yeah sure.\n\n1 poster made a sneering reference is very poor taste 'bout Catholics on another thread, and as predicted, rather than apologizing for something made in poor taste just to slag me, that poster doubled down. Who me? No way. It's the victim who can't take a joke, takes things the wrong way. It's always that way, that's what bullies do, they blame others, their fault.\n\nEven had another poster rush to his defence. Wasn't that just precious? Strength in #s.\n\nCoulds done the proper thing, coulda taken the high road, but no, easier just to feign innocence.\n\nThat's fine, no problem, just hope it's OK to do likewise back at that person, some would say he's a bigot, but I won't go there. A withdraw woulda sufficed, but apparently it's the Catholics fault.\n\nI guess it's OK to use somebody's religion to make a joke and their fault if they can't take the joke.\n\nPretty low, man, pretty low", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"But God doesn't interfere with human government, organization of cultural or social understanding. \"\nOK, so now that you've dispensed with the OT, the Christian mystery, the conversion of Paul, and anything with the trappings of what we know of Christianity, I see your point. And you suggest that I have an odd concept of theology :-).\nIs this, really, the argument you want to make? Because it appears that this is the argument you are making.\nAgain, \"Father\" isn't specifically the gender but the relationship. Neither you nor I can change the fact that this is how Jesus referred to The First Person of the Holy Trinity, personal preference notwithstanding. The fixation on the gender in gendered titles hinders growth. I think that you reflect God no less than I despite the name \"Father\". It seems to me that in seeking some imagined \"balance\" in how we refer to God we turn the focus away from God and toward ourselves.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm not a religious fanatic by any stretch of the imagination, but the end of days must be near if tRump is running for the presidency and his only message to gullible voters is that he and he alone can fix the world's problems. The Bible says that in the last days, the anti-Christ will rise and seduce man into believing he's the only one that can fix whatever needs fixing. Yep, sounds like the end of time is near.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Amen. The failure of the USCCB and most individual bishops to address the key issues of our day with any moral clarity is a tragic failure. The moral authority of the institutional church is diminished to almost nothing. There is an ever-increasing river of people flowing out of the church, searching for community and spiritual leadership elsewhere.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think HC is referring to National Catholic Reporter - he apparently doesn't care for the opinions here posted that disagree with his.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There were a few thousand people enjoying a wonderful gathering on the park strip: community laughing, hugging, visiting old friends, making new friends. A few thousand: acceptance and supportive. And four (two left after about an hour), two who were unhappy and were shouting their misunderstanding of community in general and of Christianity specifically. Several times members from the real community surrounded the lone shouters to sing, hold up flags and signs and cheer. There may have been a small, brief encounter - but there were hundreds who would like to have chased them off but just smiled. The news is focusing on the wrong thing. It was an incredible event with 150 booths, music, dancing, laughter and good feelings. In the end love and real community always win. I am proud of Anchorage - it was a beautiful coming together! Were there two dissenters there? I feel sorry for them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You apply to days rules on people living over 100 years ago, how brave of you. We had to abolish slavery who is the we? I will tell you, in the Uk is was almost totally led by moral concerned Christians, who were dumping their morals on others, the inconvenient truth.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Technically, He doesn't. We condemn ourselves by refusing the offer of His grace to repent. But Christ taught that few find the narrow road, when asked if many would be saved. He is just and holy. His mercy is for our repentance, not a free pass to continue in grave sin.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I prefer to have my bible read to me by the Priest, and then explained by him. Its what Jesus would have wanted.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A Catholic site might not be the best place to argue against environmental issues. As for the plan itself, it spurs a lot of development in clean power and there are far more people working in clean power than the coal industry. It also attempts to remedy a host of other problems associated with fossil fuels. Basically, Trump is trying to pour perfume on a pig, the pig being fossil fuels. It may not smell like a pig but it's still a pig.\n\nMeanwhile, we've just completed a new $1.85 billion project adding new 345 kV power lines to bring the energy being created by our new wind plants to market. All part of the development spurred by the plan you mention. Those a jobs too...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus is a special case. It's like pointing to QueenVictoria in a discussion of the status of women in 19th century England.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So the whole thing is about a battle for money and power. If the public board considers a school uneconomic, the Catholic board opens a school to scoop up the students and funds. What is needed in Saskatchewan (and Ontario) is to eliminate all religious-based schools and school boards from public funding. That would lead to both efficiency of scale and equity of treatment.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You're right. In the early days there were only bishops. Only they had sacramental powers. They celebrated a meal together, but because there were no priests, there was no Eucharist unless a bishop was present to change bread into the body of Christ. Sharing a meal in Christ's memory does not make a Eucharist. Can. 900 \u00a71 says \"The minister who is able to confect the sacrament of the Eucharist in the person of Christ is a validly ordained priest alone.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Answer to first paragraph: NO.\n\nA lay person who can celebrate Mass is an oxymoron. A lay person who can celebrate Confession, Anointing of the Sick, and Confirmation is an oxymoron. The ability to celebrate these sacraments by definition, presupposes the valid reception of the Ministerial Priesthood. \n\nBy definition, a priest is a lay person who has received the Sacrament of Holy Orders. AS such, they are no longer lay. A lay priest makes as much sense as a lay deacon or a lay bishop. There is no such thing.\n\nThe Sacraments of Baptism and Marriage can be celebrated by a lay person in theory, but not the other Sacraments.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"\"He neither quotes nor rescinds present church teaching. This lack of clarity is not helpful as each side can quote the pope to underline their own position.\"\n- How does a Jesuit say: \"Talk among yourselves and let me know what you decide. The door is open.\"\n- Archbishop Francis, in effect, is guiding the church to bring its traditions into balance and at the same time letting her let go of the barnacles that look like tradition but really are ways to sink the ship or at least to slow it down so that more barnacles might adhere.\n- The Eucharist is both food and medicine. Many in the institutional church forget that those that need it the most have been kept from it.\n- Jesus does not need humans to be sinless in order to be with him -- he has redeemed us. That is, the Eucharist is not a reward for sinlessness. but what we need to grow as children of God.\n- The guidelines, were there to be any, should be simply: come and receive.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1. This meeting wasn't completely divorced from Amoris Laitia. \"Speaking at the conference are Professors Nicolas Warembourg and Cyrille Dounot, two of the 45 Catholic academics who last June submitted an appeal to the Dean of the College of Cardinals in Rome requesting a repudiation of erroneous propositions they found in Pope Francis\u2019 exhortation Amoris Laetitia.\" (lifesitenews.com)\n2. More importantly, \"A BIG INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE will be held in Rome on Saturday, April 22. 'Bring clarity,' the same title-appeal with which 4 cardinals made public their 'dubia' on the most controversial points of Amoris Laetitia. Presentations will be given by scholars gathered from all over the world .... The distinctive element of the conference is that all of the presentations will be given by laymen, DEMONSTRATING THAT THE CONTROVERSY THAT DIVIDES THE CHURCH TODAY IS BY NO MEANS EXCLUSIVE TO A 'FEW' REACTIONARY ECCLESIASTICS. (magister.blogautore.espresso.repubblica.it", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Please remind me ... was this hierarchy of laws presented in Jesus' sermon on the mount? Or is it simply a self-evident Truth?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Judas returned his payment to the priests in the Matthew 27 account -- so regrets? There are far more passages that indicate Jesus had forgiveness than not, in fact, forgiveness is in my view the major theme of the Gospel. Why would you think Judas was a greater sinner than me or you, and less forgivable?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But there is the \"sensum fideli\" that leads us through the Holy Spirit. Can we hear Her voice now?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "--I find these \"monied ministries\" to be troubling. That said, they perform a truly honorable and valuable service at the Cathedral of Christ the Light in Oakland, CA:https://www.yelp.com/biz/order-of-malta-oakland-clinic-oakland-", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What are you talking about? Cultural conservatives thought Catholics were 100% antagonistic to American culture. Remember....\n\n\"Those Catholics don't want to assimilate. Heck, they want to even start their own schools! And their own colleges and universities. They want to impose rosaries, apparitions, celibacy, Latin, and Bingo on the established American culture. They don't even want their people to marry WASPS, the 'real' cultural conservatives. Catholics have 'blacklists' of all-American books and films. Their pope has even condemned Americanism. They don't believe in freedom of the press or in the separation of church and state. They won't allow their people to worship with us on Sunday morning, calling it a grave sin to do so.\"\n\nYou are so wrong---they did NOT want to adopt American mores and culture. Immigrant Roman Catholics were the Muslims of their time to social conservatives.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't need facts, I have my opinions. From those, I can fill in the blanks, and thus condemn all who do not do what I like, and further support my condemnation with my understanding/opinion of history and the teachings of Christ. It greatly simplifies matters.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "DD I don't know the answer. Maybe that person had a problem. Maybe they 'believed' in Mrs. White. It would all depend on how they introduced you to her, wouldn't it? Is she a good Christian writer or the oracle of God? Is she a helpful commentator or an interpreter of scripture?\n\nEverybody around here (except me) calls her the co-founder of the Seventh-day Adventist church - but she never called her self that. Ellen White is pretty easy to take if you look past her faults and weak points. \n\nI write too much myself. I can sympathize with Mrs. White's hypergraphia. We all should listen more and talk less. But I can't help myself. Especially when it comes to something Erv wrote.\n\nAs to agreeing with Warren, what, I am a lunatic?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I always interpreted that exchange as indicating that Jesus was in support of the notion of the separation of church and state, which protects both the church and the state.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Better a \"real hoot\" in the confessional than a smirking high priest in a cappa magna.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Now I read the comment. Yes, I expect that those who find home in Francis will agree with it. This Church does a lousy job of comforting at least some of the oppressed (gays) and oppressing the comfortable (the rich). Of course, I can relate, because I am Romany, i.e., Samaritan. The Gays are the new Samaritans. Do you listen to what Jesus really says or just to proof text your traditional views?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No. You need to look at your \"notes\" and/or do check out available resources on the net, including the National Catholic Reporter. \"You can't make this stuff up.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You come way too close to the Eucharist as a feat and product of incantation and magic, rather than the pinnacle of intimate relationship with Jesus. Do you really think Jesus checks each presider's ordination credentials at every mass, or does He fulfill His promise that He is present when we gather in His name to remember Him in bread and wine? All these past centuries of Luthern, C of E, Presbyterian, and other Protestant congregants have been without Jesus' real presence because their ministers havent been validated by Rome? \n\nThis thinking makes Jesus way too small, petty and limited by institutionalized conformity and negates both the promises of Jesus Himself as well as the infinite power of God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Boff, who called Burke the \"Donald Trump of the Catholic church.\" But unlike Trump, Boff said, Burke has now been \"sidelined\" in the Roman Curia.\"\n\nI think this is unfair to Donald Trump. The Donald dresses much more modestly than Ray Burke. I've never seen tRump wear the Baroque era silk and lace outfits that Burke wears.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You seem to be familiar with the Amish or Mennonite belief system. What part of their belief systems are in violation of Canadian belief systems? I suspect that you are stereotyping both with little knowledge of either, particularly since you seem to lump Amish and Mennonites together when they are vastly different. You wouldn't be able to tell many Mennonites apart from Catholics or mainstream Protestants, at least from a visual perspective.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So, healing from your perspective involves the Catholic Church altering its teaching?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I can think of far more priests who would rejoice that there was more help available and welcome back their clerical brothers with open arms. I often wonder if some of you actually place the continued existence of the all male celibate priesthood above the availability of the sacraments. If you do, you are placing mere religious disciplines as superior to the entire spiritual mission of the Church as given by Jesus Christ. That is truly putting the golden cart in front of very tired horse.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, actually, the Catholic church is seeing steady growth in membership numbers. \n\n\"... the Catholic population continues to grow in real numbers and remains steady, at about 25 percent, as a portion of the U.S. population.\n\nAs in the past, the growth is due to a continuous influx of immigrants. Today, they aren't white Europeans; they are mostly Hispanic but also include significant numbers of Catholics from Africa, Asia and the Pacific Islands.\"\n\nFor more, see: https://www.ncronline.org/books/2017/02/social-scientists-connect-dots-catholic-future", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your words drew from me an honest, reasonable reaction. You expressed no basis at all to for the accusation that \"he wants to impose the beliefs of the Catholic and Evangelical Churches.\" If such an extreme accusation is unfounded, why is it not aptly called \"hysterical\"? And since your assertion directly implies that a Catholic justice is not acceptable, why would one not accuse you of a 'non-inclusive\" approach to judicial appointments? Why is that \"decent\"? I play to no audience, and so far as I know, I have none other than those who respond to what I write.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In Roe Chapter IX, the Court found no evidence that would guide them on when personhood begins. Indeed, when there were only midwives, abortion was not illegal, regardless of what the Church thought of it, and the Catholic Church had no say in the Federal period. The 14th Amendment specifies birth or naturalization for citizenship, although born aliens have due process rights as well. In Chapter X, the Court recognized the rights of those who could be born as if they were, with notable exceptions that are very rare. No one just has an abortion because they change their minds about parenthood in the third trimester.\n\nGonzalez v. Carhart extended jurisdiction to Congress in cases of partial birth abortion, operating under the Commerce Clause. It would have been better had they cited the 14th Amendment provisions allowing Congress to enforce the 14th Amendment, which would include expanding personhood to earlier in pregnancy. Note that this case was a stalking horse to repeal Roe.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In Ontario, Catholics have the own schools and school boards, and are funded by all taxpayers. Sad.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "John Hobson, I think the relationship between the churches is more nuanced. While Leo XIII is still in place, as it were, Cardinal Kasper (at the 2008 Lambeth Conference, online) best articulated where the CC is in relation to the Anglican Church, noting that Rome has taken a more Orthodox position regarding Anglican orders, suggesting that the validity of orders does not depend simply on the fulfillment of certain technical conditions regarding correct matter, form and intention, but depends more on the broader, more substantive issues (i.e., woman's ordination, understanding of certain teachings, etc.). To just focus on Leo's XIII's pronouncement (merely technical issues) isolates the problem of valid orders.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The issues are addressed ad nauseam to deaf ears.\n\nAs for \"common modus operandi,\" you might ask the Jewish journalists and bloggers who were deluged with antisemitic hate mail and tweets from Trump supporters during the course of the campaign. Or Leslie Jones, the victim of a racist twitter barrage inspired by Milo Yiannopoulos, whose fanboys are all aflutter in his defense over at Breitbart, the former stomping grounds of President Trump's Chief Strategist and senior advisor Steve Bannon. Just for starters.\n\nAs it happens, here in the USA there's been a rash of threats against Jewish institutions and vandalism at Jewish graveyards during the past few weeks. Still Trump supporters wrap themselves in the myth of white innocence and insist their man's demagoguery, and the antisemitism of the alt-right, had nothing to do with it.\n\nSince your m.o. is to wonder out loud how anybody not an SSPX fellow traveler could ever consider themselves Catholic, I'd say your indignation is comical.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"What makes you think that the church should NOT run society?\"\nWhen God makes a personal appearance to confirm the stories we're told by self appointed \"leaders\" THEN I will take them seriously.\nUntil that happens then it's all fake news.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What Oregon has done legally with votes of the people about assisted suicide is irrelevant. \n\nFive old people in Washington D. C. can decide tomorrow that assisted suicide is Unconstitutional.\n\nThey just did it for a couple years ago for Oregon's Anti-Gay Marriage statute; no State statute is safe. \n\nAre you aware that of the eight (8) Justices on the Court today there are five (5) Catholics and three (3) Jewish? \n\nBoth faiths are against suicide. \n\nGorsuch was raised Catholic and attends an Episcopalian Church in Colorado.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Here is his Facebook page with the video. The fetus is very large, so I doubt it is from an elective abortion, I would guess it is either a fake or from a miscarriage . Either way this beyond the pale and he should be relieved of priestly ministry and removed from Priests for Life. There should be a complete audit of the organizations finances and the IRS should investigate for partisan politicing. I also think that Rome should launch an investigation into the supposedly Catholic and supposedly pro-life groups in the USA. \n\nhttps://www.facebook.com/fatherfrankpavone/videos/10153796897720670/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"... closing the doors before we even listen to the circumstances and the people ...\". Maybe the doors will have to be closed. There may be no one still inside. How many parishes have been closed already?\n\nThe pope is offering a solution to welcome people back. His own hierarchy is not listening. Farrell needs to put his words into action quickly. At least he is saying the right words.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do you deny that both JP II and B XVI, collectively championed the Council's false notions of religious liberty, ecumenism, and collegiality,: or the dogma that the Old Covent is superseded? Do you not recall JP II presiding over numerous blasphemous \"inculturated\" Masses? Do you not recall the kissing of the koran or removing the shoes in the mosque? Do you not recall the abominable \"inter-faith\" meetings at Assisi? Do you not recall Card. Ratzinger talking about \"razing the Catholic bastillions\", or being forced to re-write part of his post doctoral thesis because it waxed of modernism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And more btw...How do you find my comments so quickly? I have been bouncing from story to story today, and each comment pretty much immediately has a smiley face from you....I mean, I am flattered by the instantaneous attention - but seriously. How do you do it? Is there a way to follow posters here??\nObviously there is a conspiracy against those of us who Stand Strong in Support of the One True Church. We are being tracked by those who attack Mother Church, and our Honest, Selfless, and Righteous Posts are attacked, our character impugned, our claims of honesty debunked. I myself find many of my posts attacked by one person in particular. It is distressing. Perhaps someone can invoke the CC and silence those who stalk us!!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The four Cardinals are legitimising their treason with reference to a piece of church legalism from the early 1300's. They should then be punished using the common punishments meted out at that time. (Clement V did send a group of 'inquisitors' to England to 'interview' some uppity Catholics at that time.) Torture and branding (disfigurement) were common but lesser \npunishments were also used. \n\nThe one which would be most suitable in this case - executing them would probably be on the severe side - would be the 'commode'. Transgressors were stripped and tied to a toilet then dragged around the village. The four Cardinals would surely then see that it is good that legislation evolves and changes as people do. Francis does have the duty to teach.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It wouldn't surprise me if the Roman Curia was actually secretly cheering on the exodus of young (and not so young) Catholics from the U.S. Church.\nAfter all, the Church in developing countries is growing, full of Catholics who are FTTM (Faithful to the Magisterium), revere priests, and hang off every nonsensical utterance emanating from the Curia.\nNo, thinks the Curia, we can do without these reforming voices from the English-speaking world; glad to be rid of them! Can't wait until we can reduce the whole of the U.S. to just one diocese (with Raymond Burke as its head).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Scripture is ambiguous about what Jesus did and didn't know at any particular point. Surely you don't believe that he was omniscient as a baby, do you?\n\nMore to the point, Jesus provided a model of honorable, courageous human living. If he didn't have to struggle with the same problems and deficiencies as the rest of us, that model would have been a sham.\n\nBelieve what you like. Just know that such a lofty Christology isn't what the Church teaches.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "First of all you do not really know how or why Cardinl M\u00fcller quashed the commission idea or even if he did. How do you know that the Pope didn't agree with him? So you brand him, your neighbour, your brother in Christ, a liar.\nSecondly where is your evidence that Cardinal M\u00fcller stopped the audit? By all accounts it was the Secretariat of State under Cardinal Parolin.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There's a difference between discrimination and affirmative action. One can argue the efficacy of the programs or the criteria for determining racial identity. But one cannot argue against the proposition that certain racial groups have historically suffered from discrimination, continue to suffer disproportionately by almost every social & economic criterion, and are therefore deserving of affirmative action. Although almost all immigrant groups (including Jews and white Catholics like the Irish and Poles) suffered discrimination, groups that were enslaved and or colonized (African-Americans, Native-Americans, Native-Hawaiians) suffered considerably more, so the burden on society to redress this harm is much greater. If you want to suggest that affirmative action be aimed through a means test that, surprise, surprise, just happens to target a disproportionate number of the most racially repressed groups, fine. I, for one, DO want my tax dollars to help those who were discriminated", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bear in mind that John Hobson has helpfully reminded us in the past that we \"can never go against our conscience\". \n\nAnd this is an important and relevant matter. \n\nAnd so, his point gives faithful Catholics strong reasons for not \"going along with and supporting the activities\" of immorality.\n\nJohn would support Catholics who make this hard call in order to \"follow their conscience\" as he has told us in the past, many times. \n\nWe should thank John for his past reminders.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "While the religious liberty issue deserves attention, I can't understand why immigration doesn't take much more of a priority with many of the bishops especially in view of the demographic changes in the Catholic population, the xenophobic rhetoric of the Administration, the suffering of many young Catholic citizens who live in constant fear of separation from their parents, the new detention policies of the government, the inhumane treatment of the Central American children, and the focus of Pope Francis.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I predict that anyone who goes to church as a reaction to a partisan election -- regardless of which way it plays -- is not in for the long haul that hard identity Catholics commit to. So enjoy the little blip while it lasts, even if not until the next election.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "OMG! You are so hip! Is that your new band name, the \"Totally Freudian\"? An alternative could be the \"Totaled Freudians\" - a neo-Christian composite of former TV evangelists.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Perhaps because the priests aren't 'pushing' it. I've found it of great help in reaching out to those who were previously targeted by the 'virtuous.' It does mean though that the message has to hit home to Catholic communities. No more tutting or nudging in the pews. No more gossiping at the back door. Concentrate on our own morality and leave others alone to work out their relationship with God the way THEY see fit. Our role must be to welcome. Without that, there IS no Eucharist.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"while a majority [of Americans] fought for the light of Christ\".... \n\nNo. Absolutely not. This is still the USA, & neither Christ nor the majority of Americans are necessarily synonymous with truth in the USA.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well it appears that the rot - which was borne of the Stephen Harper reformist destruction of progressive conservatives - is thriving in its own waste within the ideals of the Conservative Party of Canada. Until such time that those on the right are able to define themselves to the satisfaction of Canadians as a party that is not a mash up of reformists, big tent evangelicals, social credit dinosaurs and progressives they will fail to amass the ability to govern with any credibility. This display of prophetic line drawing will only further rend any ability for progressive conservatives to find their place in the party. The fractures of the leadership race combined with this type of action will keep them in the hinterland for a generation - perhaps they deserve it; their legacy for faith in the western separatist ideals of a minority on the right.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wow, I did not realize how lost you were as well. Jesus apparently was able to foresee the betrayal of Judas, the denial of Peter, predict his death as well as his resurrection three days later, but somehow did not know if his ministry would continue after his death? He built his Church on Peter, who he knew would deny him three times, yet was not certain he would be followed after rising from the dead? Fr Martin's view is absolute heresy since Jesus was fully Divine and fully human.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"What, exactly, would a satanic school teach?\"\n.\nAmong other things, the philosophies and practices covered in The Satanic Bible. \n.\n\"And since when did satanists decide to join the real world?\"\n.\n1966\n.\nAs recently as last year, they were relevant to the issue when their literature was distributed to schools in Delta County in response to the same school board rule that allowed Bibles and other Christian literature to be distributed in those schools. As a result, the Delta school board rescinded that rule and ended the practice. \n.\nThe examples windbourne raised are not just realistic, but real. And whether either of you \"want\" it or not, there are schools here where Sharia is taught. The only issue is whether tax money is to be used for that purpose.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The problem here is that the parents didn't do enough formation early on, such that the mother's and father's love for and desire for the Eucharist was evident in the family atmosphere.\n\nChildren should sense our \"quickening\" to be with Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. \n\nNo supernatural outlook here. Dress and mere occasional words and simpleton mechanics, with the silly feminist message too.\n\nWhat a shame. No awe, no beauty, no mystery, no intimacy. \n\nFormation work done badly.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part 5\nI would invite them in their prayer to imagine they were approaching Jesus as their annulment tribunal judge. In prayer, what do they hear Jesus say?\n how does he vote in their case? bearing in mind everything they have learned about the process. \n\nIf they come back and say that they heard Jesus say Yes or a bit more vaguely Maybe; if they did not hear Absolutely No, then I would point out that they have come to the point where they must deal with the Primacy of their Conscience, now well informed, possibly in conflict with canon law and their own annulment case result. \n\nIf at this point they are content that Jesus would refuse their annulment, I would invite them to go forward in peace refraining from communion. \n\nBut if they were at this point leaning towards the notion that Jesus would have granted their annulment, their \"Catholic divorce\" I would take them to the next step in reflecting on scripture.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If all will be facing Jesus, the ones to His left will be to the right of the others.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "5/4/17 \"The Irish Catholic Church has assets valued at almost \u20ac4billion We totted up the total value of the schools, hospitals and services which are owned and controlled by religious orders in Ireland; schools owned by dioceses or parishes and not by religious orders...bringing the total up to \u20ac3.95bn.\" (thesun.ie)\n6/1/17 \"Among the five new cardinals, Jean Zerbo, Archbishop of Bamako in Mali, according to the French newspaper Le Monde, has been accused of embezzlement of funds and their transfer to Swiss bank accounts...a total amount of 12 million euros. The current treasurer of the bishops' conference, Abbot No\u00ebl Somboro, asserts - as reported by Le Monde - 'In any case, we have bank accounts in various parts of the world.'\"(lastampa.it)\n6/22/16 The Archdiocese of Munich and Freising has about 6.3 billion euros assets. Instead of criticizing this large sum, many organizations praise the diocese for its transparency in making the revelation. (sueddeutsche.de)\netc. etc.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When Trump and the bishops and the Right wing Catholic SCOTUS ends abortion does anyone actually think this disastrous mess of hate, viciousness and venom will end??? NO it won't end all of the hate coming from the Right and the Religious Right. Absolutely NOT - N.O.T. \nIF the American Catholic prelates try to undo their hate machine by talking about the common good or anything else like that They had better not expect any support from me. I see all oof the evil they have associated themselves with and I do NOT want to be a part of that.\nThat hate and worship of money and Trickle-down are the reasons why I stopped voting for any Repubs and will never do so again. But then that is a moot point anyway since they took away my vote after the 2007 election. \nTrump is correct, the election is rigged. It is rigged by the GOP and using their 15 election stealing strategies done by vote flipping and many other vote stealing voter suppression strategies. \nWWII - Hitler, now the Repubs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This comes as no surprise, and neither will the decision to restore the female diaconate be a surprise. Francis is crafty and bright. Notice how we are slowly, very slowly, moving along in the right direction where the church will one day be again the gospel-centered fellowship it was meant to be rather than a hierarchy-centered club that it had become. Francis doesn't do splashy things but allows time to peacefully and prayerfully unfold the Vatican II church that we were promised 50 years ago but had snatched away by the two you-know-whos. I think that even the total acceptance of gay marriage will be realized if not through the wisdom of Francis, then by his successor. And the icing on the cake will be the ministerial priesthood open to everyone. It all takes time. In Francis's pontificate it is important and necessary to read between the lines ... and wait ... wait ... wait. Perhaps that's why we need to celebrate Advent every year, so we can become a more patient people.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Before people get in a self-righteous fury, giving women the ability to study these subjects is NOT a waste in itself. But if the goal is getting them ordained in the Catholic Church, then it is because it is just not happening", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How can this be, when the popular vote is going to Hillary, and since 1972, Catholics have voted for the winner of every election but this one?\n\nSo there is no evidence that Catholics \"enabled\" Trump's victory. True, many pro life Catholics were excited by Trump's pro life stance, but correlation isn't causation. Pro life Catholics have always voted for the more pro life candidate....and there doesn't seem to be evidence that there are more pro life Catholics than Latino Catholics whose first priority is amnesty and open borders.\n\nHard to have dialogue when dealing with progressive claims made out of thin air, that sadly, a great many other progs up-voted here.\n\nBut here's some good news -- election is over, Hillary was utterly defeated, and Trump won! \n\nOh well, it makes me happy :)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Only in your alternative universe. Civil discussion requires that you, De Haas, come to a post with an open mind - do you ever do that? You sit in judgment via almost every post of yours. I would argue that catholic media has now reached a point in time that part of their responsibility and accountability is to not *enable* or provide a *platform* for certain folks to *take over* a comment section and effectively shut it down via their own skewed, wrong, and extreme views. Yes, from one view, this appears to be censorship - well, guess what, adult behaviors at times requires them to respectively shut down extremists. Responsible media need to name, explain, underline, and call out irresponsible posters - one issue that is not addressed is - how do we hold commenters to be accountable beyond removing their access? As we see here, folks such as you, De haas.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A very inaccurate and dismissive statement about Klan activities in Eugene back then. The RG was full of stories of Klan marches and various activities. They were almost exclusively focused on Catholics and managed to drive a number out of public office in Eugene, including the mayor, the sheriff and head of the school board, I believe. They also tried but fails to get the legislature to pass legislation that would have closed Sacred Heart Hospital in Eugene because it was run by the Catholic Church. And this was no rag tag bunch of ruffians. Many well known citizens actively participated. Lane county was pretty much the epicenter of Klan activity in Oregon. A truely ugly piece of local lore.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are correct in what you say. The issue is that the priesthood, like marriage, is a vocation, not just a career or job. Many Protestants do not see ministry as a vocation, they see it is a career or job. This is why it is so difficult for them to understand the Catholic priesthood. Comparing the priesthood with Protestant pastors or ministry is an apples to oranges comparison. \n\nIf the priesthood was just a career path, your point would be more valid. It isn't just a matter of balancing family life with a career--but trying to literally balance two vocations. In that sense the person is trying to serve two masters because he gave his life to two masters. It can be done--and has been done, and may be done again. That does not make it ideal. \n\nIt is not ideal because--again we are not talking about balancing family with career or job--but managing two vocations. A vocation is who you are, a career or job is what you do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A few years back, my wife was teaching School of Religion for Public School kids. There was a big uproar over whether a boy with Down's Syndrome should receive his first Holy Communion. Some argued that since he could not memorize the requisite prayers, he should not be eligible, others said that since he obviously could articulate his love for Jesus that he be allowed to. \n\nAfter several trips up and down the ecclesiastical flagpole, the pastor announced the decision that the little boy would be able to participate.\n\nCame the moment for practice receiving with unconsecrated hosts, \"Billy\" took the host out of his mouth and loudly exclaimed \"THIS ISN'T BREAD\"!\n\nIt's often been said, only half in jest, that it takes more faith to believe that what we are receiving is bread than to believe it is the actual Body of Christ.\n\nBy making a big whoop-dee-doo over this issue, the Hierarchy once again, as happens all too often, let theological correctness result in pastoral disaster.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "THIS IS SO WRONG!!\nI am a minority Bataknese currently living in Indonesia, i've previously lived in United States before. There are no such thing as minority especially christian prosecution occured here in Indonesia. We lived peacefully here, coexist among many differences. 20 years this guy lived in US had probably saved millions of Rupiah (our currency here) and arrived here i could guarantee that he's gonna live properously and peacefully. I am writing this cause i am very bothered by the news stating that my country is dangerous not safe. Harris, just go back here, you're not threathened at all, stop making false accusation that is only embarassing your country.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Resistance to Francis is quite simply resistance to temptation to sin. He insists hardly anything is a sin, except of course lack of regard for his pet projects. In addition to inviting people to sin, he is reckless of speech and intemperate to a point that raises questions about his stability. He is objectively dangerous, not just to the church, but to souls.\n\nAs to VatII, I predict it will rarely be mentioned once its shrinking cadre of cheerleaders are gone. Scholars can examine the staggering harm it did to the Catholic Church, but others will just move on, as many already have.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Evangelicals have historically opposed pornography and gambling. Trump appeared in Playboy magazine and has owned casinos. They decry secularization in our society, yet Trump does not regularly attend church. They oppose same-sex marriage, but Trump says he will not seek to overturn its legalization.\"\n\nThe so-called religious right made it clear once and for all with their support of Trump that moral values has little to nothing to do with their movement. When they support someone as amoral as Trump, they make it clear it is all about naked political power.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Would Trinity Western Christian University Law school be a good place to start?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus says to all - I AM the way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father, except by Me.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Old Testament says that both Enoch (Genesis 5:21\u201324) and Elijah (2 Kings 2:11) were taken into heaven body and soul. And isn't Mary more significant and holier than either Enoch or Elijah?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dear AnonAJ, BROohthor, I am proud to know and be a part of such sincere caring persons! After all, I see that Catholic religion served much on this earth!!!\nI always believed that who you are, serves God, church, this earth and people more then what you do/give!!! \nBoth of you are in my prayers!!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Many radical environmentalists can accurately be\nlabeled \u201cnature mystics.\u201d And many of them express\naffinity with religions they generally consider more\nnature-beneficient than occidental religions, such as those\noriginating in Asia such as Buddhism and Daoism,\nreligious beliefs or practices surviving among the world\u2019s\nremnant indigenous peoples, or being revitalized or\ninvented anew, such as PAGANISM and WICCA. Paganism\nand Wicca are considered to be (or to be inspired by) the\nAboriginal nature religions of the Western world, which\nhave been long suppressed by imperial Christianity and\nIslam.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is good for the soul to see the Catholic Church standing up to the Trumpites and their White Identity agenda.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of course the 'Temple Priesthood' ceased because the Temple was obliterated on 70 AD. Same as when the Exile happened. Replacement was the Synagogue and Rabbi system.\n\nMaybe the Catholic Church needs to let a new system evolve, also. We don't really have to wait until the old structures are destroyed by external forces.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And is not one of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, the gift of Wisdom. Sophia is a feminine name.\nIn the Book of Wisdom, in the Old Testament, WISDOM is referred to as SHE---throughout the entire book. The Holy Spirit has often been referred to as SHE, also.\n\nHowever, in both the book the Holy Spirit's name is Sarayu = Warm Wind.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not when people are going to Confession and venting their frustrations about:\n\n1) conventions\n2) the debates\n3) the anger on talk-radio, TV, in conversations\n4) disagreements with family members/friends/co-workers\n\nA number of the priests in our area made public [not private confessions by people] but the\ngeneral trend of Confessions from late summer until after the voting. This was said as part of homilies on week-ends.\nMore people expressed more personal frustrations with this particular year of voting than most priests have seen in 40+ years of hearing Confessions.\n\nI believe that there is more that the official church should have done.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are even more minuses.\n\n1. Difficulty for the bishop in assignments, degrees of freedom, ripping up families to post priests in outback parishes...favoritism.\n\n2. Higher costs.\n\n3. Split loyalties and difficulties (per the wise advice of St Paul).\n\n4. More opportunity for scandal..jealous wives - oppty for adultery, children issues, divorce!\n\n5.Taking away the example of \"total gift\" to God.\n\nMy experience is that most Deacons aren't all that well formed...we'd likely have \"weekend seminaries\" for PRIESTS not just Deacons. \n\nPriests need even more formation, and need to learn how to be more cheerfully sacrificing in the image of Jesus.\n\nWe need more gift from priests.\n\nAnd far more gift from lay.\n\nWe don't pray enough for priests, we don't sacrifice enough for priests (fast, acts of charity, small acts of denial offered up for this or that named priest). \n\nThe real source of the priest shortage..is the lay's lack of generosity in their own prayer and interior life.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What good aspirations are not well-served by Christ's commands (not to be confused with our church leader's commands)? \n\nAll Jesus Christ ever outright commanded was that we love God the Father, Almighty with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and treat no one any differently than we wish to be treated. Do not judge others or we will be judged ourselves. Help all others who ask and need our help, without bias against whoever those people may be. \n\nIf everyone did this, there would be no war, poverty, sexual violence, or any other violence, no oppression or terrorism. Sounds really good to me.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Cordileone wants a pure catholic identity and a very conservative seminary....a guy I know, excellent teacher there...told me about 6 months ago that the Cordileone was importing ultra conservative faculty and my friend didn't think he could stand it all that much longer..the personal life style of the students has tightened up rigorously ...think they only have one sat a month off...Much tougher oversight....I would think today's kids might want a different seminary experience....noted with interest that the Oakland Diocese apparently has students at Mt Angel, and a Spanish speaking Sem...as well as St Pats....Oakland apparently ordained three recently.\n\nCordileone does not appear to be able psychologically to NOT interfere...(reminds me of Trump).....and he is surrounded by a number of very conservative bishops as well.....\n\nNo thanks to Rome for this mess...and tough on the Bay Area....fortunately we have a lot of Jesuits and other Order guys.....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Apparently, Pope Francis disagrees with you because he has approved her appointment. I guess Francis agrees with me and disagrees with you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus didn't exist? virtually all historians disagree. www.is-there-a-god.info/blog/belief/what-do-the-leading-secular-historians-say-about-jesus/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One of the truly radical religious innovations of the early followers of Jesus that turned it into a potent weapon to subvert the Roman empire, was to turn the traditional social and religious hierarchy on its head, and embrace the poor and downtrodden (i.e., slaves). \"The last shall be first.\" In the ensuing two millennia, this doctrine has been turned on its head.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you can show a tradition of cardinals publicly questioning papal teaching, I'd probably agree.\n\nOr if you could show a tradition of Popes providing follow up explanations of their publications, I might go along with you.\n\nAt issue is the treatment of papal teaching as abstract, alienated teaching instead as the loving work of God. Women who believe God calls them, and people who believe women would serve them better than the men who have been ordained, question JP2's decision. The same people have no particular reason to question Francis' decision. OTOH, so called conservatives question Francis not for any personal reason, but because of some unquestionable knowledge they pretend to possess.\n\nIn any event, accusing the Pope of duplicity is the opposite of the behavior you suggested earlier, of unflaggingly thinking and studying his teaching.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think helping poor field workers get a fair shake from excessively wealthy landowners while seeing to their spiritual needs is a Godly pursuit. So is the fight for racial equality. The priests are here to serve the people. Similar to what Jesus preached.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh dear, I do wish this discussion of idears had not reached this point. How often it seems you simply resort to demanding that others grow up and making accusations. In any event, I do hope that the idears that have been discussed will benefit you in assessing your statements on this site and do indeed believe that we have fleshed out many of the issues that have lead to misunderstandings in the past. Certainly you have given a good example of what one would expect from a True Catholic who takes the teachings of the USCCB to heart. God bless!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "First, Fr Gruner was not suspended from his priestly duties. He was never blocked from any Marian celebration. Your only true statement above was him being kept away from contact with Pope Francis by Vatican Police. Your information is so fragmented and incorrect. I know exactly who Fr Gruner was and what his intentions were. His only concern was the proper Consecration of \"Russia\" to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Why such hostility over a deceased Holy priest?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If this accurately describes the proper moral/ethical formation of a \"good\" Catholic... by all means count me out!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...focus only on the 17.9 million Catholic weekly Mass attenders....\"\n\nThis makes sense. I knew that there were more Catholics at Mass on a given Sunday than there were members of the largest Protestant church in the US, the Southern Baptist Convention -- 15 million\n(although they have also slipped a percentage point in membership recently).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This might seem sacrilegious, might to some be blasphemous, or to incite anger...but this is much more to me and the question is whether there is a test of faith or a test that fixed and unchangeable dogma and doctrine require a reinvestigation and an earnestness of purpose crying out for honesty. For some time under this name or Jesuitical I have conveyed definitive findings of science. Evolution proves there was no Fall, no Adam and Eve. DNA testing proves there was no first couple but multiple first couples...goodbye Humani Generis...goodbye Original Sin...no need for baptism and exorcism. No baby is born into sin...no need for the Immaculate Conception; one of two infallible declarations of the church along with the Assumption.\nAlready the church attests to the Gospels as metaphor and allegory, but what can it do with its chief tenet of faith...I suggest admit that it has erred and adapt to what we know to be true.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"This from a man who routinely reads all who disagree with him on anything out of the Catholic Church.\"\nThere is something d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu about your reply regarding the word 'reads'. You posted virtually the same post some time ago and when I queried what you meant by the word 'reads' you edited it out. Too late, with CC, so what do you mean by 'reads' (blame your I-pad)?\nAs I promote all the teachings of the Catholic Church which have been taught to me from my mother's knee and subsequently over several decades, it is pretty obvious that those who choose to disagree with me, choose to disagree with the Catholic Church.\nThrough your numerous postings here you freely admit that you disagree with the Catholic Church on a large number of issues concerning Faith and Morals and don't accept what it teaches. All I accuse you of is what you admit to.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sister Margaret Farley has made a good faith effort to find common ground through relational theology. She isn't the only Catholic theologian pursuing that path. The basic premise starts with the validation of love between partners, not correct sex. So far the Vatican is not amused.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This Pope has hinted that certain desired reforms must be brought to him by national and regional synods of bishops. He has made it clear that he will not decree certain changes, but they may occur through the bishops, not in another council but speaking only for their regions. \n\nChanges that could be requested: ordaining married men and founding religious orders for married couples. If these changes were to take place the US Catholic church would thrive and there would be less resistance to the necessary closing of many parishes.\n\nAn other changes could be: allowing parishes to offer Pentecostal style song and praise services along with, but separate from, Mass. I have talked to a young man who used to lead his youth group at a Catholic Parish. He bolted to a Pentecostal church and took almost all of his youth group with him. He does miss certain aspects of the Catholic Church (communion and \"deeper\" hymns and prayers). These services could be conducted by youngish lay men/women", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "believe in it or not, if there was a Jesus of Nazareth, he probably did know about Egypt or Ethiopia. after all both were mentioned in the Pentateuch. and it isn't like it was that far away, only about 500 km from Jerusalem to Cairo.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you have to pick a horse to support, I hope the people get behind Qatar and shut the Saudis' down. That means stop buying their oil, we do not need it, but import 600,000 barrels a day. The Saudi way is way worst than the Qataris'. Saudi Arabia fund terrorist, (so does Qatar but only enough to keep Saudi Arabia happy); they subjugate their people (so does Qatar), they have a closed society, (so does Qatar but it has the only Christian church in Arabia as well). You get the idea, Qatar has the Arab way, but at the same time is liberal enough, rich enough and backed by the US to start to lay out a new course. This is what the Saudis' hate so much as it is a change that over a few 100 years just may make Saudi Arabia irrelevant. But you know 2000 years later the pope still has his little country and following, this is not what Saudi Arabia wants, that is why you see this stuff. And it all occurs a week after the Donald visited his Saudi friends, maybe that is the real story here.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are correct to state: \"A \u2018person\u2019 is what \u2018society\u2019 says it is. There are no \u2018legal rights and duties\u2019 except in relation to a society.\" However, of all the obligations of society over time from generation to generation, perhaps the first and foremost obligation is to honor, respect, teach, learn, and pass along intact the language of the people, that is: to recognize the supreme importance of first-meaning dictionary word definitions (etymologically, the oldest originating definitions) and therefore preserve, protect, and defend those definitions at all times, especially when society wants to give itself the right to change ancient word definitions that carry the very substance and mystery of transcendent things. Luke 2:21 (NRSV) states: \"... and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.\" How should that passage inform any discussion about abortion? and zygotes? Who are we? And how should we rightly think about ourselves?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...As presented to Canadians, that behavior only exists in the U.S. for all practical purposes\"\nThis is not Canada ...with a bunch of \u00ab Loyalists \u00bb Orangemen. \nThere is no place for a bunch of Ku-Ku-Klowns in Canada.\nAfter the establishment of the Canadian Federation (1867), the English speaking several provinces attended helplessly to the adoption of several LAWS and regulations, anti-Catholic and anti-French in English Canada, especially in that regard to denominational schools outside Qu\u00e9bec.\nAnti-Catholic and anti-French attitude drew its source, among others, the fact that many of the Loyalists who came to Qu\u00e9bec after the American Revolution of 1775 (Eastern Townships/ Ontario and Western Provinces) were \"Orangemen\" convinced. Orangemen advocated an anti-Catholic and anti-French doctrine, inspired by the reconquest of England in 1690 by the Protestant Prince William III of Orange.\u2026\n\t\nAnd Paf ! Problems started across French Canada EVER SINCE !", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So that begs the question: What is Truth? (quoting the Pontius Pilate overseeing the punishment of Christ.) Before going too long into the subject, Jesus was Crucified because He established the Kingdom of God, not another truth. The Pharisee\u2019s viewed their view of God\u2019s Anointed, who would contend with the powers of the world. Someone who would setup himself on the same stage as the pagan powers around them. Kind of the same inklings as His people wanted a King and got Saul. It wasn\u2019t for Salvation, but for name, title, and throne. Jesus did say to His Apostles: \u201cDo what they say, but not as they do.\u201d That is still the order of the Magisterium; the seat of Moses now made the seat of Peter.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\u201cIf you do not find Christ in the beggar at the church door, neither will you find him in the chalice.\" --St. John Chrysostom", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I was told by some friends of my wife who attended Catholic schools that said when they went to confession, the priest sometimes said \"Why are you here? The Nuns seem to think everything is a sin.\". \nI doubt you are honestly putting forth Cardinal's position. \nThe love of God is enough. It will transform us. (In case you don't understand transform includes repentance.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"but we should also include that the social mores of the times and he cultural taboos were squarely against unwed motherhood\" ... now I wonder how 20th century Irish social mores and cultural taboos arose ... are you seriously suggesting that these had nothing to do with Catholic ideology imposed in a quasi theocracy? Do you really think that the religious orders could run operations without Episcopal approval? Was the investigation of the practices of the LCWR a modern innovation? Clerical abuse in 20th century Ireland seems to have been systemic ... and the Bishops were surely aware of at least the tip of the iceberg. That it has taken the efforts of one woman to bring this particular issue under the spotlight ... in spite of many attempts to frustrate her ... is hardly surprising.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It probably has to do with the Biblical understanding of what it means to kneel.\n\n\"Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.\" Psalm 95:6.\n\n\"For this reason I kneel before the Father, . . .\" Ephesians 3:14\n\n\". . . all who go down to the dust will kneel before him, . . .\" Psalm 22:29\n\n\"I will give it all to you,\" he said, \"if you will kneel down and worship me.\" Matt. 4:9\n\n\" . . . so that at the name of Jesus everyone in heaven, on earth, and in the world below will kneel ...\" Philippians, 2:10", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm glad Sr. Chittiser laid the blame for the abandonment of the very idea of political consensus squarely at the feet of Newt Gingrich and Dennis Hastert for the simple reason that those two deserve it. Since their time Republicans in Congress have only intensified their recalcitrance, intransigence, and obstructionism, culminating in the nadir of Mitch McConnell's completely unprecedented refusal to hold hearings on a Democratic president's lawful nominee for Supreme Court justice. That was when the final fig leaf of Republican respect for the rule of law fell off, revealing the ugly, baldfaced partisanship of the modern Republican party. The current strain of Democratic opposition is, as always, pathetically reactive and based almost entirely on irreconcilable policy-based differences with the Republicans' brand of social Darwinism. The two are not alike. It is refreshing to hear a prominent Catholic voice lay blame for our current state of political dysfunction where it belongs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The documents that emanated from VatII have never been honored, and most certainly not during the Francis reign. VatII is actually ignored more by dissidents than by nondissident Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"You, like other liberals, want to cloudy this issue by offering scenarios that either won't happen (pagan schools) or that you think will prove that Christians can't read the Constitution.\"\n.\nBy the standard definition, there are hundreds of pagan schools in the US. Claiming that they are a scenarios that \"won't happen\" is simply nonsense.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The GOP has learned to play the race card, the abortion card, and anti-gay card. This pro-nuke, anti-poor, pro guns, anti-health care Agenda - not the Beatitudes - has the full blessing of the American Catholic Bishops. The tragedy is not the GOP, it is the American bishops - sold their souls to racists.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Iran's morality police, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan's \"blasphemy\" laws... the left believes it's \"Islamaphobic\" to bring up issues staring everyone else in the face like a fat man in a diaper. When Iranian women were beaten by regime thugs and thrown in jail for dancing to Pharrell's \"Happy\", crickets from the perpetually offended activists. When Iranian men led a peaceful protest against forcing women to wear head coverings by donning their own, crickets from the perpetually offended activists... the same goes for the Christian woman facing the death penalty in Pakistan for \"blaspheming\" at work, of course her word is irrelevant... As for the Saudis, Saudi Arabia certainly has it's issues but without the ruling Monarchy, it would likely descend into chaos, anarchy, and perpetual war. Robert Lacey's \"Inside the Kingdom\" is an interesting read...", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "People where burnt at the stake by Christians for saying the world was round, and are still put to death today for being atheists in Islamic countries. Religion is the curse on humanity. That is why I'm agnostic...because I can't have a relationship with God when it's interfered with by, hardliners that take a 2000 year old fairytale literally, that goes for Christianity and Islam. One can have a relationship with God without all that ballony.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "If I were a Christian living in Syria, I would tell the US to get out of our country and let the government we have remain. Who gave you the right to decide for us what is best for us, since every intervention you have done in the ME has ended in a mess. American exceptionalism is a myth, a lie fostered on the rest of the world to serve your own interests. You are the world's bully.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Millions of people over the last 2000 years have been killed deciding what a \"True Christian\" might be. \n\nThe Thirty Years War from 1618 to 1648 caused about 8 million deaths alone. \n\n The Inquisition, the conquistadores, and similar efforts to require others to become part of \"The True Faith\" or die are also the 'benefits' of Christianity.\n\nInterjecting that issue into any political system is stupidity. Northern Ireland is the most recent modern example of ignorance and stupidity resulting in unnecessary deaths between Catholics and Christians.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Maybe it's not so much that Trump evangelicals reject Christ as they really know very little about the historical Jesus, his example, or what he stood for. It could be a situation where the Trump evangelicals, habituated to being overindulged by the Republican party, would embrace any candidate, however perverted and degenerate, that massaged them just right. \nI enjoy imagining evangelicals on election day, casting their vote for the candidate that appeared on a Playboy magazine cover with a scantily clad Playboy bunny, her hand reaching down through the back of her dress and peeking out of the bottom of her dress only inches from Trump's genital area. It gives me satisfaction knowing that there is no limit beyond which evangelicals will not debase themselves in their quest for worldly power.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "So, it is not enough to refuse women ordain as a priest when you know women has more spiritual power because women hold more pureness in them.\nSo historically, Catholic clergies used witch hunt to shut women\u2019s mouth, I see!\nFr. Reese, are you trying to shut women\u2019s mouth by starting the old witch hunt trick?\nHowever, it is 21st century and women hold power throughout every fields in society now it won\u2019t be successful to silence women like 15th century!\nNow you Catholic clergies lost trust and respect from just about all fields& level of people already!\nSo stop your empty attempt of shutting women down with your not so holy attempt!!! ROTFLOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!\nFr. Reese, There are no other ways to have spiritual power except pursuing personal holiness, I am sorry to say!\nTry to stop raping children to start with!!! :-) :-) :-)", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "These Christians in Canada have done so much damage and continue to do so much damage. And the university is for adults! Let's consider what they do to teenager and children. It is REPRESSION.\n-\nAccording to Sigmund Freud, the father of psychology, sexual repression was the chief psychological problem ailing mankind. ... Sexual repression can be defined as an inability to express one's sexuality. It is often associated with feelings of shame and guilt being attached with expressing sexual impulses.\n-\nMost Canadians have been sexually represses due to the Christian government which continues to implement laws and policies that repress young people. The result is when they get older they become riddled with psychological disorders leading to criminal activity, homelessness, perversions and alienation.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Druggies look for nice, weak individuals to exploit. If you wish to be exploited, fine, but NOT when that exploitation exploits me and my family! Drug abusers are among the most selfish people in society. When they're done using up friends and families for their selfishness, they turn on strangers to abuse.\n.\n If you are a druggie, here's a suggestion...... Quit using, shape yourself up and get a job! People may be willing to help when they see honest \"results\" and not more excuses that its a disease or 'its not my fault'. People have had it with that! The Lord helps those who help themselves. Jesus never expected Christians to be 'chumps'. Helping a druggie continue to use is being a chump with a capitol 'C' And it is absolutely NOT Christian to 'help' a drug abuser use drugs! In doing so, you hurt them as well as your neighbors.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "No, Tridentinus. I come here for reasonable discussion of the issues both ecclesiastic and non-eclessiastic. If your idea for a reasonable discussion is that someone has to leave the Catholic Church if they don't agree with you, then you are a troll.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "So much for centrism. Did not know he was a Clintonite. He should have attacked Trump more.\n\nIt would be stupid for the Democrats to base their leadership decisions on the propaganda against them by non-Democrats. Whether she retains or not depends on whether Sanders candidates challenge in safe seats and who wins the contested seats in 2018. Whether large numbers of seats change hands depends on whether the Special Prosecutor finds anything and how these findings are resolved. Censure is predictable, but it won's look good in swing districts. MSW does not like Pelosi over abortion politics. Democrats need their Catholic members to explain why Roe was decided how it was, how it won't change and how the GOP is a scam for saying it can be. So far, Pelosi has not had the courage to teach her Catholic brethren the truth.\n\nThe religious left is centrist, whereas the left is secular. Still, as an original Christian leftist, I have not problem supporting Democrats - or Socialists.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "That's a wildly false equivalence. It was never about a message on the cake, it was always about the identity of the customers. \n\nIf a bakery refused to sell a cake to a customer because he was white, that would be illegal. If a bakery refused to sell a cake to a customer because they were Jewish or Muslim or Christian, that would be illegal. This shouldn't be a hard concept to grasp.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "First, any Breitbart article should be deemed suspect. Second, the author clearly misunderstood what Francis was saying. He was not saying that there are no Muslim terrorists, he was saying that there is no such thing as \"Muslim terrorism\", any more than there is \"Christian terrorism\".", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "hilarious, no this is religious fanatics, evangelicals lying and cheating to force everyone to obey them", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Written very gracefully and with respect. I imagine if this was a story about Christians dating, specifically those in the west, this article would have been written in a sneering and ridiculing tone.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Has there never been a high-ranking Imam, Rabbi or Buddhist Monk charged with a crime? Why single out the Catholic Church? Sounds like another sorry attack on organized religion. Apparently, you can't judge an institution by a few wrongdoers -- except in the case of the Catholic Church.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "A Christian kid, a Muslim kid and an atheist kid are all sitting in the Principle's office for fighting. What's the Jewish kid say when he walks in?\n\n\"Hey, is that a quarter on the floor.\"", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I am not so sure Jesus' life was as out of step... as today's hierarchy. After all, He did not burst on the public scene till age 30. I thought prior to that, he was a carpenter or handyman. Since there is no mention that I know of as as to whether he was married, or not, my jury is out on that. Where he was \"out of step\" was in his criticism of some of the elders of his own faith. I don't see that in the Catholic priesthood. Of course, he was also different in his incredible ability to heal. One can not expect that of everyone.\n\nAs to your third sentence, \"I think it boils down to a diluted understanding of what love...\" That expresses what a lot of married laity think is what is lacking in single priests.\n\nI am pleased that you have \"the sixties\" in quotes as sociological research then, and now, shows that the \"sex revolution\" occurred in the seventies. The change for a lot of men was that they began having sex with \"the girl next door\" instead of prostitutes.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Speaking as an ex-Catholic, I say tell the damn Church and the bishops and cardinals to keep their opinions about politics and the judiciary to themselves. I left the church rather than to hear them preach about how I should vote when they cannot clean up pedophiles in their own house.\n\nWe need to start taxing religions that want to stick thier nose in governement business or who promote one party or candidate over another.\n\nRender unto Caeser what is Caesar's and all that, don't ya' know..", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I see your still trying to pit one Christian group against another. Race baiting and now denomination baiting between Catholic Christians and Baptist Christians and Jews as well. Jesus was a Jew. Not working. All Christians, Catholics and Baptists have been the victims of persecution and still are by hate groups here and all over the world. Isis executes Christians almost as fast as the old Roman empire did. In many countries throughout the world, to be a Christian is to be marked for certain death.\n.\n Race baiting is racism. A very subtle but ugly form.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I think the comment was excellent. As we all know, the proper response to any criticism of Trump is \"Obama!\" Some might say Trump never demonstrates any of the virtues prized by Christians, but OBAMA! Multiple divorces? Obama! Racist, Obama! Ad infinitum...", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "They are Wolves in Sheeps clothing. Have the seen the Jesse Waters piece interviewing Muslims in America as to Sharia? Most want to have Sharia, you ask yourself why they came to America? and it's obvious they are laying the groundwork for the future to change America and the Liberals/Democrats are in kahoots with them. Ask yourself why these Liberals/Democrats spew hate against Conservative speakers on school campuses, ask yourself why these Liberals demonstrate against the anti-Sharia protests, etc. . I can only surmise 2 scenarios of the Liberals/Democrats anti Christians ways and it's either they are in kahoots with Muslims/Islamist and that includes the Islamist Fanatic Terrorists or they are plain \"air headed\". They stand up for a cause just to prove a point without regard to how America is today. They are spoiled brats brought up in the good ole US of A and are so blind in their sheltered minds what Muslim/Islam is all about.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Was really interested to read this article after seeing headline. Then I read it. Really said nothing and covered very little. I have always admired Fr. Ruff's writings. Am surprised he linked same-sex marriage to this \"movement.\" Don't see connection to young priests, considering high percentage of gay priests. Music is so integral to our tradition, yet, I search in vain for a liturgy every Sunday only to be subjected to amateur pop performers. I graduated from a Catholic seminary and hold the M. Div. from the late 1980's. Many priests who are my age bracket, are mediocre litugists and homilists. Liturgy was a peripheral subject back then. I have a right to the rites but only am subjected to self-centered presiding. At least the \"younger \" clergy,\" though their clerical lording sickens me, stick to the \"script.\"", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "White Catholic voters were instrumental in electing violence, hate, bigotry, racism, misogyny as a quid pro quo for a conservative judge, the remote possibility of rendering abortion illegal, and the exclusion of Catholic \"businesses\" from supposed intrusion of the Obamacare - a minor element. \nWhite Catholic voters were heavily influenced by US Bishops and clergy.\nAnd then these same have the gall to decry racist violence? \nSomething, no, some people and their stuff, stinks....", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "See.....you are not being \"rational and compassionate\" - or factual.\n\nI am NOT a \"holier than thou\" one-issue obsessed Catholic,' nor am I the one being a bully. I have NEVER demonized \"pathetic women\" in fact, I work with them and listen to them. Nor am I using \"nasty inflammatory language\" - nor is it I who now look like a \"sadistic sexist, insecure, schoolyard\" bully.\n\nDid you read YOUR comment?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "There's nothing fishy. Nineteen religious fanatics deliberately flew four planes into three buildings and one field. Thousands of people saw the planes fly into the WTC and despite the stupid pronouncements of silly people that was what was responsible for their collapse. An ordained Roman Catholic priest, who administered the last rites to victims on the lawns surrounding the Pentagon saw the plane fly into the building. That's right, eyewitness testimony as to the events of the day. No conspiracy unless you count the Saudi's.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Gosh, what a nice-looking young fellow. Small homeless camp. I wonder if mommy is still around to see his picture in the paper.\nSuppose things had ended differently. Suppose that when this christian began lashing out, an independently-minded and armed citizen put three hollow points right above the psycho's fatty liver. Would we be weeping about the harsh treatment of the mentally ill today by a vigilante? Would a DA be coerced to arraign the armed citizen by squeamish city mothers? Or would we just hear an uneasy silence?\nI know how I would have liked to have seen the whole damnable thing end.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "No, it was saying that a \"thinking person\" -- and you specifically exclude liberals from that group -- would deny Catholic burial to gays. It certainly came across to me as homophobic.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Fortunately you are not a Christian. Otherwise you would need to care about your fellow man (or woman).", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Hmm...I don't wear an earring (I did as a teenager). I oppose gun control, abortion on demand and state accommodation of \"gay\" marriage. I'm not a \"vegan\". I have a beard, but it's for religious reasons, not because I'm a hippie. I believe in God. And I think the Messiah (alayhis-Salaam) would agree more with what Shannyn wrote than with what you did. He reserved his harshest condemnation for hypocrites:\n\n\"WOE on you, Scribes and Pharisees, HYPOCRITES! You refuse to enter the Kingdom of God, and would hold the door against the children of men who would enter!\" (Matthew 23:14).\n\nIt's fitting in this context to mention that other translations (mine is based on the Aramaic bible in plain English) include the denunciation: \"You devour widows' homes and say long prayers as pious posturing\"! That's our oily senators to a 'T'. Perhaps substitute \"pioneers' homes\" for \"widows' homes\".\n\nBTW--Rudy is a buddy of mine. I don't appreciate you taking his name in vain.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding the practice of child sacrifice in Africa -- doesn't Christianity promote this false idea that there is a god or spirit that must be appeased with a human sacrifice? According to the Book of Hebrews 7:27, 9:26, etc., Jesus is the one and only sacrifice, a man who offers himself as a human sacrifice to Yahweh. \n\nBut the Jews have it right, and also the Muslims, as they know Yahweh did not accept Abraham's human sacrifice of Issac, and God abhors human sacrifice, and God would never accept a human sacrifice, not even the sacrifice of a Jesus. God has no need for a human sacrifice. A human sacrifice is an abomination. I suspect that Muslims and Jews are immune to Christianity because they know this fact about human sacrifice -- God abhors it. Islam may be the solution to this problem of child sacrifice. Either that or adequate law enforcement", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "No, Kurgan, We need more modernism in the Church so that everyone can be happy and gay, at least we can pretend can't we? People will flock to the church when we will pretend that the destruction of Sodom and Gormorah was a mistake by our omniscient God and that he really accepts sodomy now. What a wonderful church we will become. We had better start building mega churches!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "It is unlikely that there will be any change in the culture of the Church until women and men are treated as equals before God and are allowed to study together for the priesthood, whether they are gay or straight, married or single. The hierarchical structure needs to change to a horizontal structure that honors the majority viewpoints. The early Church relied very much on the \"sense of the faithful\". This means that the lay people were the voice of the Church and it was their common sense that determined the horizontal structures of the Church. The head of the Church was Jesus, not the pope, and that made all the difference. What are we doing honoring a human being as the head of the Church, especially when popes are ignoring the commands of Jesus and worshiping an institution instead? It has been many years since I have heard a bishop talk about living the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. All we hear are bishops interfering in the sexual lives of the lay people. Very sad.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\" For my part, I cannot help but fall back on what these bishops themselves teach, and ultimately, what they define as a sacrament. The church has developed a language to discuss the numinous. That language speaks of an outward sign associated with an inward change or grace...\"\n\nForgive me, but I'm not alluding to the sexual abuse scandal, but to your comment above.\n\nWere not the bishops in 325 CE mandated to abide by Constantine's interpretation and promulgation of the 4 gospels as then interpreted by Constantine in order to consolidate his empire ?\n\nIn light of this, how do you reconcile what the bishops \" teach \" especially since only baptism and Eucharist are contained in the 4 gospels ?\n\nBut - since the bishops have been proven to be prevaricators and filled with greed and the whole-scaled attempt to discredit those abused is their raison d'eetre, why should any non-brainwashed person believe anything they \" teach \" ?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I'm flabbergasted that my comment has been censored. I was quoting from the article. Jesus, DM, grow up - our country is being destroyed and I can't use the polite word for anus as used by the author?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"everything is a protected class now a days.\"\nExcept the beleaguered white, christian male, amirite?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Harper also ran a candidate that would come to your home and pee in your dishes. Doesn't mean Harper was really tolerant of that - at least for his own dishes.\n\nAt one time Harper wanted a party of Theo-Cons; all the orthodox religions of the book (Jewish, Christian, Muslim) even Orthodox Buddhist holding hands and hating progressives and gays like Baird. Baird wisely never \"came out\" to Canadians or his constituency; he just enjoy the benefits of all the progressives who fought for his rights.\n\nBTW, Harper specifically attacked refugee programmes and had Kenney cut health care to vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers. My MP sent me dog whistle note asking if I approved of refugees \"getting better health care\" than me.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Firing gay employees for getting married is standard operating procedure for American bishops. If you were going to fire all sinners, then there would be no one left. IN FACT, gays are rejected by the institutional Church. This is being unchristian.\n\nYes, abortion is just one issue among others. But to hear the bishops, it is the ONLY issue worth considering. I believe this attitude is wrong.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "There is no place for a bunch of Ku-Ku-Klowns in Canada.\nIn the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century an English \nthree Canadians was a member of the white supremacist organization Anglo-Saxon, WASP equivalent to the United States (\"White Anglo-Saxon Protestants\"). \nFour members have been Prime Ministers of Canada;\nSir John A. Macdonald (father of \u00ab Canadian Federation \u00bb of 1867\nbut not \u00ab Father of Canada \u00bb which is Sir Samuel de Champlain in 1608 ), \nSir John Abbott, \nSir Mackenzie Bowell (a past \u00ab Grand Master \u00bb (?)), \nand John Diefenbaker. \nIn 1927 the \u201cOrange\u201d movement gave birth to a more intolerant and racist group, the Canadian Ku Klux Klan, which had its deepest roots in small towns in Saskatchewan because of the \"yellow peril\", but also because of the blacks...Jews...Catholics...\nThe \u201cKu Ku Nest\u201d in the province campaigned against= teaching French + wearing the religious habit + the presence of crucifixes in schools\n(more to come)", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Margaret Wente says\n .\nWhat harm do they do? Religious freedom now means freedom from religion\n .\n\"Frankly, I don\u2019t understand why so many secular people go berserk over religious schools, even ones that are publicly funded. What harm do they do? \"\n .\n\"In Ontario, the fight against Catholic schools has turned into a crusade. People seem to think they\u2019re a threat to our common values. They seem to think our kids will be turned into superstitious, God-struck, gay-bashing little bigots.\n .\n\"In Canada, the idea of religious freedom now means freedom from religion \u2013 and damn the consequences.\"\n .\nFrom: Who\u2019s afraid of Catholic schooling? - Margaret Wente - The Globe and Mail - Aug. 16 2014", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The only place where right is wrong, wrong is right, and boy is girl is in liberal America and other like sub-cultures.\n\nMuslims adhering to the strict text of Islam can behead people for converting from Islam to Christianity, but we dare not condemn. If Catholics repeatedly, year after year, blew up buildings, restaurants, and metros in the name of Pope Francis, there'd be an outcry against Catholics. That would be rational. But when it's done by Muslims, any mention that these acts are done in the name of Islam is suppressed as religious discrimination. That's irrational.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"As an African-American Muslim man, 'I don't have that freedom,\"\n\nYou don't say. \n\nOh, sorry; I forget facts often get in the way of the taqiya victim narrative.\n\nIt never ceases to amaze me how pseudoliberals who purport to be champions of women's rights and GLBT rights are so ready to enable an ideology that is FAR more anti-women and anti-GLBT than the Christians that they hate so much. And I'm saying this as an agnostic who frequently criticizes Christians for their anti-rights stance on women's and GLBT issues.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Spot on!\nThey want evangelical Christians to be able to discriminate against gay people, but not gay people to be able to discriminate against evangelical Christians.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Catholicism spawned its own demons.\nIt didn't need any help.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Sure thing. Let's say 75% of folks who signed it were \"goofing\" on it. Absurd to think that but why not. That's still 200,000 people took time to read and willfully endorse a such a statement. Let's say 50% of the cardinals/bishops were \"goofing\" as well. Again absurd but still, 100 bishops and cardinals saying the pope has violated Catholic teaching is significant.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Have y'all forgotten the commands of the bible? The word of God is clear on this, women need to be subservient to men, whom is seen as the head of the family. Seems to me you cannot be a feminist supporter and a christian at the same time, that would be hypocritical.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "R&R you have it all wrong. It's an attempt to tend to the souls of those who are just plain embarrassing themselves and don't know it. It's not censorship. It's Christian concern.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would take Saunders' argument that the level of terrorism in Britain does not merit the obssessive harping on it by the media. I would if the writer did not think it important to point that some of the Islamist terrorists were converts from Christian families. That of course looks like another agenda, one that simply wants make the incidents seem like something else than what they are. It falls right in with the now routine misidentification by authorities of the perps of the of these attacks. The man with an axe in Duesseldorf's was thought to be from \"former Yugoslavia\". He was from Kosovo, a country that the EU recognizes as sovereign since 2008. Khalid Masood, the assassin of Westminster was first described as \"Asian\". Have you seen the picture of the man? So, what significance is the finding that some of the terrorists converted to Islam from Christian upbringing? As far as I am concerned there is none, but I can see that for Mr. Saunders it's a way to beat around the bush.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "True, and why is this? There's an ad on NextDoor in which a person says \"Christian grandmother looking to babysit.\" Who the heck cares what religion she is? I got a call from \"Christian Lending.\" I said \"I'm not a Christian, but can I get a loan anyway?\" The guy hung up.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mike - Your comment is shameful and certainly uncivil. You are actually using the old saw that AIDS is a punishment from God. Shame on you! How did that work out of Jerry Falwell and Jesse Helms? Not ever the Roman Catholic Church holds that position. Consistently, you comments reflect a deep seated animosity that is anything but Christian. What part of \"love one another as I have loved you\" don't you get. For you own peace of mind, follow more conservative faith blogs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not all who say they are Christians practice what they profess. \n\nIt's very possible there may be some who have done nasty things to others, & deserve deportation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Indeed it is Beans, but I have lost track the number of times I have heard Christians referring to the Old Testament to justify a belief or action. Nor did Christ say his words are to displace previous scripture.\n\nAnd, of course, there is a major religious group that does not accept the New as scripture). Then again, Christians have spent many centuries persecuting that group despite the generous words of Christ. \n\nBottom line, what is known as the Old Testament is full of hate and represents source material for Muslim scripture (an Abrahamic religion).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Did Stutzman sell flowers to unmarried heterosexual couples living together?\nAren't heterosexual couples living together \"..incompatible with her Christian beliefs.\"?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They went to Canada where people are subjects and expect to exert their American culture there and were surprised when it was not well received? How rich! I wore camo when I went to Canada and got shook down by Customs agents...go figure! \n\nI LOVE the last line which implies that their way of life should not be subject to discrimination. If that could be paid to Christians and gun owners as well, that would be great!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "reading comprehension much?\n\"Christian\"? \"super patriot\"?\n\nim an atheist. i.e.; non-believer. that means i don't believe in your cult or cult hero's, not the muslim ones or the christian ones.\n\nwhere did i accuse you of treason or threaten kill you? \nthat comment is straight delusional. and you just lost this discourse handily. \nyour one dimensional arguments don't pertain to me. \n...but they're all you have. sigh\n\nyour book is full of embarrassing antiquated patriarchal backward quotes and beliefs. it is no wonder generations of modern muslims have re-interpreted those evil prose to fit modernity. (and failing miserably)\n\nthis is fun, lets keep doing it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am ashamed to be a Catholic today with this social activism gone wild.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Or what happens say if a Baptist baker refuses to make a cake for a Catholic because they truly believe that theirs is the one true religion? Or refuses to make a cake for a Jewish wedding?\nI agree, if they are going to discriminate for a gay wedding, then they better have the ten commandments posted and a checklist that each couple must complete.\nAnd a sign that says, \" No cake for you\" if you .........", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I admire Fr. Martin and respect the unenviable task he has set for himself: trying to bridge the wide gulf that exists between LGTB people like me and the Catholic Church, particularly the Catholic hierarchy. But I must take exception to this:\n\n\"He ...also exhorts members of the LGBT community to treat the hierarchy with the same respect, compassion, and sensitivity.\"\n\nIf gay people are to treat the hierarchy with the same \"respect\" that they've been showing us for centuries, most people would call that contempt, not respect. True respect is earned, not gratuitously given, and so far, the bishops have done nothing to earn respect from gay people, quite the contrary.\n\nSince most gay people bolt from churches as soon as they possibly can, my only concern is for the gay kids who are forced to listen to homophobic sermons from (mostly) closeted priests and learn, from the pulpit, how to hate themselves. That's all I care about. Gay Catholic adults who have left can fend for themselves.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Just another hateful, divisive \"Catholic\" leader who hates the nation, and half of the people in it. Exactly like the divisive, nasty Pope we have.\n\nBye Catholic church, your hatred and massive leftist corruption have chased me, and almost everyone I grew up with away from your church. Good luck with all that, I'll pray for you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And how about there is neither Jew nor Gentile, slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ. Kind of deflates an all male priesthood, no?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I always find it amusing that non Christians are the first to demonize Christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Harry,\nLighten-up. I was joking about Bert Reynolds and Jerry Reed. I didn't realize how sacred they are to Southern culture. Perhaps you should go to the home town of our president and see a Broadway play to round out your education.\nMay I suggest \"Color Purple\" or \"Hamilton\"?\nI said \"Southern Baptists\" sect was formed by Plantation slave owners. I wasn't referring to \"John the Baptist\". Correct me if I'm wrong, isn't Billy Graham a Southern Baptist? In the infamous Nixon Watergate tapes, Nixon and Graham can be heard slandering the Jewish faith over and over again. \nSo much for their so-called Christian values of tolerance.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Early on I had some like for and support of Ted Cruz due to his sometimes support of the Constitution, but after his lousy religious based campaign and a shameful display of self centered arrogance with this speech he is now and will be forever dead in my eyes. Go be a preacher Ted, you have the personality to be a leader for 'the sheep'. I will never support someone who will use the force of government to impose religious based ideas on the population. His beliefs in this regard are nothing but a form of christian sharia law. I want a Constitutional government, not a damn theocracy. If someone is not harming the person, property or liberty of another you should leave them the hell alone.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And indeed it is an opinion of the Trinity. Problem is, there's a divide between the Catholic and secular views of divorce. The Church teaches Christ's own words; Cupich sides with the seculars. To espouse Christianity while hewing to the secular view of marriage and divorce is to speak like a child.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, there are government programs that benefit us. You probably get government services I don't, even though I pay considerable taxes. People who have children pay more on main street and invest into our society more than people who don't. A tax credit for these children means the money stays in the local community to be spent. It benefits the community. People who have children care about the community and that makes the world a better place. While the likes of you advocate for anarchy and abject poverty and a complete break down of society that depends on families. What is also interesting is how you Trolls oppose abortion, but do not support health care during pregnancy or after the child is born. You oppose access to birth control and family planning, and then complain when they are born and oppose support. We already have an astounding child poverty rate and child hunger, but the callous, corrosive alt right are just fine this. Do you call yourself Christian too?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Cardinal Parolin said:\n\"The church has become increasingly aware of the harm experienced by victims, of their suffering and of the need to listen to them,\" [...] Action must be taken to \"heal wounds, restore justice, prevent crimes\" and establish a culture of \"real safeguarding\" so children can grow up healthy and safe\" [...] \"Fortunately, with regard to the church, this is already happening, in various institutions and regions, even when society in general has not yet developed the necessary awareness,\" he said. \"These efforts, however, must continue, must be expanded and deepened with clarity and firmness.\"\n\nTranslation:\nWe will continue to cover up child sexual abuse crimes in places where the civil law does not require Bishops to report such crimes to the police. We will continue to do what we want because we are superior people and we are able to read God's mind while the easily gullible politicians and journalists are not.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "NCU brings this problems on itself, in the Christian circles I am involved in, NCU is largely considered an apostate organization. The fact they would hire a woman who does not even a Christian speaks volumes about the organization, and their wisdom (which their are obviously void of).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"That we were founded upon Judeo-Christian principles is unquestioned?\"\n\nOnly by those who are ignorant of the Constitution and American history.\n\nThank you, Ms. Moore.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No. We're concerned about terrorism just as much as you appear to be. We just don't blame a specific religion. I don't particularly believe all evangelicals are terrorists who bomb federal buildings; medical clinics; shoot doctors; beat homosexuals and drag people to their death.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why Allan, the one word I changed in my post was \"Christian\". And it kept getting censored, yet when I changed it to Muslim or Islam, the post wasn't censored. Isn't that amazing?\n\nThis post censored 5x already....why is \"christian\" a dirty word to the progressive left?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Onne, why do you assume that the faith of Christians or, by implication, other faiths, is so offensive to unbelievers? As an atheist, I don't find Christianity offensive; irrational, misguided and naive, yes. Offensive only when some arrogant, smug, holier-than-thou Christian attempts to ram his piety down my throat.\n\nThe Golden Rule says it all; it's rational, moral, makes perfect sense and no higher being is required to act upon it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus had apostles and disciples. He was a Jew, so he didn't ordain any Catholic priests...in fact, Christianity didn't exist when Jesus was alive. At best, for years afterward, \"christianity\" was just another sect of Judaism.\n\nMaybe the church needs more rabbis? And yes, there are male and female rabbis, married and single rabbis...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I trust fundamentalist Christians much less than people associated with the Mafia.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Principled\" Christians. That's funny stuff.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Monica, not really.\nI am just being a realist.\nThe Catholic Church is not really Catholic anymore.\nI'm stating a fact.\nDo you REALLY believe that the Catholic Church is any different than the myriad mainline protestant churches?\nWhat do you think, I'd be interested to know.\nI respect your insights.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I refuse to vote for any political party with an overtly religious leader. I don't care if it's Sikhism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, whatever, I will not vote for the NDP until they elect a leader who will put the signs of his religious beliefs aside; religion should always be a quiet personal thing and not on public display.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"In the Bible...\"\n\nAaaaand that's where you lost me, Jim. The United States has a secular-style governmental system, Jim. I recommend you move elsewhere if you can't appreciate that. I hear Iran has lovely falls and winters. Not surprisingly, fundamentalist Christians and fundamentalist Muslims have LOTS in common, mostly relating to the forced adherence to their beliefs via legislation.\n\nLet me know if you need any help packing!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Now this is a letter whining about how\nMy morality got flipped, turned upside down\nAnd I'd like to take a minute just sit right there\nI'll tell you why I'm not a bigot, I just don't care...about those damn foreigners, that is.\n\nYou are not a Christian, lady. Jesus didn't advocate casting people out because of where they were born. You're making that up yourself and hiding behind Jesus to justify it. You better hope Jesus isn't real, because if he is, you won't like where he sends you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The left reflexively came to the defense of a religious freedom concept that really separates Church and State in the secular realm and does not give preference for one religious view point over another. I am not personally interested in giving fundamental Christianity any rights over our constitutional system anymore than I would fundamentalist moslems or jews.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If religion does not belong in schools then take away the Saturday and Sunday as off days from curriculum. They were made off days to accommodate Christians (Sunday) and Jews (Saturdays) for their religious (Holy-days) to accommodate their prayer rituals. \nMuslims are only looking for one hour of time to pray on Fridays. They should the up the game and ask Fridays off and watch people go in a riot.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If that is not the reason, i.e. to save one's soul for all eternity then God, it seems, has got it all wrong. What in your opinion is the reason for living in the Catholic Faith? Do you not believe that the life hereafter is more important than the life here on earth?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Can they really not see the inherent contradiction in \"we have no obligation to feed the hungry, clothe the poor, care for the weak and wounded\" with \"let this churches do it, this is a Christian nation, d*mm*t\"? \n\nThere is nothing stopping the churches from doing all that -- but obviously, the churches aren't. Either they don't want to, or they don't have the ability. If they don't have the ability, stop claiming they would do it all if the government backed out. And if they could but don't want to, well, there's an answer right right there about the values of this \"Christian nation.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "ANother stellar day for Lock n Load America where our desire for our toys outweigh the innocent lives of all Americans ...It's so so American to deny there is a problem here . Yet we have organizations like the NRA that want to place a Gun in the hands of every unstable mind in this Great Nation . Because damn it that's the American thing to do .. A Bible in one hand and Gun in the other what a loving CHRISTIAN NATION we truly are and here I was under the impression Jesus the Christ was a Pacifist and vowed poverty and nonviolence even while on the cross saving Mankind , from Mankind . Yet we seem to love the notion that Jesus and firepower walk hand in hand another denial of what is plain on the Pages of ANY BIBLE . We fool ourselves into believing all kinds of lies . These young people payed the price for that lie in blood . As did hundreds in Las Vegas and other killing grounds for nutcase Gun owners . Yet the Lie continues and death marches on unabated in our Great Nation .", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you, Fr. Daly, for bringing the Beatitudes to bear on judging Mr. Trump.\nI think we can cite leaders of other religions as well as Christian teachings in sizing him up. The revered Hindu peace activist Mahatma Gandhi listed seven deadly social sins and two in particular are apt descriptors of our new president: politics without principle and commerce without morality.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There's nothing to worry about when it comes to Sufis. They're mystics and dreamers. Real Sunni jihadis, like the Taliban in Pakistan, slaughter Sufis, blow up their shrines, curse them as unbelievers.\n\nThe range of sects in Islam is almost as wide as in Christianity, where you have everything from Ozarkian snake-handlers to stuffy high-church Anglicans. If we're going to deal with this situation, we need to understand who is who.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thanks, Tom, but I read this essay as advice on how to adapt the Temple Priesthood Model to changing circumstances, when the model itself is the problem. There is no precedent in the gospels for large communities of people who \"belong\" by virtue of geography and \"participate\" by sitting through weekly services. That, in fact, is closer to the model Jesus is challenging us to replace, and he doesn't suggest we sit around and wait until the Temple Chief Priests can be convinced to let us have a say. That, in my opinion, is a new slant on an old failure model that leaves the Temple authorities in charge of our communities, precisely when the Temple is coming down all around us.\n\nPerhaps a better and more biblical model would be that of the so-called Temple Cleansing, where Jesus and his companions enter the Temple and beat people until they go away and let them take responsibility for their own faith and worship. Not a bad idea for Palm Sunday, now that I think of it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mr. Farron's decision is to be respected. The issue is not, however, the tension between his Christian belief and politics. The issue is the ongoing icapability of some Christians to accept the fact that the present day understanding of human sexuality (sexualities, actually) is much more complex than the teaching of their churches. In other words: bad or inadequate theology (and politics) as the result of poorly understood human psychosexuality and sexuality/ies. That said, it is good he stepped down. He should quit politics altogether and work toward a greater understanding and appreciation of the wondrous mystery that is the human being (including sexuality/ies) by making an enriching contribution toward human diversity based on his faith, which, I hope, is always being created anew, as Isiah tells us. There is a rich Christian tradition of faith, hope, charity and justice. The latter needs to receive much more awareness in regards to human sexuality: Just Sex.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You say that a big step forward would be for the Church to acknowledge female equality, but inequality does not explain why women aren't priests. Many Catholic women agree.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Self righteous, God fearing Christian, anti immigrant, denying reproductive rights for women, tough-on-crime Republican any OTHER day of the week. \n\nWhy oh why did he have to be CAUGHT....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is only partly Senator Feinstein's fault, though. She is at fault for not educating herself about the complexity of Catholic identity. But then, she is a busy person, and the media tend to give the impression of Catholic monolithicity, established upon some truly deplorable principles. She is really dumb to throw around the term \"dogma,\" not understanding what that word means, and how generally inappropriate it is to most real-life contexts; but we must admit lots of people are no better than she on that point.\n\nSenator Feinstein would be doing her job very well, were she to ask with more nuance which particular points of Catholic moral doctrine the professed-Catholic candidate felt obliged to uphold.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Maybe he has come to grips with the fact that \"mortal sin,\" as it relates to RC doctrine, is a fear-based tactic and should be relegated to the dustbin of Catholic theology. This, along with many other small-minded rules conceived by the pointy hats.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Trump's election has empowered racists. They were the core of his support. His victory, even though he finished three million votes behind Clinton, has embolden them to crawl out of the sewer of American history and spread hate. It is the duty of every Christian to stand up to them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Please see my reply to your other comment just above. I have been crystal clear that treatment for sex offenders must take place while the Court has jurisdiction over the offender (either in prison or immediately upon release and under parole/probation). The Catholic Church has never been able to see the problem as being best handled by outside sources and persist in the position that it is a \"spiritual matter,\" or that since priests who sexually abuse children are also frequently alcoholic as well, help for the alcohol dependence will \"take care\" of the other behavior. BTW - no one needs to make any mistake over and over again: if you have been in recovery for as long as you say you have, then you have learned to stop making your mistakes and have accumulated a range of coping abilities you never had before, right? So, too, can pedophiles and rapists and other sex offenders, drug addicts, abusive men, violent teens, and so on. We need not be hopeless or helpless.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When you can show me how something you drop falls up rather than down, I will be happy to have a conversation about the reality of natural law. Until then ....\n\nThat most other Americans - Christian, Jewish, and Muslim - believe homosexual behavior is immoral behavior is a demonstrable fact. The majority of Americans say to you and those who share opinion on \"it makes it difficult to raise children who are morally straight\" and \"it weakens the family as the cornerstone of society\", \"So what?\"\n\nAt the end of the day every law, including the Constitution, is a matter for a majority decision.\n\nSufficient arrogance can lead to a practical demonstration of that reality, as the last election did.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Staffing issues\" and \"Someone signed into my account\" sound like likely stories to me. I'm 67, but I don't fault anyone for enjoying porn. Humans and the big apes are the only species that enjoy watching others having sex. Some prudes would like us to believe sex is a sin, which, of course, it is not. And haven't there been reports that upwards of 98% of men watch it?\n\nI would be more concerned with Cruz' sordid past and his consorting with prostitutes while claiming Christianity unto himself. He is supposed to be a married man.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is nothing but a power grab. Not only in Saudi Arabia itself, but Arabia, including Qatar. MBS has apparently irritated the military. It's not just enough to remove the Prince who was head of the National Guard. The rest of the military are not robots. He has the other 2 ruling clans against him and there is wide discontent within the Saudi military, especially since MBS embarked on a war with the Yemen with no end-game in sight.... a quagmire. Reguly should not make excuses for this guy; economic reform is just a facade. Economics has noting to do with it: he is brash and it is all power and consolidation of power: local princes, Qatar (supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood) and Lebanon (with Shiite Hezbollah's political coalition with Christians and alliance with Iran) are in the way. \n\nThe impetuous MBS will turn out to be a modern day Enver Pasha, who almost single handedly led the demise of the Ottoman Empire.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I believe one can see in this decision that Pope Francis has been clearly aware of the general dissatisfaction with the foolish insertions made by a group of non-English-speaking prelates at the direction of then-Pope Benedict. This comes on the heels of +Francis' statement two weeks ago of Vatican II having set the groundwork for liturgical reform under the guidance of the national bishops conferences. (St.) John Paul II and Ratzinger colluded against it, and it was in limbo (remember that weird place in Catholic psychotic thought?) since the death of Paul VI. The 2011 \"translation\" can be wiped off the ritual at the stroke of a pen, and new wording put in place. The USCCB has a great opportunity at this point, of making the Mass a really inclusive prayer. Some of the literal translations faithful to the Latin are truly wonderful, and the rest of it can be made so with newer translations or tweaks to the earlier forms. We have more bishops inclined to reform than previously.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Most of the groups that \"signed on\" with the sentiments of this \"letter\" are in open defiance of Church teaching on other topics. I guess groups like these support the defiance of other groups. How interesting that they not admit several of these groups have been condemned by the Vatican, giving a rather false impression that they are all in good standing.\n\nHow lovely of this group not to encourage catechesis, dialogue, understanding, discussion in an open forum with Bp. Paprocki - but rebellion and encouragement to \"consult widely with one another\" - but not with the Church; to \"create (their) own pastoral practices\" outside Church teaching; to continue to reinforce the misunderstanding that gay people are not welcome in the Church; how disingenuous of these groups to infer ssm & homosexual activity is approved by \"Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists.\"\n\nOkay. Waiting for the laughing faces and comments.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Going into the current decade with Christian bloodletting exceeded the word-limit. Your fanatical United Methodist and Church of Christ despots murdered 3.3 million in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2003. Only comfort from the current election outcome is Frump is (possibly) a little less likely to deploy tactical nukes just because the Israelis want him to than Killary would have been, in that she repeatedly has made that pledge to her AIPAC handlers since at least 2005. You Christians still have FAR more blood on your hands than we would if there were a HUNDRED groups like Da'esh running amok in the world. And we know who unleashed 'em and those like 'em. Frankenstein's monster is ever a reflection of its creator. And that certainly isn't God. Those who prescribe and implement US foreign policy and its corporate beneficiaries get credit for that. Muslims' strand of the 'common thread' merely represents its victims. The western imperialist nations weave the rotten cloth.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Approximately 1.7% of the children going to school naturally have indistinguishable gender, or parts of both.Thats almost 2 in 100 kids that from birth we are talking genitals not feelings or femininity. I cant and I don't think any one who wasn't born like this could even understand how difficult it would be, or how embarrasses these children would be for someone else to find this out. So to all You evangelicals: What should we do with these children God or Nature made this way? Would you deny them school? force them to go to the bathroom outside? perhaps witch hunt? or kill them at birth? So before you say a bunch of bias stuff lets here your actual solution to an actual problem on what you would like them to do with 1.7% of our kids?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How many of our male priests played that role as boys, altarservers? 90 percent? Would you deride them too? What you write is not christian, it is male chauvinism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Boy aren't the CRAPs p*ssed. They feel they shouldn't have gotten voted out. After all don't they have god on their side? And then they elect Harper light as their leader.\n\nI agree with Kim Campbell \"I don't have (them) as a party anymore.\" It's hard to believe that they would get all wound up about an article in Rolling Stone and a picture on the cover. Next Trudeau might get on the Christian Science Monitor or even the National Review, then the Craps can get really wound up. At least Trudeau is newsworthy not like the born again retreads.\n\nTa, ta.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "MSW: All your so-called \"principled conservatives\" are all in with the \"p _ _ _ _-_ _ _ _ _ _ r-in-chief.\" Where are your voices among the Repubs calling to hold Twitler to constitutional government? They are all walking around in a pant to take away people's Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and Obamacare. Principled conservatives are only principled about what their oligarchs and corporate masters like the Koch brothers order them to do. \n\n[I would like to see one brave Catholic hierarch excommunicate any Catholic politician - starting with Paul Ryan - if they try to dismantle the 20th century!]\n\nConservatives - even the hypocrites, 'whitened sepulchers' as JWS - of so-called evangelical christian ilk are continuing to support Twitler. [I think it is the \"hating-all-things-feminine\" kinda thing?!?] They can't wait to control women's lady parts again.\n\nI am fast coming to the conclusion that the independent judiciary will not survive the Twitler onslaught.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Remember, any word that is even slightly disparaging of Pandora is a personal attack. \n\nShe wants women to be subordinate to men, and gays to be rejected by their families. She believes that both are sound Catholic teaching, and those who disagree with either view are anti-Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It won't take that long. Soon new \"liturgies\" will pop up everywhere, to probably be written by committees of lay people with a poetic yet liberal flair without much, if anything, in common with any real liturgy.\nSoon they'll be \"consecrating\" coca-cola and hotdog buns too.\n\nToo much change too quickly would have unmasked the wreckovators too soon. But a few \"minor\" changes here and there have accomplished a few things.\n1. The \"faith\" of the people is no longer Catholic. This allowed for,\n2. The inability to easily reverse the wreckovations. Force older Catholic cardinals out, replace them with modernists, expand the college of cardinals and stack it with even more modernists, which in turn allows for,\n3. changes (invalid as they are) to the sacraments, canon law, and the catechism in order to utterly destroy the Catholic Faith. The Novus Ordo institution is now nothing more than a Protestant sect whose presbyters don vestments and put on a show.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why are you so obsessed with this angle. Could it be that you are embarrassed that he is a violent, gun loving, righty? I think you might be trying to pain him as a lefty since in your mind the left are not Christian and are atheists - which could not be further from the truth. Just curious. I just googled it and I see it all over. He also taught bible school. Apparently he was very confused about his religion. Perhaps something bad happened to him as a child while in church. Who knows?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ah, the scent of certitude, the gene of Original Sin, the joy of victory, the agony of defeat, and the smell of anti-Catholicism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1/ So obnoxious. Not only am I reasonable, but ever since returning to the church, fully cognizant of and fundamentally opposed to its discrimination against women and LGBTs, I've committed to engaging with the church's arguments.\n\nIt was clear throughout this interminable election season that the US hierarchy leaned toward Trump. Many of us experienced the kind of plausibly deniable politicking priests have turned into a fine art. Their support for Trump put them in a coalition that included white evangelicals, the (anti-Catholic) KKK, the American Nazi Party, the alt-right and its white supremacist ideologues, corrupt and disgraced government officials like Chris Christie (now transition director for the president-elect), climate change deniers like Myron Ebell, who is rumored to be Trump's pick to head the EPA, anti-government conspiracy theorists and self-styled militiamen, Russian sympathizers, and sundry assorted deplorables.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, originally I said something rather nasty, and I removed it. Dot you have to be snide in responding to my removal of the nastiness?\n\nYou most certainly do have an agenda: Conservative hierarchs are incapable of doing or saying anything wrong. Your defense of Cardinal Burke's blatant homophobia is a good example. You also believe that the same Cardinal Burke did a thorough job in investigating the sexual abuse allegations in Guam, even though he was there for two (2) days. You defended Archbishop Nienstedt even though it was shown that he had perjured himself.\n\nYou also sneer at liberal Catholics. You may recall an MSW column in which he called for liberals to show love to conservatives. I asked you directly if you had ever shown love or sympathy towards liberals. Your dancing around the subject clearly said \"no\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Some priests have told me that if they speak up (about this and other issues), they will lose their job. While I understand this from a human perspective, I have some serious problems with this approach. \nThese are men who repeatedly preach to congregants about being \"faithful to the Truth\". This means being true to one's conscience, not to one's employer, or to one's hierarchical superiors. I have heard countless times sermons about not denying Christ before others. Well, what else is the continuing cover-up of child abuse, other than a denial of Christ and what He taught? \nI agree with you. There is spiritual rot, and that is a big reason why so many have left the church. Like with any kind of rot that begins on the inside, it may take a good while for it to be seen, but if that rot is not excised and steps are not taken to prevent its formation for the future, then the institutional Catholic Church will have no real future.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "...and let's don't forget the institutional Church which supports the gravest expression of misogyny, even while stating women \"should be\" more included, more involved.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not at all. NCR makes a habit of denigrating those who hew to Catholic teaching on homosexuality. That African Catholics follow the Church on this is no secret. It is therefore interesting to imagine NCR and its fans celebrating these true Catholics while ignoring (or maybe even oblivious to) the huge white elephant. An African Archbishop has urged parishioners that \"Marriage of persons of the same sex is a serious crime against humanity. We need to stand up to combat it with all our energy.\" Correctamundo. It is not by nature, but by indoctrination, that Western society, slipping deeper into a cultural bog, is on this self-destructive course.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually, in the Eastern Catholic Churches which permit married clergy, priests must marry before ordination and are not allowed to marry after ordination, or remarry if the wife dies.\nI agree with you that it's ludicrous. Perhaps if the Latin Church changes the rules, then the Eastern Churches will too. Who knows?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "rangerMC, why the link to clapman school? this is a radical evangelical school with only three black students, zero poor students, that stresses god, god, god and god. i'm pretty sure that they dont acknowledge that in 2017, the united states is a multi-cultural, multi-racial, multi-religious country.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So what is the child at the precise moment prior to birth? \n\nYou are saying someone is not human who cannot breath or live on their own? Then people in the hospital on respirators are not human by that definition. They are not viable because they can't live off the respirator. I guess we can kill them. After all---it is costing a lot of money to keep them alive in hopes they might recover. \n\nIf an employee of a Catholic organization is not happy with the pay or benefits, they are free to use their sacred power of \"choice\" and choose to work somewhere else. You don't have to be Catholic to work for the Catholic Church. You don't even have to agree with the Catholic Faith. \n\nHowever, people cannot impose their secular values on the Catholic Church if they work for the Catholic Church. We are not going to change who we are because non-Catholic employees are offended by what we believe. If the government has a problem with this, they can stop funding.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "These white males stole the country from the indigenous peoples who had inhabited it for thousands of years. They committed genocide upon them and enslaved them. They did everything they could to destroy native cultures and languages. They kidnapped native children from their parents. Then they dragged kidnapped Africans over, thousands of whom died in the crossing, and sold them at auction like animals. They enslaved them, raped them, beat them, and killed them with impunity. These white males who were the creators of such 'prosperity' did so upon the backs and the dead bodies and the stolen land of the native peoples and imported slaves. They were not any type of 'Christians' that Jesus would have recognized. They were not even 'good' people. I wonder what God thinks of their 'prosperity'.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dr. Pangloss here agrees with Donald Trump; why should Americans tolerate the \"removal of our beautiful statues and monuments.\" Why? Because they have become symbols for a growing racist movement in the U.S. Trump got 62 million votes by running a campaign that appealed directly to white Americans and their fears about immigrants, non-Christian religions and inner-city violence (unsubtle code for African Americans). Now, overtly racist rallies are decrying removal of these symbols of the fight to preserve the purchase, imprisonment, torture and forced work of millions of human beings. Venerating symbols of a dark stain on America's past as the country struggles with rising racial tension is hardly laudable, despite Orwin's best of all possible worlds interpretation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you, Mike Laskey, for this cogent and may I say brilliant article. I find the notion of an American flag in church incredibly offensive. Mind you, I live in England, but I felt the same way when I lived in the USA. America has legalised abortion and now gay \"marriage\" and so is clearly an anti-Catholic regime.\nNot to change the subject, but here in the UK, you often find tattered old regimental banners mouldering away in odd corners of C of E churches. Some of them are very tatty and definitely lower the tone.\nThe other thing I don't like in churches is sticking the priest's chair plonk in front of the altar. You don't see it so much anymore, thank goodness, but after Paul VI imposed his dreadful Novus Ordo on us all many churches did this. The priest sitting right in front of the altar\u2014Look at me! Look at me! Like Captain Kirk on the bridge of the Starship Enterprise.\nAnyway, thanks again for this lucid piece. Ad multos annos!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You read the Spadaro-Figueroa eruption of poison?\n\nBy far the most important collaboration of Evangelicals and Catholics is the pro-life movement. Spadaro-Figueroa specifically note abortion as one of the issues binding together these Christians in their \"ecumenism of hate\" and their dream of a \"theocratic\" state.\n\nSpadaro-Figueroa (sock puppets of Bergoglio) thus make their own the attacks of NARAL et al. on pro-life Christians as \"theocrats.\"\n\nYou can fling all the adjectives at me you want. Spadaro-Figueroa's pro-abortion malice is set out permanently in black-and-white.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "ms.amylou,\nthe 40 year push to force \"social issues\" past the First Amendment, not to mention reverse Roe v Wade, the attempt to force anti-scientific Creationism and Intelligent design into public school science curriculum are the just some of the obvious evidence of an American Taliban, and it's designs to force a christian sharia upon the Nation. \n\nAs a gentle reminder, the First Amendment begins, \"Congress shall make no law regarding the establishment of religion, or the free exercise thereof,\". \nThe Establishment Clause comes before Freedom of Speech, Assembly, and the Press.\nit comes before the Right to Bear Arms. \n\nAnd it is a Right of all Americans, the Right Wing Theocracy wants to ignore in it's push to force us all to kneel to the same church of hate.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yup, though you missed slavery and other atrocities. Don't think Jesus ever promoted genocide, kidnapping, etc. It was evil and sinful humans who tried to hide their racism, hatred, and acts of violence behind a belief system. It has happened before, it is happening now, and will probably continue. Hard to align those acts with any religion whose premise, like Christianity, is love your fellow man.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are supporting sexism and sexism has already been proven to cause poverty, violence, terrorism, illiteracy, child abuse, rape, slavery and many other horrible global ills. While our church promotes the abuse and diminishment of the human dignity of all women by keeping women from the same sacraments as men, we are the cause of these ills. It is sin & hate and Jesus Christ commanded we not treat one person differently than another or from how we wish to be treated for any reason. We are culpable as long as we cooperate with this continued oppression in our church. It is a no brainer. \n\nWomen are not selfish or wrong for seeking equal and same respect, recognition of equal sacredness of their humanity from Rome or anywhere else as men seek. So why do you condemn only women and not these married men who seek Rome's approval? \n\nAll gender stereotypes have been proven false and unhealthy. Men and women are one creation not two separate creations with different purposes per God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, we do not check our brains at the door in natural law matters when the purpose of the Church is less to discover or explain morality as to preserve the consistency of its positions. That is politics, not philosphy or religion. Tax exemption is not even an issue.\n\nIf the logic escapes you that CDF had to call being gay unnatural to keep calling gay sex unnatural then you have not been paying attention. If gayness is from God so is gay sex.\n\nDawkins sees miracle stories as self-serving, but we don't have to save-his sould, only to heed what he says when he points out flaws in our Church. Not heeding either external or self criticism is our besetting evil. It is what the world does. The Catholic Church departed from the true washing of the feet long enough ago to make the Holy Thursday ritual a sick joke. Our Pope gets it, but the bishops and cardinals do love their purple and red finery and their titles of Excellency, Grace and Eminence, which are of human origin and usage.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh, I forgot we Catholics believe that only authoritarians know truth. There is really no need for scientists to study it or philosophers to question it because we Catholics know that the Bishop of Rome knows The Truth and in his infallibility could never make a mistake. The rest of us finite beings are in need of learning from mistakes but not the infallible church! Oh we all know that to be a good Catholic we must follow like mindless sheep canon law!!!!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Wow, just wow. You are brutally uninformed. Almost half the cemeteries in Toronto are for specific religions. Mount Hope Catholic Cemetery is just one of them to answer your ludicrous question and there are many Jewish only cemeteries. Your ignorance to this matter is astounding. There are thousands of cemeteries across Canada that are Christian only. Try getting an education.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"and all the other groups of Muslims in many countries around the world , that want to destroy Jews, Christians and non believers\"\n\n\nthat would be all of islam", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Are Christian students allowed to attend their religion's prayer meetings at state schools in Muslim states? Probably not. Yet, Muslims demand their children get special treatment in our public schools, Now, that chutzpah.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "LOL. I am not remarried but I hate the hypocrisy of conservative Catholics on this and I am tired of seeing people shunned. And you are darn right people should use the internal forum to decide their worthiness for Communion. I think that most remarried people will receive Communion on this one (as they should.)", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "There are literally thousands of cemeteries across Canada that are exclusive to Catholics, Protestants and Jews. This is ridiculous. Let them have their own cemetery. You can't have it both ways. This is Canada and this \"referendum\" is a pathetic joke.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\" I don't see the death of Western Christianity as a bad thing \" . It doesn't get much more pathetic than that.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Another way the Catholic Church can distract from the fact that they condone child rape.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Ontario's public school system was once Christian. Pierre Trudeau eliminated that. You Muslims should have to give up your religion too.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Yet homosexual pedophile priests that raped young boys, and were protected by the Catholic church, are never denied a funeral, despite the fact that they BRUTALLY defied Jesus in Matt 18:6-14.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I see this assertion a lot, but have never read why some people believe it to be indisputable truth. It is not.\n\n\"As humans, we also need rituals\"\n\nSOME people may DESIRE to particiopate in rituals, but to say that ALL people \"need\" rituals is not true. \n\nIn the context of religion, some desire some rituals in certain contexts (they don't \"need\" ritual), others pretty much forgo ritual (for example, Quakers). \n\nIn the early church, the eucharist was a meal, presided over by someone chosen from the congregation, or by the head of household, who might have been either a man or a woman. No priests.\n\nThe rituals that have developed during the history of the RCC and christianity in general, were developed by men, and sometimes have become a bit ludicrous. When any small change from the GIRM becomes a matter for civil war in the RCC, the notion of the importance of 'ritual\" has gone too far, becoming an end in itself that is often even at odds with true prayer and true spirituality.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "This is typical anti-Israel bias at the UN - Saudi Arabia is on the human rights council, a country where having a vagina disqualifies you from driving and people are killed for \"blasphemy\" - what amounts to your average Family Guy joke. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation or OIC represents one of the strongest power brokers in the UN due to their size, 57 members with a particular fondness of Islamism. They often put forward resolutions making it \"illegal\" to criticize Islam - no one is able to dispute the fact a blind illiterate mystic was \"enlightened\" by the archangel Gabriel to create a book that seems to share uncanny similarities with Christianity and Judaism (pardon my blasphemous digression but you get the point). The UN has no credibility - it is an exercise in futility and hypocrisy that accomplishes nothing beyond strongly worded statements. Zimbabwe, North Korea, Iran, China, Russia, Syria, Yemen - who are we kidding?.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "--The floor of hell is paved with the skulls of Bishops. St. John Chrysostom\n\nA Bishop never more resembles Jesus Christ than when he has his mouth shut. Attributed to St. Ignatius of Antioch.--", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Agnostic means Ignoramus - or without knowledge. There is knowledge, but you do not accept it as such. \"The Heavens Declare the Glory of God\" as the Psalms say. There is a good debate I think you would enjoy listening to, it is on Youtube and is called Bahnsen vs Stein, does God exist. Stein was one of the Agnostic leaders in his day in the 80's. I truly believe you would understand more about Christians and Atheists if you listened to it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anGAazNCfdY just humor me OK ? Sincerely - your friend the Troll.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Post the scripture troll. \n\nShow where Jesus said to hate. I am waiting.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Yes the language is unclear, but the message is very clear - the Vatican hierarchs do not want gay men in the priesthood period. This is the proverbial nail in the coffin on vocations for an organization that does not ordain women or generally allow married men. When I walked out the door of the Roman Catholic Church, I have never looked back. I love many Catholics, but the Roman Catholic Church is a misogynist and homophobic institution that has oppressed different groups for centuries. It is dying out in the west, and will eventually only exist in developing countries. Gay Christians will find a home in the Episcopal Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and the United Church of Christ where they are generally welcomed in the ministry.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "That's what you took from my statement?\n\nNo. Love does not equal sex, nor does sex equal love.\n\nThe Church very definitely singles out LGBTs -- it forbids them any form of sexual intimacy by refusing the sacrament of marriage, and by essentially denying that it can even conceive of and accept LGBTs sharing love in a sexual manner as anything but sinful. It does not deny heterosexuals the option of marriage and right to marital sexual intimacy -- it extols it -- but denies that to LGBTs.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"I\u2019m going to be OK. And if you\u2019re are a white heterosexual male with a decent job, you\u2019ll probably be OK too.\" Do we need any more proof that 'Luke' is a bigot and who knows what else? Hit tirate is just that - garbage being spewed because his feelings are hurt, the career crook that he supported - that accepts money from countries that Murder GAYS, treats their dogs better than their women and thinks nothing of murdering Christians.... THIS is who HE thinks should be our President... His 'whole belief system lost' I'm crying for him.... NOT AND Not getting my business any time soon...", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Funny thing about those \"frauds:\" these \"Catholic\" politicians who claim to be pro-life but bound by Roe--could offer suggestions about how to get around Roe or otherwise render the decision moot. For example, they could suggest the bishops change tactics by expanding person-hood to the unborn--then support efforts to do that. They aren't doing that. They are frauds too.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "As a non Christian, I look at the Christians and the evangelicals and wonder what kind of christianity they worship, or, how the Christian politicians who are defunding the health and social programs that help the unfortunate, sick, weak, infirm, diseased, hungry and the dying, and giving the same funding to whatever corporation or individual fatcat banker on wallstreet, bribed them, even call themselves Christians?\nI may end up in the white mans hell, but I will see many past administrations and congressional delegations there.. There are many bribed to allow invasions and occupations to enrich a few leeches and parasites, that end with the suffering ad slaughter of the Native inhabitants to get them out of the way of civilized theft and murder... And hallelujah... I will see many of the posters to adn.com there also. I see too many pious individuals go out of their way to cut down their fellow man, out of greed, racism,", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Don't interrupt people when they're venting eloquently on how much more moral they are then the bishops and the Catholic hoi polloi.\n\nJust wait ... they'll be comparing the size of their phylacteries next.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is an indication of extreme desperation of the part of evangelical conservatives, as Trump has so many blatant moral failings he makes Hillary look like a saint. He has never been a church goer, worships only himself and everything Trump, and is a very unreliable conservative who regularly switches positions on major conservative issues from day to day. Nobody, probably including Trump, really knows what he thinks as he seems to be making it up as he goes along.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's tribalism and identity politics. The French, the Christian and the Natives. The rest of use have to pay for them!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What I don't understand is if you don't like the what the Catholic Church believes and teaches, leave. There are hundreds and hundreds of Protestant churches that would welcome you with open arms. After all, that's what you are in truth----protestants. You might as well go where your heart lies.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm sure you're just as badly off as Coptic Christians or the minority victims of Isis. As soon as religious diversity is celebrated in places like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen I'll leap to your defence.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"How do you call back people who have followed the path of Sr. Sally?\"\nMaybe you don't Mokantx. Maybe you follow, listen, learn, contribute.\nI accept that the \"secular\" by definition is a set of minimum standards but two points: the secular society is pre-Christian; pre-denomination, and second, the essence of secular society is civil, is civilization, the \"love\" that is of essential co-dependency, relationship, order. We seem to have acceded these values to \"religion\", to denomination. By claiming them - as Catholicism pretends that it invented ethics, morals, natural law (whatever that is)- these values become re-defined as dogma, \"magisterial teaching\" given back to us as direction/control.\nJesus joined civilization, elevated it to the divine, and advanced from the solid logic of Aristotle for example to the incarnate passion of Beatitude and the immense challenge of love as described in I Cor. 13. \nOur human commonality is secular, we build from there; but first - re-discover.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Did you just assume I'm a Christian white male?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pence is a religious zealot and Trump is a likely atheist. What a ticket - a little something for everyone. Christie and Gingrich are both broke - Pence has the big money connections. Trump stalls the announcement while he dials for dollars so he can pick who he really wants and it ain't Bible thumping Pence!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In the other post I mentioned, the author cited Jesus' words, \"Follow the Commandments.\" Say what you will about legalism, but legalism is, in fact, the basis of Judaism and Christianity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"They categorized the continued displacement of Christians from the Middle East as \"a genocidal project, a humanitarian catastrophe and a plague of the earth's civilization.\"\"\n- In every way the Muslims in the USA must assist in easing the persecution of non-Muslim religions in these lands.\n- Men and women of good will, Muslims, Jews, and Christians all must work to free the lands for the exercise of the 4 freedoms, especially for the freedom of worship / religion, and the freedom to congregate.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Will the city also pay for a Catholic Club with a swimming pool? Or a Muslim Club with pool? Seems like Public Land should be used for non-religious uses. Last I went to a YMCA there was Christian propaganda as soon as I got in the door.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For whatever reason the following quoted comment was deemed innapropriate by my fellow posters. I find that very interesting since this has been happening quite frequently to me lately and I'm pretty sure it's all about politics. Here it is again.\n\n\"Jesus is not part of this gun issue in the US. Phony prayers for slain innocents does not stop the proliferation of guns. The shooter in this instance could have carried his fully automatic machine guns in full sight of law enforcement with no problem. The handwriting on this issue was on the wall at Sandy Hook when twenty 'innocent' white children were blown away by a military assault weapon. The second amendment folks said \"Well this is OK as long as you don't come after my guns.\" NRA supporters can just live with the death and carnage caused by unfettered gun access in the US. I just wish they would shut up about 'innocent babies in the womb' because the two seem to co-exist in a very compartmentalized way too many Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think simple honesty requires us to recall Ayn Rand's influence on Ryan, especially any time claims are made with respect to Ryan's Catholicism. \nLet me second this from your post:\n<>", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "ScottG says \"\"Christian doctrine is not a closed system incapable of generating questions, doubts, interrogatives\"\n\nToo bad the Catholic Church doesn't have a system for handling questions, doubts, and interrogatives.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This article sounds like it bashing white Christians, Republicans and Conservatives. But, they could be twice as right as liberals. What I see lacking in this article is the definition of \"poor\". It lacks perspective. The chronic \"poor\" of today is not the same as is was as written in the Bible. The \"poor\" today lives better than the kings of yesterday and in many cases it is a choice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Funny, that doesn't sound a lot like the Christians in today's politics, especially on the right. They're too concerned with women's reproductive rights and who is sleeping with whom.\n\nThey should give this forgiveness thing a turn.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is awesome. May the Holy Spirit continue to lead them, and St. Matthew's continue to be a beacon and an example of what a true and caring Christian community can be.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you check the numbers, dad, there are more acts of terrorism done in the name of Christianity than there is in the name of Islam.\u2019 And factually, that\u2019s the truth.\u201d\n_________________________\n\nThat's not true. They behead and maim people everyday in Countries that use Islam as law and the slavery of women in burkas is fascism at its highest level. Add further, the word Islam in Arabic means \"submission\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You people seem to think you're being clever by trotting out the old \"double standards\" argument in a very tiresome way. \n\nIn fact, it is perfectly legitimate to call attention to the Christian background of the violent. Christianity and Caucasian heritage occupy positions of privilege in our society, at the expense of other ethnicities and heritages. \n\nSo, yes, Britain and other places do have a problem with right-wing Christians, and yes, they are the main problem.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And isn't it beyond ironic that teachers and staff in public schools often act much more like followers of Jesus than do those in Catholic schools? I attended parochial school through 5th grade. When we moved, and I was placed in a public school, the experience was so much better for me. Then, a number of years later, I taught for a year in a Catholic school. The latter experience sealed for me the decision not to send my children to Catholic school.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"And how could he have assumed they were all liberals?\"\n\nBecause liberals act like Christians should.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nor is it your house, so I will continue to point out when you introduce irrelevant material, such as this Hitler and Mussolini nonsense, into a discussion about \"Catholic bishops could do more to promote the common good of the people of the United States\u201d, where it clearly serves no purpose except to besmear the Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So it's ok for Christian cemeteries to be overtly Christian or Catholic, but when people of another faith want the same treatment, you object? Bigot.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What you happen to believe does dot determine reality. And for most people other than yourself, the priest shortage is real, as is the Catholic hierarchy's failure meaningfully to address that shortage! What's more, the RC church's clerical power structure does not even listen to lay folk OR take their needs into account. And the hierarchy has essentially lost control of the situation!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I thought the stars were in her crown, with the moon beneath her feet. jk\n\nThe tree was for a long time used in Christianity, both to represent the Tree of Life in the Garden and to represent the Cross. Behold the Wood of the Cross... The Bread of Life gives us the everlasting life we lost when we were kept from the Tree of Life, exiled from Eden. Flowers recall the life that fills the mustard plant that grows from the smallest seed of faith. The breaking of the Bread, against the background of the tree, represent the victory when Christ was broken on the Cross.\n\nWe should ask someone what it means lol.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pointed editorial. Catholics are practicing this understanding, tolerance, and respect. It's many of the American bishops that are having difficulty dealing with either their repressions or their selective intolerance of healthy loving sexual expression. Let them catch up but no need to wait for them to deal with their inadequacies couched in theological terms. So sad.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Whether you are among the \"traditional Catholics\" trusting their observance of what they understand of the \"teachings of the Church\", or among those whom go by the things they \"agree with\" and their \"conscience\":\nAll will be immediately asked a simple question by Jesus Christ when they pass into eternity:\" What did you do with my gift of eternal life clearly stated by my apostle Paul-- \"...how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures...\"?\n(I Cor. 15:3,4 in any version you choose.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"You had your chances ..\"\n\nIn the real world, the Commission had its chances, its actions were empty of anything significant, and it no longer has any credibility. Admittedly, that is only in the real world, not in the Real Catholic world, the Smaller, Holier Church world.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Frederick, you seem to explain your religion very well. So what would it take to bring peace to the many places across the world where large numbers of Muslims are not getting along with other cultures. What can the Hindus, the Buddists, Middle East Christians, Jews, Indonesians, Chechnyans, Europeans, Americans, Nigerians, Ohio State Students, etc do, so that they can rest easy that the bombs and mass shootings in the name of Islam will be relegated to the past?\nAlso, do you think the moderate Muslim population does enough to purge its religion of the radicals?\nDo you agree that Islam has a problem with radicalization?\nI think one mistake they make is to form enclaves in a host country with little social interaction with others. Not in all cases but that is the perception.\nSincere questions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thomas was indeed a great intellect. But the issues that we face today as a people, as Catholics are not the world that Thomas lived in. BTW---in Thomas' time everybody did not think that he was faithful to the church's teachings. The bishop of Paris wanted to excommunicate him for heresy. There were cardinals who wanted to destroy both the Franciscans and Dominicans because of the influence of their teaching, in the universities, especially at the University of Paris. At that time Albert the Great, Thomas Aquinas and Bonaventure [three saints] were teaching. Oh, yes, I have studied the writings of both Aquinas and Bonaventure.\n\nBut both of these Saints would acknowledge that God is the God of the living. We live in a different world, much more complex than the Middle Ages, with a whole world [not just western Europe] about which to be concerned. Pope Francis is well aware of what a world we live in---with the bad and the good. Are you?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Speaking as an Atheist, this article supports what I've believed for a long time ... that you can write negatively about Christians with impunity, but don't ever, EVER criticize Muslims, for to do so is bigoted and wrong.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pope Francis seems to believe otherwise. When the media questioned him about whether the decree is binding for all time, he replied to their utter shock and amazement \"That is the way I read it. I don't know how else to take it.\" \n\nThe Church did not establish the male only presbyterate, God did when he incarnated as a male. God also confirmed this when he called male apostles. The Church received this teaching and upheld it by calling only males to the presbyterate in her tradition. The Church also confirmed this by condemning the practice of female priests in the heretical Christian sects that ordained females.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/bt/risks\nIts looks as if the risk of hep c is 1 in 2 million from a blood transfusion. I'm stating facts , I don't judge . I notice that everyone is quick to degrade Christians , your loss .", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Interesting that \"Freedom of Speech\" can apply to those who can afford to give fortunes to political candidates, creating, in effect a legal bribery system- and for those who are at their lowest and needing the most help from neighbors and fellow citizens, some governments are trying to stop them from asking for help. What a world of injustices! Maybe now that Scalia is gone we can revisit money in politics and finally get a government for ALL the people, not just those with the most money . For all you Christians out there; what would Jesus do?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your_attitude_of_\"them\"_is_hardly_Catholic._There_are_various_kinds_of_freedom,_as_your_posts_on_homosexuality+seem_to+indicate.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1/2\n\nStatement by Most Rev. Robert McElroy concerning the distribution of political material at Catholic Parishes\n\nCatholic teaching points to the importance of several major issues in this presidential election year: abortion, poverty and economic justice, the environment, euthanasia, immigration, religious liberty, and solidarity within society. This final issue of solidarity has a particular importance at this moment because the very democratic impulse which is the foundation for our national unity is being eroded by partisan venom and personal attack. \n\nIn this environment, it is vital that all institutions in our nation participate in discussions about the election with civility and balance. It is particularly vital that religious communities do so.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Gerson makes some good points. \"laws (on decency)can encourage but not enforce\" but his liberal bias shows \"movement is authoritarian in theory, apocalyptic in mood, prone to conspiracy theories & personal abuse, & dismissive of ethical standards\" tilts the entire piece.\n\nPeople select labels, titles, to give them license. The Christian designation is often self- proclaimed to disarm others, even when the \"Christian\" practices monstrous hypocrisy. Semantics is at play here & in most controversies. Semantics reflect the dynamic nature of what a philosophy is at any precise time.\n\nSo beware of labels, as they may obscure the person, or philosophy's true nature.\n\nTrump is for American Nationalism, pragmatic government, & personal freedom, including the freedom to be imperfect - as we all are imperfect.\n\nSo concentrate on the core issues, ignore the smoke & fog, try to be objective, as we hope & pray for good, ConstitutionaL government at all levels in our exceptional country.\nAmen.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'll bet I've been banned from more Catholic sites than all of you combined!\n\nI'm still bewildered by it all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Darwin has been shown, again and again, to have been right in his basic ideas. Oh, he got some of the details wrong, but his theory is quite solidly established. When a religiously based belief does not fit known facts, it is the belief that must change. \n\nAugustine of Hippo in De Genisi ad Litteram (usually translated as \"On the Literal Meaning of Genesis\") wrote:\n\nOften, a non-Christian knows something about the earth, the heavens, and the other parts of the world, about the motions and orbits of the stars and even their sizes and distances, ... and this knowledge he holds with certainty from reason and experience. It is thus offensive and disgraceful for an unbeliever to hear a Christian talk nonsense about such things, claiming that what he is saying is based in Scripture. We should do all we can to avoid such an embarrassing situation, which people see as ignorance in the Christian and laugh to scorn. (continued below)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Copts are an older Christian community than any in Europe. They also conform to the teachings of Jesus, unlike the more Romanized Christianity of Europe.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's offensive to me as a descendant of Celtic pagans that our big harvest holiday has been appropriated by Christianity as All Saints Day and All Hallows Eve. This is supposed to be the 'Festival of the Dead' and essentially the end of the old year and the birth of the New Year. We are supposed to celebrate the dead ghouls by offering them treats and wishing them well in the after-life, not dressing up like street-walkers, minions, or Spiderman.\n\nNow the school board where we live has even taken to calling it 'Orange & Black Day'. \n\nMy next complaints are the appropriation of our Winter Solstice feast (Yule) and our Spring Equinox fertility festival (Ostara).\n\nThe last laugh however is that the harder people try to stamp out these ancient holidays the stronger (and more pagan) that these traditions become!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't understand the column's confusion. Yes, the bishops believe that depriving 20 million people of health insurance is an acceptable sacrifice for making abortion illegal, or at least illegal-ish. \n\nThis is the teaching of the Church. Nothing is more important than zygotes' lives. Not 20 million people. Not 200 million people. Abortion, abortion, abortion, nothing is more important than abortion. Too bad, you 20 million. You'll just have to suffer and die. You are less important than zygotes. If you have a problem with this, you are not good Catholics. The most important thing is to make women make zygotes into babies.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "David Koresh and Jim Jones both claimed to be Christians. Hitler was baptized Catholic but rejected that faith as an adult. Should we go through the list of TV evangelists for our list of 'Christians'? \n\nBill Clinton regularly attends church; I view him as amoral and self-centered.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would forget about the bishops as they have lost all clout. Local church's should try to work with local Christian churches,synagogues,mosques etc. to form a sanctuary movement locally, if this gets brutal. It may just be the old bluster of deputising any Fed for a few days and raiding garment factories which they used to do every year for show. I'm going to try to start an ecumenical sanctuary movement in my town,if this gets nasty.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What possible reason is there for hurting children, the elderly, the \"innocent?\"\nWhen Christians hear of something good, they praise the Lord: God is great, God is good! When something evil occurs, they're silent. \nSaying God's reasons are unknowable doesn't seem appropriate. If reason doesn't matter, then the reasoning used to pick Christianity over other religions or agnosticism or atheism doesn't matter, either.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Johnny Kobbassa who 10 hrs ago wrote, \"I really don't care as to who the CBC chooses to read the news. I don't watch CBC news, too partisan. Most of the time it seems like an extension of the Liberal party. Time to stop funding the CBC. This is one trough that has got to go.\"\n\nJohnny now offers us 9 hrs later, \"The USA does fund PBS and NPR but believe it or not the funding is less than what the CBC receives annually. Additionally, both do not run ads on air which the CBC does.\"\n\nExtrapolating from Johnny's facts, does this mean he would support reduced funding of a new Canadian Public Broadcasting Corporation (CPBC) and instead of the ads, tolerate frequent fund raising campaigns from its Toronto/Buffalo Station while playing reruns of the Canadian Tenors from Ralph Williams Stadium?\n\nAnd if that CPBC model fails...perhaps call it the Christian Populist Broadcasting Corporation and start sending the viewers prayer cloths and anointed Love Canal discharge for a small weekly tithe?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As long as refugees leave the baggage and mind sets that turned their nations into hellholes things should be alright. Folks coming from Europe often were intolerant and backward looking and they were assimilated OK. I don't see any reason why Syrians , be they Sunni, Shia, Alawite, Druze or Christians can't be assimilated as well. That is something the US , as most English speaking nations , have done a pretty fair job of over the years..", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"a new iteration of Catholic Christianity might well emerge without clergy. There may be no other way.\"\n\nThis may be the best way. The hierarchical clerical system evolved over a few centuries. In the early church, there were no priests, no bishops. The community chose their own leaders and in the early years, gathered as house churches, celebrating the eucharistic meal together. Some adaptation of that model might eventually \"save\" organized christianity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It shows up independently elsewhere, for example among the Jews of the Old Testament, under the names of things like \"God's plan\", \"God's plan for mankind\", and so on.\n\nMuch like Catholics, they believed humans are capable of discerning the difference between good and evil because they have a conscience, which God informs.\n\nPope Francis has stood firm on every teaching based on natural law.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The pope has finally caught up to what Donald Trump was saying many months ago about terrorism.\n\nPreviously the pope wanted to pretend that the high profile Muslim terrorist actions were caused by \"the west\" wanting to \"close themselves off\" to \"surprises\"...or to \"gun money\" or to imperialist western countries. \n\nThe pope though can't quite bring himself into the fullness of the truth, but mounting events are moving him nonethessless a bit closer to reality. \n\nWe definitely need a more agile and quick thinking pope in this day and age.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Donald Trump got around 80 percent of the Evangelical vote. She is not the only Christian to be hoodwinked by Trump, just the most visible one.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The CBC'S Macdonald's article linked to in this article, makes the weird claim that Bissonnette was a \"Christian\" terrorist.\n\nHas \"Christian\" now become used as a term of ethnic identity, where if one is white and of European roots, one is deemed to be a Christian, whether or not one is an actual believer, or an atheist?\n\nI guess that follows when you need to make hostility to Islam about race, skin color, ethnicity, rather than to a set of beliefs...\n\nThe problem is, Muslim terrorists are Muslim terrorists because they CLAIM to be acting in the name of their religion. There is no indication Bissonnette was religious, or that he acted in the name of Christianity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"He said dogma guided the country's founders, who believed citizens should practice \"their faith freely and without apology.\"\n\nNo to the first part of that but yes to the second. The founding fathers were mostly Enlightenment Age rationalists who were deists at best. To say that religious dogma guided them borders on untruth. In shaping a new republic they were guided by the fundamental principle of the separation between church and state, i.e. that no church would ever dictate law.\n\nAs for the (faux) outrage at Senator Feinstein's questions, since when have legitimate questions about anything having to do with a candidate's belief system been out of bounds when judicial nominees undergo questioning? Things have certainly changed since the days when JFK went out of his way to assure WASP voters that Rome would never guide his actions as president and U.S. bishops were as quiet as a bunch of church mice in their eager determination to get a Catholic in the White House.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I mentioned one case- that I know of. Saying \"clergy\" is neutral - it does not give a number because I do not know. The author states with some surprise the many Catholic woman, against personal interest, support Trump - I gave a plausible hypothesis - and a clue to something that should be investigated further, that is if the RCC had interest of stopping such shameful behavior. Many readers of the NCR have lived through similar \"indoctrination\" at the hands of clergy, and grew up to regret the unfortunate incident. It is one experience that unite us. It is an experience that makes it credible that the experience of this one woman may reflect a trend of some clergy - be it by directly saying the name Trump or by not so subtle allusions. We all know about the wafer wars -another shameful incident - Priests can NOT judge people, either can you. I will not explain again. Either change the way you interact, or please stop commenting in my thread.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\u201cDo humans have the capacity to live in harmony with the Earth?\u201d\nGee, I dunno, how long have we been here? One load of nonsense after another, from the Soros Press. You are getting huuugely better at disguising your anti White, anti Christian & America agenda tho. One has to really read it to find your racial slurs. Oh, and your line re Natives in harmony with the Earth, really? That's pretty tired.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, the only source for a wedding cake for 50 miles.\n\nI think people who are waiting for a clinical trial within 50 miles of their home have a far stronger case before the courts for denial. \n\nPlaying with cakes amid far more serious issues. Cake time. \n\nTell me there's not targeting BASED ON RELIGION underway. \n\nWell faithful Christians need to learn how to keep their will coherent with their conscience, never allowing a wedge to be jammed in between.\n\nAs John Hobson has reminded us...we can never go against our conscience. We must follow it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wonder if PD used DT as an example of a non-Christian to his parishioners? Safe here, but not in an RC parish & in his part of MD that may have voted more for DT than HC. PD often used his parish as a foil for his columns; not this time.\nCertainly, the like of his own cardinal, another Donald, or cardinal Timothy D. wouldn't dare frame DT's version of Christianity as such. Then again, DT got an honorary doctorate in Christian Theology from Trump U.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You ask if Pope Francis has ever consulted Saint Thomas on the legitimacy of secure borders. \n\nHere is my answer: Pope Francis is a Jesuit. \n\nAny other questions?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I imagine God must be so proud of you Christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Michael;\n\nWell said; your essay really hits the core of the issue; it's not anti-Catholic bigotry at all. Most of the participants in the e-mail discussions were themselves Catholics. Perhaps even more significantly, on Twitter well respected and credentialed commentators as diverse as Ross Douhat and Massimo Faggioli agree that it's an inter-Catholic dispute. For Douhat it's a \"Catholic civil war\" while Faggioli sees it only as a \"Catholic family quarrel\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My \"accusations\" are neither sully nor untrue. You would like to say that they are, bit that is just more of your dishonesty. \n\nSaying that you are dishonest is no more a \"personal attack\" than saying Pope Francis is a Catholic. Both are equally true.\n\nKeep your \"Happy Thanksgiving\". We both know you are being insincere when you say it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ich kann nicht anders.\nThanks to Garrison for the inspiration to revisit Youtube cuts of Martin Luther's reply. I belong to no religion, but even if the comment is not historical fact, it is certain that many went to their deaths with the sentiment on their lips as they opposed the insanity of the Catholic Church.\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOWfTjkJc48\nAll bureaucracy needs, in its old age, such cleansing as Luther provided the church, and I am with Max Weber in admiring bureaucracy, the only way that humans in large groups can get things done.\nNot sure why Martin Luther fits here though. Is it that Garrison sees many standing before a Trump tribunal, asking the media to recant their harsh words and doubting articles? Certainly in Putinland, that is what is happening.\n\nHugh Massengill, Eugene Oregon", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, Stephen. God's church is never satisfied with the status quo. It's just that the church seeks to change the status quo through Kingdom living, not political advocacy. Christians who believe that the policies of Barack Obama or Donald Trump are God's method for changing the status quo distort God's plan and character. \n\nJesus changed the status quo by a life that led to death on a cross. When the disciples of John the Baptist came to inquire why He seemed uninterested in fulfilling His inaugural promise to change the status quo, Jesus responded with displays of personal love and mercy toward the victims of sin - not strident protests to Caesar, and demands that Caesar reform the laws that perpetuated the social, institutional and cultural status quo. \n\nThe Jewish leaders expected the Messiah to change the status quo and achieve justice for the Jewish people. They would resonate with today's Christian social justice warriors.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Superstition? Really. I answered your question why I believe as I do. I believe in the Sacrificial Mass, just as many Saints have agreed with over the centuries. Do you believe in the Saints, especially on this All Saints day celebration? Do you believe in the Sacred Heart of Jesus ? If you profess to be a Catholic then what is your answer to your original question and on who's authority do you make it?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Palestine and Arab League\nthe Apartheid of non-Arabs, \nthe Apartheid of non-Muslims (like Christians, Jews, Bahai even)\nthe Apartheid of infidels\nthe Apartheid of women\nthe Apartheid of atheists\nthe Apartheid of people who don't dress modestly", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The sign that a Christian has accepted God's grace is that he or she demonstrates love through spiritual and corporal works of mercy. Spiritual and corporal works of mercy \"are the touchstone of the fulfillment of the law,\" he added.\"\n\nWhy is it that so many people who claim they are God's most faithful practice only one spiritual work of mercy: admonish the sinner?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Being a lifelong, practicing Catholic, I agree with Mr. Dearing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is....amazing and the type of Catholicism and Christianity that needs to be out there. This is channeling the zeal of the Biblical prophets who said \"remove the chains of oppression and the yoke of injustice and let the oppressed go free\"(Isaiah 58:6). It also channels the Early Church Fathers like St John Chrysostom and St Ambrose who stood up and denounced injustice and the poor and the oppressed. \n\nAnd yes, social justice and the disruption of unjust structures is totally Christian and totally Biblical. Go look at Jesus shutting down the Temple. So cudos to Bishop Mcelroy for this speech and those attending the popular movements here. As Pope Francis put it in his speech in 2015, popular social justice movements are the social poets of our time and society.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sorry Petrus, but both Montana dioceses were mission territory well into the late twentieth century. There really isn't a lot of property or assets to speak of. This is not Catholic territory up here, and never has been. The Great Falls diocese covers the same square area as New York and many of the original 13 colonies excluding Maine and Massachusetts. It has 38,000 Catholics. Bankruptcy really is the only path for any kind of financial recompense. It is not Milwaukee by any stretch of the imagination.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sorry, but I'm just not feeling the 'love' for my conservative brothers and sisters in the pews after reading this piece.\n\nThose of us who saw 'pastoral accompaniment' as integral to the gospel had to endure the indignity of being labelled \"glorified social workers\" by our 'obedient' brethren.\nWhen we worked for Justice they accused us of acting politically, of being communists.\nWhen we saw the young walk away from Mass we tried to make the liturgy more accessible to them. They called us tambourine wielding \"Hippies.\"\nAnd when we challenged outdated and at times, cruel Church teaching, they called us Protestants and told us to get out of 'their' Church.\n\nWe see now exactly how deeply they valued obedience, with the election of Pope Francis. From what I can see, it's not a virtue they valued at all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For Christians, a substantial part of our moral teaching is embedded in parables.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh come on, get off your super-sanctimonious soap box. I treat all people with a basic degree of respect, and that includes not judging their religion, or lack thereof. Yet here you are, telling another person that his beliefs at \"God himself (sic) working inside you,\" and this is what \"Christians believe\". No, it is merely what YOU believe, and you are presumptuous to include all Christians as sharing your particular beliefs. Do you believe that only through the beliefs you harbor can anyone find \"salvation\"? Do you believe that all religious belief differing from your own sends the believer to Hades? You can see that religious discussion is problematic, and if you had any respect for your fellow humans, you'd keep your beliefs to yourself.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I can still recall to this day the four-letter words uttered by theology students at the breakfast table at my university residence when Pope John Paul II had just been elected. I had little interest in the new Pope. The protestant theological students on the other hand were horrified. One explained to me that this Polish cardinal was an ultraconservative and seemed to have lost contact with the Church after the Iron Curtain descended. JPII didn't seem interested in progressing from Vatican II. Instead, he seemed to want to return to the kind of Catholic church made famous by Bing Crosby in Going My Way. And he was charismatic, so he got his way. But the Church suffered. Christianity suffered. The Church became something of a chocolate box: all fancy gilt wrapping with sweet and sugary content. JPII occaisionally said things critical of Western Culture, but he was ignored because he was safely conservative. Francis is no Sunday School Pope. He's here to stir things up. Amen.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I interpreted this article as the opinions and reflections of Msgr. John Strynkowski prepared for the purpose of making an opening statement for a conference on Catholic social teaching, not to serve as a statement of an official Catholic position about social justice. In that sense I saw value in his remarks as a useful reminder of the \"where we were and are\", perhaps a good starting point for a conference that hopefully will examine the \"where we need to be\" to enable a robust natural growth process in the RC church for social justice. \nIt will be interesting to see what conclusions and recommendations come from the conference.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That's odd. The Solstice Celebration is pretty pantheistic. Even the Christians joined in, moving the birth date of JC from September to December.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"to demonstrate that our Christian heritage is so ingrained into our culture that we don't even notice it anymore. But it's intellectually dishonest to ignore how our society evolved to accommodate Christian worship. \"\n\nThat is a strange claim. It is Progressives who refuse to accept this is a society based on 2000 years of Christianity, or consider it a shameful thing that it is. Of course it is, what else would it be based on, and what is wrong with that?\n\nI may not be religious, but I acknowledge that I inherited a culture shaped mostly by those 2000 years of Judeo-Christianity, as well as Greek and Roman influences. We are not a society shaped by Islam or Buddhist or Shintoism or Confucianism. That is my cultural heritage, and that of my country, and anyone choosing to come here and join this society should be aware of that and ready to accept that reality, too.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Ironically, though, plenty of parents who choose to send their kids to Catholic schools \u2013 presumably because they offer better education \u2013 are now demanding to have their kids exempted from the Catholic part.\"\n .\nFrom: Who\u2019s afraid of Catholic schooling? - Margaret Wente - The Globe and Mail - Aug. 16 2014", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When Angelo Bruno was killed in Philly, John Cardinal Krol refused him getting a Christian burial. Bruno openly flouted the laws of the Catholic Church. There are consequences to our actions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...and to form future generations that will reject any ideology that leads to genocidal acts and other atrocities.\u201d\n\nFar, far, far easier to do with Christians than members of that other religion. And no one seems to have a magic formula of formation for that other religion. \n\nBut I guess we must heed the bishops and be willing participants in their social engineering.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "to continue what Heartbreaker said: ... spin a person into the ground. The intellect and will have been hog-tied and gagged in the trunk. Emotions have been allowed to dominate a person's focus, their time, their thoughts. They lead a person into one place: unpeace, eventually death.\"\n\nFirst of all, I wish you peace and an integrated spirit that respects the whole person: body, mind, spirit, heart, will. Our emotions are a gift. For years Catholic ascetical practice denigrated \"feelings\" and emotions. I know because this is how we were trained when I first entered the convent fifty years ago. It is precisely the denial of or lack of care for one's feelings that leads to problems. Our spiritual work is to integrate our humanity in Christ for the good of all. Integration takes insight and work and gentleness with self and others.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So what is a Catholic if it is not someone who follows the teaching of the Catholic Church? Catholics in name only; that is Protestants who come (or more likely don't come) to Catholic mass.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What Christian Answer includes gender segregation as a good thing?\n\nI notice you didn't offer one.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Physician, heal thyself!\"\nThe Catholic Church ought to seek reconciliation among its own members before it tries to heal society. If it doesn't, why would anyone take its advocacy seriously?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And that indicates an important difference between the way that some Evangelicals and Catholics approach the issue. Many Evangelical churches have vans that bring people to Sunday and weekday services and events. they invite people in and make it easier for them to come. We .... not so much.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You continue to ignore what I'm saying: Greece v Galloway in your own words, says that the city is not obligated to go outside its borders. Obligated means a burden, as in \"city you MUST find religions other than Christian\" which is not a legal burden to impose on the city.\n\nHowever the city must allow those that come to it OFFERING their religious invocation to have an opportunity to speak.\n\nThis means the city can't be forced to seek out speakers from religions if it doesn't exist in their area, but if someone shows up offering/requesting to speak it is discriminatory to exclude them.\n\nKPB is substantively different because KPB is directly excluding even voluntary invocations from outside. That is the crux of why it fails the test of Greece v Galloway.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Good points, Monica. Here's the other issue. The story of Jesus Christ has a certain continuity the Marian apparitions don't. Perhaps that's what you meant by the notion that we are culturally disposed to believing in birth, death, and rebirth. On the other hand, the Mother of God's warning that Russia must be \"converted\" seems to reflect a lot of discontinuity, given that Russia was one of the first Christianized nations and received the faith directly from Byzantium. What did she think happened to this faith when the Soviet revolution occurred? Did it go away? What happened to the deification of the hundreds of thousands who never stopped believing? Surely she knows better. Not only that, but Mary's preoccupations at Fatima seem curiously steeped in the Roman Catholic cults of the time, like devotion to the immaculate heart of Mary and the sacred heart of Jesus. \n\nI imagine the mother of God takes it all with a grain of salt.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "True. Very true. The Declaration did, though. That one came first. It's one of the two founding documents. Which of course you already know. You also already know that our nation was founded on Judeo-Christian values. I know you probably don't like it, but you do know it to be true no matter how hard you argue that it was not.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I got to you, right Elizabeth? Your conscience in your catholic soul has been stirred in response to the problems with vatican 2. You know that Jesus said \"Feed my sheep\" This was one of the most poignant moments in the scriptures, when Jesus asked if Peter loved him three times in a row. You know this in your catholic conscience.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Which requests for Christian religious accommodation did school boards reject?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So \"practices preceding 1965\" are the problem? Most of Catholic History, Doctrine, Liturgy, etc counts for nothing in this new dawn?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So, should a Christian be allowed to give thanks for their lunch on school premises?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nothing is being shoved down your throat and there's nothing \"preferential\" about this treatment. If Christian students requested a prayer room, they'd assuredly be accommodated. The fact that it'd be hard to FIND a bunch of Christian kids who want to pray during school hours is certainly not the fault of Muslims.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The bishops at the Council of Nicaea in 325 were not discussing \"Constatine's interpretation and promulgation of the four gospels\". The main topic was Arianism, which has to do with the divinity of Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The church's website, quoted above, also says\n\n\"St. John the Wonderworker Orthodox Church is a \u201cChristian village\u201d in the heart of the historic Whiteaker Neighborhood . St. John\u2019s is a church for all and is Eugene\u2019s link to the still-living Church of the Apostles and the ancient path of Christian spirituality. Our community practices prayer, repentance, and service.\"\n\nI wonder if Mr. MacKay is a \"professional\" (paid) priest or a volunteer?\n\nIf he's guilty of utilizing the services of an underage prostitute and distributing cocaine, he should confess and repent. If guilty, hopefully the Church and the Christian village he's been entrusted to oversee will put him out, not shelter or make excuses for him.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually Brevik described himself as Christian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are many professors of Islamic studies at Canadian universities, who are Christians. Take a university course, and stop worrying about it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The GOP is little more than a white identity death cult these days. The president and his supporters made it very clear that all lives don't matter to them. They are defined by who they fear, hate, and resent. The children in Flint still don't have clean water thanks to the GOP. Clearly, their lives don't matter to them. Republicans remind me of the \"good Germans\" that never asked, where did the Jews disappear to? Most of those Germans were Christians too.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Stuartal79, Francis is definitely not \"orthodox\" by any stretch. This is a man who rejects trying to convert non-Catholics.... who received a copy of the 95 Theses with a smile..... who repeatedly teaches \"the ecumenism of blood\" (directly contradicting what Pope Eugene IV taught ex cathedra.... who says it doesn't matter what religion you belong to.... who says that Catholics and Lutherans agree on Justification (!!) .... who published and appeared in a video wherein a statue of Baby Jesus comes together with a statue of Buddha (!) and a Menorah. This man is so unorthodox it is mind boggling. A handful of \"conservative\" statements or propositions from him mean nothing. Bergoglio is not even remotely Catholic", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "in the 40s, we had weekly drills in school. quick, get under your desk, it will protect you from a nuclear blast. stop worrying about it. Christians can think it is the second coming. surfers can go out doing what they love. win win. maybe, if the u.s. would stop meddling in everyone's business, the world would settle down. we certainly aren't a shining example of what a country should act like right now.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "President of Presidents and Lord of Lords? Nah, I'll stick with Jesus Christ the King.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Besides, one needs to address what is actually means to be a Catholic in communion with the Church and in good standing. If there are criteria (and there are) then it's not unreasonable to apply them.\"\n\nIt is not the readers' place to address who is a Catholic in good standing. And that topic prevents discussion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nice try- do you not grow tired to defend the indefensible ?\n-\nSouth Sudan is indeed Christian - and it has been persecuted by the northern Islamists for decades\n-\n\"The Sudanese civil war culminates a long history in which the North has tried to spread its religion and language to the South, which has resisted these efforts. The introduction of Islam in the seventh century , primarily by traders, then led to descent groups in Sudan tracing their genealogy back to Arabia; in the case of politically or religiously prominent families, they claim to have roots going back to the Prophet Muhammad himself. Islamization set in motion a process of gradual decline for Christianity in northern Sudan, culminating in the overthrow of the Christian kingdoms in 1504 by an alliance of Arabs and the Muslim kingdom of Funj. In due course, Islam and Arabic gained hold in the North and overshadowed and displaced the indigenous and Christian cultures. \"\n-\nIslam = war , oppression and discord", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My father was a devout Catholic and an avowed secularist. His primary identity was Canadian. I suspect that this is the case for the vast majority of Canadians who identify with Christian religions. Their primary identity is rooted in their attachment to Canada or, as is the case for many Francophones, Quebec. More recently, however, there's been a shift as Canada has seen a growth in immigrants (and their offspring) from other religions, often from regions and/or communities where religion is synonymous with personal identity. One study, for instance, indicated that over 60 percent of Muslims in Canada identify primarily as Muslims rather than as Canadians. For many Canadians this is a troubling trend. As my now-deceased father used to note, the most positive social development he witnessed in his lifetime was the decline in sectarian religious chauvinism in the aftermath of WWII. This is a development a lot of Canadians don't want to see reversed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, you reject what the Church teaches on such subjects as Religious Liberty, Revelation, Salvation, the status of the Jews and non catholic sects, Ecumenism, the nature of the Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Author is a sweet looking individual called Barbara Kralis who writes for Renew America thinks the pope might not be Catholic. So you're in good company, Cael!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Read what I wrote. My criticism is of his comments which reject the Church's teaching which one would not expect of a Catholic let alone of a Catholic priest.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Splendid, you are quoting a 33rd degree mason to try to gird your skewed understanding of Catholic social teaching.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It would impossible to stifle any meaningful debate by the means you describe. You are free to post, as are they, and it would appear that you have a considerable amount of time on your hands which you are currently using to count posts and track people whose opinions you do not care for and to post about them in unrelated discussions. Does this advance civil discourse or a Catholic discussion? No.\n\nJust think about the meaningful debate that could take place if you used that time actually researching the topic being discussed, focusing on your own arguments, assembling them in a cogent and convincing way, and posting them.\n\nOne never makes one's candle burn brighter by extinguishing someone else's.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You can believe in a God and not be a Christian (or believe in Christmas)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As a follow-up to his exhortation, the bishop should personally walk the halls of congressional offices and disrupt their routine; confront professed Catholic congresspersons with this same message.\n\nBishop McElroy lauded the \"see, act, judge\" method. Such a personal action in the congressional office buildings would a true \"act\" in this vein.\n\nAND -- he should ask the entire USCCB to personally join him -- no surrogates.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Lifesite news did not provide the comment, a reader provided the Bible verses. Interesting how some get to choose what verses in scripture are worthy of belief, and which can be discarded. I follow the Catholic Church teachings, plain and simple.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"I pray that he is not granted the opportunity to speak at ND and promote the myth that he speaks for Christians\"\n\nAnd what a myth it is! What Trump worships is money and his own ego. Or perhaps I should say his id.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Faithful Catholic, the Church has a long history of changing based on people leaving or staying. The change usually comes a century or two after the people have left.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I wonder how many of those 'Klansmen' like his Jewish son-in-law or his black Secretary of Health and Human Services?\n\nOr his appointment of Justice Gorsuch, who was raised Catholic?\n\nYour attempt to link his voters to the Klan is just another method of bigotry. \n\nHis Klan 'support' has the same validity as linking the anti-Trumps here in Eugene who ice pick tires to prove their liberal values. Or the ones who like to burn cars in Portland. \n\nYou are trying to tar all Trump voters with the same bigoted brush.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Never liked cocaine. Every generation considers itself modern, by the way and every reactionary hates that fact. Look up orthodoxy. It does not mean what you think it means. Read an objective book on the history of Christianity and Catholicism. I suggest Christianity, the-First 3000 by Diarmund McCullough. Yes, he is an Anglican priest, but his facts check out with most other research on the same topic by Catholic authors who are not trying to conform to the official self-aggrandizing story.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "77% of Canadians are Christians? I find that hard to believe. The 2011 Canadian census reported that 23.9% of Canadians declare no religious affiliation, so the numbers don't add up. Betrand Russell said, \"Religion is something left over from the infancy of our intelligence, it will fade away as we adopt reason and science as our guidelines.\" Amen!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's easier to not help folks if you perceive their circumstances are of their own doing. Christian doesn't mean Christian like it used to.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't think that we will ever know any statistics on this because it is a matter of the internal forum, and consequently there is no official certification, anywhere. \n\nWE do know that there are a number of Dioceses and Archdioceses where the local Ordinaries have publicly declared that there will be no readmittance to Communion to divorced and remarried Catholics who have not obtained a public declaration of nullity for the previous attempt at marriage by an ecclesiastical Tribunal competent to declare such nullity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In fact, Christmas is a pagan festival appropriated by Christianity. Like the Romans who gave their colonies the illusion of self-control, early Christians understood the value of appropriating non-Christian (even anti-Christian) cultural traditions and ceremonies as a means of making their religion more palatable to potential adherents.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "First, there is no such thing as Naturalis Sacramentum Ordinis in Catholic thought. Secondly, cereal grain is not the Bread of Life, unless (for some reason) Christ was referring to Himself as grain. \"Nature\" is not a conscious being.\n\nIf you can find any of this in Catholic teaching, please direct me to its source.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In case you weren't aware, many *good* Catholics feel blessed by Fr. Martin's open-minded, pastoral approach. I daresay more do than don't, probably by a very wide margin but that would be speculation on my part. Personally I am in favor of a schism where one sect can pledge allegiance to Rome while the other can focus on Christ and His teachings.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am a 'sad senior' also. I always assumed that my 5 children and their offspring would follow my lead, and practice Catholicism as their religious faith. But now I find myself having increasing difficulty finding reasons why they should remain in, or return to the Catholic Church. I Church that doesn't treat the sexual abuse of children and teens as a serious offense (i.e. MORTAL SIN) has completely lost its way. Clergy who have abused minors have absolutely no business claiming the right to be the 'spiritual leaders' of their faith communities.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If government funds were not available for the poor, the sick and suffering---what kind of a society would we have? No private individual or group could raise enough money to care for them, or for us either [no hospitals, clinics].\n\nAlso, why do we now have a rite called the Roman Catholic Church? And guess what? When Constantine became the Roman Emperor, he built churches with government tax dollars. The Social Teachings of the Church have been around since the 19th Century. In them, the Church advocated safety for workers, the right to form unions, the rights to just wages, and the need for the state to assist workers. Are you giving up your Social Security benefits? Yes, you worked for them---but the concept that you have a right to them---is supported by the Church.\n\n\nJesus supported and defended the poor. The Church followed suit in stating that the poor deserve the special option of concern by the Church. Bishop McElroy was stating the Church's position clearly.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I believe in 1983 by Saint Pope John Paul to underline the gravity of abortion. \n\nIt's not a \"condition on forgiveness\" but on removing the canonical penalty of excommunication. In the eyes of the Church, abortion involves both a grievous sin and a canonical crime. Prior to 1983, a priest could absolve the sin and remove the excommunication. Plus, it only applies if the person was aware of the penalty of excommunication prior to having or cooperating in an abortion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yeah, lots of misinformation out there. The name of the Church is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and we belueve in Christ, his atonement, and that we will be together forever as families.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "All of Sacred Scripture reveals the good news : our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ The awesome way God found to be our nourishment . We are being transformed into true children of God . Not by way of flesh , nor of the will of humans ...\nAnd it is this Eucharist with its many dimensions that constitutes worship in spirit and truth .", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "National Catholic Reporter is the best newspaper in the country, Catholic or secular. It deserves the support of all of us.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not very Christian of you, you hater. \"Oh, the weather outside is frightful.....\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Didn't he invite Judas to eat with him? Not to disagree with you, as you are quite evidently all that one could possibly hope for in a Traditional Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have heard many Bishops speak. Typically they promote Catholic teaching on many fronts. They include the teachings on abortion and ssm....as well as immigration and social responsibilities for the poor and environment.\n\nI have never heard an endorsement of one party over another. The views expressed seem to embrace tenets of both political parties. To say otherwise is disingenuous at best...purposefully misleading at worst.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Here's an article the Liberal Biased Media won't give an inch of real estate in their publication. Well thought of Holy Donna Brazille who hid behind Christianity while being exposed by Megyn Kelly confesses she emailed Hillary's campaign the debate questions. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/03/17/brazile-admits-forwarded-town-hall-questions-to-clinton-camp.html\n\nGuess she couldn't sleep well after lying, deceiving people using Christianity as her smoke and screen. When religious people no matter what denomination they belong to start mentioning and using Religion as part of their defense BE WARY! But I know this confession will go in one ear and out the other in your biased Democrats/Liberals minds. Your DNC and leaders have been exposed! SAD how low people will go in Politics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What I would like to know is, would Islam accommodate Christian students in their Middle East countries, allow them to have a Christian prayer in a separate large gymnasium, and have one of their opinion national media writters blindly support Christian values through out the Arab countries.\nMm?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding:\"The Republicans are not only taking aim at Catholic health care. Their proposed cuts in foreign aid will cripple the ability of organizations like Catholic Relief Services to continue their comprehensive development work around the globe. Catholic Charities will see its budgets slashed while the needs of those they serve only grow as a result of proposed cuts in essential anti-poverty programs like food stamps.\"\n- That this is happening is a shame.\n- However, the people of God pay for what the people of God want.\n- Catholics in principal do not depend on tax funded government subsidies to carry out its mission and ministries.\n- It behooves catholics to increase their donations to these organizations so that the government contributions become less important; if indeed Catholics want catholic hospitals, aid to struggling peoples throughout the world, assistance to the poor in the USA.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hitler was raised Catholic and Stalin had been an Orthodox seminarian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So many times on this blog I have stated that belief is a religious expression void of evidence. The word I choose is; think. I prefer the method of science which is the only objective method available to us to learn and to know, discover and to make predictions. Religion does none of this. It is static constrained to ancient times when beliefs were regarded as truth...which traditional Catholics are unable to free themselves.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The rest of the country (most of it) is mostly Muslim.\nMalaysia (Muslim officially) celebrates Christian, Hindu and Buddhist holidays.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hedzer, if there is a Christian sect that mandates prayer during a particular school day (as is the case with the muslim prayers), I cannot believe they would be denied the space to do so in a Canadian school. If they were, they should take legal steps.\n\nI do not believe Christians are discriminated against in University hiring procedures. If you're talking about not being qualified for a special affirmative action position, that's a different matter, but otherwise, they should take legal steps.\n\nLike pretty well all religions, muslims are wary of being the subject of missionaries. I suspect that's what your chaplain situation is all about.\n\nIn my experience, Christian groups are not shy about sticking up for their legal rights.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The changes in liturgy were the least of the problems. Those who set themselves against Vatican II were all of a certain 'political' bent too. This had horrific, life and death consequences for Catholic people in South and Central America.\n\nIt's the politics that accompany the traditionalist mentality which is truly frightening and dangerous. As we have all witnessed with their almost unanimous support for Donald Trump.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hitler and Goebbels, and their henchmen, like Goring, Hess and Himmler, also pushed their Christian religion as part of their agenda. (\"For God and country\") They fixed it so the Churches received a big share of the tax money to keep their mouths shut from complaining and it worked.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Populism,\" as it is now called had a more accurate, less politically correct name back in the 1930s. Back then they called it fascism. In all instances , uninformed and confused voters come under the spell of a \"strong leader\" who spreads a message of hate. It is our duty as Christians to stand up to this message of hate.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would like to see us go about ecumenism in a different fashion. Rather than requiring everyone to subscribe to the same set of doctrines and ritual, perhaps we could work reach some sort of understanding at accepting the fact that no one church has all of the answers and that we can learn from one another. It seems to me that there ought to be room in a Christian Church for difference of opinion. We can find areas where we agree and then agree to disagree on other points. Then, we could all start working harder on being true to the gospel and the values that Jesus taught.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Understanding Muslims.\nListen to Brigitte Gabriel who was born in Lebanon to a Maronite Christian family.\nCopy the websites below and paste to your browser & listen to what she says about Muslims.\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guXBTgAxhIw\nhttp://www.israelvideonetwork.com/brigitte-gabriel-reveals-the-muslim-brotherhood-plan-for-america/\nhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/davidnoriega/meet-the-charming-terrifying-face-of-the-anti-islam-lobby?utm_term=.xg3dOljA3#.cdpdGnQYW", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1LittleBear:\nAll of the Christians in Middle East war zones deserve our support, including accepting them as suitable refugees. Although there are a few Protestants, most belong to Eastern Catholic, Orthodox, or Oriental churches.\n\nIndia is a separate topic: When I toured India, I encountered stories about how Portuguese and other Western missionaries did not recognize the validity of the indigenous Christian faith in the Kerala region, said to have been initiated by St. Thomas the Apostle. Apparently, those St. Thomas Christians were, and still are, linked with Syriac Christians. \n\nWestern missionaries introduced rival churches such as the Catholic rites you have cited. We visited a Mar Thoma church which is now in communion with the Anglican church. \n\nThe meddlesome fragmentation of St. Thomas Christianity is a pity!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Luciano: If you're looking for a \"faithful Catholic\"--where both the adjective and the noun were courageously fought for, proven, and valued--get to know Tom Fox.\n\nAnd please, amid your snide critiques, don't ever lower case \"catholicism.\" You're not a credentialed \"editor\" with that power or assignment, here or anywhere.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And once Vatican II happened, the liberals ran roughshod, claiming mandates for things that weren't in the Council. Most Catholics did not read the Council documents, which is why the liberals were able to claim Vatican II as the reason they did the things they did. Now that the documents are readily available to all, their lies can be easily refuted. \n\nhttps://churchpop.com/2014/11/18/11-vatican-ii-quotes/\n\nListening to liberals talk about Vatican II (or it's \"Spirit\") and actually reading the documents are two different things.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "H'mm. No mention of the Papal visit within Rome on Sunday to All Saints Anglican church for participation at evensong. A first for any Bishop of Rome within his own diocese. In a more significant first, in March, a non Roman Catholic service (Anglican Choral Evensong featuring the choir of Merton College Oxford) will take place within St. Peter's Basilica at one of the altars. The 1662 Book of Common Prayer will be used and Anglican Archbishop Sir David Moxon of New Zealand will preside, with a Curial cardinal giving the sermon.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I will hardly say that I am the best Christian around but I love to say this whenever someone shows a me only attitude. Heart of Christianity is to help the less fortunate. Probably applies to other religions too but it just doesn't have the same ring to it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Cardinal Cupich is a Christian!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How come stating that kindness is a Christian virtue becomes uncivil?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is way past time to end the celibate priesthood. This requirement for a celibate priesthood was instituted to keep priests and relatives from running off with church property.\n\nMost of the Disciples of Jesus, including St. Peter were married. Women in those early days were much higher in the church.\n\n\u201cPhoebe (Koine Greek \u03a6\u03bf\u03af\u03b2\u03b7) was a first-century Christian woman mentioned by the Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Romans, verses 16:1-2. A notable woman in the church of Cenchreae, she was trusted by Paul to deliver his letter to the Romans.[1] In writing to the church that almost surely met in her home,[2] Paul refers to her both as a deacon (Gk. diakonon masc.) and as a helper or patron of many (Gk. prostatis). \nSee: Phoebe (biblical figure)\nFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia\nhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoebe_(biblical_figure) )", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A Jewish woman pre-judging a Catholic woman about potential prejudice.\n\nI think Feinstein should have recused herself. Her own religious motives prevented her from being fair-minded.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Long long before the Jesus fantasy, ancient man marked the shortest day of the year and the return of the sun with festivities. Christianity took that even more ancient belief and mixed it with their belief system. No harm no foul.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Maybe one thing we can unlearn is how to stop lecturing other people about what we think they need to unlearn. The essence of Christianity is conversion of self: not decrying the speck in another's eye until we remove the beams from our own.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments seems to have little to do. I assume the members are all ordained priests? Let's break up some of these bureaucratic overhangs and better utilize these priests in local parish work. We need more working priests and fewer \"thinking\" theologians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Church Administrators of the Catholic Church. DO the right thing,and do it now...No excuses.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Please read this and try to refute it. Based on numerous scientific studies. I realize that the heads of green evangelicals have already exploded but here goes. Give it a try\nhttp://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/10/24/delingpole-now-400-scientific-papers-in-2017-say-global-warming-is-a-myth/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Just saying: this depression among priest has been present among us \"sheeple\" as we watch the church of our birth drift slowly over the cliff into the abyss, now going on for decades. The hierarchs/clerics have no one to blame but themselves.\n\nThe hierarchs and the priesthood as it is now constituted are a spent force in our Christianity. The hierarchs especially are dangerously alienated from and hopelessly irrelevant to the lives of the very People they are suppose to serve.\n\nIf our Catholic communities are to survive even to the end of this century, only Catholic women and men have even the capacity to completely reform the priesthood from parish to pope.\n\nLet the People Decide!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is nothing new about any of this. Since the end of the Second World War and possibly even before, maybe even as far back as the Crusades, the country of Lebanon has been used as a proxy battleground for all of the competing interests active in the middle east. From domestic internal conflicts, civil wars between Christians and Muslims, regional middle east disputes, Iran and Saudi Arabia, Israel and everybody, and Russia and America playing the role of the big brothers, Lebanon somehow finds itself in the middle of the violence, as an assortment of factions fight to gain leverage for peace talks. Its too simple to lay the blame on the people of Lebanon or a weak government since both are really a victim external conflicting parties. What might make this more dangerous in 2017 is now that the United States has abdicated its role as the moral leader of international affairs these smaller conflicts no longer have any limits. And that could mean anything is possible.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is a terrible statement Wills. It is anti-christian to state that it is acceptable to continue hatred of women and the oppression of women because some may leave if we act with justice. Sexism does incredible harm to women and your apology won't cure that harm. Justice must be swift or more injustice occurs. The permanent deaconate is nonsense - it contains no more authority than lay people already have. \n\nSchism has already occurred and we are continuing to lose women faster than protestant churches are because of our sexism. We cannot ordain married men to priesthood if we are not ordaining women priest as this would cause outright gender segregation which is a form of oppression greater than women have ever known in our church. This leaves anyone who stands for justice fighting those who want married men ordained because they don't want to wait so you have civil war within our church and the laity left feeling torn and leaving to find churches that have less conflict.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "LMAO, not the sort of language one would expect from someone who claims to be a Catholic priest.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I too am for progress and moving forward, which in the matter at hand includes rejection of the silly Novus Ordo Mass and a restoration of the Mass that was maliciously suppressed. This good, truly progressive kind of change is well underway.\n\nChange is a reality, but not always for the better, and one must know how to discern the difference. Change that has all but destroyed the Catholic Church in total may be what the Vatican II planners intended, but it was change for evil intentions that must be repudiated. The WWII generation that brought us the such an abomination is no longer in charge and VII is being repudiated by increasing numbers. One happy day -- in the distant future of course -- an official repudiation will come. We must have faith in the Holy Ghost that it will.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pan17 just likes to spout her hatred of anything that might resemble true Christianity - she has a \"terrific right wing\" or \"my way or the highway\" bias to anything she deems too intellectual for her appetite.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My point exactly, you do not agree with the Catholic Church teachings on the Eucharist and the sacrificial Mass. If you don't profess the same beliefs you cannot receive the true Eucharist. The actual body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus in the appearance of bread and wine. It is no longer bread or wine, but his actual body and blood. We don't believe in the communal meal at the table view. That is a huge difference in beliefs. Any communion left over from a Lutheran service is simply considered bread and wine and is discarded, not regarded as precious and stored in a holy tabernacle to be adored.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are quite right about the lack of catechesis. Had Catholics since the Council been correctly taught the Catholic Faith then this publication would never had got off the ground.\nAlas, now most commenters here are indistinguishable from Protestants. Catholics in the pew have been seduced by the concept of the 'Church of nice'; no sin, no hell, no responsibility for one's behaviour, lurrv will overcome everything in the end; if you say you lurrv your neighbour all is forgiven, God can neither judge nor condemn you.\nThe Pope only the other day preached about hell but I imagine that the posters here don't for one minute think he was referring to them. If they were to concede that hell exists at all, then only those they label as 'Pharisees' are going there.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Good realist evidence of the very unWestern bias/ethics that goes with fundamentalist Islam, It's so similar to the dark ages in Europe that one wonders if religions can ever learn to be civil to those who don't 'believe'.\n\nThe judgmental god of Christianity or Islam does not fit 10's of millions of spiritual folks who envision a God of compassion, healing and forgiveness.\n\nTo Christians who preach hatred of all Muslim people, you really blur the lines of distinction between Christian and Muslim dogma, especially for those who aren't inclined to believe in any particularly religious context, (who can be wise and wonderful philosophers by the way).\n\nWe are all of the same family, an often dysfunctional family................", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(...CONTINUED FROM ABOVE)\n\nYou said: \"...we do know that the Jewish nation has been there far longer then a Islamic state.....actually that part of the world never been a state of any kind once the Jewish kingdom was destroyed by the Roman Empire....until 1948.\"\n\nMay I suggest you predicate your claims on the history of THIS planet? Muslim states ruled Palestine from 636 CE until the end of the 19th century, with the exception of about one century of rule by the Christian Crusaders. Were wars fought in which governments changed hands? Yep. That happens to countries where folks have other (or no) religions as well. But until defeat of the Ottomans in WWI Palestine was ruled, for better or worse, by MUSLIMS. The biblical Kingdom of Israel (including its Judean client-state) arose in the 10th century BCE and fell about four centuries later. NEXT!\n\n(CONTINUED BELOW...)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...we practice separation of religion and state\". ROTFL Tell that to the people of Peel Region. You are probably right in saying that Canada is not a Christian state. With M-103, we are well on the way to having another ideology as the de facto state religion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": ">George Weigel, senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, said he hoped the U.S. Supreme Court would \"better defend life and religious liberty\" under a Trump presidency, adding that the greatest threat to Christian values was currently \"the imperialist culture of Me.\"\n\nOh dear God, there is no greater manifestation of the \"imperialist culture of Me\" than Donald Trump.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You have said, repeatedly, that what you present is \"the truth\" and \"the Catholic faith\". So, in fact, you DO claim to be a judge in matters of faith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We have existing anti-hate laws that protect us. Do we need a motion that looks into crimes against each group to come up with an action plan? Imagine separate motions for each group.... Jews, Christians, Blacks, Latinos, Muslims, Native Canadians, etc. It might make some people feel good - unless you are a group left out.\n\nAll Canadians support a free and tolerant society and would welcome a renewed effort by the government to find ways to improve it. \n\nSo let's put petty politics aside and put an inclusive motion before Parliament and get on with it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Lorna Dueck posts a Christian column here. And your characterization of Khan's column as prosletyzing is ridiculously over the top.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Riding a bike through hundreds of miles of Illinois farmland is one very literal way to comply with Pope Francis' admonition to Catholic priests to \u201cbe shepherds with the smell of sheep\u201d. I get the impression from the article and their remarks that these young priests embrace the totality of Pope Francis' remarks. God bless them.\n\nMaybe they'll start a new \"movement\" in the US priesthood, perhaps a priest-led peloton from sea to shining sea?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It might come as a surprise to you that a literal interpretation of the Bible is not a requirement to be a Christian. I've studied in seminary, what about you? I've read the Bible front to back 3 times, you? I'm intimately familiar with how Biblical canon was created, the early Church fathers and their writings, the problems with certain dates and constructions, the historical and archaeological evidence that supports and refutes certain biblical accounts, etc. \n\nSo yeah, your knowledge of the Bible and biblical history isn't even remotely comparable to mine, and neither is your understanding of natural history and physics, apparently. \n\nAre you even familiar with the contradictions in the Bible? Like the chronology in Kings which give differing accounts and dates for the reign of the Kings of Israel vs the Kings of Judah? Probably not, because you've never studied the Bible academically. Your lack of knowledge doesn't make me a fake, I just happen to know more things than you", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is fair to \"name\" the hierarchy for \"standing\" for and those who didn't but virtually did by their silence. Remember that they represent such such a small proportion of the \"white male Catholic\" vote. The vassssssst majority are those good, faithful \"white men, with grey hair sitting obediently in the pews.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "> So Jesus ate with a sinner, but it was different because God forced him to sin? \n\nGod doesn't force anyone to sin. God can take the worst of situations and draw good from it.\n\n> Hard to imagine, having decided to betray Christ, Judas was a good Christian.\n\nAnyone can fall, even the most righteous among us.\n\n> But, in any event, he was an apostle, and therefore an ordained Priest in the Roman Catholic Church.\n\nNot yet. The Church was formed on Pentecost. The time the apostles spent with Jesus prior to that could be likened to seminary. Judas didn't graduate.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Is she or she related to a Catholic, was married to one? Child of one?\n----\nNo, none of the above.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We will simply wait for this boob of a bishop to be removed, or retire, or pass away, while we pray for all of the members of the Springfield, IL diocese. As we have seen throughout modern history, this sort of thought has a very short shelf life in the public realm. Almost no one will listen anyway. And the vast majority of gays and lesbians I encounter in my two graduate-level courses (one at a Catholic university) simply plan to have their funeral service done in non-Catholic, Christian churches that are affirming. Most often mentioned are Episcopal, but more and more are now choosing United Church of Christ. So you see, the only thing such hate produces is pushing people out and away. This is not what Christ ever intended or wanted.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bill Tammeus, \nI do respect/enjoy your other excellent articles! \nHowever, I do not think you need to concern yourself about the apparitions of the Vergin Mary. You apparently doing fine using your logical intellectual mind for your spiritual life.\nThe best shortest way of faith is the pure faith, many saints said!\nHowever, you are wasting your mind wanting to make everyone else to do what you do! \nThat my dear is not a faith! That is bordering on blaspheming. The Christian religion is a religion of miracles! 37 miracles of Jesus recorded in four gospels! Are you with a postmodern mind can't grasp the meaning from Jesus miracles?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Questioning one's faith and seeking to understand it, is not the same as doubting its truth and authenticity. Believing, or having faith, does not mean that we simply accept a teaching or the situations of our lives with no questions. Being a Catholic does mean assenting to all of the truths of the Catholic Church, but it does not necessarily mean the absence of struggling with belief.\n\nFaith is not mere belief. Faith is submitting our intellect and will to God, who has revealed Himself to us through Scripture and the Church. It involves our minds and our lives. It is not the absence of a struggle. The life of faith is by its very nature a battle to place our entire selves under Christ - heart, mind, body and soul. \n\nDoubting God or one's faith is a decision. A difficulty in understanding our faith is a dilemma.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We all owe the good folks at the National Catholic Reporter a lot for their tireless efforts to uncover what is really going on in our church, country, and world. The Reporter is a church, national, and world treasure.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"To be \"fair and balanced,\" should not the Knights contribute equally to all Catholic media that comprise the voice of the faithful?\"\n\nOf course. But that largely excludes NCR.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As a Christian, I can tell you that truth does exist, but I can't make you believe it right now. It's like if you had heard about bears but never seen one, even on TV or photos (which is true for a lot of people before TV and cameras). You might even have hiked in the forest a lot and never seen one. But the moment you do, especially when you realize it sees you too and starts coming for you, you will never question that bear's existence again.\n\nThe thing about agnosticism or atheism is that without believing in truth, neither can you believe in justice, because justice depends on truth and an ultimate arbiter of truth, who is God. And obviously, each person making their own \"truth\" does not qualify. So don't ever let me catch you saying something is not fair! The very statement testifies for God's existence.\n\nIf you are willing to fully let go of truth and justice and accept that any truth is only from whatever man can enforce it, then you are an atheist. Agnostics just won't decide.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, for some, the practice of visiting graves, bringing flowers, etc are important. They should choose a burial site that accomodates this desire. \n\nThe issue is choice.\n\nThis choice should be up to the person to make before death, or for the family itself to make. The hierarchy is trying to impose its will on people instead of respecting their choices as individuals and as families. \n\nI hope to have a \"green burial\" (near my home, not an official \"Catholic\"cemetary, but the land owned Catholic religious order). Permanent markers are banned. Anyone who has visited old cemetaries is aware that the writing on the markers disappears after a century or a few centuries anyway.\n\n I wish to have a simple burial, a couple of readings, previously chosen and included in my estate plan, but family may add others if they wish, only family and maybe a couple of very close friends notified. I have no desire to contribute to the expensive death industry that has grown up in the US.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": ">> The Middle East is the starting point of civilization..\n\nWasn't the Middle East back then... and it was the Romans who spread Christianity, after all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1/2\nI've become convinced that the \"universality\" of catholic, is the universality of Jesus, of redemption and message within humankind- past, to come and now, entwined. If that's a \"wishful dream\" that God hates, then I pray for personal mercy and enlightenment. \nFor 10 years after retirement, I lived in a rural parish that encompassed the geographical \"village\"; community council; the \"jurisdiction\" of the volunteer fire department; the former school district; the former single general store, gas station, etc. The relative isolation, the sole church, and general good will meant that Protestants attended mass. See where I'm going? Real community is a multi-dimensional interlace of interactive dependencies that is willingly accepted and enjoined. \nInstitutionally, it seems the RC has in fact created a single level dependency, \"ontologically\" distinct based on willing submission. Showings of wider \"community\" seem to be futile play-acting: the wishful dream that God, um...doesn't like.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "She does NOT represent Alaskans. She NEVER has. She gets behind feel good issues, and those best handled within the state, but toes the party line to the detriment of the state. Her job, and her wealth are ALL that she cares about , and nothing she has done has actually been better for Alaska than the party she is representing. More oil in a pipeline that we are losing money on will not benefit Alaska. Privatizing education will not improve it , it will make it more profitable for the private sector. Teaching creationism as a possibility is fantasy, but she would have all children taught Christianity in schools, which is something that will indeed be VERY controversial. She is Woefully unqualified, and a dangerous profiteer with a very bad agenda.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But Protestant churches are also Christian. I predict you may have a problem there too. Unless of course your church is not Christian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh how unfortunate to see a poster take this tone. What of the free exchange of idears? Hardly civil but one must make concessions for those who perhaps were raised with lower standards of civility or who, perhaps due to other issues have issues with impulse control. But it would be better if certain posters would not make a habit of bullying and harassing those with whom they may disagree. It is hardly proper conduct for a true catholic. But it does illustrate how some try to stifle perceived dissent so it is very illustrative in the context of this article and this, one hopes, was the point if there was one.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As I understand it, Anglican priest-converts ARE ordained Catholic priests, since the Catholic Church does not recognize the validity of Anglican orders.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And yet, some keep saying it. So right, we've not learned.\n\nOne would think those who claim this to be a Christian nation would be eager to insist the entire nation be the church that would step up to the plate.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And most in prison are Christian. LOL...\n\nhttp://www.city-data.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/prisoners_4.png", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Colonial over-reach of indigenous peoples through history is a cumulative sin of enormous proportion, especially, considering the irreversible, global wasting of people and indigenous ecologies in the times.\nChristianity, especially Roman Catholicism, is not original in the brand of sin it is conscionably beholden to atone for, for it carries a heavy weight of guilt in expanding the wasted Garden of Eden.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So you not only think TWU has the right to set such rules, you actually support the rules. That explains much, Clear Thinker.\n\nCorner stores are private entities - would you support the right of one to sell only to white Christian customers?\n\nLegislative exceptions for services such as women-only gyms are based on section 15(2) of the Charter, but that's a much longer discussion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, but God is also the foundation of the Jewish faith, the Muslim faith, the Zoroastrian faith, the Baha'i faith, the Sikh faith, the Mandaeist faith.\nIt is belief in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ that distinguishes us from other good people.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Religion is something that should only be tought after the age of 18. By then, young people should have acquired enough education to be able to form a sounder judgement and weigh the pros and cons of religious texts. \n\nTo say that 77% of Canadians are Christian is meaningless. This writer was baptized when he was a few days old. Does that make me a believer?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "First of all Tig,\n\nThis is not an infallible rule & we have changed previously, in our history, doctrines because they were flawed. Do you assume Pope John Paul I was a heretic when he publicly stated he was considering ordaining women priests? I think you don't want women priests. There is nothing stopping our current Pope from ordaining a woman to priesthood today and if he did, it would be valid because there is no higher priest to invalidate this ordination which sets the precedent that all women are ordainable equally to men for priesthood. \n\nThe great commandment, which Christ told us we should not hold any other law above, demands we love God & that everyone, including bishops, treat no person differently than they wish to be treated, no exceptions. This is accepted Dogma in our Church so it is infallible & we have been breaking this command for almost 2000 years. More than half of all Catholics want women ordained equally & we are losing members now due to sexist hate", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This fight over \"religious liberty\" is really the bishops' acknowledgment that they have utterly failed in convincing their flock that birth control is evil. No amount of free contraceptives would entice Catholics to obtain them if they were convinced that artificial birth control is wrong. Of course the bishops have failed in this respect, since the teaching itself is a miserable failure. So every time I hear them bemoan their threatened \"religious liberty\" I actually hear them wail, \"nobody believes us anymore, we have no more credibility.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christianity wasn't central to their acts, whereas for the jihadists it is absolutely central.\n\nIs that so difficult a point to grasp?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is my last post on NCR for a while . . . this is just not healthy and most certainly not Christian. Have a great\u200b day.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sad really, we do not have this issue in NB schools as the praying at school stopped when I was in grade 8 but the class mix of protestant, catholic boys and girls did not start until 4 years latter in grade 12. It takes time but if the taxpayer has to pay for cops just send the bill to the Muslim family. but really the religion in schools has to stop, I can not believe they still have separate schools in Ontario, I thought it was an Alberta problem only. May you all be safe..", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Agreed, and I'm not even Christian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "David, as long as you want to pose as a \"Christian\" why don't you ditch the ancient Old Testament and follow the word of Jesus Christ. \n\nStart with Matthew 22:37-40 \"Jesus replied: \u201c\u2018Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.\u2019 This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: \u2018Love your neighbor as yourself.\u2019 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.\u201d\n\nOr maybe move to John 8:7 \"So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.\"\n\nYou bigots who hide behind cherry picked passages to spread your hate are no better than the Scribes and Pharisees whom he routinely scorned. Like you, they used the Law for their own ends, rather than his Father's works. Go home. Read your Bible, and try to find the true meaning as preached by Jesus Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The coronation of the pope. The word \"coronation\" points to what has been so wrong with the church for so many centuries. It's time to go back to the pre-Constantine understanding of christian communtity and end the imperial church forever.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Opposing views consistent with the official teachings of the Catholic Church are now considered \"spam\"? Perhaps you should read the official teaching of the Church on governments' responsibility to control borders.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The US and Canada , for that matter, is at WAR with an extreme islamic army called ISIS . Only going by this one persons take on what happened, there , unfortunately ,there has always been collateral damage. \n\nWe're not at war with hindus , buddists , jews or christians. The US MUST be careful who gets into America. \nLike it or not , it IS not a right to enter the USA.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You refuse to accept the DOGMATIC Constitution Lumen Gentium. This places you in schism with the Roman Catholic Church.\n\nTeachings change. To say otherwise is to deny historical fact. You can bleat \"heresy\" all you like, but the FACT remains that teachings change. You don't like this. Too bad.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I lied, I am going to make one last, last comment on this subject. First I clearly stated I am not a fan of Donald Trump, but I am sick of the false news reported about him daily. Second, I am not a fan of the Confederate flag, I mentioned it to make a point that just because Margaret Sanger died 50 years ago, her views still influence others, no different than the Confederate Flag. Third, I don't trust any of the news sources, both left and right, but I am definitely biased towards the right. I support that which follows the teachings of Jesus and of the Catholic Faith. My earlier post clearly listed my views and beliefs. SPLC clearly is espoused by the Left, and they even had the audacity to claim the Fatima Crusader Magazine as a hate group. They also would label me as such. What a joke. The left has clearly lost touch with reality since this election. Go organize another useless march with George Soros. Lastly, Hillary Clinton was never an option for me, period.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When the Catholic Church starts paying taxes to support these undocumented immigrants we will talk. The Catholic Church receives more than 1 billion dollars a year from the U.S. government to care for the undocumented, therefore, its message is deeply compromised because it has its hands in the cookie jar. That's one of the reasons many Catholics and lots of non-Catholics distrust the Church on this issue. Let the Church put its own money where its mouth is.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I enjoy your columns a great deal Ms. Moore. Insanely, enough, I agree with Richard, and it's a bit all over the place. Regarding loving one's neighbor, however, again I fear you promote a tepid and materialistic perspective of Christian teachings. The Bible says \"God is with us.\" Materialists think it means, \"God is on our side\" (as we fix the world). It really means, \"God is present.\" \n\nJesus was very clear that his kingdom is not of this world until he makes it so. Christianity is for us, for our inner peace, guidance and direct experience of spirituality. Through this inner connection we will know the best actions to take when we need to take them - read Paul again. \n\nChristianity isn't so Christians can \"fix\" the rest of the world through political organizing, even though that's what a lot of Christians believe. If we truly want to love our enemies, we have to be willing to let the world go exactly as he did.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The core problem is that the Church is not ready to admit that it sometimes teaches erroneously. For example, in former times, slavery was seen as acceptable and levying of interest was grossly immoral. Its current teaching with respect to human sexuality is simply unsustainable.\n\nBut the church doggedly ignores the fact that \"...few Catholics ever live up to the church\u2019s moral norms governing sexual activity.\" Instead of seeing that it \"lays heavy burdens on people's shoulders\" (Mt 24:3), and admitting that it is wrong, the Church tries to explain the matter away by referencing \"original sin\" -- a doctrine that itself is dubious. (There was no prelapserian state of bliss and no \"falling down\" but, rather, a \"falling up\".)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "FAUX facts, Trid. And FAUX dilemma too! Your post here does not reflect the situation of the Catholic church, anywhere!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree fully that we need pastors to accompany people, and help them understand and follow the teachings of Christ. My question was rather or not the teacher should be expected to be clear.\n\nIf we take a class in grammar class for example, I am not suggesting the teacher should beat the knowledge into the child, but shouldn't the teacher carefully, patiently and clearly explain the rules of how a sentence is structured?\n\nTo go further with the analogy, what I am seeing is a teacher who may confuse pupils by refusing to state whether or not \"the cats bowl\" or \"the cat's bowl\" is correct. \n\nShould the teacher be able to say yes or no to the above?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part 1\n\nMarty, I suggest there are three usages of the term \"natural law\" in Catholic circles, each representing entirely different meanings, three distinct concepts. \n\n(1) The first (and most prevalent) essentially replaces argument and reasons for a moral conclusion, with an unsupported appeal to authority. Those who use it this way often can name magisterial pronouncements proclaiming the conclusions, but are virtually never able to point to serious, sustained, published, full arguments that make the academic case behind the magisterial position; and sometimes they are not even able to specify the truncated rationale presented in the magisterial documents themselves. This usage is arguably \u201cdishonest\u201d in as much as the term \u201cnatural law\u201d is employed as if that were in and of itself an argument for a moral conclusion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, the outgoing administration had declared war on the rights of conscience, and the other candidate in the campaign had vowed to continue that war and engaged and proposed to continue to engage in \u201cdirty tricks\u201d against Americans\u2019 religious beliefs and rights, especially regarding the Catholic Church.\n\nA group of prominent black religious leaders wrote an open letter to her on three issues critical to people of faith: abortion, religious freedom, and the rights of conscience on the issue of same sex relations. She did not respond.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part 1\nSo assembly-line thinking by all, and observance of Christianity/Catholicism only one way IS how God wants us to operate? NO, NOT EVER! The issues that shocked Luther were major scandals in the Church. It began when indulgences were SOLD to the people of Germany. This was because Pope Leo X [a Medici] didn't have enough money to build the current St. Peter's Basilica. Leo didn't know how to handle money. BUT he was clever enough to look up somebody else who couldn't handle money either. He looked at wealthy Germany and found Archbishop Albert of Brandenburg [who was also a poor steward of money]. Albert was in arrears on his financial obligations to Rome.\nLeo proposed a deal. He authorized a campaign in Albert's diocese to grant plenary indulgences. For purchasing indulgences, Catholics would be promised in a papal document that all of their sins would be forgiven and all time in purgatory for those sins would be remitted.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You cannot impeach Senators nor try them outside the Senate for what is said in debate. They may be expelled by the body, but no one else can judge them. As for Amy Barrett, the question is not what she believes on abortion but what she believes on the Fourteenth Amendment as a check on the power of the states. If she takes the Scalia/Fedearlist Society view she does not belong on the Federal bench. Roberts, Alito and Kennedy are Catholic and presumably against abortion, but they are agaisnt giving the issue back to the states (as well as the rest of privacy law) and they are correct and that is why Roe will never be overturned. If Gorsuch believes in Kennedy rather than Scalia, there is only one Justice, Thomas, who would change Roe, but not by giving it to the states but by imposing an earlier time of personhood than the Constitution or Congress have specified.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Any who are in manifest sin need to repent. If one has been remarried without benefit of nullity, then NO.\n\nThis directive, though is not denying a Christian burial, but rather that the conspicuousness of manifest sin not be brought up to bring scandal.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Part two of two) \u201cIn this way, the children of God and the children of the Devil are made plain: no one who fails to act in righteousness belongs to God, no anyone who does not love his brother\u201d (1 John 3:10). Rather blunt. Trump is not the problem so much as the electorate that puts him in office. \u201cHe will rule the world with justice and the peoples with equity\u201d (Psalm 98:9). Those who believe that in this Trump era, merit the appellation, Christian. \u201cJohn was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched\u201d What Trump was doing \u201cJesus walk(ed) by he said, \u201cBehold the Lamb of God\u2019\u201d (John 1:35). Now is the time for Christians to act like Christians and stand up and be counted as Church Militant, speaking truth to power. Liturgy of the Word, Reading 207, January 4.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you for taking the trouble to write all this which I have read several times and explains why it has taken me so long to reply.\nFirst of all I disagree that Primacy of Conscience permits one to reject what the Church teaches and act accordingly.\nOne's conscience must be informed and the only way a Catholic can inform his conscience is by letting it be guided by the dogmas and doctrines of his Church otherwise there is no point in the Church teaching anything. \nI am also very sceptical about people claiming that God or the Holy Spirit is speaking to them individually, this has never happened to me. The only way God speaks to me is through His Church.\nI will try to answer your posts in order.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We know from the Church, that Judas has never been consigned to Hell. The teaching of the Church was/is that if one dies in mortal sin----they go to Hell. But the Church has never officially consigned Judas there. The poet Dante did, in his poem Divine Comedy [the Inferno part---Dante has Brutus there, too with Judas in the lowest part of Hell---where it is freezing cold]. \n\nI have studied sacred scripture extensively and I did it in Jerusalem.\n\nGod does not use anybody. If someone ASKS someone to do something---that is different.\n\nJesus stated that \"I am the Bread of Life, unless you eat of this bread, you do not have life within you.\" Of course people have access to God----but the Eucharist is Jesus coming into one's very being.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am voting for choice. \nIf catholic schools want public money, they can convert to Charter and offer school to all kids, not just to those that they want. \nAnd something tells me that neither one of these 2 men would be happy if a satanic or sharia school was to open in the district and start taking public money as well. \n\nTo both of you men, as an Episcopalian that actually attend Catholic high school, I am disgusted that you would be here politicizing this. The fact that you did it on your stationary and likely in your church is even worse. But the fact that our district has gone down from #7 (or 5) just 10 years ago, to #19 and dropping because of the nightmare group that you back, would indicate that you would gladly sacrifice OUR KIDS, i.e. MY KIDS, just to get YOUR hands on public money. \nSadly, I see that little has changed from 1930s/40s. At that time, only a few of the German Catholic priest cared about the kids. Most wanted money. You are no different.\nFor shame on both", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The final judgement obviously isn't the one Jesus describes then.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "To be called a Socialist by a US citizen is an honor. It means that such person is one who takes the Gospel (not Marx!) seriously. The Social Teaching of the Church, which, due to over-emphasis on Canon Law and Doctrine in the past three decades, has been gravely neglected among certain hierarchs on these shores. Remember the USCCB's letter on Social Justice, \"Economic Justice for All\" from 1986, and \"The Challenge of Peace: God's Promise and Our Response\", from May 1, 1983 (Feast of St. Joseph The Worker and International Labor Day)? Massimo Faggioli has written an astute piece in November 2016: \"The Church in the Trump Era: Catholicism or Americanism?\" - see: https://international.la-croix.com/news/the-church-in-the-trump-era-catholicism-or-americanism/4200. Catholic Americanism is, I think, closely related to what John Pavlovitz calls \"Americhristianity\", from which Christians must be freed: http://johnpavlovitz.com/2015/11/17/freeing-christians-from-americhristianity/.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Go deeper by asking a more substantial question: Why do assume that the very points and motives that the pope saw fomenting in secular culture (and in some prelates minds) weren't already anticipated and captured and embedded into the doctrine to which Pope Paul vi was serving and defending and preserving. \n\nHe trusted the decisions of 2000s years of popes. \n\nPope's and their decisions serve Tradition, not their desires, certainly not the shifty and shifting trends of society (today abortion is illegal, tomorrow is incented!). \n\nI realize this is sort of 'humiliating' (setting aside trends and whims of the secular world and instead trusting the past) to the secular mind, so happy are they to place their hopes in this or that dear new leader...a president here, a pope there.\n\nPope Paul instead served Tradition by further deepening the Church's understanding about the nature of man and woman and family life, and how all are designed to serve not self, but God. \n\nGo much deeper here.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Apart from baptism, according to Catholic teaching, they don't.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yet, my comments are specifically directed at the matter of needed dialogue. In the Catholic Church, dialogue is not a real option because the hierarchy in the past and present have made it impossible. It will take a very powerful, Church-wide response to blast a door or window open in the Vatican to have any dialogue with the laity even start. I know all about the withholding of donations to the Church in general, and of redirection of them (my religious community has even benefitted from that) to specific church agencies/programs, and I also know how that has not helped one bit in getting the bishops to talk with the rest of the Church. You know that - but seem content to leave it there and resort to punishment. For those of us who choose to stay and continue to push for a truly universal Church of all he baptized, there is only one way to create the foundation for it: talk.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If Julia Yong is right he is being treated horribly by a media witch hunt. In dubio pro reo is very relevant here. But why am I unsurprised by the viciousness of so much liberal Catholic commentary?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Let me work with the one clear thought that I can discern. Both Christianity and Islam are religions. As far as what Germany did, the progressive agenda fits pre WWII Germany better than anything I'm talking about.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Translation: They did not see eye-to-eye with McHale. Of course, few actual Catholics do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are correct, each individual should make an informed decision for herself whether she should call herself a Catholic or not.\nThe Catechism of the Catholic Church is posted on line for everyone to become informed on what it means to be a Catholic. Every person who calls herself a Catholic is expected to be at least aware of these positions. By calling your self a Catholic you are proclaiming that this is what you believe.\nI suggest you look up abortion in the CCC and determine if you agree with Church's position. Then you should look up other hot-button issues and determine the Church's position on those.\nThen you can decide for yourself if you want to continue to call yourself Catholic or not.\nAnd to answer your question as who gave the Church that authority to determine what it means to be a Catholic, it was Jesus Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": ". This is not a hard call and I expect even Kennedy, who is the most pro-gay rights justice, will see it that way. As long as the opinion honors both facts, we can have our cake and eat it too.\n\nThe Janus v. AFSCME case is part of the right wing to do list. The Court should make easy work of it, but it won\u2019t and the child of Ann Gorsuch is the deciding vote. This will certainly force unions into a different focus if it goes as it might. It is time to end opposition and Occupy Capitalism. Shifting education and street work to local employee-owned companies and converting the unions to a representative stockholder association is their best bet.\n\nWith respect to MSW, these cases are to be decided by the Constitution, not Catholic morality or even its social teachings.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You misunderstand a lot. \n\nOur dignity doesn't come from the sum of our physiological functions.\n\nIt doesn't come from how well our body is working.\n\nOur dignity comes from our being children of God.\n\nToo many Catholics are \"buying into\" the secular corruption of the meaning of our nature and the source of dignity. \n\nThey've turned it egocentrically. \n\nFar greater \"dignity\" is seen when someone's body begins to no longer function well, and their family and loved ones - moved by the Holy Spirit - rush in to bring them love, memories, tender and perhaps very effortful care.\n\nThat's a far bigger and more beautiful form of \"dignity\" than what you're arguing for. \n\nThe outpouring of the Holy Spirit is far more beautiful...then the Kevorkian contraption.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Finally is right, considering the fact that First Things magazine made its debut in 1990 and its main endeavor as its first editor, the late Fr. Richard John Neuhaus, freely admitted, was to forge a strong bond between conservative Protestants, conservative Catholics, and the Republican party. Of course, since that endeavor served the agenda of two sitting popes for more than two decades, nothing was ever said about it, except to offer tacit support. Now we have a new pope who sees things differently, thank God. So yes, finally, something is being said in response to Neuhaus' ill-conceived enterprise. Better late than never.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "First of all,Timothy wasn't a Christian; never claimed to be, didn't do it in the name of God. Second, Give me some names of Christian bombers or terror groups that have been carrying out attacks. Third, I don't know what church you go to, but mine and all that were a part of it throughout the US held a day of prayer immediately after. Let's also not forget Bill Graham and his sermon/prayer immediately after which I'm sure if you wanted to put some time in, you'd be able to find on youtube or a simple google search. Sorry wygent, I simply disagree, and last I looked, the organization who claims to be the voice for Muslims in the USA (CAIR) has yet to release a statement or press release. I realize that not all Muslims are bad, but when you have 25% in our nation who justify violence in the name of Jihad, that's a huge problem. In WWII not all Germans were bad, but that small percentage of Nazis ran over Europe for 5 + years. Have a good one. :)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Could you elaborate on how McElroy's statements differ from the Holy Father's. If they don't, where would you like Pope Francis to go?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'd like to mention that I'm not interested in changing my religion, either. I'm a cradle Catholic with a pretty strong, if unlikely, Catholic identity. However, I want no more interaction with the church that enabled Donald Trump. Some here have mistaken \"enabled\" to mean \"determined the outcome.\" No. I meant, anyone who endorsed or supported Trump, voted third party in a swing state, or could not be bothered to get to the polls to vote for Hillary, enabled this catastrophe.\n\nOn a Sunday I wish to be in a church hearing the gospel and singing hymns (however atrocious my singing), so I will be sitting in an Episcopalian pew.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Recent evidence from Vatican files....\"\nI think it is now your turn to provide evidence of this claim. A url will suffice. \nA Catholic/Jewish group have consistently asked for access to Vatican files to find the truth of what the Church did, or didn't, do during the war. They have been refused on each occasion. This is just supposition, a wild stab in the dark, but I'm guessing that there is a reason the Vatican refuse such access. They are guilty as sin.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christianity helps certain people be the best possible versions of themselves, but we were not founded as a Christian nation. The original Pledge of Allegiance read 'One nation, indivisible...' and all the 'In God We Trust' stuff only started in the 1950s.\n\n\"As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen (Muslims)\" - Treaty of Tripoli, 1796, signed by John Adams and unanimously ratified by the Senate without any need for debate", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Radicalization is taught at home, around the dinner table, as the family enjoys mom's good home cooking, while the grown ups discuss destroying Israel, eradicating homosexuals and the evils of dirty infidels It is drilled into young minds with every tale of glorious martyrdom for Allah in every mosque in every city around the world. Extremism for Islam is taught the same way Christians are taught about Jesus and his message of mercy and forgiveness. It is not at odds with the teachings, but is central to the religion", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I've been commenting on and off on this site for about a year or so, and it is all about political ideology, I have rarely seen theological articles or discussion based on the Church fathers, catechism, saints, spirituality and ect. \n\nI am not saying this does not occur at all but it is rare. Which is a pity, I knew this site had a reputation but wanted to find out if any of the arguments of dissent were actually rooted in the apostolic tradition or theology. For the most part its all politics, but the very few conversations I have had with people using theology for their arguments, has been edifying and led to further reading on my part even though we disagreed. \n\nI wish there was a deeper focus on this. We are all Catholics and we should in principle hold to the same universal faith, often that is not the case and I'd like to understand the theology of the other side.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The early church suffered the same sort of problems Africa has faced in the recent past. Here were foreign concepts from the middle east which Saint Paul et al were attempting to incorporate into a European culture. As now known things did not go well for the early church in Europe, with locals complaining of discrimination and these Christians trying to subvert their culture and beliefs, the resultant backlash was more often than not of a disastrous nature. Essentially it took hundreds of years for the principles of Christianity to gain a foothold in Europe, with mistakes being made on every side of the equation possible. What can we learn from this? That mistakes were made. Most certainly. That preconceived perceptions hampered the process. This is also true. However, that the love of God for mankind, and Christs message that we are to love one another, exceeds all boundaries, is most certainly the most true of all. That is what we should be striving for. Amen", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Now the Catholic League/Bill Donahue is trying to defend Dolan and his scheme. That means it's bad news for victims, for sure!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pandora only cares about the born if they are conservative Catholics. Those, she will defend to the bitter end, all others she could not give two hoots about.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "God forgive me, but I'm done. I have been a practicing Catholic all my life. McElroy is citing the fear-mongering of the biased news agencies, agitating the populace against the POTUS. There is zero mention here of the average working stiffs who have to fund the entire lot. I would share what I have with anybody in need. But I have to draw the line when I have nothing left to give.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have mostly resided in smaller communities, but when that smaller community has been near a larger one, there almost always is a rivalry, even an animosity, towards each other. Since the larger community usually has at least one University, it gets labeled as liberal and \"leftist\". The smaller community labels itself as the more real or American one, whereas the larger community considers the smaller one more backward or \"stuck in the past\". It all is a product of our human tribal nature. The race tribe, the Christian tribe, the well-educated tribe, the wealthy tribe, the I-been-here-longer-than-you tribe. Until we decide to work together for the common good, we will continue to have this destructive divide that is hurting all of us.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholics had a rough time here early on. By the time Catholic priests were established in the mid nineteenth century, the Protestant missionaries from the ABCFM had a firm hold on power in the kingdom. Catholics played a minor role in the topics discussed by @Timmer and @Erin K Smith in this comment thread.\n\nYou can find a brief history of Catholics in Hawai`i here: http://www.catholicvoiceoakland.org/2005/05-08-08/inthisissue17.htm", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Most Catholics would be happy if he were there, too.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "WHY WAS THIS NOT DONE BEFORE? Sometimes extreme measure needs to be applied to ensure ending this senseless War and bringing it to a fast & peaceful conclusion. We did this in the past and remedied a quick resolution in the surrender of Japan. Though NOT as \"Extreme\" as Hiroshima and Nagasaki ,we hope from this example ISIS will get the message and come to Peace Negotiation table. Why did this have to happen? Because the only thing on their(ISIS) mind is sharia law hence, the total annihilation and destruction of us, the infidels ;ie Christians and other religious factions. \n And let's not forget,\"Leading from the Behind\" had ZERO results. ISIS has been so comfortable with the last administration doing nothing. They still continued killing innocent people and reeking havoc in the Middle East!\n I commend POTUS Trump for finally sending this message to ISIS. His message; Stop the Killings or face the consequences. Sometimes Sacrifices are necesarry to a peaceful end.IMUA!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Here's another -- Catholic bishops and church authorities (including the Knights of Columbus) must be held accountable to the People of God (that's us) and nobody does it better than NCatholicR! Dennis and all, keep up your good work!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why are you stuck on the OLD Testament? How about reading (for the first time) the documents of Vatican II. While you are at it also re-read Augustine's and Aquinas' teaching on conscience. In fact those who support 'freedom of choice' maintain that the individual should seek spiritual counsel before making that choice. No Catholic politician (that I know) actually upholds abortion. There is a stark difference between 'abortion rights' and 'freedom of choice'. Judgement is left to the Giver of Mercy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A cardinal acting like Jesus? Now THAT is a miracle!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I wish the author had expressed a similar outrage with US actions resulting in a boycott, after\n- the bombing of Yugoslavia\n- operation \"Iraqi Freedom\"\n- destruction of a stable, prosperous and tolerant country of Libya (and the barbaric murder of its leader enjoyed by Hillary Clinton)\n- direct support of a violent overthrow of a democratically elected government of Ukraine by people who worship nazi collaborators as their \"heroes\" \n- obsession with the regime change in Syria that lead to a civil war and genocide of Christians and other minorities.\n\nAll of this, of course is nothing compared to a 90 day immigration ban.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dorothy Day does not need propping up. She does not need to be \"lionized.\" She does not need to be rushed through the sainthood mill, as were JP II and the founder of Opus Dei. She was a Catholic WOMAN for our time and place whose contribution to the spirituality of today parallels that of Oscar Romero in many ways!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In response to the author. I really don't think you can blame him. First of all he was responding to questions that reporters were asking him. I think if it was his choice he probably wouldn't have wanted to focus on those contentious culture war issues and instead focus on the historic event that took place over the week between Catholics and Lutherans. Second......the Pope doesn't have the power to change Catholic Dogma. He just doesn't, and I'm saying that as someone who would like it to change. \n\nAlso why are people even surprised by this. He never said he was going to change the doctrine of the Catholic Church. But simply the approach and emphasis of the Catholic Church. Personally, I'm not gonna say that because I disagree with Francis on controversial culture war issues that I all of a sudden thrown him under the bus. So because he doesn't think women's ordination can happen, does that really make every thing else he did over the week irrelevant. Are people so single issue?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.\nMark 6:4", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Calm down everyone and take a deep breath. It's time to come together as a community, Christians, non Christians, republican, democrats, gun control advocates, pro gun folks, hippies, rednecks, reg folks, young, old, everyone, let's figure this mess out, let's talk together, pray together, laugh together, cry together...but let's do it together....in love...not hate....that's the only way out of the mess our world is in.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That is true he has turfed his fathers religious tradition and tuned into his mothers troubled spirituality. She is aligned with meditation and Guru spirituality that is heightened by the influences of pot which she is a regular user of. Justin didn't just jump on the pot band wagon he has a pot use history and as you said denies his Christianity in favor of a relationship with a long time family friend who just so happens to be an transcendental meditationist who lives on the trust of millions of dollars donated to his cause, of which Canada has donated $600 million dollars to over the years.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I've read a fair amount of church history, and know that the Catholic Church has battled communism for many decades. \n\nAfter reading this story, it seems that the war is over, as the Church is now more socialist in its aims and outlook than is Putin's Russia.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Future of the Catholic Church in the U.S. is the immigrants.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not particularly surprising. CCU can't even manage to keep \"biblical correctness\" out of its biology curriculum. From its course catalog --\n\nGraduates with a Bachelor of Science in one of these majors will have a solid, broad-based background in the biological sciences. They will know how to apply the scientific method to research and be familiar with the use of biological instruments and techniques. Additionally, students will comprehend essential facts and principles of biology and effectively communicate using scientific notation and terminology. The major prepares students to articulate and defend a Christian perspective on ethical and controversial issues in science and recognize the importance of these skills in Christian service.\n\nhttp://catalog.ccu.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=24&poid=5641&returnto=1480\n\nThat's how it is with these Fake U's...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I disagree with Dr. Prevo's tactics and fundamental beliefs, but as a human and a Christian I respect his efforts; just as long as he won't tell this \"liberal\" Christian that he's going to hell like others have. Amen.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jack, Jack, Jack! You are showing your true colors. Everyone identifies Mr. Schwab as a hater, because that is what he is. As far as boogymen go, aren't you the one that has lost control to your boogyman? Now you are not only a Trump hater, like Mr. Schwab, but you are a woman hater too? Bye the way, Jesus taught that we are to love one another, not just those you choose to, so your comments are not very Christian. DACA cannot be considered a Christian program.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Are you assuming that Apostolicae Curae is no longer binding in the Catholic church, or is no longer relevant to this case?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "'Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared before them, talking with Jesus.' Matthew 17:3", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well folks, as we all know real Bullies are veritable cowards when you stand up to them. The notable Niagara (aka Saullie) and all his monikers suggests that he is somehow the victim of a slur in one of my replies to his silly bully tactics against Leafs Nation, when in fact is was a clarification of his shallow understanding of the Sacrament of Holy Mass, which I agree has no place on a hockey post, which he brought up. The following is my comment to him, which he falsifies (again) here:\n\n\"Saullie: seriously! That is quite the comeback and also somewhat of a stretch coming from you. The preacher always gives and as you should know: mass is a Christian Sacrament and not restricted to Catholics. But then you won't know, if you were wrong, on all accounts, would you? I believe Graemie has a valid point, here and you don't. When you give it, you should learn how to take it, better than you do, pal. Those waters simply don't flow only from Niagara.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not re-ordained. They are ordained to the ministerial priesthood in the Catholic Church. See ordinariate{.}org.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As usual, it's about control and maybe (ya think?) money. They want people to pay for burial in a Catholic columbarium.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What Day learned from the \u201cCoffee Cup Mass\u201d was that the ceramic cup from which the homeless Christ sips her morning coffee is no less holy and no more profane than the gold chalice that holds Christ\u2019s blood in the form of wine at the Mass: \u201cThere Christ is with the poor, the suffering, even in the cup we share together, in the bread we eat.\u201d\n\nWhy is it that so many people who claim to be the most faithful Catholics see Christ in gold vessels and silk vestments but can't see Christ and his Mother in the face of the poor?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "National Catholic Register received top award. \n\nhttp://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/national-catholic-register-named-newspaper-of-the-year?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+NCRegisterDailyBlog+National+Catholic+Register#When%3A2017-06-26+22%3A00%3A01\n\n\"In citing the Register for journalistic excellence, the judges said, \u201cA beautifully designed and impressive publication. The majority of the stories were written by their own correspondents, thus their reliance on the Catholic News Service was minimal. The \u2018Culture of Life\u2019 section was particularly well done and full of engaging stories and photos. This is a newspaper with gravitas. It looks extremely credible. The writing is excellent.\u201d", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"Bishop Frank Dewane of Venice, Florida, chairman of the U.S. Bishops' Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, called on Congress to recognize that public financing should be \"an instrument of development and solidarity.\"\"\n- This is a good article. The USCCB position is presented well.\n- What the laity need to ensure though is that the government does not see the contribution of the USCCB as anything more than the contributions of 330 or so individual voters. That is, because of separation of church from the state these ideas have to be affirmed by other voters -- almost all of whom are laic -- before the ideas can 'cross the Potomac' to be considered by civil government.\n- No more can the citizens of the USA allow USCCB and other catholic bishop associations to act as lobbyists. Though, if such associations must, they can act as research / think - tanks or, because these groups are incorporated, as single corporations.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So you do deny Jesus Christ is divine and also deny the Triune God. What does \"science\" know about the nature and mysteries of God?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And, to follow it through a bit further, modern scriptural scholarship shows us how the passage about \"there was no way to the Father except through Him\" has a far broader meaning than what has been the traditional \"explanation\" making Catholicism the end point of that journey to the Father (Abba). The early Christian church HAD to define it that way in order to establish itself and gain as many members as possible. What the study of Christology shows us is that the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus was indeed for ALL of wo/mankind - and not about any specific religion or church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Kothar, that is because Catholic schools teach not indoctrinate\nand respect free will and conscience\nunlike the leftist ivory tower of universities which indoctrinate students to leftist progressive stuff\nlike cultural appropriation, gender neutral pronouns, abortion is good\ntoe the line or else fear the wrath of leftism", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are several in the Trump administration (or were like Steve Bannon-- who has written many articles praising the Russians and their preservation of Christian values and western civilization). Some of the Russia fans were recently indicted.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"Sheridan quoted former CUA President Bishop David O'Connell as saying, \"I would argue there is more academic freedom at a Catholic university than at a secular university.\"\"\n- This is a good baseline for determining if the university is catholic: is there academic freedom, is there anything inhibiting it at a catholic university?\n- So, if a university (professors, staff, students, and alumni) are aware that academic freedom is being attacked, or worse, has decamped from the university, then that university is not catholic.\n- With this in mind one may recall that the stance of Bishop John (D'arcy), formerly of Fort Wayne - South Bend (RIP) as an attack on academic freedom (plays, speakers, etc... he expected that as bishop he would have to vet these people and events) which in the end had little effect on Univ of ND and thus the Univ of ND is still an academy where intellectual freedom thrives in the environment of catholic faith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And we will defend your right to express your opinion, and find a place for you in our Catholic community. Our Catholic Church is big enough for all. \n\nPope Francis said June 12, 2013, that to be the People of God, \"first of all means that God doesn't belong to any particular people, because He is the one who calls us ... and this invitation is addressed to all, without distinction, because God's mercy 'wills everyone to be saved.' \"\n\n\"What is the law of the people of God? It is the law of love, love for God and love for neighbor \u2026 which isn't a sterile sentimentalism or something vague, but is the recognition of God as the one Lord of life and, at the same time, welcoming others as true brothers and sisters \u2026 the two go hand in hand. How much further must we still journey to live this new law concretely?\"\n\nHow much further must we journey?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jews living for hundreds of years among Christians who generally despised them, who lived in separate communities, who did not seek converts and could expect little success given the disdain, oppression and physical danger Jews were all too often subject to managed to completely dilute the Semitic genetic markers they left Palestine with mostly through Christian men marrying Jewish women even though Judaism is passed down through the mother?\nI see studies you believe prove your claim. I see studies that disprove it.\nThe loss of a structure and of a \"priesthood\" destroyed by an invader doesn't invalidate a historic claim to land by people whose ancestors were forcibly removed from it.\nZionism isn't blameless, threats of annihilation can distort reactions.\nThe current Palestinian problem was caused by Arabs who dropped refugees into camps, left them to rot and use as anti-Israel propaganda and encouraged destroying Israel.\nThe Dunthorpe Strategy: If you can't beat 'em deny they exist.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "More news outlets are deleting their commentary sites; the great liberal bastion the Toronto Star and CNN dropped theirs ages ago as they could not take criticism. Other outlets increasingly only allow comments on safe topics. Others censor or ban anyone who upsets the apple cart by talking about sacred cows or elephants in the room: such as homosexuals and aids, or black crime, or overpaid civil servants, Canadian Jews and Israel, or anything deemed politically incorrect. Of course it is okay to bash white Anglo saxon men or Muslims. But it is not okay to point out the striking similarities between Orthodox Jews and Muslims and how they treat their women, or how a lot of Muslim men chase Christian and Jewish girls but we cant go near their girls. And it is not okay to talk about how only lower middle class Christian boys fight and die for Canada in te middle east wars while so many others hide out in elite schools. I wish some academics would address these issues objectively.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Re the school \"issue\"...this is SO easy. We already accommodate Christian prayer (Sunday is off) and Jewish prayer (Saturday is off) so there is no need to \"accommodate\" those prayers during the school week. Extend the school day's hours and make the school week Monday through Thursday and the problem is solved. All three religions have their weekly holy days accommodated: Friday, Saturday and Sunday plus everybody gets a 3-day weekend every weekend. What a concept!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What a muddle. A meeting at Trump Tower billed as including \"(self-)important DC insiders\"? Patriotic rosaries with readings from George Washington and Robert E. Lee? Pro-life is back at the White House? It's over for the devil? Essentially bring back the skin of a so-called Christian nation celebrating religious freedom that covers unChristian racism, bigotry, ignoring those who need a hand, and denying religious freedom to others. The god here is money and self-importance of those who have it and want everyone else to kowtow to them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As regards those small stipends paid to religious, I believe (and someone please correct me, if needed) that salary was also supplemented by room and board. And wasn't this supposed to be a ministry? In my opinion, the abandonment of the Catholic school system has had two very serious consequences: 1) The familiarity of religious that attracted vocations and kept communities young and earning has disappeared. 2) It has significantly contributed to the 'dumbing down' of America. So many religious created a monumental legacy of service only to see much of it crumble in front of their aged and incredulous eyes, and were tremendously deserving of aid. I do not wish to diminish the wonderful service being performed by some religious today; although, I do think that working for a government paycheck is more of a job than a ministry. Giving a first-rate education to a large population who would not otherwise have it? Priceless.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Contrary to what your comment seems to suggested, my personal feelings about the cross are irrelevant: they were no more consulted when it was erected than they were when a federal judged deemed it unconstitutional. I prefer that all religious voices be represented, including Christian voices. Also, putting the matter to a vote would accomplish nothing. Local communities cannot suspend the Constitution based on popular vote. Thank goodness for that, or else you may still have communities where slavery is practiced and where women are not allowed to vote. Each member of this community, in a sense, puts this matter to a vote when he or she elects representatives who vow to uphold the 1st amendment; the People could elect representatives to repeal the First Amendment if they so choose, and yet they do not. Further we entrust judges and legal experts to determine the legality of such matters--in this case a Reagan-appointed federal judge.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Which just goes to show the continuity in Catholic doctrine.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The link to media matters which Winters suggests contains anti-Catholic and anti-semitic content is nothing but climate change skepticism. I've been willing to listen to the objections to Bannon all week, but have yet to hear anything of substance, just repetition seemingly hoping something will stick.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I see your point of view and honor you right to have it. It is not necessary that you agree with me or me with you. \"We see through a glass darkly\". \n I don't read what Jesus is saying in the context of His whole ministry as portrayed in the Gospels as saying what you say He meant. I don't believe my salvation or yours depends on one or the other of use being right on this issue. What IS important is that we follow our conscience. \n He said, \"Love your God with your whole mind and whole heart and your neighbor as yourself, for this is the Law and the Prophets\". \n His commandment is that we love one another. The history of the church, Protestant and Catholic is rife with instances of intolerance, bigotry and strife, where murder and other crimes against humanity are not being committed in God's name. I think somehow we got it wrong somewhere, all of us. \n St. Paul's teaching on conscience is a good reference point for understanding differences of opinion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You were quite fortunate. The Manitoba school student who went all the way the SCOC to establish his right to freedom from religion at school saw his parents barn torched by Christian nut jobs. The Principle of the School was a sore loser and attached a Character Assassination letter to every request for a transcript. That libel turned out to be very expensive for the Principle and the Board of Education when the student conducted a sting to get a copy of the defaming letter.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\nNo, it isn't. \"Transubstantiation\" is not a theological term; it is borrowed from philosophy. It is employed as A, not THE, explanation of the Real Presence -- and not necessarily or always a helpful one. The church managed to celebrate the Eucharist for more than a thousand years without the word \"transubstantiation\" to explain it.\nPew reports that 68% of Catholics (well over 50% ) support civil same sex marriage. I hope and expect that percentage will grow. Catholics, like most people, tend to support abortion in some circumstances. Euthanasia means different things to different people in different circumstances; thus polling on it is difficult. For that matter, it is tricky to poll \"Catholics\". Some polls define Catholics by Mass attendance, etc.; others allow the respondents to define themselves. \nStill waiting for an explanation of what, if anything, you meant by the cliche you used in your earlier post.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Saw this quote from St. Augusting posted recently. True back in his day, and still holds\n\n. St Augustine, no less ... was quite pragmatic. \n\n\u201cThe writings of bishops may be refuted both by the perhaps wiser words of anyone more experienced in the matter and by the weightier authority and more scholarly prudence of other bishops, and also by councils, if something in them perhaps deviated from the truth;\n even councils held in particular regions or provinces must without quibbling give way to the authority of plenary councils of the whole Christian world; \nand even the earlier plenary councils are often corrected by later ones, if as a result of practical experience something that was closed is opened; something that was hidden becomes known.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When some years ago individual Anglican priests converted to Catholicism many including the Bishop of London were ordained sub conditione on the basis that they could trace their 'pedigree' back to ordinations and consecration in which validly ordained Old Catholic bishops participated which might have validated their ordinations.\nI understand that St John Paul II put an end to these conditional ordinations. Ordinations now to priests in the Ordinariate are 'absolute'.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am Catholic and a conservative plus a veteran,but Donald Trump scares me to death. Trump does not practice any of the Corporal works of mercy for starters. He hates the poor,the old,etc. He has been divorced twice, sued more than 4,000 times including for civil rights violations, Started a fake university that defrauded hundreds of their savings and has filed for bankruptcy 6 times. Trump wants to make Medicare a voucher program, do away with all programs that help the poor and give tax breaks to the wealthiest like himself. Trump also has committed sexual assaults on women and brags about it. This is so wrong. I voted already for Hillary Clinton.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Tell it to Donald Trump, Pope Francis. He's the favorite of many of the faithful, who think he's the only choice for \"real\" Catholics, and we all know what he thinks about refugees.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In my early collegiate carrier, I was studying Catholic Philosophy and theology. Much of what I learnt as dogma has indeed come into question, because of new knowledge and understanding....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This survivor of Kamp Kordileone has retained his sanity and, even more importantly, his Christianity! God Bless this man and the very fortunate parishioners of the Diocese of San Diego. San Francisco is much poorer without his ministry.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Saying that the \"true version\" is directly from the Bible gives a lot of leeway since there were many interpretations and translations - with information added or subtracted each time. The \"current Bible\" is being changed even now in our modern times. For example, a fellow in Montana has rewritten the Bible using \"modern language\". Even further, most Christians have NOT studied theology. They just repeat selected short Bible anecdotes.\n\nFor myself, I prefer to think of each person's image of \"his/her god\" as a very unique and idiosyncratic set of images and expectations which exists ONLY in that one person's brain. Each believer imagines very personal brain-fantasies. No other person's \"god-image\" exactly matches that of any other believer. However, \"religion\" encourages individuals to ignore many of these differences and to pay attention to some of the similarities. The Bible used gives standardization. In this way, individuals gain social contacts, mutual adulation ... and power.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "To respond to only one of your points, and as a religious who works 32 hours a week for a governmental agency, it enables me to carry out a very special ministry that is infused with the values of the Gospel in a secular service. And I am paid very well that is of significant help in providing for my aged and ill confreres. With the decrease in religious who staff schools or run hospitals, the number of Catholics who go to our schools or make use of Catholic hospitals has also decreased significantly. Those institutions, to you, have \"crumbled\" while to most of us, they have gone through transitions in tandem with the great social changes that rule most of life. And BTW - the lay men and women who now staff our Catholic Schools, in great sacrifice of income, continue to produce those priceless educations you are rightfully proud of.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "your reaction is common with those who don't understand the context of this issue. actually, the law tells you \"you CAN have it both ways!\" it's the Catholic School Boards who want their cake and eat it too. \"We want the enrollment money that comes with admission, but ignore the law\". Catholic school boards took the funding extended to high schools in the 80's KNOWING the requirement was to allow any and every student to attend (regardless of religious affiliation if any) and allow unfettered access to exemption from religious components. it was written into the EDUCATION ACT! Catholic schools turned around and took all the non-Catholic students ($$$) but then ignored and denied and lied about the right to exemptions. Sorgini was only joining the 50 percent of the school population who are non-Catholic (on paper) in selecting that school for any number of reasons that are none of anyone's business.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "http://www.catholicleague.org/an-anti-catholic-laws-troubling-legacy-2/\n\n\"As they went to the polls on November 7, 1922\u2014the voters of Oregon were asked to approve an amendment to the state\u2019s education laws that meant \"if you send your child to a private school instead of a public one, you face fine, imprisonment, or both.\nNowhere in that law was the word \u201cCatholic\u201d mentioned, but the goal was clear: to shut down all Catholic schools and to steer their students into public schools, where threatening \u201cpapist\u201d views could be safely blanched from the youngsters\u2019 minds.\nThe law was championed by the Ku Klux Klan and other zealous nativists who believed that Catholic immigrants threatened to bring bolshevism to America after World War I. Grand Dragon Fred Gifford, a chief advocate of the school statute, believed that \u201cthe American public school, non-partisan, non-sectarian, efficient, [and] democratic,\u201d was \u201cfor all the children of all the people.\u201d\u00a0 \n\nBigotry, Support it, be a bigot.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Our Church contributes to division and disharmony in its mission and in the civilizational journey of the Creator by its persistence in teaching \"as if\" Jesus brought charity, civility, morals and virtue, and indeed \"the Father\", to the world. Of course Jesus the reformer, the intellectual and leader, took these concepts further and, unlike many of the \"thinkers\" (and our clerics) of history, was of course, incarnational in his insistence that they are so much more than mere ideas (no platonist he).\nLove, compassion, justice, the divine itself, is so much broader than Christianity. Christ didn't invent \"God\", he elevated man's relationship with God. If the Creator is \"at work\" in creation, surely God is at work in other religions. This does not mean to agree with all, but certainly to respect, listen, learn, \"be with\". Phan is right.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bishop Paprocki has never said that homosexuals should be hated, shunned and rejected. You have set forth that opinion of yours yet you have singularly failed to provide any evidence to support it. \nCardinal Tobin and even Pope Francis adhere and preach the self-same teaching as Bishop Paprocki yet we don't hear you calling them ''homophobes'. Can you explain why not? The Magisterium and Holy Scripture all agree with the Pope, Cardinal Tobin and Bishop Paprocki.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, it seems that the alt-left has infiltrated the Catholic Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "unless you are a bishop, then they can do anything they wish. look at Finn, he wouldn't be able to pass a background check to work as a layperson in any Catholic school or parish in the country.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You should expand your reading sources, there is more out there than NCR. Careful, you might be surprised with what you discover in the real Catholic world.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "While debt relief is a worthy goal, Catholic Social Teaching demands a living wage sensitive to family size and a more cooperative ownership structure (workers owning debt rather than owing it). For that, something more socialistic is required.\n\nSome of what we do to oppose deportations causes them. When ICE can pick up aliens who are convicted of crimes from jail, they just get the arrestee. If they pick them up at home, they get the family. Not an improvement. If deportees were allowed to pick their next nation of exile, no one would have to go back to Salvador.\n\nAt Vatican II, some bit of American tolerance was accepted, especially on religious freedom, but it hardly americanized the Curia nor does it understand the right to privacy and how it is not just keeping things private. It means taking things out of majority rule that should not be left to it. The ultimate Americanism would be electing bishops again.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The golden calf for Catholic liberals is making up your own rules, and going off of feels confusing it for \"the Spirit\" instead of the Word of God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh dear, I wasn't aware that his statements had lead to violence and rioting. When did that happen? But it just goes to show that your condemnation of this bishop, with which I completely agree, was merited. You are correct to ascribe motives to his actions and castigate him for not acting in a christian manner. But why do you now backtrack on your condemnation of civil disobedience. You really should try to be consistent, Marty. Why the name change? Finally get banned?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I've seen several studies supporting the idea that the first Christians did exactly what they were told to do in memory of Jesus, but that over the course of several decades, bishops restricted the celebrations in order to curb what were perceived as irregularities.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "the conference's mission statement...\nGuided by the Word of God, the Magisterium, and the Social Teaching of the Catholic Church, and sensitive to specific and local needs:\n\n\u201cKCCB is committed to exercising together certain Pastoral functions that build the family of God into responsive witnesses of Christ\u2019s universal mission of service in charity to all humanity\u201d\n\nMaybe that \"sensitive to specific and local needs\": is the same clause Peter would have invoked on Good Friday...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your answers don't match the Gospel story of Judas. Judas had met with the Jewish leaders to deliver Jesus to them well BEFORE the Last Supper. He left the Meal to get the Jewish Guards, and then, knowing that Jesus would go to the Garden of Gethsemene---he led them to Jesus. So he knew that the Jewish Leaders [High Priests] wanted to capture Jesus, and he had planned to deliver Jesus for the 30 pieces of silver. That was a sin.\n\n\nSo you believe that God \"uses\" people? That concept hardly demonstrates the great love that God has for each and every human being. God doesn't use people like a broom or shovel.\n\nFinally, when people were ill, disturbed by evil spirits that they could not explain---and they knew that Jesus was coming to their town---they hurried out to meet him, to ask him to heal them. If one is spiritually ill---why not go to Jesus as well. That is what SIN is----spiritual sickness. Jesus is the Divine Doctor. What is so hard to understand here?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why do you think that Christians are to be judged for how they observe the Sabbath? Are you aware of the soft tissue and carbon-dating of dinosaurs? Why do you think Christians are not allowed to eat shellfish and pork? Can you show me the command in the Bible which requires Christians to kill 47,000 Syrians?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If Strange runs and throws race to Dems we will know he cares not about unborn children/Christian values", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh, well, if you have never heard of it happening, that must mean it never happens. \n\nBecause each bishops is different--ideologically, politically, personality, etc, each diocese will have different policies. I have seen this happen. In one diocese, divorced and remarried Catholics might be fired. In another diocese, they might not be. I note that it is the same with gay employees. How to deal with that is not universal. \n\nGay \"marriage\" is all the rage right now. It is the new, hip cool trendy thing in pop-culture. Because of this, gay employees who get fired, etc, are going to tend to get the attention of the liberal media.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Greetings......it's seems to me that once the Renaissance happened in Europe, people took a different view and appreciation of their worthiness in relation to God. Finally inner conscience was appreciated in the Christian mind! Thank you St. Pope John XXIII for bringing the true story of the Resurrection to the common man.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not at all, Apostolicae Curae was a response to the Oxford Movement's accusation that the Catholic Church had always insisted on the unconditional ordination of convert Anglican clergy without there ever having been any inquiry as to why.\nPope Leo XIII granted this inquiry and the Bull was the result.\nWithout the pressure from Anglicans and those few Catholics who supported them there would have been no papal pronouncement.\nThere is really no way around Apostolicae Curae, it is absolutely watertight. The form of the Sacrament was deliberately altered by Cranmer to exclude ordination to the 'sacrificing priesthood', therefore it was defective in the Catholic sense. Any bishop using it in preference to the Catholic Rite would have had the specific intention of NOT ordaining a Catholic priest (sacerdos), and even if he had, the deliberately defective form nullified it.\nAnglicans pressed for an inquiry into this question and were given a disappointing but honest answer.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am in state of limbo at this time when so many Catholic members of my own family are shunning or ghosting myself and other family members because we do not \"rubber stamp\" share their political views. And not sure i want to hold hands with so many judgmental people such as the posters here.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dennis, I spent a long time in the Anglican Church (Anglo-Catholic) trying to convince myself that Anglican Orders were valid and that Apostolicae Curae was erroneous. I went through nearly every book in the Central Library on the subject and yet I could never say with any reasonable conviction that they were valid. The number of times I read Apostolicae Curae were legion.\nImagine my predicament, wanting desperately to believe something which at the back of my mind I knew I couldn't assent to. It is properly called self deception. The ordination of women finally dispelled all my doubts. \nIndividual Anglicans believe whatever they like. Some are fiercely catholic in their beliefs and churchmanship others are thoroughly Protestant, the (liberal) majority in between have no particular convictions, high church, middle or low church. There were also those who stuck rigidly to the idea of a national church. \nThis is the background to my comments.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "ORS,\nThe \"Big Bang\" created this Universe and the laws of physics created this planet. \nMother Nature and evolution created humans. English common law and our nation's founders created the US Constitution which gave us our \"inalienable rights\". One of which is the 1st. Amendment which prohibits the establishment of any state religion. You, Roy Moore, and others want America to become a Christian theocracy forcing their dogma down everyone's throat!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The people of God are not the Magesterium. The Magesterium is the bishops in union with the pope. The Magesterium can, indeed, be wrong, and they have, indeed been wrong in the past. It is a huge leap of logic to conclude from this that Catholic teaching on sexual ethnics and a whole host of other important issues needs to change, is in error or could change. It is also a huge leap in logic to conclude that Church teaching should change because lay people, influenced by liberal, secular, humanist atheism think it should.\n\nChurch teaching is not determined by the whims and fads of pop-culture. This is something liberal dissidents do not understand. Church teaching is also not determined by the whims, fads and trends of Science. What Scientist teach one day they change the next. This is not to say that the people of God or Science has no role in determining Church teaching, only to say that it is not the final arbiter.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Stalin was raised a Christian and even studied for the priesthood. The pogroms were a mode of eliminating political enemies - had nothing to do with religion. There is no connection between whether Stalin and Mao believed or didn't believe and the political extermination of millions of their respective citizens. Pogroms and the forced movement of intellectuals (The Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolutions) and professionals to work farms were a way of political control not religious or non-religious. Both Stalin, Hitler, Mao and Pol Pot (Buddhist) were are extraordinary examples of fanatics, but religion was not driving that fanaticism and that doesn't automatically make them non-religious. \n\nThe Founders had had enough of the constant rendering of community that the various competing religious adherers wrought; it didn't make for brief, unintrusive, and effective government and thus they purposely left it (religious observation) out of the Constitution.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Cont..\nJesus said: \"Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don\u2019t know how to interpret this present time?\" \u201cWhy don\u2019t you judge for yourselves what is right?\" Luke 12:56-57 This requires one to be judgmental.\n\n\"As Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.\" Matthew 21:12 Doesn't sound like Jesus brought peace and love to the money changers.\n\nJesus said \u201cDo not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.\" Matthew 10:34 A sword as in there will be division family, friend, neighbors, co-workers.....\n\nThe bottom line is to say secular humanism has no place in Christianity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "To the extent that this dialogue on the history and reason behind Catholic Social Thought and Action has had to be written and pontificated is and of itself a complete and utter tragedy in my eyes. The patriarchy continues to sow its seeds to the highest bidder. Any intelligent, socially aware person who was alive in some way during the pre Vatican II and Vatican II experience would know this and has known this for decades.\nSocial Action in World War II was Pope John the Twenty Third- exiled by the Curia - to Bulgaria getting Jewish adults and children out of the hands of the Nazi's. He could have been killed. The actions of nuns in those countries hiding folks, the nuns and priests walking in Selma. The worker priests in France. St. Emily - both of them in France and Italy working with those no one wanted to touch, or talk too , or help.\nThe history of Judaism - of course it is there- and in all great religious and or philosophical great thinking. Actions not words.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\" Rev. Franklin Graham. The controversial Christian evangelist was chosen by the President to preside over his inauguration.\"\n\nCardinal Timothy Dolan,, Rabbi Marvin Hier, Bishop Wayne T. Jackson, the Rev. Samuel Rodriguez and Pastor Paula White also gave readings at the inauguration yet no mention of them. Why not? They aren't \"controversial\" enough?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I recently read Archbishop Charles J. Chaput's new book, \"Strangers in a Strange Land, Living the Catholic Faith in a Post -Christian World.\" I copied one phrase out of the book. \"Only God knows the truth of each person.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I couldn't agree more. \nCatholics (regardless of the time they have spent as Catholic) are free to level well-founded criticisms at the pope, whoever he is. It seems that MSW wants it to be that only American Cradle Catholics can level criticism about the Petrine Office, in the person of the pope, and that only against a more conservative pope or on very specific issues. Do converts have no conscience to obey, as well? And if those well-founded criticisms are echoed by many Catholics who have been so from their infancy? I guess Hizhoner Spadaro already addressed that dilemma.\nAll that aside, I do appreciate the humility evinced in the final three-or-so paragraphs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A very shallow and convenient indictment, this McArticle, alongside some equally uninformed commentary. Virtually no credible or (ironically) relevant information regarding the impetus for what is described as \"restoration-ism\" survived the editorial cut. And the ever-present tendency for folks influenced by Friar Anthony to reduce the examen to a \"Sisyphus dress up\" caricature (thus dismissing the earnest and serious work of R.Cdl. Burke out of hand among others) reeks of disingenuous intent. I am not a restorationist Catholic. However, my personal involvement with those lay and clergy who would \"self-identify\" with even such a transparent misnomer, clashes significantly with the populist mentality of the column.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "5) Christian believers comprise the earthly aspect of the Temple / Body /Bride of Christ (these metaphors are used interchangeably throughout the NT). Each individual member of this Temple / Body is consecrated for service (Bible definition of Sanctified). This consecration includes the body and mind as well as the spirit.\n\n6) The Holy Spirit bestows gifts to all believers to enable and empower their sanctified service to God and their fellow humans. All the gifts of the Spirit are manifest in these last days within the Temple / Body / Bride of Christ.\n\n7) Before His return to earth, Christ will cleanse / prepare / restore His earthly Temple / Body / Bride into His own likeness. In Christ, and only in Christ, the believers will stand faultless and blameless before the sentient beings, Divine and Created.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Methodists have plenty of ministers(leaders), we Catholics have zilch.\"Increase and multiply\" is our motto, except our leaders are forbidden to do the same. Motto must change to the two commandments Jesus proclaimed. Then we will be alive again!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Does anyone else see a particular bias in the presentation of facts here? The reporter starts by gushing about the triumph of the Green Left: \u201c. . . major gains for the Green Left, a pro-EU party led by a charismatic 30-year-old with Moroccan heritage.\u201d\n\nBut when we get into the substance of the article: \n\u201c. . . the Freedom Party was expected to end up tied with the Christian Democrats and D66, both pro-European parties, with 19 seats in the 150-seat legislature. And Green Left was only slightly behind at 16 seats.\u201d \n\nThey finished fifth! They finished behind The Liberals, Labour, Christian Democrats, D66, and the Freedom Party. Sure, they gained ground, but so what? But why is this author turning himself inside out to fawn over what is barely more than a fifth place fringe party? It couldn\u2019t be because they\u2019re leftists, could it?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pope St. Pius X, Encyclical VEHEMENTER NOS: \"That the Church ought to be separate from the State is a thesis ABSOLUTELY FALSE, a most PERNICIOUS ERROR\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I hope to use my oil and gas reward from all my hard work to help support Christian education! \n\nI studied to be a preacher at David Lipscomb University and Pepperdine University but fell ill my last year in 1981 and got a job at an Alaska oil company. \n\nI started my own oil company in 1986. My Company Danco, became a gas producer in Alaska at Sterling and Royalty at Redoubt! \n\nNow I buy and sell leases and bring Companies like APACHE to drill in Alaska, but I feel the Bad Alaskan Laws ran them and others out. HB 247 is bad law!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They have Lions park . That's more than enough . Mt. View is the most dangerous area in Anchorage . It's not safe to have kids and families walking around in the woods with so many bad people mixed in. This isn't a republican or Christian issue----it's a public safety and financial issue . This park should have been shut down in the 1990's when Mt. View changed from a working class neighborhood into the dangerous area it is today.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Latin is still the language of Latin-rite Catholics. Even Vatican II called for it to be maintained. If your prefer to go to Mass in the vernacular that's your perogative, but some of us prefer experiencing Mass as our ancestors in the faith did, in the language of our rite, and not a translation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "All people have already been saved by Christ's death on the cross. \"Mother Church\" need not concern herself with salvation; it is already done. \"Mother Church\" needs to concern herself with teaching people how to love God and love their neighbor.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Two things: We would be wiser to read the Gospels than to read the Catechism and/or Canon Law. The Gospels do not mention abortion but they say a lot about loving the \"least of these\". There is no such thing as excommunication. Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Nothing and no one.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't stereotype all churchgoers, but will not hesitate to call out pagan practices in denominations (like Lutherans and Catholics). The sword verse means division, but you have glossed right over that, just after that he says4\u201cDo not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn\n\n\u201c\u202f\u2018a man against his father,\na daughter against her mother,\na daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law...\n\nI am sure there may be some genuine Christians in the Lutheran denomination, but as a whole it is corrupt. I am not the final arbitrator, or an arbitrator at all, but Jesus said you shall know them by their fruits, and when you come slinging these verses taken out of context in an attempt to criticize the Lords church, i have valid grounds to consider you an unbeliever, as you have no live for the truth.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Indeed, the Mass is well beyond \"a meal with Jesus\", a sort of Cosmic Happy Meal.\n\nIt is the anamnesis of Jesus' Divine Sacrifice, the making present in our time and space of that Sacrifice where Christ the High Priest sacrificed Himself to God the Father, passed through the curtain of the Holy of Holies, and - like Melchizedek - offered bread and wine, which sacrifice continues to be offered to the Father on our behalf in the heavenly Sanctuary.\n\nIt is no accident that every single \u201cchurch\u201d which \u201cordains\u201d women has a defective theology of the Eucharist, while our Orthodox and other separated eastern brethren wonder what the fuzz in the West is all about.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "His support by the evangelicals is based on hopes that Trump will keep issuing Executive Orders like his last one proclaiming religious beliefs override everything else the citizens have opposed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "First of all, as a former Catholic school teacher and parish staff member, I can testify that that lay pay scale is nothing to write home about. Most families with one parent who works for the Church need two incomes just to get by.\n\nBut that aside, vowed religious take a vow of poverty, which means they turn their paychecks over to their communities, where they're used for a variety of needs. The most substantial one is taking care of the current generation of retirees, who far outnumber those earning.\n\nIf there's no need for the religious retirement fund in the future it will be because of attrition, not because today's working sisters are building their own nest eggs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"I am guessing that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops will be more aggressive in articulating its position on the cake-baking case than it will on this one [Janus v Am...].\"\n- The episcopate in the USA can not be depended on to support unions in these days. \n- Note all the times teachers, and other employees that work for dioceses or indirectly for dioceses have met their bishop as an opponent of good labor practices, and indeed as union busters.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Huh?\nWe pick and choose what to criticize, what to affirm, among Papal teachings, but we are not Cafeteria Catholics? How do you reconcile your first paragraph with the last?\nDei Verbum says \u201cthe Church, in her teaching, life and worship, perpetuates and hands on to all generations all that she herself is, all that she believes.\u201d That includes what the Pope says today as well as what has been said before. Criticizing multi religious meetings in Assissi is possible only in the Cafeteria.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And if Germans read an article showing all the Americans who think Merkel destroyed Germany with her immigration policies? Pick any location, pick a group of people with similar views within that location, write an article from that view point, title it with the specific location mentioned to make it look like all people in that location feel that way and call it truth. I think if only people who were associated with Westboro Church were interviewed and you title it \"Devout Christians in America feel (fill in the blank)\", without stating they are fanatics that most Christians loathe, you would make all American Christians seem like the fanatics. And please don't make this about religion. The above is only an example of how things are made to seem by the media.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You have those blinders on of single-issue politics that by no means give a full view picture of what is happening in US politics. While your example of the consistent views on abortion between the GOP and the USCCB have truth to them, it ignores the fact that (a) Trump supporters as a whole are not telling us that abortion/right to life plays a significant part in their voting choices, and (b) the top issues were, in fact, jobs/economic, Washington failures, and HRC hatred. That's what drove the results from last Tuesday. As for the matter of what our bishops have said (and not said) during this election cycle, I can only say that you aren't viewing or listening to a wide enough sources of information specific to the US Catholic Church. And what you falsely describe as \"the Holy Father's personal opinions on climate change...\" simply ignores the entire basis of theological and papal teaching regarding the care of the earth as being an ultimate product of God's great Creation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Migrants are important in the near future, to fill the pews depleted by the Church's \"progressive\" changes. However, once we return to the ritual ordained by Christ, the pews will be full of american citizens, so the Bishops will no longer need to support immigration.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "as a christian, if i have any question about life events, i only have to look to scripture for examples, and i find my answer. as an american, if i have any question about a government decision, i only have to look to the constitution, and i will find my answer there. its clear in the constitution that only congress gets to make our laws, not the president. its as plain as day. president trump is bravely taking the heat and criticism from ignorant people in order to force congress to work together to pass immigration laws and improve border security. if he were a jerk as many have wrongly claimed, he wouldn't have gave a six month deadline, but would have ended obama's illegal fake law immediately. the real question is how can democrats, who support aborting more than 90 babies each day, claim to care about the dreamers? trump is faithful to the oath he took. the pope should do likewise and mind his own business.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "NOBODY in Oregon and especially in eugene wants any Christian concepts to be involved. Read these boards you will see that stated every day\nPointing out that many in the government view putting as many people as possible on welfare as a good thing does NOT equal hating the less fortunate, no matter how superior that makes you feel saying that", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If I were a christian it would appear the Republicans worship a different type of Christianity than supposedly, the jesus lived and breathed. Like more in step with the same type of priests that cronied with the money lenders that the jesus kicked out of the temples. And who ultimately had the jesus crucified by the Romans. Like the gold gilded vatican that was built on the backs of hundreds of millions of slaughtered Natives worldwide.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You'll notice zoeygirl59 that Alceste doesn't answer your question, but tries to create a diversion by bringing in \"Catholic\" politicians, people who have, A. Western values and were B. Christian. There are no parallels between the two. Ultimately we are expected to follow the \"trust me\" logic, which is what Europeans were told 40 years ago, and look at the mess that got them into.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The history of the place of women in the Church is useful to recall. After the issue of women in ordained positions was suppressed in the earliest centuries of our existence, it came up again starting in the early 1500's when Angela Merici founded a \"company of women,\" who would wear no habit, not live in cloister, with only a private vow of chastity and perform works of great charity based on what Christ instructed us to do. There were others to follow who attempted the same thing, but all were made to eventually wear habits, develop a rule, live in cloister; Cardinal Charles Borromeo imposed further conditions and that was the origins of the Ursulines, and the Sisters of Charity, and other orders that started out as a purely Catholic charitable groups doing the work of Evangelization. This is the history of at least a dozen groups that were forced into cloisters. And now we want to have women ordained? What are the historical steps we have to make it happen?\n\n(Continued)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of course, it's the RC Church, Republican Catholic Church hierarchy, good-ole-boys club, Opus Dei funded and controlled.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Vatican II was properly understood: it is heretical from beginning to end. It is the worst thing that has ever happened to the catholic church. There was nothing wrong with the church when John XXIII convened the council, in fact there was confusion about why it was convened. Since V2 the pews have emptied, vocations have decreased, confusion among the laity has prevailed, homosexuality in the clergy has become the norm, and the catholic church has been reduced in its power and majesty. It's time to repudiate V2 in toto and put an end to the terrible division in our church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Western countries (based upon Christian principles originally) have become democratic and rich.\nOther countries with different cultures have become poor and/or repressive.\nCulture matters.\n\nDo we want to import cultures that have led to poverty and/or repressive governmental systems?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm wondering when the extremist right will try to throw Hawaii out of the union because we now have NO Christians in our congressional delegation in Washington.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Fanatics are created at home around the dinner table, listening to the elders speak of world events and religion. Just as young Jews and Christians listen to their parents talk of charity work and helping the sick and poor people of the world, Muslims learn to wish death on Jews and Christians over generous servings of mom's good home cooking.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I left the Church (or rather the Church left me 10 years ago when I came out). I decided not to waste a day of my spiritual life waiting on the Catholic Church to see through the smoke and change its teaching. I'm at peace with my understanding of Jesus, and how His ministry accepted homosexuality, and was nonplussed by it; how it was a non-issue for Him; how being gay was as consequential to Him as a person's hair color or height. Hundreds of years from now, I suspect that the Church will eventually embrace the LGBT community. I know God does and that's all I need in my life. I will praise His name and do his work here on earth, and look forward to the day when I can serve Him in heaven.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Am I right in concluding from your comment that you believe the only part of Sacred Scripture that we are bound to believe and follow are the direct words of Jesus Christ and/or only the Gospels? If so, then how do you reconcile your position with the following passages from the inspired, inerrant Word of God?\n\n2 Timothy 3:16-17 NABRE\n\n16 All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wow. As I read this it appears that the author believes that God doesn't matter anymore as long as people live according to their own moral codes however they may vary. That doesn't sound Catholic or Protestant to me. So, in essence, the author is saying we don't need God anymore since people are doing their best to be moral without him. The only problem with that is that rising secularism and rejection of religion is a relatively new concept. Secularists fail to realize that much of what they deem moral is derivative of some religion somewhere. It's just a matter of time before evil takes the place that God used to hold.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's easy to say and do sweet things when you have no skin in the game.\nIt comes down to this: If churches want new immigrants and refugees in their nations, then they must financially support them.\nThey also must ensure that the immigrants/refugees obey the law. \nWhen my ancestors came to America, they came legally. \nMy ancestors, like many of yours, had to be approved for physical fitness, had to have a job waiting for them, and had to have a family member living here who had to swear that they would support my ancestors if they lost employment. \nFurthermore, there were no big government programs and handouts back then. \nYou sank or swam on your own.\nThis is no longer a Judeo-Christian nation. \nWe no longer follow Judeo-Christian values. \nAnd we haven't for a long time. \nIt is a secular nation now, therefore, it comes down to dollars and cents.\nWe can't impose Christian values on a secular, multi-cultural nation. \nI've heard that for years.\nNow, I'm gladly following it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Re: why do I need . . .\"\n\nIt appears that you are suggesting that a Catholic needs a priest in order to decide if one is in a state of mortal sin. I don't think that has ever been true, but perhaps I do not understand your point. I think it has always been up to the individual to examine one's own conscience; certainly, one could and still can seek the guidance of a priest and/or spiritual director to help in the examination. \n\nAm I missing your point?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We have to be honest.\n\nSome people will use the Catholic Church to advance and trendy practices that are sinful and counter to Church teaching.\n\nIt'd be like a priest who uses his collar to advance political causes, which are against Church teaching. Not that any jesuits have ever done that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Most Catholics are not considered to be part of the Evangelical movement.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "joseppi, you are the only one that seems to realize the seriousness of this action. gorsuch is 'too white' for 2017 america. in his opening statement he made it clear that he knows nothing about any american that is not born into, and brought up in an upper middle class, or higher, two parent (male dominated), evangelical christian environment. the problem i have with him is that he doesn't know he doesn't know the rest of us exist. his acceptance of the position also tells me he has no integrity. a truly honest man would not take the job if he was only liked by 54% of the people voting for him. with mike pence and 82% of our congress identifying as a christian, we can expect much more discrimination against everyone who isn't an evangelical, born again christian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The term 'faithful Catholics' was employed by the poster I was replying to, not my expression. I was just repeating it.\nA faithful Catholic is surely someone who professes the Catholic Faith, wouldn't you agree?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You insist, like many modernists, on falling back on Jesus to support your position. However, we are no longer limited to the contents of the Gospels, we have the issuances of the Institution, and it tells us that the priesthood may be male only, and unmarried at that. As we Traditional Catholics know, this is how it is, has always been, and always shall be, and Jesus really has nothing to do with the discussion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Issues like this will become more common as years go by. Liberals increasing immigration to 350k per year. The whole system will need to change according to these people. Lets start with stat holidays; Christmas, Good Friday and New Years day need to change. Why is the calendar Canada uses represents the Catholic Church and Jesus? Muslims, Chinese, Hindus, Jews all have their own calendar. Maybe Canada could create a New Calendar that is less offensive.\nLets base it on PET was born which was 1919 or when he died.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think you misunderstand what a protected class is. It is merely a category that one cannot use to discriminate. For instance, I cannot refuse to hire someone simply because they are a Christian, even though I find that religion to be horrid, because religion is a protected class. However, I can refuse to hire someone because s/he is rude, because the state of one's manners is not a protected class. Having protected classes doesn't create haves and have nots, it just makes it illegal to discriminate based on certain characteristics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I also recall that my high school history teacher insisted that we speak about the \"Protestant Revolt,\" not the \"Protestant Reformation.\"\u2014Maureen Fiedler As an historian, that is what I was taught to call it also. It was a revolt rather than a reformation. My students seem to agree that after Vatican II, Protestants became more Catholic and Catholics became more Protestant and so it goes, \u201dEven to your old age I am he, even when your hair is gray I will carry you\u201d (Isaiah 46:4). I am there now, in old age. \u201cTherefore I tell you, do not worry about your life\u201d (Matthew 6:25). The effort to get along is a worthy endeavor. Children\u2019s Liturgy of the Word, as used at St. Mary Church, Vermilion, Ohio, Friday, October 6, 2017.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No they were not. As I demonstrated, your \"facts\" on the incident in San Diego were not facts, they were unsupported allegations.\n\nNot only were they not, they were not examples of pervasive conduct nor endorsed by the episcopate.\n\nIn neither instance was either candidate endorsed.\n\nWhat you appear to be exercised about is that a hierarchy of issues with abortion at the top was presented, reference to things which might be found in the platforms of both parties and the candidates\u2019 statements were made, and the faithful were admonished to vote as Catholics.\n\nIf my candidate would be ruled out by that chain of events, I would lobbying that candidate's party to alter its positions on things such as abortion instead of running a quixotic campaign against a priest in California.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"I read it and then realized how badly formed our population is.\" REALLY, now?\n\n\nTHE SHACK, was the first piece of writing, since the Council of Constantinople I [381], in which the Trinity was thought of and talked about as MORE than a mystery that Christians must believe. That's seventeen centuries! After reading THE SHACK, People began to believe and hope that there could be a RELATIONSHIP with the Holy Trinity beyond the Trinity being a matter of faith. \n\n\nThis is the first step in recognizing that God is not the same version of ZEUS sitting on top of a throne hurling lightening bolts down on sinners. Of course, in the minds of some, all we have to do is remove the Z from Zeus and change it to D as in Deus----an we have a\nnew version of the same-type of pagan god----a 'quid pro quo law and order' god. For many people either the book or movie will be the first time many Christians will even think that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as the Trinity---- really loves them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not each of us can be a Catholic Worker, but there is so much about the example of Dorothy Day that we can each follow. Dorothy Day is my hero, as well. I work to follow her example as much as I can.....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So maybe that explains why we don't see \"green\" articles on Earth Day at NCR since Earth Day isn't a Catholic Holy Day?\n\nNo that doesn't work.\n\nI think your logic doesn't work.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The ATHNA people owned the land before the Feds and the State took it from them. Their \"selection\" of this land is a legal fiction.which pretends that no one owned the land before the State or Federal folks took it. This is a product of the outdated and generally repudiated Doctrine of Discovery which claimed that colonial powers could claim any land they \"discovered\" on the North and South American continents if the inhabitants were not Christian. Whether Whites came into this area via this particular trail or not is irrelevant as it traversed Native lands.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "All men and women are made in the image and likeness of God and all are called to salvation. The source of all Truth is Christ - the Logos. \n\n\"The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself. Only in God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops searching for\" (CCC 27).\n\n\"Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience\u2014those too may achieve eternal salvation\" (CCC 847).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus helps us deal well with pain and joys, both natural realities.\n\nHe wants to be with us in all our moments. \n\nGood points in the article on attentiveness.\n\nThe various forms and uses of technology seem particularly effective in making our attention shallow and labile.\n\nThis not only makes our \"friendships\" more shallow, they make our decision making about work matters, home, etc more shallow, less well thought out....choices to make in business, schools to send our children to, places to vacation, things to form opinions about.\n\nSome helpful videos by a Catholic MD at Harvard.\n\nShort points: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UBd5a5ztKw\n\nLonger more practical, useful video\n\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=691Bd1OelHw", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "May I remind you that Christ was/is God not some apocalyptic prophet wandering around Palestine. He knew who He was, why He was on earth as man and what was in store for Him. He asked the Father to spare Him. As a child He rebuked His parents for not knowing that He was about His Fathers business.\nHe told His followers, His Church, that He would be with them until the end of time.\nI agree that He showed little interest in the way society was structured but not because He was unaware of the eschaton but because His mission was the salvation of souls.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So the attorneys who work for Catholic Church against abuse victims work for free?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"It's heartening that Cupich affirms the understanding of Church and Christ that Fr. Pfleger and St. Sabina pursue so ardently. Pope Francis is doing good work here.\"\nOy. Oy. Oy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Right on AnonAJ.. \nYes ! There were some parishes that gave sanctuary in the 80s to fleeing Salvadorans {mine did] NCR should send the above picture { Methodist Church] to every US bishop and ask how many of his own parishes had a sanctuary meeting by 11-15-16, If none then kiss the pic and say good by to the millions of Catholic Latino immigrants both documented undocumented and native born.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "NO! said that one Muslim...and I answer by=\nFran\u00e7ois Jourdan, French islamologue;\n\u201c...Islam (and Jewish add by me) is very frozen for many centuries and basically lack of freedom - today, it must be said clearly that we cannot build a society of one religion, Christian, Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist... or atheist. \nThis phase of human history is now overtaken by religious freedom and human rights. Secularism requires not the ban but the discretion of all religions in the public space as other citizens have the right to have another way of life. \nThis isn't the Koranic trend where Islam does not consider itself as other religions and must...DOMINATE !...\u201d\nSo, He said;\n\u201c...Secularism requires not the BAN but the DISCREATION OF ALL RELIGION in the public space...as others Citizens have the right to have ANOTHER WAY OF LIFE\u201d, oui ?\n\"Islam does not consider itself as OTHER religions and MUST... DOMINATE\" !...\nget it Canadians ???...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic Church is certainly against Capital Punishment and torture, but it never declared it to be intrinsically evil. The Church declares, in the Catechism, that direct abortion is. On can argue for exceptional cases of Capital Punishment, but not for abortion....the taking of innocent life.\nRead your Catechism and Canon Law which excommunicates those obtaining or directly involved in abortion. It does not do so for Capital Punishment, even though it should not be used.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Viewed through that lens, supporting Muslim prayer for 15 minutes per week and supporting LGBT rights in Catholic schools are perfectly consistent stances.\"\n\nAnd yet the former aligns WITH freedom of religion and the other aligns AGAINST it. Given that we're talking about a core charter right, and the school system itself guaranteed in the constitution, that's an issue, no?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm sorry you lost your faith. Are you a former Catholic priest?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "AGREED!!!\nUnfortunately, our church and the GOP really don't care about that except for Pope Francis. The American Catholic prelates do not follow him, only the last two popes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It sure sounds good but is it necessary, is there an imperative to live as Christians. Jesus commanded us to love God and our neighbour but what if I decide not to follow these commands? What are the repercussions for not following the commands of Christ? If I can follow any path why would Jesus state that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life: that no one goes to the Father except through Him.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would love to see more tales of scrupulosity unique only to Catholics who are more concerned with compliance than with love. \n\nI would love to hear a canon lawyer--or even a parish priest--echo that correct answer: \"Oh, come on now.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1/2\nThanks for the reference, Sarasi. Hind Kabawat is identified by pronouns as both male and female in the opening blurb. What is the prescribed protocol for dealing with that?\n\nKabawat, best I can make out, figures that the best future for Syrian Christians would be in the democracy that presumably the moderate rebels will establish once Assad and ISIS (and other extremist groups) have been defeated. Yeah, I think that is what most of people in the West would like to see, a stable democracy in Syria..and Iraq..and everywhere. \n\nBut were we Syrian Christians, I'm not so sure buying into the rebel cause is the best option for survival. Let's assume the moderates win (tough proposition with Russian on Assad's side, and willing to be as ruthless as their client), but then what?\n\nWhen we try to export democracy, and folks elsewhere listen to our message, the take home is that democracy requires free speech, a free press, free and fair elections that are accepted by all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "@SHIMON KOFFLER FOGEL a le culot de nous dire;\n\u201cFaith communities should be leaders in this exercise. What better way to demonstrate our unique role in contributing to and shaping our country than to do something that will inspire all Canadians to make Canada even better, more inclusive and more caring?\u201d\nNo Way ! Keep Out of sight !\n\u201cBig-mouth\u201d Grande-gueule Qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois will NEVER let another religion come replace Catholic Church and implant itself stealthily on its territory...and don't try-\nQu\u00e9b\u00e9cois are VERY \"T\u00caTUS\"...you'll hurt yourself and your communities instead\nand Make a Very Bad Press to Qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois, oui ?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yeah, I couldn't help read that as patronizing people of colour as incapable of following the doctrines of the Church. \n\nBut we have to remember there cases of divorce where only one party is at fault. On the other hand Paul does say that celibacy is the more perfect way to emulate Christ, and the risk of having to live celibate in case of a failed marriage is something that should be part of marriage prep.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I've been asked to be. I'm really not a 'parish' guy, though I have given a number of talks at parishes at the request of some priests/others. My focus is personal, one on one with my friends and relatives. Going out for a beer, talking about family life, talking about work. \n\nThe questions eventually come: Why do you love family life so much, why do you go to Confession often, why do you go to Mass, why do you love the Catholic Church, why do you call your wife your 'bride' still with a smile?\n\nAnd so quiet, slow, gentle substantial (and eventually supernatural) conversations about the faith and other matters begin like that. \n\nMatters of the soul are very intimate, and so deep and trusting friendship like I've described is a pre-requisite to \"RCIA\".\n\nMy role is outside.\n\nAnd maybe later - at the Holy Spirit's pace and will - my friends ask: how do I become a Catholic. And so maybe I become their sponsor...in other cases I point them to other people who might be better sponsors.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "While there may be a small handful of bishops who are \"good guys,\" with positive verbs, adjectives and adverbs accurately used to describe their policies and actions in their dioceses. These have achieved the appropriate rank of true leader; but far too many of them are not LEADERS in any modern sense of the word, except the bureaucratic. However, it probably doesn't matter since no majority of any consequence is following them. \n\nI'm sure in every parish there are pockets of conformist traditionalists who dutifully read/listen to and even obey declarations from their Ordinary. That is, after all, our duty as good and faithful Catholics. I'm equally sure that the predominant majority feel absolutely free to only halfway assent, and/or discern, reject and ignore, based on their own adult assessments of the situations. We can see this non-acceptance in so many contemporary situations (and rightfully so). \n\nThese are clay-footed pied pipers with few real followers.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Here's one you'll like. I left home at 17, at the end of my Jr. year in high school, after enduring 12 years of spousal abuse by my step dad... and my mom still wouldn't leave him, so I left. That was in Albuquerque. I drove up to Denver, met with my uncle, and he got me a job as the caretaker for the Mother Cabrini Shrine in the foothills outside of Denver. It included a summer retreat for Cuban refugee girls that Cuban parents sent here to get them out from under Communism; Catholic organizations took them in. The Cabrini Shine retreat was run by Catholic nuns. I was their \"little heathen\" who lived about half a mile down the road in an old stone ranch house. They'd call me up every time they encountered a rattlesnake, and I'd come kill it for them. One time they called me in a panic... their male and female German Shepherds had become stuck together in intercourse while the nuns had the hose on them. Couldn't relax. Funniest thing I ever say in my life.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Monica, you do have a way with words. I know many who believe this way, and they are very hard to deal with since they already know how everybody else should conduct their lives, have no room for mystery and the Spirit, and following church laws is more important than responding to the Gospel. The leap of faith is vital, but it is hard to convince some folks or even talk about it with them. This coming week is our diocesan confession night for all parishes, and my homilies this weekend will be about sin. I suspect some folks will be upset. Faith, in the sense of believing in Jesus, is a gift already given that we can choose to trust in or not. While we can't move the system, we can choose how to live our own life. I'm coming to see the Ignatian Examen in a new and profound light this Lent. E la pace di Quaresima anche a Lei.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And they send to him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.And when they were come, they say to him, Master, we know that you are true, and care for no man: for you regard not the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not ? Shall we give, or shall we not give ? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, Why tempt you me ? bring me a penny, that I may see it. And they brought it. And he said to them, Whose is this image and superscription ? And they said to him, Caesar's. And Jesus answering said to them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually, separation of church and state means both stay out of each other's venue and this is why political lobbying by religion has caused our church to get threatened in court already & if they are not careful they could lose tax exempt status if they get too pushy of their agenda in the political arena.\n\nFYI-during the time of slavery in the U.S. the church owned and sold slaves - they profited and did not condemn it. You may look at the Georgetown Slavery issue to verify this.\n\nPope Francis and priests can preach in church, or in the middle of any town common, which should be adequate and trust that their people will vote their consciences, but they should not be preaching at congress or in court rooms or voting booths as these are political venues and those who don't agree with Catholicism should not have to deal with being preached at when dealing with civic matters. \n\nBy the same token, Nancy Pelosi should not give political speeches during mass even though she is Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is enough scriptural evidence that women were accepted as prophets from the OT. Had The Second Person been incarnated as a woman is, I'm afraid, not a question I feel equipped to answer outside of that evidence. The Christian idea of God is not that He is male but that He has no gender, per se, but has revealed Himself, primarily, as the masculine principle of \"Father\" through His Second Person, the man Jesus Christ. If it was solely First Century theologians that created God as Father, that would be much easier to get around. As I noted above, if it is heretics that use masculine descriptions for The First Person, Jesus was the first heretic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I like to give thanks for the seasons, a natural interplay of forces that are more powerful than any human from any time. The Winter Solstice (on Dec 21) marks the 'return of light' as the earth follows its path around the sun. Indigenous people used to bring evergreen boughs into their lodges in a symbolic act to 'attract the sun's return', so they ascribed natural processes to natural forces. No need to set up one human as a supernatural being. The actual date of Jesus' birth is disputed since his parents went to Judea to register for a Roman census which were not conducted during cold rainy winters ...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, unchanged and unchanging, its teachings given to it by God, in Latin, and nothing has ever been altered in the slightest since Jesus founded the church in Rome, mandated a male, unmarried priesthood, with an infallible pope enthroned in Rome.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Jesus is a progression from Aristotle's point in understanding \"civil - ization\".\"\n\n Really? Perhaps it was Aristotle who was inspired by the Holy Spirit.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What it does seem to lead to is vocations, which then alleviates the problem of priests traveling to cover other parishes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nice touch. Insightful. Whatever disagreement one might have with Fr. Martin, he is a priest, an advocate and not an enemy of our church. Not all the landscape is mined. It's a big church...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Unfortunately, that is the modern understanding of \"mystery\" and not what the New Testament and early Church meant by it ...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you for a simple, straightforward and classy response.\n\nBy the way: I knew (and I did know him: same neighborhood, same church, same schools) a guy who lived and died in much the same way as Bruno did who was denied Christian burial, despite the fact that some of his associates who were \"similarly situated\" and who had preceded him in ignominious deaths were buried from the church. The difference: the man who was denied Christian burial was divorced/remarried. This was the late 50's, maybe the early 60's.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No Catholic should \"struggle\" with Marian apparitions.\n\nThese are private revelations, can neither add nor subtract from the revelation, and you are completely free to disregard them in your moral and spiritual life.\n\nBtw, the purported Medjugorje have NOT been approved, for some of the reasons you mention.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And yet, when violence shuts down a gay Catholic from speaking at UC Berkeley, NCR is silent.\n\nWhen will NCR understand that if it condones violence against anyone's free speech, it is disrespecting the legacy of Dorothy Stang and others like her?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As any True Catholic can tell you, the Church has moved beyond the words of Jesus over the past 2000 years. Too much emphasis on the teachings of Jesus is the heresy of sola scriptura. Gospel only counts where it supports the Traditions, Rites, Ritual, and Letter of Canon Law. We need only turn to the life of our Holy Father, Saint Pope Saint John Paul II the Great and Mighty, to understand the proper way to address child abuse by clerics is to obfuscate, argue definitions, apply obtuse reasoning, attack the victims, and if necessary lie, to protect the reputation of Holy Mother Church. Being the actions of a Holy and Saintly man, these reflect the Traditions of the Church. Gospel will just have to be ignored on this point.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You can brandish your opinion all you want, but marital life for Jesus (and John the Baptist) wasn't in the gospel narratives as it was for Peter and others. There are too many depths of silence to cover that alleged biblical bliss, not only in Jesus' script, words but in the absence of others who could have alluded to it. One wonders, too, if Jesus -- at age 12 in the Temple, knowing He had to be about his \"Father's business\" (and the challenges, to say the least, that that Redemptive \"business\" and endurance would entail) -- would even consider marriage and having a young family, only to have to abandon them later on (his widow and young orphans) \"to do his Father's will\" -- unless you have Jesus an overgrown child (in his twenties) playing at marriage, childless, a holy automaton without heart or complexity, indulging only on an oral level (food, drink and preaching)? There are too many angles you don' t consider in your scheme, not least abandoning his kids to raise the dead.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My chief objection to the activities, policies and rhetoric of the USCCB is the enormous amount time, effort, resources, money and credibility that are squandered in the 'Fortnight for Freedom.' This is an annual embarrassment for the church when the bishops promote unjust discrimination under the guise of 'religious liberty.' As a Catholic who still worships in a canonical parish, I am conflicted about this. I don't want one penny of my gift to the parish to go to the USCCB. I have so informed my pastor, and I've also reduced my monthly offering as a response to several homilies which effectively endorsed Trump. I love the parish. I was here before the pastor (whom I like) was, and the bishop, too, for that matter, and I'll likely be here when they're gone -- so I don't want to leave. However, resistance to Trump is a moral imperative; and if the bishops or the local church are complicit with Trump, I will leave. There is a non-canonical Catholic community not too far away.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The woman in this scripture story was forgiven. Those who dragged her before Jesus to be condemned----were not.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ummm....it would make sense (and be common sense) that the use of the term \"Reverend\" would fit quite well. As a matter of fact, some Catholics have been addressing their priests that way for some time now. And I believe that it is how the female clerics in other denominations are referred to.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What you have stated Mr. Abbott is exactly right. The young ladies article is worthless and has no definitive meaning. But this is the whole agenda of the \"big tent\" concept for the SDA church.\n\nFor those of us who know and understand that bible Adventism is a very definitive and articulate system of bible truth, these \"big tent\" comments are both meaningless and worthless.\n\nAs you stated, they can believe anything they want and go start their own church and define it to suit themselves. In the end, they won't change the definition of bible Adventism as EGW has articulated it.\n\nThere will always be a minority who won't budge because we know that to alter the truth a jot or tittle is to abandon the truth completely. It was Satan who wanted to \"tweak\" God's government just a little for a \"big tent\" theology.\n\nWe see what the outcome of all that genders. True Adventism is non-negotiable.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Our Holy Father has praised the US Bishops for their courage in bearing up under the hardships of the scandal, so surely they cannot be culpable, or else one might suspect Vicar of Christ of being disingenuous. And how can the leaders of the infallible church established by Christ himself when he gave unto Peter the keys to the kingdom, along with a complimentary mitre, have done these things? To believe that would be to raise the possibility that they are not actually chosen by God to lead the one and only True Church, and call into question whether anyone should follow their lead, or give their moral teachings any credence.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We have a disagreement. It seems the more scholarly proof you produce, the surer you are in your opinion, and the more liberalized you seem to me, in my way of thinking. You never cite who your sources are; you know that mine are the Magisterium. My opinions are shaped by sources that have imprimaturs, both ancient and modern day. I even accept many assertions from the likes of FF Bruce and CS Lewis. (BTW, I'm not interested in your sources.) You assert your position is widely held \u2013 so do I, but I believe your position and argument style are flawed with the stains of intellectualism and reason. Both are a style in the class of unhappy Catholic or Protestant Apologist--I know that sounds redundant. You obviously have gained a good deal of scripture teaching and receive joy from it. Explain how it allows you to embrace the verses in Matthew on the Transfiguration. Show how a vast knowledge of genre of scripture and history joyfully imparts a stronger faith instead of pokes holes in it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My great grandfather, a Protestant, lies buried in a public cemetery, while my great-grandmother, a Catholic, lies next to her father in a Catholic cemetery a couple of miles away. Of course, he could not be buried next to her as that would have been a \"great scandal.\" What is wrong with these self-righteous clerics?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When you actually look into the face of someone you so disparage - the liberal tofu eater or the immigrant being deported - can you ever recognize the face of Christ? Or do you even bother looking into the faces of people you disparage - from your tone I wouldn't be surprised if you have trouble even recognizing their humanity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Then you mustn't be a Christian. Because natural rights pre-dated Jesus, and if Jesus didn't appoint any women as apostles, then he violated their natural rights, in which case he was imperfect, and not God.\n\nAs for affinity: Nothing of what you said undoes the existence if an affinity among men and women, You point to examples that go against the rule, but they are still the except, not the rule. That's about as kind as I can be with your sophomorisms.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As one who participated in the march in Seattle on January 21, I find Mark Miloscia's comments extremely offensive. I marched for comprehensive reproductive health care for all women. I marched for the rights of immigrants. I marched for the rights of the disabled, for the rights of Native Americans, African Americans, and Hispanic Americans, and all Americans. I marched for the rights of all individuals to practice their faith as they see fit. If you were to read your history books, you would learn that this county was not founded by Christians, but by Unitarians and Deists. I marched to protest sexism, racism, and sexual assault. I marched for the survivors of sexual assault. I marched for better education and comprehensive health care. Are these causes un American?\n \nSince when is exercising my right to peacefully assemble and speak freely un American? Have you read the constitution recently?\n\nKathy Jorgensen", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nor is it a mortal sin to practice birth control. In Humanae Vitae, Pope Paul VI told couples practicing artificial birth control to pray to understand what the Church was saying, and to CONTINUE GOING TO CONFESSION AND COMMUNION. If he considered the practice mortally sinful, he would have told them they would have to stop contracepting before confession and communion. He did not. He told confessors to ask contracepting couples to pray and receive the sacraments. He did not tell priest to refuse confession and communion to such couples. And so, if there is any sin, a big if, there is no mortal sin. I say this as an old confessor. By the way, most Catholics have made up their minds. I rarely hear anyone confess birth control.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(cont.)\nAs for Francis view, \"...it goes in that direction\" strikes me a brilliantly \"jesuitical.\" He does not say that he agrees or disagrees with St. JP2; he merely asserts the obvious about what JP2 meant.\n\nIMHO, Francis has long since indicated that he is not going to open up this can of worms, and I think he is absolutely correct not to do so. One of his prime desires, say I, is to actualize V2 collegiality, as he demonstrated with the last two synods. My heavens, he must reason, if he can't get the college to be merciful towards good remarried-divorced Catholics because of the narrowness of their theological training, there is no chance whatsoever to reach common collegial ground NOW on women priests. He is right; this issue must be left for another day, a day when JP2 and B16's bishops have died and been replaced by men who have a better understanding of doctrinal development through the ages.\n\nAnd THEREFORE, I have hope for women deacons...all he needs is a positive report.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My mother had me when she was 26, and had six children after me and a miscarriage. That insured we would live below the poverty level. She didn't use contraception because the Catholic church forbade it both from the pulpit and by making it more difficult to obtain. The pregnancies and the exhaustion of raising that many children caused her to suffer from severe tuberculosis, for which she was kept in a rest home for a year. Griswold v. Connecticut was decided before Roe v. Wade, over whether or not business persons could be prosecuted for selling contraceptives. With the p-grabber in the White House, and increasingly fewer Republicans in Congress having the courage or decency to stand up for civil liberties, we seem to be headed back in that direction. I fear for our future.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Both Apostles and Doctors of the Church lived in their own times. In Aquinas' time---people did not know that the sun was the center of our solar system, that the world was round, that there was a Western hemisphere. \n\nSorry, but we are no longer in the Iron Age! Both Paul and Aquinas came from that time period. Amazing that Traddies are using a computer, use smart phones drive cars, live in modern homes, everything else modern---and they think that the Church doesn't/can't up-date its understanding of Biblical studies, Spirituality, and Theology. They never heard of Pius XII's documents such as: 'Mediator Dei' -1947---laity are true participants in the Mass, or 'Humani Generis'-1950---Catholic theologians are to use modern scholarship in their research and 'Divino Afflante Spiritu'--1943--Biblical scholar were to use modern methods of criticism in researching and studying the Bible. \n\nThe church is not/should not be opposed to GROWING and RESPONDING to the needs of God's People.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sorry but there likely never was a Jesus and if there never was a Jesus then that quote never happened. Other than some stories written a few hundred years after the supposed time of his existence there is no actual proof of this person.\n\nYou see Christianity is like the belief in Batman. Just because there is a comic book about him doesn't mean he is real. Men write fiction all the time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am sure he was supporting the clerical culture of undifferentiated asexuality, as well as preserving the myth that the Pope cannot err on these issues. Had he endorsed the already revised commission's report it would have been the death of that myth. As for 2000 years of tradition, which early Christian writer wrote about contraception? The tradition you are citing predicates Christianity. It is stoic, likely supporting the asexual ideal of Plato and his philosophers. The asexual hierarchy (and it is a prized orientation for that group) doubled down. This had nothing to do with legal abortion (not even Ronald Reagan had signed his abortion law by then, unless I am mistaken). Serving tradition could be preserving truth, but there had been a Church commission showing this was not the case. Error repeated is still error. The resulting disobedience of this decision proves it was disaster. It did not serve the Church or God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"That Reformation you celebrated is known for being open to change over time, over centuries \u2014 and that includes an openness to women pastors, priests, ministers, bishops and even archbishops.\"\n\nI imagine the Protestant churches that do not ordain women, including various Lutheran churches and the Southern Baptist Convention (the largest Protestant denomination in the U.S.) would disagree with this assessment. In fact, I think most of the reformers would have thought that they were returning to the original faith of the Bible, getting ride of what they believed were non-Biblical changes that accreted over time, instead of starting a process that allowed for new changes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The main anti-Church comments below center on the idea that there is no sin, that nothing is really sinful....\"Two consenting\" adults should not be \"judged\". There can never be a separation between us and God. There is no sin, there are no consequences of sin. There is no hell, unless you're a bishop \"we don't like\".\n\nOr, maybe \"the funeral is for the people in order to \"have closure\". Little else here.\n\nIf people only knew the joy of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the beauty & the awe of this gift from God.\n\nIt would take just a bit of humility and the littlest effort for the dying person to say \"I may have been wrong in how I lived the Gospel....there's at least a chance of it...therefore I owe it to my friends and to My Lord and God to attempt a reconciliation with God's Church...\".\n\nHow easy it is to be reconciled and how great is this Sacrament.\nBut most people deny there are things like the Sacraments, nd by implication the Mass, and oddly, the Mass of Christian Burial itself!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The US bishops knowingly put little Catholic children in harms way. These bishops continue to fight victims of clergy rape at every turn. These were fellow Catholics and members of their flock. If they refuse to care for their own which they have grievously injured how do you expect them to give a rip about the deportation of 3 million mostly Catholic people.\nThese all male leaders demand to be addressed as \"Your Eminence\" and \"Your Grace\" and have shown all but the most blind and gullible of us that they have long lost their relationship with the teachings of Christ.\nThese so called men of God want to keep their secrets, their power and their privilege above all. Doing this pretty much consumes their work week.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Like Irish Catholics and Orange Lodge Protesants? That happened in Canada, not just in Northern Ireland. Ian Paisely used to go on fund raising trips to Canada and the USA, shadowed by someone from the IRA NORAID side who would say that is all lies, give us money instead. One of the IRA fund raisers got arrested in Vancouver after his fingerprints were matched to a UK terrorism watch list. He got a good lawyer and was released on a promise to appear, then disappeared until he was arrested by USA Border Patrol Agents, deep in the BC Forest, with a weapons shopping list. The Troubles in Northern Ireland settled down when International Monitoring of funds transfers that was intended to shed light on funding of Moslem terrorism also revealed millions each year flowing to both sides in Northern Ireland to keep the tribal warfare pot boiling. Once that was identified the USA had to get serious about stopping it and UDR Orange Lodge and IRA NORAID fund raisers were both banned.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is so much more to Jesus than helping us to obey the Commandments. Sure, that's very important. But Jesus shows mercy, shows love, even to those unwilling (or unwilling yet) to obey these.\n\nCommandments are about Law; Jesus is about love.\n\n(P.S. My best wishes to you.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do you know all the situations that are part of each and every marriage? NO! But you sit in condemnation of the people who often suffer because of their marital situation. Take each situation individually and examine it----is what Francis is saying.\n\nBut you, unfortunately have more love for the letter of the law, than you do for the humanity for which Jesus gave his life's blood.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Michael, get nomenclature right, please: Episcopal Church, not Episcopalian Church. One is an Episcopalian, but a member of the Episcopal Church (American Episcopal Church, to be precise.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is what I tell people. No, I don't believe in God but that doesn't mean I can't recognize how much good religion does for people who do believe in it. To each their own. Just don't knock on my door at 6am to talk to me about Jesus please! I'd rather see you at 9pm in the pub for a debate about it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": ">>Christianity and Caucasian heritage occupy positions of privilege in our society, at the expense of other ethnicities and heritages.\n.\nAnd what is that society of yours? Because in my society all is geared to put \"minorities\" in a privileged position, with \"minorities\" being the majority of the population.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Today, these amendments have created a double standard for Catholics and other people of faith, who pay taxes just like everyone else but are forced to either choose a public school or forfeit the benefit of their taxes and pay for a faith-based education.\"\nEvery citizen pays these taxes to have an educated public. That is the benefit to all of us. Parents whose children attend the parochial schools, get to have a say in tax increases for the public schools and members of the school board in their communities. Your voice is not silenced.\nAll citizens pay taxes that benefit other members of the community directly, and thus ourselves indirectly. We don't get to opt out or request a refund if we are not direct beneficiaries.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There shouldn't be any such comments because the progressive left is not attempting to use religious freedom laws to discriminate against particular populations by using 'the Bible' as the justification for such discrimination.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am not casting any stones. As a matter of fact I have a very good friend who does happen to be gay. I treat him with respect and he does the same. He knows my feeling. I also worked very hard to help him win a seat on the circuit court as a republican. It seems from the comments that the ugliness is coming from those that wish to change the rules of the Church and the Sacraments that were instituted by Christ Himself.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What you are saying is that the Church's pride (or self-perceived reputation) is worth more than the conferring of blessing on a fellow child of God and that person's family. Another victory for the institutional church over the Church, the People of God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What does the Bible say that it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter into the Pearly Gates. Any so-called minister that lives far better than his or her congregation deserves to look down the barrel of hot cinders. Prevo is no different than all the TV so-called evangelicals that have bit the dust after being toppled by self-inflected scandals.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What he can do is agree to my Catholic Liberal position and support a robust child tax credit of $1000 per month per child (what USDA calculates a child costs for an average lifestyle), paid with wages or tuition stipends, and a $15 minimum wage. This is also in line with Casti and as such is part of the Magisterium.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I mentioned well above that you misunderstand about dignity.\n\nWe don't give ourselves dignity. God gave it to us by virtue of His Incarnation and our Baptism. We gain what's called divine filiation, a great dignity.\n\nOur collective organ function doesn't give us dignity. \n\nCompassion is rushing into to help one draw closer to God quite naturally.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In education, those who seek increases have a dilemma. The public in WA state approves everything! Only for a brief moment in 1974, and recently only in Everett for one bond was there an awareness of this fact. (OK, there have been a few very rare occurrences in between).\nSo, the problem, how does one know how much to ask for? How high is up?!\nSo, some time ago they determined as an offshoot of hating Mississippians that they would only ever compare to other states, and that way no justificaton to actual needs be done. It's funny, since MS has many black people who live there, but they're Christian so hate on them is OK in education.\nSo, since in state comparisons someone will ALWAYS be ahead of or behind another state, then they feel justified with the totally absurd, like WA state K-12 needs even more money than $14 billion per year.\nBut, why shouldn't they, since no one ever votes education requests down?\nIt's a difficult dilemma, but Reykdal's \"up\" for the task! No?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not sure what survey the DA Assoc is referencing to support its self-serving claim that DAs \"are in touch with their communities\". Also not sure how they are defining \"communities\"; the county where they were elected? The Black community? The Latino community? Native Amercan community? Wealthy white Republicans? Recovering addict community? Communities of the formerly incarcerated and their families? Parole, Probation, Jail and Prison staff? Police and sheriffs? Disabled community? GLBT community? Communities of people who raise chickens? Collect rocks? Count birds? Local NRA chapters? Affiliated marijuana dispensaries? Water sports enthusiasts? Christian fundamentalists? Bridge and Scrabble playing community?\n\nHave only met one DA who represents any of the communities of which I'm a member. As a group they tend to be punitive and sanctimonious, routinely pursuing options which ravage lives rather than enable atonement, restore the community, or reflect true justice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One has to glean bits and pieces from various sources to get some semblance of the whole picture.\n\nHe, and probably she too, converted from fundamentalist Christianity to a fundamentalist form of Islam long before, and consider themselves \"pilgrims\" to Afghanistan. They wanted to do \"good works\" in Taliban-controlled territory, but like many converts who went to join ISIS because they didn't believe the bad things they heard about it, got into a very bad situation.\n\nInteresting how he does all the talking and she remains in the background in her headscarf with eyes modestly lowered...\n\nI feel sorry for the kids.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Evil forces are working to deprive Donald Trump, televangelist Franklin Graham\u2019s and the Republican Taliban\u2019s Savior, of the opportunity to crush the homosexual, climate change, and liberal tax and spend abominators and to transform America into the Christian theocratic paradise envisioned by Graham and the Taliban. \n\nIf Trump is to overcome these Satanic forces and bring the Republican Taliban\u2019s vision to fruition, he must act quickly. First, he must acknowledge that God intervened in the election and is responsible for his miraculous and unexpected victory. Second, Trump should honor God and thank Him for Trump\u2019s great political victory by making a human burnt offering sacrifice of his eldest daughter just like the human sacrifice Jephthah made of his only daughter in Judges 11:30-39. \n\nOnce these steps are taken, it\u2019ll be smooth sailing for the Trumpmeister. Just one caveat: remember God prefers all human burnt offering sacrifices, like his fried chicken, extra crispy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In 1976 (give or take), an Episcopal bishop irregularly ordained 11 women (who would always be known as \"The Philadelphia 11). It was the beginning of regular ordination for women in The EC Church. But, regardless of Episcopal women bishops (VERY few), Episcopal women priests have, for the most part, remained second-class citizens. They tend to be only associate rectors, interim rectors, priests-in-charge -- not full-fledged rectors of their own congregation; and it's not going to get better any time soon. //// Around 1998, I joined The EC for about three years. My parish had a woman asst. rector. I got the women of the parish together, and we 're-ordained' Ellen in the parish basement. We used a ritual out of Carter Heyward's \"Speaking of Christ\" book. (Heyward was one of The Phil 11, and it's a great book.) It was hardly official, of course -- Ellen didn't need another ordination -- but it made the women of the parish (over 80 attended and participated) feel SO good.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "62% of \"Catholics\" favored communion for divorced and remarried Catholics without annulments.\n38% opposed it.\nHow many of the 62% attend Mass every Sunday and financially support the Church???\nPerhaps, 1/3, IF THAT..\nTherefore, the Catholics who attend Mass every Sunday and support the Church financially do not support such a notion, and only their views count.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Didn't Jesus feed the 5000 before preaching to them?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Natural law is one thing. Its about sin. Dogma is about what we decided at Nicea, Chalcedon and Ephesus in the fourth century. Democratically by democratically chosen bishops. For a great history of the latter, read Christianity, the First 3000 Years by Dairmind MacCullocgh. Don't let the fact that he is an Episcopal priest scare you off.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Weeelllll, by the same token, we also recognize (because it is obvious) that the effort to link progressive Catholics to the Left was always more about politics than about religion, and that it was bound to alienate many churchgoers, distorting the faith.\n\nYou progressives surrender your stance on reproduction and end of life issues to appease the Left. \"Don't want us in your march on women's rights? OK\"\n\nYou also surrender the basic tenets of your religion to put all youR focus on a secular social gospel that tries not to offend anyone. \"We won't bore you with that church stuff, we are all about 'justice.\"\n\nPot meet Kettle meet MSW.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would be interested in your response to \"No Catholics need apply\" while you're waiting.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Singh's turban represents some sort of a religion. I said Jesus,God/man died for your sins on the cross to pay the price of them and will come into your heart and he will take your sins away and impute His righteousness to you for free. And you will know Him ! Call on the name of |Jesus and be forgiven. You will know. Start over and get eternal life.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus loves you! \ud83d\ude09", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "http://www.dailywire.com/news/8561/7-things-you-need-know-about-clinton-foundation-aaron-bandler\n\nhttp://dailycaller.com/2016/09/16/just-5-7-percent-of-clinton-foundation-budget-actually-went-to-charity/\n\nI guess that all depends on the source.\nMuch of the New Testament was written by close friends of Jesus. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John lived and traveled with him.They give first hand accounts of who he was, What he did and what he said. \nI fear we have gotten to the place where I am now casting pearls so I will say thanks for the conversation.\nHave a great rest of your day.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My friend who is questioning Catholicisim was very sadened by this and thinks she won't call herself a practicing Catholic anymore because she agrees with this. This really saddens me. There are the traditional priests in this diocese and those like my pastor, who I don't think would ever make a quick decision about a funeral. There are progressive Catholics who live here and somehow we survive.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Good Pope francis in his wisdom has sent us a new batch of cardinals appointed due to their ability as pastors rather than facility for sycophancy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You liberals always hark back to the bishops and child abuse. Hardly ever do we hear the abusing priests criticised in this forum, it is always the bishops. You know as well as I do that the bishops are subject to the Commandments and binding teaching of the Church just like everyone else. Like the rest of us, if they have done wrong they will account for it if not in this world then in the next. You don't appear to extend your 'shades of grey' theory to them.\nThis shades of grey theory supposes that the vast majority of us don't know what day it is. That life is fraught with so many problems that we cannot come to any rational decision as to what is right and what is wrong. Those of us who bother to examine our consciences and let's face it I doubt that many people even Christians do, atheists and agnostics certainly won't as they mainly subscribe to the animal instinct of self-preservation, need guidance as our intellects and wills are flawed through Original Sin.\nContinued .....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your comments are extremely uncharitable and inappropriate for a Catholic website.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am not so sure we are so far apart on this one Alexandra.....and I do think/hope that the Church can make some substantive changes....\n\nWhether it will do so, I don't know. And those changes will require giving up power.\n\nThe thing if it is this....time available for Church in this day and age has shrunk hugely....and so many other societal functions operate in that time vacuum. We count Catholics today as self defined 20% of the US pop...BUT of that group perhaps 20% (20 times 20) actually attend weekly for I suppose about an hour...\n\nI would argue that this minuscule crowd is not doing leadership stuff but simply attending a worship service...maybe reading scripture or distributing communion but I suspect that's about it.\n\nI am hard pressed to see major leadership emerge....rather functional worship seems to me to be the deal....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Church has never taught that, there are zero scientific studies which conclude that, and there are no Scriptural references which point to that.\nThe official Church is the One True Church and she welcomes ALL repentant sinners to healing and life.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And you act as though allowing ordination of married priests, instead of ordaining women priests, in turn creating Gender Apartheid would be no sin at all. \n\nChrist does not will that we use Holy Orders, as a weapon of hatred against our sisters, causing the further attack against their human dignity, in order to create greater access to Holy Eucharist. This is not Jesus' way but fallen man's design.\n\nIn fact, it could be argued, that ordination which intentionally creates or ignores this attack of hatred against fellow siblings in Christ, is not a Holy Ordination, at all. Therefore one should question, if they should participate in a Eucharist, unholy, due to the unavoidable evil and severely damaging results that this participation would support. \n\nGod warns us never to use what is righteous and sacred for evil purposes. Gender Segregation is as evil as racial segregation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This from the church which refuses to ordain women...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This brought tears to my eyes as I read and imagined Papa God tending to His children as if we each are the \"apple of His eye\" and we are indeed! Thanks Christian for painting this image for me although I have to admit I image Mama God too.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, Jesus did not sin. Jesus revealed the true meaning behind the commandment of Sabbath rest. Jesus didn't break the Sabbath regulation. Quite the contrary. He kept it. Jesus did not perform servile labor, he healed someone. \n\nThe pharisees knew full well that Jesus didn't break the Sabbath by healing someone. They were just looking for charges they could level at him.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do you have a list of non-Christian governments that act differently?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Delray........... you are probably correct. Nothing is going to happen. However, I have lived long enough to see things that I never imagined in my youth. Impossible things. Perhaps, there is someone out there just entering Catholic grade school who will live to see a female priest in the Church. .", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"Some on the right, such as canonist Ed Peters, complain that this last sentence makes no sense.\"\n- Poor Mr. Peters. \n- The plain meaning of the words is clear to all and those who are confused are the ones having difficulties because they still apprehend that what ArchbBenedictxvi, and the Vox Clara wrought has meaning and a long term place in the life of the Church.\n- To be sure, the benefit of the reform of the reform was to highlight the missteps of liturgical reform a la VII, and to underscore its many and great strengths. Indeed, it is good for the whole church to use and adapt with charity that which will help those who need time and assistance liturgically to be with the church. The caveat, which must be renewed for them, is that the whole church by allowing such charity is doing so that they will embrace the VII council and the whole church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Here's another good news bad news -- reset on Ms. Kimberly's article\n\nGOOD NEWS! \"Arrests by immigration agents this year are up by about a third, to 21,362 according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.\" \n\nBAD NEWS! they were not those gangsta, mean hombre's... they were folks with traffic violations, caught at home, or on their way to work! even grabbed up a few \"DACA\" Dreamers.\n\nReading this column... reminds me of Jim Jones..\n\"Born on May 13, 1931, in Crete (near Lynn), Indiana, Jim Jones was a notorious cult leader. As the self-proclaimed messiah of the Peoples Temple religious cult, Jones promised his followers utopia if they followed him. On November 18, 1978, in what became known as the Jonestown Massacre, Jones led more than 900 men, women and children to their deaths in a mass suicide via cyanide-laced punch (spawning the metaphor \"Don't Drink the Kool-Aid\").\"\n\nSeems lots of Christian folks that voted for Trump are sippin on Kool-Aid! looking for his utopia.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Here we are back to attempts to justify behaviour by asking the famous question, \"what would Jesus do or say?\" Invariably the answer is what the questioner would do or say whatever that may be.\nAgain because I have never been aware of any of the Three Persons speaking to me personally, I am sceptical about people who claim they speak to them.\nIt seems to me that the discernment process you propose is all about reasons to reject the teaching of the Magisterium. An informed conscience is one which informed by the teaching of the Church and not by the opinions of theologians and biblical scholars who have no charism or authority.\nAnnulment has been called the \"Catholic Divorce\" I grant you but it is only a conditional judgement not an absolute one. Only God knows whether a marriage is valid or not. Also, I agree that it has been abused throughout the ages but God will not be mocked.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Insurgent organizations need money to grow. Once they succeed in this objective, they attract leadership more interested in the cash than the truth of the cause although they always claim to be following their founding principles. Some earlier examples include the Catholic Church, the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Irish Republican Army.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We all know the cardinals go into conclave to elect a pope with the belief that the Holy Ghost guides them. If that is true and in agreement with fact the Spirit has a lot to be responsible for with the selection of past popes. It is a dodge to think that, dismissing individual and collective responsibility for the result. Perhaps there is similar truth in what Geraldine Jones has to say.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Interesting - scripture (Paul) says that we, the Church, are the temple of God, the living stones ...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Two considerations: Over hundreds of years the Church has changed, enlarged, or suppressed many doctrines. You know some of the examples - slavery, usury, modernism, democracy, etc. Perhaps more importantly, the Church is the entire People of God, it is not the hierarchy, a group that makes up less than 1% of the members. NCR expresses the views of the overwhelming majority of the People of God. Lastly, God helps all souls and desires that not one of them should be lost.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We talk about \"the poor\" a lot in Catholicism, so, I don't think we can exclude economics as a factor in our decision-making.\n\nI think the intentional sacrificing of one's life is suicide with a purpose. Jesus acted with the knowledge that what he was doing was going to lead to his death. There were no two ways involved. If he thought that he might not be killed, then I might reconsider my proposition.\n\nMind you, I'm not taking a position here, I'm just trying to provoke some out-of-the-box thinking.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": ">>>>>As a result, the GC president ignores the input of Church many members at large, Conferences, and Unions, especially those in North America, Europe, and Australia. This is totally unacceptable, for a leader to assume he has the power to pontificate, and detail exactly what is a SDA member. A mortal man, who assumes\nthe role of the Christ. It will not work. It will not stand. This presents a serious problem for the current president. He is not able to confess he was wrong, which he is, and he can't continue to rule over the Body of Seventh Day Adventists. He must either resign or be recalled. Kingly Power does not rest in one who assumes a power he has not been given. The Unions should continue their Holy Spirit callings, and\nrecall this President of the SDA Church business branch. The independent Unions,\nin cooperation, are fully able to manage the Churches business. The whole General Conference should be recalled and considered null and void.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am glad that your father's funeral mass brought you comfort and consolation. But your concern about the \"nones\" may be misplaced. As one who was an active Catholic for almost 60 years, I attended a number of funeral masses, for friends and family. I remember nothing about any of them other than that they were pretty much the same thing as we had all the time. I also remember two funeral masses that I thought were anything but consoling. The first was for a close friend, a young married woman of 32 who died of cancer. The priest's homily focused on her as \"sinner\", with an afterthought - that even though she was a sinner, she (probably anyway), was with God just as the Good Thief was. Was her family comforted by the focus on her as sinner instead of as a kind, loving young woman, a daughter, sister, friend and wife? Was her husband, a widower at 32, comforted by this, especially since he wasn't Catholic? My husband, a Protestant, was horrified by it. Comment 1", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Something was lacking in the Catholic backgrounds of these Italian converts that drew them to Mormonism, and they didn't go to Mormonism cause the Catholicism of their background wasn't NCR-like enough.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And the next pope can reverse all of these initiatives.\nPeople didn't believe that the Church could reverse itself after Vatican II, and it did under John Paul II and Benedict.\nThe same is possible in the future...under Pope Pius XIII.\nJust saying.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Anything earlier in the second trimester is equivalently rare and complicated with fetal survival issues, although I will concede the problem of Downs Children if he will concede that any regulation in this area will require intensive federal financial support of these families. As for first trimester embryos and fetuses, if he can devise a legal way that will not violate equal protection rules that treats fetuses who will miscarry differently than those aborted in terms of criminal investigation and tort relief, than he may have the chance of law beyond the status quo. I doubt he is that smart. No one is. Indeed, if the best that the Pro-life argument can do on Roe is to agree that the status quo is all it can get, then perhaps is is essential for all Catholics to denounce it for the fraud it has become, or at least not abet it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Maybe we might just learn about the different Catholic groups and what their particular charism or contribution to the Body of Christ can be.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What you just wrote there echoes what some Catholic acquaintances say bout the Jews, how they are \"tired of hearing\" about their complaints. When thousands of vulnerable adolescents die of suicide or bullying every year as a direct result of the teachings you defend so warmly, it is time to ask some questions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Certainly there are elements of the BNA act that are anachronistic. Many provinces have eliminated their separate school boards for example. However if you think \"everyone knows about & understands the anachronistic underpinnings\" then you'd better talk to some Catholics about giving up their separate school system. I think you'll quickly find that your definition of \"everyone\" isn't what you think it is.\n\nAs for a \"Canadian Secular state of governance\", well you'll need to provide some back up for that. Something from the Constitution, or Charter, or a Supreme Court ruling maybe.\n\nYou might want to look up the definition of \"proselytizing\" while you're at it because that's not what is happening here.\n\nThe irony of your last sentence is clearly lost on you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sacraments are signs and \"avenues\" for grace but not the only \"avenues\". Jesus is not constrained by rite or ritual.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Elaine, in a sense you are correct. Religion is a human creation intrinsically sown with toxicity - sort of like family and all other human institutions. But what viable alternatives do you see? \n\nI have heard of people who felt great joy at giving up jewelry and wedding rings in order to join a community of faith that they believed to be God's church. You were able to walk away from the church when it became too toxic for you. What you consider an effort to erase conscience, others would call educating the conscience. \n\nThe church - unlike government - is a voluntary institution. When I joined, I gave up part of my identity - part of my autonomy. Why should I cry foul if the Church doesn't want to \"grow\" and \"mature\" as I have? What you call dictates of the GC, others call leadership. What Alicia calls control, others call voluntary submission to, and respect for, the boundaries of the community of faith as a condition of belonging. Why is freely chosen surrender toxic?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But what leads you to think him not sincere? Why must those we disagree with be portrayed as evil/deplorable/disreputable/hypocritical? Can't they just be wrong?\n\nBurke appears to be acting from principle, and to have done so at some sacrifice. Would it not seem obvious that he reveres the institution of the Papacy? That's a part of traditional Catholicism too. I imagine him to be in great distress over this.\n\nYou don't have to agree with him to see that possibility.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Anti-Catholic\"? I don't know. The article expresses some universally held beliefs, it seems to me.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They were speaking Portuguese then? Good to know. I'm guessing that the angel used the words \"Esp\u00edrito Santo\" instead of \"Fantasma,\" but that's pure conjecture on my part.\n\nMy original question still stands unanswered Ebes - why do traditionalist Catholics use the archaic \"Holy Ghost\" even though it is a very poor translation from the Latin?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Huh, if the Story of Sodom & Gomorrah was about what you say, it would have been the ideal story for the Bishop to have quoted. But he didn't. \n\nEzekiel 16 explains what Sodom's sin was in the context of talking about the lust, lewdness, and promiscuity of Jerusalem. All the Biblical scholars until recently, even naming the act after the city, were not worth their salt, I guess./sarc", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You think God incarnate acted arbitrarily or left this decision to chance? Jesus, according to scripture, spent the night in prayer before selecting His Apostles. You think He cast lots? \n\nDo you understand Divine Omniscience and Omnipotence?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hello Pandora 666 I answered your approval of married priests above thinking you were the normal Pandora who comments on these threads. It seems this is perhaps not the case? In which I still disagree with your comment supporting married priests before we ordain women priests as a matter of both human justice and Christian Justice but I was probably a bit more curt than I might have been had I realized you were not the Pandora that I have known from the past.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wonderful speech by the Pope, however, I find he missed a very important point: The role of women in the catholic church. There were 17 male cardinals in this ceremony - and even now, in the XXI Century, women are still rejected and not allowed to access one sacrament - whilst the main reason is something related to \"tradition\". The problem with the catholic church is that it has lost credibility for its condemnatory and contradictory issues. While it is now opening doors to ecumenism, it slams the doors to women, to divorced and re-married couples and to the gay community. The danger is that it is turning into a kind of club full of regulations. I think that when addressing important or contradictory issues, the way to solve them is by following the only commandment mentioned by Jesus: Love one another, which also means, integrate, accept, open the doors, open your arms.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is NO overwhelming public outcry against Roe or legalized abortin in general. Until or unless that happens Roe will remain the law of the land and supported by most women, including Catholic women.\n\nThe Catholic bishops and other fundamentalists consistently fail to persuade so they fall back on their time-recorded history of attempted coercion, all in the self-delusion of \"religious freedom\" if coursse.\n\nFie, fie.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's a moral issue that affects all of us and is not a private matter. The culture of death and the \"throwaway culture\" is penetrating Western nations and has to be opposed. As Catholics, we are all charged with defending the innocent and vulnerable.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It what way is he so far wrong? CARA reports 14 million foreign born Hispanics (surely a Church need). The USCCB received 91 million in FY 16 from the US taxpayer for immigrants/refugees; Catholic Charities received 202 million, and the ICMC received 17 million (http://remnantnewspaper.com/web/index.php/fetzen-fliegen/item/3405-money-trail-revisited). The very speed of Cardinal Dolan's response (not typical of his other responses to Church issues especially in New York - \"father\" Miqueli?) is indicative of the perceived threat to what matters most $$$$", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That you mention \"luther's bible\" says it all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well here we are at number 8 where you seem to lose patience.\nIf I may summarise, you would be laying before the couple every possible reason whereby they could reject the ancient, consistent and current teaching of the Church.\nMy interpretation of Primacy of Conscience was taught to me in a Thomistic University. Where you and I differ is over what constitutes an 'informed conscience'.\nPriests have consciences as well. Some are quite relaxed in conscience over permitting the divorced and remarried to receive the Sacraments, others feel, bound in conscience for the sake of their own immortal souls to refuse. This state of affairs reduces the Catholic Church to the level of a Protestant denomination. In my opinion the Pope has a duty to resolve this one way or another.\nAnyway, thank you for your considerable input on this issue. We have both made our positions clear and it is unlikely that we are ever going to agree.\nGod bless.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Don 'modern humans' date back one hundred thousand years or more. Church claims for sacraments were instituted two thousand years ago. If the sacraments and the mass are indeed necessary as you seem to claim along with the church, what about the other 98 percent of the time there were humans and no sacraments available. It seems that we constantly need to deal with made up stuff; beliefs, void of facts, accepted as truths. Gospels are presented as the 'Word of God'...God never wrote a book, and we have no writings from Jesus. Oral Tradition is hearsay...Faith is an unquestioning belief lacking the support of evidence or proof. Truth does matter, or at least it ought to...and should be constantly sought after. Time to recognize the Gospel as total human construct.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My faith gives me the responsibility to call out heretical statements. It appears the most educated on this site are the most lost. Do you also question the existence of Jesus?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why so sad, Marty? Jesus, God, did speak Aramaic. You doubt this?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The very language that you use, is enough to ring the alarm bells. \nI must have gone over 50 years as a practising Catholic before hearing the word 'confected' used in this context.\nFor me, confectioners make chocolate bars and sweets.\nSo No, I can't think of the priest as a confectioner.\nEither you are using the language of a long dead past, or you're using a faux language invented in the last 30 years, I'm not sure which, and I don't really want or need to know.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think Catholics should have difficulty with science, and vice-versa. When I hear people say that the two are complementary, I wonder how much they understand about either.\nLet's begin with the obvious: science directly contradicts so many of the fundamentals of just about every religion, the premises of both cannot be true. A 14-billion-year-old universe that contains billions of galaxies, each of them containing billions of stars and planets, seems unlikely to be the project of a God uniquely concerned with beings who inhabit one tiny planet inhabiting a dying star in one corner of one galaxy, or to be redeemed by the life and death of a man who lived only a few short years ago.\nNeither is it easy to understand how folks claim science is compatible with evolutionary faith, when evolution, properly understood, points not to some mythical Christogenesis, but to extinction as the fate of all planets and species. \nI cannot imagine how extinction is compatible with Christian faith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Canon law cannot and does not require a Catholic Christian not to vote for a candidate who \"actively promotes abortion\" or the right to choose. An individual bishop, or even an entire episcopal conference, or even the Holy See, has NO power to institute such a law. Catholics who so wish may indeed vote for Hillary. Roe v. Wade is good law, and Hillary will see to it that the justices she may appoint will keep it on the books!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christian News Network, Christian Today, World Religious New\nLooks like articles ran on front pages", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "they said the same stuff about jfk being a roman catholic, there is nothing that suggests religion would affect policy in pence. save the bias drivel for the alt left crowd.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sometimes we just have to pick sides. Leaving aside J. Trudeau's bizarrely naive assertion that Canada is a \"post-national\" state with \"no mainstream,\" we're assuredly a Western society that for better or worse derives its values from European institutions, traditions and experiences. Our heritage, while nominally Christian, derives its modern values from the Reformation and the Enlightenment. It's these values that have made this (and other Western countries for that matter) among the most open and tolerant in the world. We question the role of religion (as we must!) and promote the autonomy and dignity of the individual over the imperatives of the collective. We have to reinforce these values and stand aside others who do as well, even if that includes the sometimes dreaded Americans. Otherwise, we'll stand for nothing and our pretensions of influence will be rendered risible.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is the prosperity gospel Catholic style.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Perhaps we should ask McElroy what he thinks about applying Burke's beloved Canon 915 to Catholic politicians working for Trump.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus expected charity to come from the PRIVATE SECTOR.\n\nGovernment programs collect taxes at the point of a gun.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"But the Church's job is to form the lay to then live, vote, work according to the will of God.\"\n\nYou may be seeing this from the perspective of one who believes the wall should be built. I'm not. Although I do believe the wall should be built, I wouldn't criticize the Archbishop for being vocally against it, even to the point of calling those who cooperate with Trump \"traitors\" --- IF they were indeed traitors. The answer to that depends on whether the Mexican workers were acting strongly contrary to Mexico's best interests. By helping build the wall, the workers keep from leaving those Mexicans and others that Mexico wants to get rid of.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jack, The good Samaritan helped a man without charge. I would hope we all would do that. But in the Medical Industry they charge for every little item, including band-aids, aspirin and \"donated\" blood. And they don't just charge a little for every little thing either. I don't love money, but life is nearly impossible without it.\n\n\nJesus was not a sinner. He would not have used illegal drugs. Drug addicts are sinners and need to repent. We all do. They need to ask for forgiveness for their sins and take advantage of \"helping hands\" in society and stop their selfish indulgence in a pursuit of insane pleasures at the expense of their own health and other people's right to happiness. Many resort to crime to feed their habits.\n\n\n\"Haughty\" is what the Pharisees were. They pretended to be \"humble\" calling Jesus \"Teacher\" and asking Him questions in hopes of tripping Him up. He knew that and read their hearts, asking them why they kept trying to trap Him.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm not arguing that everybody needs to accept the notion of the seamless garment, or that everybody needs to agree on what constitutes a legitimate pro-life issue. I just reject the argument that being a good Catholic by definition means voting a certain way. That path is not true to the Tradition and it has led to disaster and dysfunction.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"They are slowly losing their faith, without consciously being aware of the loss. I should know because I was one of them.\"\n\nAre you saying a \"loss of faith\" is what brought you to the precipice of \"traditional\" Catholicism? I guess that makes sense in terms of following a natural progression. In contrast to this, I can attest that my faith has grown immensely since adopting a more balanced, progressive understanding of all things ecclesial.\n\nOf course, we all hope for eternal salvation. Jesus teaches that we must love Him and our neighbor first and foremost. A fetish for following the rigid rules of Rome will not achieve this, as a self-serving \"keeping of the rules\" becomes our main focus without regard to the human person.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I basically agree with you, although I would question both the \"good man\" and the \"Catholic\". His bill was largely a tax cut for those earning six figures or more, paid for by gutting Medicaid. Now, while this Reverse Robin Hood maneuver of robbing the poor to give to the rich may meet your standards of goodness and Catholic doctrine; most good, Catholic people would (or at least should) have problems with it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Gotta say...in reading the column and the remarks - \n\nEveryone is concerned about what the \"converts\" say, believe, criticize - for whatever reason.\n\nBut everyone turns a blind eye to the myriad of complaints and criticisms of posters here who are not Catholic at all! Apparently, that's all acceptable. Probably because typically it is Catholic-bashing?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Raven'sRules\n\nDo you think Jesus meant by \"It is accomplished\", that all those 'jots and titles' of The Law could now be eliminated??\n\nThat does seem to have been the effect of it, I grant, according to Paul and Peter's revelation in Acts.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes. Even Pope Francis and the Cardinals will face the judgement seat of Christ. We would all do well to reflect on the Four Last Things in our lives.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, but most of them I have never heard of, how many of them are Catholic?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Youre right; there is a HUGE cost differential between even a modest funeral/burial and cremation. One might wonder how diocesan ownership of Catholic cemeteries might factor in here.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "FC\nYou say....\"a priest is a lay person who has received the Sacrament of Holy Orders. \"... except that the custom we have developed is that \"lay\"people are not allowed to 'receive holy orders' and be 'ordained' -- only Clerics. At present 'lay' people are not ordained or allowed to receive Holy Orders.\nThe distinction is not between 'lay' and 'ordained' -- it is between 'lay' and 'cleric'.\n\nThe Vatican Council documents make it clear that the Bishop is 'The Priest' of the Diocese. Since he cannot be everywhere and do everything, he 'extends his presence' and functions through 'ordination' of person with the power and assignment to 'extend his presence' and perform his ministerial functions of preaching and teaching and presiding at Eucharist, Consecrating, administering Sacraments, Administration, etc.\n\nDividing Christians into classes of professional 'cleric' and common 'lay' - non-clerics - came rather late. Until then everyone was 'lay' \u2013 that's all there was.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I've always appreciated your voice Randy, and you raise an interesting point here. I'd offer a different perspective.\nAs a once-upon-a-time Catholic, I can appreciate the appeal of that ancient and often beautiful liturgy. And the idea of an individual standing up against aspects of that doctrine (birth control, homosexuality), while many do, is basically folly. And the alternatives to the history and magnitude of that religious 'grandeur' are minimal.\nWhat we're talking about here--as I understand it--is a small, community church, where there are numerous alternatives; and where it is one important voice in hundreds, not one insignificant voice in hundreds of million. To me that makes an important difference.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I subscribe to history being the moment of truth. In modernity, the previous president of the US used an expression of being on the wrong or right side of history. To be on the wrong or the right side of a reality, one needs to reshape the perception of the reality, but by doing so the perception becomes the lie. The Sermon on the Mount may be a lie for you shaped by the gospel authors, but you can\u2019t prove that it is \u2013 you can only assert it. My money is on the printed edition concurrent with the event period derived from the oral tradition, not on some modern academic backslapping scholarly consensus promoted as widely accepted. Academics would have us believe the gospels were bold enough to make stuff up because God wasn\u2019t believable enough all by himself. Can you just imagine someone asserting that a biblical author was an embellisher? I must wonder if those biblical scholars are the ones who washed out from political science. \n\nThe Archbold citation was to confirm your perspective.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The world's largest Muslim country (Indonesia), by population, has Muslim, Hindu, Christian and Buddhist festivals as public holidays.\n-------\nbecause of demographics\nlarge populations of Hindu, Christian and Buddhist\n\nBali is mostly Hindu\nChinese (Buddhists and Christians) control the economy", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I thank you for your honesty. However I have posted further reasons why I disagree with you without malice.\nPars secunda:\nSch\u00f6nborn has no official status in the Catholic Church apart from being Archbishop of Vienna. Why should his interpretation of AL be the correct one? He is after all just one bishop?\nPope Francis is no slouch in taking the bull by the horns in slapping down those who don't agree with him, Cardinals Ca\u00f1izares, Burke, M\u00fcller, Sarah and many others know this to their cost. Why then is he being so coy about AL? The answer is, were he to come out formally, publicly in favour of \u2018Communion for those living in adulterous unions, he would split the Church and jeopardise his position as Vicar of Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1) the right to life is a seamless garment from conception to natural death but good is a right to be born if immediately after you can be starved, have no health care, lousy schools, beaten and shot to death (should say but what good).once you are born no one cares about you? Really Christ-like?!?! 2)Follow what the bishops say.......how about follow Jesus, who chose sinners and broke the laws because He loved us and showed mercy. Follow Jesus each and every time...sometimes the bishops don't !", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not afraid to continue with opposing comments to this ultra left wing progressive site. Christ will come Himself soon, He will be your opposition. This is my last comment!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think your objection is one shared across the theological board - at least up to the early Twentieth Century, which is my read of the article. To me, the knowledge of Jesus is like the question of His two Wills - it's interesting to consider over a beer but won't affect my faith, either way. I'm content to have some things remain a mystery.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If it were \"merciful\" to condone sin, Jesus would not have told the woman caught in adultery, \"Neither do I condemn you. Go, and SIN NO MORE.\" (John 8:11)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What about the Canadian governments attempt at genocide when it comes to residential schools. Imagine you are a child of six being torn from your family and then put into one of these schools. How frightened would you be? The pot calling the kettle black. By the way, the Falun Gong is a cult. Li Hongzh is a charlatan who has hijacked traditional Chinese qigong and taiqichuan marshal art practices and usurped Buddhist, Scientology and Christian teachings into a mishmash of half truths. Half truths are incredibly dangerous. And so is the Falun Gong.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "He has not \"split the Church.\" That burden falls to the tandem reactionary reigns of JPII and BXVI.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A Bishop who is actually Catholic, who would have thought? You will never reach people with the gospel by condoning living in mortal sin plain and simple.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "SAD - this writer does not understand the history of catechisms in the Church nor the problematic way that this specific catechism was developed.\nCatechism work best when they developed and used by national conferences. Second, they need to be updated frequently - reality is that by the time a catechism goes to print, it is already out of date.\nThird - catechisms are not the core of our faith journey - they are not a replacement for God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Was this gender gap among white Catholics present in the last presidential elections? It's hard to know if 38% of white Catholic women supporting Trump is meaningful without this information.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Their intent is admirable and reflective of some of the good to be found in any institution. Unfortunately, this christian institution was founded on mythology and pieced together from the other religions known in the Middle East/Asia by a Pope 300 years after the supposed birth of its namesake. Combining the new religion with the existing, one god religion of Judaism to eliminate the multiple gods of Roman/Greek religion to simulate the Roman Emperor, one man rule. All performed at the behest of a Roman Emperor to aid in quelling uprisings within the empire. The U.S. was formed by deists rejecting christian religion ruling Europe at the time. Humanity has suffered from the religious dictatorship wielded by tyrants since the establishment of collective societies. Christian, Islam, Judaism, et. all. their purpose is to for small groups to control the larger groups for the small group dominance. All of the good works could be done without religion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If I may just add, in some studies as many as 90% of the sexual attacks on minors by priests have been homosexual attacks on sexually mature but legally underage boys.\n\nThis phenomenon is properly called \"ephebophilia\" rather than pedophilia - an even more vile form of attack that has been rare among Catholic clergy.\n\nEphebophilia is fairly common in the gay male world and many gay males can tell stories about their first sexual encounter as a pubescent boy with an adult homosexual male.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The rank and file of the ordained are not truly free as long as bishops operate from the stance of \"we know it all / blind obedience is supreme / and let's pretend we're living two to five hundred years ago . Not to mention the exaltation of canon law above Jesus . \nThe veil in this temple has yet to be rent exposing what only seems to be most sacred . \nShould we try prayer and fasting ? \nVatican II was God's Plan A . B is Pope Francis . Maybe it's the laity that need to do more ?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, I agree with you on one thing:\n\nThe hospital decided to ditch the Catholic name and work outside the authority of the Church.\n\nIndeed a wise decision. If an institution that bears the name \"Catholic\" does not want to abide by the Catholic Faith, the best and most respectable thing it can do is ditch the Catholic name and be secular. \n\nYou see, in Catholicism, the ends do not justify the means. It is never appropriate to sin in order to bring about a good. Since the child would have died anyway, murder is justifiable? Is that what you expect me to believe? \n\nIf I were in the same situation, I would have instructed the ER staff to do everything they can to stabilize the women and her child. If that was not good enough, once stabilized I would have informed the women that we are going to have to transfer her to another hospital--as this one is not equipped to meet her particular need.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A lot of people really hated JFK, and you knew them by the way they parroted \"(Mayor Richard J.) Daly threw the election\". Why were the Kennedys so hated? Because they were Irish, Catholic, rich, well-educated, good-looking, and liberal as in FDR liberal. JFK is still idolized worldwide, and in Mexican homes you will often find his portrait hanging on the wall. But that family has certainly had its share of bad \"luck\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, the Bible is of extremely compelling interest because of its profound impact on the course of history and culture.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It boggles the mind to consider how a government would go about taxing the Catholic Church. They cannot tax one parish and not another. But if churches are going to function like a business and behave like anti-government activists then maybe the whole 501c needs to be reexamined.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Church is tottering on the brink of a schism and you don't consider that serious?\nWe have a Pope who has hardly a good word to say about anybody and that doesn't worry you?\nWe have bishops all over the world contradicting each other over the Exhortation Amoris Laetitia and it doesn't bother you?\nFor the third year running the Pope has before the whole world excoriated his Curia even to the extent of calling some of them 'malevolent' and you're ok with that?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We must love with the heart of Christ and when we fall short, it's because God wants an even closer union with Him and wants to help us.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If this be true....do we deny we are Catholic, if we (my home parish) does not allow the physical presence of a tabernacle in the parish sanctuary...Do we wish to deny alligance, respect, love for our Eucharist Lord.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Probably true William. Despite your other complimentary post I probably am asking too many speculative questions! For me personally, I admit Jaynes's theory is probably a bit much, although I suspect there might be truth in a less extreme version of his ideas. Talking about such speculation, I am reminded of our Christian fascinations with other questions perhaps without a clear biblical answer:\n\n1. The nature of God (Trinity, Tritheism, Modalism, Arianism).\n\n2. The nature of Christ's human and divine natures (water and oil or like mixed wine).\n\n3. The nature of salvation (penal substitution, moral influence, Christus Victor).\n\n4. The nature of faith and works.\n\n5. The nature of the afterlife (like how are bodies are corporeal yet spiritual).\n\n6. The role of women, gentiles, slaves, sex and marriage. \n\nIf we are honest, the Bible is vague on these ideas, yet they dominate Christian history.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The number of women serving as presidents of U.S. Catholic colleges has skyrocketed since 2000.\"\n\nSome of us are still waiting for a skyrocketing rise of women in leadership positions at the Vatican.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, that is a most valuable observation on Fr. Reese's part, that we are all \"cafeteria Catholics.\" And no doubt that has always been true, throughout church history.\n\nUnfortunately, there are those whose understanding of Catholicism, and of their identity as Catholics, can never comprehend the wise and true things that Fr. Reese is saying here about the value of parrh\u00easia, dissent, and \"modeling what it means to be a community,\" and not a collective of nervous conformists. For those others, it's all about being told clearly and with no uncertainty what we must do, and maintaining a small-minded view of \"Christ yesterday, today and forever the same,\" as in this article by an editor of First Things:\nhttps://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/30/opinion/sunday/catholics-nigeria-traditional-mass.html?_r=0", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So by your account Paul was off base in 1 Corinthians 11:27\u201329 and the Church is wrong when they say someone who is in a state of mortal sin cannot receive the Eucharist?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Using the term \"job description\" is the source of your error.\n\nOur vocations, married, religious, clerical are supernatural callings, not \"job descriptions\".\n\nCurrently the Church believes that priests, in the main - with carefully considered and worked out execptions...Anglican priests who convert, married already...etc. - should be \"totally available\" to serve God as priests.\n\nThis is a discipline, not a doctrine of the Church. Net: \"it's best for all that they be totally available and not be burdened with split responsibilities\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Unfortunately there are laws \"on the books\" to support this loathsome behavior... compassionate pastoral practice may be on the rise in the church universal but until \"official\" changes are made to doctrine, Taliban-like interpretations of this sort are likely to persist. The RCC will not see a dime of mine until they revisit some of their ill-conceived medieval legislation, I'd suggest all Catholic Christians do the same!!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What does \"especially present\" mean then?\n\nDo you not agree there is something qualitatively different, special about Our Lord's presence in the Holy Eucharist?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For Jules to say that he chose to join a bigoted church even though he doesn't agree with the values preached there is a lot like me saying that I attend KKK meetings...and I take my kids...and I tithe every month to support and grow the organization, but I'm not a racist! More importantly, if we take at face value his assertion that he does not support regressive church doctrines, we must conclude that Jules has no leadership ability. RandyLeonard is wrong that Jules' religious choice is just like that of Catholics. Does anyone remember that Catholics were not allowed to divorce several generations ago, and Catholic women bore enormous families? No more. American Catholics have dealt some major smackdowns to the Vatican through leadership in the church, which fiercely continues. What did Jules do? He meekly obtained permission from his Pastor to continue to listen to bigoted sermons even though he doesn't agree with them. If Jules can't stand up to his Pastor, who can he stand up to?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "LOL. So you think Cupich is going to excommunicate you. Cupich has been much nicer to the traditionalists than he should be. No one has been prevented from saying a Latin Mass in Chicago.\n\nAnd I highly doubt that Fr. Pfleger wishes to be a bishop nor do I think he has the temperament for it but I hope Cupich does that just for my own entertainment. The meltdown on the Catholic right would be epic and entertaining. It might even surpass the one after the Midterm Relatio of the 2014 Synod.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "From the article:\nThe cardinal also spoke about an address Francis gave to new bishops from around the world in September, when the pope told the prelates to see how God is already speaking to the people they have been tasked to lead, and to respect their experience of the faith.\n\nThis one bothers me, as we are SO far from being where Francis wants as to be laughable. ABC anyone?\n\nATF, I think this piece may fit well with what you are getting at. I too think it's time to rethink what the laity is, and can be. I'm sure there's no shortage of \"pay, pray and obey\" catholics, from all ends of the orthodoxy spectrum. The thing is, it can be easier when you really don't think, or dig, or \"own\" your faith. But there are many MANY who DO own their faith, and see it constantly growing, changing, evolving to something new (and hopefully stronger...) Such a faith journey usually requires integration with the rest of our life. And in that there is wisdom: the kind I think the church needs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In your own words Larry:\n\n\"Jesus has often been misappropriated for political causes, but one will be hard pressed to find sound scriptural or theological justification for doing that\"\n\nJust why did Kelly and his brethren decide to invoke the Christian prophet into the halls of Congress. Isn't it a big Constitutional NO NO to mix religion and politics, especially from the pulpit of the Senate/House floor?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I once read an evangelical Protestant comic from the US that said the Pope was Satan.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The reverence for the Catholic Church and priests in Mexico makes it even harder for victims to come forward.\nWith that kind of power unchecked, the abuse must be extremely high. When the floodgates begin to open, It will be huge. I hope it spreads quickly through Latin America.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "@Allan Ross \"Billionbibles.org? Seriously?Here's a hint. If you want to be taken credibly you should choose sources that are unbiased and neutral or have at least some credibility of their own.\"\n~ ` ~\nGot a problem with 'Billionbibles.org, Al?\nWell, how about that.. & of course, you would know how one should present reference material, wouldn't you.. given that obvious 'superior' & 'in-control, biased' perspective.\n\nHere's a hint for you, Al... before kicking up snarky-snide straw-man fallacy in order to minimize the current religious realities engulfing the Planet in flames in this 21st Century... perhaps you could, at the very least, speak to the issues presented by the G&W article at hand. Here's an icebreaker -- do your kids go to Public schools in Peel, Al?\n\nIf you believe dissing a 4-year web-discussion outlining basic comparative issues between the religions of Christianity & Islam is wrong -- then perhaps you could provide a point by point correction of same.\n\nSecular is best.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Even me? Wow, thank you for that kind sentiment. Would God falsely reveal to Mohammad that Jesus was not his son, but just a prophet, who was less important than Mohammad himself? I kind of doubt that, but I do believe a demon may have communicated such lies to him.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "God help us all!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This news comes too late to benefit a lot of Myers' victims, who have exited the Catholic church or are no longer active, in not just one but two American dioceses now. This man should have been held responsible for his misdeeds. Any healing in Newark and Peoria, Myers' former diocese, will be relative to this reality.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Despite a wealth of testimony, you're (ostensibly) oblivious to the experience of LGBTQ Catholics, which indeed suggests a lack of compassion and sensitivity on the part of the Church.\n\nBut it seems your main interest is to fume against \"homosexual activists.\" Now why would that be.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The historical Jesus and the Jesus of faith, i.e. built up from various portraits (themselves not consistent) in the NT, are most certainly not \"the same.\" By \"apocalyptic timetable\" in this context I don't refer to any anxious interpretation of the Book of Revelation, but rather to what seems from many of his reliable sayings to have been in Jesus' mind, viz. that the end times would begin soon after his death. He did not know when exactly, but did not expect a long delay.\n\nMost feminist theologians are not challenging the unity of the church at all. It's those who hold these people suspect and keep them at a distance, themselves not liking to be challenged, who perhaps violate that unity.\n\n\"Deep\" is that Jesus did not stay dead, but was experienced by a few disciples as having overcome death and established his unseen presence among them, e.g. \"Shallow\" is the exclusively Lucan, rather anxious timeline of an Ascension after 40 days and a Pentecost after 50 -- still very Large-T!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The ironic thing is that the law would protect Christians, too, if they were treated improperly at the hands of a business person. But they miss that point. The law also would protect a hetero from discrimination if he were refused service on the basis of his sexuality.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thanks for the information on Maduro refusing to allow any but government supporters from being in the constituent assembly. A real tragedy. But I will continue to say...that while Im no fan of Maduro or Cuban-communism in any form....I do remember that in the months before Allende's government fell to the dictator and thug Pinochet.....there were demonstrations...food shortages...riots..empty shelves.The situation similar to what we see in Venezuela. It was subsequently revealed that a good part of this activity was financed by the anti-Allende parties....the right wing of the military and society.....and Henry Kissinger and the CIA...all meant to show that Allende had no support...even though in the elections closest to the time of the Coup...the Allende coalition had increased its share of the vote in the last free local elections in Chile before the Coup. And wikpedia indicates that the Christian Democrats party platform was very similar to the Allende coalition.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Native Americans have rarely won last stands, and may not win this one. But their struggle at Standing Rock has made allies among people of many faiths, and should resonate with Catholics who are listening to this pope's social teaching.\"\n\nActually, George Armstrong Custer might disagree with that first sentence.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "St. Paul, who himself was a Pharasee---and devoted to the law, taught us that the LAW has no power to give life---\"you who want to be justified by the law have cut yourselves off from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.\" [Gal. 5:4-5].", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Show me an instance in the Gospel where Jesus forgave the unrepentant sinner.\"\n\nIf you look closely I'm sure you will find 70x7 instances.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Right, and (these \"white-boy misogynists right here and right now\") they're blowing up children, covering their women in burlap, enslaving their enemies, and hacking off heads willy-nilly? Do you really believe there is some equivalency to conservative Catholic views and ISIS? Its self-loathing like this that will be the end of our society. Hope a) you're not female, or b) have any female loved-ones when they come for you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is a sectarian view of the Church, something that is deeply opposed to Catholicity. But I am not going to argue it.\n\nI still wonder why you intervened in this discussion of \u201cHow do you know this is a \u201ccall\u201d from God?\u201d asked of a member of an Anglican Church. You wouldn\u2019t ask that question, ok. But why comment on it? And in such a dismissive way? As if asking the question is bad? Your defective view of the Church comes off in a harsh manner, and for no reason as far as I can see.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Paprocki is an orthodox Catholic bishop.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus did not write the Bible.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I read the opinion article with great interest, as I share the author's life experience growing up in a Berlin suburb since 1929. In my childhood I had to show two different faces , my normal one within the family, my neutralized one to the outside world, every day I was warned never to mention anything of what I heard discussed at home, because terrible things would then happen to the family. On my way to school in the morning of November 10th 1938 I had to pass the burning synagogue wondering why no fire engine was there, instead SA Brownshirts were throwing stuff in there to make it burn better. We were three girls passing , shocked to our bones and started running. At the Catholic school our teacher had always reminded us on Saturdays to be quiet and respectful when passing this \"Jewish Church\" where people worshiped on Saturdays.\n I could add many more experiences up to the end of World War II, that made our life hell and costing my father his liberty and life.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What bothers me is not that they disagreed or even questioned Pope Francis. It bothers me that they went public to force his hand and even had the arrogance to suggest they might make a \"papal correction.\" These four men swore an oath of fealty and obedience to the pope, is this how they manifest that oath? The irony is that they are the Traditionalists who have morphed into what they loved to call \"Cafeteria Catholics.\" They're now picking and choosing what to believe in. I hope they seriously consider, and pray over, resignation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So you are saying the times and culture influenced Jesus, rather than Jesus putting His mark on the times and culture.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are constructing God in your own image and rejecting what the Catholic Church taught you about God. As I have said previously after scanning through some of your blogs, you are making up your own religion. It would be interesting to know how many disciples you have.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Comprehensive article on the topic. I completely agree as to the short-sightedness of Trump's decision. But as a Catholic myself, I couldn't help but notice that all of the commentators in the article are men. This is as much reflective of the Catholic church as it's official opinion on climate change.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How can a priest have the powers attributed to him, e.g., to administer the sacraments, if Apostolic Succession is a \"weird\" \"magical power chain\" How can you even be Catholic and believe as you do about Apostolic Succession?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Greetings.....it's good news to hear that some laity will be welcome at the discussion table! However IMHO.....married and single everyday Catholics should have been included in an advisory capacity as well. The+ Holy Spirit+showers his wisdom not only on the learned and clerical! Blessings to all on the feastday of St. Francis of Assisi.....the peacemaker\ud83d\udc92", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The other Holy Grail of the GOP Evangelical-Catholic Alliance is outrage over gay marriage. Currently attention is focused on allowing merchants to ignore the Civil Rights Act for religious reasons and there is already a case on the docket. Of course, if the part of the Act which prohibits discrimination in customers is overturned than the Pro-Life movement will have to quit talking about Plessy v. Ferguson on abortion, since Plessy would be restored if cake bakers got a break.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Loren, I wonder if you're being a bit melodramatic in suggesting that our non-combatancy stance is firmly rooted in scripture. And what a fundamentalistic false choice! - patriotism vs God's Word. \n\nThe social justice gospel depends upon coercion, by gunpoint if necessary. Do you just want non-Adventists to do the dirty work of enforcing justice? While Jesus eschewed the use of force to advance the Kingdom while He was on earth, He also seems to foresee a time when He will be gone, and His followers will need to use force to defend themselves. He tells Pilate, \"If my Kingdom was of this world, my servants would fight.\" Could He be suggesting that in the kingdoms of the world, where we must render to Caesar, combatancy may be a necessary evil?\n\nIt strikes me that those who find no Biblical support for a doctrine of male headship or creation literalism should be careful about reading their own biases into scripture. If our SDA uniqueness depends on our doctrines, we're in big trouble.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Don't you worry, RD. When Shepherds-in-Chief Burke and Chaput separate the sheep from the goats, Francis will get what is coming to him. Of course, Jesus might decide to do the separating himself. But it is more likely he will defer to Shepherds-in-Chief Burke and Chaput, who know a lot more about these things than He does.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"When the shepherd becomes a wolf, the first duty of the flock is to defend itself. Treachery like that of Nestorius is rare in the church, but it may happen that some pastors keep silence for one reason or another in circumstances when religion itself is at stake.\"\n\n\"St. Cyril had to have the honesty and courage to combat a falsehood even if it was being propagated by a fellow bishop supported by other bishops and tolerated in silence by still others. Thanks be to God for his honesty and courage, which were the instrument of the transmission of the true and saving faith to us.\"\n\n\"Let us pray today for our shepherds, the Holy Father and bishops, that they may have the wisdom and courage to defend the faith at all times so that the flock may remain one with Christ and thus obtaining eternal salvation.\"\n\nAmen.\n\nThose who have ears to hear .....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As I always say, if the protestants are doing something that's successful, then why not try to learn from it and perhaps copy what they are doing to capture the interest of different people? Let their be some diversity. Latin masses, young people's masses, charismatic masses.\n\nToo many Catholic churches have all the charm of a hospital waiting room.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Guess I was wrong. The RCC officially believes that Anglican and Episcopal Holy Orders are invalid. I remember being taught, from 8th grade on, that they were valid. And the argument given (which still makes sense to me) was: The bishops who ordained the first Anglican priests could validly convey Holy Orders upon the person they were ordaining, because they had that power (from God) to do so. Oh god, I'm glad I'm not Catholic anymore. The RCC's clergy down through the centuries has been mostly male from Day One, and men (usually) have a big issues with power, control, and complicating whatever they can. http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/ecumenical-and-interreligious/ecumenical/anglican/anglican-orders-in-catholic-church.cfm", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, you did not give me a quotation.\n\nNotice the distinction between \"a personal human life\" and \"a life is begun\"?\n\nOf course not.\n\nHis statement does not say that \"a fertilized ovum is ... a human being\", but that it is part of the continuum of life from conception to death, which is what the Catholic teaching relies on.\n\nAs I pointed out earlier in that same section he specifically eschews any theory of ensoulment to make his meaning clear.\n\nThis failure to read in context is precisely what led you to the erroneous conclusion that he teaches that the death penalty is per se immoral.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No repentance was required because sinning requires an act of the will contrary to God's law.\n\nThe folks who accepted Jesus as the Messiah were not among the crowd calling for his death or nailing Him to the Cross.\n\nNow, had He said \"Father, forgive everyone who sins whether they are penitent or not.\" .....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you object to Jesus' commands to his followers, you are free, like the disciples mentioned in the Gospel of John, to cease following the Christ. If you object to clerics using airlines to cross continents, you're simply being obstreperous to avoid coming to terms with the issues here. Perhaps you can remove the log in your own eye by selling your computer and giving the money to the poor, and then you will see clearly to remove the spec from your neighbour's eye.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Der Fuhrer Dictates, The Republican Fascist Celebrate, The Democrats Capitulate, The Nation submits. Just like 1930s Deutschland following the script outlined by the original Fuhrer. The most amoral, immoral entity to ever occupy any U.S. Federal Elected Office catering to the Christian Pedophiles, Televangelist Dictators, Domestic Violators, Child Beaters and Rapist. A tyrant flailing away with a pen to deny freedom and democracy not only to the potential immigrants, but to the entire nation's populace. The daily destruction of all human and civil rights contained within the U.S. Constitution to be replaced by a Fascist, Theocratic Dictatorship. The Beacon of Democracy is imploding by the single hand of a maniac aided and abetted by Republican Traitors and the cowardice of the rest of the populace. How long will this tragedy be allowed to continue?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am neither disappointed, nor surprised at Pope FRancis. I am disappointed at progressive priests and lay Catholics who do not protest, using the ample doctricnal arguments in favor of women's ordination. It is high time we do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't think any real Progressive is holding his/her breath for Francis to implement the substantial reforms on the liberal agenda. What we ARE hoping for, and what we've seen modest progress on in Francis' reign, is a continuation of Vat II reforms that were so stymied and controverted during JPII's and BXVI's reigns. A part of those reforms were liturgical, based on refreshed theology and a return to understanding the mass as a communal meal where Jesus is present in Word, Bread and Wine, and the community itself -- not the sacrificial \"me and God\" ritual of the Latin mass. Although it imparted a stronger sense of the sacred and personal prayer, there was little in the Latin mass that embraced a communal spirit or a sense of celebratory meal in union with both God and one another. Unfortunately, too many dioceses neglected relevant education when liturgical changes were made, and we're still paying for that lazy rebellion 70+ years later, IMO.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is an obvious reason, but Globe censors have their phobic screens jacked up to eliminate comments about the obvious. \n\nIf Trudeau was pitching for the Catholic vote, he might downplay his view on abortion or birth control. Instead, he's pitching a particular voting bloc with a low tolerance for LBGT life.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Experts are not needed to explain away Paul's reason for not placing women in authority over men. Paul is quite explicit - it is right there in the text I quoted. Proof-text indeed! What is there to whisper about when we can all read it in black and white?\n\nAs to the NT pattern, we use our collective imagination and imitate that primitive church even as it tried to imitate Christ. We imitate the catholic church, even as it imitates Christ. We have to imitate something: what do you propose we imitate? The current popular ideology of equality? It isn't biblical. The scripture is the authority of God in the Seventh-day Adventist church. Not voting.\n\nI care not how the votes are counted. I will always oppose WO until I am persuaded from the scripture that God Himself ordains it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are few things that do more good for the soul of a Christian than people standing up to injustice. Thanks NCR for the beautiful photograph that leads this column. With Steve Bannon fired there is one less alt-right leader in the White House. Unfortunately, another one still has the power to do the hiring.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pandora17: good comment. Don't be intimidated by anti-Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Surprising development, a source from the Denver Diocese reported today that Scott Ostrem was involved in a possible sexual harassment case involving young Latino boys from a catholic school in Westminster He was busted by a boys dad and nearly got beaten up so the parish asked him to leave.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How dare Burke publish a book affirming what Christ and His Church taught on divorce and remarriage for 2,000 years!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's quite clear, Purgatrix, that while you are correct that Jesus is not recorded in the Gospels on the matter of homosexuality (the term was centuries away from even being conceived), and the other matters you mention, you clearly leave out what Jesus is clearly noted as saying in all four Gospels, about all are God's children, about Charity being the greatest commandment, and so on. LGBT people existed at the time of Jesus, and for all centuries before and since, as did slavery and rape, and if you look and read the four Gospels without your own agenda, you will see, perhaps, that what Our Lord DID, in fact, teach us about love of neighbor, does very much compel us to find a higher morality in what the Church's teachings have been. Science is part of God's Creation, given us to better understand that Creation. Those who do not therefore further an ignorance that is to our own peril.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Amen, JoeZ, amen! And I bet your daughter never saw a bishop at any of her training sessions for support groups for refugee families. \n\nNo, but she saw there working the sessions a number of good Catholic lay people--and possibly a Sister, Brother or a priest there. But no bishop. Few would every dirty their hands to do such work [which is taught and modeled for us by Jesus in the Gospels].", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Totally appropriate wall hanging for a Bible camp don't you think?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I was religiously indoctrinated for 9 miserable years. My parents finally put me in Cherry Creek High, where I received an outstanding education, sans indoctrination. I won't bore you with the travails of students in Catholic schools. Took me many years, and a nervous break-down to loose myself of the hold that the church had on me. At that point, I was truly free, and born again.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We can agree on many issues my Friend, But the Diety of Christ is where we will part ways:\n\n\n\u201cFor in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form.\u201d Colossians 2:9 \n\n\u201cIn the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.\u201d John 1:1 \n\n\u201cI and the Father are one.\u201d 31 The Jews took up stones again to stone Him. 32 Jesus answered them, \u201cI showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?\u201d 33 The Jews answered Him, \u201cFor a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.\u201d John 10:30-33 \n\n\u201cJesus said to them, \u2018Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.'\u201d John 8:58 \n\n\u201cThomas answered and said to Him, \u201cMy Lord and my God!\u201d John 20:28 \n\n\u201cAnd the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.\u201d John 1:14", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yet women have been ordained as priests by Roman Catholic Bishops who understand that anatomy is no barrier to God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Then you don't recall Jesus calling the Scribes and Pharisees \"a brood of vipers\". Christ also handle public scandalous remarks in public. I didn't have to jump to any conclusion. Br. Robert spelled it out quite plainly. \"So many divorced and separated Catholics figured this out a long time ago. (That one could be in an adulterous 2nd marriage and receive communion.) A perfect example of when the people lead, the leaders finally follow.\" That is a statement of endorsement for an act that is apostasy. That is at odds with the vow one takes to accept the teaching of the Church. You sound more interested in silencing the truth than in helping Br. Robert see his error. By your own logic you would not be commenting if you follow Jesus. But then Augustine, St. Anthony of Padua, St. John Chrysostom and so many others would have let heresy prevail if they listened to you. Sorry for whatever pain has caused this kind of defensive and blind response from you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I BELIEVE IN CHRIST, FEEL SAD THAT YOU DONT ,EITHER WAY JESUS LOVES YOU", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of course, I agree. I used Carol Gilligan's model in my doctoral dissertation. I strongly recommend her book: In a Different Voice: Psychological Theory and Women's Development. Ken Wilber's work builds on her model. I would also recommend the amazing work of the Episcopal\u200b priest and mystic, Rev. Cynthia Bourgeault. Her book, The Wisdom of Jesus, is the best book that I have ever read", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "These Cardinals, these \"princes\" are attempting to re-set the bar of Constantine for the present day: is the foundation of our faith Baltimore or Christ. It may be, as the author proposes - about Eucharist. It is, I think more about four willing sacrificial \"princes\" representing - thinking that they lead - a cadre of willingness to trade in Jesus for institutional absolutism. \nThey hold and seek to engage the significant residue of selective traditionalists and wavering others to leverage a resolidification of clericalist control as a condition for access to Jesus. In this mentality \"mercy\" is a concession by institution and its privileged who are free to set, alter, conditions on the presumption of divine right.\nThey may be convinced in conscience of their rectitude - they have precedent in their predecessors, but their methods betray a mis-reading of the contemporary world where the Spirit is moving and a motive more of self-interest than benevolence or good will.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Unlesss a grain of wheat falls and dies....\"\n\n\"Pick up your cross, DAILY, ,and...\"\n\n\"always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus...\"\n\n\"since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Another theory states that more and more people near and far surrounding the Empire heard about its riches, and wanted a piece. Attila the Hungarian summoned up an army of one million troops and fighters by uniting hungry tribes to fight the Roman army at Catalaneum. The fight ended in a draw, but it weakened the Empire, so much so that it could not strike back -- there were no centres of enemy concentrations, the enemy was all spread out in seemingly infinite fields, few and far between, only to concentrate when THEY wanted to attack.\n\nAnother problem was the stagnant birth and growth rate by the free people, and the burgeoning population growth of the slaves. Slaves were encouraged to have children, whereas Romans were encouraged to have just two per couple. Then the Christian imperative \"go forth and multiply\" took over, and there was a sexual mayhem.\n\nLastly, Christianity put a moral end to slavery. End of economic system. More and more slaves were constantly freed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Unless it is too late, by which I mean the sheep get tired of always being hungry and seek out better pastures or just give up and die. Why are ex/Catholics the largest religious group in the USA and Europe? Because the are either not being fed or are being given trash to eat.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus taught that some souls go to eternal life, and some to eternal torment. Perhaps to those who exhibit final impenitence, God's love is experienced as a torment.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Speak truth,ATF; thank you!! I've made this point before and I'll make it again: The Roman Catholic Church will NEVER be able to put this baggage down,and now Pell,a CARDINAL??...WOW! \ud83d\ude15\ud83d\ude15\ud83d\ude15.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you, Thomas Gumbleton. Amid all the anger, confusion and chaos in our society since the election, it's good to be reminded that changing things begins with changing ourselves and that will have a rippling effect. Also, your message is a reminder that voting just on the basis of what's good for our wallet is not a hallmark of a follower of Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pilate asked, \u201cWhat have you done?\u201d Jesus answered, \u201cMy kingdom does not belong to this world\u201d\n\nCardinals have sway over \u201cprincipalities\u201d not kingdoms. Cardinal Pell\u2019s sphere, titled in Rome, extended over Australia. The Commonwealth of Australia is federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy that recognizes Elizabeth II at its apex as Queen of Australia. Australia recognizes cardinals not as princes but as citizens ordained and commissioned by the Catholic Church to minister to the spiritual life and needs of fellow citizens. Citizen Pell is subject to national laws. There have been enough credible charges made by fellow citizens to warrant a hearing.\n\nMay the Spirit of truth guide and strengthen Cardinal Pell so that he may sincerely say with Jesus, \u201c\u2026for this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.\u201d (Jn. 36,37)\n\nAnd may that same Spirit help us learn the answer to Pilate\u2019s question, \n\u201cWhat is truth?\u201d", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm not against division, Christ himself came to divide with a sword. Both PJP II and BXVI made Cardinals and appointed men who did not agree with them. P Francis only makes weak periphery appointments or those that subscribe to a 70s ideological vision of Catholicism. He also sidelines and eliminates any who disagrees with him. \nP JPII and PBXVI used their office to clarify, Francis obsfucates the truth. His division is ideological and not well thought-out.\nPlus BXVI did not silence 100s, there are only a handful that refused to correct errors in their works and even less that had to be suspended from teaching.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Has the right-wing attempt to co-opt Catholicism for the Republican Party been a bastardization of the faith?\"\n\nYes. The voices who tells us the Republican Party platform is part of the catechism are getting more aggressive than ever.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Says in Bible (Mathew I believe) \"do not pray in public where you can be seen but go to your room,close the door where none can see you\"..Pretty close to that anyway..TV and tent preachers nothin but money shisters", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Unless the pope is talking to 100% Catholics who adhere to 100% to the teachings and doctrines of their Church, we must presume that he is speaking as a universalist. Everyone is NOT going to be in heaven, and am pretty sure the pope knows that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We are headed back in the direction of mutual authoritarians fulfilling each other's agendas. I don't know about going all the way back to the middle ages. 1930's Germany and Italy are the better examples or Catholic leadership scratching the backs of political authoritarians. We all know how well that turned out.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"They don't want a Catholic cemetery there, they don't want a Jewish cemetery there, they don't want a Chinese cemetery there, and they don''t want a Muslim cemetery there. What's so hard to understand about that? \"\n\nWhat's so hard to understand is why you make that claim with no evidence one way or the other.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Something you fail to take into account. The powers that be had ZERO interest in keeping records of a \"False prophet\" of a Man claiming to be the son of God was not something Jewish leaders wanted around as it would have cost them their political power. Rome had no interest as it too would fall from Powerful Pagan leaders to that of Christian ones. So of course there are few if any records Then there are those lost to time or fires. So expecting a historic record from 2000 years ago to just pop up ain't happening.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It was necessary to believe, in the words of Berengar's recantation of 1079, that the bread and wine \"are substantially converted\" into the very body of Christ. That became the accepted way of describing the change: \"not in a phantasy, but substantially\"; \"earthly substances ... are changed into the essence of the Lord's body\"; the substance of bread is changed into the substance of the flesh of Christ.\" {Quotes from three 11th century theologians} The problem of the color, taste, and smell of the eucharistic elements remained to be dealt with; not only Ratramus, but his severe critic, Ratherius, referred to these qualities as the \"substance\" of the elements. Although the Aristotelian distinction of \"substance\" and \"accidents\" had been known to Erigena {John Scotus Erigena, died c. 850) and others, those who were quite ready to speak of \"substance\" in the Eucharist would still refer to \"outward appearances and certain other qualities\" or to \"properties,\" but not to \"accidents.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes I am American and from what I hear it is largely an American problem, although not exclusively--others here can speak to this better than I... from my perspective, what we are seeing here is a pope who is deeply committed to VII-style reforms. He understands that heavy-handed \"dominion\" theology is not \"the way of the cross,\" and clearly not the way forward for the church. Now by your own admission you were told that the NO mass is not RC, Catholic lite, cafeteria catholic, etc... this all comes from a very narrow, rigid perspective posited by ultraconservative RC traditionalists so, it would seem, your beef is with them and not with progressive-minded folk you see here. All living things must naturally grow/mature/evolve/adapt or risk becoming extinct, and the Church (people of God) is no different. Scripture doesn't change but our understanding certainly may, and the same is true with man-made church doctrine. If you value substance over form you should have no problem with this.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Clinton has done more for the living than many.\"\n\nAgreed. But being pro-life means having respect for life in the womb, and she has none. I can understand how non-Catholics don;t see early-term abortions as wrong. I myself see it as a terrible wrong, but I can understand that many non-Catholics don't ever get enough education in that sort of thing, and in ignorance, say \"It's just a glob of cells.\" I get that. But no one can rationally say that partial-birth abortion doesn't involve a human being as fully human as a new-born baby. And yet Clinton defends the so-called \"right\" to kill such a baby. You say abortion would remain legal in the United States with Trump were elected. But what would NOT be etched into Constitutional law -- as it will be with Clinton --- is that PARTIAL BIRTH abortion is a right. Why don't the deaths of so many babies cause you extraordinary alarm? What could be worse?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As an agnostic, I find the theological opinions of those who do believe, interesting, but irrelevant. The Old Testament with its violence, slavery and mandatory death sentences, not to ignore the big gambling game between God and Satan for poor Job, is not part of my belief system.\n\nNor is the New Testament, with its mandatory requirement to believe in Jesus or face eternal damnation--even if you have never even heard of Jesus in your life.\n\nI have never eaten Jesus' flesh, nor have I drunk his blood. I find cannibalism offensive, even as a ritual act. \n\nThe Mayans liked human flesh in their religious observances, too. I have no desire to emulate either them or the Christians. \n\n The same man who is too gutless to respond honestly regarding the adulteress has no problem with the violence of throwing people out of the Temple. ---- If you actually believe the stories which were told and embellished years, decades or centuries after they supposedly occurred.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Abortion was condemned by name, 24 July, 1895, in answer to the question whether when the mother is in immediate danger of death and there is no other means of saving her life, a physician can with a safe conscience cause abortion not by destroying the child in the womb (which was explicitly condemned in the former decree), but by giving it a chance to be born alive, though not being yet viable, it would soon expire. The answer was that he cannot. \"\n\nMarty I want to get you on record as agreeing to the above, which was taken from the catholic encyclopedia. To wit, that inducing labor before the fetus is viable, if necessary to save the mother, is never permissible. So we have a dead fetus, and a dead mother. Is that your position?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes Bishop Frank Dwayne is certainly a little arrogant, not a characteristic of Jesus. He is corporate America. It took me about 5 years to understand that God is the final judge. Leave it to Him.Could be wrong, but I think those who put themselves on a pedestal will end up in Heaven as our servants. Stop giving to his Faith appeal. Give to your youth organizations in your church. They are tax free of the diocese and tax deductible. I hope the priest is found not guilty. He was a loving kind of priest.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "NCR is part of the \"real\" Catholic world, and you don't know what I read.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Saint Pope John Paul II:\n\n\"Wherefore, in order that all doubt may be removed regarding a matter of great importance\u2026I declare that the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women and that this judgment is to be definitively held by all the Church's faithful.\"\n\nCongregation for the Doctrine of the Faith:\n\n\"This teaching requires definitive assent, since, founded on the written Word of God, and from the beginning constantly preserved and applied in the Tradition of the Church, it has been set forth infallibly by the ordinary and universal Magisterium (cf. Second Vatican Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium 25, 2). Thus, in the present circumstances, the Roman Pontiff, exercising his proper office of confirming the brethren (cf. Lk 22:32), has handed on this same teaching by a formal declaration, explicitly stating what is to be held always, everywhere, and by all, as belonging to the deposit of the faith.\"\n\nThe subject is closed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I do have a quibble, though. I don't think Jesus founded a religion. A new religion developed around the person of Jesus post-Easter.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Absolutely correct.\nNot limited to priests, however, but also to deacons. After ordination to the diaconate a deacon may not marry in either the Orthodox Church or the Eastern Catholic Churches. This tradition is continued in the Roman Rite where a widowed permanent deacon cannot remarry without a dispensation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Whether intended or not, this bishop is a textbook case with the growing problems in the church. I can't help but get the sense that if he's a shepherd, he's one who systematically goes through his flock, kicking out those sheep who have tangled hair, perhaps a broken horn, or maybe whose coloring is off a bit. This is such a far cry from the way Jesus used the analogy of a good shepherd, that perhaps it's time for the church to simply drop all of those Gospel passages about shepherds from the liturgical rotation cycle.\n\nYes, in an ideal world, we would all be ideal people. But in such an ideal world, there would have been no need for the incarnation. \n\nSo the way so many of these guys set up barriers in the form of checkboxes, litmus tests (etc.), I think the concept of Pharisee fits quite well..", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We are not called to 'submit' to the word of God; we are called to discern the movement of the Spirit through the Word of God, and through the Creation and through Life and our own life, and submit only to the God who is Compassionate, Merciful and hears the cry of the oppressed.\nWe need to use every means at our disposal, including our intelligence, to discern not only what earlier peoples understood, but to discern afresh what God may be saying to us today through the history of his people and especially as interpreted through the example of Christ. \nIt is a mistake to read the Bible \\literally' rather than as a dramatic re-telling of how the people writing it interpreted what they had experienced, and re-interpreted from that experience, the stories of their forebears. It is a cumulative learning. We would be foolish not to do the same.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We are not masters of our body.\n\nWe are stewards, as Our Lord reminds us in the Gospels.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is interesting to note that Blaine originally proposed the amendment to get support of Roman Catholics by removing controversy about schools. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blaine_Amendment\n To see who might be bigoted, substitute Muslim or Voodoo for the religion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Jesus was a Capricorn. He ate organic foods. He believed in love and peace and never wore no shoes. Reckon they'll just string him up if he came down again\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Some Niagara Tory party members, speaking anonymously, said they are concerned Oosterhoff\u2019s socially conservative views do not line up with those of PC leader Patrick Brown.\"\n\nBut of course Patrick Brown is a social conservative whose goals are being hidden from the public by an anxious, economically dependent media. He meets with the religious leaders of ANY ethnic community to explain why faith matters. \n\nFor the Dutch Reform and Christian Reform communities in Oosterhoff's riding, it's partly a statement of their determination that their Canadian community will not become another \"godless\" Amsterdam or Rotterdam.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It seems overly dramatic to suggest that conservative, orthodox Catholics are living in \"great fear\u201d during a time of a \u201creign of terror\" created by a dictatorial Pope Francis. This rhetoric sounds just a little bit hysterical when the Pope's public persona is that of a rather gentle, kind soul. The situation you suggest reminds me of the famous Monty Python comedy sketches where someone always remarked \u201cNO-BODY EXPECTS THE SPANISH INQUISITION!\" just as the torturers turned up. Of course this was pure fiction.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Adventist Church long ago rejected a literal understanding of the verse you quoted twice. Otherwise there would be no Ellen White who preached on many hundreds of Sabbaths in churches on three continents.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus was God. He was born among the chosen people, so He respectfully followed their laws- but as God He didn't and doesn't need religion, we do. Catholicism is the religion that comes out of Christ's fulfilling of the Old Law. And please don't tell me that Jesus wouldn't know what a church was. Again, He is God and Man now and when he walked the earth. St. Paul did not start a new religion or church. He just spread what Christ started.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is among the very best descriptions of the refugee journey I've come across. It is the accompaniment insights and understandings that helps communication to become communion. Encountering the Scalabrinians, and their model of accompaniment was where I first saw what became the icon for the Year of Mercy. Holding that icon of the Year of Mercy in my heart and reading of the work of the JRS is prayerful. JRS resonates with the Scalabrini's historic model of accompaniment that go back to the World Wars... it is Doing what you can do, while leaving others to do what they can do. Always searching out the one excluded, the one ignored, the one abandoned.\nThis truly is the Good Shepherd who isn't embarrassed to smell like the sheep, who brings the face of Jesus to those living the Beatitudes.\nPraise God for such love as this.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Niddah 44 b provides that \"A girl of the age of three years may be betrothed by intercourse\" while Sanhedrin 84b\n\nhttp://www.come-and-hear.com/sanhedrin/sanhedrin_84.html#PARTb\n\nis silent on abortion.\n\nBut, since we are not pre-Christian era Jews, let's examine this as though we were Catholics.\n\nSelf-defense involves an action directed toward an unjust aggressor so to render the aggressor unable to cause harm (see CCC 2265).\n\nSelf-defense also requires intending only stopping the aggression, not killing the aggressor.\n\nBut direct abortion is always directed at killing the fetus and the fetus does not meet the definition of an aggressor. The fetus is unable to will to be born, or will to cease causing harm, or in fact exercise any control at all.\n\nhttp://www.papalencyclicals.net/Pius11/P11CASTI.HTM\n\nparagraph 64", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Haiti has needed help for generations. That it needs help now is not new. But help will be next to useless without a massive multi-decade multi-generational infusion of leadership, money, infrastructure repair, ecological education, health maintenance, education, etc, etc, etc, ----- Haiti is a mess and has been for a long, long time.\n\nPerhaps the Vatican can fund the rebuilding of Haiti, an overwhelmingly Catholic populated nation. It would be corporal and spiritual acts of mercy acted out for the world to see. The RCC surely has the funds and, I suspect, access to the needed expertise. If the Vatican won't help an RCC population in dire need, then the Vatican need not exist.\n\nI am not in favor of benevolent dictatorships or church/state coalitions, but either or both might be Haiti's only way out of their decades-long, even centuries-long mess.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The US Supreme Court ruled 7-2 this year that\n\n \"(a) This Court has repeatedly confirmed that denying a generally available benefit solely on account of religious identity imposes a penalty on the free exercise of religion.\"\n\n\"(b) The Department\u2019s policy expressly discriminates against otherwise eligible recipients by disqualifying them from a public benefit solely because of their religious character.\"\n\n\"Here there is no question that Trinity Lutheran was denied a grant simply because of what it is\u2014a church.\"\n\n\" But the exclusion of Trinity Lutheran from a public benefit for which it is otherwise qualified, solely because it is a church, is odious to our Constitution all the same, and cannot stand.\"\n\nTRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH OF COLUMBIA, INC. v. COMER (2017)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It will be fascinating to see if any of today's Christian Nationalists will post on this particular forum. Far too often do these folks retreat to their unproven beliefs rather than the facts of history (and science).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Try posting a pro-life comment and how the Church has drifted away from it's once staunch position on abortion. It will get rejected.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Campaigning for particular papal candidates doesn't work. Don't forget the old saying, \"He who enters the conclave a pope comes out a cardinal.\" The Holy Spirit will prevail, regardless of what you or I might prefer.\n\nI've said this before, but it bears repeating. The new cardinals from the developing world don't think in terms of \"right\" or \"left\" like we in the west tend to. They're closer to the real needs of people and don't get caught up in peripheral, political things. I doubt any of us know what their presence will mean for future conclaves.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So, for 2,000 years the Church and for at least 3,500 years the rabbis were confused until some folks you read - really really smart folks who had happened to want to advance the LBGT agenda - figured out that \u201c\"To'aiva\"\u201d was really meant \u201cCanaanite\u201d.\n\nThis seems apropos since \u201cfalse news\u201d is the current editorial at NCR.\n\nGo to Strong\u2019s Concordance and look it up:\n\nhttp://biblehub.com/hebrew/8441.htm\n\nMary Douglas was an anthropologist, not a theologian or Hebrew scholar, who devised an anthropological theory involving interrelated concepts of \"group\" (how clearly defined an individual's social position is as inside or outside a bounded social group) and \"grid\" (how clearly defined an individual's social role is within networks of social privileges, claims and obligations) and laid the foundations of Cultural Theory. Note \u201ctheory\u201d, not \u201ccultural science\u201d.\n\nAnd, yes, an attempt was made to fit Old Testament theology into the procrustean bed of Cultural Theory.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Tax-exempt organizations would want the repeal of this amendment in order to gain political power with their donations and their lobbying influence.\nThe Catholic Church rightly intends to eschew this path.\nThus, the Catholic Church would be at a distinct disadvantage in influencing policy.\nThis is a possible consequence which did not appear to be addressed in this article.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think Nathan is peeling away something that shrouds the deepest mystery; why a sovereign, all-powerful, omniscient Creator, who is, \"good all the time\" permits/wills pain and suffering in the lives of His creatures. There is no answer. But there is Christ: The One righteous God, bearing in His own flesh suffering and a death on the cross. Redeeming His creation through suffering. Drinking in full measure all our pain with us.\n\nSo when we join Nathan in remembering \"God is Good - All the Time\" We should also rejoice that God is suffering with us and for us - \"all the time\" also. He has left us hope in the deepest darkness.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Church has recognizes the actual, as opposed to merely potential, humanity of fetuses from the time of conception. Because of this, the Church is \"right to life.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bill, the last sentence of your post confuses me. You write that (1) the Church has declared the Anaphora of Addai and Mari to be sacramentally valid; (2) the Anaphora \"does not literally recount the words of Christ at the Last Supper---i.e., the Words of Institution; (3) the Words of Institution are essential to effect transubstantiation. (1) (2) and (3) cannot all be true together.\nWhy? If the Words of Institution are essential to efffect a transubstantiation and the Anaphora of Addai and Mari don't contain them, then the Anaphora does not effect a transubstatiation. But if the Anaphora does not effect a transubstantiation, it cannot be sacramentally valid.\nI'm pretty sure, though, that the Church held that the Anaphora DID contain the Words of Institution. Although not in \"coherent\" form---\"coherent\" being used to mean \"all together in one place\" rather than the conventional \"understandable\". Logic problem solved?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This article gets the maximum possible WOW score. Some reasons follow:\n\n1) \"All of a sudden, I feel bipolar because it's such a switch.\" YES!\n\n2) \"Will the wealthy and the financially strong survive and everybody else fall?\" NO!\n\n3) \"Cupich has no illusions that the process won't anger some people, or perhaps even seriously injure his own standing in the archdiocese.\" WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH . . . .\n\n4) \"An immediate concern is that...many of the seminarians will become pastors soon after ordination with little practical experience of parish ministry.\" A RECIPE FOR DISASTER.\n\n5) \"Sometimes women \"felt maybe not as valued\" in parish life as men.\" CUPICH'S RESPONSE TO THIS WAS BRILLIANT - TALK TO THE FUTURE PRIESTS!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\u2018Amoris Laetitia\u2019 and the Constant Teaching and Practice of the Church\nBy CARDINAL RAYMOND BURKE\nhttp://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/amoris-laetitia-and-the-constant-teaching-and-practice-of-the-church\n\n\"But the Catholic Church, while insisting on the respect owed to the Petrine office as instituted by Our Lord himself, has never held that every utterance of the Successor of St. Peter should be received as part of her infallible magisterium.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bottom line:\n\nForeign Jews had the same right to Palestine as Irish Catholics and Mexican atheists, i.e., none whatsoever.\nTherein lies the root of the conflict.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The principle of the centrality of the human person, firmly stated by my beloved predecessor, Benedict XVI, obliges us to always prioritize personal safety over national security,\" The problem is too many Christians view their 'personal security' as paramount to anyone else's. I guess that's indicative of the fact there are now three whole comments on this thread.\n\nWhen the US refuses to consider the National Security implications in foreign aid and effective diplomacy, in order to see that the rest of the world begins to move out of poverty, the US deserves populations movements whose sole intent is to come up to the US and share in the wealth. White Americans are sadly deluded as to their global numbers vs control of global wealth. We either share the wealth or share the land. It really is that black and white....for a change.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Irony: The first presidential candidate to break the anti-Catholic barrier was John Kennedy, a democrat.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Congressional Republicans have often taken a wait-and-see attitude toward the dishonoring and destruction of their party. Now they can hardly deny that Trump's worst moments are his most authentic moments, or that his definition of loyalty requires defending the indefensible....A society's treatment of prisoners is a measure of its commitment to human dignity. Some of these men and women are guilty only of the wrong geography in trying to feed their families. Others have done terrible things. But they are still \u2014 all of them \u2014 men and women, human beings, at the complete mercy of the state. According to Jewish and Christian teaching, they bear God's image, which can never be completely effaced. Treating them humanely is the expression of a defining national belief: that human rights are not earned or granted, they are recognized. Or not.\"\n\nUniversal truths. The Republican Party is the poster child for immoral, unethical, corrupt, greedy, unsavory, uncaring behavior.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus said that He would be present whenever two or three gather in his name. There is no mention of or requirement of a priest.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Vatican II is no more authoritative than any of the other Ecumenical Councils of the Church. It is not some kind of \u201csupercouncil\u201d and must not be interpreted with the disastrous heremenutic of rupture.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Psychology and experience both have taught us: you can horribly influence and damage another person by controlling or prescribing only TWO THINGS their a) sorrow and their b) joy. \n\nThere is nothing sicker, meaner, or more sad than your sentence: \"We were taught we could not get too happy at Christmas.\" \n\n\nYou seem to say we've been taught: \"Now don't be TOO happy!!!! Live with the brakes on. Don't cherish the moment. Feast..but feel guilty about it. Live for today, but make sure you worry more about tomorrow. It's almost always better to fast than to feast.\"\n\nAlas, you are right. \n\nPeople (and many Catholics among them) who have learned that, really come to believe, \"It hurts so good.\" \n\nGo ahead and feast--and make sure you help others to do the same. Share the joy. But don't make a virtue out of sharing the pain.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You acted correctly. You voted as the US Bishops indicated you should vote. Concerns for immigrants, foreigners, the poor, etc have diluted the True Church. We must get back to what makes Catholicism in the US Great: ritual and support for our own.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Obviously your read what you expected to read. I am saying that how to think about revelation and salvation is a disciplinary/political matter. The nature of the Church as Pio Nono saw it is not even disciplinary, it is political. BTW, Pio lost the political debate last I checked my map of Italy, the Documents of Vatican II and most college theology curricula. He lost the logical debate as well, last I checked by list of logical fallacies.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Odd, I was wondering the same thing. Why don't you leave me alone? Are you just incapable of ending the bullying and harassment? You began the conversation, raising the issue of endangered plovers, then took things off this unfortunate tangent and began making accusation after accusation. Perhaps this is what Traditional American Catholicism is all about, but I wonder if it is really a good example of the values taught by Jesus.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\u2026the great movement of apostasy being organized in every country for the establishment of a One-World Church which shall have neither dogmas, nor hierarchy, neither discipline for the mind, nor curb for the passions, and which, under the pretext of freedom and human dignity, would bring back to the world (if such a Church could overcome) the reign of legalized cunning and force, and the oppression of the weak, and of all those who toil and suffer.\n\nWe wish to draw your attention, Venerable Brethren, to this distortion of the Gospel and to the sacred character of Our Lord Jesus Christ, God and man, prevailing within the Sillon and elsewhere. As soon as the social question is being approached, it is the fashion to first put aside the divinity of Jesus Christ, and then to mention only His unlimited clemency, His compassion for all human miseries, and His pressing exhortations to the love of our neighbor and to the brotherhood of men.\nPope St. Pius X", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As someone who goes to an Anglican Church myself, I applaud Archbishop Welby and Pope Francis. Christ prayed that we would be one and what unites us is greater than what separates us. Pope Francis has been a fantastic ecumenical and interfaith leader and many Anglicans appreciate the warmth and hospitality he has shown. Archbishop Welby has also been a great pastor I think for our communion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, she doesn't support killing babies. She supports allowing the LAW that allows women to make their own choice in the matter, while you want the government to make people do what YOU think is right.\n\nAnd I wonder whether YOU are Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Still no word in the Globe about Christian being slaughtered . But for this Saudi Arabia is considered progressive.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Respectfully, this comment is ludicrous. The Lord Himself chose men only to be His closest followers and associates. Are you suggesting that the Lord was unjust? This argument sounds like a common complaint from a child attending another child's birthday party, and who insists that he should receive a present too; that \"justice, equality, and common decency\" demands that all children receive presents, even if it's not their birthday. Further, such a proposal would deny the grace and comfort of the sacraments to the faithful. Without priests, there is no Eucharist; without the Eucharist, there is no Church. Christ chose men, ordained men, and left His example for us to follow. There can be nothing else added to this. It is the Lord's Church, after all, not ours.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bishop McElroy = Democrat = STATIST = Non-Christian ... !!!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You mean 'biased, ortho-toxic' people who bear no resemblance to Christians----never mind Catholics---will remain. Jesus taught us that the Sabbath [one of the most strictly kept laws of the Orthodox Jews] is MADE for humans---not the other way around. Laws in the church should be few and support struggling people---not drive them away.\n\nThe so-called 'orthodoxy' that Paprocki and others like him hold up---is pharisaical nonsense. He's nothing more than a pompous boogie-man.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would think so. I don't think the church would object to it for female priests. No idea really. \"The Pastors are not our parents\". I keep hearing this phrase. I have never heard that before except in this forum. You do not address the priest in your parish as \"father\"? What do you call him?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I went to convent schools in the forties & later to a convent teachers's college. I felt suffocated in those institutions where very little love & understanding existed. Needless to say, I long ago turned my back on the Catholic church.\nFrancis is a decent, kind man.He might lean toward progressivism but the die-hard doctrines of no birth control & no women priests ( just 2 examples), will remain, & Francis will not fight for such changes. The church will never move itself forward into the twenty first century. Not a chance!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you ever so much, Sr. Mary. Your meditation strikes a deep chord with me. Over the years, with much trepidation I have repeatedly said, \"Yes Lord, let my will be Your Will.\" And re-commitment has been an ongoing process. So very long in my life, I have chosen to acquiesce to the easy road; and invariably been faced with the reality of the harsh one. As a child receives their First Communion, saying \"Yes, to Jesus\" is almost like winning the lottery...all is rosy and bright and happy...But as with the child, we grow and become more acquainted with the world of reality, and the roses turn to dried up shells of what they once were...doubt and sadness sets, and we wonder what does it all mean. Memories of what life once was, brings the reality full circle. It is then, I have found, that I have had to make a concerted review of my life...making the choice to recommit to Him...and figure out how best to move forward, letting Jesus be my guide.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part II \n\nIt is clear that, for these purposes to be achieved, the nature and extent of the punishment must be carefully evaluated and decided upon, and ought not go to the extreme of executing the offender except in cases of absolute necessity: in other words, when it would not be possible otherwise to defend society. Today however, as a result of steady improvements in the organization of the penal system, such cases are very rare, if not practically non-existent. \n\nIn any event, the principle set forth in the new Catechism of the Catholic Church remains valid: 'If bloodless means are sufficient to defend human lives against an aggressor and to protect public order and the safety of persons, public authority must limit itself to such means, because they better correspond to the concrete conditions of the common good and are more in conformity to the dignity of the human person.'", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We (I) are not saying that we do not believe in the Bible or it's divine inspiration. We're saying the Bible consists of stories, divinely inspired, which attempt to explain the great mysteries of life. The writers of the creation narratives used their unscientific understanding of the world and human nature. They told a story. The details are unimportant, the message is everything.\n\"Original sin\" can be explained as humanity's innate drive for self-preservation. Subverted or used incorrectly it can lead to pride, anger, violence, and all the serious sins.\nI believe that evil objectively exists but not necessarily in bodily form. That is, I do not see objective evil as sporting horns and carrying a pitchfork.\nLastly, Baptism initiates the new recruit into formal membership in the Church, the Body of Christ. It is not a cleansing from the \"myth\" (story about a key truth) of Original Sin.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Church teaching?...You mean Roman Rite Catholic Church teaching? Do Eastern Rite Catholics in union with Rome dissent from Church teaching because they ordain married men?\n\nDifferent non-Roman Catholic Rites/Churches in union with Rome have different perspectives on theology/doctrine, governance/law and liturgy. They operate as inter-independent Catholic Rites/Churches and have done so for a thousand years of Catholic history. Archbishop John R Quinn's book, EVER ANCIENT, EVER NEW: Structures of Communion in the Church speaks to this little known Catholic tradition.\n\nPerhaps the Women-Church letter to Springfield Catholics above emphasizes the need for an inter-independent Post-Vatican II Rite/Church in union with Rome. https://RiteBeyondRome.com", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They're called CHINOs - Christians in Name Only.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The canon law of the Roman Catholic Church, nor that of any other ecclesial body, is nowhere to be found in any of the canonical gospels. It is purely human-made, not Jesus-made. Welcoming all to God's altar is not contrary to the gospels, and in fact, affirms them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Truth matters, at least it should. The question begged; why believe something for which there is no proof or evidence. No Paul never used the word 'hallucination', but what he claims to have received by definition is an hallucination. Many studies demonstrate over and over again what happens to information(oral tradition) repeated over time by mouth. It is far worse than hearsay. No writers of the gospels witnessed anything of Jesus. We are even far removed from having possession of the Original writings of the Gospels. There have been embellishments, additions and yes copying mistakes. To credit the Gospels as inspired writings when it is obvious that they are completely a human rendition by unknown authors ascribing to Jesus solely human bandying is the folly of faith. Today, it matters that truth is an agreement with facts...you avoid that...you seem stuck in a quagmire from which it is impossible to remove yourself.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And I haven't heard two people say they've read the gospels either and come to the same conclusion.\n\nHeck! The evangelists themselves don't reach the same conclusions.\n\nIt's not just Pope Francis who's fond of making a mess, as one US bishop said of him: JC wasn't bad at it either. Ask his exasperated disciples.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Since some of us choose to obey not all of the 'church's directives and have been label 'Cafeteria Catholics', it is only fair that some of the Church's Bishops should be allowed to do the same! It is the people's church, not the hierarchy! Rest in Peace!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Only the Church decides who is called and who is not.\n\nThe RCWP members are excommunicated for schism, heresy, and adhering to a communion outside the Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Right on Sylvester. If the church can't come to bring itself to ordain a woman, I doubt it would have the wherewithal to heal the needs of a country so hoping for a female president. Father Thomas, though a very good man, is overestimating the Role and capacity the church can play and healing so many people.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Roman Catholic hierarchy has been fighting and re-fighting the battles of the Reformation for the past 500 years! Even the \"cold war\" ended with a whimper instead of a bang. Francis has not caught on yet to the depth and extent of the Reformation that is required! While his Curia sits and fumes, the laity have taken the lead and are miles ahead of where the hierarchy boldly needs to go. And maybe that's what the Coming Reformation will look like!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Relativism, the bounding of moral teaching to a single group. Your arguments are relativistic. They apply to Catholics and no one else.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, I am simply asking a question, based on my belief that homophobia is inherently unchristian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\n\nThat's not the way R&R framed the question, and I don't think that's what s/he meant:\n\n\nIn certain corners of the church there lives, more than twenty years after his death, a peculiar preoccupation with Cardinal Bernardin. We see the same phenomenon with Fr. Ray Brown, who has also been gone for many years.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The consecrated Host IS Jesus. Jesus is IN the poor, the needy, the stranger, but the poor, the needy, the stranger are not Jesus. This is some bad theology, essentially saying we are all God. This is why Vatican II tells us Jesus is especially present in the Eucharistic species (SC 7).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What political views are put forward by the KofC that are not Catholic teaching? :))\n\n\nAnother question for \"you\" (no this is not an attack word--'you' and 'your' are simple personal pronouns): Where does the Catholic Church teach that abortion is just another medical health procedure, or that redefinition of marriage is fine? Yet the NCR and many here, put these forward as compatible with Catholic teaching. So, who exactly should be \"called out\" and on what?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I suggest that you study some Church history. Women have held this post and more.\n\n\nAlso, in Europe---there are places only seven hours from the Vatican by train, where women [we would call them Coordinators of Parish Life, are ACTUALLY in charge of parishes. In a deanery around Zurich there are 40 parishes. Twenty-six of them are led by lay leaders [most by women]. Oh, there's a 'titular' priest in charge in these palaces [ages of priests are 89, 91 and 92], but the women are in charge. They baptize [any Catholic can], they preach the word, distribute Communion [pre-consecrated], counsel Catholic [let them share what is in their hearts---and then they pray an act of Contrition [priests haven't been in for Confessions for decades]. AND in Switzerland, the people pay their clergy [and these lay leaders] directly. It doesn't come from the Diocese. The bishops of Zurich comes to see what the people think about these lay leaders---and the people LOVE THEM. The wave of the future!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A woman was the crucible chosen by God to be the first and only human being to make Jesus present in body and blood, soul and divinity: Mary, the Theotokos, the \"one who bears God.\"\nJesus chose a woman to be the first witness of his resurrection and the first apostle sent with his instructions to the rest of the disciples: Mary Magdalene, \nAt Pentecost, when the God chose to fulfill the promise of guidance and grace, Theotokos, the woman invited and espoused by God, gathered the disciples in prayer as the Holy Spirt enkindled in them the fire of divine love.\nAs the early church increased and organized, the male apostles began \"ordaining\" others to carry on the ministry and message of Jesus. Quickly, \"ordination\" became a male office.\nThat there are no women priests highlights men's lingering inability to recognize women's equality or to acknowledge the precedent-setting roles of the Theotokos and the \"apostle to the Apostles.\"\nMen are ordained by men. Women are chosen by God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We should be praising Trump. \n3 days for each of the fallen soldiers means he was imitating the 3days between Christs death and resurrection? What a good christian man who follows every precept like 'do unto others'; except for his misinterpretation where he forgets the second part of the phrase.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "He also confuses lust with love.\nA story I came across was the account of a couple who separated when the woman fell in love with another man. The reaction of the man who loved her passionately was to be glad that she had found true love in her new relationship despite the fact that it caused him enormous pain; her happiness, however, was his prime desire. \nThat is true love, what one is prepared to endure, totally sacrifice for the sake of the beloved. What Christ endured: His self-Sacrifice for the sake of those He loved.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Savory enjoyment like that of finding delight in the marrow of the bone\" is contingent on recieving in the hand? Um, ok. \n\nWhat about the particles of Jesus that are left on your hand after you place Him in your mouth?\n\nAnd there is something humble about allowing yourself to be fed Our Lord instead of taking Him and placing Him in your mouth like any kind of other food.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Church justifiably stakes a claim on social teaching, having invested a great deal of its intellectual acumen and as the custodian of a rich (albeit chequered) tradition. The case can and should be made that it is primarily civilizational and rational rather than sectarian. Jesus redeemer and Jesus social philosopher/teacher are distinct dimensions. As redeemer Jesus, man and God lived, died, rose from the dead thus establishing an \"ontological\" elevation of mankind and indeed creation itself, in our relationship with the divine. \nJesus was not a moral dictator. He was a social, moral, ethics, political philosopher, teacher/leader in the line of civilizational greats. Aristotle taught that these are rooted in man's mutual dependence and thus reciprocity:\"love/friendship is a mutual benevolence mutually known\" (Ethics). Jesus taught and demonstrated that a \"mutual benevolence mutually known\", love and the \"common good\" go further, deeper. If Aristotle is rational, Jesus more so.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In the Orthodox Church? Is this equal opportunity for the women?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "SJWs really should read Soul of the Apostolate.\n\nif they don't they can end up like bitter religious sisters brothers and priests, worn out from this or that cause and protest. \n\nThe point the book makes escapes SJWs as they race out to the next protest. \n\nThe \"work of the Church\" is actually the work of Jesus Christ, and for most of us, it's done mainly in and around our home. It's where all the real action and growth needs to happen.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "God does not interfer with free will. He keeps his covenants. It is his children who do not keep to those commandments. \n\nI try not to \"bible thump\" but in situations like this, the lord is our shoulder. He does not condone these acts nor can he interfere. It was the actions of the flood and Sodom and Gomorrah that he would no longer cleanse the land with a sweeping hand. Right as rain however, this child will be received with open arms as he never became a man. A selfish despicable evil took that right from him. His right to walk his own path, to do good for others. \n\nRemember that it was the free will of others who could have prevented this loss of life. Those bystanders and conspirators. The question is...can we influence a value system in our society that will follow just 10 commandments? Set aside the law of man for now, but just those 10...in over 2000 years the answer is still sadly no. \n\nI truly hope we can make changes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why on earth would Sisters of Loretto at the Foot of the Cross or Friends of Mary at the Foot of the Cross be a distraction from your mission? How could the Cross be a distraction in need of concealment? If anything, that should pique people's interest as to what you stand for. Don't run away from the Cross of Christ, sisters!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't believe the question was are there brown and black people in our churches but do they play an equal role in liturgy and ministry and have same and equal influence in our parishes. The fact that in the U.S. our permanent deacons are still only around 25 % latino and the amounts of both Asian and Black permanent deacons put together in the U.S. is about 7% and the rest are all Caucasian is some indication there is real racism present when it comes to playing important roles in our parishes. Mind you this is a recent improvement from the almost 90% Caucasian deaconate only 10 years ago in the U.S. Considering the large amounts of both Hispanic and Asian Catholics we have in this country - this is an indicator of some racism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Pope Francis' international Council of Cardinals identified the protection of children and young adults as one of the church's priority needs[.]\"\nIs this a misprint? I think it is supposed to read \"Pope Francis' international Council of Cardinals identified the [appearance of caring about the] protection of children and young adults as one of the church's priority needs\" \nCertainly Francis has demonstrated nothing beyond a concern for appearances on this issue, maintaining the strong tradition championed by Saint Pope John Paul II, the Great.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A local Asian friend just got back from Indy 500 race and said it was apalling how many people BOO'd the Japanese guy that won and how everyone started breaking out with \"U-S-A! U-S-A!\" chant.\n\nOur current Enabler in Chief is encouraging the Radicalized Christians, Neo Nazis, KKK, etc to come out from their parents' basements...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I stand with the cradle Catholics that speak and hope for change. That is not a bad thing, because the Church needs to grow, starting with recognizing that Asexuality is a thing and the extent to which its members have sucked the life out of Catholic teaching in this area.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As I pointed out below, Hispanics tend to be Catholics and they are mostly pro-life. \n\nI think the primary factor in women ending pregnancies is lack of access to family planning services. Earnings and insurance explains some of this as does outright hostility to family planning from some conservatives.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is also the question of whether the Church has been badly proof texting Corinthians, applying a comment on dinner etiquette to reception of the Eucharist which could not be active because there was no such thing as mortal sin when Paul wrote his letter.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pt. 1\nThe Catholic Church, in general, has been slow to combat racism. Some 20th Century historical events to demonstrate this are: In 1954, the US Supreme Court outlawed segregation in educational institutions. U.S. Bishops in 1958 concluded that enforced segregation could not be reconciled with the Christian view of the human person. This weak response offered no concrete guidance or recommendations for implementation. Other Christian denominations were much more specific---denouncing the Ku Klux Klan, and promising the integration of their church facilities. During Vatican II---only two American bishops cited 'Race Relations' as a problematic issue in their nation. In 1962, only 9 Catholic laity journeyed from Chicago to Albany, Georgia to support a local effort against racial segregation. This was \"the largest group of American Catholics that participated in the non-violent movement.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mike: Are you married? If so, how would you respond to my pal the marriage counselor who says, \"There'd be less divorce if there were more lust between a husband and a wife who love each other deeply, but then--to the direct detriment of their marriage-- figure out ways over time to put brakes on their lovemaking for whatever reasons.\"\n\nYou say \"lust is a temptation that leads to sex.\" DUH! (so do love, perfume, foreplay, wine, soft music, a fire in the fireplace, and much more).\n\n\"Keep Lust in Marriage \" should be a Catholic campaign to reduce divorce and adultery. What say you?\n\nPS Does Mrs. Brooks agree with you?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Here's the key.....whatever is not clear, needs to be reconciled...not just with today's bishops, but with yesterday's bishops, backward. \n\nThis is what the Correction is pointing to...not just the danger of future chaos and anarchy with respect to the moral law...but disunity with time...and PF has said that \"time is greater than space\" elsewhere!\n\nThe \"division\" you mention was actually caused by some bishops pointing to what the Church had always taught! (time). \n\nThe communion of saints is bigger and more beautiful than most people understand it. \n\nWe stand on the shoulders of Peter.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Given that the Letter to Diognetus was written in the late second century, it's not that early in the life of the Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What can you think about a person who calls himself \"Faithful Catholic\". What is that supposed to say about the rest of us?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Maybe give the Gospel According to Mark another look...the only instance of the 7 words of Jesus that might be historical.\n\nIt's remarkable you presume to retroject what Jesus thought while dying in agony. Just wow.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Since Sr. Schenk carefully laid out her case as to why she believes it is appropriate to describe Jesus as a community organizer, I take exception to your assertion that she is imposing her vision of the historical Jesus on the rest of us - she's simply putting it out there. I also do not believe (based on her writing) that she is in any way worshiping herself by doing this.\n\nI think it goes without saying that ever since Sarah Palin mocked Barack Obama for being a community organizer in 2008 that job description has carried an inordinate amount of excess baggage. Sarah Palin's tackiness aside, people who describe themselves as community organizers often do very good work. Jesus was many things to many people, and I, for one, have no problem conceptualizing him as a community organizer... among other titles.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thanks for this commentary, Michael. One of the things I like about Pope Francis, and as his thinking appears to be reflected in the La Civilit\u00e0 Cattolica article, is his insight that Jesus, and his message, \"transcends politics\" \u2014 i.e. as I've argued previously, it is erroneous to view Jesus as bringing some alternative \"political ideology\" into the world to compete against all the existing political ideologies. Jesus is neither a supporter of the Republican Party nor the Democrats or, in Australia, the Liberals, Labor nor the Greens. The religion, spirituality or theology of Jesus is neither tribal, nor ideological. (continues in next post...)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bishops and bishops\u2019 conferences have released statements saying how perfectly and obviously clear AL is, while coming to diametrically opposed conclusions. \n\nWe have a pope so that he can provide answers to questions that arise in the Church. Questions have arisen. The pope must answer the questions. Only the pope can do so with authority. The reason a definitive answer is needed is to prevent bishops in some places from doing whatever they want.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pavone has always been a loose cannon with his bizarre fetus fetish behaviors. When it comes to abortion it seems that most ordinaries look the other way no matter how egregious \u2014 even sacrilege \u2014 the behavior. Contrary to what they teach or the catechism says... in this particular case of politics and abortion they do indeed believe the end justifies the means. The 'cafeteria' is open on both the port and starboard sides of the Catholic ship :)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Amazing and deeply profound statement. Jesus, who called his disciples his brothers, established a church with a single celibate male at the top, who, unlike Christ would be father to all humans. Quite amazing really.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Desa, thanks for coming forward. I wrote that I heard Pence say that 'Trump is walking in Jesus'. I'm sorry if I gave the impression that I agree with Pence. I don't. I do think that forgiving is an important and indispensable facet of spiritual growth and healing, however, it comes in truth with consequence, not as a way to avoid accountability and repentance. We are imperfect. Imagine the kind of gift that Jesus gave to one of the criminals hanging on a cross beside him.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jeanette says: \"We\u2019re pro-life, they\u2019d say. From conception to birth. After that you can die on the streets.\"\n\nEugene Mission - religious organization\nSt Vincent DePaul - religious organization\nSalvation Army - religious organization\nCatholic Community Services - religious organization\n\nWhat are secular humanists like Jeanette doing to help? Hint: Rhymes with \"nothing\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm afraid that they think of the laity as simply their piggy banks and volunteers to do work for them. It really is a feudal system. They take nothing into consideration if it goes against their rules. All Catholics must have exactly the same mindset because if we don't, we can't really call ourselves Catholics, as we have heard so often in these forums from the blind folowers.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\u201cChurch historians can demonstrate that what Francis is doing is following exactly WHAT the early church taught.\u201d\n\nAnd what is that?\n\n\u201cChurch historians\u201d are not a teaching office of the Catholic Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A sore subject indeed. Growing up in Newfoundland in the 40s and 50s, all schools were perochrial i.e., connected and funded by their church and community efforts. I personally attended high school with the son of a Chinese Resterauntier who by the way, was not Catholic. Religeon class was taught from 11:45 AM to 12:30 PM. My fellow student mentioned above was simply excused from that last morning class thus gaining an extra 45 minutes to go home for lunch or, as we called it then, Dinner. We all went home for the noon meal as there was no such thing as school lunch rooms back in \"the day\". The mission of these schools, Catholic, Methodist, Episcopalians etc., was to educate the students for adult life not to become the Whiners of todays youth and their parents. By the way, the articles of confederation when Newfoundland voted to become the tenth province of Canada, 1949, stated that the school system would remain as is. Not so, Check it out.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I hope Francis remembers the story about what Jesus did when he found the moneylenders had taken over the temple, and how he chased them out with a whip.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "God is also the Truth. He is also just. God doesn't lie. He cannot lie. \n\nYour argument is in essence that God lies, and lies a lot. He doesn't give us a free will, really. He may, in your view, make laws, but can't be truly just in the application of them. \n\nA commandment presupposes an ability to not follow it. So when God gave us the commandments, He was again lying. \"Abide in me\" was a mere nice touch. \n\nNo. \n\nYou might want to at this point study what the Church actually and formally teaches on this topic, which touches firmly on justification, salvation, free will, and grace. Finally, your view of \"unconditional\" undercuts any need for the theological virtue of Hope. \n\nMuch to resolve and work toward a coherent unity of understanding. The Church has worked this out, triangulating on and reconciling with a lot more Scripture than \"God is love\".\n\nThere is a danger in shrinking God's words down to this or that phrase, as many here do. It does explain the angst here.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Believe it or not, Christian gangs are raping girls and Christian taxi drivers are refusing to take passengers with service dogs.\n\nOddly, you cite only crimes by Muslims.\n\nWhy is that?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Who cares what the Eastern Schismatics think or how they refer to the Liturgy? They aren't part of the Church of Christ, and reject the papacy established by Christ. \n\nIt's amazing to me that many \"liberals\" look to the \"Orthodox\" for guidance. The \"Orthodox\" wear ornate vestments, would never allow \"guitar masses\", or jokes during the Mass, or a casual attitude toward the Mass, etc. Even though the Eastern Schismatics are in tremendous error.... they have by and large retained traditional liturgies... the antithesis of what most \"liberal Catholics\" want in a Mass. It's ironic.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The Christian god, as described in the Bible, is cruel, vengeful, sadistic, vain, jealous, unfair, and generally nasty. Hardly lovable!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Repeating what I wrote yesterday in response to Federal court rejects suit to block Liberals\u2019 Saudi arms deal:\n\nIn a previous life, before I decided to abandon a thriving consultancy to apply my training and experience to a systematic review of the Koran, http://boreal.ca/Koran/PPPContent.htm I was asked by a senior government official to include in a cost benefit analysis an estimate of the value of the life of an aboriginal http://boreal.ca/Canadian/WhoKilledCAMS.htm .\n\nI imagine that during the discussions the Honourable Stephen Dion had with his officials, before he signed off on the sale of 15 billion dollars' worth of mobile gun platforms to serial abusers of human rights, it was mentioned that they would be used by Muslims to kill Muslims. Did this factor in their cost benefit analysis of the deal?\n\nI doubt very much had this been a sale of weaponry to a despotic Christian regime to be used against Christians, that it would have been approved.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "If I recall, Republicans early on worked on versions of the bill in committee. They supported the 'Individual Mandate', a conservative approach, but then used it to distance themselves from the act and any further involvement. Of course, we know now that Republicans main, if not only, goal had become blocking any of Obama's initiatives, and making him a one term President. It also seems to me that many of the 1000+ pages of the bill were changes used to appease Republicans, hoping to gather some buy-in. Those are the things that should have been worked out by committee and compromise. As for rushing it and pushing it through, the alternative to that was to let it die (again) and tell suffering and dying Americans without access to just go to hell. Surely none of us baptized, Catholic, Christians would be willing to go that far.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Harper was no Catholic.\n\nHe was a member of the Alliance Church which professed \"Resisting the Green Dragon:\"\n\nhttps://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2012/03/26/Harper-Evangelical-Mission/\n\nQuote : \"The Green Dragon must die... [There] is no excuse to become befuddled by the noxious Green odors and doctrines emanating from the foul beast...\"", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Do you also find it \"funny\" that 100 Founders, 94 of which were professing Christians, spent weeks vetting the Constitution's provisions, discussing what were natural rights, \"revealed rights\" and determined to insure the blessings of freedom for posterity? that they discussed the necessity of \"religion\", by which they meant Christianity in its essence, for a free, moral, religious society?\nThe only violence that can erupt from \"cult squabbling\" is from islam against anyone non muslim. Apparently, you don't know US history at all. The first war the new nation was forced to fight was against islam (known as mohamadism (sp). Jefferson and Adams learned of the determination of \"mosselmen\" to destroy the US because it was not muslim.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, and the Church today embraces what is good and true in those other religions, while carefully critiquing \"errors and distortions\" in them [Paul VI] (as well of course as recognizing the 99% it shares with other Christian churches, while seeking a deeper understanding of what the residual differences signify). You make the Vatican II church seem very stupid, and perhaps you are really reacting to bad theology such as floats about in sites like this?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "She was Newt's extra marital mistress at the time Newt was on Clinton's case about Lewinsky, wasn't she? Newt used to go and pick her up at church after choir practice. Christian Hypocrisy, nothing like it. Didn't Newt ask his wife to accept an \"open marriage\"?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Your lack of Christian charity always amazes me.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The article mentions that the bomb was placed on the side of the church used by women. Mighty brave of these Islamic terrorists to target Christian women. Mighty brave of them.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Do you not think pedophilia is a crime? How many Catholic priests have to rape kids before we start arresting them? Do the priests have to murder our children after raping them before we get concerned?\n\nThere are 6,528/116,153 (5.6% ) of priests who have been subjects of *credible* sexual abuse allegations in North America alone. 17, 651 victims. \nhttp://www.bishop-accountability.org/AtAGlance/USCCB_Yearly_Data_on_Accused_Priests.htm\n\nHow many Muslims in the US have killed people for jihad? Less than 2 dozen. Include 9/11 hijackers and it's 3 dozen. That's far less than 1% of all Muslims in the US. Only 48 people have been killed by Islamic terrorists on US soil. If you include 9/11 there are still far fewer murderers representing Mecca than child Rapists from Rome.\nhttp://securitydata.newamerica.net/extremists/deadly-attacks.html\n\n For the record, I think raping children for decades and then hiding the evidence is criminal conduct.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Fr. Martin will probably not lose hope. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for countless gay Catholic youth who, upon realizing where the church really stands with regard to their lives, will simply walk away because of this controversy, as have so many countless others before them, never to be seen or heard from again. Sadly, that's just the way some \"faithful Catholics\" want it.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I think we do know what is going on. ALL US terrorist attacks since 2001 have been domestic based and none by those in the banned countries. And why is Saudi not on the list? Priorities to Christian immigrants? Really? Trump is a pea-brained narcissist with dictator qualities. You can run your own business like that and live with the consequences, but not a democracy.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "... isn't that what 'christians' like yourself do, \"hide the perverts\" within the Church all while fudging paperwork as to what is really going on ... always more money to tithe to support the efforts/paying out lawsuits!!\n\n:)", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"as a human being and as a roman catholic\" Scaramouche says.\n\nHe is an embarrassment to both, just like his nutzo boss.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Sorry Robin. If we're going to judge Muslims by the worst element then we're going to do the same for Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Scientologists.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Forced patriotism at a university is kinda like the NFL being paid millions to put the players on the field for the anthem starting in 2009. I am pretty sure an academic institution can not legally mandate patriotsim. \n\nThey are non denominational. Are they going to force all Christians to stand for the anthem? Jehova's Witnesses do not salute the flag or pledge allegiance. The Amish may not either. I am sure there are more Christain denominations that do not salute the flag. \n\nHmm.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "We live in a \u201creality challenged\u201d country wherein even Democrats \u201care not real people\u201d, where \u201cfake news\u201d is a political touchstone, where American\u2019s votes in Virginia, New Hampshire, California were \u201cfraudulent\u201d, where millions of people \u201cvoted illegally\u201d, where \u201creality TV\u201d is obviously not, where the winner of an election is called the \u201closer\u201d, and now where \u201creal Christians\u201d are \u201cappalled at the LIAR IN CHIEF\u201d.\nI\u2019m sorry, George, but the flimsy excuse of \u201creality\u201d cannot change the fact that Christians embrace with enthusiasm the current President because they choose to believe the \u201creality\u201d that \u201c\u2026as you know, we\u2019re under siege.\u201d Trump's \u201cwe\u201d being yet another strain on credulity.\n\u201cReality?\u201d We don\u2019t need no stinkin\u2019 reality\u2026any more than we need more \u201creal Christians\u201d.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You assume no gays are Christians and no Christians are gay. \n\nA gay person with religious beliefs is more than welcome to challenge any given law on religious grounds. The fact he is gay doesn't matter. For example, a gay pacifist could challenge draft laws that require him to perform military service. And the court will take his challenge seriously and likely grant him relief.\n\nReligious rights are very real rights found in the Constitution. They are not imaginary rights created by Christians. They exist. They have legal standing. The courts have respected them over the years. And, yes, those rights can conflict with statutory rights, as they do in this case. And they exist as individual rights, not merely group rights. A Christian doesn't have religious rights because he is a Christian; he has those rights because he is a citizen. Everyone, including gays, has those rights. I want to keep them. Some people don't.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Christians offer no tolerance, yet demand it in return. You get none from me. \n\nOh, you're one of the progressive Christians that doesn't actually follow the teachings of their church? Yea, I respect those people less than the \"true believers\".", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Check the FBI and CIA sites for information on the religious affiliations of terrorist groups. There are definitely Christian-affiliated (self-identified as Christians) terrorists.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Nothing gets the leftist wasp nest going like Christianity and threats to abortion. 45 likes; congratulations. How many of you have ever actually been oppressed by a Christian for Christian reasons?\nAnd you do know that there are millions of anti-abortion atheists.They are simply people that want no part of a barbaric procedure of convenience in order to escape the consequences of an irresponsible decision.\nYou are so quick to characterize all Christians by this man's actions, actually only threats, and draw some kind of moral equivalence to Muslim extremists around the world who are murdering in the most brutal ways imaginable. Most of the killing done by \"Christian\" countries has many different geopolitical reasons. With Muslim extremists it's all the same. Convert or die.\nAlso you might look at the historical death toll of your fellow travelers on the left (a religion). I'll get you started: Joseph Stalin, 20 million dead; Mao, 15-45 million dead; Pol Pot 6 million dead; Hitler.....", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The only way out of this mess is for Canada to become more secular. Canada should set an example for the world and push secular values as the highest and push down Christian, Islam, Jew and other book religions. \n>\nThe first step is stop government funding of religion. Second step is to protect child from indoctrination. 3rd step is remove all religion people from government posts. 4th step is remove all religions people from position of power such as doctors, judges, lawyers, cops etc.\n> \nThis the way forward, a secular society based on logic, reason and Socrates debates. There is no accommodating fairy tales, witch hunts, virtue signaling and tribalism.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "There are some who will say that the church can never change its position on homosexuality because the church's teaching is part of divine revelation. I say it's as much a part of divine revelation as not eating shellfish or men not cutting their hair - after all, those prohibitions, like not wearing clothes made of mixed fabrics or not eating meat with dairy products, all come from the same book of the Bible: Leviticus. And yes, St. Paul did condemn homosexual acts but he also told women to be quiet in church, and yet no one observes that rule anymore. Cherry-picking the Bible has a long history that will probably never end. But the people who mention revelation never talk about the fact that Jesus himself never said a word about homosexuality. In the end, as a gay Catholic Christian, I take great comfort in that. The church has been wrong about many things in the past. It is wrong about homosexuality, and it is time the church change its position - out of charity, if nothing else.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "All the terrorists that have threatened to kill me have been white Christians born and raised in the USA. Heck, some states even let the KKK, a Christian terrorist organization, adopt highways. Most of the Founding Fathers were slave owning rapists. This country was born in violence and racism and we have yet to correct those sins. See Trump and his minions. Sunday morning is still the most segregated time of the week in this country. As a nation we have no moral superiority over any other nation. Most Americans have no idea of how much rape, robbery, torture, and murder that they benefit from. They don't want to know. If we really fear Sharia law, why do we give so many weapons to Saudi Arabia where it is law. Trump recently crowed about the latest arms deal. Why arm the people so many of his voters fear? The truth is all lives don't matter here. They never have.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Don't forget obliviously hypocritical, Paul Conte.\nDouglas Card, my take on your question:\nSadly religion, from the cave to the internet, is more about social and economic control in opposition to spiritual comfort. Evangelical Christians seek converts (read tithing) and manage to insult everyone who lives decent lives without whatever brand of brainwashing their particular sect is selling. When their evangelical efforts fail they pervert the political process in direct violation of law to force us all to behave as if we believe. They refuse to accept realities that conflict with their dogmas so that, for instance, Trumps' obvious antithesis to their professed values goes unnoticed as long as he pretends to care about their interests. Without their \"blinded by the light\" approach to the world there would be no conditions a Trump could rise in, no nation on the brink of corporate oligarchy and no underpinnings for the racism and bigotry that subsumes justice and human progress.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic Church can not change teaching or doctrine on homosexuality \nIt's wrong . A sin \nEnd of discussion \nLoser \nNow your bullied are you okay", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "But it is. Because the religion itself and practiciers of are not trying to kill you.\n\nSpecific radical individuals are trying to kill you. But they no more represent Islam than all of the white christian mass shooters in the US represent Christianity.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "If people wanting to commit depraved sexual acts is a reason to re-think the Church's teaching on sexuality, isn't people telling lies a reason to re-think the Church's teaching on truth-telling? Especially in these enlightened times, after fifty years of loosening up of those fusty old neuroses about lying in court, in the media, in the White House. And those ridiculous old principles of good sportsmanship should be re-thought too. In the latter half of the twentieth century we all discovered that people just like to cheat: professional athletes cheat, Olympic teams cheat, even dogs cheat at flyball. Isn't it obvious that Jesus would want us to affirm and welcome and flatter cheaters?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You are the one who is lost here. No President or congress has [or will] change that law. Secondly, I was not referring to Charles Curran----Brian Johnstone wrote that essay.\n\nJohnstone demonstrated that during the pontificates of JP II and Benedict---a profound shift moved from Gaudiem et spes which saw the consciences of Christians as often ignorant, but it was an inculpable ignorance. Ratzinger saw Christians as often ignorant, but culpably so.\n\nJohnstone, \"Conscience in Error,\" in CONSCIENCE: READINGS IN MORAL THEOLOGY 14, ed. Charles Curran [Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 2004], p. 169.\n\nRatzinger's critique of conscience fails to distinguish between the primary and secondary precepts of moral law. It fails to recognize or entertain the complexity of markedly different cultural contexts. Ratzinger, who had a limited pastoral experience as young priest---assumed far too quickly that people are guilty for not knowing the moral law, when in fact, they may be inculpably unaware.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "That seems to be the theme of the \"Christian\" Republicans.\n\nI sure do wish the hypocrites would try reading the words of Jesus.\n\nJesus said nothing about gays or abortions, and only got really pissed off when people were using religion to make money.\n\nFor example, the Republican party uses religion to get people to vote for them but they really only care about making more war and money, as evidenced by every one of their policies.\n\nThey count on the stupidity of blind followers and the power of propaganda to keep getting elected.\n\nAnd it works. Sad.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Typical clown trying to moralize the slaughter of an unborn child. There is a huge difference between an abortion and a miscarrage, it goes to intent. If the Catholic Church didn't support life at all stages, their existence would be mute.\n\n Didn't know you were such a big Dr. Gosnell fan?\n\nMSNBC and CNN are the very definition of Fake News. CNN's commercial \"Facts First\" is pathetic. I watched CNN since its inception until a couple of your ago when they went off the rails. They can barely draw a million viewers during prime time.Ted Turner is about politically left as you get, but at least he wasn't scared of diverse thought.\n\nKeep using Dandy Don Lemon and Anderson Cooper as a news source, no agenda there. CNN doesn't even pretend to be objective. Thankfully no one watches them. I'm an independent voter that uses independent news sources.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Asexual Catholic Bureaucrats, who think their peculiar sexuality is universal, so that they can speak for ua all. This is just not the case. Anyone who accepts their marital advice is divorced.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Wow. Can a comment be any more inhuman? Whatever \"christian behavior\" might be, this isn't it. So ashamed.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "ISIS has killed far more Muslims than Christians.\n---\nNot that makes things better but ISIS did not kill Muslims for being Muslims. They do kill Christians just for being Christians.\n\nIn ISIS' words: Christians are their \"favorite prey\".", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"Black Catholics must work harder to bridge the racial divide in communities, the nation and within the church\"...Wow. The victims must right the ship?! Talk about \"Right church, wrong pew\"!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Look in the mirror! Type \"Study links low intelligence to conservatism and prejudice\".. As one who shakes my head every time situations bring up the fact the mindset of evangelicals is that you all are determined to get your rapture and you will make sure all of us are with you lemmings as you go throw yourselves off the cliff of stupidity Move over to Israel and maybe your rapture will come about without including the rest of America", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"Jeremy Christian allegedly stabbed two men to death and seriously injured a third amid what witnesses called an anti-Muslim tirade on a commuter train.\"\n\nWhat's the difference between this guy and the guy that shouts \"Allahu Akbar\" as 4 ISIS inspired terrorists (pro-Muslim group) drive a truck over pedestrians killing 7 (some by stabbing) and put 48 more in hospital, 28 in critical condition? \n\nThe difference is Christian is insane & London is not Portland.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "What a bunch of nonsense. Perhaps Catholic universities should \"focus\" on....teaching Catholicism. \"We have to find the theological resources that give us the ground to stand on\"? The catechism, Holy Scripture, the Magisterium, or the Summa are \"[in]sufficient theological resources\" {As an aside, Aquinas addressed the issue of immigration and his thoughts are VERY similar to the president's}. As for the 'LGBTQ community\", or anyone who violates the Sixth or Ninth Commandments, the way to \"minister effectively\" to them is to call their attention that such acts are mortally sinful, and that perdition is not a \"safe space\".", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The only thing that is embarrassing is the omnipotence of your replies. For a man that says he is Christian, you might try a little Buddhist humility.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "We accommodate Mennonites and Hutterites in Western Canada. Public school Teachers have to go to the colonies to teach. Mennonite men will not serve in the Canadian military even if drafted due to their religious beliefs. What message does that send to society? Violent Christians such as Timothy McVeigh bomb government buildings in the US killing children, and Christian activists threaten and occasionally do shoot doctors performing abortions. No apologies from the Christian community for these nut bars... Zionist settler extremists in Israel assassinated Yitzak Rabine for pursuing peace on the West Bank. Point is Islam is certainly not the only Abrahamic religion with violent and extreme members who twist faith into something awful. \n\nIt would seem to an outside observer that the \"guise of religious freedom\" in Canada is somehow only to be applied to accommodate Christians and Jews and not others.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding :\" gay culture\"\n- This old phrase, 'particular friendships', might best explain what the old men in the Holy See want to address.\n- That is, secular clerics, as well as consecrated men and women, must avoid an, albeit natural, human tendency to have friends that are just like themselves. That is, they do not have an 'open' approach to relationships and thus act in an exclusionary manner.\n- In houses of consecrated religious, 'particular friendships', raise suspicions, isolated one religious from another and thus are divisive.\n- More diffused, but just as apparent, secular clerics who have 'particular friends' limit their own ability to be a brother to the brothers and sisters of Christ.\n- So, this document is best read if 'gay' or 'homosexual' is replaced with human.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You get to keep your affluent white comfort, the poor and Christian values be damned. By the way, France is a secular nation; the United Sates is religiously neutral. Your self serving,(probably racist, certainly classist)) \"values\" offer nothing to the dialogue among people of faith who gather at this site.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "1 poster made a reference to giving mass. \n\nThat poster is obviously not catholic, at least not a practicing 1. Mass is celebrated, not given. The priest is the celebrant, not the giver. Parishioners participate in the mass; they are certainly not just an audience, as that poster implies, his ignorance of how people of a certain religious persuasion choose to partake of their faith unfortunate. He should apologize, but all we'd get is some whining 'bout he didn't mean to hurt anybody feelings, or it's not that big a deal. Sorta like using his ignorance to justify ignorance.\n\nIt is too bad in his rush to get off a zinger, he manages to slag/insult those who practice a certain faith.\n\nDoubt the poster meant to do it. It becomes something to ponder: which does the poster know less about--hockey or Catholicism?\n\nIt is always a challenge to measure exactly how little on a subject some know, hard to get a precise # for something that tiny.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Harper is/was/never will be Trump.\n\nHe was a religious zealot who tried to turn Canada into a Christian enclave.\n\nNow if we had a trump we could turn this Communistic craphole immigrant nightmare now called Canada into something to be proud of.\n\nYou know - that place where a person with an idea creates wealth and creates jobs and keep the fruits of their labour and hard work.\n\nInstead of this Liberal nightmare of socialism communism where wealth is stolen from those who created it to feed those who do nothing but complain about those who created the wealth and work at the Communist Broadcasting Corp making 200K a year breaking pencils.\n\nThis animal farm nightmare needs to end now.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Maybe the Catholic Church needs to lose their tax exempt status now that they're getting political. They continue to make me glad that I left the religion of boy molestors and perverts a very long time ago.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "[CLIP OF SEAN SPICER PRESS CONFERENCE IN JANUARY 2017] \nSPICER: Carter Page is an individual that the president-elect does not know..\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn March of 2016, Trump was asked who would be advising him on foreign policy.\n\nTRUMP: Well, I hadn\u2019t thought of doing it, but if you want I can give you some of the names\u2026 Walid Phares, who you probably know, PhD, adviser to the House of Representatives caucus, and counter-terrorism expert; Carter Page, PhD; George Papadopoulos, he\u2019s an energy and oil consultant, excellent guy; the Honorable Joe Schmitz, [former] inspector general at the Department of Defense; [retired] Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg; Jeff Sessions was named as Trump's chief foreign policy advisor later that same day.\n\nMarch 2017:\n\nDid you meet Sergey Kislyak? \nPAGE: I'm not going to deny that I talked to him.\n\nExtra credit:\n\nJoe Schmitz, jumped out at me. Extreme Christian fascist white supremacist tied to Blackwater.\n\nhttp://tinyurl.com/hq48ekk\n\nOne happy family, of fascist traitors.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Sheer melodrama. Clinton has done more for the living than many, making her pro-LIFE. Anyway, the Republican promise to overturn Roe v. Wade is a con. Even if it came to pass (it won't), abortion would remain legal in the United States. So what's the payoff for voting for a travesty like Trump? Zilch.\n\nPerhaps the Catholic Church could concentrate on persuasion rather than coercion on the abortion issue. Women don't appreciate being bullied by prelates.\n\nYou're not even American? One less Republican voter, thank God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Don't Christians follow the teaching of Christ, then? You are saying that devout Christians do not believe, and say, that those who don't follow Christian beliefs are condemned to everlasting hell? Or at least, to purgatory? Without a human voice, does the Bible speak? No, it does not. By itself, does the bible communicate its message to the illiterate, or to the billions who have never seen it? No, it does not. So then, those billions, including those most saintly, are condemned to everlasting sorrow and punishment.\n\nIsn't that what you just said, or wrote, AT? Yes, it is. Next. you might write \"I never lie.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not an argument. \n-\nBut i'll give you some more examples:\nIn the east women are not taken seriously by courts and in the west men are not taken seriously. In Canada female circumcision is abhorrent but male circumcision is 'healthy.' The West is Christian and the East is Muslim, similar religions a with a staunch 'book of rules.'", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "recognize the Virgin birth\n---\nSo they recognize Jesus as son of God?\n\nOther than western media and maverick muslims do you have Islam scholars quotes to back that up?\n\nYou mentioned Jews seing Jesus as source of their troubles. But not the Muslims? Ever heard of crusades?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Which \"Church\" are you referring to...the Roman Catholic Church or the True Christian Church?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Problem is with the earth's population increasing by 80 million people a year, at some very distant date having cemeteries will no longer be viable. I think Christianity is nearing the point they could accept that and perhaps Jews, but Muslim's I am not so sure. I say bury all faiths together or allow no more burial sites whatsoever as they are a waste of land space and have nothing to do with Allah and/or God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Uhhhh....#culture ?\n\nKenoi is from Puna, not Punahou. He played middle linebacker. He's a moke with brains and ambitions. \n\nBTW, his high school football coach was, wait for it, Harry Kim. The same Harry who as Mayor addressed a state agricultural conference I attended along with local, national and international guests. Morning opening comments Harry chose, unscripted, to address the islands \"Ice\" problem. Dropped a few F-bombs before 8:30, in the am. Vulgar. Wrong subject, wrong room, wrong crowd. And why is this relevant?\n\nCommunity....Culture......Context\n\nBilly was at a frickin' party, a crowd of drunks (I've spoken to participants) and he was trying to give a toast without the aid of a mic. Coarse? Yes. Vulgar? No, not in context to who and where. \n\n Look no further than the actions of the cretin, a political opponent of the Mayor, after his strategic posting. Responses such as yours seem biblical, and not in a Christian way. Take off your hair shirt.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Rogue Chimp's comment was civil and in no way contravened the forum rules. But it was enlightening. It used the identical words spoken here against Muslims, but replaced Muslims with White Christians. You can imagine that got a lot of response from the bigots.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Communism is also a form of populism. And communist dictators killed far more people in the 20th century than even the fascist dictators did. If the Church leaders now fully embrace liberalism in all ways, including atheist communism/socialism and anti-Jesus Islam - then what is left? Why should any of us bother attending Mass weekly and give our offerings? Socialism and worldwide \"progressivism\" will feed all the poor - at least their bodies - but what of their spirit? Their souls? How are all the Venezuelans now doing under that progressive regime? Apparently imposed socialism doesn't actually even feed the people very well at all. Surely the Papacy is sending them millions of tons of food now. Right? Sell a few paintings off - unfortunately an anti-Catholic criticism all too easily for some to make.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why do you distort what orthodox Catholics say? I have never seen anyone here condemn anyone specifically to hell.\nThe quotation you give from the article is the height of arrogance. Who is Stephen Walford to accuse anyone of not knowing the Lord? Or for that matter what gives you the right to accuse people of having forgotten the Gospel?\nTalk about the intolerance of liberals!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bannon is an anti-Christ. He is a self-described Leninist. Which is hardly surprising since Trump himself is a life-long leftist (\"liberal\") who advocates against most tenets of true Catholic Christianity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One of the implications that we can draw from this article is the absolute necessity for the reporting of child abuse to CIVIL authorities - there should also be explicit changes in canon law that demands that hierarchs in the church to refer these allegations to civil authorities, avoiding the sheltering of criminals under canon law. \n\nRemaining silent about sexual assaults on especially children because of considerations of the confessional, or maintaining strict obedience from priests not to reveal what they know is archaic, unjust, and a violation of human rights.\n\nThe Catholic Church has proved over and over again that it is either incapable or unwilling to police, supervise, and case manage these sexual predators - whom the church has given places of esteem in the Catholic community, many times sheltering the predator by shifting him from parish to parish - which does nothing but provide fresh victims for these predators to exploit.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I know of many couples in mixed marriages. All involve a spouse raised Christian and the other raised Jewish. None of their children are Christian or Jewish; they're nothing. Maybe this is why so many people now identify as \"nones.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, I think we can rule out the Christians!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I wonder if David Grisham and his Repent Armarillo group also went to confront the \"Christian leaders\" who condoned the killing at Pulse in Orlando and publicly stated they wished more had died? Isn't this against God's teaching? Many people (Trump included) criticize Muslims for not doing enough to prevent the terrorist attacks. But shouldn't these people also criticize \"radical\" religious leaders for not doing enogh about their fellow Christian leaders violent statements supporting the killing of gays? The Orlando dead were God's children also.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Facts continued, The over 1.8 Billion Muslims Worldwide determine what Islam is or is not, not the minority Millions living at the U.S. , Europe, or other Nations.\n\nWhy Muslims cannot assimilate like the Japanese Immigrants did,\n\nMuslim definition by Muslims, Islamic Believer completely subjugated to Islam, \"Islam Is All\", All Politics, Laws, Religion, Culture, History, Ways of Life, that supersede the politics, laws, religions, cultures, history, ways of life of all other Nations, Countries. Therefore as Ordered by Islamic Laws the Muslims Must have Islam supersede \"Western Civilization and Culture\". The Holy Koran and Hadith are Modern Law for Muslims.\n\n\"Collaborators to the Christians, Jews and Unbelievers must die a horrible murdering to dwell in that firey place\".\n\n\"The God and Prophets of the Christians and Jews are False. They must be made to see this, they must become Subjugated to Islam\"\n\nMandatory Islamic Tithes to Support & Fund the Millions of Holy Warriors of Islam.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I see this as more of a global Church issue than just an American one. Until the changing demographics in the Church are reflected in it's leadership, the voices of \"black and brown\" Catholics everywhere will always be underrepresented. The growth areas of the Church are in the southern hemisphere, but the make-up of the College of Cardinals is still grossly tilted in favor of Western Europe and North America.\n\nPope Francis is trying to correct that imbalance by appointing more cardinals from the developing world, in particular nations that have never been represented before. That will have a ripple effect on the election of the next pope, the appointment of future bishops and, ultimately, on changes in Catholic culture. But it will take more than one papacy to get there. This has to be a long-haul process.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What on earth is a \"Christian heritage\"?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "<< If the liberal scholars are right--if Adam and Eve are nothing but a myth, so is Sodom and Gomorrah.>>\n\nIt's not that Adam & Eve are \"nothing\" but a myth. In reality this primordial event never happened. But the story of the Fall is an ingenious attempt to explain the dawn of consciousness, the reason for suffering, and the existence of evil. \n\n<>\n\nWell, the kingdom of God is a vision of social justice, so it seems you have a problem with Christianity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Canada needs to pass laws that separate the Church and State.\n_\nIslam, Judaism and Christianity are same religions, all with dead teachers for over 2000 years. Three dead religions.\n_\nThese religions are used to control people, for statism. They have nothing to do with spirituality.\n_\nChristian are 80% of Canada or post-christians. They are either scared of Islam or accept Islam. Since the 60's the US Christian have been creating war with Islam with Jews in the middle.\n-\nWe need to be rid of these cults once and for all. Keep them out of our government is the first step. Then our of our legal, medical and schools system.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would rather people choose science over religion too. However, as long as Christians and Jews are given their days of prayer off completely, it's only fair that Muslims are accommodated during break time on Fridays.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I can cite biblical facts as well as historical facts - why is that ludicrous ? Because you don;t like it ? That is not good enough. Not liking something is not proof of its non-existence (as if you could prove a negative).\n\nI didn't say that. Catholic Doctrine and Christian Doctrine are two entirely different things, and I am shocked you seem unaware of this. You also look at this issue from purely an nonspiritual POV as well, The Christian Church has grown and moved through history since the time of Christ, exactly like he said it would. And how do you claim to know exactly what every Catholic claims to think ? You are plainly and simply impeached by your own statements on this issue. When I mention facts they are based on what Scripture teaches and Church history, this is not a complicated issue. Again - you hold of strawmen and knock them over, because you do not believe (which is fine - it is your prerogative).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That is 100 % an impossibility. If you are pro life and vote and support candidates and a party that advocates full term and late term abortion at will then you cannot under any circumstance be pro life.\n\nYou have to look at where the candidates stand. Hillary wants us to be required to provide and pay for abortions and abortive medicines. She stated flat out in the debate she supports full term partial birth murder. HOW can ANY Catholic support her. Then there are the e - mails where she, through her campaign, states how \"backwards\" we are and advocates groups to sping to action when they can incite a \"Catholic Spring.\" SHE will use law and the courts to mandate the marrying of homosexuals and the providing of abortion procedures. No Catholic can vote for her.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus also commanded that we all treat each other no differently than we wish to be treated ourselves. That means that all must have equal access to the sacraments and vocation they have been called to as a matter of human dignity. Optional celibacy without ordaining women creates gender segregation and the subjugation of all women in our church to be voiceless compared to all men. Time we stood up and demanded an end to the hatred of women in our church.\n\nEvangelical Churches also have women pastors and leaders. Sexism is one the highest reasons young men and women give for leaving Catholicism. We must ordain women the same as men or we are not really Christian as we break his greatest commandment and so what difference does it make that we eat a communion of hatred since only a genuine communion of love can save anyone?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Righteous, not self-righteous. The perfection we seek is love. Not continence, which is stoic, not Christian. Classical Christianity got a bit too enamoured with Roman stoicism and misogyny. These come from Marcus Aurelius, not Christ._Thank you for using your own name.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You might be surprised. I agree with you. You give excellent rationales for Christian discipline that is healthy, not self-punishing. A \"prayer of the senses (not against the senses)\" is a great Lenten focus. Alas, the \"mortifications\" of my Catholic youth and young adulthood were never, ever about Christian gratitude to Christ. To the contrary: \"I deserve to suffer with Christ. I must bear the weight of His cross in addition to my own.\" \n\nMortification, as still taught by some, mandates self-invented punishment, unhealthy psychologically and spiritually. We know of those who administered sick self-\"whippings\" or the zealots who wore devices of pain and discomfort to remind them of their unworthiness or the \"saints\" who pridefully inflicted upon themselves the pains of Christ's passion (something that always sent me the signal: \"Christ, your greatest gift--given freely at 100%--was insufficient. I'll be the hero and keep the pain alive!\")\n\nThanks for your thoughts.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, there's also the erroneous claim of infallibility and the false teaching that Mary was physically assumed into heaven, which, according to the church is a mandatory belief for catholics. Those nonsensical add-ons to christianity are causes for avoiding the self-proclaimed one true church. Oh, and the ongoing support for child abusing priests.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Face palm I think my issue with this is that they need to end their contract with alyeska then the problem is solved; only the Catholics want to make an issue where there isn't one; generally a homosexual has no desire to be marred by someone who wouldn't accept them anyways; but in \"Catholic owned bldgs?\" If it's a destination spot frequented by all then maybe you should stop operating with them. Then the issue is mute.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Cry me a river. Maybe you should read up on the inquisition, the conquest of the americas, the holocaust, the Salem witch trials, etc... Religiosity, including Christianity, is responsible for the most violent atrocities committed on this planet. We need more intellectuals who use critical and rational thinking, and less fundamentalists who believe in the supernatural.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The Washington Post and the Kaiser Family Foundation...found that religion is a significant predictor of how Americans perceive poverty. Christians are much more likely than non-Christians to view poverty as the result of individual failings, especially white evangelical Christians.\"\n\nThe Washington Post also found that evangelical white Christians exhibit the same attitudes as southern confederates who hate dark-skinned folks.\n\nSo there is really no surprise that many trump lovers are evangelical Christians. They are essentially one in the same.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One day you're a True Christian, another day you think the old testament is a fairy tale. pretty schizo", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I haven't seen any reference in this thread to abandoning Saturday and Sunday. Random comments in here are hardly indicative of anything significant and you should take everything said with a grain of salt. At no point did I say or allude to it being shameful that our culture has a strong Christian basis. I do maintain that it is ironic and somewhat hypocritical to talk about our society being secular when so much of it has a religious origin. And there is nothing at all in this discussion about Christmas and Easter being \"offensive to some tiny minority\". You're reading far more into this than is actually there and it certainly has nothing to do with letting students use an empty classroom. Stay focused.\n\nYou're completely off base if you think having Muslims students pray in school is in anyway similar to the state sanctioned and enforced Christianity of previous decades. Your description of Islam as \"aggressive\" is quite telling.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You just made my argument for me. I said DEEPLY RELIGIOUS, as in the \"holy, devout quran reading muslims\" you referred to. The problem with christian, muslim or any other deeply religious, is with the small percentage that edge over into extremism. My point is that, combined with the other issues cited, \"deeply religious\" becomes a red flag.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "ChristianISTS is a highly IMPROPER term. Christians are simply people who belief in Christ. Pretty sad blanket statement. Why not just use the term religious fanatics? Radicals, as you then said, was even better. I'm not religious. There's a difference.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "also they believe following in the footsteps of Abraham and Ishmael wrong the children of Abraham and Ishmael were Christian Bedouins, not Muslims who believe in murdering when the Muslim revolution began in the seventh century so there not following in Abraham and Ismael footsteps.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Far left treats women as second class citizen\"... I am not a leftist nor close to one but as we can see in the US right now the far right would rather have women as non-class citizens . And the right has nothing to do with Islam, mostly Christians", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Denying that death is an evil has through church history been a rather common Catholic attitude, one that has led to unspeakable deadly evil at the hands of Catholics abusing their power over others.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually, it's spot on!\nWe no longer use state authority to burn Jews and \"witches\" at the stake for violating Christian doctrine, for example.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "At first glance, the questioning appeared inappropriate. However, now I think the Senators were trying to express their concern over whether the nominee was, what on this site, we call, \"orthotoxic\". It wasn't being Catholic that was the issue, it was the type of Catholic. \n\nOrthotoxic, ideological, political Catholics are a concern for the judiciary. Ideologues can't be objective. \n\nThe administration wants to give the evangelical base the judges they want. I'm curious to know what kind of judges they want and what these judges are supposed to do. The Scotus has already been politicized. I suppose the rest of the judiciary will be as well. \n\nI think this is the REAL concern of the Senators.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What Duterte does is kill drug dealers and even drug users. He says it is for 'retribution.'\nWhat Canada does is imprison people for many years for drugs which is a sort of slow torturous death of the soul. Canada claims it is for 'justice.'\n:\n Philippines and Canada are both Christian states.\n:\nCan Canada really say there are much different to Duterte's Philippines?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "a catholic priest molested children? Surprise, surprise, surprise.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Once again trying to establish links and associations that are not there because you have no substantive argument.\n\n\"your derisive attitude toward Christians is now clearly exposed for all to see.\"\nWhy? Because I disagree with your take on an issue--you-- the apparent arbiter of all things Christian? And read my response again. I said you were blinded by your ideology. Not your religion. The latter is simply a contributor to the former. There is an important distinction.\n\nSet up your straw men and knock them down if it makes you feel better. It is a technique you have perfected over time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Istanbul (Constantinople) was founded as the new centre for Christianity in 330 AD which was 400 years before Mohammed was born.\nNow an Islamist is purging all opposition to his reign.\nFunny how Islam is spread through the use of violence and oppression", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is no list. Based on their past actions, they are excused from following all of Jesus' teachings. They even declared a man a saint despite ample evidence he protected child rapists. I'm think Jesus might have disapproved of that sort of thing, but not the Bishops.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Kudos to Brandii Holmdahl (my rep), Kelly Cooper and Willy Dunne for voting against the override. \n\nI tire of christians. They demand recognition of their believed superiority at every opportunity. And like Mormons, when they lose a perceived religious freedom issue, they hide behind the skirts of persecution, and cry mightily.\n\nI've never understood why christians feel the need to proselytize and convert. They've found something great that satisfies their soul; why is it so important that I share in it? In other words, leave me alone. And in this case, leave the Assembly to pursue good government without this wholly unnecessary and illegal distraction.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Speaker Ryan is an avowed Randist; hardly consistent with Catholic teaching on charity. The accompanying picture of fellow catholic pols...all hail fellow well met; meanwhile undermining the very social safety net that kept his family out of poverty and sent him to college after his father's untimely demise. \nHe may have been born Irish and catholic but he was also born with a heart \"two sizes too small.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you. I read the article and was astonished at Fr Doyle's animus towards the Catholic Church. I watched a YouTube video of Fr Doyle being interviewed by a woman who repeatedly referred to the problem as THE RAMPANT abuse of children in the Catholic Church. Doyle could never claim that he was unaware that he was being set up. He appeared in video in what looked like a football shirt which hardly identified him as a Catholic priest let alone a Dominican, I understand he no longer lives in the fraternal community.\nHe has turned an awful episode in the post-Conciliar Church into a media circus. Disapproval and condemnation of the abuse is one thing and is quite legitimate but he has not stopped there, he has gone public. He has blamed the institution itself for the scandal, the institution of the Church by Jesus Christ, Himself.\nWithout a doubt Satan has his fifth column in our midst. Some of us recognise this, most, alas, don't.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And yet Christian do not follow Jewish food laws, or have to get circumcised. Why is that?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The church demonstrated that some of its hierarchy are comfortable with catholic children being tortured, physically punished, and in some cases killed through malnutrition and abuse before having their corpses tossed in a cesspit. So, there's that behavior. Sort of like ISIS and the taliban.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What term would you prefer to use for people who automatically assume that all Muslim's are potential terrorists, that all want to impose Sharia law, that Muslim's should be banned from Christian countries ... these are real things, as a short trip through comments on this article will show. It seems a name for this belief system would be useful. Is 'homophobia' a term that is acceptable to you?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Will prime minister selfie condemn this latest mass murder of Christians. I bet we won't hear a peep out of him. Also, will the Muslim writers featured so frequently in the G&M condemn this hateful act. They are always implying that Canadians are so intolerant. They need to be just as vocal about denouncing their own intolerance.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of course, non-Catholic churches may not be \"functioning\" all that well, as they are bleeding membership at high rates.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pan - I read what Collins objected to is that Pell was treated differently than other clerics who are accused. When a priest is accused, he is removed from active ministry until the accusations are investigated. But Pell was not. Or, at least that is how I think priests are treated in this country, some European countries, and also, I think, in Australia. Don't know how \"universal\" that is. \n\nPell did not voluntarily step down nor did Pope Francis require it of him. I think it is a fair issue to raise: Does rank exempt a bishop or cardinal from standing aside from normal duties when a (lower in rank) priest charged with sexual abuse would be required to stand aside from normal duties?\n\n The optics aren't good. It looks as if the Church were treating an accusation of sexual abuse as not very important.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If I were a doctor and someone came to me and asked me to kill them and I said I couldn't but I knew someone who could and referred them to him, do you seriously think that I would not be complicit in the death of that person? \nIt is the same as if one of your children asked me to supply him/her with cocaine and I said I couldn't but put him/her in touch with a dealer. Would you not hold me responsible for your child taking class A drugs?\nYes, there was a case in Sweden and a similar one in Scotland. Also a Catholic care home in Belgium was taken to court and fined for not allowing a resident to be euthanised on its premises. Now fining may not be as wicked as ISIS cutting off heads but nevertheless it is persecution.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When we see Muslims agreeing to burials next to Jews, Catholics, native Indians, etc. than we'll know they are serious about integration.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "totally agree. I remember the 60's seeing Roman Catholic priests locked arm in arm with MLK and other faith groups. Didn't see one on the news clips I saw but saw plenty of our Protestant sisters and brothers walking bravely into the breech. oh, I did see Cardinal Wuerl in the Rose Garden standing behind the man called The President as he signed an executive order for the Little Sisters of the Poor.\nthese bishops have danced with the devil indeed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Who's to say he/she isn't afraid of fundamental Christians or the type of American Christians we have in the Republican party? I know I'm afraid of them too. \nAs a woman, I can say I have definitely been discriminated against several times by Muslims. I have never discriminated against them. Is it not rational for me to be afraid they will continue to discriminate against me?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Who exactly are you getting beaten up by? Read a book on white privilege and really try to absorb it. Until you are in the minority, and you are constantly judged, stereotyped, and presumed to fit a list of expected characteristics and behaviors, you dare not say such a thing. It's mind-blowing, and I promise you would never say something like this, even in jest. In so doing, you whimsically belittle every person who has ever actually been the victim of discrimination. I had a colleague once who said, \"I'm not prejudice, I hate all people.\" He was a straight, white, Christian male living in suburban Chicago. He used to think that was so funny, but no one else in the office thought it was funny. When you are in the majority, you can make jokes about discrimination, you can pretend or even actually not 'get it', you can walk the tightrope between acting and not acting on your inherent biases toward others. When you are on the other end of it, you would not nor joke about it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But conservative Catholics WANT to restore the patriarchy, of course. (Not that it ever left.) For them it's an attractive feature of the whole restorationist, authoritarian regime.\n\nIf I may, what is the \"Libertarian Left\"? A bit of an oxymoron.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's not a question of supporting \"intolerant cultures\", I think it's about not supporting the intolerant \"aspects\" of cultures. If we go around labelling an entire culture as wholly intolerant then we lose the opportunity to find common ground and a starting place to address what we find to be intolerant. Just today there was an article about skewed sex ratios in children of Indo-Canadian women of Punjabi origin. Does this mean we label Punjabi's as intolerant? Or Indians as a whole? If we see this as sexual discrimination then how do we reconcile it with the fact that Catholicism doesn't allow female priests? Is Catholicism therefore intolerant? Or is this acceptable since it's only restricting females, not aborting them? Is Catholicism even a \"culture\" or is it just a religion? Do we label all Muslims as intolerant just because of the actions of some? Do we label all Christians as intolerant because there are some who oppose same sex marriage? This isn't history, it's happening now.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh good grief! As I read this article I was reminded of the old adage of a poor excuse is better than none at all. The baffle-gab inherent throughout was colossal. Then again trying to explain why the church has not moved on the the majority of the items passed in 1965 takes an almost serpentine bending of the truth. It should be obvious to anyone with more than a couple of brain cells that the whole thing is being stalled by those who see themselves as losing power or prestige or both if Vatican II is passed. Every couple of years the whole thing is trotted out to try to convince the lait that something is being done when we know absolutely nothing has changed except that those saying it is going forward have grown more strident and, frankly IMHO, lame. They remind me of those saying the train is moving and on time when we all know we are still sitting in the station.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Cardinal Newman had a memorable epithet for those who insist on being 'more Catholic than the Pope': the 'aggressive insolent faction'.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "RD, you raise, as usual, a false dichotomy. The last SJ rally I was at there were all manner of people: female, male, heterosexual, homosexual, African, Caucasian, Asian, Native American, immigrant, native born, Protestants, Catholics, Orthodox, Jews, Muslims, Nones. Many of them had infants and toddlers. They change diapers AND righteously protest injustice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We need a law protecting young boys from Catholic Priests. That's what is really needed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "oh for the sake of god ! - these people were having a cookout. how do you come off ...not just criticizing , but PREACHING? \nRomans 6:23 KJV (red flag right there) and mike conrad ...\" And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient\" - guess I missed the part about the satan worshipping between flipping the burgers. *** \" For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23 KJV)\" **** to have posted this in response to the death of these 2 people... i wonder what \"gift\" from god you received.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "These forays into reconciliation are always so one-sided. The sanctimonious Canadians who share a monarch with England ask the Catholics to apologize... but apologizing never occurs to the Canadians and the Brits for their monarchy's sins. What sins you say? The pro-Apartheid penal laws that marginalized and subjugated the Catholic peasantry, particularly in Ireland and Scotland. The genocide and ethnic cleansing that for centuries victimized the Scots and Irish Catholics. Where are the offers to tear down the statues of Queen Victoria who presided over Ireland's Famine... never mind her wars to force opium on the Chinese.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"affectedly or excessively delicate, refined, or nice: precious manners.\" Used in that sense by the Saturday Night Live Church Lady. \n\n\"Created and played by Dana Carvey, The Church Lady is a mature woman named \u201cEnid Strict,\u201d who is the uptight, smug and pious host of her own talk show, Church Chat. Enid is a spoof of \u201cholier-than-thou\u201d Christian churchgoers.\"\nhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Church_Lady\n\nUs working-class folks don't care what you middle-class folks consider classy. Or precious. Just another way of trying to keep us in line.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "God has spoken that apostasy shall not overcome the Light [prevail forever]; but, we are in the midst of great crisis. The children of Christian civilization have repudiated the foundation for Blessing;...Law and [B]order. The Truth of Liberty and Freedom has been transformed into liscence. And now the walls have fallen for uncultured hoardes of uncivilized savages to rape, rob, and plunder. A plague of devouring locusts sent for judgement to destroy the blessings. JOEL 2:3\nWhy do the clergy cast off all fear of God?...holding to a servile sycophantic cult-like addling, mesmerized by this messiah of apostasy like rats after the pied-piper.\nThe Mighty God judge with fire the judas-clergy aiding and abetting this globalist criminal enterprise.....or, better yet, let fear have her imperfect work. Proverbs 9:10", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The State President by the famous name Zuma is the best ever black person hated and cursed, unholy, terrible ever in Africa worst than in Europe, German Hitler who killed so many Jews,American Bush in Iraq,Israelists atrocities against Palestinians, in a Holy South Africa John Vorster,Jimmy Kruger and M C Botha massacred of school children in 1976 for a language.\n\nZuma has killed who? massacred who?Why so much hatred even God is wondering after all Jesus Christ was crusified for people's sins.\n\nAfrica admires this man,he travels arround the world,he is most respected and less hated by his countrymen.I am ashamed of being a South African I wish I was not born here.Hating myself,digracing me,painting my country in black paint.Nevertheless I am still deep rooted in my Africanism which is skin deep.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bishop Paprocki speaks of same sex marriage causing scandal in the Church. How scandalized must the Church be by a priest who forces people in need of the sacraments, in need of teaching, and in need of the love of Christ out of Christ's Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually, he's very funny. I like him. \n\nThe reason left wing authoritarians hate him so much and want to shut him down is not because they are afraid of his ideas. It's because they fear so much the sound that comes from his audience. \n\nLaughter.\n\nIt seems to be the right that went out and got him this time. I suspect they just didn't like seeing a gay Jewish Catholic become so prominent in their ranks.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I thought Rep. Ryan was a libertarian? A Catholic? An evil Vulcan?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic Church has been \"in schism\" for 50 years. Where has this author been?\nChrist does not co-habitate in a soul steeped in mortal sin....He leaves .....ergo those who receive in the state of mortal sin gain nothing and are only digging a deeper place in Hell for themselves. Catholics have merrily been receiving Communion sacrilegiously for a long\ntime.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Humanism is not secular. A God that is not a Humanist has clay feet. Morality is about human life, not some angelic future. Moderism is not secular, it is about dealing with fact, whether in evolution or archeology. The story about Original Sin and Salvation must change, as well as homosexulaity and birth control. Democracy is not secular. It worked in the early Church and it will work in an age where Medievalism needs to be buried. These forces are not secular. They are a demand from inside the Church to change. Start with Continence, which is stoicism and bigotry, not purity and the rest of the reactionary artifice in the Church will fall away.\n\nThe Christian Left does not stop at the Church door. We do not grant the bishops sanctuary. We are coming inside to slap him in the face so he can receive the Holy Spirit (of Prophesy), whom he has been running from for too long.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think that the hypocrisy has more to do with it. My main issue with the Catholic Church and why I still have major issues with it is because the rich seem to get away with so much because they are rich (i.e. school, special access, annulments, etc.) That seems so against the Gospel message that it isn't even funny. \n\nAnd yes, I have dealt with very conservative Catholics. I went to UIUC and the Newman Center there is teeming with them. I actually walked out of a sermon by the pastor there which I found incredibly offensive. And that was back when we were still having Mass in English. It was even worse when I got there. The main Mass on Sundays at the church connected with the Newman Center is now in Latin. When I went to grad school there, I didn't attend Mass because of it. (And this is just my direct experience. I've also interacted with quite a few people from Christendom and Steubenville.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is the Taliban mindset which causes irreparable strife and discontent... and it the RC culture hadn't shifted away from imperial/triumphant mode the two might find themselves as strange bedfellows, albeit adversarial ones as both religions use (or have used) violence/coercion/perversion to bind subjects to their respective faith traditions and beliefs... a far cry from the essence of Christ's gospel message, wouldn't you agree?\n\nDo you ever visit the RadTrad sites and observe the tone and tenor of some the commentary? I appreciate that you are for the most part civil but the herd mentality I have seen makes one wonder to what length they might go to be rid of us nasty heretics (i.e., progressives, protestants, etc.)... this is the \"sickness\" which +Francis speaks about, a complete abandonment of gospel principles in favor of their cherished ideology.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And I appreciate your parenting. But the fact is that I have been, as most men have been, arrogant and insensitive to women. At best we show condescension, something that can only come from a person who feels they are in a higher position. I spent many years, happily, in a Midwestern evangelical church. Most men still assume they are the 'anointed' head of their household. Several believed that their religious 'insight' was reserved for a male perspective. \n\nBut there are many ways to show the Spirit in our lives and most of them have nothing to do with the complexity of language or the strength of our bodies. Women are every bit an equal to men, and biology means nothing in death. The church may continue to be dominated by men, but they hold no special position in the non-physical world, or in the eyes of God. It's a church created hierarchy based on human arrogance, not God's will. \n\nPeace, Paul", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wish Francis would do some more talking about shepherd's trusting the sheep. We have a vast difference in understanding about contraceptives, gay marriage, sexuality in general, other issues - between the sheep and the shepherds. But Francis does not seem inclined to want to listen when these are the subjects. \n\nI admit, though, that Francis may be playing a longer game. If he can get the stupid bishops to make lay synods routine and lay councils mandatory and empowered to oversee a bishop - he may finally get some mechanisms in place in which the voice of the \"sheep\" can be heard by the \"shepherds.\" He is starting with trying to get them to listen to each other. But they still are not listening outside the ranks of the male, celibate, ontologically special ones who don't have a lay person's life experience.\n\nThe Catholic church is not structured to be a listening Church and I don't think they can be a \"listening\" church without giving some power away. Will they?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Rabbis have said Sodom and Gomorrah was about inhospitality. It was only later uptight Christian theologians who said it was about homosexuality.\nYou're forgetting Abraham offered up his daughter if the men of the town left the strangers alone.\nSo, why was that okay?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Whats the matter denglish4,Breitbart doesn't meet your standards???\n Is it because you and your ilk cant control the message???\nJust a couple of today stories that are definitely not making the list of APPROVED MESSAGING from left wing controlled big media. \n-How Steve Bannon Conquered CPAC and the Republican Party\u2019\n-Sean Spicer Gives CNN Public Dressing-down in Press Gaggle\n-Ashley Judd: Trump\u2019s Election Victory Worse than Being Raped\n-Iraqi Christians Raise Giant Cross on Land Liberated from Islamic State\n-Trump tower opens in Vancouver but the welcome isn\u2019t warm\n-Donald Trump Thrills Conservatives at CPAC: \u2018I\u2019m Not Representing the Globe; I\u2019m Representing Your Country\u2019\n-Farage at CPAC: 2016 Was The Beginning of a Great Global Revolution - THIS IS A MUST SEE, LINK BELOW:\nhttp://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/02/24/farage-cpac-2016-beginning-great-global-revolution/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is what NCR Catholics have come to -- calling half the nation (including Catholics who voted for Trump) sympathizers of the KKK.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"As a white Christian, I'm disgusted that so many in my family of faith played a key role in electing a bully who boasts about sexual assault, defines all Muslims by the actions of an extreme few, called Pope Francis \"disgraceful\" and mocked a disabled reporter.\"\n\nLet me add to your list, please. We elected the guy who attacked the American presidency with pervasive lies because he didn't like the man or his policies. We elected the guy who attacked the American system of voting and continues to weaken that system with his unproven tweets. \n\nAdd \"non-patriot who attacks the United States\" to your list. That might (might) get the attention of those who need to hear this. \n\n One more thing.......stop the Hillary comparisons, please everyone. Hillary is gone. There are no \"two evils\" from which to choose. There is only Trump. We will judge him on his own actions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Trump will go away someday- the problem is that tens of millions of Americans support a man who was clearly unqualified by experience, knowledge and temperament, a man who is both amoral and immoral, and a man who got (and still gets) loud applause for insulting millions of innocent Latinos, millions of innocent Muslims, encouraging white supremacists with his nods and winks and statements about \"fine\" individuals in their midst, and who even mocked a disabled person, while also reducing women to sex objects. Yet millions voted for him, including women, including a majority of white Catholics, including a majority of so-called \"christians\". Trump will pass, but will the \"movement\" he unleashed - of hatred, of fear, of scapegoating, pass with him? Jeff Sessions is pursuing a racist agenda at DOJ, the Republicans in Alabama nominated a man so bigoted he was removed from the courts. You see many here who defend Trump and his agenda. What does that say about the state of our nation?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A slap in the face to millions of American Catholics.\n\n\"We thank you and praise you,\" all you Catholics who agree with Sister's list of Intentions?\n\nWhat about the rest of us, i.e., the millions of Catholics who see the common good served another way, with another candidate?\n\nShould we consider ourselves deeply fallen, even evil?\n\nThat is your prayer Sister, and it's conclusions. But it is not the prayer of millions of us. We aren't evil.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Until our church leaders-lay leaders & otherwise, own the truth that complimentary beliefs about men & women are a lie, told to us by our hierarchy to try, and justify breaking the great commandment of Christ, to only treat all others the same and with love, to try & justify the hate filled discrimination based ordination policies of our church, we will never get the young back into our churches.\n\nSecular, according to our church's labeling, means anyone who believes discriminating and treating women differently & less sacred than men and treating LGBT as the enemy of God is wrong.\n\nThe problem with that label is that it also means all those secular people are actual real Christians because they are doing the Gospels we are treating like a joke to be laughed at and ignored. There is no such thing as women's roles or black people's roles, etc. Such defining is an attack against the human being who should be supported in all roles they are capable of performing, such as women priests.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh the political insights of post VII rhetoric. The liberlisation and drizzle read often by the \"enlightened\" Catholics of the Americas keeps NCR alive and kicking. Always searching for but never able to reach that promised land: Catholicism. \" You brood of vipers! how can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment men will render account for every careless word they utter; for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.\u201d Let me just pick up my pearls before I leave...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Marty E are you sure your concern about the sex lives of others is healthy for you? Fancy even thinking about whether Peter \"engaged in relations\" with his spouse! Sorry if the sex train left you behind. That particular ride was established by God almighty long before anybody started imposing rules on others. Roman Catholicism would well be rid of such senseless anxiety. There are much bigger fish to fry and, as the Master taught, distribute equitably.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You agree that divorced and/or remarried Catholics should not have Catholic funerals either, lest we celebrate the divorce lifestyle? The adultery lifestyle? The fornicating lifestyle? The adultery lifestyle? The lustful lifestyle?\n\nThere will be a very, very short list of people eligible for Catholic funerals.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "John 3:16 proclaimed as a guilt-enhancing reminder that God sent Jesus to suffer for human sin? I always heard that verse as just how much God loves us. Liberal Catholics can be such downers.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Islam still holds grudges going back 1000 years. The Crusades were actually an attempt to get back for Europe the Christian lands of Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, and most importantly Jerusalem stolen by Muslims in bloody thirsty conquest. Islam was determined to exterminate Christianity, and still is.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Taxes pay for teachers to take Christian holidays off completely. How is accommodating Muslims during break time on Fridays worse than this?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Catholic sites that you don't agree with should be \"removed\"?\n\nWhat in the world are you saying, Don in Kansas?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The fact that soooooo many 'christians' exist to be able to elect this waste of human skin is really a verdict on all org religions.\n\nThere were plenty of NY/east coast Jews that voted for this criminal. Spread that blame around ... \n\nMy Atheism stands tall in these modern times. Morally, there would be NO WAY i'd vote for such a horrible human being.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Sigh...my question is simple: What practicle purpose would a so-called \"papal visit\" serve, really? He'll show up,smile and wave to the crowds, kiss a few babies, deliver one of his interminably boring homilies, and so what? After he leaves, South Sudan will...What? If the Roman Catholic Church is so keen on helping, send aid and money, NOT useless,idolatrous figureheads.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The Pope does not subscribe to a consistent life ethic when he continues to allow child rapists to administer sacraments to children and their families all over the globe. He is responsible for the failure of the Vatican's commission to prevent child sex abuse and for the resignation of Marie Collins. Pro-Life beliefs do include justice for children already here, even those who experience sexual violence by catholic priests and bishops.\n\nAW", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Cardinal Sarah for pope at the next conclave!\n\nThat will raise the profile of Catholics of color and make liberal Catholic heads explode!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "This was censored by the Globe and Mail's Islamic censorship board that overrules freedom of thought and speech for some very subjective non-journalistic crap from a very religious person that should be relegated to the Religious page, not the reality page. \n\n\nDuring the, \"Cold War\", Godless Communists were the enemy. Which brings to mind something odd about the use of the word enemy. The Author used the word enemy inappropriately. Certainly, we can all agree that the communists were and are still our enemy. We spend trillions to protect against being vapourized by communist bombs.\n\nKindness is a Christian virtue. Maybe if those hateful Pagans actually converted to Christianity, they would be kind to the rest of us Christians, Jewish and agnostics. Until them, don't expect any kindness from the religion that denied Jesus was the true road to salvation. You know, the anti-Christ religion.\n\nWhy is the above considered to be un-civil? Just pure censorship from her friends.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Muslims and liberals excoriate us about Islamophobia, but we should bear in mind Islam's entrenched racism, xenophobia, homophobia, misogyny, anti-Semitism, hatred of Christianity, Europe and America, destructive iconoclasm, and even Islamophobia against each other. Ancient tribal wars between Kurds, Shiite, Sunni, Wahhabi, Druze and other Islamic sects, ISIS , Taliban and Al Quada are the root causes of most of the wars and social chaos happening around the world today. They are not here to share in what we have built in Canada, but to take it.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "What Mr. Gehring saw, although he will never admit it, were people who disagree with him (and me) on the interpretation of Catholic teaching and its implementation. It has been the constant position of NCR that people who disagree are entitled to a place at the table without being demonized -- a precedent set rather early by the decision to include not one, but four gospels that portray Jesus' life and teaching in different lights. The idea that people who disagree with us are hypocrites is one of the most sophomoric ideas possible.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "They're not Christians, they're ChristianISTS. They wish to spread their religious beliefs by force. They're religious radicals in the same vein as the radicalized Islamists who bomb everything.\n\nIt's just unfortunate that you rarely hear Christians condemn the radicals in their midst...", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Ugh..... check the morning paper Father, some two dozen theologians/clergy have just released a statement in support of the Cardinals. God willing, this will be the groundswell that retires or converts Pope Francis, and puts Vatican II in history's waste bin.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I haven't seen any beheadings, burnings or drowinings lately by Christian groups. Please link me to them. BTW, did you know that President Andrew Jackson was the first Progressive president (Democrat) that was the beginning of the KKK? Even Democratic Senator Strom Thurmond belonged to the KKK!!!! The Democrat Party used the KKK as its militant arm to \"put down\" blacks in the South.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "It was WHITE Catholics who voted for Trump in large numbers. Catholics of color were smarter.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"If Donald Trump is the Next Hitler then I am joining his SS to put an end to Monotheist Question. All Zionist Jews, All Christians who do not follow Christ's teaching of Love, Charity, and Forgiveness And All Jihadi Muslims are going to Madagascar or the Ovens/FEMA Camps!!! Does this make me a fascist!!!\" --Jeremy Christian", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic Church knows first hand what happens when you allow homosexual males to have close contact with young boys.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I guess next bill will be anti -christian phobia. .", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I was born Catholic, left for 8 years in my 20's and came back begrudgingly although Mary would have it no other way. Explored almost all the main stream protestant faiths and had to humbly embrace the Church as it was most in tune to the Bible. That was 21 years ago. I teach Catechism, I prepare those preparing for Confirmation and am very active in a Catholic school for 20 years. SO I am very Catholic, and Pope Ratzinger is my guy. Francis has great teachings on helping the poor and servitude, but he has lost it. He has become a Puppet for the globalist and the global warming folks. \"WHom am I to judge a gay priest.\", Divorced Catholics who remarry can recieve Holy Communion, and all the global warming nonsense is getting ridiculous. His latest statement saying their are no Muslim Terrorist was just the nail in the coffin for this Politician. Did not work the last time our Popes decided to be political. Praying for a new Pope every day", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Stealing to support his evangelical habit?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The threat isn't just terrorism. \nThere's plenty of racism where I work and it's not the white Christians - it's mainly the Muslims that don't respect womans views, or anyone they view as subordinate to them.\nIt's also about what kind of society do you want to live in. Preferring free, open, fair & equal isn't unreasonable.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Everyone construes a God in their own image. It is a truism of theology. Last I checked, St. Augustine was Catholic. Anselm is too, but he is not the entire Church. There are quite a few of us who do not believe God is an ogre. More and more all the time and to keep those we have, a new understanding that does not compel obedience at the point of damnation is necessary. That is not faith, it is making God a codependent. These ideas did not originate with me although I am giving voice to what a lot of people are thinking. So did Erasmus. Last I checked, he was Catholic too and unlike me, very gay.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Peggy! You're back! How was the Christmas market? Did you meet lots of refugees there? \n\nI'm glad that you're here to remind everyone that whatever may be true of some communities (and let's face it, exaggerations abound), Christians are always a million times worse.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "from above --\n\nMy nephew and three of his friendsa spent a year in Iraq attached toi a Striker Unit and went on daily patrols on foot. WHY should they put their lives on the line for the GOP agenda of death for profits and OIL??? Especially since Scalia and the GOP war for profits. \nScalia was Italian just like me and my family. So SAD!!! \nWhen the USCCB stops being a super-pac for the GOP and returns to being a religion then maybe... \nFor the godless, soulless, money-grubbing GOP that thinks it is a gift from God but is only from Satan there is NO hope.\nWhen the CC decides that people are more important than human beings and returns to the path of Christ instead of the path of Republicanism than I will re-evaluate my position on the church. \n\nIf you still don't get it then you never will. Aren't you people just a bunch of slugs and parasites on this planet. Just continue taking from the little people and see where you end up. \nWhen you don't know just read and learn.\n\n'nuff said.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You might want to take another look at some of Jefferson's writings in that regard. As for the salafis, they were my enemies before you ever heard of 'em. But isn't proscribing and/or mandating certain faiths kind of...er...unconstitutional? You'll look pretty silly arguing for a 'white Christian only' Alaska though, considering how those who named it and have resided here the longest are neither Christian nor white. Perhaps you should got try to found your 'White Christian State' in Norway or something. Doubt they'd have you, though...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Let's remember that George W Bush started calling it a religion of peace and Obama is just carrying the baton. Both presidents claim to be Christian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So, I guess the folks who contracted Hep C via blood transfusion are somehow at fault? Or how about the folks who contracted it via dialysis, are they at fault for not following God's will? I love how judgmental so many \"Good Christian\" folk seem to be.\n\nhttp://www.epidemic.org/thefacts/hepatitisc/transmission/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Does one somehow forget the Roman Catholic litmus test of anti-abortion that first started the intra-Catholic political divisions that play themselves out on NCR almost the same as they do on the \"Catholic Integralist\" blogs and websites. \n\nSo easy to fall into the trap of casting the other as the deplorable. Do we progressives bear some responsibility for driving our Romanist sisters and brothers to the extremes of certainty and security to which they have gone with their fortnights of liberty and other militant fundamentalist positions?\n\nIf we weren't so focused on trying to convert each other to our respective positions on Catholic theology, governance, and liturgy...perhaps we would be as tolerant as the Eastern and Western Catholic Churches have likewise become. Then, not being forced into defensive postures, there would be no \"crazy conservative\" or \"crazy liberal\" Catholics...just Catholics with diverse ways of being One, Holy,Catholic/universal... https://RiteBeyondRome.com", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The liberal bias to defend the muslim is interesting. Do they voice such concern for the Catholics and Protestants? \n\nAs a Lutheran I was brought up to never lie to anyone, irrespective of their beliefs. No one ever spoke of killing someone who wasn't a Lutheran. I laugh at the thought of someone trying to tell my Grandmother, Mum or sisters how to dress or what to wear. That's killer.\n\nI personally don't care what God a person chooses to worship. But don't put it in my face.\n\nIt's not socially appropriate for other Satan worshipers to don their silly garb and symbols of slavery and parade around. Why is it appropriate we think muslims should? \n\nPlease help me with this questions:\n1. Why do so many muslims move to historically white Christian nations?\n2. There are approximately 50 muslim majority countries in the world. Please list the ones where a person can exist in freedom, openly express their views? Live any non-violent lifestyle they want? Be happy?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It also stated that all non-Catholics are doomed to hell. Pope Eugenius made the proclamation at the Council of Florence in 1441. It reads \"The Church firmly believes, professes and proclaims that those not living within the Catholic Church, not only pagans, but also Jews and heretics and schismatics cannot become participants in eternal life but will depart into everlasting fire.....even he who has shed blood for the name of Christ cannot be saved unless he has remained in the bosom and unity of the Catholic Church.\" So, there are some among us, in their fervor for Church infallibilty, would hold those beliefs as well.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So, married priests would have conflicted commitments? Show me one socially responsible adult who doesn't. To be a committed, loving human being is to be pulled in different directions from time to time. How a person navigates those conflicts both builds and reveals their character.\n\nThe notion that priests are somehow different from other clergy -- and from other Christian adults, for that matter -- is unhealthy and, ultimately, indefensible. I hope that a celibate priesthood will always be a respected part of Catholic tradition, but I see no logical reason why a married priesthood couldn't as well.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would like to move away from posting in this forum for sound spiritual reasons, and to better maintain a positive attitude. However, as I have previously expressed critical comments with a level of vitriol uncommon even for me, perhaps a more nuanced evaluation is in order. \n From the perspective of the lay Catholic or ex-Catholic the hypocrisy in the emphasis on contraception by the Bishops is obvious, even if those in authority don't see it. The fact is that most, better than 90% of Catholics (we assume married, or quite another problem presents itself) are using artificial means of contraception. How does their religious liberty matter in this debate? \n The elephant in the room is the liturgy, more recently crafted to mimic a dead language for a dead church. There is hope for the church in the long term, but how many are willing to persevere for the sake of tradition remains to be seen. A new generation will have no experience with the Vatican II church, only its ghost.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Church teaching cannot be compromised to stop people from leaving the Church.\n\nJesus also lost disciples. \n\nCatholicism is what it is. We can't change who we are based on whether people stay or leave.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When my Jewish neighbor passed away, I was asked by his family to read Kaddish in English at his graveside ceremony following a reading in Hebrew by a the local rabbi. With only my neighbor's immediate family, my wife, and another neighbor standing before the casket over an open grave during a beautiful California morning, the beauty and power of the Kaddish prayer resonated with its simple acknowledgement of \"the One\". \n\nI have two Jewish sons-in-law, one of whom was raised in Israel. One of my final wishes is for them to read Kaddish at my funeral, both in Hebrew and English. Hopefully this request would be deemed acceptable from both Jewish and Catholic perspectives.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The most extreme example is the GOP marriage of politics and Christianity. This while they actively seek the destruction of institutions and legislation meant to protect the environment, provide healthcare, protect voting rights, improve education, workers rights and protection, and reverse civil rights for groups such as LGBT!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'll agree with you about the media. But I don't follow Constantine's Christianity. I'm just a simple Christian who doesn't believe in religions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I wouldn't make much of it, Jay. There are bound to be Catholic casualties, as it were (or casualties among the adherents of any dominant religious tradition) , in a religious market place open to proselytism, competition, sheep hustling, etc. Mormons flooded Chile, especially during the Pinochet era, and are now suffering the consequences of Mormon overreach and their building spree. Many Chileans thought Mormonism would bring them instant American wealth as if the angel's golden wings atop a temple would open and close them to money, only to be disappointed later on. Now Mormon missionaries are flooding Europe, to a degree. George Romney was a missionary in Paris, France. His success rate was poor. Why some people are attracted to it, including Catholics, is a mystery. Mormonism is a cloud of ambiguity wrapped in American myth. Foolish to try to tear it apart to figure or compute conversions when such religious transformations are often as short-lived as weeks in a person's life.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pandora asks the question: \"why drag it (the article) out again?\" And the answer is: today is Friday, March 24, 2017 and Speaker Ryan is trying to have a vote on repealing the ACA with a piece of legislation that simply does not pass the \"Catholic social justice\" test. We all remember the comment, \"Actions speak louder than words.\" Speaker Ryan has written and endorsed a bill which almost guarantees that the rich will get richer, insurance companies will increase profits, and the poor will get poorer. This is why the article needs to be read by more and more Catholics, voters, physicians, editorial writers and the general public.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Anti-Pope is a Marxist, not a Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you are a voluntary member of a religion, and the religion teaches that certain behaviors should not be engaged in, and you willfully engage in said behaviors without expression of remorse, you should be booted from the religion. Ideally, to avoid such action on the part of the religion, you should just leave voluntarily.\n\nIt's really not that hard. The issue with people who embrace their same-sex attraction is not Catholicism; it's their willful decision to engage in and/or embrace acts that are deemed sinful by the Church. If you want sin to be determined by the membership, then you want to be part of a social club not a religion.\n\nIf you so disrespect the Church's teaching on sin, then why do you have such respect for its provision of Communion and last rights? It is just homosexuals fighting for homosexuals by attacking the Church; this has nothing to do with homosexuals desire for Catholic sacraments.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The secular far left, the Sanders Democratic Socialists, have a penchant for the atheism of Marx, although the Christian Left is still tolerated. We must be trusted as well, bringing forth a vision where a libertarian democratic socialist cooperative might fund its own school in lieu of taxes and that the school might even be Catholic if the cooperative decides its a good idea. The same is true for using Catholic Health facilities for medical care. Government will eventually fade away, but education and health care will not and the Church can help with that - but not the Church we have now. Catholic Social Thought is an asset to the movement and is foundational on living wages (to each according to their need). It is a natural fit, but only if it plays nice with the other children, especially the girls. It must be Radically Catholic, not just Distinctly Catholic. No having our cake and eating it to.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"If this were true ... \"\n\nIt would suggest there is a well oiled extortion racket at play intent on depriving the Church of funds. And that SNAP is \"a commercial operation motivated by its directors' and officers' personal and ideological animus against the Catholic Church.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "RD, so anyone who disagrees with you is \"slope headed?\" I haven't seen the geometry of your noggin, but, what ever it is, it hasn't helped you make logical, honest, or Christian posts.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Interesting quotation at the end of the article: \"When religion and politics ride in the same cart, the riders believe that nothing can stand in their way...\" But that doesn't just apply to mainstream religions. It applies to all \"isms\" such as liberalism, conservatism, fascism, socialism, etc.. All of them are comprised of subjective beliefs and value propositions. None of them is based on objective, empirical math or scientifically verifiable principals. All of them are what the French post-modernist philosopher Lyotard called \"self-authenticating meta-narratives.\" And he noted that all should be looked at with deep skepticism. So, we can't just point to Christianity as one of those riders. The secular, materialistic religion of socialism, as advocated by Bernie Sanders, amongst others, could also be one of those riders.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If bigotry is a \"perfectly sound Catholic position\" then I am definitely going back to the Anglicans.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The usual suspects use the inclusion of islamic prayers in our schools, to attack Christianity, which has formed part of Canada's traditions and values from the beginnings of our country's formation. Why, should we ban christian optional prayers in schools, when in turn they accommodate muslims to pray in the same schools. \nThe above caption picture, an islamic woman is wearing:\n \"During a Peel District School Board meeting on April 12, a supporter of religious accomodations wears a t-shirt with the saying \u2018Respect existance or expect resistance.\u2019\n(Glenn Lowson/The Globe and Mail) \n\"Or expect resistance\"?!\nReally, we are heading towards the same chaotic violence Islam is causing already in Europe.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You're absolutely correct. It started with the insistence that \"the government is the problem\", then cuts funding for programs, and the faux surprise that the programs were not working and insistence that this was proof of the original statement. \nIt all makes me so angry. The very people -- all of those wonderful self-proclaimed Christians -- who say that they care about the \"average person\" are insuring that the \"average person\" will not have access to needed assistance when times get rough.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As I recall, Harper was strongly criticized for bringing in Christian refugees from Syria.\n\nI believe that the words \"racist and islamophobic\" were the words used by Liberal supporters.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In fairness to \"hearing\" the other side, your comment here is one for \"utility\" than for the spirit of human existence. As for the \"other side,\" what then is life worth if not to save one's soul? All the health, beauty, fitness, careers, wealth, and accolades will never fill the hole from losing one's soul. Even for a Christian, their Christ by choice died as criminal, prisoner, sick, diseased and poor...his entire relevant life. Can we expect that even a nonChristian native desire any lesser human achievement?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Terri, what is the ratio of Christian to Muslim in the mideast. I think using simple figures without looking at all the facts has a certain quality of hogwash or false news in of itself.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Shall we google how many Christians have charged with violence vs Muslims in america for the last decade and see what happens?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Stop lying about what I say, Mark. What you claim I said and what I actually said are not even remotely similar. There was once a fallen angel in the desert that twisted words exactly as you do. Why do you emulate him?\"\n\nI did not claim that you said what I wrote. What I wrote is the logical conclusion of your reasoning. You wrote that society should emulate the Church's practice. Catholic Church Law orders Bishops to cover up crimes against children unless local laws require them to report such crimes to police. Therefore, if society is to emulate Church's practice, Congress should pass laws to order people in positions of authority to conceal crimes against children.\n\nBy the way, why do you assume that the fallen angel you refer to is male? I know, in the eyes of your God females are inferior to males; my God disagrees with that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Muslims are not getting \"preferential treatment\", any religion can request accommodation. Sikh students can wear their kirpan despite a ban on weapons in schools for example. I'm not \"infatuated with Islam\" I'm speaking out against ignorance and intolerance just as your fellow Catholics in St Catharines did when they opened a Muslim prayer room in a Catholic high school.\n\nThe TDCSB was just one example that proves my point, go to other Catholic boards and check their eligibility requirements yourself. Do your own homework before you suggest I do more reading or provide some evidence to support your position. It's great that your children - I assume they are in high school - have Muslim classmates but so what? How is that relevant to the issue? I'm not fighting Catholics or Christians. I'm pointing out that those who rail against reasonable accommodation ignore the extent to which we have historically gone to support minority religions in education. Muslims are no different. Get a grip", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "or in big lake. but if that ere to happen, the left would howl! 'bigots!' they would shout. but alas, Christians are called to be among the world, not apart.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Clear enough! Thanks. The problem with the Web is that one gets lots of little pieces and not much of a larger picture. I agree with your analysis. I could wish that my fellow Christians in the Conservative Baptist Church could be more tolerant. I have no use for Senator Cruz or Jerry Falwell whatsoever. I don't think they are really Christian in terms of the politics they have espoused, at least not in my understanding of the teachings of Jesus. Thanks for the information you have shared with me. It is sometimes difficult for me to know what seemingly positive and creative things to encourage among Christians and what is a ruse for the same, old right-wing stuff.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christians are not living under the Hebrew economy. Paul gave this instruction on giving: \n\n\"As long as the readiness is there, a man is acceptable with whatever he can afford; never mind what is beyond his means. This does not mean that to give relief to others you ought to make things difficult for yourselves; it is a question of balancing what happens to be your surplus now against their present need.\"\n\nThe church has taught that the tithes should go to the storehouse, and they designated the storehouse and percentages that are divided between the different levels. No tithing is mentioned in the NT for Christians but the church has called those who do not tithe as robbing God. This is producing guilt by coercion: an apt method of ecclesiastical authorities.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I did; they are difficult to watch. People interested in taking the rubbish (that means, enabling Bishops) out of the Catholic Church should watch those videos.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "4:20 has the best summation \"Whatever the secularist RG editors have to say about Donald Trump is irrelevant\". In light of the RG quoting Bible verses I have to agree I believe it's referred to as anti- Trump desperation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Charlie--I agree, wolf after the flock. Pence and his ilk are also a big part of the reason white males are dying at higher rates...beliefs trumped values. When we give way to raw emotions and fundelmentist beliefs, bad things happen to the community. The toxics of orthodoxy ...and this can be true for both sides of the argument. Extremism is a vice, its hurts people, it divides community, it's us and them...even if you profess to follow the god of love, you hate strangers. Even as you cherry pick chapter and verse, you forget that we are are children of, at very least, earth and breath the same air, drink the same water. If your policies create poisons for the poor, how is this Christian? Flint is the outcome of the toxins he and others create all around themselves that leach out into our world. We are the wealthiest people to ever live and yet we don't have enough to feed and house our poor. Really? That is bankruptcy of the moral kind...that is Pence.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your 30%+ figure happens to be an Illinois standard for personal injury cases. And sexual abuse cases are a subspecies of personal injury cases! Yes, I understand that Catholic bishops across this country and around the world are mighty unhappy that SNAP would be working with (gasp!) attorneys! Especially attorneys who would support SNAP in any way! Just look what they did to poor little old Bob Finn! Bwaaaaa!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In 1453, a mere 39 years before Columbus sailed west, the Islamic Ottoman Turks conquered the Christian city of Constantinople. Constantinople was founded by Emperor Constantine in 325 as the new capital of the Christian Roman empire. The Muslim armies drove out the Christians and massacred them in wholesale bloodbath. Canada did nothing of the sort to natives what Islam's invasion armies did to Christian Europe. When the eastern trade routes fell under Ottoman control, European traders had to find a new route to China, hence the necessity of Columbus's voyage. So it is you who should apologize to natives. If you're prepared to cede Constantinople, Turkey and the Bosporus back to European control, we can then discuss your support of native land claims.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Good point. Which only underscores that ECC priests are not Roman Catholic priests, or even Roman Catholic. Which is fine, but no cigar.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Should I bother creating a similar list based on the Bible or would you even get the point of it?\n\nChristians, in all their variety can discern what parts of the Bible are worth following and which aren't. Do you really think Muslims aren't capable of that?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Then what about potta-potties in empty parking lots like at churches for the homeless? Let some Christian churches practice what Jesus said, \"What you do for the least of \"us\" you do for me\". There are empty church parking lots and grounds all over. Hook up with Dignity Village and find out how they did it in early days. Rent a couple rent-a-cops. Think with your brains and think solutions, not problems. People need each other because we werent raised by wolves.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "True. But neither do those Bishops who tried to intimidate Catholic voters by suggesting that voting for the Democratic candidate was a mortal sin. If I should say I feel it is a mortal sin for a Catholic to support Trump I would be engaging in an exercise of hypocrisy. \n I grew up spiritually in another time, where one did not have to wrestle with the fiction that one could go to hell for missing Mass on Sunday. \n I rather think that many contemporary Catholics have been poisoned by the efforts at bringing about the Restoration of the old order and do not perceive the clash between a contemporary translation of Scripture and a clanging, clumsy transliteration of the Latin, coupled with songs written in the last half decade extolling spiritual renewal and community. Neither to they see anything wrong with the narcissism implied in \"I believe\" instead of the original (from the Greek) \"We believe\". \n The betrayal of a true sense of community is a tragedy for the church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is the dark side. Most of us here have found a way to remain Catholics despite their efforts to demean our thinking, but they have just about forced me out. It is an unkind, rigid church. Puzzling how anyone can force another person to believe exactly what they believe, especially when the arguments are so simplistic. There is no nuance or compassion. It's ironic that most of them hate muslims.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Don't blame this on the Feds, although you're trying. We would have the money to float, if Clodwell didn't force his train thru.\nPS Why are we subsidizing CATHOLIC Charities? The Roman Catholic church has more funds than the city and state put together.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are demands right in this thread that we abandon the weekend (Saturday and Sunday off) because it is based on the Bible, and you just spoke as if it is something shameful to \"admit\" that our society is based on Christian cultural traditions, as if this is somehow reprehensible and all vestiges of such heritage be eliminated in order to be \"fair\" or \"secular\". Why is it that? Why should our society abandon its traditions of Christmas and Easter holidays because they are supposedly \"offensive\" to some tiny minority? \n\nOur public schools, as well as our public institutions, have gone very quickly from officially Christian to officially secular and neutral, with expressions of Christian beliefs being officially repressed as much as possible. Many people felt very offended by that, as one can see in the comments, so turning around and officially welcoming another, more aggressive religion is rubbing salt in the wound.\n\nto be ctnd...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sigh--the Muslim brotherhood, amongst others, have contributed to the murdering of words, the meaning of words , the politicization of words, and the gullible non believers are going along ....is there an equivalent Christianityphobia ? Budhismphobia? Taoismphobia?\n\nHow is it possible to have an overwhelming and irrational fear of one belief system and not of another?\n\nA phobia is a phobia and nothing but a phobia.\n\nHatred of a follower of a particular belief system is another thing altogether.\n\nHatred in Greek is Miseo and Miseo is Miseo.\n\nThere is a difference between hatred towards a belief system and hatred towards followers of a belief system.\n\nThe first could be called miseoislam and hatred towards Muslims would be miseomuslim.\n\nPass laws against hatred directed towards the followers of belief systems in general if you have to, but to pass laws against hatred directed towards belief systems themselves is non compos mentis.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Canon law forbade (forbids) Christians from enslaving other Christians. Slavery in Christian Europe was rare and of no economic significance. The end of slavery and most significantly the slave trade in England was a political fight won explicitly on terms of Christian morality.\n\nThe Puritans of New England, steeped in the bible, found slavery incompatible with Christian virtue and its practice there was generally benign and certainly minuscule. The abolitionist cause which Adventists endorsed was nothing if not a Christian movement of conscience.\n\nJust like some Christians today find abortion compatible with biblical morality, some Christians reasoned chattel slavery was compatible with scripture. But it is a huge historical error to assume Christianity used to be for slavery before it was against it.\n\nBondage remains. Prisons are a system of state-imposed bondage. We don't call it slavery; but we might. It is a species of slavery.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "During the 19th Century, fifteen American presidents invoked the name of Jesus Christ in their inaugural addresses, endorsing and venerating his commandments. Why did they do this? I sincerely believe that they recognized the preeminent fact that the American republic was predicated upon Judeo-Christian principles and that it was, indeed, a Christian nation. Not many U.S. senators and representatives have done the same in their legislative chambers. During the 20th Century, one-hundred pervasive years, godless pragmatism, humanism, secularism, and statist philosophy have, by conspiracy, mutated the republic into the same type of heathen and pagan civilization which the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah became over hundreds of years. Ten people in those cities of millions of human inhabitants could not be found who obeyed the natural holy laws of God and eschewed evil. That was a very good reason for their total destruction by a just God. Roy Moore represents to me a voice for God!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm wondering if you'd feel differently if the \"cake artist\" refused to make a cake for an Evangical Christian couple's wedding and told them, \"Asking me to make a cake for an Evangelical Christian wedding is no different than asking me to make a swastika-shaped cake for neo-Nazis.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "All tasks have in them an opportunity to meet Jesus Christ.\n\nWe must \"give back\" to them their supernatural purpose.\n\nWe can sneer and dismiss, or we can find seek God and serve Him in and through the work that He gives us. \n\nWe either live along the human plane, or we participate in the divine life that God intended for us. \n\nSounds like you've made your choice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Er, they were Jews who lived by the Mosaic Law as interpreted by Pharisees. Catholics understand the operation of grace and our need to cooperate with God. And, do remember, Zacchaeus didn't expect anything from Jesus. He sought sight of Jesus, responded when he was called, repented his past transgressions and. so far as we know, amended his life.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mainstream Media reporters are ignorant of Christianity, and Judaism, because their Master strives to remove Christianity and Judaism from American life. Accordingly, the religions are seldom mentioned in the media, except in reports of lawsuits by atheists, claiming denial of rights. \nHowever, their Master takes an entirely different approach to reporting of Islam. Islam is glorified, although its doctrines are never discussed. It is considered \"Islamophobic\" to even mention the doctrine of \"death to infidels\", and accordingly, there is no mention, even if the Ayatollah shouts it. \nThe Muslim World, however, takes the doctrine very seriously. The two major branches of Islam, the Sunnis and the Shia, each consider the other to be \"infidels\", and they have been killing each other for centuries, for that reason. They still are, today, and of course, they are killing non-Muslim \"infidels', as well.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christians made it almost impossible for most Canadians in failed marriages to get a divorce before 1967. Birth control was also illegal, from 1892 to 1967. The Catholic Church was one of the the worst offenders in that regard.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You do not have your history correct. True we may have taken over several dates. We however never claimed to have originated the original holidays. Resurrection Day should be celebrated more in line with the Jewish Passover as it is a fulfillment of that holiday. Some Christians will also admit that December 25th is probably not the correct day to celebrate his birthday, but we do not know for certain when his birthday was. I will also admit that date was probably chosen to usurp another holiday.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The bishops' claim that they are defending religious freedom is baseless. Christians, Jews and Catholics have been elected and appointed to serve in all branches of the government. They have passed legislation that governs civil not religious life. It is the non-Western, non-Judeo/Christian religions that are threatened.\n\nThe Church does not have to provide birth control instructions, contraceptives or abortions, nor does it have to officiate at civil unions or divorces, whether same or opposite sex. The Church does not have to accept or minister to alternate lifestyle individuals and communities.\n\nThe Church does have the option of condoning personal arms, capital punishment, armed conflicts, nuclear weapons and environmental disregard.\n\nThe bishops are not defending religious freedom. The bishops are promoting religious license. They hope that Church will trump State. It is more likely that it is they who will be Trumped.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If Trump quits, his vice-president, Mike Pence, is not a good alternative to become President. He is, supposedly, a conservative Christian and this would make him the opposite of Trump. He may be a conservative Christian, but he may be taking advantage of his Christian supporters to fulfill his personal career ambitions to become President.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Some myth-dispelling about the myth-dispelling.\n\nThe \"earliest Americans\" weren't the Puritans. They were the perfectly mainstream Anglicans at Jamestown. They did not have an aversion to Christmas.\n\nLiberals do not hate Christmas cr\u00e8ches because they're Christian; they hate them because they're kitschy. \n\n\"Happy Holidays\" did not originally mean \"Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanza.\" It meant \"Christmas and New Year.\" It meant, \"Buy presents AND rum for egg nog.\"\n\nThere is nothing anti-Christian about gift-giving at Christmastime. It's the time of the year that people spend thinking about other people and what they like and how to please them. What's un-Christian about that?\n\nThere is no War on Advent. There are two holidays called Christmas: Christian Christmas and Secular Christmas. Christian Christmas has an Advent and Secular Christmas does not. A lot more people celebrate Secular Christmas than Christian Christmas. They're not making war on Advent; they just have no use for it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Intriguing to note that no one from Trump's Evangelical Committee has resigned in the light of his outrageous remarks ...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree that Catholics need to grow up, but that isn't just about learning to live with conflict. It's also about being liberated from the paternalism that has characterized the hierarchy for most of our history.\n\nJesus understood how dangerous a paternalistic hierarchy would be and he warned against it, vehemently, in Matthew 23. (Isn't it interesting how those who argue that every utterance from the mouth of Jesus is to be taken literally conveniently forget that chapter?) Yet we ignored that wise warning, and the People of God have been paying for it ever since.\n\nWe can no longer sustain the model of a church made up of children constantly needing to defer to their \"daddies\" for guidance and permission, especially now that our \"daddies\" are publicly disagreeing with each other. Christianity, in essence, is a religion for adults who understand that the messiness and imperfection of life is part of the cycle of death and resurrection. It's time to reclaim that truth.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wow. No, it doesn't but thanks for playing. Kind of like religion in the Constitution is thought by some to be just about christianity. It's not true but it gives them comfort to think it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do you think God abandoned Catholic Institution?\nHow could they be so blind to the fact they are loosing all credibility with people all over the world?\nIt takes matter of minutes to communicate all over the world!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Too many requests for accommodations leads to a backlash\n\nHow come Hindus, Jews, Sikhs, Buddhists, evangelical Christians don't ask for religious accommodation?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Meaning, of course, that they rise to the level of, at least, doctrine (something taught). The third is dogmatic (for Christians) in that it is a Trinitarian formula.\nQ.E.D.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Torquemada, the (Spanish) Grand Inquisitor, torturer and murderer of thousands, belonged to the Roman Catholic Church, NOT the True Christian Church. Sense the difference, Mr. \"Progressive\"?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Facts are not a friend to repubs, conservatives or evangelical Christians. Most of the poor do not choose to be so. \n\nA real Christian gets that. \n\ntrump and his fanboys, not so much.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"Catholics need to grow up and learn to live in a church where arguments take place, but we should not let disagreements break up the family. We need to understand that people have different viewpoints and that we can learn from one another by having dialogue. Rather than dividing into partisan factions, we need to model what it means to be a community.\"\n- Very good answer for: 'Who has the right to challenge the pope's teachings in the Catholic Church?'\n- Reginald Pole when at Trent noted even heresy contains truth. This in effect meant that talking with the other is about truth, not heresy. So, the more discussion the more truth is revealed for the whole church.\n- ArchbFrancis of Rome is on the right and correct path letting everyone have his / her say.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If one disagrees with the infallible and definitive doctrines that constitute the Deposit of Faith, one has already \"departed\" from the communion that is the Catholic Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The scimtar of islam is the seat of anti-christ [1 john 2:22] which has co-opted the nations in the west, and, now even the vatican. These are flooding into Ireland strategically; logistically utilizing a surgical military precision. Even as muslim countries continue to dictate political demands; threatening to activate terror cells within the west. Erdogan for example declares it will not be safe to walk the streets in Europe, the very same day Ireland was ringing Church bells celebrating the terror in London. [visualize a Ireland in a few years with cascading terror events; and, torture dungeons established for online horror]", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A decent comment LotL/RD but devoid of balance, I believe. Why are you so convinced that the changes being opened for ministerial service - such as married priests - are not the workings of the Holy Spirit? That Christ is pushing the Church to do what its controlling caste of men have been refusing to do? And your points leave out completely the devastating effect of the sex abuse crisis on the greater perception - both Catholic and not - of the public, as well as many other issues, that create a chasm between the lay faithful and the clerical state. A supposed \"lack\" of things like courage, sacrifice, commitment betray a snooty and clearly unchristian perception on your part, that says more about your attitudes then anything even close to real Catholic men and women. You have again made clear another point why so many now avoid priestly and religious life. Who wants to have to deal with such negativity?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Tolerance is a two-way street. When there is no reciprocity, there is no tolerance, and it is not an act of hatred to state that\n---------------\n\nthere is no two way street in Iran and Saudi Arabia when it comes to tolerance for Christians and Jews", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I ask every new business I enter if the owners are christian and if answer yes then I leave letting them know I could never do commerce with THOSE kind of people as they will slop sugar to your face while figuring the best way to stab you in the back. If christians want THEIR kind ONLY to spend at their stores then state that clearly on the front door and let consumers make up their mind before they enter.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are the one who needs to be educated, civil marriage in most cases is not a sacrament and for Catholics, never can be unless in danger of death or no priest is available for a long period. Also, it would have to take into account the dispositions of those being married. Two atheists are not going to consider their union sacramental, nor would members of most other religions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think you need to make a distinction between the church, the human institution, and the Church, the (entire) People of God. The church often gets things wrong, the Church, not so much (thank you, Holy Spirit).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It exactly supports my position.\n\nHow did Jesus treat the moneychangers?\n\nJesus never forgave the unrepentant.\n\nNot only do \u201cmost Christian denominations\u201d cite this as a basis for excommunication, the Catholic Church cites this as a basis for excommunication.\n\nThe reaching out takes place first, but if the member persists in error, excommunication is the result.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And just out of curiosity, how is he going to vet \"real\" persecuted Christians from those of the Muslim faith? Take a lie detector test?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Also Tobin is an old friend of Francis. The pope knows him well and trusts him. Too bad for the Catholics of Imdianapolis who lose a good bishop. Will Myers be allowed to spend retirement in his 7500 sq ft mansion?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I used to carry a prayer card for priests that used to say: \" if you have a problem with a priest, take it to God, not the priest.\" It also admonished to \"never ATTACK\" a Priest. \" \n\nNow that is pure Intimidation! That and being told to believe that the priest is an 'Alter Christus' are issues that NO victim of sexual abuse by non Catholic clergy, nor teachers, scout leaders, physicians etc; will ever haunt them chocking them from reporting the abuse, which is difficult enough.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "John, you may actually discover someday that the Church or someone else has a different position than yours and not be un-Christian or have some nefarious reason.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is not a scholarly journal or formal debating society where a person is required to state on what she or he is basing an expressed opinion. If you are interested on what I am basing a comment, you can ask. But, instead, you choose to insult me by calling me hysterical. Men have long used that adjective to dismiss the opinions of women. \nI don't believe that my opinion implies at all that a Catholic justice is not acceptable. Not all Catholics choose to impose their religious beliefs and values on others. You might find M Cuomo's speech to Notre Dame enlightening in that regard. http://archives.nd.edu/episodes/visitors/cuomo/cuomo.html.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Eh. I know your so-called \"God's Word\" better than you and I'm not a Christian, but a Muslim. Let's talk Scripture.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Scalia, who had been one of six Catholic members of the court, was often described as its most conservative voice and known for his strict interpretation of the Constitution's intent.\"\n\nOnly when it suited him.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hooray for this school team! Christian education is an amazingly powerful evangelism tool so I expect they will see steady growth in church membership from the families whose children are attending the school.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think this is all great news ... however, the late Robert Kaiser's idea of a new autochthonous rite - apart from the Roman rite - is necessary for many of these long needed reforms, such as the ordination of women and married men, to be effectively implemented.\n\nI would be more than willing to allow the Roman rite to remain all-male and celibate. People who think that is the best expression of the Gospel to \"knock themselves out.\" \n\nThe rest of us can begin the third millennia of Christianity with a genuine reform and renewal that attempts to return to the first century understandings of Christian ministry.\n\nThe church is big enough - or should be - for both of these expressions. It would go a long way to realizing the dream of Christian unity while preserving the diversity that is our strength, not a decrement. \n\nAll of us Christians can and should be friends, not adversaries.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What Rev. Tammeus does not include in his essay, and many who have commented here haven't as well, is that celibacy is seen by the Church (east and west) as a gift of the Holy Spirit. Despite the distortions of it in practice (i.e., required of all RC clerics) it is, for certain, a gift. Not for all, but for some - perhaps many a lot. The real issue for Catholics is this: if it s a gift, why are all priests required to be single? It makes no sense, other then it being a tradition that has no roots in scripture or in the fist several centuries of the Christian church. Since marriage is also a sacrament - a gift of the Holy Spirit if you will - I have never found much sense in the blanket requirement. Mandatory celibacy interferes in the work of the Spirit of God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\u201cThe SAMs imposed on Mr. Abdulmutallab prohibit him from having any communication whatsoever with more than 7.5 billion people..\" True. That's what solitary means. Now - there are, or should be limits on how long a prisoner spends in solitary. It is inhumane and no matter what horrid thing this guy planned, we still don't torture here. Well - except for John Yoo who's good with it.\n\nReligion - well, we have Christian clergy on staff, so a Muslim would be appropriate. Group worship - not so much. As for protection - we also have that duty to keep this worthless person safe. Not our first choice perhaps, but that comes with imprisoning someone. Besides - I want him to have a very, very, very long time in prison. No easy out by way of extra judicial killing either.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Even if that's the case, who cares? For starters, politicians should expect to answer tough questions from all quarters... Even from kids. Is it also neither illegal or uncommon for parents to teach their own values to their kids. Conservatives and Christians do it all the time, & never think twice about it. The most likely scenario is that this kid was already politically inspired, because thats the kind of family he has, and mom helped him do his research. Nothing wrong with that at all, it's teaching civic engagement.\n\nYou can pretend this is an issue if you want, I guess. I'll just be sure to roll my eyes extra hard at the hypocrisy. Remember these kids? \n\n\nhttps://youtu.be/vPRfP_TEQ-g", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well...........since the Church's teaching on abortion and marriage is De FIDE, and to the extent there is even such a thing as man-induced climate change, why would any sane Catholic who has a rudimentary grasp of the faith even consider voting for the candidate {Mrs. Clinton} who so ardently promulgates the mortal sins of infanticide and sodomy?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have said this many times before, but the knowledge of Church history, especially early Christian development is missing from the education of priests, bishops, cardinals and even popes. Their background is soooo shabby. They assume to know the difference between the terms--- Twelve, apostle and disciple. But the historical reality or the evangelists' use of the terms is not faithfully reflected in their understanding or teaching\n\nThere were more than just the Twelve at the Last Supper---and scripture indicates it. Both Barsabbas and Matthias [disciples] were certainly at the Last Supper and with Jesus always. [Acts 1:21-23]. And women were certainly numbered among the 'disciples' as well as men.\n\nFrom historical-Jesus resurrect we know that Jesus gathered around himself a group of committed disciples LARGER than twelve; and secondly the disciples were those called by Jesus to a literal, physical following on his preaching tours around Palestine. Women were there always.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is a lie. Since I've stated repeatedly I think there can be no certainty about what the historical Jesus said, I wouldn't declare anything definitive about what he thought. I do speculate, of course, and I was careful to qualify my statements as such. Since you can't tolerate any departure from Catholic orthodoxy you resort to distortion and false witness. Your ridiculous assertion that to maintain skeptical distance from the church is to \"stand outside the Church making faces at it, ranting at it, and giving it the bird\" is a flagrant example.\n\nImpossible to take you seriously.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How about Catholics denying self-loathing hierarchs like Paprocki funerals? Paprocki should be shunned by the Catholic community as long as he assaults the Gospels?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is just a guess, but the history of Catholicism in America is one of persecution, not helped by the fact that some Popes were anti-American because of the (false) separation of church and state. Perhaps the embracing of patriotism was/is a form of protection. Lord knows from this site the persecution continues.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are many Catholic candidates, Dems & Reps, who claim to be good Catholics, but then vote contrary to what the Church believes & teaches. They do so openly & conspicuously. Take Giuliani, living with Judy without benefit of an annulment being refused Communion by Cdl. Egan.\n\nCandidates from all stripes use their faith to garner support from the Faithful. They already know, OR SHOULD KNOW, the rules before presenting themselves for Communion. And yet, they present themselves anyway. It is up to the candidate to refrain, rather than a member of the Clergy to stop them. They are playing this game more the than priests & bishops.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Third and last continuation\nHow far will it go?\nLast year a Hydro worker lost his job because, not on a workday, after being badgered by a reporter, he admitted he found an off-colour joke funny.\nThis year Jordan-Peterson, an acknowledged first class researcher at UofT, lost his funding after refusing to go along with expanded pronouns. I don't agree with a lot of what this guy said but this response is astonishing and frightening.\nWe got a motion from the government that \"Islamophobia\" is wrong. Well there are lots of Canadians who have valid reasons to fear Islam - gay, trans and female people. I think both Christianity and Islam are worrisome and now the government is telling me I shouldn't have those feelings.\nWe have a national newspaper tell a very one sided socio-political story and within weeks the government says \"Oh, here, have $100M to promote your political views.\" $100M! Wow!\nI used to support the left, now I feel I can't. Certainly not the academic left.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "funny. i'm a very non traditional christian, no question. & i feel hemmed in by right wing's parameters THEY'VE built around the religion. Much bias, racism, gender issue, even the sioux, had \"Contrarys\". warriors that were known to be gay, wore \"make up\", dress as women and were considered special. they traditionally rode their horses facing rear to show that these people were born to be 180 degrees different and more creative.\n i don't like the restrictions i'm expected to live by as a christian and if i don't, i must not be christian. i remind them that that 2nd coming of jesus is about people just like me. he's coming down to get those of us at the edges, the stragglers..... i'm not racist, i'm not sexist - i'm none of those things. i go by what the bible says, not common lore, researched for the most pure interpretations from aramaic and greek. none of the KJV with all the \"Lords\" added to reinforce the serf system of economics. KING JAMES version bible? red flag", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well done! Sad to see so many Christians below not doing what Jesus would do...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I hope you take a look at the plight of innocent priests falsely accused. The most famous case in the United States occurred in Philadelphia, where an innocent priest died from possible medical neglect handcuffed to his bed. A second famous and likely innocent priest has served many years in New Hampshire. Both cases were based on testimony by felons with extensive criminal records who were also drug users and/or dealers, and who had already earlier in their lives accused others of abuse. In both cases bishops paid the false accusers obscene sums of Catholic people's money. Cardinal Pell is accused by two men who fit the exact same profile, although it remains to be seen whether they will seek Catholic people's church donations. But most false accusations are not so famous. They have occurred in my community and I suspect most others because of mass hysteria, exploited by unscrupulous trial lawyers and primitive anti-Catholicism both within and outside the Catholic Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The religious types (BROohthor, and these sisters) and the clerically minded Jesuits (Martin, and Orsy) hate OD because it's not \"religious\".\n\nThey see OD as \"taking vocations away\" from the religious life. \n\nThey don't get the message of St Josemaria that the lay vocation is every bit as hard and important and joyful and a path to holiness as the religious life is. \n\nThey reject it. They have their passing/shrinking status as \"religious\" to prop up. \n\nSt Josemaria said, before it was popular - while the Jesuits were trying to undo his work: \n\n\"the sole objective of Opus Dei has always been to see to it that there be men and women of all races and social conditions who endeavour to love and to serve God and the rest of mankind in and through their ordinary work, in the midst of the realities and interests of the world.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not a DACA question. They should be. Mothers too. The fact that the last one is non-negotiable (meaning the movement won't propose it unless caught in an act of honesty) means you really don't mean it. Without personhood, it is not murder. The only reasonable avenue to personhood is through Congress. You have the votes, put up or shut up. Criminality is not acceptable if only for the doctor under equal protection rules, but you can cut abortion without bringing criminality about. Pass my Communist tax credit. And no, we cannot infer personhood from natural law. American natural rights come from a Deistic construct, not a Catholic one.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, I mean the Catholics who don't know there was a church before and after Trent.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As long as the American bishops and the Evangelical right wing continue to meddle in politics and have so much power in this administration in trying to tear down the wall of separation, this is a very legitimate question to ask.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't know what you mean by an ultra right wing Catholic, right wing is a political term. Catholics are either orthodox or heterodox.\nI regard posts which simply rubbish someone else's comments as an uncivil comment. You have done exactly the same thing to mjmchale's post above.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Where in Scripture, Tradition, tradition, or even heresy is Jesus referred to in feminine-gendered terms? That He, prior to His incarnation was Logos and without a proper gender does not obviate the fact that He later became \"a man\". \nAlso, while the Holy Ghost / Spirit is neuter, John 14:16 is clear in the distinction of \"He\" from the more impersonal \"It\" or the possible \"She\". Again, Jesus is recorded to have given the description.\nYou may argue that scripture was defined by the Church, and it is because a batch of guys sat around figuring out what to keep in and throw out - and they decided to keep only those things that refer to God as definitively masculine - that message has been, somehow, polluted. But then you are starting to create your own religion; deciding on your own authority what to believe. You may do so and, like L. Ron Hubbard, you may even package it and sell it - but you cannot tie it to Christian Tradition.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't find this surprising Sarah....we spent a lot on catholic university tuition and private boarding school tuition and our kids were less than thrilled with institutional church....they tended then and clearly are now committed to social justice issues on which they spend a LOT of time.....they are loving caring folks and they are raising the same...and the social justice principles are alive and very very well!\n\nI think that the social controls that used to dictate church attendance to kids in my generation are simply not operative in theses kids...perhaps it's their levels of education (grad school and above) that indicate the intellectual problems with institutional Church, i.e. Misogyny, anti gay etc.. they are very very sensitive to what they perceive as injustice and lack of respect to other groups\n\nPerhaps it's because the Church has not been offering helpful spiritual growth help....ie, the Ignatian Exercises, Centering Prayer et al ....instead rules and boring liturgy....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have no issue with Martin or anyone else challenging the 16th c doctrine of transubstantiation. In fact this has often been done by Catholics and non-Catholics throughout the ages. My faith is not dependent upon medieval interpretations and hairsplitting over ancient texts and cultural beliefs. As for the pope, you would have to ask him about that.\n\nIMO we should focus more on loving God and neighbor and be less concerned with the \"small-minded\" rules that preoccupy our thoughts and church-centered activities. I believe this to be in line with the new evangelization so perhaps the pope would agree with me on that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Magari Mandebvu - good points and I might add to that list the death penalty. You cannot be against abortion and in favor of the death penalty. The seamless garment that late Cdl Bernadine spoke about. The pro birth crowd conveniently forget that fact. Most anti abortion folk are pro birth. They could care less once the baby is born because then they hop up and down about the cost of this baby - so they cut food stamps and aid to dependent mothers, accuse the mothers of being welfare queens etc. Believe me, Mr. Trumpf could care less about abortion. He only mouthed words to fool the right wingers and pretend he \"would take care of the Catholics\" to get your vote. You have been had people!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Identity Politics Of The Trump Administration\n.\n\"Trump and his team are focusing on defending different groups: Christians, police officers, victims of crimes by undocumented immigrants, and people who fear Latino immigrants are taking their jobs or redefining U.S. culture, among others.\"\nhttps://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-identity-politics-of-the-trump-administration\n.\n(no h)Jon, \ndoes Boulder support trump's identity politics?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Appreciate the article on Mexico & murder of priests.\nSadly, the RCC gets people to take to the streets against gays under cover of protecting marriage.\nJust finished reading HILLYBILL ELEGY. He makes a strong plea for the family, too.\nBiological parents do not insure a wholesome family.\nThe Gay movement is more on target with \"love makes a family.\"\nPersons would mature more healthily in a relationship in which love, an act of will, trumps involuntary biology. \nHaving lived recently in Mexico for 14 months, the author describes my experience.\n A brave man, Fr. S., who has taken on the institutional church.\nHe didn't learn from Jesus about the danger of institutional religon.\nHow long before he is hoisted onto the cross?\nAnd, like Jesus of old, will not the hands of the religious hierarchy be sullied?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'd like to hear from the Alaska ACLU on this one. My question for them--would you sue the Catholic Church of Alaska for refusing to allow a same sex couple to be married in a chapel or on property owned by the Catholic Church? The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states must recognize same-sex marriages, not that churches must do so, or that they must perform them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Perhaps I should rephrase:\n\nI do care what God is doing in the world. I believe that God is active in the Protestant sects. I believe that the fullest avenue of God's activity and the most perfect avenue of God's activity is in the Catholic Church.\n\nIf I thought it was in a Protestant sect, I would join that sect. While I grant that the Protestants are our brothers and sisters in Christ, albeit separated brethren, I believe there are some things they got wrong. In the end, however, I am not a Protestant, I am a Catholic. For that reason I don't particularly care what practices Protestants have or what is going on or not going on in their respective sects. That is their business--just as what goes on in the Catholic Church is our business. In short--I mind my business when it comes to the Protestants. If they want to ordain women, that is their affair. If they think sacraments are not appropriate or believe we are saved by Faith alone, again, their business.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\" \"Bah bye...\"\nWas deemed uncivil by the ADN Nazi's. Let's try this a more civil way.\nGood Riddance!\"\n\nWas also deemed uncivil. Interesting how you can attack Christians, call conservatives neo-nazi's but you can't express your pleasure at someone leaving their job??? ADN, do you have any intellectual integrity? It appears you are fine with limited freedom of speech when you disagree with it solely on a political basis. Do you really believe it makes your side stronger by silencing the other side? If all you want to hear is comments that reinforce your belief then just block this account too. I'll just make another one and keep commenting.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Always the same tired cliches from liberal Catholics. Any pope/Churchman/Catholic who upholds specific moral laws is anti-spirit of the Gospel. Look, where Jesus was permissive with the law, the Church has followed suit. Jesus interpreted the Sabbath law in a more permissive fashion and the Church does the same. While Orthodox Jews still argue over whether or not it is OK to turn on a light switch during the Sabbath the Church takes Jesus' broader view of the Sabbath's purpose. Where the Mosaic law proposed death for adultery Jesus proposes forgiveness and mercy. The Church has always done the same, inviting adulterers to meet Jesus in the Confessional rather than stoning them.\n\nIn some cases Jesus is MORE rigid than the Mosaic law and the Pharisees of His time. Marriage is one example. Sexuality in general one could say (see Matt 5:28). The Church simply follows its Master. A person must ponder the question that Jesus poses after giving a hard teaching: \"Do you also want to leave?\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm with the \"No\" side on this one. The people living adjacent to the proposed cemetery site don't want a cemetery there. They don't want a Catholic cemetery there, they don't want a Jewish cemetery there, they don't want a Chinese cemetery there, and they don''t want a Muslim cemetery there. What's so hard to understand about that? \n\nThey are talking now about a Human Rights challenge? Hey - its not a 'human right' to have a burial site any old place you feel like it. It always seems to be the same with a certain community - they have to impose their will on others. \n\nQuebec is a huge province with a vast land area. Find someplace for your cemetery that complies with local zoning bylaws and has the support of surrounding land owners.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "With this pick to the Vatican,election of present suit in the White House, and the Bishops/Evangelical love affair our America is showing who we are.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think it's pretty well understood in the firearms industry that a great many buyers rely on the very reasonable heuristic that, if it's what police use, it's probably not too bad a choice. And that they should have that option if police are servants of the people (rather than servants of the people's rulers).\n\nMost criminals use whatever is around.\n\nI see two drivers for mass shootings. One -- the more people talk about them, the more defective people think, \"I could do that!\" Gun control talk inspires both buyers and mass shooters.\n\nAnother is the decline in religious belief. When I was a child seemed that a great number of people truly believed that doing a mass shooting would earn them everlasting torment in Hell. For Catholics, there was no opportunity for confession, either. People have since grown more \"sophisticated.\" (This is aside from those whose religious leaders teach them that God will _reward_ them for doing a mass shooting.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Please be sure to re-read the full article, particularly the sentence about reception of one OR the other forms (bread OR wine alone) constitutes the reception of the full Eucharist. I have no idea if Jesus the Christ laughs at anything we do or say, or any of the other things we attribute to Him, but I do think your help in educating your local bishop about celiac disease would do far more good than Divine Laughter.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "These latest barbaric edicts from Trump are just part of a not so subtle plan by he and his white, male, Christian cronies to please their base of bigots, racists and male chauvinists. The odds of being killed by a refugee or an asylum seeker in the USA are infinitely lower than being killed accidentally by a toddler playing with one of the 350 million or so guns being left on car seats, couches and kitchen tables. In the past 10 years, about 70 people have been killed by terrorists in the US as compared to nearly 375,0000 killed by just normal gun violence (toddlers under age 3 shoot someone about once a week in the US). With the election of Donald Trump, the USA is shedding everything it stands for and what made it great. Sadly, the \"great\" America will be gone.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Quanta Cura is not saying that there are limits on freedom of religion. It says that freedom of religion, in and of itself, is \"an insanity\", \"fatal in its effects on the the Catholic Church and the salvation of souls\"..\n\nYou pretend it says something else, because it suits your purpose to try and pretend that there is no contradiction. You are being dishonest, because your ideology insists on the demonstrably false premise that the magisterium does not change teachings. IN FACT, the two teachings are contradictory.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If 60% of all white Catholics voted for Trump, I wonder what percentage of white Catholics who attend Mass every Sunday voted for Trump?\n70%?\n80%?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "From the introduction to Thomas Paine's \"The Age of Reason.\" --- \"Historically, the church has emphasized the \"contemptible smallness\" of man, and his fundamental inability to know. More important, because reason, in practice, has the potential to contradict or refute religious doctrine, the church has actively discouraged rational inquiry, not only with regard to the principles of religion, but also in the realm of natural philosophy and science. Such inquiry came to be considered morally reprehensible. According to Paine, this is the explanation for the descent of human society into the Dark Ages.\"\n\n--- Joseph Carrig...Ph.D. in political science from the University of Pennsylvania.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wow, Loy...so I guess we'll have to assume that whoever\"god\"is to you, he/she must be powerless. I myself have been plagued by various addictions(drugs,alcohol,smoking, etc.) and the Lord our God has delivered me from ALL OF THEM. I have been celibate for almost 40 years, so these priests must be taking some kind of bogus vow.If one seeks the Holy Spirit empowered gift of celibacy,it will be granted to them, AND God Himself will maintain it. After all,being celibate is not man/woman's natural state, so naturally supernatural power is required to enter into such a state. Frankly, I'm surprised that the so-called Roman Catholic Church doesn't seem to be able to grasp that. So...save the psychobabble, Loy. The Indwelling Jesus the Christ is the priests' answer, nothing else. Besides,haven't they already tried your solution? \ud83d\ude0a--PEACE IN CHRIST.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Excellent segment by Chuck Todd this am. He had about 6 -8 questions from still strong Trump supporters that helps answer your question. He thinks a third party has been formed in voters. He says that is not mainstream republican or Democrat. My take on the polls in 2016 didnt design this voting block into their surveys. Asked the same old types of questions but failed to see where these votes were going to be cast. The design was flawed. Me thinks they got lazy. Todd speculates the reports of waning trump support is also false. Fascinating list of about 8 questions showing how this third group is not going away. I wish I could remember them, but one showed a huge swing in evangelicals accepting Trump's behavior where in 2008 they would have been far less accepting and forgiving. It was like 22% then and like 77% now. Check out Meet the Press this am. I couldnt find the survey link. FASCINATING. I think they'll get it wrong again.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Traditional family values\" is foremost about keeping the patriarchal structure in place where the man is top dog over women and children. So, yes this also implicates gays, single parents, even those who chose not to marry, but it is mostly about keeping male entitlement secure. Hillary rising to such a high leadership position is alarmingly threatening to right-wingers who want to keep this structure, and that very much includes the all-male leadership of the Catholic church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For you to label Adolph Hitler as being a Christian is totally ridiculous. He only attended Church services twice while he was Chancellor of Germany. And both appearances were staged as publicity stunts, in order to trick the German people into thinking that he was a religious man.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No myth is HISTORICALLY accurate. But this story is the basis of the teaching that 1) Eve [and some Fathers/Doctors taught that Eve stood for all women] tempted Adam---and all men\n2) That all humanity 'fell' from God's grace\n3) That Original Sin entered the world [although the Jewish people did not\nbelieve in Original Sin\n4) That Jesus had to die to 'expiate' God's Wrath over this sin\n-------------------\nThere was no Garden, there was no Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, there was no fall. But the official church is still teaching this as if it was not a myth.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pastafarianism is recognized by Netherlands and New Zealand. It's part of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. \n\nThe great thing about this religion is anyone can join simply saying they're a member. And any member is then free to create any sect with any belief. So, for example, I could proclaim to be a member of the church and proclaim that my particular sect believes in having afternoon naps from 2:30 to 3:00pm.\n\nWould you be willing to have the law accommodate my wishes and any that may join the sect of my religion?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding:\"\u201cJust another guy with an opinion\u201d \u2014 those are fighting words for the Catholic bishops.\"\n- While Bannon's point is misguided, he is correct in that the bishops singularly and collectively as USCCB are indeed just another guy with an opinion and a one vote within secular society.\n- It is important that a bishop teaches, and that members of the bishop's church listen. It is also important that a bishop votes. Equally important is that men and women of good will consider what a bishop teaches.\n- What many bishops forget is that it is civil society and its government that balances opinions and decides courses of action.\n- Bishops misbehave when they say and act as if secular society fails if indeed that same society acts differently to what a bishop professes. This might be because there is more to a situation than a bishop allows, or because the bishop is flat out wrong.\n- To be sure MrTrump erred when he cancelled DACA and turned these people into chum.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is undignified, this bridge to a faith that denies Christ divinity and sacrifice, and has as prophecy an end times that involves the killing of Christians and a prophecy for sacking Christian cities like Constantinople. \n\nMay God have mercy on us for allowing and supporting apostasy. It is odd to see this being supported, especially given how none of us would ever want to live in a Islamic state like Iran, Saudi Arabia or Quatar. I wonder if a mosque would ever host a Crucifix. \n\nMay the Lord have mercy on all those involved, when he returns to judge.\nWhy would liberals even endorse a religion that has instructions for beating your wife?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, we disagree on this one. As much as I love him, Francis is starting to resemble someone we know, tweeting out responses that don't need to be said or heard. If he has a problem with these individuals, call them in and work it out. Or not, and let them go. What's happening now is, in my opinion, unseemly and a distraction from the issue at hand: what exactly can we do to help millions of Catholics come back to the sacraments?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sorry, Joey, that's exactly the attitude I'm talking about. A beautiful gospel passage where Jesus exposes the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, their cruelty and heartlessness, where Jesus sides with the powerless and tells this broken woman that he does not condemn her, and all you can hear and see is the sin of the woman. Far, far greater and far more frequently commented on by Jesus, is the sin of the Pharisee. But you don't hear it. If you do not wish to enter God's Kingdom, fine, but please step aside and leave those who do wish to enter - with their sins - to do so.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"At some point a priest is going to impose on someones view of the liturgy because no two people have the exact same view of the liturgy. What one person likes another person may dislike.\"\n\nThere have been situations reported on this site where a priest who is generally much more conservative than the congregation imposes a pre-Vatican II vision of the liturgy on the parish and upsets all the parishioners. The latest one reported on was in North Carolina.\n\n\"I've personally never heard of anyone \"tattling\" to the bishop for anything that was not a serious liturgical abuse.\"\n\nWhat do you consider serious liturgical abuses? Liturgical dance? Standing rather than kneeling for the Eucharistic Prayer? Because I consider those preferences. And rather than going to the bishop like a toddler, perhaps just change parishes to one more to your liking.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Chucky\n\nHow many of these countries where \"free expression and...\" have you lived in? I have lived in 4 Muslim countries, and don't depend on Fox News for information. Pravda was about as truthful as Fox News. The difference was that the Russians knew Pravda was lying all the time.\n\nA problem that I see in many people on this forum is that they are \"experts\" on Islam, while knowing a very unidimensional aspect of Islamic culture,history, politics or economics. Quick, tell the name of the President of the world's largest Islamic country (without googling it)? Now tell me the name of the President of the world's largest Christian country. Easy, right?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\" I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.\"Galatians 2:20 KJV.\nAs formerly a probably worse sinner than Saul of Tarsus, who as Paul the Apostle of the Gentiles wrote those words, I make them my own; and with every passing day I grow in maturity feeding upon God's Word, I become more aware that religious and superstitious \"Marian Apparitions\" on one hand, and these self-righteous unbelieving attacks upon the truth of God's Word on the other---\nare an abomination before the Lord Jesus Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Another article about residential schools and the sixties scoop programs that does not mention the role played by Liberal governments of Mackenzie King, Louis St Laurent, Lester Pearson and Pierre Trudeau and the strong support that that they got from the CCF (now the NDP) of James Woodsworth, M.J. Coldwell, and Tommy Douglas, and the Catholic Church and the United Church of Canada. At the time these programs were seen as progressive and enjoyed strong support from people who saw themselves as progressive like Tabatha. If Ms Beyak is wrong then all of the people involved including four Liberal prime ministers, three CCF/NDP leaders and hundreds of Catholic and United Church clergy were evil.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well that is not entirely false, we should be letting our priests know that we demand that they openly support women being ordained if they want our continued support.\n\nIf the amount of priests that state they quietly agree women should be priests, stood up & openly demanded women be ordained, and stated that they were going to take real measures, such as concelebrating with Roman Catholic Women Priests, without permission, this year, if the pope and bishops do not ordain women immediately, our hierarchy would have no choice but to ordain women. It is thru the complacency of the priests & laity that this hateful ban in our church continues & it could not continue without that cooperation.\n\nBoff's choice to suggest further deepening the attack against the human dignity of all women, by creating literal gender segregation, rather than justly ordaining women is a sinful direction. We cannot change what we were, however we can change what we will be as a church. His way causes more harm.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Milwaukee Archdiocese bankruptcy was used by the archdiocese to cause more pain and betrayal to victims who answered Archbishop Listecki's call to come forward for healing, resolution and fair compensation. We victims were re injured by the ruthless hard ball legal strategy used by the archdiocese as they spent millions denying every single victims claim. Five years of emotional hell for victims, we received nothing but more pain and betrayal. Silence from Milwaukee clergy and Catholics. Most Catholics say that they want clergy sex abuse victims to be treated fairly, just not the ones in their diocese. Milwaukee Catholics should hang their heads in shame.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't have evidence to support an opinion one way or the other on the Hammond allegations, but it is not uncommon for organizations to begin doing good work, only to fall short of their own expectations after a while. The Catholic Church is but one glaring example of such a moral decline. If (if!) that is the case with SNAP, perhaps it's a good thing that they regroup with different players and a renewed commitment to their mission.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We don't know whether there is any evidence that Eastern Catholic Rites ever allowed remarriage after divorce. If it continued after these Churches reunited with Rome then it would have been an abuse which has now been corrected.\nA lot of Eastern Rite Catholics live in the USA and if such an abuse existed there then it would have come to the attention of Latin bishops. Also, the Vatican was quite strict with US Eastern Rite Churches, it is only recently that married men have been allowed to be ordained.\nAnother thing to remember is that years ago annulment and divorce meat the same thing as in the cases of Henry VIII and Napoleon.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You're right, not show how I manage to completely missdate Marco Polo like that, I really should not try to argue from memory alone :P\n\nHowever what is undeniably a fact is that paper was brought to Europe by the Moors who had in turn gotten it from the Arabs who had gotten it from the Chinese via long and elaborate trade networks. \nIt's quite ironic that one of the key technologies behind the spread of Christianity throughout Europe was brought to Europe by Muslims.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"If only we could rid ourselves of the immoral ones.\"\n- It is the immoral theologians that specialize in sin especially that sin originating with the pelvis. Without such as these the Body of Christ, all of us, might not why certain sins are worthy of remark.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "- Donald Trump lists 20 Supreme Court Judges who would be somewhat similar to Justice Scalia (Constitutional and pro-life). Hillary Clinton would appoint judges similar to Kagan and Sotomayor.\n- Hillary Clinton is against religious freedom: \"Laws have to be backed up with resources and political will. And deep-seated RELIGIOUS BELIEFS HAVE TO BE CHANGED\". Donald Trump supports religious liberty. \n- Are you better off than you were 8 years ago? Hillary Clinton will continue and double-down on policies from the last 8 years.\n- Donald Trump has created thousands of jobs. Hillary Clinton: none.\n- Mrs. Clinton wants to expand Obamacare, while Trump wants to repeal and replace Obamacare.\nHostility to Catholic Doctrine would continue to increase with a Clinton Presidency.\n(And, I didn't even mention all of Hillary Clinton's scandals and lies.)\nI'm voting for the businessman.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What you term \"modernist\" is mainstream Catholicism. And correctly so, as far as it goes. Things such as the institutional homophobia and sexism should be fixed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "READ THE BIBLE!!!!!!!!!! No where does it EVER say that Jesus WAS or EVER got married!! Geeezzz people!!! Stop trying to change the Bible. It is what is is. Leave it alone!!! Love Jesus and believe! Have faith!! PRAY!!!!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually, when God called me to priesthood I was 16 and he never told me it was for temporal gains. \n\nI believe you should stop assuming things about other people's faith and work your hour of well done sacrifice for the sake of God forgiving your sin of arrogance and sexism.\n\nJesus never claimed to call women to different work than men. Sexism is hatred and its fruit is poverty, violence, rape, division, unrest, child abuse and even slavery globally. These are facts, by the way, not opus dei sillydoms.\n\nDid that great priest from Opus Dei tell you how women are treated like lesser life forms, to men, in this group, and are made to clean up after the men like their personal slaves - not servants of God, just servants to sexist men. \n\nI will be impressed with Opus Dei when their priests salute their sister priests for traveling hundreds of miles to give meditations, spiritual direction, say Mass, give doctrinal classes, etc. \n\nA closed heart forms a biased, unhealthy, mean mind.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Obviously, Catholic worship was always in Latin. Jesus must have used Latin at the last supper. Otherwise, at some point, mass was changed from some other language to Latin, which would have been a concession to some modern, for its time, practice. Since we know all change from original tradition is bad, there could not have been a time when the mass was said in anything other than Latin. Otherwise, our sincere devotion to the Latin mass is merely a devotion to some man-made practice which only became tradition over time because it was repeated.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Judaic prohibitions against any sexual behavior that did not result in children were based on the instinct of tribal preservation. (I learned that long ago from a Jew.) Christianity inherited its prohibitions against non-procreative sexual activity from Judaism, so if there's to be any discussion about the Judeo-Christian tradition \"accepting\" LGTB behaviors (or any other non-procreative activity, for that matter) then an \"honest investigation\" should begin with a discussion about whether or not tribal preservation in the twenty-first century is indeed a valid reason for making gay people's lives a living hell. I submit that it is not. But please, argue away...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am sorry you are so afraid. I am sorry that you consider self-enslavement to an emotion to be a compliment. This is pitiful. I wish you would choose freedom from fear. I think rising above fear is braver than \"dealing\" with aggressors-Jesus was braver than Barabbus.\nYou did not answer any of my questions from above. Who exactly are these \"unjust deadly aggressors?\" Do you live in a war zone?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "IMO the catholic church has been pretty efficient at collecting any and all accounts of history they could get their hands on, including other topics as well it seems. Since history is written by the winners, wouldn't it seem reasonable that whatever didn't suit their message would be removed from the record? It's disheartening the things we've watched in our lifetimes be destroyed because someone didn't like what other people believed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "flat footed? I thought it was swollen ankles. Hey, but to each his own hero........if not him, who? The smiling lying christian crusader Mike Pence? Yes!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I thought I had replied to you twice now but I have re-read the relevant posts and I'll try again.\nNormally when a man says, \"I am married,\" one naturally assumes he has a wife, even when a man says he has a partner the assumption is 'live in girlfriend'. I now see where you are coming from.\nI recall that when I was a training supervisor a trainee often talked about his partner. After a couple of days he let slip that this partner was a man. His trainer, a woman, religious but not Catholic, nearly fell off her chair in shock.\nI have known and had friendships with many people I have suspected of being homosexual but never knew. I have also encountered homosexuals who were quite blas\u00e9 about it, what you call 'in your face', one sounding off in detail about his relationships in a crowded works smoking room.\nHeterosexuals despite what the polls say are not really comfortable with homosexuality, at most they tolerate it these days or are forced to by legislation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But I am.\n\nI find your \"male worshipping, fetus fetish church\" comment highly offensive. As well as intellectually and morally dishonest. I am surprised your comment made it through vetting....or, maybe I'm not. \n\nYour propensity for name calling and attack is also distressing - particularly when you say you are \"a Catholic on my own terms...\" I did not know the definition of \"Catholic\" was up for grabs.....\n\nTell me. Just on this issue. What do you think Jesus would say? About the innocent life that is being destroyed, that is......", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "and don't even get started on what they call Eastern Catholics. LOL but in the old countries I'm told that the Eastern Catholics called the Orthodox some not very nice names too. but have also heard stories about in places like Slovakia and the Middle East, it was also common for the Catholic priest's wife to go to the village Orthodox priest for the confession and vice versa. so things weren't always so black and white even there.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What do you mean when you say that Catholics \"need to grow up across the board\"?\nI don't think that any amount of \"growing up\" will enable the laity to effect meaningful change in the institutional Church, because the power structure is completely one-sided. The institutional Church has clearly ignored those who have stopped giving or stopped participating.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why the heck is it when I say the very same thing here, I don't get stars of approval, but a torrent of invective?\n\nAfter consideration, it's apparently something very much to do with your keeping your criticism within the progressive Catholic sphere (Jesuit authors and \"our Catholic intellectual heritage\"). \nIn that way, you can object to the MSWesque worldview by informing the progressive readers that NCR isn't the only or the best progressive Catholic oracle. Very nice!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So has Christianity. This is one man, one case. There are a few boneheads but this is not \"widely abused\".", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"the terms of the business license \"\nSo, if a gay business owner refuses to serve conservative Christians because the gay business owner is deeply offended by their anti-gay beliefs, that business owner will face a civil complaint of discrimination on the basis of religion. And the owner will lose. Because being gay isn't covered by the First Amendment's religious clauses\nBut! Now we are going to let conservative Christians discriminate against gay people and couples because it violates the Christians' religious beliefs to serve them.\nAn entire class of people will be able to tell another class of people, in defiance of state laws across the country, to literally go to Hell.\nThis is about power. This is about conservative Christians restoring the old governmentally-enforced social order of conservative Christians feeling superior to gay people.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "When it comes to sex and sex ed, the progressives also want to tell you who you can have sex with though; isn't that what the Rainbow flag is all about? The want to teach the kids about gay sex in school, how sexual diversity should be celebrated, etc. If \"conservatives\" meant the same thing as \"Christian Right\" you would have a point, but then you also have libertarians flying under the conservative banner who don't want that. Maybe they're part of the alt-right or something.... another label which represents views more diverse than the media will usually portray.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "As willfully ignorant and bigoted as so-called \"Christians\" like Franklin Graham, Terry Jones and our own Amy Dumbitchsky are, even I'm not prepared to blame Trumpy the Clown on Christianity as a whole. Trumpy is no more \"Christian\" than Abu Baqr al-Baghdadi (leader of the Da'esh aka \"ISIS\") is \"Muslim\". Both are egregious violators of their respective faiths' tenets.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "LOL, it's also true that the right does not appreciate it when the left points out their blatant hypocrisy when it comes to putting 'me before thee' and then calling themselves Christian.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Get a life, people like you with no proof at all just parroting stupid stuff make me sick. Get the facts and post all the proven Radical Christian attacks and horror stories going on in the Country. That's right ... NONE.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Dennis, One of the most blatant hurts accorded to many men and women was when Benedict opened the door for married clergy of the Anglican Communion to come into the Catholic Church as priests. God only knows how hurtful that was to many men and women. To sit there in church while an Anglican said Mass with his wife and kids in the pews while, in many cases, a catholic priest sat in the same church and wasn't even allowed to take communion.\n\nSomeone is on here demanding to know when Benny or JPII ever changed Church teaching. Well there's a big, fat, juicy one right there. He changed it at a whim, opening the door for every homophobic, misogynistic, reactionary right wing cleric who felt that their own church wasn't hating homosexuals and women enough.\n\nOn the upside, Benny showed that you can change anything and 2000 years of tradition can be dropped like hot cakes, and I hope that Francis makes full use of the precedent set by him.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "There are lots of Christians particularly evangelicals who have nasty views towards gays but most of them don't go around killing people any more than most Muslims do.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Catholics in Madison have a very dramatic way to respond to this nonsense. Keep your wallets in your pockets until this is reversed and an apology is issued.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Your ignorance is showing , diverdave, but I am glad for the opportunity to educate. Objecting to Israel's Apartheidism, racism, colonialism, is objecting to human rights violations which is what Jewish Voice for Peace does among many good human beings. I am a supporter of JVP. I follow CHRISTIAN Peacemaker reports from Hebron. They try to protect school children from Attacks by brutal Illegal Israeli settlers. .\" The UN takes First Concrete Step To Hold ISRAEL Accountable for Violating Palestinian Human Rights.\" BDSMOVEMENT.NET Jewish Voice for Peace reports.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Hussein Bagdaddy Obama is trying to hide from us the infidels, the fact that his so called \" religion of peace\" is actually a religion of evil ?\nTry as he might, Obama can not change the fact that the gay Orlando jihadi was a Islamist Democrat, & not a Christian NRA member.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I went by the proud fact you display an Iranian Flag, sport!! Your right about not invading any country, but they have also, unlike America, haven't saved millions of lives in every corner of the world -FACT!! Including the ME. This country has sacrificed blood and treasure unlike any countries in the past and have never flown \"my\" flag over another country in the name of conquest. Also, again, you're clueless about who I rely on for sources!! And about Iran not invading other countries; BS!! They hire despicable, cowardly radical elements to do the dirty work for them; that of killing, beheading, burning, torturing innocents of all colors, all religions, all genders, and all ages!! Don't discuss personal knowledge and experience when you, again hold one country to one standard, another to a much lower standard. America is want keeps the world safe and much of it free, and that's not an opinion-FACT!! And Stonewall Jackson was a hell of a leader and Christian!!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Saullie: seriously? Again, stop making things up, if you don't understand them, as you usually do. There was no slag against Catholics, just like there was no slag about passing in a shoot-out, as you once boasted. In fact there was a simple clarification about your shallow knowledge of the Holy Sacrament of Mass to a silly a notion of your persistent slagged preaching to Leafs' Nation for the sake of winning a hollow skirmish with a different poster. And since you can't recognize sensitive hockey issues, I am not surprise, at your persistence here, even after you were corrected by another poster and schooled by yet another on another point, that you incredibly , yet again, fail to understand, on yet another post, is silly. Again stop preaching to those who have a better understand of the game than you do. By continuing your foolishness you simply elevate the notion of ridiculous to yet a higher level of absurdity for yourself.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "This week, our Pope, in a homily stated that gay men are not fit to be priests basically because they are feminine, he made jokes about how an old cleric was making fun of a new priest because he was examining his look in his fancy clerical garb just like a woman would. \n\nGender segregation is a split by gender. Most men are married in our church, so they too have no authority. Optional celibacy will open a flood gate to married men-which is why this priest, in the article, described that thousands of married men will jump right in, the moment the pope gives the ok -thousands in Brazil alone. So all those women who have been leading parishes as lay ministers are gone & replaced, even if they are made deacons they have no authority.\n\nCelibacy causes no one harm so it is not wrong & no one has to be a priest. I have no problem with optional celibacy if we are ordaining married women too but it should not be at the cost of women. Black men have a voice in our church. Women do not.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Right. Having an \"exorcism\" because the state allowed CIVIL same-sex marriage is not homophobic. Nor is cancelling the contract that Catholic Social Services of Springfield had with the State of Illinois because the state said they couldn't automatically reject gay couples as adoptive parents. Nor is excommunicating gays. He did not say explicitly that gays should be \"hated, feared, shunned, and rejected\". However, it should be blindingly obvious, even to you (but only if you had even a scintilla of honesty in your makeup), that is his message.\n\nNo, Paprocki is a thorough-going homophobe, and you support him in his homophobia, just as you supported Burke in his homophobia.\n\nYes, I have little love for Paprocki, because I oppose bigotry, and the man is a bigot. And my love for you is scant, also because you support bigotry (as well as your general dishonesty and knee-jerk support for conservatives who should not be supported).", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "What are you talking about? The Eucharist is Jesus himself. We are not to worship God now? Where do you come up with this nonsense?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Oh no, that's the function of government that Dunleavy loves. Especially if it involves giving money to Christian education.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are many verses in the Qur'an, the holy book of the religion of Islam, that call for jihad (struggle) and many verses in the Qur'an that call for the destruction of Jews, Christians and non believers.\n\nAre people saying Muslims are extreme and radical when they follow those verses and directions in the Qur'an?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, the Christians spent almost 500 years in the Crusades against the Muslims, and it wasn't until after that that Martin Luther started questioning the Catholic Church. \n\nThe \"protestants' have split so many times since then that there are too many little groups to have a good war. Of course, the Jews have always been a good target for all unhappy 'Christians' but they are alos too dispersed to make a good war.\n\nAnd socio-political movements like those in Northern Ireland have always liked to hang their desire for power on a religious hook. I believe that is also part of the actual meaning of the Sunni-Shi'a conflicts over the centuries including the present day.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have no problem with that. I only object to the notion that Jesus relied on his divine nature to lift him above the challenges of human living. Such a role model would be no model at all. Either we have a Christ we can relate to and be inspired by to find the Godliness within our humanity, or we don't.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Trid has determined, without investigation, that the sisters are wholly blameless, that the babies and children were treated properly (even though the death rate for that age group was four times that of the country as a whole) and that dumping the bodies into disused cess pits constitutes proper Christian burial.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Sikhs. other Christians...etc \nshould all get funding for their schools\nif only to shut down the dissidents and malcontents\nwho say\n\"Why only Catholics get funding?\"\n.\nJohn Tory offered to extend it to all faiths when he ran for Premier\nbut\nthe Religious-PHOBIC secularists rejected him\nso don't complain now", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Re: \"People who claim to care about spreading hate in the name of religion are remarkably silent when hate is spread in the name of Allah.\"\n\nNo more nor less so than they are remarkably silent when hate is spread in the name of the Christian God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Perhaps what you are seeing is people adhering to those institutions that offer certainty; the only certainty the Faithful have is the certainty of hope. Basing any understanding of the 'known mind of God' on numbers in the pews, rather than admitting where the Institution has deviated in doctrine and canon law from the teachings and example of Christ, rather than discerning how we can change direction to be more in step with Christ. The oft repeated 'Christ chose only men as priests' is an example. There were NO Christian priests for over 300 yrs; priests were needed in other religions to perform sacrifices, Christians have no need to perform sacrifices except those of 'thanks and praise'. \nIt is good that we can seek to understand the Living God, the Scripture and Church history in the light of our increasing knowledge, and to offer faithful commitment to God (not the Institution) without fretting about the diversity of expression or condemning those with whom we do not agree.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bruce MacDonald423: Christians and Jews, what few remain, continue to this day to be persecuted and expelled from their homes in the Middle East and yet these former Liberal Cabinet Ministers and all current Liberal Cabinet Ministers remain silent. Do you consider this \"whataboutism\" and therefore irrelevant?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The term 'white supremacy' has a redundancy. There is no need to use 'white' because only whites, European Christian whites, in particular exhibit racist supremacy. No other race in the world has it. \n\nWhile slavery has been a paramount practice of white Europeans, it is they who turned it into an epic crime of trade - the Slave Trade of the 17th -19th centuries. Millions of black Africans died, millions more shipped to become lifetime slaves of white man in the New World. The profit was most handsome.\n\nThis white man holy war on Blacks reflect on today holy war on Islamic lands, the latest round started by America in the 80's. The motive same - money and power (oil, US dollar supremacy, control of Middle East on behalf of Israel). \n\nBut there is a difference - there were no retaliation from the black man, or from Africa for the white man's biggest rape of the human race. But this is the 21st century, era of globalization, communications, knowledge. Nobody will take it anymore.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm quite certain Scheer doesn't worship the bible. He has a Catholic belief which would mean he likely would worship God the creator and savior from sin. I believe he would worship the same God that Trudeau worships.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The idea that Christ's words should mean one thing to one culture at a given time and something else to another culture at another time is so absurd it makes your head spin. Yet that is what some \"intellectuals\" pretend to believe. I say \"pretend,\" because I doubt whether, in their bones, they actually believe this piffle. The fact is, being a Christian is damn hard. Christ experienced firsthand and even foresaw what is happening now --- His supposed faithful trying to alter his very words because they're too hard to take. They can't take Jesus' words; they can't take the truth. He knew this would happen, hence: \"So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold,I am going to vomit you out of My mouth.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well the issues of gender oppression & forced lack of access to birth control have existed for centuries but our church has been better able to hide from them because only in the last 250 years has the West actually had free democratic societies leading them (Thanks to God & his help in creating the democracy of the United States). Democracy's grand but frail ideals can't stand long under the weight of any biased oppression being allowed. They are the best ideals as they seek to ensure freedom for all but that means most oppression must go for the sake of unity. Our church can't hide its misogyny & other biases easily now as it tries to exist, claiming itself Christian, while oppressing its own people & other groups outside of our church. \n\nIt is justice really from God since Jesus tells the apostles & disciples in the Gospels to bring issues of discontent to the whole church body when members can't agree on their own. By this, Jesus is describing a church run by democratic rules.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think the core issue is whether any citizen should be subject to official interrogation about his or her religious beliefs, especially if the questions imply an inherent conflict between one's faith and one's adherence to established law. If federal senators are allowed to do this, would state officials have the same privilege? Could a city council openly question Catholics' ability to implement local immigration policies? The fact that Catholics are a majority at the moment seems irrelevant to that core issue.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have been following Pope Francis quite well, thank you. Having a high rate of vocations is a requirement for the future of the church; bad popes who betray the church are not.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Look, I agree with the NCR on things like contraception and homosexuality, but this I can't agree with. I think you can be both Catholic and libertarian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus forgave the woman, not those dragging her forward for condemnation. Back in Christ's time, women, whose husbands divorced them, often had NO other means of livelihood, but prostitution. And as always, the woman was the only one caught---never the man who wanted sex---who was paying the woman for the sexual act. \n\nThis bishop is offering NOTHING. He's operating on the law that was made when LARGE families were needed to sustain family incomes. Today, people don't marry ONLY to have children. They marry because they love one another FIRST. The Catholic Marriage Ritual asks couples if they will 'welcome children into the marriage'. Children can be adopted---and a number of LGBT couples have done just that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The bishops said illegal immigration is totally OK.\n\nhttp://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/immigration/catholic-teaching-on-immigration-and-the-movement-of-peoples.cfm\n\nIt follows they hold that illegal trafficking is likewise OK.\n\nTragedies like this are the result of their high sounding but irresponsible, and harmful, philosophy of \"compassion.\"\n\nIt's this simple: You encouraged the traffickers, you encouraged poor Catholics to use these traffickers. This tragedy is the result of your venal strategy to fill America's church pews.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Monica...my past experience with RCC meeting/planning suggests that these guys are NOT media savvy...which in this case is a shame....\n\nMedia savvy planners at its inception would have figured out the key speakers, McElroy, et al and structured major media attendance for key talks etc...press packets would have been developed, advance media coverage in major markets would have occurred...possibly at a cost...print and TV would have been present...for a couple talks.\n\nMy experience with media is with elected public officials press folks who are definitely media savvy....there is really no excuse for, for instance the three sponsoring dioceses to not have asked their catholic electeds for some press assistance...I've gotten it for catholic stuff...it's doable.\n\nThe thing is these guys seem to me to be \"media dumb\"\n\nMedia \"smart\" folks...and elected folks are media smart know how important the media is...they cultivate it...they pay professional staff, et al. \n\nThe Church should wise up!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When in the seminary (13 yrs) can't remember abortion mentioned. If it was, lost in a laundry of sins, perhaps.\nThis young man sounds, as the Irish say, \"full of himself.\"\nHe seeks to do something the Great God, Jehovah, failed.\nHe wants to make his assertion paramount to all issues: \"The reasons why we must defend innocent life from the moment of conception...\"\nWhen Jehovah uttered \"Increase & multiple...\" why didn't Jehovah follow it up with \"from the moment of conception defend innocent life?\"\nJehovah is omniscient, and should have anticipated doctoral candidate Joel Gallagher's concern! Evidently, Jehovah wasn't thinking! Isn't omniscient!\nAnd Jesus failed to clarify Jehovah's lack of focus, priority. Mum on abortion.\nAnd Paul, too, in Romans 1:18 where abortionists aren't on his hit list of those who deserve God's wrath. But disobedient children are!\nFinally, in this anno Domini, this doctoral candidate clearly and unequivocally enunciates what Jehovah and company totally blew.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christians divorce at about the same rate as Americans in general (38% Christians/50% religiously unaffiliated) so there are plenty of Christians who have disrobed, divorced and disrobed again after finding a new mate. You just don't hear as much about it because of the practice of shaming people for divorcing within the Christian community. \nNearly one-in-three (31%) adults with less than a high school education are members of evangelical Protestant churches so this might impact the decision-making process concerning divorce. The decision to divorce is driven by both emotional and economic factors. If evangelicals had more income and higher levels of education, their divorce rate would likely match that of the more prosperous religiously unaffiliated Americans. Either way, a fair amount of evangelicals disrobe and divorce just like the rest of us.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mocanic, it is a flat-out lie that Gary Johnson \"couldn't even name a world leader\". He simply could not name a world leader WHOM HE ADMIRED, as a good libertarian would NOT admire anyone who is fostering the growth of statism and authoritarianism, as every current world \"leader\" seems bent on doing (and as an aside, why is this the worldwide trend, with essentially no exceptions)? You may as well ask a Mormon to name their favorite brand of coffee, or a Muslim to name their favorite liquor.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Believing that we should ensure the freedom from, more than of, religion, hostile to all forms of fundamentalism, as much Christian, (born again and Catholic integrist) and Jewish (ulta-Orthodoxy) as well as Islamic fundamentalism (Salafism or Wahhabism), and attached to the right to blaspheme, I am very worried about the consequences of the passing of M-103. In a recent book, \"Un racism imaginaire, islamophobie et culpabilit\u00e9\", Pascal Bruckner expresses his fear that the notion of islamophobia could be used to silence any criticism of Islam itself. While the personal security of Muslims should be ensured, so should that of people who subscribe to Voltaire's statement that Moses, Christ and Muhammad were three imposters. Is one who would encourage Muslims to approach their sacred text the way that Thomas R\u00f6mer dissects the Hebrew Bible at the Coll\u00e8ge de France, and who criticises Muslims who refuse to do so, engaged in an Islamophobic act?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_intentional_homicide_rate\n\nThe first non Christian country I see was Myanmar at number 28. The first Muslim country was Turkmenistan at 34.\n\nAnd I lived in a Muslim country in Africa (Libya). Have you?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yup. \n\nSupporters of Israel ride roughshod over universal values, which are Canadian values. They support \"the tribe\" over others. E.g., an American from Brooklyn of the right religion may move to Israel and receive instant citizenship. Meanwhile, Christian and Muslim Palestinians who lived there for countless generations are prevented from returning to their own homes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Exactly why should I or any American Catholic listen to the bishops about who to vote for?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A few questions after reading this article:\n\n-Omar Mateen was American born. Would Trump's policy have worked to prevent what happened in Florida?\n\n-If we ban all Muslims, can we ban Catholics from entering the US as well? \n They now run the largest organized pedophile ring on the planet. Or is Islam the only religion with potential criminals?\n\n-What if someone was born a Muslim and deconverts or switches to another religion? Will they be considered \"approved\" or be banned for life if their name is Mohammed or Aisha? \n\n-Would we have to put all Americans who convert to Islam in jail preemptively? How about Americans who convert to Catholicism?\n\n-Anyone who hunts with an AR-15 is either a lousy shot or a coward. It's like salmon fishing with a stick of dynamite. Is there a legitimate reason to own one outside of a well regulated state militia?\n\n-Multiple people armed with guns in a drinking establishment like the one in Florida is a bad idea. Yes?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Compare, then, the number killed by Muslims over the last 100 years or so and the number killed by Christians in the same timeframe. What's your answer?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Part two of two) Digging deeper, from the Jews, \u201cThe LORD\u201d as distinct from current ruling politicians \u201ccomes, he comes to rule the earth. He shall rule the world with justice and the peoples with his constancy\u201d (Psalm 96:13). There is more relevance in John 1:1-18. \u201cIn the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word WAS God. . . . the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. . . .The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world\u201d by means of the Faithful this day. \u201c . . . full of grace and truth . . . grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.\u201d\n\nVery little ambiguous about that. Black Catholics, with more than the usual mainstream Muslim relatives and friends, especially have plenty special offerings for the whole world today.\n\nMore:\nWe have to stop thinking of the Church in terms of priests and nuns.\u2014Monicadeangelis and start thinking with the Church in terms of the Liturgy of the Word.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You show your ignorance. Democracy is entirely absent from this picture.\\\n\nThe civil war is a multi faceted battle between an adamantly secular, power hungry Alawite government, but one which protected Ismaili and other Shia minorities, Christians, and who are opposed by the mostly Sunni Islamists, ISIL and al Nusra, unleashed by Bush/Cheney and the Arabian peninsula Wahabists/Salafis. However, the Iraqi Kurds are almost entirely Sunni as are the Syrian Turkmen, both isolated from ISIL because of ethnic divisions. The Alevi remain somewhat distinct from the rest. \n\nNow if this completely confounds you, you should apply to become the Secretary of State if Exxon's CEO is somehow turned down. You'd fit right in with the comic strip theorists.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christianity, Judaism and Islam are the same religion.\n\nThey have no leaders, they passed 2000 years ago. \n\nPeople who follow their one book do not have a spiritual advisor to guide them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I know it is a lot to ask of someone who is a stranger to the Beatitudes like you LotL, but how about showing some respect for the survivors of sexual abuse and exploitation by Catholic priests and bishops?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Time to review this and eliminate this Catholic School system. As I understand it, Ontario is the only province that still operates with the separate school boards. If you no longer need to be Catholic - what is the point? A lot of wasted money with maintaining duplicate school systems that doesn't make sense when there are so many schools that are not filled with students, boards in some cases are closing some, while other boards are building schools. Time to consolidate, streamline, and create much more efficiency with a single and better run school system!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "and who do the victims have left to help them against the wealth and power of the catholic church? No one. \n\nThank you for attorneys. BTW,, the catholic church has LOTS of attorneys they use in suing others. They have the money,, the victims often don't. Our system works well.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I really don't think Islam and Christianity mix very well , maybe we should leave the middle east alone .", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pretty much your usual profile of western converts to religious sects. Islam is just the \"religion du jour\" these days, in the past it has been the Hare Krishnas, the Children of God, the Maharishi...\n\nYoung people with disordered lives but usually some strong religious background they reject as not demanding enough. Have read of many Catholics rejecting Catholicism and Christianity in general as too complex a faith, it demands too much nuanced thinking, Islam is so much simpler and straightforward.\n\nSo said Lawrence of Arabia of the Arab Muslims: \"They were a people of primary colours, or rather of black and white, who saw the world always in contour. They were a dogmatic people, despising doubt, our modern crown of thorns. They did not understand our metaphysical difficulties, our introspective questionings. They knew only truth and untruth, belief and unbelief, without our hesitating retinue of finer shades.\" \n\nA very appealing view of the world to some people...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "racist to boot. you are a true \"American Christian\" aren't you?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is not praying \"on their own time.\" Christians will bow their heads and pray. Muslims require a whole ritual (prayer mats, segregation, washing up in bathrooms)- and it has to be at exactly the right time of day - whether that cuts into every other program at the school and is costing the school board millions of dollars in resources is something of no concern to Muslims. There is not enough space to even give French its own classroom in most schools in Ontario - yet there is room for Islamic prayer?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The body-Catholic hasn't listened to them in years, perhaps decades. They are close to, if not already, irrelevant to the daily lives of the people they purport to lead. The bleeding of membership to other denominations and the \"nones\" are huge clues of this.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This baker is trying to cram his chosen lifestyle down the throats of his customers. And as far as \"in your face\", I see Christians flying their symbols and slogans all over the place. Even insisting that our government play along.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Many of the negatives you associate with married priests also exist for today's quasi-celibate unmarried Catholic priests.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "haven't you guys learned yet that mocking doesn't work ...look at the Tier 1 mocking the left gave Trump ... see what I mean. \n\nIs the holocaust in doubt? lol If you think that 6 million jews dies in the 'holocaust' then yes that number has always been in doubt due to there not even being 6 million jews in all of Europe back then ...I believe the latest number is somewhere south of 1 million slightly fewer than Yugoslavia lost and much much fewer than the 24 million Russia lost. \n\nThe real holocaust happened a couple of decades prior to WWII and in that holocaust 40-60 million Christians and Orthodox Russians were killed by the Jewish Bolsheviks", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The US government is not a representative of the Christian faith, and Donald Trump does not represent \"We Christians\". In fact, a lot of the people he represents aren't even Christian.\nIn addition, Western governments at least try to minimize civilian casualties and take deserved criticism for civilian deaths, while suicide bombers aim to kill as many innocent people of any faith as possible, then blame it on Western governments.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The problem with this motion is lack of clarity. The OED defines 'Islamophobia' as \"Intense dislike or fear of Islam, esp. as a political force; hostility or prejudice towards Muslims\"; Merriam-Webster gives the following definition: irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against Islam or people who practice Islam. \n\nIt is the reference to Islam that is problematic. Islam is not a race, ethnicity, or nationality; it is a set of religious beliefs. Criticism of a set of religious beliefs--Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, or Islam--is not the same as prejudice or bigotry to adherents of those beliefs. \n\nIt seems to me that the use of this term is an unnecessary distraction from a very important issue, the growing prejudice and hostility towards Muslims in Canada. This bill should be amended, replacing the term 'Islamophobia' with the phrase 'prejudice or hostility towards Muslims'.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Those aren't the statistics that prove your point. The statistics that would prove your point would involve the percentage of married men who commit crimes of pedophilia. Your statistics break down the % of child abuse by family member. I asked for something different, the comparison of the % of heterosexual married men vs the % of Roman Catholic priests who committed pedophilia. An equivalent of your stats would be if I wrote, 93% of child molestation against altar boys was committed by priests.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Gee, I didn't know Hitler was a Christian! Was he Protestant or Roman Catholic?? His his old church still standing?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Neil, alt-right groups didn't pick Trump's name out of a hat and decide to support him. They support him because he advocated for their views: He repeatedly described Muslims and Latinos in negative, sub-human terms and he's fiercely opposed to international trade and immigration. Now, while Trump's stance on these points tends to be somewhat softer than neo-Nazis, it doesn't change the fact that they're largely on the same page.\n\nAs to whether white supremacists are harmless, look up the names Dylan Roof and Jeremy Joseph Christian. Just because you may not be paying attention doesn't mean alt-right activists aren't murdering people.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As an atheist, I would profoundly disagree with Evangelical Christianity. But I also believe we should allow anyone to decide for themselves whom they wish to deal with even where such decisions are irrational. It is just as wrong for the Ontario government to prevent someone from hiring a lawyer from an Evangelical Christian law school as it had been in hiring a Jewish lawyer.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is really getting ridiculous, Ebes. You state that there is no reason for studying the NT if one is not a Christian, and I attempt to invite you to a broader viewpoint by flipping the topic to non-Muslims studying the Quoran. That is, I tried to argue by analogy: non-Muslims studying the Quoran is analogous to non-Christians studying the NT. \n\nAnd your mind, missing the analogy entirely, leaps to trumpeting you lack of faith in the Quoran as inspired and in Judaism after the resurrection? I posited by analogy in the form of questions, for often inviting someone to wrap their mind around questions assists understanding. If you don't get the analogy, and you refuse my questions designed to help you see the analogy, I fail to see any intellectual way forward.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "TAQIYYA is the Islamic practice of deception. The Koran says it is a moral duty to tell falsehoods to infidels, Jews, and Christians to decisive them to promote Islam. Taqiyya is as basic to Islam as charity is to Christianity. No other religion has such a thing and so it is hard for non-Muslims to understand that it actually exists, and is used regularly in Islamic propaganda. \n\nThe worst part is that liberal media like the Globe, are now giving us taqiyya, doing Islam\u2019s dirty work.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So much for not dignifying my comments with a response. You provided nothing that days the Constitution grants the right to discriminate. I can wait. \nColorado law does not say that a person must forgo their religion to operate a business. That is ridiculous.\nWhat religion says that you can not make a cake for a gay wedding? Which one? It is not Christianity, because,their are tons and tons fo Christians that would not discriminate against gays, even if they think beig gay is a sin.\n\nWhat religion are you talking about?\n\nHis religious beleifs? Great! \nIf one is allowed to discriminate based on their religious views, doctors can refuse to treat aethists based on religious views. \nAnyone can discriminate and just chalk it up to \"religious views.\"\nI will say it for the 57th time, maybe you will understand this time? \nIn Colorado it is illegal to discriminate against protected classes.\nIf you offer wedding cakes to heteros you must offer them to gays or it is discrimination.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Has the rampant anti-Christian bigotry in our society created more fervent \"Christianists\"?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Take this absurdity one step further: Stop allowing Christians into Canada who have been overtly persecuted by Muslims because they are likely to harbour Islamophobic thoughts.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm well aware that some of the more notable founders were only Christians by name but the broader society was Christian as were many of those who fought in the revolution. Washington himself stated \"It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and Bible.\" You're correct that the constitution is supreme law of the land. However without the context of the other founding documents such as the Federalist papers, the Declaration of Independence which is the foundation of our republic, and other writings of the founding fathers you lose all context. The same reason why a lot of leftists like think the Second Amendment is all about deer hunting and government regulated militias which they think means National Guard.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your excuse building for Trump was compared to the excuse building by Christians for the glaringly wrong prognostications found in the Bible. If I were you I'd drop the agnostic label and go with atheist. Take a stand. However, your conservatism fits in nicely with the religious. Not so much with the non.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"We need these immigrants to remind us that the Gospel is good news to the poor.\"\n- What the poor already are not reminder enough?\n- That the poor, already here, have not been evangelized much if at all points to the blindness that inflicts a man on his elevation to the episcopacy.\n- The poor who do not come to church underscores the mistaken belief by the laity that evangelization and catechization are the domain of clerics. Even if that is what many clerics hold, the fact of the manner is that evangelization, e.g., prolcaiming the gospel, especially is the duty of all baptized catholics.\n- Thus, 'filling the pews' is a red herring to distract from a profound structural problem in the USA local churches -- the bishops love to govern, some enjoy teaching, but not a lot of sanctifying - proclaiming the gospel - is going on.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Don't Gary and Gregor realize that in Canada they are forbidden from writing against religions like Islam and Christianity? The recent M 103 motion, endorsed by Canada's Liberal Government , clearly states that any criticism of a religion and its irrational dogma such as Islam is considered hateful. Therefore Gary and Gregor better watch out as they could be hauled before a Canadian Human Rights Commission and found guilty of hate against a religion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The gospel Trump is preaching absolutely contrary to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We who stand in the real pulpit should be willing to say so.\"\n\nSpiritual warfare isn't waged and won with reciprocity. Rather, it's won with the ethic thereof. It takes little effort to divine what you would have for yourself. One must ask of Him, if they are to know of others.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, there are many superficially formed Catholics, just as Jesus pointed..some seed fell into rocky soil...no roots.\n\nToo bad.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, that's my feeling, too. Maybe the time when Catholics voted based upon their religious identity is long gone, if it ever existed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Another one that doesn't understand Catholic schools or school boards. Please do some research.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And they carry tales and gossip back to the bishop and if they aren't given blood, they get on the Internet: Father Z, Fisheaters, Catholic Answers Forum and wail and gnash their teeth, then start letter writing campaigns to the bishop involved, the Nuncio/Apostolic Delegate, the Curia, etc until they get their way.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"the problem is in the total governance of the Catholic Church.\" YES! YES! YES!\n\nAs many of us who have been advocating for survivors and investigating abuse for now decades have been saying: The issue of the governance model in the Catholic Church actually encourages - and may really ensure - the assaults on children by priests and bishops. My experience: Whenever women had an opportunity to intervene to stop the abuse, children were safer from predation.\n\nThere is NO ACCOUNTABILITY in a feudal, all-male oligarchy! Especially a hierarchy that has unfettered access to mountains of money to fund their cover-ups of sexual assault and exploitation as does the Catholic priesthood. If the People controlled the money used to abuse children, much of the abuse would be significantly reduced. The People would more likely to report the abuse to civil authorities.\n\nReal checks and balances. Democracy works. Let the PEOPLE DECIDE!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Conservative Christian churches like Garret Hashimoto can freely ignore the IRS rules because they think they can get away with it, and they are counting on the Republicans in Congress to rein in the IRS. Look for the possibility that the Republicans will rewrite the rules to permit politicking by Christian churches but not Jewish synagogues and Muslim mosques and even amending the Constitution making the US a Christian nation.\n\nA truly frightening prospect.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus and God the Father (aka YHUH) are regularly referred to as masculine-gender beings, I believe; I never said otherwise. But in biblical poetry there are feminine metaphors. And it's possible in mystical literature Jesus might be referred to as female/maternal. BUT Paul calls Jesus \"the wisdom of God\" in 1 Cor. 1 and 2, and the RCC's theological brethren the Eastern Orthodox early on developed a cult of Holy Wisdom.\n\n\"Par\u00e1kl\u00eatos\" is indeed a masculine-gender being in John, a figure imagined as successor to the male Jesus, continuing his consoling presence after his ascent/removal from view. Hardly the last word on the Holy Spirit, however.\n\nWhat in the world have I to do with L. Ron Hubbard?!, mein Gott! It is no intention of mine to produce a new-improved Christianity, only to shed a little light on the confusions, unhelpful directions, and tendentious unimpressive explications of the old one.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "NSNBC is completely fake news, but enjoy the conspriracy theories. Any Catholic legislator who supports abortion is a candidate for excommuication. Surely you have enough brain matter to understand the churches position on abortion and secular law aren't morally equivalent. If we don't stand up for the unborn, disabled and elderly, we stand for nothing. An unborn child with Down syndrome has evey right to life as anyone else.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If ever there was an object example of why the Church endorses illegal immigration, it's this story and its accompanying photos.\n\nCatholic churches where there's a high population of Latinos are packed to the gills at every Mass.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I will begin by saying I live in Canada but what Phyllis has shared applies to Canada as well as the U.S. One of the key sentences for me is: \"Too many people on the planet are scraping by, depending on other people's garbage.\" The inequity in the world is shameful. I have been blessed to be born in North America where we experience some poverty but not the extreme poverty that Phyllis has documented in this article. We don't have the \"right\" to live better than anyone else but we are very privileged to do so. As a Christian I have a responsibility to do what I can to share what I have been given. Yes, I have worked hard for what I have but I have been given the opportunity because of where I live. Others have not had the same opportunity. Thank you for this article.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, it's not. Capitalism is a system in which we all take part. That includes a relatively small number of large businesses (500+ employees) and a large majority of small businesses. They all operate on the capitalist principle: take risk, earn a profit, reinvest some of the profit in the business, take more risk, etc. The only businesses that don't do this are non-profits and the ones that fail within the first year.\n\nBy the way, when Michael recommends Catholic Social Teachings as a solution, I think we should ask how well their dioceses are implementing them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They are progressives first and Catholics on Sundays. They want one world government. Being able to force change and hurt people is addictive to them...as long as they convince themselves they're \"helping the poor\" or some kind of pap like that...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Really, RD? You endlessly post snarky, mendacious comments on this web page about everyone in the Catholic world you don't like. That's not strong. That is an admission of hopelessness.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You make my point for me. Disparagement of Hajjar and her son by Christians and Jews is a 'race-based' proposition and nothing more. It doesn't even have any Scriptural basis.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"He notes that the Gospel message is to love your enemies. So his question is, \"Wouldn't it have been the Christian way to have baked a cake for the same sex couple?\"\n\nThat's a very good point, especially if you happen to subscribe to the belief that all LGTB people are inherent \"enemies\" of the Christian faith. The whole \"no wedding cakes for gay people\" tempest in a teapot willfully ignores the fact that said bakers seem to be blissfully content to be kept in the dark about the varying degrees of sinfulness of all their other clients. Only us gay people are singled out as singularly worthy of having services denied to us (by virtue of our inherent \"sinfulness\") to which everyone else is entitled by virtue of their heterosexuality, as though that one fact alone automatically renders them clean, spotless, and ready to receive the holy wedding cake, as though it were a communion host.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Here is both what I think and what I understand; Jesus was born a Jew, lived as a Jew and died as a Jew. His apostles, disciples and all his followers were Jews and never left the Jewish faith. Jesus would not even have known what the Catholic religion was. The early Christian gathering was a Jewish sect led by James, the brother of Jesus. The Catholic religion is a construct, commencing with the Jewish Christians expelled from the Jewish faith after the destruction of the Jewish temple 70 CE...about ten years later. This is a partial introduction to what is 'true' regarding the Catholic faith. Jesus according to Scripture preached the end times were upon us, before the generation dies out the kingdom would come, before the disciples can visit all of Judea the end would come. Hence, no need for a church, which He had no knowledge of anyway.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Exactly! A majority of Catholics and Evangelicals voted for Trump because of his \"so called\" opposition to abortion. All these people closed their eyes and ears to the crimes and corruption of Trump with abortion being their excuse. What others crimes and abhorrent behaviors are they willing to put with? Prison camps for Muslims, the loss of civil rights such as freedom of speech and freedom of the press, assaults and killings of anyone not white enough, etc. Sounds just like Nazi Germany or your Despotic Theocracy!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yup. Episcopalians do everything the liberal Catholics want (except tearing out the altar rails), and they are in a worse place than the Catholic Church when it comes to vital statistics. The Episcopalian way is not the way to growth.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For any institution to perpetrate such discrimination and misogyny is gravely immoral, but to consciously and wilfully perpetrate it in the name of God amounts to sacrilege. \n\n\"To discriminate in the name of God is inhuman.\u201d ... (Pope Francis during his meeting with religious leaders at the Catholic University \u201cOur Lady of Good Counsel\u201d in Tirana September 2014 where he discussed violence in the name of God as sacrilege.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "While I couldn't care less what you call yourself since the Church, not you, defines what constitutes Catholic.\n\nI am sure that the question \"whether orthodoxy inherently carries the threat of violence\" is of interest to you and that if you look you can find a forum in which it is on-topic and others are interested in it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "John needs to increase the precision of his thinking and writing. What he should have more properly said was that one effect of the use a gun could be the death of a person, either innocent or guilty. \n\nBut another effect of the use of a gun is an acquiescing criminal whose will is moved (deterrence, submission, surrender) by the threat of the use of a gun. \n\nThe purpose of a gun depends on the intention of a person, not its own properties. \n\nJohn really is sort of resurrecting a certain Gnosticism, that the gun itself - that is, the physical world - is evil. Well-formed Catholics make sharper differentiations. \n\nMy son's 9th grade textbook for his \"History of the Catholic Church\" course in high school (by Fr Peter Armenio) would be a good source for John to learn how to make sharper distinctions in these matters. \n\nLittle errors at the beginning lead to larger ones later on, as his posts show.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Right-wing Christians (Evangelists?) had one issue in mind when they looked at Trump: Killing the unborn and Supreme Court appointments.\nI engaged a few Evangelicals who said God often sends a savior who has the requisite qualities to get the job done - qualities we might not appreciate but which are needed to achieve God's will. \nThere was a parable going around that told of a person stranded on a island who prays for rescue but who keeps dismissing would-be rescuers because of their. The guy dies and when he asked God why he forsake him, God says, \"I sent you three rescuers and you denied them all.\" \nThey think Trump is that guy and saving the unborn from baby killers is the single issue.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You don't know me so you want to ascribe a political motive. I am interested in the truth and not ignoring things others want to hide from because it upsets the pc liberal kumbaya narrative. Most Muslims are peaceful because they ignore the parts of the Koran that sanction violence. The New Testament doesn't have passages Christians have to ignore in order to function nonviolently.\nI think church leaders don't want to admit that there are problems with Islam because they would have to admit all the \"spirit of Vatican II\" optimism/na\u00efvet\u00e9 about non-Christian religions was mistaken. I think the Church should focus on bringing the Gospel of Christ and the Sacraments to the Muslim people instead of hoping they skate by on invincible ignorance. It's weak and not keeping with the Great Commission Jesus gave us (and the example of St. Francis).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Everybody does know what Trump is, but some like yourself want to extend his flaws beyond the known facts. No Christian supports the unseemly things Trump actually is let alone the baseless extensions you add by taking something like his actual bragging about groping women, then assuming it is a truthful statement about his actual behavior, then making a further leap of supposition that it must also be a habit. If you have proof of those two extensions to reality and can self analyze each of the other instances where you make similar leaps beyond known truth and provide proof for them as well, I will apologize and retract. If not - and let's face it, you cannot - I will continue to be amused by your nonsense and hope the next 4 to 8 years don't give you hypertension or worse.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "2/\n\n3. \"Eusebius, probably after Julius Africanus in the early 3rd century\"; Walter Bauer, known for his groundbreaking work \"Orthodoxy and Heresy in Earliest Christianity\" (1934), famously wrote that Eusebius's bishops from Mark to Demetrius \"are and remain for us a mere echo and a puff of smoke.\" Bauer is the guy who did the heavy lifting on traditional claims of an orthodox succession in Egypt beginning with Mark and discovered them to be insubstantial.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pandora, I know that you know the difference between people who come to this website for the sole purpose of attacking the character of NCR and its regulars as \"not being Catholic\" yada, yada, ...versus that petty, childish name calling in the secular political world that Trump himself started on his Twitter account. Both are inappropriate, but there is no equivalency between the two. I don't follow Trump's Twitter feed and I don't go to websites where folks consider themselves to be more Catholic than the pope. For me, both venues are toxic ... 'Don't need that aggravation and nastiness in my life, no matter who does it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "To me it was a valid question, knowing full well the power and political influence of the ABC in comparison to Australia at least.\nI recall now Archbishop Anthony Fisher's delight when bragging how many Catholics were in positions of power running the country [including a high court judge], on either side of the two main political parties, allowing the sex-abuse cover-up for so long. \nIt was only when an atheist, childless and living in sin first woman prime minister who came to their rescue calling for a Royal Commission, voted out of her position, for her audacity and suffered dismally as the hands of in particular, one prominent foul mouthed ex seminarian Catholic politician, who in turn dumped now crowing from the back seat seeking re-election God forbid.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why do some hyper christians support Trump? Is it because they will believe anything, no matter how ridiculous?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "multi-generational Catholics who now have too much money", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "MSW, I did as you advised and replaced \"sharia law\" with 'canon law\". The result is nonsensical. \n\n\"Moreover, many tenets of sharia law (canon law) directly contradict the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Sharia law (canon law) permits cruel and unusual punishments; the open-ended sharia blasphemy laws (canon blasphemy laws) makes free speech highly problematic; and the apostasy and dhimmitude laws more or less cancel out religious freedom.\"\n\nThere is no comparison of canon law, which is for how Catholics should act as part of their religion, with sharia law, which is how Muslims and every Dhimmi in their countries must act in all aspects of their private and public life or face prosecution and death.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Good, don't let the door hit you and all that. I am sure Trump will be just to your liking where greed is a virtue and community that looks after the majority is for wimps and true Christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hind Kabawat's view. Kabawat is the founder and director of the Syrian Centre for Dialogue, Peace, and Reconciliation in Toronto. \n\u201cNo, Bashar Al Assad is not the shield of Eastern Christians\u201d\nhttp://diplomatie-humanitaire.org/en/no-bashar-al-assad-is-not-the-shield-of-eastern-christians/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This article is built on illogic, a huge strawman was used.\n\nPatriotism is a virtue. Taught so by the Catholic Church, an implication from the 4th Commandment.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Since Vatican II, mass attendance has decreased as has the number of vocations to the priesthood. Varying translations at different dioceses is just another Protestant move that will do nothing to save souls. Be sure to pick up your laminated card when you attend a new church, because it will be different from your own church.\n\nThe Catholic mass is no longer special. English vernacular is a big reason for that. It's like translating an Opera from its original language. Carmen versus Carmen Jones.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A very nice comment for Mr. Spicer. But one thing stands out in stark dishonor: if he was an ethical person, and a true Christian, he would have resigned right before his first press conference in January and saved himself from the shame of ranting about the crowd size at the travesty of an Inauguration. I wondered where his conscience was - and still do. He has done nothing even close to redeeming himself (remember that he is STILL on the White House payroll....uh huh). He was no professional, no Christian, no one worth viewing as a role model. Sorry, Mike AA, but I can't quite see him as a victim even of Trump. He chose his path, walked it, fell on his face, and never cared about who else he tripped in the process. He has no \"guts.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Where does Reese get these silly \"rules\":\n\n\"Second rule for politicians: Don\u2019t attack the bishops; it gives their views greater media coverage.\"\n\nThe USCCB statement outraged the Catholic right which accounts for more in contributions than the left. Anyone who has worked on capital campaign knows this. Reese must not get his hands dirty as a SJ. \n\nBannon's attack on the Bishops was precisely correct - and I am sure Trump was happy - and the Catholic right has backed him up on it.\n\nMedia coverage only caused more distrust for the airport hopping bishops.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Here is a link to a wikipedia article covering polling over the past few years in he french presidential race.\n\nhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_French_presidential_election,_2017\n\nAu contraire to Mr Yakabuski's opinion that Le Pen is gaining, the figures show Le Pen's support at worst dropping from the low 30% levels of 2015 and part of 2016 and at best holding even just above 25% first round. Fillion is down, now firmly in 5rd place, and Macron is moving up, as centre left and green voters seem to be moving to Macron , as Fillion is to catholic cnservative on moral issues and too Thatcherite on economic ones , and those former working class voters who used to vote left but now like Le Pen have already gone to Le Pen. \nAnd those supporting Harmon the more leftwing Socialist candidate, should be more willing to vote Macron to stop too right wing candidates. \n\nAnything may happen,but The establishment centre-right made a real mistake rejecting Juppe for Fillion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I couldn't care less whether you think I'm Catholic or not. It's not remotely interesting. More interesting is whether orthodoxy inherently carries the threat of violence. So it seems.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I suggest that you look at the Popular Teaching of the Church during the time of the time of the Reformation. The Catholic Church certainly DID NOT teach what you seem to think that it did. If that was so---Martin Luther would not have much of a case. How can Catholics \"misinterpret\" what the Church teaches UNLESS the hierarchy/clergy teaches them MISINTERPRETATION. Catholics did not believe in personal interpretation of the Bible---so they can't be accused of doing that. Nor were many Catholics educated enough to make any such teaching. The Church itself didn't teach correctly. That was why the Council of Trent, supposedly, was called into being.\n\nAnd that is why the decrees were made in the late 20th and into the 21st Centuries. If the Catholic Church already had a history of DOING this---these decrees wouldn't have made much sense.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The phrase \"Kingdom of Heaven\" is used in Matthew, while \"Kingdom of God\" is used in Mark and Luke. When Pilate asks Jesus, Jesus remains silent in the Synoptics. He does not wish to confirm the mistaken impression that he is a revolutionary, which is the text the party of the High Priest is peddling to Pilate so that Jesus can be executed as an enemy of Rome, but to deny his Kingship of the Jews would be to deny his very mission. John is clearer, perhaps for the reason you suggest.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The magisterium rejects homosexual behavior as grave sin but the Church, the Body of Christ, that is, all God's children, largely does not. Homosexuality is a natural variant in approximately 3% of the population. It does not violate either of the Two Great Commandments - to love God and love our brothers and sisters. Ultimately, we will be judged on how well we have loved and gender will not be considered an issue.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wishful thinking. Those who use examples such as slavery, usury and democracy have not understood what the Church's teaching in the past has been.\nThe main complaint was that neither the Church nor Christ Himself ever condemned slavery. The Law of Moses permitted charging non-Jews interest on loans which means that usury was never considered to be absolutely sinful. As for democracy, the Church does not canonise any particular form of government. Pope St John Paul defined democracy as a means to an end. As far as I can see democracy as practised in countries who claim to be democratic no where meets the late Pope's definition. \nThe fact that most people ignore Human\u00e6 Vit\u00e6 does not mean that artificial birth control is no longer mortally sinful.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When you read unhinged rants like this: \"People who know history and hate racism and fascism need to prepare by obtaining firearms for personal protection and then need to organize a resistance to Trump's future pogroms against Americans of color, Americans of the Muslim faith, and LGBTQ Americans.\" It becomes much more clear as why Hillary lost when her support comes from such weak minded uninformed individuals.\n\nLynn I haven't seen the \"convincing proof\" either, As illegal as hacking is, Democrats want everyone to ignore the context and content of their e-mail exposure. The Anti- Semitic & Christian hate, homophobia, xenophobia, misogynist long with the exploitation of the mentally ill and homeless revealed in their e-mails is beyond any measure of appalling. The Democrat Party is a cancerous wart on the _ _ _ of humanity and IMO no real American should want or wish to be a part of such evil.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ask yourself why Syrians or other MidEast Muslims/Islamist want to come to America when Europe has an open door policy for them to thrive by?\nThese Muslims/Islamist have a goal: To spread Sharia in a Christian society, the Western World's way of Life. Snowflakes Jaws will drop! It's not \"if\" but \"when\". Allahu Akbar! Yikes!\nSay goodbye to Women's Right, Equality\nLGBT's beware\nSay goodbye to your college party Millennials\nCriminals beware, you do a five finger job and you'll get your hands chopped off. Ai Sous!(dats the only good of Sharia, imo)\nDon't do what Monica done with Bubba, she'd be stoned in the middle of the Road while Bubba be smiling on his friends Jet of Harems.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am already a published author, Scott. My book was well received by ordinary Catholics and attacked by, well you know who. \n\nThe whole 'priest' thing started on here when I was attempting to empathise with a long suffering former priest. One of the coven pounced with, \"and how would you know?!\" I said at that point that I was a priest so I did understand. Then I was hit with, \"So you don't know what it's like to be a former priest then!\" I mean, just what is the point of engaging with such attitudes? \n\nIt's the scorpion and the frog. Being scorpions is simply what they do.\n\nSince then the coven have threatened what they'd do if they were able to identify me, (that particular post should have seen a lengthy ban for the poster concerned), accused me of being a female priest, not a priest at all, a liar, gay, coarse, vulgar, and so on. I'm simply sitting back quite bemused.\n\nThe truth is, they are finished. They don't get to tell anybody what to do anymore. And it infuriates them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Domionists are not the 'snake handling, poison-drinking, toothless, inbred evangelicals'. They include the Steve Bannon, Mike Pence, Sarah Palin, Rick Perry, and too many of our officer class in the military. Your comment is either an unresearched putdown from your own bias or just pure wishful thinking.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One of the worst examples of mixing religion and government resulting in the death and destruction of thousands of human beings. Add in torture to rid the heathens of their cultural visage, heritage, and language revealed the true nature of the christian religious dogma. Long past time to rid all government of religious attachments especially the exemptions from taxes to participate in the government functioning. The nation continues to be plagued by these god-claimers demanding special privilege based on invisible powers without foundation or reality. The massive, billion dollar, military budgets should be able to find a few thousands to rectify this historical blight on the nation's honor.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yay!- reason for hope! I find it interesting that, according to Jane Mayer's Dark Money, the extremely wealthy and powerful Dutch Reform family the De Vos of the Amway fortune, are one of the major funders of the \"Christian Coalition\" and the Conservative in name only movement of the Council for National Policy. Their issues seem very similar to some of the Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus are part through their support for the March for Life ... which basically defined \"pro-life\" as anti-choice legislation. \n\nPerhaps our clerical leadership is starting to understand our official \"pro-life\" position to be much broader than that ... and is essentially about life with dignity for the full continuum for all God's Children ... including gays, transgender, \n\nI hope and pray we keep evolving and people like Fr. Martin don't loose hope or stop their important work.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Absolutely! It is not like this statement by Trump came as a big surprise. He was hawking this position while campaigning. Weren't the bishops 'troubled' then? \n\nAnd yes---you are correct in describing their collective 'so-called leadership' as troubled. They don't have their fingers on the pulse of American Catholics on so many other crucial issues. But when Trump, as the candidate for the presidency, announced that he considered the concerns of the Paris Accord to be a hoax, the combined USCCB apparently were attending one of their quadrennial retreats. They were probably playing golf, playing tennis, playing gin rummy and having a martini while doing so, swimming or taking a nap. But they didn't pay attention or perhaps, didn't even hear, Trump's pledge. Now the bishops are 'troubled'?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Devos' comment about \"advancing God's kingdom\" alone, much less all of her other bizarre comments about entities she imagines are real, should eliminate her from possibly being chosen to the post of education. More important than the obvious lack of intelligence she demonstrates in her laughable beliefs is her openly stated goal of funding Christian schools with public school monies. Obviously she openly advocates for *theft* of public monies that belong to America's public school children. She's just another one of Trump's rich robbers only she wants to rob children.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And I could say almost the exact same thing when \"Catholics\" overwhelmingly supported pro-abortion candidates for office. It didn't bother them that the candidate supported outright murder, so why should a racist candidate bother the Catholics who voted for Trump? \n\nMurder and racism are equally deplorable are they not? No matter who you voted for you were voting for people who support deplorable things. If I voted for Hilary, I am supporting murder of the unborn. If I vote for Trump, I arguably support a racist candidate. \n\nWhat I don't understand is why abortion does not bother people as much as racism does--especially given that African American children are aborted at a much higher percentage than white children.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"All Catholics were told where they should go.\" Precisely!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The grand point that I am failing to make is... If this organization has not changed after knowing about the thousands of heartbreaking stories filled with pain and suicide that it was the cause of. What is going to make it want to change?\n\nIf everyone holds back contributions and forces change, is that really the change we desire?\n\nIf a government forces changes is that change we desire?\n\nIf this organization has not and does not have the heart to change because of the pain and destruction they have caused to victims and their families then it is not really change.\n\nThey do not care about the damage they have caused to countless Catholics and continue to spend most effort sidestepping accountability and fighting victims. Instead of loving victims they have disdain for us.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Alaskan wrote: \"I don't think Trump would ever consider this anti-development, anti-jobs guy for anything.\"\n\nI don't think Trump is running the show, Fundamentalist Christian Mike Pence is calling the shots. The test, it seems, is all about religion. Let's have a look at few so far:\n\n- Betsy Devos, Education Secretary - qualifications NONE - she has never attended public school (Blackwater founder Erik Princess's sister BTW)\n- MIke Pompeo, CIA Director - perceives the struggle against \"Muslims\" in Messianic terms.\n- Mike Pence, Vice President - has publicly stated that his religion (Christian) is more important than U.S.A.\n- Jeff Sessions, Attorney General, \"he\u2019s more catholic than the Pope\"\n\nOnward Christian soldiers.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of course the Vatican won't reply because, from a dogmatic theological point of view, there is no defending AL.\"Remain objective\", \"Slap in the face\"? Was the Holy Father \"objective\" in comparing the heterodoxy of AL with the Church's 2000 years of dogmatic teaching on the matter; did he not \"slap\" in the face his predecessors who have repeatedly condemned what is at least implied in AL,including strong, traditional pronouncements on the points of contention from his two immediate predecessors? Msgr. Pinto then has the temerity to suggest that the four Cardinals are being disloyal to the pope. The hypocrisy here is staggering in that it is the pope who is being disloyal to the Church's perennial Magisterium, and it is that magisterium to which the Cardinals are bound, particularly where Christ's Vicar strays from it. No wonder the Vatican II crowd removed the requirement that a newly elected Supreme Roman Pontiff takethe Oath Against Modernism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree, personal religious views had no place in the article. This is what I'm suggesting when I say that the authors are making tenuous connections based on a biased (and distant) read of the American political landscape.\nThe don't see an apocalyptic Catholic Right. There is a culture war, and it would be silly of me to suggest otherwise, but this is based on, not apart from, the author's suggestion of true Christian geopolitical plan where \"it applies to the future and orients current history toward the Kingdom of God...\". As \"already but not yet\" the Kingdom of God remains both a personal, interior conflict as well as one in the larger society.\nConflating the Catholic Right with the larger Evangelical Right and suggesting that these reflect a Manicheistic view of the world does a disservice to both the author (by his dismissive attitude of a group) and those who say that there is good and evil but not in the way of Manicheism. \n\"Catholic Integralism\" is an undefined boogeyman.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And you got the donald who calls the Pope as unfit to lead the Catholic Church because the Pope denounced many of the presidents actions as, 'unchristian.'\nBut you have most 'evangelical' heads/leaders from across America who have turned a blind eye towards donalds past behaviors because knowing they can benefit from his declarations via the 'pen.' The evangelicals claim, \"the past is the past, and donald is a changed man.\" Wipe the slate clean, REALLY!??? How do you like the donald removing, 'Church and State' prohibitions?? worked out well for these evangelicals and others like them. Hail Ceasar!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Again some of you are so literal. If it isn't spelled out then it doesn't exist. The whole nexus of Catholic teaching, history, culture, prejudices, and priorities makes it clear that a fetus is valued more highly than a woman. I'm not looking for excuses to be antagonized. Neither am I \"hyperventilating.\" This is just another way of dismissing me as an hysterical woman and you can get out of town with that bs.\n\nYou wrote:\n\n<>\n\nNot sentient life.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Several years ago there was a Peanuts cartoon in which the question was raised, 'Why didn't Jesus have a dog?' After several frames of thoughtful reflection, the last frame revealed the weighty conclusion, 'Because then all his Apostles would have wanted one. This simple remark highlights the absurdity of Rome's stance that 'If Jesus had ordained women priests, then we would have women priests'. What a mindless, inane argument. How can a Pope, for example, justify having a 'Popemobile?' Jesus never had one. He rode on the back of a donkey; according to that fallacious argument, the Pope should be content on riding on the back of a donkey. Jesus never visited America; how can a Pope justify so doing? Would it not have been wiser for Francis just to have kept his mouth shut, especially as a show of respect for the Archbishop whom he had recently embraced?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It strikes me that the one person who can do enormous good in bringing some healing to this country is President Obama. If he can convince Trump that he understands all Trump's bs was 'campaign locker room talk', and extends his hand in friendship, Trump will listen. Kellyanne Conway has already shown how you handle Trump. Putin has shown how far you can get with Trump if you befriend and show him some respect. If PO can manage the same kind of relationship, I have some hope. And I would hardly be surprised if the US intelligence community isn't giving PO this advice. In the end Trump is about his ratings, and that's another avenue from which he can be moved from his extremist campaign rhetoric.\n\nAs for the Church, Evangelicals and Catholics have shown their religious belief structure exists to support white exceptionalism, not family values. They can all go to the hell they want us to believe exists.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "History shows that groups with power very seldom surrender it willingly. It's more common that they hold on to it at all costs, fighting to the last ditch if need be.\n\nThe Church no longer holds political power, so the only card left to play is the power to mediate between God and people. Pope Francis' critics believe he's surrendering that power too easily and that's why they're so critical of him.\n\nMy sense is that Francis doesn't see the Church in terms of power but relationship. I don't think he places much emphasis on the Church as mediator because he understands that conversion is, ultimately, a personal act. That's why he's passionate about things like priests spending time with the faithful (\"the smell of the sheep\"), solidarity with the poor and marginalized, and doing away with clericalism and triumphalism.\n\nThose who benefit from the power structure in the Church are right to be fearful of Francis, but they are doomed to lose in the long run. That's the nature of evolution.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Apparently feminist \"theologians\" or commentators know much more about the mind of God than did Jesus Himself. \nIt seems a silly exercise to me to change the lyrics to match one's ill-conceived concept of a gendered God counter to all Scriptural and Doctrinal references to Him as Father, King, etc. despite the fact that the Church has always understood that Father is not a gendered identity but a relationship. It's an exercise in idolatry.\nI will say that WRT \"Holy God We Praise Thy Name\" that goddess fits the measure better than \"Go-od\", but in the second verse you are still left with the problem of making a two syllable word stretch for three notes; \"Fa-ah-ther\" and the proposed \"Mo-uh-ther\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Love is a mutual benevolence, mutually known\" (Aristotle, \"Ethics\"). \nWe know, at least intuitively, that love is an analogous reality as it is in concept: I love mustard; I love my dog; I love my children; I love my spouse; I love God; God loves me (awesome). The not subtle, self-serving, scholastic and ecclesial distinctions of eros, agape, etc., are so inadequate, perverse in their intent to indoctrinate, rationalize celibacy, chastity, clerical and ecclesial submission; to denigrate sex. What is fundamental is \"bene-volence\"- w-i-l-l-i-n-g the good for other, as active, \"being for\", and intrinsic mutuality. \nReproduction, \"complementarity\" of organs, intercourse, indissolubility, are all subsidiary to the \"mutual benevolence mutually known\". Jesus knew/knows that. It is His redemptive act: his \"ontological\" elevation of us to efficacy - or potential - in relationship with, within the Trinity. \nThe Church should reflect, learn and teach human love- God's image and likeness.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A priest in Queens just posted a \"joke\" meme on Social Network suggesting that people who opposed Trump should kill themselves. And one assumes that many of congregants voted against him.\n\nI sometimes wonder what some clergy think their job is. They certainly don't seem to think that it has anything to do with following Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If the bishops are really serious about helping immigrants why not propose that Catholic Churches throughout the country take in immigrants and house them or even hide them similar to what some churches did for escaped slaves right before the civil war. I do not suggest protecting drug dealers and criminals but until they have been convicted of a crime they are innocent and protected by the 5th and 14th Amendments. Sending some immigrants back home is sending them to their death.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ya gotta first repent and ask Jesus to forgive you for all your sins and hate filled blogging, Rhyner. Brace yourself you may not receive an answer right away. Your sins are great and many.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholic groups like Catholic Climate Covenant which care about the environment and global warming are a laudable thing, but at this point their letter-writing amounts to too little, too late. They might as well be screaming at the wind for howling. Perhaps if they'd used every ounce of their clout BEFORE last November's election to appeal to the USCCB to denounce Trump it might have made some difference, though I seriously doubt it. The bishops conference was too invested in putting a Republican in the White House because of their twin obsessions abortion and gay marriage that they didn't care about anything else. Now it's too late. All their blathering, letter-writing, etc. is just whistling past the graveyard. They helped elect Donald J. Trump, now they must live with their choice and all that goes with it. Perhaps in 2020 they'll be singing a different tune, though I doubt even that. Trump and his Republican congress could trash everything and the bishops would still be on board.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The pope is \"calling people to have an adult spirituality, rather than being infantilized in their spirituality,\" Cupich said to applause. \"For people who like to tell other people what to do, that's threatening.\"\n\nOh and here I was thinking the Ten Commandments was indeed God telling us what to do , or rather what not to do eg Thou shalt not commit adultery. Now I find an actual Cardinal telling me that it is actually only infantile traditional Catholics who make such demands. How enlightening", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "LGBTQ people have been fired, evicted, beaten, banished, or killed on discovery for the past 1,000 years because of Evangelical / Fundamentalist Christian dogma. I'm glad humanity is starting to evolve past this history. But, it's na\u00efve to expect that it be forgotten or ignored.\n\nIf you do not want to be associated with history, then do not associate with those responsible for it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When you make accusations like that, it's best to have some proof of the allegations, don't you think?\n\nStatement issued 1991\nhttp://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/environment/renewing-the-earth.cfm\n\nCatholic Social Teaching\nhttp://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catholic-social-teaching/\n\nPolitical Activity Guidelines\nhttp://www.usccb.org/about/general-counsel/upload/USCCB-PACI-Guide-2016.pdf\n\nYes, the Bishops have had to retain legal counsel due to the clerical abuse horror. And they have allocated some resources to argue their positions concerning ssm and abortion - should they not? Do they not have the right to teach Catholic positions?\n\nBut do they not also support Catholic welfare and social programs? Health services? Of course they do. \n\nBut please - we digress. Do not the Bishops statements endorse many tenets of BOTH political parties?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It truly is a great conundrum. I wonder if \"original sin\" was the way that the ancients explained their observation that bad and incomprehensible things just happen for no apparent cause. \n\nSuspending knowledge and reason to uphold shaky theological principles seems to be like the servant who buried his talent for fear of losing it. Risk and change are part of this story and not a sign of unfaithfulness at all.\n\nInteresting that the Orthodox, who do not believe in the IC, also believe that Mary truly died. If death is the consequence of original sin, this suggests that she was subject to it and the entire messy human experience like the rest of us. Personally, I think the notion of the IC is a distortion to save the Madonna from a twisted theology that presumed that sex is corrupt and the normal female body is inferior, and not how the early church believed at all. She's easier to admire as one who was not specially privileged and still open to God in all things.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So the Catholics, Baptists, and certain other religions want a free pass to discriminate against same sex marriages? What's next, mixed race couples? Maybe people with physical or mental issues? You religious nut jobs make me worry about this country.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Many white evangelicals think they are helping God punish the poor. If you think you are on a mission from God, the laws and concerns of mere mortals are irrelevant.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pete, you nor get tired of asking the same silly questions and you never get tired of misrepresenting Christianity. To begin with, I'm vocal about being a Christian, but Prima, not so much. So let me speak for Christians. No, Pete, I don't mind if voucher dollars go to any school that meets or exceeds the standards, regardless of religious affiliation. You think your disingenuous question is clever and that no Christian would want voucher money going to a religious school that wasn't Christian. The First Amendment speaks to freedom of religion, not freedom of Christianity. Get a clue.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Lynn \"thomason: Solid advice. I have no problem with your or anyone's religious beliefs. So long as you don't harm anyone else, believe or don't believe whatever you please. Oh yea, one caveat, could you please tell the fundamentalist Christians who damn all the rest of us to hell to follow your advice as well. Thanks, Gary Crum", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree. But first, everyone who aided and abetted child raping priests, which goes against the teachings of Christ, should be excommunicated. Which would eliminate many if not all cardinals and bishops, the pope, and the pope emeritus. That status of the saint would also have to be downgraded.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Here is a suggestion: how about inviting James Martin to write a syndicated daily short reflection on Scripture (\"thought and prayer for the day\"), published on every website and additional official social media outlet of every RC diocese in the US? Of course, we all could follow Jim on Facebook, but I think all US dioceses giving him a platform will send the much needed, and still not given, strong signal. I write this while still waiting (in vain, I am afraid) for an official, strong, unequivocal and clear joint statement by ALL hierarchs condemning the dangerous and damaging anti-Christian behavior of the alt-right catholic cult, via the USCCB (Bishop McElroy of San Diego being the sole hierarch with the required theological and intellectual heft to produce it). Invitations here and there are nice, but that alone doesn't cut the chase. Alt-right catholic Americhristianity, especially in its guise as \"devout orthodox Roman Catholics\" must be called what it is: blasphemy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "you are entitled to your delusions, gary, and when you post hypocrisy and shameless double standards, I'm not surprised you think being called on the intellectual bankruptcy is a personal attack, rather than man up and show some character. you remind me much of the Christians that post on this board, reference a scripture that plainly states the opposite of what the Christian is claiming, and by golly, stating facts is a personal attack. <-- slowly shakes head.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "being Christian can get you killed as well, you seem not to hold them to the same standard.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If atheists want to grieve and leave condolences, all the power to 'em, I say. If a Christian was to attack them for the way they grieve, I'd be all over that, too. Just sayin'. Live and let live ... or in this case, grieve and let grieve. Anyone who wants to tear someone down for the way they grieve is just a bully in my book.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes. Though some stereotype us as 'holocaust deniers' thanks to a few vocal idiots among us, neither I nor the Muslims I know deny the reality of the Third Reich's mass-murder of European Ashkenaziim. Indeed, there are Bosnian Muslims in the US whose relatives were dragged to the camps and the ovens on the orders of Hitler himself, because they dared hide Jews from the Nazis and their Croat allies.\n\nThe minority of my 'co-religionists' buying into this falsehood should realize continuing to endorse it is against our interests because it merely encourages those itching to repeat this atrocity to 'putsch' further toward their hateful dreams, but with Muslims being loaded into the cattle-cars to camps with \"Christ will set you free\" banners over the entrances this time.\n\nOne can publicly revile Muslims today in ways that are no longer 'fashionable' if applied to Jews. Just words, right? That's how the Nazis started. Then they progressed to eggs, then fists, then rocks, then bullets.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Unfortunately, Muslims don't follow the Jesus of Christianity, but 'Issa' - a retconned distorted version. They don't even attribute the Golden Rule to Jesus. They even call him Christ, without realizing that IS the Son of God title. They even ignore his Sermon on the Mount where he said 'beware of false prophets who would use my name' (which would be Mohammed). Mohamed is clearly the Anti-Christ, and Jesus would never condone Islam.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They were not Christian extremists.\nThey were not shouting \"Jesus is great\" as they pulled the trigger.\n*\nI am not even sure they were \"right wing\", maybe more like \"wing nut\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You might have noticed that almost all the victims of the Islamic state are also Muslims, not infidels or Christians. The inability to distinguish between ISIS members and Muslims in general shows profound ignorance. \nNo, you're not technically racists. Bigots is more accurate, but the effect is the same.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm hoping that Catholics will not vote for a candidate (Hillary Clinton as Senator, and always) who actively fights for the grisly partial-birth abortion procedure, where a baby can be dragged into the canal, and neck snapped just a few minutes before birth.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Like Tim Tebrow , Kapernick is a Christian activist. Go for the obvious , white Tebrow is a national hero and black Kapetnick needs to learn his place on the plantation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\u201cMark my word, if and when these preachers get control of the [Republican] party, and they're sure trying to do so, it's going to be a terrible damn problem. Frankly, these people frighten me. Politics and governing demand compromise. But these Christians believe they are acting in the name of God, so they can't and won't compromise. I know, I've tried to deal with them.\u201d\n\n\n\u2015 Barry M. Goldwater", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes indeed, Webster. And, like Timothy McVeigh, all the violence-promoting leaders of the KKK and all the Klansmen convicted of murders have been & are Christians. And it's Christian extremists who've murdered OB-GYNs and still threaten Planned Parenthood workers & clients. And it's Christian Americans who've burned down predominantly black churches and murdered children & other parishioners in them. Even white Christian pastors in the South long condoned the evil of slavery (and Klan terrorists & lynchings even past the mid-20th century). Like the Quran or any other mythology collection, the Bible offers so many tales and inconsistent messages from which devotees cherry-pick & interpret passages to suit their own desires or biases. And hatefully deranged devotees will, of course, pick passages to misuse to try to 'justify' their violent intentions and actions.\n\nFor me, EVERY brand of religious zeal poses dangers to a civil society.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Since atheists go to heaven, I guess everyone goes to heaven \nIf this is the case, then why do we need Jesus for salvation, or the sacraments of the Catholic Church? \nSeems silly.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We can't even take the bus by ourselves in this catholic gulag.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Christians and Jews have at least let go of their murderous teachings.\" Now that, right there, is hilarious! Why? because it's so out of whack with the obvious reality. ALL of the desert religions have murder at their heart. For a simple example, christianity nearly completely ignores Jesus's prime directive - love. The poor guy's ideas just got co-opted into something that had a long precedent.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholics go to Lutheran Churches for a variety of reasons, many of which are based on the hard-heartedness of many a Catholic heart toward the divorced-and-remarried, former priests and religious, and the Catholic \"refusal\" to ordain women. Ex-Catholics are WELCOMED by Lutheran churches, and so is their support!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A few years back, Anders Breivik shot and killed 77 people in Norway, nearly all of them children. He did it (in his own words) to \"preserve a Christian Europe\". Why didn't other Christians stop him? Why did Christians not condemn him? I heard nothing of the sort after this attack.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When married gay people have sex it is not sinful. They were born that way. Why do they have to repent, unless the church discriminates against them? Discrimination of any kind is sinful, in my mind. If we are to love our \"neighbors\" even if they are gay, of another religion, women who obtain any of the religiously banned procedures, but are included in their right to their Reproductive Health Care, etc. is what is wrong. Denying those \"sinners\", their desire for any of their Christian rites is not only cruel, but only encourages them to leave the church. It is also most judgmental.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why Christians??? We should give priority to atheists and agnostics. They tend to score much higher in IQ's than people who believe in 2000 year old fantasies and fairy tales.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This isn't a crime committed because of someone's religion. Pedophiles and sex abusers exist in all walks of life. This dude's actions no more impugn Christians-at-large than the terrorist in NYC's actions speak for all Muslims, Weinstein's for all liberals, or Ailes for conservatives. \n\nJust sayin'", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am persistent in stating the facts. You assume that your beliefs are 100% congruent with the magisterium, and thus, if someone disagrees with you, they disagree with the teachings of the Church. There are two problems: The first comes if, in fact, your beliefs are not what the magisterium teaches. This has been shown at least once, where you differed from the actual teaching on salvation. I would prove this was the case, but you deleted the post (which is not really the honest thing to do). The other thing is that you take the attitude that those who disagree with you thus read themselves out of the Church. There is also the matter that you cling to the delusion that the magisterium never changes a teaching. \n\nNo, Trid, you insist that you and you alone are the soul of orthodoxy, and all who disagree with YOU are only pretending to be Catholic. You are narrow-minded, arrogant, and not wholly honest.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "With such hateful remarks, rogue you are, Catholic not.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yeah - only clericalized men should get everything for free and a salary on top of their totally free college and seminary schooling!? When women expect to be paid a salary, just so they can waste it on college loans, and their homes and utilities and clothing for themselves and their kids - they are just such bad Christians. Why don't they use all they learned & work for free for the church until they just go bankrupt? What a bunch of jerks those lay women and lay men ministers are! \n\nIn case you don't know Pandora - I am being sarcastic. You really need to consider actually reading a Gospel or two. No where does Jesus tell anyone it is ok to treat men differently than women or priests better than lay people or Apostles better than any other believer in Christ. In fact JC tells us the laborer is worth his wage when describing workers for the church. So why are you so against lay women or men being treated justly for fair work done in the church?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You and terrorists have fundamental misunderstanding of Islam and its teachings. The vast majority of Muslims have solid, peaceful understandings. Under your logic, all Christians should be placed on a registry due to the habits and threats of the KKK and the Alt -Right.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Truth and facts are not hate speech.\"\n\nYet as you pointed out, the truth doesn't belong to you. So what is it, exactly, that you're offering?\n\nIt's trivially correct that truth and facts alone can't be hate speech. It's also true that the best propaganda always contains facts. What propaganda doesn't do is give ALL the facts, presented in a balanced way. Hate speech does the same thing. It hammers on the faults of a group- which are typically the same ones you can say of any group- over and over. After a relentless barrage of selectively chosen negatives comes the kicker: \"We have to push back. If we don't, we're done for.\"\n\nI could write you a litany of facts about Western Christians that would whiten your hair. And if that's all you ever heard, you would come to fear Western Christians. From that point, encouraging you to act against them would be easy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Seriously, if you can't tell the difference between a born child and a 20-week old fetus, you are beyond discussing things with.\nBut I'll make one more attempt to 'splain it to you.\nIf I take a gun and shoot you w/o provocation (no self-defense, no emotional breakdown, just cause I feel like it) no one but a few psychopaths would say this was not murder.\nBut people do NOT agree on whether aborting a twenty-week old fetus is murder, while pretty much everyone would say killing a day-old baby is. \nMANY people (not just a few nut cases) do not see a fetus of 20 weeks as a full human being with rights that take precedence over an already born human being (the pregnant woman). \nYOU may think abortion at any stage is murder. MANY people disagree.\nThe Catholic Church may teach whatever it pleases, but why should people who are not Catholics have to live by what the Church says, no matter how right YOU think the Church is? \nDon't want an abortion? Don't have one. But let each have her choice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Grow up. He's a pastor (What? You thought your ilk had the corner on Christianity?) and is highly respected for his advocacy. Assault is illegal and you'd best not forget that. Also, keep in mind that 1/3 of liberals own firearms. Some, like me, concealed carry. You attack ANYONE in my presence, I will respond in kind. Take your threats elsewhere.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Satan is the father of lies. Christians have now sanctioned lying as a holy thing if it elects an anti-abortion candidate. Perhaps the anti-Christ is the right wing Christians of the USA.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No Trid, the cop out is when wanna-be Christians substitute medieval legislation for Christ's two greatest commands out of sheer laziness or ignorance because it doesn't fit your world view. You reveal your lack of faith in your denial of the zest and vitality of the Holy Spirit to speak \"new truths\" to men (and women) in every age. To say otherwise is to throttle the Spirit of Christ which is akin to blasphemy, I would be very careful about preaching this narrow, pious pablum which has its origins in pagan, imperial Rome and their never-ending quest to bind their subjects to the Empire as opposed to the Kingdom of God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jack, do you get the point at all that for many Catholics it is an outrage that the priest who married them, lectured them on what marriage is, made them sign a document in a mixed marriage that the none catholic person promises to \"bring up their children to know and love the catholic faith alone\" - then gets found out to have sexually abused those children? That the priest's Bishop knew about this priest and others years beforehand and simply moved him? That one Pope instructed his henchman at the CDF to cover it up (globally) and that the Princes(!) of the Church then elected that henchman to be Pope where he used his position to further cover up this disgusting behaviour?\n\nThe organisation which perpetrated this evil still thinks it can lecture Catholics on what they can and cannot do in the privacy of their own bedrooms? Really?!\n\nYou, me, the clergy, the Bishops and the Pope have LOST that right. We need to shut up and leave people alone before our people rightfully turn on us.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Agreed but you're wasting your breath. Those with eyes to see will see and those without won't. The left has a form of Stockholm syndrome when it comes to Islam and Muslims. They will mock, belittle, and bash Christians all the day long yet rush to the defense of Islam faster than you can say Allahu Akbar. They claim to care about women's rights, education for girls, as well as free speech, and gay rights but they see no irony in defending the biggest abusers worldwide of each. Oh and the most prolific slave traders to this day are Islamic. It may be because they think that Islam is a \"race\" rather than a religion and the worst sin to this group is any words even out of context that may make them seem racist. Or maybe it's because the radical Islamists hate liberal (in the true sense) western culture and civilization and so does the left only for different reasons? Enemy of their enemies type of thing perhaps.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of course, you are right. Which explains why traditional Catholics just don't get that progressive Catholics want to have anything to do with the Church, other than to destroy it and re-build it into something it didn't used to be. This IS a puzzlement. Why not just form what would be called the Progressive Catholic Church, NOT the Roman Catholic Church. THAT institution, the RCC, is odious for being misogynistic, homophobic, and backward, right? Who in their right mind --- thinking that the Church is all these terrible things --- would want to have anything to do with it --- except to destroy it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And before Vatican II all the Latin American countries were 90%+ Catholic. Maybe the bishops should focus on why they are losing so many Catholic who are seeking to get their spiritual needs met elsewhere over material concerns?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well considering that a bunch of priests saw fit to engage in homosexual relations with boys, it would not surprise me that the trend you speak of will continue. So what else is new with the priesthood since Vatican II. And that people will demand recognition of gay \"marriages\" fits right in with all of the other secular dressings in Church nowadays, the Church desperately trying to assuage the demands of the sinners rather than help the sinners find salvation.\n\nA schism is a brewin', and this whole gay movement coming on the heels of the homosexual priest abuse scandal will likely be the key issue. Not unlike how the trans-bathroom issue ushered in a conservative to the White House.\n\nPromotion of sexual perversion has pushed too hard, too fast. Too many people still think rationally .", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's amazing that the MSM, the entertainment industry and politicians vilify Jesus Christ with great frequency yet they can't muster up the courage to utter even the teensiest criticism of another ideology's pedophile-prophet.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "National Catholic Reporter is not an agency in good standing with Magisterial teaching- This is not a source of Catholic truth you are pushing an heretical bent of Schism and discontinuity- I hope and pray that the writer of this tripe repents of his error. Your Novus Ordo Saeclorum has been condemned by every successor of Peter and by the perennial unchanging teachings of our Holy Mother the church. If you seek to become Protestants do so- don't lead the ignorant faithful of the cliff with you. God help you nuts.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "LOL. I am definitely Catholic. And have you read this site? You will see that most people agree with me here. They are probably even more liberal than I am in many ways! ;)\n\nAnd the Church as you stated isn't perfect. (See the sexual abuse scandal for that). The tribunals are a miscarriages of justice. And Sheila Raunch was a bitter ex-wife who used the tribunals to get back at her ex-husband. It was hardly a search for the Truth, but someone using the system for a personal vendetta. (Of course Joe Kennedy was an awful person as well so this is a pox on both their houses.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "These revelations about 75 and 83% tolerance for convicted clerical offenders conclusively proves that the Church refuses to maintain accountability. \n\nAfter all the scandal, and the huge financial costs, it's simply insane that the Church still persists in retaining predators.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We all know that \"[T]he [John Jay] researchers found no statistical evidence that gay priests were more likely than straight priests to abuse minors\u2014a finding that undermines a favorite talking point of many conservative Catholics. The disproportionate number of adolescent male victims was about opportunity, not preference or pathology, the report states.\" https://www.americamagazine.org/content/all-things/john-jay-report-not-blaming-homosexual-priests", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Obama and by extension Hilray have been about as anti-Semitic...and anti-Christian as well...her actions as Sec of State speak loud and clear of where she stands....Soros is about as anti-American as they come", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I was not saying ex Catholics out number Protestants, I was saying Ex Catholics out number any Protestant sect. 51% of ex Catholics are unaffiliated with any religion and 39% have switched to some form of Protestantism. So, yes, the real larger congregation are 'nones'. That congregation will continue to escalate with each new generation as dogmatic churches continue to stay on the retrograde side of the human equation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "People like Prevo never let the truth get in the way. His use of the Leviticus \"clobber verses\" to condemn homosexuality are twisted from the original meaning and practices of that day. He and other \"Christians\" like him conveniently forget the other abominations outlined in that same passage. Things like wearing mixed fibers, menstruating women sleeping indoors, eating shellfish, disobeying parents etc. \nPrevo should be way more concerned with his own end-time conversation with his God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If we refuse to construct natural gas plants in Southern Ontario because it is harmful to the spirit of the community, this makes sense. If we attach a name to a natural place that is beautiful and powerful, the courts choose to rationalize the situation in purely religious terms. This imposes Christianity embodiment on the term \"spirit.\" It goes without saying that God has no penis or testicles. But he is portrayed as a male - usually Caucasian - due to this incessant need need to rationalize the embodiment of things and dismiss the perceptions of others. I certainly won't be visiting any resorts in British Columbia. I consider the province insensitive and disrespectful of culture. I don't think anyone with any sense of environmental activism can support this development either politically or with their vacation savings.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I clearly did not claim ignorance of homosexual conduct as I went on to state my understanding of it. But I wanted to know how you understood it; hence my question.\n\nIf you have s*xual interest in your 'puppy' (or 'guppy'), then I suggest you talk to someone about it. (Talk also with a professor of logic, because interest in your puppy (and guppy) has about as much relevance to this topic as a baked Alaska.)\n\nCommitted homosexual love clearly involves sexual attraction, but is not, contrary to your stereotypical and homophobic view, defined by it. So no: a homosexual wouldn't want to have sex with his or her close friends, because the love manifested here would be devoid of such attraction.\n\nYOUR definition of homosexual conduct reveals far less 'definitional accuracy' than mine, since it dwells, exclusively, on the sexual.\n\nAs for that cardinal, he was probably as q*eer as a bottle of French fries, but hadn't the bottle to be honest about it, like many Roman Catholic priests today.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Just say NO to all religion, everywhere! It's archaic teachings with no basis in truth or reality are are just an indoctrination of fear to control the masses. If a so-called 'Jesus' was immortal, how can his death be a sacrifice? Circular bible logic at it's finest!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The holding hands, while singing an uber treacly composition of the Lord's prayer...\n\nThese are innovations that are *not* coming from intrinsically ordered Catholic leaders.\n\nThe Mass is becoming more and more effeminate.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We don't know whether Jesus said this or not. The author of Matthew says Jesus said it.\n\nApparently the ancient Jews believed that homosexuality was a willful violation of an essentially heterosexual nature. We know that's not true. Dubious ideas are better discarded.\n\nSo you'd bring back Leviticus 20? Ah. The Christian Taliban.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is what Catholicism stands for? Let see what great Catholic Counties there are, Argentina, Italy, Mexico, Honduras, Brazil. You get the picture. Every Catholic Country is financially depressed. Backward would also be a good description. Now that we have a Communist Pope the Bishops are beginning to lock step along with this disgrace of a leader. Keep your Socialistic misery out of our Country.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "People that believe they're so-called Christianity permits them to openly discriminate against an LGBT community member will have a lot to answer for when they're standing in front of the Pearly Gate expecting to be ushered in. While I'm not a religious person, I do believe that if there's a God, he/she will have their say too, and it won't be in favor of discrimination.\n\nEvery state in the nation has criminal laws that are suppose to protect EVERY man, woman, and child regardless of race, ethnicity, creed, religion, or sexual orientation. This nation is now founded on equal protection, therefore, people who frivolously use the term \"special rights\" don't understand what the term means if anything. Expecting not to have to pay any taxes while the state budget is likely to crash is a \"special right\" from my perspective. The tax-free special righter is expecting someone else to pay his/her taxes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I was Independent until Jay Hammond convinced me to join a party in 1969. The liberal Demos were not in tune with my concepts of American Constitutionalism. I became a Republican - I've always been Conservative. \n But adherence to \"the party\" has crippled both sides. \n In Alaska we've seen more criminals & what should be seen as criminal behavior in Reps than in Dems. I've become a 'Republican in shame only.' \n Supporting Donald Trump is difficult, but supporting his concepts & promises to return our country to the greatness for which we all wish - that's where it's at.\n Let all us voters be moved by Policy, rather than personalities. We must see the threat of islam, the porous border, the adverse trade agreements, the nuclear treaty with Iran, military protection of other countries without contributions by them, disrespect for police & law, corruption in government at all levels, &a host of other ills & vote for Trump.\n Let Judeo-Christian ethics & statesmanship guide us all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I always enjoy and respect your letters to ADN. \nI also grew up in Oakland but in North Oakland which is a far cry from West Oaklnd. My mom was an early proponent of the NAACP. The nuns at Holy Names had Huey Newton and Eldridge Cleaver address us white Catholic school girls at an assembly before \"Soul On Ice\" was written. The Black Panther movement scared the shit out of whites when it became aggresive and threatening. That is when some institutionalized racism began to be addressed. Sorry MLK and Obama but strong oratorical skills are insuficient .\nEagle River is 99percent white . Most of my well to do neighbors are indeed \"a basket of racist and entitled deplorables\" who absolutely cling to their guns and religion to defend their bigotry. \nMy son got kicked out of Ravenwood for wearing a bandana and \" gang clothing\" as a twelve year old. He just loved upsetting the apple cart. Now in law school .\nHad the ten black kids at Chugiak worn Black Panther gear and held up a poster of", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "and those changes were already in motion before the council. in fact, the whole Catholic boom of the 1940-50's was an anomaly that was on the down swing. these things would have happened even had the council not occurred, possibly just slower. It was inevitable.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...Marian teaching...ignorance to preserve the party line.\"\n\nWell, at least you are honest, Michael Bindner. When someone like you looks into a Catholic mirror of sorts -- on Marian teaching, at least -- we shouldn't expect a believing Catholic to look out, not with the conceived Marian deformations he observes -- with buoyancy -- and a belief that it is \"claptrap\" and \"misogynistic at its core.\" No doubt, the Assumption is a collaborative and broken charade.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "After priests have served time in prison and are released, why do they need to be monitored? Do we monitor people who murder, rob, etc. after they are released? Why are accused priests never mentioned in prayers in our churches? God forgives, who are we NOT to do the same? We are Catholics. Act like it!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, that would be \"merely\" a Christian....\n\nA Catholic is one who believes those things AND ascribes to the teachings and doctrines of the Catholic Faith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You're kidding, right? Christian prayers are prohibited in public schools.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your solution seems expedient but it ignores the Will of God. It is time for the nation of Israel, supported by the Christian USA to finish what Joshua started. This is the only rational possibility, unless one chooses to doubt the factual veracity of the Bible.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"I don't know of a cemetary in Canada that ever turned a body away.\"\n\nTry getting a plot in a Catholic or Jewish cemetery if you are not of that faith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The PTSD issue warrants everyone's deep concern and compassion but I can't help wondering if it's serving in these responses to divert attention further from the alarm to which I tried to raise about whether the Catholic church is committing child abuse by promoting football in schools. I submit that the two issues are vastly different and that football played by those under 21 constitutes a hazard that is not being addressed. Pardon the inadvertent mixup on my tag name.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Human beings are not souls e.g. spirits. Humans are a 2/1 unit BODY and SOUL. The Resurrection of Jesus would not mean a thing to most Christians if they were not promised a resurrection [body re-united with the soul] as well.\n\nIf human rights, justice, health, etc. didn't mean anything, why did Christ spend so much of his ministry time healing the sick, or raising the dead, and giving us the Beatitudes or the \"Golden Rule\"?\n\nSecondly, the Church doesn't save souls. Jesus did. The Church just continues the mission of Christ. But just preaching is not all that goes into the ministry. Fr. Martin isn't leading anybody away. YOUR understanding of the mission of Christ needs to expand.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your points are well taken, Mark. Allow me to clarify my basic point: when I stated that there is \"no movement of powerful groups towards RC recognition of ssm,\" I was referring to groups internal to the Catholic Church. This applies also to contraception, human sexuality, women's ordination, and so on. We are a church locked in a perpetual early adolescence, unable to talk about those dirty things that have been branded by horribly conflicted men (starting with that psychological mess Augustine) who hide their own activities and the sins of others. But we do have a model to do so and that is Vatican II. And a \"patron saint\" of such a movement would have to be (St.) John XXIII who feared nothing in open discussion. But we need to form a group, bishops included, who have that same openness, plus a good deal of power. It cannot come, in my view, from other churches: they can support the RC in doing so, but the work is ours to do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Lela, almost every single one of the so-called 'evangelical leaders' stand with Trump after his endorsing Nazis as fine people.\n\nI'd say hypocrisy is your larger issue, the bigotry in the ranks of the evangelicals is plain to see, as is the hypocrisy.\n\nEvangelicals have to denounce their leaders and denounce Trump.\n\nLet me know when you get that all arranged.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Due to the vicitmlesss crime agenda the state is obsessed with pushing their christian morality agenda of no sex and no drugs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Interesting how the National Catholic reporter article doesn't talk about this show's portrayal of fundamentalist Christian theocracy. As if insane religious zealotry is has nothing to do with the Dystopia presented in 'A Handmaid's tale'. Maybe the author feels that the abandonment of our secular Government is the one thing this show's future got right...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Where, pray, does that ever happen any more? SSPX chapels? Just how much more amoral could Catholic pastoral practice on sexual morality become than it is now and has been for many years in all but the rarest locales?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But Islam is not the only religion like that. Everyone is bashing Islam right now, but other religions are the same. Look at Orthodox jews, they cannot marry or even have a relationship with non-jews. Christianity is maybe not as strong but some of their branches are not tolerant at all either. every religion considers itself tolerant, but it is only of those who are part of that religion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Canada has allowed religion into those specific schools of which the Catholic school systems is composed. The public school system is supposed to not have a religious component- which is why parents have their children enrolled there. If Muslims wish to have their own schools, through which their religion can be accommodated through any means they wish, then feel free.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pope Francis is being true to his stated mission, patterned upon the life of the great saint whom he chose to model, Saint Francis of Assisi. St. Francis didn't spend time splitting hairs on legalisms, he instead sought to demonstrate his love of Jesus through charity and self-sacrifice. He followed the true spirit of the law, and therefore didn't need to attend to the letter of it. If there is anything the Catholic Church doesn't need more of, its legalistic thinking and endless definitions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Because we end justifying and defending abortion as a\"reproductive right\" unless or until all the other threats to life are eradicated. The world will never be perfect. That's the rabbit hole. Social justice outside the womb is a Christian pursuit but its absence cannot be used as an argument in favour of abortion. It's not an either/or matter.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's certainly a good thing that this letter was written. However, I find it curious that it was not written far sooner -- during the the election campaign, as a matter of fact. If Christian leaders had been leading their flocks, surely, so many white Christians (including white Catholics) would not have voted for the man who has unequivocally shown himself to be a white supremacist. I think that, to be intellectually and spiritually honest, any such letter ought to contain an acknowledgment of the fact that white Christians are responsible for the man who now sits in the chair of the President of the US.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The new drugs are created in labs with internet to kill users, not to get them addicted.\" Well yes, of course and, even many of the flyers LaRaza distribute openly say this. Big Pharma, MX, MX cartels, Feds, and the Catholic Church...world domination and extremely cheap labor. It's been underway a long time. All on needs to do is read up on white mortality, white despair death (suicides), Fentanyl deaths up nearly 600% in only 36 months. It's been underway 15, 20 years.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why would an all-knowing, all-powerful \"Creator\" need/want to be like the God that Christians claim him to be? Why would this Being need/demand obedience, praise and assorted grovelling (not to mention sacrifices)? When trying to explain natural disasters like Knysna, or the death of a child, any number of horrific tragedies, or as in the case of this article, the trials of Job, Christians often come up with claims of \"God is testing us\"... but if God is all-knowing, he already knows what the outcome of the \"test\" will be?\n\nThis article implies that suffering of innocent people is a result of the actions/bad choices of others as they exercise their \"free will\", and the innocent are just collateral damage in God's little experiment (an experiment, the choices, details, and outcomes of which he already knows). This God is also claimed to be a \"Loving God\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The War on Christmas meme is not about the loss of religious freedom or the quiet enjoyment of one's faith - it is about Christian symbols dominating the landscape in a show of religious power - something the ACLU will never defend, nor should it. As for consumerism, for some people it is important because they have little else. Let us not preach against it unless we also preach against the economic exploitation of workers and for solidarity among workers, even as they consume. Don't attack consumption unless you are ready for a fully radical message on the workplace.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Frank, the recent insight I have concerning Original sin goes this way. \"the sin of the world\". Jesus said He is Life. While He was dying He said. \"Father may they be one as you and I are one\". \"Father, forgive them for they know not what they do\". We killed Life, therefore all life must die. The sin of the world. There is only one thing we need to care about, that is Life. When we nurture and care for all of life we are realizing that now, we \" know what we do\" and are trying to live for the Ressurrection of all Life, which Jesus promised.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Stating anything to do with UN Agenda 21 pretty much puts you in Alex Jones tinfoil hat lights.\n\nSo let me get this straight, Soros and others who spend their money worldwide to help those with less than themselves are evil and trying to take over the world.\n\nMeanwhile Trump keeps his money, spends it lavishing it on himself, and is extremely self-promoting, a human version of Mammon or Greed, and the take away you get is the Soros is the bad person?\n\nHaving grown up with Christian values I struggle to figure out how someone that is the embodiment of so many of the Seven Deadly Sins(Trump) is being written off as righteous and telling it how it is, while those that actually give are called out as global elitist.\n\nTo say that instilling common sense labor and clean water/air laws is keeping down the undeveloped nations is ignorant at best. Have you not heard what factories have done to the rivers in India or hell even that coal factory in WV. \n\nYeah wanting people to be safe is tyranny.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Uh, wrong. Every Catholic is bound in obedience to the Most Supreme Roman Pontiff where he invokes his Divinely derived authority in matters of faith and morals {assuming, of course, he does not contradict a previous Magisterial teaching}.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wrong. The Mongols killed way more. In the last century both Mao and Stalin killed way more by staving large segments of the population to death.\n\nBTW the Muslim Ottoman Empire had hundreds of thousand of European Christians as slaves.\n\nDon't know your history.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Imo, the Catholic imperative that a baby must be baptized puts that free will thing to some doubt.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"(There is a woman who calls Pacific Press about once a year to complain that they let me write for Signs of the Times because, she claims, I once stood in front of my church in full Roman Catholic priest garb and declared that I was going to turn my congregation over to Rome!\"\n\nLoren,\n\nYou need to be more careful about those Halloween costumes you choose. More than a few paranoid, fanatic SDA have a very low sense of humor.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Really funny that you should post that here. Having been familiar with a large number of the priests listed there, I have found the reporting on that site to be extremely accurate and trustworthy! BishopAccountability.NOlie! is exposing The Other Side of the Priesthood that all Catholics and many others absolutely need to know about. Before it's too late!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Better title would be bad president...and Nate's comment is not closely parallel...this is more like the Bush Whitehouse and Dick Cheney's oil meetings. Didn't they try to block access to the records of visitors so he would have to tell who he meet with? But the real issue is that we are seeing extreme ideologs taking over in the vacuum of Trump's brain. No wonder Jeff ain't quiting, he's got of room full of true believers to create a Nixonian excuse for destroying America...'cause that's really the danger here. Funny too because some of the talk is a state's freedom to choose and then he's going after pot laws...but again, because it's an agenda. It's extreme radical views, as clearly pointed out by the Pope's people, that dismisses science, best practice, rationality, in favor of blind faith. Sound like we have looped back to the very people they most fear, radical Muslims. We do have an attempt to impose a version of 'Sharia law' here, it's called 'The Christian Nation.'", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have no idea who you are, but I hope you get help... Help to not hate people who have been hurt and abused by people in power over them, Help to not enjoy your power to hurt others, Help to open your heart to healing. Do you actually see yourself as a spiritual person? If your way of looking at, and dealing with, the world is \"Christian\" or \"Catholic\" then I am living in an alternate universe. Sir, look into your heart and let some light in. Why else did Jesus come into this world except to show us that love is the only answer?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually, like in North America, South American people are leaving Catholicism due to sexism and our refusal to ordain women equally to men, clericalism, child abuse, mandatory celibacy, and a lack of basic Christian behavior coming from our hierarchy and many of our parish members. \n\nAn attitude of dismissal towards the gifts and practices of Charismatic Renewal over the past few decades, in our church (a style of worship which mirrors the prayer of Pentecostal worship) have cost us as well. We are the macho-church still, and this has cost us any real sense of The Holy Spirit acting in unrestricted ways thru us. Orthodoxy likes to study and even control, rather than act when it comes to the Holy Spirit (our ordination practices are proof of this too). However, evangelization and church growth and passion require a less controlling attitude of heart with the Holy Spirit.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ironically, the more the Catholic Church embraces socialism the more rapidly the Church accelerates its demise. Europe anyone. The Church stood idly by during the adoption of the Affordable Care Act and then found itself defending \"its\" religious rights. As for the \"economy\" killing people, the Church has made common cause with the sanctuary movement which coupled with open borders has fed millions of low skilled laborers into the American economy making it more difficult for the weakest Americans to find employment. Add, hundreds of thousands of criminal aliens enabled entry into the US by the same policies and the victims of homicide, sexual assault, etc in this country climb to hundreds of thousands (2011 GAO Report on Criminal Alien Statistics). Compassion without reason is no virtue.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Tom, we might come to some common ground. I'm ambivalent as a matter of legal viability about making all abortions illegal from the moment of conception, but traditional and progressive Catholics in this country need to start bridging the gap.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Neither Scripture nor Catholic teaching holds that Jesus was omniscient. They do, however, hold that he grew in knowledge and wisdom as all people do.\n\nAnd knowing what is in a person's heart is not the same as knowing the contents of a piece of bread. Again, I doubt Jesus gave the matter much thought.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why do you perceive an attack when all you\u2019ve been asked is simple questions?\n\nI do notice that in your disdain for replies you avoid the issues.\n\nFrom my reply it is obvious I would like to know that, as a non-believer, on what do you base the assertion that \u201cJesus was born a Jew, lived as a Jew and died as a Jew. His apostles, disciples and all his followers were Jews and never left the Jewish faith. Jesus would not even have known what the Catholic religion was.\u201d?\n\nHave you had some bad experience growing up with people who identified themselves as Catholics?\n\nDo you have some reason to think that saying such a thing to a believer will lead to a positive outcome for you? If so, what benefit would that be?\n\nAre you familiar enough with the sacred texts of those whose beliefs you attack to explain what they mean and from whence they came?\n\nTake your time ... we have basically forever for you to answer.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My mother is very hostile to this pope - she feels he's doctrinally too 'liberal'. I've told her to relax, he's a smart man (whatever anyone says about people devoted to a religious life, no one can deny that to be a Jesuit you have to be smart and rigorously educated), and much of what he say is cleverly crafted to encompass modern sentiment without really going against doctrine. \n\nAnd how can you argue with his emphasis on the original Christian message, before it got co-opted by emperors and kings, which was one of love and compassion and a life of the spirit? \n\nHe's trying to bring the Church into the 21st century, have it survive and remain relevant, which I believe was why he was voted in as pope in the first place. He's doing a good job, even if his detractors are too blinkered to see it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "At this event the pope apparently said, \u201cthe Bible teaches God created man and woman in his image, thus it\u2019s when the two become one that his image is reflected.\u201d (via CRUX)\n\nWhoa there. Maleness and femaleness are not part of God's being and males and females equally image God, whether they are single or coupled. You don't image God more successfully by getting married. If that were the case, then marriage would be a spiritual duty and not a choice. Second, two become one through the one flesh of each child\u2014each child who, individually, images God.\n\nThe Church would be better served thinking about how to make everyone's marriage better\u2014more loving, more supportive, more faithful, more \u201coutward sign\u201d to the community than pilgrimage to Kleinfeld's and The Pottery Barn\u2014than pointing a finger at the growing population of never-marrieds or gender theory. Neither is the cause of anyone's marriage breakdown.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus said, \"The poor you have always with you, but I will not always be with you. Let her alone . . . she has done a good thing.\" (Mk 14:7) \n This was said by Jesus in reference to 'the woman with the alabaster jar' spending hundreds of dollars (in today's money) for a perfumed oil to pour on Jesus' head, so as to acknowledge him as king and lord. Also, the oil was often poured on a body in preparation for burial, meaning that the anonymous woman anticipated Jesus's crucifixion and burial.\n Point being: Since when did Catholics have to be so obsessed with alleviating poverty? Is middle-class (or wealthy) lifestyle the actual 'rasion d'etre' of our existence? Monks and nuns even take a vow of poverty, so apparently they see some good in that lifestyle. Dorothy Day of Catholic Worker fame, also embraced a life of poverty, even while raising her daughter in a homeless shelter. So why the constant obsession with alleviating poverty??", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'd be happy if North American Christian church groups were trying to raise awareness about the real refugees in the ME ...the Christians and other minority religions. Instead they are all too happy to go along with the Muslim-victim narrative and take in money to help bring in the Muslim refugees.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How does the true Catholic react to the immigrant, status notwithstanding?\nDo good parents like changing dirty diapers at 3:30 in the morning? Is that why they do it? Because they like changing diapers?\nSince when is \"liking\" something a solid moral criterion for doing them?\nWe should do things because of the love of God.\nSo should we despise immigrants because our vice is more important to us than the love of God?.\nDenying others because we love our comforts too much to share is to act like 6 year olds (\"mine, mine, you can't have it\"). We should unify our efforts with Jesus Christ, who had no home, and let go of the \nold resentments, racial biases and adherence to cults and idols that we nurse and that blind us to our fellow man.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That jersey thing won't last and as for fans boycotting, that's laughable. The Raiders have moved cities how many times? They still have a large loyal fan base. Speaking of the multiple Raider moves, how come the NFL has survived all the team moves and forced tax relief or public stadium builds for billionaire NFL owners? These were a much more personal issue for team fans, and non fans for that matter, than players kneeling for the anthem. The players aren't asking for tax subsidies or tax built stadiums. And this doesn't include the NFL going to Congress for what amounts to a monopoly status.\n\nI have read a lot of comments thus far and none have gotten Fr Reese's analogy that football is very close to an American religious ritual that draws a better combined at the game and TV attendance than the Roman Catholic Church. Plus you can legally bet on the outcome of the ritual. This protest is not going to have any long term effects on the NFL..nor on Trump's political longevity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Fr. Martin is right to admonish Christians that we all sin, and that we all need forgiveness. I agree that, to the extent he wishes to have us accept homosexuality as good and normal, he acts contrary to his Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...Vatican finances.\"\n\nI don't either except through friends. Assessment of the Vatican, however, intrigues, often depends upon a concept of proportion (international and regional), upon comparative administrative size for doing good, reaching out to whole church community, upon its history, legacy, etc. Analysis of these things makes for a kind of speculative unity, as it were, if only to get an handle on its global affairs, or learn more about the church's diverse religious constituency, its 1.2 billion members, through the activities of the Vatican/Holy See in each country it has nuncios, thru its episcopal conferences. I am sure its 4,600 employees are kept busy. Why talk about surplus? Maybe as an opportunity to pat oneself on the back for good stewardship? Lots of things in the gospels about that. It would be nice if we in the US had a surplus, even after the trillions we've spent on wars (since the early 1990's). Needless to say, we don't want bunglers , in church or state.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "jb junes, 'the university stands firmly committed to providing a safe and inclusive work and learning environment...'. isnt that what the lady is saying? maybe some of the differences we see in our own society, even here in hawaii, is that too many minority kids are being taught by white, christian males who, like everyone, inserts their biases into their teaching. there are exceptions. too few though. nothing will change overnight but it is time to begin the process. yale took 315 years to discard dead white poets from its english major requirements. there is hope for UH.\nhttp://news.yale.edu/2017/03/30/new-english-major-requirements-are-more-flexible-diverse", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus intended that the whole life of his believers on earth should be a constant penance. And not just \u201cinward\u201d penance; Jesus desires that we show atonement outwardly, such as by mortification of the flesh.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "His illness was a cross; he was going to suffer from Parkinson's regardless of whether or not he was pope. All he did by remaining to the bitter end was leave the Catholic Church in chaos.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Excellent post by Sue Denim!!! If over half of the United States votes for the Biblical lawlessness of the Clintons true Christians are in secular trouble. With Hillary wanting to bring in thousands of people who want Sharia law to oppress women and challenge the Constitution our country is spinning in the toilet getting ready to go down. \n\nAny so called Christian who votes for Clinton's stand on abortion, her devil worshiper friends and her abuse of children has placed their spiritually in question....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's unlikely that Peter was an older man or a man of advanced age. \n\nIt's thought that Jesus' ministry lasted for around 3 to 3 /1/2 years, starting at age 30. His travels throughout Israel were conducted largely on foot with no settled home or base of his own. Therefore, his disciples would have had to have been of a similar age, or quite likely slightly younger. This was a physically demanding lifestyle and to postulate that Peter was at that time \"a man of advanced age\" is extremely unlikely. In that time period, men who were in their 50's-60's just wouldn't have been up to traipsing all over the country, back and forth on journeys of as much as 100 miles. \n\nFurthermore, even if we said that Peter was in his mid-50's when he accompanied Jesus, he definitely didn't end his own ministry at the same time as Jesus. Peter continued on as an active Apostle until 64-68 AD when he met his death through martyrdom, making it improbable that he was around 60 when he started this mission.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is false and the bible does not support it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Then what you seem willing to accept is a kind of elite Catholic subgroup who have access to a priest. Unfortunately the vast majority of the Catholic world is not so blessed. It would seem to me, this is not what Jesus intended.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Church is not an association like a book-club, quilting society, or even the volunteer fire-fighters in an area. People who were baptized are members of the Family of God--the Church. They have been anointed and have an indelible imprint [marking them] as members. People can leave---but what they are---remains forever. Many homosexuals have been baptized as infants. THEY ARE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH. It is their spiritual family. \n\nSecondly, what you are holding up as \"Catholicism\" [and its decrees about sin] are teachings made by very human leaders. If you look at the Church's history---there were other teachings proclaimed and punishments levied upon people who either spoke against the teachings or acted against them. In retrospect, many of these \"so-called-teachings\" were inspired more from the church leaders' political ambitions, monetary desires, or fears of loosing authority----than anything to do with God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A total unChristian response. And his position of kids of gay couples is deplorable. \n\nThe Church has every right to set out rules about the Church and the behavior of priests in their role as minister; however, if a priest has sister who is a lesbian and marries her partner, he will have the book thrown at him for attending the wedding and blessing them as children of Christ.\n\nThis Bishop seems to have forgotten we are a New Testament people.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What about the complicity of the Irish State, and indeed of Irish Catholic society generally, in these horrors?\n\nSomeone has called this story 'euthanasia, Irish Catholic style'. Harsh, but close to the truth.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you - I am \"enlightened\".... and don't need your \"suggestion\" as offered.\n\nhttp://www.uscatholic.org/node/5083\nThis article ends with this paragraph - \n\".......The recent response from Rome, which will create a structure called a \"personal ordiniariate\" led by a priest or bishop, will allow Anglican Catholics to maintain their liturgical traditions and clergy. The invitation presumes, however, that these Anglicans accept not only the Roman position on the ordination of women and on the question of homosexuality, but also the Marian and papal dogmas, along with the Catholic understanding of the Eucharist.\"\n\nAnd you may want to look up the definition of \"assertion\" - since I asked questions and did not make statements.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, lack of education when the changes were introduced is a deep cause of a lot of liturgical chaos ever since. But we must remember, that the clergy, most bishops and priests, who then interfaced with the Catholic millions, did not themselves have any deep understanding of the new liturgy. Even today, one would be hard pressed to find a \"regular\" priest who is competent to explain the rationale of the reform, for that cannot be done properly without a deep knowledge of the history of the liturgy. Not that the content of the explanation must convey that full history, but the educator MUST know it well, if one is to avoid inventing pious explanations for changes rather than the real historical basis of the reform. \n\nBluntly put, Christians of the first four centuries from anywhere in the world, would find the modern Roman liturgy to be a comprehensible approximation of their own experience, be that in Syria or Egypt or Byzantium or Rome. What we have is, roughly, a reconstruction.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"Our Catholic people of Latino descent are terrified.\"\n- As are Syrian Christians already in the USA or at elsewhere hoping for asylum, no doubt.\n- Basically, the USCCB, and local churches should lead and serve on the basis of solidarity with all of God's children who suffer, and not differentiate on the bases of ethnic origin or religion.\n- Making such distinctions will only play into Trump's divide and conquer strategy: he divides, and 'the other' conquers.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your arrogance in assumption is noted.\n\nI said nothing of the Catholic faith or who may or may not be following it. I responded to being subjected to Kurgan's invective and false assertions that he knows anything about me personally...yet again.\n\nI gave you an out...with dignity and fairness since you obviously misconstrued the exchange. Too bad you chose to ascribe comments to me that I did not make. Too bad you reaffirmed it. \n\nWhat does that say about you?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hysterical anybody? Glad I'm late reading this \"reporter\" piece. So much for expecting to get unbiased news from the National Catholic Reporter.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well my intent was not to demonize, only to point out what I have observed. Can you honestly say that you think Jesus would make critical comments of this girl's gender identity, or, insist on asserting that her sex is the one she was born with, or, debate the fairness of transgender athletes competing in high school sports? Maybe I got the wrong idea about Jesus, but he seemed to be all about love and inclusivity without judgement. Now that I think of it, if Jesus was alive today, sans miracles and trumpets sounding, I think many Christians would call him a dirty hippie. I guess my only point is I wish Christians behaved more like Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The same can be said of the pro-life movement, which is the Evangelical Right and the Catholic Bishops and those who believe their line. Both are entirely partisan and disgustingly authoritarian. The theology is pretty bad too about sex, including ordaining women. Someone like Russell Moore should talk about them too.\n\nLike E.J., I remember arguing with my father about religion and politics. I think that fathers who allow this also allow their kids to become intellectual. He is correct on the need for religion and politics to relate. Brooks is correct about the narcisism of writing. His experieces of spirituality are inspiring. He talks about communitarian religion over utilitarianism, but I favor a more humanistic morality that is, essentially, utilitarian. If God is not a humanist than he is a fairy tale. Sin, therefore, is a problem because of its effect on us, not its effect on God. \n\n If Weigel is in a snit, all is right with the world.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What a mess a despot still in power, millions of sunnie Muslims displaced, 100,000's dead, Europe overrun with Sunnie muslins, Christans dead as well, and a country where they lived now cleared out. By the way none of the displaced are in oil rich sunnie kingdoms. They are/were people with intense love of family, tribal in mature and the love of their god, but misled by the leadership. But this is the way it is over there. All Obama had to do was to say the despot king was the leader of the country and stay away, this was not going to be another Iraq, but he still had some advisors who though Saudie Araba was their friend. You must know and having lived over there for 6 years, the Arabs are only interested in your help if it will improve their own agenda, everything else is not true.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1. \"Fifty years ago there was only one Catholic Community, the Universal Church. \"\nEmmmm, no. [If I had dared to make such a wild assertion you would have demanded evidence.] \n\n2. \" ... bizarre novelties introduced by parish priests and their cliques of liberal, middle-class aides mostly from the professions.\" Sounds as inaccurate as the unjustified observation in point 1.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The people within the Catholic Church are just as divided as the general population. I know Catholics on both sides and they cannot agree on almost any political issue. They accuse each other of not even being Catholic, so I don't see the church healing the nation when they cannot even heal the people within the church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Otherwise, never mind \u201cgetting behind the president.\u201d It's already too late for that. It's the preservation of the soul of the country that needs our support. Right now, it's \u201cgetting behind the Constitution\u201d that counts \u2014 for both sides of the divide.\" \n\nSr. Joan, I love the underlying optimism of your column. Unfortunately, it is clear that much of the electorate has contempt for the U.S. Constitution. A large chunk of the electorate does not believe in freedom of religion but wants to make their understanding of Christianity the state religion. Another chunk of the electorate does not believe in the federal government's constitutional duty to regulate commerce. Indeed, these people believe the preamble to the Constitution says \"We the corporations\" instead of \"We the people.\" Another chunk of the electorate wants this to be \"a white man's country\" where non-whites are deported or reduced to second class citizens. These three groups came together to elect Trump president.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Peter is really only invoked, like Christ, in a symbolic way to justify the church's current system of operations. What is important now is accretion of rituals, traditions, and bad habits that keep the bishops occupied.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sure. There have been many so-called Quests for the Historical Jesus, but scholars have always decided it's not possible to get behind the Christ of faith proclaimed by the evangelists to the man who lived and died in the first century.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I guess the same goes for Catholics and Anglicans.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, the Supreme Court finally as a Protestant (along with 5 Catholics and three Jews) -- Judge Neil Gorsuch, who has a Catholic connection via Georgetown Prep. If he doesn't get appointed by consensus, the Republican Senate can opt to use the so called \"nuclear option.\" But he is certain to be appointed. (I am sure Hardiman will be Trump's next appointment.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sounds like the thinking of man and not of God. God asked Abraham to sacrifice his own son and Noah to build an ark in the desert and Moses to return to where he was a wanted man and lead a nation away from a Pharoah. Also sounds like an abdication of the teaching authority of the leaders and the desertion of the deposit of faith. This is treacherous ground. Perhaps Christ is SO near that they are dragging the good and the bad into the wedding feast BUT perhaps, like Thomas Becket's murderers, people eager to please are willing to kill the truth to please (in their mind) the Pope. In Thomas' case the killers were sentenced to death by the king. In this case, it could mean an eternity in hell. There can be no two valid marriages. Annulment is already available. Doesn't look like a good decision. We need to pray constantly for the Church and that the true faith is preserved. We are also guilty if we are not doing that. We also need to let God decide. Just live the faith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You mean, of course, a bishop who rejects Christ. That is what Paprocki is doing with his hate-filled decree. Apparently, you agree with that hatred.\n\nMy brother is gay. He is no longer a Catholic because he feels that the institutional Church has rejected him. Paprocki is showing us that my brother is correct.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wrong again, Trid. It might be accurate to label the secular world as \"humanist\" but to conflate the secular world as \"Empire\" totally misses the mark. Progressives place value on humanism because our magnificent Savior did the same thing when He created man in His image. The RCC, however, saw fit to model its church nearly 100% in lockstep with the \"Holy\" Roman Empire. Just think about that... Holy Roman Empire = Holy Roman Church. The early Christians had such disdain for the Roman state they called it the whore of Babylon as identified in Scripture. \n\nIt's unfortunate when the facts of history are in stark contrast to your world view. I urge you to pray and study about this as time is running short, and to be on the wrong side of history may very well have lasting consequences which will be revealed to us on judgment day. So to whom does you allegiance lie, Trid... our magnificent Lord and Savior or the corrupt, stale remnant of the Holy Roman Empire?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That was certainly the script during the campaign. As with much of the script from that side of the campaign, it was a fig leaf over the facts.\n\nThe Hyde Amendment is a legislative provision barring the use of federal funds to pay for abortion except to save the life of the mother, or if the pregnancy arises from incest or rape. It is not a permanent law but a \"rider\" been routinely attached to annual appropriations bills since 1976. While generally it only restricts Department of Health and Human Services funds, primarily affecting Medicaid, it\u2019s not restricted to poor women on Medicaid.\n\nThe 2016 Democratic platform marked the first explicit promise to repeal the Hyde Amendment.\n\nThe subjects of abortions are not dead \u201ca very small amount\u201d, and one abortion with Federal funds is too many from the perspective of Catholic morality.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The problem lies within the Islam teachings which is the Root of the World's Terrorism. Certain Sects/Imam's will feed the HATE of the Western World to it's followers as the Palestinians do teaching their newborn kids the HATE of Israel.\nIt all starts with the teachings to humans.\nIt's no different than the Christian preachers like the one the Obama's listened to, God D@mn America! Jeremiah Wright preaching racism in America instead of teaching Peace and forgiveness.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Explain the Christian Sharia in the Demented States of Murrica?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The last non-Italian pope before JP2 was Adrian IV from the Netherlands who was elected in response to the political corruption following the Borgia and d'Medici papacies. When Adrian finally arrived in Rome [he was not in the conclave] he was disturbed because he was greeted by a phalanx of fully armored knights. \n\nAdrian is reported to have directed a question to the papal carmerlengo: \"I only wanted to be greeted by the cardinals.\" The carmerlengo had to explain: \"Your Holiness, these are the cardinals.\"\n\nPapa Francesco is constrained in what he can do politically by the very twisted hierarchs that elected him pope and now lead the church. We should pray for him. We need to continue to teach the Beatitudes, hope for the day when we Catholics can once again speak aloud the truth in the church of our birth.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Interestingly, the actual members of the \"committee\" are not listed on the website. BTW, few babies are chopped to pieces. Most embryos are simply sucked out. After the first trimester, all abortions should be by induction, but that would mean Catholic hopsitals willing to do them. When Sarah Palin can run her entire career as a pro-life candidate and can't answer a question about Roe, you have a movement based on sentiment, as you show, not fact. Might as well be for puppies. Without a plan, its a scam. See below.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I suspect the money quote is Pope Benedict's endorsement if Democratic Socialism, along with his seeking a better form of capitalism, although essentially that would be cooperative socialism. AEI and Brooks exist to defend their donor class, which hold the wealth. In theory, welfare reform was supposed to increase opportunity. It did not. It led to more disability claims and permanent poverty and the Republican penchant for criminalizing black men is anything but a boost in opportunity. It is yet another go at separating the worthy and unworthy poor, which is not a part of Catholic teaching. All are worthy of help.\n\nIn Homeland Security Secretary Gehring had the moral courage to change policy on immigration, he would not have his job.\n\nThe Trump victory was not a win for the working class. It was the last hurrah of that portion of the Baby Boomers who went to Viet Nam and loved Reagan (and Wallace).\n\nThe Texas bishops are resisting the result, sadly, cities are state creatures.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This guy is a joke \"Anti-religious liberals, such as comedian Bill Maher, on the other hand, don\u2019t know much about religion at all.\"\nLike we didn't have religion thrust upon us when we were kids. The religious cannot even figure out which religion is the right one let alone even agree on what sort of Christianity is correct. \nHe offers zero evidence or experiments that prove any gods exist so according to me - it is ALL total fiction until proven otherwise and should not be used by any member of government to force any rules upon us that are based on \"beliefs\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I always ignore the cheap throwaway drive-by, superficial use of Pharisees. Most who use it simply picked it up from someone and parrot it. I never even read a sentence from someone in here with that word in it because I have found it so badly used, and so superficially used. \n\nJesus elevated love to include total self-gift, which in an image is the Crucifix.\n\nThe 'do this in memory of me' includes such self giving acts of ourselves.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I fullt encourage the governmenet to jump in with both feet and complete this project to the best of their abilities. This is a good training ground when the tarsands overwhelm the environmnet and turn the complete province into a wasteland, albeit for the national parks that thank God are under Ottawas control.\n\nUse this as a guinea pig Alberta before the big storm brews up and slaps you across the face.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mission territory legal costs should be backstopped by the Holy See. Indeed, the Church should never have taken the position that the Vatican and its assets are not ultimately responsible because all bishops are Roman employees - and certainly all Cardinals (who have Vatican City passports). They cannot have things both ways and in the interest of justice they should not have tried. The Church betrays its soul again on the advice of counsel.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"whose search for their authentic selves leads them away from the church\"\n\nOur authentic self, at least for the Baptized, is a child of God.\n\nThere's a lot of \"searching\" going on that in the end leads to great dissatisfaction, sadness, whipsawing emotions, depression and far worse.\n\nMany people \"search\" for their authentic selves, and in the process get pulled into drugs, unmarried sex, thrill seeking sports, food, drink, an every changing set of \"hobbies\", scores of half read \"self-help\" books, church hopping, girl friend hopping, and now gender hopping. \n\nIt's very very simple though. We are children of a loving God. This knowledge should bring us into a search for a closer relationship with Him. That relationship includes a visibile church, which is the Church that Jesus breathed life into in his Apostles, the Catholic Church, one, holy, and apostolic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Eastern Rite and Orneryariate CATHOLIC priests have learned how to deal with the conflicting demands. I guess Latin Rite priesty boyz aren't up to the challenge of their fellow priests? More's the pity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Paul, just google the organizer, you well get plenty of information. You say you resent folks lumping all liberals together, yet you are assuming this event was about hate, I'm guessing that is because this liberal and biased media is portraying them that way. Just like what the media is doing with the insane person who killed those two gentleman, he was ranting about Christians as well as Muslims but since it does not fit their agenda they continue to leave that part of the story out. He was at a pro Trump rally, the media is quick to point that out also, but does not bother to tell the rest of the story where he was asked to leave by the organizers. Just because someone has different political views then the left and we also want to exercise our rights does not automatically makes us haters. So many on the left have been taught to express hatred and anger towards all who would dare disagree with them, are you allowing yourself to be in that category?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One of the disappointing trends seen in the 20th century was the decline of education in the western world, particularly in those places that, accurately or not, claimed precedence in education, like England. An offshoot of this is the inability of many from England to truly comprehend what they read, which leads to unfortunate misunderstandings, as exhibited here. Of course, one might suggest that, rather than spending time posting comments on a foreign magazine, catholics in England would better serve their church by engaging their fellow citizens, many of whom are now nones.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is now long past the time for ordaining women! \n\nOrdaining women and married men is the only way out from the ditch into which the hierarchy has driven the church.\n\nI am personally convinced that the Roman church is hopelessly incapable of ever reforming and renewing its priesthood - the corruption and complicity is just too deep, too drunk on power. Catholics must allow the clerical celibate priesthood and hierarchy to die a dignified death, followed by a good Catholic funeral to free all Catholics from centuries of misogyny and clericalism. \n\nCatholics actually need a new autochthonous rite of the Catholic Church in the 21st century which is based on a new understanding of human culture and sexuality. Let the Romans have the Vatican where the clerics can scurry around the colonnades and frescoes in their medieval finery enacting liturgies no one really believes in anymore ... the rest of us can survive on our own. \n\nLet the People Decide!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As I understand it, all Anglican priest-converts ARE ordained Catholic priests because the Church does not recognize the validity of Anglican orders.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Hackler doesn't believe religion should dictate sexuality or focus on achieving eternal life after death. He said eternal life is going on right now and people should live spiritually fulfilling lives today.\"\n\nJesus would have said \"Depart from me, I never knew you.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The housing crisis is an economic crisis. In Eugene or in any urban area it's absolutely impossible to buy a lot, pay the SDFs (systems development fees), pay for all the permits, etc and get ready to build for less than around $100K....then you're ready to build.. i.e. forget \"affordable housing\". \n\nWithout grants and subsidies there simply can be NO affordable housing as things now stand. We have tens of thousands living at or near the poverty level...They struggle to even find affordable rental properties, let alone dream of owning their own home.;and, of course, w/o Section 8 or other assistance they can't afford the near $1000/month rental for a two bedroom apartment. \n\nIt's, IMO, presumptuous to tell others to \"stop having children\"....how about suggesting that, say, two children is enough....But then, perhaps you need to have that conversation W/the Catholic Church.... \n\nTo paraphrase Oliver Hardy; \"another fine mess we've gotten ourselves into.\" Gary Crum", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your comment really makes no sense unless a person is paranoid traditionalist Catholic with no regard for what the Gospels actually teach. \n\nThere is no such thing as close to infallible. That is like kinda perfect? Something either is perfect or it isn't.\n\nPope John Paul, the first one, spoke openly about considering ordaining women priests and we have currently got cardinals who support ordaining women equally to men so that blows infallibility thru agreement of all bishops throughout the world. In every age this issue has been disputed.\n\nThe bible, in all 4 Gospels, Jesus warns us to treat no one differently than you wish to be treated. This includes women & bishops and treatment of women by bishops and popes. Ordination is a form of treatment. It is something bishops do to those being ordained. No church counsel ever came up with a biblical support for not ordaining women priests. This is why Pope John Paul II was told he does not have grounds to make the rule infallible.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As fighting raged in Europe Fall of 1944 Comrade Stalin issued a decree that all Germans be expelled from designated areas: East Prussia, Memeland (Lithuania), Silesia, Sudentland (Czech), Hungary, Romania. Total expelled close to 17 million. This solved the German minority crisis which was the cause of WW2. Germans lost 25% of their territory. Germany has become the most peaceful nation in the world. Regarding the Moslem crisis in Europe expel them to the middle east and do a population exchange of Christians in Syria, Pakistan etc and this will settle the problems of terrorism and utter chaos. Both parties would benefit from this.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is very inspiring to see the commission expressing its support for a member leaving over its ineffectiveness. And how gracious of Cardinal O'Malley to continue devoting time to this commission, despite all the other time-consuming tasks he must engage in to further his career. I join with all True Catholics in looking forward to this commission being as productive over the next few years as it has been for the past two or so, and applaud the obvious support of Pope Francis for the protection of minors demonstrated by all the many concrete, tangible results produced by this commission.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wow, I see the outline of another MSW column already. The Catholic Right is like Mani, who worked a miracle by getting himself. amed after the peanut, which is indigenous to South America. The Catholic Left is like Cicero, who was an atheist, more or less, but whose name means \"garbanzo bean\" but it's only a faux-miracle because a garbanzo bean is the same thing as a chick pea. This is clearly a signal from Papa Francesco (with an affected little trill on the \"r\" in Francesco) to the folks on the fifth floor of the USCCB headquarters. Bishops, call your offices.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Except that Mary never said that, and never WOULD have denigrated the mothers around her her, and by extension, motherhood itself. She had a very special mission, yet was humble and the very model of feminine virtue. Her name used to be popular, there being a time when young Catholic women emulated her. Not that many babies named Mary these days. Suggesting to a young woman that she model Mary would be taken as ludicrous. That's one reason why, culturally, we are where we are.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Gehring quotes Busch: \"More has been done to benefit the causes of life ...\"\nTrump has launched a comprehensive, multi-pronged attack on human life and human dignity. He is presiding over the most pervasively anti-life, pro-death administration in history: he's eviscerated the EPA; proposed immigration policies and orders rooted in religious and ethnic bigotry, designed to divide families; violated every promise he made about healthcare in order to support a healthcare bill that will strip insurance (and therefore care) from millions of people (many of whom voted for him); proposed a mean-spirited, deadly budget that harms the sick, the poor and the aged. Do these pseudo-Catholics believe that the nomination of a SCOTUS justice who may (or may not) vote to overturn Roe offsets the increase in abortions, infant mortality and maternal deaths that will be spawned by Trump's pro-death agenda? Shame on them if they believe that! Special shame on the bishops who participated in this farce.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yeah, we liberals think that Christ told us to love our neighbor. We disagree with your and Molino's interpretation, which excludes gays from that love.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "RC, the problem is whenever anything violent happens we seem to be drawn to whatever stereotypes we want to confirm. In the case of minorities, we'll usually find some family background that is angry black, dissatisfied middle eastern, islamic, antiamerican immigrant, etc. But other than some token \"connected to white supremacist\" or misplaced southern pride these events the usual story is abstract mental issues, depression, etc. It's rare to see anything presented as \"my faith drove me to it\" even if the evidence is out there. Obviously, it's all nutty. Violence is not the answer. But don't kid yourself. They all do it, right/left, christian/islam/etc, and the usual thuggy riot enthusiasts when there's no soccer game to pillage over.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus was born in time and in history. He was born into a patriarchal Jewish society. Had he referred to God as amma [mother] instead of abba [father], he would have been stoned to death before he even got his mission in Galilee begun. In spite of that, he utilized and demonstrated enough images of God as inclusive of both men and women.\n\nNeither Jesus nor God are the problem. It is the schizophrenic attitude of males that the fullness of God is reflected in a masculinized version. Unfortunately, this attitude has remained for centuries as the church adopted the attitudes of the society around them, instead of imitating Christ in the Gospels, who utilized feminine as well as masculine motifs to describe himself. Women are created in the image and likeness of God as are men. \n\nTo answer the question above 'would it be appropriate also to say that exclusively masculine references to God are heretical because they do not express the totality of God's revelation'? YES!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I see you lurking, Rogue Catholic, behind your mask, baiting a gun control debate. There are many fine examples in Canada, Australia and New Zealand of laws that have prevented gun deaths. Go look them up instead of acting like this is an unanswerable question. By the way, the doomsday scenarios proposed by the NRA don't happen in these countries. The Australian government has not become an agent of tyranny, oppressing its citizens. Illegally armed hordes of \"bad guys\" are not raping and pillaging defenseless unarmed Canadians. I will propose several questions to you, if you wish to dialogue: You stated yourself there are 300 million guns in circulation. Why do the arms manufacturers continue to produce more products if there are already too many in circulation? You stated (incorrectly) that the world doesn't take gun control seriously. It does and it works. Why does the US fail to follow the example of nations that have already solved their gun problems?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus never said that marriage was between one man and one woman. He did say that a man shall cleave to his wife, but he makes no statement at all about that meaning only one wife.\n\nJesus said nothing about polygamy, which was common practice in 1st century Judea. In fact, the only references to polygamy in the New Testament have to do with church leaders being required to only have one wife, but nothing is said about such restrictions for the rank and file believer.\n\nUnderstand, I'm not making a case for polygamy. I just find it annoying when people ascribe statements to Jesus that he never actually made.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I never said the Church isn't perfect. The human beings in the Church are not perfect but Christ is the Head of the Church and It is perfect, despite the imperfect humans involved. God makes all things work to good and even the things that appear to our tiny brains to be failures, like the pedophile priest crisis and sexual abuse and abuses of authority, He will keep from doing their worst. The gates of hell will NOT prevail. Perhaps this is where you need to meditate. Where is God in these things? Why should a faithful Catholic remain faithful despite the failures of others? Can man hinder God or change His truths?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bride of Christ, Mystical Body of Christ!?? There is, as yet, no theology of women because it would be essentially the same as a theology of men. It someone thinks there should be a theology of women, let that person first give us a theology of \"men\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm sure Obama has a database on ISIL members, and they're ALL Muslim. If it were a Christian database, libwingers would be all for it.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "It's ironic that a Catholic bishop is asking the legislators for so-called protection from being forced to marry same-sex couples when the Catholic priests across the world are sexually assaulting children. Take the beam out of thine own eye bishop before you try and take a sliver out of a homosexual's eye. There must be laughter in Heaven and Hell.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Not that long ago that Catholics had to cover their heads at mass (remember the ridiculous hanky thing?)!\nPeggy\n--------------------\nnot \"had to\"\nit was optional\nno women got scorned, beaten, harassed, shunned for not wearing it\n\nthat ridiculous hanky thing - you show that \"Anti Catholic hatred has a place in YOUR Canada\nyou have little credibility fighting for tolerance\n\noh yes the hanky thing is a veil", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "This is completely outrageous, the ACLU is seeking to subject americans to foreign nationals who have already been determined to have committed crimes in this country. Iraq is a Shiite majority nation, the groups killing christians are Sunni muslim extremists who no longer control parts of Iraq. They have nothing to fear in going home except maybe much harsher punishment for those who choose to break the law. \nSince when is foreign immigration a civil right anyway? The ACLU should stick to their mandate and stop interferring in foreign policy.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Ah, the tolerance of good \"Christians\" down-voting/disagreeing with your simple statement of what you believe. Mark my word, you let these intolerant religious nutbags twist the law to persecute Muslims and they will eventually get around to using their corrupt power to persecute Mormons. It is who/what these intolerant religious scorpions are.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I have yet to see a Christian or Jewish terrorist strap a bomb to himself and blow up innocent children. \nI agree not all Muslims are terrorists. But almost all the terrorists do seem to be Muslim. Coincidence? I don't think so. It is clearly religiously inspired terrorism.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic Church is not and never has been obsessed with genitals and sex. It is the liberal secular American society that is obsessed with sex and genitals necessitating that the Church speak out on those issues.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "A \"fundamentalist\" Catholic will have Mass said for you and pray a rosary for you, a fundamentalist Muslim will blow you up.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "According to liberal dementia, a social disease void of intelligence, logic, and shame, it is criminally wrong for a Christian baker to refuse to cater a homosexual wedding because this is discrimination...however, a political correct organic baker can refuse service to events promoting GMO agriculture, Indian Mascots, or a Christian event supporting pro life. This shameless hypocrisy is staggering. There they go again.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Evangelicals support T rump because his values ARE their values. Racism, greed, misogyny, ignorance, homophobia, lust, lying, adultery, hatred of the poor, hypocrisy, bigotry, etc, ad nausem, etc.! Most of these so called \"Religious leaders\" have been caught with their pants down in one way or another! But the sheep welcome them back, empty their wallets into the collection plates, and leave their intelligence and self respect at the door of the church. Religion for these hypocrites is a handy disguise, like a wolf in sheep's clothing. They talk out of both sides of their mouths. Like seeks like! President Obama was and is the finest example of a President, husband, and father! Yet they hated him, supposedly because he was pro-choice. No, that hatred was because of the President's race and grace. Abortion just provided handy cover for their racism.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "An absolute ridiculous article and how appropriate for NCR to publish such nonsense on this special day of the March for Life. Time at last for NCR to take Catholic out of their name.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Your friend Jack has some serious problems. He claims to be a Christian, he is married and I assume he will say he loves his wife. How could Jack support a philandering liar like tRump? And I wonder what it is about America that Jack loves? He seems to be supporting the destruction of everything worthwhile, from public discourse, our government, our freedoms and our respect.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Never Trust a Muslim! Never heard an Imam denounce Lying, denounce non-believers are Infidels! Their followers believe their faith as much as Christians do theirs.\nWell, I not saying \"All\" Muslims but I just can't tell which sect a Muslim is from. There are good and bad, that's the problem. And I'm not one to be REACTIVE but PROactive as to the Fanatic Muslim/Islam terrorists.\nIt is what it is, Why not have the Good Muslims enlist into the Military as the American Japanese did in WW2 to fight off the Japan Imperialist? \nThe AJ enlisted in droves in the island chain and fought to show where their true hearts were for, AMERICA!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Agnostics and secularist in Canada should fear the religious right wing, the Christians, the post-Christians, the Jews, the Muslims and post-varieties. They were all raises as such religious people, they have no spirituality, no teacher. They just think they are pious because they own a book. Their teachers Mohamed, Jesus, Moses all dies 2000+ years ago. They have big ego's these followers, pragmatic and narcissistic.\n \nWe should all fear the next zealot, the next witch hunt, the next victim less crime laws (against free speech like gender pronouns) the next Drug War, the next War against Sin, War against men. We are not safe as long as \"God\" is in our Charter of Rights, as long as our tax dollars are used for their religions; as long as we have government schools that teach dogma as fact.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I find that all of these orders of Knights to be centered on one thing: money. They do some very good things, but when push comes to shove it is really about the huge sums of money they gain from those they court for membership. Second, it is about clerical prestige and influence, as many priests and bishops are members as well. They are all hold-overs from medieval times, but have a place, I suppose, in the arena of Catholic life.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Republicans would accept Charles Manson if he promised to take people's health care away. They'd even declare him a Christian saint for that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Good grief Prod - why do you think that Sunday is not a school day? Why do you think that there is no school on Good Friday? Or Christmas? Are you really that unaware of how pervasive Christianity is in the mainstream culture?\n\nAnd your reference to integration and not asking for more accommodation is ridiculous in light of the fact that there are still Catholic school boards.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have problems in Roman Catholic Churches. If I have to go to a funeral or wedding, I sit in the back and come and go a lot. The usher's probably think I'm a smoker or something.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And in yet another telling move, and despite their recent victory, Russia and Iran immediately call for talks aimed at a political settlement of the conflict in Syria. They have done so consistently since it began. The reason why the 'genuine' Syrian opposition didn't seek a political settlement was because Western and regional governments were backing them with arms, finances, personnel and intelligence. Those outside parties wanted the opposition to destroy the Syrian government, and they encouraged their proxies to give no political quarter. As well, the vast majority of opposition territory in Syria is held by the terrorist groups al-Nusra Front and Islamic State. They don't negotiate political settlements. For them its a holy crusade, and they'll either push the Alawites and Christians into the sea, or die trying.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pope Francis' personal family experience is part of his pastoral experience. He is the first pope to have a more \"modern\" family. He doesn't have some sort of uptight religious family. They've dealt with the same issues everyone has.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Whether extreme evangelicals or any other religion, there can be a belief in the rule of the clerics, not the rule of law - theocracy. Theocratic rules go way back and were probably very useful to help govern civic life until democracy began 250 years ago. Religion lost public influence as democratic society evolved. Separation of church and state, and secularism emerged.\n\nIn a pluralistic society based on universal human rights and rule of law - harmony can be challenged by diversity. Rights and religious values conflict, and rights are not constitutionally absolute. To get past their theocratic civic elements, Religious rights need to be more private. Theocratic elements can b e more public and actually divide and even alienate communities. It is a modest sacrifice that all people of good will should make - abandon the public civic elements..", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Funny enough Christianity originated in the Middle East and now faces a real Genocide and true oppression.\n\nIn Canada, Muslims believe oppression is anyone who has any questions or concerns about their Religion. Hence M-103. being implemented as we speak.\n\nWe truly live in Insane times, anyone who votes Justin back in 2019 is completely out to lunch.\n\nVote Conservative or NDP in 2019 to end this insanity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "re: Cannabis and Christ\nCannabis is an herb, not a drug, that has an ancient history of ritual use and is found in pharmacological cults around the world. Over time, many medicinal uses and physical benefits were discovered.\nIn the 20th century, political \"Reefer Madness\" swept the country and \"marijuana\" was criminalized in an effort to control growing minorities, particularly Blacks and Mexicans.\nCurrent and reliable information and research about the medical and the psychological benefits of cannabis, as well as the social drawbacks, is becoming available.\nVerdict: Christ offered us bread and wine, fruit of the earth and work of human hands. Cannabis is also fruit of the earth and work of human hands. Bread and wine and cannabis not only can coexist with Christ, they are part of the seed-bearing treasure God gave us. (Gn. 1:29)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hmmm.\n\nWell, let's see how trying another approach works out.\n\nConsider the Episcopal Church.\n\nIt is now just over half the size it was before women were ordained.\n\nGolly gee willikers, Wally!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Reporting the settlement for an incident that happened 33 years ago is \"abundant proofs that the Catholic church's sex abuse crisis and cover-up are not over, .....\"?\nReally?\nYou guys would rather faux outrage motivated by ideology over decades old instances rather than deal with the rape and abuse that is happening under your collective noses elsewhere right now?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is so hopeless, there seems to be no end of this CI\u2019s (Catholic Institution) saga! :-(\nIt sounds more like a mafia organization operation then a religious organization!\n \nI think all bishops and up needs to be eliminated from CI. And each diocese need to hire the priests and elect bishop by vote locally if needed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Let's flip this around for sake of discussion. \n\nMay Catholic scholars study the Quoran; the Quoran is the foundation of the Muslim faith; but these scholars continue to profess Catholicism. Is it your view that these scholars cannot possibly understand the Quoran without becoming Muslim? Are you suggesting that there is something defective in the heart of those scholars because they do not profess Islam?\n\nEbes, since the mid 18th century, there has been an extraordinary deepening of our understanding of the bible via a scholarly project that involves all Christian denominations, except those that professes fundamentalism (i.e, literal understanding of scripture). One happy result is that seminarians of all faiths generally earn credit for scripture studies regardless the denomination of the professor. \n\nAnd, say I, the foundation of this great blessing of the Spirit, is the shared determination to understand scripture as LITERATURE first, in order to deepen our faith understanding.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Indeed, it appears that Conservative Christians have come together. Right wing Catholics and Protestants put aside their faith to overwhelmingly support Trump whose entire life has been the antithesis of Christian virtue. White Evangelicals gave him 81 percent of their vote and Mormons were close behind at 61 percent. He garnered 56 percent of the White Catholic vote. Who could have imagined just a few year ago that so many Christians would support someone who is essentially a pagan.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is funny that he never once expressed his concerns for Coptic Christians being killed ...... that is a much more common occurrence yet our PM seems interested only in the plight of Muslims.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Again, here we have a bunch of Catholics acting like they are not themselves supporting hatred & prejudice while we do nothing, as a church, to demand women be treated & ordained the same as men, starting with priesthood. \n\nHatred comes from the demons fear & ignorance, and sexism is equally a form of hatred to racism or ethnic hatred, and is at least as lethal globally. \n\nReligion, including Roman Catholicism, continues to teach the hatred of sexism and when I bring this up to many priests and bishops, they continually try to tell me that sexism is not really hate. Nonsense. \n\nCure the problem at home, in Rome and in the Vatican first. Demand women be ordained priests immediately & Roman Catholic Women Priests be accepted fully & their ex-communications immediately lifted.\n\nUntil, we Catholics, start calling our sexism & prejudice against women HATE, instead of softening it into other words, we remain the cause of global hatred & abuse, and therefore cannot really be the cure.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What is next? Catholics embracing birth control?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And this is not a \"christian sneer\"? - got it. Pretty funny.....\n\nIt certainly isn't very Christian -", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But please, please .... this has nothing to do with Islam which is a religion of peace, with nothing bad to say about Christians and Jews. Just another bad apple .... you know...malesh.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pandora, the very idea that Catholics can claim to love God yet support abortion and euthanasia is absolutely monstrous. It simply beggars belief that Catholic go public about this without a trace of shame.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Scrupulosity at the highest levels. Why do we Catholics often obsess too much about matter and not enough about what matters. We do get caught up in the legalisms too much. Is chicken broth allowed on Lenten abstinence days? Does chewing nicorette gum break the fast? Can we make love before receiving Communion (just don't block the pew). I recall the serious debates ago, \"Can we eat barbecue potato chips on Fridays?\" \"Why, given the Church's teaching on the reproductive role of eggs, can we eat them on Lenten Fridays?\" \"And doesn't milk, like roast beef, come from a cow?\" \"My remarried aunt's abusive first husband finally died. Does this mean since she once again has only one husband she should be celebrating?\" And my favorite from years ago, \"Sister, I went to see 'The Moon is Blue,' but held my hands over my ears when they said 'virgin.' Did I still sin?\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No sperm were saved by this policy change. Every employee still gets free birth control without the employers consent or lack thereof. Their opposition has no effect. They are worring about their \u201dbrand\u201d bnot the reality, which is the key feature of Catholic sexual teaching anyway. Head in sand.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": ">>Muslims and Christians co-existed historically more than Germans and the French. Europe has had continuous wars from the 1st century to the mid 20th centur...\n.\nAh, those \"bad Westerners Christians\".. fighting each other throughout the centuries , while Muslims were busy spreading peace all around the world.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Please, I don't want to hear anything from the so-called \"religious right\" about anything after their support of Trump. Not the evangelicals, Mormons, and especially the Catholic hierarchs. To have embraced the election of this racist and misogynist as president betrays all of their supposed moral rectitude. I just can't tolerate any of their moral condescension.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You mean Trump's \"supposed\" opposition to abortion. The moral issues Trump presented included adultery, racism, homophobia, misogyny -- none of which seem to bother you. They do bother actual Christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I was thinking of Muslim armies demolishing the ancient art of Roman Christianity and eradicating 1000 years of history with the conquest of Constantinople in 1453.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One small point of order - the Inquisition and Crusades happened quite some time earlier than the last 200 years, so perhaps you should note that christians have behaved quite badly for at least the last 1000 years or so. Other than that, nice comment!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholic hierarchs are dangerously alienated from and hopelessly irrelevant to the lives of millions of People they are called to serve.\n\nLet the People Decide!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Anti-Christian hatred has no place in my Canada.\nAnti-Women hatred has no place in my Canada.\nAnti-Jewish hatred has no place in my Canada.\n\nIslamic people, are you doing any accommodating?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm all for taking in refugees as well. Why hasn't the Obama Administration brought any Christian refugees though? What about the Yazidi women and children being raped and slaughtered? Why hasn't the big O brought them in to prevent ISIS from continuing this genocide?\n\nWhy not set up safe zones in THIER country rather than bring them here?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh dear, Eric. You have flip flopped on me again. If you read back, you will find that I have always carefully qualified my use of the notion that the Gospels are history \"in our modern sense of that term.\" I have carefully given you a single example of non-historicity, and carefully asserted that the overwhelming majority of Catholic Biblical scholars accept the theory the underlies this example. \n\nWhatever CCC 124-127 says about scripture, if it were not in compliance with the example I have given you, then the CDF under B16 and JP2 would have censured the vast majority of Catholic Biblical scholars. That didn't happen, ergo you would appear to be the only one who sees a conflict. I am very sorry, Eric, but it does seem to me that you acknowledged lack of interaction with intellectualism has built what I consider very simple distinctions into something of a stumbling block for yourself. \n\nNo \"fashion\" as you use it here does not mean genre; the concept continues to allude you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Marty, no one is arguing in support of legalized prostitution here. What Burke and his ilk feel the need to condemn are flawed human beings (aren't we all?) who failed in their initial attempt at marriage, or had child out of wedlock (you name the \"sin\") and perhaps find themselves in \"irregular situations,\" often very delicate. This is real life in the modern world, so what do you want to do about it? Further, you and yours presuppose that the subjected parties have not sufficiently repented. You can no more judge the sincerity of their resolve as the state of their soul, so why not assume best intentions for a change. In many/most cases we are talking about other Catholic Christians, many/most with good and Godly intentions. They are flawed humans just like you and I. In a world full of evil/envy/malice/discontent, surely you don't want to label these folks as the enemy... do you?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "With respect to your comment that \"prayers are useless\", I beg to differ. First, if the rate of 1 mass shooting per day, on average (307 mass shootings through the 308 days of 2017 to date), and almost every year is not enough to at least restrict the most deadly of weapons, then perhaps it is the lack of prayer that is the problem. Consider that the people who should be praying (Christians) are, for some strange reason, against gun control, then who is actually praying for gun control??? Certainly not secular people.\nSo, when the thing that appears to be common sense doesn\u2019t happen, then one must question why that is. Frankly, what more can be done from a secular viewpoint??? More mass demonstrations??? More shootings??? Obviously, neither of these has achieved any success at all. Perhaps it is only prayer that can make a difference now as both sides are so deeply entrenched in their position that it would indeed take a miracle to get legislation through the government.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wayne C. Jones, I got a laugh out your phrase, the Lyin' King---The new unofficial title for our new president.\n\nAnd your tie-in with prosperity gospel helps explain Trump's appeal with supposed \"christians\" and what we politely refer to as \"social conservatives.\"\n\nWe're a nation that worships wealth, far ahead of the ascetic tenets of the wandering hippie known as Jesus Christ, and far-right \"christians'\" devotion to Donald Trump, and their blind trust in his cabinet of billionaires, bears this out more than anything.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not sure what this comment or the article has to do with the Dutch election, where the top three winning parties are center-right, Christian-right and populist-right. The GroenLinks party is tied for fifth/sixth, and the previously most powerful left-wing party, the PvdA (Labour) went from 38 seats to 9. Wilders' PVV actually won seats (though still below their 2010 peak.) There has not been any \"centre-left\" shift; on the contrary, the general take is that PM Rutte benefitted significantly from his hardline stance against the would-be Turkish dictator Erdogan.\n\nThe author of the article seems to know nothing about Dutch politics, language or culture. The winning VVD is not \"Liberal,\" but \"conservative-liberal,\" with the liberal pertaining to the economic liberalism of Adam Smith. They are considered the party of the well-to-do, similar to the Freie Demokratische Partei in Germany.\n\nThis is really a very ignorant piece, serving only to highlight the author's political leanings.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of course, you can point out equally ugly things in the Bible. The huge difference is that we don't act on them. We don't take Muslims who've just converted to Christianity down to the beach and cut their heads off. Or strap bombs to 15-year-olds, drive trucks into crowds, blow up metros and large buildings full of innocent people. Who does those things? You can answer. It's not racist to tell the truth. Who does those things? \nAnd though they do those things, it's supposed to be \"hateful\" to ban them for a short time only, so we can separate those who do violence in the name of Islam from those who don't. That's irrational. There's a real threat of catastrophic proportions posed by a real sub-set of Muslims, and you would suffer this risk than offend the good Muslims. All that's asked for is a temporary ban similar to the ones passed by Carter and Obama. But no, for Trump to do it is racist. for Obama and Carter to do it isn't. Irrational.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "McElroy is clearly a radical just like the Pope. I've stopped putting money in the collection at Mass...that will be my protest. The donations that I make on a weekly basis will now go to The St. Vincent De Paul Society rather than to the Diocese. The Bishop will not see another dime out of me and, I dare say a substantial percentage of the Catholics in the Diocese who are not interested in the socialization of the Church by its Marxist leadership.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You all tend to knock each other over like bowling pins trying to be more Catholic than the person beside you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Republican Primary: \"I can't vote for Donald Trump. That would be an immoral choice.\"\n\nGeneral Election: \"I have to vote for Donald Trump. That will be a moral choice.\" \n\nSame Traditional Catholic person.\n\nAnd that's fine...more than fine. EXCEPT...That person routinely blasts other Catholics for three things: Relativism, Situational Ethics, and Cafeteria Catholicism. And this person sees no hypocrisy or contradiction.\n\nMaybe, just maybe, the election will teach us never to harshly judge others, from the pulpit or in the neighborhood, for doing exactly what we are doing. I doubt it, because folks always excuse themselves by saying, \"Oh, but that's different.\" Really? \n\nMaybe the Catholic Cafeteria shouldn't be off limits after all, because we all already eat there. And should do so in good conscience.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If Roof repents, then according to Christian doctrine, he'll be rewarded with an eternity of bliss.\n\nBut if some of the families of the victims reject God specifically because of the pain and loss they endured (and will endure, for the rest of their lives), then according to Christian doctrine, the victims will suffer an eternity of torment.\n\nSome doctrine. Some God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Science scares today's nonsensical super fakey 'christians' ... all the really care about are more defense contracts to work on in the burbs. Praying at the alters of greed and war ... as long as God's universe is there to fulfill their needs, everything's cool!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Didn't anyone read the Popular Movement Modesto Agenda? \"Racism\" was one topic. In a Catholic school. Hosted by Catholic bishops. This means YOU and I are considered racists! Are you going to just sit there and say nothing? I'm not a Catholic racist, are you?! https://californiaresettlementblog.wordpress.com/2017/02/17/modesto-marxist-muslim-catholics-resistance-movement-meeting/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Islam, Judaism and Christianity are same religions\".? Try keeping up with the news. Jews and Christians aren't murdering innocent people in the name of their faith or their God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We should follow this Courageous Bishop's lead, and support the Bishops' anointed President. Naturally Notre Dame should recognize this President's amazing Christian Ethos, and shower him with honors and degrees. They should not have done so, as this Bishop pointed out, with Obama, because he was not a good Christian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "God bless Sister Valeria and Father Volpe\n-\nand God bless and help those women\n-\nand since this is Canada - cue the anti Christian /anti Catholic bashing", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You really are too much. You claimed earlier to have been raised a Christian yet you lecture me about not knowing what it means to be a Muslim. You do? You accuse me of bigotry because you disagree with my comment and then you dismiss the Quran as \"ancient writings\". Is that what present day Muslims in Peel think of the Quran? Ancient writings?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You're \"cherry picking\" skyofblue\".\n\nShunning for example, done by some Christian Sects can make people feel like the living dead, even though they haven't been stoned to death.\n\nRadicals in any religion are dangerous to the well being of human beings, especially the young.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Pro Life\" Pope Francis may be forgetting that while he chastises \"Pro Life\" Mr. Trump for his treatment of immigrant families, he himself is at the helm of the institution of child raping priests gone wild and their facilitators, a most Anti-Life belief system. The Pope doesn't get to decide who is Pro Life and who isn't. Roman Catholic hierarchy has proved itself to be \"Anti Family\" across the entire globe. \n\nBut always pro birth, of course that.\n\nMr. Burke might want to explain what Pro Life means to Pope Francis before orchestrating interviews.\n\nAW", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hello Sherry,\n\nHow is it \"hypocrisy\" that Chuck criticizes treatment of women under religion\"X\" in Canada? Your accusation of hypocrisy seems to imply that Chuck is somehow in favour of having no women priests in the Catholic church. What is your evidence for that being Chuck's view? And your accusation of hypocrisy against Chuck seems further to imply that Chuck has something to do (hello?) with the British Royal Family being anti-Catholic, or with there having been a lot of anti-Catholicism in Britain in centuries past. Uh, hello? Your accusation is bizarre, about Chuck being somehow a hypocrite. Is your mind kind of morphing Chuck into some kind of powerful time-shifting monster that was busy setting British Royal family traditions three hundred years ago?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Shirley, at some point we must look for a standard to apply to conduct, perhaps a set of ethical boundaries, then consider if those standards should only apply to some conduct, or all conduct. If one represents to be an adherent to a particular ethical code, then one should reflect that ethos, even when posting anonymously. Alas, here we do not find that. As predicted ( So, now that you chose to start this conversation, are you going to start crying out \"leave me alone?) now begins the chorus of \"please stop\" repeated, and repeated...Sigh...and, unfortunately, the accusations of lies, so often included in posting when attacking anyone who points out deceits and defects. One must wonder at the mindset of the poster who denies facts, then cries out \"lies lies\" who attacks with anger and sarcasm then decries the uncivility of others. Is this what Catholic Christianity has led to? To claim a Catholic ethos but so behave, truly diminishes Catholicism. It leaves one sad.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Other faiths are able to maintain a married clergy and marriage is obligatory for Orthodox Jewish rabbis. For a hierarchy so focused on the bottom line, the costs of keeping a family pale to insignificance when one considers the billions of dollars spent in settling the abuse cases, not to mention the complete destruction of Catholic moral authority. The pestilence of child rape would be far less likely to be countenanced if there were women living full time in the rectories and chanceries.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Soviet Union never successfully crushed Christianity. It did not need to be converted to anything because it wasn't a place of unbelief. Read Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. Today 13% of nation describes themselves as atheist. Surely the Mother of God wasn't fooled by the rhetoric or the soulless architecture.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "RolandX, how quickly you have descended into silliness. You dodged my question by turning it back on me, with comical results. In shortened form, you wrote - Why do atheists deny their disbelief isn't belief? That's a nonsensical position. Not believing something is the exact opposite of a belief. \n\nIt is clear that you have this idea that atheism is a belief system. For some reason, some Christians feel a need to define atheists this way. I'm telling you that you are wrong. For your own reasons, you want to see atheism as a belief system, but atheism is not a belief system. You believe in God and accept the Christian version of what that entails. The fact that I do not believe in your God entails nothing other than that I do not believe in your God. There's no belief system there, only the opposite.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dear Sarasi1\nToday I chatted with Jesus about your two-part post of yesterday on love. He loved it. He asked though that we do not equate THAT He died with the HOW. Of course they are related, and if the indignity and pain help to appreciate the depth of love, then fine. He asked us to remember that by becoming fully human, in time, death was \"included in the package\". The \"how\" is of historical significance. Whether He or the Parent foresaw/intended the how, though intellectually open, is essentially theological subtlety. \nImmersion into creation, death, and into the depth of earth and rising from the dead is the essence of Redemption. All creation, all humanity have been into His divine Person and into the unity with His Parent, now our Parent as well as creator, t\nIdentifying \"that\" and \"how\" has distorted the message, too much hate, hurt with Jewish brothers and sisters over the ages. \"I never was not a Jew, right?\"\nYes Lord.\n\"And one more thing.....\"\n(Cont'd)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And we can imply that the Only Path described by Jesus is the Roman Catholic Church, obviously. Of course, those Jesus quotes can be problematic: He seemed to have a problem with those who harm children, but we learn from the actions of Saint John Paul II and his Holy Bishops that harming children may be tolerated, even assisted, if doing so protects the reputation of the Church. So, we must conclude, Jesus quotes are only valid when consistent with the actions of the One Path, the Institution of the Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why does love have to require touching strangers? There are other major religious cultures (Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam) where the people express fellowship without needing to hold hands or kiss.\n\nPaul's letters don't define my practice of Christianity. And Jesus was betrayed with a kiss.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "People who commit acts of terror can call themselves Nobel Prize winners but it doesn't make them so. In the same way, those who commit acts of terror can call themselves Christian, Muslim or Jew, but it doesn't make them so. To be a Muslim, Jew or Christian one must worship the God of Abraham, and that precludes the murder of innocent people. 'By their fruits you shall know them' and terrorism is the fruit of evil, not of worshipping and serving God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Pharisees perhaps get an undeservedly bad rap; their portrayal in the gospels probably reflects more on contemporary tensions between the Jesus movement and the Pharisees than occurred during Jesus's ministry.\n\n<>\n\nhttp://www.bibleodyssey.org/people/main-articles/pharisees.aspx\n\nSounds like the Catholic Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Trudeau is full of it. Benedict already apologized. The churches, including the Catholic Church, running the residential schools did so by the invitation of the federal government and under federal regulations and laws. The reason the government asked the churches to do this job was because no one else was willing to go into godforsaken places and work under very difficult conditions for almost no money, than the \"stupid\" religious, who actually thought that they were helping the native population. And they actually did!!!! \n\nAll those native leaders who are suing the government and churches today received educated in these institutions! That, of course, nobody wants to acknowledge today.\n\nTrudeau is only using this issue for political purposes, and his duplicity and dishonesty simply turns my stomach. \n\nLet me put it this way. Boy Justine (Trudeau Junior), in terms of intelligence and integrity, is not even in the same universe with his father Pierre Eliot Trudeau was.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"In more recent years, of course, the tide has turned. Once the fa\u00e7ade was breached, the culture did a one-eighty in its treatment of abusers. Transparency became the new norm.\" Tom Roberts, I know for sure CI (Catholic Institution) refuse to be transparent so you must mean laity/society demand it?\n \nReading your long article, it came to me!\nWhat is a use of discussing this so many years by so many people?\nUnder all these CI condoning the clergy sex abuse of children is simply saying they do not believe there is God! They prefer their prestige, power & money afford them as high & low clergies and they will stick to each other no matter who gets hurt!\n\n\u2019 37Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me; 38and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. ' (Matthew 10:37) \nThey, CI clergies are not worthy of Christ! LOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My problem with such arguments is how SELECTIVE Christians are with respect to which of \"GOD'S\" laws they're willing to obey. Better not let me catch you gathering sticks on al-Shabat, dude...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm glad to see the usual suspects lining up behind Trump. Evangelical religion was already declining fast as a political force--this Trump business ought to discredit it entirely for another generation. (This will true if Trump loses, but even more true if he wins.) The multicultural-millenial-secularist tide can't be stopped. Christianity is largely finished because it cannot renew itself. (Yes, it will linger on for centuries, as religions tend to; but its dynamism is gone, its worldview no longer convinces, events increasingly show it up as irrelevant).\n\nSo, Cal--glad to see you signing off your career as a public Christian by kissing the feet of the biggest, flakiest idol of them all. Your column acknowledges that he doesn't really stand for anything but disruption. Is that now a biblical value?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So the choice is between an alleged \"racist, fascist candidate\" who doesn't advocate the deliberate killing of a child in the womb and one who not only does but campaigns to extend the the period during which such killing can be carried out.\nThe latter, it must be said is also not without having had serious allegations of impropriety against her.\nDuring my long life as a member of the British Conservative party I have suffered many periods of political disappointment interspersed with periods of joy, particularly during the Thatcher years and recently the Brexit decision. As a Catholic, alas, there have been fewer periods of joy, if any, since Vatican II.\nI can, therefore, understand your chagrin at, and your knee-jerk reaction (the sky is falling) to the outcome of the Presidential election.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I thought the Baltimore Mayor and City Council believed that by pulling down statues of 19th century figures, all the homicides, rapes, aggravated assaults, robberies, homelessness, drug addiction, drug trafficking, illiteracy, etc. would cease? Their public \"exorcism\" of reviled historical figures is just revisionist history. Particularly, Taney who was a Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Taney was the first Catholic appointed to SCOTUS. He was a Democrat. He'd also been the U.S. Attorney General under Andrew Jackson. The same Jackson who famously built the modern day Democratic party but is today dismissed as just another \"racist POTUS\" by the same Democratic Party. \n\nSo much history to revise, so many books to burn, so many statues and artwork to plunder....so little time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The UN is only good for obsessively condemning Israel. \n\n\"Yazidis? Iraqi Christians? Wait, can we blame Israel for that? No? Then we don't really care.\" That's their MO.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "By allowing an active homosexual man or woman to have an active role in the Church, it would appear that the Church is giving approval (tacit or otherwise) for the ACTIONS of the homosexual. \n\nOne of the sacred duties of bishops as primary teachers of the Faith to the Catholics in his diocese is to teach what the Church believes and teaches. To do otherwise is to shirk his duty, of which he will have to account to God for those in his flock he had led astray.\n\nThis teaching doesn't apply only to homosexuals, but any person unrepentant of serious sin. Angelo Bruno, mob boss in Philly, was denied a Christian burial by John Cardinal Krol for his ongoing activity in criminal enterprises.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The number of Catholics who, in the post Vatican II era are utterly clueless as to the Church's magisterium, \"is rather substantial\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You sound like a closet Christian to us and that's okay!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ah, this hoary argument again. As I've argued four times in the past, the null hypothesis that the sex of the twelve named as being chosen by Jesus was randomly picked cannot be rejected (and it's not even close), given the Bible's unequal inclusion of male and female characters. You understand statistics, R&R. You know what I mean.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Priests are not social workers. They are charged with spreading the Gospel and are responsible for the salvation of souls! There's nothing intrinsically wrong with placing a child with special needs in a care facility, Cardinal Cupich. How is this comparable in any sense with the grave sins prevalent in families today e.g. contraception, abortion and adultery? \n\nAnd you're quite correct Ms Kaveny. There is nothing in Jesus' words demanding that the sin of adultery involved in divorce and remarriage must continue indefinitely. People are free to repent at any time and amend their lives.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is nothing more than misinformation Trump has about Filipinos or the Philippines itself. Trump most likely does not know that almost all Filipinos seeking entry today into the US are either Catholics, Christians, or professionals in the Medical, Engineering, Accounting, etc. field.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wow, kind of fun to be on the \"liberal\" side (in quotes because I think Catholic right/left divide is silly) for once. These SSPX and/or sedevacantist types should post more often.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Really?! Then why not be among the first to support condom distribution to cut the spread of HIV? Or allow Catholic hospitals to terminate pregnancies when there is a medically verifiable risk to the life of the mother? The end result is the same as a needle in the arm on a gurney is Angola State.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Is racial hatred a sin? Or a fact accepted by Catholics?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You lost me with your second paragraph. The errors of Vatican I?\n\nWhat you've said clarifies what I alluded to earlier in another comment: Many of those who like \"smells and bells\" and chant are just as distant from real Catholicism as the \"liberal side\" is. \n\nChrist founded the Catholic Church on the Rock which is Peter. Christ prayed for Peter that Peter's Faith would fail not. Peter became the first pope after the Resurrection, when Christ told Peter to Feed His Sheep. \n\nVatican I, as well as any ecumenical council confirmed by a pope, cannot contain error when it teaches on faith or morals solemnly to the universal Church. \n\nNumerous popes (such as Eugene IV) have taught ex cathedra that there is no salvation outside the Church. Almost no one assents to this today. Even groups like SSPX, SSPV, and CMRI reject this Dogma. \n\nWith most liturgical conservatives today, there is no real Faith: just a bunch of incense and fancy chasubles with no solid Faith underneath.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh come on now ! There are MANY requirements and qualifications to a federal judge:\n1: Absolute obsessive devotion to the 'dear leader' Justin Trudeau\n2: Utter contempt for jurisprudence and the laws and customs of Canada\n3: Blind, unthinking adherence to alt-left political-correctness\n4: Non Christian\n5: Non male\n6: Non Caucasion\n7: Bitter, virulent HATRED for ordinary Canadian citizens......", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Who are they trying to kid? I was raised Catholic and I know they have strict rules for anybody they marry, the couple is required to attend classes, blah, blah, blah. If they can make a rule disallowing remarriage I'm sure they won't have a problem enforcing their opposite sex rule. Looks like the church is making an issue where no issue exists.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hire: google \"In U.S., 77% identify as Christian - Gallup Daily ... 2012 findings\", So, what's your motivation for trolling? And you can take your \"like\" posse with you!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And US Catholic bishops would be getting away with a whale of a lot more than they are already getting away with!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So then what is the path the Church should choose? If they don't speak out, do they abrogate their responsibility to teach and help? Merely turn their heads and look away? Not according to today's Gospel....\n\n\"Jesus said to his disciples, \u201cThings that cause sin will inevitably occur, but woe to the one through whom they occur. It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck and he be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.\nBe on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.\" (Luke 7:1-3)\n\nEven today's first reading speaks to the problem....when it tells us that a Bishop must be\n\"holding fast to the true message as taught so that he will be able both to exhort with sound doctrine and to refute opponents.\" (Titus 1:9)\n\nA noble endeavor - indeed. But also what we are called to do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Paprocki's -- and your -- attitude is \"the law is more important than people\". Thus, as I said, Paprocki -- and you -- say \"the spirit of the law kills, while the letter of the law gives eternal life; also that man was made for the Sabbath.\" Paprocki is REJECTIN married gays. He is telling them he will not give them the Eucharist, he will not bury them. And you support him in his act of rejection.\n\nMy question about whether God is as concerned about sexual activities of married couples as you are is quite serious. I read lots of things in the Bible about protecting the poor from exploitation, and remarkably little about gay marriage. I believe that Paprocki (and you) have your priorities wrong. Why isn't Paprocki or any other bishop saying \"Any senator who would deny millions health insurance is to be denied the Eucharist and burial in consecrated ground. The Catholic Church teaches that healthcare is a right, and any who would deny this is 'pro-death'.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree with you completely. The Catholic Church has never changed to meet popular culture. One need only look to the ritual of the church to see that it has never, ever changed, but remains exactly as it was when Jesus initiated it. To believe otherwise would require that one believe the church, at some point, adopted existing popular culture. From the use of latin, to the heraldry of the bishops, it is all ancient and dates to day one.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is not just people under 30 who are leaving...many friends my age find themselves totally surprised that they no longer are a part of the church...they have progressed spiritually and have bypassed the pious pap that passes for religion in the majority of the Catholic Church. We are baby boomers and beyond...we no longer feel at home in a church in which we labored for decades.\n\nI wish someone (CARA?) would research not just the youth that are leaving (which is a pretty normal thing...\"and then they return when they have a child to baptize\"...we've known that for ages)...research why people in their 60s, 70s, & 80s are leaving or have left in the past decade...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes! Thank you!\nThey don't like ambiguity or complexity, and conservative Christianity has all the answers in black and white and takes away thinking.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You don't know or care if a spike is due to Trump... Yet you replied to a conversation on that very topic. I said \"Finally a bit of sanity in government\" in response to Trumps executive order. To which illegitimis said \"I wonder how people like you can watch idly as the teen suicide rates among the LGBT community start to climb again\", to which I replied \"Name one\". To this you felt the need to list LGBT suicides from Google, most, pre-dating Trumps election by two or more years.\n\nTo answer your questions: 1) I have \"taken the time\" to know none, and it matters not in this context. 2) I don't pay attention to christian media. 3) What a silly thing to even ask. In fact, I'm afraid the left's efforts to associate Trump with teen suicide rates may be self-fulfilling by propagating a cult of suicide.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Cy, the real historical Jesus of Nazareth, if he was typical of his times, would not have considered himself a human sacrifice, because Jews of that time knew that Yahweh abhorred human sacrifice\n\nIt could be that Christianity was designed to put a stop to a practice of human sacrifice (then perhaps resurgent in the backwoods of Turkey??) with the idea that a mythical Jesus was the 'one and only sacrifice.' However Christianity carried forward the (non-Jewish) idea that God is demon-like, demanding human sacrifice, and assumes God is unable to transform the world except by violence and blood. Not a fit message for those Africans already predisposed to think in such terms\n\nPut \"pagan gods who died\" into Google and you get: \"The concept of a dying-and-rising god was first proposed in comparative mythology by James Frazer . . . associated the motif with fertility rites surrounding the yearly cycle of vegetation . . . cited the examples of Osiris, Tammuz, Adonis, Attis, Dionysus . . .\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Both yours and monica's comment are clear indicators of where our theological dialogue needs to go. However, my one disagreement is that it should be about homosexuality specifically, but instead part of a somewhat broader topic of the re-working of the theology and the doctrines of human sexuality. The Church is horribly deficient in updating its understanding of it, has danced around the issues while modern science has increased out knowledge of humans and sex by the hundredfold. Ignorance hurts way too many to be allowed to just continue because some clerics are frightened of what it might reveal (including about ordained life) and what it might lead to. This is theology in pursuit of safety, not of God. God's Creation is so much more calmly diverse and inclusive, and if the Church is to tear down its self-made divisions between believers in Christ, then it needs to open the window on all of the issues you mention for some fresh air per St. John XXIII.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ah, another one who sees St Peter celebrating the Mass in alb, chasuble, miter and so on, where things such as the biblical canon were established within a generation of the crucifixion, where the Christological disputes of the early Church were easily settled, and scholarship has not changed since then.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Rushdoony\u2019s doctrine maintains a theocratic necessity: submit the state to the Bible with a logic no different from the one that inspires Islamic fundamentalism. At heart, the narrative of terror shapes the world-views of jihadists and the new crusaders and is imbibed from wells that are not too far apart. We must not forget that the theopolitics spread by Isis is based on the same cult of an apocalypse that needs to be brought about as soon as possible. So, it is not just accidental that George W. Bush was seen as a 'great crusader' by Osama bin Laden.\"\n\nEvangelicals want a theocracy no different in spirit than that of ISIS. They both believe that what they support is good, everything else is evil. Remember the American Evangelical pastor Scott Lively, who persuaded the Ugandan government to make homosexuality a criminal offense a few years ago? That's the country the Evangelicals would have you live in. Women are to be submissive to their husbands. If you disagree, you are Satanic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't even understand the comment about \"Time for work, effort, sacrifice for others, and real smiles, smiles of the more sporting kind\". What is that supposed to mean?\n\nTrump is a con man. He's a ganef. He's a carnival barker. He pulled one over on the whole country. We New Yorkers warned everyone, but... No. We got called \"snowflakes\". We got called \"Liberal Elites\". We may very well be \"liberal elites\", but we happen to be the ones who care about providing health care to everyone. Supporting those who have less. You know, that old canard about feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, and all of that. My mind boggles that white Catholics could vote for Trump, but they did.\n\nSome R candidates were fairly reasonable and might have made a decent President - not perfect, but I've never seen one of those in my time on this planet. They wouldn't have tried to blow up the joint, and some of them even had experience in government.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Correct, it is all or nothing, black and white, certain and solidified. The church has and always has had all of the answers, as is evidenced by the lives of the bishops and popes who lead the church. And yes, those who leave, the \"nones\" are doomed for eternity. Jesus said, the Roman Catholic Church is the way and the truth and none come to the Father except through the mediation of duly appointed Roman Catholic Clergy. This places a great burden on those of us who know the church has all the answers, as we must make sure that we pass that knowledge on to all we know, family in particular. Imagine knowing a family member has left the church and is thus riding the hot rails to eternal punishment.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Which evidently does not include you given your poor grammar. Please go move to North Korea. Religion (or at least Christianity) is outlawed. It's an atheistic state. I am sure you would be happy there.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Gospels are very much heavy on the human virtues. \n\nJesus said \"pick up your cross daily\"...\n\nall your heart mind soul and strength\n\nGod gave us the ability to develop virtues for a reason..so we could become ever more like His Son.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's difficult, MSW, when the pope has a voiced opinion on pretty much everything including old ladies with rosary beads in the pew, it's pretty hard to compare anyone's 'hymn book\" to his own messy hymn book with missing pages, cartoons, his own opinions penciled in as \"footnotes\".\n\nYou're looking for rigid uniformity between the pope and the conferences.\n\nYou don't like synodolity, local focus, or messiness.\n\nFrancis warned us about \"rigorists\" like this.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In Germany, in those times, was it the 'Devil' or was it Krampus, per wikipedia, 'the horned god of the witches,' known for pursuing 'buxom women.' In Church parlance it is the Devil. In reality, Krampus? -- a mythology perhaps from pre-Christian times\n\nI assume that the Inquisition was an effort to wipe out competing ideologies, such as Paganism. Weren't even the 'civil' trials blessed by Church or tolerated? Don't minimize Church guilt\n\nThe Church failed to eliminate Krampus as there are still annual? festivals at night, men dress in masks, drink, get rowdy, pinch the frauleins\n\nSpeculating -- In former times, was festival a time of impregnations which increased variability in the gene pool and improved survivability of remote communities?? With its obsession with sex, did the Church object? Women so impregnated in festival were killed?? Is there correlation between the number of women killed as 'witches' in the Holocaust Of Women and the local observance of Krampus festivals??", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ms. Shannyn, As you know conservative devils knows nothing about the Bible nether Jesus Christ. It is all about power over the people. The problem is: like minded conservative devils think the same and care lest if it in the Bible or not. Remember Jerry Prevo asked his conservative devils church to get their guns and shoot Liberals. The thing about that: A preacher lied and said he did not say that. So my radio friend, keep up the good work. If you can't say it write it. Ain't that right? WWW", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thanks for the update. And here I was laboring under the mistaken notion that the Reformation was over political machinations by German princes. Well, dumb me. \n\nAs to meanness, I am a Catholic from a nearly all Protestant family. So I will have you know that underneath the parking lot of the Catholic school I attended there were tunnels so the priests and nuns could sneak around. Booo. Oh, and also children should not go to Catholic grounds on Saturdays. I could go on....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would guess that homosexuals have \"been harmed\" more than the \"harm they've caused\" because of their sexual orientation by probably a 1000 to 1 ratio. Always There simply states his uncle will be punished by God.....Frankly, what anyone does with another consenting adult is, to me, entirely their business. Yet, the conservative Christians, in their self-righteousness, just can leave it alone. Goodness, guys, aren't there more important issues facing the world? Gary Crum", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You cannot have what cannot be. Even Pope Francis has confirmed the finality of the decision against women's priestly ordination.\nEven if you don't believe that the decision is infallible, any reasonable person must agree that we are much, much closer to that than to a future infallible teaching that women's priestly ordination is possible. \nDon't fool yourself into thinking that all we need is a pope to say \"let's allow it\". It would need to be an unambiguously infallible statement, otherwise Catholics would be free to question the validity of sacraments celebrated by these women, and that would cause intolerable scandal.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am disappointed that Mr. Keillor has used Psalm 23 to ridicule our president. I can't help but feel in this column, he is also mocking God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"... but if Christ is in our neighbor the same way He is in the Holy Eucharist ...\"\n\nNone of us who have been replying to you have suggested that.\n\nWhat I object to is YOUR prioritisation of the modes of presence (as in eucharistic species being \"above\" the others) ... which you do not find in the NT and the Fathers of the Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\u201cIt\u2019s not enough to say, \u2018We are putting victims first,\u2019\u201d Sullivan told the event. \u201cAnd it is not enough to say, \u2018We will listen.\u2019 Words are not going to do it. Actions do it.\u201d\n\nThat Vatican bureaucrats are ignoring the commission is no surprise since they oppose all change. Pope francis needs to knock some heads and replace the time servers with some real doers.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There's a lot of value in what you are saying. My church (I'm Orthodox) has a long ascetic tradition and does not prod people to get married! Marriage is obviously undergoing a revolution. Fewer people are getting married, and more are staying unmarried longer. This is a separate issue from the fate of marriage (and divorce). The church could definitely step in here and talk about the vocation to be single. Not only that, but Catholics have plenty of room to consider how some of these folks might consider becoming parents. The Church allows priests to adopt, for God's sake. I have always believed that some people are intended to bypass marriage but still parent. This how we should be talking about people's charisms--not in a fundamentalist way as male/female, single/childless, married/fruitful.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Aside from Pope Francis clownish flippancy and off the cuff remarks, what worries a lot of Catholics, especially traditionalists, is the corrosive influence of a coterie of heterodox advisers around him, including Bishop (without an actual geographic congregation) \"Tucho\" Fernandez. He's the author of a 1995 book on the art of kissing titled \"Heal Me With Your Mouth.\" Can you imagine a guy like that around Pope John Paul II or Benedict XVI? These advisers ghost-write important official documents for Pope Francis and none of the Cardinals and Bishops get to review any of their drafts until they're published as official doctrine. Under his genteel demeanour, Francis is a shrewd operator who instills fear among those closest to him. The signatories of the \"filial correction\" are just the tip of the iceberg. Finally, those who never accepted Vatican II can point to Francis and say \"We told you so!\" The Catholic Church is about to split and it will happen sooner than most people think.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So do you honor the right of free speech toward the \"Christian religious right\" as equal to the the right of free speech for LGBTQ activists? Doesn't sound like it.\n\nYou mention \"epiteth\"..... how about epiteths like \"homophobe\", \"bigot\", \"hatemonger\", coming from the homo crowd?\n\nSurely we can all agree that intestinal intercourse is both unnatural and unhealthy, can we not?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When all of the components of an election are rigged for one result, it is not lawful. It is just one more criminal act accompanying all of the same as personified by the Scalia Supreme legislating to change the Constitutional definition of a citizen. Joined with the national nightmares created by previous Supreme Courts beginning with the \"christian discovery\" decision on through establishing segregation through equally foul \"separate but equal\" dictates plaguing the nation for another 60+ years. All of it certified by evil white men for the care and nurture of the wealthy white elite over all others. A justice system ruled by criminals provides no justice and puts the lie to all human rights contained within the words of the Constitution. Trump's presidency will never be accepted as \"lawful\" when the entire system is corrupt. Time for a Revolution.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Really, rather sad the hatefulness some posters exhibit while simultaneously claiming to be followers of Christ...one wonders why some posters are not banned more often....this one in particular has not moderated his postings since he was suspended back in march...his friend RD merely changes names frequently...sad...sigh...Jesus would expect more from his self-proclaimed followers, one would think.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bannon's criticism of the bishops and their stance on immigration stings because he's correct. The bishops get money to resettle migrants and it's easier to fill the churches by importing Catholics from elsewhere than getting their hands dirty and doing evangelization and addressing the causes for native-born U.S. Catholics dropping out of practicing the faith. \n\nI say this as someone who is not a fan of Bannon and someone who thinks the Congress (not the executive branch) should make some kind of provision for the so-called Dreamers to apply for citizenship.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "People who clutch their pearls over perceived criticisms of Pope Francis had no issues at all badmouthing the previous two popes...I don't believe their concern is about devotion to the papacy at all but \"their guy\" sticking it to Catholics they don't like. As Melchior Cano said, \"Peter has no need of our lies and flattery.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Meaning?\nThat the underlying mission-theology of Roman Catholicism is less than altruistic???", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Demonstrate to me that Jesus is not risen. Demonstrate that Eucharist is not the risen Christ? Demonstrate that the pain of His suffering is not \"memory\" of but enduring it.\nRelying on a rote phrase, likely out of context is the real \"copout\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Unless the \"trend\" of YOUR life has been a sin-free existence, please don't insult God and presume you know how He wants one of his beloved children to be received into eternity. That is the sin of presumptive hubris magnified a million times. And you find it OK to hurt a grieving family in the process!\n\nAnd don't show up here claiming to be pro-family, although I think you have a warped belief system that, like the solider in Vietnam said about torching homes, \"We have to destroy the family to save it.\" \n\nYou are against gay weddings. But you go beyond reason, compassion, empathy, support, and charity when you come out against gay funerals. Of course, I believe you and Life of the Lay think Christian values of compassion, understanding,intimacy, empathy, and caring are \"trendy emotions.\" \n\nI would say about you and Bishop Morlino what Daniel Patrick Moynihan said on the day of Robert Novak's baptism: \"Well, we've made Bob a Catholic. Now to make him a Christian.\" \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I guess fair is fair......since a lot of Conservatives lump Democrats, Liberals, and Progressives into \"hate groups\" who hate God, who hate Jesus, who hate the Bible, who hate Jews, who hate Christians, and who hate the idea that there are Absolute Truths and Absolute Right/Wrongs that exist......as opposed to whatever moral ideology fancies them this year.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Beautiful point. In that light, papal silence in reply to the dubious cardinals and these 62 silly critics, is, in fact, a singular blessing for the dissenters, and a signal to all Catholics not to be afraid to freely express themselves on matters of faith. Thanks, Don.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You must have missed, or ignored, my response to your \"question.\" And like your first response to Steven Shea's opinion that N CATHOLIC R is the BEST newspaper, you expect the readership here to believe that YOU are the one who knows what a newspaper is. I believe that you do not, and are unwilling to address your own lack of knowledge. So fare thee well -- I'd rather help N CATHOLIC R make money and meet its fundraising needs than waste time on you and others like you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am a Catholic man trying to turn it to socialism, although St. Paul, St. James the brother of Jesus and St. Benedict got there first. It's not a man problem, its boy's club problem (as in the Our Gang He Man Woman Hater's Club - its that silly). I have a classmate who is a theologian. His arguments against women being valid vessels for ordination, which is the party line, don't bear any more scrutiny than those put forward by the Institute of Marriage against gay unions in the San Francisco case (that lost on the merits as much as the law). The Church confuses sexual idealism for truth. Truth is what we have in real life, not in the pious fantasies of celibates and those who defend them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ordinatio Sacerdotal speaks against what Christ taught in the Gospels and for this reason is both error and sin. \n\nObedience to sin is also sin and evil no matter whose error provoked that sin. In Fairness to JP II he was told he did not have grounds to make this a dogma and for that reason he did not try to make this a dogma. So there is therefore the ability to correct this error and we should demand as much from Pope Francis immediately as a church body. \n\nGospel Teachings by Christ must outweigh man-made church traditions or we are all are damned. Jesus has already warned all of his followers that he will recognize his followers by whose teachings they choose to follow and openly support, and not based on just who they call Lord with their mouths. This is true for Popes as much as anyone else. \n\n\"Many will say to me Lord, Lord, and I will reply, I do not know you.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The quote there is \" 'It is not to be excluded that I will enter history as the one who split the Catholic Church'. This is an expression of humility, unlike the earlier version we saw here \"he will be the one who split the Church\". \n\nThe article you cite refers to the confused article I had already seen, that doesn't really say when this was said. It might have been while meeting with some cardinals on his birthday, after the homily he had just given: \"there've been beautiful moments of faithfulness and brutal moments of sin. But the Lord is there, with his hand stretched out to pick us up and say: \"Go forward!\" And this is the Christian life: go forward\" That whole discussion of history and memory might be the context for his remark. That isn't the way people are twisting it.\n\nThanks for the reference.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have met and taught in adult classes a few converts from Protestant churches. In the 16th century those who left the Catholic church did so because they thought it needed reform. It has crossed my mind that today there are some converts from the Protestant Churches who are coming into the Catholic Church and trying to reform it from within.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It would be better if the Catechism was taught in public schools. The popes warned about public education. Just look at the mess here in the US, as opposed to Ireland, where the Church runs most schools.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hello Rogue,\n\nActually, what I posted is FULLY rational dialogue.\n\nYour are implying that BEFORE a Canadian express objection to, say, official restrictions or motions on abortion supported by a group of Roman Catholic activists, that Canadian MUST FIRST read and study and scrutinize the content of the Roman Catholic Bible, the ancient text the mentioned activists embrace and follow.\n\nHello?\n\nYour demand is silly and irrational. Canadians have the right to oppose Ottawa moves on abortion without learning the religious doctrines dear to other Canadians. Indeed, Canadians have the right to be in a situation where they could not care less what the ancient written scrolls are all about that some Canadians follow religiously. \n\nYou claim those Canadians want to be irrationally ignorant. Interestingly, those Canadians would argue that they are actually steering away from, and avoiding, major sources of irrational ignorance - namely the ancient religious scrolls.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Crazy, a typical Democrat/Liberal twisting words. Where does Maipono state TheDonald had the majority of the votes for the win? Fake news at best, Boots. 50 days in office and your asking for a job? and you expect the wall to be finished? President Trump has already done more than Barry did in 8 years that's already inked in History! except for doubling the US's deficit as Barry's done of the combined deficit of \"all\" his predecessors before him.\nAnother Hands Up! Don't Shoot bit of Fake News twisting words for political gain at best\nA good example of what has been exposed of the Leaders of your Democrat/Liberal Parties but worse yet, you and your tried and true Democrats/Liberals can't swallow the facts that exposed how the DNC and it leaders operated. Megyn Kelly got the better of Christian Donna Brazille, I know how it feels to be a persecuted Christian Women was exposed for everyone to see on tv.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is one of the most evil unchristian things I have ever seen posted on this site.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My Catholic-raised daughter left the Church while working as a Congressional staffer. The hypocrisy of the USCCB with respect to social justice issues and their serving as a shill for the Republican party were too much for her. She comments to me regularly about how the USCCB owns the Trump election and anything that comes out of it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "God did give authority of pagans to rule over the lands of His people. The Lord can also grant insane people authority to rule over people as a punishment. If people in North Korea follow a criminal minded man in as much as the German's did Hitler, then God grants them in their democratic fellowship to get the king they want. Just as His people wanted king Saul. \n\nSo, yes, God has the power to lend authority to really bad people as a sign of punishment.\n\nIf you read the Book of Daniel, and how Saint Michael was contending with the Prince of Persia. \n\nEven the pagan Roman world was granted by God to rule over His people: rendering to Caesar\n\nThe Christian faithful witness was building Catacombs, but not obstructing Roman law. Escaping persecution when they could, but willing to never go back to the Roman Pagan world: St. Felicity nd St. Perpetua\n\nThe U.S. flag does not embellish nor symbolizes anything criminal. Thus, it does not represent an inherent wrong by whoever is in charge.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No one is taking choice away from God.\n\nThe Bishop is simply saying \"based on what we know\" (that's an act of humility).\n\nIt would be an act of arrogance and pride to \"go beyond the data\" of these people's lives. \n\nRemember if the person as they died asked for forgiveness and gave evidence of their desire to reconcile with the Church, there'd be a funeral.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Fair comment but it cuts both ways. The use of terms such as \"homophobe\", \"bigot\", \"Pharisee\", \"sexist\", \"misogynist\", \"rigorist\", \"racist\" etc. etc. similarly is hardly conducive to discussion. \n\nBesides, one needs to address what is actually means to be a Catholic in communion with the Church and in good standing. If there are criteria (and there are) then it's not unreasonable to apply them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yeah, I can see how the scribes and teachers of the law would've dialogued with Jesus about traipsing through the Galilean countryside with twelve women disciples gender-bendered to represent the twelve tribes of Israel.\n\nIf they complained, Jesus could've just informed them he was God and all would be well.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The entire Greco-Roman culture, even among Christ followers, was thoroughly patriarchal.\"\n\nHence, we must get rid of Western Civilization. That's actually argued.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "<>\nReally? All scholars? In every instance? Biblical scholarship is more sophisticated and nuanced than you allow here.\nYou seem to be devaluing the biblical witness about the role of women in announcing the Resurrection. The absence of women in Paul and Mk is not sufficient reason to do that. The doubt of the apostles concerning their reports reflects the deficit of the apostles' faith, not the veracity of the women's reports.\nNeither Jn nor Mk reports the birth of Jesus. Mt and Lk both report it, but disagree on the details. The absence of infancy narratives in Jn and Mk would not be advanced to argue against the fact of Jesus' birth.\nJesus' absolute prohibition on divorce (Mk) is modified by an exception (Mt) and privileges (Paul and Peter.) The church reflects on the entire biblical witness and derives teaching and pastoral practice from the whole of it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bannon was raised Catholic, but I don\u2019t know if he still identifies as one. Like Gingrich and Giuliani (both Catholics), and like Trump himself, Bannon brings his third wife to the family values party, as well as accusations of infidelity and domestic violence. He\u2019s all of what you say he is, and worse. He is Trump\u2019s link to the white supremacist and nationalist movements which operate under the euphemistic banner of \u201calt-right.\u201d The evil Bannon brings to the White House is his bigotry; the genius is in his willingness -- his preference -- to fly under the radar screen, to call as little attention to himself as possible, and to indulge Trump\u2019s pathological need for flattery and approval.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We must help them get ever closer to God, which is the greatest good for each person.\n\nOne cannot get closer to God by denying the natural order imprinted on our bodies and going against His revealed will in Scripture. \n\nFor the same MORAL reason (civil law aside) that a bartender is acting in justice and charity to deny service to someone who would likely do injury to themselves, a Catholic business person should resist cooperating with coercion on matters of sexuality.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"..perhaps it is time for the Vatican to engage these Catholic theologians and ethicists in a constructive dialogue about the fruits of their ethical inquiries.\" Perhaps it is time? Cardinal William Levada is credited with the publication of the new Catholic Catechism. He was the head of the Congregation of he Doctrine of the Faith, for goodness sake. He intentionally, with full knowledge,placed a pedophile priest as his chief canon lawyer in charge of sex abuse policies for dealing with pedophile priests and their victims for the church in the United States. Bishops all over the world looked to his example. And \"perhaps it is time for these men to revisit sexual ethics?\" \n\nWhat about the talk of millstones? What about temple fury? Where is the outrage? \"Perhaps it is time\".\nAW", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No mention of \"give unto Caesar?\" How about salvation through grace, not works (jihad)? And what about Jesus' female disciples? Jesus' admonition to Martha? How about Jesus embracing the Old Testament? Jesus told us to beware of those coming to declare a different Jesus than Himself. Jeez, why can't you see so clearly that Islam is the Antichrist? We're supposed to be leading people to Christ, not enabling their deception.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You seem to me making assumptions about my background. I have 3 American Citizen grandparents who settled in Canada circa 1900. My ancestry includes family members and even a \"maid\" who came over with them in the 1600s and were executed or died in jail during the Christian Hysteria in Salem. My ancestors fought Hessian Mercenaries in New York and served in the Union Army during the civil war.\n\nToday the myth persists that there was any actual Satanic or witchcraft activity at Salem. \n\nReading the accounts of the trial what we find is upstanding Christians testifying that they woke up with memories of women appearing in their beds, so of course the women they had erotic dreams about must have actually been in their beds, and that could only be done if they used satanic magic to do that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I can only say that as a practicing Catholic for 61+ years, the USCCB's actions over the course of the last 10 years disgusts me. As a group, in my opinion, they have become political old men who do not inspire the Catholic faithful and who don't know WWJD!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The sad thing is that Fr. James took a moderate tone. He did not make the case for celebrating gay weddings at Mass and did not explore the pathological history of Catholic sexual teaching, which is more Stoic than Christian. He called for dialogue, but the anti-marriage Catholics have lost in so many public venues that they can\u2019t think straight, even about Francis, who has also said none of things that need to be said on reforming doctrne on sex and ordination.\n\nImmigration would be funny if not so tragic. The entire debate benefits those businesses who would buy workers from coyotes and call Homeland Security if they step out of line. We need to simply end worker restrictions and right to work laws. Then only workers who are needed to fill out union vacancies at union wages will come to the U.S.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thanks, Jamie, for identifying how deep-seated are the gender roles we have been given. Hillary 's resume of achievements is extraordinary. Despite being attacked, investigated and having to bear the untruths thrown at her, she is still standing, a remarkable pillar of courage. Just look at all the men Trump left in his wake. As a cradle Catholic, and a woman lawyer, I am so proud to support Hillary Clinton.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We have had this discussion before, but to reiterate, Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim country, celebrates Christmas. Christianity is not an indigenous religion there - it came with the colonial conquerors. And yet they respect all religions in their country.\n\nFrance and Britain, precursor nations to Canada, don't have any Jewish holy days as public holidays. Even though the Jews have been there for centuries.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If this were true,, I must say, the catholic church spends millions of its donations to fight victims of abuse. Imagine that!!! A huge and wealthy organization uses its wealth and power to harm, again, those already abused.\n\nThe victims are mostly poor and SNAP barely makes enough to survive.\n\nTHANK YOU attorneys if you helped donate to support the abused. Those who lost a life due to the cruelty of the RCC\n\nAnd rather odd.. This woman who is suing had little funds and SNAP has little funds. Wonder who's paying for the attorney??? Another con? Deception?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...but there is also plenty in the worldview of Francis to challenge those of us on the left.\"\nLike Holy Father Francis' opposition to:\nall abortions\nsame sex \"marriage\"\nlegalized suicide\nartificial birth control\nartificial insemination\nsurrogate parenting\nwomen \"priests\"\neliminating the Extraordinary Form of the Mass\netc., etc., etc.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Social failure? You're clearly ignoring history and ignorant of the church's role in society. The church, through Pope (now) St John Paul 2 (canonized 2014) was instrumental in bringing down communism. By example Pope Francis is leading a movement, for want of a better word, to make the church more socially inclusive, which has nothing to do with socialism, and is receiving a strong resistance from conservatives within the curia, incl an American cardinal associated with Trump's former advisor, Steve Bannon.\nThe Catholic Church, of around 1.2bn people, is the largest group in the world today. How large, important and influential is yours? It lasted 2000 years during internal and external wars and schisms, many self-inflicted, and is growing in the non-western world. Thus, it cannot by any stretch of the imagination be called a 'failure'. It's facing a crisis in its government because the old guard refuse to change, but they will come round. Ask why did Marxism, apartheid, etc failed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Look- you've got to understand what's going on here. The DP does NOT want to endorse this woman. They just know she will be confirmed regardless. Same as with Gorsuch. The real game is to create the ILLUSION of balanced professional journalism. Trick is to give approval to foregone conclusions and ever so rarely- the conservative candidate or position when considering what is necessary to maintain the facade. It must be so tiresome to do so. However, these \"journalists\" can always wreck them later as needed. The important point is that they think this \"plausible deniability\" pre-emptive stunt as a defense against obviously righteous claims of lack of journalistic professionalism, frees them up to go on with the real agenda- constant crafting against conservatives (aka \"normal people\"), Trump, Christians, traditional values etc... as evidenced by the daily drumbeat of dreck in the DP and the MSM. Cleary, ordinary bumpkins could never figure this laughable charade out.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree. I find it offensive when people suggest that Catholics are persecuted in the US or in Canada, because people vote for freedom of choice. Persecution is a real and ugly phenomenon, and trivializing it, in effect, dismisses those who suffer real persecution.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\" Ask yourself, if we don't play world police (I don't like it any more than you do) then who Will? I'll tell you since this reality seems to escape many. China and/or Russia will and once they have a foothold as a world superpower with a rapid global mobilization ability that rivals ours, we will no longer have the influence that gives way to the lavish Western lifestyle.\" So you think Americans are so special that we should be able to use 25% of the world's energy and have more than 50% of the world's prison populationIs because we are white or smarter than the rest, or more dear to Jesus's heart and God's love? The military brainwashes their recruits, to make them feel like they deserve to be the most special people in the world and the others that we slaughter mercilessly just don't rate. Gulf of Tonkin never happened but we went to war over it. Pearl Harbor \nwas a way to get our country into the war. The movie Pearl Harbor had a newsman asking why all the radar was off-line. 911?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "US Citizens need to pull their faces away from frivolous TV fantasies & cell phone mindless behaviors & read the Koran. I have tried & it is not easy, but being in a state of total ignorance is not going to lead to any kind of enlightenment either! So called \"Christians\" had better be busy at reading their \"Holy Scriptures\" before they are not available to discard anymore...& you find yourself being lead around by politicians & other assorted Flim Flamers, or armed gangs & other common criminals.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Fanatics on the left\"; \"lunatics who hate christians and conservatives\". \n\nStrong words to describe those who would object to the curtailment of personal freedoms when they do no harm to others and to the rights of corporations to be equal to those of citizens!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For you so called christians.. Your jesus was a refugee fleeing a Imperial Roman Empire, propped up despot, who was going to kill him. He lived and breathed to help the weak, sick, diseased, poor, hungry, and the dying. When you all pass on, what is he going to tell you, after you all have supported and championed President Trumps ban on refugees, and his and the Republicans singleminded purpose of transferring the wealth from the citizens, to the same ilk of moneylenders and moneychangers, that your jesus threw out of the temples? Think you're going to the white mans heaven?? For supporting the corrupt, whose decisions result in massive pain, and suffering, and slaughter of innocents, you all going to the white mans heaven, makes as much sense as the MidEastern terrorists going to their heaven with 72 virgins.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Roman Catholicism IS Christian.\nAnd one of the other religions you mention is called Islam, not Mohammedanism.\nYour bigotry is showing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is called the \"Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints\" so I suspect It is 'christian\".\nOther sects often don't 'recognize\" each other's prophets-", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are correct. Each national church should focus on the good of the citizens of its nation before others. As St. Paul wrote, \"Jews are Jews, Gentiles are Gentiles, slaves are slaves, free are free, male and female are male and female, for you are not all one in Christ Jesus.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "?? - pal give your head a shake\n-\nhorrific behavior is horrific behavior and the prosecution of criminal activity is always appropriate\n-\nI mere point out the interesting Canadian dichotomy of allowing public scorn to be heaped upon accused Christian communities whilst not allowing the comment boards to function following various Islamic honor killings and after the uncovering of first nations fiscal chicanery -\n-\nCanadian 'sacred cows' would seem to include most belief systems other than orthodox Christianity it would seem", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There were no prayers Christian Jewish or Muslim n public school 20 years ago. That is a lie. Soon we will be told the Constitution n is based on Islamic principles.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So, criticizing things like Sharia Law, hanging gays in Iran, the mass sexual assaults in Cologne, Germany by Muslim migrants and the ISIS genocides against Christians and other minorities is considered \"Islamophobic\" and everybody mentioning those things should be silenced???", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Jamar Clark died after a bullet was fired directly into his head. Several witnesses say that he was handcuffed and motionless when he was shot dead.\" \n\nWhite racists, either uniformed or not, are acting out there racist agenda as they feel their time has arrived. It is the duty of every Christian to stand up to racism. Tell the racists that their agenda is unChristian, unAmerican, and unacceptable.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of course it is about religion, and no matter what you or others say people thankfully still believe their \"lying eyes.\" Your trying to excuse it away as nothing more than individual acts of insanity or violence is naive, and will, in the end, cost many lives.\n\nSpreading Christianity or defending it had nothing to do with Iraq. It was deluded response to the attacks of 9/11. \n\nSo stay smug and keep flattering yourself by reminding yourself how noble and tolerant you are. And don't actually study religion or burden yourself with problematic realities; just keep espousing your vacuous, blindly-tolerant, views and hope the blood doesn't spill too close to your back door. Because if it does, I'm sure you will be awakened out of your slumber", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For you any commentary critical of the church is \"anti-Catholic propaganda.\" So much for your powers of discernment. You're a knee-jerk apologist incapable of a dispassionate discussion on church history. In lieu of solid argument or a shred of evidence you resort to libel. Yet apparently go crying to the editors about \"incivility\"! If your delicate sensibilities are so wounded by the commentary at NCR, one wonders why you camp out here.\n\nWhere are even two citations from my \"inexhaustible supply of anti-Catholic authors,\" Marty? What is the evidence that Kertzer, who won a Pulitzer for \"The Pope and Mussolini,\" a book you've not even read and know nothing about, is \"in it for the money\" and \"anti-Catholic\"? Put up or shut up. False witness is uncivil, and a sin.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Only a radically dissenting Catholic could conclude that the USCCB leans right.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What on earth is that supposed to mean?\n\nThe future belongs to the future...and, apparently things are not about to change. At this time, women are not ordained Roman Catholic Priests. In fact, they are excommunicated. Pretending they are Roman Catholic priest is just that - pretending.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Again, Pope Francis did not say there were not Muslim terrorists. He said there was no such thing as Muslim terrorism, any more than there is Christian terrorism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "At the top of this article it says \"distinctly Catholic\". What a joke! If what Bishop Paprocki says is \"unhinged\", then simply being Catholic is \"unhinged.\" Objective evil is just that: objective evil. Same sex activity and any activity of sexuality outside of marriage is evil, pure and simple - violation of the 6th commandment. Of course, the person is not evil, but the actions are, and he is simply stating so. Take this from a sinner who knows evil and has engaged in evil many times in his life. We need more people and bishops like Bishop Paprocki!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Note that it is Christians who are killing abortion providers.\n\nBut I'm sure you realize that those Christians don't represent the majority just as Islamic terrorists don't represent all Muslims, right?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your definition is no more proper than that you decry. Muslims believe in the Christ (alayhis-Salaam); in fact we won't refer to him by name or title without expressing our reverence via the honorific \"upon him he (God's) Peace.\" But we're not 'Christians.'\n\nThere is no shortage of bloodthirsty fanatics claiming either faith--and each and every one of them egregiously violates the authentic tenets of both. You Christians have the Army of God, Christian Identity Movement, KKK, Lord's Resistance Army, Anders B. Breivik, Anti-Balaka, Phineas Priesthood, Maronite Phalange, Sirhan-Sirhan etc...\n\nAnd of course we're afflicted with the Wahabbis and their foul outgrowths--al-Qa'eda, Boko Haram, the Taliban and the Da'esh (wrongly called \"Islamic State\"). And too many of my Muslim brethren are murdered for denouncing and opposing them. But you never hear about that in the news.\n\nBecause your media is owned by the same corporate criminals who armed and financed al-Qa'eda and the Da'esh.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One of the most tolerant people I know (FAR more than myself, lol) made that argument equating First Nations \"gods\" with Judaeo-Christian \"gods\" and stated that they are all equally fictitious and silly and was called a racist and a bigot. \n\nThe funny part is that the people crying bigotry felt it was ONLY racist against FN and even actively railed against Christians in the ensuing debate. I guess it is true... all animals are created equal but some are more equal than others.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Better to let underworked and overly chatty Jesuits write articles about US conservative Catholics than to take on more substantial, life and death matters, that is, the here and now \"smelly\" problems of Venezuelan, Mexican, Pakistani persecution of Catholics and Christians. \n\nI suspect Sperado has a couple of private parties to get to this weekend and doesn't have time to write about more substantial matters.\n\nFrancis really needs to send the jesuits out into the harder periphery like their forefathers...they need some toughening up.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In an article by Deseret news about the revival of religion in China, this line appears:\n\n\u201cEven though the government is officially atheist, they see themselves as wanting to have a hand in religion. They fear religion,\u201d Johnson said.\n\nThis perfectly captures the spirit of Gerson. He hates anything evangelical and his hatred, acidic and poisonous, is out of fear and godlessness.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, because as we all know, Christians aren't running around stabbing people or blowing themselves up to prove a point.\n\nThe idea behind our immigration policy is to first make sure the immigrants aren't a threat to American citizens. And there is no doubt that on average, people from radical Muslim nations pose a higher risk to American's safety than do immigrants from Denmark, Ireland or Spain.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "joycegilmour, Good comment. But let me add that faith isn't necessarily just Christian. Payette has attacked a far wider swath of decent people. \nVery dumb for somebody who claims to be so intelligent.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Podesta responds by mentioning the creation of Catholic in Alliance for the Common Good and Catholics United.\". Rather misleading, the actual quote is \u201cWe created Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good to organize for a moment like this. But I think it lacks the leadership to do so now. Likewise Catholics United. Like most Spring movements, I think this one will have to be bottom up\u201d. Certainly an admission that the Democrats created these top down phony front groups to try to undermine Church teaching. I don't see how any Catholic can say this is not a scandal.\n\nMSW failed to mention the racism at work as well, also from Podesta \"Some groups of people are almost always highly successful given only half a chance (Jews*, Hindus/Sikhs and Chinese people, for example), while others (Muslims, blacks** and Roma***, for instance) fare badly almost irrespective of circumstances\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What the hell is an \"alt-right Catholic?\" Oh, you mean \"Catholic.\"\n\nWhen did following Catholic doctrine and belief became radical? I'll tell you: When people wanted to vilify the Church because they didn't like what the Church taught.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Homosexuality at its core is not sustainable socially or biologically. I am a christian and I won't even make a christian argument. Two men cannot breed and reproduce and neither can two women. Biologically this has to be a lifestyle choice because this behavior would be weeded out in the long run just by not being able to reproduce. You cannot have a male body and be born female. Males have certain parts and traits, females have certain parts and traits. You can be a man and want to act like a woman, which is a lifestyle trait, nothing more.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Good to know that in the minds of some Catholics, who are not now, and never will be in personal need of Catholic social justice concepts, that those who are in such need can be taken care of by traditional Catholic bread and circus rituals. After all, it's not about whether the vast majority of Catholics live in hell on Earth, it's about avoiding hell in the next life. Nice to know Jesus never said a word about the first shall be last.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There aren't any Catholics dancing in the streets cheering about using birth control or engaging in adultery. Meanwhile, the \"Pride\" parades....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is possible that white Catholic men are not so much pro-Trump as anti-Clinton. Maybe if you have a religion that teaches that there is no God but Jesus and Jesus is male, and that Jesus selects only men to rule, sanctify and govern the faithful in His name, and that God just doesn't want to hear or see females in His Divine Liturgy and that the mere presence of a female defiles His holy sanctuary (except on weekdays when His holy sanctuary's floor needs to be mopped) and that female people should put dishrags or Kimwipes or at least Kleenex on their heads in His presence; then maybe men get the idea that women are too ontologically inferior to hold secular office too. Especially if the religion evinces a half-resentful attitude to democracy and teaches that God's plan for the governance of mankind was a King and a royal court full of thugs with battleaxes.\n\nLucky for the USA, even very devout Catholic women tend to think the Catechism contains a lot of b*l*s**t. Go Hillary!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The OP states that Muslims are wrong in their silence, so you are saying that Christians get a pass while Muslims do not?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I find this a very sad commentary on your understanding of Catholicism, let alone spirituality. This obsession with gatekeeping and exclusion, feed by the past two popes is, to me, cultlike and unchristian let alone uncatholic. How are these attitudes any different than Muslim extremism?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Love your words. We have, I believe substituted the myth of certainty for the wonder of awe and the breadth of God's love. We tend to make God into our image and when I contend that, I mean the self-appointed knowledgables who are really egos. We set our own elevated standard, a bar that excludes anyone different or whom we consider different, ie., virtually everyone. That's not God, if there is one.\nFor me it is quite simple in its complexity: if God is, as those like our resident trads claim, then God screwed up so royally in creation that s/he doesn't deserve the title. Card. Ratzinger was correct, in a sense, the ordinary christian is a simple person. The ordinary person is just that ordinary and he and she are the measure of what God loves and what God does, not herded. Theology is good, poetry and music are great, love and treating people well is the best. That's what God wants. We Catholics have to relearn what Christ saw, that is what we are and can be. What we can together.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Are you the comment police. Thank you for opinion about how I should spell \"catholicism \" but I will continue as I have spelled it. VII NcR \"catholicism\" is not the real faith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't think \"Jay Edward\" is stalking my comments. Users can't stalk on Civil Comments. I suspect it's a more sophisticated operation that alerts for key words. Of course it's sheer speculation. When I'm active at NCR I'm also consistently thrown off the network. Ever since a guy at First Things threatened to zap my computer I've wondered if I wasn't the target of cyberattacks. I remember that quite well. It was because I called annulment \"casuistry.\" Conservatives can be such...snowflakes.\n\nAs an aside, I'm always amused by conservatives whining about liberal \"censorship.\" I've been blocked from several conservative Catholic sites for relatively uncontroversial remarks. (First Things appeared to take umbrage at my opinion that the Republican Party deserves to die. I stand by it!)\n\nYou are not being \"bullied.\" I for one suspect you of being a paid troll and am not amused. And don't start. Of course I can't \"prove it.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That is because they do endorse the Republican Party. Fort Nights of freedom for white Catholic Men - aka Knights of Columbus with Bishops support, are out generally telling everyone in the church that the Democratic Party is the Party of Death & no matter whatever else the Democrats stand up for: the poor, middle class fair wages, anti-racism, anti-sexism, better social programs for all including universal health care & Medicare & Medicaid, Government funding for college & day care expenses, pro-environmental initiatives. They have even published books with the title \"The Democratic Party is the Party of Death!\" & then warn no Catholic should ever vote democrat -Bishops & Catholic Press' have supported this book. Bishops have turned away thousands of dollars given to the poor by Democratic Politicians (& not replaced the funds to the poor with their own money) because the democrat was not for illegalizing abortion even though they agreed abortion is sin & wrong.\n\nThe truth hurts?!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...Christianity was under attack by Islam...\"\n\nHe is correct. The crusades have begun. Just like in the Middle Ages, the Crusaders went to fight against the aggression of Mohammed and Islam who were overtaking the Middle East by war and killing. \n\nResearch it yourself. Find out why the crusades happened.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What we do have so far is a long and sordid track record of false flags where we do have proof they were carried out by the Zionist factions seeking to make any negative disclosures about Israel and their history of genocide against Palestinians and Christians taboo. \n\nThe conspiracy theory is that they aren't false flags. \n\nBut Jim J...what difference would it really make if there was a mountain of evidence and an ocean of facts? No one would do or say anything bad about Israel because our MSM has been telling us over and over again that criticizing Israel is anti semitic an Israel is our ally ...two absurd ideas if there ever were any. 911 is a perfect example of what I am talking about ...everyone with a working brain and an IQ over 60 knows Israel did it...all of the facts and evidence point at Israel yet the press and the politicians continue to beat the 'it was 19 muslim goatherders with box knives\" theory to death as though we are all stupid", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Leviticus in the Old Testament also excludes menstruating women from prayers, but Christians and Jews don't follow that now.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why Allan, the one word I changed in my post was \"Christian\". And it kept getting censored, yet when I changed it to Muslim or Islam, the post wasn't censored. Isn't that amazing?\nThis post censored once already....why is \"christian\" a dirty word to the progressive left?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Am embarrassed to be Roman Catholic", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Amen. How many damaged Catholics were demented into voting against their own best interests and voted for Trump because they thought that is what our church wanted. \n\nSeparation of church and state is necessary because without it both the church and the government become corrupted, rendering both entities, not only useless to thier people but even harmful to their followers.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "K-12 teachers are the scapegoats of just about every ill of society. However, this is a new low -- to call them the biggest enemies of the Catholic Church. Do you have any idea how many of the seventy plus year-old Catholic women taught in public schools at one time or another? \n\nDo the Catholic bishops see enemies under every bush in the USA? There is no greater enemy than the enemy within.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mike, seriously? You must be young or something. Yes there were Catholics ecstatic about the advent of birth control and no, they didn't have to dance in the streets to get recognition. They could dance down to their pharmacist. We have elected a bunch of adulterers to political office and no conservative Catholic bats an eye because they vote for them. In truth, your comment really is laughable.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is quite sad to see a prominent churchman like Bishop Barron who has a big public following avoid holding big shots on Capitol Hill to the same standard by which he critiques other people with far, far less power and influence. His attack on Griffin's hateful display of alleged humour, for example, was quite justified in its own right, but Bishop Barron has ignored equally repugnant displays in both word and deed by President Trump. Indeed President Trump has attacked freedom of religion, incited violence, and demeaned women for more than six months non-stop. There is no doubt that the President's hateful rhetoric has 'inspired' an upswing in anti-Semitic violence against both Jews and Muslims but, so far as I know, Bishop Barron has not condemned the President for his very anti-Christians attacks on other people. Such double-standards reduce Barron, and others who take the same approach, to disciples of convenience who choose not to proclaim the Gospel to the powerful ...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am not a complete bigot against Christians and Christianity. I know plenty that I consider fine people. However, there many I hold in contempt due to their self righteous belief in a book of fairy tales written by primitive tribes(Prove that wrong, I dare you) allows them to treat anyone as less than an equal. A business owner does not have to approve of any of his customers, whether, black, Jewish, homo sexual, Raiders fans, punk rockers, Republicans/Democrats, etc. they merely have to treat all of them equally, and it doesn't matter what their religious beliefs are. You consistently refer to religious beliefs being inalienable rights, which are fine, until they infringe on rights of others. Before the 1st amendment, on July 4, 1776, our founders stated \"all men are created equal\", and our country strives to hold that right above all, including religious beliefs, and has enacted amendments and constitutionally tested legislation to ensure that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why \"Christians\" support Trump? Forget the economy, it's more likely to \"save\" and preserve homophobia, preserve misogyny. The other element, abortion, is also curious. The conservative and Republican overall mantra seems to be to minimize if not obliterate the role of government in their lives. As with the economy, the \"free process\", \"the people\" will look after it? Yet, here they want government to \"take over\"? The evangelical and other conservative Christians want more government to control and enforce THEIR values when they won't or can't instill these as their social and religious obligation to create an equitable society. \"Get out, get out\" of the economy, but, \"Get in\" in these selective areas that are really their prerogative: religious values of compassion, Beatitudes, Spiritual and Corporal Virtues, Love - well not love because they want the government to selectively intervene in eliminating same-sex marriage. \nSelf-defined \"Orthodox\" is more cafeteria than cafeterians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "While Church \"agonizes\" over \"LGBT\" - or just pruriently preoccupied - the new epidemic of internet sex that has nothing to do with homosexuality grows and spreads. \nWhile society is beginning to recognize that LGBT is not primarily about the old \"bath houses\" and \"hook-ups\" but rather person and relationships, our Church persists in its \"dirty thoughts\" and justifying its emotional revulsion in exclusion. \nMeanwhile, some of our \"heterosexual\" sons, daughters and neighbors kids are immersed in or tolerating taking, stealing, sharing, gloating over, bargaining for, blackmailing for, engaging in a whole new dimension of sexual exploitation that is diametrically opposed to love, relationship, decency, health, let alone \"catholic morals\". This is in addition to the increase in \"traditional\" sexual introductions. Of course that's \"natural\", complementary?\nWhether hetero or homosexual our \"teaching authority\", \"experts in humanity\" seem, ironically, \"impotent\". \n \"Gay\" is an easy target.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of course all of our Republican friends will vote for the orange clown. Even though his main campaign issue has been illegal immigration and it turns out his wife entered the country illegally and became a citizen after having lied about her reason for coming to this country. Will their man send her back to get in line with all of the other illegals?\n\nI just wonder how it will feel for all of our Christian friends to just ignore the newest affair we've just heard about. Apparently Donald was having a year-long affair with a former Playboy Playmate within a year of marrying Melania. What a guy!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Seems to me that your nation's urge for change responded to pandering as if it was leadership. Not always an easy distinction, but the length of the campaign should suredly have evaporated any confusion. Listening to the people and hearing their needs and helping them resolve them is leadership; listening for your personal agenda and manipulating, evoking, exacerbating them to one's selfish benefit is pandering. That's what you got.\nDiscerning the difference, as to the white Evangelical and Catholic seems fairly easy: are you willing to ignore demonstrated unsuitability over an extremely wide spectrum of despicability for the sake of one issue, held with clear duplicity by the panderer, that is self-defined, by the adherents, in a narrow, rote manner that is in fact held with sanctimonious extreme emotion.\nIt is one thing to work with a decent person to find a way; another to cede one's principle in trust to a panderer. It's akin to asking the serial killer to hold your gun for you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Would propose kicking Jeremy Christian out of your organization before he slashed the throats of three people or wait until after?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Predictably, NCR omits the nature of this priest' abuse of minors. Namely, the gender of those raped by this priest. They were boys, not girls.\n\nNCR wants to make the priest sex abuse scandal \"gender neutral.\" But it's anything but that -- 80% of rapes by Catholic clerics target boys, and not girls.\n\nAlso, it's time to point out that gay priests do not see the world in the same way as straight priests. \n\nhttp://www.timesofisrael.com/pope-defrocks-pedophile-priest-who-claimed-act-was-an-old-jewish-ritual/\n\nNCR, if you profess to be the foremost Catholic media source for accountability, then it's time you stopped covering up this key element of the clerical sex scandal.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I totally agree with the irony impaired son of President Trump.\n\nIt's outrageous that anyone should try and hold a US President to account. Let alone that his family, elevated to positions of power beyond their competence, should likewise be held to account.\n\nAnd I further agree that any and all critical remarks are NOTHING to do with the group of narcissistic incompetents installed at the White House, selling billions in arms to terrorist state Saudi Arabia OR taking health care from millions. \n\nNo, it's all an attack on wee 11 year old son of President Trump and the exemplar of white women's Christian purity, the daughter/wife of President Trump.\n\nSHAME on the inhuman NOT humans.\nBurn them, they're witches*! \n\n(*Actual witch burning to be organized by a competent Trumpian, when and if one is found.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If one believes, as many millions of Canadians do, that abortion is the deliberate, state-sanctioned, mass murder of innocents, then the holocaust comparison is not the best. The global abortion industry has been vastly more deadly and horrific. \n\nAnd yes, Catholic schools will teach Catholic beliefs to Catholic students.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree with a Colombian priest who wrote a book a few years ago offering that the RCC is a large closet for Catholic males who don't want to come out to their families. Now with a younger generation finding public acceptance of their gift of homosexuality, they have less interest in an RCC closet; hence, decline in vocation.\nJimmy Breslin's The Church That Forgot Christ claims the decline in vocation is that the RCC as a cover for pedophilia has been blown.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Orthotoxic is a word used to describe people like you. People who say \"You shall love your neighbor as yourself, unless that neighbor is LGBT. That neighbor you should loathe.\" People who say \"Man was made for the Sabbath, and the letter of the law gives eternal life\".\n\nPaprocki is upholding the teaching of his bigoted heart, which is not the teaching of the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church teaches that we must love everyone, and not reject them. Paprocki is a bigot, and like Pandora, you support him in his bigotry. Divine mercy says accept gays, do not reject them as Paprocki does.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The funeral is to pray for the repose of the soul of the desceased. \n\nIf the priest made clear the immorality of same sex acts to avoid scandal and prefaced the ceremony that we hope this person in their last moments repented that would be one thing, but the way modern Catholic funerals go it would probably become a canonization of the deceased - complete with the same sex partner giving readings/the eulogy, painting the deceased as a Saint.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are sadly correct. As a victim of the painful five year Milwaukee bankruptcy scheme, I was sickened by Francis comments to US bishops giving them Kudos for their heartfelt response to the rape of Catholic children. Francis then showed concern for all of the pain that the poor US bishops endured through this continuing scandal. \n\nFrancis has disdain for victims. Always had and always will, the shame is that most Catholics refuse to see it. \n\nFrancis continues the tradition of saying one thing but doing another. This organization will never end their lies and self serving actions. The promises of complete transparency and of holding complicit bishops accountable are just more Francis speak, all talk no action. Many Catholics avoid validation or excuse away The many duplicitous acts of Francis. \nYou cannot promote and protect bishops like Barros one day and proclaim that you are serious about holding bishops accountable the next. \nWhat a sad state of affairs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hmm- did you read my post? I said that your position on gays is, technically speaking, bigotry.\n\nI won't vote any member of Imago Dei. Do you really think Pastor McKinley is going to change his conservative Baptist ways and reject female submission and embrace equality of gays and heteros?\n\nBy your logic, it would be okay for me to join (insert name of organization you dislike)\nand give them money on the off chance that the group may change due to my superior reasoning?\n\nThere's no solution for Imago Dei. They are Conservative Baptists and they try and\nwrap bigotry in religious doctrine so that they can escape criticism. Because I don't recognize the Bible as holy and because I don't see the Pastor as having spiritual authority, I am writing the whole church off. I think the world would be a better place if Imago Dei shrinks because their doctrine is unacceptable. \n\nThere is nothing gracious or compassionate about treating women and gays as second class citizens.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Pedophilia\" has come to have 2 meanings. Psychiatrists&psychologists define \"pedophilia\" as sexual attraction to pre-pubescent children. But \"pedophilia\" is mostly used differently in popular parlance nowadays, typically referring to sexual interest in legally underage children, whether pre-pubescent or not.\n\nIt doesn't matter much Milo may oppose sex with pre-pubescent children.Milo was defending& advocating adult men having illegal sex with under age boys,so long as they'd reached puberty first. He also defended the priest,\"father Michael\",who had sex with him at age 13 or 14. But there's an extra law in the UK making it illegal for an adult such as a priest to have sex with someone under 18 he's in a position of authority over.The priest would have been in a position of religious authority over young Milo. \n\nMilo's views are fringe and way outside the values of the majority, both on the left & right. Priests should be having sex with 13 or 14 yr old Catholics? Huh?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "John, love and acceptance of sin are two different things. People do not have to adopt a gay identity if they have same-sex attraction, and when they do, they know it is against Church teaching. Worse, they refuse to consider the Church's help in dealing with their same-sex attraction, e.g., the Courage Initiative.\n\nIt saddens me what perverse things men who adopt a gay identity do to one another.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In a certain sense, it doesn't matter whether it is 7% or 2%. The offenders were/are priests, persons whom we have been taught to believe (perhaps erroneously) are \"other Christs\". These are the folks who were supposed to direct us in the ways of salvation and protect us from the Evil One. There's no comparison there with public school teachers, or even our parents, regardless of percentages. Perhaps even worse are the sins of the hierarchy. There were no burning sexual urges driving them. They simply wanted to protect the institutional church at the expense of the Church, the People of God. Talk about misplaced priorities.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is certainly what Jesus himself would have done according to the bible. Remember, he was the guy who hung out with moneylenders, prostitutes and other sinners -the scum of the earth in Jewish society of the time.\n\nHe sought out their company - and didn't antagonize or judge them. Maybe the private Christian schools (and Christianity at large) should consider following the example of the guy they named their religion after a bit.\nI for one would look a lot more kindly upon them if they did - because the guy said some pretty wise things a lot of the time - values even atheists widely agree with.\n\nInstead, for some reason, the majority of Christians today seem highly intent on basing their lives and behavior on the Pharisees instead- legalistic and judgemental. \n\nWeren't they the people Jesus spent most of his life arguing against ? The people the bible say are responsible for killing him ?\n\nSo maybe, he wouldn't want his followers acting like them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is because most or all of the Church's arguments lead back to preserving hierarchy between husband and wife and faithful and clergy. That is why gay marriage confounds them so, no one is naturally in charge in a gay marriage. That kind of example in both gay and hetero marriage kills the marriage model of Jesus as spouse of the Church. With it goes the retributive sacrifice of cross model, to be replaced by a divine vision quest and brotherhood with Jesus, which hardly leaves room for leaving our sisters out of the priesthood. The Trads can't help but picking on these sores, even though it makes the infection worse. Laying low might be best for traditionalists, but they just can\u2019t help themselves.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Suddenly vulgarity is cause for righteous indignation. How about some handwringing over \"grab 'em by the pu$$y\"? The scandal is the bishops of the Catholic Church who supported a travesty for president and encouraged Catholics to follow suit.\n\nI marched in D.C., and it was a joyous, thrilling affair. You have no idea.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ? eeeewwww! gross! Who came up with that one? Seriously, I think the Church has more important issues to deal with, but the bureaucracy must be served!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I thought Jesus is dead. Oh yeah-- I forgot he got resurrected and has been hiding out ever since, but a lot of you seem to know what he's thinking and feeling -- how convenient for you and self-serving.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Uhhhhhhh Nancy: YOU left out a few. How about saying NO to: NO to Catholic Priests raping young boys, NO to Boy Scout leaders raping young boys, NO to DRUG ADDDICTS, NO to CRIMINALS, NO to Marijuana, NO to Drunk Drivers, NO to Murderers, NO to people who Break LAWS, NO to Illegal Aliens, NO to METH, NO to HERION, NO to Prostitutes, NO to Pornography, NO to Kesey Sleasy Square, NO to Corrupt Politicians, I better stop I could fill the page. New technology I believe can wait......................", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "False historical \"summation\". Not true or provable in any respect. You mischaracterize what \"Christians\" say about Leviticus et al. The NT has its own indictment of homosexuality as pagan, sinful, prideful, blasphemy and warns not to adopt pagan ways of homosexuality because it keeps you from God's grace. Only you haters of Christianity try to tar and feather Christians with your misunderstanding of Leviticus", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "He is using his office to fight the culture wars. It is almost reverse-simony although the original punishment for simony has not so far applied. He is right to suspect that gay priests are probably quietly blessing gay marriages, as they do second marriages and other civil marriages by Catholics. He is technically correct on Canon 930 grounds, if you believe the Church is correct on homosexuality, which it is not. This whole kinder and gentle approach does not help when renouncing teaching is needed. As for denying burial, we used to do that with suicide and it was cruel, especially when the suicide was a teenager. Now we know that a lot of gay teen suicides are those who are in extreme conflict because the Church condemns them as disordered but their hearts tell them they are not. We call it mental illness but it is moral angst. We cause that by not repudiating current teaching on homosexuality. The irony on burial is thick and sad. Another form of priestly sexual abuse.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "BRO, I just watched the Al Smith dinner in NY hosted by Dolan, a fundraiser for Catholic charities and traditionally scheduled prior to elections....\n\nTrump simply extended his debate remarks about Hillary as \"corrupt\" etc to boos....(it was supposed to be humorous) and he left early.\n\nHillary...did a good job of honoring Al Smith and the role as the first Catholic presidential candidate and the tough stuff he had to go through...she did some self critical humor stuff made some references to the campaign (no one booed) and I was reflecting on her grace under pressure and just what a male power base she had to deal with...\n\nThere is probably nowhere else in the US with more male church power and rep money power all in one place and so painfully soon after that 3rd debate....no one shaked hands...and my guess is that it will be a long while before Hillary fusses with that group,.....she did socialize a lot at the end...didn't leave early!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My problem with this is the typical lefty position in regard to conservatives they disagree with about almost anything.\n\nChristian bakers say it was about our faith. Left says it is about being homophobic, illegal and our feelings matter.\n\nHands up don't shoot is shown to be incorrect. Left ignores it and drives home racist cop shot innocent young man and our feelings matter.. (Could the cop be a racist, sure...but this incident isn't the proof the left demands it to be).\n\nThe right and the middle say you are disrespecting the Flag, veterans and our Nation. The left says, no it isn't, your feelings don't matter.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Love the sinner; hate the sin\" is so ingrained, hypocritical and telling that it establishes Ms.Manson's op-review as a \"beyond the call\" act of tolerance in itself. She is right. Just for a moment, pretend that Fr. Martin is addressing women's access to ordination and its source, or even more profoundly, victims of sexual abuse. He would, I suggest, be pilloried.\nThe LGBT community would, hopefully, be generous in their views about the effects of tradition (emotional and \"teaching\") on the psyche of lay and cleric. At least I hope so as a recovering \"cathoholic\". To suggest that LGBT respect the very people and institution that has hammered them and hammered into people like me a disdain for the sin that cannot be separated from the sinner. If there were no \"sinner\" the sin would, in old Catholic parlance, be a despicably sinful, dirty, disgusting thought.\nA more appropriate advice from him might be a \"supererogatory tolerance with little hope of reciprocity\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Are you serious??? If you are referring to gays and sinners Jesus wanted them to \"Sin no more\"\nHe didn't ignore their sin. He helped them and encouraged them to leave their life of sin. The same exact thing the church is doing. \n\nJesus wouldn't have presided over a gay wedding, that's for sure.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "@Sher-e-Hindu\n\nOh, you love the Germans. They give you\"white people are genocidal\" talking point.\nLet's review a few historical facts - events taking place well after WWII:\n\nRwandans managed to outdo the Germans(rate). With machetes. Half a century after WWII. ( and I have seen your attempts to pin that on Christianity)\n.\nPol Pot - an undisputed champion.\n.\nChina (do you need to bring that up?). \n.\nJapan - WWII?\n.\n\"How about those Serbs?\" - I see you post time and again.\n.\nHow about those Hindus, I'll ask in response. Under that watch of the current Indian PM. 21 century.\n.\nHow about those millions Bengali - killed by Muslims?\n...\n\nBut back to your point - or rather your usual attempt to deflect and distort:\n\nUsing you example - why aren't Jews blowing up stuff in Germany? Seeking repercussions?\n\nIt's not \"everybody did\" as an excuse. It is world history. But the hapless Left, and the bigots of color that cherry pick facts and misplace context to justify Islam terrorism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As you should know, most Christian denominations practice Open Communion -- all are welcome! The Roman Catholic church as a denomination is a notable exception, but even in the RCc there are many exceptions to the exception!\n\nTo which I add that this and other posts which you make here are unreliable as Catholic teaching. You may not like or care for the current Magisterium, as is pretty obvious, but it IS Catholic! And that disdain is a likely contributing source of your unreliability in matters Catholic!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Originally you asked for evidence that the basic form of the Mass was the same today as in apostolic and post-apostolic times. I furnished that evidence. Now you have gone off on another tack about sacrifices of the Old Law. \nRome did not invent the Sacrifice of the Mass. Here we are talking about Christ's offering of Himself to the Father for the sins of the world. He made that offering on the Cross on Calvary. At the Last Supper He made that offering sacramentally and bade his apostles to perpetuate it throughout time which the Church has done faithfully since then.\nI don't see what Rome forbidding Christian worship or not differentiating it from Judaism has got to do with the basic form of the Mass? The early Christians celebrated the Mass regardless of whether it was legal or not or whether the Romans knew the difference between Christianity and Judaism", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jerusalem exists as a settlement for more than 3000 years, and Jews lived in Jerusalem almost 2500 years. It was their main city - capital of Judea. And it was capital of Jerusalem kingdom of crusaders for 2 centuries in Early Middle Ages. It has never been capital of any other nation or ethnic group other than Jews and those Christians crusaders. Since the time Ottoman empire possessed it it was a small city forgotten by everybody except Christian monks and pilgrims and religious Jews.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Aww, name calling bothers you but the violent rhetoric that has been coming from the GOP for over 8 years gets a pass? Trump is a treasonous and incompetent tool, the rhetoric towards him is factual and deserved. He is the biggest instigator of violence. \n\nHere are some facts, Trump has flip flopped on all of his promises, the few hate filled ones that he attempted to follow through on were shut down by the courts, because America is not, nor will it ever be, a Christian European nation. \n\nThe racists already lost the war once... apparently ya still ain't over it and STILL don't stand a chance.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dennis Galon says \"our obligation to inform our conscience before invoking the Primacy of Conscience.\"\n\nIndeed. Germain Grisez is a great resource for understanding \"conscience\" in the context of the Catholic Church.\n\nSee Chapter 3 (Conscience: Knowledge of Moral Truth) in Volume 1 (Christian Moral Principles) of \"The Way of the Lord Jesus\".\n\nhttp://www.twotlj.org/G-1-V-1.html", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "People certainly do lose their faith. You're demonstrating one of the problems that run rampant especially through higher education that contributes to lose of faith...that all religions and faiths are equal and all truth is what you make yourself. Denying objective truth and \"evolving\" your beliefs to your individual liking is nothing more than making God into your own image.\nThat may satisfy your feelings, but its new age thinking and not Christian", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I grew up as a visible minority in Shawinigan (Qu\u00e9bec) and he's going to be a tough sell there. The leader of the Bloc Qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois and Qu\u00e9bec NDP MPs have said as much. Imagine if a Roman Catholic cleric became leader of a major federal party and refused to give up his religious garb while trying to convince Protestants, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus and Buddhists that his faith doesn't influence his policy outlook. This is what Jagmeet Singh is trying to do. I wish him well, but it won't be easy to campaign in Chicoutimi, Moncton, Red Deer and other small communities.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There's always the Anglican Church, Trid. Kinda like the Catholic Church, but with no Pope. Give it another bash.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, I am a Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "monica--- Your Gospel references are too selective, perhaps. If Jesus did indeed oppose \"hierarchy in every form\" how explain His explicit instruction to His followers that they obey all of the proscriptions of the Pharisees, but not to follow their example [of self-righteousness]? Further, it is Church doctrine that the hierarchical constitution of the Church [la costitutzione gerarchica della Chiesa, as canon law puts it] is by divine will and constitutes divine law. Certainly, the exact mode by which this hierarchical structure is exercised is open to adaptation. But the buck has to stop someplace, to over-simplify. So I disagree that a hierarchical structure flies in the face of the Gospels; or that it exists (again, open to adaptation) only because \"[s]ometimes we do things because we've always done them a certain way\".\nStill cherish every instance of your great sense of humor. Brava, ed auguri!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I find it ironic that Jesus' admonition \" ~love your neighbor as yourself\" is interpreted by some \"christians\" to mean your neighbor must look like yourself.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The educated, loving, clear-headed, usually calm faithful progressive Catholic women and men I know accept the Church's teachings--far more than Trads give them credit for. \n\nBut the two things almost ALL in anger rise up against are a) how women control their fertility and intimacy is to be solely determined by celibate men--or any men; and b) the patronizing \"women can do so many other things beside being ordained.\" \n\nTalk to Catholic men and women and the above conclusions by the Church are the two that they, in good conscience and through experience, prayer, and expertise, discern as unacceptable and worthy of dissent. Yes, so sadly, yet so understandably, too many women and men see those directives as worthy of accepting Archbishop Chaput's invitation to make us a smaller, purer Church. And, with tears, they look in the rear view mirror to make Chaput's dream so.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You don't seem to understand that these 22 Catholic Rites are in communion with the Pope. They accept all the same teachings which the Roman Church accepts which makes them members of the Universal Church along with and equal to the Church of Rome. \nThis Vatican II Rite which you advocate rejects most of the teachings, doctrines, dogmas and practice of the Universal Church so can never be regarded as a Catholic Rite on a par with the Eastern, Catholic Churches.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your concerns are noted, John, and vey understandable. This is a good time to educated parish pastors and local bishops around what celiac disease is and the serious consequences for some if the recommendations of the Congregation for Divine Worship are rigidly followed. Most folks do not know much about it. May I suggest that you write a letter to your bishop with a copy to your pastor about it? At the same time, it is more than useful to note that one can receive the Eucharist via wine only. I sometimes do so when at a parish for a Sunday mass and the lines are too large for reception of the host. Thanks for our helpful comments!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "as can Orthodox, Eastern Catholic and some Roman Catholic priests.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When Christ is a sun and moon to you!!!\nWhen Christ love energy pulsating and sparkling like diamonds through all! \nWhen you forget Christ's commands, only the Christ Spirit presence.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, let's not support a pro-life president that actually DOES things that are pro-life. Let's keep looking for will o the wisps, i.e., a Democrat who votes pro-life. Try visiting Sargent Shriver's grave. Doesn't matter even if he is foolish enough to sell that position for the pottage of a meaningless executive order: see ex-Congressman Bart Stupak. Winter is on a perennial fool's errand, whereas I figured out 45 years ago that the party my parents thought stood up for their values as Catholics long ago abandoned them. I am happy to make my Republican party home and more pro-Catholic, and not engage in vain efforts to rebuild a party that left me.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1. Modern scriptural scholarship does not alter the Truth, it alters our understanding of the Truth. To think we understand the Truth perfectly is hubris. 2. The perennial rejection of Darwin illustrates my first point, although Benedict withdrew the objections, although he does not seem to understand that God works through the randomness of natural selection. Most Catholic philosophy professors have absolutely no problem with Darwin. Rejection of scientific theory because it does not fit the Church's narrative was tried with Galileo. That went well. 3.Entropy, yes, it is why I believe that whatever starts at gastrulation and ends at death proves at least a materialist soul, which exits at death when entropy begins. 4. Piltdown does not disprove all archeology. 5. Viral development and resistance is proof of evolution. 6. Augustine's teachings about sin being transmitted because of sex was laughable except that it was so damaging.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Re: Yes, prophesies are not always fulfilled., duh. Happy now? \nRe: Great flood and S & G, so you live through those periods in time?\nRe: Puerto Rico. I don't purport to know God's reasons for everything; I'm just making reference to the Bible.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1 of 2\nPope Francis\n\u201cThe Church must look with penetrating eyes within herself ponder the mystery of her own being\u2026 This vivid and lively self-awareness inevitably leads to a comparison between the ideal image of the Church as Christ envisaged her and loved her as his holy and spotless bride (cf. Eph 5:27), and the actual image which the Church presents to the world today.\nThis is the source of the Church\u2019s heroic and impatient struggle for renewal: the struggle to correct those flaws introduced by her members which her own self-examination, mirroring her exemplar, Christ\"\n\nTaken from the link below\nIn his exhortation Amoris Laetitia, the pope emphasizes personal accompaniment. Can you help the formation of priests in this exercise?\n It is indeed true that accompaniment and discernment are very prominent in Ignatian spirituality.\nDiscernment is the process of shining a light on things in order to make decisions together with the Lord. \nContinued", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So, you either think it's funny that people are terrified, or you think it's funny that others are helping those who are terrified. How utterly Christian of you to show such compassion for others.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1966? I have a feeling they have been around much longer than that. And I bet they wanted there literature distributed at the Delta schools because one of their members was a liberal, but not out of conviction or fealty to the Constitution. Tell me, do you think satanists will do like the Catholic Church or other Christian groups and open a school that meets or exceeds the rigorous demands of Common Core?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not at any Catholic institution . . . but he has been invited to speak at some.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "MGB: Read the talk, it is phenomenal. Strong words for capitalist Catholics who believe the social doctrine is optional rather than a product of divine revelation (in this case, literally). Our current economy turns workers into slaves with few options to leave a bad job. If that is not slavery, there is no such thing. Religion here is not the opiate of the masses, it is their call to revolt, from Moses to the prophets to Jesus.), although cosumerism may be. \n\nPaul continues the theme, linking eating and drinking worthily to sharing a just portion with the poor. This is the real story about sacriledge in Communion, (1 Cor 11) nothing here about avoiding it when in a state of sin. The state of sin is injustice. Being part of this systetm of inequality is sharing the injustice and the latest health care reform is the most recent insult on the body of Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "John Adams: \u201cThe government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion.\u201d", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Does it though describe \"Christian values\"?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Civilta article was a critique of right-wing efforts to engage with religious denominations with whom Catholics share little in the way of theology for the sake of political gain. My comment addressed the fact that there was never any such effort on the left.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is a common attribute between evangelical christians, creationists and Trump supporters: blindness to overwhelming contradictory evidence.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"faith based voting machines\"? \n\nWhich denominations do they come in? Catholic? LDS? Orthodox Jewish? Lutheran? Baptist? Which conference(s)? Which States have adopted them and which denominations?\n\nPaper ballots? Stalin is alleged to have said: \"\"You know, comrades,\" says Stalin, \"that I think in regard to this: I consider it completely unimportant who in the party will vote, or how; but what is extraordinarily important is this \u2014 who will count the votes, and how.\" \n\nOr he may not have said it. Still true, however.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bingo! The Constitutional (which should be capitalized) is a protection of a multitude of citizen rights. Who could help but notice that it happens to mirror so much of what Christianity teaches.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding:\"He told the hearing that the Catholic Church was \"a most unusual and mysterious combination of the decentralized and the centralized\" when it came to governance.\"\n- In practice this means that a canon lawyer was sent to the United Nations and the World Court to remind these august bodies and the convened nations that the international treaties signed by the Vatican City State (VCS) apply only to the VCS.\n- There are no treaties that can be used to reign in or otherwise discipline the Holy See as it is not a signatory of these treaties.\n- However, an area that needs looking into is the fact that the Holy See resides in the VCS and thus nations, especially those that have representation with the Holy See can insist that the Holy See align itself to treaties, especially ones that apply to families or children, or the VCS would face sanctions ranging from non-recognition of Vatican's passports to the a seizure of its information and communication apparatuses.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"DeVos believes that not teaching values and character development in our relativistic and politically correct age...\"\n\nTRANSLATION: Religion in schools. Christian religion, that is.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"All of the apologies and reconciliation services and public displays of sorrow for what had happened \u2014 straight up to papal visits with victims that finally occurred during Pope Benedict XVI's reign \u2014 lacked a central element: an engagement by clergy with our sacramental tradition to ask what happened and how.\"\n- For the laity, our task for the next many thousands of years it to grasp onto and remember always that these clerics lied to the People of God, the Body of Christ to who they had been called to serve.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part 3\nA hope for human society:\nPro: The interdependence of humanity. Symbiosis may be stretching the term, but it is a very Catholic understanding that we, as individuals, are perfected in society; going it alone is not the way to win our true nature. While we can quibble about some of the wording, I find the section, but for one instance, to express a perspective not too different from my reading of Catholic theology on the issue of common humanity and a shared responsibility.\n\nIn this sense, symbiosis has already evolved (present but not yet) in the Catholic faith both in terms of science and faith, and in terms of an understanding of how we should live (and often fail) in our relationships with one another.\n\nI found her footnote to be especially touching and the knowledge of your loss to be that much more profound. Again, my sincerest condolences. If I have given offense in any way, please let me know and please trust that this was not my intent.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I've always thought that the concept of the Golden Rule is, if not specifically voiced, certainly implied in the teachings of all religions...including Christianity. As an agnostic and secular humanist I don't \"tie\" it to any religion. I simply feel it's a wonderful test to apply to one's actions. Are you suggesting that Jesus did NOT teach us to be non-judgmental and to look at our own faults and work to be better people. You confuse me with your response. Over the years I've seen the actions of some self-professed Christians and asked myself \"do these people believe in the Golden Rule\"? Are you suggesting that Christians shouldn't follow that simple rule? Help me out on this one. Thanks, Gary Crum", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Let any baptized Christian preside at Mass\"\nI disagree. Sacramental ministers (what Sacraments mean is an entirely other matter) require formation, education, and \"ordination\". \"Ordination\" in the sense of being \"sanctioned\" on our behalf and of meeting the bar of knowledge, character and continuing study and renewal. Call it \"ordination\", \"graduation\", \"licensing\" or whatever. As humans, we also need rituals - Jesus knew/knows that depite the mess our patriarchs have made of it. Whatever we think of the 'institution' we are the custodians of a long and deep body of faith knowledge that warrants caring \"storage\" and nurturing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nope - read the documents more carefully. The divine truth is revealed in many ways and many paths. Yes, that means beyond the confines of the Roman Catholic Church. For example, do you think 500-million Buddhists or 1.8 billion Muslins are wrong? Of course not! The deep abiding presence of the incardinate God is on oneness and nonduality\u200b.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You've got political entity claiming responsibility for these acts (ISIS/Daesh)...you don't see a Catholic priest claiming responsibility for any of the acts of violence you reference.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Donn227 Read the Canadian constitution with regards to Ontario and you should find that Roman Catholic education has been guarantee in the constitution since 1867 (actually pre dates Confederation..I believe. )", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So we need to abolish the 7-day week because it is based on the Bible? \n\nMaybe we also need to reform the calendar? You realise we are in the year 2017 because we use the Gregorian calendar, with B.C. and A.D. meaning Before Christ and After God (Deus) (the recent change to the nomenclature Before the Common Era and After the Common Era in academia notwithstanding)?\n\nFor Muslims we are in the year 1438, and for Jews the year 5777. ..\n\nOr you could just accept that our society is the result of its history, and 2000 years of Christianity has left its mark on our culture and traditions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For a better analysis of the church-state situation, I recommend reading America. The Jesuits seem to understand that essays blaming the present situation on any one group are beneath our Catholic intellectual heritage.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of course St Peter's Bacillica in Rome has some very great genuinely religious art. In\nfact in ages past most of the great art was inspired by Catholicism.\nMoslem contributions have been next to nothing in the field of the fine arts.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Also it is not unimportant that extreme forms of socialism have central places in Catholic life--the first Christian community as described in Acts, and all religious orders with vows of poverty.\"\nAbsolutely. Those particular voluntary \"socialist\" environments seem to work well. Leo's, (brother (were he real), not pope) order would be a good example. The Mayflower Compact's similar voluntary socialism failed in spectacular fashion, however. Voluntary is the key concept, to me, and I don't believe that Leo's concept of \"socialism\", as discussed in Rerum, included the voluntary but, rather, a socialism that was forced (and enforced) by the state. \nThat there \"is no modern capitalist economy that does not have socialistic elements deeply embedded\", I think, is quite true. Even the old \"strictly socialist\" economies had side (dark) economies running that were far more capitalistic than they would have admitted at the time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's easy to take your position when one is educated, employed, likely holding a healthy savings account and retirement plan, and with a slick medical insurance card in your wallet as a cushion against financial disaster; most of the people I know walk in your same expensive shoes and live a comfortable, if somnolent, life. I admit that I'm assuming here, but I doubt that you ever participate in any hands-on service with a food bank or shelter to see and interact with those who live daily with the gross inequality you mention -- people of all ages and backgrounds who have NO resources beyond the small bits provided by church and government programs. Walk on the wild side, Purg -- step out of your comfort bubble and meet the real people who live day to day in poverty, fear, dread, hopelessness, confusion -- you know, the ones Jesus told us to love and serve. We may have it good now because we've had it good in the past; go and meet those who live in the US alongside your privilege.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "part 1 of 2.\n\nWell, there are two principal tasks of each Catholic: pursue holiness and do apostolate, until our last breath.\n\nThat's straight from VII. Most Catholics have never heard of these things..sometimes called the \"universal call to holiness\". So I am not surprised with your comment. No worries. It's pure Church teaching however.\n\nI don't accept the \"meddlesome\" label. I mean something very different.\n\nIn brief.\nMatters of the soul are our most intimate matters.\n\nApproaching anyone you don't know as a friend on supernatural matters is discouraged.\n\nBut we are interested in getting every soul on the planet to heaven. No one is beyond our deep concern\n\nHuman limits mean that we can't spend all of our time on all souls.\n\nWe should focus mostly on those people that God placed closest to us: our family, friends.\n\nWe must first become better friends to our family and friends.\n\nGenerous time, conversation, helping them solve hundreds of problems.\n\nDeep & sincere friendship, no games", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Although I understand the good bishops concerns, in my opinion, he has crossed the line, in terms of separation of church and state. As an individual, he certainly has the right to his opinion. However, when he speaks officially as a priest in public, using his office of priest, as the spokesman, he crosses that boundary. Let me explain, before people start yelling. I agree with much of what he says, but speaking ex cathedra he crosses that boundary. Doing so, risks more serious consequences. There are already too many Catholic haters in the US, and we don't need more. His comments, AS A PRIEST, will make matters worse.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So much more learning and understanding is needed - the settler colonial mentality - then and now - is a combination of white racism AND Christian driven faithism ( not cultural bias or chauvinism alone ) - building such shared awareness and appreciation is critical to a shared future that is nation-to-nation, Indigenous rights based and Treaty informed !", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "> They did not think of themselves as different\n\nHow can you say this when even their shadow cured people? They were different. They were part of the body of Christ and they had a mission. Just because the first phase of their mission was to convert Jerusalem didn't mean that they were only concerned with the Jews.\n\n> And Jesus did not always go after\n\nShow me an instance in the Gospel where Jesus forgave the unrepentant sinner.\n\n> God did not wait for us to come repentant first. \n\nThe Church doesn't wait either. You are still a member of the Church and you can still run into her arms for support and guidance. However, if you have flagrant disregard for the commandments of the Lord, do not expect to be held up by grace. If one is not receptive to grace, then how can they receive it?\n\n> You changed your name here\n\nI find it interesting that you think that I am someone else. This is the only name I have gone by here. Maybe there are so many of us with the same message because it is true.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are 4000 Christian universities in the states, some highly reputable and many with law schools. One wonders how the Americans manage to solve this \"conflict\" without causing such furor. Is the US not a liberal democracy?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part 2\nA tool for learning:\nDisagreement: I don't believe that the teachings of the two philosophies are the same and simply lacking a common vocabulary. (Religious) faith traditions and science, as two vehicles to truth, each have a sphere of competence in which they operate. This dualistic distinction is unfortunate but necessary based on that which is observable and that which is knowable outside of observation. Within the Christian (broadly) and Catholic (specifically) traditions, the two are harmonized most closely in that science is tethered to an underlying belief in the Goodness of a Creator and that we can know something of His mind through His actions in the physical realm. This leads us to the Divine Watchmaker of the Deists but, without revelation, I think, no further. In that Catholic sense, then, there already exists a \"symbiosis\". The Catholic faith informs scientific inquiry and infuses it with greater meaning than the merely mechanical one given by science alone.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ah so you've 'converted' to Judaism now, Homer? I think you were better off as a Christian. Well, in some respects. And the 'god' of Zionism isn't HaShem, it's HaSatan.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Paul's letters don't define my practice of Christianity.\"\n\nThe more's the pity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You wouldn't be always puzzled if you read more about the Church and what it believes. In this\ncase, see Canon 900 \u00a71: \"The only minister who, in the person of Christ, can bring into being the sacrament of the Eucharist, is a validly ordained priest.\"\nSo in answer to your question: Yes, Jesus's presence in the Eucharist requires the person of Christ, who alone is the priest. It may seem dismissive of what the Son of God is capable of, but we had that debate during the Reformation, and the RCC decided that your view was so incorrect as to be a heresy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, and that's why in fact the Curia members call Francis, Your Holy Boss!\n\nNo. \n\nFatherhood should pervade everything we do.\n\nThere's no better model of \"boss-hood\" than divine fatherhood. A \"boss\" needs to learn how to love his employees with the love of the Father. \n\nThat's how a Catholic \"integrates\" the Faith and the love of God into the ordinary world.\n\nThe Church refers to this as the \"harmonization of ends\", a truly Christian contribution to the world. \n\nIn fact I would argue that to the extent that we are seen as boss and not father to that extent we've failed to fully and completely integrate internally our faith with our life. \n\nA lifetime's work, ever perfecting. It's what makes life fun and challenging to the end. A self-attracting task. No external motivator is needed. We can always be getting a bit closer to living ordinary life with the heart of Christ, drawing a bit closer to Him each hour, each day, each hurdle of getting outside of our self.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh, you mean the days when the Anglican, Roman Catholic and United Churches--those pillars of our secular/religious communities--were maiming and murdering thousands of First Nations kids in their residential Schools? The days when \"nobody knew\" or maybe cared to know? Those days?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Interesting article/memories. Thank you. \n\nI think there are some people who desire a 'radical' Christianity \"over there\" or like to savor some big name Christian's work in some bygone era, while missing most of what God has lined up for them to do \"right where they are now\".\n\nWe tend to lionize the big and grand radical actions of others, missing our own chance to have the Holy Spirit work \"radically\" and quietly through us today, now, mainly in our family life. \n\nWe like to prop up certain images of our heroes...perhaps because it takes the demand away for us to live our faith very radically and quietly in our own family and ordinary world.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, it's great that some Catholics were inspired to learn something about science. Catholics, and other Christians, should be encouraged to do much much more of that, in fact. I happen to find evolutionary biology more interesting and meaningful than astronomy, but whatever grabs you, go with it.\n\nOn the other hand, the total eclipse in itself, or else the precision with which astronomers predicted the path of totality across the US, is not anything like a \"proof of God's existence\" -- as though God were the sort of being whose existence could be detected in that sort of thing. If anything, it's really only the interest of human beings in this phenomenon, and their awed aesthetic / intellectual reaction, that can point to something divine, present in our minds.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Monte - you haven't addressed my question or my definition of social justice. Isn't agreement on a general definition necessary for good communication about this issue?\n\nMy definition says nothing about wealth distribution. I was simply challenging your protest that social justice isn't really political, and that the article wasn't about political action. My beef with social justice as a cause for the church has nothing to do with the issue of whether it calls for wealth redistribution - although it always does. My concern is with narrow and selective use OT theocratic passages to buy into a politicized social justice gospel which is alien to the life and teachings of Christ and His Apostles. \n\nIncidentally, Jubilee principles reinforced tribal distinctions and preservation of pre-existing familial wealth. Both you and I would view Jubilee \"idealism\" as highly unjust by any contemporary standards of justice and morality.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am for the \"restored order\" of the sacraments - Baptism, Confirmation, and then First Holy Communion. I agree that the hodge-podge of confused rules and reason we have across North America now is no solution to anything.\nOf course, I was being somewhat hyperbolic regarding \"mature spirituality\". I believe that both the ability to deal with ambiguity and obedience to just authority (maybe some others thrown in) are necessary in the Christian. That said, I think that it is the graces of Confirmation that lead even the physically immature toward the spiritual maturity we see in history - I'm thinking particularly of child martyrs of the French Revolution and those of Japan who were given the option of saving themselves and still refused.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually, the homicide rate in Christian countries (mainly in USA, Latin America and Africa) is much higher than in Muslim countries.\n\nmurder in the name of religion is NOT higher in Christian countries--and we don't \"behead\" Muslims the way ISIS does to Christians for practicing their religion--and tell me how may Catholic churches there are in Mecca is you want to use the Vatican as your example---Italy surrounds the Vatican and there are mosques there--there are NO Catholic churches in Saudi Arabia that surrounds Mecca", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Aaronic priesthood was strictly herediterty, limited to the tribe of Levi. By invoking this priesthood as your norm for God's intention, you condemn the entire Christian priesthood as illegitimate. Alternatively, if the Aaronic priesthood is your norm, then you condemn a celibate priesthood as illegitimate.\n\nAll in all, this argument takes you where you don't want to go. Best give it up quick.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There was not any printing press in the Second Century. The Liturgy was adopted to the area [province] where the people WERE Christian and celebrated. There certainly wasn't any Liturgical 'watch-dog' group over-seeing developments in the liturgy. This was done, not only in Greek, but in other languages in which the Liturgy was celebrated. At this time, there was no Eastern and Western Churches. For example, in the Chaldean and Assyrian Rites, there are no words of Institution of the Eucharist, no consecration. This went on for centuries [yes, they were and are faithful Catholics]. It was acknowledged with an agreement only on October 26, 2001. There were other places during the Liturgies, where there is reference to the words of Jesus.\n\nWhen the Benedictine Order was established, the monks undertook the task of printing by hand---Sacred Scripture and the Liturgy. But there were mistakes as well in the hand printing. When humans do anything, there are errors.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The question is the rule by the Catholic mob (which Poprockis supports) or the natural rights (not natural law, that is Catholic, natural rights are deist) of the individual.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Steven Bannon is Catholic!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If Christian students also want prayer rooms, no one is stopping them.\n\nWhat are you talking about, EVERYBODY is stopping them. No politician, no school broad trustee or news paper would ever sanction a segregated Christian prayer room in a school.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is a simple answer directly from the NT. When at its birth, the new movement which became Christianity, was divided on the requirements that the new believers: obey the Jewish rites and Law. But the Holy Spirit gave the answer which is continually ignored today by this church's leaders. Allow two groups to choose how they would practice their religious beliefs without coercion from the leaders. This allowed the church to grow and become the major religion in the Roman Empire by the fourth century. \n\nWhy has this method not been considered today when it threatens to divide the church?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What is left to rock, even in Canada after Mt. Cashel.\n\nBy now the news isn't that this sort of thing was widespread and covered up by Catholic and other churches, the news is that they are being charged, convicted, and admitting to what they did.\n\nHere in BC we had the sad, sorry, spectacle of Bishop Hubert O'Connor having his lawyers attack the credibility of his victims before he finally admitted what he did. Never too late to lay one more burden on them while trying to evade responsibility for his action and the children he fathered. Some Catholic churches even refused to pay child support, claiming that their priests did not get a salary.\n\nhttps://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/disgraced-bc-bishop-dead-of-heart-attack/article1079249/\n\nhttps://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/disgraced-priest-left-legacy-of-pain/article690143/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do some religious doctrinal studies. Christianity isn't remotely comparable.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Would this apply to all schools or only public schools? surely private Christian schools can't be expected to respect and accommodate the rights of Rastafarians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do Christian women face the same dilemma?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We already have the \"Christian\" version!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hopefully, as Christians, we can see Christ in people we meet on any given day. I am the first to admit that that isn't always easy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I grew up idolizing Columbus. As a Christian conservative I angrily denounced those who demeaned him. Last yr, I decided to go beyond my cursory knowledge and read a couple of very scholarly biographies to learn more about him. I was especially looking to read more about the events where he logged angelical and divine guidance to find the promised land.\n\nI was shocked at what I found. Our own biases often blind us to truths simply because we automatically are programmed to discount anything from those who we despise. But we do a disservice to our children and country to blindly celebrate Christopher without a warning of his very ungodly flaws.\n\nIt is a historical fact that, because he couldn't find gold to fulfill his wild promises to Spain, he decided to begin the Caribbean slave trade. He let mammon become his god. He did not act honorably at the end. Like all humans - he was a mixed a bag. Let's not be blind to history and thus not be taken seriously on other matters.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Who said I was Christian, Travis? I'm just stating the facts. It's happened before.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1) So-called 'right-thinking Catholics have no more of an sound understanding of biblical knowledge than progressive Catholics. In fact, most 'right-thinking' Catholics have a literal and fundamentalist understanding of Sacred Scripture.\n\n2) Secondly, if they knew Church history or even examined what our 'sister Church' [the Orthodox churches] are doing---they would know that the Orthodox permit a re-marriage after one divorce. The Orthodox have received Sacred Scripture just as we have.\n\n3) Priestly ordination is supposed to \"print an indelible mark on the soul\" [as does baptism and confirmation]. But priests can be laicized and then get married. But the laity who receive the Sacrament of Matrimony and have NO INDELIBLE mark on their souls----can't divorce.\n\n4) No where in the Gospels does it state that Jesus ordained the Twelve Apostles priests. He did not anoint them. He did not lay hands on them. This is a teaching of the official church---not authenticated by the Gospels.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dear Jay--I find your statement to be most uncivil. I am a cradle Catholic, regular weekly Mass goer, and try to go to Mass at least occasionally during the week as my schedule permits. Yes, I find myself troubled from time-to-time by some of the teachings of the Magisterium. I do believe, as one of the Jesuit Fathers of my alma matter, Georgetown, once noted: the Church does best and is at its strongest when it lays down the basic rules, collects reasonable taxes, and gets the h-e-double toothpicks out of the way of the faithful. At our home parish, our parish priest is the model of a servant pastor, and has worked with us to ensure the reception of the Blood of Christ untainted by gluten (which can happen if the cup has not been properly or completely purified). But it would be nice to fully participate in Holy Communion. You go on with your holier-than-thou attitude. I'd prefer to get dirty in Pope Francis' field hospital.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually it's more a sign of lack of trust than some esteem thing. I think the Pences are probably a loving and super trustful Christian couple in the old fashioned way, so is this \"rule\"..... just in case of Temptation? The rule about consuming alchohol seems reasonable considering that's an obvioulsy a pre-cursor to infidelity in many situation in the power world of big politics as well as the local bar. I f she doesn't trust him, perhaps he should find another line of work. But he's in the Trump Admin, so women issues are decided in rooms packed with men so out VP should be at ease.\n\nIf you have to put that type of guard up for each other, (never alone with another women) it's kinda weird and I've been married along time. We simply trust each other.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, that is my point. The \u201csoft sounding\u201d parts of scripture describe love, which can be filled with great hardships. \nMarriage is a place where people commit to suffering with Jesus for the sake of another person. It may sound soft, because its purpose is wonderful, an act of love and being loved. But hopefully every Christian knows love has many crosses that accompany the grace.\nBut why are you saying this as if you disagree with me? Remarried people can have marriages that reflect love brightly, bearing burdens that unmarried people would not consider. Bearing them happily because the blessings are so much greater than pain of the cross. \nAssuming the duties of marriage and children is so much better than staying alone, shaken by the pain of the first marriage and afraid to try again. Neiher is an easy path, but loving seems like the better choice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is a lovely meditation, and nicely ensconced in real life humour, but I am confused. Gift is defined by the author as necessarily involving a giving and reciprocal acceptance. At conception Mary was in no \"position\" to accept, so the author skips 13 or 14 years to the Angel Gabriel subbing for the impregnating Spirit. Not a credible connection. Did God intrinsically (ontologicaly) alter Mary at her conception?\nThe way the author describes it, God seems to have \"set her up\" for her future role. I don't understand the reference that it was \"not so different\" from our Baptism. So it was different? How? This is getting close to predestination to me and even closer to the dehumanization of Mary that distances her from being my mother. It is a sweeter and more palatable sterilization of Mary by associating only Mary's mom with the aches, pains and transformations of pregnancy.\nIf Mary was \"ontologically\" elevated at conception - woman priest? Birth Jesus - Eucharist? Immplication....?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Tri,\nDogmas and doctrines are only the most important issues of being a Catholic if you make them such. I was never raised in the Church with that understanding, pre- or post-V2.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Let's see...the link I refer to as \"fake news\"...an NPR opinion piece by Sylvia Poggioli that cites another opinion piece from the NYT by Jason Horowitz that confuses the often used Catholic term \"church militant\" with a present day website by that name among other things.\n\nI liken reading this stuff to the Reddit topics on Spirit Cooking and Pizzagate. Everyone has an opinion and \"facts\" to back it up, no matter how far fetched. Over exuberant under educated reporters...or propaganda...?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have always loved this passage. It is the essence of Christianity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That's an incendiary, and very irresponsible assumption, Kelly. The majority religion in Puerto Rico where he grew up, is Christian, Kelly, and is predominately Catholic. That shouldn't provoke speculation about his motives, either, Kelly.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I believe no one -- not bishops, not Catholic apologists, not newspapers, and not media pundits - -because they are \"gods or goddesses.\"\n\nI believe what I believe after looking hearing from examining an issue from all sides possible, reviewing actual evidence, questioning every claim to see if it has actual evidence behind it, and then using critical thinking skills to sift good evidence and good arguments from bad.\n\nDid you even attempt to look up Ann Coulter's expose' on the charges made against him? Seems clear you didn't. Seems you're the one who's just going by what you're told to think, not me. \n\nI don't fault anyone for disagreeing with me. But when they think they're making a valid argument by resorting to silly twitter banter, they're just showing they they haven't done any real thinking or research on the topic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, Mark, he's on a half day today!!\n\nLast week it was nearly 200 posts out of 650!! When you add the posts of the other 'Catholic' contributors, it is often well over fifty percent of any given thread.\n\nThe responses to me on here when I pointed it out ranged from, it's representative of the demographics at the US elections, they provide alternative viewpoints, we just have to put up with it etc.. \n\nWhen you consider that most of the rest of the posts are in response to these trolls, well, it leaves very little debate at all. \n\nNCR can't do anything about it (staff shortages) so the only other options would be the rest of the blog votes all their posts as uncivil or everyone refuses to debate them.\n\nFailing that, they will simply continue to be 'occasions of sin' for everyone else on here.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Attorneys who work for bishops and \"Catholic Institutions\" expect the attorneys who handle their legal businesses to work for them gratis. And in the good old days, many did! But times sure have changed, and the kinds of lawyers the bishops need these days are \"heavy hitters\" who don't work on the cheap!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You never heard of excommunication latae sententiae? It's catholic theology 101...\nTry wikipedia then: \nhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latae_sententiae", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I didn't mean that in a bad way, I'm just saying they're on my side. Islam (although they have Abe in their corner and admit Jebus was a prophet) deny his death, burial and resurrection. Muslims deny the very foundation of christianity.\n\natta a boy, Muslims.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Where were they? Did I miss it? Couldn't one bishop make it to Washington to show the importance of the fight for justice? At some point, the bishops will have to stop hiding in the bushes and show themselves as a part of the struggles we are in right now - for justice, for fair treatment, for the preferential option for the poor. They are absent from story. \n\nBut, it is important that our Catholic vowed religious and Catholic activists were there. That is where real leadership resides - right in the story, in front, visible, giving hope, inspiring.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In other words, married folks, watch out if your spouse shows an interest in Christianity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pocho do you have a reading comprehension problem? Where did I say that there was any terror committed by the KKK? I said that the vast MAJORITY of terrorist shootings/bombings etc... in this country since 9/11 were perpetrated by RIGHT WING \"Christian\" extremists. Since 9/11 there were 21 instances of right-wing, white extremist, \"Christian\" terrorist attacks in the U.S. that caused 53 fatalities....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's much simpler and more beautiful than all of the above meandering and relativizing and revisioning.\n\nMan and woman were given God like powers by God to cooperate in the redemption of mankind.\n\nWe can do nothing by ourselves, but God gave us the power to co-create with Him, new souls, enlarging the family of God, imitating the love within the Trinity.\n\nMan was made for woman and woman for man and both for God.\n\nUnity, Trinity, life of self-gift.\n\nThat's it.\n\nMarriage is to serve a good, the good of new life. We were made for Another.\n\nSex spoken about apart from the model of love, is just self-justification. Argument for self-pleasure, not totality of self gift. \n\nNCR needs to dig deeper into Church teaching. \n\nIt does its readers a disservice by throwing out such simplistic red meat articles in search of click counts. \n\nIt's really just a different form of salaciousness..the National Inquirer Reporter for dissenting Catholics. \n\nSmarter Catholics have turned to Mercatornet.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "now THAT is the Christian spirit I hear so much about. SMDH", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hardly a success. His first major initiative was quashed by the (bad) courts, Spicer & Conway have been public embarrassments, and now he's lost Flynn. He's made terrible appointments like Munchin and Betty de Vos, who would rather see private Christian schools than a good public system. But hey, she might keep the grizzly bears away.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "At the heart of Christianity is caring. Just because many fail does not mean Christianity is without caring.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yet another NCR piece in which the authors take up the mantle of MLK Jr in 1963. \n\"I have a dream!\" they say. Is there like an NCR manifesto I can find somewhere that runs along the lines of \"Catholic Church 2085 AD: Vision for the Future\"?\n\nWhat is the magic Church they hope to re-found for the future? What place will doctrine have in it? What \"Christ of faith\" will they invent for this new Church? How will it be different from pretty much every mainline Protestant denomination that is currently withering on the vine?\n\nJust come out and say it: we have no love for the Church as we've received it from past centuries. We have no love for some of its teachings that have been affirmed ad nauseam. We have no love for settled doctrine. \n\nAbove all, we have no love for the Jesus of Nazareth we encounter in the Gospels. We want to re-invent Him in our own, more enlightened image.\n\nYou'll feel better once you do!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The unfortunate reason is that the pool of \"refugees\" we select from are refugees in refugee \"camps\". The camps are often more dangerous for the persecuted Christian minorities in Syria, Iraq, and other areas. In some areas they are barred from entering, in others they won't enter out of concern for their safety. Unfortunately these are bureaucratic issues, and as such they won't be solved quickly, if ever.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In my part of Ontario, there are all kinds of Catholic, Anglican, and other protestant denominational cemeteries.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually those thing are provable. Without certain developed nerves pain can't be felt and consciousness can't exit. \n\nWhat I think you are implying is that an undeveloped fetus has a soul, an undetectable yet present force. \n\n There have been thousands of cultures that believe there are 'spirits', most are not Christian, \n\nWithout agreeing or disagreeing, I'm just trying to see if I'm understanding what you believe.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholics supporting Trump? Unbelievable!! I can't even imagine it!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of course it also takes time for people to be lured into falsity. The last fifty plus years has proved that. From a homogenous group of believers in the 1950s the Church has not only been drasticallly reduced in numbers but also reduced to a squabbling mass of individuals many of whom reject its teaching and even deny the authority to teach which was bequeathed to it by Christ, Our Lord, Himself.\nYou only have to read the articles and the comments on this website to be aware of the total disparity of belief among people who claim to be Catholic.\nThe grace to convert every sinner comes not from receiving Communion but from repentance and a purpose of amendment made in the Sacrament of Penance. The Eucharist is only medicine for those who have taken the cure, not for those who blithely continue in sin.\nThe differentiation between subjective and objective responsibility disappears altogether when the law of God is clearly explained by one's confessor or spiritual advisor.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is NOT what most believers think or believe! Don't judge Christians by these people!!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus is- the church should/could be- THE advocate for the best in humanity and creation. I often wonder why I \"stay\" Catholic. Now I wonder \"what I am as- what is really \"Catholic\". The church has/ is confused about what it really is. Losing sight of its mission, or confused, the church \"uppers\" have misled \"us\", got themselves in a \"pickle\" and in the process are rendering themselves impotent - not merely celibate. Without fully understanding why, we even verge on repugnance. Resistance to Francis' mission even if by a few powerful, attempting to retain the JohnPaul/Ratzinger vision, is dramatically impeding the needed correction back to Jesus and the advocacy for humanity and creation as it wends its redeemed journey back to the Creator in love.\nThe merited scepticism about this \"deal\" specifically is but one example pointing to the larger picture of an institution purporting to be \"Church\" having wandered from loving advocacy for Jesus' humanity and the Parent's creation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Problem is, when is Church teaching really being distorted?\n\nThere are probably readers of this thread who think that YOUR interpretations sometimes distort Catholic teaching.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Try this one on for debate: \"Catholic Bishop Denies Funeral Rites to Jewish People.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jordaan now is a BEE divine envoy, and as such, all his sins have been forgiven, forgotten, foresaken forever, forsure\u2026..\n\n\"Port Elizabeth - God has handpicked Nelson Mandela Bay's ANC Mayoral candidate Danny Jordaan to rise up in the fight for the city, he was told at a blessing ceremony on Sunday.\n\nAnd if Nelson Mandela Metro falls into the hands of the \"enemy\", there would be suffering on a biblical scale, an influential church leader warned.\n\nJordaan's campaign was blessed by the Bantu Church of Christ in New Brighton, Nelson Mandela Bay.\n\nThe fifth bishop of the Bantu Church of Christ, Bishop John Bolana, who is said to have more than two million followers countrywide, praised Jordaan for the work he had done in the metro\u2026\u201dNews24", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If all traditional Catholics are \"schismatic-like\", so is every Catholic that has ever lived up until the 1960s.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Taken from my post in the link below\n\nThe Seminaries that moulded priests (Some now Bishops) taught them (As they were taught) that obedience to the church (Establishment) is paramount, but failed to TELL (teach) them that obedience that does not embrace TRUTH, is an easy option, as it takes away responsibility for ones actions or inactions, and that the price to pay is loss of integrity, in effect one becomes a lackey and the image of Christ in his/their sacrificial life before mankind would be lost.\nThey would have been unaware that the Church since its earliest beginnings was at war within itself, they would not have known that some who taught him and others who would have authority over them, were waterless clouds (producers of deserts), dry trees \nPlease continue in the link\nhttp://www.catholicethos.net/bishops-can-save-catholic-church-america/#comment-168\n.\nAlso for consideration\nhttp://www.catholicethos.net/errors-amoris-laetitia/#comment-167\n\nkevin your brother\nIn Christ", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"We Catholics\" should know this better than anyone.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Many early Christians believed the end of the world was nigh and were wary of challenging the authorities, which risked discrediting the fledgling religion and could lead to torture and execution.\n\nLong time ago.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Always happy to learn about cultural appropriation from a representative of BYU-Hawaii, that fine institution that owns, operates, and profits from their Polynesian Cultural Center right next door. It's a good place to show tourists what Hawaiians were like before Christians and Mormons stream-rolled their spiritual values and way of life -- for their own good of course.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Fundamentally Illogical\" ? Backing up a bit, the Bible does not state God Loves everybody the same way in the same sense, that is clear. But at the end of the day, these doctrines you believe are illogical are meant to humble or harden men and women, they are \"designed\" to do it just that way, you either submit or rebel. That is a clear concept in Biblical Christianity. A burning bush ? What relevance would that have on anything ?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...the sexism that is the only actual reason....\"\n\nMaybe, in part. But also fear of schism (thus the CC would need to have an ecumenical council before allowing ordination of women), fear of breaking tradition with other first millennial churches (Orthodox and Oriental Churches), among other things. The CC (more than one half of global Christianity) is infinitely more complicated than its teaching, practice, its thought.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Please provide citations for your implied assertion that the Constitution and Supreme Court have not rejected the concept that America was founded on Judeo-Christian principles.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Married priests is discipline not doctrine (and we have some married priests too). The Eastern Catholic Churches accept all the teachings of the Catholic Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Much of this \"argument\" depends on an assumption that Christians (or perhaps more accurately those 'identifying as Christians') are in the majority and it is someone else who has to adjust to their ordering of affairs. \n\nTheir commitment to \"freedom of religion\" extends on so far as they judge the result as favoring their religion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Or even ....... GASP!!!! ....... a Christian of no particular bias!!!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I blame you for holding untenable positions. Rather than me bothering to go to a church whose doctrine I disdain, I would direct you to read \"Letter to a Christian Nation\" by Sam Harris. I am not hounding you online, I am just using logic to blow up your arguments. Over and out. Don't vote for Jules Bailey.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is easily distilled to its essence: Is there an \"absolute\" morality within Catholicism, or is there only moral relativism? Is any Scripture, dogma, or tradition to be upheld as timeless and uniquely Divine? Or, shall Catholics individually process moral questions through the lens of contemporary sensibilities?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would just note there's a replica of the Grotto of Lourdes at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Two Inlets, MN, a very small town up north. It is beautiful and serene -- the entire church, stations, and grounds are beautiful and serene -- and the parish has mass outdoors there on nice Sundays.\n\nIf they want to build a replica grotto in Kentucky, do it out of reverence and joy, not desire to create a tourist attraction.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I've had some comments pulled, but honestly don't know at what stage? So do you konw how the peer review works? Is it X number 'uncivil' responses get the post pulled? Can a comment make it through peer review and still get pulled after it's been posted?\n\nIt's difficult to be kind to those who treat you badly. It's one of those Christian standards, 'love your enemy', that can be hard to live. After the 9/11 bombing, people gathered in my large, white, evangelical church in rural Iowa and the pastor spoke. Even more interesting is that U.S. military veteran from the congregation stood up and said at Pastor Korver's request. \"As hard as find to do this, I am asking to fine love for those who did this ...................... \" \n\nI used that to defy some stereotypes about white, Republican, small rural town citizens. People often much kinder than our expectation of them.... not all the time.....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "you might be right although it can be argued should Salvadorians or Haitians be accepted to live here legally they would have a better chance of integrating with Canadian culture and values. Haitians wouldn't have much of a problem with language barriers should they stay in QC and Salvadorians according to WIKI have an 88% literacy rate and are 78% Christian religion overall. They both could be a drain on resource initially but they could contribute to Canada's low population replacement rate, and hopefully with the right training , eventually become happy little tax payers", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Church now conducts a genuine dialogue with the Jews, thus making acceptable what thousands of years of Christianity said is unacceptable. Dialogue produces conversion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic Church has never taught that one's personal conscience is superior to the word of God and the accumulated wisdom (Tradition) of all that came before us, particularly the popes, martyrs and the saints. In fact, one's conscience is often unreliable because a person is always prone to temptations (lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life). By elevating conscience above Scripture and Tradition, this pope has mislead many people and he will pay the ultimate price unless he repents and tries to repair the damage while he still can.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not \"all\" religions worship the same god. There is definitely a relationship between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, as they're all largely from the same area. The eastern religions definitely have a different take on what their gods are than the 3 western religions.\n\nBTW, the Buddhist gods come from people.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If Christians believe in poverty being the fault of those in poverty and that the poor blame others for their lot in life, then what is their theological explanation for voting for a so-called billionaire (we have only been told) who blames everybody else for everything he fails at achieving in his own life? Seems contradictory.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "RD is one of those \"Catholics\" who believes that Matthew 25:31-46 does not apply to him. In particular, he would send away the stranger and not welcome him or her. Jesus told us that these things are necessary for salvation. RD disagrees.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Bishops loose all of their credibility when they delve into politics and leave their area of expertise. They could save a million American lives every year if they got serious about abortion. In 44 years they have made no progress in stopping abortion or addressing pro abortion politician who claim they are practicing Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingly power: proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching. For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity, will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted to myths. But you, be self-possessed in all circumstances; put up with hardship; perform the work of an evangelist; fulfill your ministry.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I find it hard to reconcile going to Mass with a majority of Catholics voting for Trump. You apparently didn't get my point. I find it morally unjustifiable to claim to be Christian and vote for Trump on moral grounds. If you believed his promise to restore your job when you are poor, that is another issue. You were conned. But finding moral justification for voting for him is so out there I do not wish to worship in the same congregation. Fortunately if I should choose to go to church I do not know who voted for whom or why. \n If I knew, and they were 90% Trump supporters I could not find the door fast enough were I unfortunate enough to find myself in their midst. I would have found myself in a congregation of the damned.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Best line from the NY Times article: \"They [Bannon and Burke] saw Islam as threatening to overrun a prostrate West weakened by the erosion of traditional Christian values, and viewed themselves as unjustly ostracized by out-of-touch political elites.\"\n\nSo the thrice-married, thrice-divorced, white nationalist sympathizer who has been accused of domestic violence and antisemitism is now the champion of Christian values? Good to know. I wonder if the good Cardinal presented Mr. Bannon with a copy of his book \"Remaining in the Truth of Christ: Marriage and Communion in the Catholic Church.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you have no integrity with the publicly stated beliefs of your religious denomination, that's between you and God. You are a private citizen, believe as you wish. \n\nBut, your fellow Conservative Baptist Imago Dei church-member, Jules Bailey, has put the integrity of his beliefs (or, more accurately, lack of integrity, if I'm following his waffling correctly), up for public scrutiny. \n\nPeople who choose to become paid public figures, must expect to be scrutinized as such. And, it's a bit na\u00efve for an Evangelical Christian to run for public office, in Portland, and not expect to be held accountable for the history of his chosen religion, particularly the past 30 years here in Portland (OCA, Oregon Family Council, etc.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Flags are considered to be idols and one must not worship them if one wishes to enter into the gates of heaven. Also, one cannot put country before god. All works must be for his grace. That's two strikes for the christians at CCU.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yeah but having a central command and control is a very catholic thing. The whole idea of Peter, the apostolic function, it's distinctively catholic. Otherwise you're in protestant territory.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Matthew 3:12 is just one of the more well known, of the many, verses in the Bible that uses allegory to describe eternal hell: \"Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.\" In this allegory, the wheat are those who believe in Christ, and the chaff well...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Begging the question by characterizing people who reject clear the Church's teachings on the indissolubility of marriage and the intrinsic immorality of abortion with \"eminently reasonable and pious people\" is a grievous logical error.\n\nI would suggest that if Jesus Christ Himself looked you in the eye and told you that marriage was indissoluble, and you took issue with his understandings of these matters, no Christian of any stripe would characterize you as \"eminently reasonable and pious\".\n\nThe characterization of exchange I just described as \"questions and processes of discernment\" simply places a fig leaf over the reality.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pandora, a massive onslaught is being waged against Catholicism by the forces of evil. I remember reading over 30 years ago in the UK Daily Telegraph, very establishment and no great fan of Catholicism, that the Catholic Church was the last bastion left standing against secularism. This was in response to Protestantism's capitulation to the Prince of This World.\nAs you point out, the battleground chosen by secularism is sexual morality and by a clever strategy aided by the media, they accuse the bishops of being focussed upon this when they are only responding to it: 'culture warrior' is a meaningless tag just as 'fascist' is when applied to anyone who is not a rabid socialist.\nIn the end all this would be unimportant except that so many souls will have been led to perdition on account of it, not just now but in the future when purely secular forces will all but destroy Christian morality. Sad to say, the worst of the forces of evil is the fifth column.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So...if you snooze you lose? ;-}\nPerhaps you noticed the propensity we men (well, at least this man) have to blame women for our failings? ;-}\n\nI think I am more surprised by BlueHeron's assertion that the female diaconate has remained alive, although vestigial, in Orthodoxy. \n\nBTW, I am assuming that your restored female diaconate makes no distinction between men and women in terms of liturgical functions? or any other allowed duties? The evidence from history appears to be of a pretty clear demarcation between what male an female deacons did. I believe it is precisely on this bug-a-boo that some Catholic scholars have used to argue against the equality of male and female deacons.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is very unfortunate.\n\nNowhere in the US can we support the argument that capital punishment is a last resort to the safety of citizens.\n\nMore formation of Christians/Catholics is sorely needed on this and other life topics, really all moral teaching matters.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What evidence do you have that a kid with an Italian last name, who went to a Catholic school, was Jewish?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank goodness we have you to model real Christian behavior.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is great to hear this Catholic Organization doing so much to help our refugee relatives in Christ. It would also be great to hear what our own American Knights of Columbas are doing to help to care and nurture all life. Jesus said He is \"Life\". Deacon'82 Environment and Social Justice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"If the Seventh-day Adventist church is the fastest growing Christian denomination in N America...\" then Christianity is in deep trouble because the general population grows by 191 each time someone joins the SDA Church. That isn't progress, that's getting buried by the growing avalanche of secularism and we need to recognize that reality.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Abortion is not mentioned in the Bible. That doesn't stop Christians from having religious views on the subject.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oftentimes on each side of the equation there is a claim of 'cherry picking' or an accusation of 'cafeteria Catholics', yet this stuff continues unchallenged and unabated. In the case of the Immaculate Conception an omniscient God would know from all eternity Mary's response, there would be no surprise. We might also do the same with the communion of saints and intercession. Would a God that is omniscient require an intercession to what It already knows. The claim is also that God is immutable. When we pray, make our requests, pray for the dead are we not forgetting the attributes we humans have already placed on a Godhead; Omniscience, Omnibenevolence, Omnipotence, Immutable, Absolute.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "By now, the conspiracy would have come out. I take it that you believe that there was more than Oswald shooting JFK? Same arguments about the conspiracy lasting. Also, if it was the game you mention, there would have been more people disputing it.\nYou also have a secondary problem and question. How did the apostles go from hiding in a upper room to bold preachers? How and why did Saul become Paul? Remember that before he took the name Paul, Saul was about as anti-Christian as they come. Why would he change if the tomb was not empty and he had not seen Jesus alive after he had died?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So, we \"progressive\" Catholics are the sinless \"good guys\" and the others are the enemies...and we are not to love our enemies until they 'fess' up to their sins? And this is found in which Gospel?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "None of the Muslims I know subscribe to extremism, but positioning Islam as a religion of peace is a tough sell if they continue to open prayers with a call to victory over Christians, Jews etc. Such has been reported by multiple sources, with one link posted below. Worth a read. \n\nhttp://www.torontosun.com/2015/01/13/muslims-shouldnt-pray-to-defeat-non-muslims", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Marian teaching simply ignores what is really in the bible....\"\n\nThus spoken like a devout Protestant -- with provisional skepticism about anything having to do with Mary, Catholic teaching on her, Tradition, Lourdes -- the whole works!\nAnd yes, the crowd of voices that are \"really in the Bible\" -- really, really from Genesis to Revelation (with all the glows of divine fire and Old Testament massacres between) -- that you know, whether in allegorical or literal relation to one another, that echo farther down the road of history than any non-evangelical contours, with no non-connections to one another, of course, because the Holy Spirit has enlightened you with what is really in the Bible. You sound like a good Baptist or Mormon whose mug of tea has gone cold after having really read his bible, through and through for hours, with Catholics' Mary too contrary to be in Scripture, to their liking. lol", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That definition came from the Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms. As GBA said above, The term Christian these days has virtually no meaning to the masses.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That day isn't that far off in Canada, you're just not paying attention. The majority is very much in control to the point where some people have to resort to the UN for help getting their human rights recognized by the majority. It's very common to see the majority blame victims for their plight, whatever the case might be. \n\nEvidently Christian fundamentalism is not 'acceptable'. And religion here will undoubtedly be mocked by most of the posters, particularly Christianity. No one ever defends it. If one Canadian sneezes in front of another Canadian, what does the one being sneezed on say?\n\nAnne Coulter was warned to \"watch her mouth\" by Canadians before she even packed her suitcase to go up there. Then tar and feathered out of town.\n\nBigotry toward Americans is part of the culture and any writer here who would dare to write something showing anything about the U.S. in a favorable light, as rare an article as that would be, will be thoroughly attacked by virtually everyone.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One could argue that broadcasting unproven accusations on a radio show is slander. So one can make a case that this type of paranoia is uninformed and unlawful.\n\nShould we also affiliate all Christian based religions with Westboro?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "All of your liberal concerns are addressed with hundreds of billions of dollars spent by local, state, and the federal government.\n\nAuthentic REAL Catholic concerns are the focus of real Catholics such as myself and the Church. These are the ones that go begging for support and should be our top priority, not the personal politcal baggage of leftist retreads like Robert McElroy, Blase Cupich, and Cardinal O'Malley.\n\nDon't ask me to waste my $$$ to the Church on bleeding heart liberal causes any more than you would ask me to donate to Zuckerberg, Trump, or Buffet's bank books.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Many here assume that those who adhere to the Teachings of the One True, Unchanging, Inerrant Mother Church are engaging in satire. They fail to recall that Jesus himself said unto Peter, you are the rock, upon which I will establish My Church and Magisterium, headquartered in Rome, clothed in Medieval Splendor, to Rule and Order the World, and the Laity shall do as they are Told.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I laugh when I hear people say \"if there was evidence to the contrary\". Assuming the Catholic church is as efficient as the Islamic faith in destroying anything that contradicts their belief, there never will be any. It's long gone.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Quite unfair. The Truth is taught by the Church, which is to say the Bishops and Cardinal Burke is a bishop, so what he says is the Truth and we True Catholics accept it. No need to be bitten, by the truth, although perhaps being bitten by a bishop would suffice. The poster you challenge has not need to lie, merely repeats the defenses of the clergy offered by the Bishops as they have struggled under the burden caused by the scandal they cultivated. So, you see, no need to lie, just repeat the Bishops' truths, which surely cannot be lies?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think that Christmas brings all of what was Canada back. The Christian church services, the lovely decorations, the gift exchanges, the lovely proper Canadian food. Trudeau senior trying as best he could to wreck all of that didn't succeed and thank God for that. Merry Christmas everyone!!!!!!!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That reminds me of the man who went to Northern Ireland. When they asked him what religion he was, he said \"I'm an atheist.\"\n\n\"Yes,\" they said, \"but are you a Catholic or Protestant atheist?\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This administration is testament to the lopsided power of big money in general and the carbon exploiters specifically over the common good of the citizens of the country and world. The kochs and others huge investments in republican, conservative and christian politicians and organizations are paying huge benefits to the top 2% at the peril of everyone else.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I suspect that there not enough Roman Christians to mention.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For your enlightenment, Opus Dei is an extremely controversial organization within the Roman Catholic church, due in no small part to its secrecy and its unrelenting quest for earthly wealth and influence. Friends who have become involved with OD are uniformly critical of the organization. My copy of John Allen's OD panegyric came from a priest who found it nauseating and wanted it out of his library. After reading it, I adopted a much less favorable opinion of Mr. Allen as a reliable reporter of \"all things Catholic.\" Et reliqua.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hi Marilyn,\nYou definitely got a dud priest there. The Indian priests we have locally are willing to learn from us locals and are humble. I do agree though that some can come with \"superior\" attitudes inherited from the Caste system. \nThe main problem though is what CommonCatholic above mentioned - priests with a difficult to understand accent. This is especially so for those who are 70 years or older, whom nowadays make up 75% of the congregation. They have aged-acquired hearing loss. Combine that with a church building with dodgy acoustics (mostly the ones that are square boxes), and the homily just becomes a muddle.\n(Those mediaeval church builders got it right with all those curves and columns. They couldn't rely on a PA system!).\nIf Ireland imports foreign priests the wheel will have turned full circle. 50 years ago Catholics in a lot of English-speaking countries used to struggle with the broad Irish brogue of priests imported from Maynooth or All Hallows!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "All of us are how we act, not what we say. \nThe \"ontologically different\" clergy and hierarchy are showing us who they are. \nThe church will reform only to the extent that civil and criminal law force it to. How very sad that is.\nIt is well to remember that Jesus never ordained anyone.\nIf the church is to survive, some future iteration of Catholic Christianity will be without the clergy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't necessarily disagree with all of fr. Daly's views. But I gotta wonder how he's still allowed to function as a Catholic priest.\n\nhttps://newwaysministryblog.wordpress.com/tag/fr-peter-daly/\n\nFather, are these views tied to your recent sabbatical? I have to wonder if you weren't disciplined by the bishop.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hallo Loy,\nyou write \"And I have my baptismal and marriage promises to keep . I like to see them as bonds of love .\" \nSo you are an exception. Most of us were baptised as babies.\nThe fact that we are born into an institutionalised religion has often been the basis for religious wars. No child is born as a catholic, a protestant, a muslim, a buddhist, an atheist and so on (maybe with the exception of being born of a Jewish mother). Our confession is the result of education, or - if you like - of vocation, grace.\nBut I am deviating of this topic of women in the RCC. Sorry.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "First thing to remember is that the Conservatives are well known for their election fraud convictions. Pierre Poutine, election laws violated by the upper echelon of the cabinet. With their record on dishonest voting schemes, it wouldn't surprise me at all that the whole vote was rigged by zealots leaving Bernier unceremoniously cheated out of a victory that was all but sealed until the ballots were spoiled, rejected and destroyed. What really confuses me is, the illegitimate Leader of the Conservatives purports to be a Christian family man that doesn't cheat.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"After I read Almighty, what remains in the imagination is the personal witness of the three protagonists, very ordinary Christians, who protested this most perilous of human creations and gave witness with their lives to Isaiah\u2019s hope that swords would be beat into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks.\"\n\nI can't wait to read it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Personally, I believe most of the basic tenets of my Catholicism; I just no longer believe it as I was taught. \nI suspect, Bill, that your equating your particular exercise with seminarians with advice to us re sharing our faith state with the larger or wider \"faith community\" is dangerous. One must always be prudent about whom one shares intimacy with. Moving away from or beyond creed formulations does not necessarily equate with moving away from creed, but can rather becoming one with it in a way that might be hardly recognizable to others.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That is a narrowly Catholic explanation of natural law. Natural law is a philosophy that posits the ability through reason to arrive at moral principles determined by nature.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"At first, scientists concluded that Christian and Muslim children were less likely to share than those who were non-religious. But a re-evaluation of the data found the variation was influenced more by what country the children lived in. \"\n\nI couldn't let this tidbit pass by without notice. One really has to wonder how good much of this research is, especially in a soft science like psychology. We are in a time of unprecedented egalitarianism and heightened concern for others, but how much of it is genuine? \n\nYes, many people feel good when they give, but that good feeling could just as easily be the self-satisfaction of the smug rather than altruism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "At the same time, Catholic pro-life lobbyists are working hard toward the day when abortion will be legally classed with murder, and women who choose abortion, given long prison terms.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Just where did Father go to seminary? Was he not taught the sins of detraction or calumny? With the exception of the his position on homosexual issues, Mr. Trump's philosophy is strikingly {traditional} Catholic. His opposition to free trade and overly greedy capitalism nicely reflects the Church's teaching re distributism and RERUM NOVARUM. His philosophy on smaller, leaner, more localized governance is textbook subsidiarity. And his immigration plan closely tracks Aquinas' views. He has spoken powerfully on protecting life in the womb, condemned the anarchy that has recently filled our streets {see property owners in Ferguson, Baltimore, and Berkley}, and restored confidence in our law enforcement officers whom the previous administration appeared to hold in utter contempt. Is Mr. Trump without flaws, of course not. He is arrogant, not particularly articulate, and is occasionally prone to fibbing ( as opposed to the pathological liar Hillary Clinton}. But so far, he's been \"Catholic\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Charlie Pierce...........contraception \n\nThere is no \u201cCatholic position\u201d on this issue. There are the opinions of the clerical bureaucrats, accessories after the fact, and the members of the Clan of The Red Beanie, and then there is the opinion of the overwhelming majority of Catholic laypeople, who stopped listening to anything the Vatican said on the matter of birth control back in 1965. (And recall that the Second Vatican Council emphasized that the Church consisted of the entire people of God, which means the opinion of the overwhelming majority of Catholic people, acting out of their own conscience on this issue, matters as much or more than the opinion held by the temporary holders of clerical offices...........)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not even close what? That it's Christians and Muslims at it, or that they worship the same god?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One can assess a Catholic's good-standing by the amount of Catholic dogma and doctrine re: Faith and Morals he rejects in favour of his own opinions. This is pretty much what Luther, Zwingli et al did in the 16th century AD.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christians and Muslims always at it. Comical they basically worship the same god.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If the media did not talk about his on-line rantings against Christianity then how did you know about it? (I also saw it in the \"media\"). Why can't the \"left-wing\" media, especially the Denver Post, report on a Colorado connection as well? Makes sense to me.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As a resident of a county in Florida where we have more than two thousand homeless children trying to stay alive, could bishops try to do something constructive for these kids??? Many break apart their school lunches so they have something to eat later in the day. Most go to bed hungry. \nMy donations are generous to our parish food pantry to try to help but this need is too great. \nChristians should be better at organizing their priorities.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/dr-david-gunn-is-murdered-by-anti-abortion-activist\n\nAll three, Christian, religious zealots. Classified as domestic terrorism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Great story! May I encourage you to receive Jesus as your saviour? Romans 10:9 says \"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One thing, the only \"ex cathedra\" statements we have from any popes are two Marian dogmas. \"No salvation outside the church\" has never been Catholic dogma.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Grazie. La Festa dei Sette Pesci is more important than a tree. For one thing, most Catholics can't eat trees.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christianity must no longer be defined by a list of unchanging beliefs, but rather by a way of life centered in love, as embodied by Jesus.\n\nImagine what would happen if for the next five hundred years, we put as much energy into the formation of generous, Christlike disciples as we have put into getting people to believe certain things or show up at certain buildings or observe certain taboos or support certain political or economic ideologies or keep certain people gainfully employed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are not in a position to fraternally correct anyone who is upholding the teaching of the Catholic Church as you reject most of it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "doesn't matter if the church is losing young, old, in-between. the Church is the body of Christ- those that follow Him. He and the God of the OT are ONE. The Holy Spirit is the third part of the Trinity. These folks do not know HIM- or they would not be excusing what is not excusable.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Women have already been recipients of Holy Orders. These orders come from God not men. Women have been called to lead and have led as presbyters, elders, apostles and deacons from the earliest times of our church.\n\nThis ban against women being ordained priests was never a dogma but merely the tradition of sexist men, and made well after Christ rose and the apostles too. Traditions have changed in our past before and doctrines too. This sexist ban against women, called by God, to priesthood is hatred which is proved by the horrible results that all sexism causes in our world, especially sexism thru religion. A tree is known by its fruit and the fruit of sexism is poverty, violence, terrorism and slavery and many other evils. \n\nTraditions of evil must be done away with or we make ourselves anti-Christian, and a joke as believers in a Christ whose main commandment we continue to ignore as a matter of church law.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"strident professed militant Catholics\".\n\n Insider groupspeak for referring to Catholics who are not dissenters.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A little disappointed in this article, Alaska offers such a wide range of Christian church options... We have several Russian Orthodox churches in Anchorage alone, not to mention the Korean churches. I would have enjoyed seeing a wider diversity discussed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wilson is an _illegal_ immigrant. Your failure to admit he's breaking the law and taking a job from an American, uh, \"scandalizes all Christians.\" What a phrase Stevey.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The socialist have infiltrated the Catholic Church, starting with our heritic \"Pope\" Francis. Catholic should demand their bishops and priest do their jobs and help people get to heaven rather than incite anarchy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "-A century ago, the church was deeply divided over Pope Pius X's campaign against \"Modernism,\" which was a catchall for anything Rome deemed suspicious. \n\"When Pius X died, the conclave of 1914 elected Benedict XV, who immediately issued an encyclical (Ad Beatissimi Apostolorum - http://en{.}wikipedia{.}org/wiki/Ad_Beatissimi_Apostolorum) calling on Catholics \u2018to appease dissension and strife\" so that \"no one should consider himself entitled to affix on those who merely do not agree with his ideas the stigma of disloyalty to faith.\u2019 \n\u2018There is no need of adding any qualifying terms to the profession of Catholicism,\u2019 he concluded. \u2018It is quite enough for each one to proclaim 'Christian is my name and Catholic my surname.\u2019 (ABA Sec. 24)\u201c\n(David Gibson, \u201cWho Is a Real Catholic?\u201d The Washington Post, Sunday, May 17, 2009 )--", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "While not a Taylor Swift fan, it seems that she does what she does without much fanfare, aside from her music. Perhaps today's feminists wish that she would speak out more forcibly but that is her choice. The problem appears to stem from rigidly held viewpoints from committed feminists (or Christians, Muslims, Republicans, .....) that you are either totally in or your not. Not allowing differences of opinion will cause increased conflicts, both within a movement or organization, or in society in general. Frankly, I really don't care what Taylor Swift has to say. She does, however, influence the minds of young people.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My only consolation is that I live in the deep blue state of Massachusetts where Hillary Clinton won with 61 percent of the vote. All of our congress people are democrats and they were all re-elected with big margins. All of our ballot questions results were liberal. I have seen my share of stereotypical Trump supporters, an I am praying they do not infiltrate our state. Cardinal O'Malley and his merry band may have achieved their national goal, but their flock here in MA is not with them politically by a longshot. If abortion rights came to a vote here, in one of the most Catholic states, it would pass. The assisted suicide bill failed a few years ago because it was too broad. I voted for it but I wanted it to be stricter, so I hope the next time it is a referendum that it will be severely restricted to cases where death is imminent within a few weeks.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "JD, glad to have your ideas and have missed them for awhile. You're incite is particularly good in what you have written. While in my personal life, my medical residents always recognized my conservatism. I was willing to change but only after I had studied at least many of the ramifications of what the change meant. Now people socially see me as a liberal because I am honest when I decry poor leaders such as our very own Catholic Bishops. To be conservatives means to preserve things like human dignity and the environment, it does not mean materialism. Yet, our own culture and our own Catholic Bishops are using mammon as their God. One thing that Mr. Goldwater said about the neocons, \"They are not conservatives and they are not right.\" I was not a great fan of Senator Goldwater but he had many more high and good principles than so many \"so called\" conservatives. As a conservative I think I liked it better when people did not have such a high opinion of the word conservative.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "European news sources refer to Rutte as Centre right coming in first with 33 seats, and Wilders, extreme right coming in second with 20 seats, and 3rd place shared equally by Christian Democrats and Liberal Progressives at 19 seats each. So I am not sure a shift towards centre left really describes the results unless the Netherland's Labour Party, which suffered the greatest losses, was considered right of centre.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Creation showcases and thrives on and in diversity. The Tower of Babel, doomed to fail, is any religion's attempt to make everyone do it the same \"one right way\" witness the Roman Catholic Church, the true Tower of Babel.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "At the same time only about a third of Catholics (37 percent among Trump supporters & 33 percent among Clinton supporters) said it was important to them to have younger members of the family grow up as Catholics.\nThis was interesting because it hints at something I have been coming across in other Catholics without really hitting the issue on the head. Women and Men sometimes really are torn at times whether Catholicism is a healthy church to raise their children in, especially, when we see women highly marginalized & voiceless compared to men due to unequal ordination & sacramental treatment and opportunities. \nThis hit me hard last year when teaching Faith Formation to 6th graders & the one day I was out, I was told that the substitute female teacher told my class of 7 girls & 2 boys that our church's refusal to ordain women priests was fair because girls could do other things in church. I corrected this belief & said no this is not fair or equality but the issue is being debated.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes. I have read some of his decisions in the areas of separation of powers and administrative agencies. He may prove to be a big thorn in the side of Trump's ambitions....especially in the areas of conflict of interests. To me, he represents something Trump passed on to others with the expectation the selection would appease his Evangelical supporters. I suspect in the end, Gorsuch will prove to be a mistake for Bannon/Trump, and likewise for Evangelicals and prolife Catholics. Roe v Wade is settled law.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Young people want fairness. Can't you remember saying when you were young, \"It's not fair\" Well in the eyes of these young people the Catholic Church is not fair. Yes, life is not fair, but young people see the ludicrous inequality in the Church of men over women in a world that acknowledged that gender bias is over. The young people \"get it\" the old princes of the Church don't. \nJust look at pictures of all these men dressed up at this Bishop's conference. Do these men know how women feel as they look at these pictures? Do you think the young people don't know that their mothers, girl friends and women friends feel excluded, marginalized and ignored. Do you think they want to live in an insane world as what is pictured. I don't think so. It is time for the hierarchy of Catholic Church to really look at itself. If they do not do this work, then farewell youth. \n'", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Newman supports me as I've shown above and that is good enough for me. \nIf the Magisterium can err then the Church has no authority to teach. The Church, however, received the authority to teach from Christ, Himself: Christ cannot err, therefore His Church cannot err.\nThe old chestnut about slavery is easily disposed of. Did Christ tolerate slavery? No. It was part of the fabric of society in those days and there is no doubt that there were very many abuses of the system. \nSimilarly the medieval Feudal System incorporated many abuses. Both systems probably allowed millions to survive and live relatively comfortable lives who would have otherwise died very early in life in abject poverty.\nOur modus vivendi today is far from perfect so it is hypocritical for us to stand in judgement on our ancestors.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "From what I understand, the Old Testament applies to Jews. This is their law. The Council of Jerusalem (50 AD) determined Gentiles could be Christians and weren't required to follow Jewish law.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I raise my glass to you for that info!\n\nGuess who else is a Conservative Baptist- Ted Cruz & Mike Huckabee. Couldn't find any cool people on the list of active Conservative Baptists.\n\nJimmy Carter, Al Gore and Bill Clinton all left the Conservative Baptists for\nliberal Baptist (non-patriarchal) churches.\n\nBest of all- Brad Pitt was raised Conservative Baptist but is now an agnostic.\n\nhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Southern_Baptist_Convention_affiliated_people", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Who is denying that Jesus is present at the Mass?? The fact that not everyone can receive the Eucharist at Mass does not mean that Jesus is not there.....\n\nBy the way - even Pope Francis did NOT green-light everyone receiving Communion...let's look at what he said about divorced / remarried......\n\n\"The family is in crisis. How do we integrate into the life of the Church the families, the \u201creplays,\u201d those in a second union that sometimes turns out really well\u2026. While the other was a failure. How do we reintegrate them? What the Church wants is for you to integrate yourself into the life of the Church.\n\nBut there are those who say, \u201cNo, I want to receive Communion, and that\u2019s it.\u201d Like a rosette. An honorary award. No. Reintegrate yourself.\" (http://www.osservatoreromano.va/en/news/two-years-pontificate)\n\nActually, a good read would be this article\nhttps://cruxnow.com/global-church/2016/09/12/pope-okays-argentine-doc-communion-divorced-remarried/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Matthew 5:44-45 \u201cBut I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Pursue your enemies so that you may LOVE them, not kill or harm them. Luke 6:27-28 \u201cBut I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Are you a \"True Christians\" and is this attitude in you?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And the golden calf of Catholic Traditionalists is their placing the rules above all else. Well, that and their idea that letting other people making moral decisions for them is the proper thing to do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The \"door of reconciliation\" with God is always open through Christ. Whether people respond to the grace that impels them to repent their sin and receive this forgiveness is another matter.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually, Paul Castellano and John Gotti, among other \"connected\" fellows, are the most famous cases of this canon being invoked. Messy business indeed. There is frequently some accommodation made for the comfort of family members not involved in the family business, such as the ones suggested in the directive which is available at http://www.praytellblog.com/index.php/2017/10/22/bishop-morlino-on-funerals-involving-a-notorious-homosexual-union/ Francis Ford Coppola and David Chase are greats in the entertainment industry, but maybe not such great sources for Catholic information.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"particular religious faiths\"? Doesn't that sound like you're trying to say Islam without actually saying it?\n\nThere is a huge difference between what usee to happen with Christianity when it was presented as essentially a state sponsored religion and what is happening by allowing Muslim students to use an empty classroom one day a week. \n\nI have yet to see evidence that the parents and imams expect the school to enforce that Muslim students to attend prayers. Unlesss you can support that I suspect you're reading more into this than is really there.\n\nThe Israel and Indonesia examples are interesting but I don't see how that has anything to do with Canada unless you're suggesting we close schools at 1pm on Fridays. But at least you acknowledge that other religions have prayer times that don't match the Christian ones. Given that schools do not close at 1pm your assertion that this isn't such a big deal is so insesnsituve it verges on blatant ignorance of the situation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So a private law school that bans non-Christians so that its students can have an atmosphere that \"respects, encourages and supports their beliefs.\" would be fine?? Or how about a Muslim law school that requires a study of Sharia law in addition to Canadian law so its graduates can better serve their community's culture.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's generally accepted that it was the secular governments, not the Catholic Church, which burned people at the stake. Heresy was a capital crime under secular law at the time. I can find absolutely no evidence that the Catholic Church associated left-handedness with witchcraft. That seems to be a prevalent folk superstition of the time, but the Church, as far as I can tell, has never made such a proclamation. Most of the frenzied mass witch hunts we hear about were carried out within small villages and did not fall under the control of the Church.\n\nhttp://catholicbridge.com/catholic/burning_times_inquisition_witches.php\n\nhttp://www.salon.com/2005/02/01/witch_craze/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well over 50% of Catholic communicants cannot articulate what the Sacrament of Orders is, why women are excluded, or articulate a simple explanation of what occurs in the Divine Mystery.\n\nIf my ideas come from a very dark right hand corner of the catholic cafeteria, it is not the one that they\u2019re in.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The church has long said those church officials who committed crimes acted individually.\"\n\nSo this must have been .. a maverick type of Catholic Church in Rwanda. Were donations made from those parishes to the Catholic Church never sanctioned by the Vatican? Very strange if they were accepting money, yet calling out, later, that these churches were acting individually. Imagine a bunch of Vatican officials who are being dishonest about that fact. Huh. Amazing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Standing up for justice is something all Christians are obligated to do with or without support of any others. A pope should be leading us in this example. Do right no matter whether it is popular or not. Also 60% of Catholics outside of Africa have been asking him to ordain women priests - he has plenty of support.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I find evangelical Christianity to be inherently objectionable and a sign of intellectual weakness, if not outright desperation. But I find Bailey's cowardly 'yes' vote in favor of the Columbia River Crossing (aka CRC) I-5 expansion project to be far more objectionable. That vote certainly wasn't an act of love for the people of N and NE Portland. Nor was it remotely progressive. I'm surprised that Slovic doesn't even mention it because it's another crucial piece of evidence that his supposed progressive social values are seriously lacking.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think you are being short sighted as a disciple of Christ for the reasons I stated, but you appear to be a very devoted Roman Catholic. Further, I don't believe the RCC teaches that confession and ordination are equivalent to resurrection and divinity. Aren't the former dogmas and the latter doctrines? If they do teach that (they are the same), I would call that an obfuscation of Christ's gospel message to us. I believe also that is why PF is urging us to keep it simple and focus on the essentials. Of course he would never abolish the sacraments, but I believe his insistence to reorder things with proper emphasis is necessary and prudent.\n\nCurious, do you have a problem with one's claim to be \"born again\" which is entirely biblical and supported by Catholic teaching?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, I think I'll go deport eleven million people so I'll qualify as a Christian woman.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Martin's approach is hardly \"pastoral\" as no shepherd would lead his flock into the the company of wolves or allow them to be fly-blown without treatment.\n\nFaithful Catholics the world over see this but the uncatechised find his avoidance of difficult things attractive, like kids who think their uncle is nicer than their parents because they can have ice cream for breakfast when they visit him.\n\nOne characteristic of these uncatechised: not seeing that the teachings of the Church are in service of the Gospel. You cannot truly follow Christ and not love his Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One of the interesting differences between the social justice gospel advocated in the U.S. and the socialism of Scandinavian countries idealized by the Left is that socialistic Scandinavian countries like Norway are not welfare states. Even communism does not advocate a welfare state where you have high percentages of working age adults dependent on government handouts, and so few actually paying for those handouts. I wonder how Christian social justice advocates feel about Paul's counsel to the Thessalonians: \"He who will not work will not eat\"\n\nUnfortunately, more so in the U.S. than almost anywhere else in the world, social justice has given us this warped, insidious notion that it is compassionate and just to not only allow dependency, but to foster the conditions that encourage and perpetuate it. Thus, even the church's charity often ends up looking like corporate government extender programs more than life transforming, personal encounters with the Incarnate Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The other shooters didn't murder in the name of Jesus or Christianity. If they had then they too would have been identified as terrorists. The Orlando shooter was inspired by those religious nut bars also known as ISIL and that's why he was branded a terrorist.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What Bible contains passages favorable to Judas?\n\nAlso, Judas was dead before Jesus' death and resurrection, so he wasn't among the Twelve who Jesus appeared to.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, but people such as R&R say that if one dismisses HV, then one has left the Catholic faith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I hadn't realized you were masquerading. Of course, excommunication is something to consider. Imagine a priest who abuses children forgives a woman's sin of abortion, but she remains excommunicated, while he gets a new parish if he gets caught. Most progressives would think this wrong, but you and I, with our slavish devotion to the Church recognize that this is exactly what Christ wanted when he founded the church and handed Peter the first edition of the Holy Catechism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is an overview [paraphrasing] of secular humanist summary:... \"Also this SECULAR misconception is magnified by the false notion that what Jesus said and taught was to not be judgmental, as we all make mistakes, do not focus on the behavior of others, but instead focus on your own behavior and attitude and let it be good.\"\n\nSecular humanist magnify the \"misconception [s]\" \"that what Jesus said and taught was to not be judgmental,...blah, blah, blah\"\nI'm being charitable in my use of \"misconception [s]\" more properly it should be their ignorance is magnified in trying to associate the \"Golden Rule\" concept to Jesus/Christianity. Add to that all the other \"misconception [s]\" about the \"peace and love\" Jesus by secular humanist.\n\nJesus said: \"If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.\" Matthew 10:14 This requires one to be judgmental.\n\nCont...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As are Americans, Canadians and Europeans. Most professing to be Christians. And in MUCH larger numbers.\n\nAre they somehow exempt from your \"lament\"? Are \"their\" children \"different\" in some way?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ideology can be dangerous, but it can also lead to reforms like Social Security and affordable health care. The fight over how much of our life is public, how much is private and whether wealth (and more importantly power) and how are all matters of ideology. Frankly, the ideology of Catholic Social Teaching is a form of demoncratic socialism. It should admit it this and help become an organizing force, like with the unions, but it needs to its own house in order as well and become a bit more internally democratically socialist, including offering hierarchs an exit if they won\u2019t agree.\n\nLSN resisting Cupich is not news. The best hope for real progress on Life is to get it out of the Republican echo chamber. I suspect that the Cardinal\u2019s opponent is part of the problem.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I doubt that the destruction of the Church is God's plan, more likely the destruction of the clerical power structure that has evolved over centuries. To paraphrase Elagabalus' comment ahead of yours, perhaps God \"is clearly annoyed by their excessive legalism\" and Francis is His change agent.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The better answer for the Pope would be to take off the Clerics and place laity with survivors only on this commission. Then to address the Church in a way that the Clerics must listen and answer and take the admonitions from the commission. We Roman Catholics could then come to much better conclusions and solutions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus indeed died for all, but only many will take Him up on His offer of salvation. Universal salvation is the heresy advocates of translating \"pro multis\" as \"for all\" are playing footsie with. If it was written \"pro omnibus\", \"for all\" would be the appropriate translation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As a Catholic, I completely agree with Bannon. I found it very telling when the Bishop's message on immigration in the weekly bulletin was different in English than it was in Spanish. There are so many immigrants (legal & Illegal) in my parish, we have a priest on permanent loan from El Salvador.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I had the privilege of listening to Kevin Garratt at church (who was locked up in solitary confinement in China for his Christian beliefs), and he said he started every morning at 3am. with Jesus.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "With all due respect to John Henry Newman, for whom I have the greatest admiration, he is certainly mistaken on this point.\n\nThe offices of diakonos/deacon, presbuteros/priest and episkopos/bishop were already established during what we call the 1st century Eyewitness Period that encompassed the lives of the Apostles, as can be seen by their presence in the New Testament, particularly in the Acts of the Apostles.\n\nMy mentor, the late Fr. John Hardon who was one of the greatest catechists of the 20th century pointed out in his lectures that by the time of the death of John the Apostle, circa A.D. 95, there were already some 100 Catholic dioceses around the Mediterranean rim, each one overseen by a bishop.\n\nBy that time we specifically know about the first five Bishops of Rome - Peter, Linus, Anacletus, Clement and Evaristus.\n\nIn fact without the fullness of the priesthood found only in the bishops, we would not have had any priests at all since they can only be ordained by a bishop.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Prove how \"Francis' theology is warped\". Cite history [beyond JP II and Benedict's time] PROVING that Francis' theology is warped---as you are claiming. Because I can cite documents from the early days of Christianity that shows that Francis is right on track.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I will definately start funding this charitable scholarship with the funds I used to give to Catholic Charities - I suggest others do as well. \n\nBeing equally called to priesthood in my teens & knowing first hand the ongoing & sometimes spiritually & emotionally crushing pain involved in this rejection of me, as a human being, unworthy of my calling given into my heart by God, I can attest to the agony of the story of these women, as true, & same for all who have undergone being the target of this unique hatred. It can be crippling & paralyzing. The ache never leaves & that is not a punishment but an encouragement from the Holy Spirit that those crushed must see & know & tell the importance of repenting from this hideous sin against God Almighty who made all Man, including women, equals, & equal representatives of Christ.\n \nPain inspires change & sometimes it is the one thing people will fight hard against. We must ordain women priests now! God needs us to be a Just Church for Him.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Cory Gardner is going to be in Colorado? Of course it is not to meet with or answer questions from the people who elected him. \n\nand...I'm still chuckling at \"thought leaders\" and \"conservative Christians\" in the same article.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, let's see: what party was the president from who tried to impose his liberal, secular, atheistic, humanistic views on the Catholic Church? What party of the two parties tends to trample religious rights--except of course when it comes to Muslims? (The Democrats love Muslims) It certainly isn't the Republican party. It is not the fault of the Catholic bishops that they support religious freedom while the Democratic party does not. \n\nThe Democratic Party is obsessed with abortion--so---that makes them the party of death. Suppose we had a president who supports slavery, but otherwise wants to help the poor, and do everything else you claim the Democrats do. Would you say \"Well, yes he supports slavery, but look at all the poor he wants to help! We should support him!\" \n\nSame logic: abortion is fundamental. When the Democrats support the destruction of innocent human under the guide of women's rights and \"choice\" the rest of the good they stand for is irrelevant.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree that Vatican II put some new emphasis on all the baptized having some participation in the Mass; however, the references in the Vatican II documents and in the Vatican Catechism for \"in the person of Christ\" all refer specifically to ordained priests, not the people in general. Since this business of the priest acting \"in persona Christi\" is not in the Baltimore Catechism (as far as I know), my impression is that \"in persona Christi\" was what some fundamentalist or reactionary clerics inserted into Vatican II texts. I don't see any evidence that this idea of priest-as-god-representative goes back into history but for like one sentence in Aquinas, and Pius XII played with it (Mediator Dei 1947). Are you old enough to remember how it was before? I don't recall any of this \"in persona\" stuff being taught in my Catholic schools when I was young. We learned the Baltimore Catechism. Bro, you are making me doubt my understanding of history and I admit I'm not an expert, far from it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sweden.\n\nGermany.\n\nAustria, Hungary, Denmark, Greece.\n\nNow women are scared to go out at night,\nBut Bishops say, \"everything's all right.\"\nWe must welcome the stranger\nLike he's Christ of the manger.\nNationalism is baseless\nDon't be a racist!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would say that we do, indeed, know the \"real\" reasons for the withdrawal of the Sulpicians. The history of the Church is replete with the same routine: local bishop tries to wrest control of an institution (usually from nuns) and create so much conflict it destroys the ministry from within. The article above makes it quite clear, if you really read it carefully, of exactly how +Cordileone repeated the dysfunction of the hierarchy over-reaching its reasonable authority, and in a way that alienates just about everyone else. I hope that Pope Francis takes keen notice of this, and removes the bishop from such an important see as San Francisco. God knows there is a lot of other reasons to do so.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "- You wrote \u201cthe Eastern Church\u201d. There are Eastern Catholics and they accept the Immaculate Conception.\n\n- You wrote \u201cdoes not accept the Immaculate Conception\u201d. In fact, the Orthodox Church as a whole has never considered the Immaculate Conception.\n\n- You wrote \u201ca theological issue is how Mary would pass on her humanity to her son if she were a notch higher than humanity itself\u201d. It is not the Catholic belief that Mary was \u201ca notch higher than humanity itself\u201d. She was a human in every aspect, including free will.\n\n- I wrote \u201cThat is not completely accurate.\u201d Perhaps a more apt phrasing would be \u201cit is much more complicated than that.\u201d\n\nThere is actually a wide variety of opinion in Orthodoxy about these matters, both currently and historically. I take it you\u2019re Russian Orthodox?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Cont'd)\nWhat it proposes as \"essential\" is redefined in self-contradiction and sophistry to suit its construct: the equality of person before God and humanity is selectively eviscerated to exclude and diminish women.\nBeautiful myth of our \"books\" are selectively used as metaphor or literal to suite its purpose, rather than the Creator. The \"world\" which in reality is \"in time\" and evolving, nature must be interpreted as \"immutable law\" elevated into dogmatic absolute in defiance of reality. The \"world\" which is by definition the \"secular\" is defined as the enemy and Christ's mission of love, reconciliation and salvation as \"war\" against that which is to be saved.\n\nTraditional Catholics and their \"masters\" are akin to child soldiers and their leaders who cannot conceive of a mission of peace. \n\nThe Church should be sacred space in the world that needs healing not a refuge from and denial of it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Heard of the Bosnian War, in the 1990s? The massacre at Srebrenica qualifies as genocide \"\n\nInteresting example of the Western countries intervening in a civil war to protect the Moslems against the Christians. When was the last time that some Moslems helped out any Christians?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That's incorrect. Some Jews are atheists.\n\n\"The Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites, or Hebrews, of the Ancient Near East. Jewish ethnicity, nationhood and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation, while its observance varies from strict observance to complete nonobservance.\" - Wikipedia\n\n\"Jewish\" describes a diverse group of people that transcends their traditional religion. You can't use the term Jewish in the way that we use the terms Muslim or Christian. Muslims and Christians are identified by their adherence to their respective religions, regardless of their ethnicity. Jews may or may not identify with Judaism, but they're still Jews.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Rivers Edge, imagine what your child's friend thinks of the Catholic Church or the Christian message after such treatment. This might have been a time to introduce a newcomer to learning about the Catholic faith, an opportunity which I hope is not now lost. And, I have to wonder how your child feels about the way his/her friend was treated. This is sad on many levels. Our Lord may have issued an invitation but, evidently, there is another gate-keeper who decides who really gets to sit at the table. Prayers for you, your family, and friends.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This punditry sounds so insightful, but is wholly devoid of any factual basis.\n\nLooking at the exit polls makes clear that Trump won because of a panicked turnout in the \"firewall states\" of white evangelicals versus tepid turnout among those who saw Trump as unfit. \n\nSimple as that. The poor and the rich didn't tip for Trump, but the well-off middle class of white evangelicals did. Women in this category stood by their men, too.\n\nSo once again, religious fanatics are the cause of ruin.\n\nAll the politicians pleas that \"God bless America\" seems to have been lost in the void.\n\n-- Paul", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is all very nice, but perhaps if we'd read articles like this BEFORE the election, especially from the USCCB, the outcome might have been different. But no, the bishops were too busy fanning the flames of Hillary hatred behind the scenes in the hope that Trump would get elected and deliver on a promise to hand them conservative justices for the Supreme Court. Well, they got what they wanted. Now let the bishops defend Trump's every word and deed. Seems to me they have a responsibility to do that on a daily basis since they helped elect him with a slim majority of American Catholics putting Trump over the edge. So far all we've gotten out of them is crickets. I expect that to remain the case for as long as Trump remains in office. Profiles in courage the bishops are not. But kudos to Fr. Daly for speaking out, even if it is a day late and a dollar short.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "____\n\nIf only this message was consistent with the entirety of Scripture. But it's not.\n\nA quick read will prove otherwise. Try St Paul's letters...or Jesus's own \"take up your cross daily\"\n\nA day without the Cross of our fallen humanity is a day without Jesus Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Anyone who is Catholic and enters in a same sex marriage is committing a sin. Pope Francis said so.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What is the \"Coalition of Christ\"?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Canada is a country with a Christian heritage and legacy. Vestiges of this legacy are to be found everywhere in Canadian society. Are you proposing that the vast majority of Canadians should be willing to abandon their cultural heritage in order to accommodate newly arrived Muslim Canadians?\n\nWhen Muslim majority countries welcome hundreds of thousands Western immigrants to their countries and offer them state resources to carry out their religious practices, then prayer rooms can be offered in Canadian schools.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Vatican probably loathes their presence there and views them as an American fifth column inasmuch as Mormonism is strictly one of those entrepreneurial religions that spring up like weeds in the USA. From what I've read of it,admittedly not much, one can have serious doubts that they are even a Christian religion. I once had a client who was a Mormon, from the Ukraine no less, and he was decidedly odd. It takes all.kinds, I suppose, but I will have nothing to do with them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Trump cannot and will not condemn the 'alt-right' or any of its constituent parts. His presidency has its roots in the racism, nationalism and fascism that have emerged under the umbrella of the 'alt right'; it is there that Trump lives and moves and has his being. The question for evangelical leaders such as the ones who have called him out is this: Now what? What do they do next?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We are all gifted in our ways towards becoming better Christians. And, the greatest of all gifts, is that last commandment from Christ, and, we all received it. It is the gift of love. Love one another ayou would Simpleyourself and love the Lord, your God with all your might. From the many Catholic articles that I\u2019ve been reading of late, I\u2019m failing to locate a shred of love. Not even a glitter and if it\u2019s there, it\u2019s hidden in words of yesteryear, \u2018Amoris laetitia\u2019. \nWhat do these words mean for the youth of today! Amoris Laetitia, I suppose it could mean a \u2018 flat white or lovely latte\u2019. But no, more importantly, it pertains to \u2018Love\u2019 and not only \u2018Love\u2019 but the JOY, yes, the JOY of LOVE. I truly understand the \u2018Infantilization of laity\u2019. So, what is so wrong with saying, \u2018The Joy of Love\u2019? The power games of our \u2018politically correct\u2019 talk is all too cold, and it leaves no room for meeting the other in Christ\u2019s love. Break barriers, build bridges and live the Joy of Love.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No one is suggesting otherwise. My point, if you took the time to actually read what I initially wrote, is how like the modernist NCR to utterly ignore what most Catholics believe to be the most important event of the twentieth century.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "2. The Acts account notwithstanding, I think it's possible that Peter and James remained in the background even after becoming active after Paul's visit to Jerusalem, functioning more as a check on his orthodoxy than as a movement in Jerusalem. Paul continued to found communities and composed letters explaining his theology -- precisely because his was the only gospel extant for many years. One of the many questions posed in response to Paul's proclamation of Jesus as risen was whether this was, in fact, true and how it could have happened -- questions taken up by Mark after Paul's death.\n\n3. Mark, still anticipating an imminent Parousia, wrote his narrative (the \"passion narrative wit a long introduction\") in an effort to convert people before the end came upon them, and focused almost exclusively on a few points of Jesus' life and teaching, as well as his death and a very sketchy account of his resurrection. The different resurrection accounts are explained by questions that remained", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So what you are saying is that one side has an entitlement to run wild when upset? Your internal logic is a bit odd here, let me pry further, you seem to believe that because of your correct revealed world view your side gets to do whatever they want when they want.\n\nNow lets go back in time to some of your cry bully antecedents, George Wallace claimed that people assembling to discuss things were infringing on his rights. By giving a certain group legal respect Wallace was being denied rights. Example, your co-believers not freaking out on Trumpites means that you were denied rights? That they met infringed on you somehow?\n\nLet me try another, your co-adherents ignoring a group of Trump supporters was in actuality an infringement on your side somehow, in the same way that two people of the same sex getting married is an infringement on right wing Christians?\n\nYour position is that you are infringed on because other people are doing something that infringes on your status.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wow! I just had a comment tossed for being uncivil and it was probably because I mentioned the anti-Catholic, anti-immigrant sentiments in Western Canada 90 years ago, sentiments egged on my the Ku Klux Klan.\n\nIt's not made up. Just search for KKK in Canada, maybe use the dates 1927 - 1932 to narrow it down a bit.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Anyone who actually believes what the Church teaches is tagged as \"ultra-conservative\" here\". I question what you mean by CHURCH. The Church is the entire People of God---laity as well as clergy/hierarchy. The Church is NOT just the 2% who are the clergy/hierarchy. And what 'Church' do you mean? Whose teaching & What teaching are you defending? \n\n\nThe Holy Spirit has been and IS guiding the Church [the People of God]. People ARE BEING CALLED---and are responding to the Call to Serve. But they are responding to the ministries that are opening up to the Laity. Not only a vocation to be Married, but Vocations at all levels of Christian living---that fulfill Jesus' confirmation of a total disciple---\"Whatever you do for the least of my brothers and sisters, you have done for me.\" \n\n\nThis is not 1955 yesterday! This is the world of today. Believe it or not----God is not afraid of it and God is not being disappointed with HOW and in what DIVERSE ways the people are responding.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Tom Fox: Nobody does it better. A Giant in the world of journalism, not just Catholic journalism. God bless you, Tom, and big CONGRATS!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Please advise the name of the *man from Cape Cod Jesus sent out to preach His word.\n\n*or the Croation...or the nuclear physicist...or the speaker of Latin...or the Pole...or the electrician...or the radiologist...or the astronaut...or the computer scientist...or the TV evangelist...or the fly fisherman...or the insurance salesman...or_______.\n\nPlease don't say, \"But they weren't 'available' to Jesus at that brief time in history, but women were there and he rejected them.\" \n\nAvailability to Christ--to do anything--was never, ever to be restricted by the constraints of a fast-fleeting moment in human history or by mere momentary demographics.\n\nThat would make the priesthood not only elite, but elitist. \n\nThat would mean Jesus a) consciously and b) strategically chose to REJECT and/or EXCLUDE women. What in His experience ever taught us He would do such exclusionary things to over half the people his Father created? \n\nA priesthood based on the primacy of physiology? Really?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\" ... rural residents\u2019 deep misgivings about the nation\u2019s rapidly changing demographics, their sense that Christianity is under siege and their perception that the federal government caters most to the needs of people in big cities, according to a wide-ranging poll that examines cultural attitudes across the United States.\"\n\nWhat rural folks need to remember is that the country, and Colorado, are over 80 percent urban and becoming more so every year.\n\nRural folks are already over-represented in the senate and \"catered to\" by Republican gerrymandering. They already have a very good deal.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oddly, Mary doesn't mention local Catholics. She once claimed there were no Catholics in her town when she grew up, but when I showed her references to them we heard no more from her that day.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Agreed re Markan priority, and indeed \"libraries\" of scriptural scholarship is heavily dependent on this assumption. \n\nBut re \"Jesus did not think of himself as...a human sacrifice,\" Violet's observation, IMHO, deserves a more thoughtful response than dismissal because she is uncertain of his existence. I know you recognize that even if Jesus were a fictional character, his self-identity in the extant material would be a reasonable topic for scholarship.\n\nMore to the point, given that Jesus did exist, and that \"he is divine and became human in order that we might become divine,\" Violet's suggestion that Jesus did not regard himself as a sacrifice is challenging, wouldn't you say? It seems to me that it was early Christians who adopted the notion of Jesus as victim of a sacrifice, in the religious ritual sense of that word, as a way of making sense of the cross? Off the top, I can't for the moment think of any text where Jesus self-identifies as sacrifice. Am I wrong?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Founding Fathers of US Republic were agrarian slave-owners. As natural economy for Christianity is agrarian, US Constitution has the unholy trinity of State, Judiciary, and Law-Making built in, each at loggerheads to the others. Church State separation was considered a must. Neither one trusts the other two, and in cases like Trump leads to paralysis.\n\nCanadian System is less confrontational where law-making Legislature and law-imposing State are the same, with Judiciary just a little bit independent. This emanates from the church-state unity at the top in UK where the monarch, the Defender of the Faith, is still the official head of the Church of England. There is less infighting, and thus less chaos.\n\nThe US thinking of over 2 century old must adapt to new world of Globalization and Free Trade. It will take no less than another Revolution or Civil War to do that.\n\nInteresting times lie ahead. It will be the greatest show on earth in the coming decades, with all the gore and glory.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My Dear Sister in Christ...\n thank you for being a sign of God's Love and bearing witness to His Presence among us. Doing what\nyou can do sows seeds of hope watered by grace...and a simple smile. Living Psalmody, is a prayer of the heart.\n\nPeace... and all good", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is repeatedly noted here, at least by me, that not all people can be be expected to take the Catholic view of things --- the view that \"personhood\" begins at the moment of conception. It isn't moral snobbery, simply a recognition of fact, that many of those who aren't exposed to the Church's view don't agree with her on that point. Very sad, but easily understood. What is not understandable, though, is that even after the fetus reaches a point where it's plainly as human as a newborn child, there are those insist on there being a \"right\" to kill it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Maines and his fellow christians delight in publicly parading their inability to reason. I don't get it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm happy to see more light shed on the exploitation of Africa (read:Barrick / Coltan etc...) \n\nHowever, to bring up white Christian's colonization and slavery and to throw the Portuguese in there without mentioning some of the other key whitefolk, AND, to not mention the centuries long Muslim slavetraders aspect in Africa, is once again tarring one religion and culture while whitewashing another.\n\nWhite Christians are not the only peoples who have to answer for stuff....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And just what \"conflict of interest from the get-go\" is that?\n\nBtw, in the interest of full disclosure, I have now and have never had a relationship of any kind with either party in the suit, nor their counsel, nor with the USCCB, other than being a baptized Catholic.\n\nNow you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No. That was and still is not the form of the argument. The ritual are the same and the succession lines are intact. The issue for roman Catholics became \"a defect on intention,\" i.e., Anglican bishops in the eyes of Roman theologians, did not intend to ordain priest for the \"Church,\" i.e., the Roman Catholic Church. Which of course they didn't. So case closed, but there was no argument over ritual liturgy or lineage lines.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"a type of a medieval Catholic act of self-flagellation\"\nAh yes, the religious theory of sacrifice and suffering! Rethink that. I recommend \"The best revenge is living well\" as an alternative.\n\"\u201cI have never had a drink because of my brother,\u201d Trump said.\"\n\"Trump says he has strict rules for his children: \u201c No drugs, no alcohol, no cigarettes.\u201d\"\nI did not know that. My opinion of him has improved.\nThe thought of a little marijuana now and then is appealing to me, but I have not had any in about 30 years. Maybe in someday in Las Vegas. A little bit of wine with dinner is OK. Cigarettes were designed to make some old guys in Virginia richer. \nI would also add no tattoos and no body piercing to Trump's list, but I am pro choice. Live your own life.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well I meant argument in the way that one debates their side of an issue with a person of an opposing viewpoint which I do believe you were doing with Marty when you made your comment. \n\nDon't know why you are being so testy regarding the semantics. I meant you no insult with my comment on your post. I simply meant we don't want to give people like Marty the idea that Christian men have any authority over Christian women granted by God.\n\nPeace - I think many on this thread are getting sensitive. Misogyny has that way of creating stress.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Need one read a sentence further after reading MSW's confession that he thinks a writer gains consolation by writing a piece that 'ignites controversy'?\n\n\"There are very few things in this life more gratifying to a columnist than to pen a sentence that ignites a controversy.\"\n\nWow.\n\nRead no further.\n\nA Catholic writer who lets his intellect \"attach value\" to such an end is in need of long term spiritual coaching, and should out of charity suspend his writing work for the division & heat and disunity it causes or contributes to. \n\nRather, I think a well-formed and properly tempered Catholic writer might gain some consolation from seeing people draw closer to Jesus Christ, amending their lives, increasing their self-gift to others, etc by reading one's work.\n\nYet an even higher disposition than this would be to have a \"pure intention\", that is, to produce a work for the principal reason of loving God!\n\nMSW is a long way off from such a more Christian approach to the work of writing", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Doesn't JPII and his papacy have to be examined in light of the sexual abuse crisis? He willfully ignore that for decades.\n\nAnd Pentin, EWTN, National Catholic Register and all the JPII the Great cheerleaders have become like passive aggressive teen girls when it comes to their opposition to Pope Francis. Another good one is Arroyo who looks constantly befuddled.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": ".\n>>Last I looked it was Christians demanding the end of ...\n\nDo tell - whom did Christians \"demand\" this from?\n\n\"Christmas and Easter are legal holiday\". As opposed to \"illegal\"?\n.\n>> And if you want to pray at school, go ahead and ask for a room.\n\nAnd where does it end - room for each religion, adults acting in religious capacity I imams, priests, you name it... - providing religious services in schools ?\n.\n>>If you're envious that others have holidays when you don't, get over it. You are not the centre of the universe\".\n\nActually - it is you who are questioning \"the legal holiday Christmas'. \n\nAnd no - you are not the center of the universe either.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And when was the last time we had a mass shooting, where the shooter proclaimed he was committing the act in the name of Christ, or Christianity? \n I am not a member of any organized religion, but to be fair, currently one does not see those professing to be of a Christian faith, hunting down non believers and killing them.\nNor to make a political statement.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You want to abolish a \"culture\" (do you mean religion, faith, Church?) because you see it as man-made. It is not. The Catholic Church is divinely instituted and inspired and her teachings are Our Lord's teachings. \nYou are expecting absolute perfection from the human beings within Her, within the mystical Body of Christ and that will never happen, and will never happen with any organization on earth due to the fallibility and fallenness of human nature. The sinfulness of the members of Christ's Church does not negate the teachings of Christ, nor the authority that He gave to the Magisterium. The sinfulness of members in the clergy certainly harm their credibility, but not the teachings because these are NOT the teachings of men, but of Christ. You don't believe that, I'm sure, but that is what the Church is.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would hardly describe an interview of Kellie Leitch by Mark Steyn as wonderful. She's a divisive figure and he panders to the far right. And I certainly wouldn't describe anything they said as being TRUE, CIVIL, or DECENT.\n\nI have no problem debating. But that requires one concedes what is FACT and what is OPINION. That one cannot distort the truth and make up facts or set up Strawmen. If you cannot admit that the Muslim teens at this school have a right to practice their religion, you shouldn't be commenting.\n\nThe question hasn't been about them setting up another separate school system. It is whether they can take a 15 minute break on Fridays at the school rather than simply skip Friday afternoons to attend service without being called Truants. Jews get the Sabbath off. Christians get Sunday off. Why do you feel so hostile to giving Muslim teens what amounts to a coffee break off on a Friday afternoon?\n\nSheesh! My Canada includes accommodation. Sorry.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's simple, Tridentius: You Roman Catholics commit crimes, confess said crimes to\"faather\" knowing that he can't turn you in (you're certainly not going to turn yourself in,are you?), and voila!! You're clear to do it again, maybe not the same crimes, but something else. Why do you think Pope Francis wants to excommunicate the Italian gangsters, dude?? They celebrate their crimes; so do the Mexican cartels, they've invented their own so-called saint!!(I can't think of it's name; \"Muerte\"or something).So...there it is,Tridentius.Oh, and let's not forget the unfortunate Cardinal George Pell...tsk,tsk. God bless you,my friend; mull and reflect.\ud83d\ude0e", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well yjin117, I believed that as a child but after 22 years of formal Catholic education, I can see that I was wrong.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"One can understand the outrage. Christians' Christmas and the Lord's prayer are banished from schools.\"\n\nRubbish. 100% certifiable drek. No religion is banished from Canadian classrooms. Instead, ALL religions are treated equally.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\u201cMercy is no fleeting sentiment, but rather the synthesis of the joyful Good News, a choice and decision on the part of all who desire to assume the 'Heart of Jesus' and to be serious followers of the Lord who has asked us to 'be merciful even as your heavenly Father is merciful'.\n\nBut Ray Burke says being a Christian is all about canon law. That and wearing wild silk and lace getups.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Cael, \nI would LOVE to be able to believe that this is a language/translation issue, or that perhaps some kind of \"diplomatic speech,\" but given the church's recent history, I doubt both. That ANY Vatican official, much less a Cardinal in the church can say something like \"The church has become increasingly aware of the harm experienced by victims, of their suffering and of the need to listen to them,\" AND retain his job as secretary of state is mind boggling, for the questions the statement brings. \n\nHow could \"shepherds\" NOT understand the harm done to victims for hundreds (thousands?) of years? How could it be that they are only now learning the need to listen to them (even as they restructure the Commissions on the matter to exclude the victims?) The imagery they roll out every year is of a shepherd that knows his sheep. Yet these shepherds only now are becoming AWARE of the harm experience by victims. Where have they been?\n\nAs I say, statements like that should lead to firings.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Have you ever read IMMORTALE DEI? Of course the United States, and every nation state, should confess the Catholic faith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Part two of three) I found in her a compelling vision of how to live as a radical, intellectual Catholic, a way to unite the life of the mind with faith in God in the community of saints and sinners that is the church.\u2014Julie Hanlon Rubio\n The anti-capitalism vision of Dorothy Day is not compelling. Mainly because it accepts the monarchial vision by which the RCC governs itself. \u201cI will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart in the company and assembly of the just\u201d (Psalm 111:2). Monarchs do not permit assemblies. That is how King Louis lost his head. Liturgy of the Word, Reading 312, Tuesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time, Year I", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you for posting this information. I think the Southern Poverty Law Center, and its Hatewatch project, will play an increasingly important role as advocates for civil and political rights in the age of Trump -- who campaigned on promises to undermine the rights of immigrants, religious and racial minorities, and the GBLTQ communities. \n\nI think those Catholics who were victims of priests and bishops who campaigned for Trump from their pulpits, bulletins or diocesan papers might want to consider diverting all or part of the money they typically give to the church to the SPLC instead. It is important that those who choose to do so notify, in writing, the priest, bishop and nuncio of what they have decided to do and why.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In his encyclical, Francis spoke about Christians engaged in political and social movements to protect Creation, saying such actions, \u201cwhen they express self-giving love, can also become intense spiritual experiences.\u201d\n\nGood Pope Francis is a blessing to the Catholic Church and our planet. May we all take inspiration from him.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"In trying to not gainsay the Pope whose official voice he was and at the same time trying to uphold Catholic teaching...\"\n\nThis sort of says it all. Being the official voice of the Pope, while recognizing the Pope as the #1 teacher in the Church, would be an impossible job if he disagreed with the Pope. He did not disagree with the Pope or Sch\u00f6nborn, since he was part of the German language group at the Synod that unanimously proposed the solution to the divorce question that was accepted by the Synod. \n\nI have expected M\u00fcller's term would end on this day for the last few years, ever since Francis confirmed his 5 year term in 2013.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The Language of Doctrine\". An article by Tony Flannery in an article March 30 on associationofcatholicpriests.ie. Flannery talks about why the Catholic church - and many of its beliefs - have lost credibility, beyond the obvious reason of the sex abuse scandal, teachings on sexuality.... He sees a more fundamental problem\n\n\"Some of the very basic doctrines of the Church no longer make sense to the modern mind, and are being quietly rejected even by people who still attend church. Some of these doctrines are not Scripture based, but came out of the early centuries of the Church, a time when there was a very different understanding of the world and of humanity, and, probably most significant of all, a very different language which is still used to proclaim these doctrines\u2026 Our understanding of the universe and of the human person, through science, has greatly influenced the way we look at ourselves and the universe, and Church doctrine has not adapted to this\u2026\"\n\nsee next comment.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Does the Globe hate Europeans? If Iran was being overrun by Christians, would Iranians not have a right to say HEY! Stop it! would they not have a right to discuss it? would they not have a right to stop it! or moderate it? \n\nLiberal Lefties pushing this fake multiculturalism BS is finding their echo chamber getting smaller and smaller. \n\nIt would be nice to see a real poll done in Canada to find out what Canadians really think about mass immigration, but even our Liberal government wouldn't allow that kind of poll to be officially recognized.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are many, including those wearing collars and mitres, who have replaced God with men, with an institution. This is clear from the statements of the institution, and from the comments of many on this board. Obey - that's their mantra and that of those whom they follow. So why did God bother to give everyone a mind and conscience if we were simply to \"obey\" men, men who are very often very wrong. They seem to forget also, that Jesus and his disciples were not Roman Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I just do not know where to begin. Obviously you are a democrat. \"HIllary who was legendary and totally prepared\". Obama \"still admired, respected and blameless in office\".\nTrump was only ever interested in making money and giving little away. Sister allow me to remind you that the very first thing Obama did when he became president was to make an apology tour and to reinstate paying for abortions throughout the world. President Trump reversed the paying for abortions throughout the world. As a Sister of the Catholic Faith you should be pleased with this initial action. You never mentioned this. How do you know that President Trump gave little of his money away? From what I have read he is a very generous person. Do you realize that being wealthy and building throughout the world creates jobs for many people? Hillary Clinton and her husband have swindled many with the Clinton Foundation money. What has it ever accomplished? No mention of how much she has lied to us.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jamie, unless I am misreading your comments, you appear to be approaching this subject entirely from the perspective of social science, which generally accepts LGBT identities and activity as normal and generally considers equal treatment of LGBT people in terms of justice.\nThe difficulty, of course, is that the Church/Vatican approaches this subject in terms of scripture and tradition, which have been traditionally understood as inimical to the position of contemporary social science on this issue. \nThe result is precisely the impasse Fr. Martin describes: people speaking two very different languages. It seems that authentic bridge-building requires, not simply treating each other with patience and courtesy, but an honest investigation of the question whether the Judeo-Christian tradition can ever truly accept LGBT behaviors. I have my doubts that such a study will ever be pursued, but I think unless we find such common ground, we will continue talking past one another.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Rothschilds, like all the great Jewish banking families, were Sephardi Jews. The Jews that lived in Germany and Poland and would become the victims of the holocaust were all Ashkenasi Jews - two groups which had nothing in common. The Ashkenasi were impoverished, kept in ghettos and had almost no political clout whatsoever. They first arrived in Europe around the early 18th century, arriving in the Eastern parts, and spoke Yiddish. \nThe Sephardis arrived several hundred years earlier via Spain. They spoke Laddish and all the great Jewish banking families are from this group - and that is entirely an accident of history. The Roman Catholic church prohibited Christians from charging each other interest on loans, Jews were not subject to this law - so these Sephardic Jews, particularly in Venice and Naples could get rich running banks that would give loans when other banks wouldn't - because they alone could charge interest.\n\nThe victims had nothing in common with the people blamed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"Benedictine Fr. Anthony Ruff, associate professor of theology at St. John's University in Collegeville, Minn., told NCR that restorationism is a reaction to growing secularization and rapid social change... .\"\n- More to the point, the recently ordained restorationist are in effect men who somehow have lost the way to, or foresaken their responsibility for developing a strong sense of self. By that is meant that these men somehow confused themselves into thinking that 'smells, bell' are what make their dressed up role in Eucharist what it is -- the Sacred Mystery.\n- It is one thing to have an appreciation for art and music for use in a liturgical setting which helps people to participate in a liturgy, it is another to use it as a form of gnosticism -- you are not christian unless you accept that the sacred rites are humanely out of reach.\n- A point not addressed in the article is the ties that bind restorationism to 'radical orthodoxy' of the pure catholic church crowd.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are making massive assumptions about God.\nAll marriages between Christians are presumed to be valid unless it can be proved otherwise. It is for a tribunal to decide not the persons themselves as they are likely to be biased. Even tribunals can get it wrong but one thing is certain, God can't be fooled.\nAs I said I don't make the rules the Church does and I try to live by them. When I fail I don't sit back and presume God will take no notice, I start again. Presumption is a sin against the virtue of Hope.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think the core issue is one of anthropology. Official Catholic teaching continues to be grounded in the idea of the human person as a rational animal who, precisely as human, can (and should) rise above one's passions and choose to act in an intelligent, responsible manner, which the Church interprets as acting in accord with official teaching. \nI think contemporary anthropology has moved away from the idea of a rational animal to one that sees reason as but one of the faculties that make us human. In this view, sexual expression is a function on par with rationality -- something the Church doesn't seem capable of accepting.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In point of fact, your \"ordination\" is objectively invalid however much you feel or claim otherwise. But at least you took the more honest, albeit misguided, path and left the Catholic Church. \n\nYour juvenile anger and willfulness towards the Church - \"at being seen as \"less\" as a woman\" - is, like all those promoting this \"cause\", rooted in a spirit of rebellious pride. These are not gifts of the Holy Spirit.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Still waiting Gumby. I clearly heard you say \"all recommendations,\" when asked about T&R scope & you were unscripted\u2026\n\n58. We call upon the Pope to issue an apology to Survivors, their families, and communities for the Roman Catholic Church\u2019s role in the spiritual, cultural, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis children in Catholic-run residential schools. We call for that apology to be similar to the 2010 apology issued to Irish victims of abuse and to occur within one year of the issuing of this Report and to be delivered by the Pope in Canada.\n\n\"...to occur within one year of the issuing of this Report...\" This date passed quietly on June 2nd, 2016. I wonder if any of the chiefs will remember what they paid to have written for them, and hold Gumby accountable.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm going to risk saying that you are correct in this one matter, Marty. Yet I would hasten to add that there is no mistaking the USCCB supporting and sharing the political and social positions, if not goals, of the GOP. Their history in supporting many issues (and I exclude the abortion matter from this because it is a given) that the GOP has been quite rabid about is a long and clear one. And there have, over the past 20 years or so for certain and in a growing chorus of bishop's voices recently, statements and letters and recorded interviews where individual bishops have made statements that border on outright punishment for those Catholics who oppose them. God knows what has been said behind closed church doors as well, but some of it is leaked by sources close to the incidents. To deny the existence of it is every bit as bad as allegations made that have no factual support. I suggest the truth lies somewhere in the middle, as is the case with most things in life, yes?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Unless they have given some sign of repentance...\"\nEven the traditional rigourist should be apalled at this statement, its meaning and intent. Who is to presume God's judgment, Jesus' mercy and the conscience in good faith of a person perceived or not perceived? \nThe church of Christ is not some club that closes its gates on the presumption that rule has not been adhered or dues paid.\nIf this is the church of Christ, let s/he who is without sin.... To live in a \"picket-fence\" universe means that it applies equally and univocally to each and every person.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Harper but Christianity into practice, in the criminal code with moral policing and minimum mandatory sentences. A belief system is like a lever that is pulled. Scheer has already pronounced his views on marriage and abortion. What makes you think he will be any different?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I imagine the response from most people, including most Catholics, if the USCCB were to actually grow a set and make a unified statement in support of immigrants would be kind of like the reaction people have at \"old timers\" baseball games. They think it's charming that the old dudes still go up and take their swings, but it's also a little painful watching once great players so far past their prime.\n\nThere was a time when the USCCB was a force to be reckoned with in the political arena, an honest broker that could be relied upon to stand up for a consistent, non-partisan moral code. But that all ended when they got in bed with the GOP after Roe v. Wade.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is common for us to view the loss of control as a loss of dignity. It is not so. Our loss of dignity as humans comes when we fail to love. \nIn the face of suffering, we are called to love, to reach out in compassion and to \"suffer with\" another.\nIndependence and our need for control can stand in the way of our accepting the love of another. When Peter refused to have his feet washed by Jesus, he was reminded that refusing this act of love would leave him on the outside.\nHow much greater would have been the outpouring of love, if he who committed \"assisted suicide\" would have accepted the care of those who loved him, and lived on in a relationship with those who chose to care for him? Wouldn't the dignity of mankind have shined brighter? How much greater would be the dignity of the Physician had he stood at the ready to aid and comfort the man in his suffering?\n\nThe way of love is not the easy way, it is often the way of sacrifice and, of suffering, but always the way of dignity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "More like end-zone dancing. They had the hardship coming to them. Karmic cause-and-effect, says you. \"Bad\" political thoughts -- why else define them as far-right Republicans? -- produced bad results. If only they'd listened to you, the friend they had (past tense). Your words, now with a sprinkling of 500-year-old evangelical preacher cliche as garnish. What an incredibly compassionate soul thou aren't.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What the bishops crave - and what the Clinton operatives are really writing about - is a return to an old authoritarianism that should no longer exist in the Church - at least not in the papacy of Pope Francis. The bishops really lament the fact that when they say something about politics (and the pro-life discussion has been mainly political for a long time), most Catholics simply ignore them. That is a good thing. If those bishops don't get it, I won't shed any tears for them - but instead for the unity of the Church (which they have almost destroyed).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Many anti-christian and christianophobic comments here today.\n\nAll have been reported under M-103.\n\nWe're not to be critical of religion in Justin's Canada.\n\nOr maybe not, it depends on the religion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Moreso \"honor-based societies\" than \"impoverished.\" It's a more natural state of how people are.\n\nIn the West, the Church and civil society sublimated ours via Christianity and the Chivalric system. Strength was redefined from physical dominance to service and protection. Other civilizations used other methods.\n\nThe decline in authority of those traditional societal controls allows traditional honor systems to reassert themselves.\n\nI'm badly summarizing \"Honor: A History\" by James Bowman. It's worth a read. Particularly in understanding the larger clash of cultures we are seeing today internationally.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Geoff Kennedy - Thank you. On Friday I said to a coworker that I was going to a Good Friday service. She knows I\"m Baptist. She expressed surprise that Baptists do Good Friday services. Were we suddenly accepting that \"liturgy and ritual is a good thing\"? She was amazed to learn that most non-Catholic Christian churches celebrate Good Friday with an evening service and have for as long as I've been a Christian (40 years last month).\n\nI don't know that I blame this ignorance completely on the lack of media coverage. Non-Catholic Christians have apparently been hiding their light under a basket. Because many churches celebrate Good Friday with the Lord's Supper and many also practice closed communion (which for Baptists means only baptized believers may participate), we tend not to invite our unchurched friends. Maybe we need to rethink that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery... Part 1\n\nPapal Bulls of the 15th century gave Christian explorers the right to claim lands they \"discovered\" and lay claim to those lands for their Christian Monarchs. Any land that was not inhabited by Christians was available to be \"discovered\", claimed, and exploited. \n\nIf the \"pagan\" inhabitants could be converted, they might be spared. If not, they could be enslaved or killed. \n\nThe Discovery Doctrine is a concept of public international law expounded by the United States Supreme Court in a series of decisions.The doctrine was Chief Justice John Marshall's explanation of the way in which colonial powers laid claim to newly discovered lands during the Age of Discovery. Under it, title to newly discovered lands lay with the government whose subjects discovered new territory. The doctrine has been primarily used to support decisions invalidating or ignoring aboriginal possession of land in favor of colonial or post-colonial governments.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "from Berig in Rochester, NY\n\nGod Bless the social-aid workers. This must be so deeply affecting, seeing people repeatedly slipping away, repeatedly saving them and then, do it again. How to distance oneself from another's misery while empathizing enough to insert oneself therapeutically and not incorporate the grief of their subject, how to shake it all away to keep oneself emotionally and psychologically buoyant. I've been watching this story on the National, so sad for the victims, families, communities. If ever you need Ottawa to increase mental health transfers, like wow, it's yesterday. I\"m a Christian who knows Christ can heal all and a firm believer in mental health care and counselling. Nothing can eliminate layers of grief like unloading to a caring and attentive ear. Drug and alcohol addiction cumulatively cause piles of humiliating misery for the user and their family - and their community. undoing an addiction is tough enough, grieving its damage ...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"What's the beef\"--that is cute.\n\"Can't you revel\"--I said nothing about not reveling.\nI know all I need to know about the Canadian and / or Alaskan mountains. Even \"above and beyond Yakutat\" just for your information Mr. Singh.\n\"tangled mash of time and type.\"--this phrase structure sure is interesting.\n\"Are christians in Syria the most important thing?\"--if I spent any time discussing this matter would you really care or even pay attention? Me thinks you spend too much time reveling in things which do not matter.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I disagree. The pious busy-bodies will have a rejoinder. I'll save them the time. \n\n\"It is our sacred duty as Catholics to protect our families from condoning sin and from scandal--and most of all from the horrors of gender ambiguity. We love Uncle Mike, but he is not welcome to promote lust amid the turkey, the post-game interviews, and the pumpkin pie. \n\n\"Our children are so confused when they see two adults who love, respect, honor, like, sacrifice for, and pledge eternal union with each other. How do we explain that kind of relationship to our confused and befuddled kids who never have witnessed that kind of behavior in our holy home where love is all about mechanics and plumbing like news reports from Eden said.\n\n\"Breaking up a family--turning grandma against grandson, uncle against niece, nephew against cousin, mom against dad--is a small price to pay for saving souls. After all, the Bible and Cardinal Burke tell us this kind of intra-family hell was designed to be that way.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do you not recall what Jesus said to the woman at the end of this incident?\n\"Go, [and] from now on do not sin any more.\"\n\nShe is to leave, fully forgiven, and to reflect on her life and correct whatever sinful behavior she indulged in.\n\nIn attempting to show how non-judgemental Jesus was at that moment, you neglected, I think, the teaching moment. \n\nConcerning judgemental behavior - you may want to reflect on your last two paragraphs. Could it not be that Bp. Paprocki certainly IS respecting the baptismal dignity of those he is concerned with by teaching and offering reconciliation in accord with current Church teaching? Who is acting like the Pharisee here?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm the last person in the world to know anything about Vatican finances, but I was struck with the word \"profits,\" and by the statement that all profits go to the Vatican. No parish or religious organization I've ever been involved with admitted to anything approaching a \"profitable\" state, other than what may appear almost apologetically on an annual balance sheet -- with an asterisked notation of projected future expenses to zero it out within a month or two. I just have to think that assets in the billions and profits counted by millions may not be what Jesus has in mind while there are refugees and the poor also measured in millions. I would hope (although I know it's not universal) that the institutional Church pays living wages to all employees and funds equitable retirements. It's the excess leftovers that I'm questioning, in light of the Gospel. Profits?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This conversation is just like any other, as it is taken from a certain \"point of view,\" what I mentioned about Missionaries destroying the culture is true. They saw it as their \"Christian duty\" to save the heathen Hawaiian's from their own barbaric cultural practices; only real question is, who were the \"barbarians?\" From my point of view, that would be the Missionaries, who are the barbarians, as Hawaiian's did not need saving from themselves or their culture. \n\nOnce whaling ships encountered the Islands it was a case of contagion, that eventually destroyed the local culture, right along the missionaries efforts to \"save them from themselves\" and not to mention the various diseases the sailors brought to the pristine island environments; it was another \"death of the Aztec's fiasco\" due to cultural contamination and it nearly killed off the Hawaiian race. \n\nThe History books do not tell the whole story, or does it cover everything. What you do end up with is a distorted view.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I won't feel better until you explain why you are singling out Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your argument strikes me as rather odd, to be honest. \n\n*Of course* people find it difficult to live with celibacy; do you think our Lord Jesus didn't know that, when he encouraged it? Do you think St. Paul didn't know that? Likewise, people find fasting and all manner of self-denial and self-sacrifice difficult. That these things are difficult doesn't really call into question their value, nor the value of encouraging them in some cases, and requiring them in others.\n\nIn any case, you haven't rebutted my prediction that this will mean, in effect, *fewer* priests, rather than more.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We need to ban all visitors to North Korea, just like the USA has. And Christians need to realize that there are some parts of the world where they are not welcome, despite what they think they are being told by their creator The Canadian government went to considerable trouble and expense to get this guy out and I doubt this is being reimbursed by the church. There is no doubt that there is a lot to be done in North Korea but this and many other places are not where a christian organization should be involved.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree that national flags do not belong in Catholic churches. I remember that the church of my youth (60s and 70s) flew the flag inside the church. Even as a tyke I sensed there was something wrong, something pandering about it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Only 4.7 to 7.6% of allegations false? Really? About 2007 I gave evidence in Ireland to the Ryan Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, as part of the group \u201cLet Our Voices Emerge\u201d which represented persons falsely accused of abuse. We stressed that leading members of FOUR different \u201cVictims'\u201d groups had made clearly false allegations against the Christian Brothers and the Sisters of Mercy e.g. that they had murdered children in their care. Some of these murder allegations related to periods when no child died of ANY cause (so these are lies rather than delusions.) I coined the phrases \u201cMurder of the Undead\u201d and \u201cVictimless Murders\u201d re these claims. A version of documentation that I gave to the Commission can be seen here:\nhttp://www.irishsalem.com/irish-controversies/allegations-of-child-killing-1996to2005/SunTribune25May06.php\n\nNone of the \"Victim\" leaders who made preposterous claims resigned, which must also say a lot about the credibility of the ordinary members of the groups!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The photo of Jenny Mertens and Jocelyn Collen is adorable.\n\nI often brood about how often women used to die in childbirth before modern medicine so staggeringly enhanced their life chances. The stark reality is that having sex could result in agonizing death (because Eve ate the baddie fruit, of course). So the suggestion that women would be especially attracted to Christianity's promise of eternal life is completely plausible.\n\nMeanwhile the United States has the highest maternal death rate in the developing world. It's actually rising. Naturally the culture of life is urgently on the case, right? Er...wrong.\n\nhttps://www.propublica.org/article/in-healthcare-suit-against-catholic-bishops-the-specter-of-an-early-defeat", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As follow-up. I really value your thoughts you share with us here, Don. It is, indeed, the local community where the greatest expression of the Gospel message is to be found, nurtured and practiced. And it is, though, right where good theology always leads us and what is the source of much of the recent and current \"push\" to really decentralize the monstrous edifice that has been built out of power, control, oppression and self-serving traditions for men. If the Church was indeed more local, as you envision so well, its problems would be few and never on the backs of the innocent. Many blessings to you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You simply don't understand what \"hate speech\" is, John. Nor do you understand the precise legal definition of free speech.\n\nListen closely:\n\nThe ONLY speech that is banned by law is speech that calls for or incites imminent violence.\n\nWhat Milo has to say doesn't fit into that category. Not even close. He has never in any way advocated violence.\n\nTherefore, his rights to speech fall under the 1st Amendment. They are protected by law.\n\nPeople can protest his speech, BUT THEY DO NOT HAVE A RIGHT TO USE VIOLENCE TO STOP HIS SPEECH, simply because they don't like what he has to say.\n\nWhat I'm describing here is free speech 101.\n\nThe same rights that (are supposed to) protect Milo are supposed to protect the rest of us, ie you and me, all Catholics, everyone.\n\nLabeling opinions you don't like as \"hate speech\" and claiming this give you the right to stop others from speaking is against the law. It's un-Constitutional.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "From the Openings Gallery website: \n\"This exhibit will occupy the entire south side of the church, placing the Islamic work side by side with the permanent Christian frescoes and statuary, creating extraordinary visual and ideological dialogs between the two traditions\u2019 expressions of faith.\"\nOuch.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Gad what an admixture of myth and absolute bunkum.\n\n\"...a few bands of Christian women kind of kept the Roman Empire at bay.\" This \"in keeping with Catholic theology\"? Somewhere million of disenfranchised Catholic women are laughing out loud.\n\n\"A planet that hates humans and a God that has broken his covenant with the Jews.\" So Gaia and God got together and pulled the plug?\n\nI can only hope that when you post you are high on something, the alternative that you actually hold these beliefs is too sad to contemplate.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "First you argue that Jesus did not institute a priesthood as we understand it. THEN you argue that Jesus admitted married me to the priesthood.\n\nWhich is it?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, I don't give up saying what is true. You have built something resembling the Catholic Church, based on your own beliefs, declare it to be the Catholic Church, and insist that all who do not belong to YOUR church are not true Catholics.\n\nYou take an quote from Cardinal Newman, without context, date or source about liberty in general, and say \"this is what Pius was talking about in Quanta Cura. No, Pius quite specifically says that he is referring to freedom of religion and freedom of speech. He calls these two liberties \"insanity\" and \"injurious\". Dignitatis Humanae says quite specifically that freedom of religion is a right of all people. The second document contradicts the first. You pretend they do not, basically by wholly misrepresenting the first.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Genesis is about the creation of the world, humanity. Big picture!\nSacrificing humanity on the pretense of being \"pro life\" is just so, so narrow a vision. It seems to be electoral politics in a church that claims to be \"the one, holy, catholic\"?\nI don't get it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What exactly do you disagree with? The comparison of Jesus to Mohammed? The comparison of Islam to Christian doctrines?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Or, to put it in objective non-inflammatory terms, Pius XI, after 59 years of a stalemate with the Italian state due to the seizure of the Vatican State by King Victor Emmanuel II, directed Cardinal Pacelli to complete negotiations on regularizing relations with Italy.\n\nIn 1929, the Pope supervised the signing of the resulting Lateran Treaties with the Italian government, in which the Vatican City was given sovereignty as an independent nation in return for the Vatican relinquishing its claim to the former territories of the Papal States.\n\nCatholicism was recognized as the sole religion of the state, Italy paid salaries to priests and bishops, gave civil recognition to church marriages (previously couples had to have a civil ceremony), and brought religious instruction into the public schools.\n\nThe Church was not obligated its support the Fascist regime.\n\nPius XI died ten years later at the age of 81.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I was unaware he was a bishop in the Catholic Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It doesn't work like that. Nobody can just say \"I'm a girl today and a guy tomorrow\".\n\nThe professional standards of care require three things for a gender dysphoia diagnosis: The feelings must be persistent, consistent, and insistent. We are talking about an identity that has been felt for many years. The identity must be the same over a period of time - and nothing else. And insistent. The identity is very strongly held and must interfere with other areas of the trans woman's life.\n\nThe idea that someone can change on a whim is a lie told by preachers and politicians. Whoever told you that either didn't know what he/she was talking about or was telling out and out lies.\n\nThis amounts to you wanting someone else to be deeply unhappy just so you can be comfortable. That is not a very Christian attitude, is it?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Correction:\n\n\"SOME Catholics rebuke executive order on climate, energy policy\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I will speak firmly for what I believe is the heart of God, as I can interpret through the words and actions of Jesus. But you know, God would know that we are all very different and unique. It only makes sense that different people would have different paths to take to God. \n\nHuman arrogance and insecurity would have us believe only THEIR path is legitimate and that only THEY know the heart of Jesus.\n(one will probably pop up here in a second).\n\nIt's despicable and has caused tremendous pain and hurt in people. I attended the Unitarian church for a little while and met so many people angry and hurt by past experiences with mainline Christian church's. I understood those stories (in small group), but could not stay in that congression because the spirit of Jesus was so diminished. Very nice, smart, kind and loving people, but just not the right place for me. \n\nThen you have the Westboro church and others like it, places that would never have my shadow cast in their door.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do adults who are paid to be educators of young students, really use exclusion and humiliation as tactics of coercion? Seriously? What level of intellect are these teachers and school administrators who would take such action against a student, in response to a perfectly sensible, reasonable exemption request - oh, the irony. The Catholic school system shows itself fixated on control for the sake of control, the length of school girl skirts and a brand of pettiness that has no place in Ontario's secular school system this century.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You and Fr Flannery against some of the greatest minds over 2000 years plus Christ's promise to be with His Church unto the end of time. Fair enough.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Here are the six key Beliefs:\n\n1) That Christ's second coming is imminent and will be literal, not metaphorical, seen by all the world\n2) That the seventh day, Saturday, not Sunday, is God's Sabbath and the obligation to keep it is perpetual\n3) That God does not eternally torment sinners, but rather that the dead \"sleep\" until the second coming and last judgment\n4) That Christ ministers in the heavenly sanctuary, thereby mediating to us the benefits of His death on the cross, saving us by His righteousness, not our own deeds\n5) That in the last days Christians will be tempted by apostasy, but will be called back to divine truth \u2014 the \"third angel's message\" of Revelation 14 \u2014 by a small \"remnant\" of faithful believers\n6) That the remnant would be marked by a recurrence of the prophetic ministry\n\nYes we are easily tempted by apostasy. Yes, in many cases we think our deeds are important.\n\nWhere does any of this fit into the Beliefs or Divine Truth?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Normally I am with you on trust....but when you look at Trumps selection of cabinet and their military history...and you consider that this man sees himself as the sole savior of his \"people\" and his affiliations with military arms guys....well...well. I personally expect military action...perhaps even nuclear.\n\nI actually think it's better to be cognizant of these issues and prepared.\n\nHillary detailed her efforts to contain the \"loose nukes\" in Russia and Putin wanted (and got) Trump....\n\nI think the Pax Christi folks would be wise to provide every parish in the country with that letter and see if individual catholic entities could contact Trump....if 1000s of folks/parishes contacted him and if media was alerted to the matter over and over....think it would at least raise the issue....AND if it was an ecumenical effort where other denominations also participated at their individual Church level, THEN OK, ..think this individual ONE letter is a fruitless if very well meaning effort.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Only if you count \"the beginning\" as the dissent of Humanae Vitae. No Christian body countenanced artificial methods of birth control being morally acceptable until the Anglicans in 1930...and then only for exceptional cases, and we see where that went.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One can surely be pro life. You are not going to eliminate abortion. The callous abortion of the uber-selfish will continue unabated. These are the ones for which empathy is impossible. Those of the the marginalized will return to the self-induced and the hatchet wielders. Satisfied? Yes, I suppose the uber-conservative Christians will be self-satisfied and move on to devote more energy to homophobia, misogyny and the wealth God wants for them.\nWhen a society helps to raise the poor, disenfranchised, marginalized to self-sufficiency; when they achieve a level where survival is no longer the issue they will be capable of giving moral choices the priority they merit and possibly with real compassion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Blah Blah Blah - While we treat women like dogs compared to men, offering them no voice and unequal sacraments (these are the same thing), we cannot be an avenue for legitimate authority in the Holy Spirit. While our pope allows misogyny and the rejection of all women from ordination to priesthood and refuses to consecrate women bishops or cardinals, secular people are better able to teach us what it means to be Christian. \n\nEven secular people know this, as one of last years surveys to NONES who left Catholicism and the many NONES who would not consider becoming Catholic, stated as the 2nd most common reason for not joining or returning to Catholicism is that Catholics don't act very Christian. After this reason, sexism and our refusal to ordain women priests and LGBT condemnation were given as examples of how we are not very Christian.\n\nThe time is now to ordain women priests. Choosing to wait continues the hate and the damage to the church which comes from that hatred.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That was certainly true for my daughter while attending a Catholic school. I eventually pulled her out in the middle of her eighth grade year. The blindness by staff as to who the bullies were was perfectly obvious. What made it even worse for my daughter was the fact it was happening with impunity in a Catholic school where kids were supposed to be taught to be followers of Jesus. She told me it was much easier to take in public schools where there were no such expectations.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually, the first part was also uncivil, if you understand what \"coalition\" means, as you alleged a \"coalition that included . . . the (anti-Catholic) KKK, and the American Nazi Party.\" Pretty overstated, don't you think? You really believe there was a \"coalition\" among Trump, Nazis, and the KKK?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\" If John XXIII hadn't reacted in time with Vatican II, the tidal wave of change in the World would have destroyed the Church.\"\n\nNot sure how we'd know that's true.... as it seems every demographic (lay and religious) has steadily declined in numbers since V2.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Until the Catholic Church pays full restitution to the victims of sexual assault consider me a former member of this cult. When all it takes is the sale of a few Michelangelo artifacts to cover the bill makes one sick to their stomach. When all the smoke clears it is all about the money with this organisation. Open your eyes, do some internet research and listen to the victims. Blind faith does not hold up in God's court.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"No, not quite. He stated that in his opinion kneeling during the national anthem is not offensive. He did not even address offensive language at all.\" \n\nYes, quite! Counsel: Have you forgotten that gestures and other physical acts intended to communicate ideas are the equivalent of speech?? Kneeling at the National Anthem is a gesture that intended to communicate --- it's a form of speech. It's also offensive speech.\n\nYou're playing it too clever by half when you say you don;t see how the moralizing of the left differs from any other kind. Trust me; our premises are completely different. Ask any conservative priest next time you go to confession what he thinks is the difference between traditional Catholic moralizing and the kind done by the left. Be sure to tip him generously on the way out.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Holy Father appears to have deliberately left the question unresolved:\n\n - Francis avoided addressing the question directly in his apostolic exhortation, left evidence of his intention in an obscure footnote, and then later told reporters that he didn\u2019t remember that footnote.\n - He endorsed the Argentine bishops\u2019 interpretation in a private letter, and the Sch\u00f6nborn interpretation in an airplane interview. Neither was a formal statement of the teaching magisterium.\n - He declined to answer the Dubia submitted by four Cardinals.\n - The Italian Archbishop Bruno Forte reported that Pope Francis had cautioned against clarity, saying: \u201cIf we speak explicitly Communion for the divorced and remarried, you do not know what a terrible mess we will make.\u201d\n\nIt is clear the Pope wants a \"mess\" and is happy to create confusion. Why?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Additional comment - the above quotes and MSW's negative response to PP also highlights that the most effective means to reduce abortion are contraceptives. Unfortunately, MSW's response or suggested drill down to Ms. Richards underlines the confused pro-birth stance......outlaw abortion with one hand tied behind your back and, at the same time, assume that you know best when it comes to a decision about a woman using birth control.\n\nThe above reminds me of those who preach conscience is supreme and then so qualify that statement that no conscience would ever be respected. It becomes a game of linguistic gymnastics. At the core, either you trust the people of God or you do not and substitute their human dignity with (women especially) with claims that become condescending.\n\nExample - last Sunday to remember Roe v Wade, homilist said that medical science proves life from conception. That is false. Typical of the failed catholic pro-life stance.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The next time the feeling of worthlessness presents itself, consider the reach and the breadth of the essay you just gave us. And consider the courage, risk, service, and love attendant to it. Oh, and consider the life-changing impact. Other than that...\n\nYou bring both worth AND value to the discussion. Your last paragraph says more than many volumes of theology, many sermons, many counseling sessions, and many lengthy prayers. \n\nYes, there will be those (sadly, there ARE those--read the Newman Society stuff) who'll lament \"that's what Georgetown is: a so-called-Catholic, 'love myself,' God's love is unconditional, secular, touchy-feely Jesuit remnant of the '60s. \"\n\nHannah, you show us why in 2017 GU is a great Catholic university AND a Catholic great university. Love can't be earned--you are so right. But respect and admiration can be. You just showed us that. \n\n\"Profoundly rooted in the gospel and in Ignatian spirituality\"------now THAT'S elite higher education.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That is something Trump has been trying to express with his both sides comments that he has been condemned for. That is also something that I have tried to state. Yes, there are examples in modern day Christianity when women are not as supported as they should be.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The rigidity itself shows that they don't really understand what Jesus was asking us to do \"in memory\" of him.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Moral law doesn't have to \"stand\" for anything but the application of it by individuals does have to stand the judgment of God!\n\nThere is what's called the divine law; the mind and ordering in God's mind. It's of course not directly knowable, but it can be inferred from various realities, such as natural law and the laws of nature. \n\nRead the last 1/4th of \"the Abolition of Man\" to get spun up on it. \n\nAnd, it's not my \"moral law\". The Church gives me the moral law...and these become criteria that get embedded in the intellect.\n\nYou misunderstand the Church's teaching about law, its source and purpose and ordering.\n\nWe don't \"turn over\" individual rights, we order them to the good and the true. \n\nThere is a priority in right; life is the highest, above liberty and above the pursuit of happiness. Liberty and the pursuit of happiness are contingent on life. \n\n\"Lawful legality\"....you're making up terms and then defending them. Have at it. Bowing out.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Picky Ray.\nI too totally agree. Picky rules about irrevalent minutia based more on superstition than logical doctrine only serve to undermine the already shaky credibility and moral authority authority of \"our Church\". Not only among still-practicing Catholics , but also those who are now \"Nones\". And this could readily be interpreted as a means of ensuring the continued profitability of Catholic cemeteries despite the growing increase in cremations due to the high cost of socially acceptable \"normal\" funerals.\nAre the Inmates in charge of the Asylum while the Living ensure famine, many ills and the actions of predatory clergy. \nThis still-stubborn Catholic finds another reason to assert that he is Not a \"Roman\" Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1. How we understand, share and teach our faith has to be radically redefined. Too much of human responsibility, accountability, and nobility has been shrouded, ostensibly, in Jesus, but in reality to institution. Human dignity, ethics, compassion along with morals have been \"uploaded\" as if they are products of church and its magisterium. This diminishes human (in the image and likeness of God) nobility, responsibility and accountability. It contributes to guilt, rather than personal maturity; to divisiveness because civility is appropriated to sectarian prerogative; to institutional subservience/dominion which is increasingly held in disdain. Compounding the damage, catholicism in the history of civilization is also being lost because of association with scandal and mysogyny. The message is lost along with the medium because they are so linked.\nChurch needs to affirm its intrinsic continuity in and with creation, civilization, evolution, reason, rather than being \"at war\" with it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "May Francis continue to appoint more bishops like Cardinals Cupich and Tobin, who are genuinely interested in accompanying people rather than dividing them.\n\nIronic timing that it was just days ago that Francis said \"The Pharisees and doctors of the law who claim salvation comes only from fulfilling God's laws are not just biblical figures of the past. There are many of them today, too.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bishop Robert McElroy is No Man of God! \n\nHe is Not A Priest. \n\nIf he was then He would know He's Sinning and going against Romans 13. \n\nNo Man of God would make these Statements.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part 2 - The first disclosure to be eliminated in the fiscal year 2013 statement and subsequent years 2014 and 2015 is the amount of the Peter\u2019s Pence collection, an annual contribution from Catholics around the world \u201cin support of the Holy Father\u2019s charity.\u201d In 2012 it was $69.7 million U.S. dollars, in 2011 $65.9 million.\nThat the Peter\u2019s Pence collection for 2013 totaled 378 million euro is known only because it was revealed in Fittipaldi\u2019s book \"Avarice: Documents Revealing Wealth, Scandals and Secrets of Francis\u2019 Church\", published Nov. 5, 2015.\n(The Vatican Bank began issuing financial reports in 2012 because it was compelled to in order to do business in international financial markets.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am a pre-V2 Catholic. Not sure what your context is, but American Catholics have always talked about Church teaching with some honesty; it's just more open now since V2. \n\n\nI am a practicing cradle Catholic who is something of a \"church elder\" and who does not agree with everything the Church teaches and certainly not everything the Church does. Yet my pastor and my bishop have taken no umbrage to me calling myself a Catholic. Who are you to do so?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The dawn of creation was a long time ago. \n\nThere are, unsurprisingly, people who are actually trying to puzzle out how true the narrative you offer is. At present, there's enough scholarship on the table to show that \"virtually every society\" is overstating the case a bit. There are historical documents in which missionaries discuss the unabashed sexual depravities within local communities, and decry the general toleration of such behaviors. The correction of sexual depravity was a vital aspect of their evangelization. And as colonies took shape, the Europeans administering them brought the violent force of civil law to bear on the problem. I'm not saying that was the situation everywhere, but it did play out that way many times. Homosexuals probably were also anathematized, but the universality you speak of appears to be of relatively recent Christian and Islamic manufacture.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is the Church , which claims to be \"one True\" which is expressing arrogance. God is beyond human understanding and certainly much larger and more mysterious than any religion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So far as \"scandals\" go, that fact that progressive liberals are contemptuous, disrespectful and disdainful of Catholics is not a real surprise to anyone with a working brain. I agree with MSW that it is not very important.\n\nWhat is important is that everything that Secretary Clinton has been charged with by Republicans has turned out to be absolutely factual.\n\nCase in point: There was a \"quid pro quo\" expectation of donors to the Clinton Foundation. Inquiries for access to the Secretary of State were coded FOB Friend of Bill or WJC William Jefferson Clinton. All without these codes were directed to the standard government access process; those with it were expedited to Secretary Clinton's office.\n\nThe audit of the foundation revealed by Wikileaks was not part of the \"vast right wing conspiracy' that so many here love to blame. It was called by Chelsea Clinton and conducted by Victoria Bjorklund.\nWhy does no one on this forum care about real scandals?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And the Catholic church lies to students, telling them that Religion Classes are mandatory, when courts have confirmed that they have the right to decline. Similar pressure to conform exists when other brands of superstition have \"opportunities\" to attend religious themed events held in school presented. It is a form of bullying by social pressure.\n\nhttp://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/education/catholic-schools-force-students-to-study-religion-despite-court-order/article19998101/\n\nSo much for participation being voluntary.\n\nhttp://canadianatheist.com/2015/01/secular-ontario-religion-classes-are-optional/\n\nhttp://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2014/09/06/can-catholic-school-students-in-ontario-skip-religious-classes-yes-but-this-teacher-was-punished-for-saying-so/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\u201cChrist has no body now on earth but yours,\nno hands but yours,\nno feet but yours,\nYours are the eyes through which to look out\nChrist's compassion to the world\nYours are the feet with which he is to go about\ndoing good;\nYours are the hands with which he is to bless men now.\u201d\n\u2015 Teresa of \u00c1vila", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The RCC will continue to exist in the developing world, but in the West it will continue to dwindle. As to how it continues to support itself without a vigorous Church in the first world, well, I suspect wealthy conservative Catholics will hold even more sway than they already do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I guess I assume that anything voted on is either passed or not. I am sure that changes will come but will the Catholic church survive the change? By going back to the Latin Rite Mass many - and that includes a couple of popes, scores of cardinals and many bishops as well as a vocal minority of the North American and southern European lait - don't want to see Vatican II implemented and will fight to the death to see it is not!. Many want to take the church backwards not forwards. My fear is that we are tearing the church apart because two sides that can not coexist. I too miss Disqus and Crux not only for their editing ability but for our lively discussions. I learned much. Now it is only one-way information which we have to like it or lump it. As usual, no one wants to hear from the laitat least those who want change. And what is with the character counter?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\u201cThen ask where is HE within it. Then ask where would we be if HE were not in it at all and through all of this.\u201d\n\nRarely is Christ glorified; leaving Atoday participants blessed! If He is not glorified, then what good are these forums?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not quite a full understanding. The secular exists to serve the sacred.\n\nYour statement clearly shows that have so brittle an understanding of \"Opus Dei\" let alone a working grasp of its spirit. And none of its teaching.\n\nIf you did, you'd realize that Opus Dei doesn't have a stance or position on the \"hypostatic \"union\" that differs in any way from the Church's understanding.\n\nSt Josemaria did pen a marvelous thought on the sacred and secular: \"There is no other way. Either we learn to find our Lord in ordinary, everyday life, or else we shall never find Him. That is why I can tell you that our age needs to give back to matter and to the most trivial occurrences and situations their noble and original meaning. It needs to restore them to the service of the Kingdom of God, to spiritualize them, turning them into a means and an occasion for a continuous meeting with Jesus Christ.\"\n\nEnjoy at prayer and then apply in ordinary life. Cheers.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sigh... has Christian Gutierrez truly demonstrated that he is contrite? How about a lifetime ban from Kaena Point, 200 hours as a monk seal guardian, a $20,000 fine given to albatross research and management, and a requirement to lecture in schools about his crime? Oh, and 30 days in jail would send a powerful message as well.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Believe it or not, is is possible to uphold traditional liturgy AND carry out the corporal works of mercy at the same time. The Anglo-Catholics have been doing high churchmanship and social justice side-by-side for over a hundred years before Vatican II ever came along. Is it so strange to think that some of us might be chanting Vespers in Latin and then packing meals for the homebound afterward? Come on, now.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Recent Catholic Voting History:\n\n--President George W. Bush won the Catholic vote, 52 percent to 47 percent, in his 2004 re-election effort, according to exit polls from that cycle. President Barack Obama won the group (which made up 27 percent of the electorate, according to exit polling), 54 percent to 45 percent, during his bid for the White House in 2008.\n\nBut to call the Catholic vote a pure bellwether would be a mistake; the determination of an individual\u2019s vote is more likely in 2012 to turn on more common political variables (like income, education, or ethnicity) \u2013 than simple religious identity. nBC\n\n--Catholics - the country's largest religious group with one-quarter of the population - have supported the winner of the popular vote in every election since 1972. Reuters/Ipsos exit polling found that 51 percent of Catholics favored President Barack Obama, compared with 48 percent for Republican contender Reuters", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No. I am talking about the fact that the rich get special treatment in general from the Church. This extends to annulment tribunals. Mr. Moneybags gives Bishop X a donation to the cathedral restoration fund and suddenly he gets an annulment. I went to Catholic schools. I know that the rich kids were never punished.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's troubling to read comments about NCR being adversarial to the KoC. Firstly, no organisation is above criticism. It's entirely appropriate that NCR asks these questions. Secondly, it distracts from the real issue. Let us all, the Knights included, address the matters in the articles and podcast. The hijacking of a Catholic body by political extremists deserves scrutiny - whether their politics are right-wing or left-wing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The sacrament of matrimony was actually devised by the Roman Catholics at the Council of Nicea, along with the rest of the sacraments. Prior to that, there was no defined marriage or matrimony, and no official \"ceremony,\" as there is today. People can get married in a church, if they like (or not), and that church may define what it considers to be a marriage, but it cannot dictate the civil contract of marriage that is required in our country in order for people to be legally married. Throughout history, people and societies have redefined what they consider to be a \"marriage.\" Today, if anyone wants to get married, he or she needs no one's approval or assent.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Would that be the \"God\" of Islam; the \"God\" of the Catholics; the \"God\" of Shinto; the \"God\" of Shiva the Destroyer; the \"God\" of the Aztecs; the \"God\" of Odin; the \"God\" of non-Catholic Christians; the \"God\" of the Jews?\n\nYou need to specify the object(s) of your bigotry more precisely.\n\nOver the last 10,000 years, the shamans, priests, ministers, Imams etc. have killed so many in the names of so many \"Gods\", specificity is required to malign the 80% in the US who have religious beliefs of one kind or another.\n\nThose in the single digit belief systems such as yourself are too arrogant by half.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This God that doesn't finally condemn anyone is not the God we read about in the Scriptures. Universalism is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you, Bishop Gumbleton, for reflecting on the full story of that 1st Easter morning found in John 20, including the part omitted from the official lectionary reading for Easter Sunday, where Mary Magdalene encounters the Risen Christ and is sent to tell his other disciples the Good News of the Resurrection. Would that the lectionary reading for Easter Sunday be corrected (my opinion) to include all of the story of the first Easter morning! It makes a good story even better.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "kag1982, listen to the bitterness in your responses. God is love, not bitterness, nor cynicism. We both LOVE Christ's teaching, I hope, but you seem to believe man can mess up God's work. He is in control and makes the good and the bad work to accomplish His will. All is well. If people tell you, \"you aren't Catholic\", it is because that name embraces beliefs that are from the times of the apostles. You don't get to choose to follow only what suits you. I am not \"far right\". I try to be \"faithful\". There is only one true set of teachings in the Catholic Church. We follow them or we don't. Annulments reflect God's mercy because the Church has, in essence, loosed the couple from spiritual culpability for the union, edifying them on the seriousness of the sacrament and their faith and commitment to God, while allowing them to move forward.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No mention that we need the peoples of the world working co-operatively together to make it a better place. No mention that we need to work with the Islamic peoples to get rid of their radical elements. No mention at all that survival of the world depends upon emphasis of the Golden Rule (Do Unto Others that ... etc) and that all other religious dressings such as even American evangelism have to be downplayed. No mention that when we talk about God, we talk about the unknowable, but that regardless, a universal God has not and will never favor one country. No mention at all that for America to prosper requires that everyone help everyone else in the world to prosper at the same time because that is what stimulates economic growth for all. Yes, this was the worst speech that anyone could have made.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"As you may know, the polity within Anglicanism is closer to Orthodoxy rather than the RCC.\"\n\nYes and no, MainlineP. The problem with Anglicanism is the impossibility of deciding which voice speaks for Anglicanism. (This doesn't exist in Orthodoxy, regarding teaching and doctrine.) Case in point: Look at the Provoo Agreement -- dating back 20 yrs ago -- between parts of the Anglican Communion and different Lutheran Churches. Documents they signed involved the mutual recognition of orders \"as they stood,\" even though there was no acknowledged breach in the episcopal succession. Yet when Anglicans talk to the CC, a different principle is used in the Anglican Catholic dialogue. As a result we are left with a dialogue of dialectics with both sides seeking clarification, without a single voice speaking for all of Anglicanism. For that reason, Rome settles for spiritual communion over Holy Communion (linked to membership), among other things. Thus Francis want love, mutual respect, hope.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I believe Cardinal Sarah is addressing those who perpetuate liturgical abuses. Saint John Paul II in his Eucharistic Encyclical and mandated Redemptionis Sacramentum by Cardinal Arinze made it known that any Bishop that wished to include changes in the Mass (changes not in the approved Liturgical Books) in his dioceses must have Recognitio from the Pope to avoid liturgical abuses. One cannot legitimately tell people that they CANNOT receive Communion on the tongue, or tell people that they MUST STAND when Jesus becomes truly present during the Eucharistic Prayer, or that we'll all consume the Eucharist SITTING DOWN at the same time as the priest as if we were at a banquet, or that the priest can distribute the BODY of Christ before he himself consumes both the Body and Blood of Christ, etc. \nMr. Winters, if you knew that more than 1 million people, including many priests and bishops, are celebrating with these very abuses in the Mass, would you still be so critical of Cardinal Sarah?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It seems to me that the Gospels present us example after example of a Jesus who not only forgave, but who could get past what people had done in their pasts, and focus on the now and the future. His consistent message was to forgive, and to exhort the sinner to sin no more. \n\nHow this has somehow escaped the church still boggles my mind. This is a man who calls us to be better, even as he understands that life can get messy. \n\nYes, the canon lawyer wants rules. Alas, Jesus didn't provide lengthy sets of rules and checklists: rather, he provided principles, and exhorted us to use our common sense. Francis seems to understand this. Alas, all too many who seem to need report cards and check lists to know how they are doing, seem to miss this point.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Orthodox Church is the original mother Church, as it was officially promoted by the Emperor Constantine. The Egyptian Church was part of it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Apparently, morality is not the most important concern for the evangelicals that voted for Trump. I guess there is something more important to them than the advice Jesus gave them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It can be hard for children to go against their parents wishes. The Catholic Church fall back position that only children of non catholic parents could opt out of the religion classes reflects the belief that the kids are also the property of the Catholic church.\n\nReligious parents often think that they own their children and feel that they have an entitlement to brainwash their kids in cult beliefs.\n\nhttps://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/father-sues-ontario-school-board-for-not-accommodating-his-religious-beliefs/article4533186/\n\nWhen the Medical Association in New York got a judge's order for police to return the files seized during the police raid on Margaret Sanger's Birth Control clinic they only returned the files of the non-catholic women. The Irish Catholic Police Captain leading the raid was seen taking orders from a Catholic Monsignor.\n\nThese illegal actions reflects a tired old attitude about thinking the Church owns women and children.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well stated, Hooded Claw! Many theologians were laity [consecrated religious were also in this group] as well as priests], people lost positions as teachers---a livelihood----because they defended what had been decided at Vatican II. Francis is trying to return to what purpose of Vatican II was from the beginning.\n\nApparently, the Four Cardinals, either did not read or reflect on the words of Pope St. John XXIII stated in the Mass opening Vatican II [October 11, 1962], when he stated:\n\n\"The substance of the ancient doctrine of the Deposit of Faith is one thing, an the way in which it is presented is another.....The Church has always opposed errors. Frequently she has condemned them with the greatest severity. Nowadays, however, the spouse of Christ prefers to make use of the medicine of mercy rather than that of severity.\"\n------------\nExcerpts taken from English Translation of \"The Documents of Vatican II\" ed. Walter M. Abbott [New York: Crossroads, 1989]. pp. 718-19.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are other sources beside the Bible for some of this stuff.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It seemed a pretty fair question.\n\nThat you considered it \"a personal insult to my intelligence and faith\" and resolve it with a \"permanent ignore\" does raise some questions about whether discussion groups are your forte.\n\nI also have to say you present views as being Orthodox that I have never encountered among Orthodox, and I have close family in the Russian Orthodox Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Isn't it strange to use JPII as the model, when we have Jesus in the gospels upbraiding his disciples for hardness of heart and referring to Peter, who will not accept a future of suffering, as Satan? \nAlso: Isn't Colossians 3:21 about the actual children of a married couple?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "She was not, her original comment didn't mention any denomination, you introduced \"Catholics\" , she responded accordingly, your insistence on \"correcting\" her is what pushed the thread off topic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The only way to avoid the continued loss of membership by the one true church is to return to the ways of the church before it began losing membership. Once the use of the vernacular is abandoned, the primacy of the priest as the sole conduit to God's mercy, and the subservient vocation of the laity is restored, the young people will flock to the churches, young celibate men will flood the seminaries, and the church will, once again, thrive. There will be no need to discuss ecumenical ideas because the anglicans and others will see their error, repent, and rejoin, having recognized that all their adherents throughout history are now regretting their decisions, which have left them doomed to eternal punishment in God's mercy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Correction: biblical scholars have now determined that \"sola scriptura\" was actually a misspelling of \"sopa scriptura,\" which was a biblical kind of alphabet soup. Catechumens were given sixty seconds to spell out the word \"salvation\" using only the letters \"b\" and \"k,\" and those who did were eaten by lions. It was very popular before sanity was invented. The Latin version is available to anyone who googles \"FOX News.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is the man all you thumpers want to follow? A guy, who at a young age, witnesses a horrific accident and thinks about HIMSELF rather than the obvious needs of his fellow? Now, right there, is the diametric opposite of what a Christ would have thought and done.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Xavier_Malcolm: Until Christian can get the link fixed, here is the correct link: https://www.eugene-or.gov/1086/Bond-Measures-to-Fix-Streets", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, it's not that simple. Here's David Plouffe, Obama's own campaign manager on the outcome:\nhttp://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/11/opinion/what-i-got-wrong-about-the-election.html?ref=opinion&_r=0\n\nHe cites eight factors that likely decided the outcome and not a mention of evangelicals in any of them. I'd say your barking up the wrong tree.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of course he does. Frequently. That's my point. This news organ is pushing an agenda, a selective push quoting approach. I think it might help if we could make stick figures and diagram points to some here. There's such a mix. Low absorption coefficients.\n\nNo random selection of substantial quotes from Pope Francis would miss Jesus, God, Our Lord, the Sacraments, and certainly Our Lady.\n\nThe pope says three whole rosaries a day. Makes pleas to St Joseph.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Kingwell cautions against a facile, self-satisfied assumption regarding Canada\u2019s virtue. There\u2019s a broader context.\n\nWe\u2019re shaped by uncommon conditions. We rarely face hostile forces at our borders but live in the shadow of the US and earlier the UK. We have no dominant cultural group but have had at least two such groups claiming the right to pre-eminence or autonomy during our history. We are a geographically dispersed society with an urban-rural divide. Etc.\n\n Consequently, domestic attitudes have swung between two two poles over time but often strike an equitable middle balance. One is the exceptionalism of the article. \n\nThe other is a depressed reactionary exclusionary miasma that occasionally dominates a region or cultural group and sometimes Canada as a whole. Think of the Orange Order and its Catholic counterparts during the 19th and early 20th century (and also more recent examples). Isn\u2019t this analogous to the factors that birthed the Trump Presidency?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "On October 5-19, 2014 Pope Francis convoked the Third Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops to discuss the theme \"Pastoral challenges of the family in the context of evangelization\". Prior to this, people at the grassroots level were given the opportunity to participate in the consultation process. The comments came from thousands and thousands of people from Austria, Belgium, Germany, Japan, Malta, and Switzerland. At the same time, a Spanish-language media company---Univision Communications---published the results of the global survey of Catholic opinion sent to 12,038 Catholics in twelve countries; Brazil, Mexico, Philippines, USA, Italy, Colombia, France, Poland, Spain, Democratic Republic of Congo, Argentina and Uganda. Together, these nations account for 60 percent of the world's Catholic population. The people expressed views on contraception, on abortion, and on the admission of the divorced and remarried to the sacraments that are at odds with conservatives.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't know if this is the way you feel or are just commenting on your experience with male converts to the church.\nBut how sad, how very, very sad that the Catholic Church is a refuge for such damaged people.\nIt kind of shoots down the argument that the church respects women doesn't it?\n\nAnd I have to say that my experience with people who have entered the church as adults, that they were thoughtful, people who found what they were looking for.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus, fully present in the Eucharist, is the Really Real.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The going into Iraq was not a decision by Catholics applying the Church's teachings.\n\nThe act of \"prioritizing the life of the mother and the other children who need a mother be 'a proper weighting in consideration of competing rights, commencing with the first right - the right to life itself' for the mother?\" basically voids \"You shall do no murder\" and replaces it.\n\nTo give you an example of where leads, the poor mother with four children up to age 8 would be the recipient of an abortion while the wife of a billionaire who could afford the very best of childcare and had only a year old might be considered expendable.\n\nIt leads to moral chaos and chaos, as it has everywhere it has been adopted.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm not finding fault with the immigrants wanting to have something familiar but with the bishops and priests of the time for not saying, as Eparch Zaidan did in Minneapolis (here I paraphrase), \"This is where the altar is, this is where your church is.\" The +Carroll model of an \"American Church\" left a lot of problems in its wake, including who has the right to close a parish, land disposition, business model, etc.\nThat isn't to say that the Old World got everything right, either. Perhaps I'm wrong, but I don't think that a lot of Catholic would have left if Germans and Poles had to share a parish in the New World if they were given a priest or priests to serve their particular communities needs.\nOn a separate subject; any new beer recommendations? I just tried Spencer Brewery's Monk's Reserve (a quadruple). It was excellent and reminded me of some that you can get in Belgium and The Netherlands.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As Catholics we believe Jesus was God as well as Man, and therefore spoke the Truth. He was not subject to moral improvement.\n\nAs Catholics we believe humans are capable, in fact called, to moral development and improvement, and we believe in the conversion of sinners.\n\nA long series of current statements is not offset by a comment 17 years old.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Beautiful. Nobody does women and Catholic better than Heidi. Nobody does motherhood better either..", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"desiring to be a Christlike person\"\n\nJesus said, \"Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.\"\n\nThe problem is, the predatory priests knew exactly what they were doing. And the bishops who covered for them knew exactly what they were doing. And the bishops who continue to avoid any real accountability know exactly what they are doing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually, it is the pros who accept oral tradition as reliable source, in African history, American Native history (also US and Canadian courts), Chinese history, just to name a few. You are a tad bit behind ... the pros. \n\nRe the Latin Prologues, the current scholarship is divided. So, you cannot simply dismiss it it based on that. \n\nWhen looking at all the evidence together, and especially the living tradition, that includes the continuous veneration involving the Martytium in Alexandria (originating prior to 313, which means no ulterior motives were desirable), you can argue as much as you want it won't help. :))\n\nBTW< my original comment was that Christianity in Alexandria (Egypt), and among the Copts is not \"centuries\" old, but millennia old. \n\nYou can carry on with your nitpicking, argument for argument's sake, if that makes you happy. :)) Coptic Christian community is still one of the most ancient in history. :)) Have fun with the pros! :))", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Kungs and Schillebeeckxs and Currans of the world were quite able to answer questions: their problem was that their answers had nothing to do with Catholic doctrine and, since they were being paid as \"Catholic theologians,\" the Church merely applied truth-in-advertising.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Which is one of my main complaints about Humanae Vitae. It says \"No member of the faithful could possibly deny that the Church is competent in her magisterium to interpret the natural moral law.\" Which is saying that the magisterium knows what \"natural law\" is, and all Catholics must accept this.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oooh! Yes! Let's have the Church take its queues from U.S. civil legal practice to authentically understand and make present God's eternal mercy! If I just hold out long enough in my sin God will eventually HAVE to forgive it, like a statute of limitations or something. Awesome!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "> Your comments about the 2000 year old church are amusing.\n\nYou see buildings, Popes, and councils and think that is the Church. That is how you can believe things like the Church was founded in the 4th century. In reality, the Church was founded at Pentecost by the Lord. Instead of focusing on what man has done, you should be focused on what the Lord has done.\n\nHe has founded a Church. He has given her authority to speak for him until his return. He has given her the Holy Spirit to guide it. What you speak of is not a Church but a group of individuals, where each one has authority over the faith including the ability to shape the will of God in their own image. That is no Church.\n\n> When did Jesus ever distain to touch lepers, sit with sinners\n\nJesus did sit with sinners... repentant ones. The ones who could have been saved, but the \"righteous\" neglected. Jesus did not reward those who shaped God in their own image and thought salvation was owed to them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you for keeping the \"identity Catholicism\" agenda alive with selective and aging quotes. I look forward to these every couple of days.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sorry Alberta, \nYou blew it. Oil is a dead end. Unfortunately for you, you squandered the profits. You gave most of it to the energy companies. Contrast this with Norway (which has a similar population and amount of oil) which now has a Sovereign Energy Fund of over 1 TRILLION US dollars. Well at least you have Jesus and guns.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Why are our church buildings not installing solar panels?\"\n\nThe same reason everybody doesn't have solar panels on their houses: money. I'm sure if some eco-Catholic group were donating solar panels, they would be happy to install them. Nobody wants high energy bills.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The big tent Kenney talks about is mostly filled with evangelicals and the oil and gas industry.\nA real alliance for the future that is.\n Notley is having a good day it seems", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You're trying to reason with a \"Weekend Christian\" (BB). It never works, friend. They just like to sit on their high horse and judge people.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do we know who these immigrants are that are coming into our State? Who is vetting them? Catholic Social Services seems to be the only ones in this State that has any say on this. When the Governor was asked about it his statement was that CSS takes care of it for the State. Do we want someone that is not accountable to anyone here \"running the show\" unsupervised? How do we know who is here legally? \n\nSo many questions, so little desire to have answers to them! Especially by the liberals that run the city and ADN.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...divisions...deaths... the Thirty Years War?\"\n\nShakespeare reminds us, Rule and Raven: \"There is some soul of goodness in things evil, would men observantly distil it out.\" As Christians, we have to distill it out, as it were. As Americans, too, especially in regard to our own violent history, we must do likewise.\nThe Chinese Communists say that today (to get where they are now -- economically, socially, etc.), they had to do violence, kill millions, etc.; likewise, the Vietnamese Communists. Now ISIS says the same. When we were a nation of 30 million, we went through a terrible Civil War -- from 1861-65 -- with 640,000 deaths and millions wounded. Were we to fight that same war today -- in a country of 325 million -- the casualties would be in the tens of millions. Germany, of course, suffered greatly during the Thirty Years War, losing 30% of its population. But today Germany is at peace (with self identifying Catholics ironically the dominant group, according to Pew). You figure!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Orthodox Church celebraes the Conception of Mary on Dec 9, not Dec. 8, for reasons that Fr. Hopko exlains in his wondeful book, The Winter Pascha.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus wasn't a disruptor? You might want to read this book called the Gospel According to Mark and its sequels.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How can a Catholic priest or bishop not advise their flocks to vote against whatever candidate advocates the taking of innocent human life? If it means losing the diocese's tax-exempt status they should speak out otherwise by keeping quiet they accept the State's thirty pieces of silver.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The substantialness of Catholics today is summarized by the cute cartoons of a typical \"feedback session\".\n\nHow was the session? \"Oh it was great...we made some fun cartoons, and then we made a video of them, and then posted it on youtube\".\n\nTransformation done. :>", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Spirit of Vatican II is obviously not the Holy Spirit. More like the Spirit of this world. As Pope Benedict said, the Holy Spirit always inspires even when men often don't listen. Being the 3rd person of a triune God, the Holy Spirit never confuses or contradicts the word of God the Father Old and God the Son.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "On conservative Pella and the most fundamental conservative church, the faster was having affairs with some 10 or so married women. Schocking but not the first pastor affair. Again conservative Protestant churches. \n\nThere isn't much difference in behaviors between churched and unchurched people according to studies sited by my own pastor.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That is the same reason Hundreds of Thousands march each year in Washington for the PRO LIFE movement. Hope for the future and an end to Abortion. Thank you fellow Catholics for believing in such a cause.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "love the word \"sloth\" - i'm not catholic.... and if i'm not doing my own digging pers se - it is because I am working - from about 5;30a to about 8-8:30p - taking breaks to water plants, walk dogs , check my website and take care of biz there and check in here - I love the \"conversation\", sharing of info and ideas, that does happen sometimes. unless or until the p=ssing contests start . so, anyway, that was my day yesterday. ;) today's \"big show\" starts in about 25 minutes. yee HA! I do wonder at the \"free time\" of most of us commenters and think we must be all retired or disabled.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is equally possible/probable that sections were omitted by the scribes and monks (many of them uneducated and seeking favor with superiors and local bishops) and is why one should never look at one gospel in exclusion of others, as well as additional information from other sources. Most Biblical scholars have asked a different question then the one that first comes to mind: instead of \"why do only two gospels refer to the presence of women...?\" they ask \"If it is stated in two of the Gospels, why is it not in the others?\" The presumption being on the first inclusion of women in the Resurrection event. It makes sense when one recalls how all of the Apostles abandoned Jesus once He was arrested and then killed. They were in fear and complete doubt in that upper room, and it took the appearance of Jesus resurrected to bring them to faith once more. At times like this I miss Rev. McBride even more then usual!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "To newsreader60 re \"you don't know what 'piety' actually means\": Inasmuch as piety is a true part of justice, it is a great virtue. It is also often a motive for much impressive creativity in the arts, including the composition of moving and inspiring fictitious narratives. More rarely it can be a motive for historical research. But in itself it can never be a substitute for real critical thinking. And in fact it can be a temptation to commit fraud, as we see very often in the history of the early church, with authority-craving attributions of this and that to one or another apostle (e.g. the deutero-Pauline letters; the gospels according to Matthew and John), or to someone close to them (the gospels according to Mark and Luke).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Language changes, albeit slowly (or in our time, no so slowly). We think inside our language. While we can mostly understand the language Pius IX and St Pius X, they could not possbily understand ours, even translated. We can get Hawthorne (which I enjoy) and the Bard, but the Bard would go into fits. Until he learned, he could not think in our language. This is why we resort to Latin. Of course, that is no solution because even if you mouth it like I mouth most Latin sheet music, the translation must conform to what is my head or I will simply self-translate anyway. That also applies to relating modern concepts to the ancient, for example, it is likely that Christ would have understood the Holy Spirit as Shekinah, as rendered in Hebrew. While Who is appropriate in some places in reference to Her, She should be used when it is not. Latin lets us make that choice, although confronting why will bring up lots of Mmysogynisic viewpoints. Healthy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "British Christians should stop \"wondering\", and start living their Christian life fully in the middle of the world, never hesitating to pray in public..at meals, blessing themselves quietly but confidently, that God in that moment is becoming more fully present to them and their guests at dinner. Manfully, womanly. Boldly. \n\nRead the Acts of the Apostles. \n\nTimidity and tepidity are vices not virtues. \n\nAnd they should write well-written letters to the editor, based on natural law principles, attracting others to these ideas because they have in them an attractive quality: God Himself. \n\nThe right to life\nThe right (and duty) to care for all children\nThe right to own and transfer property\nThe right to practice their religion\nThe right to fair treatment by the law.\nThe right to educate and make decisions about their own children.\nThe right to self-defend. \nThe right to EXERCISE rights. \netc.\n\n\nAnd by the way, where does NCR find all these protest signs. 3 or 4 a week minimum.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "<>\nPreposterous!\nBoth the San Diego incident, which you tried to distort yesterday, and the Pavone incident were explicit efforts to support Trump. Pavone is a member of Trump's so-called \"Catholic Advisory Council.\" He has removed one of the two videos (in one he was vested, in the other he appears in a clerical suit.) I'm not sure how/if the text of the second video differs from the first; I didn't and won't watch it a second time. I will, however, be following the progress of the investigation his bishop has opened. The bishop's statement is here: http://amarillodiocese.org/news/statement-from-bishop-patrick-j-zurek\n\nThe benign (but unlikely) explanation for your posts is that you don't know what you're talking about.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Bible is not history. It is more a book of faith, beliefs, myths, metaphors, and rules. The Gospels were written 30-70 years after Jesus died. Each author presented their story from their point of view. \nSince Mark's was the first, it is probably the most accurate. No accounts of Jesus' birth or resurrection were included. It ends with the discovery of an empty tomb and the witnesses running off telling no one. Did the other authors add the missing parts or create them? Some Bibles have additional verses added to end of Mark to conform with Mathew and Luke's resurrection story. \nI prefer to look at the Bible at the thematic, symbolic, and metaphoric levels, than at the literal level.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Fr. Reese has given a lot of thought here and has done an excellent job in describing the current reality of ecumenism. What is our next move? Given all the variables perhaps we Catholics (the Common Good before God and Tradition) might adopt the Protestant Principle (the individual before God and Sripture) in most practical matters like reception of the Euchraist in ecumenical settings. I remember back in the late 60s that Canada's eucharistic theologian, dominican Fr. Tillard distributed the Eucharist at communion time with eyes downcast in a welcome posture not unlike Jesus. His gesture taught me a lot. Our individual conscience might be the best way forward instead of waiting for the permission of our respective authorities. Both our Protestant and Catholic \"Principles\" provide us many ways forward in the grace of the Holy Spirit.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How about the woman at the well who went and proclaimed to the Samaritans that she had met the Messiah. That is quite apostolic and evangelical. John 4: 28, 39-42. The Greek Orthodox Church's tradition says her name was \"Photine\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "YES!!! And I quoted you from it.\n\nNo it did not say that anyone must be able to give them.\n\nYES they WERE subjected to geographical issues. \"Finally, so long as the town maintains a policyof nondiscrimination, the Constitution does not require it to search beyond its borders for non-Christian prayer givers in an effort to achieve religious balancing.\" (this is from the ruling)\n\nThe SCOTUS Ruled that the City of Greece was not obligated to go outside its borders to find other faiths.\n\nThe city allowed layperson and atheists, but the SCOTUS Ruling did not require they be open to such. In fact it stated that there was no requirement for the prayers to be nonsectarian.\n\nIf you believe that's the case cite it from the ruling here.\nhttps://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/13pdf/12-696_bpm1.pdf I would argue that if you do not follow a faith, then you're not giving an invocation you're giving a speech.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "this is the long dark Catholic winter. Hopefully, spring will come soon. We need the restoration and the modernization of the Acclamation which should foster more transparency.Until then we really do not know the real reasons for the change but we expected to continue to donate.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Blind leading the blind who demand more and more be given to them while expecting to give less and less.\n\nThis is chaos rising the true god of Roman catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The real problem for people like Gallagher is not the blurring of the line between \"pro-life\" and other issues, but rather that some issues are, in his view, non-negotiable at the ballot box and others aren't. When someone like him says, \"... migration, arms control, poverty and the environment are important to the life and mission of the Church, but ...,\" you can bet your bottom dollar that what will follow the \"but\" is a rationale for how those issues really aren't that important after all.\n\nThe narrow view of what properly constitutes a \"pro-life\" position is largely responsible for the mess we now have in Washington. Congress is filled with reactionaries, many of whom have nothing to recommend them for office other than that they know how to pander to the \"pro-life\" crowd.\n\nCardinals Paglia, Cupich and others just want to bring sanity and a traditional Catholic dialectic back to the \"pro-life\" discussion. That's becoming more important every day. In fact, it's becoming critical.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well if the bishop is valid then the ordinations are valid. The priesthood is recognized by the church by the valid bishop of the church who ordained them recognizing them by ordaining them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You say you've read Church history. Does that include the history of Church social doctrine, starting with Rerum Novarum?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When he relies on his granted authority to teach for the Church rather than natural law and evidence. Reason gives you absolutes. Authority is always relative to your position or group, the delusions of Pio Nono aside. If you want to find what a nutcase he was thought to be, read Papal Sin by Garry Wills, however I can make up my mind about Nono by reading his pietistic rants. He and Pius X have been overcome by the advance of Catholic scholarship, Vatican II and the current Holy Father. Your continuing to argue these points reminds me of the Black Knight in Monty Python\u2019s Search for the Holy Grail. You\u2019ve got a bit of a flesh wound (your legs are gone).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Don, So glad to see you still read all of my comments. Laws will never accomplish 100% compliance. There are laws against murdering your spouse, but surprisingly these crimes still occur. I guess your answer to this problem would be legalize murder, since spouses will continue to commit that crime, lawful or not. Euthanasia is the new craze, and I'm sure it will be legal in my State in the near future. No need for the strain on our resources. Lets get our population numbers below 3 billion. All drugs should be considered legal, especially Heroin, since addicts will continue to use regardless if it is legal or not. As a former Catholic Priest, how can you seriously condone abortion? Inquiring minds would like to know.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pope Francis is trying hard to bring back the implementation of Vatican II Church Reform. What Pope Francis may or may not realize is that Opus Dei has since gotten a stranglehold on Catholicism under its rebranded format as \"Evangelical Catholicism\". (See George Weigel's book by the same name.) \nhttps://RiteBeyondRome.com", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I presume you don't mean that book, which was written by John of Patmos for the judaizing community that lost the war over the Pauline Church being the harlot. Christ said that we must be born again. Not in the sense of getting the right magic spell or rite, but that we might be radicalized into the kingdom of God, yet you are using the same kind of rubrics that Christ condemned when practiced by the priests and scribes. Indeed, when those who condemn our modern priests and scribes as Christ did, you condemn them as heresy. What would you have thought of Christ?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"A baptized person, even if he wishes it, can not lose grace, no matter how much he sins, unless he refuses to believe.\"\nwhoopie!!! Thanks Trent!!!\nWhat say you to that line, Lumen?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am not subscribing to a Murdoch rag to read Burkowitz. What little is presented gives-no indication of the issue and Professor Giffiths letter in Commonweal offers nothing as to the content of the agrument. I have no idea whether it was theology or Palestine at issue, nor the involvement of any local Ordinary. For those who won\u2019t read WSJ, give us details. Dr. Flores view on teaching Catholic in the ultimate public university is interesting. I wonder which is harder, respecting the wall or dealing with a conservative bishop?\n\nGehring effectively shows why the Pope and President won\u2019t get along, however I suspect this will be a grip and grin. Hopefully Francis won\u2019t acknowledge him for his faux pro-life stance and will instead give him a copy of Laudato Si\u2019 to read.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ironic much? Here is an article contending the church is a moral failure because of its chanceries' inadequate responses to abuser priests, while an article below it seems to advocate for the \"rehabilitation\" of self-identified boy abuser Gilbert Gustafson. NCR seems to suggest there might be a place for Gustafson in some sort of \"healing\" ministry under Catholic auspices. Thanks be to God, apparently no bishop is that delusional or negligent -- at least not yet.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic Church should be speaking out against the overt racism of Trump but they don't want to alienate the majority of white Catholics that voted for him. Instead they remain silent as he denigrates Hispanics who are overwhelmingly Catholic and the future of the church.\n \n\n\"His incoherent and contradictory utterances have one thing in common: They provoke and play on feelings of resentment and disdain, intermingled with bits of fear, hatred and anger. His public discourse consists of attacking or ridiculing a wide range of \u201cothers\u201d \u2014 Muslims, Hispanics, women, Chinese, Mexicans, Europeans, Arabs, immigrants, refugees \u2014 whom he depicts either as threats or as objects of derision. His program, such as it is, consists chiefly of promises to get tough with foreigners and people of nonwhite complexion. He will deport them, bar them, get them to knuckle under, make them pay up or make them shut up.\"................Robert Kagan", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Very interesting breakdown and analysis. Thank you!\n\nI wonder what constitutes an ex-Catholic: Someone who affiliates with a different church or community? For sure. Someone who says explicitly that s/he is out? Yes. But so many people just stop going and yet continue to think of themselves as Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Jesus loves you! \"\nProve it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is a chasm of difference between: \"bringing them back\" and \"being with them\".\nThis is something that our hierarchy and we would do well to consider. \"Bringing them back\" implies a filter. Like the bishops who won't stand firmly against Trump and the Republican health fiasco because they see an abortion alliance, or, splitting hairs about divorced and Eucharist.\n\"Being with them\" means I love and accept even in disagreeing. The Christ way.\nLike \"Sacraments\": Why is the \"outward sign\" held by the institution as a club, a weapon, a barbed fence to keep some out and as a prison to keep the fearful in or to weaponize the haters? The \"outward sign\" is defined as the reality? Idolatry? Jesus is not so limited or limiting. \nThe church is allegedly under siege? The real problem is that the church is deceitful in its cowardliness. We are ingrained with it; young people reject it.\nDemanding a voice in the public square? Earn it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Think of all the millions and millions of people who have lived since we first walked upright and contemplated the numinous; have they not had \"real connections\" with the Creator? We believe Jesus is Lord, we believe He is present in the mysteries, but can our minuscule minds really understand the many and varied ways God becomes present to each of us? \n\nOrdination is not an essential truth of this misogynistic Church; it is a cultural custom and can (must) be changed. After almost 75 years as a faithful member, I can no longer count myself as a participant in a Church which values me less than every man, which limits women's call by God to His service, which determines my participation solely by my XX chromosome. God will not turn His love from me as has \"His\" Church. This patriarchical pseudo-monarchy has turned from the Gospel to pursue power and control; this is not fidelity to Jesus in any way.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm a Catholic and so, in faith, accept the infallibility and indefectibilty of the Magisterium when it speaks definitively or authoritatively on matters of faith and morals.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, not an *absolute* right. \n\nBoth the right of persons to migrate to sustain their lives and their families, and of countries to regulate its borders and control of immigration are not absolute rights, at leas in Catholic moral and social teaching. What is absolute is the equality of all peoples and the call to commitment to the common good. This means that counties can regulate their borders, but must do it with mercy and justice. A country cannot, morally, choose *only* to provide for its own people. \n\nAn example, if East Germany had an absolute right to control its borders, then the Berlin Wall and the \"Wall of Death\" along the Inner German Boundary would be just fine, along with the Vopos shooting anyone seeking freedom. Is that your position?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\" \u201cDuring the old law, Saturday was the day sanctified; but the church, instructed by Jesus Christ, and directed by the Spirit of God, has substituted Sunday for Saturday; so now we sanctify the first, not the seventh day. Sunday means, and now is, the day of the Lord.\u201d\nAs the sign of the authority of the Catholic Church, papist writers cite, \u201cthe very act of changing the Sabbath into Sunday, which Protestants allow of ... because by keeping Sunday strictly they acknowledge the church's power to ordain feasts, and to command them under sin.\u201d [\u201cAbridgment of Christian Doctrine.\u201d]\n\nSo, they affirm the changed the day, but by the authority of Christ who instructed them to do so.\n\nLet's not accuse Rome of something they don't claim. They do not claim to have changed the day by their own self imposed authority which is how some present it. Let's make sure we know what we oppose and why and not misrepresent the facts of what they claim.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Buddha said to accept defeat and offer others the victory; Jesus said, in Matthew 5:39, to not resist an evil person that if they slap you on one cheek turn and give them the other.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In fact things get quite tedious, once we bring up the missions. Whether there are all that many Christian feminists who \"need to see God as Mother,\" I doubt. But there is plainly a real need on the part of many Christians to feel that they are in possession of a \"great Light,\" and that non-Christians may be referred to as \"those in darkness,\" and it sorely deserves being questioned. (And the Endo/Scorsese \"Silence\" is alas not the place to start: too simplistic and ideological on the nature of the Jesuit mission, and the religious history of Japan.) The \"some\" in \"some certainty in the body of the Church\" needs to be emphasized. Similarly, the Dharmakaya gave some certainty to the Sangha; Spider Woman, to the Hopi; No\u00fbs and Psych\u00ea, to all minded creatures seeking to return to the One. To reduce and patronize such seekers, with admirable wisdom traditions of their own, as \"those in darkness\" is just silly, and discourse that makes sense only within a Catholic ghetto.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, he was the Pope. \n\nActually, the argument is: because Jesus chose only men to be Apostles and the Church has always followed His example in believing a male only priesthood is God's plan. \n\nPope Paul VI, put it thus:\n\n\"The Church holds that it is not admissible to ordain women to the priesthood, for very fundamental reasons. These reasons include: the example recorded in the Sacred Scriptures of Christ choosing his Apostles only from among men; the constant practice of the Church, which has imitated Christ in choosing only men; and her living teaching authority which has consistently held that the exclusion of women from the priesthood is in accordance with God's plan for his Church.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Reading Wiki hardly is digging, my friend. I did it to show her consistency: excellent student, concerned public service, ambitious: you're the one that doubted her ability! Since you're unaware, seemingly, of her more recent accomplishments, I'll mention US Senator and Sec. of State.\nIf you must know, Hillary isn't even close to my favorite: that would be Sanders. There, in fact, are plenty of other Democrats--- Warren and Booker, to name just two--- that I'd similarly prefer. \nBut to suggest she's not who she is--- highly intelligent and competent, over a 40-year career of service, is blind prejudice, ignorance, and hate.\nAs far as her popularity: any woman that leads pro-choice and health care initiatives for so many years can only expect such continued and unwarranted vilification. Plus, she stood by her husband, a very public Christian act. It's almost laughable to see so-called Christians hate her for that. Contrast that with Trump, the new Christian Right's Family Values Man.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You have said that the only true Catholics are those who agree with the magisterium in all things. You have said that your beliefs are \"congruent\" with the magisterium. Thus, you do believe that \"only Catholic who agree with ME are true Catholics.\n\nWhat part of this progression do you have difficulty understanding?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Jesus, being God had no need to do a chemical analysis of the bread and wine He used\"\n\n\"Jesus, being God\" can turn anything into His Body and His Blood - including gluten-free bread. Or does Holy Mother Church not really believe, in actual practice, the \"Jesus, being God\" thing?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When we \"can't find it in our hearts to forgive\".....that's our admission that we lack faith in God.\n\nWe're letting ourselves \"get in the way\" of God helping us. We're saying we don't trust Our Father.\n\nWe focus too much on ourselves, focusing too much on \"our heart\" or \"our hurt\"! It's a form of selfishness to dwell on our hurt...we begin organizing our thoughts around ourselves and not God.\n\nIt's not easy to do otherwise, especially if we'v let ourselves develop the habit of thinking about ourselves, but in order to grow on the inside, we must learn - with God's help - to forgive often, perhaps peremptorily.\n\nIt's not a matter of \"siding\" with bullies, it's a matter of learning to love with the heart of Christ.\n\nWe must grow on the inside, until we die. It's the dying to ourselves that St Paul speaks about.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is a cultural civil war. It is the Judeo-Christian understanding of good and evil versus the secularist/atheist, might makes right, political correctness of the Left. It will be a bitter battle to the end. Trump's election was the rising up of those oppressed without mercy. When civil debate is ended, there can be only one other way matters will be addressed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes! But just to very clear, you would write a message that reads like a petition advocating 1500 characters, and you end by inviting readers to click the \"like\" star as their way of supporting your proposal. You might even add, that CC would then have a complete list of the names on those \"signing\" the petition, although we only see the latest crop. \n\nAnd, you COULD also created a continuation \"reply to self\" inviting those who disagree, who want the 1000 character limit to be retained, to click that message's \"like\" star.\n\nAnd, to get maximum exposure, you might try and be one of the first on a story with this petition-comment. \n----------------\nAnd to follow your change of topic, I want to reply obliquely. In my town, there is an important Jesuit retreat centre, catering to an international crowd. Rather remarkably, among lay folk in town, there appears to be a much greater local interest in Ignatian prayer in Protestants congregations than Catholics parishes, even a Jesuit parish.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One could argue that victims receive a life long sentence so why shouldn't the perps receive longer sentences? And what sort of punishment should the cover up bishops, and higher ups receive? They fell under the spell of the lawyers and the insurance agents who panicked at least one arch bishop in a certain victorian diocese. In another diocese catholic principals were called to a conference and addressed in such a way that left no doubt about the potential for financial loss to the diocese and the religious orders - no word about the victims in terms of pastoral care simply the protocols for the future to protect the church's wealth.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And this is the possible solution. Change Catholicism. Make it more democratic, transparent. Make it not sexist, less fear mongering and condemning, more tolerant, especially of LGBT and their families. Make it less clerical and more inviting toward lay ministry. We can change our church but only if we get organized in large numbers to demand change.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You lost me, dear author, when mentioning the \"riddles \" of the Catholic Faith.\nI believe they are called Mysteries .....Divine Mysteries.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hooray for J. Kevin Appleby - Excellent suggestions in his America article - especially since so many of our fellow Catholics are victims of the Administration's policies.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Can't read the bible.. Atheists want it banned because of all the sex and violence that's printed in there. Can't write music or poetry either because it offends people who hate creative people. Can't buy insulin or breathing meds because it offends people who believe that asthma and diabetes is caused by poor life choices. Can't have insurance companies cover birth control because it offends women haters. Can't have a pension because it offends old people haters. Can't have chocolate chip cookies and cheeseburgers because they offend fat people haters. Bye Bye American freedom.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Always , we sure differ on this one--I hardly expected to get in to a Biblical debate here--\n\nBut your interpretation is quite different from the understanding I have always had, which is that it is blessed to help out a stranger in need, especially if that person is of a different religion or ethnicity from yourself. \nChecking around on line, that seems to be pretty much the common Christian view of this parable. In fact, it's to help us have empathy for the struggles of those different than ourselves. Citizenship is not the issue.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And Catholic women have lots more options than kids or convents. And more respect than they would get from the hierarchy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Care to explain your comment or cite a few examples of terrorist right-wing knife wielding Christians....??", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That is a broad and sweeping claim. I do not deny that some of the most vocal supporters of the Extraordinary Form do advocate for the repeal of V2. On the other hand, I have heard many Catholics who deride the Latin Mass and those who prefer it. For them it's about getting rid of everything *before* V2. Before Summorum Pontificum (and still, to an extent, after) priests who wished to celebrate the Extraordinary Form were often met with nothing but road blocks and derision. The problem exists on both \"sides\". But I have found most people take a more nuanced view. I know many people who attend both the Extraordinary and the Ordinary Form regularly. The primary concern of many more traditionally minded Catholics is that the (T/t)raditions of the Roman Rite are upheld and preserved (and this must, by default, include the ancient and venerable Extraordinary Form), and that, as MSW writes above, the Mass is celebrated well.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "-I would contend that Communio is far more represented in the actual V2 documents than any aspect of the Concilium outlook, particularly Gaudium et Spes and Lumen Gentium which represent the Church's opinion on itself and its mission in the modern world.\n\n-Ok, perhaps not perfect continuity insofar as \"perfect\" reception wouldn't exist but that Francis is a completely reasonable, acceptable, normal development of the Church receiving the council. That he represents the Church picking up the Paul VI reception approach 40 years later. In the end MSW's point will be that JPII, BXVI, Paul VI, and Francis can all live under the one roof of \"the messiness of the Church receiving a transformative council\".\n\n-Yea, Francis is a Concilium guy in spirit. He is the (seeming) triumph of pastoral experiences and the Church's encounter with the world leading to its irrevocable transformation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Isn't the headline a total oxymoron? An atheist regards Jesus of Nazareth as being, if he existed at all, a mere mortal no different than any other. What is there to celebrate on December 25?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "*Science Fiction Headline of the Year for 2016 Finalists:\n\n\"Donald Trump Leader of the Free World\"\n\"Cubs Win World Series\"\n\"Bob Dylan Gets Nobel Prize\"\n\"Cardinals Blast Pope for Getting Catholics to Be More Like Jesus\"\n\n\n\n* Oh, wait....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "St. Ignatius is not the LAST word determining anything. He was a human being, living in a given time and place in history. Women ARE SEEKING to SERVE. What is your problem with that? Jesus WAS constrained by his culture. He was completely human [or don't you believe that?]. Being INCARNATE means that. Jesus was not divinity in in human disguise.\n\nApparently you don't know how History is written. Those who are in charge write is as they wish. If not the 'big, bad apostles' doing it, the patristic fathers sure saw to it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I survived many forms of abuse from my parents and in the process of trying to heal I found that if I made it a mathematical equation in which I added up the good things and subtracted the bad things I was left with nothing. And so I learned to hold on to the good independently from things that were (definitely) evil. Recognizing that they were themselves abused was different than recognizing they chose to be perpetrators. And so on.\nHere I recognize that not all the bishops were equally at fault--that it was not just the Church but ALL OF SOCIETY that was covering up the sexual abuse of children--that a human evil became a church tradition--and the bishops became trapped in that tradition. And that, no matter how deep our hurt, anger and impatience, we must give the bishops space and time and encouragement to fully repent and change. Pope Francis has called the bishops to take another step forward. I'm sure AB Gregory recognizes the relationship between racism and sexual abuse.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It must always be remembered that Vatican II issued documents which were the result of compromises between the bishops. The most important thing it did was show how the church had become a monarchy and corrupted the gospel. At least in the way that bishops and popes lived. The bishops still have a long way to go from building monuments instead of building up the people. They still prefer luxury and the well heeled to the poor and downtrodden. Francis has challenged them. The reason they speak out more against Francis is because he has asked fot input form them rather than subdue them the way John Paul II and Ratzinger did.\n\nJohn Paul II and Ratzinger were restorationists who polarized the church while they failed. Francis understands that the gospel is to be embraced. Not imposed. He is steering away from the church of grandeur and privilege. The left should not be stressing that the church is not a democracy. That just shows ignorance. The church is service not domination.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well the Samaritan adulteress is being offered Jesus himself, by Jesus, for her salvation even though Jesus just previously stated he knows she has divorced several times and is now living with a man she is not married to. This scripture is also in the Gospel just like the divorce statement so why is he offering her salvation if he only plans on later on keeping life saving and strengthening Holy Eucharist from her? It does not make sense unless Jesus would prefer we not treat sacraments as rewards for good behavior - that is not their purpose. However, gaining access to sacraments does not mean that the sin someone may have committed thru divorce and remarriage is something Jesus believes is righteous or should be taught as acceptable or in any way not a sin - he clearly does not believe this either.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If the Church would distinguish between preventing conception from taking place and abortion--and allowed pre-conceptive birth control--the number of abortions would significantly decrease.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The reaction would be the same. Freedom of religion is expected and protected in the U.S. so I don't see your point. How about if a gay man refused to make a cake for a Christian couple? You don't think there would be an uproar? I am liberal in my beliefs but that is not something I would accept or support. I don't want to see exclusions in our free market system.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "He would most likely vote to preserve the Church's dogmatic teaching on infanticide and marriage. For a Catholic, ALMOST everything else is gravy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "At least KB tackles a substantive subject than many of the fluff pieces in NCR. \nGod doesn't hear the cry of the poor. We are certain about the existence of the poor but not necessarily of a god, particularly if one imagines an anthropomorphic one. \nI was hoping KB would single out a psalm that refers to the victims of injustice questioning why which I can't recall unless I read through, line by line, the 150. \nPsalm 73 questions why the evil prosper and psalm 37 explains that the evil will someday get their comeuppance eventually! Hell? But it doesn't exist except here where we are convulsed daily by universal suffering and evil.\nYet the believer is counseled to hang in despite it all. \"Because Jesus said so; he'll explain it all later.\"\nAnd not all psalms are uplifting. Like Psalm 137:9 \"Happy is the one who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks.\" Happy? Of course, one won't be disturbed if listening to it sung in Gregorian Chant, unless one knows Latin.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What is behind the fear? Loss of control and loss of dictatorial power. Ego. Fear of change, that has plagued the Church since Galileo, Martin Luther, the Enlightenment, the formation of democratic governments, the Industrial Revolution, historical-critical biblical exegesis, women gaining social and political and economic power, birth control pills, in-vitro fertilization, globalization and mass communications.\n\nThe power and influence of the Church in the past was enormous. It is not now as powerful as it once was. I think they do not know how to let go and let their children grow up. Thing is, the children will do that anyway, with or without the parents help. And then the children become the teachers of the parents in many ways, while still seeking the underlying parental wisdom. Conundrum.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Obama's biographer, David Maraniss, tells of a joyful toddler in Indonesia letting taunts of other urchins go by like water off \"a duck's back.\" A half century later he lets the profound insult of \"birtherism\" flow off his back to pen what Trump admits (at the time) is a \"beautiful letter.\" He is, indeed, a true Christian who turns the other cheek.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part 2.\n\nThe presumption is that Mr wrote first, and then Mt and Lk wrote with a copy of Mr and also a copy of Q in front of them. Both Mt and Lk respected Mark's outline of the story, but choose different way to incorporate the material from Q into their gospels. Mt \"invented\" the literary conceit of a Sermon on the Mount as a device to place a large chunk of the Q sayings into the mouth of Jesus; and Luke \"invented\" his literary conceit of a very long dialogue between Jesus and his disciples as they walked to Jerusalem.\n\nTherefore, conclude most scholars, there never was an historical Sermon on the Mount in which Jesus said the things collected in Q, and nor was there ever an historical Sermon on the Plain in which Jesus repeated most of the same things he said on the Sermon on the Mount in a different order en route to Jerusalem. \n\nThus, the two sermons are not historical, they did not occur as described; but they are none the less truthful collections of the sayings of Jesus.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is really well done, asking questions about what really is a community and pointing to what happens in the attempt to form perfect communities by permitting only perfect people to join, fully participate, stay a part of the community. I also think we have to acknowledge how complicated things are now with many overlapping communities that are part of our lives, but playing different roles in our lives. \n\nWhen it comes to faith communities, I think this is the power statement: \"Love thy neighbor, not thy expectation of the perfect neighborhood.\" We have quite a bit of a problem doing that within Catholic circles these days. Lets all pray about that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I was gratified to learn of Ms. Ostrov's candidacy until she indicated that she \"fully\" supported Donald Trump. I find it unusual that any candidate would completely support Mr. Trump given that he (Trump} is at odds, on certain issues, with republic national party leadership. The fact that she is a Filipina Catholic, married to a Ukrainian Jew with two children of Polynesia ancestry has no particular importance to me. Her work life and academic credentials are impressive but the article does not mention her experience in the political arena. It is also nice to know that she is serious about her candidacy. Pat Saiki continues to seek out viable candidates for elective office. Fresh faces in the republican party would be nice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Eastern Orthodox, the next largest group of Christians don't practice open Communion.\n\nSo the liberal mainline Protestants who are in decline allow open Communion. Big whoop.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I suggested above that recognition of Anglican orders today (by Western and Eastern Catholic churches) is far more difficult. APOSTOLICAE CURAE was based on the externals regarding matter, form, intention in the historical context of that time period in Tudor England; now, according to Cardinal Kasper, the goal posts and whole playing field has been changed, as it were. Recognition depends upon doctrinal issues, broader issues, etc. almost mimicking Orthodox demands, Orthodox protocol regarding whether a church's orders can or should be recognized. Read Cardinal Kasper's addresses to the Anglicans over women's ordination to the episcopacy. And with Anglicans open to clerical same sex civil unions, I doubt AC orders will ever be recognized -- by Rome or Orthodoxy. Still it is good that Francis and Justin are looking at what they have in common and acting on that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Except Jesus defied all other expectations people had for Him when it came to doing His Father's will. \n\nYou think the evangelists edited Jesus to make Him only say Father and not Mother when it came to speaking of God?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I only just now got that liturgical response habituated, but I won't complain when it reverts back to \"And also with you!\" thanks to Pope Francis' Motu Proprio!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "From the Commonweal article: Our first task, as the Catholic philosopher Charles Taylor sees it, is to \u201chold together in one sacramental union modes of living the faith which have at present no affinity for each other, and even are tempted roundly to condemn each other.\u201d As Taylor suggests, holding that sacramental union together is now every Catholic\u2019s responsibility. \n\nThis is what we need our bishops to do. Not fight political, secular, or religious culture wars and certainly not bring the political and secular wars into our faith lives. But bring us together. Help us find a way to act together, help us acknowledge the common ground we share: to live as Jesus asked us to live, starting in the Catholic space we share - our parishes.\n\nBoth - all - \"sides\" have become so stuck in their own views that we can't even really talk and listen to each other without resorting to name calling and finger pointing. \n\nThis is true in our church and in our nation. \n\nThank you, Dennis Coday.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Stop trying to make our God small.\nJust because He said \"take and eat\" does not mean we are not to adore Him.\nI also disagree strongly that in multi faith or \"no faith\" countries Corpus Christi processions would seem odd or strange, but rather be a teachable moment about what Catholic belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist is. And if others find it strange or odd, so what? \"Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me.\" (Matthew 5:11)\nDo other groups give up their festive occasions because of what others might think of them and hide from public view?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Good to hear the way you think, but you get one basic concept wrong. Jesus calls us to PERSONAL responsibility to care for the injured, the poor, widows and orphans. Jesus never said to tax Joe, Bob, and Mary so you can feel good about yourself. Jesus asks you, \"When did you care for the poor, beaten up, the widow and the orphan?\". Your answer, \"I didn't. But, I had Joe, Bob and Mary do it for me. That should count\". The samaritan bandaged the injured man HIMSELF, he put him on his OWN donkey, and he paid the innkeeper with his OWN money. Many, many Chrisitians give selflessly to care for the poor, unemployed, widows and orphans and visit people in prison. They don't ask for others to do what they feel is their duty alone. Oh, they also pay taxes. They actually give twice. I challenge you to do the same.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually, Jesus is singing HALLELUJAH", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Where is the Mayor, ACLU and assembly members at? Open you homes to this Alaskans in great need. Show the rest of us that you are compassionate, welcoming, understanding and just good Christians. You all could start a new wave of showing us in can be done. If not, get GCI and the unions to give up their the rest of their permanent fund checks to buy ONE way tickets out of state, anywhere the homeless desire.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus told us the world loves its own, and that if the world hates us, it hated Him first. \n\nWe are to be in the world but not of the world.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The culture of the Vatican is the major impediment to the retention of and attraction of new Catholics because it stuck in previous centuries.\"\n\nBut have you seen modernity lately?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Where is this article in the list of articles (https://www.ncronline.org/news/parish/adjusting-new-style)? There is, of course, as there must be, the usual bleating about \"many Catholics\" (sans survey) being suspicious or \"left out of the loop\". Outside of that, however, the change went over with nary a whimper from the vast majority. Francis' change seems, to me, entirely within his character and not something to become either worried or elated about.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I've never claimed to speak for anyone but myself. And yes, I believe in a baptism-centred, not a clergy-centred model of the Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholic Bishops should deny Communion to all Catholic politicians who support global warming after all it is contrary to Catholic teaching.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That is quite simply untrue. I hope you're proud of yourself.\n\nPerhaps you'd like to explain how you manage to find 90% or so of my comments in order to post those smiley faces? \n\nYou may want to read Pope Francis' commentary on today's Gospel. I pray it helps you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Lisa, the Eucharist in the Orthodox liturgy is not a sacrifice but the eternal cup that all of us share now and in the future. The focus of the liturgy is the world to come--you can see it in the very layout and iconography of the Eastern churches. We also do not believe in transubstantiation, though we believe Christ is truly present. But we prefer to leave the \"how\" as a mystery. It's amazing that the Roman Church accepts our communion and our liturgy as valid. It's only because they have to because, heck, we were the Church too for 1000 years. But really, the Lutherans are no farther apart than we are. This stuff is 90% political.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Lots of folks either deny that climate change is occurring or that if it is we can do anything about it. Is there some relevant Catholic issue that bears on the role of the Church in healing the nation? Certainly the Holy Father's personal comments on the topic haven't bound Catholics to any position on the matter.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The picture reminds me of \"small thinking.\"\n\nIt's a perfect example of some misguided efforts to \"clericalize\" the lay, putting ersatz \"stoles\" on \"catechists\". \n\nThe lay need to be formed not to be pseudo clerics, but to be better Catholics, better parents, better spouses, better workers, better citizens, better at doing apostolate.\n\nThese people shown in the picture and the effort referenced in the article are simply smaller thinkers. \n\nWe mustn't try to clericalize the lay...we must learn truly what the lay vocation is in the first place. It's much bigger than this author thinks. The lay's job is to re-Christianize the whole world, every nook and crany...not to spread insense and holy water around the parish, pretending we're clericss.\n\nEven the push for \"deacons\", even on the male side is largely misguided. \n\nWhat this supposed survey measured was a small drop in \"clericalization of the lay\". \n\nSo in that sense it's a good thing!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is a good likelihood we won't ever get behind historical Jesus of Nazareth, but we have learned about Nazareth and Seppohris. With archaeology and other outside the Bible Study, we have found out Nazareth wasn't a total backwater. Instead of a pastoral setting, there's more of a more settled area with many Greek Speakers and Ideas.\n Jesus of Nazareth , as tekton- carpenter means more than a humble artisan. He may have been in a higher economic strata, then one we have heard.\nThe Eurocentric Physical View of Jesus has been challenged by skull reconstruction of 1st Century Jews. He looks very different with these additions. \nThe four evangelists proclaimed 4 very different Christs for their particular viewpoints and communities. And the Gospels were never written as a historical record. They were pushing their ideas of the Son of God for their particular audience. With each telling of the Gospel, we shape him to our history, time in history, and other factors..", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Allan how old is that Catholic Cemetery, is it beside the Catholic Church, and does it still continue to cater only to Catholics? Also do you think that in today's religious environment it would be allowed to be built unless it was on the Catholic Church property?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dear Athanasius : Twenty -five percent of the Afro-American U.S. population is Catholic. We are not rarer than hen's teeth, although we appear to be non-existent in Catholic publications.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Our Eastern Catholic/Orthodox brethren find the Roman practice of getting in line to have a non-ordained person place the Eucharist in your hand like a common food abhorrent. It may be allowed by the Church but if you read the history and the Church politics of how this got to be, you might rethink this practice. EMHCs are no where discussed in Vatican II and the practice of Communion in the Hand started out of disobedience in Holland and spread elsewhere. The politics of how it was rammed through the USCCB are shameful. Altar girls may be allowed, but no priest is required to use them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am glad the article above is well written, professional, well researched and informative. An unbiased and unemotional tone is needed if the truth is to be allowed to \"speak for itself\", as it were. I am personally too disgusted with the resistance portrayed above to adequately express myself without the temptation presenting itself to resort to the expletive. \n Here is where one may say a prayer for them, as Christian charity demands that we love our enemies. \n I may find occasion to stop posting and instead watch this drama unfold from the sidelines after reading this. One can benefit from silence and a contemplative detachment. Registering my disgust with this situation need only be done once in this context before I \"let good\", to use a cliched and hackneyed phrase.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, people should indeed make up their own minds, and follow their own consciences too! No one should therefore be afflicted with \"government\" or Faithful Catholics doing the convincing!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Free speech in support of Jeremy Christian.\nJust because you the right do something, doesn't mean you should do it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Faith, hope, and charity are a requirement for the future of the Church, the People of God. Ultra-conservative seminarians - not so much.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Fr, it appears to me that you suggest Catholic's should leave the Church. As a current Catholic Priest are you not concerned about the salvation of others, as well as the responsibility for your actions come judgement day?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Obedience is not one of the Two Great Commandments. We are asked, ultimately, to love - love God and love one's brothers and sisters.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"We must take care of our own first.\" Kugan, I respectfully disagree. The call of the Gospel does not create a hierarchy of who gets to be loved and cared for. It really is that simple and that challenging.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Reformation cured the Church of the corrupt sale of indulgences. What cause is there for Protestants to remain away from the one true Church established by Christ? Why celebrate Protestants' remaining away?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is God's will that we all go to the Kingdom of God. It is by living a life of love and service that we enter into the Kingdom on earth which leads to the eternal.\nYou are what your God is. A set of rules. God is not a set of rules or laws but Love. Jesus didn't come to change God's mind about mankind. Jesus came to teach us about a God of Love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, and compassion. Not a God to fear, but to love. To follow Jesus is to follow God's will. It may involve suffering and sacrifices but that goes with love.\nJesus died a Jew. He did not found a church. He taught us to love God and others as God loves us. He left us His Spirit to help and heal us.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I...don't know. How do you make a case for loving people because of Church teaching, when you belong to groups that actively dissent from Church teaching? \n\nI think a more credible case could be made without pretending that Church teaching is the criterion, i.e., we believe God's love exceeds the boundaries of our understanding, and that God's mercy embraces us all equally.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nope. There is reason the church has insisted that babies be baptized. It has to do with what Jesus said are the preliminary requirements for salvation. \n\n\"Baptism . . . now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ\" (1 Pet. 3:21; cf. Acts 2:38, 22:16, Rom. 6:3\u20134, Col. 2:11\u201312). \n\nThus the early Church Fathers wrote in the Nicene Creed (A.D. 381), \"We believe in one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.\" \n\nAnd the Catechism of the Catholic Church states: \"The Lord himself affirms that baptism is necessary for salvation [John 3:5]. . . . Baptism is necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and who have had the possibility of asking for this sacrament [Mark 16:16]\" (CCC 1257).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Among all those statistics one item is curiously missing: \n\nAccording to the Pew Research Center, white Catholics voted for Trump over Clinton by a margin of 60% to 37%. Among Hispanic Catholics the split was almost exactly the opposite: 67% for Clinton versus 26% for Trump. \n\nDiscuss.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The \"buddhists\" were put into camps because they were Japanese, a country with which Canada was at war, and not because they were buddhists.\n\nGerman christians were also put into camps because they were german and not because they were christian, for the same reasons.\n\nYou can agree or disagree with whether they should have been rounded up, but this doesn't change the fact that they were not rounded up for being buddhists.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Those dips in number served by Catholic Charities is almost surely NOT because of a wonderful economy, but because of the terrorizing of undocumented peoples....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part II:\n\nIn his 1864 encyclical, Quanta Cura, Pope Pius IX condemned\n\nthat erroneous opinion, most fatal in its effects on the Catholic Church and the salvation of souls, called by Our Predecessor, Gregory XVI, an \"insanity,\" viz., that \"liberty of conscience and worship is each man's personal right, which ought to be legally proclaimed and asserted in every rightly constituted society; and that a right resides in the citizens to an absolute liberty, which should be restrained by no authority whether ecclesiastical or civil, whereby they may be able openly and publicly to manifest and declare any of their ideas whatever, either by word of mouth, by the press, or in any other way.\"\n\nPius was citing Gregory XVI's 1832 encyclical Mirari Vos.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, she is a total snake outside of air travel, no matter how much much of her travel she (rightfully) pays for. She's robbing us just by being there, she is the least qualified Education Secretary EVER, no exaggerations, she couldn't even answer simple questions about educational concepts at her confirmation. She has an agenda and has done absolutely nothing to help the american education system, just things to force all of us to subsidize private christian schools. For Christ's sake, she even said Historically Black Colleges and Universities exist as a great example of choice in education! I don't care if the slimiest Republican replaces her, they will at least have some idea of what their job might be, which is a clear sign it is time to hit the eject button on this serpent.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Our Constitution says otherwise.\n\nUnlike the USA, Canada does not have a constitutionally mandated separation of church and state.\n\nIn fact our Constitution specifically provides for public funding of denominational schools (minority Catholic or Protestant as the case may be) as part of the \"Confederation bargain\" as set out by the Supreme Court of Canada. As the court notes it does not matter that treatment is unequal and does not extend to other religions. See Adler v Ontario (AG), [1996] 3 S.C.R. 609.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Interrogate, interrogate, interrogate. It is important to know if the person is applying one's personal views to the law or administering the law. If one if one is a judge or a prosecutor one must work with the law of the land. If one can not do it, one ought not seek the position.\n\nWhen one is in the such a position one needs to be dispassionate about one's personal views. It is time many of Christians grew up and stopped their march. A legislator has every right to question as to how a person will apply the laws. Bishop Lori ought to put his big boy pants on. I am personally tired of bishops whining and complaining and doing nothing about the marginalized and starving folks in the USA.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The wave of the future seems toward autonomous, local communities of faith, working \u2018academies\u2019 of inter-faith coming together. We see it, for example, in Community Supported Agriculture, Food Pantries, etc., publicly witnessing inter-faith harmony in the practical collaboration of communal mutuality, complementarity and subsidiarity - one for all, all for one. Barriers to inter-faith harmony based on doctrinaire church competition are collapsing.\nThe life and teaching of Jesus intend for practical living and not for political, ideological control. In a practical way, Christian attraction is authentic in terms of non-institutional, grass-roots Eucharist. Nature is first church, first sacrament, for her largesse resources and owns all life. Divine graciousness works in and through natural sacrament which transcends man-made constructs of institutional control and self-interest politics. Over-reach of dominion politics, with respect to religious/ cultural control, is wrongheaded.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The truth be told: \nVatican II ended the need for any Catholic to be obedient to the Pope or his teachings. \nThose days are dead for both liberals and conservatives alike.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Strong words, but not found in canon law, so bishops may disregard them, or any other words they choose. After all, this is their Church, and they may run it as they see fit. Jesus gave it to them when he made Peter the Bishop of Rome.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh for goodness' sake. All this hand-wringing about the Donald. In truly important matters, he's indistinguishable from Reagan, W, or Rubio/Cruz.\nEconomy, Taxes, and Defense: those are the only truly critical issues, the ones that drive all others. Trump is identical to the Republican orthodoxy that has prevailed since the Reagan era.\nHe is no firebrand or revolutionary force.\nHe's just not a fundamental Christian panderer.\nIn other words, in the least important issues facing this country, Trump is same old, same old.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think you'd be rather surprised as to how few people would join you in your refrain. And my suspicion is that the number of people, catholic and otherwise, who hold Pope Francis in high regard is rather substantial.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's what they do best... it makes them feel powerful to \"lord it over the masses.\"\n\nA sad-but-true manifestation of the institutional Roman church!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This discussion thread seems to hinge on the concept of 'transubstantiation'\n\nI think it a distortion to say that ....\"it's ultimately from Jesus that we get the notion of transubstantiation\"....\n\n'transubstantiation' came in with Aquinas and his effort to explain things in Aristotle's Philosophical concepts. In that philosophy \u2013 as far as I can interpret it \u2013 everything is made up of a 'substance' (which seems to be a conceptual category) and 'accidents' which are the sensory appearances.\n\nFrankly, the whole philosophy does not make much sense to me.\n\nAccording to it, the 'Conceptual Category' (substance) changes during Eucharist, so that we say both bread and wine are now the presence of the Risen, glorified, sacrificed Jesus - whole and entire, body and blood soul and divinity \u2013 as the Church expresses it.\n\nThough sensory realities remain the same \u2013 it looks and tastes like like bread, our Faith concept is that it is Jesus present. Thus 'trans-substance'! but not trans-accidents'.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Constitution was put in place to protect freedom to worship God freely. It protects The United States from \"divination from holy and unholy men.\" It protects the right to decline God's blessings or accept God's blessings. And...it especially protects God in schools and government. It is written in the spirit of grace and patience to live peaceably among dissenters, but stops short of tolerance as defined today in the educational and governmental systems. It measures Christianity in politics and government to prevent the cruelty of an unjust holy or unholy man. It does not take God out of schools and government. The Middle East is not God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Democratic Party leaders wonder why Catholics fled the party? Keep pushing people to become Independents!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Are you serious? Any thought, suggestion, or inference that The Denver Post, its journalists, or - especially - its editorial board are \"Republican,\" \"Conservative,\" \"Right-wing,\" or \"Christian\" is delirious, ludicrous, and just doesn't make any sense.....given the editorials that have been printed for many, many years, if not decades, along with its endorsements during all that time.\n-\nIf the editorial board at The Denver Post found some things - some things - in this \"revision of a revision of a revision\" of the GOP tax plan that they like.....and said so....and defended....then that is to their credit.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I guess Obama was absent the day they taught that then--since he didn't stay out of the Church when he tried to force the Church to cover things on health insurance that the Church believes is immoral. I guess liberals weren't taught that either when they try to force Catholic schools to conform to their agenda, etc. \n\nIf you are talking about Chatel slavery, the US bishops might have owned slaves--but that was not for lack of a clear condemnation of Chatel slavery. The bishops simply ignored Church teaching. This is not all that different from bishops who give communion to pro-abortion politicians despite clear Church teaching on that issue also. \n\nNancy Pelosi can give speeches about whatever she wants to give them about. I disagree with her liberal, secular, atheistic humanistic agenda--but she is free to hold those views. My problem is that Nancy Pelosi gives the impression that she is Catholic and espousing acceptable Catholic views.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We live in a democracy. You may disagree with people's beliefs but their vote is equal to yours. If your narrative does not resonate sufficiently with others to a point where they agree with you then they will carry an election. The 'far right' (as well as the 'far left') is a limited constituency and it's influence is only one of many on the electorate. The notion that 'Fundamentalist Christianity' is an overwhelming factor in the political revolution that we have just witnessed is a bit of a canard given the number of US voters the cast ballots in favour of the new president. More to the point, it was distaste for establishment complacency that drove the decision along with a repudiation of the liberal/left/progressive agenda. In short, the electorate was fed-up and Trump was carried to power on disaffection with the entire system. There is, however, no evidence that the majority of the electorate will tolerate or welcome the imposition of non-secular limitations on their lives.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The bible disagrees with this belief. God in Genesis shows them as having the same purpose and so does Jesus Christ in the Gospels which is why he commands that all believers treat all others the same as they want to be treated not different in purpose. This is the greatest commandment per Jesus Christ and the commandment that we will be judged upon most if we fail to keep it or not. Jesus even tells us that we cannot claim to genuinely love God if we do not love one another and we can't love one another if we treat others differently or less than we wish to be treated.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I do believe the Scriptures are God inspired. However, they do not ever suggest treating women differently than men. Jesus Christ forbids treating any other person differently than you wish to be treated and never allows for women to be treated differently than men either.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bishop Tom,\nThe vision of: mission->vocation->witness as found in the Gospels perfectly sums up the earthy-human life of Jesus of Nazareth as was evident from Bethlehem to Golgotha. Our \u201cBaptism/Confirmation\u201d puts our human life on the same path as that of Jesus. It wasn\u2019t simple and easy for Jesus \u2013 it wont be anymore simple and easy for us if we are serious about the Sacraments we receive.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This from a man who routinely reads all who disagree with him on anything out of the Catholic Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well for Brownback it was more political expediency. Otherwise he would not have continued to be actively involved with evangelical churches as well.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No it isn't secret. The priest has to know who the penitent is and communicate it to the bishop. That goes against the idea of an anonymous Confession. And my understanding is that bishops could decide in the past not to extend the facilities to their priests. I believe that the Lincoln dioceses in the US didn't permit priests to absolve abortions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "All this Evil is accuring just like the Bible said word by word. We are in the Last Chapters of the Bible, God is ready to close that book and show the Truth. I pray for everyones souls that God forgives and accepts them, even those who do Evil and Sin, all this is happening through the power of Satan. Satan is in control right now, while God is preparing his 2nd coming, we will see a anger and justice we never seen or heard of before, God will show all his power by destroying all Evil. God will not come in Peace when he arrives, he will make the EARTH SHAKE. Just imagine how afraid most of you are to Death, Evil, Blood, Pain, etc. None of you are prepared for the Power of Christ, you must be more afraid of Christ than all these Evil doings combined. Right now you know God is real now, be more afraid of him than rotting in Hell, God is not messing around when he comes. Right now everything is Silent. Wind, music, guns are not sounds. Wait until you see and hear God's 2nd coming, Fierce", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "323 comments... might be an NCR record...\n\na proud moment to be a Catholic", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"another political party, one that filibustered enumerating civil rights of racial minorities \"\nOf course, if you knew any history, you would know that western and northern Democrats battled the southern Democrats for several decades to change the Democratic Party, that Republicans joined western and northern Democrats to pass the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act, and that the Democratic Party has supported civil rights and anti-discrimination laws for 50 years.\nYou would know that after Richard Nixon adopted the \"Southern Strategy\" of going slow on enforcing civil rights laws, many former southern Democrats became Republicans, such as Strom Thurmond, Jesse Helms and numerous others.\nYou'd also know that Christian private schools became very popular in white suburbs in the South after public schools were integrated in the 1970s, and the embrace of conservative Christians with the Republican Party got its genesis then.\nBut you'd rather keep Democrats frozen in time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Gee, I didn't know Bill Clinton had written his own translation of the Bible!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When reading about these calls for reviews, I'm reminded of the recent Australian study of the alarming number of abuse by Catholic clergy and of the unreported abuse of some of my male friends when they were children. The information I read in the Aus. study doesnt distinguish gender, but I think the majority of abuse is against defenceless young boys, many of them orphans and aboriginals. I hope we don't forget about documenting the abuse of these young boys here in Canada, who historically have been reluctant to ever report abuse. I think it is or has been a silent epidemic made worse by the fact that these children were completely defenceless.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "> But since God was going to use Judas's sin, it was ok to eat with him, unlike other sinners.\n\nJudas wasn't a sinner. He as an apostle who was going to sin.\n\n> So how does this affect the serving of the Eucharist? \n\nJudas didn't betray Jesus until after the Last Supper, so this line of questioning really doesn't affect it. Judas left the Last Supper early to meet with the Sanhedrin. There is debate as to whether Judas received communion or not.\n\n> Is there a method to determine which sinners are going to be used by God, so they can be given a \"Judas Waiver?\"\n\nYou are really stretching here to make up some rule. It is simple. Are you in a state of grace? Yes? Receive. No? Don't receive. What if you are not in a state of grace and you do receive? You have just committed another sin.\n\nWhy is this difficult to understand?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Is the RCC's problem an educated laity? I suggest that the \"Bells of St. Mary\" or \"Joan of Arc\" stories were reflections of a working class or peasantry as a majority of the church. \"Pray, pay & obey\" worked for generations both here and in Europe. However, once the peasants left the land, moved to towns or cities and had some learning, church teachings looked like magic rather than something sacred. Today in the US, the \"non-affiliated\"are becoming more and more a percentage of the people, including many former Catholics. Education makes for a questioning Catholic, but the Tim Dolan's don't want to see change; the bishops would rather play Monopoly with the laity's money, cry about O'care and appear puzzled that more and more folks in the pews speak Spanish! I pray the Spirit comes soon!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "All those were not silenced because they criticised the St John Paul II and Benedict XVI, it was because they were rejecting and denying whole swathes of Catholic dogma and doctrine and leading the faithful astray. It was because of these dissidents that the millions walked away. They proclaimed from the housetops that the Church was irrelevant, the pope, therefore the Church, no longer infallible, Scripture was the words of men not God, Jesus was just an itinerant preacher and revolutionary, sin no longer existed, everyone is saved regardless of the way they behaved, the Mass was no more than a communal meal and all religions were the same. No wonder people walked away and they were walking away long, long before St John Paul became pope.\nWhat site are you referring to?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My apologies, my finger slipped and hit the \u201duncivil\u201d button accidentally.\n\nI have met Sr Carolyn, and I fail to see why anyone would question if she is well known. You do not get to be president of CBA or SBL by staying unknown. She taught for 25+ years at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, and then Brite Divinity in Texas. She has also been an editor and contributor to the Bible Today, as well as to projects like the Anselm Academic Study Bible.\n\nChristine Schenk, the author of this article, was the Executive Director of FutureChurch from its founding to recently iirc, so I doubt that Carolyn Osiek ever had anything to do with that title. I cant figure out why it was quoted by her name.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Lela: Before you start feeling too superior over muslims because you think Mohammed was a pedophile, you should remember that Jesus was first and foremost a Jew. He self identified as Jewish, and had no conception of \"Christianity\". He did not write or dictate the New Testament - which was written mostly based on letters and writings of his disciples. So most of what we know about Jesus himself are things that the disciples wanted us to know, or decided that we should know - unlike Mohammad who actually dictated the Koran. Islam also has the Hadith, which is a detailed account of the sayings and life of Mohammad. But we do know that Jewish girls during the time of Christ generally were betrothed very young - and that marriage was usually consummated at puberty - which could be as young as 9, 10 or 11. Almost all Jewish men of that era married - not to do so would be very unusual - so there is no reason at all to believe that Jesus did not marry a young child bride himself.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, excellent point that the DA can now control judges and force them to rubber stamp any DA actions. This is not justice, of course. The judges need to be independent as a check against unacceptable DA actions. But we knew that Patty Perlow has a past replete with DA excess as she was instrumental in the nationally noted actions to record a Catholic confession. But we elected her anyway.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A lovely image. However it belies the belief in faith: through \"Him, with Him and in Him.\" It does not diminish Jesus by avering that it is all about relationships, about community. Disdain calling Him an \"organizer\" but....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is good. A little calming of the waters. I almost fell out of my chair when I read the first headline this morning.\n\nAm trying to read about Archbishop Luis Francisco Ledaria Ferrer, S.J. He seems to be not so conservative, labeled more as a moderate. Lots of issues Muller could not handle the new guy will have to handle: roles of women, accountability of bishops, the role of mercy in a dogma driven church, synodality and decentralization of power. \n\nI hope that what was reported about Muller not wanting another job at the Vatican turns out to be a misunderstanding. But, if his thinking is so very far from Pope Francis' thinking then maybe the best thing is for him to retire. I hope he retires to a quiet life but I fear he is going to become another Burke, sniping from the sidelines.\n\nI pray for Francis to have many more years at the helm. Cultural evolution takes lots of time and Francis needs to appoint many more bishops and cardinals so it continues in the future.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus is not fake. History proves that. The question around him is whether or not he was a good prophet or the prophesied savior.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would argue that being clear on morality IS putting the Gospel First. Jesus himself said \"go now, and sin no more\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Eliane, I may be wrong, but it seems to me that Cardinal Bernardin was not saying that each of us had to be equally activist in all pro-life activities, but to recognize that they are inseparable from one another. Can we say we are pro-life if we don't care about children living in poverty while we campaign to overturn Roe? Can we be advocating for war, supporting the death penalty, or supporting programs that gut education, food stamps or care for the mentally ill and be considered pro-life? As I understand it, the crux of his position was that they cannot be viewed as independent issues, but as all aspects of the same cloth. It is a strength that people are called to different aspects of Catholic Social Teaching, for each of them is critically important. That is the beauty of the seamless garment - the issues are integrally connected just as we are, just different colors in the tapestry.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You do know the primary shelters in this town are run by the churches, correct? Specifically Brother Francis Shelter and Downtown Soup Kitchen. There are a host of other services for these folks that are supported by the churches, including supplemental food banks, donation drives, etc. There are hypocrites both in and outside of churches, but when evaluating the contributions of the church community, look at the results, don't criticize hospitals for being full of sick people. Also, allow that many people give and donate because their religion teaches compassion and service to the poor and downtrodden, not because they're trying to buy their way into heaven. If you were to replace the work and material contributions from the churches with municipal property taxes, you wouldn't come out ahead. I would think on average, active church members contribute more to helping the homeless through their taxes, tithing and donations than the average resident. Bottom line: recognize the benefits.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For me it's the separation of church and state: in 2 parts\n\nPart 1\n\nAgain, the Johnson Amendment gets to the heart of ensuring the First Amendment. What if a religious candidate proclaimed that if elected, he would do his utmost to outlaw all birth control drugs and devices, \u201cbecause the bible tells me to do so.\u201d If so, then that person should not hold public office in the United States. Not because of a \u201creligious test\u201d against that candidate because of his fundamentalist faith, but rather because of his attempt to \u201cestablish\u201d religion as the ultimate source and sanction of secular U.S. law (contrary to the First Amendment to the Constitution) and to impose his religious beliefs upon citizens that do not share these beliefs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Giuliani does seem to be coming unglued. He uttered the most egregiously anti-Catholic comment of the campaign, and seems to have gotten away with it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The sacraments are more than signs or symbols. They are real connections with Christ. The Eucharist has been defined as the entire Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ and among the greatest mysteries of our faith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The comments here sure do not support the claim that the \"vast majority\" of NCR Catholics on social media approve hand holding during the Our Father. Two different groups? Or more likely an agenda at work.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Clearly not a fake fact as I demonstrated. I gave verifiable facts taken directly from the websites of Catholic cemeteries. You provided unsupported, anecdotal evidence. Which I accepted at face value, admiting that I was only partially correct. It seems that only one of us is willing stay classy and take the high road. Unfortunate but your behaviour is your responsibility not mine. Have fun on the low road.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do you understand the difference between an illustrative hypothetical and a prediction?\n\nThe small difference in the popular vote, and the fact that in most of the states the popular vote and the electoral coincided, are data for consideration.\n\nBtw, the topic appeared to be the Catholic Church's role in the healing of the nation and not assessments of the election.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sure one can disagree with the pope when he is wrong. Most Catholics in North America and Europe know that Paul VI was wrong in Humanae Vitae.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But you don't have to sign a religious covenant to go to publicly funded Catholic school or university. It's the religious adherence TWU requires from its students that is at issue in this case.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"In his remarks at the end of the service, Welby said that when Christians fight amongst each other \"we not only disobey the explicit prayer and command of Our Lord, but also we become shepherds who devour the sheep.\"\n\nThis is also true when Christian Shepherds oppress and deny sheep equal and same treatment resulting in an attack upon the human dignity of those not treated the same. Welby is right to stand up for the same and equal treatment of all women in all christian church's . It is never appropriate to compromise the human dignity of any group in order to avoid a fight. This does not bring peace but merely more unrest and injustice. \n\nUntil we repent of the sin of misogyny in our church we break the Great Commandment to unify our one body in Christ. We have chosen to oppress women and divide women from men thru ordination. We have changed a blessing and anointing into a weapon of hatred against half of our people. There can be no genuine peace or unity without justice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "MSW - some points okay, others reveal your own need to grasp VII liturgy reforms.\n\nSimply - Jesus Christ is the sacrament of the Trinity; Church is the sacrament of Jesus Christ; and Eucharist is the pre-eminent sacrament of the church.\n\nUse the Emmaus story:\na) community gathers\nb) breaks open the word of God - tells a story\nc) sets the table\nd) break opens Christ in the breaking/sharing of bread/wine\ne) strengthened - goes out on mission - commissioning\nFrom the US Liturgy Head for years: http://www.tomrichstatter.org/eEucharist/e00index.htm\n\nInstead of Imbelli (who has his own liturgical biases) - Sandro reprinted the paper announced by Sarah days before Francis spoke this. (btw - Sarah, over liturgy, has neither degrees nor education in liturgy; nor did Benny XVI). The reform of the reform ideology (grabbed on by the pre-VII relics) has done significant damage to the church (in the western world - little impact in 3rd world).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part 1\nI suggest you misunderstand the essence of the internal forum. \n\nThe internal forum is, say I, the procedure developed over time to deal concretely with the primacy of conscience, a fundamental RC moral principle. When push comes to shove, and one is faced with a conflict between canon law and conscience, Catholics morality holds that conscience, an informed conscience to be sure, is to be given precedence. \n\nIn terms of practice, the assumption is that a well trained priest understands this but the faithful who approach him for guidance or confession may not. \n\nIf we imagine a remarried couple with children living a vibrant Catholic life, who attend mass together with their children weekly, approaching a priest to say they want to receive communion as a family and their children are distressed that that is not happening, then, IMHO, the internal forum should be used as follows:", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, justice must be done.\n\nAnd it's not particularly done by fellow Bishops calling out that it should be done. One of the big problems with paedophilia in the Church has been churchmen running defend those accused. \n\nOf course, if Pell is eventually found guilty the Church will have to rethink all the appointments Pell has made. Including his involvement in the appointment of this articles author.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not only is the exodus essential for maintaining mental health and self-respect, it is made imperative by the moral foundation provided by the good teachers in Catholic school; they taught us that it becomes a duty not to be counted.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...a nation of laws.\" You assume all laws are good.\nWas the law upheld when there was a Reign of Terror in USA, due process of 14th amendment ignored, when \"separate but equal\" was never enforced, etc, etc, etc.\n\"abide by the laws of the CC, it would not exist?\" You place law over the Spirit which is the source of unity not laws.\nJesus was a law breaker, you forget.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"isn't people telling lies a reason to re-think the Church's teaching on truth-telling\"\n\nYou are exactly right. Clearly, the bishops' systematic lying during the abuse cover-up tells us that the \"Church's teaching on truth-telling\" is very much a \"Do as I say, not as I do\" proposition, and is to be understood as such. \nThis, of course, raises the obvious question of how may other Church teachings are \"Do as I say, not as I do\" propositions. If only Alexander VI were still around, he could probably tell us. That seemed to be one of his areas of theological and canonical expertise.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "All Christians, regardless of denomination, believe Jesus is the One Way to God. It's why we're called \"Christians\". \n\nSt. Justin Martyr (d. 165) said that there were \u201cseeds of truth\u201d scattered about in the teaching of the great philosophers. St. Paul honored the Athenians for their pious worship of the \u201cunknown\u201d God (Acts 17). Catholics, unlike many/most protestants, believe there are \u201cother sheep\u201d who do not travel with the flock but who do belong to the Shepherd. They may be devotees of Mohammed or Buddha because their hearts have recognized some sparks of truth and goodness in the teaching of those men. If they die good Muslims or Buddhists and are saved, they are saved not by Mohammed or Buddha, but by Christ. \n\n(Your sarcasm and misrepresentation of Christian and Catholic teaching is tiresome)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Given the Catholic -Lutheran agreement on Justification in October 1999, recently described by Pope Francis as the richest ecumenical statement in the world, it is no longer possible for a Catholic simply to say \"Luther was wrong\" on this topic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"In the history of the church, under the influence of Roman law, Jesus' teachings were systematized and codified. This made it easier to train priests to deal with most of the moral cases they would face. The best of theologians and teachers always knew the need for flexibility in applying such laws, but many of their students simply applied the rules mechanically. For priests lacking education or sophistication, following the rule was safe. Too much flexibility would breed uncertainty and chaos. This led to a perversion of Jesus' teaching that forced women to stay in abusive relationships simply because they were married. \"\n\nIs this meant to imply there was an era in Catholicism where Francis' ideas of pastoral mercy for the divorced were implemented on a significant scale? I don't know, just asking the question.\n\nI think the answer is important, because if there was such an era, it would strongly bolster Francis' case about pastoral mitigation of divorce dogma.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "At least the bishops boldly confronted the needs of Catholic LGBTs by having Cardinal Dolan wax poetic on Courage.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Most gay Catholics aren't shouting at the magisterium ... most gay Catholics have quietly left the toxic environment of \"Holy Mother's\" suffocating bosom. I think that straight Catholics (parents, siblings, friends of gay Catholics) are going to have to do much of the dialogue ... and perhaps even some witholding of cash from the collection plate, etc.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Cites\" do not equal FACTS. Especially in your posts. Or with most other ultra-right-wing Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think it is the perfect time during the homily to make any announcements, hear from the building committee, educate people on whatever, deduct that time from the sermon and then proceed to give the sermon. When mass is over it should be over...do the second collection, give the one part blessing (I hate those multi-part with 4 amens..is that remotely catholic???)..", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So what ? Let me tell you a little illustrative history. 1938, three European countries are ruled by fascist dictatorships: Germany, Italy and Spain. Two of those are majority Catholic countries - one the seat of the Vatican. Meanwhile in America the popular opinion on the rise of these dictatorships are still quite split. Prominent businessmen like Henry Ford and Walt Disney want America to form an alliance with the German Nazis. And the America First group (a Nazi organization much like the Ossewabrandwag) is at the height of it's power - one violent rally in New York had over 25000 attendees. Enter Father Charles Coughlin, an Irish-Catholic priest famous for his incendiary radio show. Very much the Trump of his time. Coughlin was pro-Nazi and became America First's most powerful media voice. In one broadcast he declared \"Democracy has failed, the only choices are fascism or communism - so as a Christian, I choose fascism\". \n\nTBC.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Since there has been a dramatic drop in Catholics - of every age group - who make use of the sacrament of confession, I wonder if you have any suggestions on how it may be frequented by more of the faithful? Old approaches do not seem to be working well at all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sr. Rose says that the Catholic Church requires the non-Catholic spouse in a mixed religion marriage to sign a promise to raise children as Catholics. That used to be true. I remember as a parish priest in Brooklyn asking people to do just that. I'm sure there was considerable duplicity as well as angry, suppressed ill feeling toward the Church. Fortunately, somewhere along the road to wisdom, the regulation was changed. Now, the Catholic spouse is asked to do all that he/she can to raise the child as a Catholic. Nothing is asked of the non-Catholic, and no mendacity takes place in the rectory office.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The seminaries will remain underfilled until the church returns to its traditions, the traditions handed down from the apostles, of the use of latin, the full vestments, and the recognition of the complete authority of the papacy, and thus of the clergy, over all aspects of life. Once the church reasserts its authority over the laity, and returns things to the way they were, the way they were meant to be, the churches will again fill, the collection plates will overflow, and the seminaries will be bursting at the seams. Or maybe it will be a much smaller, but oh so much more pure church. Either way, it will be better.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yeah, those liberals - how dare they ask people treat each other the way they wish to be treated, what is this nation coming to when the leftists ask that you honor the teachings of Jesus while you try to cram him down our throats?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Perhaps your comment would make sense, Marty, if you would substitute the word authoritarianism (of the Holy Father) for the word \"authority.\" The definition of infallibility was poorly defined by a VI in the 1800's that did much damage to the church. Fact is that Pius IX dismissed the conclave when he did not have the votes for it but reconvened it after the Northern European and American Bishops were gone. The fact is that Pius IX had shown himself to be emotionally unstable by the kidnaping a Jewish boy that a maid had baptized.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In more than one interview he advocated pederasty (sex between adult men and male youths, including underage ones), defended 100% the Catholic priest who had sex with him at age 13 or 14, and did not depict himself as a \"victim\" at all - just the opposite - until after the blowback happened. Now he's trying to rewrite those interviews and pretend he was \"joking\" . I doubt anyone viewing those videos could come away thinking he was not seriously advocating illegal sex between adults and underage children. Certainly CPAC, The Reagan Brigade, Breitbart, and Simon & Shuster don't think he was joking. He's \"kidding\" us now though about his true motivations & views. He wasn't kidding then. Bye bye Milo. Btw, it was right wing organizations who punctured Milo's balloon, not lefties. The right decided he's disgraceful & a terrible role model for adults and children, both, and dumped him, Milo's downfall was no left wing plot.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hmmmm .... let's see. St. Mark was martyred in the Baucalis section of Alexandria in 68 AD. He was burried in the first church built in Alexandria in the same section of the city. Since then the church has been referred to also as the Martyrium of St. Mark. In 311 AD, when Peter, the Bishop of Alexandria was about to be executed, according to reports, he asked to be allowed to pray at the Church in Baucalis, at the grave of St. Mark. His request was granted, and subsequently he was martyred. \n\nIn short, the written and oral reports consistently refer to this church in Baucalis as Mark'smartyrium.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Devout Catholics follow a daily prayer routine derived from monastic life which is called the Liturgy of the Hours (formerly the Divine Office). It has 7 prayer components throughout the day, 3 of which would occur during the school day EVERY day. Is that to be accommodated in the schools?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"\"They made the decision,\" Daly told Catholic San Francisco, the archdiocesan newspaper, at the time of the announced Sulpician complete exit. \"There was no discussion with the board of trustees. They had made up their mind\" the day before a scheduled trustee meeting and had voted to withdraw. \"So there was no collaboration in the decision.\"\"\n- Per history of religious orders, societies, institutes, congregations, when a community decamps from a diocese precipitously and without explanation it is because the local ordinary has violated common sense if not canon law by inserting himself into the internal operations of the decamped community. \n- As paradigms go, this one seems to include all the possible moving parts.\n- With jocularity, perhaps the Sulpicians refused to consecrate the seminarians in the various, now suppressed minor orders. Or, perhaps they refused to bestow birettas and pelligrinas upon the seminarians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Islamophobic depiction of Muhammad's marriage to Aisha as motivated by misplaced desire fits within a broader Orientalist depiction of Muhammad as a philanderer. This idea dates back to the crusades. According to the academic Kecia Ali: \"Accusations of lust and sensuality were a regular feature of medieval attacks on the prophet's character and, by extension, on the authenticity of Islam.\"\nSince the early Christians heralded Christ as a model of celibate virtue, Muhammad \u2013 who had married several times \u2013 was deemed to be driven by sinful lust. This portrayal ignored the fact that before his marriage to Aisha, Muhammad had been married to Khadija, a powerful businesswoman 15 years his senior, for 25 years. When she died, he was devastated and friends encouraged him to remarry. A female acquaintance suggested Aisha, a bright and vivacious character.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, I was hoping to see at least one story here at NCR on the topic of fathers or fatherhood. \n\nI realize the topic of fatherhood runs counter to the natural and secular grain of NCR (that is a radical over-interpretation of \"woman and man no more\"), but the idea of fatherhood..the vocation to fatherhood doesn't run counter to the grain of Catholicism itself, in the least. \n\nFor Catholics interested in reading some good stories on fatherhood, here are some quick links to good stories published over the last few days. \n\nhttps://www.mercatornet.com/family_edge/view/super-special-fathers-of-specially-needy-children/19981\n\nhttps://www.mercatornet.com/family_edge/view/hey-millennials-this-is-the-sequence-of-success-education-job-marriage-chil/19974\n\nhttps://www.mercatornet.com/family_edge/view/hey-millennials-this-is-the-sequence-of-success-education-job-marriage-chil/19974", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ironic that Ontario allows Catholic schools but sees a problem with this.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Consumerism is the base drive underneath the complaint from lukewarm catholics who cry \"I'm not being fed\".\n\nIt was the same major impetus behind the protestant revolt..which has scattered protestants to the winds into a million fragments. And it continues in the so called mega churches.....which for many protestants are just even larger and higher speed exit ramps, as soon as the lattes cool down.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think if you had a better reading comprehension you would not be prey to your confirmation bias, which leads you into the wilderness of accepting a personal bias. I have always attempted to convey facts or the position of science as best as I can. To me truthfulness matters. From you and the other trads here belief triumphs over all. The 'folly of faith' is believing on the word of 'authority' over fact and incontrovertible knowledge, prayer is questioned on results, the Bible is man's opinion on God, who never wrote a book. We don't even know the authors of the Bible. Since it is no longer in dispute the Fall; there is no Original Sin, no need for baptism...it helps to read with discernment and facts in agreement with reality. Beyond high school I have another 8 years of theology and philosophy, and then extensive self study in science. Why be intellectually stymied lost in apologetic and catechesis, which are objectively corrupted.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Talk about killing , wars, infanticide, and all the horrible things humans do to each other, read the bible. Reading the bible in my childhood at Catholic School inspired to ask \"what is all the killing for \" and to spend my life hoping that man will see the folly of always making wars to get what he thinks he needs or doesn't have. Game of Thrones mimics the biblical years but their featured \"supernatural\" are dragons.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Non-violent action brings about eschaton. Black Lives Matter is an attempt, until the anarchists show up. Indivisible is a huge non-violent event, from the large marches to the demonstrations at congressional offices. If only our brothers in Palestine could do the same without being shot at. Stop with the false equivalency. Next.\n\nIt is true that Catholics will not speak out against the prospect that abortion is a women\u2019s rights issue rather than simply a liberty issue (and there is a difference). The women\u2019s rights side sees bodily integrity as the main concern, as well personal empowerment. The liberty issue is less radical. It simply recognizes that banning abortion is unworkable in the criminal law and, by the way, Roe was not wrongly decided. The 14th Amendment really does not protect the unbrn prior to viability and it is Congress, not the states, who can alter its terms.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh no wonder! He belongs to the Westbourough Baptist Church. They are so far away from what JESUS taught it's not even funny", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Menachem Wecker must be disappointed this thread has veered so far off-topic, and I have Catholic guilt over it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In keeping with a Catholic conservative view on the objectifying of morality, can also have a conservative response. \"Judge not and not shall you be judged\". \"Forgive seven times seventy\". In these two quotations there should be enough for conservatives to allow Divorced and remarried Catholics to receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist, and still maintain that Divorce and remarrying is a sin. Deacon'82 Social and Environmental Justice", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Come on. Everyone knows that MSW can be relied upon to be the authentic \"interpreter\" of what is (and is not) Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The_people_who_wrote_the_scriptures_knew_about_it.__Indeed,_Mark_the_Evangelist_was_the_founding_Pope_of_Africa.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would very much like the same thing - to have space to talk about how the Church needs to and will evolve, because it cannot continue as a world wide force for good unless it does. It is not feeding people's souls and hearts; it is losing ground with each generation, at least in the industrialized world. I read quite a bit out of Australia (Catholica and Eureka Street) and at the Irish Association of Catholic Priests - because they have people who are seeking ...what?.... \"the Jesus way\", a way to ground what it means to live a moral life and seek to explore who, what, where, how God is. \n\nHere, I think the short comments allowed are a real problem to presenting an argument or viewpoint that can invite discussion. There are too many back and forth snarky comments here - that carry on and on. And ridiculous attempts to quote catechism as if that presented an argument. And, too many who want to take articles like this one and argue the validity of climate change. Deflection.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I just don't see this as comparable. Or are you saying that thousands of murders take place in the name of Christ each year in the US?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Roman Catholic church is perhaps the most political organization on earth, and is so regarded by a multitude of its membership, clerical and lay. After your many, many reply posts on this site, do you still profess that the RC church is not political?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We assume, mjm, that you intended to discredit \"cross thinking\" by associating it with \"cross dressing\". As a member of the RCC, one ought be very careful about mentioning \"cross dressing\" in a derogatory way, as it may well include men dressing in capes, albs, and cassocks.\n\nAs for Cardinal Kasper and your interpretation of him as \"{the friendly modernist}\" with his use of the term \"cross-thinking\"...you might want to know that Cross-Thinking is not derided in business circles where innovation is valued AS rooted in both business tradition and its planning for the future.\n\nSurely the Catholic Church is interested in the adaptation and development of doctrine and practice as both rooted in tradition and future planning?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "He is, I think, trying to move the church \"out of the way\", so to speak, so that the \"message\" will be freed from its institutional confines on the one hand, and so that we might hear it more clearly on the other. This frightens those who want dictate of their particular view and punishment for the \"other side\". \nThis is scary for a lot of us, especially those who see \"church\" as their ambition and security.\nWe certainly need \"gurus\" of our faith but do we really need \"priests\"? The \"sacrament\" is our redemption, our inclusion, our encounter. It happened. \"Liturgy\" - Eucharist, Baptism, etc. -d, are expressions, celebrations, \"re-freshening\" not the essence. We have reversed the \"essence\" and the decoration. Increasingly I am thinking that we don't \"receive\" sacrament as much as we \"enter into\", we are embraced and we embrace. We are \"ordained\" into Christ's redemption and go out for/with Him in message/mission. \"Should\", that is\nWe children of the Word need more nurturing less dogma.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, I do recognize what you're saying as being a fair expression of Catholic orthodoxy. And I don't mind at all declaring that in a number of matters of the gravest sort I consider myself quite heterodox, and make no claim to be orthodox. (Aber ich kann nicht anders, you see, Gott helfe mir.)\n\nThat said, this orthodox talk of \"the fullness of truth resides in the Church\" has always struck me as the shallowest of Traditions. Or at least the RCC might do us a favor and define the terms \"fullness,\" \"truth,\" and \"resides\" in a nuanced way.\n\nThe innermost heart of Christianity is very simple: It is a supreme good to be on good terms with God, and union with Jesus puts us on those terms. That's it, and all else is just explication (well done or not) or decoration (helpful or not), with nothing about other aspects of that good found only elsewhere. I love John 9.25, the ex-blind man's words: \"I don't know whether he is a sinner; one thing I know: I was blind, now I see.\" Exactly! One thing!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Proof of that?? Not to mention, most Catholics would likely vote for the church to uphold \"traditional\" teachings using the \"traditional\" definition of\" traditional.\" The Rad-Trad cult is so small that very few Catholics even know it exists, otherwise they would NOT vote in support of such radicalism... thanks to Burke and company, however, this awareness is coming to the fore so that the militant culture warriors will be relegated to their rightful place right next to the other extremist groups we have had to endure.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"...Anglican priest \"converts\" to the RCC...\"\n- Baptism in the Anglican communion is considered valid by the Latin Church so when Anglicans 'swim the Tiber' they are received into communion and union with the archbishop of Rome, currently Francis.\n- One converts if one is changing religion from say Hinduism to Christianity (though usually via a Christian church like Anglican, Orthodox, Melkite, Lutheran, Catholic ...).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Academic freedom is the lifeblood of a university, and must extend to a critical understanding of the underpinnings of church teaching. This was certainly the case at the Catholic institution where I studied as an undergraduate. In the late eighties, the American Association of University Professors stated that the CDF essentially destroyed Curran's career and, but for their actions, he would have remained a respected academic and theologian. Instead he was streamed out of tenure, removed as a dissident, and eventually declared unfit to teach theology anywhere at any time. Anyone with an olfactory gland can sniff out the overkill in such actions . . . and the fear.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dare I raise the spectre of political correctness gone mad.\nLet us objectively observe the behavioral trends among different religious youths from the second generation, i.e, born and brought up in Canada.\nThe Christian kids , the budhist kids, the hindu kids, etc have religion as the last thing on their minds. the 2nd generation hindu kids can not be dragged to a temple even if tempted by free big mac afterwards. Even if the 1st generation parents try to ram religion down their throats they just laugh back. That is as it should be; healthy and natural behavior - just have fun but be responsible.\nI do not understand the obsession with same age kids from the muslim community to cover their faces, kneel down however many times a day...doesnt that strike anyone as wholly unnatural ...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I disagree with MSW. This is the ultimate pro-life movement moment. Being pro-life has nothing to do with ending abortion - which is best done through giving parents enough money to raise their children through high school. It is about winning elections by marginalizing Democrats (or goading them to marginalize themselves, as Clinton did on Partial Birth Abortion, which she should have just said is a matter of law, not debate). The movement really did sell Trump to Catholics as anti-abortion and they bought it. For the movement, that is success. Whether Gorsuch turns out to be Scalia rather than Roberts and Kennedy is to be seen - although I suspect the latter is true. GOP presidents usually appoint two pro-Roe Justices for each that write opinions saying it should be repealed. The odds are not on their side.\n\nI will say one thing for Trump, on jailing women, he told the truth. You can't jail doctors for abortion without jailing those who order one. Truth hurts.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am a Catholic and never filled out a prenuptial enquiry. Never heard of it. I have heard of pre-Cana counseling. The Church extends the sacrament to those it believes are qualified to receive it, which often just means baptized, has received first communion and confirmation. It is not a certification of validity. It is not about \"people make mistakes\". Christ has the healing for that covered for those who come to Him in faith. It is about knowing He could heal things and not wanting to do the dying to self or suffering that may be involved and wanting one's own will and trying to get public opinion on one's side. We weren't created for our spousal contentment. We were created to know, love and serve God. The priorities are askew. That is the crux of the issue. People want to put man before God. He says no.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Solid points of growth.\n\nThank you Pope Francis. \n\nGood article/coverage.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"House GOP tax overhaul plan would allow churches to endorse political candidates\"\n\nBut, I don't want my church nor any church to involve itself in politics. Remember, even Jesus said: \"Render unto Caesar that which is his and to God that which is His.\"\n\nIf the priest, bishops, clergy, pastors, ministers, of any denomination, don't have enough to do just managing their calling to be a church leader, I'm sure the \"flock\" of that church could find some more things for them to do. I would never take political advise from my doctor or dentist, why should I take it from some cleric?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How so? Were the Crusades not fought under the banner of the christian church? instigated by the popes?\nThe very first paragraph in Wikipedia's entry for each states: \n1) 'The Crusades were a series of religious wars sanctioned by the Latin Church in the medieval period. The most commonly known are the campaigns in the Eastern Mediterranean aimed at recovering the Holy Land from Islamic rule but the term Crusades is also applied to other church-sanctioned campaigns.'\n2) 'The Inquisition was a group of institutions within the government system of the Catholic Church whose aim was to combat heresy.'\n\nFeel free to explain, however, why these church-sanctioned events should not be considered cases of 'christians behaving very badly'.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Belief is for Jesus, Santa Claus, the Easter bunny and Leprechauns, not scientific study.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Apparently, the Jesus who dined with publicans and sinners, who cured the sick, drew the line with those suffering from celiac disease. Otherwise, why would these \"ontologically different\" clerics who claim to represent Him make the lives of celiacs more difficult?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, our whole point is NOT \"that attending and studying Canon Law is a new sin!\" or any kind of sin. It was both Fr. Orsy's point, we believe, and our point that Opus Dei took the much needed direction and did the hard work required in the area of Canon Law...something many more of our Vatican II progressive theologians should have done...right there alongside Opus Dei. \n\nAlso, we understand your anti-religious, anti-clerical position, \"Life of the Lay,\" yet even the founder of Opus Dei came to see the need for a clerical connection for the sake of \"The Work\". Besides, Opus Dei has done and continues to do fine work as the confessional arm of the Roman Catholic Church along with Evangelical Catholicism. \n\nOur point: Progressive post-Vatican II Catholicism and Confessional Roman Catholicism need not be enemies, even though we see Catholicism differently. https://RiteBeyondRome.com", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Crimean Tarters kidnapped Ukrainian and Russians and sold them on the slave markets in the Middle East. The Turks kidnapped Christian boys who were brought up from age 7 to serve in the Janissaries (infantry units). The slave trade is the reason why there are so many blond and blue eyed people in the Middle East. \n\nSavery continues in the Middle East to today\u2019s date \u2013 although it no longer involves white children. Type into Google the words \u201cslavery Saudi Arabia\u201d or another country and read what appears. \n\nThe Muslim countries have never apologized for the white slave trade. No compensation has ever been offered to the descendants of the victims. \n\n4. On 3 occasions, Muslims nearly conquered Europe. Twice the Turks reached Vienna. Muammar Gaddafi, when he was Libyan leader, predicted Muslims would conquer Europe through numbers and their birth rate.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I was always taught that the two \"universal commandments\" are truly based on the ten \"rules\"...those two do not \"transcend\" the ten, but are the logical outcome - that the ten themselves are \"centered in love.\" For instance, you cannot truly love your neighbor if you covet his goods. \n\nIn fact, one can say you cannot love God without adherence to the first four commandments...you cannot love your neighbor without adherence to the last six.\n\nJesus never suggested tossing aside the ten. In fact, He said He did not come to abolish the Law and the prophets, but to fulfill them. Somehow, I think, we gloss over this important passage.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Liberal/Democrats will still believe theDonald was behind this asking the Russians to do this. Mueller will look and look and look and... until the Gov. cuts his money line.\nThe Libs don't care if this all exposed the Democrats lying, deceiving. racists, etc. antics but blame Trump. They could live with that Democratic Party that drums up Lie, Deceit, Hate, Racists views on the Fly.\nI'd have hard time living with people li dat. We saw it ALL! even those Religious ones that used the cloth and hid behind it. That's the worse one. Like Cops who dish the Law but break it themselves! Untrustworthy, I'd never put trust in that Christian Lady even if she's spilling da beans today.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "from above--\n\nMeanwhile Fundamentalist Catholics, Mormons and fundie Evangelicals endorse the 'religion' of Republicanism -- Wars and Profit and oil above all else. \nThat is what's causing the demise of our Middle Class and our families-- both the born and the unborn.\nSO people who are terrified for our economy must blame the Right and the Religious Right for their destruction of our economy. Trickle-down is DEADLY. It benefits only a VERY small group in our economy. \nBut because they have the Right and the Religious Right, the Koch bros, and all of the corporate lobbyists behind them they win. And people lose. \nVoters count for nothing anymore. Manipulation of voters is what is taking place.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wow, I'm having that, Bear. It's beautiful.\n\nI remember someone posting on here about the sadness they had lived through, with the JPII/Benny years. The writer was old now and was trying to put his life into perspective. He wrote about his life as being like two bookends. The first was the saint you quote, John xxiii. The other, Francis. All that stuff in the middle has been, eh, reviewed. And we are back to John again. It has to be a beautiful thought for many, older generation Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do you mean that the DoI \"preceded\" the Constitution? It did; but that does not mean it has equal or greater standing concerning governing principles. The DoI stated intent and rationale for breaking away from England. The Constitution is our nation's foundation document, and it does not endorse or even mention any deity, and certainly not Christianity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "you can bet that Republican Jesus would never say such a thing!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why, simply, the Church is Us, and those who don't agree with Us are Them, and not The Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "another clueless gun grabber pushing a marxist Jesus\nif youre a christian? you only know half of scripture!!\n----------------------------------------------------------\nThe Second Amendment has Biblical Natural Law foundation. Our Lord said in Luke 11:21, \u201cWhen a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace.\u201d In Luke 22:35, 36 He said, \u201cHe that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.\u201d The principle of armed self-defense is redundant throughout the scriptures in both testaments. Genesis 14, Esther 8 and 9, and Revelation 13:10 are good places to start. In fact, Revelation 13:10 is an extended commentary on the words of Jesus to Simon Peter in the Garden of Gethsemane when Christ told Peter to put up (not give up) his sword in Matthew 26:52. No passage of Scripture has been more egregiously misinterpreted (except Romans 13*) than this passage in Matthew.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus didn't mention passing control to a strong govt to do what he encouraged us to do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "God bless Joseph Tobin; he was a true pastoral and rare gift to the Catholics in Indiana. He will do the same in New Jersey. Our loss is their gain.\nHe genuinely smells like the sheep he serves and urges us to do the same each day.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I\u2019d like to jump on the bandwagon of this intermittent discussion on the Top Article, poised at the Reporter. With a very brief view of Fr. Martin. That, I don\u2019t think the Church couldn\u2019t be any less in touch on what the LGBT Community contends to, deals with, and employs in their unwavering direction. The difference between the Church \u2013 the unalienable institution to and of Christ, and His establishment which He said that which: \u201cGod has put together, let no man put asunder\u201d, and (the difference] of the LGBT Community is that they simply do not follow the same direction.....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your argument is becoming more and more nonsensical, Nora. If married clergy are actually to be condemned for their gender segregation/apartheid, hatred of women, etc.. then why stop there? Every priest who remains in the priesthood, as it presently stands, is supporting this hatred, every Catholic who attends such Mass or who puts in a collection basket. Where does it end? You need to rethink in terms of strategy - big time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to cite that. \nThere is enough evidence in scripture that both were \"true parent\". Perhaps Spartan or Yanamamo Indian cultures (I don't know this for fact, just citing examples of other groups) felt this way but in the OT. Regardless, if God had wanted Jesus to reveal The First Person as \"true parent\", He's had 2,000 years to do so.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"... no opinions that reflect the majority of U.S. Catholics (as most voted for president-elect Trump).\"\n\nI suspect that most Catholics who cast their votes for Trump were really voting against Clinton. It would be a mistake to interpret that as any sort of Catholic mandate for Trump.\n\nBut if you believe there's some sort of groundswell of support for the President-Elect within the American Catholic community, please share with us just what virtues you think they see in him. Frankly, the man seems devoid of ideals of any sort. He's a personal moral train-wreck and a political chameleon who seems to be governed exclusively by self-interest.\n\nAs for NCR, it's an independent publication with a particular editorial stance that it has always been upfront about. If you didn't understand that, that's on you, not NCR.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, but, the sacred iconography, their baptism photos and candles and other sacred objects an prayers are all wonderful evangelical tools...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"unconditional love\"\n\nneeds to be better understood by people. Clearly.\n\nWe just heard Our Lord during yesterday's (Tuesday's) Gospel lay down a firm \"condition\" on forgiveness!\n\nJesus conditioned God's own forgiveness!! Yepper. Conditioned love.\n\n\"Forgive us our sins, as we forgive...\"\n\nThat's a firm condition.\n\n\"Abide in me...\" another condition.\n\nTrendy, emotionally driven exegesis always leads one into a shallower understanding of the whole loving message of all of Scripture.\n\nThe pope (at least truncated reports of what he says) tends to like to \"atrract\" by sweetening the message a bit, and then lightly-expectant people run into life or themlelves ill-equipped.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am shocked, but not really surprised, that there would be an attempt at reintegrating abusers such as Gufstason into the daily life of Catholic church. That is because the abusers' lobby remains strong, even while it lies in wait to pounce again only the next time to be better at getting away with its satanic evil. Gufstason's interview makes light of the profound violence that he has done to the church and all her people by using the priesthood as a staging ground for sexual exploitation. If he were truly repentant, he would disappear from sight and practice his faith in a very private manner for the rest of his days. But he seeks fame and recognition instead. Does the sense of entitlement of abusers know no bounds? I guess not. I hope that his interview leads to long overdue laicization. Where is a bishop when you need one?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Whether or not we are talking about papal statements which fit the criteria for infallibility is an important distinction to make since liberal Catholic have usually been historically referred to as \"cafeteria Catholics\" for dismissing such statements.\n\nPope Francis has made no statement fitting the criteria for papal infallibility, so it is a false equivalence to implicitly equate liberal Catholics who have problems with papal statements which HAVE fit the criteria for infallibility, to conservative Catholics who have problems with things Pope Francis says. Since this equivalence is itself false, so too is the conclusion for which the false equivalence serves as a premises, namely, that all Catholics are cafeteria Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I share your hope, but I think that writing columns for a blog that is generally dismissed by the bishops is not the best strategy. The bishops will not begin to pay attention until their livelihood is threatened: either by denying them the resources they need to maintain the status quo, or by openly challenging them in the courts, where they would be forced to respond. \n\nTo a second point: I would not be so inclined to assume that Latinos will be the future of the church in this US, especially since, as Winters says, the Latino population is young relative to the general Catholic population. Latinos are experiencing the same tugs at their loyalty all millennials are going through, and there is considerable evidence that they will join the Nones Legion in force as time goes on. In my family, my generation continues to attend Mass, although about half are involved in \"irregular\" unions, but few of our children have anything to do with church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am a Gary Johnson supporter; a libertarian. I just can't believe the rancor that continues to go on between liberals and conservatives. It doesn't matter who is appointed by either, because the other will tear them down. Callista will do fine, although maybe not the choice of most readers of National Catholic Reporter. She has a wealth of experience.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Tridentinus, your reply side stepped my question: \"...please elaborate on diaconal role in Tridentine ritual. Your description does not match my recollection of the missa solemnis. Much intrigued!\"\n\nI am not looking for an argument here. Quite the opposite, I would treasure any evidence of a diaconal role in the Offertory in the Trindentine liturgy. Historically, in the Byzantine liturgy, the deacon received the bread brought to Church by the faithful before the Divine Liturgy began, and was largely responsible for the Great Entrance (originally a procession from the back of, or outside of, the Church were the gifts were assembled), the primary offertory event in the Byzantine liturgy. \n\nYou say the deacon offered the chalice with the priest and say the Offerimus tibi with the priest. Please point me to this ritual. Which version of the missa?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Directly on point as always. I am certain you, like me, are disappointed to see a report that catholic women are casting votes clearly in contravention of the directions given by our courageous leaders in the USCCB. They will need to go to confession before they can take communion without committing sacrilege. NCR should stop these reports immediately and spend the rest of the election writing reports about how we, the laity, can cast our ballots for the party most representative of the values of the US bishops, which is to say, the values of Jesus' one true church. Keep up the good work defending the bishops!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You know our so-called president will be tweeting, \"Beautiful meeting\" for the consumption especially of all the RCs who voted for him.\nToo bad Pius X12 is pope as Trump and company would have to walk backwards from the pope when leaving his chambers.\nThat would make for a different \"beautiful\" story for all the Evangelicals who see our so-called president as a gift from god.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your last 3 paragraphs add to a dialogue. \n\"Conservative\" is not the same as extreme. Nor liberal.\nExtremists co-opted the term conservative.\nWe should reject binary either/or and embrace both/and.\nGrey is larger than black and white.\nA point of the La Civilta article, no?\n\n\"Tentative leadership\" is taking a stand. Is this article birthing a new form of leadership? Significant the authors of La Civilta are Protestant and Catholic , bringing to the table 2 dominant players in Christian divergence.\nThe RCC is the singular majority Christian group and invited the Protestant pastor to the table to write this watershed article.\n\nCurrently, Republicans are talking about Democrats being at the table for the reform of healthcare. Republicans are the majority; they have yet to invite the Democrats to the table. \n\nIn the issue of extreme religious interpretation the Vatican has invited Protestant equality to discern conflict.\n\nAffirm: each need to clean their own house! Dems and Reps, too!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You can chant that all you like and I'll shout \"He's MY Pope\" right back at you, with the knowledge that he's the best thing that's happened to Roman Catholicism in my nearly six decades on earth.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Eucharist is food for the journey, medicine for the sick. Let ALL who sincerely desire to receive Jesus in the Eucharist come to the altar.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For what it's worth, I feel most that I don't measure up when I encounter a Down Syndrome person. I feel that I have encountered Jesus and just don't know what to do because I want to be hugged and can't bring myself to ask.\nI feel that I don't measure up when I think that I have seen a \"Levi\" and dislike him/her in my heart. Because I \"think\" that I am the more humble. \nI know I don't measure up when I react to someone whose condidion, disability automatically evokes a \"thank God I'm not....\", and I silently ask forgiveness.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "These attorneys are worse than the Republican presidential candidates.\n\nMacro view: The left wing media and our left wing government are not interested in a constitutional defense for Caucasian/Christian/Conservative, non-violent protesters. \n\nThe big difference between the Ferguson and Malheur killing protests? No rioting, looting, shooting or arson after the Malheur killing. The PC left doesn't like to be reminded of that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "First...it's interesting to me how non-Catholics have so many suggestions about what the Catholic priesthood should look like!\n\nSecond? It appears Pope Francis disagrees...\n\"Turning to the question of relaxing permissions for the ordination of married men and the requirement of priestly celibacy, he said that \u201coptional celibacy is discussed, above all where priests are needed. But optional celibacy is not the solution.\" (Interview with \"Die Zeit\" 3/8/17)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you. Several new protest signs here.\n\nSecond to protests are anniversaries of past protests.\n\nIt keeps alive, albeit for a shrinking few, that helpful and serene Christian virtue of constant protest and complaint. \n\n\"See how they protest against one another\".\n\nThat's in Scripture somewhere, at least in Salinski Translation of the UU Bible.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"And, to me diversity in all areas is in other areas an essential value to consider in judging both.......\n\njustmaybe, do you include women's right to their affordable, effective Reproductive Health Care coverage just as their men have? There is so much more emphasis on the right of homosexuals and lesbians than the right of women not to be discriminated against by depriving them of their Reproductive health care coverage. That affects women and their men and children too. Without women's affordable reproductive Health care the family tends to break up and so does society.\n \nI used to belong to the Republicans Majority for Choice and Catholics for Choice. W hen I mentioned that to former Archbishop MacFadden, of the Harrisburg Diocese, he claimed that they were not real Catholics. There is your \"non-inclusive\" discrimination built in to those who consider themselves True Catholics. When women gain equality in that particular area, there will be hope for true inclusion..", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christ was and is fully human and fully divine.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One problem with this...\nWestern Rite Catholicism only allows Pastoral Provision for already married priests of closest related faiths to the Church.\n\nThe Eastern Rites allow for married priests.\n\nIn both cases, the priests have been married *prior* to ordination and sometimes even before formal education in the seminary.\n\nAlso, in both cases, married men can be ordained deacons. In all possibilities, once a deacon or priest's wife dies, they can no longer marry.\n\nAlso in all possibilities, the marriage is the primary vocation. Then their ordination is next in line of importance. For a small example, if a priest's wife is ill, he needs to tend to her. \n\nI would love to be married and then be called to be a priest in the Eastern Rite. I also would like to be married and enter the diaconate. \n\nBut I have to discern my calling.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Interesting article in Catholic dash sf dot org on this. Here is a quick quote which makes an important point: \n\n\"The Archdiocese of San Francisco owns the seminary and its grounds. In addition to the archdiocese, the sponsoring dioceses are Fresno, Honolulu, Monterey, Oakland, Orange, Reno, Sacramento, San Jose, Santa Rosa, Stockton and Spokane.\" \n\nQuoting the article: \"Bishop Daly said that (decline in enrollment) is not a reflection of seminary administration rather a function of decisions by some dioceses to send seminarians to other seminaries as well as an overall drop in seminarians in some dioceses. Some such as the Fresno and Orange dioceses are sending men closer to home...\"\n\nQuoting +Daly: \"There are misconceptions about the program at St Patrick's Seminary--some see it as too conservative,\" Bishop Daly said. \"The seminary is a solid program of priestly formation.\" \n\n\"...some see it as too conservative.\" Since when, I wonder?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Marilyn,\nAll that you stated is ALSO true. I was wondering why John O'Malley's book about what went on is JUST NOW being recognized. It's been around six, almost seven years now---and is certainly not new.\n\n\nBut, yes, we've had a number of members of the hierarchy/clergy who tried to 'stone-wall' and 'de-rail' what Vatican II began. We, sadly, still have too many in the American hierarchy who 'have tried to re-take' what was passed at Vatican II---by going back to the theology/liturgy of the 1950's. They are trying to assure us that this is \"how Jesus wanted it'. Baloney!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(3)\n\nWhy not include a quote on life?\n\n\"\u201cEvery child who, rather than being born, is condemned unjustly to being aborted, bears the face of Jesus Christ, bears the face of the Lord, who even before he was born, and then just after birth, experienced the world\u2019s rejection. And every elderly person\u2026even if he is ill or at the end of his days, bears the face of Christ. They cannot be discarded, as the \u2018culture of waste\u2019 suggests!\u201d\n\nor \"\u201cAll too often, as we know from experience, people do not choose life, they do not accept the \u2018Gospel of Life\u2019 but let themselves be led by ideologies and ways of thinking that block life, that do not respect life, because they are dictated by selfishness, self-interest, profit, power and pleasure, and not by love, by concern for the good of others.\u2026As a result, the living God is replaced by fleeting human idols which offer the intoxication of a flash of freedom, but in the end bring new forms of slavery and death.\u201d", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Now you know!\nIt isn't matter of Catholics obediently forgive CI (Catholic Institution) clergies. CI clergies acted demonic level of criminal actions regarding clergy sex abuse of children and so far they failed to show their true spiritual leadership any way & shape! They simply can't expect to resume as a spiritual leader being willfully remain demonic criminals!\nThey need to be 'A MAN of GOD' for heavens sake!\nBTW, I don't think they know what/who is Man of God, so sadly!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree with you 100%. IMO Marian apparitions make for good myths/legends/stories, but we already have those in the Jesus story/tradition. Is there a danger of the former supplanting the latter? It is for this reason that I believe MA's should be reserved for one's personal devotion only, and in no way should be construed as a public or \"official\" article of faith... only made worse by the commercialization of said apparitions that we see today.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why should the Catholic Church get their hands dirty over little matters like right,from wrong,or good versus evil?..No,for those decisions,they now hire an attorney,to litigate the problem through the Alaska House Judiciary Committee..That way the Catholic Church can concentrate on important matters,like raising billions of tax free dollars,to deposit in unmarked bank accounts in the Cayman Islands..", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "History suggests it will be Muslims who will take the place of White Christians. I need not tell you which sex.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I'm imagining two evangelical Christian law graduates, each holding the same views on sex and marriage. The first grad comes from the U of T, the second comes from TWU. Their qualifications to be lawyers are equally shining. However, LSUC might accept the first but would automatically reject the second. Why would LSUC engage in such discrimination? Because it disapproves of a discriminatory rule at TWU.\n\nI get it that a portion of LSUC's membership wished to make a political statement on TWU's policy. And had it just been a statement, no harm would've been done. But now harm is being done. It will be up to the Supreme Court of Canada to determine which harm, TWU's or LSUC's, is the greater.\n\nLSUC has tied itself to a position that is legally and ethically questionable, if not hypocritical. They'll be lucky if the Supreme Court bails them out of the mess by ruling against them.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "This \"Islamophobia\" label is as tired as it is wrong.\n\nReligious prejudice being what it is, Islamic peoples have a strong leaning towards anti-Semitism, and when they blow things up or persecute minorities from the ancient churches, anti-Christianism. Then, of course, there's the terrible history that followed Mountbatten's Partition and the millions of lives that were lost in the conflicts between India and Pakistan. So Islamic peoples also have a history of Hinduphobia that most people in the West are ignorant of. \n\nSo let's say that if you're an Islamophile, you could well be a Judeo-Christian-o-phobe and a Hinduphobe.\n\nIf you want to throw the Islamophobia label around, you can't suck and blow at the same time.\n\nThe Liberal motion M103 privileges Islamic peoples over Hindus, Christians, and Jews who have been subject to persecution by Islamic groups. \n\nJustin Trudeau is very ignorant and very wrong.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I am a staunch Catholic. However, I do not believe that people should be compelled, by law, to be Catholic. That is just horrific and certainly comparable to Nazi Germany. Deciding that someone would be good for SCOTUS because they will decide based on Catholic morality is the very same as requiring them to be Catholic. How horrible!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The left's pro-Islamic stance is merely a reflection of the \"enemy of my enemies\". They hate Christians, Christianity, and all things they see as \"traditional\" America, and because Islam is the antithesis of these things it is to be propped up, defended, and legitimized at every turn. It's a form of Stockholm syndrome. Just look at how Germany and Sweden are dealing within the destruction of their cultures...being in more Muslims who aren't assimilating to replace the native population in the name of \"diversity\" at all costs.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "And the next time a Christian (Dylann Roof, Robert Dear (the Planned Parenthood shooter) and so forth) decides to commit a terrorist act against innocent individuals lets not sugar coat it by claiming that they were simply \"deranged individuals\" but lets call it what it is - terrorism", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "so that justifies the killing of Christians?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "CKS says: \"soldiers have never fought for Kaep's rights\" & \" have never had to defend their country from invasion\". Here's some history lessons for you: 1) WWII - we'd all be speaking German now if the USA had not entered that war 1941. If they'd waited for the actual invasion this would be German North America\n2) 911 - not an invasion? Al Qaeda & ISIS intend to take over all Christian countries. This war is already being waged on European & North American soil\nGet your head out of your arse", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "ah, another angry 'christian'. lol", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "..................Your self titled \"quite right and reasonable\" hypothesis shows extreme arrogance. If arrogance was holiness you would be next to Saint John Paul.\nYour posts demonstrate the kind of ignorance and cowardice of people whose words seem to intentionally cause pain to others who have been spiritually violated. It is obvious to me that you are afraid of gaining real insight about those who are the wreckage left behind from the clergy sexual assault scandal. You know better than those who have been violated by clergy. In my experience the more traditional Catholics seem to make comments that disregard Catholic values and seem farthest from the teachings of Christ.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "And the reason this is a decades-old story is that neither the world's Catholic bishops nor any pope in history has dared tp apply Catholic moral teachings to its clergy! Neither do they accept responsibility for their clergy sex abuse crisis! That's why we have SECULAR media and plaintiffs-Victims attorneys leading the way, and doing what bishops should have been doing, for decades if not centuries! Blessedly, readers can spot your untruths here from miles away, and smell them from farther still!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Thousands are murdered in this country every year. The overwhelming majority of those murders grew up in Christian households. By your \"logic\" we should ban Christians.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Arab states are practicing Apartheid by de-humanizing Christians and practicing slavery of Christians in Sudan and ISIS, the model Islamic Caliphate. \n\nIsraeli Arabs and Jews have the same rights. Gaza and PA are different entities. Hamas in Gaza runs apartheid against Christians by forcing Islamic customs and forced conversions to Islam. The penalty for conversion from Islam is death.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Spare me the pathetically transparent commercials. \"Israel\" is a state so utterly 'race'/identity-obsessed it murders its own CHILDREN for being the wrong \"color\", that treats Arab and Ethiopian JEWS as 2nd-class citizens (don't ask about Muslims and Christians), and that dumped blood donated by the Falashas because it wasn't considered 'pure' enough to be used to treat Ashkenaziim, and that openly practices housing and educational discrimination--except when the TV cameras come round. In that last it does somewhat resemble its hypocritical white-supremacist 'patron', the USA. Further it is a non-theocratic yet self-proclaimed JEWISH state that in which full privileges are reserved for European--Ashkenazi--Jews; and concerning the Arabs it treads upon, it is no more and no less than an APARTHEID state so oppressive and tyrannical that Bishop Desmond Tutu and the late Nelson Mandela both said it was worse than the apartheid they themselves endured. Khalas.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"Not surprised at not knowing about upper management.\"\nSir, if you don't know about upper management, why pray tell would you bring it up?\n\nYou claim trump is loyal? Only if you pledge 100 loyalty and get rid of a pesky Russian investigation for him, if not, you are fired.\n\nYou claim to be a Christian? Trump lies with every breath. Well known and documented sir.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Exactly what stories did they get wrong? Comey did not call them out on any article. Why lie? It seems that Trump has effectively brainwashed a large segment of the population, including you, to believe that only Fox has real news, when they provably lie constantly. \nThe fact that Trump still has sixty million supporters means only that many people do not understand the extent of his lies and incompetence and vote based on narrow ideology, often based on evangelical Christian beliefs. Stupid people in large numbers have a lot of power unfortunately.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Mr. Selko's bible nonsense I'm sure will entertain the haters of Christianity. However it is worth noting his presentation is very similar to past ignorant rants by individuals with nearly no biblical or theological comprehension as well.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Check your Constitution and Supreme Court rulings. \"..founded based on Judeo-Christian principles...\" is just the continuous lie thrown out in every forum by the fundamentalist christian horde.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "So somebody's a hypocrite because they believe in a moral cause, but aren't proactively supporting that cause? (Again, not doing otherwise, but not proactively fighting for that cause). That's being passive, but not hypocrisy.. You're against sex trafficking (I hope); so what anti-sex-trafficking organizations are you supporting? You're against global hunger (I hope), so what international food programs are you supporting? You're against, and for, a number of other things too that you aren't proactively fighting against/for, so are you a hypocrite? By your definition you are, unless you only apply that standard to positions you don't like. At least the passive Christians aren't for the right to kill hundreds of thousands of their fellow unborn human beings, as you are, and for those Christians who are actively involved in the pro-life movement but aren't picketing IVF clinics, and least they're involved in the bigger fight for a moral good, whatever else their failings may be.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"Parental Rights\" is just extremist Christian code for their version of Sharia Law. \n\nIn Jim Minnery's perfect world, all women and girls would essentially be slaves of their fanatical fathers, just like in all extremist patriarchal religions.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "If Callista Gingrich were appointed by a democrat, I Wonder what the response of the American Bishops would have been. Yet after all the divorces she was married in the Catholic Church. Wow what hypocrisy.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Nice snarling Christian attitude.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Well, what a relief this one doesn't count as terrorism...\n... because if the killer had been a moslem, well then by golly we'd have to do something about it.\n.\nIt's the mentality:\n31,000 gun deaths/year are ok.\nUnless we decide the killer is a terrorist.\n.\nHow was this any less terrorism, how are the victims any less dead, and how are their families less consumed in grief, just because the killer wasn't \"a terrorist\"?\n.\nMaybe, following their usual logic, they could solve the problem by imposing a travel ban on selected Christian countries, starting with America.\n.\nIt's the mentality.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "They will make the fatherland great again, they say, \n\n\nby weeding out the non-Christians and \"dangerous\" ethnic people, \n\n\nby slashing aid to the elderly and care for the poor, and by building the greatest military the world has ever seen. \n\n\nThey will publicize government-sponsored lists intended to demonstrate the \"criminality\" of the ethnic other. \n\n\nThey condemn revelation of inconvenient facts as merely the continued plotting of the L\u00fcgenpresse. \n\n\nAnd they brag to their admirers about the inspiration for all those plans, not being the least bit shy about doing so.\n\nCall it what it is\u2014and call Republican support for their plans what it is, as well.\n\n\nTrumpism = Fascism = Republicanism.\n\nThe right adopted Trump and his agenda, all of it. The Fascism, the Racism, the Nazism.\n\nThat's what winning looks like.\n\nYou're a winnner.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Yes it means all life, starting with that of the pre- born baby. Too bad you failed to mention any concern for those lives. I am sick and tired of the nonsense comments that all pro-life anti-abortion people don't care past the birth. A good Catholic is concerned for all aspects of live, from conception to natural death. I wonder if the good sister noticed her fellow marchers carrying a banner stating \" If Mary had only had an abortion, we would not be in this mess\" or the portraits of a Vagina representing Our Lady of Guadalupe. I hope she had time to listen to the wonderful speeches made by Madonna or Ashley Judd. All very uplifting. What a disgrace if you ask me.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Is that list in reference to the actions of president-elect Trump...or the Catholic church? \n\nIsn't the fact that your own religion has acted worse than Trump a matter to ponder?\n\nSexually assaulting.....not women, but children.\n\nMisogyny galore.\n\nHistory of vitriol to Jews and other religions.\n\nRapaciously greedy? Yes -- so much so, a protestant rev started by indignation over corrupt indulgences, that's still in full force.\n\nNOT PAYING TAXES! Oh my gosh...\n\nPriests and workers and teachers make a pittance, while Bishops live like princes in mansions.\n\nFunny that you object so to Trump (and all Catholics who voted for him), but here you are in the RCC. Paging Dr. Freud...", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You're right about Pope Francis being effectively complicit protecting the 'honor' of the priesthood at the expense of the dignity of children raped by the clergy. He is capable of turning this around by one dramatic gesture: expunging the Pontifical Secret from Canon Law. Kieran Tapsell and others have argued this at length, persuasively and repeatedly here on the pages of NCR.\nBishops can say sorry till they are blue in the face. The apologies will take on congruence and credibility when the Pope backs up his calls for sorry days by getting rid of the source of the even more scandalous dimension of the problem which is that the hierarchy of the Catholic Church is Canonically forbidden to report paedophile clergy except in those very few civil jurisdictions in the world that require mandatory reporting. \nI think Pope Francis still holds the arrogant view that it is all an 'Anglo' problem. There will be an education when the paedophilia lid blows off Asia, Latin America and Africa", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Entering into a same-sex marriage IS to reject the Catholic Faith. Engaging in perverted sex acts is a distinct, additional sin.\n\nPaprocki's norms require NO inquiry into what people are doing in private.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Hello Observer,\n\nIt is fascinating that you raise the fact that the book was written about thirty years ago, because your observation actually strengthens (not weakens) my commentary.\n\nThink about it. Another book that came out about thirty years ago (written in 1990, a few years after 1985's Handmaid's Tale) was Tom Clancy's \"Sum of All Fears\".\n\nClancy's fictional novel was about nasty, scary Islamist terrorists getting hold of an atomic bomb and turning the world upside down.\n\nSo, what did our arts community do the moment they decided to bring Clancy's novel of thirty years ago to the screen?\n\nAnswer: They removed all references to Islam and Muhammad and Muslims and, after a proper scrubbing, voila, the nasty, scary terrorists were suddenly replaced by nasty, scary Christian neo-Nazis getting their hands on an atom bomb! Yay!\n\nSorry, but the identification I made, of a double standard, cannot be wafted away by hand-wringing over a thirty year time scale. Nice try, though...", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"Trumps [sic] the greater threat to the U.S.!\"\n\nWell, yes, obviously. But Trump is also a greater threat to world peace than North Korea.\n\nNote that Trump, the Trump Regime, and The America Treason Party want to deny many tens of millions of USA citizens health care. In the USA we already have about 45,000 citizens die every year due to the lack of medical care--- according to Harvard University, year 2013. The number is probably less now, thanks to the Affordable Care Act.\n\nRepealing the ACA will kill more USA citizens every year than died in Vietnam; more than in Korea; more than all the domestic Christian terrorists in the USA have; more than foreign non-Christian terrorists have.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The reality is, who ran the black slave trade? The whites? Hardly. Who owned all the boats? Who introduced abortion, crime, aids , drugs into black communities? Whites? Think again\n\nWhy did Israel deport 70K black Hebrews? Some say the real Hebrews are the black Americans. Blacks aren't thugs, gangsters, criminals, and whites aren't against them. In fact I would say we embrace black culture. Blessed to have known great blacks, funny, great musicians and there is something magical about a Black Christian women, child, God's children. \n\nBut then who are the Devil's children?\n\nBlack brothers, the worst thing possible is a divide and conquer strategy. I don't like Islam per se, but a know a lot of Muslims who are great as well and they have had their countries destroyed for the Greater Project for Zion. \n\n9/11, the catalyst, whatever happened to the 5 dancing Israelis? Who really hates America? USS Liberty? Who owns the Federal Reserve? The corrupt biased Media? The Devil is here", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "No. You miss the whole point of our Catholic/Christian vocation. \n\nWe need more time to \"go forth\" out of Mass and the Parish to live out our lay vocation in our neighborhood, workplace, volunteer efforts in the ordinary world...the Optimist Clubs, the swim coach, the thrift store we volunteer at. \n\nEmptied of ourselves..we return to the Church to receive more grace from the Sacraments.\n\nWe model our life on Jesus, not on Temple rats. Jesus didn't' hang around the Temple much at all. \n\nWe go out.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Cultural competence says Jesus would have told them to 'go and sin no more'. Homosexuality was never accepted in Jewish or Christian teaching. It still isn't. Neither was men or women wearing the other sexes' clothing. The Church is warned about 'wolves that come dressed as sheep', a falling away in the Last Day, and people with 'itching ears'. I am sure that once again I will be 'stoned' for my thoughts. But the liberals love to kill the messenger, because they hate the Message.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "We have to pay for the French, the Catholic, the Jews, the Muslims, the Feminists, the Natives, the Welfare Class, the millions of government workers, the baby boomers pensions, the new immigrants and refugees.... \n\nwhat more could go wrong ???", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "If he was my bishop, my contribution to the diocesan appeal would be zero, and I'd let him know. \n\nIf my priest started spouting such nonsense, I'd find a new parish. \n\nIf my kids Catholic school spouted such nonsense, it would be time to home-school.\n\nMore than half of baptized Catholics in the United States have left the faith, parishes are dying, ordinations are dropping, and his biggest concern is why we are not letting more Muslims in the country. Turkey was Christian at one time, but I'm sure they had bishops like him when the first Muslims arrived.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Mr. Barnard references that dreaded \"gay agenda\"......here's a definition: \"Homosexual agenda (or gay agenda) is a term introduced by sectors of the Christian religious right (primarily in the United States) as a disparaging way to describe the advocacy of cultural acceptance and normalization of non-heterosexual orientations and relationships. The term refers to efforts to change government policies and laws on LGBT rights-related issues. Additionally, it has been used by social conservatives and others to describe alleged goals of LGBT rights activists, such as recruiting heterosexuals into what they term a \"homosexual lifestyle\".[1]\" \n\nIMO, the \"real\" gay agenda is to be no longer treated as \"second-class\" citizens and be able to live their lives w/o being targeted with discrimination and much worse. I don't feel that goal is unreasonable. As used by those right-wing Christians it's a epithet designed to force homosexuals \"back into the closet where they belong!!!\" Gary Crum", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "How do you know who is actually a Christian based off of statistics like this ? Jesus said 1 in 4 who show signs of belief actually are, so so can divide your percentages by 3, the visible church is filled with apostates - the Bible is clear about that, so your statistics are meaninglessness, contrived, unbiblical and irrelevant. \n\nI go to a Church with about 200 people and know one person who has been divorced and that was 30 years ago, you need to dispense with your blatant bigotry. As far as education goes, Bill Gates doesn't have degree either and he is the worlds richest man. I do not have a degree (have some college), work from home for a fortune 200 (11 years now) company, make 6 figures+, own my home outright and will be able to retire in 10 years at 60 should the world not collapse before then. Why do I need to plunk down 100k for a degree ? A person can do fine without one, and does not need to subject themselves to the brainwashing you, no doubt, went through. Sorry Icon.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Not to worry, most gay people have long since fled the Roman Catholic Church, being fully aware of the way nearly all R.C. bishops, including the Bishop of Springfield, feel about them. Like most sane people, they know that only an insane person would want to sup with people who hate them, believe them to be second-class citizens worthy only of contempt, and who otherwise wish them to go away. So go away they have, taking the next generation of LGTB people with them. And the next, and the next. Soon the bishops will only be speaking in theoretical terms. Wait, come to think of it, they already are. One day the church will need gay people to come back to church so the church can \"prove\" that it's not homophobic and preserve what's left of its tattered reputation. But that ship has long since sailed, never to return to that particular shore. Saving the church's reputation will have to fall to some other group of people.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "xoxo,\n\nI suspect Rompeorazones is referring to Plan B ... the \"morning after\" pill. The problem for those who believe Plan B and similar medications are abortifacients is the fact that the science (darn that pesky old science!) doesn't support the idea.\n\nThe January - February 2010 issue of Health Progress (the Journal of the Catholic Health Association of the United States) included an article by Sandra Reznik, MD, Phd. Dr. Reznik is a professor at St. John's University. In that article (it can still be found online), Dr. Reznik analyzed the data and concluded that Plan B is not an abortifacient. Unfortunately, science will never convince some people.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Your attitude toward Protestants is ridiculous. Or do you think that the Holy Spirit ONLY guides the Catholic church and NEVER Protestants? Christ want ALL to be ONE---therefore the Holy Spirit can guide Protestants, or anybody else who wishes to do God's Holy Will.\nLooking at these young women, who are willing to serve God's people, God is guiding them. God is not S L O W in operating to meet the people's spiritual needs, but the Catholic Hierarchy IS.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Who are you to decide that the baker's actions are \"inconsistent\" with Christianity?The 1st amendment does NOT determine what beliefs are, just that the government does not get to make laws restricting the free expression of the religion (with the caveat of course that no \"religion\" can deny others their life or their religion-that is a given).\nmuslims ARE consistent with their religious belief that homosexuality is a death sentence. So, you are saying that as long as muslims are consistent and kill/discriminate against homosexuals they are free to do so, in your mind, because they are \"consistent\" but you single out YOUR definition of Christian and determine that no \"Christian\" is allowed the same right to refuse service to, approve of or associate with gays? What an illogical, irrational, intolerant position!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Funny. I have heard it said that Salome may have been Mary's sister...which makes more sense than your scenario if Salome was the mother of James and John...considering James and John were close to Jesus in age. I've not seen any credible or respected source that claims she was his sister.\n\nAnd I guess the ever-desperate effort to argue Mary was not perpetually virgin goes along with the need to justify the sexual mores of today. Talk about vincible ignorance!! *lol*", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Thousand of children abused by gay priests.\n\nThis cost the Church billions of dollars, and much more.\n\nNow, Vatican police raided a drug-fueled gay-sex party at an apartment belonging to an aide of one of Pope Francis\u2019 key advisers. Francesco Cardinal Coccopalmerio\u2019s secretary. At a house that belongs to the Vatican\u2019s Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith \u2014 the arm charged with tackling clerical sex abuse.\n\nSo let's build a bridge to bring in even more. They've given us so much already.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "They will make the fatherland great again, they say,\nby weeding out the non-Christians and \"dangerous\" ethnic people,\nby slashing aid to the elderly and care for the poor, and by building the greatest military the world has ever seen.\nThey will publicize government-sponsored lists intended to demonstrate the \"criminality\" of the ethnic other.\nThey condemn revelation of inconvenient facts as merely the continued plotting of the L\u00fcgenpresse.\nAnd they brag to their admirers about the inspiration for all those plans, not being the least bit shy about doing so.\nCall it what it is\u2014and call Republican support for their plans what it is, as well.\nTrumpism = Fascism = Republicanism.\nThe right adopted Trump and his agenda, all of it. The Fascism, the Racism, the Nazism.\nThat's what winning looks like.\nYou're a winnner.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I don't converse with Pandy because he/she is pandering to the reactionary elements in the church. She eschews important facts and asks others to \"Prove it.\" Well as a seminarian, I disappointed other seminarians and priests by not agreeing to have sex with them. Three college girls told me of their affairs with seminarians and priests. In one of my Parishes, an assistant pastor committed consensual statutory rape on a 16 year old girl that got pregnant. He then arranged for her abortion. When the young girl sued him a few years later and obtained a multimillion dollar out of court settlement, The chancellor of the Orange County California Diocese had the egotistic nerve to say to the local newspaper that this girl was evil and probably going to hell because of all the scandal that SHE caused the church. The priest, later defrocked, had gone on to become a pastor of a rather well to do parish. Yes, many of us have seen it all first hand D. Whitewolf and I are only 2....", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "So are you suggesting that the global child abuse scandal that the Catholic church is still dealing with was because non-believers chose to become priests, in order to gain access to children? That is patently ridiculous. These were men (supposedly of god) who leveraged their positions of trust to abuse kids all over the world - there's never been a scandal of this size in any other institution. And to top it off, the church covered it up for years - which makes it even more offensive. \nWhat about the Magdalene Laundries in Ireland? Yet another horrible abuse scandal conducted in the name of catholicism.\nMoreover, non-believers don't blow themselves up in the name of anything, in order to further an agenda of any kind, if only because we know we only have one life to live. \nAnd I didn't even raise the issue of the horrible crimes committed in the name of Christ by the Crusades and the Inquisition.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I wonder, if it is possible to fix current Catholic hierarchy???\nJust look at them, they acting like the robots move on commend!\nNone of them speak about the fifty some clergy sex abused children who committed suicide. That show they have no compassion for the children they murdered. Even an ordinary lay person have more compassion then what these RC clergies collectively show! That means they are spiritually dead person.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Cruelty. In the name of God.Yes, let's give our ordained sexual predators a decent and honorable burial, but not THOSE people. And let's publicly humiliate the surviving spouse or partner while we're at it. Pre-meditated cruelty. It's likely that the authors of such a cruel policy are themselves self-loathing, dysfunctional gay men. This is why I no longer belong to a Catholic congregation.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Surprise, surprise. Another case of an accused pedophile in the high ranks of the Roman Catholic Church! Can't believe people still follow this institution.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Ms. Rushing is not a serious person. Who the eff would ever write this silliness if they weren't completely unaware and unfazed at the prospect of public humiliation?\n\n\u201cWe do a lot of modeling and study satellite images, but what if we look at literature, at art, at drawings and recordings of glaciers?\u201d\n\nA serious person would measure their words against their reputation. Ms. Rushing is no different than a first century Christian expecting the Resurrection at every daybreak; they'll will not consider anything which contests with their beliefs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Islamophobia and Antisemitism are not going away - for another 13 centuries.\n\nMohammed, with Christian help, defeats Big Business, Bankers; sets up a secular Socratic republic in Medina with rights for all, especially women. Anti-Christian Kaliphate just after him reverses all progressive gains - was anti-poor, anti-women, anti-peace, anti-trade.\n\nKaliphate, sitting smack on East-West Silk Road, lived on Tariffs (Arabic word of Kaliphate origin) for easy life of languid pleasure for few at the top. 100 famines in Europe straddling 1300 AD. Christians, malnourished, prone to plague, population fell to 40%.\n\nKaliphate fells Constantinople 1453, blocks routes altogether, starving over-populated Christians further. Desperate Christians find new routes and new lands, destroying 3 Empires - Spain, Ottoman, Mughal.\n\nJews were allies in Kaliphate's nefarious entreprise. Finally, Christians find a Silver Bullet - Israel to pit them against each other. No war in Europe since then. Lord is Just.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Another letter written by someone who hasn't read the Bible or who has selective memory regarding its demand that non-virgins be brutally stoned to death on their wedding day, or that rapists must marry their victims. \n\nDon't give me that nonsense about the Bible or it's god being moral. It's not. I guess it was too hard for god to say \"thall shalt not rape\" or \"thall shalt not own slaves.\" Maybe he got tired of writing?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dialogue? I'd believe that if the progressive Catholics of my unfortunate acquaintance showed any capacity for it. Dialogue was tried and rejected, as PC catholics are quite as intolerant as Trads. Neither is willing to give a fraction of an inch, and both see (and declare) the other side as evil. \n\nBut as for politics per se...hey Mr. Reese! This nation just had an election and full year of dialogue ad nauseam.\n\nResult? The nation * rejected * the progressive agenda, both secular and Catholic. (Bliss!!!)\n\nHow about an essay about *your side* going along to get along?\n\nOr here's an idea: maybe the Catholic church can sponsor free classes in American Civics for Progressive Catholics.\n\nSadly, far too many progressive Catholics have very little understanding of even the basic rules, rights and concepts of American democracy. Judging from this site, I mean.\n\nThey don't seem to understand Catholicism all too well either. Maybe a double-catechization course is needed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Some Christian and Muslim regimes were more tolerant than others, depending on a host of political and social factors. Trying to say Christianity was intrinsically worse than Islam is silly. \nWhat made Christianity dangerous was when it became a state religion in a time of conquests.\n\nIslam intrinsically is *supposed* to be a state religion, its leader led conquests and advocated them himself. Not so Jesus or his early disciples.\n\nJudaism was nonviolent when Jews were tiny minorities, as soon as they got a chance, they also made their religion the state religion and entered into wars of conquest.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But she did sign the Statement on Pluralism and Abortion - a rather not-Catholic, pro-choice instrument, claiming that there is a diversity of Catholic opinion concerning abortion - which is ridiculously untrue, directly opposed to the teachings of the Church.\n\nLet's ask her what her current position is? Maureen - will you answer?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, it has long been a Catholic practice that lack of experience with something is no bar to pontificating on it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "did you just say that a practicing Christian cannot function in our society as a competent lawyer ?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Amen, where have all the good Samaritans gone, any teachings in Corinthians?\nIf all sermons come from Saul/Paul that will not be a compassionate church, was not he gay, he would not be welcome in many Christian churches today\nThis whole anti abortion fever, do their churches make a point to offer to adopt instead of abort? If not I think that is called talking out of both sides of your mouth.\nHealthcare can end at birth now thanks to our \"compassionate conservatives\" poor people live 15 to 20 years less than rich folks, no education, no jobs, no healthcare. Big Pharma will sell drugs until there are no folks left to buy them because they donate to lawmakers.\nVote for trump he will defend \"Christian values\", such as cheating on how many wives, groping strangers, fact checks on trump say about 75% of what he says is untrue or deceptive, picking a religion to favor is NOT in our Constitution, many immigrants were fleeing religious prosecution and still are. Hundreds of years of history.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The bishops aren't interested in the rest of us. Other than our financing them, we just don't matter. While it will not happen in our lifetimes, a future iteration of Catholic Christianity will be one without them. The present structure of the church simply doesn't work anymore.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I thought a fresh batch of trolls. Probably from \"Church Militant.\"\nSame crowd historically that favored slavery, lynched, segregated, slaughtered natives.\n\"Onward Christian Soldiers,\" again; battle ready.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If this is the kind of \"atmosphere\" a flagship Christian university offers, no thanks!\n\nSee baylor dot edu /character", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Or they value them as a free day off work. Or a vestige of a time when religious strife meant Protestants vs Catholics. No need to romanticize it Prog.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Shakespeare said it best.\"Doth protest too much\" \nAnyone hear any Muslim protest the treatment and violence inflicted on Christians and other minorities in Islamic countries? Diversity is good, but radical diversity is destructive.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My religious holidays are somewhat different than Catholic's or Jewish (I am not muslim either).Should the whole country take days off when I observe my holidays? There are a lot more faiths in Canada, if we have time off to accommodate every single one we wouldn't get anything done.\n\nSat/Sun off might have been a Christian thing originally. It is now secular traditions and has nothing to do with Christianity or Jewry. Many (non-practicing) Christians mow their lawns or go to work on Sunday. Church attendance is low. Many Jews don't observe Shabbat. \n\nReligion has no business in schools,workplace, government. Scrap the catholic school systems, let people make arrangements with employers: to go out and pray, to bank time for their own holidays etc.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"I no longer believe the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP) is in any way primarily an advocacy organization for sexual abuse victims. Instead, I think it is more a noisy little group that hates the Roman Catholic Church and has discovered a way of making a living off the victimization others have suffered .... \"\n\n\"Whatever genuine aid SNAP may provide victims of priestly sex abuse is well matched by the harm SNAP does by mounting little less than an anti-Catholic smear campaign and wantonly portraying every priest as a sexual predator waiting to happen and every bishop an enabler.\"\n\nWow.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Surely you jest, rationalis (that's your name for this week?). If it is a serious response, then you suffer from the same problems as both of the Trumps in question (Sr. and Jr.). And, for a Christian, it constitutes a real sin.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Who could have imagined just a few years ago that so many Christians would support someone who is essentially a pagan.\" \nWell, if you had known in the 60's what we all know now about Catholic, President Kennedy's private, pagan shennanigans, would you still have supported him?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What's wrong with the whole UNITE the RIGHT nonsense? First, the Alberta PCs believe ABC, while the Wildrose believe AXY. There are some odd people who think that because both believe A, then union is possible. Others know that BC and XY are exclusionary terms. Either PCs or Wildrosers will be asked to give up some of their principles. And I doubt that's going to happen.\n\nKenney called for \"severely normal\" Albertans to unite. That's code for let's agree to be xenophobic, homophobic and misogynistic. Every progressive plank of the PC platform will be torn up and thrown out. And it will be hard to say how many of the voters who voted PC in 2015 will remain when you learn that a leader of a Pro-Life group has bragged she got Kenney elected leader by selling hundreds of memberships.\n\nKenney hates public schools. He believes God rules this country, not government. He is a climate change denier. He hates youth culture and women's rights. He's a Christian fundamentalist hardliner. Oy!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There's a short violent life and death behind EVERY single abortion.\n\nNo catholic should have \"mixed\" feelings about it.\n\n\"I have mixed feelings about slavery\".\n\nAbortion is far far worse than slavery. \n\nA slave can still love God even in their imprisoned life. Still an option, as bad as it is.\n\nGod will never get to have so many children willingly say \"Yes\" to Him.\n\nPeople who have abortions rob God of that joy He gets when we say \"yes to the good, even if the good is hard\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Trump denounced the support. You'll say differently.\nTell me when was the last Xtreme Christian terror by the KKK. I think the Gov. have them in check. TODAY we have the Hate of the President of the United States from the Liberals/Democrats, it's a REAL problem even if only talk of the Liberals. It incites violence just as much as ISIS getting into the heads of wannabe Islamic Terrorists, I can't differentiate between the two because of the hate they spew.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And Christian Taliban Republicans as well. Keep government out of my wallet and my room. Linda Lingle was a success because she did not threaten to invade people's private lives while campaigning and did not do so while in office. She won two terms. The current crop of Republican candidates in office and the ones wanting office do not get it. They have my vote over a Democrat any day as long as they are not part of the Religious Right.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Anyone who promotes \"globalism\" is anti-Christ. And that describes this Anti-Pope.\n\n\"Globalist\" forces hate Jesus Christ, putting \"humanism\" above Catholic Christianity. Often, they will pay lip service to Christ - for example, Hillary Clinton - but their motives and goals lie elsewhere, namely, straight down.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Brazil is home to the world's largest Catholic & Pentecostal population. It also has the highest incidence of abortion, the great majority clandestine.\n\nThe World Health Organization estimates there are 800,000 clandestine abortions in Brazil each year, & 15 women die from botched operations every month.\"\n\nThe above is true of almost every country in the world where abortion is a crime. These countries have the largest number of abortions per pregnancies and often greatly top the abortion numbers of countries that offer abortion on demand.\n\nThis is why, more than any other reason, I am not pro-life on the abortion issue. I don't agree abortion is moral but if making it illegal increases its happening in a country & also kills more women, this is not a good thing to criminalize. \n\nWhen are we going to ask the common sense questions first - will a law improve or worsen the situation? If rape were proven to increase in every country where it is illegal, I would want to legalize it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "David,\nIn the main I would agree with you. But not the way the Right and the Religious Right envision the Market. They are totally fascist about it and worship it above all else. \nThe way they carry out The Market is against Catholic Philosophy. It is an ignoble means to a possibly noble goal -- a living for all families. MONEY above ALL other values is ignoble (evil), MONEY ABOVE ALL is immoral, unethical and is of very poor values. \nTruly, the GOPs endless pursuit of money above all is what;s choking the middle class off and into dire straights. \nThe CCs alignment with Hitler for political power is another example of the worship of corporatist Catholicism. \nPope Francis calls it a \"culture of clericalism\". \nHuman values are the only values of true importatance. ALL other endeavors must support human values -- NOT defy or demean them. \nThe CC's desire to end Communism - Socialism- UNionism is another exam[le of a narow minded, shortsighted action that has cause great damage.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If Scaramucci is indeed a good Catholic (Christian), then I must be on the road to sainthood.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Does \" political Christianity\" have a version or equivalence to \nISIS, \nal-Qaeda,\nal-Shabaab\nBoko Haram\nTaliban", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't think anyone is celebrating those killed in religious wars like the thirty year war, the teutonic knights' crusade in Poland, or the crusades in the Holy Land. It's a shame various sects, including the roman catholic church have preached war over the years, rather than following the teachings of the Prince of Peace, whom they claim to worship.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Poor women . . . often feel they have no choice but to get one.\" \n******\nSuch women are too connected with the Democratic Party and insufficiently connected with the Catholic Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am not Christian, nor do I want to be. I believe the Bible states it is not the job of \"Gods children\" to judge others, that is \"Gods\" job. but many \"Christians\" (of course not true \"Christians\"), will be the first ones to tell you you you are going to hell for being gay or for any other reason their religion tells them is wrong. I find that a little hypocritical. Another interesting fun fact, several surveys state that on average 1 in 20 people are gay, so it only stands to make sense that through all of his \"volunteer\" work. he has helped many a gays. I cannot wait to go to gay heaven, never been there before, but I can almost guarantee it is much more fun that regular heaven, assuming Prevo wont be there, but, who knows, maybe he will be there, seems the people that are the most outspoken on anti-gay issues are that way due to some internal turmoil about their own sexuality. just food for thought. have a great day!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "All of the Chaldeans I have read about being deported have criminal histories, usually extensive one. I suspect very few people decrying this deportation are familiar with the Chaldean Mafia. \n It is easy to fall prey to the \"poor Chaldean Christians\" being \"persecuted\" by deportation mentality, but the U.S. have a population of over 300,000 Chaldeans, the vast majority of whom are peaceful and law abiding and who, consequently, have no concerns about deportation.\n However, the predators who are NEITHER peaceful NOR law abiding SHOULD be deported. Furthermore, these Chaldean criminals tend to victimize Chaldean communities.\n Defending such criminals because they are \"Christian\" or \"Catholic\" is akin to defending the KKK because its members are \"Christian\". Unfortunately, the KKK are American citizens so we can't deport them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Babbling of an out of touch, off subject nut case!. Anyone can list people who stuck out vs the evil of the day what does that prove? I can get a list of many, all Christians, who fought for over 30 years to end slavery, does that mean all other non Christians were evil and worth nothing? How can I pretend that De Las Casas never existed when he is not a topic of our debate? Showing off your google knowledge? Why do you not mention the notable Chritian who fought for over 30 years to end slavery, guess you are pretending he did not exist? \nOf course not, get real and debate the points not ducking and diving everywhere except sticking to the debate. You well informed (google is so useful when one is devoid of internal principals) and clever but have zero common sense.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The only sense I can make of this Trump victory is that angry uneducated men were inspired to come out to support their \" pu$$y grabbing \" rights. And a big thank you to the Catholic Church's holy ordained representatives for urging them to vote for this moral compass.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I find it all very amusing how in the 90's all the SJW's were up in arms if my christian cross that I wore around my neck was visible. There were laws enacted that government workers couldn't wear a visible cross while working at their jobs, and my religion was always maligned. Now the very same SJW's say that the muslims have all the rights to the world to their religion and their customs, etc. I guess the only intolerance still allowed in this country is toward Christians and white men.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\u201cWhat does the U.S. government have against grandmothers?\u201d Chin asked. \n\nWhat does Dough have against heterosexual Christians who smoke cigarettes?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, I just pointed out that you are doing what you always do, supporting a conservative bishop. You probably pretend this is an attack because I point out that the bishop in question is acting in a unchristian manner, and that your support of his homophobia is shameful -- but then, you supported Burke's homophobia just as enthusiastically.\n\nI notice that YOU do not address the fact that Paprocki is being homophobic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholic bishops in the USA long ago replaced moral reasoning with obedience and catering to fanaticism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm saddened that the Pope ;and Bishop McElroy are so uninformed that they do not grasp the actions President Trump is taking have the same goals enumerated by Bishop McElroy. Half of the American public realize this and thus elected him President. It reflects poorly on the Church that the hierarchy are so poorly informed that they believe the outright lies published by the media and promote \"action\" that is destructive instead of first trying to understand more fully what is happening. A simple meeting of Bishops with the President would clarify these matters instead of Church authorities making fools of themselves at a time when the Church is badly needed.\n\nFurthermore, the Church hierarchy does not realize that a civil cultural and political war is underway and that by unknowingly taking sides with the forces that wish to kill the Catholic Church they are sewing the seeds of their own demise. Fully informed Catholics, and there are many, are shaking their heads tonight.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Is the culture of Canada based on rational Western European Ideas and Laws regressing to pre-renaissance times glorifying irrational superstitions and misogynist cultures?? The progressives decades ago have been ridiculing and insulting fundamentalists Christian sects like Mormons.\nCan the Globe now publish positive articles glorifying Mormon and American Evangelical Christian sects?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Translation: most Roman Catholics and a lot of theologians are heretics. \n\nThe Nestorian heresy regarded Jesus Christ as a human person joined in some way to the divine person of God's Son. He claimed that Mary only bore Christ\u2019s human nature in her womb, thus fracturing Christ into two separate persons (one human and one divine, joined in a sort of loose unity), only one of whom was in her womb. \n\nThe Assyrian Church of the East, historically regarded as a Nestorian church, now rejects Nestorianism and is in the process of coming into full ecclesial communion with the Catholic Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't think that the RCC is interested in ever reaching out to gay Catholics who are sexually active and who see nothing wrong with their situation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We already have complete gender segregation. women are not allowed to have any position of authority in the Church, or have any real decision-making authority, simply because of their gender. \nI don't think that allowing married men to be priests will cause the ordination floodgates to open. The Ukrainian Catholic Church is not overcome with floods of candidates to the priesthood, although priests are allowed to marry.\nI don't see these two issues as tightly related as you do. \nAlso, despite my complete commitment to equal opportunity and equal rights for women, I don't believe that misogyny is the only problem that the Church has. I think that homophobia and racism are two very important issues. The way that the Church treats LGBT people is beyond horrible, and the racism that exists are both serious sins that need addressing. \nI think obligatory celibacy is wrong and don't believe that by addressing one wrong or problem, we are negating the importance of another one.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "END radical \"Christian\" extremism!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Kennedy's speech was a wink-wink that he would not take orders from the Vatican over ending segregation. He, John F. Kennedy, had no problem with Jim Crow and would not impose Catholic teachings on racial equality on white Southern Baptists who did not want the Negro as their equal.\n\nQuite a kick the truth is, huh ?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Religion has been used by men over the ages to align society in the manner to which those in power at the time want to direct the masses for their own purposes and favor. \n\n Subservience of woman to man is not in keeping with modern Canadian culture and the wearing of these face coverings for so called religious purposes should not be acceptable in a modern society for any reasons. Presumably those good folks came to Canada to enjoy the Canadian way of life. Having women keep their faces covered and not being able to eat, socialize or practice their religion in the same room as men is not part of the Canadian way of life.\n\nIn countries such as Pakistan, professing to be a Christian is enough to get one killed- my point being why does Canada have to accept every practice and custom immigrants bring with them?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I know you know you're wrong here. Why not acknowledge that and regain some dignity?\n\nIn case you really are as ignorant of Catholic teaching as you are pretending to be: No one but God knows another's person's heart or soul, and no one knows what was in the heart and soul as a person's human life is ending. The briefest moment of remorse is sufficient for salvation and thus for sainthood -- not necessarily of the canonized kind, but sainthood in the only way that really matters. You can 'clarify' your false assertion by acknowledging that you don't know that MLK was 'unrepentant'. Obviously, you don't and can't know that -- so acknowledging that you don't ought to be a no-brainer.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When you can show me how something you drop falls up rather than down, I will be happy to have a conversation about the reality of natural law. Until then ....\n\nThat most other Americans - Christian, Jewish, and Muslim - believe homosexual behavior is immoral behavior is a demonstrable fact. The majority of Americans say to you and those who share opinion on \"it makes it difficult to raise children who are morally straight\" and \"it weakens the family as the cornerstone of society\", \"So what?\"\n\nAt the end of the day every law, including the Constitution, is a matter for a majority decision.\n\nSufficient arrogance can lead to a practical demonstration of that reality, as the last election did.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Priests are largely (numerically) as Jekyll/Hyde. They may advance to a higher position, but they don't change their stripes - up to and including cardinals - and the popes all began as Jekyll/Hyde priests.\nPious, as circumstances necessitate, and freewheeling otherwise. \nVirtually all priests were viewed as pillars of christian values in the eyes of the pious around them - until they were exposed to be criminals. \n\nLaw et al....\n\nSo those authors/clerics that Roberts quotes may be Hydes not yet exposed.\nI've seen it too many times. How many closeted but sexually active gay priests have roundly condemned homosexuality from the pulpit. \n\nThis article is nothing new, mostly claptrap and ends casting blame on the laity for allowing the abuse to continue. \n\nA flock of sheep doesn't condemn their shepherd when he slaughters one of them to satisfy his hunger. The sheep have been long and very well domesticated.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And the powerful rich Catholics in Nazi Germany, Mussolini's Italy and Franci's Spain all goose stepped to that song and dance!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Joe Dick - Harder was an anti-choice voice on the committee for 2 years and no one complained. \n\nIt's her being put forward as Chair by the Conservatives that caused the ruckus.\n\nAnd I look forward to this document that has Trudeau (either current or former PM) denying women their choice - regardless of their own Catholic upbringing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Or he's just Catholic, duh.\"\n\nPerhaps the institutional Church has a deep and malignant repression issue.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In order to understand the term \"islamophobia\" we must also understand Islam's own misogyny, homophobia, hatred of Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Europe, America, democracy, dogs, free speech, human rights and now even Canada, and everything else not permitted (haram) by Islam. Even open and blatant racism against white people is now halal (permitted) . They want us to believe we are the bad guys. \n\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pU7FtJ64z2Y", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "With Trump and Walker and other new leaders we can soon see great oil wealth from ANWR to be given to the great Alaskan Permanent Fund and all Alaskans and state government!\n\nANWR will give Alaska a Fortune in oil & gas royalty and lots of new tax revenue!\n\nLet's use ANWR oil instead of Americans spending Billions and Billions of U.S. Dollars buying Middles East Oil that sadly helps the anti American Islamic State whose members likes killing Christians and other Americans! \n\nWhy Can't Sen. Cantwell and others like her see the clear facts that more oil from the North Slope and ANWR can't hurt Americans but would take oil money away from these Middle Eastern Terrorist and give this ANWR Oil money to our government! It will quickly provide many high paying oil and gas jobs for the people of Alaska!\n\nLet's build a gas Pipeline and make Alaska number one in oil production like they once were when the Trans Alaska Oil Pipeline was full and Alaskans enjoyed prosperity and financial security!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"I do not lie,\" but you do. How Pharisaical can one get?\nAnswer the question, is Cardinal Tobin homophobic because he upholds the same teaching of the Catholic Church as does Bishop Paprocki, in fact the same teaching that Pope Francis upholds? \nYou are very quick to brand people who disagree with you as liars but slow to answer questions which will make you contradict yourself.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Interesting take on religion Jeff, thanks. I remember all those \"devout, born-agains\" just loving Dubya because he was--like them--a \"good Christian man.\" Who laughed as he sent a born-again woman to the gas chamber as governor of Texas (setting a record for executions only broken by his numerically-challenged successor, Rick Perry). Now we have those same \"born-agains\" lining up behind a thrice-wed bloodthirsty narcissistic buffoon like Trump (who, like Reagan, hasn't set foot in a church in decades), and a lying master of dirty tricks like Cruz, who fled the Catholic church, in Texas, for one with more voters. Most Europeans have gotten past tying religion and politics. If only we could. God may not be dead, but she certainly has better things to do than hang out in the voting booth. (Or kitchen table, as we fill out our mail-in ballots.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "2/\n\n<>\n\nNo one is \"attempting to silence\" anti-abortion advocates. Another of your silly persecution delusions. I never denied the Church has every right to agitate on behalf of its convictions. But by doing so there's no question the bishops attempt to impose Catholic theology on a secular republic.\n\n<>\n\nI'm a cradle Catholic. Anybody who's camped out on this site as long as you have might've noticed that I never claimed to be orthodox, that I returned to the Church after a long time away (fleetingly, as it turned out), and that I'm pretty engaged with Christianity.\n\nBy the way, at least a few Catholic scholars do acknowledge the mythic, literary nature of the infancy narratives. Matthew portrayed Jesus as the Second Moses; Luke's Jesus is Son of God and prophet to the Gentiles. NT 101.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The 1960s are over, the Vietnam war ended, Nixon resigned, and everyone has the same rights. We're tired of hearing people complain.\"\n\nReally, Michael Archer? Apparently the 1960s aren't over. The George Wallace constituency has slithered its way out of the sewer of American history and taken the White House. We have an attorney general who has made a career out of attacking civil rights for Americans who aren't white heterosexual Christian males. I heard a lot of such males complain about the previous president because he wasn't white enough. Shame on you and your ilk who marched in Charlottesville.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christianity has devastated our communities, the religion of a mangod Yeshua/JesusChrist who claims to be no other way to G-D but by him is a lie, a strong delusion to weed out none believers of the true words of G-d which is the Torah/Tenach(original old testament of the Hebrews). Those of you who hear G-D'S voice(the truth) would be wise to do further research.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Our country is a work in progress...we have hated Catholics, Jews, any race but white, Eastern Europeans, and double hated them, left them to die, if they were Eastern European and Jewish. But each time we learn, sort of...'course it seems to rear it's ugly head again and again...think the past election. Now we hate Muslims...oh we call them Islamic to hide our shame...Little d was so proud today, Radical Islamic Terrorists, he spewed like the hateful vomit of which he is so proud. And his followers love it, lap it up. If you want to see how Germany lost control of their democracy watch his latest circus...really, really scary! Each generation gets better...now we have LGBT at the newest whipping post as they too seek rights and respect...baby steps, two forward and one back...it's progress...and love and real Christian values.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "William, I did not mention slavery and Jim Crow as something I think today's conservatives want to reimpose, nor did I imply such! I do not think that conservatives want to do anything like that. Frankly, I really have no idea what today's conservatives really want. I have never seen a coherent description of what they want. Your introduction of terms like \"Stalinist\" and other ridiculous accusations make it very difficult for me to take seriously your comments. Why is it so difficult for you to have a rational conversation with someone who disagrees with you? If you are serious about being a follower of Jesus, William, you should at least be able to disagree with someone without this kind of thing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yeah, the pews are filled with them /sarc. My kids are like the ones you refer to. Why? Because my wife and I made a concerted effort to educate them, notwithstanding the efforts of their schools and teachers to make them reject the what their God and their religion teaches them.\n\nYou know which kids survive public school brainwashing best? The Jewish kids, whose parents enroll them in Hebrew schools at early ages. They've maintained their religion and heritage in a mostly-Christian country, some of them even holding on to ancient traditions. \n\nThere is much the Catholics could learn from the Jews about perpetuating faith. Number 1, they never disparage their own religion like Catholics with same-sex attraction and those who have divorced do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Years ago our Government kicked God and Jesus out of our schools and banned the Lord's prayer and any other mention of his Holy name or any other religious worship. The Atheists thought this was the greatest thing since sliced bread. Violence increased, school shootings all over North America and people cried to God. \"\"\"\" DO SOMETHING. WHY DON'T YOU DO SOMETHING?????\"\"\"\"\"\nGod replied.. \"Well you kicked me out of your child's school and told me I was not welcome so I honoured your request. I was not there when this happened.\"\"\"\n\nNow we open the doors again for religion in our schools, provide prayer rooms, as long as it is not Christian or Jewish or any other denomination other than Islam. Something wrong here.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": ".......while a group of proper Catholics moaned and complained in the background and called it a scandal.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Married priests without children or with older children is a great idea to not only increase the number of priests (we have several Deacons who I'm sure would love to be priests), and to start to eradicate the homosexual culture that apparently exists in the seminaries and elsewhere within the Church. Married men with children are less likely to be the molesters of boys that homosexual priests have turned out to be.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Just last Sunday, in nj a priest told his parishioners to \"love the trump hate,\" another violator. Insulting half of his parish! I see no hate in trump. He calls for helping refugees in there homeland: safe zones. He calls for helping our own citizens inner cities, our elderly and our poor, sick and jobless. This bishop in indeed calling for more violence. He is a sick evil man. The Catholic Church is doomed, then will come the USA as well. Soros infiltrated our church years ago. If u cripple the USA financially, we can help no one. (Just what the real \"fascists\" are planning)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It amazes me how stories like this always result in a discussion simply of ordaining women.\n\nIt is my understanding that there are other issues that separate us from our Anglican brothers and sisters....like, for instance, transubstantiation? Doesn't Article 28 still say that the concept is \"repugnant\"? And don't Anglicans only believe in two sacraments - Baptism and Holy Communion (although not as Catholics believe)? And don't Anglicans believe salvation occurs by faith alone - where Catholics include good works?\n\nThere is more to our differences than merely ordaining women and a married priesthood, despite what our conversations tend to always suggest.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The only \"scandal\" is that a so called man of G-d, is using religion and yes, Jesus Christ, to attempt to hide his own bigotry and homophobia. Bigotry, disguised as religion, is still bigotry.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As usual, mixing up propaganda and analysis as all those in western media:\n\nThe Kim cult owes something to Stalinism, something to messianic Christianity, something to Confucian ancestor worship, something to Indigenous shamanism and something to the emperor worship of the Japanese, who ruled Korea in the first half of the 20th century.\n=====\nTrue, but isn't worse than Japanese version which has made the similar ridiculous claims, or European ones.\n-\nThis might prod Mr. Kim into taking some reckless action \u2013 aiming a missile at Guam, for example \u2013 to which the United States would feel it must respond in kind. \n========\nThis is total nonsense.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Speaking of LGBTQ rights. Why was a pro Trump LGBTQ float banned from participating in a parade recently in Charlotte, NC? Don't you think a group that is touted as being accepting, is now being hypocritical of denying their own people a right to free speach?\n\nAlmost as bad as our man Bernie Sanders not wanting an appointee because of his Christian faith!! That was recent too.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Abortion is the only life issue where Catholicism will not bend on the right to save your own life. Why is that? The same mother would be justified in shooting an intruder no matter the reason the intruder was there, if she truly believed her life was in danger. That is called justifiable self defense, and holds, even if the intruder turns out to be her drunken high school son. Why doesn't she have that same right to save her life from a different kind of family intruder, especially if she never wanted to be pregnant in the first place.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "These \"fact-based discussions\" annoy me. There are all sort of ethical underpinnings to these that aren't acknowledged and which actually drive the conversation and conclusions. We first need to acknowledge and define these. The various studies and statistics can be supportive to some degree, but are put up as primary by those wishing to drive through a hidden ethics.\n\nAnyways, a general gripe. \n\nMy ethics derives from Christianity. Based on this, I see sex robots as profoundly unethical. Christianity is fundamentally about relationship, first with God and then with people. Sex with a robot - high tech masturbation - orients a person's sexuality towards self-gratification. This is a backwards orientation of sexuality, which is meant to be the most intimate form of self-giving to one's spouse.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My impoverished mother scraped to send my brother and I to Catholic schools whenever we lived near one. They were rigid, & not much room for reflection or self-expression; But the academic, ruler and yardstick discipline - and no girls - did help me learn to focus academically. \nHowever, I've no empathy for this decision - and I might feel differently if the sexual misbehavior of so many priests hadn't put the Church in the position of the child-molesting pot calling the homosexual-lesbian kettle black.\nThe Juneau Chapel is a locals & tourists quiet spot of beauty and tranquility. If they don't want Alaskans or visitors of other faiths or of non-heterosexual preferences to use the Catholic Chapel itself for ceremonies - I can understand that - to a degree.. \nBut the grounds could certainly accommodate a roofed/open deck for others to engage in positive spiritual sharing on occasion. The Bishop's stance would be quietly clear, yet the Shrine still be spiritually welcoming place to all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I definitely agree that there should be recognition of the fact that the Spirit is active in many, many facets of our lives. I think that the idea that God works only through the Church is ludicrous. \nI wish that the Church were a place where we could get the spiritual nourishment and support to do the work of the Spirit in the world. Sadly, the Church has chosen to abdicate that role.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My biggest problem with guys like TomZ who bring up gays in straight marriages as the cure for the G is they ignore the B in GLBT. I'm sure considering the B would be well beyond his Catholic mindset. What would a B be? Semi intrinsically disordered?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus and his teaching that made this western civilization possible and his message is fully rejected by all Islamic peoples. That's all we need to know really, or is it just an option and acceptable to reject our cultural fore-bearers to be politically correct? Why tolerate people that don't follow our teacher? That's too much kindness that bites us in the end. Please delete this message as I am compiling a list of deleted comments to submit later to discredit my opponents that hate Jesus our Saviour. My human rights are being abrogated by people that don't like my Teacher. To make matters worst, they endorse or excuse Islamic violence as legitimate when it is not even Islamic and accuse us of being mentally ill for fearing religiously inspired gratuitous violence by making up labels like, Islamophobia. I hate hatred, no matter how it is justified. Islamophobia is hatred targeting us.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Der Fuehrer/Il Duce Trump didn't take over CONservatism. He just took off the patriotic/fundamentalist christian cover to show the depth of evil of the entire ideology. Every Republican candidate in the primaries espoused all of the same anti-government/anti-human evils as Trump. He just outfoxed them all with his Nationalist Agenda catering to the racist/bigot crowd more effectively than any other. Jeb Bush was the heir-apparent of the wealthy Corporatists after rigging the Florida voting system as governor, but Trump went around them directly to the gullible \"deplorables\". CONservatism is just Nazism in red, white, and blue clothing demanding blind obedience from all as they loot the nation. All covered by the usual flag-waving, god bless america, pledge of allegiance(also under god), but, in reality proponents of military dictatorship, genocide, and pyramid wealth. And so it goes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So I have a question for you. Catholicism defines racism as an intrinsic evil, so shouldn't a Catholic policymaker who works to implement racist policies be denied Communion under Canon 915. Doesn't that therefore mean that Sean Spicer, Kellyanne Conway, Steve Bannon, etc. should be denied Communion along with pro-choice politicians if we were being fair about how we applied it?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think you're completely off base with your interpretation of that article. MacDonald's point is that in contrast to the paranoia and fear mongering about Muslims terrorists, the reality is that mass murders in Canada are far more likely to be committed by white, Christian males, not by olive skinned Muslims. As has been pointed out by others, we don't know the motivation for Bissonette's attack so we don't know if it was religiously motivated or not.\n\nTherefore we can easily compare him to other mass murders since motivation is not a factor in the comparisons. Not only is it irrelevant as you say but it;s deliberately irrelevant so there's no point in your trying to make it something out of it.\n\nYou're reading far too much into alleged motives behind MacDonald's article with your confusion about religion vs ethnicity. You're looking for something that is simply not there. Maybe pull back from your paranoia and self-victimization and take it as written.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do you really believe horrible under-reporting is exclusively a Catholic thing? \n\nSeveral Baptist pastors knew about the proclivities of one Shawn Davies all of the way back to his days in seminary, and those proclivities went unchecked in several churches across 2 states over the course of more than a decade. Shawn's head pastor, according to Greenwood MO PD, hindered the investigation for 6 months, during which time Shawn had sex with 2 more underage boys. \n\nThat is one example of countless others. How can you call ACL's comment \"woefully inaccurate\" when his comment can be EASILY proven with mere minutes of digging? The writings and observations of Boz Tchvidian are a good place to start on the scope of Protestant coverups vs. alleged Catholic coverups. For someone that claims to counsel sex offenders, you're woefully under informed as to the scope of the issue. \n\nView all sex offenders as a sandy beach. Remove the ones that are Catholic priests. You still have a sandy beach.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What is \"Catholic\" about this? There is no Catholic scholarship in evidence. Just because one attaches the modifier \"Catholic\" to the word \"scholarship\" does not mean it is Catholic scholarship. Wrapping philosophically voluntarist notions around Catholic doctrine an theology, likewise, does not point toward the implied conclusion. None of the communities or organizations mentioned in this article have any canonical standing within the Catholic Church. In fact, their institutional relationships are with Protestant Churches. This article, its opinions, and its thesis are disingenuous, false, and lies.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "God gave all people a conscience, and founded a Church to teach them how to form it. If they know that the Church is the one which Christ founded to teach all nations, and stick their fingers in their ears and refuse to listen to that Church, they are culpable for failing to form their consciences in addition to being culpable for the sins that failing to do so leads them to commit.\n\nNo one\u2019s individual conscience trumps the will of God. Abortion, like every sin, is a personal act, an individual choice that says \u201cMY will, not yours, Lord!\u201d\n\nYou seem to be saying that that women are entitled to enjoy their sexuality over the bodies of the unborn. In addition you appear to be saying that if morality is hard, it is forfeit.\n\nWhile it may not be intended, it comes off as cavalier, a topping on presenting as outright defiant of the Church and its teaching authority.\n\nThe Church is not going to come around to your views, so I am baffled at finding a way out of your alienation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Can you name for me just one Christian group that hasn't denounced the KKK Charles? Just give me the first one that comes to mind please. The KKK started as a group of democrats who banded together to kill and intimidate Republican politicians who supported blacks like they support them today. \n\nLet me tell you that I have lived all over the world and the only place that I don't feel safe due all of the rape, robbery, torture, and murder and \"in your face\" racism that exists there ...care to guess where that is? The inner cities of every major city in the US with over 1 million people in it. All lives most assuredly dont matter to these people", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": ".\n\nIt's Long Past Time for people to Call It What It Is And For The Pope And Everyone Else To Wake Up To The FACT...\n\nThis is \"Rape\" !\n...I have stated this for many years now, and am always Glad to see how that word Wakes people up to the Fact.\n\nThis is RAPE ! NOT just Physical, but Emotional, Mental and in the Dark case of a \"so called man or woman of God\", it is Spiritual Rape also.\n...as many Vulnerable Innocent Children were led into a Desert so Cold and Dark and with the Blessings of the Church...\"Left to Die\" without a God to Call Upon.\n***The Catholic Church has the BLOOD of Vulnerable Innocent Children on its hands.\n\nAs a child, I use to stand in my kitchen and try to plunge a long carving knife into my stomach before having to go and serve mass as an altarboy.\n...once I found drugs and alcohol...\"ALL BETS WERE OFF.\"\n\nI should have died hundreds of times, but somehow Survived and am No Longer Silent.\n\n...the IMPORTANCE of Language.\n\nSincerely,\nDavid\n\n.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's seems to me it is not the Catholic Church who has an \"obsession with male genitals\" but those who refuse to accept the choice of Jesus Himself and the constant teaching and practice of the Church. \n\nThe matter is definitively closed for faithful Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It started with the Christians, then the Natives, then the French, then in 1960's the Jews came, now we have the feminists, gays, lesbians and even Muslims. It is a caste system, the rest of us have to obey them and even pay for them. All have special privileges, financial benefits and even laws that prevent anyone from criticism them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Finally, the NCR has a short article on this issue from the \"objective\" Catholic News Service.\nNo reference to the Prime Minister's shocking reaction, more so than the Irish bishops.\nYet Bill O'D of the \"Catholic\" League. like fellow \"Catholic\" Stephen Bannon is quick to call the finding \"fake news.\"\nAnd the breast beating bishops, offering again their default response, won't call out Bill on this.\nWhy? Because Bill is their pit bull dog on other issues close to their heart.\nThe RCC is incapable of reform.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For Christians, marriage was created and instituted by God at the outset of creation. (Genesis 2:24). Which civilization's contractual marriage are you suggesting the Supreme Court is using? Surely you know America was founded based on Judeo-Christian principles. If you have some other authority for marriage you should cite it specifically and show where CONGRESS legislated it into law. But you can't because there is no such authority. America is a nation of laws, You can't just make stuff up with nothing to back it up.\n\nAll persons, except two, who ever existed since the beginning of time has a biological mother and a biological father. Zero persons have been born from homosexuality, ever.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, for their own reasons, the bishops and many of the clergy and Catholic conservatives made their deal with the devil. They said a vote for Hillary was a vote for abortion. OK. And your vote for Trump is a vote for everything this man and his Republican minions do to country. Wring your hands. You helped make it happen.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What is it about the Christian priesthood or religion that turns men into such evil beasts? Keep your children away from them. The problem is likely much worse in developing countries where sex is a taboo topic and these sickos are molesting children there also.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "un - friggen - believable... this has all the hallmarks of the Catholic Church ignoring it's problems and thinking just by switching locations makes the problem go away. ABSOLUTELY CRIMINAL the incompetence of Torres and especially of PPS! - surviving Beach Elem. family", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Many Americans, including many who claim to be \"christian,\" worship false idols. The golden calves they worship, are wealth, celebrity, and guns. Even the mildest suggestion that limiting civilian access to guns whose purpose is to kill as many people as possible as fast as possible is seen as a violation of the 2nd amendment. The gun lovers have been fed a false narrative about the \"dangers\" they face to justify the gun culture. The reality is that the average American is in greater danger from angry white men with semi-automatic weapons than they are from immigrants (lower crime rates than native born Americans), or from terrorists. The US rate of gun deaths is many, many times greater than all other DEVELOPED nations, on a par with some central American, African and mid-east countries. \n\nhttps://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/14/upshot/compare-these-gun-death-rates-the-us-is-in-a-different-world.html\nhttp://www.businessinsider.com/death-risk-statistics-terrorism-disease-accidents-2017-1", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Plenty of white anglo saxon born again narrow-minded judgemental bigoted Christians have had their educations paid for by the same over-privileged white people. Stop whining and learn to be the tolerant civic-minded person this country is so proud of.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Those killed for being Muslim or for being Christian? Its not even a CLOSE comparison. Murders of Christians because they are Christians is far and away higher than the other way around. Deaths by wars or for reasons OTHER than religion then maybe you have a case. But that isn't the argument being made so you shouldn't bother trying to use that to support the lie you are spreading.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Sorry, the only one seeking to place limitations on God Almighty (by definition impossible) is you. Christians exhibit an 'anthropomorphic' conception of that unimaginable, limitless, unique Being of Whom the Prophet Jeremiah (alayhis-Salaam) rightly said, \"Inasmuch as there is NONE like unto Thee, O' YHWH!\" And your misconception is based on a self-absorbed, egotistical fallacy best described by the late R. A. Heinlein, which I'll adapt here for the context of our discussion: Christians seldom if ever manage to envision a 'god' superior to themselves--their version of 'deity' has the manners and morals of a spoiled child.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You are, quite simply, a nasty person with nothing but your own special brand of attempted intimidation, spin, and yes...even lies...to spew.\nThat you may get a few smiley faces for it does not speak well of civility. Regardless of conservative or liberal, traditional or progressive....on the same page or not...your comments particularly to me are nasty, cruel, untrue, and uncivil. At some point, there should be some rebellion against such antics...not in the name of agreement, but in the name of decency, civility, and Christian charity.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I would not have a graveyard next to me, nor would I buy a property next to a graveyard. It may have been for Muslims, Protestants, Catholics or just a place to bury people, it does not matter. It is the press making up news to make it a Muslim issue, who cares, not me I would vote the same, the same vote I would pass for a pig farm.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Richard231, you are welcome to your religious beliefs. And don't kid yourself, your atheism is a religious belief. It's not scientific. Agnosticism is the scientific stand, even Bertrand Russell admitted that.\n\nAnd stop pretending you know anything about other religions when what you're doing is creating a Straw Church to knock down. If you don't like the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, try Stalinism or Maoism. They were atheistic systems that did wonders for murdering millions of people.\n\nI cherish freedom in all its messiness. I don't take religion or science dogmatically. I find Richard Dawkins as much of a buffoon as I do Franklin Graham. Atheists aren't immune from being stupid, cruel, misogynistic or just plain silly. Indeed, they're often as arrogant as those who think God speaks to them.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "This is absolutely horrifying. It's needlessly cruel, racist, illegal, counter-productive as a measure against terrorism, and nobody who supports this atrocity has any right to call themselves a Christian. \nI'm sickened by how much hatred and bigotry is around us.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "In Canada the most acts of vandalism are still directed at the Jewish population although cases of vandalism of mosques is growing. Overt acts and words of intolerance are felt by a number of visible minorities including aboriginals, blacks, Sikhs, Muslims and Asians. Those bigoted acts however seldom reach a level which could be described as terrorism. Our white Christian majority is far from perfect but there is no comparison to attacks by Muslim extremists in Europe and the UK, attacks on Coptic Christians in Egypt or the more numerous attacks on Muslims by Muslims in the mid east and Africa. So far Muslims are much safer than blacks in the US or aboriginal women in Canada or Christians in Egypt. We should be ashamed of small acts of bigotry but let's not pretend that a single death in London totally counter balances all the deaths on 9/11 or throughout Europe in recent years.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You are so precise in your understanding of the concepts of \"in the person of...\" vs. \"in the presence...\" Vatican II was the theological force that changed the distorted medieval reliance of the priest being the presence of Christ, rather than all of the baptized having Christ present within (\"in the person\"). And yes, the Eucharistic celebration is a symbolic remembrance. If it was a reenactment we would either kill someone at each Mass, or expect that the blood and bones of Jesus would be crushed in our mouths upon receiving communion.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The problem Evangelicals have is that they've painted themselves into a political and theological corner. They take the stance that in order to be an effective leader one must also be a strong moral leader. So, if they support a president whose political agenda matches their own (more or less), they have no choice but to pretend that that president is also a devout Christian.\n\nTrump pushes that notion to it's absurd conclusion, and it reveals the Evangelicals who support him as hypocrites, opportunists, fools -- or all of the above.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Christians shooting christians is something I\u2019m willing to live with. Jesus will protect me. Now if the shooter was a muslim that\u2019s where I draw the line.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Larry, you and Johnny Mabry have a fixation. But \"terror\" is bad, no matter the justification. Can you agree?\n- Sikh temple murders: religious terrorism. Shooter thought he was murdering Muslims.\n- Jewish center murders by a Nazi and Klan member: Thought he was murdering Jews.\n\nBoth terrorist acts based on religion of victims - that's religious terrorism.\n\nOf course, Roof murdered 9 innocents in a church not because of their faith, but their race. Purposeful terror based on race is no good, either.\n\nThe Planned Parenthood shooting was extremism based on faiths that demonize Planned Parenthood. Most mass shooters are unstable, but instability doesn't choose the target in a vacuum.\n\nThe Orlando shooter wasn't an Islamic extremist, he seems to have been a bisexual man tormented by that and his faith, which like many \"Christian\" groups, demonize homosexuality. So, unstable in part because of faith, but by what his faith did to him, not what he was supposedly doing for Allah.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I can understand why clergy fight so hard on this issue. Conceding to real natural law means that papally-approved natural law assured to be error free would fall. In this case, the natural order would be shredded as well as a concept (no more Catholic relativism). Finally, it would lead to the rethinking of everything sexual from masturbation to pre-marital sex, to continence and celibacy (both) to what they fear most - female ordination and parish elections for deacon administrators and elected bishops. They have finessed Masturbation and turn mostly a blind eye to cohabitation, but unless they start quietly blessing gay marriages (which Catholic hospitals now honor), they are about to eat a big bite of humble pie regarding the state of doctrinal formation. What are all the weak of faith who mistake certainty for trust in God to do?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You do not decide when a sentient being becomes from the quickening. You know not when self awareness begins. You do not have the right to determine God's conscience. You do not have the right to tell a woman she must carry an embryo to fetal stage and then birth, even when she knows the embryo is drug/alcohol effected and she cannot afford to raise it, deal with it emotionally or medically, or was raped or used while unconscious. Where is your pious :Christianess\" (because that's what Is) .......when you talk about the lessons of Jesus, yet won't live amongst the prostitutes, alcoholics and criminals. Jesus doesn't save hypocrites.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "As an EDCATED Gay Catholic Texan, Catholic School from 1st grade to degree in Math & Computer Science from the University of Dallas, cannot express the disgust at the unhinged rant of Paprocki ! I'm embarrassed at the clear VILE and UNCHRISTIAN attitude of his bigoted words !!! He needs to be drug into a Psych Ward. I suppose he thinks Trump is acceptable too ?? a VILE sexual predator Russian Conspirator just because he's a Republican? Shame on Paprocki, I wouldn't want my children exposed to HIM !!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Would it help you to know the broader definition of the word amoris in Latin in order to understand Amoris Laetitia better? The homosexuals in the Vatican are still laughing at the inside joke they publicly foisted on the sheep, many of whom remain completely oblivious to the \"Joy of Sodomy\", which is one translation of the title of this notorius document.\n\n\namor, amoris\nnoun\ndeclension: 3rd declension\ngender: masculine\n\nDefinitions:\n\naffair\naffection\nCupid\nlove\nsexual/illicit/homosexual passion\nthe beloved\n\nAge: In use throughout the ages/unknown\nArea: All or none\nGeography: All or none\nFrequency: Very frequent, in all Elementry Latin books, top 1000+ words\nSource: \u201cOxford Latin Dictionary\u201d, 1982 (OLD)", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Surprise surprise suprise...\nAnother Muslim Democrat committing a mass shooting. You mean it wasn't a middle aged white Christian, Republican, NRA membership who committed this crime?? Shocking just shocking I tell you", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The majority of white folks don't realize that our race relation issues were created by white people for white people. We minorities have had very little say about our public policies in this country. Heck, our 1st black president was followed by the guy that said he wasn't born in America. White folks did build our racist heritage. We have been working on becoming \"a more perfect union\" ever since the founding of the nation. The 2nd Amendment was necessary to commit ethnic cleansing and building the macro economics of the nation on race based slavery. Murder and rape were part of the business model for the nation. Clearly, Christianity doesn't prevent white racism, rape, or murder. This country is proof. The beauty of white racism is that it allows the average white person to go through life thinking they are innocent while collecting their white privilege. For example, white folks aren't racially profiled. This despite the fact that most mass shooters are loner white men.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "So ... is Milwaukee gonna deny church funerals to abusing priests and bishops who covered up for them, and who played shell games with money? After all, we wouldn't want scandal and confusion.\n\nHypocrites.\n\nAnd then to complain about the directive being made public. What did they think was going to happen? Their priests were going to secretly refuse funerals for LGBT people?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Well since I am a lay person and the bishops are listening with respect now. \n\nSexism is hatred so stop supporting it and ruling by this sin and ordain women priests immediately and consecrate women cardinals immediately and take all restrictions off of women that are not upon men in our church. \n\nJust do what Jesus commanded you to do and treat women the same way you wished to be treated by your bishops and pope and the church with respect to all sacraments and opportunities. \n\nDo not judge or condemn us or our flesh as less worthy unless you want Jesus to judge and condemn your flesh as unworthy.\n\nThanks!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Fast forward 40 years, AnonAJ, \n\nbeginning in 2012 10,000 a day began turning 65. The CDC's State of Health in America 2004 listed existing shortages of beds in nursing homes, hospitals, hospice centers and gerontologists. Then, the shortage of long term care beds within the environs of dearly beloved's parish has people disconnected from their parish, and their local families -- going where the bed is.Coming is the fight over when is someone dead or only dying in slow motion x 10,000 + per day.\nIt took 40+ years to convince parish folks that it was ok to receive communion from a lay person in church, at home or in hospital. Then there is the priest will check the books before answering a Viaticum call, by necessity! Who is going to explain why families 1, families 2, or even 3 have nothing to say about a Funeral Mass and nor burial in a Catholic cemetery.\n\nThe nuances of a Christian burial when taken x 10,000+ may be impossible to be met, even when sought. Our lives are messy now.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "nope..Judaism is the old testament, Christianity is the new testament and they are related. The other show up in 624AD because someone did not like the established religions and decided to do something about it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'd say it a different way. It's the coming of Armageddon that the conservative christians who supported trump (a silver tongued liar) wanted. They want judgment day.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There's an account in the Bible where Jesus expels the merchants and money changers from the Temple, accusing them of turning the Temple into \"a den of thieves\" through their commercial activities. Somehow, this is exactly what the United Church is doing as part of its \"outreach\" to millennials. Being progressive is one thing, being misguided quite another. The United Church was recently in the news because an ordained minister claimed the right to lead her congregation despite having publicly declared herself an atheist. Gretta Vosper has since launched a \"secular community\" to satisfy her need to be a self-help guru. I don't mean to single out the United Church, but Christian churches as a whole (including the Catholic Church and its never-ending global pedophile scandal) have lost their way. Religious worship is out of style, but conservative congregations such as the Society of St Pius X are thriving by sticking to old Christian traditions instead of falling for the latest fads.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Try to keep this in mind, \n-\tDonald Trump did not steal your money. \n-\tDonald Trump did not raise your taxes. \n-\tDonald Trump did not quadruple the price of food. \n-\tTrump is not stirring a race war. \n-\tTrump did not leave any US soldiers in Benghazi to be slaughtered and desecrated by Muslims. \n-\tTrump did not send the US Navy to fight for Syrian ,Al-Qaeda. \n-\tTrump did not arm ISIS and then exterminate Christians throughout the Middle East. \n-\tTrump did not sell 20% of our uranium to Russia. \n-\tTrump did not provide financing and technology to Iran's nuclear weapons program. \n-\tTrump did not give our military secrets to China (Israel did) \n-\tTrump did not remove our nuclear missile shield in Poland at the behest of Russia. \n-\tTrump did not shrivel our military, and betray our veterans. \n-\tTrump did not cripple our economy. \n-\tTrump did not increase our debt to 20 trillion dollars. \n-\tTrump did not ruin our credit, twice. \n-\tTrump did not steal your rights!\n\nThe Democrats did!!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would like to have Muslims forced to learn about loving Christians and respecting women in school. How many stories has the media hidden from the news? I would also like to see no prayer rooms in public schools, if the Lords Prayer is such a no no, why the pandering to a religion that has persecuted Christians forever? This country is so messed up.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What a provocative idea - Christians listing themselves on a mandatory Muslim registry. Reminds me of the Dutch wearing yellow stars in fraternity with the Jews in WWII. How many of us (myself included) would have the courage to do that?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, Catholics or any denomination of Protestants or any Jew for that matter will be allowed to express any opinions on this highly secular newspaper's pages! This is purely the privilege of the one officially approved religion by the G&M, namely Islam!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Orthodix Catholic parishes are thriving and producing vocations. It is the \"liberal\" and \"progressive\" parishes who are losing members. The people want the TRUTH preached to them. They want assistance in their quest for Heaven, not some feel-good pap we get in less than orthodox parishes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "C S Lewis wrote an interesting essay, \"Meditation on the Third Commandment\", in which he says that a specifically Christian political party would be a bad idea. He gives two reasons: First, that even among Christians who want a state run on Christian principles, there are genuine differences in how to bring this about, so no single party could claim to represent all Christians. Second, there will inevitably come a point where any such party must choose between power or Christian principles.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "He taught bible studies. I suppose that does not show he was Christian but it is suggestive. Why do you say he was an atheist?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The problem with the bishops -- well, one of them, anyway -- is their intellectual laziness. Long ago they settled in on the cozy notion that THE way to oppose abortion was at the ballot box. The fact that this approach hasn't worked in 40+ years and shows no signs of ever working is beside the point. If you want to be a faithful Catholic without much effort, just vote for Republicans every couple of years and you're good.\n\nI've read that Joe Kennedy, in his younger days, used to travel around with a priest so he could go to confession as soon as possible after committing adultery. I remember thinking what a perverse notion of Catholicism that reflected. Now I'm wondering if he was just ahead of the political curve.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Fortunately for the anglicans and others, god isn't bound by what the catholic church does or does not recognize, no matter how loudly or how often the catholic church says otherwise.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Can a person enter heaven without have a card-carrying member of the catholic clergy saying the magic words over their coffin?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You asked the question and I gave you the Catholic Church's answer. I truly believe Christ is physically present in the Eucharist consecrated by a Catholic Priest.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is a very timely editorial. I have been coming to this site for several years now an I am sad that the tone of the comments have changed. It used to be a place where ideas could be discussed and exchanged.\nThere is almost a cult like mentality among some commentors, to disagree means you are not a good Catholic, or even a Catholic at all. To have a discussion about what is written inevitably disintegrates into who is Catholic and who is not. I stopped commenting for a while because I found myself drawn into the nastiness. Recently there were 2 disgusting comments about Fr. Martin. Who could have been that angry that those vile words were OK?\nI wonder what Jesus would make of all this strife.\nHe who instigated the ultimate change, starting a new church with radical thoughts and words, that were not well accepted at the time and led to his death.\nThere is something wrong with a church that can't have a discussion about current concerns and vilifies people for wanting to.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Oh, please. It is easy to talk about feeding the poor. But who will pay for it?\"\nIs this Christian?\nFor example, does the parable of the Good Samaritan refer to the Christ figure ensuring payment as a condition of help? Gaw, you have it bass-akward.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I fear we are losing what the definition of \"civil\" is. What began as a discussion of endangered plovers and other idears, as all too often happens, has turned to a discussion of personal vendettas, none of which seem founded on any actual justification, and...sigh...more harassment, bullying, and baseless bragging. I fear too many of today's \"christians\" have been taken in by today's societal norms of constant self-promotion. And the paranoia about being stalked, if serious, borders on pathological and suggests one needs help. There is no way for a poster to track another on this board. Really. Quite disturbing, one cannot help but speculate that the self centering of the personality that produces constant brag also produces a level of paranoid conviction that one is the focus of enemies. Perhaps suspension was beneficial, as you seemed to leave off the nasty attacks and bullying when you returned, but it appears the time out from posting did not result in lasting improvement.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What was it Gandhi said?\n\u201cI like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.\u201d", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "These religious-based arguments make the faith of the next appointee a big issue. Currently we have three Jews and five Roman Catholics. Not exactly a representation of America. How about an atheist to replace Catholic Scalia?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christianity borrows many ideas from earlier religions, such as the cult of Apollo. In some early traditions, Christ is entirely a supernatural being who never actually descends beyond the lower regions of the firmament, where he does battle with evil forces and ascends back into the upper regions, the Seventh Heaven, and so on. On the other hand, there were probably a number of actual wandering mystics in the period and scriptural Jesus could be a composite of some of them. I don't think the historicity of Jesus is ever likely to be conclusively settled, though some Biblical scholars are convinced by the rather scant mentions by Roman historians it strikes me as quite thin. As a movement, I think Rome eventually adapted to Christianity rather than the other way round. It's elevation of the low and downtrodden was a powerful subversive message in a society largely composed of slaves.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "First of all, GramercyLA did not state that a \"pew neighbor's hand is the equivalent of our Lord's Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.\" And while I'm not, personally, in favor of hand-holding during Mass, he/she was correct in stating that Jesus is not only present in the Eucharist but also in the assembly.\n\nThe Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy states that Christ is made manifest in four ways in the Mass: in the Eucharist, in the person of the priest, in the Word of God and in the Christian assembly. These four manifestations are beautifully integrated and complimentary.\n\nAnd before you go into your usual spiel about how the Vatican II documents are modernist and it wasn't a legitimate council, yada, yada, I'll try to save you the trouble. I'm not trying to convince you of anything. I'm just posting for the benefit of those living in the current century who might stumble on to this thread and be interested in a bit of accurate Church teaching.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As taxpayers, we shouldn't have to fund these Catholic schools that are obviously better quality than the public schools. I understand that Catholics are paying tax too, but their tax goes towards the expenses we all pay. You want a separate school? Pay for it yourself.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"NSDAP & Fascism differ.\" Nazism and fascism differ? That's your answer?\n\nUh, OK. I suppose such meticulousness is par for the course in the battle against \"Zionist revisionism.\"\n\n<>\n\nThat explains why you voted for Trump and his puppetmasters' glorious vision of a Judeo-Christian war on Islam as well as the touching consummation of the fossil fuels industry with Russian oligarchs.\n\nMy hairy eyeball is on you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "TR touts Lents as \"time to grow in the faith.\" Rather, ought to be time to grow out of the faith - a faith perverted by a Constantinian Catholic Church.\nHe makes an audacious statement: \"Christians who do not read the Scriptures are starving themselves from the Word of God.\"\nPrecisely, Christians have read the Scriptures and do not find them translated by a hierarchy of power and not service.\nReveals TR's own imprisoned mind. Sadly!\nLent is time for conversion - back to Jesus before Christianity.\nDiscover the message anew!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well said, Danno, as always! Not just incidentally, the Catholic church uses bankruptcy and other threats in order to intimidate victims and families, as you know all too well! Thank you for speaking up here!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You don't take the fact that Jesus is God literally? How in the world would you then be members of the body of Christ? Christ means \"Chosen one\" or \"messiah\" if I am not correct. We no longer need Christ to be Christian? Are you serious? How lost can some be, I am witnessing complete apostasy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"But that matters little to today's cyberbullies. The schooled language of Vatican documents has been transformed into pure, hateful vitriol...the patina of politeness is gone. These gangs are out for unadulterated destruction of personality and career.\"\n\nSchooled language, like, for example, the recent La Civilta' Vatican document that described cooperation between Catholics and Evangelicals as \"an ecumenism of hate\"? \n\nI don't know ncr. Your editorial seems quite one-sided and over the top. \n\nWhere was your compassion and understanding for the Knights of Columbus, or for those who respect the U.S.' immigration laws, or for voters for this president? Over the last year, your publication has offered up a constant stream of heated pieces attacking Catholic and American conservatism, with no published counter-point essays whatsoever.\n\nGiven all that, I'm baffled how you can complain about a culture of Catholic intolerance.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This haughty political madam will not deceive that common man who this time in history will vote like he has his heart in it. To save the county, to save the queen does not fit the description of this wanton appeaser to the highest bidder on the world stage. To fight for what is right, to dam the torpedoes, full speed ahead and the dictum of \"I shall return\" still rule our conscious, righteous thoughts. Onward Christian solider is our history and more needed now than ever. Not for the heavenly sky of redemption, but the cold hard facts of life on this planet, as our European forefathers spoke: Rule the waves, Britannia, rule the waves! For who else will!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your response is a false equivalence and the product of sloppy reasoning, as usual. The exact equivalence in response to John Hobson's comment would be: Was ISLAM the U.S.' friend before the election? Which is as absurd a question as: Was Christianity (or Judaism, or Hinduism, etc) the U.S.' friend before the election?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We don\u2019t know what the motivation was. We can only speculate.\nThe result however was pure unadulterated TERROR\n\nOr as Mr Trump is fond of saying \u201cRadical Christian Terrorism\u201d", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "From a Catholic trinitarian perspective, our belief the the full humanity and full divinity of Jesus Christ give him full authority over all before and after his time on earth.\nHis words from Matthew 22 (Douay-Rheims version) are: \"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment.\"\nNo strain of meaning there.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I see your point. In the end, though, all it does is underscore the infamous Catholic intolerance for any degree of ambiguity - which is kind of a sad commentary, really. It reveals a certain insecurity, don't you think?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Listen Vinnie, I get that you prefer your pastor wearing pretty lace silk but there is no need to disparage our reformed brethren. How does that attitude comport with the ecumenical spirit which our Roman tradition has clearly adopted... if you think and/or act otherwise you are not being a good Catholic/Christian and one day will be held accountable by the Most High Priest.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What always struck me as odd is the anti-abortion Christians who say it's killing a human as their argument against abortion, but it's rare we ever hear them condemn our wars, which kill hundreds of thousands.\n\nI have to give the liberals at least consistency in this area. Life isn't a big deal in an abortion, and of late, neither are the lives lost in the wars.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Kurds, loved by US neocons and Israel, are hated by everyone else - Sunni Turks, Shia Iraqis, Syrian Alevis, Christians.\n\nWhy? 1000 years of treachery.\n\nTheir Saladin, inspiration to Daesh/ISIL, a non-entity till 18th century when Sunnis under Christian guns needed a hero to chase away the infidel.\n\nVictor. He routed Crusaders wanting to open Europe-Asia trade. Christians were being starved by Sunni Kaliphate Tariffs (Arabic word).\n\nFather of Madressahs. Believing that research on matter was ungodly, he closed down world's first secular university (Al-Azhar), banned natural sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Medicine), Math, logic, philosophy, art, rhetoric. Re-opening it as a seminary he is singly responsible for Sunni backwardness and ignorance today.\n\nThis neocon was aided by Maimonidis, his personal vizier. Again, Kurds & Israel stand in way of China's New Silk and One Belt One Road to unite Europe, Asia, Africa. Trump neocons build walls with Mexico and Canada.\n\nThey will fail.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No one \"wants\" to believe in ultimate meaninglessness. I am afraid Christianity tends to denigrate the value of human meaning creating meaninglessness and the filling the void with meaning through God. \nMy life has a lot of meaning. You have a great year too. Let the meaning flow though us and in the deeds we do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It wasn't that long ago that hats with attached veils were a common women's fashion accessory. However, those were Christian women, so it was never a problem. When it's Muslim women, that's a different issue", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Constantinople (meaning Eastern Orthodoxy) has sold out to authoritarian dictators like Vladimir Putin, at least in Russia. Until they reform themselves and divorce their church from Putinism we are better served mending fences with our Christian cousins here in the West and then going from there.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is the kind of post that turns people away from Christianity. Ultra conservative zealots with an internet connection pitch their conflicted desire to condemn \"non-believers\" with loopy interpretations that repeatedly fail the morality and logic tests. I say thank God, whoever she is, for Christians who recognize their biblical interpretations as nonfiction.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hey Senator, you might look this up: \"that which you do to the least of your brothers, that you do unto me.\" Actually a Christian shouldn't have to look it up but you will.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus was more like Pope Francis, oops. I mean Pope Francis is more like Jesus, in so many ways. Jesus reintroduced ambiguity, reflection and discernment into \"being Jewish\". It's like advising/counselling: \"stop, think, reflect...there just be more to this situation than knee-jerk rotism\". That's what Jesus meant \"to be taken seriously\", I think.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Whether it is Christian is debatable. Its major tenets that differentiate it from mainstream Christianity come from a 19th-century \"prophet\" not recognized by other Christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christians tried to burn down a mosque right here in my home town. We rebuilt it for them.\n\nIn the mIddle East, Shias blow up Sunni mosques and Sunnis blow up Shia mosques. But it appears that information never filtered down to the basement at Savushkina Street.\n\nhttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/22/shia-attack-sunni-mosque-iraq", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Liberal and Catholic are oxymorons", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If I understand your comment correctly you are right. 'Strident professed militant Catholic' is their self proclaimed mission. The group think is on their part and it's powerful in keeping them in the fold and donating money.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "More sola scriptura. Catholics are not bound by the Gospel, we have the Traditions, Rituals, Rules, and Rites of the Unchanging Church to guide us, not to mention the leadership of our Courageous Bishops, praised by Christ's Vicar only recently, when he bravely visited the US despite the lack of religouis freedom here. Our Courageous Bishops, filled to the brim with the Holy Spirit that selected them to lead the Church have shown us that humility, compassion, turning the other cheek, doing good to our enemies, all those \"gospel\" ideas, are not necessarily relevant to the Church in the 21st Century (and haven't been relevant to the Church throughout much of its history). Our Bishops supported the President's campaign because he, like them, is a fighter and will wage merciless war on his enemies, and restore the religious freedoms so recently stripped from Christians in the US, as Jesus would want.\n\nOr maybe the Bishops were wrong? NO, that can't be it, they are God's Chosen Leaders.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Kudos to the Post for juxtaposing two editorials on religious liberty. \n \nIn the cake case, the editorial argues that the cake artist shouldn't be forced to contribute to an activity that violates his conscience. \nIn the school case, the Post argues that tax-payers should be forced to contribute to activities that violate their conscience. \nThe vouchers the Post want could go to Muslim madrasas that teach Sharia law, for example, which would likely violate the conscience of many. Surely, excluding Muslim schools from a voucher program would be the kind of unconstitutional bigotry the Post has long railed against.\nContributing to \"Christian\" school that teach bigotry and discrimination would violate the conscience of many tax-payers also. Will the vouchers be conditioned on the school teaching the \"proper\" moral values?\nThis has less to do with respecting conscience and more to do with undermining public schools and cutting teachers' incomes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "it is unfair that TWU discriminate against those with religious vales different from theirs.\n-\nis the right to have Pre-marital sex now protected by the Charter of Rights?\nthis is merely anti-Christian, anti- religion...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hi Lynne,\nI've been traveling LA for few days.\nI don't think I can reconcile with CI (Catholic Institution) clergies any more.\nI think I spend almost three years pointing out their evil ways! \nIt is time to move on.\nI will try to watch out for your comments.\nIn Christ", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dear Muslims;\n\nWelcome to the community of progressive left wing religious intolerance. You are joining a group of Christians, Catholics and Jewish who for decades have been shunned, scorned, ridiculed, mocked and marginalized by the secular progressive community in Canada.\n\nThese leftwing progressives have worked very hard to shut down religion and religious practice in public spaces and public institutions. So this act of inclusion, by joining this prestigious club of the hated, will help support your struggle that so many religions in Canada have experienced before you. \n\nPay no attention to our social justice leaders, who are using tragedies to ram though pet personal agendas that seek to further divide through inequality and prioritizing which religions are more important then others.\n\nStay strong, be of good courage and you will succeed beyond the hate.\n\nThank You;\n\nFreedom of Religion", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The South is becoming so Catholic that the Vatican might move to Rome, Georgia.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No. They've retained the correct sacramental rubrics and intent, and also Apostolic succession. That's why the Catholic Church continues to recognise the Orthodox as a Church with valid sacraments.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Muslims need to be fearfull while living at the U.S., since they are required by Islamic Laws to Support the Millions of Holy Warriors of Islam (especially the Imams at the Mosques), and to join the Jihad against the Christians, Jews, Unbelievers (Kafir) to prove that they are Muslims. example If an Imam demands that a Muslim do a Fatawa, a death penalty sentence, of a U.S. Citizen, the Muslim Must, or he or she and all their Families Relatives Friends are added to that Death Penalty Sentence to be accomplished by anybody.\n\n2006 President Bush Ordered the U.S. Department of State to coordinate activities to cut off the Mandatory Islamic Tithes given by All Muslims from reaching the Millions of Holy Warriors of Islam (\"Muslim Terrorists\"). 2009 President Obama's U.S. Law, \"Material Support to Terrorist Organizations\", ended up convicting many U.S. Muslims, yet President Obama gave Iran's Hamas Terrorists $900 Million and Clinton gave $400 Million of U.S. Citizens Money.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic Church is imploding in Europe and America.\nThere is nothing that Pope Francis can do to stop this process of erosion.\nNothing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Talk & walk is cheap.\n\nLove is costly & constant, always demanding of us, requiring us to set aside our preferences, wants, for others, mostly our family & neighbors.\n\nLove is creating an atmosphere of warmth & approachability in your neighborhood....the door is always open, there's always one more spot at the dinner table, kids from the neighborhood feel that they can hang out on your porch without asking, they ask 'can you help me put my bike chain' back on?\n\nNeighbors who ask to borrow vegetable oil, or ask for a ride to dialysis.\n\nThat's where 99% of our life as Christians should be spent. Improving our neighbhorhood, not tilting windmills elsewhere\n\nNot in noisy angry protest lines.\n\nThey only raise the tone of anger in society. Overused especially at NCR.\n\nSure it's a right, but if the charity isn't done at work, or in the neighborhood, or in the traffic line (as self-focused people check their email incessantly while driving!!!), then the protest work is just total utter BS.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "P.2\nLest the authors forget (perhaps the Presbyterian doesn't acknowledge or even know) the Church on earth is the Church Militant. One needn't agree with Voris and Co. to find reason to believe that spiritual battles do exist and that retrograde politics, styling itself \"progressive\", where government (whether monarchical or representative), served by the people, is the answer to any question, or that government, bereft of any regulatory power styled \"libertarian\", is a subject for such conflict . Those Catholics, whether lathering against \"Freemasonry\" or supporting \"conservatism\", neither espouse a Dominionist bent nor, but for the most neurotic extremes, seek anything other than that which the authors claim for Francis' mantle; namely \"...orient[ing] current history toward the Kingdom of God.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"PF is a Marxist, not a Christian. \"\n\nReally, A. Rowe? Does bearing false witness against Good Pope Francis make you Catholic?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, exactly, a Cardinal is innocent, we all know that. Any time a Cardinal, especially one who is a staunch defender of True Catholic Values, is accused of anything, we know the accusation is false and the accusers are horrible people who should be roundly condemned, along with the media that reports the story, any attorneys involved, and the government that prosecutes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do I take it from that that you are critical of the Eastern Catholic/Orthodox Liturgy of the Mass and in favour of the Vatican II liturgical reforms?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Part one of three) If the efficacy of the contender for leadership is irrespective of his/her moral integrity, is it not familiar to the efficacy of sacrament being irrespective of the moral integrity of the clergy, is that not familiar?\n\nIs it any wonder that Roman Catholics have minimal concern for deception \"in the world\" as \"in the church\"\u2014dennism\n\nIf our moral conclusions aren't grounded in history, we're wasting our time. Since the gospels don't agree, I don't think they can be considered reliable.\u2014monicadeangelis", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You must be right, Chimborazo, as I could NOT understand, even before the election, how ANY Christian could turn their backs on the values that their churches tried to instill in the faithful, and support Trump. Even with your insight, it remains mind-boggling to me. I\u2019ve yet to hear a legitimate \u201cexcuse\u201d from any Christian for having voted for Trump. Then, again, were I a Christian I wouldn\u2019t admit it either.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No you dont?! I used to go to a public school that forced me to recite the christian prayer every morning, after standing for national anthem, one day while i was in kindergarden i was standing for prayer like everyone else, except i wasnt reciting the prayer and i didnt have my hands together like the others, well the teacher came over to me and asked me to do it, once i refused she scolded me and marched me down to the principals office, in which i was suspended and sent home! C'mon i was 4 or 5 years old! Mind you that wasnt even that long ago as im 21 now! \n\nThe sole difference is that nobody is being forced to pray i this accomadation, they are simply providing ALL students with a room to pray, but its mainly used by muslims, since muslims have to pray 5 times a day, and would instead be praying in hallways. \nNobody will even see them praying! Whats the problem? Ill tell you, its because they are muslim, Now if they were christian this topic wouldnt even arise.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Glad someone affirmation this I am not a \"conservative\" out to get the Pope! AL's argument in Ch 8 can be Catholic and fit with the Gospel and the constant Catholic tradition, but it takes some real stretching and squinting. P Francis doesn't unite people or clarifies teaching. He divides (builds walls) and confuses. This is not the role of Pope.\nImagine how powerful AL would have been if he didn't force the addition of things not approved by the synod so he could add them into the document. He's simply reaping what he is sown and it is not bearing good fruit that will last.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "ATF.....if I read the 8th chapter of AL even remotely correctly, and digested the Synods even sort of....and absorbed at least some of Francis....I am pretty sure that a \"one size fits all\" condemnation of any behaviour....is simply not the deal...\n\nI regret that I never took a moral theology course...but I think that there are imperatives relative to just how free one is...just how mature one is just how responsible one is for just about any act....and that personal conscience (right or wrong) is the ultimate arbiter...\n\nI am sorry that your youth was impacted by prejudice...ot here in the west my parents got married in a church sanctuary....with only my aunt and uncle attending....(prot/Catholic deal) \n\nMany years later for their 45th wedding anniversary we gave them a bi church wedding and full reception including a dinner for several hundred and a wedding cake and napkins with their names on them!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Proportion. Relative to all Catholics how many people pick up and go to far flung places to do their vocation, and (2nd mental operation) compared to that proportion how many articles in NCR are about the quirky, the hyphenated, the outback, the trendy, special?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Young people should love, believe and follow their dreams, never despairing because Jesus is always with them, Pope Francis said.\"\n\nUnless they're young, Catholic, and gay, in which case they should not love in the way that lovers do, not believe in a life of happiness of the sort that straight people take for granted, not dream of a life full of love and happiness, but rather despair that they will be consigned to a life of loneliness and solitude if they wish to remain in good standing with the church. Which is why so many young gay people take their own lives - they are offered no hope for a bright future by the church. Thus it has always been and thus it will apparently continue to be, even under Pope Francis' otherwise sunny and upbeat leadership. Kumbaya.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Has \"Christian\" now become used as a term of ethnic identity, where if one is white and of European roots, one is deemed to be a Christian, whether or not one is an actual believer, or an atheist?\"\n\nOf course it has and why not.? People are identified by those who perceive themselves in the majority as such if they are Muslim, Catholic, Hindu, Irish, Italian, Chinese, etc. They've all been used to label individuals as a group to be hated. Of course, history is filled with \"Christian terrorists\" (i.e. IRA, The Inquisition), but then the writers of history have also been generally Christian and thus, the lack of a cultural bent to so identify those who are essentially Christian Taliban. \n\n\"\"The leader of genius must have the ability to make different opponents appear as if they belonged to one category.\"\nA. Hitler", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "To the contrary.\n\nTrump has not conspired to have the duly elected Catholic leader of another country assassinated. (Kennedy)\n\nTrump has not been involved in cover ups of wrongdoing in which there is credible evidence of murder. (Johnson and Clinton)\n\nTrump has not imposed upon interns to perform sexual acts to him or others. (Clinton and Kennedy)\n\nIn the name of decency I won't go on, but your position flies in the face of reality.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why no direct link from the main page to this comic?\n\nFrancis seems not true to himself, suppressing his abilities. Unlike at least the three previous popes, Francis has added little in four years. What will be his legacy?\n\nHis most important contribution, other than speaking out on global warming, was to elevate the Magdalene feast day, which may ultimately help revitalize the \"Bride\" as a real heavenly person -- a retrograde theology predating Christianity. Christianity suppressed the Bride by making her into a prostitute, and by saying the \"Church\" was instead the Bride. I guess there is no reason not to go back to earlier Pagan motifs as long as the incest has been purged from belief. Christmas and Easter are still popular. So why not? One feast for the Mother. One feast for the Bride. Two women now. Plus a new non-sexual \"father-god\" distinct from the Bridegroom son - a crowd. And probably a lot of support for new 'old ways' in European hamlets. 2,000 year-old mission accomplished", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1. You know no more than I do. It's a logical fallacy to say \"There are things we cannot understand and I understand them.\"\n2. It probably feels like a choice but it's more akin to a herd of lemmings falling off a cliff. \n3. Don't consider them ad hominems against God, consider them ad hominems against what I see as a rather vile twisting of God into a way for the powerful to control the masses. \n\nHell is such a vague concept in the Bible. Yet it's such a certain permanent thing in Christianity. Why is that?\n\nThe bible was canonized 300 years after the death of Christ based on writings that happened anywhere from 30-40 years after his death. It's a hodgepodge of whatever various groups at the time decided was canon. Which version of the Bible is as real as it gets? Which gospel? I'm not suggesting throw the whole thing away. I'm just saying I cared a lot but never got any satisfactory answers to these questions just \"trust that those guys knew and God was guiding them.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Remember, the spirit of the law kills, while the letter of the law gives eternal life; also that man was made for the Sabbath.\n\nYes, one can argue that Paprocki is following the law. However, he is showing no love for any gays in his diocese by doing so. He is saying to them, \"Go away. The Catholic Church in Springfield rejects you.\" Is that a Christian thing to do?\n\nAlso, do you really believe that God has the sort of all-consuming interest in what loving couples do in the privacy of their own bedrooms that you do?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sorry there, Kuching, but I think not! I am not a big fan of the Judeo Christian Bible; even though I am and also view myself as being \"Hawaiian\" by descent and birth right. But I have heard from reliable sources, that the \"Bible\" is chock full of \"good ol' boy\" stories of rape, incest, war, destruction, salvation and quite a sea full of tears! \n\nHeck it's so good a book that creationists swear by it, and yet those who do follow it's teaching are all looking for one thing, that they can't seem to find, no matter how hard they look, or how well they live their lives. Maybe with all your relative wizdom, you can give them an answer to what they are all missing............", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are many \"lost victims\" who have been stonewalled for decades. They played kick the can down the road with us for a long time. We have been betrayed, abandoned and re injured too many times. You have no idea what its like to be repeatedly raped by a priest as a child. Being raped by a revered priest crushes your attempts at a comforting relationship with God. The churches response was even worse for us 'lost victims\" \nI am sickened by your comments as they are just another abandonment. You would be happy if we just ended our lives. You may get your way, from this victim. There will be one less that you have to worry about taking away from the real work of the church which makes you feel good. It would be a waste to take care of those who were most betrayed and continually abandoned. If your views are what being Catholic has become, that is pretty sad.\nYou have no idea how it feels to have dreams so real that repeat the abuse over and over that makes one afraid to go to sleep.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The \"story\" of Jesus has \"a certain continuity\" because it is a revelation intended for the salvation of mankind.\n\nPrivate revelations are not.\n\nAs a non-Catholic I can imagine your perception of \"the immaculate heart of Mary and the sacred heart of Jesus\", which many Catholics share, but no one is obliged to engage in either.\n\nA realistic walk through the former Soviet Union and its war against religion would quickly dispel \"think happened to this faith when the Soviet revolution occurred?\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's only 50+ years. A strong pope will be able to roll back Francis' \"irreversible\" man-centered liturgical changes and restore once again the structure and many elements of the God-centered liturgy that served Catholics well for more than 1,600 years.\n\nBefore Vatican II, Catholics used to be able to go to any mass anywhere in the world and worship God in the same way as other Catholics. It was the same mass that their ancestors used to commune with God and there was a reasonable expectation that it was going to be the same mass that their descendants were going to use to commune with God. \n\nVatican II changed all that and, with this latest move, it will probably get worse before it gets better.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Picking up on your final epithet, \u201cClueless\u201d, and your summary of \u201cChristian, a Conservative and a Republican\u201d, I point out that my trinity was love of God, love of family, and then love of country in that order.\n\nLove of any political party was conspicuous by its absence. As the Church never tires of teaching, one cannot love God without loving one's neighbour (sic).\n\nThe Catechism, 2239, points out that patriotism is a duty and belongs to the order of charity.\n\nSince this is post-election, and I proposed that the Church nourish and support patriotism led by the higher spiritual motives - i.e., love of God and love of family - your \u201cresponse\u201d appears to be some cyber-combat material left from the election that you used my post as a pretext to unload. It has basically no relationship at all to what I posted (e.g. \"anti-kingdom arming every citizen which actually ignores the constitution's strict rules for carrying weapons\").\n\nClueless.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You're describing a social product not the Church. Jesus wouldn't recognize most of the churches in the US today. The Christian Church met on Sunday evenings, not in the mornings and they gathered the poor together and fed them. The Christian Church met in buildings that already existed. The Christian Church let everybody show up in regular clothes with no preference towards banker attire. The Christian Church never taught \"tithing\" knowing this is a Jewish doctrine and not Christian. The Christian Church shared everything with each other and confessed their sins to each other and those obviously not keeping with Christian doctrine were put out of the Church while today's churches look very similar to every other organization in the country, same alcoholism stats, same divorce stats, same abortion stats, etc. \n\nCheck out 2 Timothy 3 1-9.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Translation from Modernist to Catholic: The post Vatican II Church has so dumbed down our catechetical classes that only a few have bothered to notice what violence the modernists have done to 1900 years of magisterial teaching.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree with you. Time is slowly running out on the \"ontologically different.\" The present structure isn't working. A new iteration of Catholic Christianity will be one without clergy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why is it you 'christians' aren't very Christian these days ... I'm just curious.\n\nAtheist Liberal here.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Religious 'witnessing' is protected in general; no one is prevented from stating their opinion anywhere in public. There is one very important fact about free speech IN CHURCH, that D. Trump does not think about (and apparently you don't either). Christians generally consider their church to be a holy space, the 'house of God' where they modify their behavior accordingly and receive inspiration for the week. Talking about any politician as if endorsed by a supreme being violates that covenant. Maybe Trump has thought of that: he loves to be bowed to, and it would make him feel really special to hear his name spoken in that context.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree, Don. I think that Burke going off into schism would be one of the healthier things that could happen to the Catholic Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Crimean Tarters kidnapped Ukrainian and Russians and sold them on the slave markets in the Middle East. The Turks kidnapped Christian boys who were brought up from the age of 7 to serve in the Janissaries (infantry units). The slave trade is the reason why there are so many blond and blue eyed people in the Middle East. \n\nWorse still, slavery continues in the Middle East to today\u2019s date \u2013 although it no longer involves white children. Type into Google the words \u201cslavery Saudi Arabia\u201d or another country and read what appears.\n\nThe Muslim countries have never apologized for the white slave trade. No compensation has ever been offered to the descendants of the victims. No monument exists on the sites of the slave markets to commemorate the victims. \n\n4. On 3 occasions, Muslims nearly conquered Europe. Twice the Turks reached the gates of Vienna. Muammar Gaddafi, when he was Libyan leader, predicted that Muslims would conquer Europe through numbers and their birth rate.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I take it that your answer is 'yes', Christian Charity is not extended to your President-elect and his supporters.\nA taste of anarchy might be ok as long as it is not outside your front door, eh? As long as your house and car aren't trashed or you and your family aren't harmed. As long as it is in someone else's back yard.\nPoor Pope Francis, he will never have the pleasure of being taken seriously by you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For good reason. When those so called \"experts\" (who disagree so much among themselves) deny the soul, God, the supernatural end of life..Catholics SHOULD dismiss them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Who are you to decide another's religious convictions, and/or decide that only a Christian has religious freedom? Would you deny a muslim the right to refuse to \"honor\" a homosexual \"marriage\" with a wedding cake? It is his right to refuse to be ordered to express another's convictions, instead of his own. It is everyone's right to refuse to associate with anyone for any reason (freedom of association).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"The Catholic email scandal is no scandal\"\n- This is a good article.\n- Except for those in Archbishop Charles' (of Philadelphia) camp the emails are a testament to religious liberty -- lay people discussing their church and how they see it, and its the application of its teachings in civil arena without fear of reprisal.\n- The facts of the emails speak for themselves.\n- Those proclaiming that the emails are evidence of anti-catholicism are also speaking for themselves. \n- Is not religious liberty the best!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Neither God nor Moses wrote Leviticus and assuming it as the source truth is affirming Jewish national identity, not divine teaching. You are defending Catholic group dynamics at the expense of people created as gay by God in the first trimester of gestation and cooperation with that evil leads to both bullying and depression by teens that causes suicide. Get your facts straight and repent for joining this evil.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Columnist Dionne was urging \"a stern talking-to from a religious leader\" who can't even control the leadership of his own flock. \n\nTherefore the three Christmas 'slammings' of the Curia are not 'out of context' as you would have it.\n\nYour \"everybody does it\" argument about Catholic pedophila is actually just an excuse. \n\nI suspect that the Benedictine monks who trained Dionne would have something to say about your argument.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You raise a valid question about the destruction of fertilized embryos at IVF clinics.. Murder? Actually, yes. Torture? A developing baby can feel pain from between 20 to 28 weeks, so at just several days of development, no pain, unlike many abortions. To the main point of why aren't Christians picketing IVF clinics, I think there are several issues going on. One is that most Christians aren't proactively involved in the pro-life movement (to their shame), and for those who are, they already have their hands full dealing with actual abortion clinics, Planned Parenthood, and the like. Secondarily, there is emotionally a much greater degree of separation in dealing with a fertilized egg sitting in a tube that is never going to develop beyond a handful of days unless it has the further human intervention of being implanted. Do you donate to any causes you feel strongly about? You're much more likely to donate locally than to the same cause in an unknown place far away. Human psychology.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, I don't. It's elementary and self-evident. You, however, do need to better understand and take responsibility for the ideological underpinnings of your religious doctrine. It's up to you to attempt to excuse and justify the wrongful culturally- and spiritually-oppressive excesses of extreme paternalistic religious ideology, doctrine, and practice if they are present. It's baked right in, unless your church's sect explicitly excises it from the doctrine as a liturgical position. Some sects of Christianity share in the wrongful paternalistic gender-inequitable excesses of Abrahamic tradition with Islam and still others. Let us now fully scrutinize all the memes of your belief and practice systems in order to better ensure that you do not believe or promote anything that could be reasonably construed as a wrongful or a hateful or an intolerant or a sociopathic denigration of any class of individuals on the basis of gender, even when they are non-cisgender individuals. God is female.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree! And Mexico is 91% Catholic. Why is the Catholic Church trying to displace so many Catholics from Latin America? Let the Catholic Church do for America what it has done for Mexico and Latin America.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This got a link on Zed's blog. Donations must be light this month so time for some red meat to reel in a few more gullible conservative Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "More logic and truth in a sea of mendacity resulting in one of if not the best of Elise's columns.\nEurope has operated with co-ed bathrooms without regard to gender forever. Finding the source for this falsely created problem leads right to the religious fanatics occupying the pulpits of christian america made up of egomaniacs and pedophiles. Combine the same with equally disgusting false political prophets yearning for ultimate power over all results in the current state of governing plaguing this nation. Wake up Alaska and America!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ok... this is what you would call a \"I got good news ---- and --- I got bad news\".\n\nI'll give you a couple of examples... according to selective data in writing this article...\n\nGOOD NEWS! \"The order also gave priority to refugees claiming religious persecution, which Trump promised in an interview with Christian media would reward \"persecuted Christian\" refugees.\"\n\nBAD NEWS! by shutting down ALL refugee resettlement for 120 days, and halfing the agreement with the UN on refugees -- Trump is systematically dismantling the necessary infrastructure for successful resettlement of refugees from anywhere, as well as crippling the ability to serve those already here and in the resettlement process. \n\nAll he gave up was a promise-- like a zillion other promises. In fact, he is crushing the lives and hopes of thousands of refugees. And persecuting anyone \"tapped\" for extreme vet--ing. Like Mohammed Ali's son -- not once but twice!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That is exactly my point. How can the so called Pro-lifers and the Catholic prelates be as vicious and still hope to win people over to their side. They both have pitted people against each other rather than uniting people. \nI can understand how the prelates do nasty, they are doing it for god(small g). Their god is the god of war-kill-death.Also Catholic prelates can justify anything as doing it for god - their god is strange, not the God of LOVE. \nTheir association with the GOP and Trump may well damage them beyond even their expectations. The god o9f the GOP is money and power and under the leadership of St. Reagan!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Canadians would like to see the separation of church a state. \n\nNo more catholic schools, no more catholic judges, no more evangelist PM's, no more Canon law.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Monica, surprised at your lame apologia for NCR & JM!\nIf you read his column, he had a round up issues from various countries & other sources like Global Sisters, etc. where NCR has no one on ground. (You do seem to have a bias toward Italy, no?) NCR was alerted to the reprehensible finding by the mild Catholic News Service.\nThere are tons of articles on the Ireland Nazis-like (among other totalitarian regimes) mass burials.\nThis is a country that believed \"every sperm is sacred\" but evidently could so cavalierly discard human remains of children. Inexplicable. Certainly another nail in the coffin of \"Catholic Ireland.\" Ironic, on the heels of his remembrance! And religious sisters were in the mix with authorities of church & state. (Another argumentt for separation of the twins that become evil when not disjoined at the hip).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Whether something is objectively evil depends on evidence, not reasoning from first principles (which is an argument from fantasy). A gay priest, even a celibate one, will understand and act accordingly.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Kind of like how progressive Catholics look away at the actual cause of the sex abuse scandal -- priests and nuns with ss orientation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Just like many other religions over the centuries have had to redefine themselves and defend themselves to prove they were committed to peace after being radicals (includes Christianity), so do the Islamic people now. And unfortunately, the radical Islam's out there are the cause of it by committing terroristic acts all over the world including America in the name of Allah. So you have a lot of people understandably scared and nervous. I do believe that before someone posts something they read, they need to investigate with due diligence the source and information of a story. I can guarantee that if any American walked around in Iran, Iraq or most any other Country with a majority of Islam people, you would find yourself in deep trouble pretty quick or headless. Until the radicals are stopped in a majority of the world, people of Islam faith will unfortunately face this kind of action even though they don't deserve it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Anyone who says that Pope Francis hates Catholicism and that Cupich, McElroy, Farrell, Joseph Tobin and so on are \"vicious anti-Catholics\" is clearly in cloud-cuckoo-land.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When you say \"we would admit...\" who is \"we\"?\nA source outside of human existence that has authority over human existence would make that authority by definition not connected to the very thing they have authority over. Reminds me of new age believers who claim there are things beyond what we can experience because they are not of this physical nature. And then they claim that they affect people. How could they be beyond and yet impact this existence?\nThe thing is, whatever analogy or metaphor we use to express God would seem to be minimize God's power. I have liked this definition: \"God is that which we cannot conceive\". \nI'm an Agnostic myself. Atheists think we're just weak atheists, and some Christians think we're ripe to be converted. \nI wish all religious were able to get along. And certainly, non-believers have their own faults. I am glad people find meaning in religion. And I know religious people think non-believers are very lonely. And rightly so.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is not exactly what you have been \"told by Christ\", is it?\nPlease quote the Bible verse(s) on which you are relying here.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Kudos to Senator Feinstein, a woman finely educated by Religious Women of the Sacred Heart, for continuing her practice of integrity. She is no more anti catholic than President Kennedy and her political life is testimony to her honor. Read about her.\nOf course Professor Barrett must be questioned about her ties to Vatican thought. Does she, like Mr. Bannon, believe that Vatican pontiffs are infallible in matters of doctrine? Some very strange doctrine out there for those of us asked to believe in them. Read about them and the men who came up with them.\n\nThis pretend outrage from bishops is rich comedy. They grow a pair over this. Typical.\n\nAW", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part 2\nAssuming a couple with sufficient education to understand the rationale of canon law, the priest must first explain this. But then he is also OBLIGED to explain the irreducible primacy of conscience in Catholic morality. Ultimately this means that when we stand before the judgement seat of Christ, we will be asked to explain whether we lived according to our knowledge of good and evil as experienced by our own conscience, after taking the trouble to inform ourselves as accurately as our education allows about the teachings of the Church.\n\nWere I doing this today, again assuming an educated couple, I would invite them to pray over the scriptural texts on divorce, providing them with appropriate modern scriptural commentaries. \n\nFirst, I would invite them to read Paul on the subject. Commentaries would point out that Paul says that Jesus was unambiguous prohibited divorce, but nonetheless Paul assumed the authority to override Jesus dictate given the circumstances of his people.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "don't worry eric......you have the exact society, economy and political system in place in Oregon that you desire. When are you going to create any good paying family wage jobs? Now if you could just eliminate all those christians and conservatives you despise so much your world would be perfect.\nBest thing the GOP could do now with Health Care is Nothing. Let the dems fix the mess they have created. Good Luck with that.....maybe senator smirk will tell us all the answers to this he believes he has?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Troubles in Ireland were created by good old English geopolitics where the English imported masses of Protestant Scots into Catholic Ireland. Boy, that sounds a lot like Churchill and others putting a lot of Jewish people into Muslim Palestine, doesn't it?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of course it is not a lie.\n\nYou have a plethora of personal opinions supported by unnamed \u201cscholars\u201d and an attitude.\n\nThe Church has two thousands years, the Tradition of the Apostles, and has considered all of these issues more than a couple of times.\n\nThere is no \u201cstifling attitude toward intellectual inquiry\u201d. You can stand outside the Church making faces at it, ranting at it, and giving it the bird.\n\nYou just can\u2019t do it within the Church.\n\nNo functional organization, not even a divinely founded one, allows that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Validity of what sacraments? We already know [have historical documents] that abbesses like St. Brigid of Ireland were ordained.\nShe was consecrated as Bishop as well. And it was a VALID consecration.\nBut there has been, and still remains, that misogyny [and Nora is correct] that women have been shackled with since Origin, Tertullian, Jerome and Augustine---[followed by Aquinas and others down through the ages]who taught the heresy that women are inferior,that Eve [and all women] seduce men into sin, and that women are not created in the 'image and likeness of Christ.\" \n\n\nWhen it comes to admitting that its edicts were wrong, the official church chokes on saying \"We're sorry. We were wrong.\" Infallible statements? That's what got us into the trouble that we have in so many areas of the church. We can't move on because a misguided pope in one age---made an infallible statement. And the Church, knowing better in a succeeding age, is strapped with that so-called 'infallibility'.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Good standing\" is a formal designation granted by bishops to individuals and entities under their ecclesial authority. NCR is an independent publication and, therefore, not under the authority of any bishop. Your condemnation of it as not in good standing is meaningless.\n\nAlso, your assertion that NCR is leading the \"ignorant faithful\" off a cliff is laughable. Unlike some of their right-wing counterparts, this publication doesn't present it's perspective as objective truth but, rather, fodder for intelligent discussion. If you want to find a publication that feeds on the \"ignorant faithful,\" I suggest you try the National Catholic Register.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Add to the equation today's news that Jeff Sessions' Justice Department has ruled that the prohibition on sex discrimination in the 1964 Civil Rights Act doesn\u2019t cover sexual orientation discrimination and it's very clear that this is Bone # 2 to the Evangelical base that's gone wobbly of late. \n\nSo, to those who before the election chastised me for predicting that Trump would do exactly this, all I can say is, \"I told you so.\" Trump used gay people (some of whom took the right-wing bait) in order to get elected. Now that he needs to throw the evangelicals a bone we're the first ones to get thrown under the bus. To quote Gomer Pyle, \"surprise, surprise, surprise!\" \n\nPeople who now think that Donald Trump has their back better re-read Martin Neimoller's famous quote that is referenced in that Charles Blow piece you linked to because, no matter who they are, Trump will eventually come for them. The only person he cares about is himself. Everyone else is expendable - including his family.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My original question:\n\nIf Jesus and his followers celebrated Eucharist as a communal meal seated around a table, what gives Rome the right to alter this simple act of worship (perhaps \"fellowship\" is a better word--more suited toward love of God and neighbor), given to us by the Lord himself?\n\nThe correct answer: \n\nAs is typical for an institution founded on imperialistic principles, it was gross theological overreach for the Roman church to add to or alter the early Rule of Faith professed and practiced by the apostles and church fathers.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Perhaps Jesus should have asked His followers to appoint His Apostles. Instead, He spent a night praying alone to His Father before selecting them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But all priests have bishops who will cover for them! It's the ancient privilege of the clergy, prolonged in time and space!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Grace is more original than sin. Jesus wasn't born, died, and resurrected as Plan B after humans screwed up the garden's Plan A. Jesus came not to save us from eternal death but to show us eternal life with His Father, an eternity which begins here in time. Even had no one ever sinned, Jesus would have still come. Why - because He loves us.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/why-does-connecticut-lead-nation-disaffected-catholics\n\nWhy Does Connecticut Lead the Nation in Disaffected Catholics...another NCR story.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How can you resolve a conscientious objection to abortion with voting for it being a human right of a woman to choose? Abortion devalues all human life and impacts on us all. It means voting against your conscience - which, according to Newman, is the voice of God unless the conscience is what he terms \"counterfeit\". \n\n\"Catholic\" is becoming a fluid term - like \"gender\". These \"scholars\" have no authority and their arguments are flawed and speculative. They do make an interesting read. I also enjoy science fiction and fantasy novels.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"That is why Barron's silence is so regrettable. In overlooking President Trump's culpability in violent rhetoric and \"radical subjectivization\" \u2014 both of which clearly upset him \u2014Barron is playing into the partisan narrative that certain sins are worse when certain people commit them, that a D-List celebrity's brutality is worse than the president's.\"\n\nThe author also says that Baron \"grossly overstated the violence he sees in college students who protest conservative speakers. At the very least, he did not concede that reacting to people with whom one disagrees using aggression rather than logic is not unique to \"the left.\n\nI'd think that a reasonable Catholic author would conclude by decrying all violent rhetoric, and holding the Left to account for its acts of violence and threats. Instead, the author chooses to relativize, make up stuff about the president abetting violence, and castigates Barron (who btw I'm no great fan of) for daring to object to the Left's actions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"What are U.S. Catholics going to do with Donald Trump?\"\nPerhaps we should be asking \"What are U.S. Catholic bishops and priests going to do with U.S. Catholics who decry Pope Francis because his teachings that come directly from the Catholic Savior conflict with the teachings of their new savior Donald Trump?\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I wonder if Feinstein's use of \"dogma\" was actually strategic. I imagine she's aware that, for many, it's an oppressive-sounding words that elicits an involuntarily negative response. It definitely sounds less positive (and less liberal) than \"social doctrine\" or \"moral teaching\" or a host of other terms she could've used that would've been more accurate.\n\nIf all this leads to a serious discussion about what it means to practice one's faith in the public arena, I'd be all for it. Bring it on. I'd love for the door to be opened to a robust discussion about whether one can be a conscientious, pro-life Catholic and still be opposed to legislative and judicial restraints on personal choice. For the record, I believe one can.\n\nBut I don't think that's what Feinstein was doing. I think this was an intentional shot across the bow of Catholicism. And she deserves to be called on it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Keep God out of politics...I'd rather expose the politicians for creating phony front groups designed to mislead Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ah, the Daesh, once they were so proud, didn't Baghdadi once boast that their filthy rag of a flag would be flying over the Vatican?\n\nIronically isn\u2019t it the Bible that says something about pride coming before the fall?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am happy to read an article about a church that is trying new and innovative ways to be relevant in the 21st C. I grew up in the United Church and it is well positioned to lead a quiet revolution in how we think of religion. It really should be about making the world a better place, one person at a time. Less bible, less false and hypocritical morality, less focus on rules that were written 2000 years ago and more focus on how to be an engaged and caring citizen. I would not read a medical text written by Galen to heal my broken arm, and we shouldn't be doing the same for religions guidance. I am excited to see the future of the United Church if they continue in this direction.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I can accept that anyone would find my comment shocking. I and others who have lived in the Richmond Metro area are not surprised. It is the way things are there and have been for over 150 years. The parish in question is an impressing Post Vatican II structure, but the mentality is of pre-Civil war. The onlything welcoming and impressive about that parish to non-whites is the physical church building itself.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Many Christians are worshiping the little god of their own creation, one that they have control over. \"Name it an claim it\" and \"Standing on the promises\" are but two examples of trying to \"work the Man\", control God. \"In Jesus' Name\" is invoked like a magic charm, little different than invoking earth spirits.\nFew want to acknowledge that there is a real Creator, who won't ever dance to their tunes. Atheists and agnostics are not alone in their rejection of the living God, many Christians are rejecting the real God, and embracing an ineffectual replica.\nBut, after all, they do have the right to join whichever social club they chose. And the right to support preachers with \"ticklish ears\". They also have the legal right to bring disrespect upon the \"Gospel\", by claiming to follow Jesus' teachings, while living a life to the contrary.\n\"They shall be known by their fruits!\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "More fake news from the Globe, there no proof that Russia interfered with the election. I'm sure that Putin isn't chortling, in fact he probably has a huge headache from all the allegations.\n\nRussia is a capitalist, and largely Christian country who only wants good relations with the west.\n\nThe deep state hates Russia for not stepping into line with the new world order.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "While challenging Trump, a deeper look into the process that enabled this man to become president is needed.\n\nFor decades, the libertarian (anti-government; anti-tax for corporations and the rich; anti-regulation; anti-public services including education and health care; pro-war but lower and middle income earners to pay for it etc) wing of the Republican Party had a stealth \"Southern Strategy\". Part of that was to validate the grievances of Southern whites.\n\nRobert Jessen, a Christian, evangelical journalism prof at U of Texas has an excellent article on the two racial genocides upon which the USA is build. Referring to these Archbishop Chaput encourages all Americans to learn a critical history of the \"original sins\" upon which their country is based.\n\nIn the spirit of St. John Paul II, the one the Knights call \"Great\", the Supreme Council needs to finance and facilitate a program to teach all dialogue (NOT debating) skills that enables people a safe way to explore this history.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, of course. In my world that money equals taking responsibility for destabilizing the region with Bush's war of adventure in Iraq. Can you say $2-$6 TRILLION for that awful war?\n\nHistorically, refugees have proved a benefit, rather than a liability. Your prediction they'd be \"on the taxpayer dime forever\" flies in the face of history. When my Irish Catholic ancestors fled the mother country during the potato famine in the 1840's, the Know Nothings claimed they'd ruin the nation, but a century or so later we managed to get one elected president. More recently, refugees fleeing the awful war in Vietnam have proved to be good, hard-working citizens.\n\nSo, Chin's lawsuit isn't frivolous, right? Or, do you want to alert us all to another part of the sky falling?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You're quite right, Chuckunfiltered, but so you don't get misconstrued as biased, be an equal opportunity anti-religionist. The ideas you oppose here are in Christian and Judaist ideological DNA too. Christianity has simply had more time to adapt to Western secularism. It will come, with Islam. Especially since such apps allow people to look for other less controlled individuals. :) Technology always carries liberating and oppressive possibilities.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How many is \"a lot\"? Does it compare to the millions (yes, millions) of Catholic men who fled the Church and joined conservative Evangelical / Pentecostal churches, especially in South & Central America? Even it the U.S. the flow of men to conservative Protestant churches is greater than the trickle who cross the Tiber. \n\nI still don't see how you reconcile your antipathy toward homosexuality with your other views that the readership here at NCR find so congenial.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Who are you to judge another' s calling in Christ? Who are you to condemn their flesh when Christ never gave allowance to treat women any differently than men in any Gospel? Do you forget it is Jesus Christ who will judge your worth in the end and not any bishop?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So the values of colonialism is still revered? You may say what you will about the never ending war on terrorism, but in the end, it is those same policies that slaughtered 100 million Natives here in our hemisphere, in order to steal and coerce the Natives resources and lands, in a government sponsored foreign policy that enriches a very few corporations and freebooters, with blood money profits taken off the backs of the Native owners, that created and continues the war on terror. Our government figures are bribed and coerced into supporting the foreign policy of resource domination, that dictates American taxpayers spend trillions overseas for the profit of a few white collar thieves, murderers, parasites and leeches, while defunding our infrastructure and health and social programs.\nThese so called christians going to their christian heaven makes as much sense as the murdering terrorists going to their Islamic heavens with their 72 virgins, after slaughtering innocents.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do you really want to make this a partisan issue Motley. You know I can go to the internet and find hundred of conservative, Republicans, Christian pastor, Evangelist, cultist/doomsday militias. all with a list of sexual abuses. You can do the same with liberals and Democrats.\n\nGood grief, this is a problem of human behavior that has little to nothing to do with political ideology. \n\nC'mon Man!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you for this wholly dishonest message, an attack on progressive Catholics. I keep saying that you are a blatant liar, and here YOU PROVE IT!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"It has absolutely nothing to do with Jesus.\" \nYou hit the nail on the head. These priests have forgotten what their calling is about. Their calling has everything to do with Jesus. Following Jesus, Teaching about Jesus, imitating Jesus, leading people to Jesus, representing Jesus, serving like Jesus, sacrificing like Jesus. \n\nPope Francis has their number. He gently and not so gently reminds them that they are to smell like the sheep not Chanel no. 5. They are to be working in the trenches not starring in the Vatican's next top model!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You may not, but many popes over the past 100 years in fact did.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, Richard, Hitler and the Nazis detained, imprisoned and killed German political opponents, teachers, students, people of low intelligence, the physically handicapped, mentally ill, Christians, military opponents, but you already know this. I hope you're having this recited for readers needing a reminder of 1930's Germany, Austria and Europe. \n\nAngela Merkel's answer to today's refugee crisis is a rejection of Nazism. It's far from perfect, but the best the world has to offer. So far.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Throughout the 50s and most of the 60s, and for most of the period I can remember before that, the Church was a fairly monolithic institution with a fairly unified Mystical Body of Christ. You may not have liked what they believed, but that's another question. Then came the Reformers and the outright revolutionists. When that occurs --- when a reforming or revolutionizing force sets out to change the status quo, monolithic institution -- who is sowing division? You may even be RIGHT to seek fundamental change, but in doing so --- and especially in the WAY it's done --- it can hardly be said that the static Church seeks \"division\" by trying to preserve its existence in the face of efforts to fundamentally change it. Those who seek \"reform\" or \"fundamental change\" are the ones seeking to divide. Indeed, not merely divide, but marginalize. And that's what we have now.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Really, you miss the point entirely. Being religious and believing in a god does not reduce or increase the chances of your becoming a criminal. The biggest contributors are socio-economic conditions and physical and psychological abuse. I am not an expert. However, my experience is that there are as many bad people in churches as there are outside. Being close to a god and hearing his message all the time, does not make any real difference to many people.\n\nNorth Korea is hardly a good example. Their leaders are nuts. The Koreans have no choice. They are forced to worship a different god: Kim. And communism only existed in its pure form once. Communism by definition should mean that everything belongs to everybody. This philosophy was adhered to by the early Christians. Communism is not bad. People oppressed others in its name, as has been done in the name of your god through the ages. Stop judging people by your measure.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As a recovering Catholic, I find Catholicism funny too. Not long ago, the Pope was railing at \"fake news\". The irony of this, coming from someone preaching about virgin births, water into wine, rising from the dead, etc. wasn't lost on me at all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\u201c'Although some other bishops and dioceses have instituted similar policies in part, this document is mean-spirited and hurtful in the extreme,\u201d Christopher Pett, incoming president of DignityUSA, said in a news release by the organization that rallies the church for full inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Catholics.\u201d\n\nThat means other bishops have done it before but didn't have a leaky office like Paprocki. Because that's how it got out. Usually, this stuff is kept under wraps until the unsuspecting family runs afoul of the edict and discovers there will be no celebrant, no funeral, no burial. Even the mob is treated better.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I was taught from the Baltimore catechism that God was all powerful and could do all things. I asked my teacher if God could create someone more powerful than Himself, because if He couldn't he could not do all things, but if He did, He would no longer be all powerful. Needless to say I got in big trouble and almost didn't make my first communion. This conundrum is an example of mutually exclusive absolutes, and there is more than one example of this problem in our definition of God. The solution to it is not to limit God with human thinking. God can be, and do, and evolve anyway God wants to.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Read what Pope Francis actually said about ordaining female deacons and will see it is not a possibility in his mind.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In the case of adultery, if Jesus really wanted to make an exception to the rule based on that subjective/objective mumbo jumbo of yours, He would not have corrected the exception that Moses gave the Jews because of the hardness of their hearts. Instead He restored the right order and effectively raised the bar by saying that even the thought of adultery is just as bad as the act of adultery itself.\n\nIn the case of homosexuality, if God really wanted to make an exception for homosexual couples in a committed relationship then He would have said so for as many times as He condemned homosexuality from Genesis to Revelations.\n\nWithout a doubt, there are always be going to situations that are so grave and extreme that it will require discernment and the internal forum but that is not what is going on here with AL, is it? AL represents an attempt to put into praxis what cannot be changed in doctrine now so that the doctrine will eventually be forced to change sooner or later.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(continuation)\n\nSecond, precisely what Ratzinger says is that the GROUNDS for the CDF's OPINION that woman may not be ordained is \"the ordinary and universal Magisterium.\" Now this is a technical term in theology that is seldom used in lay circles, and is now being massively misunderstood, even by priests who ought to know better.\n\nThe principle that something is infallible by the ordinary and universal magisterium means that something that has ALWAYS and EVERYWHERE been accepted by ALL Catholics is by that fact alone infallible. \n\nSo the issue of the infallibility of the prohibition of the ordination of women boils down, according to Ratzinger, to a simple question of fact\u2014has the prohibition always and everywhere been accepted by Catholics? \n\nRatzinger say Yes, but the overwhelming majority of theologians say No. And every single thinking Catholic has the wherewithal to reason to the conclusion that Ratzinger is wrong.\n\n(continued)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But did the information answer your question, or was becoming informed not your purpose in writing?\nre Irony -- it's fine. I just think there are critically important issues at play, that Catholics desperately need to become aware of and take a stand on. \nUS govt is planning to attack Iran and is threatening Russia and China. \nWhat do you know about Iran beyond the \"ironic\" and demonizing rhetoric? (nb M Sean Winter is less than a zero on understanding these issues) \nWhat do you know about US involvement in the destruction of Syria, in which Hillary was deeply involved? \nDo you know or care that Trump killed 30 civilians in Yemen, incl. an 8 yr. old American? \nDo you think these things are more or less important than Colleen's pro life bona fides?\nDo you think pro life means Anti War in all its ramifications?\nDoes Colleen think being informed about war & peace issues is essential to a pro life stand?\n\nMany here don't seem seriously concerned that their $$ pays to kill thousands. I am.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You're right, Janet, sexual thoughts don't have to be acted on. But you're not looking at this quite as a guy would. Men are naturally much more concerned about sex. I have read that males have on average sexual thoughts twice as often as women (study in Psychology Today). I imagine that it's about the same for gay and straight men. I would certainly agree with you that discernment and training must deal with sexuality. \n\nI didn't become a Christian until I was 30. Therefore when I read the following, I wondered how I would be able to deal with this command;\n\n\"But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.\"\n\nUltimately, I discovered that simply attempting to suppress and/or avoid the lustful intents in my thought life was impossible for me. But in my insufficiency, I found that if I totally leant back upon the Lord, He was able to achieve in me what I was unable to do in my own power.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are NOT forgiven your arrogant assertions as to the Founding (you are misleading) nor your ad hominem (\"our freedom to reject your personal hangups\") The \"conditions\" of our Founding are that citizens are guaranteed their natural rights, codified in the first 10 amendments, especially the free exercise of religion and the REJECTION of any government control or LAW respecting the establishment of religion. All but 4 of the Constitutional Convention members declared faith in a Christian denomination, 2 declared as deists. \nThe oath of office of all levels of legislature declares fealty to the Constitution, which is the practical application of the Bill of Rights. \nYou have erected a straw dog argument (not even on the level of the straw man fallacy) The 1st amendment supports and codifies the rights of individuals to free exercise of religion, speech and association. No subsequent law, regulation, interpretation can change that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The American people have been seriously played not to mention disrespected. Lots of mean Catholics and their trady organizations love it not to mention Mr. and Mrs. Bible Beating Bubba. The timed release of wiki leaks greatly swayed the election. And the media ratings? Beyond sensational! Now there's a motivation?\n It is not at all tenable that the source of the WL phenom could not be stopped and held to account. The wages of spin meant to slander by innuendo won the day but will be paid for by us. Now there's a lesson in how to get away with a dirty deed. Come on! In the most powerful nation no one can be held accountable? Foreigners get to manipulatively choose our president for us? Media market share is more important! No insider help here? Come had a real bogus time release too. \n The lessons we learned is sexist, liars, cheats, bi-ots bullies and billions win, The rest of us who act otherwise ... well we are considered to be just poor stupid schmucks.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You find a recalcitrant Catholic, familiar with the rabbis, who without any exceptions considered homosexual behavior a \u201cToaiva\u201d - an abomination so severe that it merited the death penalty. Were it not for the fact that homosexuality is prevalent in Western Society today, there would be little controversy. It is clearly forbidden and never condoned anywhere in the Torah.\n\nThe very context of the prohibition - it is couched between the prohibitions of child sacrifice and bestiality - makes clear the extent of the OT\u2019s condemnation.\n\nI specifically reject the revisionism of Theodor Noldeke, J. Maxwell Miller, John H. Hayes, et al that the sin of Sodom was inhospitality or that its plain meaning is a modern gloss. I complete reject their enterprise all related ones, including your own.\n\nSorry.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Constitution arises from an English legal tradition aimed at disestablishing residue of Abrahamic laws and legal fictions.\n\nNone of the Framers were Catholic or Jewish, yet the SCOTUS is now 6/9 Catholic and 3/9 Jewish.\n\nNorth of Mason-Dixon, especially in the Delaware Valley, these religions were seen as abusive. Abraham's torture of the child Issac. Imposing a legal fiction of \"virgin birth\" on infants. \n \nHere in Colorado, decades before the 19th Amendment of the US Constitution, the popular vote of men constitutionalized a prohibition on discrimination in women voting because of Catholic and Mormon religious immigration (both these religions have laws prohibiting women from voting).\n\nIf you want to be Catholic why not stay in a Catholic country (or return to one)? Virtually all of Latin America is available. Also, Ireland, Poland, Italy, Spain.\n\nIf you want to be Jewish why not return to Israel?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm always perplexed by clergy like Bishop McElroy who are proponents of big government programs that are designed to perform the functions that the Church is supposed to perform. For instance, caring for the poor, feeding the hungry, educating our children, caring for the sick. These are all functions of the Church, yet the Catholic Church over the past few decades seems all too happy to abdicate their responsibility to the State? For instance, Catholic Charities has received over $12.6 billion in federal funding since 2012. Does anyone not see how that amount of money could influence the teachings of the Church or the positions taken on political matters? Yes, illegal immigration is a political matter no matter how hard you try to make it a moral issue.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hi Nora,\n\nI've never believed that Christians [like the Anglicans] are against us. My comments were about stressing the DIFFERENCES that exist between Christian communions, like the Anglicans and Lutherans [especially], who have liturgical rites. I also believe that there is much more that we can do to work for unity with our Orthodox brothers and sisters. \n\nI do believe that you were going into the SOCIAL evils and certainly the Gospel evils that most Christians SHOULD strive to eliminate. I've worked with too many wonderful Christian groups to believe much in 'differences' but more in our similarities. One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No loopholes. Just Abundant Mercy. Even for all Catholic right-wingers, and ultra-right wingers!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Polarity on display. Essentially what you are saying is: I am not being divisive but you are because you don't agree with me. How about recognizing the possibility that people of good will can disagree on particular points while both seeking to know and love God as Catholics? The definition of a Catholic is not as one dimensional as you seem to think. There are tens of millions of Catholics who go to mass each Sunday, participate in the sacraments, and believe that artificial birth control is the right choice for themselves and/or their spouses, the civil gay marriage is an important civil right, etc.\n\nUnderstanding unfolded bit by bit, over centuries. And as we learn more about ourselves, our history, and about the universe, are we to not question and update what we can now understand? When did we come to know it all and be perfect in that understanding? Are we God Himself to claim such - or are we all fallible human beings?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Considering the bulk of the illegal immigrants are coming from Latin America, and considering the Catholic Church has had an overwhelming presence in Latin America for the past 300 years, one would have to wonder why Bishop McElroy has not questioned the ineffective role of the Catholic Church in Latin America rather than focusing the blame on the policies of the United States. The Catholic Church has failed miserably in Latin America and clergy like Bishop McElroy are deflecting blame by choosing the popular role of blaming the policies of the United States.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The main problem with this column, and much Catholic commentary on LGBT issues, is that it fails to recognize that teaching that homosexuality is \"intrinsically disordered\" is wrong-- both factually and morally.\n\nAs with other matters in which Church teaching has evolved, it will undoubtedly take decades, maybe centuries, to reach the point when Bishop Paprocki's action will be viewed as a quaint occurrence during a dark age.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is a much more complicated relationship than you make it appear. Sarai 'gave' Hagar to Abram (his name at the time, names are important) specifically so that she would have the child that Sarai could not have (at the time). I am not sure what constitutes a marriage, officially at that time, but clearly Hagar was a wife, just not the 'first' wife. This is a very human story. Sarai perceived that she was lowered in Hagar's estimation (because she had no son to give her husband), so clearly Hagar's thoughts and opinions mattered to Sarai. It is not Abram who initiates casting Hagar and her son out of the camp. And an angel speaks to Hagar and giver her God's promise to make a great nation out of Ishmael. True there is a rough prediction for Ishmael and his descendants, but that goes for some of Jacob's (Israel's) descendants as well.\nAnd have they not been borne out?\n\nInterestingly, I have heard Christians denigrate Ishmael as a 'servant's son' but I have never heard Jews do so.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Don't you realize how insulting you are to the posters here?\n\"but this site, most of its columnists and lot of their readers convict themselves as non Catholics by dissenting from Church teaching. They have decided for themselves and I just don't get how they can be so hypocritical and still insist on calling themselves Catholics???\"\n\nA 59 years old man should know better to call others you do not know\nsuch a insulting name calling? After that for you to expect 'a charitable liberal type Catholic reply' is a bit 'so hypocritical', don't you think?\n'In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the prophets. (Matthew 7:12 )\n\nI am being charitable to you to make an effort to help you understand how uncharitable you are here!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The burden the RCC places upon its God to have to forgive sins it manufactures! Its \"theology\" of fear creates more occasions of mortal (not counting venial) sins for its God to absolve.\nIts God is always in a heavenly confessional box due to the RCC's long list of sins. The RCC consigns its God to be relentlessly working to clean up its act. Just to be said, \"No rest for the wicked.\" Now, not rest for the divine.\nAn act of self-pleasuring is a mortal sin, in same category as an abortion!\nWhy should abortion have ever been a reserved sin if the former is mortal?\nA mortal sin is a mortal sin, according to the \"theology\" of fear.\nIs it to penalize women? Men don't have to confess it?\nWhy shouldn't self-pleasuring be a reserved sin? At least, bishops might be more acquainted with such and able to give more pastoral guidance than on abortion.\nWhat hath Jesus wrought?\nThe God of the RCC gets no rest, even with end of Year of Mercy. Misery is eternal?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I read that he was a 50-year trustee of the Palolo Chinese Home. His Christianity showed through. I much prefer his vision of integration to racial apartheid and divison led by OHA and the Sovs. Their way is the way of failure.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ray, Christians like you have slaughtered millions. Read a book.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Right, blame the victims. So, according to you, it's OK to misrepresent the religious symbols of others to get at somebody whose comments you don't like.\n\nDon't even know what a sacrament is, or anything 'bout mass, Catholic or otherwise.\n\nIf religious symbols have no place in hockey, then why did you go there in the 1st place?\n\nDouble standard. Ok for you to make jokes at the expense of the religion of others, but when they object, when they say you got your stuff wrong, you then get all high and mighty.\n\nHypocritical rebuttal, sir, hypocritical.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Here is how stupid the Catholic Church is on this. A marriage between a Catholic and a Lutheran in a Lutheran church is somehow a sin if the Catholic doesn't get the \"correct\" paperwork. But a piece of paper from the bishop makes it not a sin. Because God is a gov't bureaucrat.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The sad truth is that the current GOP base cares much more about being white than being Americans. The Democrats might have done more for those \"poorly educated\" white folks if the Republicans in Congress had not decided to obstruct anything that might help Americans for fear that Obama would get the credit. They are willing to sacrifice their poor relations for political gain. There is nothing Christian about that. I would pity those \"poorly educated\" white folks if they didn't think killing black folks would solve their problems. They are so ignorant that they can't follow the money. They think minorities and poor folks get more free stuff from the government than the 1%. Trump loves the \"poorly educated\". They are easier to con than the educated.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "C. Dolan wants to prevent that Catholics will not donate money in fear that donation will be used to pay for the clergy sex abuse victims compensations. He is spinning his little brain. \nYou would think a Cardinal would be a men of God, pray for the Holy Spirit's guidance instead spinning his little brain. \nIn light of C. D's tract record, who will trust this clergy 'conmen'?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Only in your Fox News/Limbaug/Spicer mindset as millions peacebly hit the streets while Rent-A-Cops assault same peace protestors and illegally round up those not involved in any violence or vandalism just like Nazi Germany. Your usual attempt to redefine the very term fascist to divert from the evil of the Republican tried-and-true lifetime fascists. Canadian White Supremacist slaughters Islamic prayers while Fox News tries to put the blame on a bystander. The same lies and deceit found throughout the White Supremacist, Fundamentalist Christian/Catholic government of Der Neo-Fuhrer Trump. The rights of the people to peaceably assemble will not be denied by any law. This fascist administration and Congress has already violated all of their oaths of office to defend all of the U.S. Constitution. Crawl back into the bunker, dolt.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Milo is an openly gay man purports to be a Catholic and does part of his hate routine in drag. The Cardinal Newman Foundation should have itself in vapors if such a character comes to a Catholic university. Milo might corrupt the students and turn them gay.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "It doesn't really matter. People who are Liberals, even if they are Christians, will have no problem with what she said. That's because today, it ONLY matters if \"your team\" is in power. Even if the policies \"your team\" implements actually is destructive, it does not matter. I find it funny that our dear leader will run around with a turban on, or a native headdress, or head to a mosque while his wife is shuffled upstairs, claiming to support said groups, only to rush to the defense of his chosen pick after she blasts those who may in fact believe something different. I find this fascinating. It's about science Mr. Trudeau states, shortly after he kneels in front of a grave of a soldier, then \"crosses\" himself, as most catholics do. Why, if it's about science would he do that since only idiots believe in something else? he is a hypocrite, and he would do anything for a picture, while having his peeps plan the destruction of the country right in front of our eyes.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Married priests are a no brainer, these men are already educated, ordained and ready to go. The deranged hierarchs that run the Catholic Church are amazing.....if you rape dozens of 8 year old kids you can say mass for the rest of your life.....if you marry a woman you are banned from celebrating the Eucharist. How many more parishes will have to be closed before the laity stand up to these ignorant leaders.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "No, when white men act like terrorists, they're called mentally disabled. But they do seem to have a brand of christianity in common. Your last sentence though is pretty funny and ironic.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "When one's ideological opponents are neck-deep in hypocrisy, and chin-deep in irony, the pleasure is almost unspeakable. Here, NCR --- where the core of its Catholicism is to challenge the Pope and the magisterium ---\npublishes a full-bore defense of AL, based on the premise that to reject the Pope on matters of faith and morals is profoundly anti-Catholic. If NCR were to accept Walford's contention, it would have to fire its entire staff, including the one who was previously fired from America Magazine.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Yes Marty E, we can agree. We both are glad I quit a Catholic seminary full of so much hypocrisy about sexuality.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Homosexuality is not one of my hobby horses, I believe the practice is wrong and goes against nature, but we do live in a few country, so in a strange way I defend their rights to their freedom, but I still believe it is wrong. Her argument is not reflective of Christian reasoning, that is the only reason I responded. Theologically one is not condemned for sins (even though many would differ with this), they are condemned for unbelief. And yes, homosexuals do not \"reproduce\" so they have a limited shelf life.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Christianity \"permits slavery\"? Slavery existed in all societies (in one form or another). It was Christians who led the fight to abolish slavery, both in the US and in the UK (Wilberforce).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh dear, it appears another hijacking is in progress. Odd, you claim you are not Eliane, yet you have responded to literally every comment I have ever made to Eliane...its as if you get notices of responses to that name? Shall we now pretend it is coincidental? If you feel vindicated, why to you take to the thread to lament your comments as Eliane being rejected? Sigh. And of course, one should be careful to brag of one's civility so soon after being sanctioned by the moderators. Your postings have certainly decreased since your suspension. So, now that you chose to start this conversation, are you going to start crying out \"leave me alone?\" I regret you feel the need to constantly snipe at my posts and harass me, but that is the cross I bear, and willingly, in my efforts to support the Catholic Church, as a true believer in the the Rites, Rituals, Rules, Laws, and Traditions that Jesus gave us when he crowned Peter the First Pope.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have always said that it will start in Europe. We just don't learn our lessons that history gives us. Muslims and Christians have never been able to co-exist in peace. Having said that the Middle East has been embroiled in war and terrorism for as long as I can remember. Sure there are reasons why such as the re-drawing of borders after WWII but even the Sunnis and Shiites can't get along. Wake up Canada, they want their own neighborhoods and rooms in schools to pray. Now they are Ministers in the Liberal Cabinet pandering to their own. They just can't get along with anyone.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't see how it's an \"ad hominem\" to note that others do not have to entertain the hangups that conservative xtians (and members of other conservative Abrahamic beliefs) have adopted out of personal choice. \n\n\n\nSince this is a SECULAR nation, not a Christian one, we are all free to reject such nonsense, since it's not required by law in a secular nation.\n\n\nAnd it's obviously a SECULAR nation since all those founders that were supposedly xtian somehow left out any mention of xtianity within the only document that has any bearing on the law, and that is the Constitution. They talked about this, and chose to leave it out. On purpose. It was no accident. Therefore: secular.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I had the pleasure of working in the health field where diversity was just a given. I've got friends who, although full Canadian citizens, are Sikh, Hindu, Muslim (Sunni, Ismaili and Shiite), Jewish, and everything in between. None of them has ever tried to convert me or even get me interested in their beliefs, other than explain to me what the background was to some religious holiday when they seemed to be celebrating some event. Some Christians (and only a minority, but a vocal one), on the other hand, have hounded me about my religion (more accurately, my lack of religious beliefs) and some of them have hounded me so much that I finally had to tell them to stop pestering me. I'm just saying...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Is a promise to make the poor suffer worth keeping? I thought Jesus cared about the poor. It is ironic that most Trump voters think they are Christians. Unfortunately, the irony is lost on Trump voters. Trump voters remind me of the \"good Germans\" that never asked where the Jews disappeared to.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Every single one of the problems these refugees from Syria are having integrating to Canadian life was entirely foreseeable. And why were they foreseeable ? Because almost all of the Syrian refugees hold islamic political beliefs, which are incompatible with western norms which cherish individual freedoms and defend equality of men and women before the law. Christian Syrian refugees would no doubt also struggle to integrate, but at least they would be trying to.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Then he shouldn't have agreed to them. Sound like he doesn't honor his word. How Christian!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "By the same token, Justin Martyr and Augustine must seem just painfully naive in what they say about Platonism? This Patristic inclusivism is probably the template for Vatican II's few but decisive steps. And what ecumenical and interreligious theologizing has shown again and again in practice over the last half-century its that differences are a source of stimulation and that the numerous affinities and intersections between the Roman Catholic and other traditions are a source of deep spiritual and intellectual enrichment.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part 3\nSecond, I would refer them to pray over those passages where Jesus grants full authority to his Church, suggesting that therefore, we the Church today have the same authority that Paul exercised in his day.\n\nThird, I would invite them to pray over the two passages in the Gospels where Jesus takes a stance against divorce. I would refer them to commentaries that point out that in one of these passages, Jesus allowed an exception in the case of adultery, whereas in the other there is no such exception in the text read literally. \n\nI would then invite them to note that on the basis of these two passages as different strands of the Christian Tradition have developed different canonical positions. Protestants in general accept divorce, building on the adultery exception in one Gospel and Paul's override of Jesus dictate. Orthodoxy completely rejects divorce, but when it happens, when marriages irretrievably break down, out of God's mercy it allow a second and even a third marriage.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But what you suggest, Emmett, does not result in a dialogue. Withholding donations has been roundly discussed on tis site for years and rejected (for the most part) in favor of directing one's money to specific Catholic agencies and programs. What I clearly wrote about was the laity as the majority of the Church demanding all of the topics so objectionable to the well-formed conscience be opened for full discussion and review. To make that happen, there must be clear strategies in place to force the matter. I have no vision of what your solution would in fact do, but I am certain it wouldn't get us very far. It IS a great response to the abomination of the handling of the sex abuse scandal, however. The faithful's money has been used to hide evidence, protect bishops, and pay diocesan defense lawyers. But that is a different matter from what I was addressing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The issue is:\n\nDo you believe that the Little Sisters of the Poor should be able to live according to the dictates of their conscience - regardless of whether you personally agree with them or Catholic teachings? Does the State have a right to override the religious freedom of a faith and insist its members facilitate the use of contraception despite their belief this is intrinsically wrong and harms the common good?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sr. Rose, that was an excellent review of \"The Keepers\" in the Global Sisters Report. What a terrible slice of history. There were details I noted you left out of your report--one in particular concerning the Catholic male gynecologist teaming up with the priest (I'll stop there)--that reminded me of a situation that was said to have occurred during my high school years . . . and made the allegations seem all the more credible. \n\nI was disappointed to see that someone tried to \"recover memories\" from the victims. Memory is unreliable to begin with and there was no excuse to set up the victims to be mocked and dismissed. But memory was not thoroughly understood in the '90s. Think I will watch this. \n\nJust a note to NCR that if the two broad topics in this podcast could be distinguished as Part 1 and Part 2, it would avoid the impression that Sr. Rose's review is somehow KoC-related, or that the doc relates in some way to the KoC. I was initially confused.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Reply: \"I was molested by a catholic nun in a catholic school in a catholic church.\"\n- If the catholic nun or sister was an employee of a parish or of the diocese, then the local church wherein the crime occurred should be responsible.\n- If the crime occurred in an academy or other institution wherein the nun or sister was an employee of her order, society, or congregation, or institute, or where she was an employee of an independent institution, then those organization are financially responsible.\n- Perhaps, someday, a case can be made that in as much as most women's (and men's) orders, congregations, or societies, or institutes have papal approval, the Holy See will be responsible for these types of financial damages.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jay Cross - Do you actually know any evangelicals or are you painting with a broad brush colored with your own bigotry?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nice try to equate sexuality and authority with liturgy. The first two are teaching from Christ himself, and therefor basic principles of Catholicism, rejected by the Protestants. Protestants screwed up liturgy, as well, as we can see from the plummeting mass attendance since Vatican II, so why even try talking about unity or unification? Protestants don't want it; they want the Church to conform.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sorry, but telling poor Catholics that it's OK to illegally enter another nation is abetting trafficking.\n\nYou can't say you're against trafficking, and at the same time say you're for illegal immigration.\n\nThink, and pick one or the other.\n\nSupporting the right to illegally enter a country is supporting the right of traffickers to make $ transporting illegals.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And let's not forget Pius XII's words on Fatima:\n\n\"I am worried by the Blessed Virgin's messages to Lucy of Fatima. This persistence of Mary about the dangers which menace the Church is a divine warning against the suicide of altering the Faith and Her liturgy. A day will come when the civilized world will deny its God, when the Church will doubt as Peter doubted. She will be tempted to believe that man has become God ... In our churches, Christians will search in vain for the red lamp where God awaits them. Like Mary Magdalen, weeping before the empty tomb, they will ask 'Where have they taken Him'\".\n\nSomething really embarrassing to the hierarchy must be in the Third Secret for it to be kept under wraps all this time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Where did you get the notion that God chose Israel because they were 'handy' in a theological sense? Israel was God's chosen people through Covenant. It was God that evolved their thinking towards monotheism. Jesus was the fulfillment of the Covenant.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, RickinMD---true. Then they carry it over to the laity as well. Hey, if the priests are 'not in the know'----for sure the laity ---who are 'poorly formed [doctrinally or theologically]. Back in 19th Century England---John Cardinal Newman believed that the laity should be consulted on the matters of faith AN ESSAY ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE [believe me, it's a book, not a short essay]. In this 'essay,' Newman developed a detailed concept of the \"sensus or consensus fidelium\" which DID come out in the Vatican II Document---Gaudium et spes. \n\nHowever, at the time, Msgr. George Talbot, the highest-ranking English-speaking member of the Curia at that time, thought Newman's ideas were nonsense. \"What is the province of the laity? To hunt, to shoot, and to entertain. These matters they understand, but to meddle with ecclesiastical matters, they have no right at all.\"\n\nIn today's world, the critics of Pope Francis probably think that of priests and the laity, too.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is such an enormous disconnect between what bishops think matters and what the laith think about, what motivates them, what interests them, what inspires them. The fact that they were going to let the the working group on immigration go out of existence and make the committee on their \"religious liberty\" become permanent. Their concern was for their own ability to wield power. So very Republican!\n\nThe big difference now in how bishops treat those who work at Catholic affiliated institutions is that most of them are laity, not nuns, brothers, priests. More, they are Catholics much more used to thinking for themselves and making their own moral decisions within a framework of Catholicism but not as children blindly following some supposed holy rules. The bishops can't treat lay employees the same way they treated vowed religious. \n\nReligious freedom also belongs to those who work for Catholic organizations. Where are their rights?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I understand how you feel and have felt. Soul murder makes a child feel completely abandoned and alone. Hopeless, lost, confused, angry, and used. \n\nYears later when bishops and other clerics are FORCED BY THE COURT to admit to the horror caused to victims by the churches evil response. The unnecessary pain and betrayal of victims calling out to the church for help. \nBishops put their fake pastoral faces on and spout hollow apologies in public but in private they spend big to keep the truth secret and to prevent victims from justice. \nMilwaukee is a perfect example of the church intentionally causing pain to victims. Listecki betrayed all of us. We were already hurt and betrayed by the church as children.\nWhen the church has a opportunity to really care for victims they almost always squander it. When will Catholics in the pews demand that victims are properly taken care of? Most Catholics say that they want victims to be taken care of, just not the victims in their diocese.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Listecki also betrayed his own church and set the poorest of examples for his fellow bishops. The American Catholic will never recover from this betrayal. As for us, we're still here, still breathing, and getting better by the day!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I worry more about attacks by Christian extremists such as the KKK that are emboldened by the election of Trump than by Muslims.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's a false Christianity that supposes one can love someone by going along with their rejection of God's will, and even \"celebrate it\"!\n\nIt's a false Christianity to suppose that one have a \"private interpretation\" of the divine positive law. \n\nIt's a false Christianity to think that funerals are merely our action, and that their main purpose is \"to give us closure\".\n\n'Loving our neighbor as yourself' is much much much bigger than you're thinking about. \n\nAnd it is telling that you left out the first part of that passage. \n\nChristianity is about learning to love with the very heart of Christ, which took Him to the Cross, in obedience to His Father and out of love for us.\n\nThe little view of Christianity generates a bunch of sad and petulent people.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What doe's it matter that prayer rooms have been allowed for 20 years ! That doesn't make\nit right!\nWhen I went to School we sang our National Anthem and recited the Lord's Prayer . Now, If you come to my Country I have to make your Traditions more important than mine .Why come to my country if you want to change it to what you left !\nI say if you would allow my Traditions in your country I would allow yours in mine - But that will never happen !\nYou kill Christians and will not allow any Churches in your Country !", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Once again, this poster makes the wild claim that half of America supports \"fascism.\"\n\nHe does not represent all Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Maya87 writes:\n\n\"one example - his regular declarations that he is a feminist yet his apparent fondness for accommodating the planet's religion that remains the most patriarchal and oppressive towards women everywhere.\"\n\n--\n\nWhich one would that be?\n\nChristianity, Judaism, Taoism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, Shinto, Tenrikyo, Cao Dai, Bahai?\n\nThey could all fit that description.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "it is instructive that the author never mentioned anything about Catholic identity, Catholic ethos, Biblical teachings or religious traditions, never mind Ora et Labora. The author's name was followed by the following: \"a Benedictine sister \"\n\nReally? How can you tell?\n\nSorry, Joan, the nation veered way off course decades ago, thanks to the Earl Warren Court, by throwing God out of schools, the public forum and the fabric of us. Where were you then \"Benedictine sister\"?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I once saw a debate between Carl Sagan and a Fundamentalist Christian minister. The subject was the structure of the universe and the theory of evolution. While Sagan quoted research and observation, his esteemed collegue basically said that the Bible was correct because he believed it was correct. There was no real debate.\n Many people who identify themselves as Theists, have no problem also accepting scientific principles as real. The danger is to refute the perils of issues like environmental degradation, climate change, and planetary history because of strict religious beliefs. G. W. Bush had cabinet officials that believed that the end of the world would be a good thing, and their policies reflected that. A good question to ask Canadians would be, \" If we screw things up on our planet, will God fix it?\". \nAs the Sufis say, \"Trust in Allah, but tether your camel first\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "seriously? more people have been killed over biblical wars than any other fighting sentiment. \n\nyou can hold your cross. I know how to be a decent human being without following christian dogma", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Then logically you should be afraid of Christians as well.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you opt to attend a Jewish school you should expect to learn about Judaism. The same for a Catholic education system. If you do not want the Catholic part, then do not attrend. Go to an Indian restaurant and not expect spicy food? Huh? Some people want to pick and choose the good bits of their education system, but it is an all or none choice. you go and study or you do not. Otherwise there will, by definition, be some exclusion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Romans executed Jesus to prevent a riot from the Jews. The Jews wanted him gone because he both threatened the Jewish religious leaders' power and disappointed them because he wouldn't start a revolt to push out the Romans.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Speak for yourself, CAELew. \nIf your church keeps hemorrhaging, it will be -- for all practical purposes -- extinct in a decade. Less than one percent of the US population belongs to it, the Protestant Episcopal Church. And your ecclesial counterpart in UK -- the Anglican Church -- has shrunk from 17% of the population (identifying as Anglican) to 15% just this month. Nothing great about that, making an ideal out of loss -- unless you have trained your imagination in fantasy to see past reality. \n\nFinally, the CC (according to Pew's most educated/least educated/highest income/lowest income Study) has the most educated and richest block of members -- over 12 million on them -- of any other denomination in US, Christian or otherwise. The most the EC can come up with in that category is 700,000; and the highest income group -- American Jews -- can only come up with 2.6 million members in that category.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So when I come back from a trip outside the USA will I have to declare myself a \"Christian\"? Then what Christian sect is the correct one to declare? I thought our country had no formal religion!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What a broad brush you paint those Christians with my friend. Is the definition of evangelical one you are making up yourself? What if the church doesn't happen to fit your definition?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As a good Christian one would say, let Kim hurt us if he wants to, which shows how useless ...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"The diocese issued a statement clarifying that \"the communication attributed to Bishop Morlino was not an official diocesan policy, though it does conform with the mind of the bishop and meet his approval.\"\"\n- Note to self: Do not invite this bishop to anywhere that families are gathered; pretty much always keep him far away.\n- No doubt there will be an increased wariness of catholics in this diocese. Perhaps the other christian churches should prepare for parochial refugees.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You pretend Trump is accomplishing what Hitler accomplished in the 1930s. That reveals a shocking degree of pampered parochialism your thinking. \n\nLast night on TV, on NBC from America, the first reports were these: - Trump's bans against Muslim majority countries are causing chaos for travelers of many types - The tweet from Justin Trudeau is read out word for word (\"... Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith...\") - a Muslim mosque in Texas burned down last night, and investigators are probing it as possible hate crime, having arrested a local man for a hate crime a few years ago involving that mosque. \n\nHello? Germany's 1930's press was no conduit of empathy and facts about minorities, like USA news above. Indeed, Goebbels, the government master of newspapers then, fired all Jewish journalists in 1933. Cartoons of Jews as rodents then appeared, and claims that Jews needed blood of Christians for rituals.\n\nGet a grip. America is not 1930s Germany. Not even close.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That part about using children to draw their parents in is so true! I was one of those children. At the age of 5 or 6, I begged my parents to let me ride the bus with a friend that attended Sunday school. My parents were Christians but did not attend church at that time. Back then, 1974-75, ABT was a small church. Mr. Prevo, not sure it was Dr. Prevo back then, used to teach the Sunday school classes himself. All I remember about that first class was how much he stressed to all of us children how critical it was that our parents show up, and if not, there would be consequences the next time. The next Sunday I tried to tell my parents that they had to come but they just blew it off and said, \"We will next time honey.\" Within the first 5min. Of class, Mr. Prevo found out who brought their parents. Needless to say, I got spanked and was screamed at and told that my parents and I would go to hell. When my dad found out, he almost shot him. I never went back! I will never forget that", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dr. Jirran, I hope your implied equivocation isn't meant to suggest approval of patriarchy in either religion - or indeed in any other guise. When Muslim lives and health depend on dogmatic teachings on gender, it's academic if Christianity is just as misogynistic as Islam. To those Muslims, it's the power of their own clerics who matter most. \n\nIt isn't Christian or humane to ignore injustice committed against those of another religion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Rev. Britton, when you claim that \"this belief (i.e. Christianity) has dramatically improved the world,\" aren't you overlooking the genocide of millions of indigenous North and South American natives at the hands of the European Christian conquerors?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When one asks why the 'C' in NCReporter stands for 'Catholic' the stock answer is that it specifically reports on Catholic issues. Why is it then that this article and at least 5 others in the Morning Briefing are not issues which specifically pertain to Catholics or Catholicism at all?\nI'm beginning to think that National Democrat Reporter or National Anti-Trump Reporter might be a more honest title.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thereby making the Catholic system even more irrelevant. It's time to scrap this anachronism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": ".\n\nI wonder if MSW ever has opined on the pragmatic political effectiveness (or ineffectiveness) of Catholic leaders making being anti-contraception such a requirement of being pro-life. I would love to hear his insight on this. Does anyone know how he feels on this issue? \n\nDoes MSW think either/both anti-abortion a) support and b) credibility are unnecessarily lost with this pairing? \n\nAnd I wonder if fellow pro-life Christians wish Catholic clergy would stop pairing abortion and contraception in their messaging, since many (most?) of the most ardent pro-life evangelical leaders see contraception as a loving, responsible component of family planning and successful marital relations--and not an effective or necessary part of the anti-abortion message at all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are 2 billion Christians in the world and yet you violate your own principle by conflating one impious Christian loonie in the US with every other one in the world based solely on his actions?\n\nIt would seem you too made an \"unfair\" comment. lol", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is something radically wrong with the \"radical fundamentalist\" Christian/Catholics. IF the author's reporting and observations are correct then the foundations of this cadre are: a) privilege - of wealth and/or position; b) a self-identification with traditional markers, i.e., idols, of institution rather than with the person/message of Jesus, and c) the reciprocity of (a) and (b). Seems rather clandestinely \"cultish\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thanks, I was worried about that. No doubt your wit and humor will be fully revealed to them when they read your many postings, and they will see the personification of the christian virtues. Quite droll, really.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is our sexism that is the problem and the laity's refusal to demand women be ordained equally to men in our church. \n\nAnglicans and Episcopalians may have their issues but they lack one of our biggest problems, they have plenty of priests and we do not. \n\nJesus does not support sexism and he commands we treat all the same and as we would like to be treated. Time to end the hate and ordain women at all levels of ministry, and the same as men, and also allow optional celibacy for all called to priesthood, male and female.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "All Christians, Jews and other religious denominations are angered and will retaliate every time another Muslim demand is made and honoured. This is beyond ridiculous that Muslims are allowed to force their religion down our throats. This is a very serious situation and there will be more violent attacks when our government refuses to curb this activity. Muslims can take time from their days at school to pray, yet our Lord's prayer has been dismissed as being controversial. Yes, this is going to get very ugly and could easily turn into civil war. That comment is not outrageous. Muslims have come from that very climate and they didn't leave that on the shores behind them. This is just the beginning of a rally.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Geert Wilders accused opposite of failing to stand up for Christians, and said resisting Islam was a matter of survival for the Netherlands.\nHe has stated the following:\n \u2018Political Correctness and Islam Will Destroy Our Nation\u2019 Why,Islam and democracy cannot coexist. And you can see that in, literally, every country in which Islam is dominant. We can see a total lack of freedom, you can see widespread violence and oppression, whether you are a Christian or Jew or whether you are an apostate or a critical journalist\"\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma2Tbkk8lZc\n====\nThis as Justin Trudeau\u2019s call to the world that Canada could be the first ever \u201cpost-national state\u201d with \u201cno core identity\u201d.!!!!!!\nTalk about worlds apart,", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "not really, fact is atheist dont reproduce and radical muslims, Jews, Hindus and christians do. More religious u are the more u reproduce just look at Israeli and Saudi Arabia compared to secular non religious Denmark............", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Barrett\u2019s questioning could imply a few things. One, is whether she would recuse herself if her local Catholic bishop were to try to ban her from receiving communion if she followed precedent and upheld Roe (she has no authority to do likewise) or would she uphold Roe as required and explain to the Bishop why she was forced to do so? The other piece, also above her pay grade but still important is whether she would uphold the Fourteenth Amendment generally, which restricts state against those minority groups if feels behave immorally in their private conduct, particularly gays and women seeking abortions (recognizing that regulating abortion is permissible as long as it does not pose an undue burden at certain points of the pregnancy).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Paul: You might enjoy the article in this morning's RG about the Greens and the purchase of looted artifacts for their \"Christian\" museum. These folks spend millions to proselytize for Christianity while, at the same time, purchasing looted artifacts.. Read the entire article and I think you'll see there's no doubt they knew the items were stolen. They went to considerable effort to slip them by customs officials. Hypocrisy know no bounds. Gary Crum", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Churches have a calming effect on people.\"\n\nMan o man Dick, that one gave me a good laugh when I think of your past recent rants against the Catholic Church in Anchorage giving aid to the needy. Your pastor then, isn't doing a very good job, or either you're falling asleep in church or most likely, you attend on Easter and Christmas and call it good. \n\nYour spirituality is just like your politics, conveniently skewed towards rightwing and righteous fear mongers who are a little better at branding and deception. But God bless your loving soul anyway.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'll give Thomas this: after his early Reaganolatry (and Reagan was scarcely a more sincere Christian than Trump is, he was just personally a lot more decent) Thomas been at least somewhat consistent since around 1990 in reminding Christians that their salvation doesn't lie in politics. Yeah, he supported Geo. W. Bush, but to the best of my recollection (and I obviously don't read everything Thomas publishes), he wasn't one of those Bob Jones dominionists who told Bush he was the Lord's anointed to pave the way for a New American Theocracy. Thomas is saying here, as clearly as his Christian readership allows: don't vote Republican this time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And they wonder why they are losing parishioners in Europe and around the world. Nothing's changed with this Pope, it's business as usual. When the U.N. some years back, asked the Vatican to open up the records on the thousands of children world-wide that were abused, Pope Francis refused, just like this case, he said they'd handle it \n\n\nProblem is, the Vatican, from the child sexual abuse to a very healthy, or so it seems today, Pope Benedict stepping down after a close aide destroyed his Papacy with release of the Vatican banking papers, has lost most if not all creditability any more. I hear many of its beautiful cathedrals are so diminished of patronage, several may have to close in Europe. The election of the new Pope has done nothing to remove the stain, it only grows and reveals more.\n\nCanonize more Saints, liberalize, whatever, but the hits just keep on coming for the Western Church and the Vatican. God humbles the most powerful, even as the wolf now ravages the elect today.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A problem I often fall into myself is making it seem that all pharisees were the same. Some seemed to be good friends of Jesus. They invited him to dinners. And doesn't even Paul brag of being trained as a Pharisee?\n\nTrue, the Gospel accounts set us up for that, the way John's Gospel use of the term 'Jew\" sets us up for anti-semitism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I found part of your comment to be very interesting, specifically;\n\n\"History has long shown us that when a religious portion of any given citizenry comes under the thumb of the non religious population of that very same citizenry horrible things happen.\"\n\nIn case you weren't aware of this let me show you a truth you may have overlooked, using your own words...\n\n\"History has long shown us that when a *non*-religious portion of any given citizenry comes under the thumb of the *religious* population of that very same citizenry horrible things happen.\"\n\nI believe the Spanish Inquisition would be considered close to that. Many of the 'Christian' religions have long held pagans, witches, and wiccans to be quite loathsome, and terrible things happened to them. I think the current situation in Turkey, with the Muslim officials taking action against the secular military, falls under that banner. I can offer more examples if you'd like...............", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Are non-catholics allowed to pray in a catholic church bishop or does your God only recognize certain people?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What \"evidence\" would that be? There is no source outside of the Christian Church that makes any mention of Jesus, but for one mention of a rumor about him that doesn't include an actual citing. Not even in the Dead Sea Scrolls. You'd think that non-Christians would have written \"something\" about his reported miracles, even with skepticism. But there's nothing.\n\nIt wasn't even determined until the Council of Nicea, 300 years after the crucifixion, that Jesus was officially the Son of God. Until then, it was a point of contentious debate that was decided by a committee with no claim to Divine Inspiration. It was a political decision to keep the peace. It was also where the convoluted concept of \"The Trinity\" was conjured up.\n\nThe earliest books of the bible were written some 50 years after the crucifixion. How much can you remember ver batim of what you heard 50 years ago? After 50 years, most eye witnesses would have been dead.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Once again your penchant for pedantry doth seem at diametric odds with your apparent lack of comprehension for arguably pedestrian discourse... Alceste. To paraphrase you paraphrasing someone else - What about Judeo-Christian Type do you not understand. Don't omit the word Type in your attempt to grasp my prose. It's there for a reason. I used the term Judeo-Christian to make a point which was clearly lost on you, however, you cant spell Judeo-Christian without Christian, and that would be the half of that term that I would best identify with, and so, for the sake of your enlightenment: no, Christians do not condone the segregation of males and females in our holy houses, just as Christians don't condone the diminishing of women's social status whether that's in the bedroom or the boardroom. It seems to me however that YOU, do exhibit some sort of odd proclivity for seeing the promulgation of archaic practices that would shut women up, in one way or another. I love women.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Countries governed by Islamism are just shining beacons of individual liberal freedoms (just look at Turkey's \"progression\" under the AKP or the 57 members of the OIC at the UN. The fact that smug \"progressives\" in Canada champion symbols of female subjugation is shameless irony, considering the niqab is only common in countries where women are treated like second class citizens, without exception. Interesting how smug progressives are silent when liberal female Muslims are bullied into submission or ostracized as provocateurs for choosing not to wear head coverings. In Iran, women are beaten by morality police for showing too much hair but in Canada, it's always a women's choice - blind ignorance by Canada's leftwing blowhards demands we can't defend women who are ostracized for failing to submit to their pious obligations, because it's not PC. The double standard is truly shocking - Christianity and Judaism are fair game for satire, but Islam is beyond reproach?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My \"Latino\" memories are of Puerto Rican \"nationalists\", armed to the teeth, rushing Blair House in an attempt on President Truman's life. A few years later, Puerto Ricans infiltrated the US House of Representatives and randomly shot at people on the floor of the House from the Gallery. \n\nIf the US is to be a \"sovereign\" nation, we really do need to examine what exactly the word \"sovereign\" means, and then rule ourselves accordingly. We are NOT a northern state of Mexico, or any other nation, ethnicity, religious bent. If anything, like it or not, this was founded as a Christian nation constitutionally receptive to all religions, all peoples, in equality. Illegal immigrants violate that premise. The did not equally apply to enter this country to live here permanently, with all those who did, who worked to become citizens. Cutting to the front of the line makes you an adz, not a hero. Defending the illegals, their law breaking, makes Gov Brown an adz.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree with you fully! If this article's readers know more than the current Pope and all those before him, become Episcopalian. Have your women priest there. The Catholic church is not a democracy. Public opinion and popular culture should NEVER be the leader of the church. I follow Jesus not the whims and whining of man.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This article is fishing. Well, here ya go. I am very afraid of Sharia Law becoming a reality in this country with all of the rhetoric focused on one isolated case with typical Canada having an extreme all encompassing response. Well, Muslim's stole our house from us by organizing against us. What did Canada do to protect us? Muslim's want Sharia Law which essentially replaces our judicial system for their own which would result in women losing most of their hard fought rights. What other religion wants to assimilate/exterminate all others because their's is the all righteous? Dangerous. Does not mean I want to commit violence. I want to create awareness of the dangers BEFORE Canada has an all encompassing response and I also want the rights of all the people who occupy our country protected. I am a proud christian - and I do not apologize for this. I do feel threatened as what articles discuss our religion in the paper? How many times has a Christian stole my home?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I was raised a Christian and I don't understand the outrage at all. Forcing ALL children to repeat the Lord's Prayer, no matter what their religion, is clearly not going to work. However, allowing students to voluntarily gather in an unused classroom to discuss their religion is not unreasonable.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you can't see the 'good Doctors' hatred in this latest tirade, then you are either not reading it, or choose to look the other way when confronted with a very ugly truth. The race baiting techniques alone qualify as a subtle form of racism. It makes me wonder just who really is 'upset' over Trump's desire to, once and for all, give DACA recipients some peace of mind.\n.\n I believe Congress will do the right thing and 'defer' no longer. They will make it permanent, taking a weight of worry off each recipients shoulder. Those who wish to become American citizens will be given that opportunity, as they should. Leaving their 'status' un-resolved is neither Christian nor American, Jack.\n.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Was this common in Catholic Churches prior to WWII? I don't remember seeing any in photos before then.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The divide isn't between evangelicals and everyone else, it's between devout Christians - both Protestant and Catholic - and everyone else, including tepid Christians.\n\nDevout Christians are intolerant of dishonesty, because that's what Holy Scripture teaches: Lies are the devil's language. God detests lying lips. Jesus is the Way, the TRUTH, and the Life. Someone who can't be trusted in small matters shouldn't be trusted in weightier ones.\n\nBearing false witness against another person even made God's \"top ten list\" of sins, along with murder & idolatry.\n\nMost other people take a softer line. If you say, \"everyone lies,\" you'll get no argument from them.\n\nSo scandals like Climategate & Fakegate, which revealed leading alarmist climate scientists hiding & manipulating data, blackballing & smearing skeptics, and behaving more like political activists than dispassionate scientists, discredit the climate scare, in the eyes of devout Christians, more so than in the eyes of other people.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It doesn't take much reading of what Jesus said to show he wouldn't agree with Graham's interpretation. Many Christians I know are saddened with what Franklin Graham is saying and vehemently disagree with him. Going to a church that many would negatively call \"fundamentalist\" (as they don't understand the origins of that term in an old book called \"The Fundementals\" and which doesn't reflect much of what is said today), I can say that Christians should not divide their lives on a left/right political scale. That is not following what Jesus said. We have people across the political spectrum.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And just look to trump as prime evidence that anyone can pretend to be a Christian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would think the faithful of New Ulm would know that the diocese has been fighting victims for decades and kicking the can down the road for quite some time. \n\nThe odds are that in every diocese children are being abused by clergy this year, last year, ETC \nIt takes many years for them to come forward. \n\nWhen they come forward the same thing will be said. We were not here had nothing to do with it.\nRead the parents complaints you will see. The AD, bishops, teachers, and parents are responsible\n\nI will send you a police report on this priest from 2013. Then the Catholic DA did not charge him.\nViewing this report, will make it very clear to you and prove what I mean. There will most likely be over 50 victims that will come forward from this priest in the next 10-15 years.\n \nin January of this year, one of his child victims came forward she is a minor and he admitted to many molestations. That Milwaukee priest was arrested last week and charged with 4 cnts felony child sex abuse.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Don't know & don't care lol you sound like a child being told off. Are you American? I'm from England where to be perfectly honest until social media, I'd never really heard off vat2 trads sedes Novus Ordo R&R & all the rest of it. Even now living in a quite village attending our local Novus Ordo parish if I asked the people there old & young most wouldn't know about all the arguing & splits in the RCC they just go to church & there happy doing that. When I've said to some older people there would they like to go back to mass in Latin priest facing the altar they all said no! Maybe it's mainly American Catholics who started all this it seems that way I'd say 90% whatever there views are American. I'm not being anti American rather just trying to explain way I see it. My own faith was much clearer & happier until involving myself in all this. When your told that novus Ordo mass is not RC you start to ask why then you enter the problem! Confusion reigns!! I pray for Gods guidance", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Interesting that the story specifies that the Martinez family is Christian and have spent their lives in Lane County. \nIn all fairness, I wonder if the Guard will please specify the religions of anyone profiled in a story (home owners building on the river, suspects nabbed after chase, etc) and also publish how long they've been in Lane County. \nOr was it the name \"Martinez\" that made that necessary?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree that it doesn't belong but I also don't agree with the fact that as a Christian I would likely be tortured and killed in a multitude of Muslim countries around the world-yet I'm being told to be tolerant--tell me how many Christian churches/Jewish synagogues there are in Saudia Arabia?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Tobin said he will \"encourage the journey of all\" in the Newark Archdiocese \"to ever greater love, knowledge and faith in Christ.\"\n\nWE WILL SEE, not by Tobins pretty words, only by his deeds.\n\nWill he continue the practice of keeping secret the names and files of dangerous clerics with substantiated claims?\nWill he continue to fight victims at every turn being a lawyer instead of a pastor?\nWill he spend millions to prevent victims from an opportunity for justice and their attempts for SOL reform?\n\nTobin said that one of his favorite descriptions \"of the experience of faith is 'a willingness to be surprised by God.' \nWell I am willing to be surprised by a Catholic prelate if one ever has the guts to fraternally correct one of his fellow clerics who have hurt many victims through their cruel and selfish response to the sexual assault and rape of children which the call the abuse scandal. \nThis \"scandal\" has been public for decades and this organization refuses to respond like a church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What might be the next steps?\nMaybe...\n1. We are told (some with rote rigidity) that salvation is only through the Roman Catholic Church. Meaning of course, \"be\" card-carrying, pre-vatican2, envelope registered, members. Ditch it. Jesus is the redeemer of humankind and that it is only through the act of Jesus that all persons are redeemed. As the advert goes: \"membership (in institution) not required\".\n2. The Creator, Spirit, Jesus, act in and through creation. \"Church\", dogma, doctrine, liturgy, celebrate the many faces of human focus of, with God.\n3. Civility, compassion, ethics, morals, love (as are their absences) are of the human condition - in the image and (not) likeness. Focus on what we share as human. Distinguish \"belief\" as sect and dialogue for learning. \n4. Eucharist, outward sign of mutuality to/in Christ the redeemer, instituted before death and resurrection, other times and places - breaks the bonds of time and space; by His infusion nourishes, unites, not divides,", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, actually it doesn't. I assume this is not intentional but you missed the sentence immediately following what you cite, \"That nearly all of the congregations in town turned out to be Christian does not reflect an aversion or bias on the part of town leaders against minority faiths\"\n\nNor the sentence immediately following\n\n\" The quest to promote \u201ca \u2018diversity\u2019 of religious views\u201d would require the town \u201cto make wholly inappropriate judgments about the number of religions [it] should sponsor and the relative frequency with which it should sponsor each a form of government entanglement with religion that is far more troublesome than the current approach. \n\nWhat it means that if there are Jewish synagogues within the town's borders it must offer an opportunity for a rabbi to give an invocation. HOWEVER!!!!! If there are no Jewish synagogues within its borders it does NOT have to reach out beyond its border to find a Jewish Rabbi to give an invocation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Deuteronomy 27:19. \u201cCursed be anyone who deprives the alien, the orphan and the widow of justice, all the people shall say, Amen.\u201d\n\nI am now forced to ask those in favor of sanctuary status to harbor illegals away from justice why they are depriving the illegal alien from receiving justice?\n\nDid Christ ever break the law? If we are honestly Christian, followers of Christ that make every attempt to mirror his image, how can we then promote the idea that we can break the law? \n\nOne would have thought that Christ's ordeal with the priests who were trying to trap him by having him deny what as Caesars, then a lawful tax, as belonging to Caesar. Well he settled the issue but carefully note, he paid the tax. How he orchestrated that payment is not the real issue when pertaining to following the law but that it was paid. \n\nThe problem in most minds is the word justice. If it's in their favor it seems they are OK with it. But it cuts both ways as justice can have negative attributes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Doesn't matter who's pope. The structure is hierarchical and monarchical and unaccountable in the end, leaving women in second-class citizen status under Catholicism and gays, pro-choice advocates, and pro-contraception persons in the sinner category. Why? Because of a sacred text with some oppressive pronouncements in it that play out at the level of cruelly enforced dogma the world over, all in the name of an imaginary firmament. No amount of fine diction from the columnist and no variations in papal leadership styles will change any of that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Jacobson and others involved in the Solutions Project, as it is known, believe that all 50 states can generate 80 percent of needed energy from renewable sources by 2030 and achieve a 100-percent transition to clean energy by 2050.\"\n\nI should hope so. The fossil fuel lobby, its bought and paid for henchmen in Washington, and its parrots in the media try to convince us that science doesn't matter and that right-wing propaganda will save us from global climate change. It is our duty as Christians to fight their mendacious agenda.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The wise priest helps one to form a good conscience by pointing out to the penitent what the Church teaches regarding his or her particular moral problem. If the penitent does not like or agree with what the Church teaches then the priest cannot force him or her to accept the teaching, he can only point out the consequences both temporal and eternal of rejecting that teaching.\nTo say that conscience is paramount is to misinterpret the doctrine of primacy of conscience. How do we form our consciences? Basically there is something inside each of us which enables us to distinguish right from wrong in most situations. In more complex situations we Catholics have the Church's teaching authority to inform our consciences. If we are prepared to reject what the Church teaches, why are we going through this 'spiritual direction' at all?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mr Trump is probably an anti-Catholic bigot. I will go further and state that most if not all of his supporters actually think he is a pretty awful person who has said bad things. But none of that matters, and they are supporting Mr Trump anyway because they want to send a fighing outsider to Washington and take on the political establishment of both parties.\nWhat is interesting is that Secretary Clinton's supporters refuse to even consider that she has said and done some bad things. To them, she is a poor victim of a sexist rightwing Republican conspiracy who just hate her because she is a woman. To them Secretary Clinton is as pure as driven snow without a single blemish. \nSo on one hand is a party supporting their candidate with eyes wide open because they expect him to turn DC upside down. The other party is supporting their candidate with eyes closed shut, fingers in their ear, ignoring the avalanche of facts Wikileaks is exposing. \nWhy do Democrats do that?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The current pope, unlike his predecessors, may be discounted by True Catholics, when his positions vary from those of the Courageous Bishops of the USA.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thanks for your reply, Pat. I did look at the site you posted and, as you probably suspect, I disagree with most of it.\n1. While clumsily stated, it's already a fairly Catholic notion. \n2. God revealed Himself as \"Father,\" and Jesus was certainly male. Using \"inclusive language\" is not a translation of anything, then, but a re-write that holds not even a tenuous grasp on that which was originally written. In addition, it would make the reading clumsy and prone to all sorts of error. The remainder of this tenant also rejects the very first of the Decalogue - not good at all!\n3. Earth is not mom. It is not a being in any sense of that word. We must be good stewards of resources but for the sake of others, not for the sake of an anthropomorphic planet.\n4. While the words are English, the statement makes no sense. It appears to be written to sound important but there is no logical cohesiveness to the various phrases.\n5. Honestly, psychobabble, IMO.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So you are obviously not Catholic and just pushing an agenda on a Catholic site. No one claims any humans will act perfectly. We know from Joseph Kennedy Jr.'s first wife that the system can be rigged. But that is why Christ told us NO divorce. Do you think there is ANY situation He can't handle? It is all a lack of faith and love and the tribunal doesn't \"use\" God. It may abuse authority, but it cannot \"use\" God. He allows our free will. It is not a silly piece of bureaucracy. It is a fallible best effort at keeping souls close to Christ. You have no trust or faith. If a soul fights for truth hard enough, it will succeed, as the first Mrs. Joe Kennedy, Jr. taught us.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I blame this on the RCIA instructors. Perhaps better instruction of prospective members should have been done. If they knew what really happens in Catholicism, most would not convert in the first place. Problem solved.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Can you explain why you postulate, in your term : \" God loves us \". \n\nAccording to UNICEF - About 29,000 children under the age of five \u2013\u00a0 21 each minute \u2013 die every day.\nDuring the Black Plague in the Middle Age, some 75,000,000 to 200,000.000 infants - toddlers - teenagers - adult men, women, pregnant women, deacons, nuns, priests, RCC hierarchy, as well as Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus as well as all other Religions were killed.\nThe Spanish Flu of 1918 killed from 50,000,000 to 100,000,000 of the above.\nAccording to HHS, in 2012 some 21,000,000 fetuses worldwide suffered miscarriage and died. \n\nWhy does your God so torture and prolong the death of so many who are suffering so horribly - especially the children ?\n\nCould it be He isn't the loving God Christians believe Him to be ?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Typical Christian post, only use the laws that allow you to fit a narrow world view. Only the laws you all need to prove your world views are the only ones in the book you use.\n\nIn your first post you discount gender id then go on to lecture about how I am talking about Mosaic laws ect. Well those same laws are the ones being used to discriminate. You expect us to follow ancient BS when you reject modern science?\n\nSorry if your \"morals\" that you learned out of a book written 3000 years ago by goat herders are not up to snuff with the modern day.\n\nYou apply your morals through the eyes of your god.\nI apply my moral lens tempered by society to all things. I do not have a black and white relationship with the world and you would do well to drop yours. The world is changing and you can either be on board, or you can dive back into a 3000 year old book to try and find answers to current problems. \n\nJesus said to love everyone. Why is that so hard?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My point is that if the fate of Judas is an issue, read the book. Its about, not by, Judas. It is not meant to be canon. The quesiton is, of course, whether the betrayal or the suicide had him better off not born and whether this was a saying of Jesus or put into his mouth for dramatic effect and to condemn his lack of faith in the forgiveness of the Lord by taking his own life. How does this square with the modern Church's view that depressives who suicide are not automatically damned?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "James Martin? Dan Horan? I'd look somewhere besides the Sodomy Lobby for authentic Catholic moral teaching.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The fact that Peale performed the first of Donald J. Trump's three weddings tells you rather a lot about both.\" That's funny, MSW, I certainly don't recall your having expressed the same sentiment over Barack Obama and his association with Jeremiah Wright. Obama credited Wright with introducing him to his Christian faith. Wright officiated Obama\u2019s wedding to Michelle and baptized both of their children. The couple attended Trinity United Church of Christ where Wright preached, for 20 years.\nBias and hypocrisy MSW. Sure would be nice if you could be consistent instead of, you know, political.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Social norms are out the window...so old school anyway. Lu]ying...we're good. Fake news...we're the best, thanks Faux. Marketing our brand...the propaganda machine is just gunning up. The worst Presidential start ever...making America Great! Just a bunch of violent haters, can't see what's in his heart...so what if he just got an AG whose hates mosr]t things we value...civil rights...for losers. Voting...only for the winners. Look for extreme actions that will set us up for white Nationalist Christian Nation...oh, not your version of Christian anymore, patriotic Christians need only apply.\nSchools for inner cities will be for profit.\nFederal help for safe and fair voting...history.\nAnti-crime will mask erosion of your rights and liberties.\nAnti judiciary...that's all in the bag.\nSpeaking of for profit colleges...the waste fraud and abuse of the federal loans system is now full speed ahead...get them to pay 30K for nothing.\nHey if you voted for this guy we'll feel your pain...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Correct answer according to whom? You? The Catholic Church compiled the Bible. I will follow her teachings. You failed to address any of my simple questions, Do you believe in Eucharistic Miracles, Marian apparitions, or Saints visions? You definitely would not want to be accused of believing in superstition would you?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Odd how 2 nuns think a mere 90000 ordinary non-religious Catholics, far fewer than even most small dioceses have such \"stranglehold\" on the Church (the violent language these sisters nurse inside of themselves), and odd how a Catholic \"brother\" simply piles on to their hysteria.\n\nSays more about the state and future need for \"sisters\" and \"brothers\" in the new Church than it does about OD!\n\n\"Religious\" types have always had a gripe about an organization that focuses on the lay Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your first sentence is sadly true, and accounts not only for the virulent dislike of the Church but for much of the favoritism of Clinton . . . in some cases, downright irrational. There is no disputing that she has has done sizable good for some people. Unfortunately, her views and actions on other things more than outweigh the good. That she has not been indicted by now is more a testament to prosecutorial cowardice than her own lack of guilt. What honest official, charged with protecting national secrets, \"bleaches\" tens of thousands of computer documents soon after they are subpoenaed? And the FBI --- an arm of Obama's executive branch --- went so far as to condone the destruction of computers that may well have had incriminating evidence. If I am wrong on this, someone please inform me. This bunch of Democrats is more corrupt than Nixon ever dreamed of being. How Catholics can support them is beyond me.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A large number of bishops too...and now the intellectual Catholics have released their support.\n\nIf the AL=perfect crowd thought about it for a second....they might ask, \"why is there's a long list of Cardinals who write a letter, outlining why the dubia are mis-thought?\n\nThe silent Cardinals can't be assumed to be in great support of the pope either!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "True and all this nonsense goes away and all churches can more easily become one if we just dump the hate and sexism and ordain, by one same criteria, all people called by God from our flocks to be ordained priests.\n\nWe would also instantly have ample priests to lead all of our churches and could start to work towards evangelizing in the world for Jesus Christ again. Start being what God wants us to be, servants for his Gospel, not man's law, and workers for the salvation of others rather than wasting our time on Keeping the Hate! instead of Keeping the Faith!\n\nThe world needs us to be a Just Church and equal for all members in order to recognize Jesus Christ exists in us as a Church. We repulse those who are seekers of the Truth and Justice that is Our Lord Jesus Christ when we continue these biases.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Only to you ad naseum. It should be obvious to any sentient being reading my comment that I picked out liberals since they've been the ones scurrying around this country, frantically laying the racist crap on anyone who disagreed with the POTUS, his administration, the way he does things, what he does, etc. Now you've got teachers telling students that all white people are racists and only white people can be racist. What demographic group of people has this administration put at the top of it's terror suspect list? White, Christian, Conservative, who believes in inalienable rights and the U.S. constitution. Don't believe me? How about looking into it yourself. Funny thing about that demographic group is that it has notably been silent and non-violent throughout the last 10 or so years, at least compared to other groups.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One might query this comment by Tom Reese, \"We cannot have a Catholic Church without sacraments, and a priest is needed for the Eucharist, confession, and anointing\".\nGiven that so many have drifted away from the Eucharist and confession, one might query how much people place value on the belief that priests are needed for these things? While I do think many who have drifted away simply \"couldn't give a fig\" about any of it anymore and are distracted by what the secular world has to offer, I also sense that many also still place importance on the spiritual dimension of life. We humans seem to crave rubric, ritual, liturgy and signs that help us access this spiritual dimension to life. Do they (these lapsi-believers for want of a better term) still have a sense though that they need \"priests\" in the ways we were brought up to think of the function of priests to mediate our relationship to the spiritual or divine though? ...continued", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wrong. Rigid and wrong.\nNow, if the Church had a reasonable and rational alternative to offer, this would be a worthwhile discussion to have. However, it doesn't and so there is no sense to discuss it. The Church took a terribly wrong turn with Humana Vitae, and it and the faithful have paid for it ever since. Do what you want, leave others to their choices. No more lectures please.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ok, I'm stumped so I'll bite. Why, on the day of Pentecost, is Mary more important in the theology and spirituality of the church than the apostles? That's a real question, while this next one is more rhetorical: what does that have to do with whether estrogen-enhanced people can be ordained to the same position of spiritual leadership and sacramental responsibility as testosterone-enhanced people?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"If anyone causes one of these little ones--those who believe in me--to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea\".\n\nSeems Jesus has pretty strong word on giving scandal.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Trump is not a politician, never claimed to be a 'conservative' in the old sense that Republicans have preferred (like Pence or Cruz); The reality is neither of those classical conservatives could have been elected.His platform is for conservative ideology, pro life, pro Christian-Judeo, pro Israel, pro capitalism, self reliance, entrepreneurship in small business, pro gun rights, secure borders, and he is actually much more nationalistic than previous republican presidents have been, but we all know his divorce background, but family adores him, he was a successful business man who dealt with the system the way it was, however he has also watched the decline of America over the last forty years and believed he could do something to help us when nobody else was. Trump is genuinely who he is, 'prevarications' and all, he is a true threat to the status quo elitists who don't give a damn about us. If you want to take a real measure of what he is doing, look at who hates him the most..", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, it is very Catholic to support an organization like Planned Parenthood, which ships unborn body parts all over the country. I guess in your world Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi are excellent Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of course the Law of God commands you to do evil! Its hard to find a Law of God that doesn't command you to do evil!\n\nIt was the Law of God that commanded Moses to kill all of his friends and relatives who decided to attend another church during his absence. It was the Law of God that says that Abraham is a righteous man because he was willing to kill his firstborn son at God's command.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So it finally comes out - this is the reason you're so supportive of the ban, because it will prevent people who look and think differently from you coming to North America. \n\nBy the way, many female Catholic worshipers wear mantillas to worship, very similar to the burka. But I suppose you're fine with that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If a Muslim or a foreigner overseas commits murder in the name of his or her religious views, we call the Muslim or foreigner a terrorist.\nBut, if a Christian man commits murder in the name of \"saving the babies\", we call him crazy.\nWhy the double standard?\nFrom the moment he was captured, Mr. Dear has said he committed the crime. He has said abortion is murder, and that he committed the crime to \"save the babies\".\nHe has had to do this while being told to shut up, and while the authorities in El Paso County -- home of a huge number of conservative Christian organizations -- insist he must be crazy.\nWho are the El Paso County officials protecting? Are they concerned that if Robert Dear pleads guilty and is allowed to make a statement justifying his action, people will see what the logical end result of constantly pronouncing that abortion is murder and calling abortion doctors murderers is?\nLet Mr. Dear plead guilty. Let this pro-life true believer speak. Then imprison him for life.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"what is 'moral' 'right' 'good' and 'defensible'\"\nOkay, Robert, who is on your naughty list?\nGay people? Women exercising their personal choice who have an abortion? People having sex (straight or gay) without marriage? Atheists? Anyone who isn't conservative Christian? Store owners who say \"Happy Holidays\" in December?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would say that Church Militant will have a hard time living this down, but they are so self-justified and so tone deaf that they will ignore the warning and instead unleash an army of trolls on us all.\n\nWhat Michael, and possibly Civitas, missed is the role the Pro-Life Movement plays in the Ecumenism of Hate which delivers both Evangelicals and conservative Catholics to the Republican Cause, how there is no real legislative agenda there, at least not a relevant one that goes beyond harassment and the occasional murder and that for the USCCB, this engagement was probably deliberate. I guess it beats being called the anti-Christ, but did the fifth floor have to sell their souls and start a war on women to do it?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes. And DonfromKansas and I are in a relationship. Don't judge.\n\nNCR, MSW, and the numerous rainbow progressive Catholics on this forum have succeeded in getting the straight out of me. And now,l I have a new life! It's so much better to plant flowers and listen to opera than obsess about muscle cars.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As a person of color,it aways feels odd, for a lack of a better word,when privileged white women(who often post pictures of their travels and adventures on social media complain about not having more privileges.Once given the \"privilege\" of ordination,which will never happen, what then?Why would they want to be part of a class (or whatever you call it) of people who in their eyes are oppressive and entitled?And no, this is not the same thing as voting in a State.Ordination is not a secular job or a civil right. No one deserves it. God does not want it for women does not mean women are less than men. Also, the Jesuits pay these men's tuition because, obviously, they're Jesuits.They have given their lives to the Jesuits and will payback with their lives.The old takes care of the young, etc.Pretty simple.Also, donors give to the formation of seminarians because they believe in the calling, they love the work that Jesuits do. Most Catholics don't care or believe in women ordination anyway.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Because it strikes at the heart of what is wrong with the hierarchical church, and the Roman Curia in particular. Here we have the Church being subject to ridicule yet again, consubstantially through the most grievous fault of the Curia for yet another of its inane decisions. It undoes any good that Pope Francis does. The Curia is swift to declare on some arcane issues, but meanwhile on the abuse crisis.........nothing much.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's actually the conservative Catholics who pride themselves on \"just\" ladling out soup. They like it when they feel good doing charity work and don't like it if it touches their wallet or suggests the structures of society are opened to more and different folks.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus said to the woman caught in adultery, \u201cWoman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?\u201d She said, \u201cNo one, sir.\u201d And Jesus said, \u201cNeither do I condemn you.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If that is your response, and it doesn't surprise me at all, then you prove my point. You may think you are a good and \"faithful\" Catholic, sir, but you present as a pretty poor Christian. It is you who demand what you have no right to demand - even the Church is starting to recognize this.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "From the article:\n\nBoyd provided religious perspective, reading scripture from the Bible that specifically applies to the issue of immigration, such as Deuteronomy 27:19.\n\u201c\u2009\u2018Cursed be anyone who deprives the alien, the orphan and the widow of justice,\u2019\u2009\u201d recited Boyd, of scripture. \u201c\u2009\u2018All the people shall say, \u201cAmen.\u201d\u2019\u2009\u201d\n\nCurious, but I don't recall your objecting to Pastor Boyd's religious comments.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Justthink,\nI agree with you. Focus probably should have taken a different approach with certain subjects. But please don't be another pro-gay person who gets upset when somebody brings up something negative about being homosexuality. In this case, it was a person who stopped being gay - which is the worst thing that can happen to the pro-gay movement, right? That's what I've noticed about the pro-gay movement the past 10 years. Pro-gays demand all the rights and privileges but deny any accountability. Part of the accountability is acknowledging there are people who don't agree with homosexuality. In summer 2012, a gay Nebraska woman called the cops and said she was assaulted in her home because she was gay. Investigation showed the injuries were self-inflicted. Pro-gay people in the area were asked about the incident and they said very, very little, because they knew the woman hurt their image. Remember, good, honest Christians have to live with troubling Focus on the Family actions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Any thinking good Christian or good Catholic must come to the conclusion that no man or group of men are ever infallible. That would mean that finite being(s) know the great mind of God and is in itself idolatry. The idea that we should follow an infallible magisterium is hysterical and certainly not The Way of Christ... We have the Holy Spirit to guide us and lead us to more truth until the end of time. She certainly has more sway than idolatrous bishops.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I merely wanted to put the history in context and Wikipedia is a great source of general info on well known topics and easy to read for you...the Mexican \"Republic\" was a dictatorship where in order to own land or be a citizen you were required to convert to Catholicism and swear allegiance to the crooked Santa Anna. Perhaps you should read your history before chomping at the bit to refute something you know nothing about.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I do agree with you Cassie, the Church played a big role in this. They seem to be as stunned as anyone now that he has been elected. I have seen a lot of fear in their eyes, but they did it. Catholics followed their Shepherds. For the first time in my life, I am really happy that I did not. I actually can sleep at night, because I did not allow myself to feel the guilt they piled on. It didn't work this time. I voted my conscience and feel I followed the Pope. Now they will have to deal with the aftermath. It will be an exhausting job trying to keep Trump under control. Thank God for checks and balances though.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\" Alleged terrorist support \"\n\nPardon me - but - there is so much foot loose petro$$$$$cash floating around the ME that any Tom, Dick or Harry in any of the related states could and/or would be funding terrorism - sectarian, tribal, anti-West, anti-Israel, anti Shia, anti-Sunni, anti-Christian ....\n\nAnd Saudi Arabia ?? They once existed at the pleasure of the Wahabbi mullahs - the worst extreme sect of Islam: Anti everything considered modern and civilized.\n\nWhat could possibly go wrong ?!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The very idea of a \"convert\" being bandied about here by the left is nothing but a gross \"elitism\".\n\nA class ladened Church.\n\nA mistake repeated from the early Church.\n\nMSW and others here are too unfamiliar with the New Testament to recognize their awful error.\n\nWe all must be converts, daily, more than the day before.\n\nOur life must become a conversion, turning over more and more of our life to God, giving everything we do a more supernatural tone, converting/sanctifying all aspects of our life, every moment and all the moments. The Midas touch, as a modern day saint said. \n\nWe should firmly reject the elitism MSW, Spadaro, and Ivereigh wallow in.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Morals=natural law and reason. Heresy=dissent on divine belief as agreed to by whole Church. Reason says homosexuality is not sinful in marriage. Adultery is sinful but sex after divorce in a marriage is not adultery if it was not the cause of the divore. Abortion is sinful, but the civil law question is complicated. Cohabitation is marriage for many._Doctrine=brand_identity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ironic, isn't it, that Vatican II concluded that the individual's conscience was the final arbiter; then JPII comes along and has the arbitration formulated into a catechism.\nYour reactions to the article were very much in line with my own. This catechism is yet one more obstacle which inhibits the church from becoming part of evolving society.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I applaud you and your family. All the more that you, and I strongly suggest your spouse and children as well, are thinking serving rather than rote subservient Catholics. Blessings!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One notes the author is a Jesuit. Filiai corrections seeking clarity when there is confusion, rooted in scripture and based on settled doctrine of the Church, are the entitlement of all Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"a diocesan synod composed of all clergy and elected representative from every parish\"\n\nShould there be term limits (five years, ten years?) on all elected members of the synod and on all Church officials above the parish level?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yeah, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, Jimbo5. Could be. But I see no real effort made by Muslims to get to know me. (And preachy columns by the Council's communications rep don't change my opinion much.) When I see what Muslim wives wear and see how their husbands dress--forgive me, I know this is petty--I wonder about \"bending to western culture.\" \n\nNot a lot of bending going on in some Ontario schools right now, while schools and boards twist themselves into pretzels. Muslim: \"Oh, these Christian folks don't seem to want to pray in schools ... well, OK, when in Rome, etc., so I'll just go along with it. Canada's good for us. My kids can pray at home and the Mosque.\" \n\nSure.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Evidence?\" for a practice of a millennium? First of all, the Vatican was not strict with US Eastern Rite Churches. US Eastern Catholics early on voluntarily abandoned both ecclesiastical divorce and married clergy to quell controversy with US Latin Catholics. But the traditional practices continued in the old world. The council of Trent's statement about divorce and remarriage, in the 16th century, was adjusted to not condemn the Eastern practice. Also, Henry VIII never had a divorce, he only had annulments, and the Church of England's position on divorce and remarriage was for some time the same as the Latin Church. The ecclesiastical divorce and remarriage that was once the traditional practice of Eastern Catholics is the same as that now practiced by the Orthodox. If you really believe they're equivalent to annulments, you should have no problem if Rome adopts the Orthodox practice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "MSW, you're actually going to convert your home into a shelter for migrants and go to jail resisting the police? I'll pay money to see that. Your fellow countrymen have more pressing needs. Business owners in your country will be only too happy to cooperate with the authorities. There is not going to be a great popular movement to save undocumented migrants, except for a few public relations stunts.\n\nWhy not spend your time more profitably and take a cue from our Holy Father. Yesterday in St. Peter's Square, Pope Francis was treated to some Vatican \"cheesecake\". Scantily clad Kitty Kat Katholics \"performed\" while Francis and the assembled Bishops were all grinning from ear to ear like Cheshire Cats. That is Vatican II Catholic social teaching at it's finest. This was after the Holy Father sent his message of mercy and call to action to the World Movement. That was some GREAT action.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One word from Jesus is worth a thousand from Rome. Who is 'the way, the truth and the life'? Jesus or Rome?\n\nDo you believe ANY thing about Jesus in the Gospels. To dismiss as 'fundamementalist' observance of his written word is not just, well, bizarre ...for a supposed Christian... but seems incredibly lazy, too", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If Jesus were alive today he would repudiate fundamentalist like Graham. Graham's prejudice is far stronger than the message of the gospels.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I wholeheartedly agree with Jim Hamstra's observations, Erv. You (\"we\") create men in order to fit views with which \"we\" disagree into a Procrustean bed that bears little resemblance to reality. \"Our\" crude caricature the position of Zinke make analysis and intelligent discussion quite futile. \"We\" don't even really seem to understand the ideals underlying the Catholic Inquisition, which included protection from mobs which had no regard for due process or evidentiary standards. Despite its excesses, the Inquisition was probably an advancement over the ad hoc justice being meted out by medieval religious zealots. \n\nIf \"we\" want to engage readers on a thoughtful level, \"we\" should articulate the adverse position in a manner with which the proponent of that position would be comfortable. Tell us what Zinke actually said rather than how \"we\" interpret it; tell us what the actual IBMTE says. Only then can \"we\" intelligently discuss reasonable inferences which can be drawn therefrom.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The seeds which have been planted by this pontificate have already started germinating, yielding in places healthy new plants ... and in San Diego diocese we already smell the fragrant perfume of a new flowering forth ... I have the suspicion that soon, there will be an abundance of luscious new fruitfulness. \n\nThe pastors of the church tending the wounds of the members of Christ's Body, that all may flourish and realize their potential. \n\nAt long last I see a pontiff whose vision of the pastor is that proffered by the prophet Ezekiel: \"I myself will be the Shepherd of my sheep and cause them to lie down in peace,\u201d the Lord God says. \u201cI will seek my lost ones, those who strayed away, and bring them safely home again. I will put splints and bandages upon their broken limbs and heal the sick. And I will destroy the powerful, fat shepherds; I will feed them, yes\u2014feed them punishment!\"\n\nMay Cardinal ... I mean Archbishop ... Chaput tremble in his boots.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I fail to see any achievements at all sorry but I don't want women priests or deacons ever nor do I want ssm etc You see our church was fine until francis came along he has caused a massive split which will lead to a schism I do agree with others about the abuse issue he doesn't seem to keen on dealing with the abusers which is what's needed. I was also shocked at the way he described young people who attend the TLM according to francis they are 'rigid'!! Be happy young people want to be Catholics don't criticise them. Also don't forget francis says that God isn't Catholic what a comment that was I could go on but you should know I am not a stuffy old traditionalist far from it I'm just a Catholic who fears for our church under francis.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Being \"pro life\" should mean a great deal more than just opposing abortion. And civil gay marriage should be a non-issue as far as Catholics are concerned.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What's really lost is how the early Church regarded divorce. I have read that the early Church fathers never rebuked Constantine's divorce laws, which were pretty liberal. Some have spoken about marriage breakdown as sinful but not a barrier to finding happiness through remarriage. For example, Epiphanius of Salamis (later, St. Epiphanius) in his most well-known work, Against Heresies, stated that there were valid reasons for divorce for both husbands and wives. Also, since this breakdown was considered a sin, it was subject to penance, but once this was fulfilled, the couple regained their life with the community.\n\nI read Jesus's words as pertaining in particular to men who had the freedom to throw away their wives. For women, this had extreme consequences. I'm not sure it meant \"you will stay married no matter what.\" As you know, in my Church (Eastern Orthodoxy), we follow the model above. There is nothing Christ-like in the exclusion of people from the community or the Eucharist.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, I must say I am shocked, James Thomas More Griffin. I've lived and worked in India, South America and two countries in Africa and never realised that everything you describe in Indonesia was going on! (I do know from friends in the Philippines that there are huge problems between fundamentalist Catholics and yer everyday ordinary joe soap Catholics. I attended one Philippino 'trad' Mass. The singing was fine. The sermon would have been hilarious except I realised that many gullible people would be influenced by it, and that made it very unfunny, such was the abject nonsense the priest spouted that evening.)\n\nYour music is neither here nor there for me, sing what you wish. It's the 'message' that often accompanies your cherished 'high' Masses and Latinate mindset which I find dangerous. I assume you have read the other thread about the trouble caused by the restorationist priest? Not a very happy situation for either side.\n\nGlad to see you quoting Vatican II Council. \ud83d\udc4d", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Soon after Trump signed the memorandum, Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin, who is Catholic, commended the action, saying \"our number one responsibility is to protect the homeland.\"\n\nThat's funny. Paul Ryan's number one responsibility has always been pleasing his big $ contributors.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In response to \"Dude was an atheist who hated Christians.\" you wandered off to talk about conservatives and Muslims and 'people of color'.\n\n'Deflecting' the conversation.\n\n\"trying to steer the conversation in a different direction.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Aileen, the nosey parkers you refer to are in a rage because they don't get to judge anymore. Francis has removed the reason Catholicism was so attractive to them in the first place. For 'rage' read 'confusion.' \ud83d\ude21", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Interesting... you, like your hero Trump, don't believe that laws exist to protect all of us, or that internationally recognized laws apply to you specifically, or to the US in general. You believe that taking another country by force is OK, so long as it is Israel, the US, or any other nation, such as Russia, that has the ability to take what doesn't belong to them. How about you? Do you think that the laws preventing your neighbor to take your home and possessions are moot? Do you think it would be just fine if you took your neighbor's home and possessions at gunpoint is justifiable, if you have the power? If, for instance, your neighbor is old and crippled and can't fight back?\n\nFrankly, I would be surprised if Trump made it as president through the next four years, but given that many Americans think as you do, that might makes right, then possibly anything including the absolute worst of horrors can happen.\n\nYou should not address me by my Christian name when I don't know yours.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of course you are not supporting Trump when you speak the truth that the bishops have proclaimed: catholics must support the republican party, which means voting for whomever it runs. This is what the bishops teach us, so it is what Jesus would want. I hope you preach a sermon on this Sunday.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Race war\"?\n\nHoly Christ, Pallister is some kind of nutcase! \nTories, eh?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ok. I am glad to hear that. \n\nYou haven't always agreed, that I remember, especially when it comes to not supporting optional celibacy until women are being ordained priests too, so I am not certain why you are saying otherwise now. However, if you have changed your mind and heart on what that means to the support of sexism, I am very thankful to you and God. \n\nI am not sure why you believe I am militant if you agree. I can't really reconcile that statement to your agreement. I have taken out no weapons, other than the truth, to stand up for justice, that I can think of. I don't disagree that I am a fanatic on this subject because I believe sexism is destroying our church, and many other christian churches, while turning youth literally away from Jesus Christ himself. Perhaps this is what you mean by militant? \n\nAnyway, Christ's Peace on you Brother,\n\nNora", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well you are not explaining that the Anglican and Episcopalian churches are still going thru various version of breaking off and re-organizing - some even came to our church in order to hate women & LGBT in tranquility. \n\nThey seem to be managing to finally regroup into churches who may have different ideas & different forms of Anglican beliefs. Once they cement their new constructs, those with more open structures will likely start attracting more NONES who didn't feel they had a strong Christian Church to enter that supports real equality. These churches need to become comfortable with evangelizing too & that has not really been their forte in a long time. \n\nAt this point, there is more than enough clergy for the amount of churches they have. In fact, they may have a problem with too much clergy, due to deacons and priests being in such large supply, for the demand, laity don't feel needed. A problem our church is playing with in the West, as more deacons take work from laity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Church history and I both beg to differ with you. \n\nNeither doctrines nor dogma ever change. The examples you listed do not even come close to what the Church defines as doctrine, whether one is speaking about christological, mariological, pneumatological or any other aspect of Catholic doctrinal truth.\n\nAgain, my point is simple - the Church has taught from the beginning that homosexual relations, i.e. sex between people of the same gender, are mortal sins that result in the death of the soul.\n\nThe Church will never change these doctrines on sexual morality and anyone who thinks the Church will change them is caught up in the delusion of the world, a world that every day grows more and more hostile to the gospel of Christ and the divine authority of the Church.\n\nYour suggestion that the majority of Catholics disagree with the teachings of the Church is itself debatable, but regardless, the Church has never based her teachings on a vote of the people so that is irrelevant.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Seems to be some very angry and somewhat uninformed folks on this thread. Wondering if the National Catholic Reporter would be so good as to reprint its outrage when then President Clinton took virtually the very same action some years ago. And for those wanting to say I do not know what I am talking about, to that I say \"roll the tape!\" It's out there for you to see and hear. Regardless, I questioned the decision then as I question the decision today.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Aren't they the group that constantly talks 'family values'? So evidently, it's not a hard and fast rule for them. Little hands tells Howard Stern he could call Ivanka a piece of a**. Just like Jesus!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Reading Justin Martyr's noble apology for the Christians, I am depressed at how much he refers to Hell and to the wickedness of the Jews. Christianity got off to a bad start. The question raised in this editorial is really directed at the early church's obsession with virginity and continence and purity, as in the Epistle to the Ephesians and again in Justin. The rethink, if such is needed, has to begin there.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, but there's definitely a Christianist and homophobic element as well.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree with Tom Roberts. The unyielding Catholic Church culture is influenced and directed by Vatican's Canon Law. Unlike many Parents, long term and upwardly mobile employees, including church executives, principals, and teachers recognize the 'invisible orders' to protect and shield 'the church from clergy scandal at any cost'. In the midst of the Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Child Sexual Abuse, a local incident saw education executives demonstrate their 'automatic response'. Like a well-practised symphony orchestra performance, the Bishop and employees reacted, playing their part, often unknown to each other, automatically concealing, deflecting and covering up incidences in Catholic Education Services. All confident in the public power of the church that they will be protected. While the Pope requires no mandatory reporting under Canon Law, the clerical culture of coverup will not change. 'The psychic numbness' and 'cultural resistance is impenetrable'.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The only thing irregular about so-called \"irregular unions\" is the irregular way the Catholic Church contorts itself in order to reconcile its ancient teachings with the modern age. Eventually the church will become more \"regular\" as the old who cling to such antiquated beliefs die out and the church quietly lets go of its irregularity and lets people live their lives according to their own consciences without the interference of a bunch of old men in dresses.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Elise, while I don't agree with everything Trump says, there are valid reasons to be concerned with enforcement of federal laws on immigration, including letting muslim terrorists into the country to kill Americans. (The same muslims responsible for the 73 mass graves full of hundreds, if not thousands of men, women, and children found this week and torturing and raping Americans like Kayla Mueller) Since you have claimed in the past to be concerned about assault and violence issues, could your next column be about Ms. Mueller, how brave she was to endure her captors, and support her Christian faith to the very end. You could even suggest donations to the foundation her parents set up. (Donations could possibly cover Obama's broken promise to her parents to make a contribution) And how could Americans not be concerned with the war zones and thousands of dead African-Americans under democratic control for decades? ADN won't report in detail or depth on either of these topics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Schillebeeckx, and upon what authority does he make that asssertion, apart from his own, a dissident 'Catholic' theologian? It would be kind to accuse Schillebeeckx of mere schism rather than outright h*r*sy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What I take from reading this piece is that there is a small, yet politically and financially powerful Americhristian group of Catholics, whose adherence to nationalism and -horribile dictu!- Ayn Rand influenced dogmatism places them squarely in league with the current Trump Administration, while altogether abandoning Jesus and His Gospel. This kind of Catholic Americhristianity is in fact unChristian and certainly also unAmerican. Pope Francis may indeed have to intervene with an Encyclical addressing first and foremost the Church in the US, yet of course the universal church as well. Title: With Grave Concern (following Pius XI's example set in 1937). It is about fascism coming into the US Catholic Church carrying a cross and draped in the flag. It must be resisted and exorcised.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There's no such thing as a Jewish, Christian or Islamic terrorist. There is, however, no shortage psychotic killers using the name of these faith communities in a feeble attempt to justify their love affair with violence. They don't fool anybody who knows anything about Judaism, Christianity or Islam, but they do fool the hard of thinking who are ignorant of what these three faith communities who all worship the God of Abraham stand for.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"While acknowledging that President Trump\u2019s policies and rhetoric toward immigrants don\u2019t align with Catholic teachings, he spoke in buoyant terms about the new political potential in Washington.\"\n\nThat's called \"praising with faint damn.\" Very faint.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Another example of the misuse of the term \"Christian values\" without any real definition. Which of the multiplicity of sects created from the Holy Roman Catholic Church has the answers? Just as the first \"christian\" dogma was created by humans, so the alterations to the bible over the ages reflected self-described human messengers' claims of divine contact and knowledge. All the term really defines is the prejudice and bigotry of the human using the term in thought, word, and deed. The basis for the creation of christianity came from humans without any definable or credible existence of anyone named Jesus Christ. All subsequent values in his name are no more relevant than any other human belief.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wrong direction. No more religious accommodation, regardless of religion. Disband the Catholic school boards. Pray at home, your house of prayer, rent a room. Not at school, work. If your religious obligations interfere with the school/work time you are clearly incompatible with this society.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They were very happy doing just that until war, religious persecution and having family members murdered forced them to leave. Being Christian in Iraq wasn't very popular. Your response is both childish grossly uninformed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Canadian Catholics being told that euthanasia is legal is not persecution, I agree. Catholic doctors being threatened with legal action or being struck off for refusing to refer a patient to a doctor willing to kill that patient most certainly is persecution. This is the law in Ontario and Quebec provinces.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Point 1: You are correct that Catholicism sees homosexual unions as against natural law. However, natural law is malarkey.\nYour other four bulleted points are merely your opinions, not facts. You cannot provide proof for any of them because they are opinions. \nYour last two statements are also opinions, and to them I say, \"So what.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How sad that our nation's new administration has reawakened the ugly face of racial hatred. Let's hope and pray that the US Catholic Church (the people and not so much the leadership), given a second chance, will join all people of good will to rise and resist!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Obama corrupted Catholic Charities and Baptist Services and Lutheran Services by offering them mountains of federal money, to AID and ABET il-legal immigration into the USA.\n\nObama was a lawless thug who deliberately ignored US immigration laws, in order to flood the USA with 3rd-World immigrants who did NOT speak English and who had NO job skills. \n\nThese immigrants immediately became wards of the government and required a full set of welfare services (lodging, food, clothing, education, healthcare, etc).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, they're just Catholic clerics who are wrong. Again.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No Fuad, they are just traditional holdovers from the past we do not celebrate these religious holidays - only a few crazies believe the christian myths. The media is over-respresented in believers versus rest of population in the majority. You misunderstand, they are not accommodations to some non-existent god for us, they are just DAYS OFF from slavery or school. that's it. \nWe do not believe in any abrahamic ruler over us because those things are just lies by the powerful over others. You must become secular become good neighbors keep your crazy beliefs to yourself or at least OUT OF SCHOOL! We demand that as secularists in order to not go to war as e have for centuries over these things. Keep it away from school muslim, christian jewish zoroastrian whatever so we can have peace.\nYour position Fuad is simply warfare against the rest of us. You must submit to secularism in this country. We all do or we face war internally and eternally.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\" The Congress belongs to ISRAEL. It is, as Pat Buchanan once said, \" bought and paid for\". AMERICAN CHRISTIAN Churches also bought and paid for in guilt chits and free trips. No AMERICAN President has halted this constant Israeli expansion( illegal settlements), a half century long crime, committed in full view of the world.\" Wallwritings America's under the same occupation and dispossession of the right to self determination that the Palestinians, Indians, and others have endured for decades, perpetuated by the Democrat and Republican Parties, and bought media, drummed down education. Hillary Clinton's speech at the past AIPAC conference left little doubt that AMERICA is not First in her policies. Trump continues to be an embarrassment. Vote Green!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is a real problem when Catholic Bishops refuse candidates communion while they are running for high office. This is purely an attempt to control political process and has little to nothing to do with religious freedom. This is why it is necessary to see if the loyalties of a potential judge is with the law or more with their own religious dogma. The Bishops have made a real problem for Catholics in the judiciary or anywhere else. They believe that their personal freedom of religion, not so much the parishioners freedom of religion, is much more important than the laws of the land. They have created their own monster. Too bad that other Bishops did not stand up to these dogmatic reactionaries and chastise them for their political actions of refusing communion. As it is, what one bishop sees as so horrible a sin in his diocese that he will refuse communion, another bishop does not see and allows communion. We must not have our judges intimidated by reactionary bishops.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Doesn't that mean that you hate anti-Muslims? My Canada is a Christian nation and Islam has no place in public schools as apparently Christianity has no place in public schools. This pandering to one group over another by politicians and school board members is what the problem is. They should assimilate to our way of life not the other way around.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "By discriminating against this student the Catholic system engaged in some decidedly unchristian behavior. What a terrible example to their students. What is the point of having Catholic schools if those who run it don't act like Christians?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sen Kelly was extremely inappropriate, using the political/State funded forum of the AK Legislature to expound on his religious beliefs. Once he brought the subject [of his religious beliefs] to the floor, however, there's Nothing inappropriate about pointing out that those beliefs are radically out of sync w/biblical christian teachings. It's no different from pointing out that any particular politician is being untruthful/inconsistent in their self-representations.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't. Please explain why having a Muslim cemetery is more threatening than a Jewish, Catholic or Sikh cemetery? Or one that honours First Nations religions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "flat earth nonsensical 'christians' ... super fakey, and in fact, dangerous as is evidenced by their Prez Cheetolini.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Were the radical elements of Christianity (e.g. US Army) that slaughtered indigenous people fundamentalist nut-cases? No, they were just the extreme end of the curve of the entire religion of the European settlers, 99% of which were peaceful, church-going folks. It's not ISIS, it's Islam that is coming on strong.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Trump's moves so far continue to feed the base he rode to the White House: White, evangelical Christians who fear they are no longer the majority in this country. They are right. I just don't know why they are so afraid.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why are we arguing about this? Either way, it is horrendously painful. Call me crazy, but I believe that, in fact, a type of spiritual, emotional, and mental holocaust has happened... The fact that there are even more survivors of such soul-killing practices in other Christian communities is hardly comforting!!! And it in no way let's the Holy Roman Catholic Church off the hook. Hypocrisy is a big part of the problem... and \"innocent adults\" turning a blind eye. I agree, celibacy is not the problem. Fear is, though. And prejudice, and, worst of all, people still won't believe what they don't want to believe. Innocence is a major victim in all these situations. But here we are discussing these things on a public forum. There's hope, at least, as long as we don't succumb to The Silence.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Separation of church and state in the USA is a load of rubbish. It only applies to Congress and there's nothing wrong with established religions at the state level. Everybody should just convert to Christianity anyways.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Conversion from Islam to Christianity in Muslim countries such as Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan is punishable by death. So yes, I am deathly afraid of Islam.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Jesus died a Jew.\"\n\nFor Christians, however, Jesus rose from the dead; He was more than a great dead Jew, a dead Jewish \"Teacher\" or Rabbi who taught great things like dead Socrates did, whose grave could not hold out for long against disintegration, emptiness, mortality. Jesus later appeared to an assembly of followers in an Upper Room and elsewhere -- to proclaim the Kingdom of God which was at the heart and center of his ministry and preaching. His followers recruited others to proclaim the same message of faith, hope, love and forgiveness all over the globe. His followers didn't discount the notion of church, recruitment, location in order to proclaim his message, pass it on, live it out, bask in his living Presence at worship. Church is everywhere in New Testament Revelation, stirring among his followers. The Risen Jesus founded a church through them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So you're telling us that Muslims in Christian countries don't preach and commit murder?\n\nI was also unaware that countries like Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon actually published their murder/violence statistics", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Vatican/bishops determine what is sin.\n\"If you want sin to be determined by the membership, then you want to be part of a social club not a religion.\"\nTherefore, the Vatican and bishops are a social club - not a religion.\n\n(Logic as taught in Catholic schools pre and during Vatican II.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Header contradicts article. If this is 1st since 2013 , it's a new single INCIDENT, not a new WAVE. Btw, it should be noted the most deadly terrorist attack in Canada involving Muslims was perpetrated by a white supremacist Quebecois of Catholic background AGAINST Muslims. He shot dead six people praying in a Quebec City mosque,& wounded numerous others. It should also be noted all \"Islamic terrorism\" perpetrated today by supporters of ISIL and related groups is carried out exclusively by SUNNI extremists, not by SHIA Muslims, and not by moderate Muslims such as Sufis, or moderate Sunnis such as followers of the Aga Khan, PM Trudeau's friend.\n\nShia Muslims,Sufis,&Yazidis are VICTIMS of ISIL Sunni extremists&persecuted, raped, &murdered by them.There's more likelihood of white Christians coverting to ISIL extremism than Shia Muslims or Yazidis doing so. \n\nI'd feel safer having Sufis,Shias,&Yazidis in Canada than hate-filled white supremacist rednecks like the Quebecois terrorist .", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"You on the other hand supported businesses that discriminate against gay people based on their Christian religion.\"\n\nWould you feel the same had those \"Christian\" bakers been Muslim?\n\nhttps://youtu.be/RgWIhYAtan4", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-SBlmEu4bM\nMuslims and liberals excoriate us about Islamophobia, but we should bear in mind Islam's entrenched racism, xenophobia, homophobia, misogyny, anti-Semitism, hatred of Christianity, Europe and America, destructive iconoclasm, and even Islamophobia against each other. Ancient tribal wars between Kurds, Shiite, Sunni, Wahhabi, Druze and other Islamic sects, ISIS , Taliban and Al Quada are the root causes of most of the wars and social chaos happening around the world today. It is worse than anything expressed in the west, even by trolls.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The only relevance of abortion to this discussion is that it was used fraudulently by certain bishops to elect an idiot to the presidency. There are no abortion implications of his election, but there is a great deal of damage in other areas that he is attempting to do, much of it that really does go against Catholic teaching. Have you ever done a sensitivity analysis (an analytical tool in budgeting and economics). The weight assignable to life issues is zero unless you are talking about increasing the child tax credit.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "... federal tax dollars don\u2019t pay for abortions...\u2026another conservative, ignorant, Republican, GOP, mysoginist, sex-fearful, poverty-hatred myth that is hurting people: \u201c\u2026 federal tax dollars don\u2019t pay for abortions\u2026\u201d. Read this article: https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/blog/how-federal-funding-works-at-planned-parenthood\nThe Catholic and Christian persecution of Planned Parentood, and of its mission, tilted National Elections that gave us Bush and its human atrocities in Iraq and the world. It continues to date. The position of Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York and the Bishops Conference continues to hurt people, the nation and the world as it staunchly and stubbornly pushes for practices that are ignorant, mysoginist, inconsiderate of the poor and the abused. It is time for that to change. \nPractice compassion-stop forcing ignorance down the throats of people!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "or that it came from St. Anselm or that it helped kick of the whole scandalous indulgences racket. I doubt many younger Catholics know what an indulgence is unless they take a history class.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Lots of posters find it easy to lump similar people into a single group. It makes it easy for them-they don't have to think or rationalize. Christians are \"religious extremists\". Conservatives are \"right wingers\" or \"Trumpsters\". Liberals are \"welfare recipients\" and \"entitled\". Gun owners are \"gun nuts\" or \"paranoid\". Millenial's are, well, OK-that's enough. :)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, if they believe women should be equally ordained priest, they need to state that in their General Meeting Commitments. \n\nAlot more solace can be found in standing up for justice & your sisters than drinking to avoid thinking how you are too cowardly to fight against evil in our church. If half the priests who agreed women are being abused by our unequal, hateful, sexist ordination practices, actually came together & demanded equal ordination, it would be a done deal. They are too comfortable to risk their safe retirement packages. I can't feel much compassion for that response & lack of concern for their sisters in Christ.\n\nI pointed out to the Assoc. of Catholic Priests how their stand of seeking optional celibacy for married men in ordained priesthood but not for women, & only seeking the no-authority diaconate ordination for women is equal to gender apartheid and would create the worst version of sexist hatred our church has ever known. They don't care. Join WOC instead!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholics aren't killing 49 people at a time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Very interesting. I wasn't aware of this. This explains how Imams in Toronto and Montreal can preach for the killing of Jews. The cops investigate, but never charge. Politicians do even less. I guess as since killing Jews is in the Koran, it's OK to preach it in a Mosque. Too bad they don't preach killing Christians, then perhaps someone would care and do something about this outrageous behavior.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In fact, my actual sentence was: \"I am so tired of converts telling us that the pope is not Catholic.\"\n\nI am just as tired of those cradle Catholics who do the same thing. Some of them even post on this website. I have criticisms of this pope, but I never doubted his Catholicism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Remind me again which religion was involved in every single terrorist incident in this country since Timothy McVey, because I hate to be a contrarian, but I'm fairly certain it wasn't Christianity. Sort of odd, really, when the left and the DOJ go out of their way to point out all the home grown militias that were supposed to rise up against Obama, but never actually did. As for the KKK, those chuckleheads are all talk. The worst they've managed in decades are goofy conspiracy cults and random acts of vandalism. Woooo. Let me know when they start shooting up company parties and blowing up marathons, George.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Meanwhile, the Catholic Church will continue practicing misogyny.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "... they really don't have to 'report' much when he is busy making a complete and utter @$$ out of himself in public, on the phone, twitting away ... \n\nThe only folks 'trying real hard' are you apologist dirt bags doing your very 'bigly bestus' to defend this waste of human skin. You put yourselves in the same light as Cheetolini. Enjoy burning in your 'christian' hell, your voting records will count when the Big Man up top tallies everything up.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Muslims and liberals excoriate us about Islamophobia, but we should bear in mind Islam's entrenched racism, xenophobia, homophobia, misogyny, anti-Semitism, hatred of Christianity, Europe. Israel, and America. Islam's destructive iconoclasm is destroying historic treasures, burning churches and ancient holy sites across the ME They even have Islamophobia against each other as Kurds, Shiite, Sunni, Wahhabi, Druze and other Islamic sects, ISIS , Taliban and Al Qaeda try to exterminate each other. It is worse than anything expressed in St Apollinaire and we are told to avert our eyes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "exactly. Allan Rock Mr. Tainted Blood and Axworthy are very selective in whose human rights they consider violated. Christians and Jews need not apply", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Lol, you really have no idea what you are talking about, do you?\nAmerican law is based on Judeo-Christian values.. NOT barbaric sharia law which allows women to be beaten and stoned to death for leaving their house without a chaperone.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's your buds over at Stormfront, \"Lars.\"\nJoin Date: Oct 2013\nLocation: Germany\nPosts: 3,616\n\"Freedom lover\"\nPortland: Two stabbed to death on train while protecting Muslims\nI like it. Two incidents in one day reported here on SF of people reacting to the encroaching menace of islam'.\nFirst, the guy who tore up the koran, and now this warrior who defended American cultural norms. Are we seeing the beginning of an uprising against the plague of islam, an uprising which will spread like wildfire into white lands in Europe? Hell, I hope so. Remember, it isn't always the German's who have to take the lead in pro white matters. I hope this time the first dawn of resistance emanates from the world's superpower, the USA\n\nAnd: RONA Renegade posted:\nForum Member Video of Jeremy Christian righteously pxxxxd off White American at a Free Speech rally.\n\nChristian was described on Stormfront as having \"defended himself\" from his \"three attackers.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thanks for confirming why I finally rejected Christianity after waking up to what it really is - an ideology based on Bronze Age human sacrifice, talking snakes, magical gardens, promises of living forever with threats of being punished forever for rejecting it. I wonder now what took me so long. These things should be red flags for any thinking person. Of course, thinking and questioning are strictly prohibited by your religion while blind belief is demanded. You don't need religion to discern right from wrong. Sucks to be me? Your ideas are why Jonestown happened.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Unfortunately for your argument Ordinatio Sacerdotalis does not consist of \u201cJesus did not chose any women to be apostles. Therefore, woman cannot be ordained as priests.\u201d\n\nThe ordination of women was considered, a number of heterodox sects ordained them based on deficient theologies of the Eucharist, and with no exceptions the Church treated these \u201corders\u201d as null and void from the age of the Apostles to today. The ordinary magisterium, then, infallibly concluded that Jesus\u2019 decision was part of the constitution of the sacrament.\n\nSimilarly while fornication was not mentioned in the Gospels, it was forbidden in the Old Testament, and was consistently treated as sinful by the Church with zero exceptions from the age of the Apostles to today.\n\nAs was homosexual behavior. The Church rests its teaching on both Scriptures and Tradition - capital \u201cT\u201d. Therefore using the Gospels alone as negative proof texts is an exercise in complete illogic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is alright now for people to get someone to kill them and for Catholics to be persecuted and the Pope shouldn't stick up for them?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I wonder what religion would do this? and they wonder why we dont want them here. Remember that Egypt, Iraq, Syria, and even Turkey were peaceful Christian countries before the Arabs overran them", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually what this issue shows is that there are a LOT OF RELIGIOUS FANATICS IN CANADIAN NEWSMEDIA who feel they have a right to push their based-on-nothing-real beliefs upon others. \nThe sooner all religious nonsense is relegated to the dustbin of history, the better. We are ill-served with the soft christian lies everywhere in Canadian news media, now augmented with violent islamic tendencies. We do not need to add that to our mix of problems in North America, Canada.\nAny thing that tells the primitive fanatics we will not submit to your lunacy is a great benefit to ALL Life on Earth.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "All this in the city of the University of Wisconsin? Noted for excellent departments in both sociology and history\nRegrettably, the Church manages to be both authoritarian and stupid at once. Surely some dialogue is in order. Send Bishop Morlino some instruction:\nFor example, don't cry when someone exposes your actions -- done in darkness, that they are agents of darkness.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, you think that all women should just accept that they are second class citizens in the Catholic Church. You feel that women being inferior to men is a good thing, and all women should accept that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Harry,\nThe subject we were discussing was the Confederacy, the KKK, and Southern \"heritage\" and symbols of slavery. I understand the KKK hates Catholics and Jews as much as African-Americans. It is they who want to divide and conquer to remake America to the past.\nPlease admit the fact that the Southern Baptist religion was founded in 1845 by Anglo slave owners.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Logic fail. Just because women in India or Africa may be treated even worse doesn't mean women in NA and Europe should be content with the degree of sexist prejudice and aggression that we still have to deal with.\n\nBut if you want to go down that path, what have white Christian men got to be upset about when compared to men of colour from other cultures? You're frustrated because people don't bow down to acknowledge you are \"by far, the best?\" Poor snowflake.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "dennism, you absolutely do not have one ounce of substantive thought in your head or you are woefully incapable of translating it into words. Your \"poking fun\" at persons for liking their own posts is quite annoying and very uncharitable. I've found that to be true of most liberals. When they can't intelligently respond to views they disagree with, they always reach for the straw man, which in your case, is very uncharitable and un-Christ like.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have to agree with MSW's reference to Fr. Jim Martin's viewpoint--too many instances of church teaching teetering on the edge of truth/untruth, merciful/unmerciful, etc. If we want to get to the root of the problem here, certain magic-sterial teachings need to be re-examined and, if found erroneous or outdated (be it science or sensus fidelium), need to be eliminated. In essence, Poprocki is just carrying out certain hard line rules established by his predecessors that are \"still on the books.\" If the rules don't measure up with advances in knowledge and human understanding then let's have the humility to change the rules. This is unlikely to happen until the people of God are fed up with the likes of Poprocki and his brand of Taliban Catholicism--using their dogma as a club to beat down, punish and exclude. To Fr. Martin's point, let's have more bishops come forward and make such pronouncements and see what happens--very likely a mass exodus that would necessitate massive reform", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Now that is laughable......If you heard nothing it is because you weren't trying to hear. I can't believe you would even imply something like this. Are you trying to imply this guy is a Christian ? A mass murderer ?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "so felons can't have been abused? maybe they used drugs because of the abuse? I know a Byzantine Catholic who took a teen into his home, because he was a \"troubled\" teen. he later accused the priest of abusing him, but he wasn't believed because he had been a drug user. interestingly enough, the priest later showed his deacon's son nude pics... by then Father was long gone. this priest had a rather checkered past to say the least... RC monk in monastery that was disbanded because of the irregular life of the community, he later was a Greek Orthodox monk on Mt. Athos, later an Eastern Catholic priest and moved from one jurisdiction to another, then this event. He flirted with me a time or two and was rebuffed. I firmly believe the kid, no matter what his other problems. and you have to keep in mind, many of those targeted were targeted because of their problems, it made them vulnerable.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\u201cMark my word, if and when these preachers get control of the [Republican] party, and they're sure trying to do so, it's going to be a terrible damn problem. Frankly, these people frighten me. Politics and governing demand compromise. But these Christians believe they are acting in the name of God, so they can't and won't compromise. I know, I've tried to deal with them.\u201d\n\nBarry Goldwater (Republican Senator from Arizona and Candidate for President against Lyndon Johnson)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why do (some) evangelicals continue to support Trump? I think the answer is fairly straightforward: they can count on Trump to hate all the people they hate. \nExhibit One (or, one exhibit): The 'ban' on transgendered members of the military service. This is red meat for Trump's band of haters, and contradicts his pledge to be a friend to the LGBTQ communities (not that many of them believed him.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "and did any of these Sunni put up a fight for the genocide against the Christians and the Yezidis? Why are there no Jewish groups there? Has any one read about the genocide against the Armenians Christians by the Muslim Turks in the first world war, where Christian women were striped and had gas poured on them, forced to dance naked and lit in the streets, or 6-7 year old Christian girls raped on Christian Church alters by Muslim men. ( look it up) Why have pity on these people? Their religion is not a religion of peace. Remember that Syria, Egypt, Iraq and Turkey were once peaceful Christian countries before they were overrun by Muslims", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "First of all, these are not legal immigrants; legal immigrants don't have these problems. So, the people with these problems here brought them on themselves. You buy a ticket to a theater performance and go in and find someone who snuck in sitting in your sit. What would bishop Seitz do and say about that? \nSecond, we have a right to determine who comes into our country. What's coming in from the southern countries would never have been allowed to come in from Europe in the late 19th century and early 20th century. So, the immigrants who came into our county back then, who helped make America great, were selected, and wanted to become Americans. That's not the character of illegals coming in; they are selfish and only thinking of what they want. Those Hispanic/Latino citizens who voted last Nov. voted 74% for pro-abortion Hillary, and 19% for pro-life Trump. We don't need more Catholics like that. And his calling Muslims are brothers & sisters shows how naive he is.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If the Holy Spirit does choose the pope, then the Holy Spirit has a perverse sense of humor.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...cannot be saved unless he has remained in the bosom and unity of the Catholic Church.\"\n\nIf one is saved, they must somehow be in the bosom and unity of the Catholic Church. If God does this in some extraordinary manner in a way known to Himself, that is His prerogative. But we must not cease to preach the Gospel even though God may save someone in invincible ignorance!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Typically, you are the one calling people \"liar\"...\n\nBishop Paprocki, conservative or not, said nothing that is not Catholic teaching. Much like Cardinal Tobin. Do you consider him a \"homophobe\" also?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "i'm not sure what god you are referring to. not the one who is recorded in the Bible, OT to NT. let's start with Gen 9:6 and go on to Rev 19:17. really need to call names on this one, don't you? why is that? because you are afraid? remember when God opened up the land and swallowed the folks in the desert with moses? killed the liars in Acts 5? there are many gods, perhaps we do not serve the same god?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So, why did not Jesus mention the subjects of homosexuality or Natural Law anywhere in the Gospels? And how and why did the church make the jump to the early mediaeval Penitential Books?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, by \"conservative Catholics\" I meant conservative Catholics. Obviously evangelicals bear an even greater responsibility in this debacle, but my concern here is with Catholic involvement.\n\nFor those conservative Catholics who express a coherent religio-political ideology, it seems to me a reactionary, fundamentally undemocratic restorationist/theocratic/monarchical model. This would explain the astonishing complacency among conservative Catholics toward Russian interference in the election and Trump's admiration for and connections with Vladimir Putin. Indeed Putin is perceived by some (many?) Christians as a defender of white Western Christianity against the secular pluralism of democratic republics like the United States. It is not, as was feared by anti-Catholics of yore, that Catholic loyalty would reside with the Pope instead of the nation. Rather some prefer a dictator and thug who allies with the church. Ring a bell?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One Sunday in the year should be designated a 'Cleansing of the Temple' day. No one goes to their parish Mass but instead attends their cathedral, or not at all. It worked very well in San Salvador after the murder of Rutillo Grande.\n\nHow much more are the people going to take? The Bishops are not standing up for the gospel, not standing up for justice and their virtue goes no deeper than that of the Pharisees.\nPeople arguing about clerical dress, the state of the hymn singing, who gets to receive the Eucharist, what can and can't be said at funerals, a return to babbling in Latin, and a constant, never ending obsession with sex and the need for money. \n\nIt's all bullsh1t folks.\n\nNothing will change until the People of God start seriously mobilising themselves and demanding Gospel First! The Vatican needs to be given a rocket up its @ss, which has still not been delivered - even after the most gross cover up in the Church's history. \n\nThe church is ridiculous in its present form.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The U.N. taking the Catholic Church to task is the equivalent of the Devil taking Our Lord to the pinnacle of the Temple.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Why would you think Cardinal Burke should go to trial? What is the charge against him other than being a faithful, orthodox, Catholic bishop?\nAs J.Bob says, prejudice abounds here.\"\n\nCardinal Burke should at least be investigated because he never said anything against the Pontifical Secret; therefore he is likely to have covered up clergy pedophilia.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"And what, pray tell, is the standard definition?\"\n.\nOf or pertaining to non Judeo-christian religions or deities.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"This means, at the very least, we should be skeptical when our churches hold nationalistic celebrations or sing patriotic songs or when Christian leaders display coziness with particular political parties or candidates.\"\n\nAnd yet if one watches the crowd at most/many international Catholic events, one see may see any number of other nations' faithful proudly waving their own national flags. Given that nobody has declared this to be disgusting, I should think this sort of tirade would be discredited. If you want to have an international Church, it'd be helpful if you didn't spit on Americans for being as proud of their country as others are of theirs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"In the end, we may have nothing in common with one another but our faith in Him.\" \n\nFaith in Him means what?\nBelieve He existed? That He died for our sins? That He is creator? \nThat alone does not save anyone?\n\n\nI find so much variation in churches on...: the gospel, grace, saved, righteousness by faith, what Jesus is like, what should be emphasized, what needs to be preached.\n\nThe organization is polarized, and who wants to outreach to the non churched, to bring people into the lukewarm, infighting, Laodicean remnant church that doesn't even have a grasp on Christian basics..only a shallow concept of SDA pet doctrines.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ah, Malcom X's speech from the movie is most appropriate at this time it goes like this: I'm not here today as a Republican or a Democrat or a Mason or an Elk or Protestant or Catholic, Jew or Christian .... and We been Had, we been Took, we been Hoodwinked, we been Bamboozled, led Astray, Run-amuk, this what they do.\" SO, if especially during the Special Session your rep's don't over-ride Walkers joy ride this quote goes double. And you will see it again and again and again!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Many Catholics who are very conservative and economically prosperous are very happy that the Catholic bishops give priority to the life issues of abortion and euthanasia. This allows them in good conscience to vote for conservative politicians who claim that these issues are a priority for them. The problem with this, however, is that these conservative politicians are not that interested in promoting the common good.\"\n\nMany of these Catholics don't believe or want the common good. Instead they call people who work for the common good \"do gooders\" as if that is a horrible insult. They have taken the atheist/materialist Ayn Rand's philosophy and call it Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dave63 has replied to your comment \"\"What\u2019s your credentials on allowing the Christian church...\":\n\nSo Dana, on a side note are you frigid?? I hope not, I'd enjoy meeting you and we'll... See where it goes\n\nI have let others know what you said so they know to ignore you. This will be the last time I ever comment directly to you, never again comment to me.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The abortion laws say that we have a largely chauvinist society where the feelings and decisions of women and their doctors are disrespected. They tell me that the catholic church and far right political pacs believes they have the right to harass women who make decisions without asking the Pope first. Anti-abortion laws tell me that anti abortion extremist groups think they have the right to threaten women and commit fraud at Planned Parenthood and stick their noses in people's private lives.. When people got all fired up on social media about abortion is when Robert Dear snapped and killed alot of innocent people who were at the clinic. I don't think it was a coincidence. Abortion laws are unconstitutional because they generally only target women. Some churches actually believe that if a woman does not do everything a man orders her to do he has the right to banish her. I'm very grateful that I'm not a catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There was a whole millennia where there was no sacramental marriage for the average Catholic. It was reserved to the nobility for dynastic and patrimony issues. What about all those baptized Catholics who couldn't get a sacramental marriage back in the day? Were they all committing adultery and living in sin?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic Church has an immense and invaluable treasure of thought, research, reflection by brilliant, beautiful and holy people that spans centuries, millennia. It is, I believe, \"right and just\" that this tradition inform its teaching and pastoral practice. \nSadly, the church I was born into and which has insisted upon \"resurrecting\" ironically, stripped the mystery from what is intrinsically mystery; replaced quest, not with question but with answer; ambiguity with certainty.\nIt seems akin to my sense of a prenuptial: once it becomes a necessity it obviates the basis of the marriage. It has redefined obvious terms to \"fit\" a structure and perspective that cannot tolerate that which it purports to \"save\": the real world. \"Love\" is defined operationally as divesting that which is the essence of human love: submit my intelligence and will. Celibacy is glorified. The resurrected Jesus is \"ontologically\" other (priest) and even more beyond in hierarchy, yet I am the \"Mystical Body\"?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hobby Lobby just settled a $3M lawsuit with the US because their \"closely held Christian beliefs\" told them it was ok to illegally import Iraqi archeological artifacts. \n\nhttps://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/07/05/nyregion/hobby-lobby-artifacts-smuggle-iraq.html?referer=https://www.google.com/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's unclear what Father Reese means by \"adult,\" if he thinks \"reflecting on the Scriptures\" is the sole intellectual engagement with biblical literature that is required to produce an \"adult Christian.\" (Hopefully he does not believe that, but rather believes it is \"necessary but not sufficient.\")\n\nIt is possible to go very wrong by reading biblical texts without understanding where they came from and in what circumstances they were written. Many Christians, even those who spend a lot of time reading their Bibles, bring along many prejudices and preconceptions when they read biblical literature, and so it's no wonder they come up with strange interpretations.\n\nAn \"adult Christian\" will question authority, will not receive traditional ideas without decent intellectual explanation, and will not hesitate to seek the direction of scholars and others who are better informed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You know people \"used to\" think the world is flat-Trump originally said the wrong thing by mentioning \"muslims\" in his attempt to describe who needed to be banned.\nWhen will the media update their story to reflect what the real intent of the ban is? To keep the terrorist from these countries out. Whether their Muslims, Catholics, Protestants, black, white, green, gay, straight, women, men, aunties.......get my drift?\nThe media is the divisive component to where we are now as a society.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So christians should never vote because no one is without sin. Ok thanks for clearing that up.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I bought 2 burial plots last year during the local Catholic cemetery's half-price sale. Two adjacent plots cost me $2200. I could pay ahead or wait until needed, but the opening of each grave will cost $1300. Headstone will be about $5K (all have to be a standard model). Casket and concrete crypt will need to be purchased later when needed. It is not cheap to be buried, even in a Catholic cemetery. Interment of cremains in the ocean seems just as nice and a bit less expensive.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Milwaukee is an odd form of Catholic justice: victims get 10K or less, perpetrators get 20K and church lawyers get multiples of 200K.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It did not exist when I went to school there, which was when it was the best system in the nation. Its not quality that leads to home schooling but people who believe Darwin is a hypothesis rather than a field theory. Of course, the Catholic schools all teach Darwin.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You're right. I can admit that saying \"who cares what they think?\" might not have been the nicest or best approach on my part. \n\nMy thing is though: If the liberals really looked to the \"Orthodox\" (or Eastern Rite Catholics) for liturgical guidance... we honestly wouldn't end up with the types of \"liturgies\" we see in most Vatican II (Roman) parishes. \n\nAlso, more importantly: I don't agree with the common perception that before 1054, there was one great universal Church, which then split in two, as if both sides are now incomplete. Rather, the \"Orthodox\", because they reject the papacy established by Jesus, are in serious error and outside the unity of the one Universal Church established by Jesus. This is not to suggest that complex factors didn't contribute to the schism, nor that Catholic leaders at the time were perfect or didn't maybe even help the pave the way for it. \n\nBut the bottom line is: The \"Orthodox\" are unorthodox & reject papal primacy, & need to convert.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "....\"Few Catholics really believe that sex is for procreation only,\"...\n\nThere will come a time when 'the Church' will refer to Pope Paul 6 and 'Humanae Vitae' as the 'breakthrough document' acknowledging the fact that human sexuality is not always and only 'procreative'\n\nPul 6 acknowledges that, for humans, it is 'the natural law' that procreation is possible only during that period of the month when the woman is ovulating. And that sexual activity is permitted when procreation is not possible. And that 'family planning' is a Virtue.\n\nHe does contradict himself in trying to uphold former 'norms' prohibiting 'artificial' contraceptives; but once the rationale that 'all sexual activity must be procreative' is dispelled, the reasoning behind that norm is no longer valid.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Bible. A collection of chosen books/stories and poetry (poets in those days were called prophets) by the authority of Emperor Constantine, who, as the northern general of Rome, decided to sack it and seize power by the sword some 300 years after the presumed 'mythical like story,' and declared Christianity to be the official religion of Rome and the Cross to be the official symbol. 300 years. It is also believed that Constantine murdered his own wife and son. He got his soldiers to follow him into sacking Rome by convincing them that he saw a vision in the sky of a cross and that it was a direct message from God too him.\n\nYet another one, claiming to have direct access to God, just like today, and yesterday, and tomorrow. Oh boy, the power of superstition and the fomenting of dire scenarios unless you repent and accept the superstition as fact and ignore the true reality that intelligent humans are fully capable of logical reasoning and moral righteousness free of superstition.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't think you should be putting Kayla Muelller, who by all accounts I've read was a good, kind hearted, religious american, and yes, a christian up against your views of mythical terrorists in our streets. Clearly you live in fear and not reality. Because our history clearly shows plenty of not so good, hate filled, religions americans, self professing christians who murdered hundreds AND thousands, within our very borders. Trump has now officially backtracked all his rhetoric and virtually repeats every line from Obamas immigration and enforcement plans AS THEY EXIST. Why you think this writer should take note of your opinion on who or what to write about is a bit amusing. Why don't you write in as an independent commentator and suggest donations of your own? You can also write about and put in links to broken promises and the thousands of dead under democratic control. Easy to talk about what you expect from others.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A 2012 article in International Business News stated that the Roman Catholic Church has only 25,000 priests and 11,000 parishes in Brazil to serve 123 million people who list themselves as RC.\nOne bishop of a rural, rain forest diocese told the pope he had 27 priests to serve 700,000 people.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Last November Robert Lewis Dear, a devout Christian evangelical, shot and killed a police officer and 2 civilians in Coloardo...he believed he was doing God's work, and his heroes were The Army Of God, a group who have committed multiple murders and bombings in the name of Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Because of that many Christians do not like the name of \"Easter\" for Resurrection Day. It only appears once in any currently used version of the Bible and that is in the King James Version.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The point of my comment isn't to posit a 1-1 equivalence between offenders. Rather, it is to challenge Winters that his critique would have more force if he identified specifics as he so frequently does on the right. He certainly seems to have some in mind, why not identify them? I believe that certain elements of the right have no genuine rival on the left - Zuhlsdorf, Rorate, etc. \n\nRegarding EWTN, while I am no fan or regular viewer, I will give them credit for interviewing folks they don't agree with & covering a wide range of events. Arroyo had an interview not long ago with Card. Kasper. I don't see NCR interviewing \"conservative\" clerics regularly. NCR didn't even bother to send a correspondent to the Catholic Convocation in Orlando 2 weeks ago, where a diverse cross-section of Catholics gathered. I would also name someone like Robert Mickens who displays a clear antagonism (beyond just bias) against Benedict XVI (he lost his job at the Tablet for it).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Only in your alternative universe. Civil discussion requires that you, RD, come to a post with an open mind - do you ever do that?\nYou sit in judgment via almost every post of yours. I would argue that catholic media has now reached a point in time that part of their responsibility and accountability is to not *enable* or provide a *platform* for certain folks to *take over* a comment section and effectively shut it down via their own skewed, wrong, and extreme views. Yes, from one view, this appears to be censorship - well, guess what, adult behaviors at times requires them to respectively shut down extremists. Responsible media need to name, explain, underline, and call out irresponsible posters - one issue that is not addressed is - how do we hold commenters to be accountable beyond removing their access? As we see here, folks such as you, RD, can just re-sign up under another name.\nYou can comment under a pseudo name - suggestion - make people use real name and give NCR proof!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is a simple solution. Let Jews, Protestants and Catholics use the same prayer room, at different times to show unity and love. Muslims will certainly appreciate that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hindus are the majority in Kerala - more than half of the population. Then come Muslims and Christians. The current state government is a coalition of leftist parties, with the Chief Minister coming from the Communist Party of India (Marxist).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "IMHO, a Catholic majority might be a very good thing. I'd like to see Ireland reunited and Brexit and an increasing Catholic population in the North, combined with a majority of Northern Irish people wanting to stay in the EU, makes reunification a less distant prospect than before. The biggest problem remains the Orangeman fanatics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Would you people please go back to whence you came?! For goodness sake, it's bad enough having to constantly scroll through your posts without having to witness you all arguing about who is the most conservative, most right wing, most Catholic amongst you. Get a room elsewhere.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Geeeesh, it's what Grifters and Con Artists do, new that before he won America's heartland and supposed Christian values types.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If I have a direct relationship to God through my conscience, isn't that saying that \"priesthood of the believers\" in Luther's sense is true? If I decide whether or not I am in mortal sin, why do I need an ordained priest? \n\nI left the Lincoln diocese for the United Church of Christ. It seems that the Congregationalists and Catholics now agree with each other on soul competency.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't really care how the Pences conduct their marriage, that is private. The fact that they make it so public, and that Goldberg specifically writes a column about it and their 'Christian' philosophy, underlines the reason the founders provided for the separation of Church and State. Pence will act politically according to his beliefs, a far right philosophy: anti-regulation, anti-abortion, anti-contraception, anti-any social programs which benefit the poor. If this seems okay, imagine if he had declared his marital allegiance to secularism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Rule of Law? You mean, which allowed genocide and large scale looting?\n\nProtestant Christianity? Right, that was why 6 million Jews were sent to the camps. Since they made the wrong religious choice?\n\nIn the 18th century, it was primarily military technology and organization that the west had a superiority on. A large part of the industrial revolution took place after colonization.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is an extra ordinary reporting work!!! Thank you NCR &Tom Roberts!\nI need to read it few more times to get all the pieces, I am sure. \nJust the fact that there are people cared so deeply to under take this writing brings tears to me!!! So humanity is not yet going down the drain with this unbelievable evil RCI ( Roman Catholic Institution)! \nThank you Lord!!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Biblical archaeologists have searched in vain for any evidence that Moses existed or that any events of the Exodus took place. So we may want to rethink where the biblical roots of Catholic social teaching lie. Even a Wikipedia-level search would have revealed that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Are you worried about kids in villages not going to school? Or her giving preference to Christian private schools?\n\n I worry about both of those. Without schools to use vouchers in, what happens then? Many rural places--The Rust Belt for sure, but Alaska especially--don't really have a lot of private schools, because frankly we don't have the rich people to support them. She is coming from a very wealthy background, and I really don't think she has a real idea of the landscape of education in this country. \n\nAnd it does concern me that she thinks Christianity--whatever version the Department of Ed decides on, I guess--should be taught in public schools. It goes against the very founding of the Nation, and I hope that she was just pandering, and doesn't intend to actually follow through.\n\nAre you a fan of DeVos? I am pretty surprised that maybe someone with some experience in public education reform wasn't brought in, because it's a mess.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I erased one, the post that read \"Nope,\" because I was going to sub in a less cursory comment.\n\nAfter all this time you accuse me of bad faith? Christian of you.\n\nYou wrote:\n\n<>\n\nPrecisely. I notice you evade answering questions by turning the question.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "John McDowell,\n\nI am a Christian not a shill for the oil companies, maybe I am a shill for God and his Holy word! \n\nI only want good things to happen for all Americans, Merry Christmas and happy new year!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your question at the end is intriguing. It would be fascinating to know how many red-hatted princes processing around St. Peters REALLY believe all that they preach and appear (and yet maybe only pretend) to believe. It is almost impossible to reconcile their collective and continuing failures regarding our children with true faith in and love for Jesus. This calls into question everything they've taught forever -- as you said so well. And yet -- with only a few recent exceptions -- bishops in power remain in power, and there are still large sections of global Catholicism that have not yet experienced the harsh light of sexual abuse scrutiny. \n\nThanks for your comment -- it said everything to me.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The rigid bigotries which pervade Evangelical Christianity stretch back through Calvinism to tap-roots in the Spanish Inquisition. It is both dangerous and sad that Evangelicals know so little of their own history that they're doomed to keep repeating it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I said \"gospels.\" Hebrews, the work of an unnamed author, is not one of the gospels. No quotes by Jesus instructing his followers to gather weekly for ritual.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christians are not \"prophets of doom\" but rather missionaries of hope who are tasked with proclaiming Jesus' death and resurrection, which is \"the nucleus of Christian faith,\" Pope Francis said.\n\nWonderful perspective Holy Padre, keep on keeping it real!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If she was a fundamental Christian or Islamist and openly mocked those Canadians that didn't share her religious views would you feel the same e no matter how truthful she felt she was being? A zealot scientist is no better than a religious zealot and has no place as Governor General.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dennis, Cael,\nIn the context of this (nice) interchange of ideas, I might suggest one more. I think it important to understand that the world into which Jesus was born, was a transitional period for much of the \"religious\" world. Generally, the key transition was one from polytheism (primarily from the greco/roman systems) to monotheism. The question of the day at least around the time of Jesus, was this: if there is one God, then which one is the \"only\" God? There were many in the Jewish community who claimed to be prophets, and later, the \"savior\" or the \"son of God,\" or even God himself. \n\nAs the \"competition\" heated up as to which God would end up being accepted, there was no shortage of those who claimed miracles, raisings from the dead, ascensions, supernatural healing powers, etc. This period did not end at the death of Jesus, but continued on. So it was against THAT backdrop that those who wrote the gospels may well be seen as \"in competition...\" as they make their pitch.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And then you have to consider if all 11,000 a year are from Christians. Some of the toddlers popping their Grannies probably haven't been confirmed into a church yet and shouldn't be considered Christians. So subtract a few dozen, at least, from that number.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Really Sweden and Belgium have universal vocher programs. Are they headed toward Christian theocracy's?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "OK so you disagree that the Catholic Church calls herself the one true Church and that she was given the power by Christ Himself to bind and loose on earth and heaven ad that she is arrogant to say so. Got it. Then why are you Catholic?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The predictable sneer from RD, the man whose primary act as a Christian is to clean his garage.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "<\"So today, Catholics should join Protestants in celebrating the anniversary of the Reformation.\">\n\nJust what is there to celebrate? The division of the Western Christian Church? The deaths of between 3 and 11.5 million people during the Thirty Year War? The birth and spread of that disturbing ideology, Calvinism, with its double predestination? We only need ecumenism because of the schism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Greetings...If the Catholic Church in this country abides with the repeal of Johnson amendment.....I will likely leave this U S Catholic in favor of...The United Church of Christ! At least they are reality based and find Jesus in who they interact with!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is good to see our bishops speaking/acting like \"apprentices' of Jesus. Not like \"apprentices\" of the Donald.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That really isn't an issue. Already in predominantly Orthodox countries the local Roman Churches leave it out. The same with the Eastern Catholic Churches, it has been removed from the creed in their liturgies as well.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I've found just the same thing with cradle Catholics (and I am one) in RCIA classes I have attended as a sponsor!\n\nThey do the precise same thing, expressing personal opinions about what they think the Catechism teaches, thinking their \"cradle class\" is sufficient. A union card.\n\nWe all must view our understanding of what the Church teaches as ever imperfect, and we all must struggle (daily) to learn more, and to internalize more of what She teaches.\n\nThis \"striving\" encourages a proper sense of \"humility\" (yuck word for elitists, I know) about their faith, and life long pursuit of holiness.\n\nBut this sense of humility is what encourages a stirring and a happy growth mindset.\nI use the word conversion...one of continuous growing toward a more perfect union with the will and mind of God..precisely right.\n\nIt's the elitists who want to impose \"convert\" to mean a class-notion, a simplistic demographic.\n\nThis is a form of \"border wall\" within the Catholic Church, and it should be rejected.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1. I expected that any Catholic, any Christian even would have understood my comment.\n2. Well it is difficult to imagine since I know of no excommunications under Pope Pius XII for being Tridentine. Perhaps you could enlighten me.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm answering this from a Catholic perspective, so my reasoning may sound foreign to you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholic families \"need\" birth control? What Catholics REALLY need is to submit to the Church's dogmatic teaching on the matter.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Eugene Mission, Catholic Charities, St Vincent de Paul, Salvation Army, Goodwill..... all Christian organizations.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I've been inside Protestant churches and I just don't feel the Real Presence there the way I do inside a Catholic Church (and presumably an Orthodox Church if I entered one). \n\nSo why go through 7 years of study to become a priest if anyone can say \"This is my body\" and \"this is my blood\" over bread and wine to effect transubstantiation? Why do we bother going through the motions of ordaining if it truly makes no difference? I believe what Vatican II said about communities arising from the Reformation not preserving the Eucharist and if you think you worship a bigger God than me, and are more morally righteous for thinking your way, just go right ahead and think that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am not a member of organized religion. However, the self proclaimed \"religious-Christian\" politicians and big business folks whose actions when compared to the humble and simple teachings of the Christ, appear to be the prime example of that which is anti-Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Now that Catholics have spoken and a majority voted against Hillary Clinton and the Democrats on the basis of pro-life issues, can we finally talk about the Republicans' anti-life record at the other end of the life spectrum? If good Catholics are supposed to blindly vote against all Democrats solely because of that party's platform on abortion, why is it that Republicans get a total pass despite that party's platform on capital punishment? I don't understand the dichotomy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Would Jesus DO for you?I am sure not.Far too Christian. That would\n'insult' some other Group once again. I am so sorry your chosen \npolished same-as-usual sweet talking Politician did not get the Crown!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"We\u2019re reminded that the type of Christianity President Zuma subscribes to is seemingly not the version which helps him to live an integrated, honest and trustworthy life.\"\nDon't you think thats putting it a bit mildly? The man is doing the opposite!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Imagine the Negative Catholic Reporter \"reports\" mixed views on a conservative appointment! Mixed reviews! Shocking.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Another example of too busy being Catholic and not busy enough being Christian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Another strawman argument/article. Next.\n\nPatriotism is a virtue. Taught so by the Catholic Church, an implication from the 4th Commandment.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "another atheist more christian than most christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "... ,many authentic catholics now refer to jorge bergolio as 'the vicar of george soros'; \nI'm more confused. you're saying Donald can grant plenary indulgences?? I guess the penitent must visit each of his hotels?\n\nI notice you've carefully not capitalized catholics so as not to refer to a specific group of Christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus christ, this is an awful policy to implement as it may well lead to productive members of society getting caught up in the nets leading to broken homes and families and a large population of folks living in fear. Unnecessarily hard-assed and counter productive.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "untrue. there is nothing defiled in either the jewish or Christian scripture. your founder claimed many things- who bears witness they are true? who bears witness to his statements? Gabriel, the angel of God? God would not have him refute himself. as far as debating with you, the Lord Himself said to those that witness to wipe the dust from our feet when faced with those that would not accept Truth.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Although my husband is not an Eastern Rite Catholic, where this is a common practice at baptism (and it is called \"Chrismation\" not confirmation), it was common in the country in which he was born and grew up. You will find a wide range of ages for most sacraments among the world's nations.\n\nIt is unfortunate that there is no real agreed upon idea of what confirmation is supposed to be...that leads to a wide variation of ages of reception/administration and required preparation (if any).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Is Bishop Paprocki an adherent of the Christian religion?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Have they really? The Christian body-count just since WWII is orders of magnitude greater than several centuries of Muslim warfare. Shall I provide examples?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As for your commandment not to decorate our tree until Christmas Eve, well . . . That may be the tradition in your family, but not mine.\n\nBack when the kids were little, on the second Saturday after Thanksgiving, it was quite a big deal to go to the parish Boy Scout lot and pick out a live tree. Then we would haul it home in the minivan, set it up and spend the afternoon decorating it, each year adding a special new ornament. Guess that makes me a bad Catholic as well.\n\nI also appreciate the advice on which charities and causes I should or should not support, but I do think I am capable of deciding that for myself.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I also discovered what the Roman Church teaches--that the Church of Christ is active and present in \"ecclesial communities.\" Christ is present in the sacraments of the UCC church as well as the UCC community. All the means of salvation offered by the Roman Church are available in the UCC--The Church of Christ \"subsists\" in both churches.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "X was the favourite Catholic college for him, and the mafia that ran Canada for 10 years.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As one of the \"conspiracy minded Catholics\" described by the article who doesn't think the full text of the Third Secret has been revealed, I think an even more interesting conspiracy is that the L\u00facia who received the visions and the L\u00facia presented to the world after Vatican II are two different people. \n\nhttp://www.traditioninaction.org/HotTopics/g12htArt2_TwoSisterLucys.htm", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I've traveled to places where people's primary identification is with their religion. Where cities are divided into \"The Muslim quarter\", \"the Jewish Quarter\", \"the Christian Quarter\", etc. Where villages are identified as \"a Christian village\" or \"a Muslim village\" or \"a Jewish village\". That's people'S primary social identity.\n\nCanada and most of the modern, western world have managed to avoid that kind of sectarian social division, people live in religiously mixed neighborhoods and don't even know what religion their neighbours are for the most part, it isn't relevant in everyday life.\n\nSo sad to see that might be ending and we are going the way of primary identification by religion. Is this really what anyone thinks was intended by \"official multiculturalism\"?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dogma is Orthodoxy and certain teachings are Orthodox that must be believed to be called an Orthodox Catholic/Christian. They are well known and are unchangeable because there is no way to challenge them through evidence and the progress of knowledge. This makes them unreformable. Natural Law teaching must respond to changes in knowledge, so it cannot be.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Understanding Muslims.\nListen to Brigitte Gabriel who was born in Lebanon to a Maronite Christian family.\nCopy the websites below and paste it to your browser & listen to what she says about Muslims.\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guXBTgAxhIw\nhttp://www.israelvideonetwork.com/brigitte-gabriel-reveals-the-muslim-brotherhood-plan-for-america/\nhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/davidnoriega/meet-the-charming-terrifying-face-of-the-anti-islam-lobby?utm_term=.xg3dOljA3#.cdpdGnQYW", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have been a faithful Catholic all of my life, I am deeply hurt by the way so many catholic bishops and priests encouraged their parishoners to vote the Republican ticket citing abortion as the main reason, It seems that no thought was given to the racist, sexist, demeaning comments that Donald Trump and his\nsurrogates made throughout the campaign. Hate and bigotry were hallmarks of the Republican platform and I fear it will be that way for the next four years. I don't think the Catholic Magisterium in the United States really cares about the poor or minorities. If it wasn't for my strong belief in the \"real presence\" of Christ in the Eucharist, I would leave the Catholic Church!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The following comment by the author is extremely helpful in giving us greatly needed expanded insights about how to view and interpret the Christian message: \"As an option in our efforts toward understanding the Jesus story in a way that empowers us to embrace Jesus\u2019 radical teachings on nonviolent resistance, survival, liberation, restoration and transformation, [we need to listen] to the voices and experiences of those outside of male dominated theories from Europe and America.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This conversation....such as it is...began with you posting a response to one of my posts....you can hardly claim you were stalked...and if you deleted every snide comment you made....there'd be no posts by you...discouraging that this is how defenders of the Church conduct themselves...if all who claimed to be christians acted as Jesus said they would then would this thread exist...problem solved....sigh....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you for sharing your views Mr. Wong; and my condolences on the difficult passing of your wife. I agree with you. I do have a word of caution in case our legislators finally pass a law allowing physician-assisted suicide. \n\nHospitals, nursing homes, assisted living places, and hospices affiliated with religious groups like Catholics, Adventist healthcare, etc. are likely to hire or grant \"privileges\" to only doctors and nurses who refuse to provide aid in suicide. I have been to community meetings they sponsor concerning palliative care, and when I have asked \"Do you support passing a law allowing physician-assisted suicide?\" and also \"If such a law is passed, would you personally comply with a patient's request?\" Usually the answer is deliberately vague and filled with evasive platitudes, but when pinned down the honest answer is \"No.\" They will \"help\" you only to keep fighting; they will not give you the help you really want when it's time to surrender.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "and what about the proven security risk from all the \"good gun totin' Christian Americans\" who have perpetrated & will perpetrate the majority of violence in the US does Trump take action on them? No, he actually supports the right of those people to acquire guns legally.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is a perfect example of a newspaper pushing an agenda. This is nothing more than cherry picking of the pope's quotes based on the editorial agenda.\n\nI noticed NO mention \nof Jesus, \nof Christ, \nof the sacraments, \nthere was but one reference to God (and it was in the title from the quote was pulled)\nno mention of the cross, \nno mention of Scripture,\nno mention of Mary, \nno mention of sin, \nno mention of sacrifice.\n\nCandy coated Christianity, not yet Catholicism. \n\nAll the quotes that fit the agenda here.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Whatever happens, once a man is ordained, he should not be able to marry. The Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholics ordain married men, but once ordained, you cannot marry. \n\nCan you imagine what sorts of issues a bachelor priest dating his congregants would cause? In general, I believe don't take down a fence without asking why it was put up in the first place.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The obedience to god's word has been interpreted by man for as long as there has been a christian faith. The differences in the way that people choose to obey our Father has led to the most evil of horrors (how about the Wars of Reformation which lasted for 120 years and killed millions). Having said that, I don't begrudge Lela's opinion. Everyone has a right to one and there will be plenty of churches will to provide ceremony for same-sex unions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Trump's lawyer, Jay Sekulow, runs a \"Christian\" non-profit from which he skimmed $60 million in donations, which went into his family's pockets \u2014 makes Trump University look like chump change.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"One way to to redistribute wealth is to pay people a salary with benefits so that they can support a family of at least 5 in reasonable comfort -- that is, for instance, the source of the next meal is not a daily mystery.\"\n\nStarting with Rerum Novarum, Catholic social teachings have uniformly called for workers to be paid enough to support a family.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "NON-NEWS! Scott Pruitt is an Evangelical Christian and, like our Vice-President, he gets his data and marching orders from a higher authority. :)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "DC Toronto,\n\nThe Magna Carta makes reference to God 5 times throughout the text and was written by Christians to help govern Christians under a Christian king. It is also believed, but not proven, by many scholars that the Magna Carta was written by the Archbishop of Canterbury Stephen Langton.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Because Christians are the most persecuted religion in the world. Don't believe me? Google it. Really ugly comments here.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\". . . which turned salvation from a fairy tail about original sin to something more concretely about human nature. . .\"\n\nSo rather than give us the reasonable criticism of a Catholic, you reject Catholicism and Christianity altogether. The Church must be strong to attract such dissension here. Let's see. Just today, there's Hobson and Bindner. Let's see who else we can find.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus redefined God's laws using the word Love. Love God and Love others as God loves us.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Part 3)\n\nThirdly, the approach to ecumenical \u201craproachment\u201d that I propose is not a game in which opposing Christian traditions tell the other traditions what they ought to drop, (for that is the old game under a new name), but rather it envisages a new game in which each traditions does some soul searching in order to refocus on core Christianity rather that insist on peripheral issues. Guidance for such soul searching, can be found in awareness of the historical development of various practices and theological ideas. B16\u2019s \u201cdoing away with\u201d Limbo is an excellent example, for which he has never received sufficient praise, IMHO.\n\nJay, I suspect you will want to continue this discussion. With apologies, I am unable -- indeed I ought not to have taken the time for this longish reply, given other commitments.\n\n", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Probably the greatest and most successful \"first century Christian\" movement was started by Bill Wilson, co founder of AA.\n\nA nun, a Jesuit priest, and Fulton Sheen, among other Catholic clergy, helped that movement to grow and fully endorsed its development.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We owe the \"Stations of the Cross\" to St Francis.\n\nWe owe the basic prayer \"We adore You O' Christ and we praise You...\" to St Francis.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Raven, I am impressed that you have all the right terminology, if we can just get them sorted correctly, maybe update them from the 1890s to the 1990s, we might be getting somewhere.\nIn the 1890s, pope Leo XIII ruled that Anglican Orders are \u201cabsolutely null and void.\u201d The rationale was historical, that the ordination rite had been rendered deficient by eliminating some themes. The changes were made because Anglicans did not want to ordain priests as the Church intends to ordain. It was like a deficient intention, but displaced to the rite itself.\nThat ruling remains in place, which is why a Roman Catholic ordination is usually required when an Anglican priest becomes Roman Catholic.\nMeanwhile, the Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission, the official joint theological dialogue, reached an agreement on the Eucharist that was solemnly affirmed by JP2 and the Abp of Canterbury in 1996. Conflicts with Leo XIII are unresolved.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I take it, then, that you are not a Catholic?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Lots of organizations help those who are down and out, including Christian and entirely secular organizations. It can get blurry whether or not some of these organizations help people in order to be in a position to proselytize to those down on their luck or if they do it strictly out of a charitable impulse. \nA different approach to charity is that of the Islamic faith called Zakat--the third pillar of Islam. Zakat consists of the compulsory giving of a set proportion of one's wealth to charity and is considered a type of worship and of self-purification. Freeing oneself from the love of possessions and greed, from the love of money and from love of oneself are some of the major goals of this ritual giving. What's interesting about this approach is the focus on how giving edifies the giver rather than the receiver. Sometimes it seems like the Christian approach has more to do with providing social status to the giver. In Zakat, the donations are frequently private or anonymous.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Justice Kennedy, writing for the majority, stated in the opinion \"Finally, so long as the town maintains a policy of nondiscrimination, the Constitution does not require it to search beyond its borders for non-Christian prayer givers in an effort to achieve religious balancing.\" (page 3).\n\nThis means exactly what I said before. The town is not compelled to search beyond for someone to come in to achieve balancing, but if someone volunteers to come in and deliver an invocation, the town (or KPB) cannot discriminate against them. The town is not burdened to search, but is burdened to accommodate.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is a correct assessment of the situation as it stands in the M.E. right now. Israel is playing a shell game with the Palestinians, taking their lands, agitating the people to revolt, then crying 'foul' when the agitated act and pointing the finger at them. It's absolutely horrid. Not to mention that anyone who points this out is loudly labelled 'anti-Semitic' for their troubles. A third of Palestinians are Christians, how do Christian supporters of Israel justify the daily slaughter of their brethren? As a Christian I cannot, and while I would prefer a peaceful settlement to allowing Palestinians their own government and life, I would not hesitate to agree that an American force needs to be sent to protect these people and all that an American force of protection entails. Israel, you've been warned. Remember the U.S.S. Liberty!!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree, Romans commands blind obedience to government. I am sure you read history with horror at all the people who refused to submit to lawful orders in Germany in the 1930 and 40s, not to mention those anti-christians who opposed lawful orders in the USSR, China, Cambodia, etc in the 1970s-80s. A house cannot be divided, despite what various liberal sitcoms would have us believe, with their depictions of lines drawn on the floor--Brady Bunch, I'm calling you out. A nation that has any dissent is wrong, or else God is. This is quite logical.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No Christian denomination has had any \"prophets\" since John the Baptist, that's precisely the point. Even Luther, Calvin, etc. are not considered prophets.\n\nThe Mormons claim there was a prophet in the 19th century who revealed a whole new set of laws, revelations, etc., that updates and supplements the Bible in radical ways, the way Christians say J-C and the New Testament updated and supplemented the Jewish Bible in a radical way. That's different from just claiming you understand the original Bible better than some other denomination. Radical enough that that makes Christians Christians, not a sect of Judaism, although in some ways they are and some small sects consider themselves so...\n\nBut if Christians are Christians and not a sect of Judaism in any meaningful sense, then Mormons are Mormons, not a sect of Christianity in any meaningful sense.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As a sixty seven year old victim of clergy abuse, I have seen the Catholic Church continuously try to minimize the abuse. They have done this in various ways. Paying victims for their silence has been the most longstanding and perhaps the most effective way to stop victims. Never, ever has the Church apologized in any meaningful way to victims of clergy abuse. Never, ever have the Dolans in the Church accepted any responsibility for what happened to me and many others. Long ago, I stopped believing that there would be true justice for victims of clergy abuse. I was twelve years old when I was sexually molested by my parish priest after serving Mass back in 1961.The pain and anguish that myself and others suffered can never be compensated for in dollars. Although I understand that many victims want some compensation for all their suffering, I want no money from the Church. What I want is for the Hierarchy of the Church to take responsibility for their part in the harm that was done.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I accept & like to dialog with all people. And I realize there are people here for which the English language isn't their native tongue. No argument from me at all. \n\nAnd I accept that they have opinions that they often want to force, despite volumes of counter evidence. Again, no argument. These people should be patiently listened to & quietly corrected. Certainly.\n\nAgain and again, I've pointed to the \"ordinary\" lay Catholic - not to take anything away from clerical or religious vocations - but rejoicing in the letter and spirit of Vatican II which reminded ALL CATHOLICS that they are called to be saints too, canonizable saints, and more!\n\nAlways more. God loves a cheerful giver. \n\nAll Christians - yes, the lay - are also called to a rich and tireless apostolate, drawing all people to Christ as He commanded us. Universal apostolate, until the day we die.\n\nOur death should itself bring others closer to Christ. We all share in the common (but not the ministerial) priesthood", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Furthermore Allan, Catholic schools actually not only teach Catholicism, but also a basic understanding of other world religions. Not only that, but my children's Catholic school (and many others) also sponsored several Syrian familes. Additionally, ANYONE is welcome to attend a Catholic school regardless of their religion providing they are willing to accept the fact that a Catholic religion class is part of the curriculum ....which, may I remind you of above sentence, INCLUDES teaching and exploring about other faiths, and they check that 'little tax allocation box' . It's curious you know, how many non-Catholics now attend Catholic schools. Could it be because the parents and their children actually would like to say a prayer? Would like to have a Christmas concert? Would like to freely express and show their faith? Funny how that is huh? They can't do it in their own public school, but Muslims can? Alrighty then!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The refugees are political not religiously dislocated. The Syrian civil war is a battle of regime against democracy which has turned into a proxy war of allegiances. There are christians, muslims, sunni and others on both sides of the war.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The author would certainly have expressed heartfelt outrage about the killing of now 28 Coptic Christians women and children in their cathedral in Cairo by her coreligionist brothers, plus dozens of gravely injured.\n\nThe only reason she did'nt is when she found it was fake news after all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, if those cathedrals were \"built as Catholic churches,\" but, during the Reformation, were \"taken over by the fledging Church of England,\" a new state church (still numerically fledging, diminishing, owing to the rise of the non-affiliated), maybe the state can save them, oversee them, pour money into repairing them -- if not all of them, at least some of them. State business would NOT be a cruel trade in this regard.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You make my comment sound so nefarious. The last four things are Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell. This is a Catholic belief. A belief that hopefully every soul will end up in heaven, however some obviously end up in hell. God asked us to follow his commandments. Jesus stated the road to heaven is narrow. How un-Christian of me to hope all may go to heaven. I thought the reason Jesus sacrificed himself on the Cross was for the Salvation of us all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Maybe because your ancestors, be they from Poland, Italy, Ireland..., were in the very same situation, just a different era. Does the Christian call change?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If one reflects upon the ideological alignment of the US Bishops (including some Cardinals) with the Republican Party around Ayatollah Trump and the right to alt-right one can see our western \"leadership\" rapidly cloning the ideological Muslim model. \nIt seems to boil down to the preservation of ideological privilege, personal advantage fed by the subservience of everybody else and their power to punish dissent and destroy everybody else. Neither has the slightest idea how or willingness to try to deal with order in a world of moderation, inclusion, reason, and how to address difference - let alone evil.\nClinging to what \"monicadeangelis\" terms the \"Temple Priesthood Model\" of Church is simply an evolutionary dead end. Redemption aside, for a moment, Jesus was smart. Whether \"His\" model can save the \"repressed adolescence\" model of hierarchy is a matter of faith in the Holy Spirit and a will to begin.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oops, thanks...JusticeforImmigrants.org. Yes, Catholic Charities is wonderful in the area with helping immigrants, but we need more education, advocacy, and support on immigration from official Diocesan staff.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Whatever it is you think you're defending - it aint the Catholic Faith.\" \n\nWrong. I am afraid you are misinformed on what the Catholic Faith really is.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus NEVER, NEVER referred to himself as a Priest! He was NOT born of the Tribe of Levi, nor was he of the House of Aaron. He was of the Tribe of Judah, and of the house of David. \nDuring Advent we hear this over and over, and certainly during Holy Week---Jesus is a King.\n\nThe writer of the Letter to the Hebrews [and it was NOT Paul who wrote this], was trying to point out to the Jewish people who would read this, that Jesus was superior to Moses and to the high priests---because he was the \"Faithful Son\" [Hebrews 3:1-6].\n\nThose people selected as presbyters in the very early days of Christianity [selected and voted upon by the people], were just as capable of celebrating THE MEAL [as the Mass was called in the very early days], and acting in 'persona Christi' as any ordained priest today.\n\nJesus told us, 'where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in their midst.\" And he didn't mean this only if an ordained priest was there.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are correct. The justification for the days off was religious back in the dark days. It is not now since as you can see people go to work on Sat/Sun, mow lawns, shops are open. Church attendance is low. \n\nWe kept Sat/Sun off since all calendars (business/schools) were following this scheme. \n\nJust so you know Friday is a day off in Israel and Sunday is a working day. No special accommodations for Christians.\n\nI am not sure what you mean with \"up the game\". Is there a game plan that we should know about?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We cannot discern the truth for ourselves in opposition to what the Church teaches! I recommend reading Vatican I documents. \n\n\"in matters of faith and morals, belonging as they do to the establishment of Christian doctrine, that meaning of Holy Scripture must be held to be the true one, which Holy Mother Church held and holds, since it is her right to judge of the true meaning of interpretation of Holy Scripture.\" (Vatican I, Session 3 chapter 2, paragraph 8)\n\n\"2. If anyone says that human studies are to be treated with such a degree of liberty that their assertions may be maintained as true even when they are opposed to divine revelation, and that they may not be forbidden by the Church: let him be anathema.\n3. If anyone says that it is possible that at some time, given the advancement of knowledge, a sense may be assigned to the dogmas propounded by the Church which is different from that which the Church has understood and understands: let him be anathema\" (Vat I, Cannons)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yeah. This is being flagged because I am tire of learning from the far right I am not Catholic. And how is what I described Catholic? How do annulments reflect God's mercy? Spoiler - It doesn't. It is a system that is used and abused by people and is a mockery of God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How ironic! - \"moving beyond charity\" to political action to perfect earthly kingdoms in the name of Christ, fueled by anger no less -\"Aren't you mad yet?\" \n\nI ran across this in the latest issue of \"First Things\": \"[Faith's vocation in the public square] detaches us from an idolatrous earthly politics and frees us to pursue the common good with a fitting awareness of the fragility, transience, and ultimate inadequacy of our worldly endeavors, however necessary and noble.\" Why do we sense so little of this perspective in the strident, materialistic demands of Christian social justice advocates?\n\nChristian social justice warriors, in moving beyond charity and freedom, move beyond Christ and His Gospel, and idolatrously hawser us to a humanistic old covenant of righteousness by law and works, that sucks the public square of oxygen for both charity or freedom.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Great job CHRISTIAN SOLDIER", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So a Christian friend of mine recently died, and his wife went to a Jewish Temple to seek burial. I wonder what kind of response she'll get.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A majority of his votes were white, although he did not win the while vote. He did, however, win the Catholic vote. The Illinois law would have required extraordinary measures for non-viable live births. That may have violated Roe, but probably not, It would have violated all kinds of medical ethics, including Catholic ones. Extraordinary measures can always be withheld, which is why Catholic hospitals should offer induction abortions and let the child die rather than letting Dr. Carhart dismember them in utero and deliver the pieces. You are correct, of course, that the bill was more RTL Movement pandering.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pope Francis has called abortion an \"absolute evil\" and a \"horrendous crime\" and echoed Gaudium et Spes' characterization of abortion as an \"unspeakable crime\". Are you saying that Pope Francis, the darling of Catholic progressives, is guilty of making a \"rabid and relatively thoughtless condemnation of abortion\"? Do you dissent from Vatican II?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "@shaun-narine (?) & friends said; \"...In Canada, we have given ethnic politics in Quebec a free pass for far too long...\"\n-\nFreedom of Expression in this case means that I have the right to \"criticize\", \nto \u2018interrogate', to 'condemn' ALL religions and without \"infantilized\", \"discredit\" them as far.\nYes ! It\u2019s LOUDER here in Qu\u00e9bec because \u201cbig-mouth\u201d Grande-gueule Qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois will NEVER let another religion come replace Catholic Church and implant itself stealthily on its territory. Anglo Canadians & Newcomers should understand the Qu\u00e9bec reality on religion;\n\u00ab \u2026Catholic Church agreed to largely STEP OUT \nof the HEALTH and EDUCATION FIELDS in the 1960s\u2026 \u00bb\n(more to come Shaun-pipi)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"non-denominational Christian liberal arts university\"\n\nlol ok", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Obviously aren't Catholic are you? The piece of paper comes after an investigation into the marriage. The annulment process is open to all the evidence one wishes to provide so although some may abuse authority, many are trying to do what is right before God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Is there any possibility of our Catholic leaders drawing up in detail a model immigration law which they would be willing to see enforced?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thought. We can make it mean anyone who receives communion in a church. That's pretty catholic. {capitalization intentional}.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholicism is not sola scriptura. \n\nThe Catholic Church takes a more comprehensive ear to the will and word of God, looking at revealed teaching (Scripture), natural law, rational inquiry, etc. \n\nThe approach you seem most comfortable with is a fundamentalist one: \"where in scripture does it say this'. That's not the Catholic approach to leveraging Scripture. \n\nMy checkmate move to you is: where in Scripture does it say we only believe what's in scripture!\n\nShow me the verse and I will cede.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It'd be nice to see the same expectation that people have for muslims and islam be applied to christianity. Moderates speak up and keep your extremists from making you look bad. Keep your religion out of our gvmt and institutions that are supposed to represent ALL people EQUALLY regardless of faith or disbelief.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And Catholic biblical scholarship", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How Christian of you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The real gap in understanding the truths of the Gospel comes when the wealthy dispose of the vulnerable by ignoring them completely or by a veiled argument that they somehow \"deserve\" their status because of their own inaction. Chaput speaks for an increasingly small minority who view religious freedom in narrow terms that benefit their views and their view only. The \"Scalia\" wing of the Catholic Church has, for a long time, isolated themselves in the ivory tower of wealth and academe in their role as bemused spectator gods of us lowly types who believe that pro-life and other issues are much broader than they allow. Chaput is their chaplain.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It might serve us all well for NCR to commission articles which explore the roots of how hate and hatefulness could and does become a driving force for some Catholics/Christians. While many, if not most, of us fall to the vice there are those who seem to find it their fuel and others who are expert at fomenting and igniting it. Yes to exploring venom as a concomitant to some disagreement. There is also the other dimension of those who exploit vulnerability and pander to hate-following disagreement.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Allow me to clarify something here that I believe is skewing your thinking on the matter of priest s marriage counselor, utilitas. Unless a priest is professionally educated, trained, supervised and licensed as a marriage and family counselor/therapist, they are by no means to be doing marriage counseling. Most clerics don't, really. What IS done is a sort of spiritual guidance of helping willing couples to be consistent with Church teaching and doctrine. If there is a priest doing anything more then that, without the proper credentials earned and posted clearly in the office, they should be reported to the state licensing board and people should avoid seeking counseling from such clerics aside from Catholic faith-specific support. All of your arguments are built on faulty premises. Who cares about the sexuality of the counselor as long as they know exactly what they are doing? If you need a heart surgeon, I hope you are concerned about their skill and experience, yes?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Tell your Catholic brothers and sisters that worship in the Ordinariate that \"thee's, thou's, liveth and reigneth\" belong to another age. And this was the prayer used at the EF Mass on Holy Thursday, if you don't like the thees and thous provided in the translation, here it is in the Church's official language: \"Deus, a quo et Iudas reatus sui poenam...\" The Church still prays this and this remains what we have received and pray to this very day. \n\nIn the Gospel Jesus clearly tells us some go to eternal life and some to eternal punishment (ie, forever). There is no seeking forgiveness after death for one under a sentence of eternal death! Why warn us of eternal fire when we can just seek forgiveness in the next life?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "While Garrett and the Christian Coalition in Hawaii might be giddy because of Trump's victory, it belies the fact that on the ground here in Hawaii, their overall relevance is not as absolute. I am pretty sure that they have, in this statement, marginalized themselves further into the overall Hawaii community who tends to be much more polytheistic than what Garrett and company would like for us to think.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are gods (let's say) and humans who have no authority over us, and whom it is not right for us to serve. So though I agree with you that orthodox Catholicism understands JC to have \"full authority,\" as you say, it's not on the grounds of his humanity and divinity, however full they might be.\n\nAnd the \"first commandment\" that Jesus utters in Matthew 22, in reply to a question, is in fact his quoting from Deuteronomy 6, and is understood to be a quotation from Torah, and not his own original words.\n\nAnyway that's not to the point. My point is twofold. First, in modern English, we tend not to think one can \"command\" someone to love, no matter the object; true love can only be a freely offered commitment of relationship, springing from the lover's heart. Secondly, we have come to mistrust a relationship called \"love\" if it is between parties of very unequal power, and especially if the relative inequality of their power is always in view.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A previous bishop in San Diego did the same thing--denied a funeral to a gay man. Although eventually the Bishop rescinded the rejection, the family went to the Episcopalians for a funeral. Of course San Diego was at the time the home of now-Abp Cordileone, that fierce opponent of equal marriage. That wasn't the only one, either. Little wonder that so many Catholics started worshiping with the Episcopalians, given the viciously anti-gay rhetoric from the Diocese at that time.\n\n Nowadays, San Diego Catholics have Bp Robert McElroy, who is much more interested in building bridges than walls. Still, I suspect much damage was done, particularly amongst the young.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The web site should also expose the Christian professors and their so called 'psychology' courses which are really just Christian ideology.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "American law is third order or better third hand law, downstream from eternal law, natural law, divine positive law. \n\nCatholics should understand that civil law is \"bringing up the rear, not leading us\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "America made a point to do that under Fr Reese. It debated a diverse number of issues with competing columnists. He was canned. The current version is more like pablum for disengaged pew sitters whether from a progressive or conservative position. Very few articles really engage one's intellect. I agree with anniec and Elagabalus. There has never been a left wing version of First Things. This NCR has taken it's share of ecclesiastical beatings but still continues precisely because it has no clerical or religious affiliation. Theoretically one could say that about Commonweal, but too many of it's main editors and contributors are affiliated with Catholic colleges/universities or are religious/clerical. It too can hardly be considered progressive.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"When today\u2019s Christian nationalists look back at the past two centuries of history, they see secular ideologies at the root of conflict and war. For Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, however, religion lay as the root cause of bloodshed and tyranny. [Jefferson and Madison] stood, in profound ways, closer to Martin Luther, and Galileo, than we do to them.\"\n\nConservative \"originalists\" trying to divine the thoughts of our Founders are always on thin ice, which is getting thinner with every passing decade. But they also are guilty of actually grossly misunderstanding that originalist thought \u2014 or rejecting it outright \u2014 when it doesn't square with their very modern Christian nationalist ideology.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So what do you \"think\" if anything, is true regarding the Catholic faith?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "ISIS beheading Christians because they refuse forced conversion to Sunni Islam is persecution. Canadian Catholics being told that euthanasia is legal or that Trudeau is pro-choice is not.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Gorsuch may or may not be anti-Roe. I doubt the issue will come up again. Gonzalez v. Carhart was the last bite of the apple, and GOP appointees Roberts and Alito said no to repeal. The Mexico City policy is the movement looking busy. The Seamless Garment theory lives as long as Catholics vote Democrat. It is based on Casti Connubii paragraph 121. As for DH, the issue is political, not credal or dogmatic. Tradition can be a guide, but it is not limiting. DH is the doctrine of Vatican II, Canon Law and part of the Magisterium of Paul VI. It will only be strengthened with time because it makes sense. That beats your use of the fallacy of arguing from authority.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"An outspoken evangelical Christian who has twice lost his position as the state's top judge, Moore won election with a fierce anti-Washington message and a call to put religion at the center of public life.\"\n\ngod help us!!!!!\n\n\"Moore, meanwhile, drew support from Trump's former chief strategist, Steve Bannon, and his secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Ben Carson.\"\njezuz save us", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We Catholics know what is morally objectively evil via the teaching of the Church and Holy Scripture. As you pay no regard to either the inerrancy of Scripture or the Tradition of the Apostles you have no real say in this discussion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do you realise that apparitions are not an essential part of the Catholic faith? \nWhen apparitions are \"approved\" by the Church it is because believing in them is compatible with Catholic faith ... but that does not make them an essential part of the faith.\nTechnically that means you can be an orthodox Catholic and choose not to believe in the apparitions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I made no judgment of Elagalalalabus. I specifically stated that I took issue with his anti-Catholic stance on sex. Does that fall outside your radius of permissible comment?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Francis continues his mission to convert Catholics to Christianity and reports malevolent resistance (not just from prelates). A difficult task he's set for himself, but a laudable goal. Keep on keeping on.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If the Catholic Church wants to have a voice in this debate, it has to do better than this. Few people have ever heard of the CMSM. Even fewer think of CMSM as their moral compass. Unless the bishops speak as one, this issue will proceed without US Catholic input. The fact that the USCCB won't raise its voice above the din speaks volumes for their courage.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The church does NOT call people to a vocation, as is abundantly clear from both Old Testament and New! The church recognizes the divine call by inviting whose so called by God, to receive sacred orders. Lamentably, the church does nor always do its job in this respect! And many, VERY many Catholics recognize the injustice which the hierarchy perpetrates!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Joseph Card. Ratzinger, with the blessing of then Pope John Paul II would seem to have come to that very conclusion in declaring women subservient to men \"...in the church and in the world\" - the very title of his 2004 \"Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Collaboration of Men and Women in the Church and in the World\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Truth,\nAbsolutely NOT. Not when those precepts are hooked up with the violations of the laws of God (Ten Commandments) and the teachings of Jesus Christ. \nOne can easily argue that the church ended it's covenant with God and Christ from the very beginning when it adopted it's hatred and grave disparagement of the Jews and of women. And certainly in the fourth century when it was seduced by Satan and his entreaties of 'earthly power'. \nI am certain our college priest professors would think the same, because that IS what they taught us. \nNamely, that one cannot use ignoble(evil) means to achieve ones goals. The ends does not justify the means. \nSorry, but I cannot see any way around that precept of Catholic philosophy no matter how much I try to believe in favor of the church. \nEarthly power has corrupted the church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Exactly, Curt Sommer. \n\nHow does terrorism at the hands of people who are Muslim work out to be \"in the name of religion\"? If the US sends a drone strike and the pilot is a Christian, is that also \"in the name of religion\"?\n\n Or is it just that groups of people fight each other and often within the groups they share a religion?\n\nSo back to your question: Is it their religion or something else about the Middle-East that's forcing these extreme acts of terror? \n\nYou want to know the cause, rather than the symptom, right?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Or perhaps they are laypeople who are angry with the direction of the Catholic Church?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Non-changing (rigid) religions are also shrinking , include those with male only clergy/leaders/pastors: EOC, Mormons, Southern Baptists. Eastern Orthodox Churches are shrinking in membership in the US., have one of the lowest rates of retention across Christian and non-Christian denominations, with only 53% of adults who were raised in the Orthodox Church still identify themselves as Orthodox Christians. Compare that to Hindus (80%), Jewish (75%), Mormon (64%) and Catholic (59%). The conservative Southern Baptist Church have recorded a loss of membership for each of the last 9 years and lost 200,000 adult members between 2013 and 2015. 15% of Amish leave their childhood church as adults. Rigidity is either not enough or is rejected by many. Half of the 'nones' in the US left their childhood religion over lack of belief, and 20% cited dislike of organized religion in a recent Pew survey. Rigidity or male-only priests/pastors apparently doesn't prevent shrinkage.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do they have Christian prayers in a spare classroom?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How very sad! I'm so sorry that you also experienced such a scary situation! Very happy your family stopped attending that church. I can't imagine how many other people have been affected in the same way! I just don't get how he can call himself a Christian! Scary!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Kurgan's comments are always satire - usually targeting the law 'n order Catholics. However, because he is often subtle in the satire, some people fail to grasp it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There you're approaching the real gist of problem, which is a bit more complicated than some (Trout) are trying to represent it. There are conflicting legal considerations (one state law, one Constitutional), and the court should decide which party is least harmed by having the other's position prevail.\n\nIf the baker is a devout Christian, a wedding, to him, is a sacred rite, not just a social event. Asking him to significantly participate in what he would view as an active mockery of his religious convictions would be denying him his Constitutional freedom to practice his religion (which is not just which church he attends, but how he conducts his life). That's something he cannot simply set aside by selecting some minor reasonable alternative. \n\ncontinued below...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is a good job the early Christian martyrs didn't have regard for \"the legal lines between Church and State, when the state demanded that they bow down and worship the Emperor. Your State is demanding that Catholics stand by and do nothing whilst millions of unborn children are put to death and you advocate going along with it because it is rendering unto Caesar.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As an Old Catholic priest, I am, as can be expected, on the forefront of progressive reforms, including the ordination of women and the marriage of same sex couples. However, I do strongly prefer traditional liturgy. But that liturgy has to be participatory! Music belongs to the congregation. The function of the choir is to lead the congregation, not perform for it. At www.saintceciliacatholiccommunity.org, where I am pastor, we sing the entire Mass (except the homily) every Sunday. We sing music of all periods and styles, from Medieval to twenty-first century. I compose a substantial portion of our music. \n\nALSO- All our lay participants (readers, intercessors, servers) are vested in albs and in the altar party - people walking up to the lectern out of the congregation in street clothes is an aesthetic disaster unbecoming the dignity of the liturgy!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I guess I should ignore all the viciousness, lies and personal attacks. I try to ignore the nastiness, and it is so very terribly unfair, but I simply am not strong enough to let anything go and feel compelled, obsessed if you will, to respond. Fortunately, as a traditional catholic, I can take solace in the knowledge that all I do is Right and Just, and any errors will be forgiven.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You obviously are not a Catholic. End of debate as far as I am concerned. Good day.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Eric, you are wandering all over the place again. The way to understand something like this is to focus of a few examples. None the less, I am going to follow your helter-skelter approach just this once.\n\nRe Paul: Scholars currently regard no more than 7 Epistles as \"authentic\" (1Th, Gal, 1Cor, 2Cor, Rom, Philip, and Philemon). That is, they are letters (their genre) written by St. Paul to the communities named. Most of the others retain the same genre (letters) but were in all probability not written by Paul, but rather by others largely adopting Paul's theology and style. All were written before the Gospels, and all have been accepted and revered from the beginning as solid Catholic doctrine. (To us it is scandalous to impute something to the pen of some famous person that they did not write; in the ancient world this was common, and not scandalous.)\n\nRe: The Psalms are indeed poetry, but a unique Hebrew form of poetry without the rhyme and cadence that we have until recently...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's clear to me that Jesus teaching said we reach out to help others. Finding a way to slow the killing of our wives, husbands and children should be a part of our faith. There's a lot of ways to try to help.\n\nAs to gun laws, I've never suggested that private citizens can't own guns. My concern is that we don't become a nation that chooses deadly force as a civilized way to settle disputes. We seem to have gotten caught in an arms race with weapons accessable to civilians. I wish that cycle would stop.\n\nThere's a huge difference in killing power between weapons. It is not solely the human being that determins the body count. You can assume the killer will use what's available. \n\nJesus life spoke volume's about his attitude toward violence, (and his was a very violent world). The early church did not use an armed militia. *I never worry about my friends who have guns for hunting and family protection. I was the exception, not the rule in rural Iowa.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "European Jews are European.\nMiddle Eastern Jews are Middle Eastern.\nJudaism is a religion, not a race.\nWhy is that so hard for people to grasp?\nNo one questions whether \"Christian\" is an ethnicity or a religion.\nTake 100 American Jews, chosen randomly. Run DNA analysis and create a chart showing the bulk results. Take 100 American Christians, chosen randomly. Run DNA analysis and create a chart showing the bulk results. I bet geneticists can't tell the two groups apart.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Any \"Christian\" who voted for Trump had to turn their back on the very values they were taught in their church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Starting a misinformation campaign already? Scheer is a devout Catholic. Here's a write-up on him in the Catholic press.\nhttp://bcc.rcav.org/canadian/796-deborah-gyapong", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How it must sting to write for a progressive Catholic publication, when the political candidate you hate is ProLife.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is difficult to be a martyr, but some are called by God to live that role. One cannot help but be inspired by one who lives the life of a Christian, turning the other cheek, rather than launching attacks upon others and otherwise defending themselves against attacks, real or imagined, deserved or not.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That is not what I asked. I asked you whether the Law of the Land took precedence over the Law of God when they came into conflict.\nIf I, as a Catholic asked a Protestant baker to decorate a cake with the inscription, 'The Catholic Church is the One, True Church of Christ on Earth' which is what the Catholic Church claims, what if the baker finds that offensive? Would he be entitled to refuse on the grounds that he regarded that statement as untrue and his conscience forbade him from publishing a lie?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The whole nature of Vatican II WAS to be different. Did you read what Pope St. John XXIII state at the Opening Mass in October 1962? The whole thrust was to be about the medicine of MERCY. The purpose of ecumenical councils is to deal with important issues that the church is facing---not to utter anathemas. \n\nWhat happened with the anathemas in the past? Catholics and Protestants fighting with each other, religious persecution on all sides, a backward-looking Catholic hierarchy, the splintering of Protestant sects proclaiming scores of competing doctrines. All in told, Christianity, in the past, has not always put its best foot forward. Based on the example Christians have set in the past, we shouldn't wonder why so many people today reject Christianity altogether.\n\nSome people think that the Church should go backward into the Middle Ages or to become fundamentalist. But John XXIII, who was a trained Church historian, believed that it was time to enter a time of Hope.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pope Francis may have regarded Dorothy Day as an \u201cideological Christians,\u201d a \u201crosary counter,\u201d a \u201cPelagian,\u201d or a \u201cself-absorbed promethean neopelagians.\n\nDorothy Day put the reception of the Eucharist at the centre of her life and went to Mass every day and set aside time for prayer. She was devoted to: \"worship, adoration, thanksgiving, supplication ... the noblest acts of which we are capable in this life.\"\n\nhttp://www.catholicworker.org/dorothyday/articles/794.pdf", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Rules and decrees don't work. And they don't seem to be Jesus' way. A basic rule of the church is not followed by over 75% of Catholics: attending Mass weekly. In 1965, 55% attended weekly Mass, 41% in 1985, 24% in 2010, with millennials especially unlikely to attend, as reported by the July 10 America magazine in their review of the published survey, \"Catholic Parishes of the 21st Century.\" Ouch. The gotcha game of rules and decrees is not Jesus' way of invitation and inclusion: Come follow me.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would not say that the Church has been thriving in the last 30 years or so. None of the CARA survey results paint a picture of a thriving Church. \nThe supposed \"strong growth\" in numbers among women's traditional religious orders is a matter of disagreement. CARA statistics seem to show that retention rates are not so wonderful. \nI can also understand why some women who are traditional Catholics would want to be nuns and why women who are not quite as traditional would not. The not-so-traditional women probably see the world in a more positive light and believe that they have more choices. \nAllowing women priests would not mean that all women had to become priests, for heaven's sake. And, just maybe, priests might stop wearing the clerical collar .....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "To put this article into perspective, do read side bar recommendations, especially Thomas Doyle's excellent piece, \"Bishop Robert Finn: \"The Rest of the Story\". (May5, 2015) In the court of public opinion, (if that counts anymore) one could surmise that Donahue, the Catholic League and its shirt tail followers are guilty as charged.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ecumenicalism made a great leap forward in 2011 when a a new rite was made for Anglicans and Methodists coming in to full visible communion with the Church. \n\nEspecially since there is a sense among faithful Catholics that this rite is a fuller expression of the Faith than the Ordinary Form, at least in the typical way the latter is offered, despite its its origin in (notorious schismatic and heresiarch) Thomas Cranmer's Book of Common Prayer. \n\nThis is new in the history of the Church since the beginning of Protestantism: belief, put into practice, that developments after Protestant schisms can be authentically Christian and have a place in the universal Church. \n\nAlso not to be missed: the interest by Catholics in Plantinga and other Protestant scholars, and that many leaders in the Church, an outsized proportion of writers, academics, ministers, and evangelists, are former Protestants who did not leave Protestant spirituality behind when they came over.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Gruhcho, fundamentalist Christians have long been opposed to the celebration of Halloween. They find it offensive. Just as they find Harry Potter offensive. So schools accommodated by calling it Orange & Black Day. \n\nWhere does accommodation end? Gosh. you sound annoyed that people are diverse and different. In truth, there aren't that many religions that require accommodation. And there aren't Imams and priests involved, only students. It would help if you read the story before commenting.\n\nIndeed, you seem to project a lot. I did not question the legality of Christmas. I pointed out that it is already enshrined in law and so there's no need to accommodate Christians. I know I'm not the centre of the universe. I enjoy having a week off at Christmas. But I also know some need to take time out for their religious beliefs and I'm happy to cut them some slack.\n\nThe question is What it to you? Why do you get so bothered by ten or twenty teens taking a prayer break between classes? Why not?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In Australia. And as far as I know in England there are no Catholic Cemetaries. People are buried in the local town Cemetaries.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wow. Good for you. Plainly, you are a spiritual seeker, but what has been your motivation along the way? Is the Spirit guiding you? Or is your intellect \u2014 your own control \u2014guiding you? Is your motivation curiosity? Or is it a desperation of sorts? Or this: When you are peeling your spiritual onion, are you revealing darkness? or light? or a relentless sameness? The sad, sad truth of it is that Jesus is not well served by most of Christianity today, and the adult seeker like yourself is especially harmed. I recommend http://www.jacobneedleman.com/lost-christianity as a starter. And if you want to overwhelm yourself with the mother lode, begin where you will at http://www.gods-kingdom-ministries.net/teachings/books/ by clicking on your book title of choice (all of the books can be read free online). My own faith statement is http://steven-a-sylwester.blogspot.com/2014/03/21st-century-lutheran-creed.html But know this: I quit going to Central Lutheran very soon after posting that creed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Did you feel the same way about the alleged progressives who felt \"more Catholic\" than the last two Popes?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, absolutely, ANYWAY you go at it \"Faithful Catholic.\" The Christian faith requires us, just like Jesus of Nazareth personally showed us, that all are blessed who invite all their family and neighbors into their home for a meal or celebration. The disruption you love to state over and over is really your own un-Christian and rigid attitudes of prejudice shrouded in a pseudo self-righteousness. But it is not, to me, at all Christian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Abortion is the end to a developing human, whatever we call it.\n\nThe Catholic Church prohibits abortion. It always has. It excommunicates those who obtain them, those who perform them, those who procure them, those who participate in them. \n\nWithin a Catholic context, then, abortion is a moral evil.\n\nUnder current American law a pregnant woman is not guilty of murder if she aborts her unborn. If the law were changed to forbid it, it would illegal. If the law were changed to make abortion murder, it would be murder. If the law were changed to allow the State to murder her and the unborn were she Jewish, and it did, neither would be murder.\n\nAs a citizen it my choice to oppose abortion, to seek a constitutional amendment allowing states to forbid and regulate it by law, and to enforce those laws.\n\nAnd that is every citizen's choice to make.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wow - this Catholic priest is totally unhinged. The realization that a woman is about to assume the highest office in our country (and the \"free world\") has many clerics terrified and shaking in their lace pinafores. Oh those good ol days when women couldn't control their own reproduction. Do you think he would ever put a woman who had died from a back alley abortion on the altar?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually, we have a long tradition of not establishing a forced national religion. And that includes not promoting any religion in a secular government and it's funded entities. We sometimes fail. But there is nothing that says that the personal religious leanings of a Catholic or a Muslim or a Buddhist should preempt them from serving publicly. There is so much hypocrisy here on both \"sides\". Dems have zero issues with known secular ideologues being on the bench, and Repubs would be asking the same questions of a Muslim candidate, you just know it. And be VERY careful about taxing churches- that whole \"separation\" concept goes both ways, and \"No Taxation Without Representation\". Do we want true religious parties being able to legislate? I don't. No, Dems are out of line on this questioning, they just want their OWN pulpit and biases to rule the day. I would say the same about Repubs and Muslims. And we could talk about this globalist pope all day. The left is OK with that. Politics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Fortunately there is nothing for them to celebrate at this 40th Anniversary shindig. The Christian Right has lost their hate fueled culture war, and in the process soured many on Christianity. Despite the election of Trump, the culture war is over and they lost.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Right. Lets go with a tax cut, of which you will see a miniscule amount, if any. In return lets let as many people as possible die needlessly for lack of medical care. Sounds like a typical conservative. What is the conservative motto again? Oh, yeh. I have mine, screw the rest of you. I would be willing to bet you also call yourself a Christian and a patriot. A more apt name for you, and others like you, would be \" gutter crawler\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Sacred\" is an English word, and as with most western translations of Native Hawaiian concepts, is totally mangled by the European viewpoint. The Native Hawaiians would say these places identified as \"sacred\" by the haole, that is, supernatural, is totally misconstrued. These are places of deep respect and reverence. Again, the English word \"reverence\" does not have anything to do with a supernatural religion like christianity or judaism. The word \"reverence\" is from the Latin \"revereri\", meaning \"in great awe\". All the Native Hawaiians are saying is these places and objects are to be treated with respect and wonder, not the supernatural association being laid on them by a western mindset on what constitutes a \"legitimate\" religion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In Canada we don't want to get into all this garbage. We are peaceful law abiding Christian/Agnostic folks that believe in equality of opportunity. Most newcomers are more interested in building their new lives than perpetuating the trouble they left. \n\nThat's the way it has been for 50 years. Now, we are told that we are wrong and the newcomer are right? Seems rather odd to me. That's mass immigration and balkanization for you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Quite right, Richard Roskell\n\n Few people seem to make the connection that, for more than a century, all classes are cancelled on the Christian Sabbath in public schools and everyone is excused school so they can stay home to honour the dictates of that particular tradition.\n\nImagine the howl were Muslims to abbreviate their attendance at school every day in order to attend prayer with their faith communities, and then demand that schools provide instruction on Sunday for them to make up for that.\n\nWhat they ask is such a small thing. It would take almost nothing for every non-Muslim to provide it gladly and generously.\n\nAnd 60% of reactions will disagree with my post unless, of course, it is rated uncivil.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "NSA breach happened on Obama's watch. Snowden 2013. Perhaps Bradley Manning, who changed his gender to match his emotional train wreck persona. Chelsea Manning now, AND given his life by Obama. Should have been shot at dawn by a firing squad. He and Bo. Double header. \n\nResults are being felt by Trump Admin. Gotta love the disconnect of the cool dude to the reality of his Pax Disney foreign policy. What Al Green song will he sing as Arab Christians get murdered? Meanwhile, Schumer, et al, will mount another vociferous attack on shadows on the wall, not knowing they are actually their own.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, indeed, we Catholics should join our Protestant brethren and celebrate the reformation as an accomplishment not a mistake....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The committed citizens of Oak Harbor and the members of the Christian Reformed Church are to be commended for living the true Christian life.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For what it's worth, I'll add this quote from the 2nd linked article: \n\n\"The Catholic Church, however, called the ruling \"balanced\" while France's secularism watchdog, ODL, said it simply upheld the 1905 law. Claims that it could lead to crosses being dismantled from churches or graveyards were \"totally unfounded\" it said, as these were excluded from the law.\"\n\nWhile France's secularism is a source of ongoing annoyance to some Catholics, it is hardly late-breaking news.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The pro-life movement\u2019s recent concern for women is a sham. Mostly the movement is conerned with sexuality, which is evident when you propose a sufficient child tax credit (say $1000 per month per child), at which point they start talking about personal responsibility. If they want collective responsibility to stop abortion, they must must accept it for funding children. That would show a commitment to the dignity of mothers and of all women (as would ordaining them). The latter should be the next project for the Catholic laity. Trump is a small thing in comparison.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "we all should be constant strugglers in the interior life, learning much from each other, even it it's learning from someone who sadly and pitifully holds a grudge for 50 years, seeking sympathy from others for such an old (emotional) wound.\n\nWe're too therapeutic and tender footed. \n\nTo do God's work we need the spirit of the early Christians, not the spirit of woe-is-me-60s.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I might point out that in the Thirty Years War, the Catholic Cardinal Richelieu supported the Protestant King of Sweden, Gustavus Adolphus, against the Catholic monarchs of Austria and Spain. While Richelieu never heard the term \"Realpolitik\", he both understood and practiced it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sounds good. Are you going to contact Wynne and ask her to shut down all the Catholic schools in the province?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In one sense the entire New Testament is disputed. Earlier today you were opining Jesus did not even know why He was here and what his mission was.\n\nBut, no, there are really only four where a majority of scholars opine that they are pseudepigraphic.\n\nIt is irrelevant to the Church, which received them into the canon as teaching documents without opining as to the authorship.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes. It's not that they don't believe in God or salvation, but they --- like Bindner --- reject the idea of original sin, and the salvation that only Christ can provide. To them, it's not necessary to participate in the sacraments, or even believe in Christ. It's enough to be good. The question is why they believe THAT rather than what the Church has perennially taught. The answer seems simple: The world turned modern and then post-modern, and a Church that teaches what Catholicism teaches is almost innately opposed by modernists and post-modernists. They just don;t go together. One small example: no-fault divorce. The very thought of that would have been scorned by Protestants who founded America 200+ years ago. Now, the thought of NOT having no-fault divorce is scorned. It is the rejection of Scripture --- and Scripture's keeper, the Church --- in favor of modernism and post-modernism. In fact, to be post-modern IS to reject the Church, or so it seems.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The writer asks if \"Black and Brown\" have been \"silenced\" in our churches.\n\nMany of the priests in my diocese are Latino or from Africa. As for parishioners being \"silenced,\" I have no idea what that means, given that I'm not aware of any laity of any color who is given a soapbox at Catholic churches.\n\nHere's an idea, writer: Go interview non-Catholic minorities and ask them to tell you why they aren't Catholic. An effort toward genuine journalism, iow.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ah, the summer \"anti-institution, let's increase resentment\" series. Should be good. \n\nHealing, unity, getting over events, giving up resentment will be covered by Mercatornet and National Catholic Register.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A good point but it was sort of dulled by turning it into another political/geopolitical mini-rant.\n\nBetter for a priest to help people \"be small\" and look for IMMEDIATE, CONCRETE, here and now ways of meeting Jesus.\n\nThe non-violence we should seem in our interior self.\nThe criticisms that flow into our mind when we run across a happily Mass going Catholic who doesn't want to complain about the Bishops all the time. \nThe snide remarks we make to ourselves when we see a mother and father with 8 children.\nThe sadness we feel when we reject that others have learned to love the Cross.\n\nThese are forms of violence...in fact all overt forms of violence begin in little ways. Little \"crucifixions\" we choose to side step.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Having an historical perspective on western civilization, one cannot ignore the impact of Christian values and institutions. These are intertwined in the Anglican Church and this epitomizes the correlation. But, it must be concluded by any rationalist that Christianity is based upon superstitious beliefs that were honed and developed over a period of 300 years. This was both a political and an intellectual process. \n\nTheology was viewed as the highest intellectual pursuit. The Catholic church was the most powerful institution. Science has debunked all of the claims made in the bible. Indeed, it is impossible for us to think without a scientific perspective. Those who continue to pursue religion do so to maintain a bi-furcated world view where superstitions are always held up along side our more rational thoughts. It is a system of thought that offers promises and comforts that are appealing to some, even if they are silly to others, and so they persist.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Alicia,\n\nAmen! Amen! and Amen! \n\nLet's get back to basics like the one Jesus taught about His followers being guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit. How often do you hear any mention about the Holy Spirit as anything more than a nice spiritual theory that might be realized in the future? I've visited a number of SDA churches where the Holy Spirit is actively resisted while the prophecy-only-focused members in diminishing numbers were reassuring themselves they were doing God's work and being effective at proclaiming the Gospel to the world when the community around them didn't know they existed. How can we hope to do anything God told us to do if we're not obeying Him and embracing the Holy Spirit?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Most of the world regards FoxNews, WSJ, Daily Digest, etc. as highly partisan. As for a Catholic website, I would trust Pope Francis and his MS in Chemistry before any of the WSJ and FoxNews talking heads who are paid to be climate change deniers. When Nature or a similar refereed journal starts talking about the problem with climate change data, I will listen. But citing partisan rags won't get you any points here.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Because Father knows that if he condesendingly tells remarried people to please continue tithing and be in Communion with the poors but don't touch the good Catholic bread, remarried people will tell him they will go be in Communion with the poors over with the Episcopalians instead.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Just looking at all the comments here, and also in our Catholic community, I am not so hopeful that the Church can play this role yet. Unfortunately we have too much in fighting among ourselves going on.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ok gonna make this real simple. The lack of empathy for the homeless, the hostile dialogues here and the lack of actually uniting to help on the issues are ALL apart of our programming by the money mongers. We are definately in the end times (and Im not a Christian}, it is the times of the dark vs the light. We need to take down all the hostile negative stuff and replace it with 'community' consciousness and a genuine caring for ea other, the very thing the money mongers have been programming us to abandon so we could be enslaved to them and NEVER unite to fight them off.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"God's decisive words to the woman after the first sin express the kind of relationship which has now been introduced between man and woman: \n'your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you'\"\nSo sayeth J.Card.Ratzinger, quoting \"our\" God.\nNot a explanation of an ancient text in an ancient culture but an exhortation by the Prefect of the CDF for TODAY's women \"...in the church and in the world\". \nWe catholics hold our traditions sacredly, and eternally, eh?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I find it ironic that the devote Christians (who often are also the rightists) have presented me the argument for believing in Christ as soul saver, and life ever after, being \"you may not know it to be true, but what if it is, isn't the risk of being wrong too high?\"\n\nWell the same applies here. OK so you (speaking to the general population of climate change deniers) maybe you are sure, but doesn't the risk of the scientists being right warrant change? Particularly since most of the changes are good for other reasons, like not being dependent on energy sources controlled by volatile and hostile governments?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The hierarchy communicated to the laity that single-issue voting not only was OK, but in this election required.\n\nThey said there can be no unintended consequences from Trump that would be morally worse than voting for Clinton. We can argue if their conclusion is valid, but we can't argue that the hierarchy made it clear that Catholics must vote for Trump-Pence because that would be a vote against Clinton-Kaine. \n\nAm I wrong?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As long as they stay faithful to the teachings of the Catholic Church, different styles are ok.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If America is a Christian nation, then why did our forefathers decide to call God \"The Creator\". Any politician who claims that America is a Christian nation is violating his oath to uphold the Constitution.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am a Democratic Catholic politician and I have. The thing is, they like the fundraising too. It is a very cynical game. However, as I have said, you have the POTUS and Congress. It's up to you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And as a reminder, EWTN had on Sebastian Gorka on for a fluff interview a few weeks ago where he discussed the importance of his Catholic faith. Paging USCCB, can we please do something about this already!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic Church's ties to the mainstream media in Canada should next be examined to identify how abuses like these went on so long unchecked.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And yet in the Gospels we are told that there is nothing impossible with God, if you are willing to believe. \n\nWe are what we choose to believe: Either sinners who follow an imperfect man and incorrect teaching by a mere man and Pope (who was wise enough to state from the start of his papacy that he is both imperfect and a sinner and so was every other pope.) over Jesus Christ and what he explicitly commanded in the Gospels or saved because Jesus Christ is actually our chosen Lord and we follow his teachings above all. \n\nAgain Jesus warns us in the end many will call out to me \"Lord, Lord\" and I will respond to them \"I do not know you\". Our Lord is the one who teachings we follow not just the one we say with our mouths is our Lord. Jesus will judge our hearts and behavior in the end - how did we treat each other?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That's fine. You can have whatever opinion you want about any sort of substance, pot or not. But you made an unsubstantiated claim that legalized marijuana hurts the economy. This is baseless. Don't pretend that you have evidence to back it up when you don't.\n\nI press you on a topic and you cherry pick, throw false-cause reasoning, and then resort to ad hominem attacks when you have nothing left to say. I'm not arguing with you for having an opinion, I'm arguing against the claims you're making. Things like cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana and guns all have potential dangers. Choose to avoid them entirely if you wish, I don't care. But don't dig up false correlations because you don't like them.\n\nThere's a reason I don't throw anecdotes into my reasoning. It's easy to dismiss. Any time I do you resort to \"well that's not really tech\" or \"you weren't really a Christian\". I have plenty of anecdotal reasons for my opinions as well. However, I don't make claims or vote based on them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Now we're getting somewhere, Neighbor. Thanks for the honesty. How does one who is judging, judge rightly? That's the real question. You tell us you're judging, and you're seeking revenge. By what objective standard does this work take place, or is it all in the eye of Neighbor? I doubt you're against all standards, just the ones you disagree with.\n\nAs for my worldview, its true that I do believe in God. I am a Christian, and my beliefs are akin to what you deride as being \"fundy\". However, the scriptures I believe teach me that our reality is that we all must deal with the human condition...pain, suffering and and so on, and do so in a way that asserts that we're each God's image bearers. There is no room for hatred or vilification, even when we disagree on the questions and answers. I'd hope you could agree on that last part.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, you have a point about the altar and sacrifice. No, I don't think they believe their eucharist is a \"sacrifice\" or that their ministers are properly \"priests.\" My father was a Lutheran and I attended his church a few times but I did not go to communion. Even though he told me that he personally believed in the Real Presence I understand that their idea of \"real\" is subjective. All other outward gestures and prayers resembled very much our Catholic Mass, however. As far as \"intent\" goes, that's hard to tell. I'm not sure the Corinthians of St. Paul's time understood Transubstantiation any more than today's Lutherans - or even some Catholics, for that matter.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Just an observation: I noticed that the states with the greatest percentage of fundamentalist Christian groups that are concerned about a woman's right to choose, and about the age at which this right and be employed, are the same States that, when I was a young man all had the lowest ages of consent for marriage! In several of these states, girls used to be allowed to get married at age 13 !! You could also work full-time at 13 or 14, and in some could get drivers license is at 13 or 14. It's curious that these are the States and demographic groups so set on enforcing parental rights over children's rights.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You truly, sincerely think that Jesus Christ is pleased that some people are protected by law from being chopped to pieces, while other people are denied such protection? You are in favor of this kind of discrimination, and yet claim to be a \"Catholic\"?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Philippines and Canada are both Christian states.\"\n\n--\n\nI'm not sure about the official status of Christianity in the Phillipines but Canada is a secular state, \"God keep our land, glorious and free\" aside.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...take off the Clerics and place laity with survivors....\"\n\nMakes sense, rdp46. \nBut at least -- on a positive note -- in the English speaking world, especially in the US and Canada, we are making some kind of real progress. Australian, Irish and English Catholic Churches are doing well, too. Other non-English speaking cultures and juridical systems, however, will have to learn to deal with this issue in their own way. I am also reminded what German and English friends say about us -- that our American critique of their causes of \"failure\" is superficial, especially when we forget the different legal, social, cultural, and political factions within nations all over the globe (not only in continental Europe). Just watching how Spain deals with Catalonia reveals this. \nThey say success depends upon knowing how long it takes to succeed. This is certainly true of sexual abuse. We can only hope the English speaking Catholic world will be a model for all by 2075, including Hindu India.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As to the children of our generation or cohort, virtually none attend except for the Extraordinary Form. This is why the churches are closing like a falling house of cards, and it promises to get worse -- much worse -- in the coming two decades.\u2014Elaine So, Latin is their first language. Really. Not my experience at my local parish. The problem may be extracting certitude, where no certitude exists; substituting Church politics for truth. The administration of the Church is dysfunctional for many. The knack, in the spirit of Black Catholics, is getting past the dysfunctionality and arrive at the scary uncertainty of truth, in the very spirit of Modernism. Anyway, glad you are engaging here, helping to form a way out.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why does Protestant North America so consistently and so overwhelmingly outperform Catholic Central and South America? Because we inherited a lot of good ideas and habits from the Puritans: direct accountability of the individual human to God, mistrust of pomp and pageantry, and insistence on honesty, modesty and accountability in civil authorities.\n\nThe Catholic Church needs immigrants who accept its ideas and habits: belief that God appoints certain people his representatives and everybody else is ontologically obliged to obey them; that He is indifferent to the prayers of people who don't wear lace and velvet; that He forgives sins only if the lace and velvet are pacified with flattery and donations; that He is content that lace and velvet should be corrupt, self-serving and debauched; and that He is irate when ordinary people object to it.\n\nIt is not the Church that needs immigrants from Latin America. It's the lace and velvet.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "why? why it's scary to discuss a religion or a thought?\n\ncan we discuss socialism or communism? or christian?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But we are. We are of the body of Christ.\n\nEither that means everything, or it means nothing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Because the Gospels are filled with both words and examples of instances where the Law should prevail over love? Love, forgiveness, service and peace are the basis of Christianity, not legalism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "wE ARE STOPPING ALL OUR DONATIONS TO THE cATHOLIC cHURCH AS LONG AS POLITICAL HACKS LIKE MCELROY ARE IN POWER", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Padre - IMHO what you propose is first-level, rule-based religion. This is a primitive (no offense intended), first step but much more is expected. The radical call of the Christ event is the unitive, non-dual experience of all of life that, as Paul so exquisitely states in Corinthians, is love. \"Noting can separate us from the love of God . . . \" Everything else is commentary and a footnote.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Under Spanish Law, declaring 'Independence' may be illegal but -\nHow can a 'referendum' be illegal? Its like a public opinion 'poll', or a 'petition' - its simply asking for opinion.\nThrowing people in jail and stopping them from expressing their views are the acts of a repressive totalitarian regime, not a modern democracy.\nIt makes Spain look like its still in the dark ages - a reactionary, ultra right-wing catholic mediaeval monarchy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Paul in i Corinthians talks about the Corinthians sharing the Lord''s supper when they came together. But there is nowhere a record of him 'presiding' himself.\nThe Christian communities seem to have developed a \nliturgy early on.\nBut I have found n reference to any Apostle being 'celebrant", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Whilst I deplore the fact, Pope Francis and his recent predecessors have shared a platform with religious leaders of a variety of denominations, Christian and non-Christian so there is nothing significant in sharing a platform with a 'woman bishop'.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Whoa,\n\nI think 'coercive' is getting makeover. Isn't the WO movement intent on coercing change and imposing the 'end of gender discrimination' on any operating unit of the church where they can muster the majority? What respect can the dissenting members within the progressive Union Conferences expect if and when the proponents of WO prevail?\n\nAnd about the author 'siding with the TOSC' - come now! There was quite a bit a 'diversity' of opinion as I recall within the TOSC. What did they decide? Was it unanimous? I'd say the author wants to expunge the TOSC's significant minority opinion that did not think there was a biblical basis to end 'gender discrimination.'\n\nAdventists are diverse because we are organized similarly to the Roman Catholics. Like them, we have a lot of top-down control. Like the R Catholics, that leads to diversity within. If you want real diversity, start your own church. Make your own dogma. Be as different as you like. Be your own police.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This second story (centering on Gustafsen) pretty much sets this up for the church. Here we have a priest who was an abuser, and wants to make things right. So he and others decide he should be at the center of the program.\n\nWhile that's certainly his right, it's ALSO the right of others to just walk away, to want no part of it. That is a great example of the trust gap in the church today. Sadly, for the most part, it's still the same old cadre of bishops running the church. Somehow, there's been very little house cleaning, very little change. \n\nThe simple truth s that it's not the role of the abuser, the sinner, the one who inflicts injury on another, to tell victims how they should feel, act or move forward. Can a sinner repent, and grow? Of course: the concept is at the core of Christianity itself. Should that same person have any rights over the injured party? No. \n\nThis is what the bishops fail to see as they struggle to hang onto their control... I wish Gustavson well.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1 of 2\nI don't know what the answer is, Danno. You know that I wish you well, I hope.\nThe people (Catholics) who have been talking to this Australian Commission seem to have discussed and agreed the need for a 'cultural change' in the Catholic Church. I think that is what you are asking for.\nHowever, there seem to be other Church people who have refused to participate - or who have dropped out at the last minute.\nLeft to itself, the Church moves very slowly, and it changes very slowly. It is a large international organisation. Then we have to contend with this canon law, which does not always seem to be helping. \nSo the Church cannot be left to itself. It must be pushed from outside, by external pressures.\nAnd some countries must be light years behind others, in regard to the matter of clerical sex abuse. Some parts of the world are probably still in complete denial - as we were (in Europe, where I am) not so very long ago.\ncontinued", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You understood correctly that there is very good reason to doubt that the two events--the Sermon on the Mount and the Sermon on the Plain did not occur as historical events. But the content of both events in the gospels of Matthew and Luke is a totally different matter. The sets of sayings preserved therein are probably from a separately preserved and transmitted collection of the words of Jesus from apostolic times. \n\nMy whole point is to illustrate how the evangelists were very determined to pass down to us their understanding of Jesus, and that intent is wholly consistent with them adopting the literary devices of sermon and a dialogue as non-historical containers for inserting saying of Jesus into the narrative structure composed by Mark. \n\nDiscovery of this, and many other features, of how the gospels are not historical, in our sense of that genre today, DOES NOT destroy in any way our conviction that the gospels reveal truth under the guidance of the Spirit.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I love Pope Francis but at a certain point this becomes a question of good management. When one has middle managers who have questions about one's program, the appropriate treatment is to call them in and address their issues. If, at that point, they continue to question one's authority, and to do so publicly, one should dismiss them. That's what every senior manager on earth has to do to keep the institution afloat. \nI have no idea whether Pope Francis has taken appropriate steps to address these issues with his middle managers, but it doesn't seem he has. These are people who, as Catholics and as bishops, have a right to ask questions about the faith. But if the pope can't bring them back into line, the failure to do so threatens the entire church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Then by the textbook definition you misuse the label in reply to Paul Conte. We don't condemn RELIGION but the actions taken by people using religion to justify \"hatred, contempt, and intolerance on the basis of a person's ethnicity, (other) RELIGION(s), national origin, gender, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic status, or other characteristics.\" In addition one might add supporting economic ideologies which justify greed, corruption and warmongering for profit all supposedly at odds with, in this case Evangelical Christian dogma, at the expense of lives and national economic well-being.\nIn spite of the belief by Evangelical and Fundamentalist Christians their religious freedom does not include foisting their faith on others through the power of law. Opposing that is not bigotry it's self-preservation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's important to distinguish between the large majority of peaceful muslims who live here and the articles of faith within Islam itself. Couillard is walking a very fine line when he criticizes Islam as a faith. Islam should be criticized in the same way all religions should. There are articles of faith in Christianity and Judaism that deserve criticism. too. \n\nOne view of jihad, for example, may be found here: http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/pages/quran/violence.aspx. \n\nWestern muslims may subscribe to another view: \nhttp://islamicsupremecouncil.org/understanding-islam/legal-rulings/5-jihad-a-misunderstood-concept-from-islam.html?start=9\n\nClearly, these views come from a reading of the same texts. That they can be interpreted so differently shows that in the Quran itself lies the problem of Islam. That the attacker mentioned in the article was surprised (and possibly disappointed) that he wasn't killed is a clue as to what version of Islam he believes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yeah, you said it all, you didn't vote for him. The GOP Christian right is telling us what bathroom to use, not Obama. LOL", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The GOP position on abortion is a fraud. Period. There are zero justices on the Court who will vote to turn the issue back to the states. Doctrine says Catholics cannot promote abortion. That is different than allowing it.-You are a lawyer, right? Don't call me, I'll call you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sorry - this rejects how much certain Christian churches/denominations agree with the catholic church. You start with ancillary or less core arguments to prove your hypotheses - talk about a logical error.\n\nNeed to educate yourself - did you know that the most recent joint Lutheran-Catholic agreement recognized Martin Luther as a significant reform figure for the Church and made significant contributions.\n\nFACTS - http://www.americamagazine.org/content/dispatches/us-lutherans-ratify-catholic-interfaith-document\n\nhttp://www.americamagazine.org/issue/new-declaration-highlights-catholic-lutheran-unity", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Kudos to Kulie Payette for what she said about the need to follow science and fact over superstition. I encourage her to make scientific literacy a pillar of her tenure as GG. Making sure good science is available to and understood by the average person will help Canadians make better choices, and help define Canada\u2019s success in the world. However, Payette does perhaps need to do some work on how she says these things. \nPromoting science does not have to be equivalent to bashing religion. There are many excellent Christian scientists, engineers, mathematicians and doctors out there, who will attest that one can reconcile faith and science.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think you replied to me on the wrong post. However, to address this, I will simply say that I wholeheartedly and most stridently disagree with all you have said in this post. It is indefensible in either Catholic philosophy or theology.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As a former Protestant, I've been a part of 10 different denominations spanning over 28 years -- and NO other Church I've experienced has elevated BOTH maleness and femaleness, in their respective fullness, to the extent the Catholic Church has done. Many are confusing \"equality\" with \"symmetry\" -- as if the only way the dignity and equality of women can be fulfilled is to ensure exact symmetry of roles within the Church. And yet, there more women saints honored in the church calendar than I can count on two hands, and there are at least four women honored as \"Doctors of The Church\" -- all whom have made significant contributions to our understanding of theology, the works of mercy, and evangelism in the Church (not to mention Mary herself). If there are any doubts about the Church's honoring the contribution of women, Read St. John Paul's \"Letter to Women\" (for the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "TomQuinn you have an excellent point here. Onc can certainly earn the title of \"Bad Catholic\" by disagreeing with church teaching, but that does not necessarily make one a \"Bad Follower Of Christ\". The Church is notorious for putting words into the mouth of Jesus with such authority that it's often difficult for Catholics to tell the difference between the two sources of a given doctrine.Galileo comes to mind. How could one dare to even suggest that the Sun does not revolve around the earth! Jesus never addressed this issue, but the Church certainly did, and which such ferocity and such authority. And what about all those poor people who went to hell for eating meat on Fridays before the rule was changed? The \"Binding and Loosing Concept\" has gone a little too far,but it is certainly would seem convincing if the Church was a ventriloquist and Jesus was a puppet.As you are pointing out, we all need to be intellectually honest with ourselves. God gave us intellect we need to use it!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How one conducts daily life? What matters is the difference between right and wrong. Morality v. immorality and upon that we build and define our lives. PF makes a mockery of Jesus Christ. PF is a Marxist, not a Christian. He seems to feel, as some do, that God yields to us. We yield to God as Jesus Christ teaches us according only to Holy Scripture. Nobody hates PF. What is hateful is the mockery PF makes of the Roman Catholic Church and Jesus Christ. And for some, this truth strikes a nerve. Why? Because it is the human ego constantly searching for validation and its refusal to repent of sin perpetuates the evil of its own making. Thus, PF choses profit for the Vatican over the Sanctity of the Church. \"Be only all for Jesus, through Mary.\" - Saint Teresa of Calcutta", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "President Trump is weak on ecosphere defense and the field of ecological economics. Mining tends to produce toxic superfund sites and for thousands of years after closure, water pollution. ref. https://islandpress.org/book/leadville\n\nPresident Trump knows a lot about gambling, regarder by traditional Christians as immoral, yet he spoke well enough at Liberty University, so he tries in a morally challenged society to acknowledge some Christian influence at least. yet in the glitz and bling world he doesn't comprehend clean water, health rivers and the fragile state of fish fry and the state of life in Earth. Money, like dog biscuits, are regarded as the ends in-themselves instead of as tools for the facility of human living.\n\nThe fisheries of the world are already in severe decline. It is unfortunate the President isn't ecospherically knowledgable. The choice was between immoral democrats and neanderthalish on the environment Republicans. What a choice!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I had to chuckle seeing your screen name, 'callwaiting'!\nI am an impatient 'callwaiting' person myself. :-)\nWell we have to move Catholic religious center somewhere else!\nI was quite upset to see the embarrassing materialistic St. Peter Basilica totally opposite of Jesus teaching \"My kingdom is not of this world. \".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are correct, Littleway. For decades Catholic conservatives have harangued other Catholics on the issue of obedience to the Pope. It was their benchmark for everything. Now that they don't like what a Pope is clearly saying, obedience to him has been quietly dropped as an 'essential.'", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why are divisions between Christians so important for some people? For me, they have almost no significance. A Roman Catholic is my sister/brother Catholic Christian. \"In Christ, there is neither Greek nor Jew nor slave nor free nor male nor female \" Galatians 3:28. \"There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism.\" Ephesians 4:5 \"So that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. John 17:21. Denigrating or discriminating against my sister/brother Catholics has no place in my spirituality. It is Spiritual Elitism! Put another way, the Altar is God's, whether in a Roman church or in mine.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is a no-brainer. Giving to this scholarship will really make a difference to many women called in Christ to be priests. Give to this instead of Catholic Charities and let your bishops know that you are and that you want women priests ordained immediately and that Female Deacons is not enough to represent real justice and that you are not willing to wait for justice - we demand change now!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1/ I never claimed to be an orthodox Catholic; quite the contrary. I'm a cradle Catholic who left the church as a teenager and was atheist for the better part of my life. Some years ago I had some religious experiences. (Pretty stock religious experiences, as it turns out.) So I reconsidered atheism and after much vacillation and with many reservations I returned to the church. I was raised to think it was the desire to follow Jesus that foremost defines a Christian. I was always a Christ-lover (whoever He was). Of course the church doesn't approve of arriving at Christianity through mysticism, because there's no inevitability between theism and Christianity. Fair enough.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I didn't say this wasn't \"a lot of people.\" According to Pew, Catholics equal the percentage of Evangelicals but \"nones\" at 21% now exceed each. \n\"There used to be a 'Catholic vote' -- think John F. Kennedy era America -- but not anymore, said Kyle Kondik, managing editor of Sabato's Crystal Ball, a political newsletter run out of the University of Virginia Center for Politics. 'I think that Catholics have become kind of immersed in the general electorate in such a way that their being Catholic doesn't really tell you much about how they might vote,' he said.\" (NCR 11/20/15)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Good on your sister and brother-in-law. Your disparaging expression \"The TLM crowd\" tells us all exactly where you are coming from.\nThe use of the terms, Holy Ghost and Holy Spirit are rather like Masonic handshakes, they determine where you stand.\nHaving no particular objection to the expression, \"Holy Spirit\" or the more ancient, English name, \"Holy Ghost\". I understand that both mean the same thing.\nMore seriously, the Holy Spirit or Ghost is being claimed as the inspiration behind every view, opinion, assertion, belief, experienced by people who dissent from the teachings of the Catholic Church. All are insisting that the Holy Spirit is on their side. Is it possible that God the Holy Spirit who guides His Church is deliberately dividing it?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...Eastern rite Catholics.\"\n\nAccording to Vatican II document, \"Orientalium Ecclesiarum\" (Latin for \"Eastern Catholic Churches\"), Eastern Catholic communities -- all 23 of them -- are \"true Churches, not just rites within the Catholic Church.\" They should be referred to as \"Eastern Catholic Churches\" (in communion with Rome) not \"Eastern rite\"Churches. Because they are \"fully\" Church, as it were, that might explain why they have different customs and traditions (priests can marry, for example), among other things, quite different from the Western/Roman/Latin Catholic Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Then there is the issue of pluralism, which Mario Cuomo devised and other Catholic politicians endorse. It states that Catholic legislators and governors cannot substitute the will of the Church or their own views in unity with the Church upon the vast majority of non-Catholics. I thought it a week argument, but having reviewed Dignitas Humanae and the history of its passage in Vatican II and its acceptance into the Magisterium by Pope Paul, I can see their point. We are not required to impose Catholic values on our secular constitutional nation. Mr. Gallagher should avoid arguing this issue, as doing so may cause the university to question his orthodoxy in his oral exam, which would ruin his career in punditry. Regardless, I would hope that Catholic politicians would actually educate the public and the Church on the issues surrounding Roe.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Rohr 3\n\nThe Wisdom section of the Hebrew Scriptures includes the books of Job, Ecclesiastes, the Song of Songs, and many of the Psalms. Wisdom literature reveals an ability to be patient with mystery and contradictions\u2014and the soul itself. Wise people have always passed through a major death to their egocentricity. This is the core meaning of transformation.\nWe have to go through interior deaths to reach the third stage of wisdom. Only here does contemplation and nondual thinking become possible; we can begin to learn to live with mystery and paradox and to develop true compassion. If stage one is order and stage two is disorder, then stage three is the final goal of reorder. There is no way around stage two! It is what Paul calls \u201cthe folly of the cross\u201d (1 Corinthians \u202a1:18\u202c). Conservatives tend to stop at stage one, liberals tend to get trapped in stage two, but only stage three is the full risen life of Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Im gussing progressive is a Catholic board employee desperatly trying to salvage a dying career?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I concur that organized religion should not run schools. I'm thrilled that a school trustee in Alberta is raising the issue to end segregation of students, public and Catholic, to save excessive administration costs from two administration-heavy systems. That said however, a group of kids who have a prayer schedule as part of their faith should certainly be allowed to pray without a hassle. It's prayer - a personal experience and expression of one's faith. Kids of other faiths could pray if they wanted to and the rest of the kids could learn meditation techniques to control their stress, emotions and strengthen their focus skills. It's not a big deal.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So Walter, since you don't believe in prayer, the Mass, the sacraments or the Bible, what exactly do you believe in regarding the Catholic Faith if I may ask?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do you mean Food for Lane County, Catholic Services, the Dining Room, TheMission, Whitebird, Cahoots, Occupy Medical, St Vincent's..... Those places?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "OCCG,\nWhile theres some truth in what you say, you're missing one of the biggest components of what it means to be a human, and to be a Christian.\n\nOne need not have experienced war \"on the front\" to appreciate and learn from those who have. There are TWO really big pieces that create the bridge that allows us to be human. The first is that we listen and learn from others. The second, is that if we've not personally had the experience, even as we learn, we still hold those who HAVE had that experience with deference FOR that experience/wisdom. Yes, i know that a formal education is a means to share some of that experience, and to become an \"expert.\" But all it can do is share the experience: not the wisdom, nor respect.\n\nTHIS is where the bishops got in trouble. No, they did not need to be married, but they categorically rejected the counsel of those who WERE married, and disrespect them by continuing to refuse their wisdom. The doc on MASH was empathetic. At least he tried.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For starters, the Catholic Church does not teach that the unborn human being IS a person. Please read CCC #2270 and 2274. It says that it is a human being that needs to be TREATED AS a person, in terms of dignity. \n\nSecond, whether the unborn child is a person or not is not a religious postulate. It is a biological, medical, philosophical, sociological, psychological issue. Pro abortion people like to paint it as a religious issue, simply to be able to brush it off as such (as \"religious\" these days has become pretty much a swear word), in order to avoid any other discussion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are many on this site who disagree with orthodox Catholicism yet stay civil, the vast majority, however, are distinctly hostile as is the editorial position of the website.\nThey propose myriad versions of the ecclesiology, doctrine and practice which the Church ought to embrace. Were they, God forbid, to gain the ascendency then all hell would break out just as it did after the 16th century reformation and the Catholic Church would disintegrate into another 40,000+ sects as Protestantism did.\nThe situation today is reminiscent of the 16th century when Christendom's bishops were at loggerheads with each other over the same questions, ecclesiology, doctrine and practice.\nThankfully, in those days the papacy fought against the reformers and eventually prevailed, the Jesuits being in the forefront of the Counter-reformation. Alas, today the papacy and the Jesuits seem to have switched sides. Fr Spadaro seemingly having assumed the r\u00f4le of 'eminence grise' or perhaps 'noir'.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "These Catholic hierarchies are a great reminder that we, \nCatholics should avoid anywhere near these corrupt clergies, that is one thing they are contributing! LOLOLOLOLOL!\nC. Burke with $36,000 clergy outfit is one shinning example of these clergies stupidities!!!!!!!!!!! \n\nThe unknown author of The Cloud of Unknowing writes: \u201cThis foul, wretched lump called sin is none other than yourself and though you do not consider it in detail, you understand now that it is part and parcel of your very being and something that separates you from God. And so reject the thought and experience of all created things but most especially learn to forget yourself\u2026\u201c. \nC. Burke with $36,000 clergy outfit will not forget himself not in this life time for sure, poor thing!\nFr. Thomas Merton was right in saying: \"From now on, Brother, everybody stands on his own feet.\" \"You can't rely on structures. The time for relying on structures has disappeared.\"\nWe still need to find our true being in God!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\u201d Within the early Greek section of the nascent \u201cChristian Church\u201d, this PERSONIFIED power of God was very easily \u201cHYPOSTATIZED\u201d (unthinkable within the very strict \u201cmonotheism\u201d of the Hebrew mentality) since in the Greek mentality, a plurality of \u201cgods\u201d was culturally very common and acceptable. So today we have \u201cthe Mystery of \u201cthe Most Holy Trinity\u201d.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus did not eat with foreigners. The very idea! I am amazed that people look to the gospels as support for the idea that we should treat everyone as part of the same family. Our Courageous Bishops did not support Mr. Trump without fully recognizing that he represented true, American, Christian values, although they sometimes sound a bit PC when it comes to immigrants.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I've seen some scholars comment on \"perfect\" before, and the net of their point or interpretation is that we must strive to be \"completely\" in union with God.\n\nHis will becomes our will.\nHis union with His Trinity becomes our union with the Trinity.\nHis heart becomes our heart.\nHis life becomes our life. \n\nNo room for cases where our will runs up against His will.\n\nThis idea thus gives us an image of an inclined plane of holiness, always uphill (but not that uphill), each day, and continuing until our last breath.\n\nA happily demanding life of confident self gift to God, and one of beginning again every day.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sarasi1, you are, I understand a convert to Orthodoxy. I don't think that you have really grasped the Orthodox Faith.\nThe Catholic and Orthodox belief regarding the Mass or the Divine Liturgy is exactly the same.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Right--because we have sold out on all the moral teachings. We marry gay couples, we allow for abortion on demand, contraception, divorce and remarriage, etc. We no longer have the Blessed Sacrament and have allowed for inter-communion as a result. Bishops are now mere figure heads who are elected and have no real or meaningful authority. The same with pastors/priests. \n\nSir, as a conservative I can identify with what you are talking about--but there is a huge difference between the Catholic Church and the Protestant Church. Some parts of the Church may have Protestant appearances--but those appearances are very deceiving. \n\nWhile I agree that the Mass is a bit \"protestantized\" that is because of the misapplication and misinterpretation of Vatican II--not because the Church actually called for what we have now. But don't confuse the high church Roman pomp and pageantry with the Faith. What makes Mass is that the sacrifice was offered--not chant, Latin, smells, bells, pomp, etc", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The teaching on capital punishment was supplemented to include an exhortation by St. John Paul II reminding Catholics that execution for defense of the society, one of four reasons for which a penalty may be inflicted, should only be used when actually needed and that was rare in many modern societies.\n\nThe primary reason for inflicting a punishment remains retributive justice, to which he did not speak, and he did not forbid capital punishment.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I applaud her many years of service to Christ and His Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Minority? Seriously?\n\n\"Roman Catholics (47%) and Protestants (33%) are the two major denominations in the country. Those not affiliated with any religious group amount to 17%\". Source: Wikipedia.com", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The flier was included in the Sunday bulletin. The pastor subsequently made the improbable, if not implausible, claim that he had no idea how the flier got into the bulletin. He did not explain why he did not remove it when he became aware that it was there.\n\nI have no personal knowledge of any other priest or bishop who has explicitly threatened hell for Catholics who vote(d) for Clinton or for Democrats. However, short of that, several bishops and many priests actively supported Trump, even if they didn't mention his name (or Clinton's). The Archbishop of Denver published an endorsement of Trump in his diocesan paper; several other bishops made that endorsement their own by printing it in their papers. Archbishop Aquila did not use Trump's name, but it is beyond disingenuous to claim not to know his meaning. \n\nI've been a daily communicant most of my life. I stopped going to Mass after the Thursday before the election, unwilling to sit through any more campaign speeches for Trump.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bad news for you.\nLook at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0VBTzT5yqE&feature=youtu.be\n(Dr Bob Dixon: What the Australian Catholic Church will look like in 2030).\nAt 38:00 you will see a graph \"Attitude to the refusal of Communion to the divorced and remarried\".\nJust 17% had no problem with this refusal, and 14% had some difficulty with it.\nThe rest had either a significant problem with it or didn't know (27%), or an outright NO (41%) .\nNo reason to suppose that the situation elsewhere is much different.\nAnd quite likely after AL the \"no\" figure will likely have increased and firmed.\nRemember, this survey was with regular Mass attendees in 2011.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"You may wish to make direct and clear your issues with Catholics and the Marian apparitions rather than pointing out irrelevancies unsupported by the events or reports.\"\n\nThis is the last time you engage with me.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That is true about the Catholic faith. Once you accept the church's premises (the dicey part), it's a closely reasoned, explicitly articulated system. The disagreement is fundamentally over whether the Church should serve as a guide or a dictator. Pretty clear where you fall in that debate.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"If churches can't take the lead, at least they could get behind the voices that take the risk to confront our social failures. The word of God is being spoken but oddly, it isn't in our churches.\" You are talking about a Church co-opted by Opus Dei and re-branded as Evangelical Catholicism. See George Weigel's book, Evangelical Catholicism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your last sentence is an ugly personal attack, entirely uncivil. \n\nHe/she doesn't misunderstand it at all.\n\nYou do.\n\nThe unitive purpose of marriage serves the procreative and the procreative the unitive. Both, together, serve God's enlarging Kingdom.\n\nThe end goal of life is holiness, that is, closeness, unity and intimacy with God.\n\nThe work following procreation demands the building up of certain holy virtues: a generosity of spirit, happy denial, a zillion acts of charity in family life, an increase of patience.\n\nMost Catholic marriages which occur post-menapausal occur with the couples already having been parents! That means the virtues gained by being parents earlier can now re-serve the new unity of the second marriage.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The 19th Century governing system, especially the Supreme Courts, handed down decisions for which too many of the population has paid ongoing penalties. The \"Christian Discovery\" decision by John Marshall provided the justification for the genocide against all indigenous people throughout the world Based on the edict of Roman Catholic Pope to originally justify the European Colonial Conquests on every continent. Add in the segregation decision denying slave and progeny human and civil rights established a dictatorship of White Privilege anathema to the basic tenets of the U.S. Constitution. Combined with the legislation enacted by the Robber Baron agents, human and civil rights were denied for a majority of the population. The nation has been corrupt since its founding and continues to this day. Time for a Revolution.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "God has spoken that apostasy shall not overcome the Light [prevail forever]; but, we are in the midst of great crisis. The children of Christian civilization have repudiated the foundation for Blessing;...Law and [B]order. The Truth of Liberty and Freedom has been transformed into liscence. And now the walls have fallen for uncultured hoardes of uncivilized savages to rape, rob, and plunder. A plague of devouring locusts sent for judgement to destroy the blessings. JOEL 2:3\nWhy do the clergy cast off all fear of God?...holding to a servile sycophantic cult-like addling, mesmerized by this messiah of apostasy like rats after the pied-piper.\nThe Mighty God judge with fire the judas-clergy aiding and abetting this globalist criminal enterprise.....or, better yet, let fear have her imperfect work. Proverbs 9:10", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Am I wrong, or have you taken Jesus completely out of Lent? No need to pray because it accomplishes nothing? Are you serious?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There was a \"golden age\" of the Moors in Spain, yes, but it didn't last. By the 11th century, the Almoravids and the Almohads had destroyed it, and the Jews and Christians were forced to convert or emigrate.\n\nThe Spanish and the Portuguese were particularly violent conquerors, yes, but they also were reacting to the previous Moorish conquest. It was a time of conquests back and forth, with civilisations basing their identities on religion, a bad idea that transformed ordinary conquest into religious wars.\n\nThe overseas colonial conquests started...The Christians killed more because they had access to more overseas territory,if the Muslims had gotten there first, it would probably have been them.\n\nThe new movie Silence depicts another religious conflict, this time the Japanese reaction to Christian missionaries, and that turned bloody too. The Japanese were not welcoming of new religions...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You had stated previously that NO WOMAN in the Roman Catholic Church has ever been ordained. My comment was that the history of the church is too long and convoluted to make that statement.\n\nI included Brigid, BECAUSE she was ordained by a bishop with a NAME and there were witnesses to her consecration. There were other women as well. Even St. Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer, in his doctoral dissertation went to do investigation/research concerning the Abbesses of Las Huelgas---who had both the authority of bishops and canonical powers as well----for many centuries.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Some of us are Catholic because we believe what the Church teaches. Why should people who don\u2019t believe what the Church teaches dictate Catholicism to us?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Much of what is said in the article is mentioned in the Catholic Encyclopedia under \"Phillipi,\" written in 1911.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sr. Sally Butler's story is very moving.\n\nI've often felt a twinge of discomfort at the volume of commentary I direct at the institutional church and its powerful actors while ignoring the countless anonymous Catholics toiling in the vineyard, living the Gospel. They're heroes and saints and the true church.\n\nHowever vividly Sr. Butler describes her reaction to the revelations of clerical sex abuse that reached even her own adopted son, I can't imagine it. I'll never forget when I first learned of the scandals. I'd been out of the church and an atheist for decades. Still, the shock was visceral, that priests (priests!) had betrayed Jesus so egregiously. How much more profound the anguish for the faithful Sally Butler!\n\nThere are just no words.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What really is going on is that the US church has been compromised by the $$ they get from federal, state and local governments who want as many illegals in the US as possible. If the honey pot dries up the bishops' lifestyle of privilege and status collapses. Any lecture from prelates who do not disclose the conflict is intellectually dishonest. Catholic social justice never was intended to take assets from the general population and redistribute that wealth based upon the political agendas of the politicians or the economic self interest of the Church. In addition, where is the social justice lecture concerning the criminal drug scourge that tags along with all of the law breaking entering the country illegally? The bishop's position, in its essence, is that breaking, aiding and/or abetting immigration law violations are moral acts and enforcing those laws is sinful. \n\nhttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/sep/24/catholic-church-collects-16-billion-in-us-contract/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For the argument that Jesus chose only men for the Apostles, then since he chose only Jews, gentiles cannot be ordained. This is EXACTLY the same argument. \n\n\"The constant practice of the Church\" means nothing: Owning slaves was a regular practice in the Church until the 19th century. So this should not have stopped.\n\nThe magisterium has been wrong in the past, it is wrong now. The ACTUAL reason for the \"constant practice\" of not ordaining women was the belief that women are inferior to men. Thomas Aquinas wrote in the Summa Theologica, Supplement, q 39, art 1, \"since it is not possible in the female sex to signify eminence of degree, for a woman is in the state of subjection, it follows that she cannot receive the sacrament of Orders\". This belief has been officially repudiated -- which means that when the magisterium taught it, the magisterium was WRONG -- but is still firmly in place. It is just tarted up by calling it \"complementarity\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is heresy , seek the truth and you will be saved'. Jesus loves you .", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why??? Because that is what shame, guilt, and denial about the fundamental truth of your own life will do to your mind.\n\nCatholics need to completely reform and renew the way we do priesthood from parish to pope. And we had better do it sooner, rather than later.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This from a man who says that football players kneeling during the national anthem are disrespecting the US. Yet here he is, praising a senate candidate who actually rejects the US Constitution. The one showing disrespect for the United States is Dromig. He wants a theocracy -- one ordered by a Fundamentalist Evangelical, who would NOT be friendly to Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That the founders were deists, at least Jefferson and Franklin (Adams was congregationalist) is beyond question. Those three wrote the Declaration, by the way. Adams probably thought the Pope anti-Christ. The other two just thought him a tyrant. Natural law as you understand it was not part of their intellectual make up. Enlightenment thought was based on natural rights.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your posts aren't exactly tretises on Comparative Religions. You do \"testify.\" I have absolutely no problem with all of us being better informed about the various religions of the world. In fact, were we all more informed about Islam I don't think the blanket condemnation we hear from the right-wing would be so common. \n\nYou speak for \"the American people\".....I didn't know you had been appointed to that position. \"It's thinking like yours that has caused the American people to reject liberal progressivism in all of its bizarre mutations.\" You do realize that over two million more voters supported Hillary than they did Trump. I, for all my life, have been and continue to be a vigorous advocate for First Amendment Rights. \n\nHowever, I will often offer counter positions to comments. That, too, is an exercise of \"First Amendment Rights\". For example, you post \"hard-core fundamentalist\" Christian doctrine. I respond to it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ironic that what makes some so uncomfortable with this Pope is that he's too much like Jesus.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Glad to hear you don't want to disenfranchise Christians, but sorry to inform you most if not all of our laws are based on doctrinaire beliefs, but not all of them Christian. But I do think you are a nice person. You've already heard how far I think that will get you, and I know you disagree, which truly gives me concern. Thanks for the discussion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The bishops should have full authority over liturgical translations, with appeals to the Holy See allowed only on points of doctrine, not style. \n\nEnglish is not a Romance language. Why should English-speaking Catholics be told by Italian or Spanish-speaking prelates in Rome how to pray in our own language?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't understand why these signatories have a problem with Pope Francis' perspective on divorce and remarriage, but no problem that until the middle of the 20th century the Popes never formally forbid Eastern rite Catholics from practicing ecclesiastical divorce and remarriage and continue to receive Holy Communion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm not a him. Christ was a great man who fed the multitudes and preached the gospel of love and tolerance. There are Christians that have perverted his teachings but we all don't belong to a hate group. I think you are being very stereotypical and assuming things that aren't true. There was nothing hateful about my comment at all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There can be NO debate on settled Catholic teachings. What Martin advocates -- the normalization of homosexual relationships -- is an impossibility. You may as well ask that atheism be considered compatible with Catholicism.\n\nIt would be better for all if some of you NCR apostatees simply left the Catholic Church and worked your sinister nonsense in some left-wing Protestant Church that has a life expectancy past 5 years (there might be a few left). The Catholic Church is not endorsing the moral squalor of San Francisco or the Upper West Side of Manhtatan, so fuhgeddaboutit.\n\nI want to thank those of you who contributed money and time to the CatholicsForTrump campaign last Summer. We registered over 200,000 mostly-white Catholics in swing states and DEFINITELY impacted Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. I hope some of you saw the piece on us on OAN News. We are a growing force in American politics and bigger and better things are ahead for us in 2018 and 2020.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Did his first marriage fail, or did he and his first wife fail their marriage and covenant with God? So now the first marriage continues to be failed by him and his first wife, and they continue to make no effort to be faithful to their vows to one another. Good for him; you haven't told us how she has fared.\n\nSo what is the take-home message to his children of this \"successful\" second marriage? Keep shopping until you get it right. And what when the spouse-shopping that his kids do results in a jilted spouse who wants to make the marriage work?\n\nHe should repent for setting and maintaining a terrible example to his children and to other Catholics about the sacraments. Oh, he doesn't care about the sacraments? Another Protestant. Forget God, just as long as you succeed in your own mind.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I was not implying that the sacraments and doctrines are the same, just trying to show how a practicing Catholic is expected to follow all the teachings and beliefs of the Church, not just specific ones which happen to suit their particular tastes. You apparently don't believe Confession is a necessary or appropriate sacrament, to which I claim as a Catholic that you are 100% wrong. I think this concept is very simple. Can you provide me one Pope, Cardinal , Bishop or Saint who agrees with your belief over the past 2000 years? \n With regards to being \"born again\", I received the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation once as a child, and there is no need to be \"born again\" after reception of those sacraments in my simple view. I will always be with Jesus. Have a Merry Christmas.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No. Catholics shouldn't be forced to buy or underwrite others' purchase of BC.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Editorial: Therefore, according to the catechism, all sex acts between married couples must be \u201cordered per se to the procreation of human life\u201d (2366). \n\nWhich is a fatal flaw in the teaching of the catechism. All sex acts are not ordered to the procreation of human life; they can't be. All married couples are infertile at some point. Either they start that way or they become that way in the aging process. In addition, the female spouse is naturally infertile much of the time. None of those sex acts during infertility are ordered to procreation. The approved NFP method attempts to have sex at an infertile time. The editorial quite rightly calls for an examination of the Church's teaching because it is not based on reality. Gallup and Pew report the majority of American Catholics have rejected the Church's teaching on both contraception and increasingly on the morality of homosexuality. The Church's position will change again as it has before as the editorial points out.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus didn't correct Peter when he told Him that He knows everything. \n\nSt. Paul described Christ as He \"in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.\"\n\nIs Jesus not one with His Father who knows all the hairs counted on our heads or when a sparrow falls from the ground?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If they announce this at Mass on Sunday, maybe some of the 15 Catholics under 40 might participate. That's the problem -- we lost -- threw away -- several generations of Catholics, especially when the American Bishops and the Knights of Columbus formed the Republican Catholic Church. The American church became a political pressure group, not a faith community. Papa Francis is doing his best to restore prayer, humility, generosity, compassion, faithfulness, and most of all Jesus, but it is so hard when so many conservative bishops rush to excommunicate everyone who breathes differently than they do politically. How sad to see Americans bishops discard Jesus' Gospel for Ronald Reagan, Donald Trump, and Paul Ryan. We will never have a culture of life if we only oppose abortion and birth control -- a culture of life demands health care, food, housing, clean air, water, fair wages, equal rights for both genders and rights of children.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A Catholic is NOT by definition someone who follows teachings. A Catholic is someone who believes the apostolic witness: Jesus is Lord, Jesus is risen from the dead, Jesus has appeared to Peter.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In Catholics for Obama, we relied on the fact that the GOP was doing nothing while promising everything. We won the Catholic vote (and it was not just this news group, I shared this strategy with NARAL and they tell me they used it too. Hillary did not go that route and lost. Now the planet is in danger and abortion will go up as poor people have more abortions. The most likely legal remedy to abortion is a higher level of government benefits, including the Child Tax Credit. The GOP, particularly Catholic Speaker Ryan is sadly going the other way. Not pro-life.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ms. Payette has become a mill stone around the necks of the Liberal government. 77% of Canadians identify as belonging to the Christian faith. Ms Payette has insulted the majority of Canadians, and the Liberal Party will pay for this insult in 2019.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Alright Mr \"real facts\" time for you to provide more than anecdotal evidence that your friend is buried in a Catholic cemetery and that he or she has no Catholic connections. You want facts? Step up and provide them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Who raised the children and taught them about the faith? Hardly the men. Listen to many people today speaking about who grounded them in their faith. Dad was hardly around. If women can and DID do that---there is NOTHING that would impede them from serving the Church today as they have. ONLY---women aren't going to sit around and wait while the hierarchy sits and mulls and sits and mulls over 'allowing' them to do what they've done over the centuries. I know many men who feel this same way as well. Let the laity realized their God-given gifts.\n\nSecondly---tradition did not come pre-packed! It occurred over several centuries. Not all at one time. And often the so-called traditions were often formed because of political issues of the times---not because of any teaching of Jesus. One example is the College of Cardinals---this was created by a pope---to protect his authority---had nothing to do with Jesus establishing it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Bishops of the Church are the only individuals with clear Apostolic Authority. Their's is the Sacred responsibility to to uphold the teachings of Christ. Why would they consult an ethicist if they are authority? (see section 25 of Lumen Gentium) Pope Pius XI define artificial contraception as intrinsically evil in the encyclical letter Casti Connubii (Reponse to the Anglican Lambeth Conference in 1930). Note that intrinsically evil is a fancy way of saying there is no moral gradation. It requires an all or nothing response, as the action, or support of, is always a moral error. \n\nOf course, this all means nothing if you dispute the authority of the Church's Magisterium. (See Council of Constance, Council of Basle and Vatican I)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I beg to differ, and the bishops agree, the Catholic Church has authority over all matters. When Jesus placed the three-tiered crown on Peter's head He gave him full authority over everything under heaven and agreed that heaven would act in accord with his decisions. Now, of course, we have a magisterium as well as Peter's successor, but the deal is the same: the church is the boss of you and me. If only we could return to the great age of christianity when papal authority extended to the secular sphere as well as the spiritual. As all can agree, that was truly a golden age for all mankind. Now, all we have left are the rituals and garments from that era, and the holy ground of the Vatican.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Heartbreaker, change always begins with conversation. And conversation require thinking. If you consider that superficial I'd remind you that Jesus' messages usually grew out of conversations.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So many separated and divorced Catholics figured this out a long time ago, and have celebrated the sacraments for years. A perfect example of \"when the people lead, the leaders finally follow.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Michael,\n\nYou are closer to Mr Bannon than you think. I read your article and my jaw drops about how little you actually know about the typical American parish (...there isn't one). You really need to get out of your DC cathedral experience and get around the country to see who fills the pews. If you think bishops or avg lay American dont know the value of the poor, then you are perhaps more aloof than Mr Bannon. \n\nAnd here's an unrelated tip: stop congratulating yourself in your articles. Whether your talk in Austria was well-received or not, is 1) your own opinion 2) dependent on the particular audience (Austrian bishops...ok) and 3) completely superfluous. Arrogance is never good in a article purporting to be Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Can he get an amen, please? The church, like the Sabbath is made for all humanity , not just the clergy or the uber pious or OD or the hippies or the millenials (what few Catholics there may be left of them). It isn't even for just Catholics or those who call themselves christian, it is includes everyone, even the pagan, the agnostic and the atheist. WE are all Church, by reason of our common humanity. I admit I can get angry, caustic and at times insulting, for which there is no excuse. I know of no other way to answer those who judge and condemn those who insult and want to divide the body of Christ, who want to rip him apart with their ceaseless wrangling about who can and cannot be welcomed into his loving arms. Christ said come to me, but didn't add any lists of preconditions. Many could learn from that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part II: Because the thread has continued to focus on the nature of God's love, decided to include the following quote from Ware from a Christianity Today interview only a few months later (think it speaks to this issue): \n\nCT: If I were to meet you on a train and ask you, \"What is the center of the Christian message?,\" how would you succinctly put that?\n\nKW: I would answer, \"I believe in a God who loves humankind so intensely, so totally, that he chose himself to become human. Therefore, I believe in Jesus Christ as fully and truly God, but also totally and unreservedly one of us, fully human.\" And I would say to you, \"The love of God is so great that Christ died for us on the cross. But love is stronger than death, and so the death of Jesus was followed by his resurrection. I am a Christian because I believe in the great love of God that led him to become incarnate, to die, and to rise again.\" That's my faith.\n\nSarasi: Is unreservedly unconditional? To me it is.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Alceste.... Geez, we have police at school meetings and kids who are apparently scared... what more do you need? I dunno, how about:\n\n1. Public schools are places of education, not worship - education trumps religion\n2. Religious groups can form their own secular schools if they want, so no need for it at public schools;\n3. Safety issues\n4. Discrimination issues\n5. There are likely other ways/places muslim students can practice their faith\n\nI'm sure an islamic school in saudi would be happy to enroll and bunch of catholic kids and permit them to practice their religion freely. Ya right.\n\nAlceste - you have lots of posts but no cogent arguments why religion should be in schools other than cite that it's a charter right and needs to be accommodated under human rights. Please, give me some good arguments (aside from it's their \"right\") why religion should be in public schools. Please... I beg you b/c I'm tried of justifying my position while you don't justify yours.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Additionally, I am Christian.... The name implies that I strive to resort to higher authority in all things. Addicts do it why can't I? \u201cAmen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.\u201d (Matt 21:31)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Has Pope Francis's plea for love, forgiveness and mercy been temporarily suspended?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hey there Ethan. I'm a little concerned with your ask. I think that the world has much to offer and we should not turn our backs to that. The Hawaiian people understood this, and \nembraced what it had to offer. Early Hawaiians and even current Hawaiians are navigators and forward thinkers. They integrate what they learn from their travels into their own culture. For example, The palace was the first to have electricity in the US (I have heard), along with other modern conventions like running water and sewage. We also recieved many beloved things from other places like Hawaiian bracelets, and for some Christianity. Let's not turn our backs to what others are doing well, but instead embrace it as a possibility for making education work in Hawaii. More so, let's work TOGETHER not against eachother as it's going to take all of us to improve education in Hawaii.\n\nKellee Kelly\nSpecial education teacher, DOE", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Specifically for guys: Don't like abortions? Don't contribute to an unwanted pregnancy. Without us and our careless, uncaring and irresponsible behavior, there would be no unwanted pregnancies, no or far fewer abortions. Focusing on law change, even with a president who doesn't live in an alternative reality, is Caesar's way, not Jesus' way. It is punitive rather than supportive of women. \n\nWe need more focus on Christian support, including a better welfare safety net as the Pope calls for, rather than cold, hard legality. The pro-life focus needs to be more on helping women feel able to choose new life. This project is difficult, though, because our corporate society is not supportive of pregnant women, of nursing women, of women with small children -- of women. And these marches can seem more supportive of zygotes, embryos and fetuses than women.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The (Catholic) church has relics from all 18 of the 12 disciples.\" Mozart", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "JESUS CHRIST DONALD WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG ... I know it took a while for it to \"sink in\" that in your words \"Puerto Rico is and island that is surrounded by an ocean; a really big ocean\". I SHUDDER TO THINK WHAT YOUR ACTIONS WOULD BE IF WHEN THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS GET HIT ...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Kudos and congratulations on outstanding investigatory reporting!!! Now, multiply the problem in Chicago nationwide. The latest USCCB report states that between 2014 and 2016 inclusive, 1,333 victims made accusations against 799 priests and deacons. The report makes no mention of how many of these clerics are still free men, how many are incarcerated, how many are on sex offender registries or if any were reported to the police. The Boston Globe - of all publications! - made its June 1 article on this report nothing more than a puff piece. They quoted Deacon Bernie Nojadera, executive director of the Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection: \"I am grateful that allegations are being reported. I am grateful that alleged victims are being treated with sensitivity and care. I am grateful that alleged offenders are offered treatment and supervision.\"\nFrankly, I blame the media for abdicating their role as \"watchdog\" when all things Catholic are rosy in the Francis era.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Praying more like Jesus did?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Refugees from the middle east that follow Islam will never integrate into our Judeo/Christian society and therefor would be happier with their own kind .\"\n\nThat's news to me. Through my career, I know dozens of Canadian Muslims, and all of them seem to have adapted well and integrated into Canadian society. They haven't converted to Christianity, of course, but that certainly doesn't mean that they can't integrate into a secular society like ours, anymore than a Christian can't integrate into a secular society. I'm not sure why the Muslims you know seem to be unable to integrate. Perhaps you should ask them and offer to help.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Dubium: Whether the teaching that the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women, which is presented in the Apostolic Letter Ordinatio Sacerdotalis to be held definitively, is to be understood as belonging to the deposit of faith.\n\n\"Responsum: Affirmative.\n\n\"This teaching requires definitive assent, since, founded on the written Word of God, and from the beginning constantly preserved and applied in the Tradition of the Church, it has been set forth infallibly by the ordinary and universal Magisterium (cf. Second Vatican Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium 25, 2). Thus, in the present circumstances, the Roman Pontiff, exercising his proper office of confirming the brethren (cf. Lk 22:32), has handed on this same teaching by a formal declaration, explicitly stating what is to be held always, everywhere, and by all, as belonging to the deposit of the faith.\"\n\nIt is part of the deposit of Catholic faith, infallible and unchanging.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The US is a secular state. Catholic social justice teaching is irrelevant to health insurance funding policy.\n\nSpeaking as a taxpayer, I don't find the argument, \"I am entitled to take away your money and use it to buy things I want because my religion says so!\" very convincing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": ">The bishops hold the most responsibility still.<\n\nNot when the timeline of events before the bishop knew is factored in. \n\n\"Day one\" refers to the spring of 11', when I was obeying God's call to be Catholic, when info and knowledge on this subject that I was not looking for came to me, when I used to post here and on FB under my own name, when I asked questions, when I raised biblically based objections and concerns over the rhetoric commonly used by victim's \"advocates\", when those victim's \"advocates\" mocked, and ridiculed me and even threatened me with physical violence for even daring to question the veracity of -any- allegation. Biblical and civil statutes require allegations to be tested, not given carte blanche as most here do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh .. dear, let me help you 'un-confuse' this comment. \nThe Catholic Church has married clergy. All the eastern Catholics do, only the Latin right does not. \nAs you already have been told many times, all scholarly research and real-life evidence shows that celibacy has nothing to do with child sexual abuse. Yet, you keep beating this dead horse. Is this an obsession?\n\nThe billions of dollars, donated by little old ladies for social outreach and catechesis have been taken mainly by organisations such as SNAP, and mainly to fill the pockets of lawyers. The victims received only a fraction of this money. \n\nAnd all this, while in the RC Church, there are practically no new cases since the mid-nineties, while in wider society, for example in public schools, child sexual abuse is still around 8-10%. \n\nGood luck explaining this. :))", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Media reports on that number:\nhttps://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome-psyapi2&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8&q=filial%20appeal%20to%20pope%20francis%20800%2C000&oq=filial%20appeal%20to%20pope%20francis%20800%2C000&aqs=chrome..69i57.12303j0j4\n\nAs far as \"rad-trads\". This isn't a \"rad-trad\" issue. It's an issue of intellectual honesty and having some semblance of credibility when the Church claims that we don't change doctrine. It's the fact that one pope has published an Apostolic Exhortation which essentially contradicts a key portion of one his predecessors Apostolic Exhortations (Amoris Laetitia Ch 8 vs Familiaris Consortio 84). All the defenders of Francis have tried to dance around it but it's obvious: one Exhortation or the other is true but they both can't be because they are in contradiction. It's not a development it's a CONTRADICTION.\n\nLook if you don't think the Church infallibly teaches the doctrine of Jesus Christ in every age, fine, this isn't really an issue. Otherwise it is", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "well, he is investigating important issues like can a bishop serve as a deacon at the Ordinary Form of Mass, and other such pressing matters worrying Christians today.\n\nand he invented the biretta emoticon: 0{|:-)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One way to know better who God is is to study the Bible and those who know best who God is. Seems that many Catholics don't read either of these, thinking that their opinion of God is as good as any other's.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Unfortunate the energy expended on an issue of low impact toward humanity becoming humane.\nThis is RC greenhouse gardening. We cultivate non-issues while not immersed in life outside this greenhouse. Christianity claims it is incarnate in the world but is in constant retreat inward to endlessly debate current versions of how many angels dance on the head of a pin. MW is talented and skillful in writing but unfortunate that he would use his gifts about a minuscule issue that doesn't serve humanity. \nWith humanity in jeopardy by our so-called president, all hands on deck should be deployed for substantive issues of engagements like the increasing nuclear violence and social and racial intolerance, issues undermining the precious little tranquility there is in the world. IMO, we are not in the world as in hell. Incessant torture and suffering with no relief in sight. \nMaybe MW and company prefer to brawl about inconsequential issues as the others are overwhelmingly insolvable.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The result is a comprehensive, 872-page textbook that provides bountiful evidence for how the Catholic Church has addressed some of the pressing issues of our era: its continuing call for nuclear disarmament; its persistent efforts on behalf of record numbers of global refugees; and its denunciation of a global economy that Pope Francis says spreads a \"throwaway culture,\" for example.\n\nThose are all laudable goals, but why, during the same time period, did the Vatican appoint so many bishops that were more concerned with SSM, contraception, and preserving patriarchy?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Trump's value to what's left of the GOP is to rubber stamp everything they do in Congress and to be the head cheerleader for the Christian and Gun lobbies.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your comments about annulments and abortion do not address my comment. Christ founded a Church, commanded it to teach, gave it teaching authority, promised the Holy Spirit to guide it, and said \u201cWho hears you hears Me.\u201d\n\nWhile thinking out loud on annulments, abortion, how many angels can dance on a pin, or other theological speculations might be a fun hobby in the right context, contesting the Church is contesting its Head, Jesus Christ, and that is never done by \"eminently reasonable and pious people\" who are Catholic.\n\nReason would dictate that one not get in the Creator's Face, which is probably why many defenders of the Church's teaching give you short shrift.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What you describe as the purpose of the block function is accomplished by reading like an adult.\n\nAccomplishing it with a \u201cblock function\u201d is designed to - using your Venn diagram - carve a public discussion space into small cliques that talk only to each other.\n\nThat is one of the reason why the Disqus-based comment and discussion groups, like National Public Radio\u2019s former comment area, are closing down or becoming moribund.\n\nAs to \u201can image of Catholicism as a dungeon of sorrows\u201d, that would be the impression I would form from your posts, so your point is a bit hard to decipher.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not Christ-like.. not in the least.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The weird thing about all this pearl clutting on the far right over Amoris Laetitia is that it seems to have had very little impact on the lives of most Catholics. This appears to be an academic exercise.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think most voters in Alaska are now aware of the wreck, so called conservative politicians have made of governing this state and the nation. Hopefully the voters will recognize that at the polls and deny Miller and his Christian Conservatives any voice in representing us.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"I think that Christine Lagarde....\"\n\nWe'll see. Right now it looks like French Catholics will support Francois Fillon, recently elected head of The Republicans, over Le Pen. Fillon is Catholic, very public about his faith, and much more moderate and reasonable than Le Pen.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you for this excellent review, Marian Ronan! \nYes to Phan's concept of \"Multiple Magisteria\" to include \"those of the theologians, the laity, the poor, and believers of non-Chrisitan religions (which) must also be considered to achieve authoritative teaching.\" Phan might even add women here since women's input is so consistently ignored by the Magesterium. \n\nGreat point here: \"Just as Jesus Christ humbled himself by becoming human (Philippians 2), Christianity is called to a kenotic (self-emptying) theology in which it renounces its assumed superiority over other religions. The mission of the church, then, is not \"to the gentiles\" but \"with the gentiles,\" collaborating with members of other religions to bring about the reign of God.\" https://RiteBeyondRome.com", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Didn't the Dead Sea Scrolls community anticipate a priest-Messiah in addition to a conquering warrior? Though the gospels portray Jesus as a prophet, not a priest.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You have to remember that Trid's definition of \"orthodox Catholic\" is \"Catholics who agree with ME!\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm afraid you have a deficient understanding of many things (but your high confidence is paradoxically endearing!)....that Vatican II tried to communicate regarding the universal call to holiness and apostolate, the intended life of the lay, evangelism, and clearly Opus Dei. The largest bulk of members of Opus Dei are married people, with no \"Church power\" at all. Most tend to not hang around parishes. \n\nPope Francis recently thanked the new prelate of Opus Dei for prelature's apostolate in the world, the ordinary world (not the parish), for its efforts to foster a lively ecumenism in many countries with small minority Christian and Catholic presence (e.g., Vietnam, China, Kazakhstan, now Cuba!..you know John: \"the periphery) and for also its projects of social integration. \n\nIn fact the Pope gave special emphasis to Opus Dei to work with a new \"periphery\": middle class, professional, and intellectual sectors which are distant from God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I just read Gilbert Gustafson's story. \nI was never abused but later in life I discovered that some of my Catholic school friends had been.\n\nWhat NCR is doing is very powerful and exactly what we as Church needs. \n\nIt would be good if parishes had frank discussions and reflections on where we are as a society.\n\nGod bless you for this service to our Church. May we all be at the forefront of overcoming this evil in our lives.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"As always, I crave correction on factual matters -- just let me know where to look.\"\nI admire that. I'm the same. \nYou will want to see \"The Embryo Project Encyclopedia\": \"Pope Pius IX . . .[removed] the distinction between an \u201canimated\u201d and \u201cunanimated\u201d fetus from Catholic doctrine, and established the edict that a human should be protected starting from the moment of conception onward. This proclamation made abortion at any time of gestation punishable by excommunication. Pope Pius IX\u2019s decision became Canon Law of the Catholic Church.\"\nThe Encylopedia's phrasing --- \"the distinction between between an 'animated' and 'unanimated' fetus\"---is not quite correct, as every fetus is \"animated,\"and therefore, \"ensouled,\" from the moment of conception. This follows from the Church's belief (with the ancients, e.g. Aristotle) that the soul is the \"animating principle.\" That this is the Church's teaching there is simply no doubt.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You actually believe that the CDF is the same as the Catholic Church? Really?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Church has never really been a \"monolithic\" institution. American RCs may like to think this way, but the Catholic Church has always been a collection of Churches.\nTo suggest that Vatican 2 (because I guess that is what you are referring to), was an effort by anybody to \"sow division\" shows, to my way of looking at things, an incredible lack of knowledge about the history of Vatican 2. \nVatican 2 was not an effort to fundamentally change the Church. To suggest that it was is to distort historical facts. And to blame those who tried to update Church structure to help it function better in the modern world for the ills from which the institution suffers is beyond disingenuous.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I've been saying from day one here, prevention happens at the ground level. As that pertains to the Church, that means the laity must be diligent. Both \"Doubt\" and \"Spotlight\" splattered lack of diligence among the laity all over the walls, and popular opinion IGNORES that aspect of those movies. At least six lay people (1 of them not Catholic) could have stopped Ratigan dead in his tracks before Bishop Finn heard one word of it, and popular opinion would still rather demonize Finn. It's mind numbing to me.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Fifty years ago, we Catholic college graduates of the class of '67 were told it was our responsibility to be \"leaders\" in our parishes in the spirit of Vatican II. I was not alone to discover that lay women were not at all what was needed as participators not to mind leaders. I was even phoned by a parishoner to be told that Father did not want single people on an education committee. (Still can not figure out what he considered to be his own marital state.) Years later, in another parish and married, I once more volunteered for an education committee only to discover our duty was to rubber stamp all of Father's decisions. \n\nThe parish closings are news. The admonition to the laity is sooo... yesterday.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Don't knock what you have not tried. Quit analogizing body parts by their meaning. Any kind of vigorous intercourse can result in nerve damage unless care is taken, hence the intimacy. As for your respect, no one cares, Mike. All the biological analysis was not the source of the original prohibitions in Leviticus, which were all about cultural/religious differentiation and it could be argued, still are. Hurrah for our side is not a moral argument, it is group think, aka, Catholic Relativism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Absolutely Not! They remained devoted to all the doctrines, dogmas and traditions of the unchanging Church. Just look at how fiercely Pope Saint John Paul II the Great maintained the Infallible Church's tradition of protecting priests who abuse children. He never wavered in maintaining the status of the Clergy as the Untouchables. Now granted, some might suggest the Saint should have looked to Jesus on this issue, but Our Holy Father knew better.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The website contains a database of publicly known sexual offenders from the church that you can search by diocese or name.\"\n\nHow wonderful. We don't have such a register in Ireland I think, but a few years ago someone in Co. Wicklow got word that a sex offender (and his wife and 4 children) lived nearby. About 15 years before he had been sentenced to 6 months for an offence against a minor. The Wicklow lynch mob got to work right away and the man and his family were driven from their home. This happened on a second and a third occasion. The wife then tearfully promised to separate from her husband. The lynch mob heeded her all right. They burned down the 4th house with the family's belongings inside.\n\nAFTER the arson, Wicklow County Council passed a motion that anyone who \"associated with\" a sex offender should be denied housing by the Council. A truly \"Catholic\" solution though Ireland is actually a secular country today!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But the Church demands that we accept the Creed to maintain membership in the Ecclesial Body. If you like to characterize that as \"Creedal absolutism\", so be it. The reasonable man simply refers to it as Catholicism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Equally, there is no obligation to receive from the hand of a priest that one finds utterly objectionable or immoral, but I make a point of doing precisely that in order to remind myself that my what matters is Christ in the Eucharist and not my personal assessment of the minister.\n\nMay I ask whether you object to \"permanent\" deacons and to non-ordained Eucharistic Ministers, and whether you avoid receiving from their them?\n\nYour 2nd para, Trid, is far more interesting and challenging.\n\nFirst, I take it you don't accept the research, particularly by Gary Macy, that purports to show that for the first millennium (roughly) ordination meant appointment to an office, and it was only in the high middle ages, a time of MAJOR theological renewal/upheaval, that the notion of orders imprinting indelible characters first emerged?\n\nSecond, why would that theology of indelible character be challenged by the ordination of women? Sorry, Trid, something is missing in your chain of thought here, no??", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"I found myself torn between living as faithful Christian and serving as a political leader.\"\n\nThat is an odd way to put it. What about all the \"faithful Christians\" who do not think like he does, who don't think homosexual acts are sinful? It would make more political sense if Tim Farron simply said \"as a faithful evangelical protestant.\" Or as a faithful member of such and such a parish or church community with which he is identified. But he didn't. Instead, he made his particular corner of Christianity appear more real and universal than the broad sweep of Christianity everywhere -- like the guy who thinks his particular Google map is more real than the soil all over Europe. Talk about insularity carried to the bitter end!!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I thought that the Constitution set up three branches of government to keep all branches in check. A strong, independent judiciary is required, for this, especially when the two other branches are controlled by the same political party. What do you think of the GOP essentially stealing a Supreme Court seat to take control of the judiciary branch? \nI think we are going to be seeing a government working for the benefit of billionaires, trying to set up Evangelical Christianity as the law of the land. This will clearly go against the constitutional establishment clause.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Really, the Church needs to look to U.S. civil law (man\u2019s law) instead of God\u2019s law for inspiration...seriously what could go wrong with THAT?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You make a great point. This is a great opportunity for Republicans to do the right thing and wrestle some of the Hispanic vote from the Dems. They are indeed highly represented by Catholics and many voted for Trump simply to keep control of the SCOTUS so that someday abortion might end. The House Republicans, however, will be sure nothing gets through though and in the end it will probably remain status quo. Which is too bad for those covered under DACA who deserve to be here as legal citizens. My opinion...\n\nWe will see how it plays out though.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "To repeat my response to your same cut-and-pasted Aug 6th letters comment: \"Again, murder? Actually, yes. Torture? A developing baby can feel pain from between 20 to 28 weeks, so at just several days of development, no pain, unlike many abortions. To the main point of why aren't Christians picketing IVF clinics, I think there are several issues going on. One is that most Christians aren't proactively involved in the pro-life movement (to their shame), and for those who are, they already have their hands full dealing with actual abortion clinics, Planned Parenthood, and the like. Secondarily, there is emotionally a much greater degree of separation in dealing with a fertilized egg sitting in a tube that is never going to develop beyond a handful of days unless it has the further human intervention of being implanted. Do you donate to any causes you feel strongly about? You're much more likely to donate locally than to the same cause in an unknown place far away. Human psychology.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "'Sir, God is God and we are not. Once we know what God's will is, we submit, period. Once we know what God's Truth is, we submit, period. There is nothing to \"discern.\"\"\nI agree entirely with your first two sentences. \nSadly, the Institutional \"Church\" (i.e. the magisterium) presumes to 'know' God's will in all things for all time. This arrogance is being questioned - we, as the Living Body of Christ (the real Church), need to discern what God's will is in the present time and to admit that NO doctrine is infallible as it is very fallible people who are discerning God's will; it is also time that we admit honestly that the leadership has often times been expedient, and the creation of the priesthood in 4th Century was one of those occasions. It solved a problem for the authoritarians then, and has created its own problems since. It is a painful process but it seems that there is at least a measure of honesty prevailing as these issues are considered. cont.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, Anglican priests are re-ordained, some conditionally but now I believe that all are re-ordained absolutely. Conditionally means that they might be validly ordained priests already, Pope St John Paul II put an end to this. Absolute means that they are not considered to be validly ordained.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How does Christianity create meaninglessness ? Christians serve the King and creator of the universe, and he served them by paying the ultimate price for his servants by laying down his own life (and the life of his son), so that they could be with him for eternity. What is meaningless about that ? Life without hope beyond your beating heart is tragic - no wonder there is so much crime, drug addiction, wars etc. in the world. Christians are a new creation, born of a new spirit, and live daily with hope and excitement. There are too many Grumpy Old (and liberal)Men on this blog. We need some life and excitement.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Fox does not present opposing views...it is no better in intent with honesty than church apologetic and catechesis. Truthfulness is a distraction. As the church's aim and intent is oriented to it being right and contrary opinion wrong, truthfulness is dismissed, so with Fox News, agenda is primary and objectivity booted.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When we say that we are made in the image and likeness of God, our Creator we mean that we possess intellect and will. The intellect, a property of the soul is the same for every created being, however, it depends upon our material five senses and our physical ability to coordinate the input of those senses in order to rationalise. So there are those today who have no problem with, say, quantum physics and those who simply don't have a clue. On the Last Day we will all understand the truth because it will no longer depend upon our physical ability.\nThe notion that there is such a thing as 'evolution of the intellect' is totally alien to Christianity.\nWhat I am saying is that the first man was equally capable of making moral choices as we are today.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Rabbis were married and scripture says he was, in fact, Rabbi of Caphernum. Marriage is always till death do us part, even after the resurrection. Jesus was clear on this, hence, don't cling to me.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sister Rose, Pope Francis keeps trying to explain that to bishops and priests but many don't seem to be getting the message. On October 17, Pope Francis homily included this about the \"obtuse mentality that believes in the self-sufficiency of salvation with the fulfillment of the law.\" He talked about how wrong it is when a priest tries to avoid \"scandal\" by, for example, refusing to baptize the child of an unwed mother or refusing to allow a father to attend his child's baptism because the father is divorced. \n\nMorlino was right to fear publicity about this directive to priests. It is a scandalous attempt at avoiding scandal. Go figure.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "During these times, many of us, including myself wonder what charities we should give to. I no longer give to Catholic Charities as they waste money on Pro Life politics & the Permanent Deaconate which only increases sexism in our church and increases clericalism in our parishes around the world while satisfying no need in any parish that trained lay people could not better satisfy without creating a more clericalized and sexist atmosphere. This on top of the fact that many of these seminarians can take upwards of 400,000 to educate with both a undergraduate & graduate degree in theology, room, board & all else taken care of while we fund nothing close to this for Catholic nuns or laywomen. Our church has created an atmosphere of men being made smarter than women based on funding one gender & not the other. This is not that different than third world nations who make their girls stay home from school & only teach their boys to read. We need to demand women get same sacraments now!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "From insiders in the Vatican Pope Francis committed chaos in the Argentinian church\nAnd he's doing the same thing in the Vatican, right now pitting Cardinals against Cardinals\n\n And bishops against bishops with his erratic interpretation of doctrine \nThis was predicted by the Fatims letters\n The smoke has potential entered the Vatican", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "First off Bishop McElroy is expressing an opinion not doctrine. Same with the Pope\nWe as Catholics know the Church is infallible, but is lead by humans which are capable of error.\nThese men are expressing their opinions We can chose to agree or disagree.\nI agree with the Bishop in that we need to be concerned for the poor and help, I disagree as to how that should be done. That is MY opinion.\nTo state that one is right one is wrong is incorrect. I am fortunate that I have a Parish that teaches we should find common ground and stop fighting over every single thing.\nI read in one of the comments earlier any Catholic that works on Trumps staff should be censored.\nWell then the same goes for anyone that works on a Democrats staff. They are by and large pro abortion, which we all know is a sin.\nThe problem is we don't know what is in peoples hearts and need to avoid judgement only God can judge.\nSo don't lose your faith or condemn the Church for someone's opinion", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Why should I? Because an unmarried man without a clue about the place of sex in marriage says so.\"\n\nAgain, you forget that these unmarried men are simply repeating what Jesus said.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It all depends upon what you call healthcare. From what I read the Church has been steadfastly against the type of healthcare you would favour.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "While not to minimize Jesus' other modes of presence, Jesus' presence in the Eucharist is one that \u201cthat surpasses all others\u201d (Mysterium Fidei). \n\nI like the prayers in the EF better than the OF, the EF prayers are meatier and not watered down. I like the music of the EF better, the Gregorian Chant and polyphony over the GIA hymnal. I grew up with the Haagen/Haas/Schutte stuff and now when I hear that music, I cringe. I prefer the solemn ethos of the EF over the often casual atmosphere at the OF, like being expected to hold someone I've never met's hand at the Our Father in some parishes. I like the smells and bells. We are Catholics and worship should be a multisensory experience. I like being part of something that connects me further back to those who practiced our faith than 1970. I like Latin, recieving Jesus kneeling. I like the full Catholic devotional life...we just did Candlemas. OF is prone to liturgical abuse...Fr. ad libbing or adding things.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I suspect this is about \"as good as it gets\" withing the RC realm of life. You have to consider the \"realm of reality\" within which RCism was founded.... smoke and mirrors, medieval magic and the like. After all Mr. Francis is himself a Catholic, despite his apparent bent on punishing those who espouse the more traditional aspects of imperial Romanism... run fast in the other directions and shout from the rooftops the evils of imperial Romanism... the pope might mean well but it is not within his corporeal abilities to sever the ties that bind humans to the malicious, medieval, man-made doctrines that comprise so-called \"traditional\" RCism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "#1. Bill, it's important to understand that the Catholic Church for more than a thousand years has defined the priesthood in terms of monasticism, not ministry, and only agreed to a transition at Vatican II, without universal success. The role of a priest was not to minister to the people, but to be a holy man, capable of living apart from society, bound by vows that separated him from others, rather than uniting them in a common struggle. Good priests appeared at the altar on schedule, performed the prescribed rituals, and disappeared into the rectory as soon at the rites were over. \nVatican II declared that priests were ordained to the ministerial priesthood and called for them to go out into the world and meet the people where they were, which caused problems at several levels. First, the men who were suddenly sent out into the world were ill-prepared for the journey. Second, Catholic parishes were so large and ministerial needs so great, they couldn't meet expectations.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Obama did spy (wiretap being a colloquial term) on the Trump campaign. \nhttp://circa.com/politics/barack-obama-changed-how-nsa-intercepts-of-americans-like-donald-trump-could-be-shared\n\nThere is plenty to be doubted about the ultimate effects and causes of climate change - - proof of that is to ask a climate change zealot exactly how much human influence has changed the climate. They won't be able to give an answer to that, and plenty more.\n\nEvolution? Today, the Church supports theistic evolution(ism), also known as evolutionary creation, although Catholics are free not to believe in any part of evolutionary theory. This means that the Church doesn't really support the theory of evolution.\n\nAs far as treating the gospels as unimpeachable records of historical evidence of the supernatural...well, that makes the trifecta of shall we say 'bold assertions.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree that these things you refer to belong to \"large-T Tradition.\" But closely associated developments of the scriptural data, which also become part of the Deposit of Faith etc., can have a sexist, patriarchalist look. And perhaps this is true esp. of the RCC, who tend to suppress references to the Second Person of the Trinity with feminine-gender terms, in spite of the biblical antecedent of the Logos, appearing uniquely in the prologue to John's gospel (added probably in the second edition), in OT Wisdom, fem.-gender Hochmah, and in Greek Soph\u00eda; even Paul refers to Jesus as the \"wisdom of God\" (1 Cor.), and one of the greatest churches in Christendom, Hag\u00eda Soph\u00eda, is at heart dedicated to Jesus. Then the Magisterium encloses and confines the Holy Spirit, who is neuter in Greek and feminine in Hebrew, by demanding she be referred to with masculine words--because of Latin \"spiritus\"?, or some curious application of Trinitarian theology?\n\nTo be continued.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I like the quote from Steubenville's president about academic freedom.\n\nHis is the Catholic university that equated homosexuality with murder.\n\nhttp://www.theblaze.com/stories/2012/09/12/catholic-college-under-fire-for-listing-homosexuality-with-murder-rape-robbery-prostitution-in-course-description/\n\nThat's real academic freedom for you! Not quite as free as UC Berkeley and its Walking Dead style endorsement of violence...but still most impressive.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "https://youtu.be/xONYrtJ6ZlM Hear it from the top Muslim in Canada. Your Son Should Be Afraid , We ALL need to reflect on EXACTLY what this man is saying. Play it more than once if your sad Liberal Mind Doesn't hear it. EVERY Friday Prayer is preceded by a prayer asking for the defeat of the infidels at the hands of the Muslims , and I stand By it Sir and that prayer has been going on for fourteen hundred years. Senate Hearing on threats facing Canada for you Liberals that Cant Read. Tell me , Who do we Tar and Feather for allowing this VERY REAL THREAT to exist in Canada in the first place ? Were The Catholic Crusades just a joke ? Did everyone think Nawww they wont go out and kill people. What are we seeing now ?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So what? The Church is not a democracy. I grow tired to explaining that we do not determine doctrine based on Hollywood fads, cultural whims, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Planned Parenthood, popular vote, political correctness, etc.\n\nPop-culture icons, fads, fashions, majority rule, etc, has absolutely no relevance when it comes to Church teaching. \n\nIf you want a democratic Church, go join a Protestant Church. You can even get elected to the Board of Elders and boss around the minister if you want!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As for Catholic politicians, their right to act pluralistically is assured under Dignitas Humanae. Period. I would rather that they take on a teaching role and inform the hierarchy about how much they are being played by the GOP and how Roe can be seen as rightly decided, not on the result but on the relevant constitutional issues and especially the primacy of the federal courts on equal protection and due process cases, including gay marriage, contraception, abortion, legal private sodomy and especially the Church's right to exist in Alabama where most everyone considers the Pope the anti-Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Bible was intended to guide us to salvation as the inspired word of God. Do you see it differently?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Holy Father strikes me as someone very intimate with the Holy Spirit. He depends on the Holy Spirit to place an inspiration in his mind and heart. He courageously makes a move, knowing that the Trads. and Orthodoxers are going to flip out. Then he waits for the Holy Spirit to work. Discussions, insights, reflections and arguments arise. Many are emboldened to make positive changes. Some go back to the gospels to defend new solutions. Others feel that the sky is falling and that he is trying to destroy the church and the teachings of the church and are determined to block his progress and sully his reputation.\n\nIt is very obvious to me that he defers to the Holy Spirit in his words any actions. What you consider \"lack of clarity\" is him starting the conversation and waiting for the bishops, theologians, laity and victims of bad teachings to speak out and move the church forward through the guidance of the holy spirit.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Perhaps one reason being that the assumption there is another Jesus behind the Christ of faith proclaimed by the evangelists is false.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank-you for your thoughtful article. There is indeed a reluctance to experiment. In addition to the factors you mention, I believe it also relates to how money is distributed in the church. If local congregations retained more resources, they would be less dependent on centralized power structures and central decision-making, and more willing to conduct pilot programs/experiments. (And that may be why those power structures continue to encourage the current financial system).\n\nOne small criticism: You said, \"But it should be noted that our beliefs do not constitute a creed, although at times it may feel like it. In the spirit of our early founders we continue to resist the idea of spelling out in detail exactly what someone must believe to be an Adventist.\" That is no longer true! The current Church Manual section on baptism includes a vow to accept the fundamental beliefs of the church, and the covenant specifically mentions the 28 FBs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus taught us that God has infinite love and forgiveness. Unfortunately, many still believe in retributive justice. In Ezekiel 16, we learn God reamed out the people of Israel. God punishes them by loving them even more. This is called restorative justice. We need to allow God's infinite love and mercy to redefine ours. We need to realize we don't earn forgiveness. It is not \"Let's make a Deal\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yikes, I got nothing to compare to that guy. It's probably a bit unfair of me actually. My kids went to a virtually all white school, which reflected the population. The community was almost all employed by one of two major good paying corporations. A very active council of churches as well as individual church programs. Let's just discipline at home was very high, as was support and financing for extra curricular activities. Never saw a school budget request not pass and the public school I think was one of very few non-union districts in the state. Their were alternative Christian schools at all grads and home schooling was rare but not unusually so. \n Pretty much a Walt Disney community. \n\nI fully understand my experience is nothing like parents in tough urban neighbors or small communities in decline without much funding. It is grossly unfair to compare my expectations to a parent in deep poverty, crime, assault...... Their first priority may be safety or ....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Cardinal Burke doesn't seem disturbed that until the middle of the 20th century the Popes never had formally forbidden Eastern rite Catholics from practicing ecclesiastical divorce and remarriage and continue to receive Holy Communion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not the time to pontificate? OK Chaput and Pavone. If you believe the polls, 52% of catholics voted for Trump. We have work to do in our own home.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If your knowledge of law is as you purport it to be, you know full well that an opinion piece in the media on behalf of himself citing some salient facts does not, in any jurisdiction within these 50 states, constitute \"unauthorized practice of law\".\n\nIn the interest of full disclosure, I have now and have never had a relationship of any kind with either party in the suit, nor with the USCCB, other than being a baptized Catholic.\n\nNow you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Religion in public schools isn't everyone's ideal, but it also isn't anything new. It is protected (within reason) by the law. That makes the current hysteria about Friday prayers particularly hard to digest. I don't recall gangs of masked men showing up to protest me and classmates' attendance at Christian faith group gatherings during lunch hours at my 1990s public school. And to be frank, unlike the Peel kids' observances, the subject matter of our little gatherings often operated well-outside any mainstream cultural norms. I certainly don't imagine any of the Peel kids' modern-day (and teacher vetted) sermons delve into Satanic-rock-music conspiracy theories or promoting wildly regressive sexual politics like my Christian discussion groups did back in the day. Even so, had any masked men attempted to intimidate us from exercising our Constitutionally guaranteed rights, the entire community would have denounced them as mere thugs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You didn't deal with anything I said. You are misrepresenting me by responding to arguments I did not make. \n\nI feel for your cousin's plight but his or her physical deformities are irrelevant to the topic and do not change the fact that sex is a binary physical reproductive role which has nothing to do with \"gender identity\", opinion, preference, or lifestyle.\n\nYour comment about \"trans people\" being \"more likely to be the victim of violence, not the ones causing it\" is a straw man - I never even insinuated that \"trans people\" are dangerous or violent.\n\nI never said or implied that \"trans people\" are \"are coming for your daughters and wives\". That's a false accusation which you then build on to further falsely imply a parallel between my arguments and irrational racism. \n\nYour comment about my Bible belief is a red herring. It is completely irrelevant to anything I said. Nevertheless, it belies your misunderstanding of how Christian morality works.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is an apocryphal story about Senator Kelly meeting with Sr Prejean 15 or so years ago. She was in Juneau to lobby against a capital punishment bill that Kelly and other hypocrites were pushing. Kelly, you will recall, wanted to give the government he hates the power to kill people. Consistent with his rather perverse love of symbolism, Kelly, I am told, made sure to have prominently displayed on his desk, between the nun and himself, a toy guillotine. \nDear Pete: life and death is not a joke in the context of public policy. \n\nJesus was not a macho tough guy taking nails for God; he was a man who led a political movement against the established religion that favored the rich and powerful and got killed because of it. And in the midst of the loneliness of his own death he cried out to God in doubt and fear: \"My Lord, my Lord...why hast thou forsaken me?\"\n\nChrist's service was to afflict the comfortable and to comfort the afflicted. Not so, Pete Kelly. \n\nThank you, Shannyn.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not exactly, but precision in quoting is not your fort\u00e9.\n\nWhat I said is that when I present something as Catholic teaching, I either cite a source or will cite a source if queried. I do have personal opinions on sports, politics, and other topics and my present them form time to time.\n\nI have also suggested that if you wish to prove I am doing otherwise, all you have to do is take something I present and compare and contrast it with the Church's teaching and your cite(s).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How many comments here are designed purely and simply to wind up and antigonise traditional Catholics who post here. To goad them into making intemperate replies. \nA prevalent attitude here since Pope Francis was elected is, \"We are the masters now.\" I am not accusing you personally.\nThis thread has been hijacked not by me or the others mentioned above but by the person who launched an unwarranted attack upon the 'modus operandi' of a number of named, traditionalist commenters, Victor Victoria.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Deflecting. We are talking American politics and he is doing women deacons, which is the camel's nose on priests. What he upholds, for now, says nothing about what his brothers have found about the unholy alliance between the American Catholic and Evangelical movements for politics rather than unity. That he shares the common clericalist misunderstanding on sexual issues shows that the left has some education to conduct.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is high time the term 'Novus Ordo', used here by some contributors, was retired from service. It has no legal status and, when used by the Society of St Pius X and others of like mind, always has a pejorative connotation. What is more, an Order of Mass that is now almost fifty years old and the only one most Catholics under sixty can remember is no longer 'new' in the sense in which most people understand the word.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Being told to stop spinning by Pandora is to laugh. She is the master (mistress?) of spinning.\n\nI am simply telling the facts about Pandora. She doesn't like it when I do this, because the facts are too distasteful. She wants to come across as a faithful, truthful Catholic woman. That she supports clerical misogyny and homophobia show that her self-proclaimed image has major cracks in it.\n\nI tell the truth. Pandora doesn't want the truth told.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "St. Ignatius was consecrated a bishop and given his position in Antioch by St. Peter who founded the church in Antioch.\nSt. Peter went on to become the first Bishop of Rome.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh, please! \"Storms and droughts are God-made\" is as pagan a concept as describing Zeus---hurling down thunder-bolts. When the official church was going from speaking Greek to Latin [split between Eastern and Western churches on-going]---all that the magisterium did was take the name Z E U S and change it to D E U S. But they kept the same concept of an angry, punishing God to frighten the barbarians pouring into the collapsing Western Roman Empire, and being converted to Christianity.\n\nGod does not sit up in heaven planning human destruction or the destruction of our home, the earth, God's loving and generous gift to us. WE are quite capable of destroying it ourselves. You can keep your 401K. But if you live in an area where the filth of coal dust is blowing, you will spend it on going to receive treatment for lung cancer. \n\nPittsburgh USED to look like that---dark at noon, with oily-dirty dust from steel mills that gathered below people's noses, making it hard to breathe.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Take a look at the Cardinal D's with two other prelates in the picture! \nDo they resemble Christ?\n\nDo they all look like the men in this picture in the Vatican?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\" They are practicing Catholics who hold to Church teaching including the primacy of conscience\".\n\nExcellent example of a \"ill formed conscience\".\n\n\"Thou shall not shed innocent blood\".. Ex. 20:13 in the original Hebrew wording. Doesn't say anything about conscience mitigating murder, the most innocent, the unborn.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That may well be it is with these Fake U's.\n\nColorado Christian University (CCU) est: 1914 is not one of those however. And there should be no issue with Biblical references in their curriculum. They are a private school. They get to do that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "User name doesn't check out. He's exactly what the catholic church needs right now.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sacraments are signs of God's presence but God is present everywhere even without these proscribed signs. People who leave understand they won't have the formally declared sacraments but they know they will be sharing in the sacrament of Jesus' crucifixion to the truth.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We met with a priest. We were asked questions. We probably signed what we should have signed. It was a long time ago. It was never identified as a \"prenuptial enquiry\" to us but rather as an obligation to meet with the priest before we could be married in the Church. If that priest did not do his duty, his lapse would not invalidate our sacrament. We were ready to comply with the requirements of the Church. It has NO bearing on being able to recognize apostasy in other matters.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, Dennis' comment is no different than what was told to my class as we graduated 50 years ago this year from a women's catholic college. One year post Vat II, it was to be our responsibility to take action and impact the church. Within a couple of years, we had discovered that young, at that time single, women were scorned not just by priests, but also by older laity.\n\nAs far as women being allowed to serve, let us not even consider ordination. I have seen few, if any, instances where women who had talents other than financial, were allowed to use them on parish committees or councils. If anything, lay spirituality has become MORE male friendly. There are now prayer breakfasts for men, special services for men, etc., etc. whereas the main participation expected of women is still baking for parish functions. (I might add that I am thinking of multiple parishes in two dioceses, one rural, one big city.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Max,\n\nThat's what the Scribes and the Pharisees said to Jesus.\n\n Nevertheless, what I get out what the pope wrote is: Pastors, help people understand the teaching, support them in their attempts to follow the teaching, but don't \"kill\" them if they have difficulty understanding or adhering to the teaching. Even if they can't follow the teaching they are still members of the Church, the body of Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God because to love God is to receive the sanctifying grace that allows us to expand the boundaries of our natural self-love which then allows us to truly love our neighbor in a sustainable fashion. So how can that sacrificial and self-giving love between homosexuals ever be true love when you can't even obey God's admonitions against the homosexual act? When you can't even love God?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Don't make me laugh. There was no intention of transitioning First Nations. And they weren't preliterate: we have lots of texts written in the languages of the First Nations. It's that the White world didn't want First Nations speaking, reading or writing in their own languages. You're engaged in whitewashing.\n\nAs for slavery, you should try any number of histories on the subject. You'll learn it wasn't some radical Christian groups. Pope Paul III forbid the enslavement on First Nations people in 1537. And the abolitionist movement embraced a wide political spectrum.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Col,\nThis is, of course, a big piece of the problem. I'd add to your concern, the thought that HAD there been a better response from the beginning, the scandal likely would never have gotten as far as it has, and continue on...\n\nI know a lot of priests feel powerless, angry, hurt. Their bosses know this, which just feeds even more that sense of protectionism towards the priests, while just adding more bricks to the walls to keep the laity at bay.\n\nI so long for the bishop or pope who has the guts to emulate the Jesus who cleaned out the temple, in a properly righteous anger. But for that to happen, one must have the courage to believe that he can live with the consequences. That not a single bishop has done this is beyond shocking to me. Such a man would likely be swept to the papacy by a laity who longs for justice, compassion and love. How often have we invested in hopes? Where is the O'Malley, the Francis, the Cupich who can actually follow through? The absence hurts...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's the heart of what it means to be a follower of Christ;\nBut to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. \n(Gospel of Luke 6:27-28)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well So much heart put into this letter, Makes me wonder how much you put into your faith as a Catholic. I will be a little crude here because the simple answer is crude. A CATHOLIC following his/her faith cannot ever vote for a candidate who is pro choice especially if the opposing one is pro life. Catholics must vote pro life.. Trump is no Saint, and certainly tied in with the elitists. If you Bishop or Priest told you you must vote your heart, they are not telling you that you can fall into mortal sin. So the lesser of 2 evils is the choice. Now they call the LEFT the LEFT for a reason. The left is progressive and therefore waters down or downright does not believe in God, never mind the Satanist who are also part of the left. Jesus separates the goats from the sheep. The Goats go on the LEFT.. Sometimes the answer you seek is right in front of you (pun intended) We must trust in God, and never vote against LIFE", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have to agree with you to a certain extent. I miss the Latin Mass. As for being The One True Church -- I'm old enough to remember being taught in grade school that everyone who wasn't Catholic was going to Hell when they died. That's very upsetting for an 11-year-old child with a lot of non-Catholic friends. Further, I think people left (as I did) because every generation becomes more and more educated. The RCC's huge emphasis on \"sins of the flesh\", with so many more sins not preached about, started to really get to me. No prolonged kidding before marriage. No sex before marriage. No birth control within marriage. Divorce allowed but no remarriage. [My ex was abusive, and my parish priest told me to go home and be a better wife!] No abortion unless the life of the mother is in danger -- abortion is horrible but who is going to take care of those unwanted children? I became very tired of a god who 'loved' us much more if we were suffering, celibate and male.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "@ Lynne Newington\n\nYes Lynne these words can seem to be insulting and hollow especially if you or loved ones have [or continue to] suffer at the hands of the church.\nI HOPE and pray continually that one day the elite within the church will fully acknowledge their continuing wrong doings that stem from the abuse of power.\nThese humbling words by Jesus should put everything into perspective in regards to our own faith and that of those who teach us.\n\n \"If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you would tell this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted, and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.\n\nWe all fall short of what we are meant to be, nevertheless hope springs eternal or so the saying goes alas the Church present\u2019s a weed when she should present a Rose (Humility).\n\nkevin your brother\nIn Christ", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Isn't that exactly what the Catholic school system does?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You want to laugh; but you have to cry. And there haven't been public (though many private) Church apologies for the absurdity, unnecessary pain and guilt, scrupulosity-sowing, bad theology, bad physiology, and bad teaching As one Catholic expert said, \"We claim to value the natural law, then we demean and degrade something so natural and even so healthy. And Fr. O engages in medical and psychological malpractice when he terms it 'abuse.'\" \n\nPS In good conscience, I'll have to add a sixth: Marcia.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A good set of thoughts.\n\nWasn't the life of Jesus also an \"odd and out of step lifestyle\"? We might look to Jesus's own words about this; read St John's Gospel (several places, but maybe Ch 18)) about His kingdom \"not being of this world\". \n\nI think it boils down to a diluted understanding of what love is and an of exaggerated but nevertheless shallower understanding of what sex is, & its purpose. \n\nThe \"sixties\" haven't really served sexuality well, no? Exaggerating its importance in one way while hollowing it out!\n\nReal love is total self gift.\n\nHere's a test: If a man or woman for some reason receives absolutely no physical or emotional or spiritual consolation from the marial act, shouldn't they nevertheless be so focused on bringing the pleasure of unity & warmth of their spouse from that act that it makes no dfference about their own pleasure?\n\nAnswer: Yes. \n\nThis should put the gift of celebacy (& real love) in better perspective. Love is happy, costly self-donation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jane, you don't understand. It's not about rights, it's about the progressive agenda. Christianity is under assault as well as white males and traditional values like entrepreneurship and the three Rs. It's all about the narrative and framing the discussion and marginalizing those who don't embrace the progressive agenda. Parents are deciding the gender of a child instead of nature. Colleges no longer allow open debate. Every effort is being put forth to socialize medicine. The LGBTQLMNOP Agenda is just one more step in fundamentally changing America.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"..knew completely that it was wrong.\" \"Being a priest is part of my DNA.\"\nI see that clergies consider being a priest as what they do with the laity, but their relationship with God is not a part it. \nSo IOW, he preach about God like talking about 'Paul Bunyan' story.\nFr. Gil have not experienced immanent God personally at all. \nThat explains his sexual abuse of children. His spirituality is a knowledge/concept in his head. He is ashamed in moral sense but he does not realized that he raped immanent God and desecrated temple of God, thus still say that \"Being a priest is part of my DNA.\"\n\u201cDo you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys God\u2019s temple, God will destroy that person: for the temple of God, which you are, is holy.\u201d (1 Cor 3:16-17)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "While it's been a decade or more since I went to St. Matthew, it doesn't look like a lot has changed. I wouldn't characterize it as a mega-church (a la Charlotte's Big Pink Church) nor would I think that St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is akin to Houston's Lakewood (Osteen) Church. Both are certainly larger than the neighborhood parishes of a century or more ago, but neither is a \"sacred stadium\". \nHaving attended both at various times (my job kept me moving a lot), I can say that both are fairly homogeneous suburban churches, though SEAS does have a communion rail that is used (believe it or not) effectively for a church of its size.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When \"the rule\" involves relationships as serious as those of marriage, a healthy environment for minor children as well as one's intimate relationship with God, it's a little more complicated and complex to apply one-size-fits-all mandates. We are adults, not children, and have a right to involve our own consciences, to discern our own path with Jesus, and to receive His mercy -- accompanied by a merciful Church, which is what Francis is advocating.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Exactly what I was thinking, Joe. A lot of people quote Bible verses 24/7 but practice so very little.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are any number of US Catholics who have credibility, in spite of the sex abuse crisis. We have to stop thinking of the Church in terms of priests and nuns. One may be better than the other, but they're both fading into history, and whoever takes center stage in the future will know how to use the media.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Pope meddling again, time for another poster campaign.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\u2018Mortal sin\u2019 to vote Democratic, says San Diego Catholic church flier, linking Hillary Clinton to Satan:\n\nhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/11/04/mortal-sin-to-vote-democratic-says-san-diego-catholic-church-linking-hillary-clinton-to-satan/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pope Francis is a Jesuit. His discernment does not come from Cardinals, the Curia or the elite. He is following the way of Ignacio.\n\nViva el Papa!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Even more spooky ... that app which deciphers the secret bible code showed your exact words, in three languages ... before you posted them.\nCC \"moderated\" this little bit of humor ... keeps them busy and off the streets at least.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How dare he hide behind the sacred cloth. He would fit right in with the Catholics organization.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Or, as Jesus himself said: Amen, dico vobis....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No Catholic who truly believes in the Eucharist will be deterred by this sort of ultra-right-wing theology! Obviously, yopu and your types do NOT speak for the pope!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Since it's being litigated, it will be seen if the \"excuses\" hold water. You have speculated that they are breaking the law. Let us see if the courts agree.\n\nWhile I'm not an attorney (and thus, not asserting myself as an authority), a brief search on the history of this situation would show that the plaintiffs have a great challenge ahead of them given how such exemptions have been interpreted by Congress and the courts, not to mention that recent such litigation vs Catholic organizations has resulted in losses for the plaintiffs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We must each struggle to learn the heart, mind, and will of God.\n\nWe must struggle to learn how to love with the heart of Jesus. \n\nA never ending joyful task of unity, reconciliation, Communion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The article for which you posted a link is an excellent analysis of the situation. It's not just Protestant evangelicals... there are some within the Roman Catholic communion whose 'orthotoxy' falls into the same pit of \"working like the devil for the Lord\". Sadly, the principle of unintended consequences (hopefully unintended) comes into play while harshly driving people away from our Lord... no longer being the loving face of Christ for others, but rather the face of condemnation under a veneer of professed \"love\". The excuses for the division and condemnation are endlessly and piously offered. The end results speak for themselves.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Another victim article designed to attract sympathy to an organization supporting an irrational superstitious fundamentalist belief system which promotes misogyny and intolerance.\nThe Globe would never publish an article from a fundamentalist Christian sect. So why does it publish one from this superstition?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Once again you are misrepresenting what someone has written here, why?\nCan you tell us whose soul he is determining the state of?\nHe is not determining the state of anyone's soul. He is simply stating that a good Catholic with a properly formed conscience would know the state of his own soul and if he was not in a state of grace would refrain from receiving the Eucharist.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\u201cHe recalled that in 1994, under the then-prefect Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (later Pope Benedict XVI), the congregation had rejected the suggestion by three German bishops that, in individual cases, divorced and remarried Catholics be allowed to receive Communion.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe indissolubility of marriage must remain \u2018the unshakable basis of any pastoral accompaniment,\u2019 M\u00fcller emphasized.\u201d\n\nIf this is the case, it is increasingly imperative that, for the good of the faithful, the Holy Father make that clear himself.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not only in Islamic countries or in Stalinist Russia, but in African countries today, on the basis of church doctrine. Calls for the imprisonment and execution of gays are still very popular, or even on the rise. Hate crimes, such as rape of lesbians to \"cure\" them, are commonplace in those countries. Read all the statements of African bishops, both Anglican and Catholic, to see the church role.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Then...(laughingly)... why is the church termed \"She\", the \"Bride of Christ\" and yet, inexplicably required (absolutely) to be male to \"be\", to \"confect\" Christ and act \"in persona Christi\"? The supposedly \"intrinsic\" feminine characteristics of waiting, serving, docility, nurturing are touted - by, ironically the \"Body of Christ\" - as the epitome of the Church and its purpose. Duh? Card. Ratzinger as CDF \"teaches\" with authority of Pope JP II - that the erotic tone of the Song of Songs is \"more than metaphor\". I challenge any parent to explain all that to their child and still go to \"Mass\", or any thinking mother to share the \"sign\" of peace.\nDo you know what it really is?\nIt is psycho-sexually psychotic. It's an institutional culture that exudes and infuses sexual identity confusion, misogyny, and mind-bogeling unreason. It's a prurient preoccupation with sex striped of guilt elevated to ideology and \"blamed\" on God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would like to add that I agree with you regarding such sweeping statements. It does look bigoted. I apologize. I'm not denying the merits of your criticism, but I do have a lot of unspoken reason behind my comments. For the record, I LOVE the Bible. I have read almost all of it, missing only a few OT books. I've read the NT, the gospels a few times, and I did my senior research project for my degree on Paul, comparing his ministry to psychological theory because of his extraordinary success as an evangelical. \n\nBut, I understand the Bible very differently than most evangelicals and fundamentalists, who I see as being quite confused about the difference between the Bible and the church, and spirituality. That confusion has been a force for violence for a long time - witch hunts, the inquisition, religious persecution, the crusades, manifest destiny, genocide, ad nauseam. Christianity isn't at fault here, people are. Their beliefs don't seem to make much difference.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree with you Dave. So does the Church, I'm sure. But....\n\nI have a question for conservatives and health care experts. \n\nTo be morally`consistent, why aren't physician-prescribed pills Dave advocates considered \"Catholic artificial\" because they dramatically and chemically alter \"natural\" body functions. In other words, who--besides their doctors--should pick and choose what pills are OK or not for the mental and physical health of Catholics?\n\nImagine how some would react if you advocated telling a young wife: \n\n\"If there is someone in your life who is telling you they don't think you should be taking (birth control) pills, feel free to totally ignore their irrational advice. If your doctor is prescribing something for you that you think will overall help you, then go to the pharmacy and fill the prescription\"? \n\nIf contraceptive pills are \"artificial,\" ergo intrinsically wrong because of that, why can't the same be said about Dave's equally \"body-altering\" pills?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes I do. God told us that is love is conditioned through Scripture. in many places. \n\nJust yesterday in the Mass we heard Jesus give us the best prayer, the Our Father, which says we will not be forgiven if we don't forgive.\n\nThat's called a condition.\n\nWe need to move beyond the sentimental and sweet notions. As the second link below points out. \n\nHere's some material to help you. \n\nhttp://www.desiringgod.org/articles/is-god-s-love-conditional\n\nhttp://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/1995/july17/5t8030.html", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "All the evangelicals think Trump is as close to the second coming anyone has witnessed over the last two millenniums.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...this finding should be of concern especially to church leaders and Catholics who believe that the Catholic Church is a positive force in American society.\"\n\nLiberalism has put the Catholic Church on a path of decline that has persisted for half a century. While it could, and should, be a positive force in American society, I fear that that is unlikely. Until the shackles of blind liberalism are removed, the decay will continue in our church, and in our nation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We need a universal letter that fills in the blanks...tick off the one that applies to you.\n\n\"I am sorry for...\"\n\nBumping into you\nDoing something 50 years ago, or 100 years ago, that may have offended you\nNot agreeing with your point of view\nNot agreeing with your lifestyle\nNot agreeing with your s*xual orientation\nBeing a Christian\nUpholding righteous living\nStanding against pervision\nUpholding the established family union\nHow my ancestors were and the values they upheld\nBelieving in God", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Isn't time we put let go of the tired, divisive and costly narrative of pastoral Women's Ordination when the Bible does not address the issue of pastoral ordination of either men or women! It's not a sin, nor the breaking of any commandments, for the church to pay pastors/shepherds whose role it is to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for buiding up the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11,12). The role of pastors of either gender, since Paul does not specify gender, is to grow mature disciples so these disciples as members of the Body of Christ (Church), the Lords' sheep, can in turn produce more sheep (disciples). Shepherds don't make sheep. Let's do away with pastoral ordination altogether. Period. Let's have instead both genders pastors who get on with their appointed role as spelt out by Paul. After all we pay male and female evangelists and teachers to do that very work too as per the apostle's instruction. We even had our own female prophet who did that same work amazingly!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In this country we have a status called lawful permanent resident, which permits people to work lawfully. A note to the author: when you out people as LGBTI or foreign, you are opening them to hateful sentiment and possible violence. Xenophobic remarks and hate crimes have risen considerably and that makes people feel justified in being hateful. That makes those of us who are queer or not Christian or not born in the USA vulnerable when we are outed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Rhapsody in the Rain,\" by Lou Christie, was a more plebeian work, but had its transcendent moments. As when the wipers kept tapping out \"together --- together --- together --- together,\" but the Angels kept crying out, \"Don't! Stop!\" What Catholic boy's front seat didn't have at least one of those scenes? Yes, the rain was rhapsodic, but the Angels were always there in that pre-Vat world, pre-pill world.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "2/2\n\nThe author of those comments is William D. Rubinstein, a prominent Jewish historian and author.\n\n\u201cThe 'Pope And Mussolini\u201d is more of same. Having found anti-Catholicism to sell well, he certainly is not about to suddenly become objective.\n\nIf you\u2019re suggesting that you have an inexhaustible supply of anti-Catholic authors, I would tend to agree with you.\n\nIf you\u2019re portraying this material as real history by objective historians, I am afraid you\u2019ll have to ring a \u201cNo Sale\u201d.\n\nAs Philip Jenkins, an Episcopalian, noted in \u201cThe New Anti-Catholicism: The Last Acceptable Prejudice\u201d a racist, misogynistic, anti-Semitic, or homophobic comment can ruin a career, but bigotry and hatred toward Catholics is still thriving in culturally \u201cliberal\u201d milieus.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In what way are humans far \"above\" animals? I was writing about the formation of human beings in the womb---and sexual orientation. Humans are very MUCH a part of God's evolutionary creation of all life. \n\n1) Zachary Simpson [eds,] THE OXFORD HANDBOOK OF RELIGION AND SCIENCE {New York: Oxford Univesity Press, 2006].\n\n2) Paul Davies [eds.] THE RE-EMERGENCE OF EMERGENCE: THE EMERGETIST HYPOTHESIS FROM SCIENCE TO RELIGION [Oxford Universtiy Press, 2009].\n\n3)George Coyne, \"Evolution and the Human Person\" from THE EVOLUTION OF LIFE: AN OVERVIEW [McMullen, 1989, p.11-17.\n\n4)Cynthia Crysdale and Neil Ormerod, CREATOR GOD, EVOLVING WORLD, [Minneapolis: Fortress, 2013].\n\n5) Celia, Deane-Drummond, CHRIST AND EVOLUTION [Minneapolis: Fortress, 2009].\n\n6) Mike Hansel, BUILT BY ANIMALS, [Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009]", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They are Irish but converted to Islam. I suppose their kids when the grow up might decide to convert to Catholicism should they have the choice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When Mar Nestorius read Pope Leo's Tomos, he said, \"But that's what I meant!\" In other words, at the end of the day, Nestorius was no heretic. He died in the peace and communion of the Catholic/Orthodox Church. St. Cyril, on the other hand, was an ill-tempered, arrogant control freak, prone to violence! True, he wrote beautifully particularly on the All-holy Mother-of-God! Just be careful of casting Cardinal Burke in the r\u00f4le of Cyril or Pope Francis in that of Mar Nestorius. By the prayers of our holy fathers, O Savior, save us!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, \u2018The scribes and the Pharisees ... do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. They love to have the place of honour at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and to be greeted with respect in the market-places, and to have people call them rabbi. -- Matthew 23:1,5-7", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In your view, then, should Fr Martin be censored or laicized.\n\nHe's no more likely to change than is the pope or progressive, reform-minded Catholics... what would you have done with us?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you for this impressively documented historical argument of mythic proportions.\n\nMeanwhile, for starters, you can check out the \"Latin Prologues\" , the epistle of Clement of Alexandria \"To Theodore\" (Cameron 1982: 67-71), and Eusebius, probably after Julius Africanus in the early 3rd century.\n\nBTW, my original comment was simply about pointing out the presence of a Christian community in Alexandria as early as the second half of the first century. But you missed this. It happens when (negative) emotions take over. :)))", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you.\n\nIn reading the tortured history of this apparent endorsement, I see that the article you cite leaves things murky.\n\nThomas Reese, SJ, claims \u201cIn fact, Pope Francis has never said that all divorced and remarried Catholics should go to Communion. He objects to both the literalists, who say Communion is impossible for such people, and the unthinking liberals, who want to welcome everyone to Communion.\u201d\n\nBut the prefect of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Gerhard M\u00fcller stated that Amoris Laetitia must not be interpreted to mean existing teaching is no longer valid, reminding his audience that in 1994 under a predecessor prefect the CDF rejected the suggestion by three German bishops that, in individual cases, divorced and remarried Catholics be allowed to receive Communion.\n\nThis would seem to be the sort of thing one would expect the Supreme Pontiff to be absolutely clear about.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Would you advise me please, what was \"this church and its's affiliates across the nation which began as a cult\" ?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The woman's march reasserted the idea that a woman may choose to murder an innocent child. So much for Christian values. \n\nYou will champion the same unChristian form of \"equality\" that the Soviets espoused. This is hardly a Christian value. TRUMP is reasserting the American form of equality as Jefferson expressed it in the Declaration of Independence. TRUMP is reminding Americans of the proper, Christian form of equality. That is, that we are equal before the law and equally share a metaphysical nature that makes us equal before God and man", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus never mentioned hell. That word was inserted by St. Jerome when he wrote the Vulgate. We have no words of Mary concerning hell in the Gospels. And she left no writings. As for the saints, they are welcome to their opinions, but none of them knew for certain either. Holiness does not make someone infallible or all-knowing. \nI don't know whether or not their is a heaven or hell. I certainly hope there is an Afterlife of some kind, preferably some sort of union with God. I'd love to think it's the kind where we'd really meet our loved ones again, or get to meet famous people who died before us--I have a lot of questions for some people-- but we really have no way of knowing for sure at all. \nI try to live following what Jesus said--to love God and to love my neighbor. I'm not always very good at it, but I do try. As for heaven, I'll leave that in God's hands. The only thing we have for sure is this life, this NOW. If we are to find God, THIS is where God is found.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Part two of two) \u201cThis is how we know that we remain in him and he in us, that he has given us of his Spirit\u201d (1 John 4:13) and his Spirit is love. The arguments about prostituted people has nothing about love, even misguided love. There is no consideration of the legitimacy of wage- and slave-labor. The article includes recognition of forced labor in construction, tourism, restaurants, fish factories, and as domestic help in private houses. Martha exercises the original and fundamental complaint about abusive work relationships. Note that Sacred Scripture says nothing about Jesus ever being asked back for her hospitality. \u201c\u00cd will bless the Lord at all times\u201d (Psalm 34:2). In the final analysis, \u201cI have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world\u201d (John 11:27). Liturgy of the Word, Reading 607, Memorial of Saint Martha in Ordinary Time I.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The concept of a feminized church was touted by Cardinal Burke several years ago and the concept is valid but he missed the point. The presence of women in liturgy and ministry is a red herring. Liturgy and ministry ought to reflect truth as revealed in creation which is 50% female.\nThe church is \"feminized\" as \"Holy Mother Church,\" and the unfortunate consequence has been Catholics that relate to God in childish ways-saying sorry so Mother isn't mad, following the rules to be told I'm a good boy/girl, wanting comfort and safety rather than growth. A church that balances masculine and feminine energies would function like a healthy family with strong mother and father. It would tolerate adolescent exploration and challenge its followers to grow up to spiritual adulthood: discernment, responsibility, courage, and going out into the world to defend the vulnerable and oppressed. Funny, it is the nuns who embody this spirituality best.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "He forgot:\n\"Blessed are the bishops, me and my brethren,\nWho courageously defend the church against all that threaten it and its holy clergy,\nfor we truly are the children of God.\" I think this would help emphasize to the laity the importance of the clergy, which sometimes gets lost when people misinterpret the pope's offhand remarks.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pope Francis' beatitudes and all those that I have read in the comments thus far are not in the right format. Jesus' beatitudes are of the form \"Blessed are [X], for [Y}\", in which [Y] tells us how those [X] are blessed.\n\nAlso, I think all of Pope Francis' are effectively covered already by Jesus' version, with the possible exception of the \"common home\" one.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Alas, you do not understand that the Kingdom of God is a state of absolute perfection. You talk of 'love' yet you cannot define what love actually is or consists of. To you it is merely a sentiment, a good feeling. \nThe essence of love is sacrifice, what one is prepared to give up (sacrifice) for the sake of the beloved. \"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.\"\n\"Christ humbled Himself for us even unto death upon the Cross, \" for our sakes He offered Himself as both Priest and Victim to the Father with the intent that mankind would repent of its sins and be restored to be in harmony with the will of the Father had for them for all eternity. He gave us free will so that we could acquiesce in His will for us or reject His will for us. \nGod does not damn us to hell, we damn ourselves.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Just the same, the pope and not just a few bishops of the Catholic church treat their Anglican counterparts as church leaders, in spite of JP II's Ad Tuendam Fidem!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They are very careful to not electioneer for a specific person. They don't have to be so careful about threatening damnation for voting for a particular party. Bishops are very good at circuitous routes to their preferred political outcome, but most Catholics get the theological dog whistles loud and clear.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Our parish over the years has moved away from handholding even though our pastor never instructed us to stop. I do worry that even though the reasoning behind the stopping is more reverence for Jesus in the Eucharist, we are missing an embodied way of praying as the body of Christ in community.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, many if not most church leaders are wary of mixing with politics lest it dilute their message. In reality, we are diverse enough here that probably one church could not overwhelm all others, unlike England where the royal family endorsed their favorite. Many Americans are just cussed enough to choose 'no-church' if told which one to attend.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I hate to inform you but you are completely incorrect.\n\nMost current Deacons are willing to agree maybe women should be Deacons but the majority don't want them ordained priests. \n\nThe Association of US Catholic Priests which contains many ex-priests, who married, could only barely, by half its membership, get them to vote to support women deacons just 3 years ago, and they could not get the majority to support women's priestly ordination. They don't advertise that fact though, do they? \n\nFuture Church, an organization with the best research proving women were definitely ordained deacons, presbyters & very likely were ordained priests in the past, won't stand up for women's equal ordination & when I called them, guess what? I found out this group is heavily filled with - you guessed it - men who left the priesthood to marry. Getting women priesthood is not on F.C.'s agenda but optional celibacy sure is.\n\nNow more celibate priests support women priests than these X-married priests.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But in other posts you say you are an Episcopalian, that you worship at an Episcopal Church. The faith of person should not be measured by her declarations (as the one above), but by where she worships. I am simply alluding to the obvious over the non-obvious.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My problem (in responding to many of the below comments about Christians) is that so many fundamental christians and preachers insist their understanding and beliefs of the Bible is THE correct one and all others who believe other wise are going to an eternal lake of fire (hell). When I was 13 Brother Jed told me I was going to hell (I'm a Christian). *** Which Bible are they reading from? Gideons? American Standard? Modern New Testament? King James? ...the Latin manuscripts or the Greek ones?\n... and are they including the Gospel according to Judas - which isn't even in the Bible? Why is THEIRS the only correct one??? Why is THEIRS the only correct translation? Why is THEIRS the word of God and the others not???? Go figure.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "IMO, Barron seeks to be the Cardinal Newman of the American RCC. I appreciate BH's article to dissect Barron. He's simply an apologist for a narrow interpretation of Catholicism. No ground breaker like Newman. IMO, Barron comes across as smug and absolutely certain. As the Irish saying goes, \"He's full of himself.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you need proof of evolution, just look at the examples of resistant viruses.\n\nMost Catholic Schools are accredited by their regional authority. They were not meant to be backwaters. They teach Adam and Eve as myth, by the way and have been for 50 years.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why are those questions you ask?\n\nAnswer: \"No\" and \"Not until the beginning of the 13th Century, at the earliest.\" Neither of these answers, however, is salient to that which was the belief of the faithful from the Apostolic Age; that Jesus is fully present in the Eucharist and remains so even after the conclusion of the Lord's Supper.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Or she answered from the perspective of someone who's been on this blog for about two months longer than me; in other words, back at the beginning, so she might just know what to say so I would understand what she understands. This Milo guy IS known for his 'alt-right views and provocative editorials', which is WHY he was invited by the campus republicans, TO PROVOKE. Inviting provocative speakers at a time of national anxiety is usually thought/known to set up the possibility/probability of protest, and probably not the greatest plan for a college campus. THAT the speaker happens to be Catholic does not mean that Catholics are being driven out of the country defending their faith, so let's not make the young money-man another Catholic victim. \n\n\nI don't think that utilitas feels that he's lost his free speech at all. But I do hope he understands that yelling FIRE in a crowded theater is an action that college campuses sometimes decide they shouldn't assist. Sometimes they are right.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Part one of two) If you could change the past, would you?\u2014Erik Lenart \u201cAll the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God\u201d (Psalm 98:3cd). Now what, since, \u201cthe anointing that you received from him remains in you, so that you do not need anyone to teach you\u201d (1 John 2:27).\n\nAt the Seventh Station of the Cross, Jesus speaks to the Weeping Women of Jerusalem. Those women were weeping because they could not change the past, the past that was crossing before them in the Passion of Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Interesting how Catholic Noonan's writings and decisions were/are at variance with the current interpretation of the RCC in many \"hot bottom\" issues.\nFortunately, he was not a cleric & therefore he didn't experience the full wrath of the hierarchy.\nHis presence will be continued in the admirable body of work he assiduously crafted.\nRIP, John!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It just seems that the White Nationalists / Alt-right / Christian Nationalists / American Theocrats, call them what you will and lump them together as you wish, are essentially medieval in their outlook (and my saying that does a disservice to the culturally rich, cosmopolitan Middle Ages). \n\nThey'd like to roll the West back culturally to some imagined pure form circa perhaps 1200 AD (plus or minus the Protestant Reformation some centuries later, which the Evangelicals among them presumably would like to continue to enjoy, despite its unleashing of individualism and, eventually, liberalism).\n\nIn this outlook, these Western Chauvinists (more accurately, Chauvinsts-simpliciter) - modern Tertullians they are - seem to resemble the fanatical idol-and-art-and-freedom destroying Wahhabist-types they profess to detest and from whom they claim that Western 'civilization' (whatever stunted idea of society that may mean to them) needs to be saved.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dave Phil, Eastern Orthodox liturgical practice and theology is almost entirely unchanged since before the schism of 1054. Since prior to that date, the East and West were fully united in one Great Church (as it is sometimes called), and since in the Great Church there was mutual acceptance of one anothers difference practices and theologies, those divergent practices and theologies are completely within the Catholic Tradition. Therefore, it is very sound theological practice to look to the East an to those divergences when trying to more deeply understand the Western strand of the same broad Tradition. \n\nWe saw that phenomenon in practice during the last two synods on the family. The liberal wing in that synod very much wanted to import theological understanding from the East as a foundation for the merciful pastoral practice Pope Francis wanted to introduce. Sadly, only a simple majority was with him, not the requisite 2/3's. \n\nPlease be nice. Out of the mouth and all that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Holy Mother Church only concerns itself with one thing, the salvation of souls. Too bad it appears many priests appear to have forgotten what role they actually serve in that capacity. Well meaning priests like Fr Martin are leading many souls astray, and are not even aware of the consequences.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The nature of death in general is an important and little understood issue; I am glad you brought it up.\n\nFor every living creature, its death is a natural evil. Such death is a systemic evil too, since the life shared by all creatures cannot be sustained without the constant cycle of death. From another point of view, or another measure, as you say, the dying of older creatures is a \"good\" thing, leaving space and resources for younger ones. But it remains true that in itself, death is an evil.\n\nKilling too is always an evil, even in circumstances when it is justifiable or excusable. And one of the most horrid of the systemic evils that humans must face is having to feed on the tissue of other living creatures for survival. We can at least mitigate that by feeding only on the non-sentient.\n\nMany wisdom traditions, e.g. Christianity, teach that our own personal death is not to be feared -- and that is true too. But it does not justify imposing our beliefs on the dying of others.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your right - there is no difference between the Russian or Chinese or American or Isreali governments - ruled by oligarchs and strongmen that selectively choose which laws to use to govern with.\nMight is right, do as I say not as I do. Merry (Judeao Christian) Christmas", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Interesting that Jesus never said I should give away YOUR stuff!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Dutch reformed church specifically supported apartheid. Christian slave owners also supported slavery. When someone claims to have a pipeline to an imaginary supernatural being they can make up any claim they want to, including \"Mark of Cain\" as an excuse for slavery.\n\nDon't Mormons promise that everybody with brown, black or other skin pigment will we washed European White as part of the afterlife insurance policy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One of the many unfortunate things that happened under Pope John Paul II is that the process for canonization was 'cheapened.' We seem to be at a point where if a pope is not canonized, we'll wonder what was wrong with him. I agree with those who think that the old rules requiring a decent interval of time between death and the opening of the canonization process was wise and should be restored.\nThere is the potential for some good coming from this process. The body will have to be exhumed and examined. Perhaps the lingering questions about the timing, manner and cause of John Paul I's death may be put to rest with him when he is re-interred.\nJohn Paul I: we hardly knew ye! \nBut maybe we'll get to know you better.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "However, if you believe the Bible, Jesus specifically addressed Old Testament law and made it clear that all the laws were to remain standing. That's ALL of them, not just the ones people like.\n\nSee for example Matthew 5:18-19. Luke 16:17, Matthew 5:17, John 7:19.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I concede that I am surprised by this quotation. In a first draft of my reply, I referenced the Church's economic teaching more broadly (which is what I really mean to say!), but then edited it to conform to you specific reference to Leo (yes, the pope ;-} )\n\nThat said, we are into some major verbal game-man-ship here. \"Socialism\" is a much broader term today than Leo's definition premised on the \"community of goods.\" In my view, socialism and capitalism must be seen as a continuum. and their is no modern capitalist economy that does not have socialistic elements deeply embedded. \n\nAlso it is not unimportant that extreme forms of socialism have central places in Catholic life--the first Christian community as described in Acts, and all religious orders with vows of poverty. are \"socialism\" by Leo's definition.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Eliane wrote: \"Insider groupspeak for referring to Catholics who are not dissenters.\"\n\nAhem... and *your* words are exhibit-A for the militant position. I rest my case :)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sure. How does one come to a point with these texts in John, plus others of a similar vein in the synoptics (cf. Matt 24: 9), where the front of the text interpretation could possibly allow for some sort of dialogue between the Church and the world which leads to ultimate rapprochement and understanding? \n\nCertainly dialogue for the sake of proclaiming Christ is totally necessary. It appears though that the Gospels, in keeping with the lived experience of Jesus Himself, are quite clear that this dialogue-proclamation leads to rejection and hatred.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pope Francis and every other pope before him can say what they want about abortion. I am free to look at Just War theory which has been applied by bishops with..shall we say a certain unlimited latitude..knowing that latitude is NOW not given abortion....even when the child is the result of a military strategy that uses rape as a weapon. I am also free to look at self defense theory.\n\nHow can religious men allow other men to kill humans with seeming impunity by Just War theory or self defense, and still expect women to die from a birth they could have easily avoided and saved their own lives for their existing children and husband. So yes, I think Margaret Lester is right on with her 'rabid and relatively thoughtless condemnation of abortion'. Anytime some form of life is considered sacrosanct from other forms of life, it's got to be questioned. The only other life form in Catholicism given the same status as a fetus is the Pope himself. Other already born humans are not so lucky.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The etymology of Happy Holidays is actually Happy Holy Days. It included the extended liturgical season of Christ's birth.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hope you aren't ordained in the Catholic Church. You are an apostate if you are. Ignoring the annulment process and going up to Communion is a grave sin and shows a pride, presumption and disdain that has nothing to do with holiness or the poverty and meekness Christ blesses in the beatitudes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't think that God cares about the Catholic Church's bureacratic rules. And a dispensation is just that - a piece of paper. It is ridiculous to me that a Lutheran and a Catholic are somehow living in sin because they choose to marry at the Lutheran church and don't get the proper paperwork. But all of a sudden they aren't in mortal sin if they have a dispensation.\n\nAnd a warrant is part of the rules of man. We are talking about God and how he judges people in sin. I think it is ridiculous to suggest he cares about where people marry or they are somehow in sin because they marry on a beach in Cabo rather than a Catholic Church or don't get the right \"permission\" from the bishop.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sorry - the link did not come through\n\nhttp://www.americancatholicpress.org/Father_Taft_Mass_Without_the_Consecration.html\n\nANSWER:\nAnaphora of Addai and Man is one of the most ancient Anaphoras, dating back to the time of the very early Church; it was composed and used with the clear intention of celebrating the Eucharist in full continuity with the Last Supper and according to the intention of the Church; its validity was never officially contested, neither in the Christian East nor in the Christian West.\n\nCatholic Church recognizes the Assyrian Church of the East as a true particular Church, built upon orthodox faith and apostolic succession. The Assyrian Church of the East has also preserved full Eucharistic faith in the presence of our Lord under the species of bread and wine and in the sacrificial character of the Eucharist. \n \n....words of Eucharistic Institution are present in the Anaphora of Addai and Mad, not in coherent narrative way and ad litteram, integrated in prayers", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One might add that the young woman was very likely also trained by professionals who are not only not sisters or priests or brothers, but who are not Catholic. CRS employs many people, chosen for their knowledge, expertise and experience, not for their religious affiliation. They work together for the good of those served by CRS.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm puzzling, Bill, why you have such an attachment to strong authority. The historical record that Dr. Knight recounts shows that Ellen White had great concerns about a top-down, leader-centric church governance system. It is, in fact, one of the faults we note about the Catholic church. Ellen White wanted our denomination to have distributed power.\n\nThe best organizations, just like the best families, have some flexibility built in. I can understand your not agreeing with the decision of the Pacific and Columbia Union Conferences to ordain women, but here you keep up a steady drumbeat about authority at the top. Could that say more about your personality than it does about the decisions being made?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Homeless Bill of Rights for Oregon\nThursday, September 22 at 6 PM\nChapel at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Eugene\n\n\"Eugene and other Oregon communities have ordinances like Eugene's no-camping ordinance that, when enforced, routinely criminalize homelessness. In Eugene there are far too few shelter beds for those in need. With no other choice than to rest, sleep, eat and perform other life-sustaining activities in public spaces, people who are homeless are often cited and fined or even arrested and jailed. Police records then make it harder for people to gain employment and housing. Come learn how an Oregon Homeless bill of Rights and Right to Rest legislation can eliminate criminalization, which the U.S. Justice Department is calling unconstitutional and \"cruel and unusual punishment.\" The presentation will be made by members of the Western Regional Advocacy Project or WRAP (www.wraphome.org).\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Who was Jesus of Nazareth?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is no \"conservative\" wing in the RCC. The pope and every single bishop are opposed to women's and LGBTQ human rights. Only some are more PR conscious than others in order to play to sycophant media like Gibson who did not report: \nThe pope's deputy, Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, congratulated Trump on Nov. 9 noting that the election \u201cwas characterized by a large turnout at the polls.\u201d(see \u201cVoter turnout at 20-year low in 2016\u201d) Parolin said the first issue on which the Vatican would \u201ccollaborate\u201d with Trump was peace. The second was \u201cthe internal [domestic] issues\u201d of the US Church such as \u201creligious freedom.\u201dHe added that in the early aftermath of the American presidential election, \u201cthe future leader has already spoken like a leader.\u201d", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You seem to rush to the keyboard before giving comments due consideration. Existence could refer to the historical Jesus, that is, the myth theory that denies Jesus ever existed, or it could refer to Jesus's existence in eternity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ivan Illich told me in 1965 that the gospel is not an ideology. It has stuck in my mind ever since as immensely true. Especially as we now recognzie the many different theologies in the New Testament.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "However, as time went on and I learned more, I realized that the problem/issue goes much much deeper than the Mass. \n\nIt is primarily a problem connected to Dogma. Both \"liberals\" or \"conservatives\" in the Vatican II structure, and even SSPX as well, are all in serious error. They all believe in salvation outside the Church. They all reject the notion of the necessity of trying to convert non-Catholics to the True Faith. \n\nThere is now a sharp divide between left and right in the US. I think that while both Republicans and Democrats make a few good points, in general they are both wrong and both rest on wrong foundations. A similar situation/divide now exists between Vatican II liberals and conservatives. And, I think both of these may be right on a few things, but foundationally they are both wrong. \n\nWhat we really need to do is to discover and embrace the True Faith. We need to discover and embrace all the dogmas, including the Salvation Dogma.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Surely Jesus and the Apostles would have, gasp, chanted the psalms in Hebrew. I'm sure they didn't have one of their number go to the front and raise their hands to let everyone know it's time for the congregation to sing the response.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Church accepts every person. It requires those who sin to go to confession and to resolve to sin no more with the understanding that we can only do as much as we're capable of. Seems to me that your issue is that you don't want to go to confession. None of us do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If the catechisms were perfectly aligned with the magisterium, or even close, we wouldn't need the magisterium, or the catholic right wing!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus gave us just as many words to indicate that God grants mercy to all---and does not send people to Hell. IFthere are people in Hell, they chose to be there---God did not send them there.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, yours is primarily a personal belief. It's not Catholic teaching, as it were, its collective ecclesial teaching that binds believers to each other. We all, however, can fantasize, have a teaching apiece if we like about Mary Magdalene; Mary, the Mother of Jesus; Salome, etc. and can ascribe meaning to their actions -- clinging, weeping, cooking, etc. -- if we choose to. You want to be both audience and witness on Easter morning -- as you see Mary Magdalene pass from clinging, needy, tactile wife to spiritual, ethereal wife. I don't, however, see any post-resurrection gesture of marital love in the scene. For one, if Jesus were married to her, He wouldn't try to draw her from the sensual world of love, not if it is good (as Genesis notes). Rather He would have embraced his wife as a constitutive part of himself -- the two had become one flesh. But Mary wasn't his wife, just his disciple, processing things, stationing herself within the post-resurrection experience, unraveling.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You want to get rid of Columbus' statues for what he did when he did it but ignore the contemporaneous ripping of beating human hearts from the victims of the people he overcame.\n\nBoth were evil under today's paradigm. \n\nShouldn't we use explosives on the Chichen Itza pyramid (and the ones at Tulum and elsewhere all over Central America) at the same time we destroy the Columbus statues?\n\nThat is the way under ISIS, the Taliban, Hitler and Stalin, of course.\n\nIt was also done by both Catholics and Protestants all over Europe during the 30 years War. Any church was a target. They also killed about eight (8) million of each other in the process because 'God' told them to. \n\n \nWhat could be wrong with emulating all their examples?\n\nOur 'politically correct' betters tell us that this destruction is required. Just like all those others told their peons that destruction was required.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh Christ!, pun intended.\nIsrael doesn't need to fear American disaffection as long as there are Israel-First, dual- citizen, upper level pols in Congress, the State Department, and on K Street.\nEveryday Jews in America have as little to do with Israeli treachery and American governmental collusion in that treachery as any free-thinking taxpayer, save for funding it.\nFriedman just gets more insipid with each key-strike. To think a reporter like Seymour Hirsch has to now publish his latest American embarrassment in a German newspaper because he is not adequately spineless for American or British publication, and certainly not for Tel Aviv. \nNobody but Friedman, and maybe Trump and Netanyahu-the comb-over boys, expects any kind of enlightenment from the Israeli Orthodox. They're as vicious as any other brand's orthodox. That's the problem with certainty.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are many good people who have dedicated their lives to religion and helping others. Let's just hope that the Catholic Church doesn't come up with a plan to offer sleeping accommodations to innocent little boys.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why would a conviction for patronizing a prostitute, even a teenage one, make a difference for a Christian clergyman?\n\nThe numerous prostitutes revered in the Bible (most of whom are named Mary) would indicate that they are just businesswomen, after all. Of course, Mary Magdalene gets top billing in Christian theology, but being present at both the crucifixion and the resurrection discovery is a big deal.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I fear the real goal of the poster is to draw attention. In this case, goal achieved. I think the poster has a real need to be the center of attention and further needs to feel that he or she is a martyr, attacked by the bad guys for his or her defense of truth, justice, and the roman catholic way. The intentionally offensive posts are made in the hopes of drawing an attack, thus fueling the sense of being a long-suffering soldier in the army of righteousness. And yes, I see the irony in me posting this.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Gotta love that odd grasping at straws that people pull out of their hats.....Dan Brown would be so proud. Oh, wait.....do you suppose Da Vinci was at the Last Supper?\n\nIf you study Da Vinci, you will see he often painted effeminate looking men. There is much speculation for that, but it is a fact. I wouldn't put too much stock in a painting from the 15th century for clarity as to who was seated next to Jesus - Dan Brown notwithstanding.\n\nAs far as Scriptual clarity? Try Matthew 26:20.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And Jesus gave His earthly body for all without distinction. \"Father forgive them they know not what they do.\" If Jesus wanted, He could have locked himself up in the Temple and insisted on a worthiness test to meet with Him. He instead went out to the sinners and gave His life in the process. Don't you think the actual way He lived His life is indicative about how He wants us to see Eucharistic reception?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In ancient times a \"Church\" in a city was essentially a parish or gathering and the Overseer a Pastor, not a bishop, as we would understand it today. As far as gatherings in homes, no ordination is necessary as these are prefigured from the Seder meal, which the priest sacrifices when the lambs are cooked at the temple (I am Romany, which is of the same people as Samaritans, we have lamb instead of brisket, yummy). Point is, no priest is needed at the actual Seder and in most modern seders the wife makes the brisket (or the family cook).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"First of all, I wouldn't call excommunication \"cupcakes & gold stars.\"\"\nOpus Dei, The Legion of Christ, First Things, etc. were definitely not excommunicated. That is what is at issue. Not the SSPX. The thrust of Spadaro's article was a condemnation of the unholy alliance between US Catholics and Evangelicals. That is an issue with the EWTN right, not the SSPX.\n\n\"that all that went previously to Francis was insufficient. It's a lot more complicated than that.\"\nIn this area, neither JPII or Benedict were critical of this. In fact they provided aid and comfort to the US culture warriors.\n\n\"Another data point to keep in mind: many of the highest ranking Church officials who have adopted Francis' agenda are John Paul/Benedict appointees.\"\nA majority of JPII/ Benedict appoints were like Chaput, who hates Francis' agenda. And a bishop like Cupich would never have been appointed to Chicago by Benedict especially.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You already had your mind made up, Pandora17, that N Catholic R was not even a newspsper, let alone the BEST newspaper in the country. And now you can't/won't name one that's better or equal. Then you go ahead and keep posting your incessant drivel here at fundraising time! Meanwhile, you are making a great case in point for supporting NCR fundraising!!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In a Sept. 20 statement, Dhaka, Bangladesh Cardinal Patrick D'Rozario said the Rohingya are fleeing Myanmar \"without much dreams or hopes for [the] future, except only to save their lives.\"\n\nWhere all the rightwing Catholics who call for religious liberty? They are more upset about people getting healthcare in this country than people being ethnically cleansed because of their religion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They are not considered validly ordained by the Catholic Church is a viewpoint concerned with ordination. It is not a judgement of them personally, not is it a put-down - they are simply not priests in the Church's opinion.\n\nYou do know there ARE differences between the churches, right? That's why we're not all one....noting differences is not necessarily the same as \"looking down\" on the other. It is noting those differences, reaffirming belief, and clarifying position.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually, that's not what I said. I said that the writers of the Scriptures were probably influenced by their times and culture and that what they wrote reflected that, as it does with every writer. \n\nBut since you asked, why wouldn't Jesus have also been a product of his times and culture? Paul tells us he was a man like us in all things but sin. There's nothing sinful about being a product of one's culture. In fact, it's impossible not to be.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Take the example of slavery. Jesus Christ, Our Lord, Son of God, Second Person of the Holy Trinity, God Himself tolerated the slavery which was woven into the way of life during the time he lived on earth. There is no biblical evidence that He ever condemned it. He never condemned the centurion for having a slave nor did He demand that he free this slave.\nModern slavery or trafficking was condemned by Vatican II and again by St John Paul II.\nThe question now arises, \"Who was right?\" We cannot say Our Lord because He is God and can do no wrong. Nor can we say that the Church and St John Paul is wrong because such condemnations are surely part of the infallible Magisterium.\nPerhaps you could consider this dichotomy and let us know your thoughts as to how it can be resolved.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pre Vatican II one received the Host on the tongue and was required to swallow it without allowing it to touch one's teeth. No \"gnawing\" there.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We find God in His creation. Many Bishops have washed their hands of the LGBT and the divorced/remarried Catholics. They will not return to the Church. God is forgiving and calling them back to Him/Her. \nThe language of God is not English, French, Latin, or Greek, but Love. It is the only way to communicate and find the God within and in others.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'll venture you've read neither book and so are in no position to declare \"more of the same.\" By the way, no one said Mussolini was Hitler. The issue concerned the transition from the papacy of Pius XI to that of Pius XII and the Vatican intrigue undermining Pius XI's growing hostility toward Mussolini as well as Vatican overtures toward Hitler. I could start dragging out quotations from the primary sources, but I'll leave it to interested parties to read the book for themselves.\n\nDo list even a few of my \"inexhaustible supply of anti-Catholic authors.\" You can't do it.\n\nSpeaking of Jenkins, it reminds me of the time I was accused of being anti-Catholic for quoting from a book I'd read, \"Jesus Wars.\" The author? Philip Jenkins.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That has been shown time and again. For whatever reason liberal dissident Catholics believe that the fact that God incarnated as a man and called 12 men as apostles has no soteriological significance. They believe, rather, that God's choices in these matters were totally arbitrary and it could have been otherwise. \n\nThe Church believes otherwise. I go with the Church, you go with what liberal, secular ideology tells you to think about those facts.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wow. By all historical accounts Jesus of Nazareth existed. The only question is whether or not you believe he was the Messiah.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Crucifixion was only reserved for treason in the case of citizens. It was used on non-citizens for other crimes. And Jesus being crucified to avoid a riot appears in all four Gospels. Pilate normally wouldn't have cared what the Jewish leaders thought, but he was fighting for his political and possibly literal life. http://www.bethlehemstar.com/the-day-of-the-cross/pilate-and-sejanus/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Holy Mother Church only concerns itself with one thing, the salvation of souls.\" Actually, one of the main planks of church teaching is its Social Doctrine. Please read Leo XIII, Rerum novarum; Pius XI, Quadragesimo anno; John XXIII, Pacem in terris; Vatican II, Gaudium et spes; Paul VI, Populorum progression and Evangelii nuntiandi; John Paul II, Centesimo anno and Sollicitudo rei socialis. Or visit your local Catholic church and note the themes dealt with in sermons and in the prayers of the faithful.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I only say this because you seem to be truly interested, so please disregard if I seem to happy with my soapbox.\n\nIt's a matter of scale. The Orient essentially means everything East of the known world for Europeans. It encompass everything from Turks (the end of the Orient Express was Istanbul) all the way to the Koreans and has the effect of assuming that they are all kind of the same. The Arabian Nights has Aladdin as a Chinese man, but you would never know it from most of the depictions of him since his being Oriental is close enough.\n\nIn the case of your Norwegian heritage, if there was a word that encompassed the equivalent in land mass would be effectively saying that Norwegians, Germans, Slavs, Turks, and Persians are all the same.\n\nChristians self identify as followers of Christ. No matter how many there are in our group, since we self identify, the label fits. British or Italians share a cultural heritage, but Africans do not. \n\nHope this helps.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I feel pretty good about it. When children are taught about Jesus, they learn to respect and honor their parents and other people. This is not true when they are taught the lies of the left.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do you realise what you have just said? That you think that infantilisation of the laity is something that Christ expects of us?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That is what the Knights of Columbus developed after may \"tow hall sessions\" registering parish Catholics and visitors. Brett Kubis has as much right to his opinion as does Thomas Dye or anyone with a simple \"divergent\" opinion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The key for Catholics here is to remember that our intellect (which holds the criteria of moral behavior, and which 'generates' the \"test\" of our conscience) must never be put at odds with our will (which makes decisions for us).\n\nThe devil would love for there to be a breakdown in the unity between our intellect and our will (& our body, desires, appetites).\n\nIn fact sin does just that! A disunion, needing reconciliation!\n\nSo if the government forces us to do something against the good and the true, we are OBLIGATED to find some small ways to \"go against\" this coercion to prevent a complete rupture between our faculties. \n\nWe can never fully let our will \"give in\" to immoral behavior. Ever. \n\nWe must preserve some use of the will and free action against cooperating with evil.\n\nIn the case of \"cakes\" \"wedding venues, etc...we should deliberately give poor service, provide slightly unclean bathrooms, slow service.\n\nIt doesn't have to be dramatic, but it should be done. No fissure.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "f you check the numbers, dad, there are more acts of terrorism done in the name of Christianity than there is in the name of Islam.\u2019 And factually, that\u2019s the truth.\u201d\n\n_________________________\n\nThat's not true. Your son even met one that traveled to Parliament to murder people.\n\nThey kill and maim people everyday in Countries that use Islam as law and the slavery of women in burkas is fascism at its highest level. Add further, the word Islam in Arabic means \"submission\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm pretty sure that the footnote has been amended since I read it yesterday (on the Vatican website), when I believe it started with the words \"Gospel of John\".\nThe footnote in the Spanish translation seems to be the most helpful one.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus is God. This guy is not. The Bible is clear about being above reproach.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The particle caught by the paten in that article was definitely Jesus...who knows how many of these are lost and stepped out at OF Masses?\n\nThere are two aspects to sin, objective and subjective. It is objectively sinful to step on Our Lord, if one is aware, one may not be subjectively guilty of such. Even so, I don't think one should be blas\u00e9 and those who pushed Communion in the hand will have to answer for it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You have to love liberal dissidents. They psychoanalyze why people believe Church teaching---because there just HAS to be some kind of psychological explanation for why people embrace the teachings they embrace that aren't liberal and dissident. \n\nIt can't possibly be because people actually researched the claims of the Roman Catholic Church and found them to be convincing. It can't possibly be that people actually think for themselves and evaluate the claims of liberal, secular, humanistic atheism and reject them as nonsensical. No---there just HAS to be a psychological reason. \n\nSir, I can do that too: people are liberal because they are overcome with guilt. They see people who do not have what they have and feel guilty for having what they have. By feigning that they care--they don't actually do anything about poverty or human suffering--but they do assuage their guilt. They are able to feel better about themselves because they \"care.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "gee, people have been in this country a year on this program and you proclaim it a failure? By what measure? Have other immigrants and refugees done as well after a year with less support such as the Irish Catholics in the 1800s, the Jews in the early 1900s, the Hungarians in 1956, the Sihks, the Vietnamese the Koreans and the Lebanese in more recent times?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Kevin,\" \u201cFor clarity\u201d the church teaches that divine revelation ended with the apostles.\" ---The Church and Gospel also teaches that this Holly Spirit will be with us until the end of time. Our Church does get confused sometimes in what it says. Fact is this confusion has led to such an authoritarian clerical society that in the 1800, it began to declare itself infallible. Yes, these men at the top of the clerical society are indeed confused.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Man is made for God. Jesus Christ is God. Jesus Christ offered some very specific, non-negotiable commands and standards of behavior to be considered His friend and a member of the flock of sheep who hear His voice. Taking up our cross and following him would be one. Caring for the poor and least among us is another. And so on and so on.\n\nAmong the numerous others is an outright ban on divorce and remarriage. In 3 separate Gospels (in Matthew twice), remarriage after divorce is equivalent to adultery according to Jesus. \n\nAnd so here we are. Jesus requires the total gift of ourselves to Him as He has given Himself entirely to us. In various instances this involves a specific negative command to NOT do something such as divorce our spouse and start having sex with another person who is not our spouse. That is difficult. So is serving the least among us. So is taking up our Cross daily.\n\nYou take or leave it. You strive after communion with Christ or you fall away at some point. Simple.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This pope says so much that is just flat wrong..or has been taken such badly out of context. He says many things that are just objectively wrong. \n\nThe universal call to holiness from VII, demands that we spread the Gospel, that we \"involve\" ourselves in the lives of others, that we bring them closer to Christ, that we not \"draw up walls\" between us. \n\nHow apostolate is done requires great art and finesse and practie...but it's flatly against the Gospel to think that we aren't supposed to do it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am surprised. If I said that many here would accuse me of being a Protestant again. \nWe have the Holy Spirit to guide us. Jesus taught us the Way and the Kingdom of God. Jesus used parables and metaphors to teach us the love of God and how to live our lives.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Deady was a founder of the university and his actions set the foundation for where it is today. He was probably the single most important figure in the infancy of UO. Arguably, he did more to improve race/ethnic relations than he did to restrict them although it is apparent that all races/ethnicities were not treated equally. Deady held views that the entire country was split on at the time, it's not like he was a radical outlier and he did show signs of reformation later in life.\n\nDunn may have been racist, but he was much more involved in the persecution of Catholics and lead an organization in the KKK that even by early 1900s standards was controversial. \n\nDeady hall SHOULD NOT be renamed. Dunn hall should have never been named for him to begin with.\n\nShould Villanova have kept all of their buildings that bared the name of cold blooded murderer John DuPont?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You missed his words on the Vegas attacker. They were swift.\n\nImmigration here was always set up to be immigrants who added to our country, skills, lifestyles, whse culture aligned with our American culture and English speaking was a critical role there.\n\nRefugees were established for those people who were being persecuted and killed. That included refugees from the Middle East-it began with a focus on rescuing Christians and bringing them here. I know one such family from Iran...but they are not 'white'-\n\nSo this \" who speak English and are Christian\" makes sense.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The problem with benefits is that they go to the poor for being poor. Give every family with a worker or remedial/student trainee a child care tax cut of $1000 per child per month and you will build solidarity behind the concept of living wage and thus de-fang the GOP.\n\nOf course, abortion is still an issue for rural voters. Catholic politicians need to drop the pluralism line and explain why Roe was decided the way it is and why it cannot be overturned judicially. Cast the question of when personhood begins as a federal legislative question, debate it until no one has any new ideas, compromise and disband both NARAL an the National right to Life Committee. The GOP knows what would happen to it if a real compromise were enacted, so don't expect one, ever. Stating the strategy, however, would still take away their meal ticket. Obama did this on a small scale in 2008. Time to go big.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Would it be appropriate also to say that exclusively masculine references to God are heretical because they do not express the totality of God's revelation?\"\nNo. \nOr \"Yes\", but only in the event that you want to paint Jesus as a heretic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Err. Jesus was perfect man AND perfect God\n\nRethink", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic Church DOES NOT need legislation for this issue. My understanding and experience is that the Catholic Church will deny marrying people for any number of reasons based on their interview with the a priest or deacon. And the state does not need to waste time or money on pursuing this legislation. There are a lot more important issues to deal with this year.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Having read a great many of YOUR posts here and witnessed your tone and your tune, which uniformly reflect an obsequious and relentless attachment to pre-Vatican II ecclesiology as well as a profound discontent with the current Holy Father, Francis, you are NOT a reliable guide to the Faith and Morals of today's Catholics. It appears to me that the people who post here, or just read comments, have a hard time taking you seriously! Don't say that no one told you . . .", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The biggest problem is that most of those professing to be Christian, aren't \"bad\" people. They largely obey the laws, and are relatively kind and generous towards others. But they hold out that little bit of absolute trust in God. That little bit that says that they trust God, but with reservations.\nI can't blame them. They are taught about a God who can't be trusted without reservation. 1800 years ago, the faith once delivered, was twisted beyond recognition. It was wrapped around designs for controlling the people, intermingled with false religions.\nWith few exceptions, today's preachers just can't seem to bring themselves to breaking away from that apostasy. There is something about \"ancient authority\" that they cling to, as if they don't have a mind of their own.\nI believe that this is evidence of the spiritual warfare which we are warned about. People who were already evil in themselves, were provoked into creating evil doctrines, which is perpetuated today by our own preachers.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You were given Strong\u2019s Concordance, not emotion.\n\n\u201cMost everyone agrees with me.\u201d apparently does not include the orthodox rabbis, the Talmud, the commentaries, the Catholic Church, or me.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Some people find spiritual fulfillment by meeting Jesus in the Mass and the Eucharist. Some people find spiritual fulfillment by meeting Jesus at the homeless shelter. These are equally valid encounters with Jesus. Many people encounter Jesus both ways. \n \nIf Jesus is present in the Eucharist, then He is present in the Eucharist. Arguing whether or not it is a physical presence is just dancing on a pin.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pandora:\n\nYou say things which, on a very-left-of-mainstream \"Catholic\" website, are bound to ignite the regulars. Let unfair criticism roll off you like water off a duck, your only concerns being whether you are telling the truth as you know it, and defending the one true faith that Jesus Himself gave us. As for fair criticism, be thankful for it. You know in your heart which is which.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "More precedent, both of Councils occurring before the claim of universal papal authority and those times when councils were called in the 13th Century to depose rival papacies and appoint a new pope.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hi Neko. Indeed there evidently were many forms of messianic expectation, as demonstrated by the Dead Sea documents, so it is more complex than the dichotomy of political messiah and spiritual messiah. The only NT text that portrays Jesus as a priest is Hebrews, for in his historical life he was most critical of the priestly Saducees. You are also right: Ehrman is, in his own words, an agnostic, for the familiar reasons: so much evil. Still, he remains a NT exegete, and his Introduction to the New Testament had been widely used in courses in NT studies. I think we ought to attend to all the skeptics, from Schweitzer to Ehrman. Innocent of theological commitments, they think unthought thoughts. And they have outsized impact and wide readership, especially effective against metaphysical doctrines about the \"real\" Jesus. We always need, I think, a theology from below, rooted in our shared experiences of Christ from the unattainable beginning.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The president aligned his agenda with that of Jackson. 'He understood real leadership means putting America first.'\"\n\nMike Huckabee, a Baptist minister, urged Trump to follow Jackson's example with respect to the Supreme Court case of Worcester v. Georgia, 31 U.S. 515 (1832). The court said that laws forcing Native Americans off their lands were unconstitutional. Jackson is supposed to have said, \"John Marshall has made his decision; now let him enforce it!\" Whether or not Jackson did say that, it defines his attitude.\n\nJackson's support of the unconstitutional Indian Removal Act led directly to one of the most shameful episodes in US history, the Trail of Tears. Huckabee is not only urging Trump to act unconstitutionally, but also apparently supports the Trail of Tears. Neither one is what a Christian minister and former governor should do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"it was John Paul II & Benedict XVI who criticized the Bush Administration over Iraq\"\n\nI'm so glad some of you conservatives remember that - not that it did much good at the time. As I recall, the USCCB basically ignored that criticism out of fear that their monied conservative parishioners (who were more loyal to George W. Bush than they were to the pope) would react badly. So all we got was pretty much a tepid letter on USCCB stationary which offered mild condemnation. I never heard a word of condemnation about the Iraq War from my local bishop nor any prominent bishops in the news media at the time. None. So it's quite convenient for you to mention this now, fifteen years after the fact, when it meant next to nothing in practical terms at the time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I guess this means that it won't be added to the other forgeries, wives tales (pun intended) and cherry picked copies of copies already in the bible.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What constitutes a fetus ? How many wks ?\nAt 4 wks the fertilized egg has metamorphed from a blastocyst to an embryo, and is the size of a poppy seed.\nAt 8 wks the embryo is the size of a kidney bean.\nAt what point is the embryo/fetus granted the burial so described ?\n\nThe article states some 55,000 abortions were performed in Tx in 2014. \nThat's 150/day, assuming the abortion providers statewide operate 10 hrs/day/365. \nThat's about 1 child-bearing-age woman in 63 having an abortion. \nQuestionable....\n\nNotice this article is provided by \" Catholic News Service \" which is an organ of the USCCB, and doesn't list an author. I find the info herein dubious at best.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That is HUMAN history, Tom Z, not at all God's history. Stop distorting the meaning of the Father as Jesus of Nazareth taught us. Read the gospels, will you?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They have stopped believing in a belief in God. The percentage of true believers is probably about the same. The problem is, people are too economically comfortable and it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle (at the gates of Jerusalem) than to enter the kingdom of God (which is not heaven, it is the active Church committed to Charity and Justice - a small slice indeed, even of Church members).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Colonialism, in turn, was the West\u2019s ostensibly philanthropic attempt to gift Africa with \u201cChristianity, Civilization and Commerce,\u201d in return for making possible Europe\u2019s assorted empires.\"\n\nLOL. An allegory I remember from childhood: when the 'missionaries' went to Africa, they had the bible, the people had the land. They asked the people to close their eyes and pray. When the people opened their eyes, the missionaries had the land, the people had the bible.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's not \"how discerning a pastor may be.\" It's how discerning the person is. It's not for the pastor to judge. It's for the pastor to help the person, who in the end must judge for themself. The point of the pastor's \"accompaniment\" is to be of some help as the person seeks to become more responsive to the Spirit of Christ within. Like you, I prefer to welcome all to the table of the Lord. If the person welcomes themself, it is best to presume the integrity of their journey toward Christ, which is the point of mercy.\n\nIf I were a pastor, I would be concerned if the person were looking for permission. The reference point for permission is the law. A good pastor would decline, and continue \"accompaniment\" so that the person takes responsibility for their own journey toward greater closeness to Christ, who is right there in the human heart, present and available. We are not talking about a reprieve from the law. We are seeking the reign of God, as Jesus preached.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Says you. It is a heteronormative narrative that decided what is \"the natural course for the human species.\" Christ clearly stated that love, and only love, is the \"natural course\" for human fulfillment. And the fact is that there are innumerable scores of gay couples who are adhering to this natural course by the sacrificial and self-giving love they have for each other. That is their experience; that is their testimony. Abstract theological principles, divorced from human relationships, do not stand a chance of succeeding.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "SSM support among Catholics depends on the poll. I'd be interested to know what polls you've seen that put opposition to SSM at 70%. In 2009, Gallup had statistics on whether homosexual relations were considered moral or not. 61% of those who did not attend Church regularly said they were, while 44% of those who attended regularly said they were. But consider either of those numbers and what they would have been 10 or 20 years ago. Also consider that younger people are more likely to support SSM. Do you seriously believe there is anything which will reverse the upward trend in those numbers? This year's Gallup poll shows record highs in the belief that gay sexual relations are moral. They also conclude that over time there has been zero evidence of a shift to more conservative beliefs. There is an even greater gap between what the Church teaches about sex and what Catholics who either go to Church regularly or not believe.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Before Vatican II all the Latin American countries were 90%+ Catholic.\"\n\nSource?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When is it *elite* to try to ensure that what is presented as *catholic* reflects actual historical facts and the church's journey? As one involved in RCIA, too many *converts* express personal opinions (labeled as catholic truth) when, in reality, they are expressing opinions.\nMany of you in using the term *convert* reveal your own misunderstanding or stuck in the past knowledge of current church RCIA process and liturgical rites welcoming them into the faith.\nBoth theology and liturgy speak of catechumens (not baptized) and candidates (baptized) - almost all of the segment MSW and Civilta are citing fall into the candidates category.\nBTW, early church had no *candidates* and thus no folks cited by MSW -duh!!! (inaccurate history again) So, guess MSW does know his NT - do you?\n\nYes, all of us face the challenge of metanoia - but that term's meaning has little to do with *conversion* as used in this post. Duh?\n\nYou and others continue to mix apples and oranges.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well you can be happy to know that those church institution's insurance won't be paying for those women's birth control but now you and I will be taxed more to pay for the birth control not funded by those institutions. Obama did not try to conform any Catholic School or Institution - he gave them the allowance to opt out as long as they informed their workers their insurance would not pay for the BC - this represents no infringement on our Church. \n\nThere is slavery & not slavery, calling it chatel slavery doesn't make the slaves & children sold for profit by the Georgetown Jesuits better than if you don't call it nonsense chatel slavery. It is the buying & selling of people against their will to use for free labor. One of the slaves they sold was a new born infant. The bishop & Pope knew & did nothing to stop the sale.\n\nYou don't get to decide who is a good Catholic or not & our dialogue was about should politicians give political speeches at mass & they should not.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have to say I followed my mother who pulled me out of Catholic schools in the sixth grade for somewhat different reasons than I did my own daughter. Gifted students were not given the challenges they needed because the sisters were focused on the mid level student. Needless to say what we now call special needs kids on the other end of the scale, often sat on the benches in the hallway with their more gifted brothers and sisters. I can't say sharing that mutual experience was a bad thing for me, but it sent such a terrible message to both ends of the scale.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "#3\nSome Protestant Churches, most notably the Anglicans/Episcopalians and the Lutherans, were party to the same research, and largely restored their liturgies on the same 5th century model as Catholics.\n\nOrthodoxy will eventually do the same, but that may take a long time. The reasons are political. In the early phases of the scholarship the led to Western reforms, Russian Orthodox scholars were on the cutting edge--it was a multinational, ecumenical effort, and a few Greek Orthodox scholars made important contributions.\n\nUnfortunately, the communist revolution in Russia decimated Russian liturgical scholarship, and the Greek were under the Ottoman yoke until 1921. Political repression stifles scholarship.\n\nHowever, a very few Western scholars did put together the development of the Byzantine liturgy through time, and it is clear that on the same INTERNAL PRINCIPLES that liturgy will also require restoration.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Please, you are not suggesting that a Bishop can, by merely delegating, enable me to consecrate at the altar, and transubstantiate bread to the Body of Christ?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Exactly.\n\nUntil modern times, the notion that the Christ Event (the incarnation, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus) caused our immortality (God became human in order that we might become divine, as Byzantine spirituality proclaims) was extraordinarily difficult to grasp. They assumed, as do huge numbers of modern humans, that TIME is the ultimate context within which everything takes place. Therefore, that something later (the Christ Event) could cause something earlier (the immorality of humanity from the beginning) was unthinkable.\n\nWe, on the other hand, are taught by cosmologists that the time-space matrix and interchangeable matter-energy both came into existence with the big bang. Outside of our cosmos, where God exists, the Christ Event causing our immortality from our emergence, is a no-brainer. \n\nThe Orthodox dealt with the issue of a later event causing prior effect with their highly developed ritual of Holy Saturday (the harrowing of hell, in Western terms).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For your lifetime of committed service and sacrifice to Christ and our Church, I pray that every good blessing be yours.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What if Justin Trudeau, a Roman Catholic, wore a large crucifix outside of this clothing?\n-\nHe would lose a lot of votes\nDon't you know Catholic bashing is allowed \nPolitical correctness does not protect Catholics or Whites\nboth can be attacked", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Congratulations are due for your excellent editorial today re: evangelicals' confusion as to who and what they represent. I also want to point you to an excellent example of Hilary's rare statements of faith that deserves acknowledgement and attention: \"See Hillary gets personal on Christ and her faith.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually, you are one of the trolls. This has traditionally been a site where progressive Catholics find comfort in each other's opinions. If we wanted to be lectured about abortion, we'd be visiting other sites. Try to understand that most people are not obsessed with abortion, especially women who generally do not follow the demands of men. If you want make a dent in abortion, you'll support reliable contraception, equal pay for women, child care, nutrition programs, affordable housing, and universal healthcare. You rants are meaningless.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Church, as stated in Timothy, is the foundation and the pillar of Truth. This scripture has been basically rejected by Protestants because it does not comport with the vision of the myriad of founders of the multiple denominations that rejected Rome's authority.\n\nEveryone cannot be an arbiter, not even a majority.\n\nAs far as Pope Francis is to the left on social issues, he has not crossed line. I don't expect he or any future popes will be speak ex cathedrally (sic) regarding any sinful behavior.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Caution - when we choose to use descriptive words such as *irregular* or *experimental* we are opting for a subjective and pejorative meaning.\n\nIn most third world countries or countries with large catholic populations and few priests, liturgies are led by sisters, deacons, lay leadership using authorized and approved liturgy structures - we actually have approved *masses without an ordained cleric*, etc. These leaders have been educated, have experience, and episcopal (in most cases) approval of their country's episcopal conference.\n\nSome conferences are more willing to utilize inculturation (which some commentators here all but call heresy) when in fact it is a principle of SC at VII. Liturgy has changed since apostolic times and always reflects the culture in which it has been introduced when at a mission stage. This knee jerk reaction to *canonize* the Western European latin liturgy of 400 years is nostalgia - even the Trentan liturgy changed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You fail to realize that I am not a \"hardcore fundamentalist\" as you put it, but simply a weekly Mass attending Catholic. I however have been given the grace to clearly see the issues that have been occurring in our Church for the past 75 years. You hold much anger against our Church and I hope this Christmas season you be able to forgive those that have done wrong against you in the past. Have a Merry Christmas.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No. The Dogmas all came in the Fourth Century. Google Dogma or Orthodoxy. Both Vatican Councils were about how the Church relates to the world and itself. Both of those things are ephemeral, not eternal, no matter what the Pontiff says about them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is an example of the greatest weakness of FPTP - when a special interest group in this case evangelicals, can seize control of a political party. Harper used evangelicals this way to gain control of the former PC party in 2004.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The problem is constantly applying a hermeneutic of power to the priesthood. This is a convenient narrative but it distorts the phenomenon. Holy orders is not primarily a matter of power, so arguing about on the basis of equal power does not work. Like ALL sacraments holy orders needs to be understood as gift. So one needs to show that Christ gifted the sacrament of orders to women. And scripture simply does not support that", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"It's all hands on deck,\" said John Carr, director of the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University, who nonetheless sees the successful stopping of such cuts, so far, as evidence that poverty issues have gained some traction in the first year of the Trump presidency.\n\nThe implication of this comment is that it was the religious world that stopped Trump attacks on healthcare et al\n\n\nI don't think so\n\nI think it was those 4 million women who appeared in DC the day after the inauguration, it was the 6000 Indivisible groups nationwide with huge numbers of members (mine has over 600) it was all those huge numbers of folks that turned out over and over again...in Oakland the last group had 70,000 folks, it was the absolutely blocked Congressional phone lines in the Capitol and home districts, it was the district meetings that Congresspersons stopped having because there was so much protest.\n\nIt wasn't the religious world..it was just worried citizens", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your contention that the Church can override Jesus, God the Son, second Person of the Most Holy Trinity, I'm sorry, I simply cannot accept. It is tantamount to saying that God was wrong which is impossible.\nOur Lord's mission during His time on earth was not just to the people of the first century, it was to all mankind until the end of time.\nThe Church is not struggling after 2000 years to deal with divorce. If it is struggling it is against those who would overturn 2000 years of its consistent teaching.\nYou say, \"The purpose of the internal forum is not to defend the magisterium over against individual conscience,\" I would say it's purpose is most certainly not to overturn or question the teaching authority of the Church. Without this authority, the Church has no reason for being.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wm Abbott,\n\n\"The scripture is the authority of God in the Seventh-day Adventist church. Not voting.\"\nThat would be nice. But since most SDA people tend to be conventional/institutional and/or carnal/worldly, it is not the case. Do a survey at your church and see if more than 10% have ever read the bible through once. See what % even look at their SS lesson. See what % will want to read 42 chapters of Job before the end of the year. I just read that the \"Desire of Ages\" is the most popular book of SDA. See what % have ever read it once.\nSee what % of SDA in your church have ever read \"Steps to Christ\"..a book that is less than 100 pages.\n\"They draw nigh to me with their lips....\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So a lot of people apostatized after Vatican II. And?\n\nDo you really think pope-ing by insinuation is a virtue?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Although I have not read much of Richard Rohr, what I have read is very close to what I have been 'inspired' to understand about Jesus, His teachings, and our lives. Someday Richard and I will meet each other and I look forward to that day, but all things come in their time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't know about the Vatican Museum vs. \"brand new\", but I do know, and you can easily find it online, that Cardinal Burke \"the King of the Restorationists\" spent $36,000 on vestments, large miter, jewels and a cappa magna with a (I think) 12 foot cathedral train. He used it to preside at a Tridentine Mass at St. Peter's in Rome with a considerable cast of like minded and like attired men. It is available on YouTube. No laypeople anywhere except in \"the audience\", bringing to mind deer caught in the headlights, with a voice-over narration in Burke's own mellifluous tones. The line I liked best was \"this is what Jesus wants.\" REALLY? Isn't He the Guy who had nowhere to lay His Head and Who said good stuff like \"Woe to you rich\" and \"blessed are the poor \"...yeah, That Guy. But, of course, everything SHOULD be in the Latin Jesus spoke, right?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There could be one common source for the Gospel books; however, by \"a single provenance at some point in time,\" I meant either originated OR edited by a single party. Think of the narrow aperture in an hour glass. There may have been earlier texts, but at some point in time all that survives now passed through only one editor. I can't prove it of course, but there appear to be cross-book number sets that would not likely yield the Sower's Sevens unless deliberately arranged by one hand, e.g. the numbers in the six stories of the loaves and fishes comprise a single number set. The results could be random findings of a rare factor (70 x 7) but the odds are against it.\n\n\"The Lost Gospel\" has Paul and the Magdalene as opponents, with her the true heir to her husband Jesus' preaching re holy marriage, and Paul a morbid reactionary focused on death, and she was the founder of all that was Gnostic, if I remember correctly. The authors go on at great length to propose this -- a different view.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And the progenitor of Pauline Christianity was a man who persecuted Christians. What brainfart are you trying to give birth to?\n\nByrd apologized and made amends. Trump is the honorary Grand Dragon of the KKK and proud of it!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Is the pope the only living person who is guided by the Holy Spirit? And therefore, the rest of the church is somehow bereft of the Spirit, and must keep mum and depend on the pope to transmit what God wants?\n\nI'm no scholar on this issue, but I don't believe the church is set up this way. It does not hold that whatever a pope says is necessarily correct.\n\nFor example, Pope Honorius I...was he guided by the Holy Spirit? His views were called anathema by his successors.\nhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Honorius_I", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No - the \"intention\" defect concerns the Mass and the Eucharist as a re-presentation of the Sacrifice of Christ snd the Real Presence. If you were correct, and you're not, then the validity of SSPX and Orthodox Church ordinations would be challenged, and they're not.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Any priest or bishop who promotes or attacks a specific candidate is abusing his office. I suggest that any parishioner who is subject to that abuse should withhold some or all of his/her support for the parish and/or diocese; should divert the money to the candidate or charity of her or his choice; and should write to the priest, the bishop and the nuncio to inform them of the action taken and the reason for it.\n\nI am seeing more frequent reports of Catholic clergy advocating, more or less explicitly, the candidacy of Donald Trump, and sat through one 'homily' like that -- and left the Mass after the campaign speech disguised as a homily. This is a profound disgrace to our church and I hope there will be consequences for the offending clergy. Truly deplorable.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The most frightening belief systems are those that are apocalyptic...in the original Abrahamic belief system , Judaism , the belief is there will be a Messiah that will deliver the faithful to a purely good new era overseen by god; Christianity , the second to arise from the Abrahamic tradition, believers that there will be an apocalypse , Armageddon, with Jesus ( the second coming) returning to earth and leading the pious , the saved, to heaven(Newton calculated that it would occur in 2060); the third of the Abrahamic tradition, Islam, that there will be a Day of Judgement, the annihilation of all life, followed by resurrection and judgement by Allah/ God.\n\nThere are other belief systems with their end of the world predictions.\n\nThe problem rises that there are fanatical believers , who, thanks to the era of nuclear weapons , who are now in a position to precipitate the predicted apocalypses....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Chr\u00e9tien mastered the art of staying out of our faces, unlike Harper or either Trudeau.\n\nThat said, Johnny Christian's pontificating to African Leaders about the need to reduce corruption in International Assistance to Developing Countries, struck quite a sour note as Abscam was unfolding to the public. \n\nOTOH, we didn't find out about Lyin Brian's receipt of k$100 in cash until the Oliphant Inquiry killed off Harper's attempt to rebrand Lyin Brian as some sort of Revered Elder Statesman.\n\nThe John Christian moniker was Chr\u00e9tien's own, in reply to a USA Senate Committee where he was asked about his chances of becoming Canada's next PM. His John Christian reply was in reference to the Liberal Party habit of alternating English and French speaking leaders, so no he would not become Liberal Leader and Temporary or longer PM after Trudeau I.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regardless of the Supreme Court's ruling on marriage equality, churches (especially the Catholic church) have *always* held ... and actively exercised ... the right to decide who can and cannot be married in their institutions. Look at this for what it really is: an excuse for Mr. Burns to use civil law *not* to do the one and only thing Jesus command of him to do: love everyone unconditionally.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus checked in with her first before the Eleven (although they are called the Twelve traditionally and were after the resurrection. (always check in with the wife first). She, Martha and Lazarus were put in a boat with no oars at some point and ended up in France, according to legend. This may have happened before Saul became Paul or he may have put them in the boat.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would agree that understanding and respecting that Jesus related to God as Father is important, as is understanding and appreciating that the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity became a male human being at a specific point in history. Those are essential truths of Christian faith.\n\nThe question is, are we limited to those truths or is there room for further imaging of God? I'd say there is.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What I find amazing is this: No sensible person would allow a stranger, a foreigner, a person of a radical faith, a person from a war-torn country full of extremists and terrorists, a person with no money, no English language skills, no work skills, a person who discriminates, hates, and would even kill someone of a different faith (Sunni vs. Shiite vs Christian) into their house even for a moment.\n\nYet, many people including judges would allow such a person into our country temporarily and even permanently. What happened to sound judgment? Keep in mind that once a traveler is in the country, there is no effective way to insure that the person leaves when their visa expires. This fact has been reported in several news reports. \n Here's one http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jun/14/illegal-immigrants-who-overstay-visas-almost-never/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mayor Karen Weaver of Flint, Mich. would be an excellent choice. Can you imagine every time she is on tv, the background shows the failure of the Republican Party to fix a crisis that they created. It would continuously bring home to the voters that the Republican Party is not willing to help the least fortunate among us. This would be s direct challenge to them, especially the Catholics, about not putting into practice the words of Pope Francis.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That is NOT the Prosperity Gospel OR Dominionism. Prosperity Gospel is the belief that God wills health and wealth to his people and so dovetails nicely with right-wing ideology. (As an aside, apparently God prefers quacks over MDs carry out his will.) Dominionism is an umbrella-term for various apocalyptic sects who seek to insinuate themselves into various cultural spheres to engineer dominion over the secular world and establish the kingdom (theocracy).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I feel a kind of emptiness about how the debate over AL finished. I do feel that AL had many wonderful things to say - the idea of accompaniment being one, meeting people not where you might want them to be but where they are. It felt like there was a debate that needed to happen in our Church and that there were unsolved questions that needed to be answered or at least voiced. In the final analysis, this was about power. Cardinal Burke has less of it than Pope Francis, so Pope Francis won. That's not really a solution.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"It is about establishing links between the two of us that would allow for greater unity (not 'union') with ....\"\n\nI think so, too, BROohthor. If we read Cardinal Kasper's House of Bishops address to Anglicans in 2006 (at York) and research on line ARAC documents, we realize how far we are from organic union (certainly union with \"churches rooted in the Reformation\" -- Lutheran, Anglican, etc.) and how much we don't want to upset Orthodoxy. I think Francis knows that but still wants to establish deeper bonds of charity with all churches. Justin Welby likewise wants that too, despite ecumenical inconsistencies. When Francis addresses the Lutherans next year in Sweden, I think he will promote the same thing -- dialogue and mutual respect for differences. In 1966, Pope Paul VI and Archbishop Michael Ramsey promised \"to strive in common to find solutions to the problems facing Christian today.\" That still holds true today.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am afraid, dear Ebes, that Tradition is much longer and deeper than your and my memory of what we were taught in catechism. The very essence of Tradition, indeed the only reason that we stand on Tradition as well as Scripture, is that Tradition grows, develops, evolves. In is more that scripture, and that is the whole point. \n\nI assure you that the faith of the apostles was significantly different than the catechism we both were taught. To take the most obvious example, the concepts required for us to confidently profess that Jesus has both human and divine nature, and that God is triune, did not exist in their heads. We read these crucial truths from Tradition back into the scriptures, but that does not entitle us to assume that what we see, was what the first readers saw.\n\nWhat makes this all sensible is our believe that the organic evolution of Tradition is guided by the Holy Spirit, and she invites our further evolution under her loving guidance.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Joe, also known as Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, recently became one of the 120 men in the world who will choose the next pope. But he wants to be judged by his actions, not his lofty position in the Roman Catholic Church.\"\n\nThis is a refreshing change from some of his brother cardinals who work to dazzle us with their title and expensive Baroque era silk clothing. Those cardinals tell us to pay attention to what they say and wear.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It would be a lie to indicate unity with the Church when there is evidence to the contrary.\n\nThe commentary's motive springs from a superficial understanding of unity, communion (not just Holy Communion), and what the Church is: The Body of Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That \"they lack the bravery to confront (or are uncomfortable confronting) new challenges\" seems unlikely given the amount of work it takes to assemble the rubrics, the accoutrements, and the training that goes into putting together a traditional liturgy, not to mention the battles with each diocese's \"Fr. Anthony Ruff\", who is steeped in liturgical inanities he learned at the knee of the Benedictines in Minnesota.\n\nYour assessment smacks of projection of dislike of the youngsters, or traditional liturgy, or both.\n\nIt is more probable that the inherent human desire for mystery and transcendence is surfacing, just as it did in the Anglican Communion during the 19th century, including prayers for the dead in the Church of England after WWI. People innately want the sacred.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "YUP. I agree!!\nThere is a reason for trying/straining to see what's in front of one's nose. It is because Trump is using Cognitive Dissonance. Look it up. Those who have had Psychology or Linguistics already understand this concept. However, in today's United States EVERYONE MUST understand Cognitive Dissonance as a technique for confusing, shaking up and re-framing what oone is or wants to attack.\nThis technique is very widely used by the Right AND by the RRs(Religious Right).\nPope John Paul II used it to great success when he used abortions as the reason why every Catholic voter MUST vote for Ronald Reagan and the GOP. He USED this technique to force voters into putting the Republicans in power. THEN he could use GOP hate and venom to go after what he really wanted -- his real true goal. The goal of getting Communism out of his native country of Poland. Then he spread his anti-communism wars into Central America and into South America then into the U.S.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Whether he has a vested interest or not should be of no concern.....most of the world is interested in the elections here....\n\nOf course, you could say, if indeed you feel this way, that it is interesting that so many non-Catholics and ex-Catholics seem to have a vested interest in all things Catholic. Or does that not strike you as odd?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Young women don't self-identify as feminists because they look at the kinds of radical zealots who fly that banner at university and they don't feel any kinship. Feminism has tethered itself to so many ideological causes that it only appeals to a narrow constituency. It doesn't even try to appeal to practicing Catholics. Or women who work in the energy industry. Or women who support free market capitalism. Or who don't support the tactics of identity politics. Or who don't feel aggrieved and resentful. Who don't believe the world is run by the patriarchy.\n\nBut then, these kind of dogmatic activists movements always tear themselves to pieces. Everyone is always vying to be the most injured, the most righteous.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The phrase that struck me this week is what Peter says in Sunday's Gospel: \"Lord, it is good that we are here.\"\n\nThis aspiration/ejaculatory prayer could serve us well throughout the day, no matter what we're doing.\n\nIt seems a nice prayer, a nice way of maintaining our presence of God, of bringing Our Lord into the intimate yet ordinary details of our life. A way to \"boost\" intimacy with God, quite naturally. \n\n- We see that our child needs a new diaper...\"Lord, it is good that we are here.\"\n- We're dodging cars whose drivers are veering into our lane because they're texting: \"Lord, it is good that we are here.\"\n- Our wife snuggles up to us on the couch after you and she put all the children to bed: \"Lord, it is good that we are here.\"\n- We visit a former neighbor who has recently been moved into a hospice: \"Lord, it is good that we are here.\"\n\nHelp us, Lord, to transfigure all the events and moments of our lives into supernatural effects. Lord, it is good that we are here.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The article states: \"The Coptic Orthodox Church has existed in Egypt for centuries\"\n\nFor \"centuries\"? The Coptic Church was founded by St. Mark the Apostle, in th first century. That is not for \"centuries,\" that is for millennia.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christ is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. The road is wide that leads to destruction. I suggest you rethink your enthusiasm. As we have learned from many warnings of the Blessed Mother, we need to repent, not get more lax.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I got tired of going through the ever changing catholic rulebook. One day I woke up and began defining my life with Christ and what did he want? As St. Benedict says in his 1500 year old rule, \"Listen with the ear of your heart.\" The word there is LISTEN to what God is telling you. After working with God on this, I decided he wanted me to be more merciful, and reach out and listen to the needs of others. So now I do Hospice Volunteer work amor other things, including saying \"God bless you\" to anyone I come in contact with either in person or on the phone. I now look for those little ways as well as big ones to make contact.I have found this is better than the old ways and more what God wants and the Pope preaches. We are all images of God and come from the same source. God bless all of you!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why shouldn't every parish have one EF so Catholics can have the option to attend?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "By such priests, do you means priests who revere the Latin mass while otherwise able to fulfill all the duties of priesthood in a typical parish (including celebrating the ordinary form mass)?\n\nWhy is it so hard to imagine such a priest existing? And why would it be necessary to keep them out of a normal parish?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Really, R.D? So Christ never mentioned hypocrites?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christ! My sympathy to the poor folks who were victimized by this guy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Kari, you have the word 'probably' but not with respect to \"Mark's was the first\" and \"the Gospels were written 30-70 years after Jesus died.\" As I was writing about what I had mentioned to you before, I meant of course you won't look at my probabilities. Mine. If you did look, you obviously didn't look very closely. As for the rest, I was just writing about something interesting to me to which you are under no obligation to respond. The themes of Love and coming Kingdom are valid and worthwhile spiritual expressions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Finally,CAELew...your eyes (and hopefully the eyes of many,many others) have FINALLY become open to what I've been saying about this bogus, man-centered, pseudo-theological religious system for a LOONG time now. The primary problem with Roman Catholic Church is it has everything at its core except what it should have: The Risen Christ and Savior Himself. Sad. \ud83e\udd15\ud83e\udd15\ud83e\udd15.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "God has made NO such revelations. The male-run church made that one of the hallmarks of its teachings. Women put up with this un-Christian treatment for centuries, sometimes because they thought that being treated like second-class humans was God's Will. \n\nBut women are not accepting the false, derogatory position in which the official church has placed them [or any other social, cultural, or financial organization tries to package them]. Every year---women press on recognizing that God has graced them equally to be pastors, shepherds, and priests in service to God's people. God is not an old, white man up in the sky with a fist full of thunderbolts ready to hurl them down on those who fails to do HIS will. God's Will can be done by ANYBODY who so seeks to fulfill it. It was women who were the most faithful to Christ in his life-time and at his death. They have not failed in their faith and personal dedication to Christ over the centuries.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "RD, Good Pope Francis is following Jesus' example. You should try it sometime.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My question: Are any of these bishops mentioned checking out their own dioceses to see if this \"original sin\" is active and alive in their dioceses? Are any of them writing a letter/note of sympathy to Heather Heyer's Mom and family? Are they planning to include letters in the Diocesan Newspaper about this, or setting up tactical approaches to counter the hatred [it would be nice if they collaborated---many dioceses---the larger, the better], with this?\n\nMy theory is that too many will say, \"My, my! This was terrible!\" Then they would leave it at that. Statements are good, and we need them. But actions speak louder than words. Mrs. Heyer [Heather' s Mother], was crying at the death of her daughter. But she stated that she \"didn't want to get angry, because that leads to more hatred---and she doesn't want to hate.\" That's great wisdom coming from this anguished mother. Will our bishops come up with a plan to try to counter that anger, that hatred or not?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is only one problem. And it is a huge one. Science proves those who call themselves \u201cJews\u201d are not Jews! DNA Science has confounded the Christian evangelicals by proving conclusively that most of the people in the nation of Israel and in World Jewry are not the descendants of Abraham.\n\nThose living today who profess to be \u201cJews\u201d are not of the ancient Israelites, and they are not the seed of Abraham. In fact, the new DNA research shows that the Palestinians actually have more Israelite blood than do the \u201cJews!\u201d\n\nThe nation of Israel today is populated with seven and half million imposters", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Technically in the sense that there is no resurrection without the cross. But it is rarely referred to that way. The Orthodox Liturgy is about what hasn't even happened yet--the transfigured world. This is the entire meaning of iconography, to make the unseen real, and why it is part of our theology, not just pretty pictures. When you receive communion, you are receiving the transfigured Christ. Some people may argue the finer points and there may be some variation from region to region but it has been said many times about the two liturgies--one seems forever centred on Calvary; the other on Pascha. \n\nThere is some parting of ways on the whole notion of atonement too, mostly a reaction to Anselm, but then, there are some Orthodox thinkers who think Anselm's ideas are correct. One thing for certain: you will always get lots of disagreement within the Orthodox church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Elaine,\n\nTithing in the Old Testament was a tax on the people specifically to support the Levites, who owned no land and therefore had no income except from trading. The \"storehouse\" was literally a place where crops were stored and the modern equivalent would be bank accounts.\n\nPaul makes it clear in Hebrews that the Temple system was nullified by the high priestly ministry of Christ, so that included doing away with tithing. He also said it was proper that one who worked for the cause of the Gospel should earn their living from it. But the only record in the New Testament of funds being transferred from one local area to another was when offerings were given to help the oppressed church during times of persecution. \n\nYes, we should support the global work of the church, but not at the cost of crippling the work of God locally. I think we should be free to give offerings to specific needs where God moves on our hearts to support them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I just want to know one thing; where do we give people the right to break the laws of our land in order to enter the country. We want everyone to have a good life in America. But America, unlike other nations , is a nation of laws. If the people who are on food stamps and are illegal , they have no right to them. If a father is pulled away from his children, maybe he should have come to the USA legally. Then there would have been no issue. Again, we are a nation of laws. If people did not abide by the laws of the Catholic Church, it would not exist.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Uneducated\", say's he! So what were we supposed to do while being inundated by killers unlike we, whom possessed better tools and weapons coming into our villages Curt? Pray to Jesus for forgiveness sake?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Interesting that comments are allowed on this legal case-\n-\nwere he an Imam , Rabbi or First Nations Medicine man the comment section would be disabled non?\n-\n-\nCanadas war against Christianity marches on", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A week after the death of my father five years ago I had a dream involving my father that changed my path. I honestly believed I was a good person and Catholic because I went to Mass each week. I never went to any Masses on Holy Days of obligation, and I had not received the Sacrament of Confession for almost 30 years. I incorrectly judged my behavior against those that I dealt with on a daily basis in my profession as a police officer and falsely determined I was not that bad, and never concerned myself with confession. Imagine my false pride to think I did not need to confess my sins over a 30 year period which included my entire adult life. It is sufficient to say that I finally went back to confession, and realized I had been carrying numerous grave mortal sins, which at the time I did not even concern myself with. \nI guess my point is that everyone need to receive the Sacrament of Confession at least once a year, which our faith requires.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The deacon's dominant role in the communion service is ancient and still unambiguous in the Byzantine liturgy--deacons lead the Our Father that begins the communion ritual and carry the chalice (with bread and wine) inviting the faithful to communion. \n\nI now recall the gesture of supporting the priest's arm during the offertory, but have never noticed the mutual recitation of Offerimus tibi...calicem. I gather there is no similar diaconal participation in the offering of the bread?\n\nAgain, thank you for pointing this out, Tridentinus.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No James Thomas More Griffin, my principle objection to your above post is your claim \"We are the future of the Church.\" You are not, not by a long way. You are addressing people on here who were 'there' pre and post Vatican II Council and have a life time of experience of the 'Church.' You simply do not have the life experience to make such a claim. Gregorian chant is for monastic settings mainly or for choral performances. It is not in any way, shape or form geared towards parish Sunday liturgies where most people are not going to be reduced again to the role of bemused onlookers.\nI am delighted you and some young people have found something that attracts you, fantastic! But you are a tiny part of a very broad, diverse Catholic Church. Please don't allow your enthusiasm for monastic singing to lead you into a false sense of your own importance. You are NOT higher up the food chain than drums beating out praise in Africa or pan pipes playing in a South American slum shack Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In my almost 40 years of teaching on a graduate level, I have found that many of my students have both a background in the sciences as well as in theology/spirituality and in other areas as well. EVERYONE of these people that I cited above [and I can cite a whole slew of others as well] have backgrounds in science--biology, zoology, physics, astrophysics & molecular science. In addition they are also professors who teach as well as publish their work.\n\nOur souls are made in the image and likeness of God. But our bodies are not. God loves creation---all of it. Creation was/is not just a side-show for God---and God did not intend for it to be brushed aside by humanity. Jesus did not come to just redeem humans---but all of creation.\n\nUnfortunately, too many Catholics cannot conceive of God as being capable of creating in any way except by miracles. But God is more than capable of working with laws of science---that God created and endowed creation [including humans] to function.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Looking at the temptations, you will note that Jesus essentially does all the things that Satan asks him to do. Feeding a crowd with five loaves and two fishes is the same as changing stones into bread, but on a grander scale. Instead of throwing himself off the temple and not dying, he goes one better by dying on the cross and refusing to stay dead. Instead of getting the whole world by worshipping Satan, he comes to sit at the right hand of the Father, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.\n\nThe difference is intention. What Jesus did was in obedience to the Father and in service to humanity, not to further his own desires.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In Matthew 25:31-46 Jesus asked to do more than just recruit disciples. Luke 4:16-18 states that Christ had this broader mission from the beginning. Matthew 28:19 has to be seen in the context of these other passages and cannot be understood properly in a narrow sense that Christ's mission is only about recruiting church members.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are dead wrong to believe \u201cThe First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says that everyone in the United States has the right to practice his or her own [religion]\u201d\n\nWhat it ACTUALLY says is that \u201cCONGRESS - - repeat CONGRESS ! - - shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion - - [the establishment clause] - - or prohibiting the free exercise thereof - - [the free exercise clause]\n\nNow while many states did at some point include this in their individual constitutions, thanks to the tenth amendment, they were under no legal obligation to do so. As a result some of the original thirteen states did indeed for awhile establish a state religion as for example Catholicism in Maryland and the [Episcopal] Church of England in Virginia.\n\nWhat is needed, one respectfully suggests is for ALL our fellow Americans to obtain a COPY of the Constitution and then from time to time actually READ it. That way we would at least all be on the same page as it were.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "utilitas, I too eagerly await some substantive response to your inquiry.\n\nMr. Hobson, among others, has alluded to the Mass that was said at lightning speed, which I agree does not seem very reverent, although I don't know that that is an intrinsic bad feature, so to speak.\n\nOthers have claimed that unless the schola was well trained, the music/chant could be poor, or nonexistent if no one was trained in it.\n\nFr. Stravinskas has an article over at Catholic World Report that relates to the issue you raise. I do like idea of the expanded cycle of readings.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I thank you for the link to Halpin's e-mail explanation. The only one who truly knows what he meant by his comments. It has been quite helpful to me, to show \"others\" on my FB feed, that listening to the source of the e-mail is more important than speculating like AB Chaput did in his letter. I was very disappointed with him for that. Like Halpin said in his explanation, we are not Republican nor Democrat, we are Catholic. There is plenty about both parties that should disturb us.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The appearance to \"the twelve\" is not even a particularly challenging apologetic. Luke 24:33 has \"the Eleven and those gathered with them\" (\u03c4\u03bf\u1f7a\u03c2 \u1f15\u03bd\u03b4\u03b5\u03ba\u03b1 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03c4\u03bf\u1f7a\u03c2 \u03c3\u1f7a\u03bd \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c2). Acts 1:22-23 indicates that the person to take Judas' place should be \"one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, beginning from John\u2019s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us.\" It's not too difficult a leap to consider that Matthias, as one with them from the beginning, would have been both in the upper room and at the Ascension as testified in the Lucan accounts. \nHaving been written after the Ascension event, Paul is perfectly correct in mention of \"the twelve\" with reference to Matthias as both one of the (then current) twelve as well as witness to the Jesus' Ascension and the Pentecost event. WRT the \"fun\" of Judas as the bad guy; I would suggest it is a warning akin to Paul's in 1 Cor. 9:27 - salvation is ours to grasp, but we may fail to do so.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm all for high-churching the Novus Ordo, and for Catholics to be aquatinted with their birthright, the TLM. It's interesting how liberal Catholics are so hostile to high church while liberal Episcopalians don't seem to have a problem with it. \n\nIt's sad the premise of the article that everything pre-1965 is bad and everything post-1965 is wonderful. I'd have to say these last few years I've grown more traditional in the practice of the Catholic faith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Church teaches that we must cooperate with God's grace to restore our justification we have lost through mortal sin after Baptism. Dismas's acknowledgement of his own guilt and his plea to Our Lord to remember him was evidence of this cooperation; a good work, no?\nI do not consider Catholic teaching to be the product of \"old men in Rome.\" I believe it is the teaching of Our Lord passed down to us through His Church. I think that could be described as Faith rather than intellectual dishonesty.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No Christian says \"The Messiah is the son of Allah.\" \n\nNo Jews say \"Ezra is the son of Allah.\"\n\nJesus Christ said, \"I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man cometh to the Father but by me.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There have been gay people all throughout history, many lower animals exhibit homosexual tendencies, so it seems because there are people born gay many think they are defective and their \"gayness\" can be changed...That being the case one would think God made a mistake...If God made a mistake He is not all powerful...We believe God is all powerful, therefore a gay person is not a mistake...If a gay person is not a mistake he/she should be loved and accepted into the body of Christ with all that entails...If they are accepted into the body of Christ they are entitled to all that is Catholic!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Perhaps the Christian Nationalists should form their own party: Christian Nationalist Party or CNP. That would permit the Republican Party to return to being reasonable centrists instead of fringe extremists.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "They do kill Christians just for being Christians.\n\nIn ISIS' words: Christians are their \"favorite prey\".", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The problem with saying \"Some Muslims are terrorists. So are some Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists or even atheists\" is it is taking the particular and trying to apply it as a principle. Some Muslims are terrorist because the religious structure and principles of Islam supports it. The same for atheism, the religious structure is a total reliance on person and mankind's structures as the standard. It allows for socialism and communism to also be terrorist (Stalin, Hitler) Buddhism structurally and in principle do not produce terror. The same with Christianity, there may be some calling themselves Christian who might be terrorists but the structure and principles soundly reject them as Christian. But in Islam, almost none denounced 911, the PLO lobbing bombs into residential areas, wife beating. I have Muslims from te middle East working for me, I am a Christian but in frank discussion, they tell me they can not become a Christian because their family would at best disown at worse kill them", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "They'd be singing a different tune if the baker were a non-Christian who refused to sell the cake to Christians.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Jeremy Christian is not the only anti-Muslim ranter that police need to be worried about ...............", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "A Catholic drone, no thanks - opens his campaign in the Horseshoe tavern - a place I frequented quite a bit getting wasted but is in no way appropriate to run country, like him. A drunk more interested in hanging out in bars who came up through catholic church stuff? No thank you.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I'm already stocking up on pop-corn. It's gonna be a bloodbath; a spectacle the likes of which hasn't been seen since colosseum days. \nBy the way, the whole \"romans feeding Christians to the lions\" thing is a lie. Fake history, begun by Christians.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Isn't Allah the Arabic word for God?\nIsn't it the same God that Christians and Jews worship and defile?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I have 2 volumes of the \"lost books\" and heck yeah! a different take - several different takes - on what got edited out. \n you are more a scholar than I, but weren't the \"real\" gospels written up to 200 years after jesus? I thought one, perhaps 2 depending on which john (doesn't sound like the best way to put it) actually wrote that gospel. paul was an eye witness, and possibly a john (lol - sorry - that's why i'm a \"bad\" Christian). paul wrote many letters, and traveled to spread his beliefs....but actual peers....?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Insulting me does nothing for meaningful discourse and if anything, makes my claims of Christians killing many others with religious justification more legitimate than your false claims of Muslims doing the same, as you clearly don't have anything meaningful to contribute, nor research to prove yourself right and myself wrong. It's understood that children resort to name calling when they don't have a valid or meaningful response. But back to the issue, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO RECOGNIZE RADICAL CHRISTIAN EXTREMISM?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "And what of all the conservatives who have killed Muslims or people of color in mass shooting incidents?\n\nIt has no bearing on the average person what political leaning or belief system the person held. It doesn't represent the majority.\n\nA helpful narrative would be finding ways for atheists and Christians to come together respectfully and strengthen our shared values, rather than assume that our fellow citizens are complicit in carnage and violence. That's how hate is bred.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Sad thing is they are all waiting for and trying to bring on the same god. Muslims, Christians, Jews all revere the same book and the same hellish daddy in heaven.\n\nWhat's a pagan to do? The bathturds have even stolen our pagan holy tree for their miserable annual ceremony.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "He says it HELPS the healing, not that it does healing all by itself. As ATF said, healing is a process.\n\nYour posts in this thread show that you don't give a shirt about the victims of sexual abuse. I would question your claim to be a Christian.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"Tell the Democrats that. They love to tell you how to ...\"\nThe Republicans have a lot to say as they guide schoolkids into Christian prayer and keep car dealerships closed on Sundays and even convince you they're serious about cutting taxes.\nCome on, try to admit that some Republicans are just as nutty as some Democrats.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "There we go now......yours is the very type of thinking used by bigots of all kinds, making connection between all sorts of personal or social disorders in order to justify the oppression (religious or secular) of a singled-out group. I would suggest you reconsider your statement of: \"Should the bishop deny a Christian burial to a known and conspicuous racist?\" to what Jesus taught His disciples over and over again. You should already know there is no connection between homosexuality (an orientation on a range of possibilities) and racism (a learned hatred towards other groups of human beings based on external differences). Perhaps your position as you expressed here is closest to that of a racist then it is to Christianity?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "We will see articles in the G&M about the bigotry, hatred, and Christianophobia exhibited, practiced, implemented by Muslims in Muslim dominant countries against non Muslims?\n\nNah.\n\nI thought so.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Your narrative is a lie. Christians are victims every day- look no further than Coptic Christians living under Islamic terror every day. No one is saying \"churches just turned dangerous,\" they're saying despite the harassment and abuse done to them by atheists and Islamism sympathizers, they could at least be safe in church-- which has indeed changed for the worse in the last 15 years.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "-No, never.\n-No, of course not, silly ! You are speaking of CHRISTIANS here.\n-This would employ too many people, and minimum wage is already too high...\n-See above ^\n-No, never.\n-Yes ! \n \nGood questions however.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Are you high??? Selling someone a cake? Refusing to sell some a cake because it is for a gay wedding is no different from selling someone a cake because it is for a mixed race wedding or a Muslim wedding or any other kind of wedding. IT IS DISCRIMINATION! Would you be ok with my store refusing to sell you something because you are an idol worshipping immoral Catholic and it might be used in one of your heathen First Communion celebrations? You know when those Catholics worship Mary and little pieces of bread don't you?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Dialog about sexual ethics? The Catholic Church continues to re injure victims. Church leaders continue with their legal hardball and callous response to prevent justice for those of us who were raped by priests as children. Most of the cowards in collars and parishioners stay silent to the obvious pain caused to victims by their churches duplicitous public actions.\n\nThis organization cannot even take proper care of those whose lives were shattered by clergy rape and molestation. Why waste time \"dialoging about sexual ethics\" when you could follow Christs teachings and act with sexual ethics.\nThis organization is beyond hopeless!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "There you go again. Everyone who disagrees with is called a fool, a hypocrite, a liar and is subjected to a torrent of abuse from you and you call that Christian. You liken orthodox Catholics who try to follow the magisterial teaching of the Church to Nazi war-criminals obeying the orders of Hitler. In doing this you are likening the Church, the Magisterium to the Nazi dictator and mass murderer. Only recently you hurled a stream of verbal abuse against Pandora17 and not for the first time. Such behaviour one does not expect from someone who claims to care about his/her Christian faith.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Here's my booklet on some of the horrible things from the BC Liberals, link below:\nContents:\nIntroduction\n1 English: The Language That Must Not Speak Its Name\n2 Citizenship Has No Privileges\n3 Employment Services Exclusively Run By Migrants and Christians\n4 Report Theft of Taxpayer Dollars, Lose Career\n5 Scamming The Public: BC Liberals Buy Happy Media Reporting\n6 Joe Job 1 - Migrant Height Discrimination Dismissed By Migrant \n7 Joe Job 2 - Wrong Race, Gender, Ethnicity For Work At WorkBC\n8 Joe Job 3 - Stigmatization: BC Welfare Forces Me Out Of Work\n9 BC Justice: Vancouver Police Corrupt, Incompetent or Both? Part 1\n10 Homeless by Police Action\n11 BC Justice: Vancouver Police Corrupt, Incompetent or Both? Part 2\n12 Just Some Of The Suicides & Deaths That We Know About Due To BC Liberal Policies \n13 Prosperous and Free in BC: Some Solutions\n\nPDF Link\nhttps://drive.google.com/open?id=0By17LuyY9bAUc2lBVHd3eExlR3M\nEPUB link\nhttps://drive.google.com/open?id=0By17LuyY9bAUMldTNEoyZ3BheFk", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You talk like someone who has no clue what public school is like, that's for sure. \n\nI went to a lot of different public schools growing up, I went to a private Christian school, and I went to public and private higher education. \n\nThe fabrications you're touting are inaccurate (your own sources disagree with you, not to mention you're cherry picking) and show exactly the kind of closed-minded scare tactics evangelicals use to paint the world as some sort of immoral free-for-all. \n\nIf you want to opt your children out of sex education you can. But as the son of a teenage mother I can tell you that kind of biblical coddling will confuse your ignorant developing children. \n\nAnd let's be clear. Nobody here, and no sane adult, would want 1st and 4th graders receiving condoms or demonstrations thereof in the classroom. I'm only arguing for age-appropriate information, which is what happens 99.99% of the time. \n\nYour boogeymen aren't real.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "you accept christian sharia law while screaming how you don't want sharia law.\n\nAmy is the equivalent of a radicalized imam spouting hate for jews and the west. \n\nhow do you not see this?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus Christ, frankly speaking will not tolerate sodomy and other non-traditional elements. ( Sodom and Gomorrah ring any bell.....done in by Jesus' own Dad?) And the article is right is saying that we Americans are religious illiterates. First mistake is thinking how Jesus is loving, accepting and compassionate while forgetting that He came with rules and regulations on how to be saved. He will NOT be so loving and compassionate to those who do NOT follows His rules and regulations (and his Dad's), written haphazardly in the Bible.\n\nProblems with Christians or those who claims to be one is that they want their comfort zone and their fantasy Jesus is someone who will accept their comfort zone no matter what. And to be honest, that is just fantasy. If faith is that simple, Hell would be an empty place indeed.\n\nReligions make hypocrites out of all of us, eh?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, let's speak of double standards - when Clinton was President, radical evangelical Christian extremists were the group most likely to demand that the President adhere to the highest moral and ethical standards. Now that Trump is President, this group of self-serving hypocrites is the least likely to demand the same. Or the anti-family planning GOP rep in PA demanding his sidepiece get an abortion. Caldara has nothing, not an original idea in decades.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Surely it must be one of those disenfranchised Catholics.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "As I mentioned, I've read \"The Pope and Mussolini.\" I've not read the \"\"The Popes Against the Jews\" and never claimed otherwise. You've obviously read neither.\n\nWhere's the citations from my \"inexhaustible supply of anti-Catholic authors\"? Or are you just a trash talker who can't walk the walk?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "No, the GOP in Colorado clear back then was headed towards the conservative side. \nAnd KKK in Colorado, was NOT about racism , but about being against Catholics and Jews, not blacks. \nSadly, Conservatives likes yourself, have a LONG history of hate and going after others. Look at how your leader trump is going after muslim refugees even though 100% of evidence is that he will not pick up a SINGLE terrorists. \n\nAs to the klan in the south, it was almost always about blacks.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Naah, Trudeau does not care for \u00cfsrael. He feels much more comfortable sitting on the floor with M\u00faslims and celebrating eid while wearing M\u00faslim garb. He is not even a Chr\u00efstian, but some amorphous creature, trying to be different things to please different people. That's my Just\u00cfn.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "<>\n\nIt seems I wasn't explicit enough: You look like a Catholic fascist.\n\nBut I didn't mean to derail the thread by throwing out a bit of snark.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "While Jesus replaces the Sun God.\n\nOf course Mary is the \"whore of Babylon\".\n\nYou do realize that these statements have origins among anti-Catholics like Jack Chick, right?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Where's the incredibly attractive Janet Reno when you REALLY need her? She'd burn him alive as if he were a christian from Waco.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Morlino certainly has treated his gay priests that way in the past, at least in terms of not attending their funerals.... I think especially of one who worked closely with a Catholic gay community in Morlino's previous diocesan assignment as a bishop. Morlino is an interesting person. Funerals seem to be where his ultra orthodoxy becomes prevalent. It's the line he will not cross, dead being dead and all.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Wow, Tinky Winky, you are comparing the conservative Catholics to ISIS and the Taliban. Thank you for providing evidence of the anti-Catholic hatred ironically found on this forum.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"Just before World War II, there was a similar fascination with medieval materials, and extremists today are drawn to the Middle Ages, \"especially via ardent fantasies of racial purity and white origins,\" Cohen said.\"\n\nThe growing White supremacy movement has been emboldened by the Trump campaign's message of racial hatred. It is the duty of every Christian to stand up to such nonsense.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Please BEWARE of this site. It is not a Catholic site and is likely funded by George Soros. If you are Catholic then you know the horrid atrocities the DNC and Clinton's engaged in, attempting to infiltrate the Catholic Church and cause a \"revolution\" within the church by pretending to be catholic and misleading the faithful.... This is unprecedented! Never before in American History has any political entity shown such distain for our sacred church... All Catholics must work together to elect Trump and keep Hillary out of the White House. Trump is not perfect, but Hillary is doing the devils work!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"Our Republican friends went in to a hissy fit when someone, not a Catholic, emailed John Podesta calling for reforms in the Catholic Church.\" - Silliness, to call an objection to the Democrats starting phony \"catholic\" front groups in order to sway voters a \"hissy fit\", is more about ridicule than a legit objection. Perhaps it hits too close to home here at NcR, after all they have been ordered by their bishop to remove the word \"catholic\" from their name...Now lets look at the violent \"hissy fit\" our Democrat friends are engaging in on the streets of Democrat cities across the nation!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The Church teaches that committing a sin against God\u2019s law is never justified by a good end. Thus, to directly act to kill an innocent human being within the womb is not morally permissible.\n\nThe Church also condemns killing the mother to save the fetus.\n\nThe proposition that a dead fetus is morally superior to a dead mother and a dead fetus is justified only by situation ethics, which the Church categorically rejects.\n\nWe all die.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The Germans today are the same blind brainless follow-the-leader sheep they were in 1933 and throughout their history. The self-destructive insanity of Merkel's immigration policies is just as insane as Hitler's policies. The only difference is that Hitler sought genocidal extermination of the Jews and others while Merkel and her German sycophants seek to exterminate themselves (and the rest of native Christian Europe).", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Everything is a money making exercise. Or let's rather say a profit making one. Even the real Mother Teresa (not this ridiculous British Tory one) did it for heavenly profit, and was more interested in converting Hindus to Christianity than getting them out of poverty!\n\nWhether climate change eventually proves to be completely caused by carbon emissions doesn't really matter now, because renewables are so taking over thanks to both their rapidly reducing costs and job creation potential that the momentum is unstoppable. One big bonus is that oil will now be used more cost efficiently, for plastics and other derivatives. \n\nThe best thing of all though, is that the Good Ol' Boys who voted The Chump in might finally work out what a total tw\u00e5t he is.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You do have some good points. There is real religious persecution in the world. Christians are being beheaded in Muslim countries. And judging is wrong, which is what you are doing to me. And even though Christianity is under attack, it really is not that bad, but it is part of the progressive agenda. And Jesus did say we would face persecution. And the church should welcome gay people into their churches. But we cannot approve of sex between a man and a man.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "dennism, you absolutely do not have one ounce of substantive thought in your head or you are woefully incapable of translating it into words. Your \"poking fun\" at persons for liking their own posts is quite annoying and very uncharitable. I've found that to be true of most liberals. When they can't intelligently respond to views they disagree with, they always reach for the straw man, which in your case, is very uncharitable and un-Christ like.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I used to wonder about the hate that I found here and on other \"catholic\" web sites. I don't wonder anymore. There are trolls everywhere now, hiding in the cloak of web based anonymity and (sadly it seems) in the rectories and chancellery of Madison Wisconsin. \n\"You Pharisees! You hypocrites!\" \n\"Judge not, lest ye be judged, for the full measure that ye mete out shall be meted unto to you!\"", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You offered me your support of bigotry. The second great commandment Christ gave us was to love our neighbor. When Christ was asked who his neighbor was, he gave as an example a member of a despised minority. Try reading the parable of the Good Samaritan, substituting \"married gay man\" for \"Samaritan\". The hatred that Paprocki has for gays is the opposite of Christ's commandment, so don't tell me \"he's following Church teaching\". He is perverting Church teaching.\n\nYou support him in this perversion, which is why I don't believe you when you say you aren't homophobic. If you actually weren't, you would reject Paprocki and all his works and all his empty promises.\n\nIf you respond, I shall ignore you. I have said my piece, and all the whingeing you do won't change the fact that you support bigots in their bigotry.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Racism against white Republicans is in full throttle here in progressive Catholic land.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Dialogue is great. \nBut the Church's teachings and the Catholic Catechism are clear: \nHomosexual behavior is sinful.\nWhen the LGBTQ Catholics accept that teaching, then true dialogue is possible.\nThe same goes for the fornicators, adulterers, abortionists, thieves, murderers, child molesters, etc.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Arguably, based on the Catholic definition of sin, the answer is that voting for a particular politician could be a sin.\n II. THE DEFINITION OF SIN\n1849 Sin is an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods. It wounds the nature of man and injures human solidarity. It has been defined as \"an utterance, a deed, or a desire contrary to the eternal law.\"121\n\nEqually arguably, depending on your own values and beliefs on reason, truth and right conscience, voting for Mr Trump, Secretary Clinton or Mr Duke, could be a sin.\n\nThe decision this year is between a boorish undisciplined man with frat house language, and a lying woman whose documented actions are far worse than anything anyone has said. Which vote is actually a mortal sin won't be known by us until we are discussing with St Peter what we did on Earth to justify getting into Heaven.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "There they go again. When I came to Eugene in 1985 living on the streets, you could buy a 400 square foot 1 bedroom home for $10K-$13K. Oregon liberals outlawed this housing to raise property tax revenue through market manipulation called high density planning. Today liberals will not remotely tolerate starter homes being built, as they lift the working poor to middle class home ownership standards, and are further chaining the poor to poverty, creating a needless dependence on the welfare state. it is disgusting and despicable how these pseudo-Christians are shamelessly exploiting the poor.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Elagabalus, I would like to apologize to you and to all other gay posters here for the atrocious way you are singled out for disrespect by this wretched action and many others by our bishops. \n\nPlease never doubt for one second that Jesus weeps with you whenever you are subject to discrimination by any of his creatures, and that Jesus tears blind him in anguish when the discrimination is perpetrated by one of his bishops. \n\nWords are unable to express the disgust I feel for those here who choose to insult you directly in reply. Empathy is called for; it is very difficult not to assume insults come from hardened hearts.\n\nYou speak wisely: \n\n\"The real scandal is the church's treatment of gay people, and everyone knows it. It is the church's everlasting shame, which is one of the reasons why young people are abandoning the church in droves. They know real scandal when they see it, and it's not married gay people going to communion.\"\n\nAmen. Amen. Amen.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The support for Trump by white evangelicals says more about their Christian faith than it does about Trump. He knows and likes being a con man. He also loves the \"poorly educated\" white folks that elected him. The Trump voters care much more about being white than being Christians, Americans, or being human beings. This works for them, since they don't believe in facts. They have faith, ideology, fear, hate, and racism to inform them about how the world works. Too bad that the \"poorly educated\" white folks that elected Trump will suffer the most during his administration. When has he ever cared about any of them? Trump is a tall, rich, lazy, fat, white man that has not respect for anyone that he doesn't agree with him. That goes double if those folks aren't white males. Too bad Trump cares about his voters less than he cares about the contractors he has stiffed. Trump voters will deserve what happens to them. Maybe some bleeding heart white liberals will care about them in 2020.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You obviously missed my point which is if we hold all Muslims responsible for the violence of the radicals, shouldn't we do the same to Christians that spew hatred and violence?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Not rebuking? Not judging? Not excluding?\n\nDoes that mean you will not rebuke me if I say that all Catholics have to vote Republican?\n\nDoes that mean you won't judge me if I say that racism is compatible with Catholicism? You don't judge me if I tell you that Trump needs to build that wall; that we need to deport all illegal aliens, especially if it means we have to break up their families? \n\nDoes this mean you will not exclude me if I say that the poor should worry about themselves---because no one has an obligation to help them or care about them? \n\nYou will love me if I tell you that the death penalty needs to be used more often?\n\nBy the way--for someone like Jesus who you claim never rebuked, he certainly did a lot of rebuking of the Jewish establishment. Once he even overturned tables in a fit of rage.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Pharisees are the predecessors of rabbinical Judaism.\nIsn't it way past time Christians dropped the whole \"you killed our Lord!\" talk?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Good article - but:\n\"...The Manchester Arena bomber may be an anomaly in many ways,..\"\n\nI will suggest he is not an anomaly but representative of Islamic culture.\n\nMy experience as a teen age immigrant - your family's culture emigrates with you and all immigrants seek to live in association and/or near others of similar experience. Thus we have \" Little Italy \", \" China Town \", Germans, Ukrainians, Swedes ... living together and trying to maintain their culture, language, food .... religion, staying within their confort zone. \n\nReligion does play a significant part ... and it is a question of what the religion values. Eastern beliefs tend to be philosophical, less theocratic. Christianity separates Church and State, whereas Islam is specific about the state and Islam being one, under Sharia law. There are of course many sectarian variations - but Islam is an unstable mix of petro-dollars, madrassa education and Wahabbism by way of an extreme example, \n\nWhat could possibly go wrong !", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Far right politicians like Geert Wilders, Pamela Geller, Marine Le Pen, Donald Trump, et al. conveniently overlook the fact that extreme Islamic fundamentalism as practiced by ISIL, al Qaeda, etc. is not that far removed from the stated goals of extreme fundamentalists in both Christianity and Judaism: return to a strict patriarchal system in which women are completely subject to men and sexual deviancy of any sort is not tolerated. True, we've been fortunate enough in this country never to have been subjected to a Christian or Jewish theocracy, but if people like Mike Pence and a host of others in the Trump administration had their way we'd find out soon enough if they were left to their own devices. So, rather than demonizing one entire religion, perhaps the time has come for moderate adherents of all the major Abrahamic religions to come together and oppose the one enemy we all have in common: religious fundamentalism. I believe the time is long overdue for this to happen.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So the wisdom of four ministers from mainstream Christian churches are \"false teachers\" now because they disagree with the world view of one Jim Minnery who uses his version of \"christianity\" like a cudgel to control and bully the Judiciary? The mind reels Tesa Ann. You live in some other reality than I do it appears.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Whatever happened to the much touted \"zero tolerance?\" If Gil Gustafson really seeks some kind of rehabilitation, he needs to perform public penance, proclaiming ongoing lifelong contrition over the pain, shame, trauma and financial costs his enactment of lust caused the Catholic Church and Catholic people, as well as the object(s) of his lust. That he imagines he can insinuate himself back into church circles is absurd beyond imagination. Even more absurd, while this abuser is treated ever so gingerly by this author, it can be assumed bishops who were forced to deal with the maelstrom caused by Gustafson's sin would be forever condemned just for being, well, bishops. How about finding an abuser who acknowledges violating the 6th Commandment?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's not my fault what you choose to comprehend. Regardless, your heartlessness and lack of understanding of global issues is unamerican not Christian and nieve. When you tuck yourself in tonight ask yourself what these people who are fleeing for their lives are really costing you. It's ridiculous.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am pretty sure that the reason so many Catholics are okay with contraception is due to ignorance. Our priests are, to be frank, often scared to try and educate the faithful on why the Church teaches what it teaches on this subject. As disappointed as I am in their unwillingness to defend the faith in this area, I can sympathize. If they were to even suggest during a homily that using contraception is not an intrinsic good, then they will be viciously attacked by a very noisy portion of their congregation. The angry and condescending comments on this very website every time someone brings up any Church teaching other than caring for the poor (which is also important) show that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Very, very even handed account by Dougie.\n\nReading it, one would almost think that Britain was facing a wave of Christian inspired terrorism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You do realize that a mosque is not a church don't you?\n\nchurch\n/CH\u0259rCH/\nnoun\na building used for public Christian worship.\n\nmosque\n/m\u00e4sk/\nnoun\na Muslim place of worship.\n\nsyn\u00b7a\u00b7gogue\nnoun\nthe building where a Jewish assembly or congregation meets for religious worship and instruction.\n\n\nThink twice, post once please.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Anymore than revering the Old Testament where Yahweh tells his followers if they are faithful to him they will bash babies against the walls or else have their babies ripped out of their wombs!\nOne little gem among legion: Isaiah 13:16\nTheir little ones also will be dashed to pieces Before their eyes; Their houses will be plundered And their wives ravished.\nOne can find deplorable items in any religious tradition.\nIronically, the Koran mentions Mary more than Christian scriptures.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How do Zionists justify the murder of far greater numbers of innocent Palestinian Christians and Muslims? How do they live with themselves? Why do Zionists care about no one and nothing, other than the members of their own tribe?\n\nAn American Jew who has previously never been outside of certain neighbourhoods in Brooklyn is free to emigrate and become an Israeli citizen, while Palestinians who lived on the land for generations have their villages destroyed, even their cemeteries, to make room for Zionist settlers to steal more Palestinian land. \n\nAll men are created equal... except Zionists are more equal than others.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "precedent, I assume---though I like the synthesis of putting prescient in there...autocorrect?\n\n\"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion...\"\n\nIt's often by claiming that constitutional protections are eroding or absent that the Constitution is in fact circumvented. Why does the Catholic Church need double-protection? The devil is in the details---and laws protecting the Church from the Law are liable to have some devilish ones...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That phrase does sound familiar, it's in the same document in which \"creator\" is found; the Declaration of Independence, which laid out the colonies' grievances against the crown and announced the dissolution of our relationship with England, and not how we were to govern ourselves. Our system of government is framed in the Constitution, which mentions neither a creator nor that we are created. As for your \"Christian labels\" statement, the idea that using Christian labels is exclusionary to other Christians is laughable. \n\nOh, and though some of our founding fathers may have been Christian, most referred to themselves as deists.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Funny how the Post becomes concerned about Christian persecution by Muslims when it fits their narrative . . .", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "All through the middle east Muslims have forced Christians and Jews and other minorities from their homes, burned their Churches and Synagogues and the UN and their 'human rights' bodies do nothing and say nothing. Burma who is under attack from muslim rebels and terrorists say no. They will not be subjected to the terrorism and violence that has followed wherever muslims go. And they are pillared by the so called 'civilized' world. We should be thanking and supporting them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Can you be any more obtuse?....I commented that: \"Since 9/11 there were 21 instances of right-wing, white extremist, \"Christian\" terrorist attacks in the U.S. that caused 53 fatalities\" and your response 3 comments later was: \"irt hapaguy, what Christian Extremist Group killed 53 people\". So yeah, anyone with half a brain can plainly see that you took my comment and twisted it....I'm not sure I can explain it in any simpler way that will allow you to comprehend.....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are missing the point. Yes, the past was bloody, Christians today reject that kind of action, they don't claim it with pride, but shame. They have learned from history, and evolved.\n\nSo what does that have to do with the present?\n\nIn the present, some groups commit acts of terrorism *in the name of* their religion. That is what makes it \"Muslim terrorism\", rather than \"Communist terrorism\", or \"Anarchist terrorism\", etc.\n\nThe Weathermen, the Baader-Meinhoff Gang, etc., were organised terrorist groups who acted out of a common ideology, so are ISIS or al-Quaeda-inspired terrorists.\n\nThere is no equivalent so far for Bissonnette, he did not claim to be acting in the name of Christianity, so why describe him as a Christian terrorist? Because of his ethnic origins?\n\nSo are atheists also going to be considered \"Christian\" because of their ethnic origins?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "From today's Globe:\nMuslim extremists abducted a Catholic priest and more than a dozen churchgoers while laying siege to a southern Philippine city overnight, burning buildings, ambushing soldiers and hoisting flags of the Islamic State group, officials said Wednesday.\n\nClearly, there is a problem with islam extremism and the world needs to come to its senses. Ibbitson is out of touch.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree. Netanyahu killed it long ago. \n\nSo, it looks like Israel-Palestine will be a bi-national state, made up of Israeli Jews and Palestinian Christians and Arabs, with one person, one vote and full civil and legal rights for all. \n\nNothing wrong with that.\n\nOr did you have something else in mind?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Repubbies are quick to pull benefits and money that help Americans, but they love dumping big money in wars that kill people. So, this is the modern Christian, eh? Interesting.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "These four ministers are far from wise. They are pliable. They sway to and fro according to the latest whim of the majority. They are lukewarm. They will turn the opposite way if the majority opinion shifts. They are cowards who are afraid to speak the Truth because people might get mad, accuse them of negative things, persecute them, and most of all leave their \"church.\" They are more dangerous to Christians than anyone because they pretend to be Christians deceiving and confounding themselves and others.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"One can understand the outrage. Christians' Christmas and the Lord's prayer are banished from schools.\" - upanddown2\n\nRubbish. 100% certifiable drek. No religion is banished from Canadian classrooms. The law of the land is that all beliefs must be treated neutrally by teachers. Students may accept, dispute or reject facts and beliefs as they see best.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Are you backpedalling, obfuscating, hedging, or simply abandoning your earlier message? You are definitely dodging. If anything, your contradictory Biblical passages tell us that one can find justification for pretty much anything in the Bible. There's a lot of terrible stuff done in the name of God in Judges.\n\nYour original point is that humans don't condemn others not of their faith, the Bible does. AT, we know FOR A FACT that many Christians believe, and will tell you, that if you don't accept their version of religious faith, you are doomed to hell. That you now say, in effect, \"never mind\", does not change that fact that many Christians condemn to hell those who believe the Earth condensed from cosmic gas about 4.5 billion years ago, that life appeared spontaneously around 4.3 billion years ago, that evolution of that life moved apace so that complex animal phyla here today mostly arose 580-500 billion years ago, that homo sapiens first appeared in Africa about 300,000 years ago.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "To be fair, as much as I admire Anglicanism, the subject of homosexuality has long vexed the world-wide Anglican Communion, with some member bodies (like the American and Canadian branches) supportive of LGTB people and others, like the church in Africa, being solidly against us. But that's what I admire about Anglicanism: it's messiness. They at least are willing to air out arguments in the light of day with considerable lay input. Within Catholicism it's trickle-down all the way, baby, and nothing ever sees the light of day.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Religious left\" and \"religious right.\"In other words, Christian faith has become degraded to the service of partisan-political agendas and goals. The experience of divine liberation has been confined to the slavery of the qudrennial political bullfight masquerading as presidential election, where two groups of privileged, wealthy as sin, aggressors slug it out in a year-long circus of insults and lies.\nWhat a profound \"progress\" indeed!\nFor \"There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.\" But there is Democrat-Republican, left wing-right wing, progressive-conservative, and yes .. hate, lots of hate! \"Good\" Christian hate!\nShame, and disgust! A mockery of Christ. And glee and pride by all involved. And hate in the disguise of hallow prayers and empty religious platitudes. All resulting in a perpetual Good Friday ... in the name of \"progress.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's very disheartening to see a Catholic publication twist the words of our Wise and Loving Pope about our Wise and Loving President.Within our Church I hear Catholics constantly accusing Pope Francis (the name Satan means \"Accuser) of being \"Liberal\" or a proponent of Liberation Theology.All Popes and Bishops are supposed to stand for the Oppressed so he is not doing or saying anything other Popes have not said and done.Yet he is attacked.And the same with President Trump.The Pope did NOT \"question Trump's Christianity\".His quote was \"if you ONLY build walls\".Trump builds many bridges.And Prays and Loves.Trump rightly pointed out Vatican City is surrounded by a wall.And he did NOT \"respond angrily\"-he responded truthfully.It WOULD be disgraceful for any person to question another's Faith-especially a Religious Leader.The Pope did not and admitted he is not familiar with all specifics of the Law.Trump has never said he wanted to deport all the \"dreamers\".Discernment is lacking here.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Voris correctly called out an apostate welfare queen who has attacked the Catholic faith.\n\nIf I wanted to join a Church led by a female Al Sharpton, I would have.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, as in education programs and birth control programs to prevent abortions . . . if \"Christian\" \"conservatives\" were serious about reducing the number of abortions in the country they'd be tripping all over themselves to ensure funding of such things, but that would require a commitment to being effective realists versus being indignant snowflakes that just isn't there with that side of the political spectrum any more.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And how many Christians have been murdered by Muslims? We are a country founded by Christians, and the progressive politicians are attacking anything that resembles a Christian based family or being able to celebrate Christian based holidays......eg. Happy Holidays has replaced Merry Christmas, Christmas Concerts cannot have the nativity story in them, nor be called Christmas Concerts, Cadbury just had an Egg Hunt, leaving out Easter in the equation, Traditional Families with a Mother and Father are being changed on birth certificates in Ontario to read 'Parent', omitting the Mother and Father terms......and the media who seem to be endlessly pushing the Pro-Muslim agenda along with the so called Progressive movement cannot fathom why people are ticked that there are now Muslim Prayer accommodations in Public Schools.......roll eyes......wow.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would just be grateful if he were to stop sharing his 'boundless knowledge and wisdom,' which I fear he believes makes him more Catholic than many of us, perhaps even Pope Francis. All this talk of defending from error...et tu Brutus?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus never said one thing about gays or abortions.\n\nHe was all about compassion and helping the sick and poor.\n\nAll the holidays surround this guy Christmas, Easter (palm sunday, lent)\n\nThe religion is called \"CHRISTianity\"\n\nBut these people cling to the old testament which was before Jesus was around.\n\nMakes sense.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's a measure of how out of touch the Harper wing of the Conservative party is with Canadians that they tried this \"trash Trudeau & Canada in FOX US media\" trick at all.\n\nIt's a measure of how sly Scheer is that he let this go ahead using Raitt, Rempel and Kent to do the dirty work while he gave softball interviews with journalists over a beer. Next up - profiling Scheer's \"christian\" & family values.\n\nYou can almost smell the Harper behind all this.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\u201ccontinues to relay a message of disparagement\u201d to Muslims.\nIf you have a religion that preaches they have the right to kill infidels, and if someone is a Christian or a Jew they can only live if they pay a special tax, would it not be reasonable to relay a message of disparagement?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's not a belief, it's a tactic. They are basically absolving themselves of any responsibility for their actions and speech. It's like saying I am a christian and therefore I cannot commit any sins, then you go out and you k|ll a whole bunch of people.\n\nThey can say whatever they like but the truth remains, ANYONE can be rac|st. The dictionary does not say \"anyone can be rac|st, EXCEPT b|ack people.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My parents owe me compensation, but getting it would cost more than I could ever collect.\n\nMy father started stealing my dish washing money when I was 11, and tried to order me to continue working, so he could contine, when I caught him stealing from my wallet in the middle of the night. He was a purported Christian, despite being a chronic thief and a liar.\n\nThat experience gives me some degree of sympathy for a child suffering as the prisoner of a Religious Zealot parent.\n\nReligious Zealots, Islamic, Christian and other, often think that children are property and that they have a Supernatural Buddy granted Right to brainwash children they control.\n\nhttps://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/father-sues-ontario-school-board-for-not-accommodating-his-religious-beliefs/article4533186/\n\n\u201cMy children are my own. I own them. They don\u2019t belong to the school board,\u201d\n\nhttps://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/education/catholic-board-pushes-against-ontario-court-ruling/article20317408/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Canada is filled with Christian Supremacists.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bishop McElroy and Pope Francis will be the 'Death Knell' of the Catholic Church!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The issue is that people think if they aren't in the KKK or a similar group then they aren't racist or bigoted. Most racism happens out of ignorance, and the ignorance lies in not understanding what it's like to be a person of difference. It's hard to understand how society can be unfair for some, when it seems so fair to you.\n\nAs a straight white male from a Christian family I can go to almost any place in western society and as Louis C.K. put it: I'll be greeted with \"Why, we have a table right here for you sir\". I have no idea what it's like to be gay, black, a woman, etc. When groups who do not have the power in society point out this inequality it challenges the assumptions of those who do. If you've never experienced what it's like to be judged based on your heritage, your skin color, your sexual orientation, or your gender then it seems like a bunch of made-up problems. It's only when you recognize the inequality in society can you begin to change it rather than perpetuate it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And so it begins..\n\nOne sign of hope was the presence of so many good American citizens protesting at airports yesterday. Those scenes were broadcast around the world. The world knows! Do not lose hope.\n\nSecondly, there is now growing support in the U.K. against Theresa May's invitation to Trump. If he does arrive I can assure you there will be unprecedented protests against him. Incredible to think that a US president will be treated like that in Britain, but this individual will be.\n\nThe US Bishops are now being asked where they stand. I hope Francis turns the heat up under them and that decent Catholics across the country do the same. No hiding place for these men who have so lacked integrity, behaving with such cowardice, and got away with it thus far.\n\nMSW, congratulations. You have taken a bit of flak for some recent articles. This one is on the money.\n\nAnd I hope Notre Dame is watching. Still gonna wine and dine Trump? Shame on you if you do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1. The sex offender registry was a knee-jerk reaction from day one, and I don't support inane knee-jerks. 2. It was ripe for abuse from day one, and that's all it was used for, hence this court decision. 3. All this so-called psychological damage is bogus, too, concocted by psychologists, at the urging of law enforcement, to keep themselves from having to work at 7-Eleven. 4. Moral bankruptcy? First, I'm no Christian, so if you think I'm getting some morals that way, you're wrong. Two, it is legal for adults to have sex with children in most jurisdictions. Three, kids have sex--lots of it, and no one blinks an eye. The question I posed was for you to answer, and I said you did a better job than I expected, but you forgot that much sex between adults and children is legal. 5. The case that led to this decision, the case that started it all involved a guy who wasn't even a sex offender but whom the state of Colorado classified and punished as a sex offender. There's the icing on the cake", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One of our two priests is South African. I'd agree, that he doesn't put great faith in government, but the parish itself is a \"social system.\" Being 95% Black, and poor, the church is a dynamic hub of social programs. And not having faith in government doesn't mean not engaging with it, trying to hold it to account and working to help it do less harm and more good. He seems to be a very joyful and loving man, but he is quite fierce about these things.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nonsense. The implication was it's unreasonable to reject the notion that the church, which supported Trump, could be the source of \"healing.\" Whether the church can be persuasive to reasonable people is irrelevant. Those of us outraged by the church's support are already exhaustively familiar with the apologetics. Hence the futility.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "they should have been fined ten times what they were. $3 million is nothing for them. but don't you find it amusing, too Christian to allow their staff to get birth control pills, but not so Christian that they don't mind stealing antiquities from a war torn country, lying about it, etc.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What about Catholic prelates telling us we can now disregard those 10 commandments?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It seems to me that it is white Catholics who need to be doing much more to \"change the narrative\". And that could start with listening to hear what black Catholics and non-Catholics have to say about the experiences of racism. There is much reading material out there. The Sister Souljah book that 2Be4Peace mentions is one; the writings of Ta-nehisi Coates is another; Michelle Alexander was mentioned on another thread. These are just 3 names of many. White Catholics need to become educated about the issues and then take positive steps to \"change the narrative\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What a coincidence? Judge Moore is running for the Senate seat in Alabama and now we have women making accusations against him. More tactics from the alt-left liberal progressive, secular humanist, anti-Christian democratIC party and its media wing. These women need to be investigated. The democratIC party knows they don't have to prove anything because they can do damage with just accusations. How about investigating Uranium Hillary? \n Bill (BJ) Clinton , accused rapist, taught our children that oral sex wasn't really sex? Was he the first pervert in the white house? I guess we don't know. I wonder about some of our earlier rich democratic presidents?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I believe he'd cast this progressive Bishop out of the Church...Pope Francis was put in place to offend traditional Catholics with his progressivism as they destroy the Church from within. He's just a bad Pope. It happens sometimes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "2/3\n1.) Gay Catholics in committed relationships must consider whether the Catholic Church can really be their home. For sure, they have a right to be there, but they have to deal with the reality that when one of them dies, the other - and the rest of their family and friends - may well run into this filthy policy. They need to think through ahead of time whether they are willing to deal with that, and if so, how.\n2.) This policy could be implemented against any Catholic who is in a relationship the church (or bishop) does not approve. Cowardice and hypocrisy prevent most bishops from dealing with the implications of canon law and church teaching, but if they did implement the law consistently, they wouldn\u2019t have to worry about a shortage of priests: there would be almost no-one left in the church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Does Islamaphobia include critical analysis of Islam, religious satire, and comedy? Does Islamaphobia include criticism of political Islam, sharia law, and the human rights records of countries governed by Islamic law. Is it Islamaphobic to criticize the misogyny and gender segregation prevalent in countries governed by Islamic law or is it simply a function of cultural relativism (Iran's morality police beating girls for not covering their hair, Saudi's ban on women driving). Finally, why not also condemn anti-semitism in the some motion, it is more prevalent in Canada. Is there a reason why Islam should be afforded a higher sensitivity compared to other religions? Is Islam beyond reproach? South Park can make fun of Christians and Jews all day long but Islam is a sacred cow? Does Canada's Charter not cover religious discrimination?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Julia Yong in First Things has shown that the charges against Pell are a classic witch hunt. SNAP supporters have as usual plunged deep into slander and scapegoating. Andrew Sullivan says that Pell is accused of rape -- apparently referring to the highly implausible testimony of one complainant that Pell may have inserted his finger in complainant's anus--he's not sure. Too many supposed \"liberal\" Catholics are reveling in this, and their lip-service to \"presumption of innocence\" covers over their willing credulity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How many Churches did you ask ? Do you really believe even if a Church did condemn these actions it would make it in the local or national media ? I am sure CNN would be all over that story. The Christian community would not claim this guy as \"one of their own\" or make an apology for him because it is so absurd to think he is acting in behalf of Christians they would not even think of it. As far as \"his religion\" where does it state in the Bible (New Testament) that Christians as supposed to kill their enemies ? For the record I don't remember when this happened, but am sure many Churches were in prayer and mourning over this tragedy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The author is a scribe for a Catholic lobby group likely interested in wasting land on elaborate bone yards for his tribe of faith-afflicted dead. Fine with me. I don't live nearby. If I did, I would object, regardless of my particular metaphysical delusions. Cemeteries are memorials to barbarity and ignorance. They also attract ghouls.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "don't hurt yourself jumping to a conclusion observah. You sound mighty similar to those in the 1800s who said to keep the Irish Catholics out, the government who in 1939 said that None was Too Many Jewish refugees to take, or the ones who said no to the 1956 Hungarians as they were all Commie spies.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The mess Pope Francis is trying to avoid is schism from the authoritarian Catholics inhabiting the conservative traditional wing of the Church. Had he clarified the issue of the Communion for the divorced and remarried he would have sent this part of the Church into orbit and right out the door. In the interest of Church unity, he seems to feel confusion is better than clarity.\n\nThe truth is Francis isn't going to preserve the Church in the West with confusion about doctrine the majority of laity have already settled for themselves. He needs to decide if the Church's mission is better served by his version of sowing ambiguity for the sake of the Burke's of the Catholic world, or biting the bullet and moving beyond the authoritarianism and black and white dogma the Burke's of the Church need for their own security. If Jesus is the example we should follow, the decision is pretty clear. We move beyond authoritarianism and black and white dogma.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Based on your bigoted bias against certain people or organizations you throw in my face claiming I don't know what I'm talking about, other than just reciting what these other people or organizations are saying, I'd suspect you, if a Catholic, are a Democrat. If true, how do you justify that?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic Church stood by and did nothing and now it wants to heal the wounds? Too late. After Pope Francis told women that they were not equal to the task of running the Catholic Church, a mirror image was enacted in our Country, by people who thought the same about a women President. The Church has sowed its spiritual myopia. Now, as we have to do with Trump, you will have to live with it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The \"blocking\" function at Disqus has killed every forum in which it is used.\n\nWhat it creates is a way to hijack a discussion forum to create a \"people who agree with me\" clique or two residing like a parasite in the midst of conversations.\n\nIf someone has a problem with hearing that another poster believes there are actually seven sacraments, why would she or he be at National CATHOLIC Reporter?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "i didn't vote for trump or hillary. maybe it's time for a 'no' box on ballots. its possible that the kids in this videos parents, are mostly trump supporters and are are being taught that 85% of the people on earth, even infants, are going to burn in hell for eternity and that's just not right. jesus first and second commandments have been forgotten. evangelicals fever over abortion, lgbtq rights, civil and individual rights, education, health care, muslims and etc., is dividing our country. but, they vote, get their representatives to pass laws that hurt and even kill people, in the name of 'their' god. when 'my' vice president tells me, someone that doesn't care if god exists or not, that he is a christian first, a conservative second and a republican third, and in that order, where does that leave me and the 3/4ths of all other americans that aren't any of those? i want my leaders to listen to me, not to 'god'. \nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LACyLTsH4ac", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Women are not all of the same affinity any more than all men.\" \n\nI never said \"all\" women had the exactly same interests. Is that really what you thought I meant? Really? To say there's a natural affinity among women is self-evident. If it were otherwise, there'd be no basis for Women's Studies, or \"Women's Rights.\" Women, in general, have similar interests. As do men, in general. Your resort to arguing about a hetero man going to a gay rights parade and proclaiming his affinity to the men there is pathetic, precisely because gay men have so little affinity with men in general, the vast majority of whom are hetero. Your hypo intentionally overlooks that I was talking about men and women in general.\n\nAs to you other pathetic hypo, the Church requiring private sex acts to be ordained. Somewhere, there IS such a church. Does it oppress you?\n\nYour DOJ hypo doesn't work, either. I have a civil right, protected by law, not to be discriminated against for such a job. Like priesthood? No.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Just goes to show the real republican view of sanctity of life. Life begins at conception but ends at birth. After that you are on your own with no help or assistance from a republican government. Be proud republicans of your hypocrisy. How do you live with yourselves? Good thing you aren't Christians.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Sounds reasonable....anti Muslim bigotry, anti Christian bigotry, anti Buddhist bigotry, anti Jewish bigotry....anti-belief system bigotry.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Christians don't say you should be killed for being gay nor do they say you should be killed for leaving the religion (apostasy). Furthermore, Christianity no longer plays a major role in Canadian society and it's holy book isn't taken as the word of god, like the word of the prophet Mohammed is by Muslims. \n\nWhen leftists compare Islam vs Christianity, as they always do as a means of defending Islam, they're comparing apples to oranges. Grasping at straws etc.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Kurgan, like myself is a failed seminarian. I have noticed that many former seminarians turn against the Church when they leave. Kurgan or Nic as he used to call himself and whatever other names he goes under spends most of his time here mocking Catholicism and Catholics of all descriptions. What you perceive to be satire is in fact nothing but ridicule and contempt.\nUnlike Kurgan I do not harbour a grudge, I accept that I did not become a priest and my desire is to work to prevent the Church I was baptised into becoming just another Protestant sect.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The Imam quoted in the article hosted last year an Egyptian \"scholar\" who calls for slaying of Jews, and destruction of Russians, Hindus, Shiites, Christians, Americans, Europeans.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "So glad to see we have a spokesman for all Christianity!! It's about time all Christians were told who, what, when, where and how to practice their particular religion. The ONLY error I see in Mr. Brule's argument is with respect to a President wanting to have a bad law repealed (one that violates the First Amendment, and basically blackmails those who would practice religious free speech!), is Christ's admonition to \"render unto Caesar...\" etc. Those wanting to keep the Johnson Amendment as law, seem to have something to fear, to have their \"brand\" of secular \"morality\" and \"ethics\" called into question, from the pulpit.\n(And for someone on the left to be concerned with someone being a \"sexual predator\" and a \"liar\" smacks of their complete blindness to their own former presidents, candidates, etc....those attributes are what their party is built on!!)", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Exactly, your examples of Christian misdeeds are IN THE PAST. Crusades? McKinley? Lol Please! How about Charlie Hebdo? Nice? Istanbul? 9/11? The Taliban? Genital mutilation? Child brides? Arranged marriages with under age girls? Slavery? All things that are happening TO DAY in the muslim world. Backwardsness. Uncertainty. Schism. That is what you offer? No thank you. Your examples of Islamic schism are proof of its instability and violence. We don't want that rubbish here. People still killing each other over a centuries' old dispute over who should acsend Mohammed. Islam requires governmental despotism in order to thrive. Why else would all those Islamic nations be ruled by dictators? Too often all one sees is senseless murder, pestilence, apathy and despotism in those countries. Oh whitey's fault again?! Oh but the British, the French...It gets old. Quite clearly any sensible person would decide not to invite the common thread of all that violence into their community: Islam.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Exactly. You think that Trump and (necessarily) everyone who voted for him is a rabid fascist who are all intent to \"unleash on the world\" fascism.\n\nI don't find your opinion boring. I find it fascination that you and other self described Catholics hold such an opinion.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Bishop Thomas Paprocki, to replace Pope Francis. The Catholic Church is not a club, either you follow it or you are not a Catholic.\nAlso please don't engage on my monologue, you unhinged crazy liberals .", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Christians and others are being slaughtered by Moslems all over the world because they are not Moslem. Moslems are killing Moslems because they are not the right kind of Moslems. Why do we allow them entry into our country? Keep them and their scrabbles out. Let in those that are willing to get along with there neighbours.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "According to Burke in April it didn't threaten anything at all. His reason for making a fool of himself now with this silly letter would appear to be that we are all running around in a state of confusion and bewilderment. \n\nMost sane Catholics have a fair idea about who is confused here, and it is not Francis.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Don't forget the Armenia holocaust of 1 million Christians by peaceful muslims and that six million number has been officially revised by the Holocaust authorities themselves. Let's talk about the Jihad against Indians shall we, Koenard Elst in Negationism in India gives an estimate of 80 million Hindus killed in the total jihad against India and let's not forget why the Crusades happened! It was because of 400 years of islamic barbarism, Can we forget how Mohammed thanked the Jews who helped him in Medina? He killed them, chopped off their heads. Some prophet, killing God's chosen and those Nazi's weren't Christians! It is also estimated that Over 110 Million Blacks were killed by Islam. So Christians can hardly be considered the biggest mass murderers, it isn't any surprise who really are the biggest mass murderers in history, estimated at a whopping 250 million and that is muslims.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Some men \"who took a vow\" raped little children. Then celebrated mass. And kept on celebrating masses for years. And raping children. The pontifical secret means that anyone in the church reporting \"men who took a vow\" to the civil authorities for this crime, i.e. Police, are to be excommunicated. This still stands today, and Francis could wipe it out with a stroke of his pen today. But he has not. Look up 'Pontifical Secret'.\n\nFurther, why should a man not take more than one vow? What is wrong with the married state? What is wrong with sex in a committed relationship? What is sinful enough to suggest death of the soul? Forever. The priestly vow of celibacy is only a church discipline. Like not eating meat on a Friday. That discipline has been abolished, so why not the celibacy one? God/Jesus never suggested that \"mortal sin\" exists. It is a construct by the church, made to instill fear into its subjects so as to have power over them.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "What rights of Muslims are being violated--that they need Christians to come to their defense? If anything, I think our country and government are quite favorable to Muslims, while being hostile to Christianity.\n\nFor example: putting a statue of Mary in urine is considered art, yet the person who wanted to burn Korans was called out and strongly condemned. A professor who requested people to send him consecrated hosts was not strongly condemned, but those who desecrate Muslim sacred things are. A professor has his students draw a picture of Jesus and tells them to stomp on it and nothing happens to him. What would happen to a professor who tells his students to draw the prophet Mohammad and stomp on that?\n\nOh, and when have the Muslims been called out for their moral teachings and their teachings on women? \n\nI don't think the Muslim community is having their rights trampled that Christians need to defend them. I do think the rights of Christians are being trampled.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "What the parish bullies and gossips who \"use religion as a weapon against others\" don't realize is that they're putting their immortal souls in serious peril with their their cruelty, arrogance, and judgmental disposition towards people they regard as \"inferior\" and want kicked out of the church. \nI remember reading in C.S. Lewis' \"Mere Christianity\" a passage stating that a cold, self-righteous prig with a superior attitude is far closer to hell than a prostitute; this same thing holds true today. An arrogant, gossipy parish bully who plays God is far closer to Hell than any LGBT individual.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Your proof that Christians are murdering in the name of their God is Robert Lewis Dear?\n\nThe delusional whackadoodle declared mentally unfit to stand trial? The crazy (literal crazy) dude who believes the FBI cuts holes in his clothes and leaves feathers in his apartment?\n\nThat's your \"Christian?\"\n\nNice.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "It is odd how the bad things about a person get so glossed over, and we look at them through rose-colored glasses after death. Ali was a bigot. He looked down on white people and Christians.\n\nThe radical Malcolm X himself converted him to follow the Nation of Islam, which is a well recognized hate group with strong antisemitism, and gave him his name of Muhammad Ali. Ali was against the assimilation of blacks into American culture and society, and opposed miscegenation.\n\nAnd he was not that good a husband or father either, divorcing 3 wives. He divorced his 1st wife after she refused to dress like a Muslim: \"I even divorced my wife\u2026 just because she wouldn't wear dresses long enough\"\n\nAnd he attacked the USA repeatedly. He called Vietnam \"a white man's war\", and said that \"My enemy is the white people!\" \n\nOther quotes from Ali: \"All Jews and gentiles are devils\", \"The sins of drinking, smoking, prostitution, homosexuality, stealing, gambling: It all comes from white people.\"", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Michael T,\nMost people accept and ask for forgiveness without blaming someone else for their wrong doing.\nDon't you think it is so untruthful/cowardice of Catholic clergies and their aids always blame someone else for their sins or point to others wrong doing instead?\n \n\"Let us hope that a reorganized SNAP or some new org of another name emerges that will work for the good of victims and be helpful to the Church in addressing the problems. Must not be angry all the time.\"\n \nSure what to be angry all the time for, it just the clergies raped children, ruins children's/their families' lives or children kill themselves! Every parent knows instantly what to do with the rapist! Why is it that CI clergy claim that they do not know what to do? Is it really a sane person to pass the rapist around and around for thirty years to you?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The good, bad and the ugly - so what? \"Conservative catholic\" includes the fundamentalist ideologue, the pious observant and the self-serving hypocrite. Right? Where do you fit?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Oh my, \"burned in fire for eternity\". I am very happy that you have found a path, but I wish you would appreciate that you cannot expect every Catholic to believe exactly as you do. After all, it took you many years for you to find what made sense in your life.\nAs a policeman, you must realize that everybody is different and their motivations and understandings are different. We all come from different circumstances and do the best that we can to understand what God means in our lives. It is the height of narcissism for you to finally find God, then expect everybody else to follow you in lockstep. We have our own methods and believe that they are in line with church teachings.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pence for President would be as bad as Trump. Pence is a far right wing ultraconservative Christian. I am not denigrating Christianity, just Pence's brand of it. Second, anyone who would accept to work for Trump is dead meat as a future President. But, it is likely that if Trump goes, Ivanka and Jarrod will make the push to get her elected.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What possible evidence do you have that Islam (or Hinduism or any of the 10,000+ religions found in recorded history) is a false religion but that Christianity is not? It can't be from your God since you have no evidence that your God exists.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm not suggesting your wrong, but \"literally thousands of cemeteries across Canada that are exclusive to Catholics, Protestants and Jews.\" \nCan you cite references for this statement?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Paul, maybe you or someone can help explain evangelicals for me--I think I know and appreciate Christianity but the Evangelical voting confuses me- Reed claims 88% for Trump, a candidate rather far from the usual Christian virtues as I understand them. \nReminds me of their enthusiastic support of the Iraq war. What gives?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "More FAKE NEWS from Trent! You can push your own mute buttons, and you get to keep yours off mine. You are NOT a reliable commenter on anything Catholic, and most readers here know that!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Dominion Theology\" is one that seeks a Christian theocracy. It hasn't anything to do with male or female. It is a Protestant movement and not at all a Catholic one.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Far right in Israel, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt, Turkey (nation denies the Armenian Genocide of 1915),\nRussia (Putin trying to restore the influence of the Orthodox Church,\nHungary (Trying to restore the influence of the Catholic church)\nPoland (Trying to restore the influence of the Catholic church)\nSo you have extremist Jews, Sunni, Shittes, Orthodox Christians and Catholics.\nWhich one is attacked the most by the fake news media????", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There shouldn't be the slightest controversy here. There are no grounds to push religious expression out of public schools when practiced voluntarily and outside of class time. And in fact Christian, Jewish and other faith gatherings are common in our public schools. Nor does letting the kids come up with their own sermons make any difference. They have to be vetted by a teacher for goodness sake! Does anyone imagine that a Bible circle would be held to this standard? Let's call this for what it is: bigotry against a religious minority fed by fear and ignorance.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Why is it that the ecumenical modernists always seem to ignore Luther's defections on matters of dogma.\"\n\nPerhaps because the Church ignored Luther's justified outrage, ignored also what many faithful Catholics of the time experienced as aberrations and scandalous interpretations of dogma?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Is it true that the Catholic church has always been immigrant-friendly?\n\nIt's not true. Spain expelled its Jews in the 1400s, and discriminated against protestants and other religions during the Franco years. Then there were the Crusades. And slavery. \n\nIn brief, history shows us that the Church was a reluctant opponent of slavery; protestant abolitionists were the vanguard of the anti slavery movement, while the Church stood on the sidelines during the Civil War. \n\nThe Church has only been pro-immigrant when it suited is aims. During the 1800s, the Church was all for the immigration of European Catholics to America. The reason why is the same reason for why the Church today is pro immigration from Latino countries. In a word, power. \n\nLarge scale immigration in the 1800s led to Catholicism going from a very marginal and hated religion, to the U.S.'s largest and most powerful religion. \n\nThe bishops know the awesome political power of immigration.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I cannot believe anyone would actually write this: \"Thus, we as Canadians must do more to make those faiths more welcome than, say, tired, antiquated Christianity.\" So what you are saying is that because Christianity is tired and antiquated it deserves less validation? OMG! What an excellent example of discrimination, bigotry and Christianaphobia!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Murkowski is a Rhino. Republican in name only. Dump Lisa -next election! Sorry I ever voted for her. She's also a Cino -catholic in name only...supports Planned Parenthood abortion mills, and selling of aborted baby body parts in the name of \"women's health\" choice. What a crock...plus Lisa's done nothing in her USA Senate chair of energy to help Alaska move forward. Her proposals are always voted down, she doesn't know how to collaborate. She's not respected by Senate colleagues, thus nothing gets done...drain the swamp!!! By dumping Lisa Murkowski!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What irks me most is the alignment of a noticeable section of Roman Catholicism to our leader. These folks are mostly well off and though they espouse Christian ideals - I don't see an iota of intelligent understanding of the concept behind \"The Sermon on the Mount\"\nKudos to Mel Gibson with his latest directorial effort which highlighted the bravery and courage of a Concious Objector. \nHe may have changed.\nThe lack of understanding of Christ's compassion to others such as lepers- oh yes- the blind, and disabled, his kindness to a reformed tax collector, his nonshaming of the young rich man who walked away from him, his sense of humor hidden in his parables is completely and utterly absent.\nThose who support the Sheriff Joes of our present country and world are not only creating spiritual and moral havoc in their own souls but overlaying our world with a blanket that will taint and stain our future.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't think one has to believe the text is literally true in order to conclude that the argument made in this essay is specious. Both Michael and the Monsignor state that Catholic social teaching is grounded in the Hebrew scriptures and they make the mistake of attributing the Exodus account to the supposed exilic period. They're wrong on both counts. The Hebrew scriptures include a number of texts that speak of welcoming the stranger, but scholars agree they refer to fellow Hebrews. The same scriptures portray the Hebrews as conquering and annihilating neighboring peoples, which you correctly point out is neither historical nor deriving from the exilic period. \nSo there is no basis for their argument, which is just fine with me. I think it's perfectly reasonable to state that Catholic social teaching has developed into what it is and we're all committed to it as the basis for our reflections on justice. Dragging in mythical figures and stories adds nothing to the argument.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "HA. You flatter yourself. There is nothing you've said that I haven't encountered before and already considered. (And your penchant for appropriating what I write to use against me is the laziest of tactics.) For all your facility with Catholic theology you come off as a wall of clanging bronze. I've encountered Catholics who radiated Christ-likeness and you are certainly not one of them. On the contrary, it's you relentless dogmatists who drive people from the church if not Christianity altogether.\n\nI consider your constant hounding on me personally to be bordering on harassment. I suppose I could ignore you until Civil Comments gifts us with blocking.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The words from today's Mass (the Gospel of St Matthew) come back to mind.\n\n\"Jesus said to his disciples:\n\"Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine,\nlest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.\"\n\n----\n\nMany Catholics will stop and say \"Jesus said that?\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You should have written no Church or State ceremony recognised spouse or children. \n\nIn BC a priest could end up legally common law married to a live in house keeper, of either gender, or to another priest, just by having the same address for more than the specified time. \n\nCatholic Priests have fathered children, not always with consent from the mother. Haven't you heard about that?\n\nEarly Christians regarded marriage as a corrupt pagan custom. They lived communally. Early converts were expected to donate all their worldly possessions. Wasn't one couple that held back belongings stoned to death?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The McLean's article is an opinion piece, though the author is presented as an academic. Nothing much to do with corruption, actually. more with some social humbuggery and grasping for money .... suspicion of others all round ... . in his academic analysis he ties this into the highway fiasco in a major storm. Go figure. It was bound to cause a commotion, and it did. After 3 firings of provincial officials, the fiasco claims another victim in an unexpected quarter. He is now free to write about Scots being cheap, the Maritime Provinces' loser mentality, anglo-saxon historical perfidy, non-christian religions of his choosing's ... better not go there", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Interesting how Christianity is his worst attribute - according to Chuck. No one would ever say, \"Devout Hindu doesn't even begin to describe him.\" or \"Faithful Buddhist...\" or \"Follower of the Flying Spaghetti Monster...\" Yet, if someone follows Christ, it's OK to hate them. I will continue to love as Christ loved...I just won't understand some people here on earth.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "@SHIMON KOFFLER FOGEL a le culot de nous dire;\n\u201cFaith communities should be leaders in this exercise. What better way to demonstrate our unique role in contributing to and shaping our country than to do something that will inspire all Canadians to make Canada even better, more inclusive and more caring?\u201d\nNo Way ! Keep Out of sight !\n\u201cBig-mouth\u201d Grande-gueule Qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois will NEVER let another religion come replace Catholic Church and implant itself stealthily on its territory", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I appreciate how PF pushes the flock to seek a conversion in Christ, to \"Christianity\" rather than the Almighty \"ism\" of bygone eras.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Love how you tipi toe around a \"particular religion\" got forbid you offended someone. You see the rules for Christians are much much different, you can say whatever offensive rubbish that comes to mind. \nWeak immigration policy's must end, particularly from parts of world that aren't secular and have a history of violence. \nThe safety of our citizens must come 1st period !!!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As of this evening, I am working to obtain donations to Catholic Relief Services for Haiti, and for those in my home town of Cleveland to also financially help Blessed Trinity Parish who have given so unselfishly to help the desperate poor. May God bless them all. How much more can poor Haiti endure, O Lord?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The early Christians had to decide what they were supposed to do, consider their new religion an outgrowth of Judaism, and get people to convert to Judaism and follow all the laws, including the food laws and getting circumcised, as Peter thought, or consider it a new religion, and not require that, as Paul thought. And Paul won.\n\nPagans were not required to follow Jewish law.\n\nThe New Testament has Jesus saying, \"You have heard X, but I tell you.....\".\n\nThe penalty for adultery was stoning, but he stopped the stoning of an adultress, saying, \"Let the one who has never sinned, throw the first stone\". Etc.\n\nSo they concluded the N.T. superseded the Old.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I reiterate the idea that repeal would be hazardous to most main stream churches. Not just Catholic but mainline Protestant churches have divided congregations. Having the preachers politicize the church will lead to an exodus and decline in funding. Some people might embrace a smaller, political Catholic Church, as long as it is consistent with their politics, but in the long run they will see it diminish into oblivion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Islam and Christianity do not share similar values. In fact, Muslims will explain to you how they do not view the Trinity or the 10 Commandments or any other facet of Christianity as being the slightest bit true or factual. Allah is not our God, and God is not Allah, and it is Muslims who like to keep it that way. But, YMMV.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you for this wonderfully written review. I relished the quality of your writing. \n\nWhile I don't doubt for a second, Sister Rose, that you have captured the essence of this thing, I none the less expect I will go see it. How Catholic celibates are so freely mocked is a theme that intrigues me, especially in light of the clerical sex abuse scandal. \n\nYour reviews are always a delight. Thank you. \n\nBTW, thank you for rolling ever so sagely with our beloved local master of irony. Kurgan is a delight in his/her own way. ;-}", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The church loves to talk about social justice! But, when it comes to treatment of the laity who work for the church, not so much! Other than power and money, what does the church actually care about rather than talk about?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\" There are zero saints who are unrepentent same-sex \"marriage\" activists like Wally Brewster.\" Wow, I knew that you wanted to be the gatekeeper of the Roman Catholic Church. But now, you have foreknowledge of who is a saint?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Then take it up with jamesjames.......HE'S the one who wrote the words. He doesn't care 50 people were just massacred , he only cares about what will happen to his precious weapons.\n\nAnd you're still evading my post about Robert Lewis Dear and the Army of God after you demanded proof of the last time Christians murdered in the name of God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Is there a Jewish or Christian organization that gets $300 million per year? I don't think any of that is relevant myself. But I'm not sure that their is. \n\nThe giving of the cash doesn't seem partisan, Harper loved his dude too. The issue here is political officials accepting gifts, which is illegal. It's not really up for debate, it is against the law to take a gift, whether or not it influences policy. It's also against the law to offer a gift to a political official or government staffer.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"activist radical Muslims\" is no different than \"activist radical Christians\" ... with about the same percentage of radicals within each. The radicals do not define a religion ... they are radicals, no matter their religious \"cover\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Don't tell the Christians that", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"if you have Christian, conservative values,\"\nRalph Shortey has Christian, conservative values.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration has already stated categorically that he will not open Canada's doors to Christians. That would be religion faith based immigration policy and against our secular moral standards. He said just a couple of weeks ago that Christians don't face the same dangers as other legitimate refugees. He will however welcome all Muslims fleeing Trump's persecution in the US.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You can imagine how many of us feel then after 35 years of dry, turgid, religiosity. But now we have a Pope who lives and preaches the gospel. \n\nIt must be terrible for conservative Catholics who voted for Clinton. (Were there any?) They got Trump and Francis! Now that IS cognitive dissonance!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "First of all, it was the Runnymede report that devised \"closed\" and \"open\" view of Islam - not me. Second, I disagreed with that, by saying that this is problematic. Muslims - like Christians and Jews - read their holy book at different levels;many do not read it at all; some who do, do not understand the original Arabic. And, their understanding differ widely. For those of us living in Western, liberal democracies - yes - there are passages that some struggle to reconcile. Other faith groups go through the same thing. It is the blanket condemnation on ALL Muslims that is problematic. And in fact, we should not issue blanket condemnation of people of faith, but instead, arrive at a common understanding of how we are to live together, in peace, without infringing on the rights of others. \nSheema", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "can you cite a reference. I always understood skyofblue was correct (even if I disagree with the idea of the catholic school board)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Social justices workers make the self gift on themselves to make a better world. As Christ tipped over the tables of the money changers, social justice types follow Christ's example.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I haven't seen any Christians beheading and burning people alive simply for not being Christians. I suppose you can go back in history and find examples but I would doubt that Muslims of old were sitting around singing kumbaya with their neighbors either. In the modern world, there is no comparison. Islam is having problems all over the world, with all different cultures.\nIf you are talking about the third world being under attack by western countries, then you are talking secular societies that may or may not be majority Christian and geopolitical motivations.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Conservative Catholics, especially here in America, have conjured up a \"cult of personality\" around JPII.He was a very busy Pope what with writing encyclical after encyclical,appointing bishops based upon a litmus test of adherence to Humanae Vitae, commissioning a Catechism of the Catholic Church which was a surprise to many since nobody even knew we needed one, and various other projects. All these activities had a purpose: To lock down discussion on controversial issues, both during his papacy, and, more importantly, after his death. These kind of schemes never work, and the whole structure that Woytola put in place is disintegrating under Francis. This is why the Catholic Right is so alarmed and is why they loathe and detest Bergoglio.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I\u2019m a former teacher and an atheist but I have no problem if students in a public school, on their own time decided to pray in any respectful way they choose. While I personally hope they come to the conclusion that there is no supreme being, they need to come to this on their own. Neither the school system, haters, my fellow atheists nor anyone else has the right to tell a student on their own time what they should do. Leave these Muslims (and Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists or anyone else) alone.\n\nSome Muslims are terrorists. So are some Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists or even atheists. No group is innocent. And no group is all evil. Again, leave these kids alone.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A Christian man, his obedient Christian wife, and their Christian offspring.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is a simpler, fundamental explanation for the Arabs' intransigence over a Jewish state in Palestine. It is a religious prohibition. A passage in the Qu'ran states that Muslims are forbidden to give up territory that has been made Muslim. Palestine was conquered early on by Arab Muslims and reclaimed from the Crusaders in the Middle Ages, so falls under this prohibition. For Abbas or anyone else to formally recognize a Jewish state in Palestine it would be a serious violation of their religion - apostasy. This they cannot do. \n\nWhat they could do is quietly abandon hostilities against Israel without official admission of doing that or official recogniing of Israel as a Jewish state, as they have done with Spain, once largely a Moorish (Muslim) land, and more recently in Nagorno-Karabakh and neigboring territory reclaimed by the Armenians from Azerbaijan. If there is to be peace in Palestine, that is what it must look like.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm not really surprised that a large percentage of Muslims express negative views about homosexuality as this aligns with views in many other conservative religious communities. A 2015 Pew Research Center study of attitudes among American Christians indicated that despite increasing tolerance only 54% believe homosexuality should be accepted by society. However, support levels are lower in some faith communities, including members of historically black Protestant congregations (51%), Evangelical Protestants (36%), Mormons (36%) and Jehovah's Witnesses (16%). Acceptance is highest among Roman Catholics (70%) and mainline Protestants (66%). Given the Pew Research Center results, it seems to me that the real challenge to tolerance arises within the broader context of organized religion, and particularly among those who hold fundamentalist beliefs. \n\nhttp://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/12/18/most-u-s-christian-groups-grow-more-accepting-of-homosexuality/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Its a little over a 100 days of President Donald Trump infant administration,, every time you see the word Democrat with Donald Trump, its always, \"always\" against his agenda. if its not a dirty joke (like these liberal Democrats supporters comedians on late night) its protest of some kind. These liberal, secular, progressive atheist Democratic party will never accept President Trump as our country leader because of their sour grapes hate.\n President Trump has accomplished a lot of things for this country in his first 100 days. For American jobs, and keeping company from heading out of the country...for American is what this President has done. A commercial ad for television was produced about President Trump accomplishment, but CNN (fake news), liberal networks ABC, NBC CBS will not show it. \n President Trump is for Christian values, where as Obama was not. Maybe thats one reason the atheist secular Democratic party will not accept President Trump Agenda.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well after several days of flack DM have published a response, which besides the two brothers unusual \"bent\" to all this, at least demonstrates that they are reasonably unbiased. As another \"down to earth\" and hopefully sensitive and loving Christian, I appreciate Onne's carefully worded response, although personally I would question some aspects of his atonement theology. \nAs Christians we have much to apologise for and to be embarrassed about, in the way that the faith has been \"rammed down others throats\". So, even if its rather meaningless, I apologise to any readers who have been subject to such action. Christians have behaved very badly over the last 200 years (as one reader commented) and the faith has become distorted and damaged. (think of the ghastly American tele-evangelists!) We need to get back to understanding our doctrines in terms of the attributes of God. \"He\" is not what many Christians think he is!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hahahahahahahahaha..............\"support ideals of Sharia Law\".\n\nIf you took 5 minutes out of your pathetic delusions, you would find that Sharia Laws parallel Christian laws. Here is a website that compares the two religions; http://www.swapmeetdave.com/Bible/Christianity-Islam-chart.htm\nThere isn't much difference in the religions and if you were rational, you would see that, but because you are an extremist like those that hijack Islamic teachings and set a bad example for the rest, you are proportionally exact.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "true, I think, that liturgy and sacraments developed early in the Christian communities. But that does not always mean that the APOSTLES themselves, personally 'led' them. Much developed after they had died.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am not interested in Trump or the Conservatives nor the Progressives. I am interested in the meeting... A meeting at the Trump International Hotel, $1,250 a person, an exclusive gathering of \"Catholic leaders, clergy...\"\n\nThey cannot be Catholic, at least not Catholics who follow Pope Francis with his vision of \"poor church for the poor.\" No...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So why should Catholics be so afraid of Protestants? Or is it fear of losing control?\nIncidentally the Church of England has continued with reforming the liturgy, and the dioceses of the Anglican communion use a variety of forms in local languages. It is not the rigid form of the liturgy that unites the Church (or any other rules) but the faith of Christ in each of the Baptised. Our understanding of his faith deepens as our own faith in God deepens.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...not wholly honest.\" I expected that somewhere in your reply you would call me a liar, par for the course.\nAh, the teaching on salvation. I am sick and tired of going over this again and again with you yet you keep bringing it up without ever refuting my arguments that Vatican II does not, in fact, contradict Unam Sanctam. \nYou say I deleted a post because you proved that I was wrong, I categorically deny that, so now it is up to you to prove it. \nIf the Magisterium is the teaching of Christ through His Church then it can never change as Christ is God. This belief requires Faith.\nIf one disagrees with the Church's teaching on faith and Morals then where does one stand? Accept the morality of the age or make up your own? This is what you have told us you do, John, countless times. \nI accept the teaching of the Church as she interprets it not I. If I didn't then why would I submit to her teachings, what would be the point? \nCC or JH, I know which I would choose.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree with MSW on this, that in fact it shows high regard for the integrity of the Catholic to ask how his/her commitment to this or that aspect of church doctrine on morality (BTW, NOT \"dogma,\" a term that bespeaks bad education or prejudice when it arises in this sort of context) can be counted on to affect his/her engagement in public/civic activity.\n\nAnd for the same reason I entirely agree with the excellent Cathleen Kaveny -- who I'm so glad has left Notre Dame for BC.\n\nBut the reaction of paranoid fringe Catholics such as the unspeakable blowhard Bill Donohue should not waste our time, as though it represents any important Catholic sentiment. Nor should we be distracted by any quibbles regarding the Constitution, contra religion as qualification for office, as came up with Bernie Sanders when he was questioning a candidate in June: quite irrelevant. But is adherence to a particular religion (whatever \"adherence\" means) a DISqualification? That fully deserves to be asked.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ghostofjonnybeeskiredux,\n\nI used this commandment because we take God's word and immediately interpret it to \"thou shall not kill human beings\" even though it's a general commandment. Animals are living creatures from God too and respect is a Christian value. We should respect the lives of other living beings. The Lord himself did prescribe animal sacrifices but for God, not for his own nourishment. Either way, we are in a different time now. We don't, at least as Christians we don't, do animal sacrifices. We don't have to mistreat animals just because there is no Commandment against it. Also, the Bible shouldn't be taken literally. Just because there were animal sacrifices back then, doesn't mean there should be now. We are luckily in a better time now where we could take responsibility and action to protect all forms of life, human or animals.\n\nAnd it isn't my area code, it's just a number I like hahaha", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Fine--so long as you understand that your position is a double edged sword. That means in the days when slavery was legal, separation of Church and state demanded that the bishops stay out of politics and therefore remain politically neutral on the subject.\n\nThat means Pope Francis can preach about care for the poor all he wants--but he has no right to tell the US or any other country that they should tear down walls and build bridges--and welcome refugees even at the expense of national security. As long as you understand these things.\n\nThe fact is that if we are really true to our Catholic Faith, there can be no separation of Church and state. our Faith needs to inform our vote and our lives in the secular sphere. Any while we are on the subject, separation of church and state meant that the government stays out of the Church. It did not mean that the Church has to stay out of government.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Maybe the Catholic school is better located than the public? Maybe the Catholic school has a spiffier uniform?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If I have a reading comprehension problem, then you must be trolling, which now seems likely (maybe your avatar and handle indicates that already, hiding you for this purpose) \n\nYou're assuming things, yet you don't know what I think or how I view a God, if he/she/it/exists as orthodox christianity describes.\n\nYou made this up, I didn't: \u201cMysterious Ways\u201d = \u201cEvil may have a purpose (but don\u2019t ask me what it is).\u201d It also seems you have no interest in hearing someone else's point of view, so I'll leave you to your enjoyment. \n\nOh, by the way, you should look up the meaning of \"confabulations\" so time, so you use big words like that correctly next time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pope Francis doesn't want to criticize Islamic violence because we have Christian violence, well I wish he would criticize Catholic violence and I wish the grand Iman would criticize Islamic violence, in fact both should criticize all violence by either party.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Quoting: \"He says the separation is fueled by outsiders\u2019 impatience and lack of understanding of local culture...The outsiders want to transplant where they came from to Hawaii. And the locals are unwilling to understand the outsiders\u2019 point of view. It\u2019s becoming a real problem, says Akinaka.\" Only half of this quotation suggestion is useful: Restating- When outsiders move here, THEY have to adjust to local context and ways of behaving. Admonishing locals for \"being unwilling to understand the outsiders' point of view\" is yet again accommodative of colonialist impulses that began forcefully with the illegal takeover of Hawaii by white Christian Americans.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A dedicated Catholic is usually referred to in print as \"devout\", but I've noticed that Sikhs are often described as \"proud\". Of their religion. It can be a turn-off.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why would anyone be an unpaid volunteer in their parish, when many professional Catholic apologists are making in excess of $100,000 a year?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This all feels like the the Mafia strenuously denying that they have ever done anything illegal. Given their history the catholic Church has zero credibility in matters relating to sex abuse. After decades of denial and cover ups it is hard to believe someone in the Church saying: but this time I am telling the truth.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mr. Baum raises interesting issues. I'm an agnostic..I don't know if there's a god, let alone what defines a \"good Christian.\" My guess would be a hundred individuals would provide at least a hundred different definitions. Moreover, it seems different Christian Churches have very, very different definitions as well. \n\nSeveral years ago I attended the first same-sex wedding held in one of Eugene's largest downtown churches. The Church leaders had spent months deciding to accept same-sex marriage and the ceremony celebrated both the particular wedding and the Church decision. Across the street were cousins of one of the brides wielding picket signs denouncing same-sex marriage as the \"work of Satan\"....I'm sure they felt they were \"doing God's work\" as good Christians. \n\nMay I offer a secular suggestion. How about leaving people alone; free to live their lives as they please so long as they're not harming others. I apologize for such a radical proposal..Gary Crum", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So now its \"strongly suggests\" instead of absolutely proves, at least we are starting to accept reason. I happen to be pro-life, anti-abortion, anti- gender identity, and for proper vetting of immigrants. According to the Southern Law Poverty Center I would be labeled a bigot, misogynist, white supremacist and homophobe. In truth I am none of the above, but simply an American Citizen that practices the Roman Catholic Faith. Lastly, President Obama had the Black Panthers praise him during his term in office, does that make Obama a radical Black Panther?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Whatever the secularist RG editors have to say about Donald Trump is irrelevant.\n\nHere's what their Jesus, Barack Hussein Obama, said about himself in 2008....... \u201cA light will shine down from somewhere. It will light upon you. You will experience an epiphany and you will say to yourself, \u2018I have to vote for Barack\u2019,\n\nNancy Pelosi said...... \"Barack Hussein Obama is a leader that God has blessed us with at this time\"\n\nTalk about pandering to evangelicals, Obama led the parade.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Milwaukee is an odd form of Catholic justice: victims get 10 K or less, perpetrators get 20 K and the church lawyers get multiples of 200K.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's truly scandalous for a minister of the Catholic church to use his ministry as a platform for supporting Trump and despicable for him to encourage others to do it. The association of the church with an openly racist politician has historical precedent, and it's not a pretty picture.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have been withdrawing my financial support for Catholic organizations for the last few years but this is the last straw. Trunp is the antithesis of everything the Church is supposed to stand for.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"... if you contacted the SCOTUS and shared your expertise in constitutional law with them.\"\nThe Supreme Court that previously ruled 1) it was legal for the post office to open mail without a warrant, 2) slavery is OK, 3) interning hundreds of Japanese people during WWII was legal, 4) preventing women and blacks from voting was OK, 5) segregation was legal, and 6) allowing teachers in public schools to preach Christian dogma regardless of what parents wanted?\nWhat they decide one day can be changed on another.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The debate of whether there should be religious schools or not, is definitely a valid one. \n\nNow, what kind of person decides to attend a Catholic school out of free will, and then complains that they try to teach him catholicism? What's next? Sign up for the boy-scouts and complain that they made you camp?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The book in question tells of an attack that kills the President and most of Congress, an attack by religious fundamentalist terrorists who launch a revolution, suspend the United States Constitution, take away women's rights, and establish a sexist, theocratic totalitarian state oppressing the masses with theocratic barbarity.\n\nAnd for the religion chosen, the creepy, fundamentalist terrorist religion?\n\nThe writer of course chose Christianity, thus assuring a large following of fawning leftists and plenty of prizes and awards from their ilk in the ladder of literary politics.\n\nHad the writer chosen Islam, her book would be condemned as hate speech for fanning the flames of Islamophobia, and she would have been condemned as an outcast pariah by human rights councils and academics, facing costly legal fees such as those foisted upon Mark Steyn for his writing.\n\nForget the dystopia of her book: We ALREADY presently live in a deranged world even without any fictional flourishes...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Michael, I really don't want to hear you sing. I don't want to watch different members of the laity \"expressing\" themselves and \"performing\" at the altar. You accuse any and everybody who favors the Tridentine Mass of being ideologues and elitists who \"look down their noses\" at the supposed majority of supposedly real Catholics clamoring for the Novus Ordo Mass. Michael, if you want to find ideologues and elitists, perhaps you should read your own \"opinions\" in your own blog, and the comments of the approximately two dozen faithful readers of your posts.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Francis the progressive becomes Francis the regressive, refighting the battles of his youth.\n\nIn 50 years we have moved from an ancient rite that had been allowed to become too remote and encrusted with no longer understood symbolism to a pathetic translation that was the least of our problems amid the nonsense that was 70's liturgy to that pathetic translation becoming the base of a protestant style though more dignified liturgy to a worthy translation and something that started to look and sound Catholic.\n\nENOUGH! Could we please stop fighting the same damned battle. please?\n\nHere's hoping the US bishops have sense enough not to use this new found power and leave well enough alone.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What does a \"particular religion\" mean?\n\nSo if this guys turns out to be Christian we'll blame it on Christiantiy? I do'nt think so. Fact is anyone committing terror in the name of Islam isn't following Islam - they're just using it as an excuse. But no actual true believers of Islam are committing terrorism because the religion doesn't allow it.\n\nFar too many people don't get it. Studies prove that terrorists are generally not even overly knowledgable about Islam let alone devout. It's all just an excuse to justify their violence. That's why it's so hard to solve. It was just a religion it'd be easy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Tom, I am sorry, I think you are more hopeful than practical. The American Catholic Bishops have allowed themselves, as a body and individually, to be corrupted by ideological stances that do not allow dialogue. They have been baited and have taken it, hook, line and sinker, and while duped into thinking they have influence, have made the Catholic Church in the US, sectarian. \n\nNovember 9 and 10 marked the 76th anniversary of \u201cKristallnacht\u201d when Nazis ran wild, desecrating synagogues, burning the Scrolls, burning and vandalizing Jewish businesses and homes, terrorizing a community of people, killing 100, and initiating the persecution of the Jews, resulting in the Holocaust. \n\nIdeology replaced politics and so civic society in Germany was wiped out or significantly diminished functional politics, to the point that civic society could not resist the great evil let loose in Germany, Europe, and the world. \n\nOur religious institutions are so infected by ideology- we need a cleansing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You raise a valid question about the destruction of fertilized embryos at IVF clinics.. Murder? Actually, yes. Torture? A developing baby can feel pain from between 20 to 28 weeks, so at just several days of development, no pain, unlike many abortions. To the main point of why aren't Christians picketing IVF clinics, I think there are several issues going on. One is that most Christians aren't proactively involved in the pro-life movement (to their shame), and for those who are, they already have their hands full dealing with actual abortion clinics, Planned Parenthood, and the like. Secondarily, there is emotionally a much greater degree of separation in dealing with a fertilized egg sitting in a tube that is never going to develop beyond a handful of days unless it has the further human intervention of being implanted. Do you donate to any causes you feel strongly about? You're much more likely to donate locally than to the same cause in an unknown place far away. Human psychology.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Gary,\nIt is the responsibility of parents to teach their children the difference between right and wrong, to teach them consequences and to teach them to take responsibility for their actions. Parents are a child first and best teachers. \nYes, even a great parent can give birth to a sociopath or psychopath. The age old question was the sociopath/psychopath \"born\" or \"made\". I believe research shows that it can be both.\nA old book but still relevant is \" High Risk: Children Without A Conscience\u201d by Ken Magid.\nParents know their child best or they should, and they are the people who can see the signs long before something bad happens. \nI remember attending a Catholic school in the late 1950's (not a Catholic) where we had a ethics class starting in the sixth grade. I doubt many if any schools teach it now and as a parent I would want to know what it was they were teaching.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There's that Catholic progressive inclusiveness I keep hearing about.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We've elected a minority president twice. There are minorities of every kind in elective offices. There are minorities prospering in every profession under the sun. We are the only country on earth famous for being a melting pot of all the world's peoples. It is you who should investigate what it's like being a minority in other countries. How is it for Christians in majority Muslim countries? In many they can't even openly worship. How is it to be a poor gringo south of the border? How about a poor white in most African countries? The rich ones all have to have their own private security service. There is no better place for any ethnic or religious minority than right here. This is where this topic has gotten too, propaganda-wise: people making assertions that everyone knows are just plain false but in our twisted PC culture they are given credence nonetheless.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I haven't heard of any particular instances of priests actually offering the internal forum as of yet, but I'm aware of at least five dioceses that have affirmed the practice of readmitting to the Eucharist divorced and civilly remarried, sexually active couples if they come to the conclusion that it is the right decision for their spiritual lives and their relationship after speaking with a priest in the internal forum. Those diocese are San Diego, USA; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Freiburg and Speyer, Germany; and a diocese in France that I'm having trouble recalling/searching for.\n\nAside from this, I know of two parishes in which I have worked that the pastors and some pastoral associates have not discriminated among those parishioners whom they know to be in a second marriage and readily admitted them to communion. Because they are real pastors, pastors make an effort to learn the ones they serve and are attentive to their needs. I would guess that many, many other pastors do the same.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't recall anyone being forced to recite the Lord's Prayer at school in Ontario in the 60's and 70's. Jewish students who comprised many of my classmates did not.\nI don't have any issue with these prayers, Christian or Muslim, but I can see for for some that the expansion of accommodation to the Muslim religion is coincident with the denouncement of anything Christian, especially Christmas. I would suggest there needs to be a restoration of balance. Christmas doesn't need to be celebrated for all of December but allowing one or two schools days when people can say \"Merry Christmas\" instead of \"Happy Holidays\" would help.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One good Catholic can disagree with another good Catholic on the best way to bring about a just world in which the God-given dignity of every person is respected.\n\nI have no problem with legitimate differences of political opinion arrived at conscientiously. I have a big problem, however, with demonizing those who hold other viewpoints.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"That the four cardinals had written to the pope and expressed their worries was \"in order and legitimate,\" Pinto said, but the fact that when they had not received an answer, they published their letter some weeks later was a \"slap in the face.\"\"\n\nJust to be clear, Msgr Pinto called them disloyal for publishing the dubia, not for asking them. The Pope was chosen to be the public face of the Catholic Church, and it is those who present themselves as \"more Catholic than the Pope\" who are disloyal to the perennial magisterium of the Church. \n\nA retreat into silence, to study and pray over the Church's teaching, is a usual prescription for such disloyalty. It might serve the Church well if these cardinals adopted that posture voluntarily. They may discover how harmoniously AL fits into the Church's teaching.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I FULLY understand the term. Although in the Christian era, ex cathedra took on the meaning of the Pope speaking from the chair and the infallibility that goes with it, in earlier times Hebrews used the term to refer to Moses. In common terms, ex cathedra takes on the meaning of any official speaking from his office on official degree. Even the Oxford Dictionary defines it as \"with the full authority of office\". See, now YOU have learned something that you did not know.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes. In particular, where is Bishop McElroy? Not long ago he urged all Catholics to \"disrupt\" society until all progressive ideals are made law. But I've not yet heard tell he's ever engaged in civil disobedience himself. \n\nI'll give Barber II et al their due -- at least they're walking their talk.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Billy, I have a question for you. I am told that once the Rapture occurs & the seven years of Tribulation ends that Christ will return to earth with all the Christians that were raptured out to Heaven. When Christ returns then the planet Earth will have been renewed & there will be no worries for things such as sickness, murder, theft of a gun store, etc. These Christians will live a new life with a perfect planet. I hope you are a born-again Christian as that's the only way you will experience what you think you \"should\" be experiencing now. Have you ever heard of \"shoulda, woulda, coulda?\" They mean it's not reality. What we \"should\" be experiencing is not what is happening & that's not going to change no matter how much you wish it to do so. I'm sorry if I am bursting your bubble.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "With the tribal honor killing last night in Thorncliffe Park, this on top of the sex-ed rebellion and other demands to change the school system to accommodate Muslims rather than adapt to Canadian customs and values Thorncliffe Park will become a \"no-go\" zone for Christians much like those found in may European countries.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Except that you are not a U.S. citizen and the party you would perhaps support is less close to Catholic teaching than that of the Democrats.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I know that some will say that those who don't agree with Catholic health institutions should just find work elsewhere. For many locations, Catholic-affiliated health care institutions, where the Bishop has power to regulate the organization, is the only game in town, perhaps the only one in the area. \"The watchdog group found that due to mergers and acquisitions over the past 15 years, 14.5 percent of all acute care hospitals in the nation are now either owned by or affiliated with the Catholic church, according to the study. In 10 U.S. states, the number of Catholic hospitals is more than 30 percent.\" So if the dissenting and non-Catholic employees left, there would be a desert of healthcare services for those remaining. Where is the care in that?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But since Trump is not Catholic and therefore not in line with the inerrant and infallible pronouncements of prior popes and councils, do we not have a moral and religious duty to stand up against him and insist he pronounce his allegiance to Rome before he is entitled to be our most noble authoritarian leader?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This issue and problem reminds me of how the British government handled \"the catholic problem\" in Ireland. They brought in Scot Presbyterian folks in need to change the landscape of the catholic uprising. It worked well \nand created painful issues and tragedies on both sides for many decades.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is a good example of how far the secular mindset has crept in and corrupted the good understanding of both our nature and the Gospel. \n\nThe Church allows for palliative care...as I first noted. \n\nAnd Chriz has to distort the point into an unrecognizable form in order to dismiss it. \n\nJesus didn't reject sacrifice....He gave sacrifice its proper meaning: Love.\n\nHe elevated our understanding of sacrifice. \n\nHe gave us the image of the Crucifix for a good reason, to correct distorted forms of sacrifice, some of which include pain.\n\nSuch a disruption, a consumerist view of life: avoid any pain at all costs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If the average Catholic realized that at Mass they are being made present at their own Redemption, they'd agree with Cardinal Sarah.\n\nBut they don't. They mock, they demean, they dismiss, they make jokes. \n\nThey don't have much faith, any sturdy hope, and thus so little real costly love in them to give others.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "[Continued from above] Finally the piece that I originally included on this topic [about the 'woman priest' in a Zurich deanary] is a part of Chapter 8 \"The Hidden Women Priests\" by Marco Politi in his book POPE FRANCIS AMONG THE WOLVES [New York: Columbia University Press, 2014] pp. 90-93. This chapter is partially the story of Monika Schmid, of Effretikon, Switzerland, who is the Gemeindebeauftragte [individual placed in charge of the parish]. She studied religious pedagogy, theology at Luzern [Switz.] and Salzburg [Austria]. She was currently studying interreligious spiritual theology, based on points of contact between Christianity, Jewish mysticism, and Islam.\n\nIt's the case, also, historically, that in Switzerland the parish community engages [and pays] its curate. No Church taxes---they hire, they pay and they can fire.\nAs Politi states, at Monika's parish they only have Mass on Christmas, Easter and twice a month. For the other 250 days a year, Monika's the PRIEST.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are plenty of stories about christs childhood. The gospel of Thomas for example. Such writings were quite popular in early Christianity. They simply didn't make it through the Council of Nicea.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Junge asked that God might see Catholics and Lutherans \"building bridges so that we can come closer to each other ... and tables \u2014 yes, tables \u2014 where we can share bread and wine, the presence of Christ, who has never left us and who calls us to abide in him so that the world may believe.\"\nWhy would a Catholic want to go to a Lutheran 'table' to eat bread and drink wine when he can go to a Catholic 'altar' and receive the real Body and Blood of Our Lord?\nLutherans, have no Holy Orders, no Mass, no Sacrifice and no Eucharist. The fact that Junge repeated the words \"yes, tables\" tells us all we need to know about Lutheran Eucharistic doctrine. The Mass is much more than a 'commemorative meal'.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Church, bishops and cardinals are not seeking the justice position. The candidate is a Catholic, as is her right in this Country; or should only atheists, lapsed Jews, and Democrats be judges?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "@Neighbor\nAccording to whose doctrine you are going to hell? I haven't heard the word hell mentioned at Imago in ages, if ever. Christians just don't know what to think about hell anymore, especially after Rob Bell told us Hell is fiction. \nSo I don't know where you have gleaned this doctrine of Imago Dei, because it is not on their website or preached from the stage on Sunday.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When is the evangelical community going to stand up and speak out against those fellow evangelicals who use your bent of Christianity as a means to enrich themselves, Raven? All I see is lots of tacit approval.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "With the destruction of the liturgy by way of the Novus Ordo Mass, and the Roman Catholic Church reduced to just another Protestant denomination because of Vatican II, the HQ for Christianity is no longer to be found in St. Peter's Basilica. The HQ is now the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow. In the Russian Orthodox Church is to be found the authentic and true faith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jay.... perhaps you were writing 'tongue in cheek'' but did you mean to write ''teachings of Jesus Christ'' as opposed to the ''teachings of the Catholic Church??.''", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Are Christians (and other religions) given prayer rooms on an equal basis?\n\nAren't Public schools suppose to be secular, or has this changed?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How many Catholic cemetaries are located in eastern Montana?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Exactly the same number of Christians as any other religious groups members are making it to heaven, 0.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "and to continue further...\n\nIts not hypocrisy, it's called reasonable accommodation, a long standing Canadian tradition going back to the allowance for Catholic schools in the mid 1800's.\n\nAs for your claim that ANYONE can attend a Catholci school - well you'd better check with the Toronto CSB beacsue their website says that elementary students need \"Proof of Catholicity\" and \"Non-Catholic children of Non-Catholic parents who are not enrolled in the R.C.I.A./R.C.I.C. program are not eligible for admission to a TCDSB elementary school.\"\n\nDoesn't seem as welcoming as you seem to think, does it?\n\nNow Catholic high schools are much more accommodating to be sure but that hardly excuses your error. You did get one thing right though. Some students do attend Catholic schools so they can say prayers.\n\nhttp://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2012/09/17/muslim-prayer-room-opens-in-catholic-high-school\n\nSeems you have a lot of schooling ahead of you. Pay attention now, this may be on the test.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "ok, Tridentius, no insult but your comment shows that you do not understand the multi-parent scenario. The hypothesis does not require that the parents sprung up in different regions of the world. I don't even know how you got that impression. Therefore,you still haven't answered the question. What is the \"altar of scientism\"? Do you mean people who are willing to accept that physical reality is best ascertained by those who study it using science? The church doesn't dispute that. The scriptures are not infallible on geology, biology, physics, etc. nor has the church ever insisted that they are. Catholics are not required to pretend that what is real is not real. If you want to believe, like Marty, that the earth is 6000 years old and that humans lived concurrently with dinosaurs, that is your right. If you believe that though, would you give us the courtesy of telling us that here on this forum?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Type \"Study links low intelligence and low IQ to conservatism and prejudice\". It more or less explains how the \"Christian conservatives\" get their mindset.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your whole point rests entirely on a claim that Jesus lied when He said \"My grace is sufficient for you.\" \n\nJesus must not have been telling the truth. \n\n2 Cor 12: \"Therefore, that I might not become too elated, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me, but He said to me, \u201cMy grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.\u201d I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me.\"\n\nAnd in fact this is one point in the Dubia...is Jesus's grace sufficient or not?\n\nThe pope appears to say Jesus was lying, that God's grace isn't sufficient to live out a marriage until one dies.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yeh? Africa hasn't even begun the reveal yet. All those victims in countries in the third world where abusers were placed out of sight have still to have their say. A tsunami of complaints is on its way.\n\nYou are actually arguing that the reason the number of abuse cases is down is because of the great work the Bishops and Cardinals have done? \n\nRisible. The only reason the numbers are down is because victims began to speak out, the media and the People of God began to at last listen. \n\nAll along, and even today - with the possible exception of the Swiss Bishops conference - the Catholic Hierarchy have set themselves against the truth. It has, and always had to be, dragged out of them. \n\nTell me this, when Ratzinger/Benedict instructed the Bishops NOT to report cases to the police authorities but only to the CDF, do you think that helped or hindered stamping out abuse within the Catholic Church?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part 1\n\nWhen did the past two popes ever have a discussion about current concerns? During Vatican II, there was much discussion about episcopal conferences having more authority than what they had. The Orthodox churches have always had such conferences [which goes back to the Council of Nicaea]---this also continues in the Eastern Catholic churches. The patriarchates still have responsibilities for the appointment of bishops, the creation of dioceses, for the liturgy and its regulation, and for other substantive matters including the election of the patriarch himself. Not so with Western episcopal conferences.\n\nAnother form of collegiality, was the papal synod, which was proposed at Vatican II. At that time, the bishops had in mind synods in which they would join the pope and share a discussion with him which would result in meaningful governance for the universal church. JP II and members of the Curia were afraid that this would be injurious to the supreme authority of the pope.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are approximately 66 books that form the Protestant Bible, depending on the religion, 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. The Catholic Bible has 73.\n\nNow that is eye opening. There is nothing wrong with gaining knowledge. The more you read the Bible do you not gain more knowledge.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Those two things do stand out for me, because Orthodoxy has already revitalized the order of women deacons . . . But I'm a traditionalist when it comes to the liturgy, all the way down to the music . . . but we (Eastern rite folk) have never modernized our service outside of introducing English and doubt we ever will. However, Catholics have a choice now too. That's good.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would like a simple \"Yes\" or \"No\" answer that does not need discernment. Do \"YOU\" believe in the existence of God? Why the apprehension to answer this simple fundamental question for someone who has no issues regularly commenting on the Catholic faith on this forum?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Thousands packed into the pews \u2014 Christians, Jews and Muslims \u2014 in a show of solidarity and support and in repudiation of a message of violence, divisiveness and hatred. . . But each of these townspeople, whatever their faith, or absence of faith, with their actions lit a candle against the darkness that had come to their town.\" The bottom line, if we are ever to defeat and move past terrorism and hate. Good editorial.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "'s a funny thing to reflect on what a follower of ISIS might reply to your comment, Trid. P'raps something like \"Be that as it may, Christianity is a false religion so its law is not from God. It would seem that you place Christianity on a par with Islam\"? Is there something to reflect on here? Did Jesus even intend to found a new religion? Is the Kingdom of Heaven really exactly synonymous with the Christian churches? Are all Muslims thought to be excluded from the Kingdom of Heaven? Heaven Forbid!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "British MP on ISIS Genocide: 2-Year-Old Boy Killed, \u2018Ground Into Meat and Fed to His Mother\u2019\n\nThe woman was a Christian, currently the most persecute people on the face of the Earth.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"I don't recall anyone being forced to recite the Lord's Prayer at school in Ontario in the 60's and 70's.\"\n\nIt was a standard part of the school day when I attended Ontario public schools through the 70s and into the 80s. In fact, the lawsuit that led to it being removed from school activities was only filed in 1985 with the decision coming down in 1988, as I recall. \n\n(On a related note, the only religious holidays granted statutory holiday status in Canada are Christian. The notion that Christmas is somehow under attack when it's literally enshrined in law as a national holiday is absurd.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How do you separate the sacred and the secular? How can you put \"American citizen\" in one box and \"Christian\" in the other? Aren't you a Christian every minute of the day, every breath of your life? Doesn't \"Christian\" trump \"American citizen\"? I'm sure you wouldn't say that an American citizen has the right to an abortion and keep this issue separate from the Christian teaching on the topic.\nI disagree with your statement that nothing prevents a firearm owner from identifying with the powerless. A gun is a form of power, so the gun prevents its owner from identifying with the powerless.\nThe Bible doesn't provide any definitive pronouncement either way on firearms. I never said it did, I only said it did not explicitly prohibit gun control. I would rethink your decision on the KJV. It was commissioned by King James with emphasis on translations favoring loyalty to a king. Hardly seems fitting for an American gun advocate to favor the translation of a British tyrant.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Christians in Canada are real hoot with their War against Sinners, War against Sex, War against Drug etc.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As a 30-year-old lifelong Catholic, this absolutely disgusts me. God doesn't teach us to judge others, that is his job alone. This is beyond shameful and appalling. Leaders of the church wonder why numbers are dwindling and the younger generation is not supporting the church. Wake up! There will be no Catholic church in 20 years unless they quit with messaging to constantly insight guilt, shame and judgement. A church community is meant to uplift, support and accept unconditionally.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus Christ the incarnate Logos; we can only bow down in humility before His inviolate Word (Will)\n\u201cHe that rejects me, and receives not my words, has one that judges him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day\u201d.\nThere is discord everywhere why?\nIs lack of leadership the on-going culprit? \nIt is and it isn\u2019t, yes we have a contradiction and the reason for this is that Christian leadership should be manifest by the serving of the Truth and for many this serving of the Truth in trust is/was given over in obedience to the hierarchy of the Church as \u201ca divide house cannot stand\u201d but in doing so failing to see that the rock of Truth can only be served individual as this is the mortar that holds His house together,it is a precious commodity and rare \n \nPlease consider continuing in the link below \nhttp://www.catholicethos.net/bishops-can-save-catholic-church-america/#comment-168\nkevin your brother\nIn Christ", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Roman Catholic Church is the One True Church, Infallible and established by Jesus Christ Himself. It is unique and Holy, unlike any mere human made principality or institution. So naturally, \"the Holy See, following the practice of sovereign states, recalled the priest in question, who is currently in Vatican City,\" just like any other nation protecting its diplomats from prosecution of crimes by foreign nations...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Francis is incredible. I've noticed - and commented upon - that each week his major speeches/sermons directly relate to the gospel of the following Sunday. And so again for this week:\n\n\"What did you go out into the desert to see, a man wearing fine clothes? No, such men live in palaces do they not?\"\n\nIt would appear that not only is Francis trolling Burke and his clerical fashionistas, God is too.\n\nIf Francis continues to give the Word such a prominent place in his life, the underworld will not prevail against him. What a wonderful time to be a Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your suggestion that the particular order and speed of things is the \"only\" Christian response is very restricting. I've rarely found only one Christian--or human--response to most any issues, let alone worldwide issues. Response to large issues needs multiple responses before some success is found. People need to have the flexibility to take the next good--or Christian--step, then the one after that, then the one after that. I agree with the goal, but not the assumption of knowing the best, or most effective, way to get there. Francis doesn't see himself as a \"dictator\" type, and seems most concerned with getting the Body of Christ to come back to life and fulfill its promise as a more decentralized Body than with other issues. So that's not Christian? I think that waking up the Body is more likely to bring the results you want than anything else right now.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do me favor, to anyone reading these comments, post this on any site that Cardinal Dolan might read. \" Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, Your Eminence, I have one request to make of you. When you speak at the upcoming presidental inauguration, please ask Mr. Trump one question. \"Who is the Christ?\" An one word answer will suffice. It will greatly ease my mind, if Mr. Trump answers this question. 1 John 2:22\" I would love to hear any Christian minister or Catholic priest ask this question.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As a Catholic I believe that Our Lord and Savior gave his Apostles the command to go forth and teach all the nations, that He told them \"Who hears you, hears Me\", that He promised them the Holy Spirit to guide them, that He said \"What you bind on earth is bound in heaven, and what you loose on earth is loosed in heaven\", and have a confidence therefore that the Church teaches with authority.\n\nWhatever beliefs underlie \"(a)n office is a place where people work\", not so much.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What? Actual Christian leaders not aligned with the Minnerites' Inquisition", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I've come to the conclusion that lobbying the USCCB is a waste of time. The bishops have squandered whatever political capital they once had and very few people pay any attention to them now -- except, of course, those who've already bought in to the so-called litmus test issues.\n\nThe future of Catholic political action in this country (if it has a future) is in the hands of the laity. The position of the USCCB is about as relevant as that of the Whig party.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Try answering my question instead of attacking me, okay. \n\nYou made a statement you apparently cannot support - and I guess you feel more sarcasm helps you. It doesn't. \n\nPlease advise, in accord with your original remark, which Bishop(s) have proclaimed Catholics \"must support the republican party.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Right-wingres have always had issues with those pesky things known as \"facts\". Climate change deniers are cut from the same cloth as fundamentalist Christians or Muslims who deny the reality of evolution or think that the earth is 6000 years old. Facts and data don't matter when one is completely immersed in a worldview based on fantasy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I believe Jesus of Nazareth existed. I don't think he is a myth.\nThe Gospels were written only a few decades after Jesus' death.\nBy contrast, Moses or Abraham died centuries before the Torah/Five Books of Moses were written down.\n\"The early Christians seem to have believed Christ would return within their lifetime and establish God's kingdom on earth.\"\nI agree.\nSt. Paul's letters and the other epistles were written \"before\" the Gospels were. The early Christian religion in those letters is very different than what Christianity became. I believe, for example, that the concept of Jesus' divinity or the Trinity would have been foreign to St. Paul. Also, the Gospels were written over a period of 40 years, during which time, the adherents of early Christianity were kicked out of or left Judaism, and Jews fought and lost a war of independence against Rome. The Gospel of Mark is very different from the Gospel of John.\nChristianity succeeded because it adapted to fit Roman concepts.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If we have coffee, I'd like one caveat: You don't preach Christianity to me and I won't \"preach\" agnosticism to you. I know you're very comfortable being a 'believer\" and I have no desire to change that. On the flip-side, I'm not interested in having others attempt to \"save my soul.\" I'm not at all sure if there's a God, god, gods, or whatever or not. If there is, I like to think he, she, it, they or whatever, will judge me by my actions and their impact on others and the world, not on whether I was a \"believer\" or not. Without that caveat, coffee together would not be pleasant for either of us.\n\nregards, Gary", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How about this reform:\nLet any baptized Christian preside at Mass.\nParishioners can go for training if they are interested in serving in this capacity.\nThey can take turns.\nAdditionally, this goes for all the other sacraments, too\nWhy is any person more worthy than any other?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think you might want to check with Lutherans on that point. The more liberal Lutherans--like the ELCA in some instances do permit laity to celebrate Lutheran Eucharist, I think. I think in ELCA the more conservative \"bishops\" (presidents) do not permit that, but the liberal ones are more open to it. \n\nThe problem with the Episcopal Church is that they have so many views and practices, it is hard to really understand what they actually do believe. You have Episcopal churches that are almost Catholic and you have those that are almost Baptist. You have ones that do not marry gays and ones that do. You have ones that believe in Transubstantiation and ones that do not. \n\nWhatever the original reformers believed and taught, their heirs have gotten away from it such that I believe if the reformers were alive today they might rejoin the Catholic Church and realize the mistake they made in breaking communion with the Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "OH: A \"Christian organization\"? How so?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Having no sympathy for Joel Gallagher's general argument, I agree this far, that the causes he mentions as being improperly associated with opposition to abortion as equivalent pro-life causes do deserve the respective understanding that each calls for. But that's not an important consideration, and does not excuse his attempt to discredit some excellent new emphases in moral theology.\n\nWith regard to liberals' alleged \"foul language program,\" it should be recognized (as I have mentioned a few times in NCR before) that by far the most disgraceful and enfuriating is the term \"pro-life\" itself, which no Catholic should ever use if he/she intends it to refer primarily or exclusively to opposition to abortion. In the case of such a restricted use, it is simply a lie, a piece of manipulative rhetoric. There are countless living creatures, of countless kinds, in our world, so *true* pro-life activism should begin with an animal-free (aka vegan) practice. Minus that, \"pro-life\" is a fraud.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "#1. YOU don't know who I voted for. It is dangerous to make assumptions.\n#2. I am not the \"defender of all things clerical, conservative, et al.\" - again making assumptions. My so-called defense consists of requiring proof in the face of the onslaught of false/unproven accusations. That there seems to be a plethora of those remarks sadly speaks to the sheer volume of comments filled with falsity, hatred, and purposeful misdirection that need to be addressed.\n#3. Be very careful of statements like \"Catholics like you\" - you only show your own hatred, bias, misunderstanding.\nI hope your conversion to Judaism helps you with what you need to unlearn.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "April,\n\nYour comments are not 'factual', they are based on your 'opinion' of what it means to be a feminist and what beliefs one must adhere to to be deemed a feminist. It is possible to challenge most of what you say simply by adopting a definition of feminism that contradicts yours. For example, many modern feminists employ a Marxist based framework in their feminist theory, which does mean that capitalist inclined women would not be very welcome. It is just as easy to challenge your arguments concerning Catholics and patriarchy simply by contending the definition and meaning of terms such as feminism, patriarchy etc. Feminism is a contentious term and their is no universally agreed definition of the term, nor is their agreement on the values a feminist must adhere to. As such, where feminism falls in the realm of social science, it is nothing more than a contentious theory predicated on ideology, not fact.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pierre Trudeau kept his catholicism to himself. Stephen Harper, devout christian fundamentalist, kept his god well hidden. Andrew Scheer seems equally intent on keeping his god and his references to his god out of public view. The reason for this is simple: unlike Americans, Canadians have a seemingly pronounced aversion to mixing religion and politics. Singh's public display of religious symbols will not likely play well in a general election. Before voting day, the NDP will be hiding him rather than fronting him.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If the mandatory celibacy rule was dropped, we would not have this problem. I attended a Sunday chicken dinner last week at my husbands Lutheran Church. The 30ish, energetic pastor, a former Catholic, said he wanted to be a priest but also wanted to marry and have children. (Be fruitful and multiply). The writing is on the wall. Let's hope the Vatican wakes up before all of the horses have left the barn.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We just returned from France.\n\nThe number of French military in full fatigues carrying assault rifles was evident throughout Paris.\n\nWe understand why they are there. Why they are walking around carrying machine guns. Even to walk under the Eiffel Tower one must pass through a checkpoint. 5 military soldiers with machine guns walking back and forth constantly under the Eiffel Tower.\n\nEvery one of these acts of murder is influenced by Islam. Merkel has already said this latest murder is an act of terrorism. Against Christianity, Jesus Christ, Christmas, the West, freedom.\n\nWhy do the mainstream newspaper silence our free speech when we express our huge concerns regarding Islam and the massive flood of Islam into the West?\n\nis this the beginning of Armaggadon, the final war prophesied in the Bible?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your comment is Catholic fundamentalism. \n\nIt's rigorist. \n\nIt's less than Sola Scriptura..it's Sola Jesus.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wrong again, I'm not talking about U.S. law, I am pointing out the teaching and law of the Catholic Church where you have got it wrong.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration has already stated categorically that he will not open Canada's doors to Christians. That would be religion faith based immigration policy and against our secular moral standards. He said just a couple of weeks ago that Christians don't face the same dangers as other legitimate refugees. He will however welcome all Muslims fleeing Trump's persecution in the US.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Cardinal Yves Congar wrote an interesting essay, \u00ab Martin Luther, sa foi, sa r\u00e9forme \u00bb (I do not know if it has been translated into English) that places Luther firmly within a well-established Catholic theological tradition. Oh, Congar disagrees with Luther on sola fide, saying that Luther overemphasizes faith, and did not really understand James 2, which Luther called \"an epistle of straw\". He also disagrees with Luther on the discipleship of all believers, but as a Catholic cleric, Congar can be expected to do so.\n\nUnfortunately, as Brother Bill points out, in Luther's day, both sides were more interested in scoring debating points than in understanding their opponents.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't understand how the Public school system can allow open Prayers by Muslim groups, while at the same time, persistently remove any notion/mentioning/symbol of Christianity. And to make it worse, Radicals Muslims openly condemn Christians as Infidels/unworthy people. If Muslims have to be accommodated in Public schools, then all other religions should be. Which would make our Public system non-secular after all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Anyone notice that INCLUSIVE language also disappeared after Vatican II?...as if Catholic theology and doctrine disallow it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If Vat II did what you say it did regarding the very nature of the Mass itself --- to return the Mass to a communal meal rather than a bloodless sacrifice --- then Catholics have all the more reason to be disturbed by Vat II. According to the Council of Trent: \"If any one saith that in the Mass a true and proper sacrifice is not offered to God; or, that to be offered is nothing else but that Christ is given us to eat; let him be anathema.\"\nYes, you're right. \"Unfortunately, too many dioceses neglected relevant education when liturgical changes were made, and we're still paying for that lazy rebellion 70+ years later.\" Even a majority progressive meal-goers don't even get THAT part right --- polls show they either don't know what transubstantiation is or, if they know, they don't believe it. That is was a \"lazy rebellion\" is exactly right.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You really have to ask what \"Christian living \" means? Perhaps reread Matthew 25 for starters.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is a decades-old story which dissidents in the Church insist to relive on a relentless basis.\n\nEnough already.\n\nNo organization on the planet has done more to try to rectify for the sins of its past than the Catholic Church.\n\nBut the way the haters tell it, the Church has done \"nothing,\" despite $3 billion in settlements, endless mea culpas, and radically changed practices.\n\nReliving these episodes has almost nothing to do with the protection of children and the healing of victims and nearly everything to do with bludgeoning the Catholic Church for what she upholds.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Church officials see they have lost in the civic arena, on the issues of marriage equality, military service and adoption, so they are lashing out again,\" Duddy-Burke said in the statement.\"\n\nNo, they're just adhering to Catholic teaching. Duh.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"And I am reminded that Jesus, Mary and Joseph were refugees in the land of Egypt to escape the clutches of Herod.\"\n\nSince both Judea and Egypt were part of the Roman Empire, wouldn't they have been \"internally displaced persons,\" not refugees? Also, wasn't there a large, centuries-old, Jewish population in Egypt at the time? Is it un-Christian to question whether this particular Biblical analogy is really applicable?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No mention of the fact that for the first millennium of the Catholic Church's existence priests were allowed to marry, and did. Only when the Vatican got greedy and wanted to claim all the spoils of divorce for itself did the church suddenly demand celibacy from priests and coughed up a theological rationalization for its new mandate.\n\nAs for the argument that \"being married means sometimes feeling a difficult pull away from church work,\" in what profession is that not the case? Ditto for the other two \"negatives.\" I remain convinced that the church should revert back to its original way of doing things: let priests marry. The correction is long overdue.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Just another example of the republican value of sanctity of life. Life begins at conception but ends at birth. Then every individual is on their own. Survival of the fittest (and richest). So very Christian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It seems that you, good brother, are doing the very thing the Pope, whom you idolise, even to say he is God-given, has criticised; judgementalism (who am I [are you] to judge).\n\"I am really of the opinion that those who so vehemently oppose this apostolic exhortation are caught in an 'evil spiral' that would serve to collapse the Faith entirely.\" \nHere you are judging that a sizeable proportion of Catholics are \"caught in a spiral of evil.\"\n \"The pope was sent to us - as the Holy Spirit has done throughout our history from time to time - to show us ways to avoid our own blind obedience to an organization rather than to Christ Jesus.\"\nHere you imply that the Catholic Church has somehow become separated from the Church instituted by Christ, which is impossible. The fallout from the Reformation proves this; One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church: 40,000+ Protestant sects.\nThe charge of \"power and control\" is absolutely ludicrous. What power and control are you talking about?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The products of her \"international expertise\" are still washing ashore on the Mediterranean. Just because Trump is what he is doesn't mean you have to whitewash Clinton. There is no need to be so binary. I am sure that others will underline Clinton's problems and that the majority (this being the ncr) will under line Trump's. One problem is a system which yielded two such unsuitable and unpopular candidates. Another is the desire to follow and not think. Trump is President, move on, so let's work to bring his administration into line with the teachings of Christ and his church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sadly Romanism is rife with such heinous acts under the guise of Holy Mother Church, part and parcel of its sordid, frenzied past. Most educated Catholics recognize this and reject the militant aspects of \"her\" teachings... others still secretly root for the punishment of Christians and other outspoken non-Catholics; plain and simply, these are called Taliban Catholics and they are neither Christian nor Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Neither do you.\nThe books of the Jewish Scriptures (Old Testament) were written down by different people in different times for different reasons -- and none of those reasons was to prove Jesus of Nazareth was coming. That interpretation came AFTER Jesus of Nazareth was executed by the Romans, and that interpretation was used to read back into the Jewish Scriptures proof that the Jewish Scriptures foretold Jesus of Nazareth.\nThe Jewish Scriptures stand on their own, and Jews have been using them just fine without Christian interpretation.\nPlus, Islam's central prophet's name is spelled Mohammed in English. Insulting another faith and its prophets is hardly a way to plea for tolerance of your own.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Justin and company need to address Turkey's refusal to recognize the 1915 Genocide of Armenian Christians.\nOver 1.8 million murdered. Present government of Turkey makes it a crime to even admit Turkeys guilt.\nImagine if Germany did that regarding the Holocaust. Muslim nations and great Muslims in Canada need to lobby the Turkish government on this burning issue. Canada could cut trade, ban tourism and cut relations until Turkey acts more civilized. But then again it does not fit the present narrative by the government and news media.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't understand when you write, \"we must never put ourselves, as human beings, in the position of taking the life of another.\" First of all, we do it all the time, and do it in a very self-righteous way too; and it's precisely the anthropocentric tradition of the Christian church that justifies the engagement and complicity of Christians in such deadly practices. Secondly, in the matter of assisted suicide, the will of those who are assisting is not that of the killer, but rather of the servant of the person approaching death. Honoring the deliberate, reasonable, free wish and request of that person is not in itself destructive at all. Nor is it a usurpation of God's prerogative; the one assisting may very well understand him/herself to be God's minister of mercy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Firstly, let's see some data to back up your assertion. Secondly, you should ask some Christians if they feel as cavalier about the religious significance as you do and if they only see it as a historical holiday. Thirdly, it's a religious holiday none the less and if mitsou is truly serious about no religion in school then Good Friday should go as well as Christmas.\n\nI'm not advocating either way. Just taking her post to its logical conclusion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "2,000 years ago there were no \"Canadian\"\nbut Canada's Christian civilization and heritage goes back 2,000 years", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "oh no, they really began in earnest coming out the Lambeth Conference and spread into society through other Christians. The pope could see farther and more sensitively than you or I because he prayed more than we do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ex-Catholics are too diverse to be rated a \"larger congregation.\" Some are included in the \"none\" category while others joined many other religions, making their excommunication official. If the latter have any membership in a congregation, it is with their new found religious congregation, not in some unlisted ex-Catholic membership. Likewise, ex-Protestants, if one were to include them. Remember, US Protestants today are barely 46%. In 1960's, they were 65%. Ex-Protestants certainly outnumber ex-Catholics in a \"larger congregation,\" if you think in such a pseudo- category. Only the Nones can boast of significant gains as they continue to grow. The Nones are in antagonism with all organized faith traditions. They are truly the new \"larger congregation,\" with many ex-Catholics among them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I wish this wasn't as accurate a comment as I think it is. It is sad and cowardly. It doesn't just abandon the LGBT Catholic, it invites the grieving family to lie and be deceptive about the life of the person they loved.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Help me understand..I gather there is a temporary ban for entry to the US from \"the Seven Countries\" until deeper more thorough vetting is completed. I don't know how many practicing Muslims reside in those 7 countries but imagine it is significant and many will inconvenienced by the delay. There is no ban on residents of other countries coming to the US be they Muslim, Christian, Hindi, etc. So my question is why am I reading headlines in major media print and protest signs that say Muslim Ban is wrong approach by Whitehouse or Muslims Banned - Fight for Muslims! Something is not correct, if there is as they the Protesters say, a ban on Muslims would that not mean all Muslims world wide are banned from coming to the US? Yet I also read that Muslims are travelling to the US from other then the 7 without incident. Isn't more accurate to say Country X citizens of all faith's are banned until vetted?\n\n So help out if you can...these are opposing conclusions, they can't both be right.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Says the man protected 24/7 by armed guards to the Christians of Iraq and Syria.\nNice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sure I do, it is both Gospel and Dogma. Generally, his words are Gospel. Dogma is what we figure out that we believe. Doctrine is the work of Doctors of the Church: Aquinas, Augustine and Anselm, which is less certain to be correct. The Magisterium is the work of Popes and sometimes bishops. 4 distinct things. Look at the Catholic dictionary in the back of your Catholic Bible. The Magisterium is never Doctrine unless a doctor of the Church is elected Pope. It is only Dogma if the entire Church - western and Orthodox, meet in a general council to affirm it and none of these can be Gospel because that book was closed Millenia ago.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is not true. Christianity is not banned. Anyone can ask to have their Christian beliefs accommodated. What has been dropped is Christian rites as part of the official curriculum. And the Muslims aren't asking to be part of the official curriculum.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No they are not! Their intervention is against TWU getting away with its 19th Century moral strictures, not against evangelical Christians of whom there must be any number in the profession of Law already.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Let me rephrase John's post so as to better reflect reality: \"I am a former Catholic who likes to 'translate' and 'rephrase' other posters' postings so to set up targets I can actually hit since the original posts are over my head and my abilities.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You need to learn and understand what \"separation of church and state\" is.\n\nSecondly, your post is inappropriate; Change Catholic to Islamic and face the repercussions from the left.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A Catholic may pragmatically vote for a flawed candidate, one may not vote for anyone who advocates and enables unmitigated evil acts, and that includes abortion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "52% of US Catholics apparently think not. If they do believe it, they certainly don't allow it to affect them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"If Jesus himself fell not once, not twice, but three times under his great and terrible burden, I don't think we should beat ourselves up too much when we crumble at times under ours....My compassion for what Jesus went through starts with him and extends to every person, surprisingly even myself. When I stumble \u2014 and going on seems hard, scary and exhausting, even temporarily hopeless, I think of him. Then I get myself back up. And walk on.\"\n\nThank you for this gentle reminder of the reality of following Jesus.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Eucharist is both. It is possible to be a good Christian without any Christian ritual, but the mass and the sacraments are great aids.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "JPII and Benny thought leadership meant doing what you want. They were the ultimate pick n' mix Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In other news, the Pope has been confirmed to be a Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "He's not a priest in the Roman Catholic tradition.....The Old Catholic Church split with the Roman Catholic Church around 1879. They are considered to be schismatic - \nPope Francis has said \"\u201cThe theological and ecclesiological questions that arose during our separation are now more difficult to overcome due to the increasing distance between us on matters of ministry and ethical discernment,\u201d lamented Pope Francis in an Oct. 30 (2014) address to the Old Catholic Bishops\u2019 Conference of the Union of Utrecht.\" \nhttp://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-reaches-out-to-schismatic-old-catholic-church-28251/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "5:75 The Messiah, son of Mary, was only a Messenger before whom other Messengers had gone; and his mother was a godly woman. They both ate [earthly] food. Look how We make clear Our Revelations to them; then look how they are perverted!\n\n9:30 The Jews say: \u201cEzra is the son of Allah\u201d, and the Christians say: \u201cThe Messiah is the son of Allah.\u201d That is their statement, by their mouths; they emulate the statement of the unbelievers of yore. May Allah damn them; how they are perverted!\n\nAllah's antipathy towards those He considers perverts for saying Jesus is His Son and the West's careless unquestioning acceptance of those who agree means that we all must now be vigilant so as to avoid a time of joy becoming a time of sorrow.\n\nhttp://boreal.ca/Sharia/4Questions.htm", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sex is one of two binary reproductive roles irrespective of choice, lifestyle, or preference. Condoning transgender use of the gender-specific facility of their choice says that belief trumps facts. That is immoral and irresponsible. Please stop regulating morality by redefining biological facts.\n\nMosaic Law was specifically for the pre-Christ Israel. The Bible is very clear that Christians are no longer under the Mosaic Law. However, moral law is the same today as its always been. In Israel, there was a precedent that children who dishonor their parents could be stoned. The parents would have to deliver their child up for this punishment. Deuteronomy 21:20 gives the hypothetical situation of parents complaining their son is a glutton and a drunkard. They are not talking about a 10 year old child who threw a tantrum. The purpose of this law was not to stone children who dishonored their parents but to stop children from dishonoring their parents.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes because Layla was so focused on the tree (Catholics) that she didn't see the forest (Christianity). I used Catholic not to exclude other Christian denominations but to underline that there are deeply religious people in our society with religious traditions going back centuries and which had a huge impact on the development of our society. If you and Layla aren't capable of making that simple extrapolation then that's a shame.\n\nIt's that same pedantic literalism that has pushed this thread off topic. I wonder if that was deliberate...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh no, I do believe there is mystery. One of the reason dissidents like ambiguity so much has to do with the fact that the more ambiguous something is, the more room there is for heresy and or sin. When things are clear, heresy and sin become much harder to justify.\n\nAs for Protestants---it isn't that I necessarily \"reject\" what they have worked out in their relationship with God, so much as it is that I don't care. What Protestants choose to do in their churches, what they believe God wants or how God works, etc, is their business. They can believe as they want in their churches and do as they wish. If I thought as they do, I would be Protestant. As such, I am Catholic. I only care what goes on in the Catholic Church and what the Catholic Church teaches and believes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What's \"divided the Church\" isn't the stance of the Bishops on Life, it's Catholics' own shallow understanding of the Church's truth on moral matters that has divided THEMSELVES interiorly.\n\nThe intellect and the will within a person suffers a great fissure when a person says \"I'm Catholic\" but I don't believe abortion is always wrong. \n\nOr when a person says \"we can't judge the acts of another\". Two truths?\n\nThis article is just utterly fatuous.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Come Holy Spirit...Pentecost II on this pertinent and pastoral issue in the RCC. The Roman Catholic Church needs to be enlightened and inclusive.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic Church is a conservative, authoritarian institution, so yes!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As Catholics they either comport with the Church's law or they are not validly married. Period.\n\nYes, were I you I would switch the topic to invalid civil marriages, because as I well documented whatever they have contracted, they are not valid marriages, also Period.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Some bishops of the Catholic Church have repeatedly condemned many of us to hell at least three times for voting for the Democratic candidate for president. Are they going to vacate that decision? The last people that I want my politicians to discuss faith with is the Catholic Church. They have encouraged these latin-named men to preach the most regressive form of religion and send them out to scold women. Sorry, they do not have the credibility or the authority to heal a nation that they have helped tear apart.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hi John,\nI think you have a calling to be a pastor thru internet or other ways!\nI do not know your personal situation, however, seriously consider offering yourself to be a pastor of some sort!\nI will keep you in my prayers John! \nIn Christ", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Think you've found a real 'gotcha' here, do you?\n\nSorry, I'm neither ashamed nor embarrassed concerning mu'tah. Have practiced it myself. It's a viable alternative to out-of-wedlock sexual liaisons and prevents illegitimate children, and it beats the western secularized \"Christian\" practice of picking up strangers in bars, in any event.\n\nThat'll do for now because of course you're not really interested in learning, but are merely looking for an excuse to feel sanctimonious. You don't need my help for that.\n\nHowever, should you like more details concerning this marital practice, I'll provide 'em.\n\nOn one condition: if you proclaim here and now in this forum that you have NEVER engaged in extramarital sex, and call God Almighty as Witness that you're telling the truth, OR that you openly admit that you have. May I suggest reading Luke 18:9-14 while you consider this. \n\nThird choice: turn to your Creator with a contrite heart and apologize for acting like a pharisee.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That Jesus was a male human being (THAT at least we have \"little choice but to accept\"), and that in his ministry he presented himself as a leader or teacher around whom a group of disciples were gathered, might or might not be an example of patriarchy, I don't know. Could a woman, presenting the same \"authority\" as Jesus did, have gathered around herself a group of disciples, given the sexist discrimination of that culture? I don't know; many argue no woman could do that.\n\nBut it certainly does look like patriarchy that the Christian idea of God as a male being has been locked in and established as the only correct way of understanding God. Were the Church Fathers (N.B.!) themselves better and more honest and clear-sighted theologians, and were they able to transcend their reliance on imagery based on human manners and relationships, reflecting the sexist discrimination of the ancient world, that masculinist hardening would not have happened.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sister Sally Butler: \"This is my church. If they don't like it, they should leave. I'm not going to leave just because of the hierarchy,\" Butler says. \"But if I stay, I have to try to clean house.\"\n\nAmen and amen. \n\nSister Butler's story is a good opening for a serious discussion of \"where do we go from here\" on the continuing scandal of child sex abuse in the Roman Catholic Church. We need lay involvement and bishop accountability to the laity since it is obvious that they can only act in the self interest of their own group, confusing that with acting in the self interest of all of us. God is not inside the Church, but outside it, in the World. \n\nI appreciate NCR having special review of comments on this series. Unfortunately, yes, it is needed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You make reference to what might be Scheer's beliefs or values; however, his platform going into the next election will be vetted by the same rank and file who put a Social Conservative and a Libertarian neck -and-neck just before the finish line. . . . For starters, a Libertarian would totally support Ontario SoCons who want to remove the current ban on Christian children prosthelytizing in a Greater Toronto Malls. Next ....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dolan, Graham, White, Trump, ah....the new Christianity unveiled. Church and state reconciled in mind, heart and politics - the city on the hill.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Since Gallup found in 2016 that 73.4% of Americans claim to be \"Christians\" of one kind or another, that's a fair argument that we are indeed \"a Christian nation\". \n\nThe figures from the PEW researchers only put it at 70.2% in 2014 but that's still a pretty fair majority. \n\nOnly 18.2% are agnostic, atheist or none of the above.\n\nThe rest believe some body else is turning the crank. \n\nWorldwide:\n\n33% are 'Christians', 21% are Muslims, 14% are Hindu and only 16% are non-religious--and that includes the 'deists'. \n\n http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It was never \"popular.\" Your glee is the ubiquitous opinion of Christians as well, and has been for centuries, even before and certainly after this heinous practice by a few monarchs in league with a few high church officials who coerced some others to participate. A shameful history, to be sure, but one which has nothing to do with the core beliefs of Christians: Love God, love your neighbor.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually, being a Catholic requires, first and foremost, faith in Christ and fidelity to the teachings of His Church and communion with her bishops. Obedience, it seems, is no longer fashionable.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "<>\nTrue. And yet most of the schisms, or schismatic-like movements, at least in the past three hundred years, have come from the right. As the letter from the four cardinals first made its way into the news (not that the average Catholic in the pew knows or cares about it), I thought it unlikely that it would lead to a schism. I still think it unlikely: Burke can do the math and he knows that he's young enough to be an elector at the next conclave, and I doubt that he will do anything to complicate that. Yet, it seems clear that his ego has engaged, and it's impossible to say for sure where that will lead. I would not want to see this lead to a schism; but I'm not sure that it would be a terrible thing. Perhaps those who want a church whose marks are authoritarianism, rigidity, legalism and pharisaism ought to have it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pandora - I'm shocked. I can't believe that you would actually think that Trump is the only Catholic choice.\nBy the way, happy Feast of All Saints on Tuesday!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Rob,\n\nI briefly answered your questions to you personally as they were already answered in detail throughout the thread. It is really this simple though: you can't confirm or deny the existence of God/gods, so when you deny their existence as an atheist, you can do so only through your belief that God/gods doesn't/don't exist. When you claim something as true that cannot be supported with facts that prove the claim, you're stating a belief, not a fact. To really break it down for you, it is exactly the same thing to say: 1) I don't believe God/gods exist and/ 2) I believe God/gods doesn't don't exist. Really amazing how complicated this is for these infinitely wise atheists lol. Their, a full response to your question posted directly to you. However, I've checked the whole thread, and you've proved incapable of answering a single question posed to you by me. But surely, if atheists hold the infallible position, surely you can defend atheism against simplistic Christian challenges", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Like most religions, Christianity bears scant resemblance to the radical doctrines of its founder. It has become a comfortable, self-affirming club that confers a great sense of entitlement while requiring little.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Everybody should just convert to Christianity anyways.\"\n\nWhich denomination?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If it is outdated and corrupt should we not help to modernize it and help it get rid of the evil of corruption by demanding it do so? This business of forcing people to \"repent\" if they want to participate in religious rites is bribery because gays do not consider themselves sinners nor do others who are discriminated against by the Fundamentalist Catholic religion and its clergy. During WWII, starving Jews in Europe were only given food by Christian Missionaries, if they agreed to convert. Otherwise they were left to starve to death. This is an example of extreme cruelty caused by religious discrimination of the worst kind.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "CLINIC (Catholic Legal Immigration Network) has many good resources. When I worked for a non-profit (it wasn't Catholic), I used to participate in presentations/chats with various faith-based groups, but it was very hard to break through to Catholic parishes. I don't really understand the resistance. It seems to me that dioceses and parishes ought to be reaching out to CLINIC for help and guidance. Also, parishes have members who are immigration attorneys, who I am sure would be happy to work together with others to facilitate information sharing and intelligent discussion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is nothing in our Catholic Faith that would preclude a Catholic Judge from judging a case consistent with the Judeo-Christian principles of our Constitution which recognizes it Is God, and not Caesar, John Locke, or King John, Who Has Endowed us with our unalienable Right to Life, to Liberty, and to The Pursuit of Happiness, the purpose of which is what God intended.\n\nhttps://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=false&doc=6#", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You guys don't even know what you want. If you want to be priests, I guess you still can fake it through seminary. You're welcome to church, always have been. \n\nYou're just angry for what the Bible says. But we can't change what the Bible says about anything.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The simplistic view of climate change by its most vigorous proponents makes them seem to be unable to understand that there are any consequences whatsoever to their radical positions. \nThey have this na\u00efve belief that some magic scientific solution will replace all the energy requirements currently being met by fossil fuel. Wind, Solar or even Hydro or Nuclear power do not now exist to replace fossil fuel energy. \nI view this 'faith' in new clean energy as very similar to belief by Christians in the 2nd Coming of Christ. There is no 'science' that predicts it; it just will magically come to pass.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, let's be fair here though, Evan. Dunleavy's not really a Christian but rather a Christianist. There IS a difference...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, I did not watch in alarm Trump's refusal to help refugees! All Mr. Trump wants to do is monitor who enters the States. As a Christian, I support him. It appears to me that the Democrats are still licking their wounds with the help of the media!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Fact is, most Christian denominations do practice open communion. Even though the Roman Catholic church, as a denomination, is the exception, many priests and parishes increasingly constitute an exception to the exception. As you may know, right-wing Catholic bishops still issue slews of directives to priests on that subject. \n\nAs for citations, I fully expect you will continue to use your well-worn out Ouija board, unless Santa brings you some tarot cards for Christmas. You're not into dialogue here, only disruption.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Using a shamrock to explain the Trinity is a heresy...but I digress.\nSeamless garment promotes moral equivalency which is not Catholic.\nIt began and ended with Bernardin. Just a footnote in history now.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What about male mutilation, aka as circumcision? Oh wait, that's a Judeo-Christian thing. Nevermind.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Catholics are no longer 25%\"\n\nStill, Betty Clermont, 20.8% of the US population of 325 million is a lot of people for one church. According to PRRI, Catholics compose close to one third of American Christianity (43.9% Protestant; 21% Catholic), and are notably distributed throughout the country. It will be interesting to see how they vote next month.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My \"obsession\" with single parenthood is its socioeconomic effect on society. I am not judgemental about the issue - if some rich Hollywood actress has a hundred kids outside marriage it is not as harmful because she can provide for them. You are assuming that I think that women have to be suppressed to reduce single parenthood. I actually think more contraceptives are the answer ( a large percentage of these single mothers are teenagers or very young women). Contraceptives are not provided to young girls in conservative Muslim countries. Back alley abortion is how they deal with the issue, which is much worse. Conservative Christians in North America want the same for young girls here.\n\nChild poverty ensures that this dream/ideal of hard work, discipline, education, etc goes out of the window (a visit to an inner city school in the US should prove that). Child poverty rates are around 40 percent today in the US. Those kids will not go to university, or become economically successful", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\u201cSoft sounding parts of Christianity\u201d?\n\nPatience, kindness, never puffed up. These are not easy things. St Paul describes patience in what you quoted. You are only making my point with those quotes, unless you think Paul is extolling stoic indifference instead of passionate commitment to Christ.\n\nOf course, I only quoted the parts of I Cor 13 that actually refuted your point, so I did not talk about about patience and kindness. I didn\u2019t know I could just drift off to another topic and pretend you disagree with me on the Eucharist? What was this last note about?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Part two of two) As disturbing as the current dysfunctional administration of Church governance is, nonetheless, \u201cThe Lord will bless his people with peace\u201d (Psalm 29:11b). \u201cin truth\u201d something the censured administration of The Catholic (Pontifical) University of America fears hearing, \u201cI see that God shows no partiality\u201d (Acts 10:34). \u201cJesus come . . . to John . . . yet you are coming to me\u201d (Matthew 3:13-14). Liturgy of the Word, Reading 21ABC The Baptism of the Lord.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am from Saskatchewan and have heard all of the noise.\n\nThe majority of people would actually like to see the two systems amalgamated and it may well happen some day. However, it would be a major change for all involved .\n\nIn the short term, kicking non catholic children out of the schools they have been attending causes two problems. First, the upheaval for the children affected is not ideal. Second, there simply isn't room in the public system's class rooms to accommodate the extra students.\n\nWall has chosen a path that gives 5 years of certainty to parents and administrators to find the proper long term solution.\n\nI am a supporter of combining the two systems but I support the use of the not withstanding clause in this case.\n\nThe appeal process will start now regardless, but for now, it solves the immediate dilemma.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Western people celebrate Christmas in a very big way. There's the music, the build-up, the decorations, the gifts, the food. the family gatherings...and children experience all of this before any understanding of the religious nature of the holiday is real to them. Also, celebrating the winter solstice and the coming of longer days is a joyous occasion in itself that was celebrated long before it became a Christian holiday. I see no reason why enjoying the experience of family and friends and food and gift-giving should be forfeited because one happens not to believe in a particular deity. For many people Christmas is much more tradition than religion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(continuation)\n\nAt the time Ordinatio Sacerdotolis was issued by St. JP2 in 1994, many members of the Holy People of God, including bishops and priests and theologians and lay men and women, were most definitely shouting from the roof tops their conviction that the Church could and should ordain women. In fact, those of us who remember that time well, know for certain that the reason JP2 wrote Ordinatio Sacerdotalis was to put an end to those opinions by papal decree. Further, the very reason the CDF issued this declaration two years later in 1996 was because JP2\u2019s document had not put an end to the very strong view in the Church that women could be and should be ordained. \n\nNothing could be more obvious that that the principle of infallible by virtue of universal consensus cannot be invoked to put down a lively, broadly discussed, Catholic opinion. \n\n(continued)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "RuleAndRaven, the core of your citation of Ratzinger, the text providing the REASON why the CDF believes woman may not be ordained is:\n\n \"...it has been set forth infallibly by the ordinary and universal Magisterium...\"\n\nFirst, let's be clear what this does not say: It does not say St. JP2's Ordinatio Sacerdotalis is itself an infallible papal statement, for it is not and is not understood to be infallible by any Catholic theologian (that is, those with a doctoral degrees in theology who profess Catholicism). Further, there are no other papal statements rejecting the ordination of women that are considered infallible. Therefore, any suggestion that women may not be ordained is an infallible statement CANNOT IN PRINCIPLE be a based on the infallibility proclaimed by V1.\n\nSecondly, Ratzinger is not saying that his declaration itself is an infallible declaration re female ordination, for he knows (as do we), that the CDF has no such authority to proclaim infallibly. \n\n(continued)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I didn't see above where I said the teenager was a Christian and heard the words as coming from God. \nEGW is not the only Adventist to have had visions in recent times. If they are in sync with the Bible, I have no reason to disbelieve them. But there are others that are found to be fraudulent and even nasty.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I was in Italy in 2015 and saw very polite LDS missionaries working the crowd in the square outside of the Duomo in Milan. They get many props for doing what the average Catholic would NEVE DO ... publicly witnessing their faith. Something to do with the difference between belief and culture, maybe?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is a hole in this type of \"Christianity\" bigger than the Grand Canyon. \"Say 50 rosaries; perform daily sacrifice, and fast scrupulously; honor shrines and holy cards as sacred spaces and images; never admit to any flaw in the institutional Church, kneel, kneel, kneel and sing only Gregorian chant...\" \n\n\"But, for the sake of your ransomed soul and terrified heart, don't assist children of immigrants who live in bleak compounds, don't treat those people as people, don't allow families to remain together, don't provide asylum for anyone who may know someone who knows someone who one day may be a threat, never welcome the stranger if he/she is not baptized, deport quickly before the pure citizen is contaminated by another's language or customs, keep your own house safe at all costs. Just as Jesus preached throughout His Gospel.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I enjoy reading the national reporter but still find it hard to believe that while you support social justice issues and the church you will not obey your bishop in the diocese where you are located and follow his instruction as to remove the word Catholic from your title...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Don't worry. They're good Christians. Just ask them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think the Muslims are quite capable of defending themselves, don't you? When have the Muslims defended the religious freedom of Catholics?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How did your comment get past us reviewers? It certainly isn't civil, worse, it isn't Christian.\nWe are integral members of the Body of Christ. We, ALL of us, are the Church, the People of God, and we're not leaving, nor could we.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Good job Caiside, you actually do know and understand part of the Catechism. Highly unusual for liberal Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A riot shuts prevents a Catholic from speaking at Berkeley. Though this is an incident that threatens the free speech rights of all Americans, and of course all Catholics, NCR and the progressive community stay mum.\n\nThey are far more interested in a pipeline that poses no threat to anyone. Progressive Catholics mobilize to that site with much ado.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am not a fan of Roman Catholicism, but if I was, I would have considered Father Dan an authentic,genuine Christian,without doubt...R.I.P.,Brother in Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For a decade around 1847 the anglo protestants in Canada were upset about the \"Irish Invasion\" of sick, dying and starving refugees. Weekly - 5,000, yearly - 250,000. In the USA the upstart Irish Catholics even suggested that separation of Church and State meant that Protestant prayers and King James Authorised Version Bible readings had no place in public schools. How dare they! -)\n\nhttps://www.historicacanada.ca/fr/content/heritage-minutes/les-orphelins-dirlande\nhttps://legionmagazine.com/en/2006/03/the-dead-of-grosse-ile/\nhttps://legionmagazine.com/en/2007/09/the-sad-story-of-partridge-island/\nhttp://www.aoh.com/reasons-for-learning-an-gorta-mor-the-great-hunger/\nhttp://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/archive/nativist-riots-of-1844/\nhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ursuline_Convent_riots\nhttp://lekiosquemedias.com/2013/01/17/petite-histoire-des-irlandais/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Curious if you would ask the same questions of a pair of Catholic or fundamentalist Christian folks.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How Canada can respond to the carnage in Myanmar\n-\nHow the Organization of the Islamic Conference can respond to the carnage in Myanmar\n57 countries\n-\nThe Christian West saved Bosnian and Kosovo Muslims from Christian Serbia\nand\nsaved Syrian refugees\n-\nwhy is it always the West?\n-\nCharity begins at home", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Charter does NOT say that people have to pray in school.How long has it been since the Lord's Prayer was banished from the public school system?Or do Judeo-Christian values carry less weight than Islamic values?Separation of mosque/church and state has to be part of a Western liberal democracy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The great theologians do not take the position that one may pick and choose whether one will recognize a pope or not. If they did, they would not be great, or theologians. I am glad you are consulting doctors, however. I hope that goes well. I do not understand why modernists and progressives continue to believe they, not God, chooses the leader of the One True and Infallible Catholic Church. If one is not in agreement with the Pope, one is wrong, not the Pope. The failure to understand that simple Fact is the foundation of the Protestant religions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Read the New Testament.\n\nGet a sense for the daring and the sporting spirit of the early Christians.\n\nNews flash: God's love is dramatic.\n\nJesus said: \"Be perfect as My Heavenly Father is perfect.\"\n\nHe didn't mean perfect in the human sense, that is, in terms of mastering temporal events, he meant perfect love. \n\nAll our life can be a happy and holy struggle to do things well, with a pure intention, to love others as God loves them!\n\nIt means an \"inclined plane\" of happy struggle toward perfect love until the day we die!\n\nThat's holiness.\n\nOf course we find God working through our defects, absolutely. No news there. \n\nWe find Him in the happy struggle to love with His love!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "To MW's excellent analysis I would expand his ending to an \"ecumenism of fear and hate.\"\nThe La Civilta article takes on fear directly. Fundies abound in fear and its promotion to a huge audience because fear is always beneath the surface of human consciousness.\nMW brings his commanding overview skills to a necessary level of discourse.\nHe offers an important distinction that needs to be kept in mind. Articles are not exhaustive. They should ignite a wider discussion. The historian Barbara Tuchman noted: quite before your finished. One doesn't have the last word, not even strive to. What is important is what will trigger a wider audience, discussion where others have valuable input.\nThe La Civilta piece is not exhaustive either. It has ignited an issue that needs to be front and center in an historical period where there is an attempt to align Christianity with suppressive ideologies. The liberation message of Christianity is being coopted by the Bannon brigade of believers.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jay, you are NOT the spiritual director of people who post here! And your \"advice\" runs counter to the Magisterium! In fine, you are not a reliable commenter on anything Catholic!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "While I thought, and still think, that the book needed a really good editor, the plight of a man who was abused as a child, did something desperate, grew up to have his youngest child kidnapped and murdered - and still try to be a believing Christian, is a compelling story if it is sincere and not just a sentimental slog. The book dared deal with Trinitarian theology and God's presence and action in our lives - not clearly - but the film clears this up very well. Here's another thing, when I don't like a film or book, I try to explain why. But I avoid shaming others for getting something good out of a story that I did not. There is no one way, or a right or wrong way, to interpret a film, tv show or book means. If someone experiences hope, then I think that's a good thing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Innocent Catholics already having paid out billions on them, who do you -- or Martin, for that matter -- expect to pay the insurance?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Are you telling us that you cannot control your emotions?\n\nAre you saying that Catholic teachings in a discussion are off-topic?\n\nOr you simply making it clear that when you state an opinion, you will brook no dissent?\n\nYou seem to be sowing discord by starting an argument and upsetting Pandora, by posting inflammatory accusations with the intent of provoking an emotional from her.\n\nMature fie-care la usa sa.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bill,\n\nI have been thinking about this question too. It must have something to do with McCarthy being a Roman Catholic. /sarc", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "LOL. I am the one who has in the past been been abused by the conservative Catholic temple guard types at parishes. I have no use for people who choose to use religion to hate others. \n\nAnd you should be more concerned about the \"little monster\" priests who reject Vatican II and use the trappings of the priesthood to hide their own their own psychological insecurities.\n\nBTW, how are these personal attacks getting through the new system?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A person who believes in climate change is not in a position to say they know what is \"Fake News,\" especially on a Catholic news website.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You got that right. Tha is why the Pope is telling them to have more babies!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You ever been there or at least outside the tourist areas? Visited or talked to the people in the villages? How about the parish priests there? I have and never met such, kind loving and hard working people. You are maligning a whole people and yet you call yourself a Christian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If the philosophical doctrine of determinism is discounted while the non-omnipotence of the person is accepted, then what is reasonably left but an interdependent model of creation that is beyond the overall control by any constituent part (and, therefore, open to the influence of the unknown variable, chance). Given the two premises above, there is no other logical conclusion. \n\nWeather is never predictable, which is why meteorologists refer to forecasts, not predictions. There is always the influence of that unknown variable which disallows such certainty. \n\nFor the Christian, this is actually good news: the humble acceptance of vulnerability through non-omnipotence is an occasion for surrendering self to the divine will. When this is done, the role of chance in life is reduced, if not eliminated altogether.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, sorta like our \"Christian\" law to \"love one another\". See how well it was/is followed. I daresay that most of the killing, mass and otherwise in our western countries have been by fellow \"Christians\". I suspect we will have more to fear from the \"Christian\" neo-President of the USA and followers than from Moslim.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The bishops may win in the short term only.\n\nDo not be fooled -- the \"Culture War\" alliance with Catholicism was always meant to be temporary -- using Catholics in the short term to achieve their long-term goals, goals that do not include any Christianity but their own. \"Papist\" Christians will be targeted.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "NcR ought to take the lead here, and remove the word \"Catholic\" from their name, as their bishop demanded back in 1968. This order stands, yet is disobeyed to this day. How many people come here looking for authentic Catholic news only to be duped into reading fake news articles promoting the anti-Catholicism so prominent in this publication.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Biblical literature is inadequate for determining what Jesus may or may not have known. A Christian is free to accept the suggestions of biblical texts as determinative in this and other matters, or not. And \"denying scripture,\" i.e. judging it inadequate for determining certain matters, including on the natures of God and Jesus, is not at all an embarrassment for a good Christian -- unless the Christian intends to be \"good\" by the measure of a church or theology that makes an idol of the Bible. Fortunately for RCs, Vatican 2 teaches that God indeed allowed to be written in the Bible those things which are for our benefit, without being over-scrupulous in deciding for us what \"our benefit\" might include.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think they go farther back than fifty years. They were written, many of them, by the St. Louis Jesuits and I heard some at Mass not long ago. It was like a script from the Twilight Zone.\nGATHER US IN was the closing song (it is usually used properly as an entrance song) and the opening song was SING A NEW SONG. Did anyone hear of not putting new wine in old bottles? What excuse do you Catholic conservatives, a social problem in your own right, have for your Biblical illiteracy? \n Were is not for the fact that the Church is an international institution I wold have no recourse but to leave and never to darken the door of a Catholic church again. As it is, it is not going to be that easy to get rid of me. \n By the way, one of the last of the great crusading journalists passed recently, Jimmy Breslin. He was a daily communicant but left the Church long ago and wrote THE CHURCH THAT FORGOT CHRIST. I have not looked, but I wonder if the NCR mentioned him at all?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In order to define Islamophobia, we must also define \"Taqiyya\".\n\nTaqiyya is the Islamic practice of deception for the protection and defence of Islam. Taqiyya translates as \" concealment omission, dissimulation\" . The Ten Commandments tell Christians and Jew they must not \"bear false witness\" or to lie. Taqiyya is the Fifth Column of Islam and tells Muslims they may tell infidels like us half truths (omission) and even blame it all on the infidels themselves (concealment) as this writer is doing right now, to defend Islam. Many westerners have a hard time to accept that such a thing is real. \n\nThat's why so much about M103 ( and other Liberal policies) makes Canadians of good-will stop and say \"Hey wait a minute \". They can see for themselves the wool is being pulled over their eyes. She exonerates Islam and M103, and blames non Muslim Canadians of Islamophobia to defend Islam.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ed Zinke wrote:\n\n\"The early Christian church rapidly adopted the contemporary Platonic concepts of knowledge, reinterpreting the Bible within that philosophical context. The church of the middle ages used Aristotle to establish the framework for the nature of truth.\"\n\nSome years ago I read an entire book devoted to the process by which Mediaeval Christian philosophers/theologians morphed the Platonic-Christian synthesis of Augustine et al, into the Aristotelian-Christian synthesis of Aquinas et al. \n\nZinke clearly distances himself from both the earlier and the later epochs of post-Apostolic Church thinking and teaching.\n\nHow could any honest and informed reader claim that Zinke in this article espouses a Mediaeval world-view?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Papa Francesco also knows he is wrong on this issue. We are seeing the political limits of how far Bergoglio can go at this time. Papa Francesco is shackled with a priesthood and hierarchy that is dangerously alienated and hopelessly irrelevant to the lived experience of millions of Catholics and Christians. \n\nTo paraphrase former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld: \"You reform the church with the hierarchy you have, not the hierarchy you wish you had.\" Papa Francesco is stuck with all these small, frightened men.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What good is coming from all of these endless politically-themed articles by NCR against virtually anything that Trump does?\n\nIt's kind of boring to come here every day and see nothing but the same toned fare. \n\nIf Trump didn't engage the middle east, there'd be an article.\nNow that he did - and more than that he had a chock full trip - there's an article that complains. \n\nWe get it.\n\nWhy not an article on Melania's Catholic faith? When / where / motives.\n\nWhy not an article on her visits to the children in Rome?\n\nNo coverage?\n\nOr why not let up on politics a bit and instead provide Catholics some more \"personal or faithful/practice\" articles to help Catholics grow?\n\nHow about \"How can Catholics make better use of summer time for the growth of each of their family members?\"\n\nHow about \"How can Catholics learn to sanctify death and all the events surrounding death\"?\n\nHow about \"how can we become better friends to our friends\"?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"... a prelude to the ordination of women.\"\n\nNaturally, an overture, an opening, an exhordium, etc.!! But no pope, who wants to avoid a schism, will implacably embrace women's ordination on his own. Why isolate himself from a Council's experts and his bishops, and their calm-hearted, well thought out, obvious \"secret,\" as it were? So some day, when some pope calls an Ecumenical Council for this end (women's ordination) and for just as many other issues (among the 23 Eastern Catholic Churches and Western/Roman/Latin Church), he will cross that brief forgetful comment of Francis and resolve the issue collegially -- as St. John XXIII and Paul VI \"resolved\" any number of liturgical and ecumenical issues at Vatican II, then promulgated the results, the decrees. May it come soon? Yes indeed, to resolve many issues, not just women's ordination! Pew study says by 2050, the CC will have 1.5 billion members. God help the future pope who'll have to deal with these issues the length of centuries!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Now that is good news for a change (with an archdiocese) -- the \"Anglican Catholic parish Our Lady of Atonement\" will become part of the US Anglian Ordinariate, with its more than 40 parishes and communities.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Right. \"Rogue Catholic\" is your real name. \"John Hobson\" is my real name, and at least one person (who no longer posts here) I know of has found out my home address.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I suppose it's possible to view a comment in moderation, compose a three-line response, submit it for moderation and have it posted in three minutes. Efficient.\n\nTo answer your question, the connection extends beyond Lucia's post hoc anti-Soviet turned pro-Russia \"prophecy.\" It's certainly an interesting question how for Fatima conspiracy theorists the Cold War metamorphosed into an embrace of Putin's Russia as the great defender of white Christianity. At any rate, at least one of those Fatima Center Publications heavily relies on Russian state propaganda organs like RT (and others; can't remember).\n\nIn retrospect my unlikely encounter with this stuff was the beginning of the end of my return to the Catholic Church. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine it was a harbinger of things to come: the rise of Trumpism and the revelation that Putin minions actively manipulated Western actors, whether wittingly or unwittingly, to further Russian interests. Tragic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bannon is exactly right.\n\nAnd I note that the USCCB had to issue a \"clarification\" after its first blast against Bannon in anticipation of the 60 Minutes story.\n\nThe USCCB way overplayed their hand and heard from the Catholic right. One need only look at the USCCB facebook page over the last 72 hours.\n\nAnd now...here are the numbers..\n\nIn FY16. the USCCB received more than $91 MILLION in federal grants ($91,132,305) \n\nAnd more, look at these staggering numbers.\n\nhttps://www.usaspending.gov/Pages/AdvancedSearch.aspx?k=USCCB", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Fabulous news. Thanks to the members of the Christian Reformed Church for your faith in doing the right thing for our neighbors.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pandora just observed that non-Catholics are opining about married priests to Catholics; my point is that married priests were in the Catholic Church for 1000 years and are still there, so it's not an outsider-insider issue. Seems like 9 other people got it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Owing to society's norms, it is interesting that the Brothers of Charity want to practice a kind of virtuous expediency for the dying,on the one hand, and on the other, want the Belgian Church to take on their moral burden by acquiescing to their practice. It is an excellent example of Catholic objective morality (of the Brothers) being ambivalent, as it were. And on top of that, the good Brothers are dictating the terms of the relationship they want with the local church (and Rome) while demanding reciprocation. Will be interesting to follow!!!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I just remembered something. My Lutheran father (God rest his soul) was always saying, \u201cWe Lutherans are Catholic-Lite.\u201d Lol I hope that doesn\u2019t offend anyone but it made me smile and now I\u2019m crying. He and I had our share of lively theological debates about Catholics and Lutherans. He was always accentuating the similarities, and I was always reminding him of our differences. You sound like I did then.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Monica,\nI have to disagree with you when you write, \u201cI think it's that there is no basis for a theology of unconditional love/mercy in either the Old or New Testaments, nor in Catholic tradition.\u201d\nConsider this: Divine revelation is an act of self-revelation by God to humans. What we read in Scripture is not revelation per se, but the perception of the recipient as to the meaning of the experience. Humans are always culturally conditioned and evaluate new information from the perspective of their respective cultures. From very early in human history, the question of evil has had a great impact and influence on human thinking. As Gen. 3 indicates, its roots are very deep in the Judeo/Christian experience and with it the belief that evil acts must be punished. This mind set has colored our understanding of Scripture and Tradition. \nIt is the person and life of Jesus that is the foundation for the understanding of unconditional love and mercy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is now obvious that Supreme Court judges have a very limited view of freedom of religion. If the concept goes beyond the anglo-Christian view, they don't get it. The whole idea of protecting religious belief depends on a deeper understanding of diverse views!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "She literally has said that she would like to completely de-fund public education, on multiple occasions. She has chaired a pretty extreme tea-party leaning Christian education 'foundation' for quite some time. \n\nMy faith in my government has been quite shaken, seeing the embarrassment it's become, so it's not entirely out of the realm of possibility that some mis-guided program is rolled out of nowhere, with no notice, funding being cut suddenly, without a thought of how it affects actual people. It's not just blind conjecture that a random billionaire with no actual experience in the public school system could bungle up a complicated system like education.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "God bless the NCR, those I have criticized for one reason or another, and all. \n I am going to say something here that is likely going to get me excommunicated.\n Yes, one should treat clergy with respect, as you would all persons regardless of their stature. One should respect the Catholic order of worship out of respect for Catholics. \n But when this kind of legalism presents itself it behooves me to speak what I know to be the truth: the hierarchy as it presently exists is arbitrary. ANY Christian with the indwelling Holy Spirit may serve as a priest in any congregation, spiritually discerned. One is aware that Canon Law says otherwise. \n The Real Presence is a spiritual one, discerned by the pure in heart. There is no need for a formal sacramental priesthood save that there are those who believe it is important, and for these the church exists. God bless them everyone. There is still no monopoly on God. \n How about organic wine and matzoh crackers? Fooey.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Church most certainly does not teach the UCC has valid sacraments. The Eastern and Oriental Churches and a few other groups like the Old Catholics and Polish National Catholic Church do. There may be individual Anglican priests who received orders from an Old Catholic bishop (the so called \"Dutch touch\").", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why do you think society would be \"better off\" ? Think of those Christians organizations like our Mission, Salvation Army, Worldvision etc. etc. etc. which are attempting to help out our fellow man. Who makes you to be an expert on this topic ? You ? I and most likely everyone else her, hardly see you as objective on this matter. You do not need to listen if it bothers you, and I hardly doubt knowing your personality that anyone is harassing you with the Gospel.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"everything to do with bludgeoning the Catholic Church for what she upholds.\"\n\nSo it is the Church that is the victim? Head-in-sand has never been a useful survival strategy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, either I'm Catholic, or these guys in fancy dresses are Catholic. We can't all be Catholic....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You do realize, don't you, that the earliest Christians would have been thunder-struck to see what their simple Eucharist meal had turned into? Theirs was celebrated (as was the original) without organs, gold patens, jeweled chalices, beeswax candles, lace, silk, and incense. No marble altars, no ambos, no chanting choir. Just the Church, the Body of Christ, assembled in someone's house, welcoming Christ into their hearts and bodies. Imagine!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Other than a menorah, what other \"symbols of the season\" can be put up on the \"public square\" -- i.e., the lawn of city hall? And how come the governments that pay for and/or allow displays of creches never seem to get around to displaying a menorah?\n\nI guess it makes me a \"law school liberal\" that I think government should have nothing to do with promoting my religion over anybody elses -- including those of the Christian denominations who STILL don't make a big deal over Christmas, and aren't particularly keen on Mariology as we are.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I was merely stating a fact that as a group on NcR columnists readers both attack church teaching and publicly disobey a lot of it and encourage others to do so but yet still feel they are good Catholics. Please help me understand how this is not hypocritical? \nNever did I resort in my posts to insulting a person by implying immaturity childishness or as Petrus Romanus told me to stop being a pest and just go away. \nI am just a simple sinful lay Catholic who loves the church is in need of God's grace every moment and who is sick and tired of the destruction to the faith that has been happening for the last 50 years and continues at a fever pitch now with the Jesuit Pope. I do get emotional in my imperfect way to defend the church but I do try to rein it in sometime successfully other times not.\nGod bless guide and enlighten you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Fatima occurred in 1917, not 1962, so the message is the same. Do you find it interesting that the 3rd Secret was not to be revealed until 1960? The reason given was it would be clearer at that time. For a thinking person what could that actually mean? A New Mass was developed shortly afterwards, traditions were changed, altar rails and kneelers removed, tabernacles where moved, communion in the hand, removal of statues, devotions to Mary minimized, the Priest Sexual abuse scandal, the loss of faith in the Catholic Community. I could go on and on. \nIs the Church in a better place today than in 1962? I don't think so. The Fatima apparition mentioned the loss of faith and the need to pray for our priests, who would be under constant attack by Satan. Fatima showed the reality of Hell to the three children. We have just entered the 100 year anniversary. It's true meaning may be clear very soon.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How could any Catholic be not globalist?\nDid Christ & God created only the Americans? Did Christ suffered passion for the Americans only?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is sort of THE place to go in Catholic circles to get down and depressed. \n\nAll the negative news we can find...get your feelers out.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And it surely does and, given the Holy Spirit who Christ gave to us, it teaches in ever more clarity as time goes on.\n\nAnd when Jesus says: \"My grace is sufficient\" why does the AL claim it's not?\n\nAnd when Jesus says: \"...Because of the hardness of your hearts Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. I say to you,* whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) and marries another commits adultery.\u201d [His] disciples said to him, \u201cIf that is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.\u201d \n\nwhy does AL say it's not so?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, it is not implicit in their question. Were it, you'd quote it. Both are completely Catholic.\n\nI do not know if you even have a son. I took it on your word, and took your description of him respecting the Church's discipline as factual.\n\nIf he did not respect the law, he would attend a Catholic parish and present himself for communion without regard to his state.\n\nIf you tell me otherwise, I have to accept it on its face since you're the only source.\n\nUnless he was in fear for his life, it would not be like saying that Jews who left Germany in the 1930s \"respected\" the Nuremberg Laws.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Growing up in a predominately French Catholic community, I can say some of the most intolerant uncaring people I have met were also deeply religious. For an atheist such behaviour has no excuse, yet for the religious a few prayers can cleanse them of their misjudgements.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nonsense. The dubious Dubium is not infallible, because the CDF is not infallible. Ordinatio Sacerdotalis is a fallible *judgment* about the presumed infallibility of a doctrine that has never been infallibly defined as a dogma of our Catholic faith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Continuing to LG:\nFor reasons such as these it would be advisable to make a further distinction, not just between \"small-t tradition\" and \"Large-T Tradition,\" but also between \"Deep Large-T Tradition\" and \"Shallow Large-T Tradition.\"\n\nAs for your \"I don't believe Jesus could err,\" etc., right, given the faith in Jesus such as the Christian church professes, so that allowing that the Jesus of faith could err would be a kind of contradiction in terms. By contrast, the historical Jesus most certainly could err, and seems to have done so on at least one important matter, viz. the apocalyptic timetable. And it is that fallible Jesus who provided the data from which a small number of first-century Christians constructed their respective portraits, without themselves necessarily understanding all the implications of their work. And we should note that the Holy Spirit did not demand uniformity, but allowed for such limited understanding to be the seed of much subsequent fruitful discourse.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "...\" were he to come out formally, publicly in favor of \u2018Communion for those living in adulterous unions,\".....\n\nThat's the rub, isn't it? The 'The Joy of Love' gives the reasoning behind the truth of this conclusion, but it will take time for some people to grow to accept this as truth.\n\n\"Joy of Love' points out that our 'rules' about reception of Communion have been based on a mis-interpretation of Paul's letter to the Corinthians. Jesus did not set any 'rules' about it. Our 'regulations' intend to inspire 'reverence' -- like our rules about fasting from midnight. They are our human rules, not rules given by Jesus.\n\nFrancis often says 'Communion is not a reward for the good', but a grace to convert the sinner. Every individual case needs to be evaluated individually. There are times when the obligation to raise children would make it more 'sinful' to abandon that task.\n\n'Objective state' is not always 'subjective guilt'. The whole of 'Joy of Love', is not one sentence!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When Pandora said, \"I.am not a 'holier than thou' one issue obsessed Catholic, she was quite right. She is not \"one issue obsessed\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Frankly, I strongly support the right of Americans to own guns--even automatic weapons. The idea is to allow the citizenry to be able to defend itself against a rogue government. Trump's administration has its toe on the line of going rogue. During the campaign, two Trump supporters approached a Democratic candidate's campaign headquarters in Albermarle, VA and let the staffers see that they were wearing glock pistols on their hips. The two Trump supporters then stood outside the Democratic candidate's office all day with their arms crossed at their waists and glocks quite apparent on their hips. Albermarle County, VA has an open-carry law. These are the sorts who would get excited about joining a Brown Shirt sort of para-military group, such as Hitler organized to intimidate his opponents. BTW, I'm a Christian as well as an American and a Canadian. I don't \"tote\" a gun and neither did most of the other Christians I knew in the States.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If one has given up the Christian Faith, it matters not whether they call themselves Christian. Atheism under the guise of Christianity is still Atheism. Thus they cannot qualify as \"separated brethren.\" They can only qualify as \"separated brethren\" if they are, in fact, Christian. \n\nLook at the likes of Joe Biden or Nancy Pelosi--they call themselves Catholic, but in fact have little to nothing to do with actual Catholicism. They are cultural Catholics, not actual Catholics. They may not be atheists, but they are no Catholics. Rosaries and other Catholic accidents don't make one a Catholic. Being Catholic has to do with what one professes, not whether they like statues or Rosaries, or devotions to the saints. When it comes to Protestants you can have the same phenomenon. In the Jewish community you have the same phenomenon. Jewish is a term that can refer to ethnicity or culture as much as someone's belief system.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christians and Pagans, Dar Willkams\n\nhttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=t_KiHRHwaAs", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pretty clearly a lot of religious nutcases in Canada want to use Islam to force us all to be believers. No, we removed christianity from running our lives, segregating us. We did not do so to have an even more primitive and brutal Religion foisted upon us.\nAnyone arguing this anti-social slave clothing is a right needs to read up on both normal muslim behavior but also ex-muslims.\nButt is the enemy of democracy\u200b and women worldwide!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well because I (along with the silent majority) do not believe in multi-culturalism obviously that list could be rather long. But I would probably start with cultures that are diametrically opposed to our own. Cultures that historically cause conflict when bordered with Christian based socities or are introduced within them. First, second and third on that list of mine would be fundamentalist muslims. Moving down the list we would see refugees with chips on their shoulders especially from Salafist supported warzones. The Founding Fathers had some choice thoughts on what was called \"Mohameddism\" in their day. This country was to be a beacon to it, not a welcoming party.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I grew up in the southeast. I drove past Liberty University every time I went skiing. I know all about them and you know what? They're no more dangerous than say... a believe in nothing methodist. In some ways, I have more respect for the true believing evangelicals and fundamentalists. If you're going to buy in to a religion, buy in.\n\nAs soon as you start picking and choosing, it really doesn't matter what church you go to. At that point, you're likely just attending where your neighbors go, where the boy scout troop meets, or the place with the most Chamber members. \n\nReligion is an equal strike against both of these candidates for me. Are they believers or socializers? At the end of the day, it doesn't really matter. Religion has been watered down so much that they all feel like they're on the same team.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "OK, I'll challenge you Joan---please list SPECIFICALLY which of those gifts from God are NOT part of how you, Joan, live as a grateful, Pro-Life Catholic and a Christian who also is called to carry her respective crosses? Which have you rejected in your daily life? \n\nTo say one is \"rejecting the Cross\"--as you do-- by being joyful, fun-loving, and ecstatic in living and loving is a dangerous and, dare I say, sinful charge. I can't think of a more damning thing to say about someone--without ANY evidence yet--than \"He rejects the Cross.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No form of christianity has been imposed on any Canadian for many, many years.\n\nUnless you consider a Christmas tree to be a religious imposition.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Many of these guys, whether they admit it or not subscribe to the whole Prosperity Gospel idea of Christianity. The one where if you are poor, there is something you did to anger God, so you get what you deserve, but if you are wealthy, you are pleasing to God, so good things are your due. Most won't admit it, but if you read their posts, it is certainly the worldview they seem to push.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm not quite sure the Pharisees and Scribes were hypocrites as much as they misunderstood God's message as taught by Christ, that is, a message of love and mercy versus a long list of what not to do. These are quite different but seldom understood by our Magisterium.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So Jesus ate with a sinner, but it was different because God forced him to sin? Hard to imagine, having decided to betray Christ, Judas was a good Christian. But, in any event, he was an apostle, and therefore an ordained Priest in the Roman Catholic Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In Canada, I understand that the Law requires any doctor who refuses to assist a patient to commit suicide must refer that patient to a doctor or nurse who will. In doing so that doctor who refuses becomes complicit in the murder of that patient (I can't kill you but I can put you in touch with someone who will). The State can now force individuals act against their consciences and commit grevious sin. It has been suggested that a doctor who refuses could be prosecuted for prolonging the suffering of their patient.\nThere are other instances both in North America and Europe where Christians can fall foul of the Law for obeying their consciences. Two Catholic midwives were told by the Courts that they had to assist at abortions or lose their jobs. Who in years gone by would ever have believed that a Court would ever give such a ruling?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you for these extraordinary articles.\nHow can the clergy who perpetrated this evil scandal possibly investigate -- let alone \"cure\" -- themselves? The \"ontologically different\" clergy have destroyed their credibility. While none of us who are now living will see it, a future Catholic Christianity will need to be one without clergy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why the hang up about \"public declarations of official faith\", sky? You keep repeating that concept but don't explain why it's relevant. If a Catholic wears a crucifix or a Jew a yarmulke, is that a \"public declaration of faith\"? Is that a problem for you? If so, why?\n\nAccommodating Muslim students or any religious group in a school is not a state endorsement of a particular religion, it's simply a reasonable reaction to living in a modern diverse country. What is it that you're so afraid of?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think that it is time to stop using \"religion\" as the weapon/tool and return to the reality that God gave us.\nOkay, we Christians believe that Christ redeemed us. Fine for us. However, if we gave Him a chance we would see that he was a philosopher, ethicist, political scientist, sociologist of the line of the best. He also leaves a great deal of room for divergence of opinion, consensus building, pedagogy, discernment, political and religious discourse and civility. His logic seems to flounder at times, but He makes up for it in parable, metaphor and the \"awe\" of quest. \nHe came \"from\" the Creator/Parent \"for\" us, so why don't we focus more on the \"us\" and what it is in us that makes life possible and possibly abundant together?\nThis and these are the real contributions to the \"public square\" that are the hidden - one would also have to acknowledge abused - in our tradition. If we did a proper job on this level, Jesus would look after the rest, in his own way and time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The 'christian' version of Sharia law?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Church hierarchs may have taught, more or less strongly in various councils, that divorced that individuals cannot join in new, sexually active relationships, but as far as I know, there is no definitive, unchangeable translation of the Greek clause, \"...m\u0113 epi porneia...,\" which in only a small minority of translations, including the NRSV translation used in Catholic liturgies, translates as \"...except in the case of unlawful marriage....\" In fact, the overwhelming majority of English-language translations of the Bible translate this clause as, \"...except in the case of adultery....\" My opinion on this disparity of translations is not that the Catholic Church hierarchy has condemned all instances of remarriage *because of* the former translation of the Greek; rather, the hierarchy has approved this translation because they have incompletely interpreted the passage in question and sought to justify it with a fitting translation. It's quite myopic, perhaps even dishonest, in my opinion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am sorry there is still racial bias and inequality in our nation, BUT, we have come so far and are moving the needle each and every day. It is NOT something that can be solved in a blink of an eye, but, we are, until lately, moving forward. \nI look forward to the day when each and every person, whether man or woman, white or black, Christian or Muslim, gay or straight can each be considered equal.\nTill then, we need to bring our country together with our flag of freedom and use it to bring our country together and not to be used to divide it.\nRespect one another-Respect the flag.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christians believe in the Trinity. One God. Three Persons. Distinct. Equal. In a relationship for which the analogy of created consciousness , \"I-am/we-are\" and \"Acknowledgment\" is a pale but relatable Creator intended \"image\". \nMale and female. Man and woman. Equal as persons before God and man. Equal as persons. Distinct. Distinct as each and every human being is distinct. Equal as every human being is equal: created in the image and likeness of God: Equals in distinction.\nJesus was, is male. So? I concede to drive on the \"right\". When in England, I drive on the \"left\". Convention. Lesson I, Philosophy I, Logic. The distinction between convention adherence and moral, ethical, metaphysical acceptance is fundamental. Jesus \"decided\" did not judge. \nI once thought there was a \"secret\" file in the Vatican archives that \"decreed\". I find only persistant perverse patriarchal self-interest, misrepresentation. Not God, not Jesus, not Spirit.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Roman Catholic Church still rules Boston through their dominance of every social institution.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Reply to Buster> \"The Doyle story is riddled with errors\"...\nAnd I have reason to believe that his account is accurate having seen the same clergy/lawyer behaviors exhibited in Northern California and elsewhere in our nation. A key sentence in the Finn article, \"Over the years, Donohue has expressed great concern for doctrinal orthodoxy and obedience which appear to have supplanted basic Christian decency and charity...\" This attitude of Donohue's is pervasive in conservative cliques of most parishes and is one of the reasons pews have emptied and our young people look elsewhere for Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Monica you were on here very recently complaining how NCR is being trolled, how decent posters were being chased away, how the CC facility was a form of censorship, etc.. You are obviously aware of the problems - as well as the benefits - of social media. \n\nThousands of people taking to the streets is still a very powerful and effective form of protest, not least for the way it affects those who take part.\n\nAnd it isn't a case of either or. Both is the answer.\n\nThe recent protests for the gay rights referendum in Ireland were absolutely magnificent and delivered a huge bloody nose for the Catholic Church in that country. And people around the world didn't need to a. Speak English or b. Be IT savvy, to get the message.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So now that I provided evidence we are going back to you arguing your original (losing) point?\n\nI did not disagree with your position that \"there are cemeteries who do not accept other faiths\". My comment was only and only to your \"Try getting a plot in a Catholic or Jewish cemetery if you are not of that faith.\" post. I repeated this a few times. You conceded that non-Catholics can get plots in certain catholic cemeteries. What's more to discuss?\n\nAbsolutist? Is that a bad thing?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hi Monica. I misunderstood. This venue will be fine. I think Galatians 1 is a problem for your reconstruction, because there Paul, writing some few years after 50, speaks of his past encounter/revelation of Christ and says that he did not go to Jerusalem to the \"apostles before me,\" but the after 3 years he visited Cephas and James, so he was not well known to the churches in Judea. The events he reports are his own past, some very few years after the resurrection event and he knew even then that there were apostles in Jerusalem. His brief creedal statement in 1 Corinthians seems to me to witness to an already developed kerygma just a few years after easter, and some earlier Christian must have taught him that around 33-35.\nI do not quite get the written account of an imminent parousia discomforting oral tradition. Jesus never wrote anything, so why would his followers rush to print?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How do you figure that there would be money saved? All the kids from the Catholic schools would still have to be educated.\nThere is no savings- except perhaps in very small communities where facilities would be shared.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Constitution is not a confirmation of the DoI. The DoI contains no mention of how the new nation will be set up. The Constitution does echo some of the language of the DoI in spelling out protections against violations of the rights of citizens - specifically when speaking of taxation, and in the 3rd Amendment - but the two documents have different purposes. They are both important documents, but mention of religion in the DoI does NOT mean that the Constitution endorses \"Judeo-Christian principles\".\n\nThe DoI does briefly make religious references: \"... the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God ...\" in the first paragraph, \"... their Creator ...\" in the second, and \"... the protection of divine Providence ...\" in the last. None of these is an endorsement of Judeo-Christian religion. The DoI states that governments derive \"... their just powers from the consent of the governed ...\", NOT from religious authority of any kind.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part 4\nCatholicism, on the other hand, has uniquely refused divorce. However, I would invite them to read about the history of the annulment process. It as always been there since the high middle ages, but the process was effectively removed from the common people while being available for royalty and nobility and the super wealthy via a complicated legal process in the Vatican. But after V2, that process was made generally available, and has over the years tended to be made easier and easier. Nominally nothing has changed, but in fact everything has changed since now hundreds of thousand of Catholics have been granted annulments. I would invite them to talk with Catholic who have received annulments, and ponder for themselves whether annulments are fairly or unfairly called \"Catholic divorces.\" \n\nUnstated but assumed in this discussion is that our couple has applied for and been refused an annulment. I would invite them to reflect with me and pray over their own experience.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think we have to come to terms with the fact that our planet has been revolving around a decaying star for the past 4.5 billion years, and rather recently the conditions became right for carbon-based life forms, although those conditions will \"soon\" deteriorate even further and our life forms will no longer be supported. Again, I don't see that view as compatible with the Christian worldview.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Though I agree with your ecumenical sentiments, I certainly would not hold up Elizabeth I as a model or prototype of Christian moral equilibrium, balance or Christ-like self-possession. Elizabeth I ordered the execution of her own cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots, thus committing regicide. (Not even Elizabeth's half sister, Mary Tudor, would do that though she had power to have Elizabeth I executed.) Elizabeth I was no better than Kim Jong un, who had his own uncle murdered and who, this past February, 2017, ordered the execution of his brother, Kim Jong nam. Maybe George Hebert is a better example or model of balance in that religious tradition, highlighting in his poetry \"the One Lord, one faith and one baptism.\" Hebert took from the Gospel no profit for himself and certainly would never have ordered the execution of a Catholic priest for adhering to Catholic \"trifles.\" \n\\", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Snarling Christian attitude huh ? You mean like what you just tossed out when I brought up a legitimate concern? So it's wrong for church goers to know their pastor is invested in the community and not some guy or gal who will hang out for 2 or 3 years and leave them? People want relationships with their clergy leaders as does the community, It's sorta the backbone of christian theology. I asked a serious question that you didn't respond to in your snarky remark. I'll ask again .. Were there no Lutherans in Alaska deemed worthy enough to lead a congregation ?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christian Pro-Lifers have demonstrated numerous times they hate enough to kill people in their self- appointed mission to clean up America.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yep - cherry picking. Question - and what administration set up the Syrian migration? Simple answer - Bush and company. \nYour answer appears to justify the regime of Assad - not very Christian of you?\nhttp://www.pewglobal.org/2016/10/18/conflicts-in-syria-iraq-and-yemen-lead-to-millions-of-displaced-migrants-in-the-middle-east-since-2005/\nBTW - 90% of Syrian migration is within Syria (so much for your *left*)\nWhat started it? not Obama/Hillary\n\"The conflict in Syria that followed 2011\u2019s Arab Spring protests left about 2 million Syrians internally displaced by the end of 2012. As the insurgency opposed to President Bashar al-Assad\u2019s regime intensified and the caliphate declared by the militant group ISIS continued to expand across Syria, this number of internally displaced persons grew to 6.6 million by the end of 2015.\"\nISIS happened because of BUSH. FACT!!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "From whence the hysterical fear that \"he wants to impose the beliefs of the Catholic and Evangelical Churches\"? You seem to insist on a religious test: \"No Catholics need apply.\" How decent and \"inclusive\" of you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually it is a full story. \n\nYour references indicate a lot of \"perhaps\" rather than a complete [20 years of research] coming from a person considered THE authority on these findings. Ute Eisen, \"Women Officeholders in Early Christianity: Epigraphical and Literary Studies [Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2000]. The translation of the relics [for Theodora], contained therein was in July 20, 817. There was nothing to indicate that she WAS an abbess or the wife of any bishop.\n\nEisen, WOMEN OFFICEHOLDERS, pg. 201-5 has a complete description of the evidence for Theodora as well as an English translation [from the Umberian] of the inscriptions.\n\nThe same is true for \"episcopa Q\" ---where Eisen includes an English translation of the inscription. p. 199-200.\n\nAlso, Kevin Madigan and Carolyn Osiek, have researched Eisen's work and wrote ORDAINED WOMEN IN THE EARLY CHURCH: A DOCUMENTAY HISTORY [Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press, 2005] with English translations\npp.193-195.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There's more. Last Saturday, in a big ceremony in Warsaw attended by many bishops and the President of Poland, Christ was formally proclaimed King of Poland.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Williams lived in the duplicitious world of the alt-right priesthood. His movement to the Breitbart zone and his self-promotion are no surprise.\n\nI was feeling poorly after surgery last night, so I half heard the speech. It sounded like vintage Obama. Miller\u2019s reactions from Christian Left leaders we don\u2019t usually hear about was a nice touch.\n\nI was sure the Remnant died when the world did not end in 2000. That Burke is giving them interviews shows their continued irrelevance and his. He has too much time on his hands, although retiring him won\u2019t improve things, nor would giving him any real job. He would simply use it as a way to self-promote. His contention is interesting. He could be right, but that would be worse news for the idea of the Magisterium than for the Pope.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The New Testament never portrays Jesus as recommending eros, although both the Synoptics and the Fourth Gospel portray him as recommending philia and agape.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholic nuns stopped wearing their habits decades ago. The found that wearing their religion set them apart from the general public, and realized that the didn't have to wear special clothing to serve their faith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Neighbor98...keep it above board. I've not been unkind to anyone, and I don't live in a dream world. What do you know about \"fundy christianity?\" My guess is not much. I am not an apologist for Imago Dei, but from what I can tell, there's a lot of insults being hurled in their direction that are borne out ignorance of the facts on the ground. As I said earlier, the real disconnect here is that Jules Bailey can be cordial and apparently care for people that he has significant disagreements with. Does that make him a hypocrite, or perhaps an example of how to bring civility to a city that needs more of it? Call me what you will, but if Imago Dei believes what they will and treats people with respect in the process, then I am ok with that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jewish priests were MARRIED. John the Baptist's father, a Jewish priest, certainly was. You don't know WHAT Jesus did before his public ministry began. He could have been a Widower. The Gospels don't include any information about marriage. But Jewish customs have Jewish parents securing a wife for their sons between their seventeenth and nineteenth birthdays. That was a DUTY of Jewish parents. Mary and Joseph followed Jewish Law in everything else---why not here?\n\n\nJesus never, never, never, called himself a PRIEST. The church tagged him with this title.\nHe was of the tribe of Judah, of the House of David [kings], but he was NOT a Levite nor was he of the House of Aaron.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. When we revere those with money, we displace God and Christianity. Sadly, the strange bedfellows of religion and politics have led us to a point where we do not welcome the stranger, or do for these the least of my brethren, or honor the concept that a laborer is worthy of his or her wages. How little faith the bishops must have to not trust God. How little humanity must donors have to demand unChristian behavior in exchange for their pieces of silver. If there is indeed a heaven, I very much doubt that overpopulation is much of a concern.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When a Canadian permanent resident is reviewed for citizenship the rules are well-known. Citizenship is granted on qualifications, not a word is mentioned on religious belief. When a baby is born in Canada he/she is citizen, regardless of religion, if any, down the road. \n\nIn the U.S. it has a Constitution where God is fundamental. In God We Trust. God Bless America. There is only one God possible - the Christian God. Every U.S. citizen must pledge allegiance to the Constitution, and therefore the God of America, the God of Christian Faith. \n\nEven Muslim faith president Obama must disavowed and pledge allegiance to the Christian God. Or he will be overthrown. Obama was obliged to continue with war in the Middle East policy. \n\nThe people of the world should understand why the U.S. initiated its Pivot to Middle East after the fall of the USSR. The Pivot is to hide its holy war on the Muslim world. The agenda is to suppress the people, to plunder their wealth. It is quite successful.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This \"Filial Correction\" will implode under the weight of its own hubris. Its proponents claim they never really wanted bishops and cardinals to sign on. At the same time they announce that they seek a \"moderated\" list of signatories of \"academics and pastors\"; that is, people who they believe have \"weight\". Thereby they exclude the vast majority of ordinary Catholics. In short, they let you sign on only if they think you're worthy, and if you are more than worthy but refuse to sign on, then they say they didn't want your signature anyway. This strange set of conditions for who can and cannot sign smacks of clubby self-aggrandizement, desperate attention-getting, and the dim recognition that no one else in the Church actually pays them attention. Rorate-Caeli has in place a similar clubby self-aggrandizing policy, seeking only the writings of either traditionalist priests or European Catholics, under the assumption that only these kinds of people know what Catholicism is!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "MSW, you spent the last year telling the world that every Catholic who didn't support your political views was sick and twisted.\n\nGood luck on getting more money.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Old news in Catholic prophesy. The anti-Christ will not rise until the Great Catholic Monarch/King of the North/Prince Michael the Great shall arise. He has not and probably will not. End times prophesy says more about when it is written than when it is likely to be fulfilled. It is essentially social commentary and often criticism of the ambient Church, often by those with sour grapes when someone like Francis emerges - or it can be about St. JPII bungling child sex abuse.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm not certain I like the idea of tax credits for political donations, much less direct funding of political parties.\n\nEssentially, these parties want the tax-payer to fund their political philosophy. Logically, where do we set the bar? Do we set it high (say a million votes) and thus fund only the top three parties? Do we set it medium (100k votes) and thus also fund the Green party and the Bloc Quebecois? Or do we set it low and end up funding the Libertarian, Communist and the Christian Heritage parties? If we fund by vote, reasonably, we have to fund by _all_ votes, I think - otherwise the current government is essentially choosing which parties can run effectively.\n\nI suggest that it makes far more sense for supporters to fund parties directly.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There no is question there have been ups & down in the Church\"s history, as with any human institution. \n\nBut looking at the CARA data, the number of priests ordained in the past 6-7 years has increased 25%, with more seminary students in the pipeline.\n\nNot enough to fill the retiring priests yet, but a very positive trend, not indicative of a failing Church..\n \nAs far as those leaving the Church. Pew research notes that the Catholic Church has a retention rate of 59%. Just behind the Evangelical & Mormons, but greater then the Orthodox & mainline Protestant. \n\nBut looking at history, the Church has always emerged stronger.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "According to my readings about the early church, the sacrament of penance may have developed from the ritual to reconcile people who had sacrificed to the Roman Emperor/gods during the persecutions rather than accept penalties or martyrdom. Later, when Christianity was widespread under Constantine and there were no more martyrdoms, the concept was broadened to include acts that \"wounded ecclesial communion\" , probably major social offenses. The early ritual includes words about being reconciled to the church. \n\nThe ritual of confession as we know it may have developed much later with the emergence of the monasteries where monks and nuns withheld nothing from their spiritual fathers (or spiritual mothers, in the case of nuns). This suggests that the process and the concepts around confession evolved over a few centuries. At least, that's what I recall , although I confess that my memory can be faulty. Other sacraments were not established till long after the 1st century, either.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Monica, if my orthodonist even tried to talk politics to me, I'd find a new orthodontist, regardless of which side of the political fence they are on. You see, when I am in the chair, I want her/his entire focus to be on my teeth, not on delivering some wonderful lecture about the political candidate of their choice.\n\nBut that's just me. Since she apparently aligns with your views, you were probably thrilled at her little story, and will use it as anecdotal evidence to prove what a great guy Donald Trump really is, as well as the champion of Brentwood orthodontists.\n\nAs for me, the point of this column has been something that I have been mulling since Nov. 9. To wit: How can anybody who strongly professes Christianity even think about voting for a person whose entire life has been the very antithesis of the Christian message.\n\nBut I guess I'd think differently if I had a USC-educated, African-American orthodontist who lives in Brentwood.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Between the 13th and the mid-20th centuries, Catholics often celebrated this feast with elaborate public processions that focused on Christ\u2019s miraculous presence in the consecrated host carried aloft. \"\nAnd thanks to certain arch-conservative prelates, this Mediaeval interpretation of the Real Presence is coming back in some places. These processions were originally about letting the masses - who rarely went to Communion in those times - see the host. And of course it was also an opportunity for the clergy to show how superior they were. They were the only ones allowed to touch the host, they were so special!\nIn those times, and also in predominantly Catholic countries like Poland, these processions today would be just part of the culture. Elsewhere however, in multi-faith (and no faith) countries, these processions would be seen to be rather odd and strange, and would in no way help to promote the image of the Church.\nJesus said, take this and eat. He didn't say take and look at it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm not clear what you're trying to say, but the Saskatchewan Act of 1905 is part of the Constitution. The trial judge didn't rule that catholic schools were unconstitutional, he ruled (rightly or wrongly) that using public funding for non-catholics to attend those schools was unconstitutional. Although the judge can't over-ride the 1905 Act, the legislature of Saskatchewan, together with Parliament can amend the Constitution and remove it. I hope this helps.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "w: McVeigh was not a radicalized Christian and Roof was a racist. Neither was motivated by religious zealotry.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Is there any record of any Apostle actually 'presiding' at a 'Mass\" \u2013 a Eucharistic liturgy? \nPaul is the first to speak of the fact that the early christian communities were having them as a remembrance of the death and resurrection of Jesus, but Paul himself never seemed to lead one.\n\nIs there a record of any Apostle doing so?\n\nJust curious. I've not found any, so far.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"At the start of his talk, he cited sobering church statistics about the decreasing number of Catholics today that some delegates heard at some of the breakout sessions. For every Catholic who joins the church, six leave, he said, and also the number of \"nones\" those who claim no religious affiliation even if they were Catholic is growing.\"\n\nTHE REASONS for this, actually, per various surveys of ex-Catholics young & old alike are the following:\n\nSexism- Refusal to treat women as equals & as sacred as men & ordain them the same.\nAbusive treatment & condescending treatment of all LGBT people.\nPushing of conservative politics and sexist politics, esp. in regards to birth control.\nPushing of one party into office-Republican, despite how horrible their candidates.\nExtreme mishandling of priest abuse on children issues.\nClericalism- You ask us laity what we care about & then block your ears.\nno optional celibacy for priests.\n\nNot really \"a culture of meh,\" answers, if you bother to listen.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One wishes this advice also applies to the worldwide Catholic hierarchy. They don't seem to see what Pope Francis sees.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Every successful religion has found itself evolving as the dominant culture evolves. Their fundamentals may remain intact but their superficial aspects always reflect the prevailing culture. If this were not the case they would find themselves not recognizable by the larger population and would therefore be ignored and become extinct. What we are witnessing is most Christian traditions failing to adapt as our cultural paradigms change but instead trying to hold on to \"tradition\" which some call \"dogma\" but isn't in reality. The result is the rise of the \"nones\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't find the \"proof text\" to be convincing on your point. As to Protestants and the sacraments, both Lutherans and Anglicans accept the same seven sacraments as Roman Catholics. Jesus may not have mentioned fornication but Paul certainly did and I think most Christians of all denominations acknowledge that it is a sin.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There's nothing inherently bigoted about the philosophy of secularism. It permits the private belief in and worship of any religion. As my father, who remained a devout Catholic throughout his life but was also a secularist, used to say, the most positive social development in post-WWII Canada was that we got over religion. I can't imagine how it will do us any good to reverse that progress.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I wish I could understand what these people pine for; most were never alive when the Catholic Church was like this and going back to these customs, etc., will not bring a 1950's America/Europe back either. It makes me very sad and also uncomfortable. I will never participate in such an action--Mass, etc. that has at it's center the old ways.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You probably know better in that regard. But if the Church is teaching from that position, and asking Catholics (and for that matter, the world) to believe as it does because of SCRIPTURE, then it is making a huge tactical mistake. Scripture is taken on faith, but billions don't believe. What do we tell THEM? The better route is natural law, which is not dependent on revealed truth that billions reject. This is the stance taken by Alan Keyes, who, for all his faults, had this quite right: Stand on natural law, as it is the ground that appeals to reason rather than faith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My comment was directed at individual Catholics on the NCR staff not at the institution itself.\nRemember the words of St. Ignatius of Antioch -\n\"Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude of the people also be; even as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A sensible choice by Trudeau. Talent, performance, energy, vision.\n\nBut a manager needs material to work with that is absent. Her being a model and an icon did not stop slide in science and math in the youth. The quality of immigrants is not what it used to be. She does not have a magic wand to wave and lo behold.\n\nReconciliation with whom? The French were on good terms with the Natives, the Anglos who did the damage are all dead and their descendants powerless, and the New Canadians have no taste for it. Too little, too late, and of no consequence than embed entitlement.\n\nThe Natives themselves are not blameless either. The Christians found a culture that was in incessant warfare, cruel, heartless, scalping, no human rights to speak of. Except for land grab, of which there was plenty around anyway, the \"sins\" were done in good faith - conversions, schooling, etc. to make them all like ourselves. And what was wrong with that? Misguided, nay noble in a way.\n\nGood luck JP, anyway.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "John,\nSo absolutely true - your observation. Seems so totally strange. \nReminds me of Fr. Martin Fox and his rants about all of us - the little people. \nAlso reminds me of my wife's stepfather - an alcoholic and a seminary dropout before he spread his verbose vitriol on his family. \nAlso reminds me of our dear and beloved Fr. Gallagher who warned us to not be scrupulous and to not USE our Catholic faith for any other reasons, just as Christ also warned us to not politicize our beliefs or our faith. \nThe Heartbreaker does not seem to comprehend such. \n\nAll the best--\nbob", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree with you. The bishop is treading in areas where there are many different ways and means of dealing with the issues of illegal immigrants. He has his opinions but they are not necessarily the only ones and still be a faithful Catholic. President Trump has not ordered any immoral executive orders as it relates to protecting the American borders. Obviously, there are many who disagree but it hardly rises to the level of sin.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yeah sure, 10,000 denominations later. I don't hate Luther, Lutheranism, or Protestantism, however, it is clear Luther did not intend to be the father of thousands of different Christian churches", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Then any Catholic who is civilly married, or publicly supports abortion, etc., should be denied a funeral. You can't single out one type of sin without appearing totally hypocritical.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In Milwaukee beside creating fraudulent trusts and setting up a bankruptcy scheme Dolan came up with other ways to cheat victims, His compensation program in Milwaukee was a bait and switch that pressured victims not to use counsel. Dolan had church lawyers build cases against victims during this process also designed to start the statue of limitations on fraud.\n\nMany victims were lied to and told that they were the first and only victim of the offending priest. when they found out that they were not. There was nothing that they could do as the program creator was also behind a law that was passed making things said (church lies) during mediation not to be used as evidence in WI. courts. \nThe Milwaukee victims have been left as wreckage and given more pain by Dolan, Listecki and Francis. Most good Catholics and clergy remain silent. Catholics say that they want victims to be treated fairly just not the ones in their diocese.\nI have no hope in healing after the Milwaukee bankruptcy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I received an email report from my Rep. Tulsi Gabbard about this trip. I don't care if Azerbaijan banns, nor did I care negatively about her fact finding trip to SYRIA with former Rep. Dennis Kucinish, Ohio. whom many in Hawaii respect. I hope that the next Congressional fact finding trip will be to PALESTINE. People there have endured genocide since their land was taken in 1948 to creat ISRAEL. Conditions are quite cruel under Israeli illegal occupation. Perhaps congress could stop funding the war crimes of Israel toward the Palestinians, CHRISTIAN and Muslim. That would be a step in the right direction.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bro, I should add that you can see the Vatican's reliance on 2 Co 2:10 for \"in persona Christi\" (in the person of Christ) and the historical development of that through Aquinas in Vatican Catechism #1548. But now, instead of relying on the Vulgate, the NAB/NABRE on the Vatican and US Bishops' websites has a different translation -- \"in the presence of Christ\" -- not \"in the person of.\" I was not able to find any mention of \"in the person of\" in the Baltimore Catechism, so I will guess the recent supposedly 'traditional' emphasis on 'in persona' is ironically mostly from Vatican II documents which have it. Just a fad that happens to result in clericalism and discrimination against women. Particularly with \"in persona Christi Capitis\" -- meaning Christ the Head (who is Jesus, a male). As members of the Christ, women image it. The Eucharist is a remembrance, not a reenactment. Jesus was the 'one and only' sacrifice per Hebrews, and the priest does not become a Jesus and get sacrificed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As I read this insightful examination of Rev. Martin's book (actually a short story, which is appropriate for the subject) I could feel the dilemma inherent in the concept of a bridge between the US bishops and just about everybody else. There are more than just one serious error in +Martin's book, as his wish for mutual respect and patience has never been qualities LGBT people have experienced from Catholic bishops. And I would also challenge this priest's notion there are \"many\" bishops who want some sort of pastoral bridge with gay Catholics for one basic reason: for the very most part, bishops reeling from the sex abuse crisis with which they have collectively been totally inept in dealing with, have it permanently linked in their minds that homosexuals = pedophiles. No science, or explanation, or experience has or will change those attitudes because it requires a submission to their own sexual conflicts and the developmental millstones around their necks. Sorry Rev. Martin.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pat Robertson and many other \"christian leaders\" blamed New Orleans openness and gay culture for Katrina...wish they had lost their jobs. Big old log in their eyes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You're joking, right? \"That's not Catholic teaching\"? Not only is it VERBATIM Dogmatic teaching, EENS might be the only point of doctrine which the Church has felt the need to solemnly define on THREE separate occasions--not to mention the Church's universal and ordinary magisterium.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Very few bishops listen to their people,\" said Peter Johnstone, president of the Australian group Catholics for Renewal (above).\nWell, not quite. With some stand out exceptions (Bill Morris and Geoffrey Robinson), the bishops listen to the 1% who are ultra-conservative/Opus Dei/ FTTM/Tridentalist Catholics, and ignore the other 99%.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It strikes me as many converts don't understand the nuances associated with Catholicism. They come to the Church understanding the \"rules\" and expecting everyone to embrace the \"rules\" and are confused about the difference between the Catechism and lived Catholicism. I think that they don't get that the \"rules\" aren't always strictly enforced or that exceptions are made to the rules. It seems to me that these sorts flee the looser Protestant communities because they want to be told what to do rather than do the hard work of conversion.\n\nThey also bring ideas about politics and gender that are Protestant in their ethos. The MAGA worship and unholy Catholic-Evangelical alliance that Spadaro condemned is fostered by these converts who don't understand the deep Catholic commitment to social justice. And while the Catholic ideas on gender are awful, Protestant converts have brought ideas like \"headship\" and women being submissive housewives that are not Catholic teachings.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Based basically on a single issue Catholics were encouraged to support Donald Trump....AND THEY GOT IN BED WITH THE DEVIL. The whole world will pay for their selfishness.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I was watching & reading many of the articles & the bishops were backing him backing him loosely up until the crotch grabbing tapes got out. After that, it was - Well we don't know who to support now. So basically they didn't support the candidate that actually believed in Global Warming, & wanted to stop it, wanted to help poor & middle class people get better access to food, healthcare & education, wanted to not start a nuclear war with Korea or Iran but was a terrible person because most of all she was a SHE & she didn't want to illegalize abortion while she also did not want to make abortion numbers go up in our country or the numbers of women who die from abortions go up either by making access to birth control harder to obtain. \n\nCatholics in large numbers got the message from their bishops & voted Trump in. The facts are Catholics did play a large role in getting Trump elected.\n\nThis is why it is laughable when Catholics claim to care about the earth-did you vote Pro-earth?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Please name one innocent priest whose life was ruined. Witch hunt implies that their are zero dangerous pedophile priests in the Catholic Church.\n\nOur kids are now safe because the church will no longer protect their clerics and image over our children? And all complicit bishops are punished ?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "P17,\nYour very wrong, Annie is very correct. They say that it is NOT up to them and their taxes to do the common good it is up to the churches to do that. Also, they call the 'common good' Communism, and Socialism. The American Catholic prelates are the same way as were the last two popes. \nSince Fatima the church has been attacking everyone they deem to be other than they want. \nJesus Christ told us on many occasions and in many ways to care for others. Read Rev. Jim Wallis, he talks about this issue many times. The church does not care what Christ said, the church only cares about the destruction of Communism and it's first cousin Socialism and it doesn't care how many of us die along the way toward it's goal.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That's funny, I never noticed a statement in any of the creeds I know that calls for automatic obedience to the Pope. I just pulled out my copy of J N D Kelly's Early Christian Creeds, and he doesn't mention it either.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "one of our vice presidential candidates describes himself as a christian, conservative and republican, in that order, and, apparently an american in there somewhere. maybe 'jesus' is part of the problem.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "These are my general feelings on this\n1)We have to wait to see how things play out before rushing to judgement\n2)If the charges are false then the person who launched this lawsuit will seem opportunistic\n3)If the charges are true then SNAP will seem hypocritical because they will be doing some of the same things they accuse the Catholic Hierarchy of doing in these cases. It will be a case of Jesus's injunction to \"take the beam out of one's eye before taking the speck out\". \n\nGenerally from what I have seen, I don't necessary agree with their methods, but SNAP has done great work over the years for abuse victims as a pressure group at a time when the Church Hierarchy covered up this vicious crime with no accountability in many cases still(i.e Cardinal Bernard Law). \n\nAt the same time there can be a certain self righteousness that turns me off in terms of the sweeping indictments they would sometimes make. I hope those these allegations are not true though.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I can still disagree with the argument the article attempts to make while still recognizing that it is quite possible that the GOP establishment views the continuation of \"abortion politics\" as a good source of funds. The jejune argument linking Church Militant (and one might also suppose First Things, The American Chesterton Society, and even the little-bitty Troops of St. George) to the Evangelical Right's supposedly monolithic acceptance of Stewart's Fundamentals, Dominionism, and desire for Theocracy diminishes Cattolica and, by extension, Francis.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So many despotic regimes around the globe, with many in the Middle East. Just north of the Syrian border, in Turkey, Kurdish civilians are being massacred en masse. The three major Christian minorities in Turkey were annihilated about 100 years ago. Saudi Arabia is no angel, yet our leaders genuflect at King Salman. This opposition to Congresswoman Gabbard is a \"tempest in a teapot,\" generated by those who have other bones to pick with her, from her past.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No doubt you're right about many modern refectoria. But back in my monastery-visiting days, late 80s, early 90s, I ate in four Benedictine houses (Mount Saviour, Portsmouth, Christ in the Desert, and the one just east of Cuernavaca where Mount Angel monks were rebuilding), and recall that everyone was served at table, save for one evening at CitD, when we milled about in the kitchen serving ourselves.\n\nSo far as I can tell, \"tricliniaria\" is not a common word in classical lit, with only one ref in the OCD (Varro, about a shaded dining room for use in summer). Anyway it seems an odd and unnecessary development from the much more common \"triclinium.\" I don't know anything about how it may be used by Christian authors. For that matter I don't know how long the implication that such a room is where one reclines to eat persisted: at a certain point, could one sit in a chair in a triclinium?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Those with differences put them aside, at least for the duration of time on court, in pursuit of a greater, common good.\"\n\nThere is always some credibility to any conclusion in spiritual and life situations. But some us believe the \"common good\" is the final delusion that sweeps the world especially in light of the present dynamic and agenda both in politics and the church.\n\nSo, if there is no real definition of what the differences are that we are exhorted to \"put aside\" for the \"common good\", there is no limit to what is to be \"put aside\".\n\nIn the end, we have the distinct feeling that it is the law of God that is to be \"put aside\" for the \"common good.\" Especially certain aspects of that law that are divisive and controversial. So we suspect the article has a motive and agenda to \"dumb down\" the law and \"every word\" in the bible that Jesus referred to is less than every word.\n\nThus, we reject the point of this article as destructive to bible Christanity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What did I miss in reading the Gospels? I don't remember Jesus talking about the beauty and music of the Temple in Jerusalem. I remember Jesus got angry at money\nchangers. Also, Jesus said something about the poor, the homeless those who were in need of clothes, food and were strangers. Yes, Jesus went up mountains. went into desert places and into a garden to pray. Jesus said something that those who followed him would do what he did. That was the sign of a new kingdom and that people would recognize his followers by the love they had for one another. not their great\nintellectual traditions. (I am not anti-intellect but Jesus spent most his time speaking\nwith authority. moving peoples' minds and hearts.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I guess few Catholics, political liberals or political conservatives, care what the Church teaches or promotes anymore. A trend which started in the mid-'60s has now become a hardened reality.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They already have, and they already do. March 6th, 1996: CBS Evening News showed a bunch of old geezers like me in Tehran reciting the following litany: \"Allahumma saali alaa Muhammadan wa alaa Ah'lii Muhammad.\" That's called Salawa'at, and is part of every Muslim's daily prayers, whether Shi'a or Sunni--the Muslim equivalent of 'In Jesus' name I pray'. It means, \"Oh my God, bless Muhammad and the Pure Family of Muhammad.\"\n\nWhat the lying CBS announcer CLAIMED they were reciting was praise of Hamas and death-curses against the US and 'Israel!' Even blanked out the first syllable of Muhammad's name in the audio feed to make it sound like 'Hamas'.\n\nI confronted Jeff Fager, CBS Executive News Executive Producer. Although he admitted the mistranslation (claimed it was an 'accident'--of course it wasn't), he refused to retract it. The pro-Zionist ideologues who control most American propaganda organs like CBS have been attacking us a LOT longer than they've been attacking Christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is very little turmoil occasioned by the footnote in chapter 8 of AL, because nearly all Catholics have never even read it, and very few Catholics search online sights to read blogs and articles that might address it. Individual Catholics make the decision whether or not to receive Communion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholic schools will help troubled neighborhoods, although they may have left because of the troubles, rather than their leaving being the last straw. The new legislation is a good start, but there is a long way to go. Make social benefits, like the minimum wage and the child tax credit, adequate ($15/hour, $100)/child/month), with paid literacy and job training for anyone after sophomore year at the higher minimum and an end to the drug war and amnesty for prisoners and these neighborhoods will turn around overnight.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you for respectful reply, something rare here, but with which I totally disagree. \nPlease cite an official magisterial teaching that backs up your contention that Catholicism is not the exclusive way to salvation?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And Jesus at His Resurrection ... did all of those \"true\" foreskins of the baby Jesus (collected after His circumcision ... and having undergone a mysterious miraculous multiplication) come flying back to make His Body whole again?\n\nIn addition, \"the Catholic church insists that the bodies of the deceased be treated with respect and laid to rest in a consecrated place.\" I thought that Jesus' Death and Resurrection transformed the whole of creation, so that every vestige of the Universe is a consecrated place ... the whole dualistic distinction between sacred and secular being forever undone.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Is the rational culture of Canada based on Western European Ideas and Laws regressing to pre-renaissance times glorifying irrational superstitions and misogynist cultures?? The progressives decades ago have been ridiculing and insulting fundamentalists Christian sects like Mormons.\nCan the Globe now publish positive articles on Mormon and American Evangelical Christian sects?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A reply which confirms the sloppiness of saying: \" the Catholic Church for more than a thousand years has defined the priesthood in terms of monasticism, not ministry, and only agreed to a transition at Vatican II\"\n\nBecause: \n1, Bellarmine is late 16th-early 17th century ... which is not \"a thousand years\" ago.\n2. The authors argue that he espoused a monastic \"model\": not quite the same as saying the priesthood was \"defined\" in this way.\n\nThis without:\n1. going into why he felt such a model was needed ... (context)\n2. asking you to show anywhere that Vatican II \"... agreed to such a transition ...\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I posted this \"men who wore belts that said \"Mitt Gott\" because it is true. I am pro-life and proud to be a liberal/progressive - I do not agree with the position on abortion. However, I believe in the Constitution. I note that conservatives in Congress have refused to vote on a Life Amendment. Rather, abortion is used as a politcal club, as you are doing right now.\n\nAnti-semitism was a part of Christian Europe for over 1000 years. Jews were discriminated again, forced to live in ghettos or isolated villages. \"A pogrom is a violent riot aimed at the massacre or persecution of an ethnic or religious group, particularly a riot aimed at the massacre or persecution of Jews\" Pogroms occurred throughout this history and culminated in the massacre of six million Jews. Pope Benedict was a Nazi Youth. \n\nBibles as literature should be in high schools only if all forms of the bible, also the Book of Mormon, the Koran, The Torah, and all other Holy Books are included.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Are we sure the romans got Paul? I wonder if he wasn\u2019t fragged by his fellow Christians. Either way, it was too late.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Since when are Roman Catholics considered to be evangelicals?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Does lying constitute a wrong? Does having the lowest morals in the room trouble you? We've given the keys to an abuser at best, a cheat at his worst. For the moral conservative christian right to choose that guy to represent them assures me that my opinion of what constitutes real weakness of character is far more correct than theirs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Help me understand. You are accusing folks that go to Imago of being \"homophobic\". This means afraid of gays, does it not? I don't think any of us there would be afraid of gays. The problem starts with the assumption of some of the conservative types assuming being gay is a choice. I do not believe it is a choice. Does that help?\n\nAnd the theology you refer to in your second paragraph is held by some conservatives, but not all believers. Many Christians would say that is a distortion of the gospel and certainly a distortion of Jesus' teaching. \nThere can still be a very valid form of Christianity without the supernatural, at least not the kind of supernatural you refer to.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "To say that DNA testing proves there was no first couple is debatable (the existence of \"Mitochondrial Eve\" would actually argue otherwise) , but all that shows theologically is that the story of Adam and Eve is just a myth. Which just about all Christians, save the creationists, accept.\n\nYes, Augustine did say some highly dubious things about original sin, things such as it being transmitted from generation to generation through lust, as if it were a venereal disease. I prefer Aquinas' thought, that original sin is more a state of fallen human nature. See Summa Theologica, I-II, q 82 art. 4", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If it is meant to shock me, let me assure you it doesnt in the slightest rather it amuses me that you should think it would. Nothing I read on this site shocks me anymore.\nThe concept I have of God is not mine, it is the concept which the Catholic Church teaches and has taught for two millennia. Your concept of God is purely your own personal construct. You have invented your own religion.\nGod would not have done this ..... God would not have said or meant that .... Christ would have done this .... Christ would not have said or meant that ....\nHow do you know this? You don't. It is all based upon what YOU would or wouldn't do or say: God in your image and likeness rather than the other way round.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...but the Episcopal Church does not consider itself \"protestant.\"\n\nBut the Episcopal Church's legal title is still \"the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America.\" (Just as from a historical perspective, the Anglian Church in England or Church of England must still be regarded as a Protestant variant -- the \"Protestant Episcopal Church of England and Ireland\" as state and parliamentary documents regularly describe it [notes Anglian Theologian, Alister McGrath]). The Episcopal Church is about as protestant as one can get in the US and for that reason is always listed under mainline Protestant churches. Its legal title, of course -- more than anything else -- indicates formal support of and investment in the designation: the \"Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "On that we agree. I urge anyone to read Qur'an. I have no need to 'obfuscate the truth'. I leave that to you Christians. You've been rewriting your book whenever the fit takes you since the third NIcean Council.\n\nI read Qur'an in Arabic at minimum once a year. And I've read your bible cover-to-cover about nine times, and continue to research its meanings in the original Hebrew and Aramaic (and to a lesser extent in Greek).\n\nWanna talk Scripture? Step up. Five'll getcha ten I know your book better'n you do. And you don't know mine at all. Otherwise you'd provide better arguments than the same kind of accusations Dumbitchski hurls at whomever she's afraid of.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I see from the comments here- that many people are blaming the Muslim religion (rather than Islamist) for this tragedy- even without definitive proof that the perpetrator was a radicalized Islamist.\nI had relatives killed by fellow Christians in Ireland during 'the Troubles\". I vowed then that I would never condemn an entire religion for acts of thuggery.\nI despair of what will happen to our society if we blame 'the other\" without proof of wrongdoing- or condemn millions for the actions of a few.\nNow I am off to our Toronto Christmas market.\nI am done with the G&M comment sections which seem to be a meeting place for bigotry and hatred.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In Garrison Kiellor's story \"Protestant\" in his Lake Wobegon Days, a Protestant congregation split in two over a minute point of doctrine. Some time later, someone suggests to the pastor of one congregation that it would be a good thing if the two reunited. The pastor replies, \"Any time they want to come to us and admit their mistake, we're perfectly happy to sit and listen to them and then come to a decision about accepting them back.\" \n\nThat seems to be the attitude about ecumenism in general and the Anglicans in particular among some Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Don't be a censor. I don't censor your views. Be big, and let others post here.\n\nI don't necessarily disagree with all of fr. Daly's views. But I gotta wonder how he's still allowed to function as a Catholic priest.\n\nhttps://newwaysministryblog.wordpress.com/tag/fr-peter-daly/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So if you don't believe in God and you believe that the death penalty is immoral, that's OK. But if you believe in God and you believe that the death penalty is immoral; that's not OK (at least in some quarters) because now you are imposing your religious views on your fellow citizens.\n\nWhy would Catholics support a line of reasoning that gives more weight to the opinions of those who disagree with them than to the opinions of those who agree with them?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank God for shepherd like Cardinal Cupich. We need more like him and more openness in the church at large. Maybe in him we see our first American Pope?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The group think is on their part and it's powerful in keeping them in the fold and donating money.\"\n\nIf no one stays in the fold or donates money, there will be no church. The future of Catholicism is in the hands of those who love and tend to it, even if they lose access to church real estate, which is increasing being either closed and/or sold off, or supported as a mere legacy. The pace is accelerating to a point of an end game.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Another great Catholic once said something similar. He advised that a prince should look to the masses to rise to power. He then suggested looking to the elites to stay in power. Keeping the masses placated is important. Like that great Catholic, Our Holy Father knows the value of keeping the masses on his side, and in keeping with the principles expounded by that author, Christ's Vicar isn't above a little massaging of the truth. Hence, his \"no tolerance\" language, which placates the masses, coupled with his \"business as usual\" which placates the elites, in this case the clergy, who know they can continue to count on the Vatican to help cover for them when they get out of line with a child or young person. Brave of Papa Francis, a True Disciple of Machiavelli!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholic scholars know all the various sources of the scriptures, from stories inherited and modified from the Sumeric/Babylonian Epic to the didactic musings of Proverbs to the socially just threats of the prophets (who if understood would put to bed any doubts about the justice of welfare). All of Genesis was myth. Noah is an adaption of Gilgamesh. Even Abraham seems like epic poetry - it was certainly not a contemporaneous account - nor were any of the Gospels. Original sin is not genetic, it is societal. I will agree with one thing. LGBT is not a divine mistake, nor are Asexuals. How these differences evolved is lost to antiquity, but the one man-one woman thing was actually male and female he created them. Eden was about blame, not some stain of disobedience. The text, which is myth, not news story, makes this interpretation very clear. What is also clear is that the platonic sexual idealism is very attractive to asexuals, who are not attracted sexually at all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1.35 million acres, and the size of the reduction has not been revealed yet. Boy, you guys get started whining before you know anything. \n\nMeanwhile, France is removing crosses from public monuments, and you Christians are worried about some unknown reduction in size of a million+ acre Native American religious site. What's wrong with you people?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Then please describe the condition that motivated Alexander Bissonette to massacre 6 Muslims praying in a Quebec mosque and wound dozens more with semi-automatic weapons fire. Or Anders Breivik in Norway. Or Geert Wilders' call for 'cleansing' Europe of all Muslims (which got him elected as leader of the opposition in the Dutch Parliament). Or Ann Coulter's call to bomb all Muslim countries, kill their leaders, and forcibly convert any survivors to Christianity. Or President Donald Trump to call for shooting Muslims with bullets dipped in pigs' blood to ensure that their corpses were profaned. Or Democrat presidential candidate, General Wesley Clark (retd) to call for internment camps for 'radicalized' Americans (aka Muslims), despite the Japanese and Italian American experiences from World War II.\n\nThe motivation that drives democratic, human rights observant people to attack 1.6 billion members of a religion as a dehumanized, permanent, generic threat has a name: Islamophobia.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Trump is explicitly banning refugees from Muslim countries as of now with an executive order Christians are officially preferred. It is now official U.S. Government Policy. So it is much more than a strategy of differentiation in the political marketplace as you have claimed. \nhttp://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/us-politics/donald-trump-refugees-syria-executive-order/article33809191/\nThis one inconvenient fact (among others) undermines your entire Trump apologist argument and strengthens that of the article.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes; the cost of the 2011 mistranslation was likely $25 million in the U.S. alone. The Catholic Missions could have done a lot with that money!\nI wrote to my local bishop to say that this wastage of money was seriously sinful. The bishop did not reply.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part 4\nThe great Franciscan theologian, John Duns Scotus, was not guided by Temple language of \u00a0atonement, blood sacrifice or satisfaction for sins \u00a0but to \u201cthe utterly new world that Jesus offered, where God\u2019s abundance has made any economy of merit, sacrifice, reparation or atonement both unhelpful and unnecessary. Jesus undid once and for all (Hebrews 7:27,9:12, 10:10) all notions of human and animal sacrifice and replace them with his new economy of grace, which as at the heart of the gospel revolution.\u201d P. 187\n\u201cIn other words, we are all saved by grace and the utter freedom of God to love who and what God wills, without our tit-for-tat thinking getting the way of God\u2019s absolute freedom , and absolute freedom to love. .. we all need to know that God", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic Church recognises the Sacraments conferred by the Orthodox Churches. There are Orthodox Churches which do not recognise the Sacraments conferred by the Catholic Church, even Baptism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mr. Apo, You need to address a Native Hawaiian paradox. In 1824, High Chiefess Kapiolani descended into Kilauea crater, renounced the kapu for herself and all the Hawaiian people, she had become a christian.The wahine kahuna nui of Pele cursed her for this and all the Hawaiian people until they are all gone. Soon, the makaaina'na renounced the kapu and saw everything about the kapu as blasphemy in the bible. It was the makaaina'na that tore down all the heiaus, halaus, tiki's, gravesites, sold off to Europe, for money and rum. In 1848, the measles epidemic hit. It's known over 10,000 Native Hawaiians died, unknown exact total. In 1893, Queen Liliuokalani and the Hawaiian Kingdom were conquered. Queen Liliuokalani was a devout christian. As a christian, the only holy lands were in Israel.Land not privately owned was crown land, not sacred land.The land became US property. Which is it, restore a christian kingdom with no Hawaii sacred land or kapu where makainana'na stay off sacred land?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "> Sorry, but your comments reek of the church of pre-Vatican II.\n\nYour comment implies that a new Church was founded at Vatican II. If you ask me which Church I belong to, the 2000 year old Church or the 60 year old church, I will always choose the former.\n\n> Peter and the other Eleven were not set up as an absolute monarchy\n\nMonarchy = one ruler. The apostles are equals so no, it cannot be a monarchy. \n\n> Not the work, necessarily, of the Holy Spirit.\n\nHow can you know that? Can God not use governments in his providential works?\n\n> To state that the \"laity does not have this charism\" fails to note the many members\n\nMany... not all. In addition, those who are not properly formed are easily led to error because they do not know the shepherds voice.\n\n> The Eucharist is the Bread of Life, and the FIRST sacrament of Forgiveness. It is not a trophy for the self-righteous.\n\nThe Eucharist is the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ. It needs to be treated as such.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A magnificent appointment, making Tobin the most eminent (pun intended) Catholic voice on the entire US Eastern Seaboard. A stroke of genius of Pope Francis, who gifts the obstinate hierarchs on these shores with a man who will be eminently (pun intended again) capable to provide fraternal correction to his brother bishops. Cardinals Tobin and Cupich are tasked with bringing the USCCB in line with Pope Francis' vision of a merciful Catholic Church. There is no other explanation for these appointments. Godspeed to them. And Thanks be to God!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Given that a tenet is a principle or belief by which one directs one's life, then those Catholics who accept the beliefs of their faith would form their consciences accordingly and apply them in their lives. If one's conscience, i.e. the moral sense of right and wrong guiding behaviour, is not in conformity with the tenets of one's faith, this would be moral dissonance. Of course, one can claim autonomy and the right to pick and choose between tenets according to the dictates of one's conscience, this is called dissidence.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Since Francis' election in 2013, he has adopted a hard line on pedophilia in the Catholic Church and urged bishops around the world to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to clerical sex abuse.\"\n\nAgain with this \"zero-tolerance\" and Francis' \"hard line on pedophelia\". That is simply not true. Francis has demonstrated no such thing. I don't care what words he may or may not have said. His actions are not the actions of someone who is \"hard-line\" or has \"zero-tolerance.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But the Acts of the Apostles was written by Luke--who was not even a Jew. He was a Greek convert. God and God alone is the judge of Judas. BTW---I am Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I admire Fr. Reese's work and usually agree with him -- but not in this instance. I don't think the Catholic Church in the United States is well-positioned to contribute to the healing of the nation because too often it has contributed to dividing it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The book is $150 on Amazon...not many people will read it at that price. Over $90 as an eBook...still way too pricey!\n\nHow many libraries will actually buy this? Unless you have a Catholic seminary in your backyard, good luck finding a copy!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I suspect he means for the Lutherans to switch to the RCC path --- new for them, new for both in-common, but the same-old, same-old for Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Workers and a right to work state. These are republican legislative values\nThe corporation that I work \"suggests\" voting for candidates that support this law.\nThe party claims support of candidates that claim Christian values yet funding comes from corporate stores that are open on Sunday . They claim to support veterans yet they are open on Memorial Day. They claim patriotism yet they were open Fourth of July. They claim family values as long as you don't call in for parent teacher conferences or sick children. These are counted as occurrences and held against your record. They will be open thanksgiving because the almighty dollar is their only God. These are the elected republican values. \nI used to vote republican until I started paying attention to their actions instead of their claims.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "From Dublin.\nTo get the full impact of the nature of this Roman Catholic sublimation; enforced by the theology of ontologically changed priests \"in persona Christi\"; to dictate their uber-moral laws of sexual morality, to unfortunate single pregnant young women. The St. Mary's Mother & Baby Home was operated by the Bon Secours Sisters; on behalf of the State; from 1925 to 1961. There has been no apology to date from the Bon Secour Order, on the findings of the Commission. Please Google: \"RTE 1 tv News, significant quantities of human remains found in Tuam\". The home had a typically enforced adoption policy in place to immediately separate mother and child. Children were sent to the U.S.A.\n\nIn order to understand that this was not an isolated case; please Google \"The Irish Times Reflections on the Ryan Report 30th May 2009\" to get a summary overview of the sexual, physical and emotional atrocious carried out by religious orders in Ireland, from 1930 - 1970;\n... in the name of God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You didn't read the article: \"The meeting with his Russian counterpart [Kirill] drew Francis deep into geopolitics, and led him to condone Russia\u2019s foreign policy and critique the West\u2019s in ways that have infuriated some of the Catholic church\u2019s supporters ... The joint declaration issued after the meeting hewed close to the Kremlin\u2019s positions on the conflicts in Syria and Ukraine.\"\nWhen Sect. of State John Kerry went to Havana the week before, he met with dissidents and spoke about human rights. The pope did not. \nAn April 2015 article in Il Sole 24 Ore stated the Vatican\u2019s assets - securities, commercial real estate and bank accounts - for all its departments and offices combined \u201cby a conservative estimate\u201d would be around 15-17 billion euro. With approximately 400 citizens and 800 residents, that make the Vatican the wealthiest country per capita. The US gov't doesn't claim to be \"poor for the poor.\"\nOther world leaders ACT to address \"social justice.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I sometimes wonder what really is the difference between radical fundamentalist ISIS terrorists and radical fundamentalist Christians? Is it that the one is waiting for the end and the other is working to make it happen? Or is it that the one is \"making hay while the sun shines\" and the other is wreaking havoc in the belief they can enjoy it forever (after)? Maybe. Or, is it that one kills with mindless venom; the other would like to but can't...yet?\nBoth substitute ideology for thought\nAdherents of both are duped \nLeaders of both are manipulators who ultimately distance themselves from the \"duped\"\nEach either have no, or have suppressed, empathy\nOne kills without compunction and with venom. The other would like to but can't...yet.\nBoth contend they are relentlessly following the will of \"god\" and eschew human feeling but...are really satisfying base emotional human impulses of domination, hatred \nBoth used their \"book\" (symbol of civilization) to rationalize barbarism - ironic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think the converts all understand they can expect a response. MSW's issue is that these converts should not respond at all.\n\nThere is much talk here in progressive Catholic land on who is \"really\" Catholic. MSW is at the forefront of such ruminations. So fair play to the converts if they have their own views. Is this really so hard to understand?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm a agnostic and quite comfortable being so. Many Christians are comfortable with their beliefs as well. That's fine....no problem for me. I don't condemn Christians for their beliefs, nor do I Muslims, Buddists, Hindu, Shinto, or athiests or whatever. However, I do tire of those who are firmly convinced theirs is the \"only true path\" and all others must join them or be forever damned to Hell (with a capital H). I don't care what Mr. Pence believes so long as those beliefs a) don't hurt anyone else and b) he doesn't attempt to force them on others. Clearly, his political history shows he hasn't hesitated to support legislation which does, in fact, force his particular brand of \"christian\" beliefs on others. Gary Crum", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus washed His Apostles' feet, not the feet of those who didn't believe in Him or pagans.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Really, R & R? Then why were the Apostles married? It was not until the first 1000 years of Church history that the Western church adopted celibacy for the priesthood [that was NOT a given with Jesus]. As far as \"equal opportunity employer\" is concerned---there is the law, that is stated and then there is the ACTUAL PRACTICE---which really demonstrates that the church does what is expedient for itself.\n\n\nThe Holy Spirit \"guides\" only. It does not mandate how or what laws the church adopts. It never has. The Catholic church has been guided by Roman Imperial rule and Feudal rule of the Middle Ages for centuries. \n\n\nAs the membership in the church is going now----it won't matter much what any pope, cardinal or bishop states in about a decade or two. It certainly won't for women----nor for most men.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I responded to you, but I don't see the reply... so I am trying again. If this is a duplicate, please ignore.\n\n> Your answers don't match the Gospel story of Judas. \n\nWe don't know enough given the Gospel account to determine if Judas was in mortal sin prior to the Last Supper. We know he planned to betray Jesus, but he had not actually followed through yet.\n\nSo my answers do match the Gospel, they just don't match your assumptions about the Gospel.\n\n> So you believe that God \"uses\" people?\n\nYes. How many times has someone been in the right place at the right time to do something for the glory of God?\n\nYou assume that by saying God uses people that that somehow robs them of free will. That is not the case. If you ask your friend to do you a favor and they do it, are you impeding their free will?\n\n> If one is spiritually ill---why not go to Jesus as well.\n\nIs the Eucharist the only way one has access to Jesus?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The isolationist are you on the left. Where's all the concern and compassion the left tell us, ONLY they have for others, while Republicans want to kill 100,000 Americans. Catholic Bishops, from Venezuela, have asked for help from the Pope. Those Bishops had to go to Rome, because the Pope wasn't acknowledging their letters. So who is show concern and compassion?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "An early reference to the Blessed Sacrament is found in the life St Basil (4th century) who divided the Eucharistic bread into three parts. One part he consumed, the second part he gave to the monks, and the third he placed in a golden dove-shaped container suspended over the altar.\n\nThe specific liturgies began as a response to Eucharist heresies, beginning with Berengarius of Tours (d. 1088 AD) who adopted the view of John Scotus Erigena (9th century) that the view that the sacraments of the altar are figures of the body of Christ, a memorial of the true body and blood of Christ, which are not truly and really present.\n\nFollowing Berengarius, a series of Eucharistic heresies right through the Protestant Revolt led the Church to emphasize the Real Presence, particularly with adoration.\n\nThese sorts of controversies did not occur in the East, which do not share the Western tradition of Eucharistic adoration.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thanks to the Hispanic process of Encuentro, a series of meetings that start with grass-roots listening at the parish level and moves on to diocesan and national meetings, the Hispanic communities have been positioning themselves for leadership and full activity. For many parishes in the Southwest, the future you describe is here, and has been here for a long time. As an Anglo, I've watched with envy as I see the Hispanic bishops and priests being full of vision and vitality, while ours argue about translations and culture wars. This past summer's Convocation of Catholic Leaders was modeled to some extent on the Encuentro process, but it may be too little too late.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Enjoy it while you can, Trump Nation. \n\nYou willingly conflated economic reform and security concerns with autocratic rule and mindless xenophobia. That will cost you. The check and balances are working; America is figuring Bannon out and will deal with him; many nations will undermine American interests as a survival strategy or response to drunkard's diplomacy; and the popular voters of 2016 will join with disgruntled Republicans everywhere to trounce Trump in 2020. He'll join Bush Sr., Carter, and Ford on the 1-term president's list, blame CNN, and return to gaudy casinos and cliche-ridden golf courses.\n\nPlease. What did you expect? You elected the political equivalents of monster trucks: a vain and bad manager with an advisor who produced movies about Sara Palin's majesty and a pure, Judeo-Christian paradise. Good call!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The longer term issue for us is this...which, for our children's children's kids is more important--that the Church start making decision in a democratic fashion at least among the college of bishops, or that some pope or other gives us what we progressives all want? With the obvious implication that the next one could reverse it all!\n\nI have no doubt that in the very long term getting out of the insanity of V1 is vastly more important. We should try and remember that the positive movement of the Church after V2 was terminated and reversed by the theology of V1. It is ONLY because JP2 and B16 believed, to put it harshly, that by their being elected \"Vicar of Christ on Earth\" that God was selecting their theology as that which should be imposed on his Holy People. \n\nNothing, IMHO, is more important for the long term future of Christianity, than that we get beyond V1.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The kids are between 5 and 17 years old and are typically from Guatemala, Honduras or El Salvador. Alone in the United States, most either fled gang violence or are hoping to provide for their families back home.\n\nNamed after Ba\u00f1uelas' nephew Rico, who was killed in Mexico, the ministry is meant to maintain a constant for the children that reminds them of home: their faith.\"\n\nI salute these Catholics that are doing their Christian duty to welcome the stranger.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bannon is known for his desire to \"re-make\" America. He believes, and has publicly asserted that America must destroy much of its establishment in an effort to keep America great. He is, if you will, a Political Reformationist. He views it as needed. The ends will justify the means. The ends, for him, is a more homogenized society based upon the word of (Christian) God. \nMany, as in the times of the Nazi's, agree with him, many will go along because it is not against them. The US has 4 years to wake up and put an end to it, or go all in. Anything short of either is likely going to lead to serious civil disruption, or war. And make no mistake, that (civil war) is acceptable to Bannon, if it results in his desired outcome.\nSome will call this hyperbole...fine. I would suggest you do some research on Bannon and his politics, it is all there to be discovered.\nRESIST!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One cannot help but feel some disappointment with a confused posting that the poster refuses to clarify. I generally approach such situations by trying to reason with the poster, and request citations to any facts the poster has to support his or her claims. If necessary, I use the word facts repeatedly and capitalize it \"Facts.\" This sometime helps, except with the obstinate. Some people come here simply to spew venom pick fights and there is not much you can do with those, except ask them to support their propositions and try to approach them with calm and logic. Naturally, traditional Catholics find this easy to do, as they are inculcated with Logic, that being the cornerstone upon with the Religion is founded. I hope this posting has aided you in addressing the deficiencies I pointed out in my earlier post and will assist you in the future to write more effectively. Not everyone is a writer, but over time, and perhaps as you pursue your education, things will improve.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't doubt there are truly needy families within the school district, but allowing 4J to Grandstand on this issue to expand their kingdom is the wrong choice. There are other avenues to feed truly needy kids and families. Who does 4J think they are ? Catholic Charities ?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus didn't give us dogma and doctrines.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It seems to me that the Catholic Church is doing the right thing by getting out of business and closing their faculties to those who aren't Roman Catholics. If our Lady of the Snows is a business venture then it should be open to all regardless of beliefs about the sacrament of marriage. If it isn't a business venture then it shouldn't be promoted as one by Alyeska hotel. The legislature should stand fast on maintaining this distinction between business and faith. I recall Jesus driving the moneylenders from the temple.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And I know you did a lot of research on Betsy DeVos and her positions so that you are more than confident she will do what's best for our nations education system. But her performance before the committee seem to allow for at least a little apprehension about her knowledge and grasp of the office.\nNot to mention her plagiarizing her brief and her rather nebulous ties to right wing christian ideology. \nBut I hope you are right. Because I think Lisa's waffling and refusal to prevent her name from coming to the full Senate has already guaranteed her appointment.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "3. I think it was historian Eric Voeglin who referred to history as the present under God. Interesting.\nJesus as teacher/leader/redeemer taught \"Love\", love beyond, but inclusive of, civility, compassion, justice - with and for one another.\nJesus as redeemer elevated the capacity of love to some mystical inclusion within himself to include the capacity for our participation in the mutual loving relation of the Parent/Creator and the \"Word\". \nWe are, in a very real sense, the \"body of Christ\" and He is ours. The \"history\" of Voeglin's \"present under God\" is potentially (and intentionally fulfilled) the Spirit, the mutual relationship of total knowing/knowledge of the parent in the \"Word\" and, to paraphrase Kronkite: \"we are there\". \nThe catechical teaching has to become Trinitarian, humanitarian, relational, evoke awe, reverence and inclusive love- real, poetic, pragmatic, impelling.\nRight or wrong - re above - a fundamental \"update\", transition to the age of \"incarnation\" is needed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Absolutely right, Lois. The rich young man was not an evil person. He may have very well thought about what Jesus said---and made another decision later.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Priests, from another culture, rarely fit in in Ireland. It's a disaster usually. Because of many of these priests, who arrive from other countries where it's a leg-up in the social scale to become a priest, or a Sister, and whose attitudes are not in sync with our culture, we will soon have nobody at all, in many parishes, to facilitate our Sacramental lives. How on earth could we survive without the Eucharist? How could we Irish survive without Mass for our loved ones, when they go to God? It's a nightmare scenario. I suggest that the Holy Spirit has a Master Plan in mind, but this Master Plan needs our Willingness, Sacrifice and Prayer to be open to it. Discernment is the name of the game, and all believing, practising Catholics in every parish need to seek the Master Plan and be unafraid. Otherwise..........", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Pope and the likes of Billy Graham become indistinguishable you mean? Would you not recommend that Pope travelled the world in the costume of Mahatma Ghandi rather than top and trousers, much more humble, having much more the appearance of Christ, wouldn't you say?\nI look forward to watching this years Holy Week ceremonies being performed by half-naked Ghandi look-alikes. I imagine that not a few of the Sacred College may well be tempted to take refuge within their Cappae Magnae for the duration.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bill -- the concept of a \"right\" to a job, to health care, to the other benefits in Catholic social justice statements was new to me, and I'd been a lifelong Democrat. My point was, if it appeared so to me, it must have set the GOP's hair on fire then, and certainly few of them today concede most rights whatever outside (another) woman's womb. Thanks for the links.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I cannot understand why this Chaldean problem is ignored by so many Christians. NCR had an article on this topic yesterday and it received 5 comments, and it has already been taken offline.\nDeportations to Europe, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean seem to attract more sympathy even though those individuals are usually not in danger.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mahalo, Noelle for keeping us abreast. Catholic Charities has been doing good for many, many years.\n\nMy commentary does relate to the need for permanency in the lives of those who are homeless. Though the city espouses Housing First it is a bastardized version based upon Caldwell and his politics.\n\nThe state is working a methodology of transitional housing for 90 days and finding housing (permanent?) later.\n\n\"Housing First is an approach to quickly and successfully connect individuals and families experiencing homelessness to permanent housing without preconditions and barriers to entry, such as sobriety, treatment or service participation requirements. Supportive services are offered to maximize housing stability and prevent returns to homelessness as opposed to addressing predetermined treatment goals prior to permanent housing entry.\" (hudexchange.info)\n\nIf it worked in New York City...it can work for us. No more assessment centers to bide time. Change the laws!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It may be mainstream Catholicism to you and those who place their consciences above the Word of God Himself but to the rest of us it is Modernism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Also notice that Christian failed to \"label\" the supporters when citing how much they have raised in campaign funding. Why not say that the largest financial supporters have been unions, primarily government employee unions? If the purpose was to identify who has contributed funding to the campaign either for or against the measure it would have been more simply and concisely done with a short listing. As is, the message left in the mind of the readers is that it is basically large national corporations that are in opposition to the measure.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree. Authority flows out of orthopraxy, the right manner of living. We should look in our midst for the people who live the best in the manner of Jesus and ask them to show us how to run the church and to deal with its problems. We must not presume that any ecclesiastical office is a sure sign of authority, including the episcopate.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Mercy\", yea; love Pope Francis, yes. However there are element of \"rightness\", \"wisdom,\" \"time\" that seem to escape this man: women. \nCurious that Winters begins this reflection on International Women's Day. \nThere is nothing wrong with a genuinely conservative church that respects a tried past, the vagaries of precipitous change, a discerning venture into evolution. \nWhen the work of evolving thought, rightness, testing consequences, and discerning wisdom has already been done, that is when resistance to change is more rightly \"intransigence\"; when the exclusion and diminution of women is really \"misogyny\" and not tradition and scriptural justification.\nThe Vatican and hierarchy has not only been absent from but in utter opposition to the secular evolution of sane, rational evolution of women in society. Of course many \"societies\" have also resisted, been slow to evolve but being in that company is no forgiveness.\n\"History\" shows no mercy; it has consequences.\nWe are at that point.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Church has not always held that every decision about the sacraments has to be standard throughout the world. In fact of history, bishops have exercised pastoral authority in different ways. The document pushes back against such centralized authority regarding participation in communion, and that is a good thing. Decision-making does not need to be centralized to be catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You sound like you have no life whatsoever. Who reads the Guardian? Very few. Being an American, I would have never even heard of it, if it weren't for conservatives and their faux news sources (Fox, Bretbart, et al.). How about the Christian Science Monitor? I've heard of it, but only because my maternal grandmother was kuckoo.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As the celebrated Catholic philosopher, theologian, ethicist, historian and poet Judge John T Noonan has amply demonstrated in his magisterial work \"A church that can and cannot change\", history is resplendent with significant examples of radical change in church teaching.\nWhat will not change, of course, is the church's foundational commitment to the Good News of Jesus Christ.\n\nThose who are in deep denial of this empirically demonstrable reality are also alluded to in Dylan's song, where he roundly critiques them for incorrectly assuming that their ever-shifting cultural norms are eternal realities ...\n\n\"The slow one now will later be fast\nAs the present now will later be past\nThe order is rapidly fadin'\nAnd the first one now will later be last\nFor the times they are a' changin'!\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What would the Roman Catholic Church be like today if he had lived a longer reign?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I was recognized by the 2008 Obama campaign in Hawaii as one of his top volunteers and sent a sizable donation to his campaign. He subsequently not only met with a murderous dictator, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but became his best international friend. Erdogan, who is actively murdering thousands of his citizens and covering up the almost total annihilation of the Christian minority in Turkey. So now Tulsi Gabbard is under attack? Neera Tanden and Howard Dean are top lieutenants in the Clinton / Neo-con wing of the Democratic Party, while Tulsi Gabbard is part of the pacifist Bernie Sanders / Elizabeth Warren wing. Any attacks against Congresswoman Gabbard are purely political.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholic teaching encompasses far more than either party's manifesto or aims. If one can take as an objective view of both parties as possible, there are ideas and policies that are in contradiction to the Gospel in both. Likewise, as Margari points to, there are ideas and policies that are in line with the Gospel in both. To say \"the aims of one political party are closer to Catholic teaching than that of another party\" reveals the problem. To choose one party over the other is to choose only some of the Gospel and allow the points of agreement with the other party to languish.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Monte,\n\nThat's a complex question that deserves deeper exploration. Here's my starting point: While the history of how we got where we are may be revealing, it is more important to recognize that the church is failing to perform the mission Jesus gave us of going and making disciples for Him. The pastors our schools are producing often know nothing about discipleship because they've not been trained to do it and have had their heads filled with the idea that knowing God comes from knowing correct theology. Our spiritual culture is so focused on knowing \"truth\" that we do not allow for the great truth that the Holy Spirit equips all who are willing to share the Gospel in a multitude of ways other than preaching sermons.\n\nThe scriptural model is the entire church works in the power of the Holy Spirit, not just the pastor. Our pastors need to be helping members discover their gifts and how the Holy Spirit wants them working for Him.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "DT likes Putin more than the Catholic Church ever could.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Interesting that the writer brings up the thoughts of David Hume, the 18th century Scottish philosopher. He lived at a time when the city of Edinburgh had been ruled in rapid succession by the presbyterians, then the Catholic forces of Bonnie Prince Charlie, then the protestants again. Each change of religion resulted in the persecution of the other. Indeed an 18 year old schoolboy had recently been hanged in Edinburgh for blasphemy. He had wondered aloud whether God actually existed. \n\nHume and other philosophers including Adam Smith (and even the poet Robert Burns) realized that government could not work to the benefit of all people unless it was secular, and began to form the first ideas that shaped our Western society, where we believe that church and state are separate, and all religions are expected to accept this.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thanks, yin. I very much appreciate that you took to time to write this post. \n\nParticipation on a blog certainly has its challenges. I think the most troubling one is a tendency, which seems to be a natural one, as seeing others, who have a different position as always being wrong and not being worthy of respect. I wish I could say I have never fallen into this trap, but to do so would not be true at all. Yet, I believe one of the benefits of participating here is that it allow me to become more aware of my own weaknesses and, hopefully, deal with them in a way we, as christians, are called to. So, with God's grace...\n\nThank-you again and God bless.\n\nJohn David", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "ALERT - FAKE NEWS - per \"in order to get the federal grants to run the SJW programs\"\n\nFACTS - https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/following-money-white-house\n\nKeys:\nDuring Obama years, in two years US Catholic Church received $1.5 billion covering a myriad of projects.\nHere is the only direct funding that I could match to *immigrants* - \"USCCB/MRS has received an average of $29 million for each of the last three years in four grant areas of activities, including employment services, economic self-sufficiency and support for unaccompanied children.\" This is a small fraction of what the Church receives - most monies go to overseas, or US Catholic hospitals, charities, and universities.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It will be interesting to see what the one issue Catholics and Evangelicals do now. With Republicans in charge of both houses and the White House, are they going to demand the Human Life Amendment? Isn't this their big chance? After two years of Trump, Democrats could take back both Houses in 2018. What will the \"culture warrior\" bishops do? By overturning Roe vs. Wade, the issue will only go back to the states. The fighting will continue until every judge and local politician is a Republican.\n\nThe GOP only talks about the \"judges\" and Roe vs. Wade. They DO NOT want the Human Life Amendment. They use abortion as THE issue but what they really want is an excuse to appoint judges who will keep the desires of the elite and big business front and center. More \"Citizens United\" type decisions will be the norm.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I feel the need to address myself as a gay person for the simple reason that I am gay, and while I would rather not be defined solely by my sexuality, it's mostly other people who do that for me. And I am well aware of the church's retrograde teaching on the subject, thank you very much, and don't need you or anybody else to remind me of it like a Sunday school teacher. My witness in this world as a gay Catholic is to challenge what I see as bad teaching, long held, which, while traditional, is very destructive for the lives and sanity of millions of people, especially young children. The church has believed and taught many tertiary things throughout its history that it has long since abandoned, though on the primary tenets of the faith enshrined in the creeds it has remained rightfully firm in its belief, and I am right there with the church on those matters all the way. I am prepared to let the Lord judge me as I am. I don't need you or anyone else to do his job for him.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Quiet diplomacy is a concept completely foreign to the CPC and its supporters. You only have to go back to Peter Mackay's actions during the Christian Peacemakers kidnappings to see that the concept of working quietly was (and remains) completely outside their understanding.\n\nThe harsh truth is that the mother is letting her own political beliefs get in the way of what's best for any hope of getting her children back.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Whenever deacons meet together for a Mass, you will see not only \"hand holding\" but genuine exchanges of peace with hugs and kisses among deacons, wives and surrounding attendees. Oddly, among clergy at the altar, you often see extreme restraint with each other and the celebrant(s) (usually a bishop or two) hurrying along to begin the Lamb of God thus ending the apparently uncomfortable exchange of peace. I guess we aren't in Antioch any more, no longer being known as Christians by our love...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you, Bill Tammeus for writing on this important issue from a position of lived experience. Not getting married can be a strong spiritual call--as Dorothy Day witnessed to through her life work--yet she herself called it The Long Loneliness. And being married is not a theory, it's a lived reality. \n\nBut I would like to point out that Jesus has already given us a clear answer. John the Baptist witnessed that Jesus is the Bridegroom (Jn. 3:29)--saying \"he who has the bride is the bridegroom.\" In his comment on the woman married to seven brothers Jesus made clear that marriage isn't needed in heaven, it's to be here on earth. The early church heard the parables of the wedding feast and Paul said, \"this is a great mystery, but it concerns Christ and the Church.\" (Eph. 5:32) A bridegroom and bride may be celibate before the marriage, but they are vowed to marriage. The bride of Christ needs to prepare for the marriage (Rev. 19:7) and the first step is to see this is needed!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Our educational system is a cultural institution with 15o years of history. This is Canadian history and culture. Unfortunately religious intolerance also exists in hyperfluous criticism of this heritage. Furthermore, each of the two systems is funded by subscription ie Catholic taxpayers pay for their schools without opulent swimming pools but still have an open door. School activities preemptorily demand effective supervision & those who enroll know the curriculum beforehand. In respect of the common good Catholic high schools unilaterally apportion one religion course to the World Religions Social Science credit which promotes religious harmony through learning about other faith stances (including secularism & atheism). Unfortunately in some Ontario jurisdictions like Peel there isn't a single offering of this course in \"Public\" high schools. Every religious denomination can create an educational experience that conforms to Ministry guidelines if it wishes to finance it directly.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, my Pastor talked about our relationship with God being more important that following moral laws. A recent book I read on the Trinity talked about God as Relationship. Jesus as our companion beside us, and the Holy Spirit as God within us. We need to look at all others with compassion and not judge or condemn them but, as you put it, welcome them. Why? Because God would do the same.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesuits are. Of course, the next question is whether they are Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wait a minute, Mr. Claw. Now I'm \"you people\"?? You do not know my practices or my family's practices, do you? How can you say these things? Listen, I want to a good sport about commenting and trying to understand differences, but man, this makes it rough. I don't understand.\n\n\"You people haven't even listened to the readings we already have\"\n\n Isn't this the 'liberal' counterpart to the \"you're not really Catholic/you're CINO\" argument that is sometimes propounded by 'conservative' posters, and rightfully criticized when they do?\n\nFWIW, we drive 50 minutes to go to Mass at a parish that offers the EF, and before that we made the same journey to attend an Anglican Use parish, and we read the Mass readings and go over them with the kids on the way, to the best of our abilities as parents. We want the kids to understand the readings.\n\nWhat would you describe as 'Gospel greedy', BTW?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would like to appeal to Jesus Christ as well who is quoted in 3 Gospels (twice in Matt) that remarriage is equivalent to adultery. \n\nJesus was super permissive with regard to aspects of the Mosaic law. His interpretation of the Sabbath is FAR more liberal than that of the Pharisees and current Orthodox Judaism. He is also permissive in his refusal to apply the Mosaic law to those caught in adultery. Instead of death he offers mercy, forgiveness and the command to sin no more. The Church follows suit in both cases, lax in its interpretation of the Sabbath and just as merciful to the adulteress offering mercy in the Confessional rather than the death penalty of Mosaic law.\n\nIn other cases, like marriage and sexual conduct in general Jesus was FAR MORE RIGID. No divorce, no remarriage. Adultery is broadened to include lustful desires of the heart. The Church follows suit again calling humanity to carry out the Lord's commands. A person must ponder Jn 6:67 \"Do you also want to leave?\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "NCR had an editorial stance long before this sad election became its main occupation and no NCR staff member or writer has labeled \"half the nation\" (less, actually) as you describe. They're simply concerned about the election of Trump, as anybody who purports to seek to follow the Gospel should be.\n\nI'm not curious in the least about why Catholics voted for Trump. I have no doubt at all that, as I stated earlier, they were actually voting against Clinton. With the encouragement of the bishops, they chose to pay a pretty high price to keep her out of office. Time will tell just how high it was.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No Guy, I mean what I said occult, look it up in the dictionary dummy. Congratulations, you know how to spell Revelation. But when you add more than one verse to the revelation, you have 2 verses. (See the es in verses?) In plain English when more than \"one\" is measured , you usually add an \"s\" or \"es\". So, revelations 18 and 19 is correct, meaning more than one. Got it? By the way, I don't study religion, I read KJV of the bible.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are arguing against your own initial statement and confirming that for non Catholics, Easter and Christmas are not mandatory religious holidays. They are just days off.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "when people start thinking for themselves the days of prevos are over.. bigotry is not a christian attribute and prevo is a bigot...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You stated----banns of marriage are stated in churches. Sorry, but this has been out of practice for decades now. \n\nSecondly, many [if not all] in the LGBT community, don't get married at a Catholic marriage. BECAUSE there is much preparation before getting married in the Catholic church---like Marriage Prep sessions, either with the diocese, a Catholic univ./college program for students getting married, or sponsor-couples' programs [in parishes]. These are more than just one evening event---about 4-8 weeks. Then, there is the taking of the Focus Communication Survey [required by a number of dioceses]. \n\nSo NO---LGBT weddings don't happen in Catholic churches. They happen in other churches OR before a J.P. It is no where as public as at a Catholic Marriage.\n\nThe bishop has shown NOTHING that displays any sense of concern, care, or the love toward anybody in the LGBT community. If anything, Bishop Paprocki had better worry about the state of his own soul.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The situation you address is somewhat complicated in Canada because a lot of members of the single largest religious community, Roman Catholicism, are what are sometimes called \"cultural Catholics.\" I include myself in this group. We are essentially secular and don't regularly attend mass but still identify ourselves on census forms as being Catholic. (It's complicated.) You're likely correct in stating that the percentage of secular (a term I prefer in comparison to non-religious) Canadians is probably at least twice as large as the number who identify as being non-religious in census data and secularists no doubt form a clear majority in this country.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It might be prudent to remember that the church's representation as \"bride of Christ\" is just that--a metaphorical representation. Another prudent analogy is to recall that she (the church) is made up of all of God's people (not limited to Roman prelates mind you), thus giving \"her\" human-like qualities and the ability to teach and preach and spread the good news--which in essence encapsulates the great commission. The church as a \"whole\" is the Body of Christ.\n\nIn this light, the Roman prelates who promulgate such church \"rules\" (as you describe in your post) do not necessarily represent the larger Body of Christ, which is an equally valid \"part\" of the same Body. Lest we be reduced to automatons, each follower of Christ must discern the \"truth\" of said rules for him or herself. It is this discernment process that will lead us to authentic faith, as well as \"abundant life\" in this life and the next. As you point out, the internal forum can help us in the discernment process.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sophistry!!! You disagree not only with Catholic teaching but also with Holy Father Francis. I never asked you to condemn anyone. I asked you if abortion was objectively morally wrong. For any true Catholic, there is one appropriate answer. Even my two aunts who are very liberal nuns will say it's morally wrong. But you can't! And your views are the reason why I (and millions of others) will never vote Democratic again. This is what Democrats do: Play word games; the only thing wrong in the eyes of the Democratic Party is inequality; everything else is okay.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, I am of the same sense as the bishop, so who is the arbiter?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you John! :-)\nI enjoy your gentle & encouraging posts.\nYou are included in my prayers for your Christ like gentle & encouraging comments.\nCatholics need that in these trying times with dark cloud over our head with the clergy sex abuse scandals.\nHope you pray for us all!\nGod Bless", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"We got rich.\" \"With all the stuff we have at our fingertips, all of it enticing and delicious, who has time for Mass on Sunday morning?\"\nOh, come on, MSW! This may be the most vapid rationalization of organized religion hemorrhaging members I've ever read. How about, we got smart? We reject patriarchy, misogyny, exclusivity, refusal to be held accountable, ub\u00ebr-institutionalization to the point of ignoring the Gospel in favor of stupid Law, propagation of medieval theology that ignores modern scientific discoveries, especially in the realm of human behavior and any contribution from women EVER, gross financial mismanagement, continuing to exclude marriage for ministers while numbers of priests fall to crisis levels, etc., etc. \n\nIf your premise is true, what does it say about a global Church that its most promising members are uneducated and and likely to say that way due to poverty, and therefore will continue to accept the unacceptable, including fairy tales? Give me a break.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The tree and decorations in my house have nothing to do with religion. All that stuff-bringing green things in from outside, etc. are traditions swiped from what the Christians call \"pagan.\"\n I like all those old myths, also, I just enjoy the season; who doesn't?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why oh why would you sell this site when land is so scarce in and around the \"U\". Years ago both the university and peacehealth (sacred heart) were interested in Northwest Christian College, to the northwest, but NWC was not open to selling, sacred heart expansion ended up in Springfield. The university has no place to go, except north across the river. The only campus attached land, that currently exists, would be the neighborhood from Franklin south to 19th. Selling the Romania parcel doesn't make any sense unless the university has no plan to expand.....EVER!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It still makes a difference even if some individuals take much longer to get there because hellfire is a tool of purification, not a destination. Do Roman Catholics believe that people can be saved after death or, more radically, that everyone will be saved? I can't remember but I think not. This idea is more accepted in the East.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Part two of two) \u2018`You received he law as transmitted by angels, but you did no observe it\u2019\u201d (Acts 7:53). \u201cInto your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit\u201d (Psalm 31:6a), as messed up as my spirit may be. \u201cI am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger; and whoever believes in me will never thirst\u2019\u201d (John 6:35). Let the Faithful pray that as they pray that the bread and wine may be changed into the body and blood of Jesus, so may they similarly be changed into the very person of Jesus. Liturgy of the Word, Reading 274, Tuesday of the Third Week of Easter I", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We orthodox catholics must stand with the Curia, even if it means standing against the pope. For as Jesus told Peter, you are the rock and upon the curia I will found my Church. Those who suggest we traditional catholics are siding with the curia merely because we doubt the current pope well that's just not so!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "All popes since Vatican II have been Anti-Popes.\n\nThe only Man who is \"awesome and magnificent\" is Jesus Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"It\u2019s a condition few doctors have seen, and some have questioned whether sweating blood is even possible. But it turns out dozens of similar cases have come to light since about 2000.\"\n=======\nMany have questioned the Gospel accounts of Jesus \"sweating blood\" while praying just before His arrest.....and some doctors went to great lengths to claim that it is, indeed, \"possible\" to sweat blood.\n-\nNow we know that it is not only \"possible,\" but actually can occur.....with dozens of cases in the last 17 years. The number may be \"few\" but it does, in fact, occur.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"the fear that there will not be enough Catholics\"\n\nEven when I was a kid back in the 50's, we knew that that was an important consideration. Every Catholic family was supposed to have a lot of kids, and every good Catholic family was supposed to produce at least one priest and one nun. Those days are long gone.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ummm...because it is Catholic teaching?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I personally don't want politics and a person's extremist religion to make decisions for the city of Portland. Keeping extremists out of politics is very important to me in my decisions when I vote. Extremist religions are dangerous to our society because their is always hate and exclusion of others and that isn't a religion it's a \"cult'. I'm not a Roman Catholic, but as I recall the Pope said he didn't judge LGBTQ and encouraged their involvement in the church. American Roman Catholics woman definitely use birth control and the Pope recently said as a reminder to families that 'we're not rabbits' referring large families. Rational people use their ability to think beyond magical thinking and indoctrination of religious 'cult' beliefs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But the more ancient view of baptism is not washing away original sin as some sort of personal fault transmitted through conception. According to Kallistos Ware, baptism initiates a healing of the alienation within ourselves, healing the split between ourselves and others, and giving us new life in which the world is a sign of communion with God. Death, the ultimate alienation, is overcome. That, and incorporation into the community. \n\nExorcism serves to reject these divisions (devil is derived from the word \"divide\" in Greek, personalized), and does not presume that we are in cahoots with Satin. Baptism is about the promise of restoration of wholeness as we were intended to be, not because we're born outside God's love and deserve death, which describes some of the untenable and horrible distortions we were taught. If we can paw through some of the ancient writings to get to the meaning (not always easy to do), there's some good stuff in there.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I love the parallels between Nestorius and Burke, with Francis in the Cyril role. Francis has been more merciful with Burke than Cyril would have been. Perhaps Burke is calling for Francis to be more forceful in condemning heresy? \n\nI hope this is the way Burke meant his sermon, that Francis, the defender of the faith, has been acting faithfully and mercifully in searching for a place where Burke's 'heresies' would not infect the flock but he would still be able to work to the benefit of the Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Discernment must help to find possible ways of responding to God and growing in the midst of limits,\" stated Francis. \"By thinking that everything is black and white, we sometimes close off the way of grace and of growth, and discourage paths of sanctification which give glory to God.\"\n\nThe Pope is saying, \"Think like Christ and not like a pharisee.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ah Lesia, when one considers Churches with a married clergy, of course the proportion goes up among celibate clergy, But lets not forget that the proportion of married to celibate priests varies greatly over time and geography in our Church. \n\nI was only recently converted to about 50% as a reasonable guess for the Roman Church. I certainly think it is increasing over time. \n\nBut I think \"those who are insisting that gay men may not become priests\" is a null set! Although the words could be given that sense, one would be very hard pressed to find a single bishop who is going to systematically deny ordination to gay men.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Obviously, the vices of the people must be confronted. The Bishop should immediately institute classes to catechize the people of Chicago so they understand their errors, acknowledge the Supremacy of the One True Church, order them to Mass, preferably a latin mass, as that is the only kind God really listens to, and then there will be peace and justice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When you consider only the people writing for Catholic publications in England that number is considerably reduced.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why Canadian Media Industry need more monies? Grants from Canadian Government and reporting \"exactly word for word\" news from USA news media outlets (without vetting only accepting as \"Gospel Truth\")(oops I've to be careful using biblical conations, The far-left may take exception).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I could start out with my former church, the Catholic Church for one. I will mention that politicians are supporters of budgeting funds for church's to administer social service programs in the community because it saves money that the state would have to pay to have more hired staff in these positions to do it and have to put them on the state payroll with all the benefits. There are many news stories over the years on this topic but basically it is an accepted practice to financially help to administer some of these church programs for the public benefit. Perhaps you are not familiar with the long time practice since a lot of those programs run by the church's are located in the bigger cities. Hospitals like Providence in Anchorage that I recall when I was working was non-profit Catholic run hospital but they may not be now, don't know, but when I was working they got state and federal money to help with the costs of providing patient care to the community.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This article is again, well written and an example of good journalism from a Catholic perspective. A piece Mr. Winters wrote earlier applauding Trump's performance at a press conference was not so much. \n Some questions remain, however, in regard to the mainstream Catholic perspective on abortion. I have until now metaphorically ground my teeth whenever it is brought up because it is an issue that is rarely well thought through (with the exception of Cardinal Bernadin's SEAMLESS GARMENT pastoral) leaving the implications unexamined and the facts ignored. \n First: Making abortion illegal will not stop women from having abortions who want them. Second, the person carrying the baby needs someone to stand with them, whether they make the decision you think morally correct or not-not in approval so much as their being human with burdens and issue and challenges as the rest of us. Third, do Catholics stand with the baby they want to see born? I hear little (to be continued)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...in order to be a Ranger in the army or a fireperson....\"\n\nAlso, baseball players in the major leagues and football, across the board. \n\n\"There won't be a church left.\"\n\nTell that to Pew researchers. They rarely make changes in their details.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nothing I do is without sin as I am still a sinful creature, but am in the process of sanctification. God (as well as Christ and the Holy Spirit) is a person, like you and I in a sense, but far more.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...you almost certainly haven't read the Qoran either so please, tell us, what fact-based, reason-based arguments do you have then????????\"\n\nHello?\n\nThe debate occurring, it related to ACTION OF GOVERNMENT in Ottawa, to the voting of MPs in Ottawa.\n\nWhat ON EARTH does that have to do with anyone reading the Qoran or not?\n\nIn decades past, when voting MPs in Ottawa were weighing the abortion issue, I do not remember anybody declaring that people must read the Roman Catholic Bible before earning the right to oppose proposals from those activists who embraced its content.\n\nCanadians have the right to voice support or opposition to whatever current Ottawa proposals they feel like, there is no pre-requisite homework required in the ancient-text religious beliefs of others...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Compare Paul's writings to the Gospels. Figure it out.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Read your bible dear. Jesus' word is in the Gospels. If you need help understanding go to church. it will do you good dear you seems deeply troubled and miserable, lusting after Anna Nicole. I will pray for you dear.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thanks, Bill. Let me try to put my finger on one of the main differences between what separated Catholics and Protestants in the past and what unites many of us today. Very simply, I think the idea of justification is suspect, and not without reason. While it's true that millennials often opt for what Bonhoefer called cheap grace, it's also true that justification by faith/grace was a Pauline preoccupation that can't easily be traced back to the gospels. Today's young Catholics don't take it for granted that they're sinners, that God is offended by their actions, or that God could only have been appeased by the sacrifice of his son. On a list of ideas we won't find people discussing in our churches, \"substitutionary atonement\" would be near the top. In my view, the churches won't regain their ability to speak to this generation until they come up with a new reason why believing in God through Jesus is better than not believing. I'm not sure we can articulate that at the moment.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But since God was going to use Judas's sin, it was ok to eat with him, unlike other sinners. Of course, Judas was a good Catholic at the time of the last supper, he fell later that evening. So, in summary: Jesus doesn't eat with unrepentant sinners, Judas wasn't an unrepentant sinner; or Jesus ate only with unrepentant sinners when God was planning to use their sins for His purposes. So how does this affect the serving of the Eucharist? Is there a method to determine which sinners are going to be used by God, so they can be given a \"Judas Waiver?\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Pope Francis' vibrant witness to mercy not only grasps us, but he is inviting the rest of us to grasp it. \"\n\nMSW, you are correct. Unfortunately, there is a small but loud minority within the church who don't like Pope Francis. (Not surprisingly, some of them post on this website under self-important pseudonyms to hide their identity.) They don't like Pope Francis or mercy because they don't like sinners, especially those with sins of a sexual nature, escaping judgement in this world or the next. They are self-appointed prosecutors, judges, and juries.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The man-made add-ons--to doctrine and to the 10 commandments (when I was in Catholic School I recall \"and here's what ELSE 'Thou shalt not commit adultery' means)--just might be the essence of the problem. They spawned the clericalism, hubris, legalism, and triumphalism that precipitated the divide.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I surmise that the real meaning of Pope Francis' words on the ordination of women is that it faces an enormous and \"almost\" insurrmountable obstacle. \nTHIS IS QUITE DIFFERENT FROM EXCLUSION.\nIt is \"right and just\" that he, his predecessor(s) and the tradition be taken to task. However, the real task is to continue, to ramp-up the exposure to light the inanity, injustice, the negative implications of exclusion and the rightness, the potential benefits of full inclusion for us all, for women specifically and against sexual violence and for the fullness of the human inclusion in and encounter with Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ideally, any baptized person whose called to priestly ministry is validated by the Church can and should be ordained. In the Catholic and Orthodox traditions, I hope to see celibate women ordained *before* the celibacy requirement is relaxed. The numbers of priests would double overnight, and the vocations shortage can thus be alleviated in the short term. This is the way I see the situation unfolding:\n\nReligious Patriarchy ~ Annotated Chronology of Key Events\nhttp://pelicanweb.org/CCC.TOB.html#CHRONOLOGY\n\nThe patriarchal priesthood of the Old Law is a yoke that is not easy, and a burden that is not light. It is by no means normative for the sacramental priesthood of the New Law, and is now obsolete and utterly irrelevant. As far as I know, there is no dogmatic impediment; so, why not? The pluses and minuses of a married priesthood can be reconsidered in due time; but further delaying the ordination of celibate women is to perpetuate an ancient error devoid of revealed truth.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"and the Church has the right to claim that those in defiance of Church teaching do NOT speak for the Church.\" \n\nKindly define \"the Church\". You clearly don't mean the People of God, the Mystical Body of Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Constitution, unfortunately, is no longer enough, but you are right that a law will just be subverted to regulate churches more and eventually force them to perform same-sex weddings. Churches need to get geared up to simply say \"No\". We submit to a higher law than the State of Alaska or the US Constitution. It may mean persecution is coming our way. Accept it and stand by God's word rather than try to manipulate the godless law to agree with the God of the Universe. Jesus warned us that there would be times when we would have to stand for Him against the whole world. That time is coming, American Christians. Stop fighting it and prepare for it instead. Pastors need to surrender their licenses to perform marriages. They could still conduct weddings for valid Christian couples, but couples would have to make separate arrangements with the State ... or not. Why is the State involved in marriage anyway?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You can certainly bang your head against the wall because it feels good when you stop. Don't try to constitutionalize natural law into the American system. It does not and never should fit. If you want to do something for the unborn, work within the boundaries. It is possible to move personhood to an earlier time in pregnancy and natural law discussions will take place in Congress (the only appropriate venue), but the resolution will be within the American natural rights system. Any solution should include the natural law reasoning on economics from Leo XIII to Pius XI to Benedict XVI on social democracy and the living wage. Whether you endorse the latter shows whether your views are Catholic or Republican.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Lol, do the writers ever read the news? Unemployment is the lowest in 20 years, the stock market is at an all time high, and businesses are hiring like crazy! In other words: since the election, prosperity keeps increasing.\n\nNCR lives in another world, a world where there is no hope but government handouts and a higher minimum wage. That is the sum of all progressive Catholic economics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Laura Ingraham made the first shot across the bow of the Catholic Church and the Pope. She said, \"The Pope and the Church should stick to saving souls not trees. \" \nTheinterviewer asked:\nWell, but again, Pope Francis has put an emphasis on creation as a whole. You love life? Well, that's part of God's whole creation, so you have to love it all, protect it all.\n\nINGRAHAM: I don't like that. I don't like that. I like the John Paul the two. \n\nWhat is the next salvo?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ryan's problem and terminal limitation is that he's not a leader. He's a good man, but he's basically a policy wonk who happens to be Catholic. \n\nHe's happiest when he's heading off for another 3 day strategy retreat.\n\nLeadership is something entirely different.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As a seminary trained (M-Div) professional lay minister, I would say it is not the laity that do not want or appreciate lay ministry. In fact, it is very much appreciated, respected and trusted. At least that is true of my diocese in the Midwest. Over the years though, my observation would be that the problem is less with bishops and more with younger clergy who are threatened by someone who is well educated and bring a skill set and history with the parish by virtue of their long time employment. Instead of viewing this as an asset that will enhance their ministry, they resent the relationships and trust that exist with someone other than themselves. In these situations, it isn't long before there is an entire staff turnover - a disservice to the parish as well as the young pastor. This is repeated over and over, so I daresay it is not limited to my experience, nor in my diocese. The older pastors were the most grateful for our presence and always treated us as esteemed colleagues.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Again, NOT SO, \"Marty E\"! Sacred ordination DOES NOT remove a man's [sic] right or capacity to contract marriage at civil law. The Roman Catholic church is considerably behind the times on these issues, and has been so ever since the Council of Trent (the Tridentine format which you outlined above!) . The civil marriage, without more (such as convalidation, or ecclesiastical dispensation of any sort) establishes the legitimacy of offspring and heirship at law, which canon law cannot presume to affect. These facts loomed large in the JP II era where laicizations became few, then nonexistent, with JP II's thumb on the scales of justice!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "He turned over the tables to disrupt the temple sacrifices.\nHe wanted us to understand that we don't need a temple or sacrifices. We have direct access to God. \nThe violence came with the retaliation of the priests and calcification of Jesus.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For the visually intrigued, Mimi Nolledo's and the RG's collaboration is a treasure trove and their work should be heartily acknowledged and applauded. The prospect of Nolledo \"...transforming the photo project into a book,\" is even more appealing. In that spirit I searched for and found several urls that are both extraordinarily catholic in their disciplines coverage, yet may be of interest for her as follow: 1. https://www.google.com/search?q=books+about+pictures+of+african+american+immigrants&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjr996WubvTAhVS72MKHUe3ArUQsAQIbw&biw=1138&bih=543&dpr=1.2#spf=1, 2. https://www.google.com/search?q=books+about+pictures+of+native+american&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwju2ISHurvTAhVmImMKHTRwB78QsAQIXw&biw=1138&bih=543#spf=1, 3. https://www.google.com/search?q=books+about+pictures+of+latino+immigrants&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjv_enyurvTAhVN5GMKHU0yCRIQsAQIUQ&biw=1138&bih=543#spf=1 etc.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not even Darwin would accord \"field theory\" status to his own speculations.\n\nDon't you find it odd that social scientists give greater weight to it than actual scientists. That should tell you something.\n\nA good theory leads to tight predictions, with no more theory \"than the data demands\". \n\nCatholic homeschooling arose because of some of the horse hockey being taught in Catholic schools. \n\nOur bishop acknowledged this on his way into our deadwood diocese (until he turned it around by embracing solid teaching, applauding homeschooling, and turning his own schools around).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Canada is done the English and Scottish people who built into a fine country are all but ghost thanks to the Trudeaus father and son and the globalist liberal biased media are turning Canada into Candastan. Bye Canada it was nice that I am old enough too have seen you in your full glory a Anglo Christian beautiful place RIP.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We likely don't know all that this Commission discussed in their meeting, but I have to say that I'm a bit disappointed that the whole group of em didn't just walk out, following Marie. Something like that MIGHT have actually gotten Francis, O'Malley and the church's leadership to talk about this mess.\n\nI might have hoped that would be the case, but I'm guessing that team was a bit too \"professional,\" too much of a team that wants to color within the lines, too much of a team that thinks the quiet, silent approach is better than making waves. Stated differently, they were all picked by church leadership for their roles, BECAUSE of these traits. And it's precisely because of those very traits that we've not seen much of worth from the Commission.\n\nI honestly don't believe the church can fix this mess by coloring within the lines by not breaking making wavesl. It's gonna take passion: time to grab a rope, tie knots in it, and tear into the temple, just like Jesus did, in his example.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You ignore the genocide of Native Americans, the kidnapping of Indigenous children who were sent to boarding schools, forced to abandon their language, their culture. And Christians have done this around the world.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mercy is necessary because there's a sense of offense and something that is terribly done to someone. If there's no sin, then mercy cannot ever follow. Is it mercy to say to someone either committing adultery, homosexual actions, or a thief, there's no sin you've committed? If so, then there's no mercy - no forgiveness - because there's no offense. Because you cannot ever sense a wrong coming out of it. Therefore, for Mercy, there must be freewill and the ability/choice to do wrong. God didn't make us like the other creatures for which cannot sin, since they can never be destined either to Heaven nor Hell. God made our souls, beside our bodies, as an eternal resting point to which He may say: \"Well done my good and faithful servant.\" All that Jesus describes of Heaven and Hell are everlasting feats in the Creation of the Soul of a man (i.e. men, women, and children.) God made people for Heaven not Hell. But the devil and his followers have made Hell from their sins - unrepentant.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Steve,\n\nIndeed, it is good to ask questions that make us think. \n\nI would suggest that your mention of prophets was a reflexive long jump that far too many make because Adventism, in particular, has cultivated the concept that God only communicates to prophets. A review of scripture shows us that God's highest level of communication to His people is through prophets but there is no limitation on Him communicating directly to individuals to direct them in making decisions and in their work for Him. I am definitely not a prophet, yet I have many times received specific direction from God to go to a certain place or do a certain thing because it was what He wanted done to minister His love to someone. It is an utterly amazing and life-changing experience that I wish more people would allow God to give them. To receive it they have to be open to it happening and seeking God's guidance because He generally doesn't talk to people whose ears are closed to His voice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I believe that a number of churches have indeed been burned to the ground, including recently in Australia. But this can't be the answer, can it? To return violence for violence? I hope not.\nBut I agree that the Church has lost the right to police itself - because it has failed so abysmally to do so. It must be made to comply with external policing of this matter. And it must be made to hand its records over, when they are needed in investigations.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Christ promises us not just his presence, but the communion that gave him life.\"\nHYPOSTATIC GRACE is experienced personally and inter-personally by way of Trimorphic Resonance. \"Hypostasis\", the Greek word meaning under-standing, is in the same sense used by St. John Damascene in his definition of God as \"a Sea of Infinite Substance\" ('sub-stance' from the Latin word 'sub-stantia' meaning 'under-standing').\nBy personal and inter-personal processing of Word/Light/Love we together age in Wisdom and Grace by growth in understanding God-likeness. Let us as one people increasingly grow together in Wisdom/Age/Grace by Way of Divine Hypostasis. http://www.secondenlightenment.org/God%20and%20the%20Cosmos.pdf", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The story \"Traditionalist Catholics find a home\" is interesting and points to what is dividing us as communities - civic and religious - in so many ways. \n\nI say I want to support traditionalist Catholics practicing faith in a way that is meaningful to them. But then, I react negatively when the parish turns out to require women to wear a veil in Church and when the community seems to want to include only those who will conform to their way of living the faith. I suppose I have to hope my bishop doesn't turn over my parish to the Missionaries of St. John the Baptist. \n\nThe reaction of those who live around the church to a procession through some neighborhood streets - a person asked if they had a permit. Understandable in today's world, but sad. The fight over permitting a grotto to be created - again understandable but pointing to how creation/expansion of religious centered spaces feels like an intrusion into secular - religion free - space. Where is there room for religion?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My friend's son died of a over dose back in December. He was 21, a very gifted artist, and a very sweet young man. He was a Christian and attended church all the time. Not known to ever touch alcohol so question why or how he died. \nHe was with some\"friends\" who gave him the fentanyl. Told him it was something else so the story goes. They did NOT call 911, they did NOT report his death to the police. He lay dead on the couch in his apartment for two days. Meanwhile, his \"friends\" took photos of his body and sent them around to their \"friends\". His family wonders why no charges were brought against his \"friends\". \nGlad that these people were arrested but they need to get the people who bring it into the country or who \"make it\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Church teaches per the Council of Trent, Session XXII, September 17, 1562 (summarized) as follows:\n1.The Mass is a true and proper sacrifice which is offered to God.\n2.By the words, \"Do this in commemoration of me\" (Luke 22:19; I Corinthians 11:24), Christ made the apostles priests. Moreover, He decreed that they and other priests should offer His Body and Blood.\n3.The Sacrifice of the Mass is not merely an offering of praise and thanksgiving, or simply a memorial of the sacrifice on the Cross. It is a propitiatory sacrifice which is offered for the living and dead, for the remission of sins and punishment due to sin, as satisfaction for sin and for other necessities.\n4.The Sacrifice of the Mass in no way detracts from the sacrifice which Christ offered on the Cross\n\nSince these are dogmatic pronouncements, all Catholics are bound to give full assent of the will and mind to them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "To those Catholics who are voting for Trump because he has promised to appoint judges who will get rid of Roe v. Wade, I say, saving unborn fetuses won't matter much after Trump sets off a chain of events that will unleash the final war to end all wars. And that is what will happen if Trump wins, and I am not being hyperbolic by saying so. Please think carefully when you cast your vote - the future of the world depends on it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The baker's case is mostly about religious liberty since marriage is religious. Genesis 2:24. It was instituted in a creative capacity, IN THE IMAGE OF GOD who bound and blessed the male and female union as one. If traditional marriage was created in the Image of God, then the exact opposite is a fa\u00e7ade giving a false appearance of the truth. And we know the Bible is correct since heterosexual union has proven true because it's how anyone whoever existed got here!\n\nBut the counterfeit has reared its head through the Homosexual marriage falsehood, that has been labeled \"same-sex marriage,\" or 666, which is just the opposite of traditional marriage in every aspect and reflects nothing but lies. From a religious standpoint, the SCOTUS does not have authority over the Image of God. Neither can it \"create\" a spectrum of non-productive sexes in the Image of God. This 100% indicates the mark of the beast as prophesied by Jesus. The baker must refuse to accept the mark of the beast.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I remember my first year psychology textbook had a sidebar with an experiment from I believe the 1960\u2019s in a Pennsylvania psychiatric hospital\n\nThey had 8 patients who claimed to be Jesus.\n\nThey put all of them in the same room...\n\n\nI believe the outcome was that one did emerge as the \u2018true\u2019 Jesus and the rest admitted to being the apostles....\n\nI wonder what would happen if all the Kennedy assasination theorists with their wildly divergent beliefs were put in the same room what the outcome would be?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You mean do I, like Violet, question whether Jesus existed? No. I think Jesus existed.\n\nYou wrote:\n\n<>\n\nI'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume this wild invention is simply a misunderstanding on your part.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Married priests makes further mockery of, \"defrocks\" the metaphor - elevated to theology and Canon Law - for the exclusion of women from ordination. So, go all the way. Open ordination to married men AND women. It won't solve the problem of Church but it will be a step toward establishing the conditions.\n\"Celibacy\" reserves the p---s for confection of similarly endowed \"Groom\".\nBut...somehow the Church, the \"Bride\" includes the confectioner and the \"Groom\" participating in, what J. Card. Ratzinger, aka Pope Benedict XVI termed: \"more than a metaphor\". Duh! The image is a perversion of nature, a blight to the imagination and offensive to children.\nBut... adamantly excludes \"real\" brides: women from the \"international union of confectioners\". They can \"watch\" but join in...? \nBut... admitting married men - former priests and/or men of good character means retreat from the (allegedly) reserving the p---s for the Groom? Again \"duh\".\nGet rid of the metaphor, dogma, law. God wants it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\" we're divided over issues, but people are divided into tribes, into camps.\" Culpich\n\nApril 12, 1820\n\n\u201cI had another vision of the great tribulation. It seems to me that a concession was demanded from the clergy which could not be granted. I saw many older priests, especially one, who wept bitterly. A few younger ones were also weeping. But others, and the lukewarm among them, readily did what was demanded. IT WAS AS IF PEOPLE WERE SPLITTING INTO TWO CAMPS\u2026\u201d\n\nMay 13, 1820\n\n\u201cI saw also the relationship between the two popes.\"\n\nAugust 10, 1820\n\n\u201cI see the Holy Father in great anguish. He lives in a palace other than before [ Pope Benedict XVI lives in a new residence ] and he admits only a limited number of friends near him. ... I see that the false Church of darkness is making progress and I see the dreadful influence it has on the people.\nhttps://veritas-vincit-international.org/2014/08/16/blessed-anne-catherine-emmerichs-prophecy-on-the-two-popes/\n\nWhat a Mystic Anne Emmerich was!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Great point CathyT. I really think that Jesus sees the mark of the Parent and not the ideological \"tattoo\". I think that He recognizes that response to the father even when it is not ideological.\nI vividly recall a rough and tumble man at a funeral give testament to my aunt- a religious women teacher. \nFrancis has opined that Jesus is more concerned with being present than being an ideologist.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you for this thoroughly ad rem piece, Jamie! Speaking of discernment, the GOP failed to exercise such discernment in nominating Trump for POTUS. They continue to fail by letting Trump continue to fail them, and all Americans, as well as women everywhere. The same must be said of the entire Roman Catholic hierarchy in reference to the ordination of women. Bless you, Jamie, for lighting the darkness!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus called us to \"metanoia\" which means a whole new way of looking at life and living. I propose this includes looking at our understanding of Scripture and Tradition and ask if we have understood the message of Revelation correctly or have imposed human values on it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Simply because all the other letters are wrong. The Bible clearly states God controls ALL natural catastrophes on the earth, and does them for his purposes, which are not clearly revealed : Isaiah 45 -7 I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the LORD, who does all these things.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pope Francis is NOT addressing ordinary Catholics. He is speaking to brother bishops---and he is doing what both Matthew 18:15-17 and Luke 17:3 --- suggest that be done. There should always be at least ONE other witness. Since Francis was speaking to his 'brothers' as a group----he was not pointing out any ONE of them. Pope John Paul II employed public embarrassment as a major tool in attempting to 'silence' those who were engaged in ministry in Latin and South America. JP II didn't read much---and didn't take the time, either, to educate himself about much about the gospel preference for the poor and vulnerable. \n\n\nThe People of God cannot be treated as if they were all manufactured on an assembly line---which is what some of these cardinals want----a one-size-fits-all LAW for all, everywhere. \nI am delighted that Francis is thinking of including competent laity, including women, to work in the dicasteries---rather than keeping JUST members of the hierarchy there.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I will never, ever understand why immigration to the USA is paraded as a solution to the problems or conditions that move Mexicans etc...to come to America. It seems that the US and the Catholic Church and our Universities should consider addressing the problems or conditions existing in the countries of origin, before everyone automatically assumes that \"immigration\" is the universal, simple and exclusive solution. \n\nThis is why I have always questioned the motives of those wanting to help immigrants and support massive immigration into the states. Liberals want votes and the Catholic Church wants bodies in its empty churches, plus the billions it gets from government for doing whatever for immigrants. I think the church and liberals are and have used and exploited immigrants for there own purposes. They care nothing for the crimes people have suffered or the plight of illegals in this country currently. They care only for there own institutional and political survival and power.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Kurgan,\n\nI appeal to Jesus Christ, and his actions - he healed the sick and forgave sins. He did not appeal to dogma and catechism. They were later developed by the Church. \n\nLet's just say that the Church has been guilty of putting its own control over the lives of countless people, without regard to their motivation, by imposing rules that puts the law over peoples' hearts. In the Gospels, Jesus had a dim view of that.\n\nAs for sarcasm, I was referring to your post that said, \"Fortunately, he is old and won't be around too much longer. Bishop Burke, called by God to be a Bishop, is positioning himself to be called by God to be Holy Father. Then, at last, the Church can return to its ancient roots, reinstate the use of latin, and bask in its Glory.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "icon66, W O W, I was waiting to give you the benefit of the doubt, however, now I know that you are either using LSD, or other HALLUCINOGENIC, drugs. I would even wager that 666 is your favorite number: Revelation 13:15\u201318. According to the last book in the Bible, 666 is the number, or name, of the wild beast with seven heads and ten horns that comes out of the sea. (Revelation 13:1, 17, 18) This beast is a symbol of the worldwide political system, which rules over \u201cevery tribe and people and tongue and nation.\u201d (Revelation 13:7) The name 666 identifies the political system as a gross failure in God\u2019s sight.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not sure if I'm coming in at the right place...schools have food.... for breakfast and lunch but for dinner and weekends ??? Many people, especially children, are seriously malnourished if not actually starving. I believe in the Golden Rule...do unto others as you want to have done to you AND the corporal and spiritual works of mercy...how can we say we are doing God's will if we don't .... Remember the rich young man who followed all the commandments and laws but couldn't give up his wealth to really follow Jesus. So look straight ahead and follow those rules like thePharisee in the temple who thought he was so great ... But who did Jesus say was greater, the sinner who stayed in the back.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How do you know what Jesus would have wanted if you don't let the living words of the gospels touch you directly? I want to know Jesus directly and the gospels is where we start.\nKate from Aus", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Chucky\n\nThere are always accommodations that are made. Do you condone women not playing in a men's tennis tournament? Do you condone girl's only Catholic schools? Or girl's only public schools? One has to learn to make compromises, look at the greater public good, stick to certain principles, etc.\n\nAs for evolving to the most advanced societies in the world - let me tell you how that happened. It started with Italian monks bringing back scientific works from the Arab world in the 15th century It happened with Europeans risking their lives to find new routes to Asia (finding the Americas and Australia was an accident). \n\nToday, I don't see too many westerners going to learn anything from the East. I don't see too many westerners risking their lives to get to a place. Those difficult tasks are being done by Asians, Africans, Arabs, etc.\n\nAnd the reason Asia fell was complacency and arrogance (along with sense of superiority). Guess who feels that now?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How could Christians vote for Trump...maybe some are better formed than others, and know at least intuitively if not intellectually that there is a substantial difference between \"evil\" and \"bad\", as Father Rutler so well put it: \n\n\"It is incorrect to say that the coming election poses a choice between two evils. For ethical and aesthetic reasons, there may be some bad in certain candidates, but badness consists in doing bad things. Evil is different: it is the deliberate destruction of truth, virtue and holiness.\n\nWhile one may pragmatically vote for a flawed candidate, one may not vote for anyone who advocates and enables unmitigatedly evil acts, and that includes abortion. [then Rutler referenced Evangelium Vita, para 73]: 'In the case of an intrinsically unjust law, such as a law permitting abortion or euthanasia, it is therefore never licit to obey it, or to \u2018take part in a propaganda campaign in favor of such a law, or vote for it'(Evangelium Vitae, 73).\":", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Judgementalism should be radically banished. If I was living in San Diego, I'd be selling my house to leave since Catholics who still believe that marriage is a Sacrament clearly are no longer wanted", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Marty, that's not how my fourth grade nun interpreted the words of Jesus. Contemptuous leadership who fear the laity and attempt to control them as if they were children are the ones who would interpret Christ's words in the fusion you just did.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's not just clinical depression, its total burnout. The priest's greatest privilege is to celebrate Mass and reconcile people, journey with them through life's ups and downs, and become both sign and symbol of the continuing presence of Jesus on earth. But bishops are lighting candles at both ends, breathing down their necks to always do more, adopt this and that new program, serve on endless committees and worst of all, live alone and isolated in rectories built for a previous age. Then some bishops move them around every 5 or 6 years, just to keep them from becoming too attached to their community. How will this insane treatment help to make priests happy servants of the people? In our local deanery, the priests now have little in common and meet together infrequently. They have no social life and no friendship support through their ministerial lives. Just Lone Rangers, and out of silver bullets.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...a suffering and wounded Jesus who still insists that, like Thomas, I put my fingers into his wounds to grow in understanding, compassion, and love.\" As I read this statement I realized that the way I put my fingers into the wounds of Jesus is to embrace each person and meet them where they are wounded. I spent yesterday with a young woman who has some challenges - she doesn't ask for much, only to be recognized as a friend and there is much joy in doing so! Thank you for this insightful article.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Latin Church abolished the major order of subdeacon after Vatican II. \nIn Eastern Churches both Catholic and Orthodox the subdiaconate is a minor order. Ordination to the subdiaconate was/is never considered a Sacrament even though in the Latin Rite a subdeacon had to make a vow of celibacy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A plausible conclusion one might draw from all of this is that traditional-minded Catholics and clerics would rather have certainty about ill-conceived doctrine as opposed to engaging in a lifelong quest to seek and find God through prayer, dialogue and reflection.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "John, I agree with what you say...but we mustn't forget that when we meet our maker come our judgement day, it won't be the Church standing with us, no, it'll just be us standing alone. \nChrist gave us a new commandment...Love your neighbour as you love yourself..and love the Lord your God....what is so wrong with listening to God's Law! It's an intrinsic part of all God's children and according to scripture it is written in our hearts. Have we fallen asleep on the seed bags! Where are the sowers!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As does Fr. Daly. We also have the right to point out that we think your views on this conflict with Catholicism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I know, right? The Markey bill as presented over and over specifically targeted Catholic, private, & religious schools exempting public schools and institutions. THAT is why it failed at least 10 times. So...they tried again:\n\n\"Last year, in an attempt to blunt complaints from the religious groups that they were being singled out, the bill was amended to make public institutions like schools equally liable.\n\nThat amendment did not win any new support for the bill, but it earned the opposition of powerful groups like the New York State School Boards Association, the New York Council of School Superintendents, the New York Association of Counties and the New York Conference of Mayors.\" https://mobile.nytimes.com/2010/06/03/nyregion/03abuse.html?referer=https://www.google.com/\n\nAnd, of course, both the article & NCR absolutely FAIL to mention the Church is not arguing criminal SOL implications, only civil. A bit disingenuous, at best.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Still not there. \n\nSt Thomas taught that all law has 4 elements, and one of those elements is that it follows reason.\n\nSaint JPII said in marvelous and beautiful treatment on truth said: \"God provides for man differently from the way in which he provides for beings which are not persons [e.g., the animals]. He cares for man not 'from without' through the laws of physical nature, but 'from within', through reason, which by its natural knowledge of God's eternal law, is consequently able to show man the right direction to take in his free actions.\" (The Splendor of Truth, Veritatis Splendor, no. 43). \n\nNatural law is entirely acquirable by observation and reason. No faith is required. \n\nCS Lewis became a Christian beginning with sustained rational inquiry about natural law.\n\nThe Pope can only bind and losen within the guardrails of the past \"binding and loosening\".\n\nUnity and depth, again, isn't it marvelous.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Properly understood, the liturgy is the sacrament of our conversion to God in Christ...\" Monica, 2 serious questions: Where did you get that idea? And does that require a weekly, or even daily, conversion?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As regards ambiguity, here is an interesting story. The diocese put out its usual Lenten Regulations announcement. It said Catholics were to abstain from meat on Lenten Fridays. A devout man in our parish asked the priest if deliberately eating meat on a Friday in Lent is a mortal sin. The priest called the chancery. He asked, \"Is it a mortal sin to deliberately eat meat on a Friday in Lent?\" The response was, \"It can be.\"\nThe priest told the man the chancery's response. The man said, \"When you people get your act together, I'll obey.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I realize that many people reject both natural law and divine positive law (what the Church has taught us about morality, human behavior). \n\nGod WROTE \"half unity\" on the body of men and on the body of women, so that they would know what their purpose in life was: to complete the unity, a foretaste of the unity that God desires WITH each person. \n\nI realize this message of communion is rejected by many, certainly most here at NCR.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I realize that you believe that no one should interpret what someone else says. Biblical intepreters should give up their positions, and a political commentator should burn the implements of his craft, and begin life anew as a trainer of performing elephants.\n\nPeople are going to interpret you, and that you don't like it is just too bad. \n\nIn fact, my interpretation is the correct one. What you do actually mean is that you disagree with those whose intrepretation of authentic Catholicism differs from YOURS. You have told us, more than once, that your beliefs are \"congruent\" with the magisterium -- even though on at least one occasion, they were shown to be different (and when that was shown, you deleted that post, so it could not be quoted as proof that you were not necessarily wholly congruent.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Deliverance is the response Jesus reccomends in the presence of evil. Deliver us from Evil is the negotiating effort the Pope should make towards those persecuting others. This can be done by buying the freedom for those being persecuted. Our Church has to show a practical response against evil, combined with a scriptual response. Refugees are crying out for deliverence.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When it comes to matters of sexual freedom, reproductive rights and gender equality, religion needs to be kept well clear of the law making process.\nI have no problem with religions practicing their rights within a specific framework, ie: if a particular church refuses to marry a same sex couple because it goes against their teachings, that's OK, as long as the couple CAN get married in court and enjoy the same LEGAL benefits as any other married couple; if a christian woman falls pregnant and chooses not to have an abortion, because she is pro-life, fine. However, you cannot deny others the right to make such a choice due to your beliefs (are you listening, ACDP?) and if a muslim woman chooses to wear a burka and not go out in public unaccompanied by a male relative, great. But she should be able to do the opposite too, without falling foul of the law.\nOf course, secular laws should also not be used to discriminate against religions, as France has done with its hijab and burka bans.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of course not.\n\nWhat you meant is \"this is the last time I respond to you\".\n\nFor some reason taking shots at Catholic beliefs is fine, dandy, and in fact stupendous in your view, but having someone ask a pointed question or two is not.\n\nI am having some trouble finding an example of you actually \"engaging\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Okay. I see where you're coming from. I strongly disagree with you about God's number one concern. If that is your view, well then, of course freedom and charity don't matter all that much. \n\nI take more of a Maxwellian view that God's number one concern is that we love and trust Him. The story of the Fall tells me that it is our refusal to love, trust and obey Him that leads to pain and suffering. And if God decided to insulate us in this life from the existential consequences of our refusals to love and trust Him, that would infringe on freedom. Kingdom living is all about demonstrating our love and trust through self-sacrificing charity. Important as the law is, it does not produce Kingdom living or the fruits of the Spirit - a reality that St. Paul profoundly ariticulated. \n\nI am not against social justice advocacy - i.e., legally mandated morality. It's fine for Christians, as citizens, to fight for what they believe are just laws. But that's not the role of the church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't take Jesus' intro to the Our Father as quite so restrictive, exclusive and menu-crushing. We should note that the wording in any case is not Jesus', it's an invention of Matthew (contrast the older version in the Lucan parallel). On the other hand I don't think much of attempts to change \"Our Father\" to \"Our Father/Mother,\" or whatever, in actual Catholic liturgies.\n\nThis issue in any case sheds no light on the problem with the scandalous exaltation of \"the masculine principle,\" whatever that is supposed to mean, that you mentioned earlier.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No sputtering here from me here. There are all sorts of procedures in place already to keep the extremist elements out of Canada. and laws to deal with them if they sneak in. Leitch knows this, she's pandering, and you know that she is. And who is this Canadian 'us' you're talking about? Does that include the Catholics who ran the residential schools in Alberta? And those spouting the horrifically anti-woman, -black, -gay etc. stuff I see online today? The lawbreaking Canadians? Don't throw out a line like 'ordinary Canadians' without saying what that means. That's Leitch's trick when she says Canadian values. If you can't define your terms, you're hiding something.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You need to read up on the IRA as you have challenges in European History. The IRA , like German Red Army Faction were anti-capitalist , anti- NATO , anti-Imperialist Maoists funded and armed by the Soviets and East Germans. None of their motives, propaganda , justifications, doctrines or ideas had anything to do with Christianity or any religion.\nTell us about the motives of the IRA and ETA?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Francis is being very clear. The Argentineans got the point, and a pastoral word of encouragement. The four cardinals were not asking questions. They were making their own point. To give an answer, Francis would have to repeat himself. And he did make the same points in his Apostolic Letter \"Misericordia Miseria\" at the close of the Jubilee Year of Mercy.\n\nSt. John Paul II made much the same point by the examples he gave in FC 84. If you look at indissolubility as an absolute independent of such examples, you risk violating the greatest of the commandments, the source of \"all the law and the prophets.\" Francis is simply pointing out that in cases like the examples in FC 84 discernment -- where the person seeks submission to the Spirit of Christ -- is necessary to assure that the greatest of the commandments is followed. The role of the pastor is not permission. In the end, the person must answer to God, who is written on the human heart.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We are Catholic. We also support same - sex marriage. (There is a broader range of opinion in the Catholic Church than any other, I think.) I can't imagine that anyone who wishes to enter into a same-sex union would want to be united in a a church that opposes same-sex marriage by doctrine. Even my wife and I got married outside of the church because the church was taking too long (in our opinion) to go through \"the paperwork\" - since we had both been married before.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Two become one is a strong recommendation, given the emphasis that Jesus gave to unity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(1)\nSo many quotes offered here. So many taken out of context or truncated for agenda. Wow.\n\nTake the rabbit quote - why not offer the rest of it? \"No. Responsible parenthood. This is clear and that is why in the Church there are marriage groups, there are experts in this matter, there are pastors, one can search; and I know so many ways that are licit and that have helped this.\"\n\nHow about the comment on migrants and refugees? why not follow up with the rest of it - \"Yes, every country has the right to control its borders, who comes and who goes...and those countries at risk \u2014from terrorism or such things\u2014 have even more right to control them more.\u201d\n\nIn discussing life? \u201cSo great is the value of a human life and so inalienable the right to life of an innocent child growing in the mother\u2019s womb, that no alleged right to one\u2019s own body can justify a decision to terminate that life, which is an end in itself and which can never be considered the \u2018property\u2019 of another human being.\u201d", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Doubt your doubts. While Imago holds firm to the Bible, we've got open arms to people, whether that means worshipping together or just working closely to do good with people the world would like to cast as our enemies, like former mayor Sam Adams.\n\nSo come visit! Jesus never taught that you had to agree with Him to be loved by those who try to follow Him. Quite the opposite, in fact. He set up the church to be a hospital for sinners, not a museum of saints, because every one of us there lives in sin and needs His grace. You and me both.\n\nBy the way, i'm surprised as anyone to hear about Jules. I had no idea we had a mayoral candidate that went to Imago. Big church, after all...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't disagree that Bush's policies handed Obama a difficult economic hand and I respect those that belief he played it well. As a pro-life Catholic with a graduate degree, I respect those like you that see things differently.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Continued....\nThis will filter down to parishes where some priests will ignore the Episcopal guidelines and do their own thing one way or another. According to the doctrine of Primacy of Conscience no pope or bishop can oblige a priest or anyone to act against his conscience and do what he considers to be evil. I believe that this was St Thomas's original concept on this question. Therefore, no priest can be obliged by his bishop to give Communion to those whom he considers in conscience to be living in an adulterous relationship if he believes it would be sinful for him to do so. Current interpretation of Primacy of Conscience can work both ways.\nNaturally I disagree with you that the teaching of the Church is just rules. Love of God is paramount, an absolute. We are counselled to love our neighbour as we love ourselves an injunction which is relative.\nNice to see you back here and have a happy and holy Christmas.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you're a new visitor to most any Christian church, the odds are high that the first questions which you will be asked, are \"Are you saved?\" and \"Have you been born-again?\". To fail to answer in the affirmative to either will make you the immediate target of every zealot in the congregation, who will immediately become intent on \"fixing you\". So, factually true or not, most will at least not deny being saved and born again, simply out of self-defense. Being \"saved\" and \"born-again\" are the current \"shibboleths\" of contemporary Christianity. By your various postings, it would be reasonable to infer that whatever religious history that you may have, that you have failed to grasp some of the fundamentals.\n\nAnd to answer your question: \"Why the hostility to being asked simple questions?\" Some of your \"questions\" have the air of an inquisition. Not seeking clarification, but rather to provoke. That may not be your conscious intent, but it is often the impression that I get.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ken? Who is Ken? Are you clinically paranoid?\n\nThat avatar marks you as an ANTI-Catholic, BTW.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would be so not scandalized if a married gay person got buried in a catholic cemetary...even one with perfect perpetual care like in Milwaukee I think. I am a little scandalized when babies get thrown into septic systems to be buried. I am a whole lot scandalized when someone like the cardinal from down under maintains a high position in the vatican despite terrible cruelty to abuse victims; I won't address any charges against him otherwise except to say whatever scrutiny anyone else would be under, and whatever charges result, same should be applied to any clergy. that is what scandalizes me.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I looked up Vehementor Nos at the Vatican website, and read (footnotes omitted)\n\n8. For the provisions of the new law are contrary to the constitution on which the Church was founded by Jesus Christ. The Scripture teaches us, and the tradition of the Fathers confirms the teaching, that the Church is the mystical body of Christ, ruled by the Pastors and Doctors - a society of men containing within its own fold chiefs who have full and perfect powers for ruling, teaching and judging that the Church is essentially an unequal society, that is, a society comprising two categories of persons, the Pastors and the flock, those who occupy a rank in the different degrees of the hierarchy and the multitude of the faithful. \n\n(to be continued)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholics are not free to to depart from binding magisterial teaching. That is Catholicism 101.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The term \"valid matter\" recognizes that which is essential. One may certainly go about playing priest and attempt to consecrate a can of cat food, but that is not the material Jesus chose. I don't know why He chose bread and wine, but it is fact that He did. It is the metaphysical validity that is being addressed. Certainly this is for the Western Rite - the Eastern Rites have their own rules. \nI would argue that you are allowing the physical reality of an illness to transcend the gift, trivializing what is clear in scripture in order to make accommodation that needn't exist, since the Cup is, clearly available.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "there's that \"thumping\" noice JJ mentioned.................I don't advocate censorship at all.... post the entire Bible if you like.. give it your best \"sales pitch\".... However, I must be honest with you....I really tire of people telling others they are going to hell because they don't \"believe.\" Almost every religion has fundamentalists....extremists who, like you, cite their religion's \"book\" to show that those who don't \"believe\" as they do are damned. I know...you will say they are \"wrong\" and you and your Christian beliefs are \"right\" they will counter \"no, you're wrong and they're right!!\" It's been going on for centuries and has included wars and millions of deaths. but, no, I don't favor censorship.....have at it. Gary Crum", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Continued: There are many other passages that one could cite, but then I'm sure you know them all ( and have valid explanations as to how to excuse their literalness ). That's the trouble with the bible, it's all interpretation, contradiction, story telling, so much written by so many authors way after any possible facts. And attempting to a book written nearly 2000 years ago to todays world takes contortions only a Houdini could perform. And yet it's held up as the purported 'word of God'. No, it's the word of many all too fallible humans masqurading as the word of an omnipotent being.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In the Penitential Rites imposed upon Catholics in 2011, they are to confess their \"most grievous fault.\" What are they confessing---that they have sinned mortally? If they have---they need to go to Confession. If they haven't---why do they have to say \"through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault? The liturgy of 1999 had the people acknowledge that they are sinners, without stating that they have sinned mortally. Everyone attending Mass, either daily or on week-ends only----is not committing grievous faults [another word for sins].", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you for a very thoughtful post. The church cannot be whole, healthy or holy until all of its offices and ministries are available to women and men, married, single or celibate. The foundation for this expansion of our understanding of ministry and office in the church is already found in the work of theologians and in the experience of the People of God. The institutional change may or may not emanate from a pope or bishop; or it may arise from the local churches. But it will come.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, they were not harmed because they agreed on being ordained to celibacy. They did not have a right to the ability to marry in the Church.\n\nCelibacy was the norm from the apostolic age forward, but in any case that is irrelevant.\n\nI prefer mature people who keep their promises and take their word seriously, particularly when it comes to hearing confessions and giving godly counsel. That has absolutely nothing to do with clerics in the Eastern churches who did not take that obligation on.\n\nYou know full well that these requests for special treatment were occasioned by doing things that they knew they should not do that led to the request in the first place.\n\nExceptions are just that, exceptions, and I would be thankful that you benefitted from one rather than make rash statements that the facts and the Church\u2019s discipline don\u2019t support.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"We have fought the Catholics for 400 years\" - my grandfather, frequently", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Who is to say they are the \"teachings of the church\" if not the Vicar of Jesus Christ on earth?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Here is where the pope can help all of us. .... draw meaning from the children's reported experiences in a way postmodern minds might grasp, many of us Protestants would give thanks.\"\n\nIn regard to 'claims of apparitions and visions,' the only authoratitive witnesses are the visionaries themselves. Since there are no 'independent witnesses,' Church authorities cannot state that they actually took place, nor can they oblige the faithful to believe in them. Instead they can examine 'the messages received' for their consonance with the faith of the Church. They also approve only the common practices of the faith, namely, celebration of the Eucharist, praying for healing of the sick, offering the sacrament of penance, etc. Other practices (eg. using miraculous water, devotions, etc.) are tolerated as harmless. The value of pilgrimage places is in the atmosphere built up over decades (very human reality), which helps pilgrims open themselves to God's grace.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nope. God provides the animating spirit to us when he breathed life into us. \n\nGod provides the animating spirit in a dog too.\n\nThis not having Jesus fully present in us.\n\nA soul in mortal sin doesn't have sanctifying grace in it any more. It still has the animating spirit that God gave to it. But it no longer is partaker in the divine life of God. It's also incapable of real joy. \n\nIn fact, the lack of real joy in a person is a sign that we hav grown lukewarm to these supernatural matters. Denying that they exist is another sign. \n\nThey may very much be living a life of the senses, but that's not joy. \n\nActual grace is what helps us return to a state of grace, that is it helps us return to God through Confession. It's what forces us to \"get up and go\". It's an assist from outside of our soul. \n\nA soul that's not been baptized is not the same as a soul that has been Baptized.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The village troll began picking fights early on by writing prickly letters to the RG mail room in the 70's. Targeting \"heathens\", civil rights, Dr Martin Luther King, etc., it's then on to the RG forum he's been kicked off of twice for tasteless comments about women, people with disabilities, people of color, non-christians, teachers and of course, the LGBT community. Relax, the outbursts of hysterical howling and cackling laughter are typical.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Kaine is a Democrat Gov in a Red state. Think about that. He took on Big Tobacco and the NRA and WON. Think about that. He may be Catholic, but he has stated, repeatedly, that he feels government has no place in a woman's reproductive health care choices and is pro-choice. Think about that. Clinton's choice of Kaine is actually pretty dam smart.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Leaving an abusive situation or a cult is not as easy as you suggest.\nThe RCC institutional shaming was successful in intimidating persons to stay.\nParticularly priests. Paul VI called priests who left Judases.\nGoogle: http://www.leavingthepriesthood.com/Ed_Kohler_Leaving_the_priesthood_taboo.pdf\nThe church withheld financial compensation for those who left; no sense of justice for time served. Crumbs at best given. Realizing late in life this is not the life for me was often a financial decision: to beg I am ashamed, to dig I am unable. Many stayed.\nTook heroic effort for persons to make the break, especially with zero to no financial resources. VII did provide an escape chute. \nParticularly when numbers began to leave en masse. Solidarity in numbers and with education people became less fearful.\nYou make a big assumption about members being scrutinized if what they were doing was of their own free will. Perhaps exceptionally, not the norm.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We all saw the selective media coverage of Trump on The 700 Club.\nTalk about hypocricy - Trump and the Religious Right?\nSo much for the 'Good People' with Christian Values.\nWillfully blind to treason for the sake of their own self interest.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'll waste no time arguing with you about the Church's teaching on abortion or what you so charmingly refer to as \"sodomy,\" a \"sin\" committed more often by heterosexuals than homosexuals since there are many more of the former in the world than the latter. You correctly state the church's position. What I will say is that Jesus never said a word about homosexuality. \n\nAs for abortion, the church has taught many things about that during its 2000+ history. Augustine believed that an early abortion is not murder because, according to the Aristotelian concept of delayed ensoulment, the soul of a fetus at an early stage is not present, a belief that passed into canon law. Thomas Aquinas, Pope Innocent III, and Pope Gregory XIV also believed that a fetus does not have a soul until \"quickening,\" or when the fetus begins to kick and move, and therefore early abortion was not murder, though later abortion was. It wasn't until 1869 that Pius IX finally codified present doctrine.\n\nSo there.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "To understand how the free market is not compatible with RC social thought, read \"This Economy Kills\" Tornielli and Catholic \"Catholic Economies\" Sibley. I don't know why Brooks is not aware of the Catholic churches' critique of our modern 'run-amuck' capitalism. Adam Smith must be rolling over in his grave. Every human system has flaws that become gross with time. Everyone can see that something is wrong. The rich are not only getting richer, but also becoming ever more powerful. Democracy is demolished. The common man is not heard and is manipulated to vote against his own best interest. Hence Trump. Even people with a moral compass are lost. This country is so decided now that we're ripe for disaster.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Probably the same way they and everyone else got involved either supporting or opposing capital punishment and every other life-changing issue under the sun. If you have a thing against white people, or successful people, or Christian folk, or men, there's nothing I can do to help you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If God is Father and Jesus the Son, why would the Pope be referred to as Father since he is Christ's vicar on earth? Christ referred to the people as brothers and sisters, He didn't call then His children. It's just poor theology to think of the Pope as a father and we his children. This is kind of what Francis was talking about, the more we read and study scripture, the better we understand how to interpret thinks like pope meaning father. Lest we forget, Jesus said call no one father, too. How do you reconcile that?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am sure the Sanhedrin who conspired to crucify Christ said the same thing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What Thomas considered law and the American Constitution considers the basis of law are two different things. Saint John Paul would be correct if he took the papacy out of the equation of the formation of natural law. It has corrupted reason in its current form because it brooks no dissent. Natural law reason must be marked by free inquiry or it is just authority. Binding and loosening was not bound by Christ and it is why the Church can make radical changes in doctrine that may leave your head spinning but will restore balance when teaching has gone down a blind alley. By the way, I have great faith. I believe that the Church will right itself instead of sinking. Many have just given up on her.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And most norms including many serious Catholics disagree. They think that Pope Francis has changed things for the better. As a Chicagoan, I am especially happy with Pope Francis' selection of bishops. We would have gotten one of Ray Burke's Latin Mass toadies as bishop rather than Cupich if Benedict was still around.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Since you refuse to read {the DOGMATIC Constitution} DEI FELIUS {or perhaps you just can't understand it}, I will recite the pertinent teaching on the nature of dogma: \"For the doctrine of faith which God has revealed has not been proposed like a philosophical invention to be perfected by human ingenuity, but has been delivered as a divine deposit to the Spouse of Christ to be faithfully kept and infallibly declared. Hence, that meaning of the sacred dogmas is PERPETUALLY TO BE MAINTAINED, which our Holy Mother the Church has once declared. NOR IS THAT MEANING EVER TO BE DEPARTED FROM UNDER THE PRETENSE OR PRETEXT OF DEEPER A COMPREHENSION OF THEM\". Get it? Dogma does not change. Your proposition that it does, contrary to both the Church's Extraordinary and Universal and Ordinary magisterial teaching, is--at best-- materially heretical.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And in Ireland, research was done on the life of St. Brigid, Benedictine Abbess who was consecrated bishop with the orders of bishop, by what would then have been called, the Primate of Ireland---Bishop Mel who stated, \"This virgin alone in Ireland will hold the episcopal ordination.\" Research done by Donncha O hAodha, 'Bethu Brigte' [Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1976].\n\nMore modern researchers:\n\nEte Eisen, WOMEN OFFICEHOLDERS IN EALY CHIRISTIANITY; EPIGRAPHICAL AND LITERARY STUDIES [Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2000]\n\nKevin Madigan, and Carolyn Osiek, ORDAINED WOMEN IN THE EARLY CHURCH: A DOCUMENTAY HISTORY [Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press, 2005]\n\nGary Macy, THE HIDDEN HISTORY OF WOMEN'S ORDINATION [New York: Oxford University Press, 2007].\n\nNow----you do the hard reading, comparisons, and contacts---which is what researchers do. When it comes to actual proof of YOUR comments----YOU rarely provide any research at all----you just 'snipe' at what others say.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.\" (Proverbs 3:27) \nSeems more often than not the good hearted non-believers aspire to the same values as the followers of Christ. Projects like H4H help to bridge this unnecessary divide. Yes, it is about faith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I was unaware that Catholics no longer had the freedom of choice to send their children to Catholic schools. Talk about fake news.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "OMG, here we go with mystification about Hawaiian concepts being untranslatable into English; incomprehensible to Western minds. \n\nHundreds of essays about Mauna Kea, Papahanaumokuakea, Kukaniloko, etc. being \"sacred\" have been written in ENGLISH, not in Hawaiian. And the authors were born and raised with English as their first language, not Hawaiian; and with Christianity as their religion, not paganism or the ancient Hawaiian religion. Their essays deliberately use the word \"SACRED\" for propaganda purposes, to appeal to the way English-speakers with Western mindsets understand that concept.\n\nSo please don't try to assert untranslatability or mysticism. People who repeatedly use the word \"sacred\" owe us an explanation of what they mean. Apo said KK is more sacred than MK or PH. He wants us to believe some places are more sacred than others. So let's see his calculus, and name some Hawaii places that are not sacred. Otherwise it's mere meaningless babble -- in any language.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus told us that he is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He didn't get in the way. Cardinal Sarah's concepts do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Q: Why is the Canadian government handing $300 million per year to a religious organization?\n\nA: Because in this case, it is an honest, on the ground trusted organization in many of the countries that have been targeted for this aid.\n\nQ: Would the same people who have (correctly) pointed this out be so vocally defensive of this, if the organization were Christian, or Jewish? Or would the response by questioning why a religious organization is receiving money from a secular government???", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Again, Jesus came in TIME and in HISTORY. But you can't accept that! If Jesus wanted to ordain the Twelve or the Disciples----he would have. He did not. NONE of the Twelve celebrated any MASS.\n\nBut the early Christians did celebrate in their homes---and women DID preside---as did husbands and wives---as did men. The presiders were selected by the people attending the Meal.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In the early 1980's, The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) did approve a non-binding resolution not to ordain women. This resolution and other resolutions from SBC State Conventions, and other bodies are solely advisory in nature. \nIn Baptist Tradition, the congregation is autonomous and decide by themselves the course of action how they should go forward. The congregation decides on all aspects of policy and there isn't a higher body like the diocese or an authority like the Pope to get them to toe the line. This is where you have read the resolution wrong looking from a lense of a top-down organization.\nThere have been SBC Congregations that have called women as pastors and teachers. The congregation decides also when to dismiss the pastor and make for a call for another. And the SBC National Office has no say in determining the local congregation selection as pastor.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Forced Lord's Prayer is gone.\n\nYour kids can have \"Christian Club\" Friday afternoons if they want that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Love is self-sacrifice, self gift. That's the whole and demanding and beautiful and joyful meaning of the Gospel. Love is self-gift.\n\nPhilippians 2:5-8\nHave this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.\n\nTitus 2:14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.\n\n1 Corinthians 6:19-20\nOr do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.\n\nThere are others...good topic. \n\nThe Church uses the word: \"Kenosis\" to describe the extent of love: self-emptying. (Jesus gave us all \"unto death\", when He ran out of blood He gave us water).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A two-year community college is not Oxford, Harvard, or even Northwest Christian University. \n\nClasses in the appreciation of religion and the \"whichness of what\" should be saved as fillers for your major after the LCC 2-year certificate gets you up to speed on remedial math and English so you can actually get into a four-year school.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How many millions of our tax dollars does the Catholic church receive because they are the number one purveyor of immigrants to America. Of course they're going to want more of them to pour into our Country. It's big bucks to them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So you agree that using nuclear devices is against Catholic moral teachings. So why do you continue to say that we might use them?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh, I see. You put it in all caps so it must be true. Well, gee, why didn't you say so earlier? \ud83d\ude09\n\nSorry, but nobody has exclusive legal rights to the word \"Catholic,\" nor does any single individual or group get to speak without exception for the Tradition of the Church.\n\nUse as many caps as you like. Throw in a few exclamation points next time too. That always impresses people.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "sadly they are better off than their brethren in most Arab countries. The Israeli Arabs I have met are doing pretty well. Good education , jobs, healthcare etc. Many wouldn't leave Israel if they had the chance. \n It is not indoctrinated in Jews to hate members of other religious backgrounds.\n The true apartheid states are the Arab countries. Know any Christians from Syria Jordan or Egypt?? The are discriminated against and live a life of segregation. They live in fear of being beat, raped, murdered. Go celebrate Christmas in Egypt and see what happens. \nArabs in the occupied territories and Israel proper are free to practice their religion without fear.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So because of some perceived \"sexism\", you would deny the necessity of a priest, acting in the person of Christ, to have a transubstantiation. \n\nThat's three Protestants. Who else?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sure do--but that power has limits. The pope cannot change revealed truth.\n\nFor example: the power of the keys does not allow the pope to overturn the Council of Nicaea. The pope could not decide that we will no longer worship Jesus as God. The pope could not decide to overturn the doctrine on the Trinity, etc. \n\nAgain, the power of the keys empowers the pope to teach God's Truth and ensures the Church will never teach error--at the universal and official level. The power of the keys does not give the pope a license to do whatever he wants or make up teaching as he goes. Catholics are not Sola Roma Ecclesia!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They are free to disagree, but, thanks be to God, the Church is not a democracy, doctrine and practice are not decided by majority vote of the laity. If they want to be priestesses, the Episcopal Church welcomes them...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have taught at four well-regarded Catholic colleges and universities, and my students seem to either have already left the church or are on their way out, as indicated by their reflection papers. This is true despite the fact they come from families willing to pay out tens of thousands of dollars a year to keep their children in Catholic education.\n\nAs one young woman told me last week, \"The Catholic Church is so over!\" (Really. Kids! I had to laugh.)\n\nThe poignant dimension of my story is that these young people are remarkable in so many ways, often deeply spiritual but finding spiritual fulfillment in traditions like Buddhism, Sufism, nature-centered religion and mystically-inclined communities.\n\nWhen I ask them why, the most common answer is that they are uninspired by cut-and-dried dogmas/concepts purporting to control and contain a Vast Mystery they apprehend that is apparently beyond the wildest imagination of the hierarchy.\n\nThe best are leaving. I doubt they will return.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So what was Jesus rationale for not permitting a woman divorced from her husband from remarrying? Presumably she'd need a place to stay and economical support. Read the whole Scripture verse.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Some Japanese join forces to commit acts of sexual and medical crimes. Most of them are Buddhists and Christians who attend church for years and years. Both men and women working together for evil.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I did not imply simply because he existed that he was in fact God. I merely stated that a person in history existed in the time frame named Jesus and that there are Roman historians that write about this person as well.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I believe ultimate meaninglessness - in the sense that life on this earth is very fleeting. I believe I stated man started perfect and once sin (imperfection) entered, it has been a downhill slide and life now is nothing compared to how it was in the Biblical account of creation.\n\nI did not say man cannot enjoy life here, I said, or meant to say, ultimately it is meaningless because it will come to an end (both human life and the universe) as what has a beginning has an end.\n\nSure Science has brought miraculous achievements in human flourishing (many whom labor in this are Christians BTW), but ultimately the earth will have an end and is not eternal. BTW: I am not trying to \"convert\" you, I do not have that kind of authority or power, just posting some information for the public good.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You most certainly do NOT speak for God or God's Word. Your interpretation of scripture is a private matter, and plainly you have NO authorization whatever to promulgate or teach it in the name of the Roman Catholic church or its Magisterium. Neither are you a John-the-Baptist in any sense of that name, as there is NO truth in what you're peddling here. You're not even a credible traditionalist, and manifestly have never understood the role of tradition in the life of the People of God. Your contemptuous dismissal or condemnation of 'same-sex marriage' is a signal of clear and present danger to all who would understand these matters.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The true Pope upholds the teachings of Jesus Christ, not Karl Marx. Not only is the leader a heretic, but those who follow his lead are heretics as well.\"\n\nSo anyone who disagrees with you is a heretic and a Red? It's funny how you appeared at the same time Marty E disappeared. You wouldn't happen to be the same troll?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Marty, as I'm sure my posts indicate, I am only intermittently and unremarkably reasonable, and rate about the same in piety. \n\nI will only point out that the very Catholic fact of annulments already gives evidence that there are arrangements called \"marriages\" by the Church, which, on review, are determined to be something else. I take that to indicate that the question, \"What is a marriage,\" while perhaps clear enough in the abstract, is not always so obvious when it comes to cases. \n\nAs for abortion, I think the Church did itself a disservice in ignoring Aquinas on the matter. I count him as reasonable and pious. To my eye, it seems that the Church, rather than answering the questions he raised on these matters, has decided not to ask them. While I'm sure there are reasons for that, it still looks (to me) like a refusal to engage with reason, and I have not encountered many defender's of the Church's doctrine on the matter that display much willingness to do so.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Orthodox wear vestments more ornate than us Romans but nobody ever complains about them. Their bishops even wear crowns. \n\nLiberal Catholics can be such Puritans.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Tell it to Luther, who wasn't half the brain that these 4 Cardinals (and the two that decided to remove their name, as an act of courtesy to the pope)...and the hundred of so Bishops...and all the scholars and intellectuals.\n\nOdd how NCR is always touting \"some\" lay Catholics..\"lay need more voice\"....and then dismiss the hundreds of lay scholars....\"one is a....creationist!!, oh my..get the vapors, Marge!!!\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Anyone who denies Jesus as coming 'in the flesh' is an anti-Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Legionnaires of Christ under Fr. Maciel had burgeoning seminaries. Does that mean Maciel was orthodox and faithful?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"At least none of the bishops followed the lead of Cardinal Raymond Burke who, in an interview published yesterday, again asserted that Amoris Laetitia is not a magisterial document.\"\n- Yes, Archb. Raymond, once of St. Louis, formerly of the Apostolic Signatura, now chaplain to the Knights and Dames of Malta has developed the habit of positioning the 'good that he could do as a Christian' at the tip of his own sword. His hidden supporters seem content in letting him take the 'tip'.\n- One can only wonder that waiting for Archb. Raymond's next step has the USCCB in a position of 'fright flight'. This of course would quell any needed discourse about what Archb. Raymond is doing and proposes to do.\n- Over time, one could suspect, the hidden supporters of the 4 cards (Raymond and his chums) who are US bishops will be revealed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The point of the Christian life is to get back up one more time than we've fallen. \n\nAnd it is scandalous for the Church to endorse assisted suicide by giving the last rites to those who do that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As a former employee of the Catholic Church (and as a human being), I agree with your last point.\n\nI'm not so sure about how 'ordered' our civilization is or ever was. The clashing of individual and collective rights is inevitable in a free society -- as the framers of the Constitution well understood -- yet both are vital if we are to remain free. Perpetual messiness is part of the price we pay for that freedom.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Typical liberal response to the staunch support given Mr. Trump by so many Bishops and Priests of the Roman Catholic Church. But you are too late with your desire to suppress religious liberty, the man the bishops supported is now your president, whether you agree with him or not.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Above reproach?\" There go most of the saints and martyrs, at least if you mean beyond accusation and disapproval. \n\nAnd I'm not sure where your principle comes from--the principle that Jesus, because he is human and divine, should not be imitated. Is that principle from a particular religion or tradition? I've always thought that most traditions that acknowledge the divinity of Christ also acknowledge his role as a model, as someone to be imitated. I thought that's what \"follow me\" was all about.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Is the motivation for doing so really so immaterial and irrelevant?\nOur name is integrally linked to our identity.\n\nIs it entirely immaterial that his father or he picked the name of an anti-Catholic hero?\n\nAnd why wasn't the name of either ever legally changed? That's quite interesting.\n\nWas their failure to change the name a rejection of the legal system itself? Possibly, and that's not to demean or dismiss the act; it actually might be quite understandable and all the more interesting, yes?\n\nIs it entirely immaterial that many of his key speeches had long passages which were plagiarized? How many people know this? And why don't they know this?\n\nIt doesn't change the truth of some point made or borrowed, perhaps, but it definitely reflects on him, and perhaps it reflects more on us for not wanting to know these facts. Why is it that some get so defensive about these questions and topics. \n\nAre we really lovers of truth?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think we are seeing both the political realities of the Vatican structure at play here, and Francis' own vision. Pope Francis was given strong support for changes in the operating functions of the Church, but, I believe that privately he has been told by many of the more powerful, both from the liberal and conservative camps, that the issue of women's ordination is a complete non-starter and that if he chooses to go down that path, support for all his other reform goals will be withdrawn. I also believe that one of the reasons that JPII was rushed into sainthood was to protect his doctrinal assertions under a halo of \"though shalt not question!\" Yet, all that being said, I think a frank reading of Francis' words on this subject reflect accurately his view that indeed, women must never be ordained priests. His deflection to JPII's doctrinal statements on the matter simply give him cover for what he honestly believes in his own heart, which admitedly for many is, dis-heartening.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...but al this speaks volumes to me....\"\n\nFor me, too. Of course, very diocese, national church, as it were, deals with it differently. The diocesan responses in the Canadian church are impressive. Also in Germany and UK, where I was recently, generally good. Fortunately, too, all psychiatrists are on board on how to deal with sexual abuse of minors, especially since late 1980's. Before that, they were divided. All this is good. Plus, lay involvement at all levels of the CC. Australia, however, baffles me. Mary Mac Killop is so well known in the Australian church (relatively small, only 5 and a half million/ 25% of country), her schools are everywhere, and her excommunication well known. What were the bishops there thinking of when they got wind of abuse in their institutions, knowing St. Mary Mac Killop's story (excommunicated for exposing abuse), so well known in Australian Catholicism? The whole mess baffles me. At times I wonder about a bishop's IQ. God! They just don't get it!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Arius taught that Christ was a creature made by God. He disguised his heresy using orthodox or near-orthodox terminology and ambiguous language, and sowed great confusion in the Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You forgot to include clerical & religious paedophiles and enabling bishops; in that comprehensive list of sinners you extracted from your well read Catholic Catechism or were they conveniently \"tippexed\" out. You did include \"child molesters\" but they could be anybody. You would need to distinguish the religious and clerics as a special category, as they are the ones to preach & teach and uphold Benedict's definition of same.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you, Mr. Tammeus, for another great article. Responding to the third paragraph questioning whether changes from the \"higher reaches of authority\" will translate to attitudes of people in the pew, I admit that is questionable. Most people whom I know yawn if/when the subject comes up. \n\nHowever, a Catholic priest and a Lutheran minister in the Midwest city where I live are addressing the issue in their own way. They have co-written a small book called \"Common Ground\" and are using it in a series of meetings/discussions to which both their congregations are invited. The purpose is to help explain the history and effects of the Reformation as well as the agreement on the Doctrine of Justification. These meetings have been pretty well attended, a fact I find hopeful. It's a small step in the right direction, but a welcome one IMHO.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "By this reasoning you should expand this to many other behaviors. Many cancers are often caused by human behavior--lung cancer tobacco, skin cancer failure to protect against sun, etc. Other major diseases are often caused by diet and lifestyle, for example many forms of heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes. Many \"accidents\" are self-inflicted through risk taking behavior. Of course why stop at science. Many evangelicals believe disease is caused by sin.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I went to public school and Catholic school. The science and mathematics education at the Catholic school were far superior to those of the public school. They actually embraced science and math as if they were holy languages used to unveil the wonderful mysteries. I'm sorry your mindset is so hateful. Maybe get out and talk to some religious figures, talk to some priests, talk to some people of the cloth. Probably not what you think.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Three+ years of commentary. I remember when you first got here, presuming to lecture lifelong Catholics with theology degrees about the catechism. \"lol*", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not necessarily, Gay. The Christian community in Syria has been inclined for a long time now to support their government against the rebel forces. I'm not well read on this issue, but as I understand their perception, it goes something like this: The original rebellion in Syria may have been led by students and others seeking an end to tyranny, but by now the bulk of the rebel movements have been taken over by Islamist of varying degrees of extremism. ISIS and others determined to wage war on the world aside, the bulk of the rest of the rebels are assumed to want to set up a globally peaceful democratic Islamic state which would domestically crack down on secular and non-Muslim religious elements...as happened democratic Egypt. \n\nUnfortunately, it seems these Syrian Christians believe their well-being is best served by a dictator. What we see and what they see is just not the same. They fear the tyranny of a democratic majority more that the tyranny of a ruthless dictator. How horrible", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "<>\n\nReally? Jesus appears to have been very much a figure of his time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The main block is the 'custom' of restricting ordination only to 'clerics'.\n\nAccording to Vatican 2. a 'priest' is simply someone whom the Bishop (THE Priest of the Diocese) delegates to extend his functions and responsibilities.\n\nIf the Church so wished, we could 'ordain' and appoint 'lay' people to cary out the functions the Bishop wishes.\n\nThat's the direction we have been moving. And it is the right direction. Let the person be delegated (by ordination if required) to carry out the assigned task as long as he or she is willing, able, and capable. It does not really have to be 'forever'.\n\nThe real lack is not of 'vocations'. It is lack of vision and imagination.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No dodge. A direct answer. Prayer has infinite effects, not always the physical ones we think we want, though many have been scientifically confirmed...healings incongruent with the known course of disease, etc. \n\nBut we have much better than \"no writings from Jesus\". What's more important and believable: what we say about ourselves or what others any others say about us? And even better we have the testimonies of a tremendous number of lives in the early Church (some non Christian historians have estimated in the millions by the 350s AD or so. How many martyrs?\n\nI'll take the actual behavior of lives of this many people over what some Confucian-type wrote down about himself.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1. Ok, I'll go out on a limb and we'll see where it goes. In my view, the Twelve remained \"hidden\" for many years after Jesus' death, while Paul and his companions proclaimed a highly theologized and minimally historical Jesus as Messiah, savior and Lord. When Paul dies (in Rome?), the unknown author known to us as Mark writes his narrative, filling in the blanks Paul's proclamation had left and, more importantly, answering questions posed by those who challenged the validity of Paul's version of the gospel. Among those questions was why Jesus died as he did, executed as a common criminal, charged with rebellion -- a description that could easily have applied to John as well, especially if we take Josephus half seriously. Mark \"cleaned up\" their reputations, portraying them as exclusively spiritual, and therefore as misunderstood by their companions and especially by the Jewish authorities and Romans. When Mark's gospel was only partially successful, Matthew and Luke took up the cause.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh dear, say one thing, then say another, then claim the two are the same thing. I suspect we have someone who is just trolling, posting statements merely to obtain a reaction. Sigh. What motivates some people. I guess they think it is amusing, but its really quite boring. Hardly worthy of response and what is truly troubling is how this reflects so poorly on the Traditional Catholic Church which this poster claims so often to support. Being disingenuous does not benefit the One True Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As a long time member of the Archdiocese of Newark it is good to see a positive change being made. I hope the parishes see what Pope Francis is looking to do with this move. There are a lot of poor in the Newark Archdiocese as well as a lot of rich. I hope the money which in the past has been spent on homes (bishop's retirement) and unnecessary church remodeling can be diverted to the poor in the inner city. A beautiful new renovated church is a wonderful place for prayer but the inner city parishes in Newark and Paterson with their old warn pews and smoke laden walls and their wanting soup kitchens are also a place for heartfelt prayer. Bishop Myers has neglected the needs of the poor...yes there are special collections, archdiocesan campaigns, parish food for the homeless and parish food pantries but the excesses seem to out weigh the need. \nI understand there are expenses associated with running the Archdiocese but there is no need for grand retirement homes, limos and such", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My friend, a Catholic bishop was one of the most instrumental persons in the origination of Walsh College now Walsh University. Our Bp. Walsh donated most of the money for it to start from most of the financial gifts given to him by his loving parishioners. I often served Holy Mass for him. One of my two fave bishops!!! Both unlike nearly all of today's bishops. \nBp. McFadden was our first bishop when we first became a separate diocese.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why has it been kept from the public?\n\n\n\"You must understand, the leading Bolsheviks who took over Russia were not Russians. They hated Russians. They hated Christians. Driven by ethnic hatred they tortured and slaughtered millions of Russians without a shred of human remorse. It cannot be overstated. Bolshevism committed the greatest human slaughter of all time. The fact that most of the world is ignorant and uncaring about this enormous crime is proof that the global media is in the hands of the perpetrators.\"\n\nAleksandr Solzhenitsyn", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Have you ever read any of the secession declarations? They are specific that they are seceding to maintain slavery. From two of the secession declarations at http://avalon.law.yale.edu/subject_menus/csapage.asp\n\nMississippi: \"Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery-- the greatest material interest of the world.\"\n\nTexas: \"That in this free government all white men are and of right ought to be entitled to equal civil and political rights; that the servitude of the African race, as existing in these States, is mutually beneficial to both bond and free, and is abundantly authorized and justified by the experience of mankind, and the revealed will of the Almighty Creator, as recognized by all Christian nations; while the destruction of the existing relations between the two races, as advocated by our sectional enemies, would bring inevitable calamities upon both and desolation upon the fifteen slave-holding states.\"\n\nNo, the Confederacy was all about slavery", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Where I think we may disagree, Stephen, is in our perception of a) what constitutes advocacy for the poor; b) what kind of advocacy falls within the Kingdom ministry of Christ - which is the sole vocation of the Church; and c) the importance of advocacy, relative to personal acts of love and mercy. \n\nI think I am advocating for the poor and seeking justice for the oppressed when I oppose wage and price controls; when I oppose abortion; when I support free markets, private property, small government, equal application of the law. So to me, opposition to a big government welfare state is imextricably interwoven with advocacy for the poor, just as you believe the opposite. \n\nI don't think the gospel tells us who is right, and I don't think Jesus cares. His refusal to be distracted by these concerns during His ministry should inform our conclusions about what constitutes Kingdom advocacy. Christ's disregard for Caesar as a Kingdom concern is like \"the dog that didn't bark.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How can worship of the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord in the Eucharist be idolatry (unless you believe Jesus isn't God or that the bread and wine doesn't become the Body and Blood of Christ)?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"...Catholic leaders, clergy and important DC insiders,\"...\"\n- Luckily for these people they are part of the catholic church which is a very large tent.\n- Luckily for these people the very large tent which they share is filled with people whose very lives refute their stated positions and the righteousness of their life styles.\n- Luckily for the church bishops like ArchbCharles of Philadelphia are well known by everyone.\n- Luckily for all of us, we can minister to the people harmed by Trump, and his catholic enablers.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Many anti-christian and christianophobic comments here today.\nAll have been reported under M-103.\nWe're not to be critical of religion in Justin's Canada.\nOr maybe not, it depends on the religion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am sorry, but that is not going to happen. The Pope's authority is circumscribed by Scripture and Tradition. And, in this case, both sources of Divine Revelation - Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition - have settled this question in the negative. The ordination of a woman as a priest, leaving aside the fact that it would be both illicit and invalid, would create a division in the Church unseen since the Reformation. It would rend the Body of Christ asunder, and if for no other reason (though there are ample other reasons), no Pope would countenance such a sacrilege.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Today the Church places before us the Transfiguration of Our Lord, and history of my season places the Bombing of Hiroshima also on this day. The Homily from St. John's Abbey brought my heart the challenge of the transfiguration of my heart to conform to the Humanity that Christ presents to me and that I so easily fall short of in thought word and deed. Can I strive to disarm my ego? Can I root out the small and the great violence-s I rationalize and justify both to myself and to others?\n\nFor those new to the idea of cinema divina... here is the flow as taken from Sr. Roses link. This maybe a tough film for a start but then maybe it is the perfect film.\n\nLectio: Reading the film we ask: What is the story? What words and images, characters, form, genre and structure does the filmmaker use to tell the story? \n\nI am not so sure I would include this as it is an intellectual element - perhaps suspend or frame it with other films. In this... then I would frame it with Fruitvale Station.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No diocese has the authority to determine who is in a state of sin. Pope Francis is teaching us to accept responsibility for our lives and decisions; the church guides but does not decide who is in the state of mortal sin.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree with you that it is shocking but in the context of Cordileone and the past 35-years of \"the reform of the reform,\" it is sadly understandable. Francis, with all his gifts, came too late. He would need to live past 100, undo the damage of JP2 and B16.\n\nI am a graduate of St. Mary Seminary & University in Baltimore. The Sulpicians have made a tremendous contribution to the formation of over a century of priests and since Vatican II, of lay leadership. That debt of gratitude owed to this community by the Church is unquestioned. As one who has left the \"Roman Catholic Church,\" but not the \"Catholic Church,\" this is for me another example of the schism that has long since started in the Roman Church and will only continue. \n\nWhile there are those who would harden back to a time of bells and smells, Latin, and an unchanging understanding of doctrine, there are far more who yearn of a spiritual community that is the best of the Catholic tradition.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "IRT Klastri, the WH has bible studies now. Outstanding.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "OK, lets look at three points. First, the Church is the entire Body of Christ. It is far larger than the 1% which comprises the hierarchy. The Church, the entire Church, does not believe that homosexuality is intrinsically disordered. That teaching, like the teaching on artificial contraception, has been debunked and denied. It does not share in the sense of the faithful. \n\nSecond, there is no such thing as excommunication. Nothing (and no one) can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. It is each person's obligation to form and then follow one's well-formed conscience. What the well-formed conscience dictates then trumps even magisterial teaching (according to Benedict XVI). \n\nThird, there is no biological, psychological, or theological reason why women cannot be ordained. The Pontifical Commission in 1976 attested to that. If both men and women are created in God's image, then either ordain women or stop baptizing them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I accept the bible as I do any other historical novel, with the caveat that it is remembered history written several decades, if not generations, after what may or may not be fact. Basically it's a made up history from multiple authors, stuffed together by a publisher (the church) who has their own agenda.\n\nIf the church would allow all of the original texts to be translated and interpreted by an independent panel of experts it would help.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That is what the Catholic Herald reported what the Cardinal said. \nIt is you who is making stuff up referring people to search the whole of the four Gospels, 1 Colossians and some obscure American judge's opinion whenever you are asked questions. If you know the answers, man up and answer them instead of batting them sideways. Can you do that?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Francis is understandably unwilling to speak for himself on this matter. He is waiting for the grass roots to speak, and has been urging us to do so. In general, of course, and in response to the Spirit who works pastorally.\n\nIf the people will speak out and act -- locally -- then women will stay as part of a vibrant church. We Catholics have for far too long deferred to a top down hierarchy, and that habit is muffling the Spirit.\n\nFrancis understands that dynamic, and is inviting an initiative from the \"sensus fidelium\" that overturns gender discrimination and at the same time preserves the unity of the church.\n\nThat's not as tall an order as it sounds, if we simply cultivate the Spirit within us.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is not Canada ...with a bunch of \u00ab Loyalists \u00bb Orangemen. \nThere is no place for a bunch of Ku-Ku-Klowns in Canada.\nAfter the establishment of the Canadian Federation (1867), the English speaking several provinces attended helplessly to the adoption of several LAWS and regulations, anti-Catholic and anti-French in English Canada, especially in that regard to denominational schools outside Qu\u00e9bec.\nAnti-Catholic and anti-French attitude drew its source, among others, the fact that many of the Loyalists who came to Qu\u00e9bec after the American Revolution of 1775 (Eastern Townships/ Ontario and Western Provinces) were \"Orangemen\" convinced. Orangemen advocated an anti-Catholic and anti-French doctrine, inspired by the reconquest of England in 1690 by the Protestant Prince William III of Orange.\u2026\n\nAnd Paf ! Problems started across French Canada ever since !...got it ?....EVER SINCE !", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Part 1)\nNo, I would not make such a suggestion for three reasons.\n\nFirst, the Orthodox practice of iconography is not only NOT offensive in any way to modern Catholics and Protestants, but as knowledge of these practices grow in the West, we are experiencing significant attraction by Catholics and Protestants towards iconography, including its spirituality. Indeed, that is precisely the point of the article to which you refer, is it not?\n\nSecond, historically the iconographic controversy is a very important event in the history of all Christianity, since it occurred before the East-West schism. In the West, the controversy is understood as a dispute over the appropriateness of artistic depiction of Christ (\u201cYes,\u201d entailing an acknowledgement of his humanity; \u201cNo,\u201d entailing notions of his humanity being somehow a sham in the face of his divinity). \n(cont)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Part 2)\n\nIn the East the controversy is understood as profoundly theologically significant for an additional reason. At one point, the majority of bishops of both the East and West were on what, from the perspective of history, is the wrong side, the No side, as expressed by a formal ecumenical synod. The people did not agree. Within this history, an undeniable part of our Tradition no matter how overlooked it might be in the West, we have the foundation for the concept of the magisterium of the holy people of God, alongside our episcopal magisterium. For back then, although the majority of the bishops were wrong, the Church (in the V2 sense of clergy + theologians + people), were correct. In the West, this concept is present in the theology to the effect that the episcopal magisterium requires confirmation in its reception by the people (for instance, arguably Humanae Vitae has never been \"received,\" and thus is technically open for further discussion).\n\n(cont)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Perhaps when people have a mystical experience of God that has \"feminine\" characteristics, the only way their minds can formulate the idea of the \"feminine\" side of God is to see it in the symbols of Marian devotion. The Catholic and Orthodox traditions have kept alive a \"feminine\" spirituality this way, and those who have these experiences tap into this symbology. God is still speaking, but it is always received in the mode of the receiver.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I absolutely agree with this well written realistic, honest and true article. This is why I like The National Catholic Reporter and will continue to like it for its courage to tell it like it is. Thank you and please continue printing important issues.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"When Pope Benedict issued Summorum Pontificum he had no intention of starting a movement, still less of ideology.\"\n- More than likely, this is true.\n- What is also true is that those working to have ArchbBenexvi issue such a document saw the document as a tessera in their larger scheme to revitalize the liturgies, and indeed the clerical view of church that took hold with the Council of Trent.\n- It is by this lack of awareness which took ArchbBenexvi's ministry to the point of resignation. E.g., he realized that he was being seriously manipulated, and that even his hand picked officials in the Holy See and the Vatican City State did not work honestly for him or for the church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Would you also be ashamed of Jesus? He spent his public life going out of his way to DAILY teach and heal the sick, the lepers, the poor. Jesus could have stayed in Galilee and preached from the synagogues---but he didn't. He went out among the poor and the sick. He could have preached in the Temple, but instead he lashed out against the injustices of the money-changing system. \n\nAnd if you read the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 25:31-47---we see what the prep-sheet for the Final Judgment by Christ is going to be. Unless we go out and feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, WELCOME THE STRANGER, give clothes to the naked, visit the sick and imprisoned----as part of our identity as followers of Christ, we have no right to even hope for an eternal reward.\n\nIt is not social activism, but it is following in the footprints of Christ---as Christ demonstrated it to us.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The people of Columbia have suffered a lot from this civil war. It was horrible. But like the people of Rwanda and South Africa (after apartheid), they'll have to start somewhere with their recollections and thoughts of war (and of savagery) as if both sides shared them and have endured them in common. Reconciliation is not impossible. Nelson Mandala was a great reconciler and after spending nearly 3 decades in prison demonstrated that reconciliation and spiritual adjustment is possible. Pope Francis is reminding the Columbians of Jesus' way, that his yoke is light, that reconciliation requires one half the labor hate and revenge require. I hope his message prevails.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is good news for the diocese of Richmond, Virginia. It's bishop is approaching retirement and has endured an arch conservative dogmatist. The return to a pastoral bishop will be a wonderful change. With a pastoral bishop will come a new breed of seminarians who will quit telling lay people to \"be wary of Catholics who talk about the spirit of Vatican II\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Big deal. More self-indulgent \"concerns\" from Catholic leaders. So what? They will still obsessively support Trump in the next election (if he runs) or any other anti-science Republican.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The translators thought, reasonably, that there could be different ways to use the Creed: there are times when we use it to make a personal statement of faith; there are other times when it is perhaps more appropriate to make a shared statement of faith.\n\nYour remark \"I can only speak to what I believe ...\" sounds reasonable in purely human terms. However, the Church doesn't understand faith in purely human terms. Part of the the theology of faith is about it not being \"my faith\" but \"the faith of the Church in which I share\". Understanding it that way seems to me to be expressed by saying \"we ...\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you Matt for placing yjin117 heartfelt pleadings/concerns before us, \nWell done\n\nkevin your brother\nIn Christ", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "- An end to the \u201cpink mafia\u201d.\n\n- Affirmation of the teaching of the universal ordinary magisterium on ordination.\n\n- Affirmation that clerical celibacy remains the norm.\n\n- Affirmation of the Church\u2019s norms for priestly formation.\n\n- Affirmation that clergy and religious should identify as such publicly.\n\n- Paraphrase of the Roman Missal replaced with a translation.\n\n- Saints for the new millennium infallibly declared. \n\n- Service at the altar viewed as source of vocations.\n\n- V II Council viewed in continuity.\n\n- Provision for Catholics in the Anglican tradition.\n\n- Provision for Catholics in the Latin tradition.\n\n- Clarification that \u201cchurches\u201d require the apostolic succession.\n\n- Clarification that Islam is not a substitute for Christianity.\n\n- Clarification that Christ fulfilled the OT promises.\n\n- Restoration of religious institutes.\n\n- Reaffirmation the end does not justify the means.\n\n- Restoration of historic practices.\n\n- Church nearly doubles in size.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Who's the Catholic speaking at Berkeley? Is this a first?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thanks WS for a pertinent question,\n\n\u201cShould we \u2018lord over\u2019 and threaten others, or stand up for them?\u201d\n\nLet me respond with a question; When is standing up for you not to \u2018lord over\u2019 those who find your rhetoric arrogant, insensitive, and unwelcome, because you relentlessly act so unwelcomingly?\n\nYour undifferentiated bible-quote-hurling rhetoric is at its core passive aggressive. \n\nYour question implies you believe that aggression is justified by the proper choice of a target.\n\nIn the old testament, people like you were stoned to death by the community. \n\nIn Jesus time, should you have been hurled at his feet, he would have shewed us away and urged you to go and sin no more.\n\nActually, there is space for us all here at Jesus feet. One doesn\u2019t have to fight one\u2019s way into the space at Jesus\u2019 feet. The only admission requirement is one\u2019s self-acceptance and acceptance of the rest of us as unrepentant sinners gathered at his feet.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Was it a demonic hit list...Rachael do you believe in a Dante's like hell, that the earth is round, and that a man named Jesus is God?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As Jesus said,\" Father forgive them, for they know not what they do!\" Tragic for the country.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Only it reminds me of that thing in \"Importance of Being Earnest,\" Act 2, where Miss Prism says to Reverend Chasuble, \"A misanthrope I can understand; a womanthrope, never!\" To which he replies, \"with a scholarly shudder,\" \"Believe me, I do not deserve so neologistic a phrase!\"\n\nI find no theological objection to what you say about God here, and what God can and cannot do. I wonder, though, what \"wallow in error\" really refers to, and also \"fix things.\" With the historical record in mind, God seems evidently to have allowed countless varying interpretations of the original revelation to flourish; by criteria both other-Christian and non-Christian, many of these look regrettable, or worse. Worship that god, if you like. Fastening on the masculinity of God and Jesus, as the RCC does, is just an interpretation, based on a particular way of treating first-century realities. That's all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Archbishop Chaput has said: \"Confusion is of the devil.\" \n\nWith our gifts, let's help the archbishop and the Reporter fight Satan by continuing to bring to the Catholic media marketplace thinkers, news, views, issues, and insights that enlighten with intellectual contributions that enhance understanding and education. \n\nLet us pray: \"Lord make us mindful of the needs of others. Lord make us needful of the minds of others. Amen.\"\n\nPS. My bias: Confusion is not of the devil. Damning learning and journalism by branding them \"confusing\" can be, as history has taught us. Books were burned; authors were blacklisted; films were condemned; sinners were beaten; ideas were quashed; research was banned; poets were exiled; and teachers were forever silenced because they engendered--you guessed it--CONFUSION. Ergo.......\n\nWe must not allow \"ending confusion\" to be the only acceptable \"Catholic\" editorial policy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I thought Christian Hill's article was a true representation of what most Eugene store owners\nand residents feel about the downtown area. Eugene does more to help the homeless than any\nother community that I have ever lived in but it doesn't even seem to be appreciated especially\nby the travelers (most of them young) that harass the City Council at many of their meetings.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Biographical Information Blank filled out by Mrs White in 1909 has an \"x\" in question 19 referencing ordination.\n\n\"A direct necessity is being met by the work of women who have given themselves to the Lord and are reaching out to help a needy, sin-stricken people. Personal evangelistic work is to be done. The women who take up this work carry the gospel to the homes of the people in the highways and the byways. They read and explain the word to families, praying with them, caring for the sick, relieving their temporal necessities. They present before families and individuals the purifying, transforming influence of the truth. They show that the way to find peace and joy is to follow Jesus.\" 6 T 118.1 \n\nWe all agree. Lets go back to the basics and stop trying to tweak things.\n\nDid you really think about your statement \"We keep tweaking and tweaking and tweaking, stop trying to get people to be more right and more holy\"? \n\nRead 6 T118.3 and answer the questions to yourself.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They would also have been amazed that they could go out on the street and pray without getting crucified; that they could build a permanent church and not improvise in a catacomb, effacing every trace after they were through; that they could dedicate their human talents in art and craftsmanship to produce something lasting and beautiful for God and, in doing all that, welcome Christ into their hearts and bodies. I realize they would have been thunderstruck; I also think it is somewhat puerile to imagine that human beings don't aspire for something more beautiful and lasting as a testament to what they deem important.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A well-expressed statement of the problem, but I disagree with the phrase \"for very solid reasons.\" Catholics believe there are extremely solid reasons for believing that life begins at conception. They are not amenable to believing otherwise. They understand why others are in error, why others don't believe as they do, but that's as far as it goes. Believing as they do, each abortion is the taking of innocent life, a heartbreaking thing which, if done with full knowledge of the wrongness, would justify the harshest condemnation. It's to Catholics' credit that they fight for unborn life, and yet give the benefit of the doubt to abortionists by telling themselves, \"They know not what they do.\" But the real moral fiber of some abortionists is on display with late term partial birth abortion, where no serious person can doubt that the baby in the womb is as human as a day-old infant. Abortion at that stage is clear murder, but Pelosi, Clinton, and Obama would assert the right to do it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Many - and that includes most of the bishops themselves - like to portray it that way. But it's a misapplication of the doctrine of Apostolic Succession. The concept of bishops proceeding from the original apostles is all about the office, the ecclesial role of one who is ordained a bishop. Besides the obvious problems with how the Church appoints its bishops now, Catholics (and Orthodox and others) do indeed accept that we have the successors of the Apostles, the original teachers of the Faith, in our midst. But, that does not mean they are always \"good\" men (there are examples of the very worst human beings in that role throughout our history - both past and present), or that they indeed listen to the Holy Spirit and act accordingly, or who fill the roles of teacher and shepherd with devotion and humbleness of heart. Thank God we do have many who fit those requirements, but by no means does it come with the stole placed around their necks.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I disagree that there were very many \" Trump voters who believed they were electing a decent human being to be commander in chief.\" Judging by video of Trump rallies, the last thing Trump's angry, cursing mob wanted was a decent human being for president. They wanted bigotry restored to government. They wanted all intellectuals driven out of the public sector, as in The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution in China, or Pol Pot's extermination of educated people in Cambodia. They wanted all Mexicans expelled and a wall built between our nation and theirs. They wanted Hillary Clinton put in jail, in spite of the fact that she is charged with no crimes.\n\nWhat about Evangelicals, then? Why were they willing to overlook the moral corruption that Trump himself admitted to? Don't they know they have sullied their own hands?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree that Jesus seeks a repentant heart but once the remarriage has already happened and her old husband will not take her back, all she has to do is apologize for the initial adultery to be forgiven and then she is free. Jesus says there is only one valid reason for divorce & that is adultery. Once adultery has been done, it can not be undone. Once the person remarries it also can't be undone. I don't see in this piece of scripture or any other piece of scripture that Jesus would not forgive her & allow her to return saved to her current relationship. So what is not clear in the Gospels is what happens after that forgiveness - what is allowed from this point on. He does not in fact tell this woman to go and sin no more. Possibly because he realizes her divorce is not curable. Like a kleptomaniac can't stop stealing, perhaps Jesus realizes she does not have the strength to stop sinning but tells us thru this parable that even chronic sinners can still be forgiven and saved.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "God took human form when he came to earth as Christ...your understandings by of God puts limits on the most powerful being in the universe.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Exceptions can be made for repressive regimes if necessary.\"\n\nYes, and half the world, at least demographically, falls under that category -- repressive regimes. But, as you say, that challenging demographic should not prevent the pope from doing away with the Pontifical Secret, if only to protect children in countries governed by non-repressive governments/regimes. One wishes the pope would likewise hold bishops equally accountable, liable, responsible -- have them tried in some kind of tribunal -- as priests currently are. Some bishops are/were notorious offenders. \n\nReal episcopal responsibility consists in sharing, acknowledging the mistakes and crimes of one's own appointed clergy, especially if the bishop's responsibility is identical with his honesty. Priests, after all, are not self-appointed. The episcopacy's job is to \"oversee,\" \"look upon,\" (from Gr. \"episkopein\"). Needless to say, the whole issue of episcopal accountability needs to be addressed and dealt with.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "India has Sunday as a holiday, because their Christian colonizers imposed that on them. Ditto for the Chinese. Muslim countries have Friday as the weekend holiday.\n\nMy point is that there are several explicitly Christian traditions, which people think have no religious origin. It is hard to point a finger at the Muslims and say they are asking for special favours. Christianity is treated as special religion (all religions are equal, but some are more equal than others).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Deaconess\"\nFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia\nhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deaconess\n\n\u201cEarly Christian period:\nThe oldest reference to women as deacons occurs in Paul\u2019s letters (c. AD 55\u201358). Their ministry is mentioned by early Christian writers such as Clement of Alexandria.[3] and Origen.[4] Secular evidence from the early 2nd century confirms this. In a letter Pliny the Younger attests to the role of the women deacons. Pliny refers to \"two maid-servants\" as deacons whom he tortures to find out more about the Christians. This establishes the existence of the office of the deaconesses in parts of the eastern Roman Empire from the earliest times. Fourth-century Fathers of the Church, such as Epiphanius of Salamis,[5] Basil of Caesarea,[6] John Chrysostom[7] and Gregory of Nyssa[8] accept the ministry of women ordained deacons as a fact.\u201d", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I never claimed my opinion was Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Identity Politics is another name for TRIBALISM.\n*\nThis institutionalize TRIBALISM has to end. It is against the idea of multicultural, tolerant, democratic, free society. It is hypocrisy to give special rights to the french, the Catholics and natives, etc. \n*\nThe CoR needs to be re-written to guarantee equal, unalienable rights for everyone!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dennis - BTW, I just ordered a copy of Macy's book (with Phyllis Zagano) to see if I have missed something. Due to arrive in a week or less. Will get back to you on one of these threads. Thanks for the lively discussion. Yet I hold to the position that it is a dead issue for us at this point. It will, I am equally sure, change in the future when there are so few priests left, some Catholics are receiving Communion only a couple of times per year. Then, full ordination for women will also happen. But not today.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Let's hope that canon law will start with the dismantling of Opus Dei. Because of its personal prelature status no one knows what goes on behind closed doors. The prelate of OD meets with the pope once every 5 years & undoubtedly reports only positive things about OD & its apostolates, neglecting to mention the abuses heaped on its \"members\". For example, only priests are members of OD (Canon 294), but through manipulative formation numerary \"members\" are convinced that they are members & must obey OD directors in all things (based on Escriva's \"The Way\" #617 & #914) so they hand over their paychecks & lives to this multi-billion dollar cartel & receive NO canonical protections in return. Another issue needing Vatican II-inspired canonical attention is OD's bastardization of spiritual/governmental direction (http://www.opuslibros.org/PDF/Freedom.pdf). See http://www.opuslibros.org/ for the carnage left in the wake of OD especially on young, zealous Catholics & their families.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Obviously, the 3 scolarship recipients care deeply about what the Church teaches. Their discernment should help the Church discern what they should do with women who care about it that much.\nWhat would it say about the Church if we hope and pray for men to discern their vocations, and denied any support to women trying to understand God\u2019s call? \nHelp them understand what God asks of them! What would be wrrong with that?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When did Jesus promote civil disobedience? On the contrary, Jesus advocated following the law. Bishop McElroy's central message is \"disobey the law\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Could that be because conservatives would rather not see their children educated about the fact that other people actually do live in this world besides white evangelicals, and that we have to learn to live with people who look different and have different customs that we do? They are afraid of the dangerous knowledge that once you get to know people who are different from you, you stop mistrusting and hating them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Check out Pew Research for their regular surveys on Global Catholics vs US Catholics and US Catholic views on abortion, homosexuality and euthanasia. Most Catholics (50+%) continue to regard the sacrament of Holy Communion as a symbolic meal. Transubstantiation is the theological explanation of how ordinary wine and bread turn into the real body and blood of a supernatural God, which many people understand as the Real Presence. If you want to quibble about those terms, you're on your own.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Is \"The Shack\" a true story of a \"spiritual journey\"? \nDoes something have to be factual to be true?\nEverything in the Bible is true and some of it really happened.\nIf your litmus test for a story is that it be literal and factual you will miss the joy of discovering truth in surprising places such as the fictional parables that Jesus told and more contemporary writers like Flannery O'Connor. \"The Shack\" is not great literature but the narrative film tells a relevant story of a man's spiritual journey that is filled with great pain countered by hope and faith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It will be interesting to see how the catholic community deals with sanctuary....\n\nI worked at Catholic Charities in the Iran Contra period and we had refugees a plenty coming our way, escaping terror....brown bag lunches with Amnesty International and we were a huge resettler of the boat people....staff spoke 56 languages or dialects and our state Directors and key staff meetings were joined by (now) ICE folks.\n\nIn a period where the \"escaping terror refugee status\" is more apt to be migrant movement to find a better place to raise a family, the norms are different....\n\nI personally have great sympathy for migrants who have come here (albeit not legally) but who have lived as good and productive folks...had kids here et al....and I think DAPA and DACA though executive orders are important...(and soon to be ended) .....and Obama, as I understand it, did deport around 3 million folks over the two term period who were unacceptable.\n\nA path to citizenship would be such a good idea...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thanks Noelle, that's wonderful news and the Catholic Charities is a well run NGO. Welcome to Civil Beat!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Founding principle? Schools were deeply religious during the founding era and continued to rely on religious teaching and rituals for hundreds of years afterward. Blaine clauses were not ever about \"separation of church and state,\" they were about keeping schools committed to Protestant teachings and shutting out the \"papists\" immigrating to the United States.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Josef Mengele, lives\n\nStaff now needed to facilitate the suffering of others, Christians preferred we want them to join the herd.\nGood salary with special bonus for efficiency\nThe undertakers think our work is wham no more queue or jam, quick turn around and your bonus will be found.\nComprehensive benefits for your whole family no need for Medicare as we take every care\nContraception including the snip if you wish,\nAbortion on demand any term you can discern \nAn abnormality at birth what is their life worth?\nCommon sense is our defence the wisdom of man is where I am\nCar accident, we will ease the pain, his life will never be the same again\nParents needing long term care, don\u2019t despair we will give them gentle care\n\u201cPension Plan\u201d?\nNo need comfort and ease your life will be a breeze \nWhen it is your turn to go we will let you know.\n\nkevin your brother\nIn Christ", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pastoral theology 101 - thank you \n\nNow, MSW, allow to para-phrase and adopt this approach to another pastoral theological issue - abortion.\na) Coccopalmiero - \"......repeated affirmation of the firm resolve to remain faithful to the Church's teaching on abortion and the family....\"\nb) Francis - \"The Church possesses a solid body of reflection concerning mitigating factors and situations. Hence it can no longer simply be said that all those facing an abortion situation are living in a state of mortal sin and are deprived of sanctifying grace.\" \n\nMSW - suggest that the failure of too many of the so-called catholic pro-birth groups is that they adopt a black and white, either or, good evil approach. They fail to address basic human dignity; to start with the folks involved; impact on families, etc. \n\nTo add: \"..\"respect the ontology of the person\" which entails those parts of our personhood we share as human beings in common with each other, and those parts which are unique...\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are differences in ecclesiology implicit in the differing rites, but both are obviously orthodox. Further, variation in rite is more the historical norm than absolute ritual uniformity. So, the two forms are perfectly capable of coexisting under the mantle of one church. I would not reduce the difference entirely to \"taste\" although the presence of variations in form of Catholic worship in not nearly the matter of spiritual life of death that many \"worship warriors\" make it out to be.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Obedience to sin is also sin and evil no matter whose error provoked that sin.\" I suppose you are stating that Jesus erred when He only chose men to be His Apostles.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Deacon Marlon Leneaugh, Rapid City's diocesan director of Native Ministry, described Black Elk as a revered holy man among the Lakota who bridged the gap between traditional native spirituality and Catholicism.\n\n\"He showed his people that you did not have to choose between the two, you could be both. He did not abandon his native ways when he became a Christian. To him it was together \u2014 praying to the one God.\"\n\nBlack Elk is a saint for our times.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You know, Nigel Southway, what you quote as facts are not facts at all, but irrational fear.\n\nElsewhere I posted that it did not make sense to me to condemn phobias which are, over all, a kind of fear. But I have been thinking that that post was wrong. The fear that disguises itself as fact must be dealt with, and it is worth condemning for the terrible things that it does\n\nYou are right that people are \"concerned\" (your first line). They are afraid that our situation is the same as Europe's, but it is not. The only place from where it is easy to cross into Canada is the U.S. It is very difficult to get to Canada and the U.S. because of geography.\n\nThere are no facts that say Islam is the world's most violent religion. Who, after all, has most of the world's largest, most powerful militaries? Christians.\n\nThe rest of what you say is just simply wrong. I doubt that you are lying. You are just imagining something inaccurately, and it is frightening you. And that has to stop.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It was all very clear: You, Madam Nominee, are Catholic and appear to live your faith. You have a large family, hmmmm. Likely you believe marriage is between one man and one woman, forever. Hmmmm. So lets take a very close look at you because you are very likely....one of 'them'. And lets make you feel a little heat and send a clear warning shot to others like you.\nYup. It ain't rocket science. Just ask the presidents of Princeton and Notre Dame.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Everyone has both ways of imagining to some extent, but Protestant classics tend more toward the dialectical, Catholic classics to the analogical. The reliance on the Word as written in Scripture is not better or worse than relying on the Word present in the person proclaiming the Scripture.\n\nConverts, coming from an environment domnated by the dialectical, tend to think of the Church in dialectical ways until they gain a broader appreciation of the analogical imagination. They look at AL and say \u201cthis conflicts with Mt 17, canon law 816.34.\u201d A pure dialectical response. Someone who thinks mre in terms of story says \u201cPeter walked on water with the Lord, and Jesus raised him up when he faltered. Can\u2019t we offer a helping hand to a brother or sister who is struggling?\u201d", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This misleading claim is really getting tiresome. Knowledge of politics and religion is necessary in a number of courses taught in public schools. Ones understanding of history, social studies and literature will be greatly lacking without them.\n\nWhat public schools don't do is PROSELYTIZE for a particular brand of politics or religion. Schools don't favour Liberal politics over Conservative politics, nor Christianity over Hinduism.\n\nHowever, it's reasonable for a school to allow like-minded students of a particular political view or faith to congregate in an unused classroom. If kids want to start a Young Liberals club, that's perfectly fine as long as other kids can start their own political clubs. Likewise with gatherings based on faith. If kids want to start an atheist's club or a club to study the Talmud, doing so is acceptable.\n\nEvery election, thousands of Canadians will vote inside a school. Making the space available for a lawful purpose is not the same as teaching it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Really? Not even remotely? \ud83d\ude0b\n\nIn the article I cited, there were several issues of dogma that he seems to take issue with...In the first 3 points alone (knowledge of rising from the dead, revelation of the Blessed Trinity, virginal conception), his views are problematic with the Church. The intent to found a Church was articulated by Vatican II (point 4) - yet he takes issue with that, too. He has even questioned teaching on the Eucharist.\n\nHe profers dissent from doctrine and dogma, and expects not to be called on it? As a member of a Religious Order, he VOWED obedience...and now he plans to defy that by publicly celebrating Mass. Therefore he will also break his vows. \n\nThere is a lot more going on here than just the typical talking points concerning female ordination, sexual ethics, and celibacy. It appears he would like us to believe there is not.\n\nDo you think there are not substantive differences that are rather questionable?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sad to think the current un-presidential tenant of the White House is more concerned about the dogleg left on the Japanese fairway he is teeing off on, than the suffering of the people he was elected to protect.\n\nHe'll look after setting the tee, swinging and the follow-through, and let a fantastical, omniscient, omnipotent, figment of the collective Judeo-Christian imagination look after the welfare of the people.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, you've proven me wrong in short order. Heartbreaking. If only these people truly understood what they were doing to the Body of Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The heads priest at the Catholic campus parish at UW Madison is Opus Dei. My friend thinks he's going to be bishop some day. I think he is a Morlino favorite.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Nazis did claim to be acting in the name and spirit of Germany, ordinary Germans did not disavow them, many German Americans joined nazi movements here in the states. \nSharia law is not a monolithic set of laws recognized everywhere. Unlike canon law. Perhaps all Catholics should be queried on whether they would follow canon law where it contradicts US law. After all, canon law was used to protect pedophiles in defiance of US law for decades. Of course, we true catholics know that doesn't matter: canon law is the law of the infallible unchanging church, so obeying it is always right and moral and true.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bill Lindsey brought Jamie Manson's comment to my attention:\n\nMartin asks the LGBT community to give bishops 'the gift of time \u2014 time to know each other.' But the movement to seek justice for LGBT people in the Catholic Church is nearly as old as the 1969 Stonewall riots. In that time, thousands of LGBT Catholics and their families have held vigils, witnessed outside cathedrals, and written thousands of letters, respectfully and in good faith, to bishops pleading for dialogue. Some letters received a dismissive response, many went unanswered.\n\n40 years of struggle should have taught us by now that compassion, respect and sensitivity are not enough to bring about a truly just relationship between bishops and LGBT Catholics. Even with these three virtues in play, bishops still have the power to judge and negatively impact the lives of LGBT Catholics. ... LGBT Catholics are expected to bare their souls to their religious leaders and beg to be heard, while remaining voiceless and condemned", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "can we Catholics chant \"THIS IS NOT MY POPE!\"? Because i haven't seen him act like a Pope but one that is destroying Catholic church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Where in the Gospels did Jesus anoint the Twelve to be priests? No place. What Jesus DID DO at the Last Supper, was get on his knees and wash their feet. He told them to do so for others as he had done. Jesus was of the Tribe of Judah and the House of David. He was not a Levite nor of the House of Aaron. Jesus called himself the Good Shepherd, the Way, the Truth and the Life. He permitted himself to be called Rabbi/Teacher. But he never called himself a Priest. Nor did he ordain his followers as such.\n\nIf one studies early Church history---one sees that the people elected/chose their bishops, their popes, and their presbyters for the liturgy. This lasted until just after the Edict of Milan in 311 AD. When the church became acceptable to the Roman emperor [Constantine] and a state religion, the liturgy was moved out of the home, into a church---and a clergy [male] was developed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If public and Catholic boards were merged, there would be one, not two, administrations. And neighbourhood schools would not be half full.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thanks Mike A A. and Sr. Mary. It's a hard task being human and following Christ's teachings..I'm always failing. Each night I rehash my day and I see where I've failed miserably in following Christ. There are many areas where I could've done better to meet the Christ in my new day, my Eucharist. I marvel at how the saints persevered to go beyond all distraction, to meet the Christ in absolute love. Like a continual power supply connected and charged within God's love.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hi Cal, Interesting article! I don't think that christians are at all islamophobes or homophobes instead what Christians do is walk and act like christ in love and acceptance. I'm sure you have heard all of the lewd and unforgivable things that Trump has said about women and other social minorities such as hispanics, I'm curious as to how you can from a place of christianity put a man like in the oval office? Especially on the premise that he will \"shake things up in Washington,\" when in reality all he promises to do is pull reaganomics out of the dumpster and shine it up to make it look like something new? Thanks", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Interesting discussion. You're certainly right on one thing, chippino - Until one visits these blogs (and the social media that you mention) one has no idea how very fractured Catholicism is, or how very hostile many Catholics can be with each other!\nI'm confused by your references to \"R&R\", though. What does that mean?\nPS - I spent the first 18 years of my life within hailing distance of Crouch End. Small world.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Come now, you'll find yourself among friends on this site, as I'm sure you knew as you struggled with and mastered your \"trepidation\". There's no doubt you'll receive much praise and adulation for your bravery on here. One or two faithful Catholics do still post their opinions here. We're in a minority, but then you knew that too before taking the bold step of commenting.\n\nJust as you're entitled to call my response dismissive and arrogant, I'm entitled to name your decision as juvenile anger rooted in rebellious pride.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sounds very much to me that the Church wishes to limit the capacity of the All Powerful God to make himself present through whatever medium He might wish to choose. Are we really saying that He cannot make Himself present in a gluten free host?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think in the first draft of John's Gospel Jesus and Pilate had tea and scones while engaged in their \"what is truth?\" discussion. That part was later redacted.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The headline is misleading - there is NO ban. Residents adjacent to the proposed site were informed of the re-zoning application, and a slim majority voted against having a cemetery for a neighbour. As for the claim that religious freedom is about freedom, do consider the recent guilty verdict for Winston Blackmore of Bountiful, B.C. He acted as if he were a bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints -- a church which renounced polygamy in the late 1800s. At Bountiful, the sect practised polygamy. Mr. Blackmore married 24 wives over 25 years and had 145 children. Did he collect Canada's child benefit payments for each? Did he declare 24 wives + 145 children as dependents on his tax return? He also helped to groom young girls for obedience and marriage to selected older men on both sides of the border. Surely, the Charter should not support child-trafficking and male egos in the guise of religion. Gender equality must over-ride, or replace religious freedom.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Elagabalus:\n\nAll good Catholics are allowed to support the death penalty as a moral and just sanction.\n\nThis has been well known since Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, made that clear to all the Bishops in July, 2004.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My family works in a Catholic food bank about 6 times a year and we make lunches for the homeless about 3 times a year.\n\nI've been deployed to a lot of places in the world and have spent a lot of time in very austere conditions with the Marines, including several spots in Africa. I've made the wells, built on to hospitals, done nation building, seen very the very poor. \n\nYour adding drama (\"shocking\") to it doesn't add any light or salt whatsoever. \n\nPerpetual overblown criis. Drama. Hyperbole. \n\nAbout 5 billion people in the world live on less than 2 dollars a day, about 7 or 8 billion live on less than the average Mexican makes a day.\n\nThe US poor are by comparison filthy rich.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Or at the Offertory we could sing the chant the Church gives us, either right from the Graduale or in one of the increasingly vernacular or musically-simplified Latin settings. Singing the Mass, not singing at the Mass. The chants are typically very prayerful and allow for recollection and better disposition for the rest of the Mass of the Faithful/Liturgy of the Eucharist.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pastors shall not infringe\nLet\u2019s be clear: any government that tries to infringe upon the sacred right of self-defense is on the wrong side of history, on the wrong side of the Constitution, and on the wrong side of the Bible. And so is any preacher who promotes the infringement of that right. And that includes any priest or church....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Greetings.....this is a great assessment of not only what schism is about, but also how priestly and single/divorced couple discernment is essential for true contrition .........thus the renewal of the Eucharist into their lives! So IMHO......the Gang of Four cardinals should remember that like past Pope's Holy Father Francis is the Vicar of Christ, and they should be respectfull of that fact", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Probably because most thinking Catholics in that situation were already doing it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That's the best reason for celebrating Christmas I've heard. When we get too engaged with the son of God stuff (which is not meant to be taken literally) we forget that Christ presented a coherent ethical doctrine.\n\nHis message is love, compassion, and peace.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree with your comments. In particular, the removal of former SCOTUS Chief Justice Taney was the absolute height of revisionist history. In 1857, Taney penned the majority opinion (7-2) in the Dredd Scott case. The ruling is today assailed as one of the worst (long line mind you depending on your political views) cases by SCOTUS. \n\nAt the time of the case, Taney was 80 years old. He was born in 1777 near present day Baltimore. He inherited slaves from his father's estate. Several history sites noted that Taney manumitted or freed them. Taney was also the first Catholic to be appointed to SCOTUS. Taney was a Democrat. He was the U.S. Attorney General in Andrew Jackson's administration. \n\n160 years ago, an 80-year-old SCOTUS Chief Justice, born in the 18th Century, penned a majority opinion that was bad law. Today, his legacy is denigrated by Baltimore's Mayor and Civic leaders as just \"another racist, male Caucasian\" of history. History goes to the \"victors\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do you think Jesus used the lash on innocent doves & sheep, or the money changers bilking the temple goers?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Couldn't be the christ, threats and hate part of his comment, could it?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Jesus conceived...\" speaking rhetorically. Of course, JC didn't create the bureaucracy that is the RCC today. Rather, the Frankenstein conceived from what is done in his name. Everything written is not to be interpreted literally,", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hmmm, the fact progressives didn't seem to have a freak out over cardinals slow walking Benedict's Summorum Pontificum lead me to believe it's not about fealty to the pope, but rather wanting to keep the near monopoly the practice of versus populum has in the Ordinary Form. \n\nOf course, liturgical East being a concept, ad orientem is not an improper term. I would suggest another name for this practice could be \"priests and people facing the altar together.\" And nobody begrudges the Eastern rites celebrating Divine Liturgy as orientem.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "hardly a surprise coming from an institution that has little to do with Christ but loves to wrap itself in the flag while clutching a Bible.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We have different bishops interpreting things quite differently in the Orthodox Church and it doesn't seem to bother anyone because no one expects one individual to be \"in charge\" and there is no formalized canon law (a situation that flows from autocephaly) or official catechism . . . not much to keep up with, basically, after 787 ;-o\n\nI wonder if Francis instinctively understands this Eastern approach and is actually quite comfortable with it (he referred to himself once as the Bishop of Rome). He sometimes acts as though being the Clarifier in Chief is far less important than showing how to live. One of the insights of the Russian theologian Sergius Bulgakov was that the church is not an institution but a new life that is \"indefinable . . . but it can be described and it can be lived.\" Don't know if I'm making sense, but I think this tension is at the heart of the problem.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You forget the \"Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship\" and their outreach ministry to high schools across Canada. \n\nIf students want to pray to the deity of their choice, bow down before idols, meditate, or cast spells and perform magick, that's their legal right. Personally, I think it's mostly reflexive kowtowing to ancestral superstitions, but it's still their right.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Love your thought. But...a parallel metaphor to consider. The long-haul truck driver loves his wife as much when he is driving through Nevada, a thousand miles and a week away but boy when he gets back home....\nTo your point the church seems to have elevated the \"outward sign\" to be not only the \"real\" but the only. Jesus is not limited to rite, ritual, in our com-union, companionship. \nThe rite the ritual the ceremony is the \"taste\", the teaching moment, the reinforcement, the joyful expression. Would the \"long-haul truck driver\"\nor his expectant wife appreciate celebrating their re-union in a museum?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are many people who do accept the V2 reforms, even if they prefer the Latin Mass or an \"ROTR\" Ordinary Form. I'm not trying to defend the people who wish for the repeal V2 entirely, because they're fighting against a authoritative Church Council. That only leads to Schism. But I also will not defned those who view V2 as the beginning of the Church and that no Council before V2 has any bearing or authority. This is another schismatic view. \n\nAs to your Confederate/ROTR comparison, you'll need to explain in a little more detail than that for me to take it seriously. What is the equivalent to Confederate statues? How is a slight re-translation a \"restrictive law\"? How did Pope Benedict (I assume that's who you are referring to) reinvent history? What are these code words you speak of? And at a more basic level, why are these things bad? What is wrong with Latin, chant, etc? These things are the history and tradition of the Roman Rite. They are our Catholic history and culture.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The well-known statistic is that ~3% of any given national population is homosexual. Worldwide, clerical homosexuality is 2x to 3x higher at ~5-10% of a corps of 450,000+ priests with the Vatican well over ~50%. \n\nJust to show how the intrinsically disordered acts darken the intellect and harden the heart to create a slippery slope that leads to more destructive sins, ~90% of clerical pedophilia is committed by homosexuals compared to ~80% of general population pedophilia.\n\nSatan has always targeted the Church that Jesus Christ built, going all the way back to Judas Iscariot. The lust of the flesh appears to be Satan's most popular method of temptation for priests.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The real travesty is why he was ever allowed to be on this program or that it lasted this long. His massive pay and support of his insane, traitorous utterances just encouraged his persona immorality. Of course, his bosses were doing the same in the culture created by the old foreign Nazi owner, Rupert Murdoch, one of the billionaire bosses successfully brainwashing the populace into accepting fundamentalist christian patriarchy along with plantation economics and male dictatorship.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Yeah this has become the hypocrisy of our religion! 3000 INNOCENT lives are being murdered EVERYDAY but let's make our first priority ILLEGAL immigration! There are several avenues to come into this country, and if you are illegal there are ways to \"fix/resolve\" that problem with the government! These are people that have come here and can support/defend themselves BUT let's ignore the ones that cannot! The Catholic Church continues to move away from the teachings of Christ and move into the political correctness arena, which is disheartening! We finally have a candidate who, has been chastised, ridiculed, and given many opportunities by the media, etc., to backtrack off his pro-life stance and he hasn't! Bishops stated nothing about the death penalty items up for votes, the list goes on and on! It is clear MONEY and INFLUENCE means more to my religion and I am disheartened!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I'm confused. Is he an atheist or a 'secular Christian'?\n\nFrankly, I smell more than a whiff of artifice in the professor's atheism.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The best way to improve the safety of public bathrooms is to ban the fundamentalists from them. That group as a whole is always getting arrested for child rape and child pornography. I have no doubt that any and all activity in public restrooms that is criminal is performed by someone who claims to be Christian.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The nasty person here is you, Pandora. You pretend to seek truth and honesty, while actually showing neither. Let someone disagree with you, and you show your nastiness in full measure. You rejoice in dishing out the \"nasty, cruel, untrue, and uncivil\", and \"decency, civility, and Christian charity\" make up only a tiny part of the nastiness that is Pandora.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Sorry, does me talking about the Bible upset you? Or is this another \"you can't know what you're talking about because you were never a real Christian you're just a deadbeat drug addict who needs saving\" thing?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "And this is a problem for those of us who are monogamous heterosexual males or females because???\n\nI am reminded of a couple of the early Christian sects who believed that Jesus would return in their lifetimes--you know by 70-100 A.D. at the latest.\n\nAccordingly, they declined to participate in sex because everyone would be in the Kingdom of Heaven so kids were just a distraction. \n\nThat Christian sect disappeared. \n\nAnd here we are a couple thousand years later still waiting for the return. \n\nIf the homosexuals are killing themselves with their lifestyle, they won't reproduce and so 'the problem' will just go away!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The evangelicals argue they can effect change if they have a seat at the table. While so seated they appear to have become drunk with power. These self-identified 'religious' are doing more to increase the numbers of the 'nones' than any preaching of irrelevant dogma could possibly effect. People look at what people do, not what they say. This applies to all clerics; christian or non-christian. Hypocrisy is an indelible paint and these folks are using it in buckets.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The author was referring to young men in general, not young Muslim men only. Nice try at setting up a straw man to easily blow down. Most of the data the author quoted came from the USA, where Muslim young men make up an insignificant fraction of the overall population of young men. Huge portions of urban USA have problems of violence, drug use, unemployment, you name it. None of it is related in any way to Islam; in fact right wing Christianity has more influence in these areas. Read the article again; the point is that young men in general throughout western society are growing up without the influence of a father figure and they end up easily radicalized as a result. That means gangs in inner cities and peddling drugs, etc., and of course a small proportion also get involved in radical Islam. Roughly half of the Canadian young men who joined ISIS, were not raised as Muslims and had absolutely no Muslim influence until finding ISIS on the internet.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Christians were the murderers for centuries during the period of colonialism and imperialism. I guess no one likes to have the tables turned on them.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I am always amazed that it's devout Christians who are the most sure that their infallible god made a mistake when he created this plant. Surely they should be opposed to the criminalization of His creations.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "If someone is going to appeal to the masses, Catholic and non-Catholic to change church teaching, it should be the Pope. What if Martin were challenging transubstantiation, claiming that the bread and wine were merely symbolic? That's an easy one to get the secularists and cafeteria Catholics on board to believe. Where would the Pope be on that?\n\nIn essence, Martin is taking on the entire Catholic Church single-handedly (with, no doubt, a strong cabal of the gay mafia backing him), appealing to the secularists and Protestants, making claims that there is some issue with the existing compassion that the Church has for people with same-sex attraction. It is an attack on the Church, a claim that the Church has done nothing to help those with same-sex attraction. He is like Judas, betraying the Church and appealing to the mob, and the Pope is allowing it.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Notice how Hollywood 'celebrities' are unusually quiet on the news of Attacks and murder of Christians. They jump every opportunity to insult, mock and even call for the assassination of the American President, they can't phantom a temporary ban on islamist nations hostile to America, yet all crickets of the attack on Christians .", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Israel is to be the site of the second coming, specifically Jerusalem. This is why the Evangelicals support Israel as strongly as the do. They have to protect Jesus' landing pad until Jesus lands and they get to obliterate all Muslims....and whoever else won't bend the knee.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I like that you separated Muslims into a specific subset, the ones that believe the fundamentalist values you mentions. You know that not all Muslims agree with those specific values. \n\nI know that not All Christians think of murdering their son, beating children with a rod, offering their daughters for sex, believe that a woman worked with a snake to corrupt the origin perfect human - a single male made from dirt, or that women were createed from the rib of a man. \n==================\nIt seems part of our human nature is to 'rank' ourselves in comparison to others, in our personal life, our work life, even our spiritual lives. It's impossible for a diverse culture to completely eliminate that conflict of human ego's. When people must be 'ranked', you can believe it creates anger and hostility.\n\nLOL, look at this room!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Might as well have one for the Protestants, Jehova Witnesses, Seven-Day Adventists, the Baptists, the Hindus, the Sikhs, Taoism, Wicca, Druze, Buddhism, Judaism, Gnostic, Hellenistic, oh I forgot... Orthodox, Amish, Mennonites, etc. This way, the town will be for dead people only.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "God is bisexual, eh? Both male and female. I guess that solves my question about sex. \nAs for Jesus, we're in agreement. Joseph was a cuckold and Mary was an adulteress. \nBack to God's gender for a moment: Adam was created in God's likeness, not Mary. I think God was considered a \"he.\" Certainly, but Church of Rome authority he was and that's the original font of Christian knowledge. \nSo, God's a guy with no woman around for eternity. That would explain a lot.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Right. You mean the Wahabbi movement armed and financed by the good Christian British? Those Wahabbis? Our fault was not fighting hard enough to extricate ourselves from the 'bed' made by you western and Soviet social-imperialists. Chickens are coming home to roost indeed. Remember you said that. Your demonic Wahabbi, Salafi, Da'esh, Baathist, Ottoman, Pah'lavi, Boko Hara'am and Taliban Frankensteins are nothing if not reflections of their creators.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "What about an open letter to the double the number of blacks and Hispanic Christians who voted for Trump?\n\nThis article is trying to double down on the false idea that it was the mad white men who put Trump into office.\n\nIn that sense this article is racist, because it fails to factor in the actual voting patterns among ALL Christians.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Unsurprising how DFL is adverse to science and progressive principles. Unsurprising how they are hypocritically willing to subvert justice and fairness in order to achieve their goals. Unsurprising, because Christians have, throughout history, always been antiscience, always anti-progression, always been hypocritical, and always been willing to do despicable things to protect the status quo. They have always been on the wring side of history.\n\nAs an atheist, I'm tired of this. I'm supposed to leave them to their superstitions, but they think its fine to dictate to everyone about who we date, whether we can have premarital sex, what a woman must do with her body, what substances we can ingest, what day of the week we can buy alcohol, etc, etc, etc (etc for days...I could go for days). If Christians think I'm being unfair, then they need to take an active stand against the interference of their faith in the lives of those who don't subscribe to their belief system. Enough!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "To get to the heart of the matter: abortion is the issue which galvanizes support among these hypocrites as their rallying cry and justification for electing Trump and the conservative agenda generally. \n I have seen staff writers for the NCR opine on this subject in ways that would justify a Trump victory before the election results were in. \n A majority (60% according to latest stats) of white Catholics voted for Trump. \n I stop short of saying it is a mortal sin to vote for Trump, but then I don't wish to revert to the enemy. \n Personally I am shocked and dismayed by the gullibility, stupidity and general moral malfeasance and hypocrisy of this majority of Catholics and Evangelical right-wing Christians generally. I read the Bible and Catholic teaching differently and see a lot of card-carrying self-justifying Christians refused at the Pearly Gates. Perhaps an \"examen\" of conscience is in order. Self-justifying religious fraud is the issue, and ignorance is no excuse.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Quran (7:80-84) - \"...For ye practice your lusts on men in preference to women: ye are indeed a people transgressing beyond bounds.... And we rained down on them a shower (of brimstone)\". So the most intolerant and easily influenced followers of Islam feel that they have a duty to make that happen. And the others ... are not sure. \nOf course the Bible has a similar verse, but the New Testament then has a better message to love your neighbor and to love God. And that helps considerably, for most people.\nMuslims are a greater danger to gay people than Christians are. I stand with our gay brothers and sister in solidarity against Muslim terrorists.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The shame is not so much that an ignorant person is laughed at, but rather that people outside the faith believe that we hold such opinions, and thus our teachings are rejected as ignorant and unlearned. If they find a Christian mistaken in a subject that they know well and hear him maintaining his foolish opinions as based on our teachings, how are they going to believe these teachings in matters concerning the resurrection of the dead, the hope of eternal life, and the kingdom of heaven, when they think these teachings are filled with fallacies about facts which they have learnt from experience and reason. (continued below)", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Anti-abortionists--I refuse to refer to them as 'right-to-lifers' because they're anything but that--are overly selective about which children merit that right.\n\nSeven year-old black kids playing with toy water pistols don't. And these white 'conservative' so-called Christians leap to defend any cop who shoots a black child, regardless of the circumstances.\n\nAnd of course Iraqi, Afghani, Pakistani, Sudanese, Lebanese, Palestinian and Libyan children are excluded from that right on two counts--they're the wrong color AND the wrong religion.\n\nI think the next time these clowns show up to protest at the Planned Parenthood clinic, I'll show up with my own photos of murdered children: like a particularly horrible one of a Palestinian toddler with the top of his head taken off by an IDF rifle-bullet. Or another of the remains of a little girl in Fallujah who died screaming as she dissolved in a toxic, super-heated cloud of white phosphorus.\n\nWhere was their right-to-life, O \"Christians?\"", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "(Ahem) we have a president-elect and a really, really stupid Assembly person that would cast doubt on that assessment (not that the other candidate would have been any better). Add to that the governor of MI engaging in domestic terrorism by poisoning an entire generation of children in a fairly large town in his state, not to mention the radical Christian presidents of various sects who've orchestrated the slaughter of millions in Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sudan, Lybia etc. etc...", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "OregonBorn: Look at what the Catholic Priests have accomplished over the last how many centuries, AND, the Adult Supervisors of Boy Scouts of America. They have been raping boys, FOREVER.\n\nRead the Sign: FOREVER................", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Seems like the Catholic church and sexual assault of minors go hand in hand, probably from their self imposed vow of celibacy for their priests that go against nature that their god imposed on them in the first place, leaving them to give in to temptation. A lot of them probably were abused too as kids.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Law put the reputation of the Church before its soul and his lawyers and curia helped. For assisting those who let those little ones astray, the Christ prescribed punishment is that he be thrown into the sea with a milstone around his neck.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Don't imply even via rhetorical \"question\" that I said \"all Jews committed war crimes\". I referred to ZIONISTS. I oppose Zionism for the same reasons I oppose Nazism and Apartheid--doesn't mean I hate Jews, Germans or Boers. The Zionist entity isn't a theocracy. It's a secular, openly ANTI-SEMITIC apartheid state. I AM a Semite--descended from a Syrian Sephardic Jewish immigrant. The REAL anti-Semites are the Zionist Ashkenaziim, who are NOT Semites but derive from the Turk-related Khazars, originating in the Black Sea region, who converted to the Jewish faith in the 8th century; they rule \"Ersatz Isra'el\", and they've persecuted not only Semitic Muslims and Christians, but Arab and African Jews. Research the Zionists' DELIBERATE irradiation of over 100,000 Sephardic Jewish CHILDREN with US Army X-ray machines giving 35,000 times the maximum dose! Killed THOUSANDS of them! They're still dying of cancer and leukemia today. The Zionists learned their lessons from the Nazis WELL!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The \"secular\" argument in its worst definition emanates from the negativity of the pseudo Christian.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Kumbya is greek, use a Kappa. Cumbya is a term used at those Vatican gay orgies. Regardless, I am not arguing for a kumbya moment. Quite a few priests need to be be outed, not as gay, but as asexuals, and counseled on what their sexuality entails and how it has preverted Catholic sexual teaching. They need to feel as uncomforatable with that as they have made the rest of us feel for normal heterosexuality.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I bet the Catholic School Boards are real happy that they took public funds now. I remember a Catholic Priest telling me that it was the stupidest move they could have made, just when the Miller government brought this out in the 1980s. He predicted this sort of thing would happen and he was right.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Palestinians have been oppressing Jews for centuries.\n\nIn 1839, the British consul, William Young, said that the poor Jew in Jerusalem...lives from day to day in terror of his life....Young attributed the plight of the Jew in Jerusalem to \u201cthe blind hatred and ignorant prejudice of a fanatical populace,\u201d\n\nJEWS IN JERUSALEM.\nNew York Times\tDecember 29, 1878\nCrowded together in the worst lodgings, or in the dark cellars under a synagogue building, without food, fuel, or water \u2013even water at Jerusalem being a commodity of price \u2013 numbers died of starvation and various diseases, while others went raving mad. Those who could labor were denied employment by the bigotry of the Mussulmans and of the Oriental Christians.\n\nNotice the date. This was before the first Zionists arrived in Palestine. Notice the word bigotry.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"The priest represents the Bridegroom Christ to his Bride the Church\"\n\"Represents\"? So Jesus is not in the Church? Heresy. \nIf Jesus is intrinsic to church, then S/He is either sexually polymorphic, hermaphrodyte, transgender (and engaged in a sexual act - symbolic or otherwise that is anathema in thought let alone in deed)\nIf not, there is no \"Mystical Body\", or is there? \nJoseph Card.Ratzinger \"taught\" that the sexual description - as per Bride/Bridegroom, is \"more than metaphor\". So you call it \"analogous\"! You also deviate from authoritative teaching. \nAny sensible person with a modicum of intelligence would eschew the muddle of mixed metaphors, intrinsically contradictory analogies let alone accuse anyone else of being devoid of any \"meaningful\" theological knowledge or perspective. \nAll these analogies (and metaphors) do not a faith support. Who ever said that faith is built upon reason?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The hell we learned about in Catholic childhood, like burning in fire forever without relief hell--that is there for us if we screw up? Something worse than anyone on earth could do to us? Some people believe in this. And if this is so, God is not stern? Come on. God cannot be loving and kind and burn us forever. That hell is made up by the church to frighten people into control. And many people believe in it. It is still the official church teaching I think.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "A timely and well-written article. Fundamentalist Christianity has always been a factor in right wing politics in the US, and while the creep factor is not as high as it is with a man like Bannon, is still something those not blindly aligned with the faith should be concerned about.\n\nIt strikes me as somewhat hypocritical that the far right rails against Islam as a force that could destroy the fabric of Western society. While true that our society is largely founded on Judeo-Christian tradition, the views of Mr Graham are repugnant to many and pose a threat to our way of living.\n\nIn many cases, they should also be repugnant to those that embrace our spiritual heritage. Love of enemies? Forgiveness? Curiously absent.\n\nWhen radical Muslims twist the teachings of their faith to justify abhorrent words and deeds, we vilify them. Graham may not be guilty of abhorrent deeds but his words to the more tolerant among us are anathema.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Trump wasn't kidding. In it's declaration of war against the Catholic Church in 2014, ISIS proclaimed, \"We will conquer your Rome, break your crosses and enslave your women.\"", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I think the relationship you are referencing isn't that dissimilar to when people say something stupid like \"why aren't all the non-extremist xxx ratting out their family members/congregation members when they should have known\". First, I'll assume they most were just as shocked as everyone else that the event in question happened. Second, it's prudent, but not required to be the secret police turning anyone and everyone in for random suspicions.\nChristian extremism exists, it reveals itself often under the persecution complex many have. They assume their \"right\" to believe what they want should translate into affecting the world around them. This is america. There is no right. You are free to believe what you want, but your rights end at my bubble. This argument has been going on for a long time and 'progressive america' has moved forward on many issues. When someone gets upset on not being able to practice their discrimination they should think of this. How do you think THEY felt?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Moore trashes social morality for the sake if one issue... religious liberty. He and certain Catholics hope that Trump aligns with their dogma, but he is not a real Republican or a true supporter of the unborn. Moore and company ignore Trump's mental state. Narcissism, bigotry, congenital liar, and the worst ailment\u2026 bipolar dysfunction. He is unfit to hold the most powerful job in the world. Wake up intellectual evangelists and be heard!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding fake news, you said:\n\"A sense exists across the spectrum of political inclinations that the recent presidential campaign was, above all, an unremitting and damaging assault on valued traditions and decorum. Perhaps no departure from the norm was so dangerous as the ugly attacks on standard journalism and the concomitant and utter disregard for facts that, sadly, won the day.\"\nPlease, this fake news began with Ronald Reagan and his buddy Pope John Paul II. Today's GOP and Religious Right lies and endless viciousness and endless fake news (outright lying) really began with Teflon man Reagan.\nTheir desire to get Reagan elected was borne of lies, racism, inuenndo, etc,etc.\nLet us recall the character assassination and innuendo of SE. Joe McCarthy ( R-Wis, Catholic, alcoholic) and the anti-communism witch trials.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "They are NOT \"despising the flag\". They are protesting such things as the endemic racism that the president you take such pride in supports. Trump is a bigot and supports bigotry. No actual Catholic -- or American -- should view him with anything other than revulsion.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Imago Dei does not treat people with respect. That is the problem. \n\nYou are an apologist for Imago Dei. What else have you been doing on this thread? You apologize for Imago Dei, insult me and other posters, and brag about your moral & intellectual superiority. Whoopdedo.\n\nI have read extensively about fundy Christianity and share my bed with an ex-fundy.\n\nOh yes, Imago Dei says that our relationship is meaningless because we aren't married. Of course I am going to tell them to go kiss my grits.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you for your reply, Fred. I'm sure you mean evangelical bigot, not \"racist.\" I also am saddened by the need for abortions, and thank you for putting it that way. It is beyond sad. The wars and capital punishment, also. I have known a few fundamentalists who were as close to angels as you will find on earth. \n\nHowever, if you believe that Trump is a dangerous, narcissistic cult leader in the making, but not a sociopathic rapist and thief, then I still question your ability to distinguish form from substance. Who is his cult? Remember the article we are responding to? Who stands by him even now? Evangelicals!\n\nI don't hold hatred for people who don't believe the way I do. I do, however, tend to get put out at people's behaviors and destruction. A lot of Christians, especially southern fundamentalists in this country, have been a psychopathic horror for Native and African Americans. I'm over respecting people for their ideals/motives, but not the fruits of their actions.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Oh dear, John, I'll spell it out for you.\nMike AA brought Bill Clinton into the equation by saying that he was a paragon of virtue compared to Trump.\nBill Clinton was a notorious womaniser among other things yet none of you liberals at the time berated or disparaged him on account of his lack of sexual mores because you supported the political aims of the Democratic Party. \nDonald Trump's alleged sexual behaviour has you all hypocritically responding in high dudgeon, outraged that such a person should become president of the USA., because you do not support the Republican Party. You were not outraged by Clinton's behaviour why are you outraged by the same behaviour attributed to Donald Trump.\nJohn, your literal readings and interpretations of what people write here cause more amusement than anything else. I can imagine the Democrats and progressive Catholics cringing when they read what you write.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Shut down the shelter? The soup kitchen? Why not shut down WIC, catholic social services, Salvation Army and the Red Cross while were at it? Your idea is the pinnacle of stupidity and apathy. You villanize and stereotype the homeless, despite the fact that many are vetrans, villagers who came from remote villages and couldnt make a go of it, and whole families with kids in school whos parents lost jobs. Think again hemorrhoid, before we shut down the facilities that keep people from freezing to death or starving.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "We should have the fight then. The BNA and the constituton includes the he rights to allow catholics to have their own schools. Every left wing weasel quotes the constituton and the charter when it suits them but don't want to adhere to it when it does not. I can honestly say that there should NOT be any religion taught in schools. The human rights tribunals however are merely the enforcement arm of the SJW's in this province. All important matters need to go to real courts, period. If as some folks have posted that the church is akin to Hogswort witchcraft, then our human rights tribunals surely are comparable to the Salem witchcraft trials. They twist and turn facts so it fits the social agenda and impose unfair fines. In other words unless you are a left wing liberal you are a witch. Stop enforcing the laws through these biased kangaroo courts and do it right.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Let's face it, the R-G is operated by educated whites who rightfully find today's brand of conservatism both embarrassing and threatening. Kathleen Parker is not a liberal, she's a Republican but I assume even for an idiot like her it's becoming harder and harder to stomach the likes of a president who feels up his own daughter, jokes about having \"sex\" in common with her and claims he would be dating her if only she weren't his daughter. \nDon't get me wrong, I think Trump is a good fit for the Republican party. It's good they've come out in the open with their values. I find it especially heartwarming that the Christian Right has overcome its aversion to activities such as adultery, fornication, possibly incest, grabbing private body parts, and other previously and supposedly shunned activities. \nAt the same time, most of this stuff is a big turn-off for most Americans, a majority actually, so don't hold your breath on the R-G becoming Breitbart or Infowars.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "To clear this up for everyone:\n\nWhat the hierarchy is demanding is that men pretend not to be gay like they used to do in the 1950's, if you want to be ordained. It really isn't very hard to read between the lines folks. If you aren't straight and you want to be a priest - fake it!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "John Paul II was a jerk. Plain and simple. He had no interest in trying to follow the example Jesus gave as we read the gospels. And he tried to set the Church back 100 years. He was only accurate setting it back 25 years. I guess the \"Vatican boys\" finally got to Pope Francis. Such a legacy John Paul left--mostly all negative. I can speak with a priest for five minutes and tell whether he is a \"John Paul\" priest. Hopefully, Francis is leaving a legacy to be proud of. Perhaps, ordained women Deacons.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Dennis, I remember well a very bitter older woman who was really outrageous in her condemnation of others in the parish. She attended everything, daily Mass, Rosary, Benediction, everything. She was a one woman brood of vipers. \n\nThen we had a parish renewal weekend. I deliberately engineered it so that she would be in the same sharing group as a young, single mum. Over the course of the weekend, the older lady heard the very sad story of the young Mum. She changed. She got a glimpse of her own cruelty and stupidity. The two women became close friends thereafter and it was such a joy to see. The poisonous words stopped.\n\nI believe that, that older woman had been disobedient to her very self for decades, disobedient to her God given feminine inclinations and natural instincts. She had been taught to disregard the Christ within her. The result was that she became miserable and brought misery to those around her. \n\nThe one common denominator for all of them is a lack of joy.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "What we have here is a baker who wishes to practice discrimination against gays, and he wants to claim that his \"Christian\" religion supports him. He is doing EXACTLY the same thing that racists in the days of Jim Crow did in refusing to serve blacks. \n\nI am vehement on this subject because I have a personal interest. My brother is gay, as are some of my closest friends. My mother's parents and other members of my family were killed by the Nazis because they were Jews. My daughter-in-law is African-American, and her grandfather was telling me about life under Jim Crow, stories that I believe explicitly. I have been raised to hate discrimination with all my strength, and I know what happens if it is allowed to go unchecked. It starts with \"No Dogs Or Jews\" and ends with Treblinka.\n\nIn places like Chechnya, gays are imprisoned and killed. The Republican US Senate nominee from Alabama, Roy Moore, wants to do the same thing here. At least some people here seem to have no problem with it.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I surely think that women SHOULD stop teaching the gospel. I'm good with that. Let men do it all. Or even half of it!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "And by fighting for the rights of gay men to join and stay in the RCC priesthood, under a cover of public secrecy about their orientation, you too are encouraging this child abuse to continue.\n\nThat too is a form of shielding. The Church is wrong to encourage it, the priests are wrong to participate in it, and both progressive and trad laity should be against it. It's a policy that serves no one but the abusive priest.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Your hypocrisy is unbounded. Your comments on this site about our former Popes are treasonous as well. Your anger and hatred of our Church for the previous 39 years is very unhealthy for someone who identifies as a Catholic Priest.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Motley: this is an interesting topic. Certainly, pedophiles often seek positions where they can find and groom potential victims. Yes, scout leaders, teachers, coaches, church youth group leaders, Catholic priests, vounteers to youth assistance programs, et al. It's also interesting that the Boy Scouts have long prohibited gay men from serving as Scout leaders. Yet, the organization has a long history of \"non-gay\" leaders being pedophiles... Folllowing is a quotation from an excellent article addressing this issue. I've also provided the link so you or anyone else can read the entire article. regards, Gary Crum", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"I don't think it's based on Catholic women's perception that Trump is a \"predator,\" because, frankly, if these women are at all informed, they know on the issue of sexual predation, the track record of both candidates is at best a wash.\"\n\nSo Hillary has been repeatedly accused of sexual assault, including the underaged! Where did you hear that?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The 20-50MM illegal immigrant Hispanic Roman Catholics in Our Country are taught by the Roman Catholic Church that America was stolen from their ancestors by Black and White Protestants and Evangelicals.\n\nHaving turned Latin America into wall-to-wall brothels and slums through priestly molestation, the satanic stratagem of the pedo homo \"real Anti-Christ\" \"engine for enslaving mankind\" - identified by our Founder and Prophet, Mr. Jefferson (viz. to Samuel Kercheval, 19jan10) we Black and White \"whigs\" came here in express covenant with God to escape - by politically and logistically supporting an organized army of pawns of conformed Hispanic Roman Catholics, for invasion and conquest of God's actual prophesied \"Promised Land,\" America, is available for every Patriot eye to see: \"National Pastoral Plan for Hispanic Ministry,\" (Publication/Office of Publishing and Promotion Services, U.S. Catholic Conference, No. 199-7) - June, 1988.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Look at the MAP. Most of Hillary's votes came from two or three states -- CALIF and NY. \n Joan Chitister would have done well to address that more clearly: the mid-section of the country was almost totally Republican/red, ironically blue collar.\nI do not understand Catholic love affair with Clinton: she is a warmonger, she has the blood of tens of thousands of dead women and children on her hands. How does that represent Catholic values?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You missed my point. \n\nFirst, wouldn't you say outright murder of an innocent human being is a far worse crime than not feeding a poor human being? In one case, at least the human being is permitted the right to life. The issues of poverty, death penalty, war, etc are simply NOT, I repeat NOT on the same moral plane as abortion. \n\nSecondly, and more to the point: if \"Catholics\" have no problem voting for someone like Hilary or Obama who are both apologetically pro-abortion--despite church teaching and admonition, on what basis do they condemn the Catholics who voted for Trump?\n\nWhat is good for the goose (liberal) is good for the gander (conservative.) If liberals get to vote for pro-abortion candidates then conservatives get to vote for racist candidates. (I don't agree that Trump is racist by the way. What is \"racist\" about wanting to secure the boarders and enforce our country's laws?)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In defense of Christians, Pete Kelly ain't one. He's a religionist. Religionists are folks who use politics to force their beliefs on others. \n\nIslamists. Christianists. Same-same.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And people wonder why I became a sedevacantist. There is literally no way that this is an actual Catholic site....no way. The Jesuits need to be abolished. Adulterers are mortal sinners....how in the world is that so hard for so many \"Catholics\" to understand (including apparently Jesuit \"priests\" who write articles for the ncr) Oh thats right, its 2016 and God is no longer JUST and hell doesnt exist anymore. This site is surely of the devil. \n\nThere is a schism in the Catholic Church \"Fr\" Reese....it happened in 1965 you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The rich and powerful are like nuns in the Catholic schools.\nThey like to keep order, keep the \"children\" down and submissive,by scaring us in many ways and metaphorically rapping us regularly on the knuckles with a steel ruler.\nThey had no sense of humor and didn't tolerate their children laughing.\nLaughter to power is like garlic to a vampire.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "the majority of KKK in Colorado back in the 20s was GOP. \nAnd that matches up with what our state was back in the 20s; GOP controlled. \nAre you Christian/Jewish/Muslim? DO you go to Church/temple/mosque? Have you ever met ppl that joined just to pretend? Perhaps you have met some that converted just so that they could marry somebody? Many of them are NOT true believers. \nAnd based on what I see of today's churches and groups like the GOP, there are few true followers. Many so-called Christian have more in common with the devil, then with Christ. And finding a TRUE REPUBLICAN in the GOP at one of their meetings? Good Luck.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Fine. If it helps you sleep at night, if it keeps you warm on a cold winters night to believe that women will someday be priests, by all means--keep believing in your fairy tale. \n\nI can say this: if I didn't believe the teaching on women priests was irreformable I would support the idea of women priests. As it stands, despite what liberal dissidents want to believe, the teaching is simply not changeable. If it ever changes while I am alive--the day it happens is the day I give up the Catholic Faith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It seems the Ontario government stopped the Lord's Prayer in our public schools and they have stopped Christmas, Easter and Halloween celebrations in our public schools so non Christian students and parents wouldn't be offended.\n\nNon Muslims now know there are prayer rooms set aside only for Muslims and non Muslims know Muslims are practicing Islam in our public schools. If non Muslims get offended when they know there are prayer rooms set aside only for Muslims and when they know Muslims are practicing Islam in our public schools, do our governments and school boards care?\n\nWhy is it unacceptable to offend Muslims but acceptable to offend non Muslims?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Interesting, Winnipeg Warrior. Your impression is that media treats Muslim violence as individual acts and white violence as a societal problem. My impression is the reverse, that the media are more likely to treat Muslim violence as a product of Islam, and white violence as the result of mental imbalance. And many expect Muslim clerics to apologize for Muslim violence, but we don't expect the same of Christian clerics. We seem to believe what we want to believe. How do we resolve this?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The world IS violent & selfish, that is a fact & hiding behind your religious beliefs will not change that, nor forcing YOUR beliefs on an entire community. My child doesn't need to unrealistically believe God will save her from a bullet! How selfish of you! Plus me & 5 of my neighbors here are not Christian! Please don't be so presumptuous...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why Allan, the one word I changed in my post was \"Christian\". And it kept getting censored, yet when I changed it to Muslim or Islam, the post wasn't censored. Isn't that amazing?\n\nIsn't it sad really?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Both PA and Hamas are better examples of Apartheid: not only they are Juden-free, but they persecute their Christian minority. Israeli Arabs and Jews have the same rights, live together and work together. \n\nI visited Israel, talked to Arabs and Jews, and don't need to listed to cheap lies from Islamist propagandists.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The very definition of \"Nazi\" is \"National Socialist German Workers Party\" They were \"socialists\" by definition.. You can look it up in Wikipedia. They were basically the 'right wing' of socialism, Communism being the left. Two sides of the same totalitarian coin. \n\nBut you proved my point that, \"there probably is some hatred among those on the far left\" Thank you! You just affirmed that which I didn't \"show\" The socialist, Jeremy Christian, supported Bernie Sanders. Sanders was man enough to apologize for it. Jeremy hated Muslims, Jews and Christians and is typical of the 'confused' religion hating, left wing zealots of today. They are volatile, usually un-employed, like most of Hitler's supporters were in the 20's and 30's. They feed on racial, ethnic and religious hatred/tensions, exploiting it wherever they can.\n\n Laws must be upheld. Those who break our laws, need to be punished, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or political affiliation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It was you who changed the subject, from \"Catholics could do more\" to \"the Pope was in cahoots with Hitler\" to \"the Pope was in cahoots with Mussolini\".\n\nThe NPR interview was part of its series promoting authors which supports its narrative, in this case its barely hidden anti-Catholic bias.\n\nI don't have to discredit this author, others have done it very well. Anti-Catholicism sells, and he is in for the money.\n\nThe only reason Rubinstein's assessment, and he is a historian several statures higher than the one he critiques, doesn't persuade you is because it does not fit your narrative, which has consisted of anti-Catholic material of scurrilous origins.\n\nHow that would advance a Catholic discussion remains a mystery.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Will the Muslim MPs also condemn these passages from the Qur'an that are taught to their children?\n\n\n-Kill then wherever ye find them- Qur'an 2:191\n-Make war on the disbelievers... living in your neighbourhood 9:123\n-Slay the idolaters and take them captive 9:5\n-Any religion other than Islam is not accepted 3:85\n-The Jews and Christians are perverse in their beliefs 9:30\n-...those who disbelieve... as for the thief.. both male and female... cut off their hands 5:36-38\n-...the believers and disbelievers are two opponents 22:19\n-...the disbelievers are a folk without intelligence 8:65\n-...take not a disbeliever as your friend 3:28\n-...smite the necks and each finger (of those who disbelieve) 8:12-13\nMohammed Marmaduke Pickthall Translation, 2009\n\n\nClearly, one could argue that the phobia goes both ways-- and regarding the purveyor of this motion, \"The lady doth protest too much, methinks.\"\nHamlet,\nWilliam Shakespeare", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The largely Progressive/Liberal controlled media and the Liberal Party itself considers any posts supporting Christianity and the traditional ideals that Canada was founded on as hate literature.\n\nNo wonder the imams in Canada aren't afraid to promote hatred and demand the death to all Jews in our mosques.\n\nThe National Post carried the story but not a peep from the Globe and Mail.\n\nhttp://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadian-politics/liberal-jewish-and-muslim-mps-condemn-imams-who-called-for-the-death-of-jews", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, abolish the culture and start over... Roman Catholicism is not divinely instituted, if you knew your church history you would not make such an uninformed statement... in doing so you are playing right into the hands of the pompous hierarchs and will never know the freedom of \"new life\" in Christ. Pope Francis has made some strides in this regard but will fall plenty short in the eyes of some. \n\nAnd I have news for you, the \"sins of the priest\" do matter. Deviant behavior from our so-called \"alter Christus\" is proof positive that they are not ontologically gifted, another remnant from Jewish/Hellenistic/pagan society that should be let go... at least the magic part as there is plenty of evidence to the contrary. \n\nDo you really believe that Jesus had in mind all the pomp and circumstance associated with medieval Roman/pagan pageantry, combined with a 5-syllable word known as Magisterium when he commissioned the twelve? Please, do a little research on this and see for yourself.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"You took me literally but not seriously. \u2014 Neko\nand\n\"Are you being willfully obtuse? AGAIN, the \"question\" was ironic.\nAs for your presumptuous rant, I have nothing to say to you.:\"\n\nYou don't seem to take yourself seriously, Neko, but I am curious what I look like thru \"hairy eyeballs.\"\nI didn't vote FOR Trump, I voted AGAINST Hillary. She committed crimes against humanity & killed tens of thousands. If Nuremberg had been, and established, an honest system of justice, she would be called to be judged.\n\n\"Judeo-Christian\" is a post-WWII construct --a meme-- used to devalue and demean Christianity, imposed by a relatively small but extraordinarily powerful group who seek political, moral and economic dominance, and especially the destruction of Catholicism.\n \nOnce again, I recommend the work of E Michael Jones as one committed Catholic who has studied, and is courageous enough to write and speak about, the danger this group poses to Catholicism and, indeed, to the USA and the world.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of course there have been pockets of violence by adherents of Catholicism (e.g., the I.R.A.), Buddhism (radicals in Sri Lanka) and most other religions. You might point out that these examples aren't about religious precepts but politics, and you'd be correct. The same is true of violence by groups professing Islam. The issue isn't religion. It's power-seeking under the guise of religion.\n\nEvery religion that's been around awhile has literature with passages that incite violence. Rational people understand they represent the sensitivities of a certain time and place. They also recognize the tempering influence of societal evolution.\n\nSure, there are Muslim extremists who use passages in the Quran to justify killing people. There are also nuts claiming to be Christian who play with poisonous snakes. But both are exceptions. Most Muslims do not kill, nor do they believe God wants them to kill. To claim otherwise is to view Islam through a lens of sheer bigotry.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "no wonder america is so hated by these muslim countries.. we tell them they are all heathens and that the only god is our god.. then we take their oil and leave them wallowing in poverty with hatred fueled by ignorance... imagine if they came to america and treated us this way.. oil field diplomacy and christian philosophy is a stew for war...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Lord's prayer doesn't mention Christianity; nonetheless, it is a Christian prayer, although I think Jews and Muslims could recite it unchanged without running afoul of their religious doctrines. On the other hand, atheists, agnostics, and followers of all non-Abrahamic religions could not.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We are different. We are not killing others because they are not adherents to our religious beliefs.\nWhen you are dealing with scum like this, you cannot show them any mercy. They would not\nshow you any if the tables were reversed. Learn from history. When the last time the Islamic\nfundamentalists went on a jihad against the West, they were stopped by Christian warriors who\nwere not afraid to be as merciless as they were. The thing that history shows us about\nthese islamic fundamentalist is that they see being merciful as weakness. This is part of the\nculture. You do not give them an inch, no matter what.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your use of the inquisition and particularly the crusades to condemn Christians shows a stellar ignorance of history.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Did you mean \"the Crusades\" (which was the reaction to Muslims invading Christian lands)?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would like to add a piece of information I became recently aware of- Clergy telling people that it is their duty to vote for Trump, because otherwise they would be guilty for all abortions. This is quite a strong message that could explain why some CAtholic women support Trump despite his stance against women. I learnt through an older woman, who is a life long Democrat, and who was deeply conflicted- seriously worried she would go to hell if she voted acording to her preference. Knowing pro-lifers (these are people that put evertything in second place to oppose the secular right to abortion by non-catholics) my educated guess is that there are very many priests doing this from the pews. Shamefull!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The politically-orchestrated death of a university system by the billionaire barons and their elected agents. Any oil employees can be hired from lower 48 schools without any of that useless liberal arts(history, literature, etc.) or non-oil science like climatology, biology, etc. Much better to teach 3Rs without any thinking skills beyond and finish it off with baptist christian fundamentalism to get all of their minds right. Good wage slaves willing to obey without dissent. All will be right with the world.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am not trying 'so hard' as accepting the facts of the ORIGINAL STORY that Ms.Flowers wrote above all this back-and-forth. The victims of the Holocaust, primarilly (though not only) Ashkenazi Jews had nowhere else to go. They established themselves in Israel and protected themselves in so doing.\n\nYou do not ask permission to survive.\n\nYou can argue about what Scripture says till the cows come home. Ultimately you can justify anything through Scripture. I take it as a great comfort that so many Israelis (according to you are atheists). My reaction: \"Can you blame them?\"\n\nThey have built a nation with Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Ba'hai, Agnostic, Atheist elements and races that encompass Ashkenazi Jews, Sephardi Jews, Arabs, Armenians, Africans, Hispanics (yes!). They have world class science centers and educational institutions there open to all. The idea of putting someone on trial for heresy is laughable in that environment.\n\nI hope they defend the hell out of it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This article, despite its brevity is so full of stereotypes that it is hard to read. The deep-pocketed evil Catholic Church (I.e. Bishops and clergy) and evil Boyscouts vs the pure-bright-light-knight-in-shining-armour Girlscouts and acting-moral-compass-sisters. It is clear that those opposing the extension of statute of limitation were more than the evil Boyscouts and RCC bishops. The fact that the compass-of-justice advocate decided to mention only these two (not to mention that she failed to give their actual and not only some wink-wink, nudge-nudge reasons) is presenting partial truth as the whole truth, which is simply called lying.\n\nI can only imagine, how sad public schools (among the miriad of others) were about this ruling... or are they completely off limit in these matters? Or is it that taxpayers money cannot be taken as compensation, only Church money donated by little old ladies?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How would that be a violation of their Catholic conscience?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"[S]ome church leaders saying it [Twitler's attack on Muslims] was necessary to protect the country's security.\"\n\nThe reporter should identify just WHO are these gutless \"church leaders\" who have abandoned the Gospels, who like to linger in the same gutter with Twitler. Tell us who they are.\n\nIf any of these \"church leaders\" are members of the Catholic hierarchy or priests, their faculties to preach and perform the sacraments should be revoked, and they should be silenced immediately.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Aga Khan's personal weath does NOT come from his followers at all. He has stated and explained this on countless occasions. You can see everything he has explained about it here:\n\nhttp://www.nanowisdoms.org/nwblog/wp-content/uploads/facebook/2013.08.25---excerpts-his-highness-the-aga-khan-on-the-tithes-(dasond)-given-to-him-by-ismailis.pdf \n\nThe tithing practice for Ismailis is not forced, it is voluntary and the Aga Khan does not enforce it in any way - similar to the Catholic's Peter's pence. Those who give a percentage of their income do it out of love. All Muslims are required by the Quran to give a portion of their wealth to the less fortunate. For the Ismailis, the Aga Khan is the trustee of these funds and he uses the tithes EXCLUSIVELY for the Ismaili Community and the AKDN's $600 million budget that he funds.\n\nAga Khan does not claim to be God, he claims to possess religious authority inherited from Prophet Muhammad in direct lineal descent as history bears witness.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The present day republican party is the result of an unholy alliance between \"christian\" conservatives and multi-national corporations: A little American populism in exchange for \"free market\" votes on the part of people who should know better. They've been banging each other in boardrooms since the eighties and Donald Trump is their love child. Reagan would be horrified, but that doesn't seem to stop them. Trump's been trying to throw the election but his base won't let him, and now he's actually entertaining the idea of really being president, ever since a corrupt democratic party threw the primary to hillary. Good news: After Obama, it really doesn't matter who has to be president. Bad news: It hasn't mattered for some time, and we're just cheering for the lesser of two evils, and we know it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"He doesn't do wedding cakes.\" Exactly, putting aside how incredibly stupid it is that some Christians hate Halloween, he does not make Halloween cakes for anyone. That is fine. He makes cakes only for heterosexual weddings, that is illegal under Colorado law.\n\nIt is amazing this is so hard for people to grasp.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why Allan, the one word I changed in my post was \"Christian\". And it kept getting censored, yet when I changed it to Muslim or Islam, the post wasn't censored. Isn't that amazing?\n\nThis post censored 3x already....why is \"christian\" a dirty word to the progressive left?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Crimean Tarters kidnapped Ukrainian and Russians and sold them on the slave markets in the Middle East. The Turks kidnapped Christian boys who were brought up from the age of 7 to serve in the Janissaries (infantry units). The slave trade is the reason why there are so many blond and blue eyed people in the Middle East.\n\nSlavery continues in the Middle East to today\u2019s date \u2013 although it no longer involves white children. Type into Google the words \u201cslavery Saudi Arabia\u201d or another country and read what appears.\nThe Muslim countries have never apologized for the white slave trade. No compensation has ever been offered to the descendants of the victims. No monument exists on the sites of the slave markets to commemorate the victims.\n\n4. On 3 occasions, Muslims nearly conquered Europe. Twice the Turks reached the gates of Vienna. Muammar Gaddafi, when he was Libyan leader, predicted that Muslims would conquer Europe through numbers and their birth rate.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Chalcedon was rejecting what the eastern bishops deemed was a silly claim by Rome to supremacy.\n\nAnd Vatican II most certainly DOES bind all Catholics dogmatically. Your claim that it does not places you in schism with the Catholic Church. If you repent, we will be happy to take you back.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Father Gruner participated in the anti-Semitic, neo-Nazi nexus of the traditionalist right.\n\nhttps://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/intelligence-report/2007/radical-traditionalist-catholics-spew-anti-semitic-hate-commit-violence-against-jews\n\nOr is this comment uncivil?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Rest in Peace Chris.\n\nSoundgarden's first big hit was Jesus Christ Pose. It was a damning song about Christianity solidifying Cornell's position in grunge's anti-establishment rock pantheon.\n\nHere's an excerpt from the song which flies in the face of today's culture political correctness.\n\n\"And you stare at me\nIn your Jesus Christ pose\nArms held out\nLike you've been carrying a load\nAnd you swear to me\nYou don't want to be my slave\nBut you're staring at me\nLike I need to be saved\"\n\n....Lyrics by Chris Cornell.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The article is very superficial. In case of Partition of Sudan, it was Muslim North versus Christian South. What is now?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Growing up in the 1950's I had a gay uncle. He was charming and well educated with a lot of friends but they were all in the \"closet\". I saw my uncle dressed as a woman several times. In 1952 an American soldier had a sex reassignment surgery in Denmark that made world news and he became Christine Jorgensen. So I know for a fact that there have been members of the LBGT community in this nation since I was born and before that I am sure. So until some good Christians just in the last couple of years brought up the horror of having to share a restroom with a LBGT person what did transgender or cross dressing people did before this if they had to \"go\"? In the woods? The GOP self appointed righteous always fixing a problem that does not exist.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "To which Church's teaching do you refer? Because all too often, Francis jettisons Catholic teaching like an empty can of beer.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Welp, I think, luckily, that, wise people simply decided against the unconscionable act of electing Hillary Clinton - The Destroyer of Nations. Regardless of what the Donald could do, or what he wants to do, he has no record of turning a functioning country (Libya) into a failed state run by terrorist groups where gays, women and children, and especially Christians, are killed everyday for being themselves.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh please. I've been banned from conservative Catholic sites that allow the most noxious ideologues free reign. They are the worst suppressors of \"free speech.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Translation: most Roman Catholics and a lot of theologians are heretics. \"\n\nNo, a lot of Roman Catholics disagree with YOU.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Please read the paper- Paris, Brussels, Holland, attacks on Jewish institutions, businesses and individuals. Not hard to find Roy. One doesn't have to be a bigot to look at hard truths and this is one. The last to presidents of France have had to go out of their way to reassure French Jews that they are welcome in France to the level of fear- and the fear is coming from attacks by radicalized Muslims. I don't condemn all Christians for outfits like the KKK and Westboro- but I'm not going to be willfully blind and deny they exist.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"He is a bully\". When an individual is assailed from every side, when your words are twisted; taken out of context; when members of your family are demeaned; when you are accused of base perversions; when you are attacked against every principle of fair and honest treatment, then yes it is appropriate for a man to fight back. This is not arrogance. It is not bullying. \n\nCatholics and the church hierarchy would do well to stand up and fight for what they believe. They would do well to show the degree of commitment, confidence and conviction that Donald Trump has demonstrated. The church's \"\"meekness\" is not what Jesus spoke of in the Sermon. It is weakness and fear. It is the facade that seeks to hide cowardliness. There is no virtue here. There is no love. There is no evangelical spirit. There is no faith. There is only a pathetic church in a perpetual state of retreat.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You're missing the point. No one is seriously suggesting Bannon is a conspirator in a plot to overthrow Pope Francis. Straw man.\n\nThe point is there's an ultra-conservative, Burkean faction in the Catholic Church with ideological ties to Bannon and the \"alt-right.\" Further, this faction represents one vector in a trans-national, ideological realignment toward authoritarianism, ethno-nationalism, Islamophobia and patriarchy. and away from democracy, pluralism and egalitarianism. Hence the pivot among conservative Christians to the former font of all evil, Russia. And under what glorious banner has this shift occurred? Anti-abortion/anti-feminism, anti-LGBT rights and white supremacy.\n\nAnyone care to dispute any of this?\n\nI'd never read Emma-Kate Symons and took some of her piece as rhetorical. Apparently we live in a moment where it's necessary to point out that neo-Nazism is bad and the church should have nothing to do with it. Good for her.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "An income tax would raise $200 Million, enough to cover one boondoggle like this per year and pay for the staff in an office to tax us.\n\nAlaskans can never pay enough in taxes to make this legislature happy with their spending habits.\n\nAll of the taxes Walker wants to impose will raise almost enough to cover the tax credits to oil companies.\n\nAlaskans need to wake up demand changes to our oil tax structure.\n\nNo one was held accountable for lying about SB21 and giving billions away in oil revenue,\n\nNow they want to tax us and take our permanent fund.\n\nThey become more greedy and corrupt every time they get away with lying and stealing, such Christians.\n\nIf we don't stop them, they will want more, maybe our first born children next. They can sell them into slavery to pay for the pipeline.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ah, Catholic dogma. Making innocents suffer for over 2,000 years. A sterling legacy of persecution based on works of the imagination. A ban on women priests too, still, in 2017. Sigh. The spiritual consolation provided must be extraordinary if it can make kind, thinking human beings look the other way on these files. And that is what they're doing--looking the other way. Dogma that categorizes women and LGBTQ as lesser categories of human beings? If you stay in the church, you sanction its continuance (to truly terrible effect in some countries worldwide--it's official Vatican stuff, people, whatever your home opinions may be) for decades at least to come. No theological arguments and angles proffered will change that. Look to your consciences, y'all. Walk away. Now. Please. Find god elsewhere.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic Church has been sticking its nose into politics since its formation in the early 4th century with Constantine. After so many centuries of political involvement there is just no way these religionists are going to stop trying to manipulate political entities. The best we can hope for is to minimize it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I did not write the Gospel. Take it up with God. I could state a person who suffers sexual attraction to children is nature, not choice and love is a right of nature.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Though the shift here is that a bishop's permission is no longer required to absolve a penitent who's had an abortion.\n\nBut yeah. No matter what the lip service, the church views women as second-class humans defined by their reproductive capacity whereas men as a direct reflection of God Almighty are fully, normatively human. It doesn't get much more sexist than that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In order to understand the term \"islamophobia\" we must also understand Islam's own misogyny, homophobia, hatred of Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Europe, America, democracy, dogs, free speech, human rights and now even Canadian open society and everything else not permitted (haram) by Islam. Open hatred against white Canadians is now permitted (halal) and printed regularly in the Globe.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Here's Pius again, \"that erroneous opinion, most fatal in its effects on the Catholic Church and the salvation of souls, called by Our Predecessor, Gregory XVI, an 'insanity,' viz., that 'liberty of conscience and worship is each man's personal right, which ought to be legally proclaimed and asserted in every rightly constituted society;'\"\n\nDignitatis Humanae says: \"This Vatican Council declares that the human person has a right to religious freedom.\"\n\nThe two statements CONTRADICT each other. There is no way that an honest person would claim that they did not. Your blathering that freedom of religion is not an absolute right is irrelevant. You cannot sacrifice your children to Moloch. As the US Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes famously said about freedom of speech, \"The most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man falsely shouting fire in a theater and causing a panic.\" \n\nAs I said, mental gymnastics. In this case, the logical fallacy of the Red Herring.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Congratulations on your new position! \n\nThe most important issue I have is making sure if you hear ANY complaints about possible sexual abuse you investigate them thoroughly and from the victim's side. Don't assume the accused is innocent and involved the authorities ASAP. There is too much of a sexual abuse cover up culture in the Catholic Church, and the safety of your members is paramount above all. Alaska has the highest abuse rates in the country, so take this seriously and protect your congregation over your priest and reputation. Sexual predators do not stop, they are not able to be \"rehabilitated\" so moving them around and keeping it quiet makes you just as guilty as if you were the abuser yourself. God is a God of love, truth and accountability, there is no \"forgiving and forgetting\", no \"turning of the cheek\" for sexual offenders. \n\nWith that, I wish you the best, do right by your children in the church. We all need a higher power to believe in, whatever it is.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Indeed, abusing priests have been overwhelmingly from a tiny, distinct cohort of society. To say it is a Catholic generalized Catholic problem is a ludicrous waste of time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Are you deliberately trying to be clueless?\nYou call the Blaine Amendment bigoted, and then you get upset when I ask about its current impact on Roman Catholics.\nYou've been playing the naive wounded card for too long.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's utter nonsense (but trendy, especially here) to assert \"For years Catholic ascetical practice denigrated \"feelings\" and emotions\". Show the teaching, show the suggestion.\n\nYou clearly misunderstood what was being taught.\n\nOf course, the objective is integration. Integration of our faculties to serve the good, which is different than serve our comfort principally.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If it had been a priest abusing an altar boy, you wouldn't be reading about it here. The Catholic Church pederasty enabling cartel would have quietly transferred the priest to another parish, perhaps out of state.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus taught his disciples to care for the poor (welfare), heal the sick (health care), feed the hungry (food stamps/food banks), cloth the poor, and visit the prisoners. I don't see conservative Catholics following Jesus because they would rather follow their money interest political ideology, like the camel going through the eye of the needle.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They deserve it for bullying and thrashing regular Catholics. I am sure that the LCWR among others appreciate Pope Francis dressing down the Curia.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Like those who advocate for Church acceptance of the mortal sin of homosexuality, Cardinal Law is an example of those who flaunt the moral teachings of the Church.\n\nCardinal Law and homosexual advocates have much more in common with each other than they realize.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "leaving aside your snide, inaccurate, insulting comments on the Bible and your bias trying to equate sexual preferences to bigotry based on skin color or religion (you are the complete bigot about Christianity and Christians) and dealing with just the Constitution, the 1st amendment rights are INALIENABLE. Therefore, all specious claims to special rights to violate the 1st amendment and throwing specious legal tantrums over not getting a luxury are just that specious and false. No legislation will cure what you see as bigotry and discrimination, but defending and asserting the petty specious false claims to discrimination punishable by loss of one's chosen occupation is contradicting liberty and justice and equality, founding principles, not to mention logic, morality and rationality. It is the height of intolerance. Toleration does not mean approval and that is what homosexuals want APPROVAL illegally enforced.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And of course none of it was Curran's fault. \nCurran had the choice of ceasing to attack the Church from within and retaining his licence, he chose not to and lost it. To say the CDF ruined his 'career' is therefore absolute nonsense. Anyway isn't Pope Francis continuously railing against 'careerist' clergy?\nThe CDF did not declare him unfit to teach theology, it declared him unfit to teach 'Catholic' theology and he now serves at Southern Methodist University, Dallas. Like Hans K\u00fcng he should count himself lucky not to be suspended 'a divinis'.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "<\"But a life form without a brain isn't (conclusively) a human person.\"\nDoes an acorn become a tree? \n\n<\"I approve of it, (Catholic ethic of life) for the most part.\"\nFor the most part? Such equivocation. You also support a woman's to right to choose to kill a child in her womb as a \"reproductive right\". So are you for or against abortion - from the moment of conception - or not? \n\n<\"Theocrats wish to impose their religious convictions on a pluralistic polity, an agenda that will always meet with resistance in the USA.\"\nNonsense. The Catholic Church and Catholics are both entitled and obliged to exercise their duties as citizens in the public square in a pluralistic liberal democracy. That's not imposition - attempting to silence them is. Secularcrats do this all the time. \n\n<\"The nativity narratives are theological fiction\">\nSorry, I thought you were a Catholic. I didn't realise you were meddling in Catholic affairs all this time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "People wish to be loved and accepted as God has created them. They want to be parts of loving, caring communities. Maybe \"TLM,\" Masses are full of young families. Great, go be happy, but stop pressuring everyone else to conform to your expectations. Most of us moved well past the dark mysterious church of pre-Vatican II full of God's judgement and wrath. There is room in our Roman Catholic Faith for all. And why interject your political notions into this conversation? Donald Trump is a vial, racist, foul, philandering man whose words during the campaign should have caused all Christians to run the opposite way. Unfortunately, angry white people voted for him. God bless our country that we can survive him.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If the jesus showed up I am sure the politicians invoking his name to do the most unjesuslike things to their fellow man, will have to explain their actions. The republicans, evangelicals and democrats are defunding domestic health and social programs to fund wars of conquest, greed and genocide, in order for a few parasites in power who depend on other countries resources for profit. Their policies are completely opposite of the Jesus, and the Jesus shows he was a librul", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It isn't about Gallagher or his writing style. I never heard of the guy before today and have no interest in him. But his argument is the same one espoused by many other more influential voices and it needs to be addressed.\n\nSince Roe v. Wade there's been a false dichotomy between issues on which a person could use prudential judgment and those that are, ostensibly, nonnegotiable. At first it was just about abortion, but in the 40+ years since then, they've upped the ante by adding euthanasia and gay marriage to the list. And now, apparently, public restrooms have been added! How much more of this nonsense do we tolerate?\n\nI reject the false narrative that this is the way it's always been, and there are other reasoned voices in the Church making the same argument. That's what I care about, not the ramblings of a long-winded grad student.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Evangelicals are disgusted by everything that they think isn't approved in the Bible. And they are a confused bunch that cannot ever distinguish form from substance, as the term \"fundamentalist\" implies. Trump has the values of a sociopathic rapist and thief, but he looks and acts like an evangelical preacher compared to other candidates. Evangelicals are fooled by that kind of thing all the time. They embody the old saying, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. They always have pure and holy motives, but they are riddled with hatred of one kind or another, misogyny, racism, xenophobia, crass materialism, lack of respect for anything outside their narrow values, and a host of other sins they cannot see. When the only thing one values is interpretation of the Bible, everything else has to be viewed with suspicion, at least.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholic concern for health care seems so hypocritical to me after all they church did to undermine and\nroll back ACA.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Christianity, Judaism and Islam, the three Abrahamic Religions are the root of all evil in this world. \n\nWe are being held hostage by an out dated Charter of Rights and Freedoms. It is ridiculous that in this day and age we must be held hostage with religious accommodation based on cultural values from 2000 years ago.\n\nWhat a joke.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Muslims and liberals excoriate us about Islamophobia, but we should bear in mind Islam's entrenched racism, xenophobia, homophobia, misogyny, anti-Semitism, hatred of Christianity, Europe and America, destructive iconoclasm, and even Islamophobia against each other. Ancient tribal wars between Kurds, Shiite, Sunni, Wahhabi, Druze and other Islamic sects, ISIS , Taliban and Al Quada are the root causes of most of the wars and social chaos happening around the world today. It is worse than anything expressed in the west, even by trolls.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "No, because Christians do don't say to stone a person to death or to throw them off buildings, like the muslims do. Christians respect people who are different while praying based on their beliefs.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "As usual Shannyn Moore puts out her annual Easter/Thanksgiving /Christmas rant about the Bible/White\"Christian\" Republican politicians... What a hateful, self-righteous, unimportant column.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "My personal take on religions as a whole, at least the basic message is, \"Don't be a jerk\". You can argue about the definition of what being a jerk is, but ultimately, that is the basic message. If you do good in the world, to take your quote above, your soul will prosper, but ultimately, you are doing good to make the world a better place. At least that is my take on it. \n\nGlad to see a Minister speak out against the whole prosperity gospel, which as a non-Christian offends me, I think as a Christian, I would be a whole lot more upset by it.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Mr. Hobson is mocking Burke's hypocrisy with this. Burke is so upset that Amoris Laetitia allows a few remarried people to receive Communion without an annulment; these people tend to be the most innocent people in the divorce. The classic case is the abused and abandoned woman who remarries and finds happiness but cannot get an annulment for a myriad of reasons. Burke wants to deny such a hypothetical woman Communion without examining the particulars of the case, but he is totally okay with aligning himself with a thrice married Catholic who is alleged to have abused at least one ex because he serves Burke's odious political purposes. \n\nAnd while I am generally against Catholic priests denying politicians Communion for political judgments, I think Bannon's case is one of the rare cases where Canon 915 does apply. The man is clearly a racist demagogue who is using his position to spread hate. It is scandalous for him to receive Communion.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "So glad I'm not one of these \"Christians.\" They knowingly support a constant liar, bigot, and unrepentant sex-offender. It undermines any actual religious message they might promote. \n\nUnlike the mainstream denominations, they seem to have little to offer except congratulating themselves on their righteuosness and damning others for the way they were born.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "It 's sad and so disgusting to the terrorist action against Christians especially close to Easter. However, due to M-103 passed soon becoming law the current government, I cannot use stronger words to condemn those Islamic terrorists.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Well, the OP singled out one religion, and claimed that students wanted a mosque in school, which is complete nonsense. \n\nIf the OP has an issue with the law, then it should only be changed when it is applied uniformly to all religions. When Catholic schools are shut down and no one is allowed to pray or celebrate religious holidays in public schools, then the prayer room should also be eliminated. Until then, it's quite hypocritical to say that Muslims shouldn't be allowed to pray for an hour a week when we have entire taxpayer funded schools dedicated to sects of Christianity.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Hmmmm, your take on Christianity is limited, WA. In the one I'm familiar with, Jesus invites anyone who is \"burdened and heavy-laden\" to come to Him, and He will give them rest. My take on radical Islam is, \"become a Muslim, or we will kill you.\" i.e., a loving invitation, vs. a demand on threat of death.\n\nI would agree that many who claim to be Christians often demonstrate quite un-Christlike behavior. Look to the person of Jesus himself, and ignore the hypocrites, who Jesus himself warned about.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Sure, Wheeler visits the house of the milktoast christians on Sunday, but he worships at the tit of corporate profit the rest of the week. \n\nAre we really going to ignore their policy and base the election on their level of sky-god delusion? As far as that goes, they both seem like cafeteria christians to me.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "This organization has caused nothing but more pain and betrayal to victims. The above article demonstrates that ruined lives and lifelong pain are legal inconveniences to this organization. \n\nThis organization acts like a church when it benefits them, claims moral superiority on what is right and wrong. It preaches that we should do the right thing.\nWhen it does not benefit them to act like a church they refuse to do the right thing. They do what the law will allow them to do and hide behind arcane SOL laws. The principles behind Reconciliation, penance, reparation, confession and truthfully coming clean are taught to Catholic children and presented as a sacred sacrament. This sacrament is tossed in the trash when it comes to dealing with the victims of clergy rape and molestation. \nFor a childhood decision to be closer to Jesus by serving mass I was given a life sentence, I was repeatedly raped and caused only pain by the ruthless response of this Church. How Pathetic!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Why don't you interview some Milwaukee Archdiocese priests, nuns and parishioners. It would be interesting to find out why almost all were silent to the callous acts and public duplicity of their Archbishop, Listecki.\nListecki announced that his decision to file bankruptcy was to fairly take care of victims. He asked us to come forward. He promised that nothing would stop him from providing healing resolution and fair compensation to those who have been hurt so deeply. \nNothing stopped him alright!\nListecki immediately spent millions to have every victims claim thrown out. Listecki stated that not even one claim had merit. He put us through 5 years of hell.\nTurns out his promises for healing and fairness were a pre-planned bait and switch with his goal to wipe out as many victims as possible at once.\nDolan secretly paid the pedo-priests that raped us 20k to quietly leave. The scum that raped us got more than many of the victims.\nMilwaukee Catholics and priests silently looked away.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Lets just combine the Catholic church and the Boy Scouts organizations into one entity. They both have been doing the same thing FOREVER, ABUSING and having Intestinal Intercourse with young boys.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "OK, but it's complicated, and (1) the official recognition by the church that our marriages can be true sacramental unions, and (2) the statement a church wedding would make to all Catholics of all kinds, that marriages between same-sex partners are as valid and as holy as those between opposite-sex partners, would mean a great deal.\n\nMy husband and I were civil-unionized in Vermont in 2000, and married by the province of Qu\u00e9bec in 2005; and while we don't actually require a church wedding, nevertheless we consider our marriage a sacramental one, and take seriously the church's traditional aspirations for the relationship between married partners.\n\nMeanwhile, with regard to the many gay Catholics who have consulted their conscience and decided to leave the church, I understand their decision. Not only that, but I understand their expressions of bitterness toward many in the hierarchy, though conservative Catholics tend to be put off by it. To those Catholics: Tough.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You seem to ignore the facts. There were 32,000 terrorist attacks by muslims against the rest of the world in the last 15 years. And even the Quebec mosque murders was not a terrorist attack. How many buddhist attacks have you seen? Or even christian attacks? To my knowledge the number is 0. With such a high number of attacks by one single religion, you really expect that muslims will be perceived in a good light? Many times we deal with people, we dont even know their religion. It's never written on their foreheads. So people like you instead of playing the offended should concede that there is a huge problem with islam. And you should sympathize with anyone who is against this violence, and this hate against the rest of the world by muslims. We need protection from muslims since they have showed how dangerous they are.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "A Christian threatened to kill you ? Wow ! You of course have proof this person is a Christian ? And not someone masquerading as one ? As far as these laws the Rabbi is referring to, most of our (ever changing) laws are modeled after moral principles found in the Bible,which came first, the Chicken or the Egg ?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The archdiocese doesn't seem to want to trust its Catholics to make employment decisions by themselves, seeking, shaming them away from work that doesn't support the Mexican Government's position. \n\nThe archdiocese'appears to be in bed with the Mexican government.\n\nThey'd rather their subjects simply went on the Mexican (or US) welfare system than work on a big wall project, designed to enforce the laws of a nation.\n\nMexico is full of illegal activity...drugs, prostitution, you name it...no shaming from the archdiocese. \n\nThere's no \"shaming\" away of Mexican people from such corrupt employment...because if they did shame the Mexicans that support the drug and prostitution trade the archdiocese would immediately feel the he", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Now you're being silly. You said that the concept of mortal sin and other \"small-minded rules\" should be abolished. I showed you how the Church's hierarchy of sins is based on the word of God with a biblical reference for each of the 4 sins that cry to heaven for vengeance. And you come back with more inanities and the insistence that you have educated yourself to such a degree that you have no more need for the word of God. Why even call yourself Catholic? LOL.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Metooist: You raise the key questions relating to religions. Is god (or God), if he,she, it or they exist, loving or vengeful, kind or rather nasty? How about folks who pray to god (God) for rather petty things....victory in a football game for example.....would a god(God) really be interested in such matters? As we look around us at the harm being done in the name of various gods(Gods), would any supreme being really want such actions? The list of rather depressing questions could go on for pages. I've met very loving, wonderful people of all religions. I've met very loving, wonderful people who are athiests or agnostics. I've met really nasty, hateful people who are self-avowed Christians, and, again, I've met nasty, hateful people who are agnostics or athiests. How about radical Muslim zealots.....not really nice folks. Yet, the vast majority of Muslims are peaceful individuals. Good is done in the name of religion...so is evil. \nI share your skepticism re: religion.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Awesome, Colorado was already filthy with super fakey surface level 'christians', now were even more so ... GO HOME!!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Your comment is silly. It presumes only partial, and arguably errant, aspects of an anthropologic, sociologic, and subjective view of sexuality. The whole reason the Church persists in her teaching (..yes, she persisted and still persists...) is because she communicates the life of GRACE available to those who follow the gospel of Christ, her founder. Grace helps us in our growth in HOLINESS, our coming to know and see Christ better, that we might one day be able and worthy to see HIM in all His glory. If we strive for grace, them the subjective views, and first hand \"knowledge\" and \"experience\" of the laity can be properly weighed by their true worth and merit. Then we see that the personal arguments and experience of an adulterer, pervert, pornographer, sodomite, fornicator, etc, dont really matter much.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You have demonstrated your ignorance of the Catechism. Canon 915 certainly applied to Tim Kaine due to the fact abortion is intrinsically evil verses the issues of prudential judgement. It's too bad there are uneducated Catholics like you and Bishop McElroy destroying this Church.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "yada, yada, yada, its like men deciding womens issues, straight people deciding lgbtq issues, christians deciding religious issues and healthy people deciding ill peoples issues. if it doesn't directly affect you, its none of your business, no matter what that invisible guy in the sky or the horned devil tells you.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "100% BS.....even \"conservative\" bishops spend 20-50X as much money on liberal social justice nonsense than they do on \"conservative\" issues like opposing abortion and defending marriage. \n\nThe Catholic bishops have been whores for liberal garbage like Nancy Piglosi, Ted Kennedy, Biden, and the rest of the Democratic Left.\n\nMeanwhile, the civil rights of WHITE ETHNIC CATHOLICS have been under assault for decades: forced busing...racial quotas....affirmative action....diversity garbage.\n\nThe black political establishment is the ENEMY of Catholics and the Church. A Chuch whichi is 97% white has no business ass-kissing anti-Catholic Negroes.\n\nTime to act accordingly.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Glad you feel that way......\n\nHere is a video clip of Ted Nugent...who has been to the White House to visit Trump, as well as jammed out with that \"Good Christian\", Mike Huckabee, on Fox News.\n\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q37iySV5KEE\n\nTo my knowledge, he has never apologized.\n\nI'm not a fan of Kathy Griffin, and what she did was absolutely disgusting and tasteless, but at least she did apologize.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Oh dear, I thought everyone here knew the term. Do a google search for \"lenin useful.\"\n\nSeriously....5 adult Catholics here don't know the term \"useful idiot\" and how it applies to anyone who's good intentions are used by an organization to further their own ends?\n\nDid any of you go to college?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "And you want to know why the numbers of people going to services has dropped so heavily- or why the number of Catholics sliding into the Episcopal world is rising (or part of the Episcopal world that is). Why are we here (American's)? You my as well publish tithing for everybody too- So you are telling me through all this smack that it is okay for 'your' group to go out and hate and talk nonsense- If everyone would learn to go back to the 'Cardinal Rule' we would all do better- yet you have chosen to make all this hate acceptable, like giving kids guns so that they will grow up to kill as in other worlds- apostate comes to mind- Commandments, Prayer in School, Christmas.... all nonplusses here- where are you going?..... in fairness, what people hear and read create these issues and if their is nothing to ensure validity and accuracy. If people wish to be unpleasant they will, regardless of what surrounds them", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wow. As a member in good standing of the Law Society of Upper Canada, I am ashamed of the position we are taking. Does this mean that if I choose to take extra courses from Trinity Western that my existing membership is in jeopardy? What about if I take courses from a Seminary or Bible College? In my 35+ year career, I can safely say that I have NEVER imposed my evangelical Christian views on a client, co-worker, or anyone. Why on earth would my taking courses from a school that asks its students to adhere to a statement of faith (That I believe in) in any way make me unfit to practice law? What if TWU Had a medical school? Would we not hire their doctors??? It is truly to be hoped that the Supreme Court will rule in favour of TWU.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The best choice would be to return to the model of christian community used in the early church. There were no priests, nor bishops,, or pope. The community met in homes and shared a meal, with bread (real bread) and wine as eucharist, remembering Jesus' words to his followers (BTW, none were RC, all were Jews and all were sinners). The heads of the household, including women, were usually the presiders. Often the communities asked one of their own to be their \"leader\" - the people \"ordained\" their own priests in that sense, it was not top down, - no \"bishop\" imposed a \"priest\" on the community. No \"pope\" impsed a bishop on the church. Even later, no bishop served without the consent of the church - ll the people of the community.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Canada has a history of socialism and Marxism. For 150 years it has been the same. The missionaries came to Canada to populate the country with Christians. The settlers who were released from prison in Europe with the agreement they would change, become good Christians and live in Canada.\n-\nWhat has changed since 150 years ago? Nothing. They are still trying to push Marxism on natives, on new and old immigrants. They everyone should be the same and Christian (but they do recognize the Jews and Muslims as equal.) It is a caste system.\n-\nCanada continues to enslaves the natives with socialism. The right thing to do is free them, once and for all, but giving them their own land, their own country. Let them have their own government, laws and let them solve their own problems.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As an agnostic, I find the entire Old and New Testament, the apocrypha, the commentaries, the Catholic catechisms, and every bit of relevant theology and doctrine by all 'Christian' sects to be 'fake news'.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Based on reports from various institutions run by Holy Mother Church in Ireland, the Catholic Church in Ireland has a great deal of experience in disposing of large numbers of dead children. Perhaps our Courageous Bishops should consult with them?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Poor Pope Francis, caught between a rock and a hard place, between\n...ancient interpretations of papal leadership rooted in monarchical male dominion with its considerable $$$ support\n...and modern understandings of leadership rooted in authentic representation of Jesus preaching of the will of God, regardless of gender.\n\nShould Rome be forced to accept woman priesthood when Rome itself could not force the Eastern Churches to accept Western theology, governance, liturgy? The only solution then became the \"toleration\" of other rites/churches in union with Rome.\n\nWithout a Vatican II Rite/Church, alongside the Roman Rite/Church, tolerating Rome's ultra-conservative interpretation of priesthood, theology, liturgy...Catholic Women priests will always be considered heretics by Rome, no? RiteBeyondRomeDOTcom.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"And Christians love everyone\". The 1840s Anglo Protestants in Canada viewed the wave of Irish Refugees arriving in Canada as an invasion. The French Catholic response was much different, \"\"In June, the Superior of the Gray Nuns summoned her nuns, explained the situation and asked for volunteers, specifying that she would send them to death. All agreed. At the end of the month, thirty of the forty nuns are sick. Seven die soon after. They are replaced by the Sisters of Providence. It's not sufficient; The cloistered sisters of the H\u00f4tel-Dieu got exceptional permission to go out to help the sick. The priests are volunteers; Anglophones must look very close to the dying to hear their confessions. They succumb in their turn; They sent for the Jesuits from New York. There are six hundred orphans on Grosse \u00cele. At the Mass on Sunday at the Cathedral of Quebec, the parishioners saw poorly dressed children, who occupied the first benches ...that all children should be adopted ...They are.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It interests me why Gorsuch, Pence, and other former Catholics went the protestant road. I always wonder what the issue was that made them change churches. \n\nIf questioned, I doubt if most of them would say what the issue was. And I can't blame them. No doubt they realize that any answer they give would incite theological or personal controversy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Why does Protestant North America so consistently and so overwhelmingly outperform Catholic Central and South America? Because WE [caps mine] inherited a lot of good ideas and habits from the Puritans.\"\n\nSo, you're finally outing yourself as a Protestant. Perhaps you'd be happier dumping your daily dose of venom in some Protestant publication. Lord knows, we wouldn't miss you here.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hmmmm. . .like I said, Pan, now I know that will want to read it myself, so thanks for the un-recommendation. I trust Dennis far far more than I trust you or u, u being neither Catholic nor Christian. Always interesting to see the Rel. Right stroke the atheists and secularists on their way to fighting with LIBERALS.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mmmm...nope sure sounds like Christians to me. \n\nHow about them Duggars, amirite?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't think he was a good priest. I think he was a delusional conspiracy theorist, a grifter and an antisemite.\n\nI think Fatima and Akita are bogus, therefore I have no fear.\n\nThe Catholic faith has zero to do with Marian apparitions. I thought you trads were such catechism thumpers.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of course they do. But they Can't Do It All, as history has evidenced. And one would think those who claim this is supposedly a Christian nation, founded on Christian principles, intended to act under God's law, honoring God's will, would INSIST this government act in a Christian manner, as part of the Christian effort -- and be part of the churches' and synagogues' and charitable organizations' efforts to feed, clothe, heal, etc. More \"what can we as a Christian nation do to help our brothers and sisters, working to fill the gaps the churches can't\" and less of this \"those bums aren't entitled to my tax dollars, what the churches can't do, too bad.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jewish and Christian women are also supposed to cover their heads.\n\nhttp://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/who-has-not-made-me-a-woman/\n\nhttp://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/11-6.htm", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Abuse percentages are actually greater in other Christian denominations and in schools than in the Catholic Church. Celibacy has no correlation to abuse. The cover-up is the real scandal.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you check the numbers, dad, there are more acts of terrorism done in the name of Christianity than there is in the name of Islam.\u2019 And factually, that\u2019s the truth.\u201d\n\n_________________________\n\nThat's not true. They kill and maim people everyday in Countries that use Islam as law and the slavery of women in burkas is fascism at its highest level. Add further, the word Islam in Arabic means \"submission\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Grace,\nThis has been a big stumbling block for me from day one in all of this. Regardless of whatever else the bishops may do (or not do), the conscious and ongoing choice to not hold themselves accountable, in the same way they hold the laity accountable for misdeeds members of the laity may inflict on the church, creates a terrible double standards in the church. And all too sadly, in their historical powers to rewrite church history, this whole episode will one day be written up as something that happened to the church by external forces There will be little or no mention of what all of this actually cost the church: costs that simply must be measured in terms of human carnage, the loss of faith in the church by (literally) millions, and a deep shattering of so much of what the church teaches.\n\nI can't and won't speak for victims of abuse. I could never do their voices justice. But I DO think that bishops owe not just God, but the church's laity accountability, personally.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "NCR is not catholic at all. They don't believe in any of the doctrines or dogmas of the church. They don't even believe Jesus was real or that he formed a church with delegated powers. Obviously once you reject that you are not a catholic. Basically they reject everything that inconveniences them and use polysyllabic obfuscation, not fooling anyone with half a brain of course, only themselves, to avoid saying what they mean. Clear expression is their enemy. Their hobbyhorse is the early christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Like yourself...public .protesting was never my deal....I did teach folks how to politically get the attention of their leaders ....though, at the request of my Catholic Charities boss.\n\nFor me it was the Iraq war....I just couldn't buy the WMD argument...decided to march in SF...had a lot of trouble finding someone to go with..but did....and was terribly impressed with the presence of so many faith traditions particularly the Quakers..now of course..it's history.\n\nYour very recent and very ugly reason for protest is what to some degree or other I think has/is changing the equation....reaction wise.\n\nWhen we as a country begin to approximate Germany in the early 30s ..this gets attention. As Thomas Friedman said...these alt right folks were always there but we didn't know....and now they have been given social permission to display their arts and we, I think, have been given a serious obligation to protect our democracy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are a handful on here, that can only claim they are being persecuted because they are \"conservative\" or Christian, or some other group that is if not in the majority, is at least a decent sized portion of the population.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nor does the Catholic Church, or the Mormon sect, openly admit that their formal doctrines make women second-class citizens. They don't have to. One simply has to look at the obvious facts of the total absence of women in any real leadership positions in those groups--indeed, for a thousand years women in the Catholic Church have been servants (to men), and women in the Mormon sect, for a century and a half, have simply been breeders and pleasure-givers (per founder Smith's perspective--see Krakauer's \"Under the Banner of Heaven\" for a useful look at the development of Mormonism). Indeed, until the 1970s the Mormon church was openly racist, as well as misogynist. It has \"formally\" abandoned the former position (though minority membership remains miniscule), but the role of women remains clear.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Interesting. Here is an experiment. Remove \"Catholic\" and replace with \"Muslim\". Say that these emails came from a senior Republican staffer for Donald Trump. All other words remain the same.\nConsider the outrage that would be coming from MSW about the intolerance of the Republicans.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christianity has a long history of failed prophecies, starting with St. Paul's assurance of the imminent return of Christ and cataclysmic transformation of the cosmos in his lifetime.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's all very nice that these liberal-sounding faith coalitions are so concerned about gun violence in this country that they're taking a principled stance against it, but their collective voices might as well be whistling past the graveyard because last November their voices were drowned out by other, larger conservative \"faith coalitions\" like the USCCB, the Southern Baptist Convention, the entirety of the so-called evangelical faith community and most other Christians who supported Donald Trump and his strong allegiance to the NRA. Now that he's slithered into the Oval Office there will be only relaxation of gun laws, not strengthening of them. These people can make all the noise they want but they'd do better to save their breath until it comes time to elect new members of Congress to help flush out the filth that has invaded Washington like drug-resistant bacteria. Only then will the real hope for change exist. Right now is the time to rest and let the Republicans hang themselves.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Or support the so called 'gay culture' \" lol.\n\nEvery Catholic who puts in the collection is supporting one of the world's biggest gay cultures.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh, duh. Those who have encountered Him know He is real. No, He wasn't married, or any other hoopla set forth by the Christophobics. By the way, the encounters are increasing thru dreams and visions, especially in the Muslim world, where the Bible is illegal. The Word made flesh is revealing Himself to those who seek Him with all their hearts. And for those who are rabidly afraid of True Christianity: RELAX. The triune God will never force Himself on you. True agape love requires that you choose who you will serve.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why a Catholic school would align themselves with JJ is beyond my comprehension. His only motive is money and whatever else he is known to go after.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Skip, the courts banned the Lord's Prayer because it was imposed on ALL students:\n\n\"The recitation of the Lord\u2019s Prayer, which is a Christian prayer, and the reading of Scriptures from the Christian Bible impose Christian observances upon non-Christian pupils and religious observances on non-believers.\"\n~ Zylberberg v. Sudbury Board of Education (1988, Ontario Court of Appeal)\n\nThat's in no way the case with Friday muslim services in a spare classroom of Peel high schools. So, no - Judeo-Christian values do not carry less weight than Islamic values. The Freedom of Religion found in our Charter of Rights applies to all religions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So our Catholic Churches would empty out like the Anglican ones...nice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sorry, but as a Christians our faith relationship is with Christ. Not with Constantine---who began to initiate the meetings with doctrine, dogma and rules. As a worldly ruler, Constantine wanted rules, laws and order. He appointed bishops to be governors and gave them much power. Certainly, not what Christ initially intended for his followers.\nWhat we have in the Church today, began with Constantine, not with Christ.\n\nJesus did not ordain the Twelve to be priests. Scripture is very clear. The preaching of the Gospel to all---was their mission.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The requirement for all children to go to public schools was originally an anti-Catholic vote here in Oregon as well.\n\nThe Oregon KKK was a major sponsor.\n\nThat's why we should get rid of that, too!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I, for one, support Pope Francis because he is touched by God. No-one gives homeless people a tour of the Vatican and takes them to the beach and buys them pizza, still less provides services necessary for survival for \"the least of these\" without being inspired. \nA cult of personality surrounds JP II that has nothing in Christ. I would be so bold as to say that Weigel and his crew may be Catholic but they are not Christian. One may be both. \nWhat is clear from learning what motivates the \"deplorables\" (to borrow a phrase) in seminaries today is that they do not want the reign of the Kingdom of God-they want their own way and their will be done. \nIgnorance might excuse these types were they not aware of Scripture but how can one excuse them when they claim such impeccable religious credentials?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My advice to all good Christian Democrats: Don't vote for Trump. \n\nAHAHAHAAHAHAAHAHA", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Weird that you call post-Vatican II \"RCC v2.0\"...we have the Scripture that tell us if even Paul or an angel preach another Gospel than we have received, let him be anathema. \n\nIs it really your contention that the faith passed down to us until the 1960s isn't good enough anymore and we needed to start a new religion? This is what your RCC v2.0 sounds like...as if the CC 1.0 Jesus Himself founded was defective.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, but you don't count Amoris Laetitia or Evangelii Gaudium as Catholic publications ... after all, you're more Catholic than the Holy Father!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not at all. Evangelicals really think war in the Middle East will bring on Armageddon and the End of the World. They do. And they're all for it. You could look it up.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I grew up Protestant, fully embracing my faith. My boyfriend introduced me to his Catholic Church in 2002, and several years after we married, I joined the Catholic Church in 2008. In the first few years, I had \"all the zeal of a convert\" as they say. I felt guilt about abandoning my old tradition, so the idea that Catholicism was superior and right about everything helped to assuage that discomfort. But as time went by, the imperfections of the Church as a human institution became impossible to ignore. I went through a faith crisis, became very angry and thought about leaving the Church. I have come through the crisis with acceptance and resolution to be a witness to all the good and the bad in the Church. The article's best line refers to the present tense, not the past tense. I am still developing, we are all still developing, the Church is still developing. The new converts, with all their political zeal, are still developing. None are finished yet, all need patience.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What do these UN-AMERICANS (Lisa, Don and Dan) think about all the civilians we are killing - not just here, but in other countries? Are the folks we are killing overseas \"justifiable\" deaths? Most of the people we are killing are civilians, not combatants, is this O.K. too? Seems stories about the conflicts we have started or are involved in are off the table when it comes to news at ADN; nothing here - shameful really! Is it O.K. for the United States to kill people because they might not be Christians? \n\nhttps://airwars.org/daily-reports/.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "77% of Canadians are Christian. Add in the other faiths, and it is much higher than 20% of the population that the GG insulted.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No lay catholic is required to make a vow of obedience to any Pope, Bishop or Priest.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "irt Squiggs. ahh, I believe in Christian values but don't attend any religious services. Stop spreading the rumor I attend Church, lol.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "From FDR's second inaugural:\n\nIn this nation I see tens of millions of its citizens\u2014a substantial part of its whole population\u2014who at this very moment are denied the greater part of what the very lowest standards of today call the necessities of life.\n\nI see millions of families trying to live on incomes so meager that the pall of family disaster hangs over them day by day.\n\nI see millions whose daily lives in city and on farm continue under conditions labeled indecent by a so-called polite society half a century ago.\n\nI see millions denied education, recreation, and the opportunity to better their lot and the lot of their children.\n\nI see millions lacking the means to buy the products of farm and factory and by their poverty denying work and productiveness to many other millions.\n\nI see one-third of a nation ill-housed, ill-clad, ill-nourished.\n\nIt was that vision which caused government to get into helping those in need, something that you would not have it do. Are you a Christian?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Go ahead and call me what you want - but I'll make a prediction here. I know that hard-core atheiests/secularists and leftists hate the separate system (and religion in general). But I predict that given non-catholics are free to attend such schools, that students who are (and whose parrents are) followers of Islam will eventually flood Catholic schools in areas where possible, make similar demands as per this article and go one further, seeking further accomodation and inclusion of Islamic practice/religion - and will be encouraged by the left on the political spectrum so as to further the aims of destroying the catholic system. (Yet may create something unintended??) Yes my child does go to catholic school. At the public school, every holiday was celebrated (other religions/cultures) except her's. (As she was in the public system prior). Now her culture is valued and she feels valued.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's not an either or proposition. It's about expanding one's body of knowledge. For instance there are slightly over 100 sayings attributed to Jesus in the New testament that closely match, sometimes very closely match, sayings attributed to Buddha. So what's that about? Where was Jesus during those thirty silent years?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This question has been asked throughout our nation's history. Will blacks damage a white community? Will Jews damage a Christian community? Will LG's damage a straight community? Diversity is fine as long as you think like me. Will the bigotry ever end?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That is what conservative Catholics believe. They believe it is somehow a prize that they deserve and that they get to use to exclude others from the Catholic Church. And I am sure that at least some remarried Catholics would be willing to enter some sort of penitential path as long as the end result was access to the Sacraments without the \"brother and sister\" ridiculousness. The issue is being told that you are denied Communion permanently but you can substitute it with \"Communion with the poors,\" which is nonsense. There is no reason to remain Catholic if you are permanently banned from the Sacraments. As I pointed out, people can do good work and pray over at a myriad of Protestant churches and they will be full members of the community permitted to receive the Sacraments rather than pyrriahs permanently banned from the Church's Sacramental life and treated like second class citizens.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Tom, in the case of SSPX, all it took was a traditionalist archbishop (Lefebvre) and his tradition-minded followers. No cardinals allowed. The Four Cards have something of a following over on the right wing of the Catholic bird, and their potential for further ecclesial mischief, including schisms, is not to be ignored.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is about access to birth control. The Catholic Church has been a strong opponent of it in the developing world, along with other local religious groups.\n\nSink or swim is what Africans do to get to Europe. The driving force for immigration has almost always been economics and search for a better life. That hasn't changed in the last thousands of years. Brutal living conditions drove the Vikings Mongols, Goths, Vandals, Afghans, Turks, Brits, French, Germans, etc to raid, invade, loot and occupy the more prosperous plains and countries.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "School vouchers and send your kids where you want. Or, one school system for everyone. It is not fair that Catholic teachers can teach in both systems. I am tired if disinterested teachers who teach in the public system but send their kids to the private Catholic schools. There was no problem ending the Protestant school system in Quebec or the four religious school systems in NFLD. Lets get on with it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nonsense. Our ever virgin Blessed Mother was conceived without original sin. Mary's only child was Jesus, the name which was given to her by the Angel Gabriel at the Annunciation. This is the truth that is taught by the Catholic Church, which makes the Catholic Faith the one true faith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I keep coming back to...\n\nIt is an immutable doctrine of the Church that 2+2=4, and that's not ambiguous. Case closed. Be rigid or be gone. \n\nThen along comes millions of laity whose life experiences have told them sometimes 3+1=4 and 5-1=4 and they are called threats to the doctrinal clarity of 2+2=4. Indeed, they are called far worse, accused of spawning \"doctrinal confusion.\" A prominent American Catholic archbishop says, \"Confusion is of the devil\" to put them in their place.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Advocating a position that corresponds to \"the beliefs of the Catholic and Evangelical churches\" is not the same as \"impos(ing) beliefs of the Catholic and Evangelical churches\".\n\nWere that the case, laws against murder would involve \"impos(ing) beliefs of the Catholic and Evangelical churches\".\n\nThe solution is a constitutional amendment which simply states that there is no right to privacy in the Constitution. That removes the Gang of Nine's fingers from abortion, same sex marriage, and so on and returns these matters to the states for the democratic process.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm fairly sure Zaccheus didn't transgress again. If he had, it would most certainly have been recorded. And they would also have recorded Jesus reaching out to him a second time, and a third, in fact as many as 70 times 7. That would have been tedious to hear every Sunday - The 54th time Jesus helped Zaccheus \"amend\" his life - but it would maybe have hammered home the message to those who are a bit slow on the uptake.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One wonders how the Institution of the Catholic Church benefits by cutting such schisms between itself and our social plurality. They've literally been exhibiting this incivil behavior and contempt for the civic gods since the Edict of Thessalonica. You'd think they'd step lightly, so as to not break eggshells. You'd think they'd step as if it is a place where angels fear to tread. You'd think they'd step as if the abject history of their Institution's fearsome acts of spiritual genocide and exploitation weren't sitting there in front of us all. Holy crap, dudes. What are you even thinking when you start burning bridges proffered? Such behavior is anathema to civilization.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Or declare formally and ex cathedra the simple fact: \n\n\"The Magisterium also comprises the wisdom, charism, discernment, expertise, experience, and knowledge of the laity. And for those with dubia who seek no ambiguity, nuance, or inconsistency from the Pope, I will repeat: The Magisterium also comprises the wisdom, charism, discernment, expertise, experience, and knowledge of the laity.\"\n\n\nTil then, the laity will be given a seat at many Church tables------but it'll be a kiddie table in the next room every time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree with most of what you say, but the Catholic school boards across the country would take issue with your first sentence.\n\nIt strikes me as curious that those boards are publicly funded. I realize there is a huge Catholic minority in Ontario, but subsidizing religious instruction sticks in my craw somehow. Better that they charge tax deductible fees like other non-secular institutions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well you just admitted that Bishops do support the Republican Party so your first comment on this subject is now proven ridiculous. \nReligious freedom is about worshipping the God of your choice not imposing one religion's morality upon all Americans thru installing it into our laws or tax standards. Democrats believe more in the freedom of religion because they defend the right of all people to worship in our country without discrimination, even if they are not Christians.\n\nThe Democratic Party is obsessed with defending all American's rights including the already existing legal right to abortion. If you actually read the article you are commenting on, this lowers the amount of abortions. Abortion occurs most where it is most illegal & always has as long as abortion has been recorded around the world. These FACTS make the Democratic Stand one that supports both life & freedom unlike the Republican stand which supports more abortions occurring & less freedom for half our citizens.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you for your kind and respectful reply a real rarity here. \nI am not the arbiter or judge of who does or doesn't truly belong to the church. I was merely pointing out the hypocrisy of those who disagree some very vehemently and with great hate towards those who support the church and still have the audacity call themselves faithful Catholics. NcR unfortunately gives a voice to this and continues to tear at the fabric of the church with impunity and pride and as an imperfect but one who tries to be a faithful son of the church I find it most most hurtful. \nYour comment about birth control; the figures you cited are very true and are truly reflective of the real membership of the church. There are over a billion of Catholics but I would agree that overall there are probably no more than 10% who actually believe and practice the faith as it truly is. After VII the faith collapsed and in some places the level of practice is around 2 to 5 %, as In France. \nGod bless and guide you", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"the rather obvious doctrine that not everything Jesus said got written into the Gospels and Catholics believe much, if not most, of his teachings was transmitted orally to the Apostles and by them to the Church.\"\n\nSo Catholics believe that the RC oligarchy's obsession with genitals comes directly from Jesus. Do all Catholics believe this, or just REAL CATHOLICS?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic Church should start paying taxes before it lectures the government and taxpayers about this issue.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Native American religions and ties to the land have roots that are over 13,000 years old. In the 10th century, Norwegian explorers landed in Newfoundland, but it was not until 1492 when Columbus landed in the \u201cNew World,\u201d that Western civilization and religions zealously intruded into a distinct and developed cosmology.\nThe initial Christian \u201cscorched earth\u201d crusades in the Americas failed to eradicate indigenous memory and tradition. The Native American religions do not know God as Christian or non-Christian. They understand that God is love and expects his people to be loving. Like lambs led to slaughter, they go peacefully, in silent witness with the Good Shepherd.\n\u201cIt crushes my bones that my foes mock me, as they say to me day after day, \u201cWhere is your God?\u201d (Ps. 42:11)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "2,360,000 acres never before managed by BLM ! Oh wonderful!\nBO arrogantly stumbles along, desperately trying to create a \"legacy\". Well, he has already created a huge legacy - the worst president in history! His obvious disdain for Christians, for independent Americans, for reasonable requirements like showing his Birth Cert right away then producing a phony one, the list is long.\nI hope that serious investigations of this street muslim misanthrope's actions will be undertaken & lead to prosecution & public condemnation, humiliation, crippling fines & prison for this massive fraud, but I doubt anything like that will take place as all gubmut types, both L & R would prefer to keep us citizens in blinders to their blunders.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wow. \n\nThis type of vindictive is considered proper for a publication claiming to be \"Catholic\" and a \"Reporter\"? Name calling, dismissiveness, even some misinformation?\n\nIs this what is being taught by Professor Garcia? Indoctrination of his students with screed? In this manner, with references to \"Trumpities?\"\n\nDisgraceful. Can't NCR find anyone to write in a mature manner? Even if this is the position NCR wishes to promulgate, is there no one professional writer who does not write as a child stomping his foot?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This appears to be a compromise by the Church. It is NOT denying anyone a Christian burial, leaving the state of the soul up to God, and God alone, while at the same time respecting what the Catholic Church believes and teaches.\n\nNow that is has been codified in Madison, people cannot claim ignorance of what to expect when the partner in a homosexual unions passes.\n\nBut, this will not be good enough for those who wish to not follow the teachings of the Church anyway. Their wish is not simply tolerance or acceptance, but rather celebration of the homosexual lifestyle.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In the context of the \"protests\" sweeping the nation at the moment, we need to be aware of the fact that ALL of these \"protests\" are being masterminded and paid for by George Soros, the \"majority shareholder\" (over 90%) in the Democrats. In short, they are his local US version of his \"color revolutions\" that swept Eastern Europe, and his \"Arab Springs\" that swept the Arab world. They are not genuine grassroots uprisings.\n\nHe is trying to overthrow the Trump Administration by a supposedly \"popular uprising\". He better be warned, White, Protestant Evangelical America will not stand idly by and let this happen. Too much Godly prayer has gone up for Trump. Also, Trump's principal reason for winning was his position re Israel:\n\nClinton: Establish Jerusalem as the \"capital\" of a Muslim \"Palestinian\" State.\nTrump: Transfer the US Embassy to Jerusalem as the undivided Capital of the Jewish People and the Jewish State. Gen 12:2,3 & Matt 25:31 to 46 applies here.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A man writes about his father's death and funeral, and all you can think to write about is how unfair it was that so many priests and a bishop presided at the funeral mass? How petty.\nPlease take a look at MSW's bio. He is a Visiting Fellow at Catholic University's Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies. Arguably he meets and is friends with more priests and bishops than the average person, and they came to support him in his time of grief. Not because MSW is important, but because they know him personally and wanted to provide moral and religious support for a friend.\nThere is plenty to comment about MSW and his politics and religious writing. However, this type of comment on the day of his father's funeral is disrespectful and unacceptable behavior from anyone, Catholic, Christian, Jewish, Muslim or None of the above. This comment should not have passed the Civility test.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh, that Milo thing took place in a \"faithful\" Catholic college?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Part one of two) the mandatory registration and internment of Japanese Americans early in World War II. The question: Could this happen again \u2014 this time with Muslims?\u2014Maureen Fiedler ambivalent because she is quoting \u201ca 90-year-old Japanese woman who remembers.\n\nIt is as if Catholics have nothing to special to offer in their liturgy of the Word, particularly for today, December 31, the Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas. \u201cBut you have the anointing that comes from the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. I write to you not because you do not know the truth but because you do, and because every lie\u201d Hello Donald Trump, \u201cis alien to the truth\u201d (1 John 2:20-21).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Fortunately, we have another candidate who never actively promotes anything that could be perceived as evil. I trust you have prepared a voting guide for you parish to make sure they support the candidate who most obviously projects the fundamental values of the catholic church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is classical Catholic thinking to speak of emotion, reason and will as separate things. I am curious what others here think about how to define those 3 terms. (No regurgitations of the Catechism please, just your own thoughts). For myself, the boundaries between those reason, emotion and will are murky and I cannot place them in separate silos. I also believe there are mental and spiritual experiences that don't fit any of these definitions, such as mystical experiences. Any thoughts, anyone?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A perfect message for confirmation students and for us all. Seeking Jesus by reading the Gospels fervently is the most important step in the process of becoming one of his avid followers. The sooner, the better. When our 8 children were small we purchased a series of books based on the Old and New Testament peddled by the Seventh Day Adventist group and got into the habit of reading a chapter each evening after dinner. As adults, they still talk about how beneficial and enjoyable those sessions were. As a more mature Catholic in my fifties, I took personal time finally to study the gospels in depth, journalizing and praying as I did so.... falling head over heels in love with that radical, activist Jew named Jesus. PTL! Thank you, Bishop Gumbleton...always enjoy your homilies.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Enough already. The Catholic Church does not need a special law and our so called legislators need to get back to work figuring out how to screw the citizens of the state while keeping it on the down low.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Um, what? The Catholic Church enabled Trump's election and now it's going to be the source of healing? I don't think so!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In essence I think that the author is simply saying that he experiences his sexuality, and indeed his very being, as a gift from the Divine.\n\nFr James Alison expresses it so very well: (excerpt from http://jamesalison.co.uk/texts/eng59.html \"The Fulcrum of Discovery or: how the \u201cgay thing\u201d is good news for the Catholic Church\"; see following post ... limited characters n'all ... ) \"In the last fifty years or so ...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Perhaps, Jesus would have been ignored by calling God 'Amma'. And I do agree with your concepts here.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "LOL....\"I can't remember what I wrote\" and \"I'm playing with words\"?...LOL.....you wrongly accusing me of doing what you are doing!....You're a piece of work! Your exact quote: \"irt hapaguy, what Christian Extremist Group killed 53 people?\" Lay of the sauce buddy!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Part two of two) As Flannery puts it, \"But authority must be exercised in a way that is just, and that respects the dignity of the person,\" he continues. \"In my experience, and in the experience of many others whom I have come to know in these past years, Church authority is exercised in a way that is unjust and abusive.\" In this instance, the Papacy is not acting like Jesus, \u201cnot permitting them (demons) to speak because they knew him\u201d (Mark 1:34). Liturgy of the Word, Reading 307, Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time, Year I\n\ndoes not give him any authority to contravene authentic and authoritative Church teaching.\u2014Dromig10 That assumes what needs to be accepted by the Domestic Church.\n\nthe way the church exercises authority is unjust and abusive. Kudos to Father Flannery for deferring to his conscience.\u201412thNight A matter of fraternal correction. Monarchic governance has become dysfunctional with the current personnel.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree that terrorists can strike anywhere, but I don't think open borders in the past or present are the cause, especially since we seem to have our own terrorists, such as the white supremacists, some of whom claim to be Christians, and have families that go back for generations in the US. It's possible that many of these terrorists use religion, any one that suits their needs, as a convenient excuse for releasing their anger, frustration, and hatred. If we focus too narrowly on Muslim terrorists, we may never find the real criminals, the people who are willing to kill children, then blame it on god, or anything else that suits their purpose.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Desa: Cal in no way compares Trump to Jesus rather he uses one example and compares it to another. If you cannot discern the difference you need to go back to 4th grade.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What person did Christ ever reject to receive Him? Even the most rejected by others were welcomed by Him. Shame on this bishop and once again shame on the church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Everything starts with loving God. Everything. Love. Work. Play. You don't really love God when you can't even follow his teachings on homosexual activity. If you can't really love God then can you really love another person, your family, your friends, neigbors and strangers in a sustainable fashion through the daily temptations of life?\n\nMatthew 22:36-40 New International Version (NIV)\n\n36 \u201cTeacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?\u201d\n\n37 Jesus replied: \u201c\u2018Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.\u2019[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: \u2018Love your neighbor as yourself.\u2019[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.\u201d", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The only people more out of touch than the 'elites' are the bible-thumping evangelist-neocons,\ne.g. Preston Manning.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Golden Goose flew in with massive migrants from Texas, Oklahoma, Middle East, etc. Central to the migration was Fundamentalist Christian Baptists led by a megalomaniac agent to establish the ultimate human control factor - religion. The Goose laid down clutches of Golden Eggs sufficient to fill the bank accounts of selected authorities including the Native American Corporate Management to overthrow the entire state governing system. After Golden Goose agents filled the elected offices, the majority of the remaining Golden Eggs were shipped south into the accounts of the Corporate Barons. Just enough were left in the nest to install permanent ideological control over all Alaskans so the less and less of the clutch would remain in the state. Now the ultimate is reached when the legislative dictators vote to pay the Golden Goose to send all of the Eggs south.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The context for my remarks is the comments by LifeoftheLay:\n\"The marriage was either valid or not. A joining was done or not done.\"\n\"they themselves minister their own union in front of the Church\"\n\nI really can't figure out the relevance to the conversation. I totally agree that if someone \"fools\" a tribunal, their second relationship is likely adulterous. Any error that leads to an annulment means the second marriage, witnessed by the Church, may be adulterous. This though is a flaw in the process that is separate from the main concern, marriages that are not recognized by the Church.\n\nThe issue I'm raising is whether there is a marriage in the eyes of God, and how the Church can best nourish those relationships. The insertion of \"in the eyes of the Church\" and \"in front of the Church\" raises entirely different issues. What happens when the Church errs? Is the objective reality of marriage determined by the eyes of the Church?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Perhaps if you had read any meaningful or substantive theology books--instead of Ray Brown, Charlie Curran, Hans Kung and the like you might know the answer to your very question.\n\nThe Church is called the \"Bride of Christ\" and \"She\" because the Church is a women. The priest represents the Bridegroom Christ to his Bride the Church. Christ is male, the Church is female--therefore the priest must be male. The Mass is analogous to a wedding feast--but it is the wedding feast of the Lamb. The servers are analogous to the groomsmen at a wedding which is why they were traditionally male. A priest when celebrating Mass is not acting as a member of the baptized, but as the head of the body, as Christ is head of the body. \n\nThe larger point I want to make is that the debate about women priests is as much a debate as to the nature of the priesthood as it is who can exercise it. Those who support women's ordination tend to have a Protestantized notion of ministry. \n\n.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "from Berig in Rochester, NY\nBut we Americans have always dug a different drummer. We excell at as much as any other pais. Christ has always been a centre piece in the founding of New England and the northern colonies (no doubt lots of you have ancestors from here, UELs). I feel so sad when I see anti-Christ comments here, not for me (Christ prepared us for this) but for our beloved neighbor to the north.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I was in Amarillo for the first time a couple of years ago. The day and night I had to spend in that hot, dreary town was the absolute low point of a otherwise great cross-continent drive. The only redeeming feature I found was a dingy little Mexican restaurant where I had the very best guacamole I've ever eaten.\n\nBut, hey, Anchorage isn't such a hot town, either. But after living here many years (as well as elsewhere in Alaska, including the Bush), I must say I've seen very little evidence of hate, including religiously-inspired hate. I know quite a few Christian people who firmly believe that being gay is sinful. But they also know they live in an open society that long ago chose tolerance over conformity. They don't force their views where they know only conflict can result--in this case, where that was the whole point. Maybe Amarillo needs not only beautification but instruction in the fundamentals of being American.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I didn't really like Hillary's agenda. It seemed like more of the same Obama stuff, which was uninspiring. I was really turned off by Trump because of his lack of knowledge, integrity, and his boorishness. I didn't think someone like that could be President, not of the US anyway. The priest, as usual, during the homily, said catholics couldn't support a pro-choice candidate. This policy of unconditional support for pro-life candidates would give the catholic vote automatically even to anti-catholic candidates who wanted to make catholicism illegal. That is the sort of absurdity that can result when unconditional support for one issue is required.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So... a religious conservative, aren't you? That may explain why, like most religious conservatives, you support the Republican policies of callousness, indifference, and exclusion. You have either forgotten what your Savior preached in your Bible or cherry-picked only some of the Bible passages that support your conservative views.\n\nGoodbye", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are right, I had forgotten that most people on this forum agree with the negative comments on conservative Catholicism made by the liberal progressives caught on email by Wikileaks.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "While I realize (or hope) your being tongue and cheek, I'm not sure what you mean here. \n\nFirst off, Jesus ended the Eye for eye. And liberals post date Jesus (I think)\n\n2nd\nI don't believe that was intended to be literal but that you should not impose a punishment that exceeds the crime. It has been interpreted as the criminal deserves to have the same punishment as what was done upon his victim.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wasn't it great and brave how the Church responded to the internment of Japanese Americans -- and thousands of Italian Americans, likely all of them Catholic -- during WWII?\n\nYou see, this notion that the Church has always championed the immigrant is just a story.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"I don\u2019t know how many gay people met violence or death as a result of the hate rhetoric with the lies that evoke violence\u2013even death\u2013in my gay tribe.\"\n\nI've read most of these comments, and this one sentence seems to best sum up the Prevo's negative contribution to our progressive society. He has committed a continuing philosophical hate crime of words on the LGBT community. There is no doubt that some of the sheep in Prevo's flock have been inspired to denigrate LGBT individuals after hearing his anti-gay speech. This shall forever be his legacy, in my eyes. Like ISIS rhetoric inspires sympathizers worldwide to harm innocents, this anti-gay hate rhetoric shrouded as exercise of religious freedom inspires kooks in this country to harm gays. It stretches the limits of freedom of speech, but unfortunately the Supreme Court doesn't agree with me. I'd like to see him locked up in a prison where the new guy always gets raped. Then Prevo, as a christian, can turn them the other cheek.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "James, I think there are a lot of differences between the Catholic Church and, for example, the Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist, and Presbyterian churches. In some cases, I think the advantage is ours; in others, theirs. For example, I think our sacramental life is stronger, while their extension of ministry to the entire community is, in my opinion, enviable. \nOf course, in other countries, the differences are even more stark. In Italy, the Church is often traditional without being conservative, which is something I haven't found here. The Catholic Church in East Africa tends to be quite conservative, and is growing by leaps and bounds. So I'm not sure you can make such a sweeping statement.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The trads voted down this reply as uncivil (!):\n\n<>\n\n<<[Sr. Carolyn Osiek] holds a doctorate in New Testament and Christian Origins from Harvard University and is a past president of the Catholic Biblical Association and the Society of Biblical Literature.>>\n\nhttps://rscj.org/carolyn-osiek-rscj-provincial-archivist\n\nYeah, that well-known scholar.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why isn't being wealthy and not sharing your wealth with others a mortal sin? Didn't Jesus have something to say about this? And the issue is that you can be a good wealthy person but you can also be a pious remarried person who is the innocent victim in the relationship. The issue is that remarried people are summarily barred from Communion while wealthy CEOs aren't. This includes wealthy CEOs who are actually bad and greedy people.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I disagree with his stance on whether or not prostitution represents violence against women, but I understand where he's coming from. It comes down to one's definition of violence, and that's a fair discussion. In any event, he clearly wasn't arguing in favor of prostitution.\n\nHis take on sex in general wasn't part of the conversation and neither was any particular anti-Catholic stance. Therefore, I didn't address those things.\n\nI respond to specific points in specific messages. I don't carry grudges from one thread to the next and I try to resist the temptation to make personal judgments about the people who post here.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Gotta love this Lee quote from your linked article( very informative by the way):\n\n\u201c[...]that unless some humane course is adopted, based on wisdom and Christian principles you do a gross wrong and injustice to the whole negro race in setting them free. And it is only this consideration that has led the wisdom, intelligence and Christianity of the South to support and defend the institution up to this time.\u201d\n\nYeah, we're talking great man here. Even taking into account the overt racism of the period, taking a wrecking ball to his statue wouldn't be an inappropriate act.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Those who perpetrate the myth of Vimy having forged a nation clearly know nothing about Canadian history. These perpetrators usually work in newsrooms, fabricating elegant articles cut from semi-truths embodied in modern Canadian myths.\n\nWW1 ended in 1918, about 33 years after the railway line had reached British Columbia, immigration into the prairies was in full force, the modern geopolitical shape of Canada was almost formed, women had started to earn the right to vote, and other important turning points took place. \n\nIf Vimy had forged a nation, it was a nation of Anglophones. Francophones and Catholics had already felt alienated from English Canada and Anglophone pride fueled by the success of WW1 drove another wedge between English Protestants and French Catholics. After WW1 the KKK came rolling into Canada riding on a wave of English Protestant pride!\n\nCanada was well formed by the end of WW1. Those who say Vimy forged Canada know nothing about Canadian history.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "US Code cannot compel anyone to stand during the anthem. Doing so is a clear violation of the 1st Amendment. Standard and tradition does not = \"right thing to do.\" In fact, standard and tradition have often been the driving force behind many of the wrong things we've done throughout our history. \n\nStandard and tradition where the excuses behind slavery, Jim Crow, women's lack of franchise, and LGBTQ rights to exist. Standard and tradition are the reason that women and minorities continue to face discrimination as wells as wage, opportunity, and justice disparities. \n\nStandard and tradition is great for white male Christians, not so much for anyone else.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, but Evangelical churches in Latin America are hurting, too, dealing with secularism and \"loose culture,\" especially among the second and third generation of believers. Chile is a case in study: Pentecostalism/Evangelicalism has dropped to 14%, in a new study, with the majority (60%) barely attending church regularly. The newer generation are into other diversions (keeping them from church) other than drinking alcohol.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Poor Pope.\n Somebody in power must have read him the riot act.\nHe started out so great, he was amazing.\nTalking with moral clarity and moral courage about the many things in the world that badly needed to change. He gave hope and encouragement to millions.\n For example, the multitudes \"complaining\" about the increasing disparity between rich and the rest, the endless wars, environmental degradation - Pope Francis gave them comfort, hope and encouragement.\n But he's been very quiet these last couple of years.\n Reminds me of President Obama, another positive thinker who came to nothing, and less than nothing, his \"legacy\" being torn to shreds.\n Pope Francis started out like an inspiring Old Testament prophet and now he's merely another geek preaching positive thinking. Sad. Very sad.\n Is there a multitude of things for all honest folks to complain about?\n Is the Pope Catholic?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Luther was wrong. \n\nThat ecumenical statement is not binding on Catholics and a number of Lutherans criticized it as selling out their doctrine.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why imbue these fine young women with false hope? despite the allegedly liberal direction under Pope Francis, women will never be ordained priests in the Catholic Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "the Catholic SJW's need to get their thinking straight.\n\nThe people who try to immigrate here, both legal and the illegal ones, tend to be the doers/enterprising ones in their country.\n\nNo SJWs ever seem to think about what skimming off the enterprising citizens of those countries does to their country.\n\nHalf thought activism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Saying that Donald Trump is the ultimate personification of white privilege is like saying Barack Obama, as president, is the ultimate personification of affirmative action and Black privilege sustained by white guilt, unless of course you can conceive of a white guy who had never run so much as a lemonade stand; had virtually no accomplishments in a very brief political career; and has regularly trashed the country to which he owed so much, getting elected President - twice!\n\nI agree with you about pro sports being a meritocracy. Is that how you think the rest of society should run? Obama was totally unqualified to run a business or serve as a \"corpse man\" (his pronunciation) when he was elected. Both John McCain and Mitt Romney were far more qualified on paper then Obama. What does that tell you? \n\nHopefully you can see from this discussion, Stephen, how pernicious and distracting social justice diversions are from our gospel vocation, where we are brothers in Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am English yet I have followed the US election from the primaries until now. I must admit that I would never have expected Donald Trump to get the nomination in the first place; however, he did. I never expected him to defeat Hilary Clinton in the final vote; he did. I suppose it was his comb-over which made me initially to dismiss him.\nHaving heard the debates I concluded that Hilary was an atrocious candidate without taking her stance on abortion but that stance upon abortion was in contravention of the explicit teaching of the Catholic Church. In this situation no good Catholic, aware of the teaching of the Church could in good conscience vote Democrat.\nDonald Trump has never specifically advocated anything contra to what the Catholic Church teaches. He is not a Catholic I grant you but then neither was Constantine when he promoted Catholicism and spread it throughout the known world at the time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Applies to Abraham's SEED. The Covenant was ratified IN THE FLESH through circumcision. Isma'el (alayhis-Salaam) was circumcised. He was a Semite. The Covenant applies to him and his people. Begin, Sharon and their ilk, though circumcised (as are all Muslims and most American Christians), were NOT Semites. They were European invaders whose people originated in the region of the Black Sea.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mary Ann Glendon's daughter liked the Legion of Christ so much she had a child by one of its priests.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic Church is a man made institution as prone to corruption as every other man made institution. It is not a perfect beacon of mercy; it has used God in unjust ways. And the annulment tribunals are unjust. They make people angry and frustrated with God and really hurt them in many ways. It is a silly piece of bureaucracy that should be dispensed with in favor of an Orthodox system.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not to mention the virtue-signalling of M-103 that the overwhelming majority of Canadians rejected but they are all bigots because phobia means \"irrational hate\" like fear of spiders, confined spaces, heights... of course M-103 had nothing to do with political motives of Islamist groups trying to promote a regressive belief system under the guise of fighting religious discrimination - that's never happened before, especially at the UN and it wasn't named Cairo... After all, every country governed by Islamic law is a beacon of gender equality, freedom of expression (blasphemy laws), and freedom of association (apostasy laws). It's not like Monty Python, Family Guy, and South Park etc. have ever engaged in religious satire making fun of Christianity and Judaism but then again, Islam is beyond reproach, anyone who engages in critical analysis, satire, or comedy towards Islam is a bigot - because it's 2017.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I hope, Sam, and I suggest, that in addition to reviewing where and how you \"failed miserably\" during the course of a given day, that you also pay attention to the successes, large and small, of each day: the times God spoke and you listened; the times you saw Christ in a neighbor, co-worker, friend or family member; the times you were Christ for someone else. I think this is a critical -- and for many of us a difficult -- part of the examination of conscience, because if you examine only where you failed, you are not fully appreciating what God is doing in you and through you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "John Paul I on women priests...from this very same NCR in 2012 quoting him....\n\n\"You will ask: what about ... the priesthood itself? I can say to you: Christ bestowed the pastoral ministry on men alone, on his apostles. Did he mean this to be valid only for a short time, almost as though he made allowances for the prejudice about the inferiority of women prevalent in his time? Or did he intend it to be valid always? Let it be very clear: Christ never accepted the prejudice about the inferiority of women: they are always admirable figures in the Gospels, more so than the apostles themselves. The priesthood, however, is a service given by means of spiritual powers and not a form of superiority. Through the will of Christ, women -- in my judgment -- carry out a different, complementary, and precious service in the church, but they are not \"possible priests\" ... That does not do wrong to women.\"\n\nTry again, Nora...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A Priest is a special person due to the fact he is the only one who can perform the consecration of the Eucharist, the actual body, blood, soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus. It is sad that we have such a lack of Priests in the community, however that does not mean we should eliminate the weekly Mass where a Priest is available. The Eucharist is a sacrificial meal, not a banquet. That is the Catholic Faith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We can't even know if there was a Jesus of Nazareth. But if you subtract all the stuff that is similar to Pagan imagery, such as virgin birth, human sacrifice, anointing, resurrection, drinking blood, bridegroom, etc., then you are left with Jesus' message of love, forgiveness, repentance, and presumably his mistaken belief the world was about to end. Probably most would agree Jesus was some sort of itinerant preacher and healer. I don't agree with the book 'Zealot' which has Jesus as an ordinary rebel in the civil strife of the times, with oppressed Jews fighting against Romans and their wealthy Jewish collaborators. Jesus seems more special than that. But it is important to know something of the mythology and the politics of the times to understand what may be factual in the New Testament. Jesus' message of a loving 'Abba' does not seem to be compatible with passages that make Jesus into a human sacrifice. And Vaticanism is not going to tell us much about Jesus with any accuracy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As a grade school child in 1959-60, being a resident of Massachusetts, and being brought up as a Roman Catholic, I distinctly recall all the hullabaloo and bugaboo dire warnings that if JFK were elected...he'd be taking instructions from the Pope as to how to govern. Not only were democrats poo-pooing this idea as absurd, but time and again went to great lengths to state that his religion was a personal choice and would not have any impact on his ability to govern. As to the other \"complaints\" there are many (not only evangelicals) who believe abortion to be murder, LGBT people to be mentally ill, and that marriage is between a man and a woman. There are many, INCLUDING scientists who would argue \"global warming\" is not man-made, and when the numbers are \"juggled\" to show warming trends, it's about money NOT the climate, (especially when in the 4.6 billion year history of earth there have been many warming and cooling cycles.)\nToo bad, I'm out of \"characters\"!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Fortunately, he is old and won't be around too much longer. Bishop Burke, called by God to be a Bishop, is positioning himself to be called by God to be Holy Father. Then, at last, the Church can return to its ancient roots, reinstate the use of latin, and bask in its Glory.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "R&R, Some of these folks refer to themselves \"militant defenders of the faith\" and are 'at war' with anyone who doesn't agree with them. One of their websites uses the word 'militant' to define themselves as a group. They come here to fight. Which brings us to how they wage their war: strident -- harsh, insistent, and discordant. It is what it is... it's their modus operandi in the name of the Lord. They denigrate NCR and anyone they view as \"not real Catholics\" because they have a brain and use it to think. You cannot have a dialogue of any sort with these militants because they are convinced only *they* have the capital-T truth. There is nothing uncivil about pointing out that behavior as being a big part of the problem. If you missed seeing these behaviors then you haven't been paying attention.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Because staying in a loveless, hate-filled marriage is so good for the 15 children who suffer through it also? Oh wait...with a layer of Church bureaucracy, an annulment can be obtained, just as Jesus mentioned in the Gospel that speaks of adultery and divorce.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And did you have the same concerns with the ideologues appointed by Obama? who was determined to align the courts with his more leftist concerns.\n\nAnd now YOU'RE going to determine the \"type\" of Catholic someone is - and discriminate accordingly? The Founding Father's are spinning in their graves.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Precisely. Despite both Sunni and Shiite being blood feud enemies, they both agree that Christians and Jews and non believers, must die . They will put aside their religious differences so they can to kill us together.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "well, they are brown, they speak Arabic and call God \"Allah\" so they are probably Muslims in disguise, claiming to be Christians to get our sympathy. everyone knows \"real\" Christians are white and speak English. \n\nfunny, I notice none of our regular righties are expressing any anger over their Catholic compatriots despair and danger. they pay lip service to protecting the Christians in the Middle East, but heaven forbid they should actually help them.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Sorry Jonah--the straw man fails the smell test, he's rotten to the core. I dislike Pence because he's a 'Sunday go to meeting' Christian who has lost any sense of the god of love. His policies are aweful--he left the state for the VP because he was likely to lose reelection because the folks of his states knew and felt what he really believed...it's not the Christian God but the old Testament vengeful god he follows. So his cute and a bit strange bio wasn't the issue...although he wants to do things to Women;s right I think are a crime, he can act however he wants in private. Isn't that the real point Jonah? That he should be asked to be judged by the content of his actions, of how he chooses to love others, and the policies he uses to make life for all better. In this test he's a loser!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Muslims good. Christians who don't want to be forcibly converted to islam bad. Blah, blah, blah. Another islamist dressed up as a progressive.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Wouldn't it be great if Reverend Prevo would publicly denounce the Texas activist imports and their message of religeous hate. Isn't that what the Christian right is asking Muslim Imams and Mosques to do?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I would ask these questions of Catholic of fundamentalist Christians. But there is one big difference between these two religions and Islam. Islam actively promotes misogyny and homophobia. Women in Saudi Arabia are treated as second class citizens, having to cover themselves, not being allowed to drive, etc. And gays are being thrown off buildings because they are homosexual. I mean, by God, this is 2017. \n\nSo there is a difference in having a different view (I cannot condone the homosexual lifestyle so I am not going to bake you a cake) versus violence toward that person (yeah, I will bake you a cake, with something nasty inside it).\n\nChristianity doesn't throw gays off buildings or force women to cover themselves head to toe.\n\nFor the record, I am gay, so this issue is important. And for the record, I am deeply sorry that someone would shout out things to people would appear to be very nice folks!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Oh you mean directly opposed to the teachings of the sexist male hierarchy of the church who blatantly and sinfully discriminate against women? Catholics most certainly do support a women's right to bodily autonomy and reproductive choice. I am a proud member of Catholics for Choice. All of you self-righteous busybodies should mind your own business!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "One thing in common for these Islamic/Muslim Fanatic terrorists terrorizing the World, they do it in the name of Allah! That's not saying an American Christian won't terrorize American citizens.\nStop being PC about it.\nIt is what it is, you have to use everything at your disposal to stop any terrorist alike be it a Muslim Islamist, Christian, Antifa, BLM, etc.\nWake up, it's the World of Today!\nYou get the feeling that these pc people don't feel it like those in harms way do! \nLet me add to this, Jane felt the bigotry after WW2, did she join any anti-racists groups which causes violence in any way? Does she kneel during the American Nat'l Anthem disrespecting for those who gave up their lives for her freedom? She should they way she feels it today", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Mr. Sherman... Quoted from Patrick J. Buchanan, We hear the grievances. Where is the gratitude?\nWhat more opportunity is it that the White people need to give to help the Blacks?\nIf the poor white got this much opportunity there would be no poor white or lower class of white trash people!!\nThe main problem why black people are not progressing is the, \"They owe me factor\"!! Get it in your head! No Body Owes You Any Thing!\n\nTalk about new 'ladders of opportunity' for blacks. Go to Altoona? And Johnstown, and ask the white kids in Catholic schools how many were visited lately by Ivy League recruiters handing out scholarships for 'deserving' white kids?\nIs white America really responsible for the fact that the crime and incarceration rates for African-Americans are seven times those of white America?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "They are more desperate than \"stupid.\" What they wish would happen (a social and spiritual reawakening -- according to their particular scriptural tradition and faith), isn't going to be. So they are forlorn, desponding. They are also experiencing losses. According to the WALL STREET JOURNAL last week, the Southern Baptist Convention (the largest evangelical community), is slipping in numbers. It has dropped a couple of percentage points. \n\nMost Evangelicals voted for Trump because they believed he was the candidate closest, most attuned to their biblical agenda, their church mission, especially regarding gay marriage, abortion, and other issues. No other candidate was so \"evangelical.\" So they voted for Trump believing a thing or two must happen because he said it would happen when he got into the White House. So far, he has appointed a conservative to the Supreme Court and they are hopeful he will do more to bring the country nearer and nearer to their moral aim.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Step 1. Ban Muslims -- omit Jews.\n\nStep 2. Recognize Christianity as the state religion.\n\nStep 3. Ban certain sects of Christianity. \n\nLadies and gentlemen, in the not-so-long term the Papists are going to be on the condemned list.\n\nWe best speak up for our non-Christian brothers and sisters now. The cardinals, bishops, and priests need to be way out in front of this. The Catholic laity needs be close behind.\n\nUnfortunately, I don't have much faith in the clerics.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "here is the thing. do your own thing, but quit demanding my acknowledgement, acceptance, and approval.quit telling our kids your filth is 'normal and progressive'. if you are a boy, use the boys' bathroom, a girl, use the girls'. all the nips and tucks in the world will not change the sex you were born. if i don't support abortion or euthanasia, don't force me to murder another person. and it matters not that a bunch of 'liberal christians (small c)' support things considered evil. we are warned about wolves dressed as sheep.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "A rather foolish comment, TomQuinn, but FYI the Obama's were completely open and consistent in what their beliefs were. The Trumps are deceptive and erratic and say what they think their audience - even the Pope - wants to hear. Neither the Obamas nor the Trumps are Catholic, so it is of no consequence. But in truth, the Obamas are far more Christian than the current president or his wife. And Spicer is no better than his former employer.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I'm Stella's age. I remember being able to afford a health insurance policy and a country that led the world in scientific discovery. During the last three decades, private health insurance became outrageously unaffordable, a big chunk of our population lost it's critical thinking skills and now it's an actual \"thing\" to not believe in science. I blame the Republican Party. They cozied up to the crazy evangelicals, and the idiocy became contagious. I left the Republicans about 25 years ago, and have watched in dismay as they have sunk deeper and deeper into the abyss. Hatred and division under Obama? Yes, sadly it turns out that the racism never completely went away, and a lot of white people just could not handle having a black man as their president. And the people who voted for Trump feeling a bit forgotten? I wonder how forgotten they'll feel after he continues the Republican assault against the middle class in favor of the ridiculously wealthy.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The Americcan Catholic Church and the Pope are not the whole Church. I agree this current Pope is a wacko doodle who is more concerned about Global Warming than preaching the truth. But....the Eucharist and the truth of the CHurch is still there", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Obviously, god wanted him to be miserable. He should have accepted his misery, offered it to god, and maybe joined opus dei or some other cult.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding gays hurting the Scouts: it's been mentioned some churches have withdrawn their support from the programs. I know... it's the elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about, but those gay catholic priests who can't seem to keep their robes closed around young boys is just not right. They destroyed their lives and some have even committed suicide (can you say crime of murder here?). And Mr. Barnard's \"Gay agenda\" hurting Scouts, 9/28 says that kids suffer because of the gay agenda? The sad thing about it is that the priests kept getting away with it and when caught, were never prosecuted; they were just transferred to another parish. Any other man would go to prison for years. Hypocrites!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "One should not be surprised when one sees what slithers out of the moral cesspool of a God rejecting society. Having said that, there are sadly, many Christians who remain shallow and ignorant of the deeper things in the Bible and have no interest in actually abiding by it's precepts.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Behind their shallow, multicultural facade, the Trudeau Liberals are and have always been a party of white privilege.\n\nThey don't care about Muslim refugees, only about taxing hard-working newcomers to support their permissive and dissolute lifestyle.\n\n\u2004\u2004\u2004\u2004\u2004\u2004\u2767\u2004\u2004\u2004\u2767\u2004\u2004\u2004\u2767\u2004\u2004\u2004\u2767\u2004\u2004\u2004\u2767\n\nCanadians felt safe under Conservative Prime Minister Stephen J. Harper, a devout Christian who extended a warm-hearted acceptance to people of all faiths. He lived modestly at the historic PM's 24 Sussex residence.\n\nWhile coming from a family of Roman Catholics, the playboy Justin Trudeau abandoned his faith to become an unbeliever,--and pose as a pro-abortionist for radical socialist votes. After hiring nannies at taxpayer expense, this former snowboard instructor embarked on extravagant renovations at 24 Sussex, whose cost soon ballooned to $10 million, and now $23 million.\n\nCanadian newcomers don't feel secure under Trudeau, a permissive free-spending fool with no appreciation of their dawn-to-dusk hard work.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I suggest you speak to a Catholic or other Christian to see if they feel Good Friday and Christmas no longer have religious significance.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Simply put if you follow Jesus and accept his wisdom than you must be a pacifist......there is NO alternative. I think Caplan may have misused Ghandi in that context. Of course Ghandi did believe that most Christians have no understanding of Jesus and in that he is right. Also why the USA has very few Christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Trudeau is the Prime Minister of all the people of Canada not just Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Try and remember that \"Christians\" have also been behind terrorist attacks on U.S. soil (Sikh Temple, Charleston, Oklahoma City...). You will find one common thread with all terror acts committed under the banner of religion - a perverse ideology that is not accepted by the majority of the members of whatever faith they profess.\n\nFundamentalist ideologies are the problem - not the religions themselves. All of my Muslim friends are horrified by the atrocities committed by Islamic fundamentalists. \n\nAs a Christian, are you horrified by the Dylann Roofs and Timothy McVeighs of the world? Moreover, should the blame be laid to all of Christianity for these unholy acts of terror? Your logic seems to imply so - and I hope I'm wrong.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Neoplatonic argument, not Christian. Only pietousness denies sexual pleasure is itslef a worthy end. No Jewish Rabbi, including Christ, would demand that kind of sexual perfectionism (or rather, asexually based perfectionism). The desire for union is not just for children.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"According to verses in the Bible\"\n\nChalk that up to yet more verses in the Bible Christians choose to ignore, like \"love they neighbour\"...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are as many definitions of \"Christian\" as there are humans in the galaxy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Segment 2\n\nAccording to church theology, the restoration began through a series of visions and revelations, including Smith's First Vision in 1820, visits by various angelic messengers including Moroni from whom he received \"the everlasting gospel\",[2] John the Baptist,[3]Moses,[4] Elijah,[5] and the apostles Peter, James and John.[6] Both Smith and Oliver Cowdery testified that these last messengers came to them while they were together and conferred upon them the priesthood authority with its various \"keys\", so that mankind again possessed the \"fullness of the Gospel\" with authority to administer in the ordinances thereof.[7] The restoration also included the re-establishment of the Church of Christ on April 6, 1830. The LDS Church teaches that it is the successor of this Church of Christ and that the current President of the Church is Smith's modern successor.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, but a document completed when there were 2.5 million people in the country (of which only white men who were not Catholics or Jews and owned land were eligible to vote), now affects 300 million of us, and a popular vote that was lost twice in two decades seems to show the dysfunction of our system, especially considering the current president lost by 3 million votes, more than the entire population a few hundred years ago. At least states could change the religion and property mandates and most did so by 1830. It's time that states made another adjustment...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Seems a lot of money for killing babies in many predominant Christian countries. I really find it hard to accept this abortion thing when i see the beautiful smiles of children. That life is precious that our goal as human beings as men and women have always been to survive and to protect those small ones. I know some have this idea that its not alive till its start to talk but hard to accept that ...we are here because we were not aborted. \n Its a lot of money specially when we are not so rich anymore. The first time i knew something was wrong with OTTAWA was ten years ago, as a tourist in our capital, i saw a homeless person crossing the main street where the Parliament building was clearly visible. I had a conversation with one said we cant solve every problem yet we seem to be trying to fix the world while our people suffer. I voted for this PM. now think he is way off his rocker", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The fact that Tramp was elected because of white men's anger, should answer your question, Phyllis. That people respond with anger is very understandable. People are justifiably frightened for their old age with proposals that Social Security will be subject to the whims of the market, coupons for health care at the times of their lives when affordable health care is a necessity. People are afraid and angry that their lives will be changing drastically because so many white men don't like minorities, women, and non-Christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Canada was overall, based in Christianity. \nIn comes Islam, demanding accommodation and systematic introduction of their religion.\nWhat do the canadian mainstream media, and its reader base say?, well of course, scrap the original Christian background to accommodate the new cultural one.\n Since when, let the newcomers practice their culture in the comfort of their homes, prayer's place, like many other immigrants are doing at the moment.\nWe never had immigrants like orientals, spanish, budhist, hindu, etc, introducing motions, singling them out as 'special'. Something wrong with the way liberals are handling this affairs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I very much appreciate the position these Christian ethicists are taking, in giving reasoned witness against those who promote views contrary to our shared humanity and universal brother and sisterhood. \n\nBut let us recognize that the country those racist others would like to see bears a significant resemblance to the country we have been building all along. They just want to be more overt about it, to more openly operate and celebrate the machinery of White supremacy, for which those statues are merely symbols. \n\nI hope these Christian ethicists next lend their talents to the pressing question of true reparations for past and ongoing harms. The debt is immense. It is material. And we all have a share. It is a debt that begs attention, if we are to more closely approach the body of Christ. Or so it seems to me.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Over the last 30 years, LGBTQ Oregonians have been repeatedly attacked by Evangelical Christians (1992's Ballot Measure 9, and on, and on ... ). Yet, Bailey chooses to spend his Sundays with Evangelical Christians, who continue teaching - albeit now with hip music, tattoos, and lattes - that women must submit to men, and that LGBTQ people are inherently sinful.\n\nDoing one thing while saying another on the topic of basic human equality is tolerable - in a First Amendment sense - among private citizens. But, not in someone seeking to lead Portland, Oregon, as our Mayor. Bailey should either admit he believes the Evangelical Christian theology of his church, or join one of the many which treat women and LGBTQ people as equals with straight men, if that's what he actually believes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No. There is no where that vast number of Christians think it's ok to murder people that have renounced Christianity. There is no place where vast number of Christians think it is ok to murder someone who drew pictures of Jesus Christ. There is no place where Christians think it is ok to kill women who went shopping without a chaperon. There is no place a vast number of christians advocate killing people based on their sexual orientation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hmm, well maybe we must have a quorum of 12 Jewish apostles present to make the magic work. . .\n\nEFC, You need to educate yourself on this business of \"in persona Christi.\" Now, instead of relying on the Vulgate, the NAB/NABRE Bible on the Vatican and US Bishops' websites has a different translation for 2 Co 2:10 -- \"in the presence of Christ\" -- not \"in the person of.\" I was not able to find any mention of \"in the person of\" in the Baltimore Catechism, so I will guess the recent supposedly 'traditional' emphasis on 'in persona' is ironically mostly from Vatican II documents which have it. Just a fad that happens to result in clericalism and discrimination against women. Particularly with \"in persona Christi Capitis\" -- (Christ the Head who is Jesus, a male). As members of the Christ, women image it. The Eucharist is a remembrance, not a reenactment. See #1548 in the Catechism for history of Aquinas and 'in persona.' The foundation for a Vatican house of cards.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ben, I don't find Mr. Bailey complex- I find him muddled.\n\nHe sought out a church that would not accept me (I co-habitate) or my gay friends. The female submission doctrine at Imago Dei is creepy- so feminists have reason to worry. As other commentators have noted, Bailey is doing the equivalent of sticking his fingers in his ears. The church doctrine is truly at odds with his progressive values, so we are free to question 1. is he honest with himself 2. how he can hold two opposing belief systems in his head.\n\nReligious beliefs are fair game when it comes to picking a mayor. I don't want an evangelical Christian from a church with regressive values, and I suspect that the LGBT and other communities will also be concerned. Wheeler's church is bland, and tat is actually a plus. Wheeler isn't listening to a sky god- he crunches numbers and that is fine by me.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part 3.\n\nCyril, Patriarch of Alexandria, was drawn into the fight. Cyril had a sharp intellect but violent passions. As a young man he participated in the railroading of John Chrysostom. He hated heretics, Jews, Platonists -- in 415 a Christian mob attacked Hypatia, the head of the Alexandrine Neo-Platonist school, and literally tore her to pieces. It can be argued that Cyril incited this mob, and he certainly fostered the atmosphere in which it occurred. Cyril kept his chief hatred for Nestorius. \"As bishop of Alexandria he disliked Nestorius as bishop of Constantinople (that upstart see); as an Alexandrine theologian he disliked him as an Antiocene; and as Cyril he loathed him as Nestorius.\" (David Bell, A Cloud of Witnesses, p 108)\n\nCyril said Nestorius destroyed the basis for salvation. He said that Nestorius did not call Mary \u201cMother of God\u201d because he did not believe Jesus was God, which is untrue. Nestorius never denied Jesus\u2019 divinity, he was emphasizing Jesus' humanity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Judaeo-Christian tradition is as much an academic tradition as a spiritual one, perhaps more so. All such traditions should be open to objective intellectual scrutiny and reasoned counter-argument, whether by social (or any other) science. \n\nUnfortunately, with the ministerial Catholic Church, there is a complicating factor: obduracy. Its provenance is the wildly expanded notion (unofficial, of course) that papal infallibility has a much-wider remit than than the actual dogma allows for.\n\nThe common ground for debate here is really academe, not the customary self-regard: 'Roma locuta, causa finita est.'\n\nIt is not that both camps talk past one another, but simply that Rome refuses to talk.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Too many innocent people are put to death even in the United States. The Catholic Church teaches that we don't take lives unless it's a true necessity. Killing those on death row isn't a true necessity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "NCR can never do enough to highlight the accountability issue. It's to their credit that they're the foremost Catholic publication for accountability, and that they keep awareness alive with a permanent section devoted to this most important subject. And it's to to the discredit of the other Catholic pubs that they pretend the scandal never happened, or if it did happen, can never happen again, and so let's not bother mentioning it.\n\nI've studied this topic of nefarious holy men (of other religions) for 30 years. One thing is clear to me. The public has a very short memory, and the best deterrent to history repeating itself is constantly efforts to hold the guilty accountable and remind those in the present about the past.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of course, there is nothing remotely uncivil in my comment...so I am reposting it. Interesting it was rejected on an article calling for restraint in censorship.\n\nYes - I understand perfectly.\n\nBut the one example I gave is consistently used by a poster at THIS site. That \"petty, childish name calling\" occurs here - there are many such examples. I know you don't mean to say it is okay to cast aspersions at some and call names and worse at those with whom we disagree, and not at others depending on the level of agreement with that person. Just as I am certain you don't mean to say because someone else does it, it is okay to direct that same animus at that person. That would certainly not be a Christian attitude.\n\nThat's why I would look forward to seeing you offer the same correction to some here that you did to Eliane.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A swing, and a miss.\n\nLove your neighbor, unless your neighbor suffers from concupiscence of some kind? But that last category includes all of us. There is no \"unless\". Simply love your neighbor.\n\nMy tendency toward various sins sin, my particular temptations, should not be ignored, perversely to the point of pretending it is ordered toward my good, for the sake of not hurting my feelings. That is not love. It is the same for homosexuals. \n\nAnd it is a slander of Christianity and of Christ himself to equate the recognition of sin in ourselves or others with loathing or to contrast it with love. When Christ taught, He was not lacking love for those who are sometimes like (e.g.) the servant who buried his talent in the ground in the Parable of the Talents. Yet when the Church teaches, as Paul taught and as Christ taught, you would have it be incompatible with love. You can't have it both ways. Did Christ love or did He loathe?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Based on the foibles of Christians or otherwise, this event was evidently [and expertly] managed to serve Canada's geopolitical purposes ... great value for money.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "so lets teach all the Islamic children all about the virtues of Judaism and Christianity and have them recite the Lord's Prayer. Just learning not teaching - do you think this will work? And Muslim parents certainly would not have issues with this as all religion is fair game.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "no way I'm going to make light of the context here, rather, anyone else share a chuckle with me on the 'presentation' of this on the 'front page?' : \"CATHOLIC CHURCH ROCKED AS TOP CARDINAL PELL CHARGED WITH SEX OFFENCES... ALSO - Who is cardinal Pell?\" -- surely unintentional but sounds like a Simpsons style punchline?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So, you're essentially saying a church should be a church without being Christian. Okay, why not just take kids to read stories at the library?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That's because you live in an affluent society. In Nigeria, there have been a number of huge explosions where local people have actually breached gasoline and oil pipes to steal the contents. You're not going to hear an announcement from a minaret in Canada about spilled oil/gasoline either! This isn't a Muslim vs Christian thing, it's a poor vs comfortable thing. In Nigeria, Christians and animists get killed in the fireballs with equal opportunity to Muslims.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is a high school in London On that built a room for about 12 muslim students to use for prayer during the school day.\n\nOh, I guess I forgot to mention the school is part of the London District Catholic school board.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What I find interesting is, muslim students in catholic schools.\nWhat's the use of been 'Catholic\" if anyone of any fate can attend the school, choose no to be part of the religious curriculum.\nStrange, very strange.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Really? I don't recall any trad sentencing anyone to hell. I do recall them re-stating Catholic moral teaching. Not the same thing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In terms of mass murder, Christianity scores well above Islam.\n\nAs long as you accept that, you can hate Islam all you want. You obviously have the freedom to do that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "...\"God Incarnate wasn't aware of the origin of human sin and misery?\"...\nCatholics believe two things about Jesus \u2013 that he was Divine ; but also that he was fully human.\n\n It is often difficult for us to comprehend how these two things work together. But as a fully human person, Jesus chose to limit his human knowledge to whatever was the knowledge people had at his time and at his place.\n\n He took the 'bible knowledge' as taught in his time, by the bible scholars of his time. He understood the physical world as people of his time understood it.\n\n As a Jewish person of his tie, he would not have 'known' of the Universe as revealed by Hubble telescope, or of the planet earth, or continents like the Americas or Australia or the Polar regions.\n\nHis choosing to becoming 'fully human' does come with all its human limitations.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "According to verses in the Bible, Christians and other people who follow the Bible are supposed to pray at least 3 times a day, in the morning, at noon and in the mid afternoon and people who follow the Bible should be allowed to pray whenever they feel the need.\n\nIf Muslims can have prayer rooms in our public schools, maybe people who follow the Bible should demand chapels or prayer rooms in our public schools.\n\nAnd maybe people of other religions should also demand shrines or prayer rooms in our public schools.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You only have to examine the history of religious intolerance in America, often government sanctioned bigotry, to know that we do not have any 'moral high ground' to stand. Christian leaders and people who say they are Christian also do terrible things, but we don't allow them to define Christianity - any act of killing the innocent is incompatible with the worship of the God of Abraham.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christian extremists are people like Mother Theresa.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "NCR has done more for the Catholic Church in this country than any other paper. It keeps exposing scandal that people in positions of power want swept under the rug. NCR is the sunlight disinfectant in the Catholic world.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hasn't it dawned on you that Canadian society includes Muslims, along with Jews, Born Again Christians, Doukhobors, atheists, Hindus...?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Richards needs a smarter strategy on abortion politics. It must not be done as an affinity issue. Instead, talk about Roe and why it was not wrongly decided as 14th Amendment Law. Point out why privacy decisions (there has never been privacy legislation - no abortion law) show collectively why the state's rights approach can never be supported because it is mob rule. It would also help if she backed huge increases in the child tax credit so that abortion is no longer economically necessary. There needs to be consensus on that point with the left and right.\n\nSpencer shows that even evil people tell the truth, even if they realize they have outed themselves.\n\nSadly, in the South, Catholic clergy sometimes don't make waves. The same KKK folks tend to still bomb Catholic Churches because they think the Pope is the anti-Christ.\n\nCardinal Sean is justifiably the senior leader of the American Church. Calling Nazi's pagan was a nice touch.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Goodness Michael, next time, have 1-2 fewer cups of coffee before your write. Fr Antonio \"2+2=5\" Spadaro isn't really going to get very far as head cheerleader for the leftist Catholic crowd. And considering the help he's chosen in Figueroa...(that's like saying you and Bill Tamaeus are the dynamic duo for the American Catholic left - nowhere near the orbit of rational possibility). Mike, I've said it before, and I know I sound more like your high school English 10 instructor then a simple reason-minded Catholic - you write terribly. You need to stop trying to insult every honest Catholic person you can think of every time you write an article. Have a thesis, a main idea, and defend it with fact and cogent commentary. Rambling like a partisan doesn't do anything more than get your leftist friends more foaming at the mouth. (And its exceptionally un-Christian...you lose more converts than you might make).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The major problem is, the MSM, DNC, Estlabishment Rinos, education system. And large global industries. Want a one world communist government. The people on the other hand, small business and the Trump administration want our republic back. We are tired of the communist giving our money and country away to anyone who wants it, for votes and power. This very well could be the battle of gog and Magog. Even the vadican and other major religions, has turned communist, and no longer believe in the tenants of the Christian religion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And, I'll bet most of the bad ones have members who are FBI agents. Got to watch those \"Christian Identity\" and \"radical traditional Catholic\" folks. What, no Jewish traditionalists?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As we know for a fact that what I wrote is indisputable fact, that this IRS training was 100% under Obama all the way, and now you are trying to tell me that Obama appointed Sessions too? \n\nMe thinks not! \n\n(Borrowing your great quote) \"You guys and your made up world!\" Uh yep!!! I could not agree more Christian Mannhood! LOL lol lol! Great laugh, thanks, and on that note- TGIF!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not at all Rodney - I am suggesting that these so called priests, exactly became priests, because it will afford them the freedom and luxury to be paedophiles at will or use and abuse women. They certainly did not do this IN the name of Christ - but they used it to commit their crimes. Does that make God evil or man evil? It is disgusting what has happened throughout the centuries under the banner of religion (mainly under RC rule) But please lets be fair, what about Communism (an atheist ideology) who wiped out MILLIONS of people, imprisoned, tortured because of their religion & non-compliance to(atheist) ideology. But this is always conveniently forgotten! Do you even know what is happening in places like North Korea, India and many other Muslim & secular countries right now? CHRISTIANS & other non-compliants are being persecuted, killed, jailed & tortured daily! Read the Red Holocaust - 60M+ people killed by Marxism, that exclude the rapes and other atrocities!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pt. 2\nBy 1965, there was a decisive shift in Catholic attitudes and presence in the struggle for racial justice. In response to Martin Luther King, Jr.'s summons for the nation's religious leaders to come to Selma, Alabama, the response from white priests and sisters was \"enormous\". Despite the opposition from the Local Bishops, \"priests from fifty different dioceses, sisters and laity flocked to Alabama.\"\n\nBut for the most part, American bishops were passive and tepid in their responses then and sadly, now.\n--------------------------------------\nCyprian Davis, THE HISTORY OF BLACK CATHOLICS IN THE UNITED STATES [New York: Crossroads, 1990]\nJohn T. McGreevy, PARISH BOUNDARIES: THE CATHOLIC ENCOUNTER WITH RACE IN THE TWENTIETH-CENTURY URBAN NORTH [Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996]\nCharles Marsh GOD'S LONG SUMMER: STORIES OF FAITH AND CIVIL RIGHTS [Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2008]", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hello is there anybody in there? There were 476 mass shootings in the USA last year. Two of them had ties to ISIS. If we had kept them out the number of shootings would be reduced by .42%! Hasn't it been \"Christians\" who are shooting up the women's clinics? Maybe the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly can recommend to Trump exactly which christian churches should be allowed entry.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I know Humanae Vitae. It is another magisterial piece of tripe. You will notice, for example, that the argument used is \"natural law\", which I have described as sometimes meaning \"this is my personal opinion, for which I do not give actual support\". Well, in the case of HV, this is one of those times.\n\nPope Paul, whose sole position outside of the curia before becoming pope, was Archbishop of Milan, simply had no clue about the place of sex in marriage. \n\nYou are once again taking Adolf Eichmann as your role model, and are supporting it without question, like the good unthinking automaton you believe Catholics should be.\n\nMarty, I do not know why you think you know more than I do. You consistently show that you don't. Hubris on your part, I suppose. To go along with the acedia you assume when it comes to accepting what others tell you with regard to moral decisions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hey, why isn't anyone talking about removing the names of Catholic Saints, our war and sports heroes, explorers, and the ilk where they appear on buildings, maps, streets signes etc. I'm sure that someone out there is alarmed, fearful, uncomfortable or just annoyed when forced to view these names on signs or labels. May I suggest that to sanitize place names in Canada, we revert to their original native names even though few of us would be able to pronounce them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Islam is a political ideology intent on world domination.\nThis is the observation of a former Muslim, Hirsi Ali. Because this is her experience of this religion, does that make it wrong; is it Islamophobic? Am I an Islamophobe if I concur? What about all those Muslim nations that are busy committing theocide against Christians? Is that Christophobe? As Canada's Muslim population swells, as it surely will, will M-103 be expanded to include Christophobia?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "AlfredS says \"Many of us Christians and Catholics are responsible for voting for Donald Trump because of the \"non-negotiable Catholic principle\". Bishops, when will (they) hold the \"pro-life\" republicans accountable?\"\n\nWHEN WILL WE hold ourselves responsible and courageous enough to ignore the authoritative proclamations of those who go against the grain of conscience? \nWHEN WILL WE hold the bishops responsible for their political doublespeak about not supporting or opposing any candidate for public office while publishing norms and giving sermons which make anti-abortion candidates the only possible Catholic choice aside from not voting?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For your comment to be correct, several conditions need to be met. Making abortion illegal does not decrease the number of abortions. I am sure that as a percent of the population, abortion was higher in Victorian times than today. It is a huge leap of logic to make a voter supporting planned parenthood responsible for abortions- a decision made according individual consciousness. Only in Muslim fundamentalist states laws are dictated by religion and you can see the mess it is. A Catholic can and must separate his civid duty from his persoanal belief- real life situation and trade-offs are complex and require different skills. But most important is that the priest abused his power, in fact he is guilty of emotional abuse and of misleading a devoted woman- he has no attribution to judge. Only God can. So let me repeat clearly and loud, his behavior is shamefull, and probably sinful.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am sad that so-called-Christians are only Church-goers. READ the Gospel of Matthew Ch. 25:31-47. Christ enumerates the areas in which the Final Judgment rests. It's not about adhering to the politicalizing of a president who would be dictator, but of recognizing that ALL are God's children and ALL are welcomed who do for others--often SEEN as the LEAST. Jesus never subscribed to the Jewish desire to see themselves as the ONLY favored people of God. And we should not look at others as OUTSIDE of God's love and concern. During the rise of Nazism in Germany---the bishops of Germany told the people to OBEY the governmental leaders. It was 15 years later [1958], when they finally condemned the Holocaust.\n\nAs far as \"killing the Catholic church\"---it is time for the Church to realize that it cannot put up walls---but bridges instead. BTW---most of the Hispanics who sought refuge ARE CATHOLICS coming up from dictatorial countries south of Mexico's border.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As long as he's not a traditional Catholic, right?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What a disjointed article. The headline is \"How an atheist celebrates Christmas\", and the first paragraph and a half talks about atheism, then the author goes on to espouse he is a \"secular Christian\" and the remainder and majority of the article is about his respect for Jesus and Christianity as a faith, along with some debatable bafflegab about the history of Christianity.\n\nI am an atheist, that's why this article interested me. I have respect for Christianity and Christians, and how many Christians have done good for their fellow people regardless of faith in the name of God. I may not believe almost any of the Bible, and loathe people of any faith who try to impose their religion on others, prefer a secular state, and loathe organized religion but one's faith or spirituality is a personal choice and I respect that choice.\n\nI personally do not celebrate Christmas as a day when the saint Jesus was born. I look at as a time to enjoy one's loved ones and a consumerist holiday.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It was cruel to block people who were already approved to come to the USA. It was like inviting someone to your house only to slam the door in their face.\n\nAs for immigrants/refugees/visitors from those countries under the travel ban, it was more akin to not inviting someone over in the first place. You're under no obligation to invite people in the house, especially if there are murderers hiding within their midst - better to give financial aid.\n\nIt should be added that Muslim refugees from Syria are safely (though sadly not comfortably) ensconced in camps in Turkey and Jordan, and can return when the civil war ends (as they are part of the majority group). Religious minorities like Christians and especially Yazidis are not so fortunate - nor do many particularly want to return to a country where they were subject to genocide.\n\nCanada, incidentally, has yet to give refuge to a large number of Yazidis.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "...\" The biggest oecumenical stumbling block we face is Vatican One\u2019s invention of papal infallibility. \"...\n\nIn that , I fully agree!\n\nThough it has little to do with Pope Francis doing his job and revising some passages of Canon Law. No claim to 'infallibility' about that.\n\n'Infallible' pronouncements are rather rare. Most of the job expectation of a leader of the Catholic Church doesn't require or expect 'infallibiliity'.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have no idea who you are, but I hope you learn how to help those who need help.\n\nIt is not helpful to give those addicted that which they are addicted to, or to tell those who advocate hurting the innocent because they are aggrieved that such action is acceptable, or to fuel false hopes of this or that change in reality because nothing less will satiate their pain.\n\nIt is not Christian, and it is not Catholic.\n\nJesus loved the world, but He did not give people heading down the wrong path a nudge and a wink.\n\nMy advice was sound and based on long experience.\n\nYour comments outline the very approach every 12 step program tells participants to avoid.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do you recall reading the Crusades historically? It was terrorism to the highest degree and it was Christians. The witch hunts in Salem, Joan of Arc....of course there is the 2 . 158 Million people that the bible says god killed....that's the good old Christian bible. All religion is violent by its very nature and competitive. If you are part of it you are a person in need of a crutch and want mythology to save you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I believe you need to understand that Catholics do not live in isolated 'greenhouses'. They live in the real world, just as other folks do. People have jobs that call them to work over the week-ends on Saturdays and Sundays. Catholics marry partners who are not Catholic, not Christian, not monotheistic----who are 'nones'.\n\nAnd Catholics were down right angry that bishops covered up sexual abuse, moved abusing clergy around the diocese or into other dioceses. Catholics were angry that their bishops or clergy told them for whom they COULD NOT vote because the hierarchy had become \"one-issue\" voters and demanded that their parishioners become so as well. \n\nCatholics have problems with their marriages just as other folks do. But the stance of too many of the hierarchy---who are not married themselves----is that marriage is the only sacrament of service where there cannot be any mistakes made. \n\nNone of this has anything to do with attendance at Mass---it's the reality of life today.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am a Catholic and that view would be the sin of presumption. All are saved and automatically go to heaven is a Protestant belief.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do you find it offensive that your fellow GOP call Trump \"God Emperor\"\n\nThat is blasphemous. It disgusts me as it should you.\n\nBut, you were offended by my comment? \n\nDo you honestly believe that Trump is even a Christian?\n \nHe is leading the conservative party with Christian values?\n\nBecause most of the GOP seems to think so, that is what this opinion piece is about.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sex is what has kept our species going for at least 10,000 years. \n\nThe Greeks fought over beautiful women (Helen of Troy) and also enjoyed homosexual sex. The Romans did the same.\n\nInstead of a 'corrupted culture', perhaps we are just ignoring the Dark and Middle Ages (especially the Catholic Church and their Protestant offshoots and their anti-sex taboos) and going back to those cultures.\n\nCalling our culture 'corrupted' defines your biases about sex more than it defines the culture itself.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Another \"van of peace\". This is where the joke of right-wing/white/Christian extremism stops being funny. 30,000+ dead since 9/11, but I'm going to guess we aren't going to see the smearing of Islamists in the media as we've seen of \"neo-Nazis\" the past few days.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Show me anywhere in the incidents listed where the people used their religion to justify their actions? They may have been Christians, I do not argue that point, just that none of them used their religion to justify their crimes. In the case of the radical Islamic terrorists, in almost every single case they yell \"Allahu Akbar\" is an Islamic phrase, called Takbir in Arabic, meaning \"God is greater\" or \"God is [the] greatest\". I do not think they are referring to the national anthem of Libya, a 1977 Indian Malayalam film or the song written by Lounes' Matoub. So please show me where any of the people you list said anything about \"In the name of Christ\" or In God's name\"?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But God isn't Catholic.....nor Jewish, nor Muslim, nor Buddhist, nor Hindu, etc. Jesus actually had a number of female followers but the early 'fathers' of the church chose to honor twelve men....relating to the twelve tribes of ancient Judaism. ... The gospels that actually name the apostles don't even have the same list of names. The 'church' didn't even exist as an organized religion until after Constantine (around 312). The church was alive with political maneuvering; hence what we see today. The Bible, which didn't exist in a New Testament form until the 400's, has been edited, translated and retranslated through the generations to fit the male hierarchal ideology. Now the hierarchy have backed themselves in a corner of historical tradition and can't admit that they just might have misinterpreted the teachings and practices of Jesus. Historical artifacts have uncovered evidence of female deacons, priests, and even Bishops in the early church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This TV show reminds me of the big kid at school picking on the small kid, the small kid being the Mennonite community, and in many ways Christians, more generally, and the big kid being the CBC people and those who support such hateful expression against religious minorities through the media. I wouldn't exactly describe the singling out and belittling of this group a hate speech, but these kinds of sentiments by the CBC employees involved here who created the show are definitely of the same kind of nature as hate speech typically is considered to be, by honest people, anyhow.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They slaughtered my Irish catholic ancestors for being catholic, so yes Chuck is quite right.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Whilst he is 'consulting' Mr Trudeau he might also mention euthanasia and persecuting Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So if one asserts his rights, he is intolerant and dramatic? This baker's entire case is being funded and pursued by a \"Christian\" group. He is just the face of the group. All of tis publicity and drama is costing him nothing. In fact, I'm willing to bet the bigots have increased his business ten-fold.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Trump will give special consideration for Christians. Jews are on their own.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Would we be holding the same debate if, say, 6 Catholics had been murdered? Would there be an anti Catholicismphobia motion on the floor?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Tiresome - the usual attempt to get in a jab; score points, etc. Obviously, you need to re-read the opinion piece. MSW spends a number of paragraphs on cradle Catholics and criticizing church/pope - did you just skip over that in your haste to post more negativity - negativity that has no content, suggested alternatives, criticism based upon objective facts, etc.\n\nFrom the post quoting MSW:\n\n\"At no time have I suggested that hubris about the faith is limited to recent converts. Quite the contrary. George Weigel's famous \"red pen, gold pen\" hermeneutic regarding Pope Benedict XVI's encyclical Caritas in Veritate evidenced a \"more Catholic than the pope\" stance. My article at the time in America magazine was entitled \"New Heights of Hubris from George Weigel.\"\n\nNor is hubris confined to the ecclesial right. The most recent issue of NCR contained an editorial that included these remarkable sentences.....\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We're already closer than you may think to women Catholic priests! Nothing in this world is quite so powerful or irresistible as an idea whose time has come!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dr. Ogunyemi,\n\nObviously this person was rude. Unfortunately in this flawed world there will always be a minority of rude and bigoted people. Most people are not.\n\nMore government imposed multiculturalism is not going to lessen encounters with rude people. Canada is a secular liberal democracy with some fading Christian influences. Multiculturalism has failed everywhere it has been tried. Asking newcomers to make an effort to adapt to the larger culture is not a symptom of bigotry.\n\nYou seem like an accomplished person who is contributing much to Canada. Spending a lot of your time stressing because of an unpleasant encounter at a restaurant would seem to be a poor use of your time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "All media coverage represents Assad as bad.\n\nAnd yet, Christians have been living there safely for thousands of years, and have been part of his government.\n\nUntil now. The rise of fundamental Islam, which strives for control and dominance of the Middle East and the world, has violently changed everything in Syria.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Whatever happens, the white Catholic vote has proven to be one that has been most in play during this election. Where they finally land could determine the election.\" I doubt that is accurate, I rather think it is arrogant to give white Catholics voters (a group that includes the author) such importance in the election. More relevant, I belief that when the cleric looks at Catholics as a voting block, they are hoping to influence politics. The separation of state and church does not only protect our democracy, it also protects our faith - we are allowed to vote in consciousness. Not following the Catholic political agenda (like opposing gay marriage and the legal right to abortion) does not make us less catholic. It makes us more civil, in the literal sense of the word.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why is that not cause for great hope more so than for worry? \n\nIn fact, I think your statement indicates how wide the family gulf is between orthodox Catholics like you and God's other Catholic kids; in fact, between Orthodox Catholics and all of God's other kids, including--especially--God's prodigal sons and daughters. \n\nCatholicism is elite. But you make it sound elitist. And that's sad during this season or any season. \n\nI'm looking at our Nativity--shepherds, doubting and searching wise men, a very poor mom and dad, and a tiny baby who would grow to be the most prominent dissident in human history. The orthodox, rules-obsessed, ready-to-blackball elites are outnumbered. Was that a time to \"start worrying\"?\n\nI say that was the time of all times to STOP worrying. So did Christ. So should you.\n\nAnd just what is it you are worried about?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Then she must have been put in one of the Catholic cemeteries that is open to all faiths. Which is great, however as I've clearly shown that is not the case with other Catholic cemeteries and therefore your assertion that my earlier post was \"fake facts\" is also clearly incorrect.\n\nCurious that you avoided addressing that in your reply isn't it?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As a \"Fundamentalist\" Christian I completely agree, a Nation cannot be Christian, the people in in can, but not a nation. When a person advocates this \"Christian Nation\" nonsense, I immediately question their wisdom and put them down the list of people to listen to or to take advice from. Here is a good message from Gregg Frazer who is a Professor at the Masters College on this subject that even the agnostics and atheists will learn from\n\n https://www.gracechurch.org/sermons/12300", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One inaccuracy in this article is that it falsely gives the impression that counter protesters at the Trump rally were responsible for him leaving the event. Nothing could be further from the truth. When one looks at video of the event, it becomes most obvious that the Trump supporters wanted nothing to do with him. They repeatedly told the police that he was not one of them, and that they wanted him to leave. They made him most unwelcome.\n\nAn important omission in this story is that it failed to note that Christian is an avowed Nihilist, and that he believes that life is meaningless, and that he also rejects all religious and moral values. He is thus about as far away from being a person of the Christian faith, as a person can be.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It seems far too many of you forgot the lessons from similar accusations brought up in day care centers in the 1980s and early 1990s. I don't trust people who conveniently \"remember\" events from half a century ago, especially when there's money involved. We're far too believing of anyone claiming victim status and quick to condemn the accused. How many lives were ruined by false allegations back in the 1980s? We're STILL fighting some of the blatantly false claims from that era. Couple that with the secular hatred for all things Christian, especially all things Catholic, and you get this instead. SNAP is being sued by an ex-employee because they are engaged in suspicious practices. Stop pretending the victim label absolves those with that label from sin.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Will look forward to reading this work as I grew up on the Catholic segregated Southside. My parish, perhaps, the largest in the archdiocese, Visitation, was in a state of high tension for years as I was growing up. The fear of blacks breaking the boundaries to move into our neighborhood, which they eventually did, was ever present. Never a word, a sermon, a lesson about the racial conflict which hung as a persistent cloud over us. A non-Catholic couple had a meeting in their home regarding union activities. Some black persons were invited to attend. Parishioners swelled to about a 1,000 a night for a period of time till the couple was forced to sell and the parish bought the property to keep the neighborhood white. The RCC was proactive in maintaining segregation. This is well documented. Check out: The Siege of South Peoria Street.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do people realize what a historical step SNAP took? Child sexual abuse had been covered up for centuries. Psychiatrists covered it up for over 100 years. With the women's movement of the 1970s women started sharing their life stories and women's magazines started covering it. Still the psychiatrists refused to hear--and they were advising the Catholic Church on this! \nIt was because of so many survivors in the Catholic Church who came together and, with the eventual support of their families, and lawyers willing to take their cases--and NCR publishing the earliest reports--that forced the situation into the open for every child. (And remember the word limit on Civil Comments limits what I can say).\nEven today the psychiatrists have not yet formally recognized Developmental Trauma, although their colleagues have been working to change this for over 25 years. Like ending racial prejudice this takes more time and work than seems reasonable or possible...see below", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nigel,\n\nIf you look at the countries with the highest murder rates, the first 27 are Christian. Turkmenistan is the first Muslim country at number 28. \n\nSo that is my position of knowledge. Could you show me yours?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Explain, when you have a few moments, how posting attacks on the Church's teachings and Catholics from the perspective of a total rejection of the Church's teachings in a purportedly Catholic venue is not trolling, and how it is not being disingenuous.\n\nFather Reese presented a very thoughtful and thought-provoking idea, that the Church has a vital role in healing the nation.\n\nHow does attacks on the Church, the bishops, priests, and Catholics illuminate that idea?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "guess you must live in a cave and never come out.. the christian crusades... holy wars.. latest crusade declared by George Bush as America invaded Iraq... any of those ring a bell...\n\nand i guess you do not understand how big oil works.. you probably should watch the movie Syriana (2005), fairly accurate of how that business is run and the people behind it... i lived in it so i can attest to it...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "He was a Breitbart editor known for his alt right views and provocative editorials. He claims to be a celibate Catholic gay man, but some say the celibacy part is a recent phenomenon. He is one of Bannon's minions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "3/3\n\n<<...In her dissent in Wheaton College v. Burwell, Justice Sonia Sotomayor explained that the Little Sisters\u2019 \u201cthird-party administrator was [under] a \u2018church plan\u2019 that had no legal obligation or intention to provide contraceptive coverage.\u201d Because the Little Sisters\u2019 \u201cchurch plan\u201d contracts with Christian Brothers, the government was never able to penalize the nuns for failing to comply. The court\u2019s Zubik order in no way impacted religious organizations with church plans.>>\n\nhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2016/09/23/the-supreme-courts-punt-on-the-little-sisters-of-the-poor-cannot-be-returned/?utm_term=.108cc49beebf\n\nNe need to fret about the Little Sisters' consciences. They were just sweet pawns in the bishops' culture wars.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Radicalization is taught at home, around the dinner table, as the family enjoys mom's good home cooking, while the grown ups discuss destroying Israel, eradicating homosexuals and the evils of dirty infidels It is drilled into young minds with every tale of glorious martyrdom for Allah in every mosque in every city around the world. Extremism for Islam is taught the same way Christians are taught about Jesus and his message of mercy and forgiveness. It is not at odds with the teachings, but is central to the religion", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It happened in 1999 when Putin took power. We're a little late to the game because somebody after Clinton dropped the ball. Somebody thought he was a good Christian for bombing his own people for power. Seems like that happened a lot. Obama read Putin as a totalitarian within the first few minutes of the first meeting. Putin looked terrified the big guy was going to choke him. Putin may be bloodthirsty but he's a squirt compared to a regular American man.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mulcair takes his Christian superstition seriously, to some degree.\n\nChristians are obligated to forgive, if they take their faith based (as opposed to fact based) principles seriously.\n\nThe current Secular majority in Canada is under no such obligation. I am looking forward to a shift in our Legal System from the Naive Christian view that anyone can be \"saved\" or otherwise redeemed to a system that is based on protecting the public from individuals who have demonstrated that they should never again be trusted to walk freely in society.\n\nIn Victoria a few years back there was a guy who flew into a rage and killed someone he knew. Diligent research into his background revealed that it was not his 1st murder. He had done the same thing before, but got a slap on the wrist sentence because his lawyer argued that it was totally out of character and would never happen again, no risk to anyone else.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "if you don't want the Catholic stuff then common sense says you don't go to a Catholic school\nWhy go and play activist games like trouble makers", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Simple Christian. I believe what I've read about Jesus' teachings, which includes more than the Bible. For me, I guess it's more about what would Jesus do? He wasn't into hate. As for the father, son and holy ghost, I don't necessarily disbelieve it. I've seen some pretty strange things in my life. ;)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So, then, you come here, welcomed by NCR, to persuade Catholics to leave their faith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In favor of \"judmentalism\"? I find that a nearly meaningless term, so I can't really say whether I'm in favor of it or against.\n\nAs far as what's wrong with Bishop McElroy's article? So many things. But mainly, he does the very thing that he bemoans. His own attack on people who disagree with Father Martin is extremely harsh. He seems to be able to read minds when he asserts that Father Martin's critics are bigots and \"homophobes\" (another almost meaningless term). To attack people as \"cancer\" to be eradicated is pretty ugly. \n\nAnd it's pretty defensive. He waves away the key question: has Father Martin, in fact, strayed from Catholic teaching? Bishop McElroy dismisses the question as absurd, but you know what? He doesn't get to decide that. People are asking a serious question about some of Father Martin's remarks, and Bishop McElroy's bluster isn't going to quell those questions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Ergo, non-Catholic religious leaders are ignorant of logic and reason.\" is an example of a logical error.\n\nI do believe that most Protestants understand that Catholics do not see eye-to-eye on a number of beliefs, and therefore would not consider a Catholic as not welcoming who disagrees.\n\nOr do you think ecumenism involves heading for the lowest common denominator?\n\nThat could present some issues, because in some denominations - e.g., the Episcopal Church - belief that Jesus Christ was literally the Son of God is optional.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I've never met an NDP member of any longevity that didn't know Tommy Douglas was a Baptist minister; nor have I met any that 'don't want to remember that sort of thing.'\n\nThe NDP has probably had more participation by Christian clergy than any other party. That would include CCF founder J.S. Woodsworth, Saskatchewan premier Lorne Calvert, NL leader Lorraine Michael, icon Stanley Knowles, Bill Blaikie, Dan Heap, Jim Manley, Bob Ogle, Cheri diNovo just to name a few.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Jesus did not choose any women to be apostles, therefore women cannot be ordained\" is one of the main arguments used by those opposed to the ordination of women.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "JPII wasn't just silencing discussion on the issue until such time as the issue could be clarified, etc. \n\n\"In order that all doubt may be removed, I declare the church has no authority to ordain women.\" \n\nUnless you are a lawyer or Scripture scholar--that is a pretty clear statement that does not admit of discussion at a later time. I can understand why dissidents are so desperate to find some, any loop hole---no matter how ridiculous, bizarre and absurd their arguments have to be. As long as they can keep that hope alive, they will cling to anything. \n\nI would give up the Catholic Faith because no pope can redefine reality. No pope can change that which is unchangeable. No pope can define that black is white and visa-versa. Popes do not have unlimited and unchecked authority. The day a pope redefines reality, the day a pope changes that which is by definition not changeable is the day I leave. The Church is not the USA. Reality cannot be redefined because some do not like it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Doubtful for lots of reasons, not least being that it's silly to assume clergy should continue to be denied the fundamental right to marry. But leaving aside numbers, aren't you concerned about quality of clergy? I think we Catholics have a quality problem that's even worse than the numbers problem, although the two are related.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A friend of mine, non-Catholic is buried in a Catholic cemetery. Stop with the fake facts.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As a bad Catholic who supports the right to choose contraception and abortion, I agree with the Trump Administration's new rules. Religious institutions should not have to provide contraception or any other product with which they disagree. If there truly is a separation of \"church and state,\" then the government should not be dictating to the Church or vice verse. \nBy the way, I am BAD Catholic because I'm intellectually honest with myself, unlike millions of other Catholics. If a Catholic does not accept all that the Church teaches, then that Catholic is NOT a good Catholic, whether one supports contraception (as I do) or supports deporting illegal aliens (in which I also believe). You call a spade a spade. We shouldn't pretend that a spade is a rake or a mop.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That teaching is Catholic Relativism. It does not dictate what is to be found in the civil law, which pushes abortion, sodomy and gay marriage OUT of the political zone. What Clinton and Trump believe have only electoral impact and the Bishops and Trump were committing the sin of fraud by implying anything differently. And so are you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm always a little surprised by how many putatively \"conservative\" Catholics don't have the slightest idea what the church teaches about the supremacy of conscience. I see it so often that I probably shouldn't be surprised by it. I think it probably has something to do with the phenomenon of \"creeping\" (and creepy) infallibility that infected the church during the authoritarian papacies of John Paul II and Benedict XVI. At any rate, you truly don't know what you're talking about, and you don't know that you don't know. A good place to start, I suppose, would be with the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Article 6, especially at #1790.\nNo one can cede responsibility for her or his moral decisions to anyone or anything else.\n\nDrivel: nothing more, nothing less, and nothing other than pure drivel.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...in the end they offer only eternal death.\" \nThat is only your opinion. Religion is a human invention that answers a universal need to seek what we call \"God.\" There is more than one way to seek \"God,\" and no one religion (no, not even the Catholic Church) has a monopoly on the Truth.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Perhaps some Trump fans are evangelicals who want to help those biblical prophesies come true. Some of Trump's actions seem designed to hasten the destruction of the world.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No Rule - It is your narrow view that is sad. Jesus does not back this sexism in any Gospels. None of the Apostles was picked as such to be a priests. Not one of them was even a Levite. They were picked because the lineage of Abraham had to have a representatives from the twelves tribes of Israel according to OT Prophesy. None of our clergy has the correct blood, including our pope, to be validly ordained in our church if that is your standard. Ignorance of Scripture leads you to stray from truth and Gospel Justice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"There seems to be some inane mindset that the state is the answer to all things. Love of government seems to be a main thing the Prophets were warning against.\"\n- True, there is no perfect solution.\n- The connecting factor is the people of God who are responsible for their church and who are among the men and women of good will who constitute the citizenship of a secular state.\n- In this sense it is reasonable that the institutional church and all of its decentralized offices are brought to account based on just civil laws.\n- Logically one would conclude that but for high crimes and immoral misdemeanors the people of God would have had no need to invoke the civil laws of secular states.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The first liturgies were celebrated in Aramaic and Greek. If you're not using those languages, you're not a \"restorationist.\" You're fixated on a particular moment in church history that was far removed from the experience of Jesus and his disciples. Your desire to return to that moment is nostalgia, not restoration. Or as a true restorationist might say, \"\u1f18\u1f70\u03bd \u1f96\u03c2 \u03c6\u03b9\u03bb\u03bf\u03bc\u03b1\u03b8\u03ae\u03c2, \u1f14\u03c3\u03b5\u03b9 \u03c0\u03bf\u03bb\u03c5\u03bc\u03b1\u03b8\u03ae\u03c2.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is insulting to the Creator to equate the human community with those elements which you dismiss. There is a heresy, wish I could recall the term, that hates creation - reality. That seems to be where you are Rule and Raven. \nJesus came and \"was sent\" because the Creator loved his creation and \"...saw what was good\". To equate \"secular\" with what you see as evil is not only wrong, it is depressing and denies that love that Jesus is and saw, came to share and take into His embrace. \nIt would seem that \"goodness\" is reserved to you and that which is within your jaded vision. Sad.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Vacuous episcopal messaging and machinations to control Pope Francis. Not surprising. Tobin is so right! \n\nDid you see how much the USCCB is charging for Joy of Love? Common, do you think they really need to make a such profit on that - get Pope Francis' teaching out there like you did for the last 2 popes- making the cost ridiculous. Thank God of PDF and direct downloads, but a hard bound copy would be nice. Actually, friends in Rome can get these documents at a very reasonable rate. \nGeeze, you guys are not kidding anyone.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Good struggling Catholics\", in other words, Catholics who agree with RD", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No more than the public school system. A safe haven and bastion of child rape.\n \nNo where did they condone it. Mishandled it, yes. Didn't believe it happened YES. Condoned it absolutely not.\n\nAbsolutely nothing different happened in the public school system. They assumed early accusations were false. They moved teachers or ignored complaints until l they could no longer ignore them. And enormous number of complaints were made decades after the abuse accrued.\n\nThe only difference is the public school system is 1000s of different separate school systems and tat isn't hated by liberals. The catholic church, while made up of 100s of semi separate diocese, falls under one organization and is hated by liberals.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Amen. The last two Popes have led the Church into taking sides in Politics. Jesus said \"give onto Caesar that which is Caesar's, and to God that which is God's\", thereby taking His teachings out of politics. I'm no priest but it seems clear that the Holy Sea has departed from Christ's teaching while hypocritically claiming it is in His name.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"If the accusations pan out, the case would be a major embarrassment for the Vatican and Pope Francis\"\n\nWhy? Because they heard allegations that a priest was breaking Church/state law and decided to do something about it? That sounds like a major win to me.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Church also went for nearly two millennia accepting slavery as moral. By your reasoning, the teaching never should have changed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I worked in a juvenile prison for years and half of the teenage girls were pregnant and would have had late term abortions as soon as the pregnancy became uncomfortable, this is what we have to look forward to and if you are a Catholic and you vote for this shame on you and their blood is on your hands", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Carter's and Reagan's personal religious views are irrelevant. Evangelicals soured on Carter because of his support for the ERA and tolerance of abortion and gay rights. The rise of the Moral Majority and entry of evangelicals as a formidable bloc in the Republican coalition occurred under Reagan, as did promotion of now-familiar themes of culture war against secular humanism, nostalgia for a return to a Christianized past and paranoia about imminent anti-religion authoritarianism. Such sentiments are widely echoed on the Catholic right over 35 years after Reagan.\n\nDifferences between the evangelical and Catholic right are not so important as the commonalities that sustain the political alliance and its apocalyptic, Manichean worldview.\n\nI had never heard the term \"Catholic Integralist\" before but assume it refers to Catholic assimilation of evangelical literalism and militancy.\n\nI agree the piece lacks nuance but it's a polemic that accurately describes troubling features of the RR.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Unfortunately in Christian's haste to eulogize Dumdi, he incorrectly stated Bill Fleenor was found guilty of violating the open meetings law - that is an untruthful statement. Bill was found innocent. Faye Stewart and Bill Dwyer, along with Rob Handy and Pete Sorenson were later found guilty of violating a completely different meeting than was originally alleged. The lawsuit was a witch hunt funded by the timber industry using Ms. Dumdi as a shill (admitted by Dumdi in her deposition). It's a sad day when a prominent newspaper stoops to such low ethical standards as to use slander and misinformation to help elevate their political causes and sell newspapers.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't understand the attachment of white evangelicals to Trump in any shared values. That leads me to believe they are exactly the voters that 'identity politics' persuaders love to see. Ex. White, above average income, authoritarian friendly,(should be servants to god, but the professionals can transfer that to human leaders easily). \n\nJust find out what that group wants to hear and tell them. Simple, and it doesn't have to be true. Be sure not to get tied down by facts if you want the vote.\n\n That's identity politics and The Party uses it on a public mostly disinterested in the details of governing. If the voter sees something 'like us' in a candidate, they go that way. They have no time or interest in complexity of policy, they have other things to do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The court ordered the Milwaukee Archdiocese list their secret documents on their website. These priests are listed, most confessed to their abuse but were shuffled around until the SOL ran out for prosecution.\n\nAs far as a settlement\n I was repeatedly raped and molested by a priest as an altar boy.\nAfter the five year bankruptcy betrayal and having to relive this evil. The side effects of trauma are impossible for me to contain. I have uncontrollable panic attacks where I feel I am going to suffocate and die and I have night terrors so real and evil that I am often afraid to go to sleep. \nI would expect the average settlement amount from all Catholic Church bankruptcies. \n\n\nWhat is the loss of the ability to trust anyone and anything worth to you?\nWhat is the loss of a wife and daughter worth to you?\nUncontrollable panic attacks are not an attribute desired by employers what is a ruined career worth?\nWhat is a ruined life worth to you.?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Providing you with any proof - urls or otherwise - is a futile exercise. You simply dismiss the references as being biased or one sided - while you yourself provide links to such unbiased, august bodies as 'The Catholic League.\" Attempting to debate with you is like banging your head against a brick wall. It's a complete waste of time and energy and the only possible outcome is a headache.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Okay, I have seen enough of your comments. What makes you think your lifestyle is so correct? Do you eat crab or oysters or shrimp? Well is says in the Bible that is a sin. What about bacon and pork chops? Ditto. How about wearing clothing that is a blend of two fabrics? Ditto again. Oh, yeah, and my favorite...I hope you were a virgin when you married (or still are one if you are not) because if not, according to the Bible, we should take you out and stone you. Instead of picking and choosing which verses you want to follow, try reading the entire Book and following everything or quit trying to judge other people based on your interpretation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Margaret Sanger advocated for eugenics (forced sterilization) for blacks and Catholics. She resigned from Planned Parenthood when that organization chose not to pursue forced sterilization, which was legalized if not performed in 37 states. You say \" Oregon did all of that except for the (blacks)... That is our history.\" But not the history of PP.\nhttp://www.ewtn.com/library/prolife/pphistry.txt\"\nThe principal targets of the American sterilization programs were the intellectually disabled and the mentally ill, but also targeted under many state laws were the deaf, the blind, people with epilepsy, and the physically deformed. While the claim was that the focus was mainly the mentally ill and disabled, the definition of this during that time was much different\"\nrhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compulsory_sterilization#United_States\nThat's the truth so far as I can find. The truth, whether you acknowledge it or not.\n\nAnd today, planned parenthood does no forced sterilization or abortion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "More hyperbole...snarky...the first suspension seemed to improve matters...but only briefly...maybe another one will have longer effect....disappointing how the poster and his supporters so often subvert discussion of idears and things...gang mentality...certainly does not serve for insightful christian conversation...sigh....I do wish it would stop...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Belonging to a church is quite different from the Sacrament of Baptism. The \"leader\" is only an elected official, and in this case questionably. The true Pope upholds the teachings of Jesus Christ, not Karl Marx. Not only is the leader a heretic, but those who follow his lead are heretics as well.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Considering the bulk of the illegal immigrants are coming from Latin America, and considering the Catholic Church has had an overwhelming presence in Latin America for the past 300 years, one would have to wonder why Bishop McElroy has not questioned the ineffective role of the Catholic Church in Latin America rather than focusing the blame on the policies of the United States. The Catholic Church has failed miserably in Latin America and clergy like Bishop McElroy are deflecting blame by choosing the popular role of blaming the policies of the United States.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why do we even have churches anymore? We obviously need to spend more money on education and mental health. Why would you tithe to these greedy, power-hungry, hate-filled, delusional, wolves in Sheeps clothing? Most of the Christians I meet are nothing like the man I read about in the bible. If you want to make the world a better place quit hating and start helping! Gays are just like anyone else. They should have rights like anyone else. Probably evolutions way of slowing population growth. So you should be thanking them. As there is way too many people in the world and its only getting worse.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The turban is going to be a problem everywhere. I believe sikhs have become quite model Canadians, even encouraging assimilation to some degree, participating in Christmas celebrations, ice hockey and most importantly our political system to a significant degree. However, the turban is a huge symbol of his religion which is practiced by barely 1% of Canadians. It is the first thing people will see and that is actually the point of religious clothing. I don't think Canadians would elect a Roman Catholic nun in a habit to be our prime minister and I don't think we are going to elect a Sikh wearing a turban and carrying a ceremonial knife. Will we elect a PM of South Asian ancestry some day, I believe so yes. They have been in BC, in Lousiana, in South Carolina and in Calgary to executive positions outside of South Asian immigrant neighborhoods. None of them were wearing turbans or other religious habits.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Where do you get this stuff? Sorry, Murray was right, Pius was wrong and the US will never be that kind of theocracy. It would not be the United States. It would be the Catholic States of America and a mistake. The Americanist Heresy is now Canon Law. Get used to it. The more you say such things, the more you marginalize your beliefs. Have you read the history of the Scopes trial? The State won its case and lost the battle over evolution.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes the Church does reflect that, but it semi officially deflects all the blame to gay priests. This is wrong for a number of reasons. It ignores the availability issue of boys vs girls as altar servers. It ignores what data we have from the developing world. It ignores the fact that pedophiles also have an adult orientation and most claim that orientation to be heterosexual, and it conveniently maintains celibacy is honored by heterosexual priests and ignored by gay priests. No credible data supports that assumption, but the homosexual aspect is great salacious news for the conservative press.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As I said, your belief is \"anyone who disagrees with ME is not a true Catholic\". You have set yourself up as the determiner of the magisterium, even when it actually says things you disagree with. You maintain the delusion that the magisterium does not change, even though, in this very thread, I proved that it has -- you go so far as to actually lie about what Pius IX said about religious freedom.\n\nIn that particular case, I do not disagree with the magisterium, I disagree with you. I also say that my Catholicism is as valid as yours. The magisterium is a function of the Church, not the other way around.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I did say in the image of Jesus Christ, who worked for probably more than 20 years of his life, which the Gospel is silent on.\n\nBut it's impossible to imagine that Jesus was a slacker, that He worked irresponsibly, was lazy and inattentive, gave poor service, did shoddy work, gouged His customers, didn't listen to their needs and wants, cheated them, didn't smile to them, was unjust in how He charged people for His labor and work products, was uncreative in how He solved problems...left the hard work for His foster father St Joseph. \n\nLet's use our reason and our imagination (both faculties of our intellect, which God gave us so that we could come to know Him better and serve Him better) to \"see\" Jesus as a man, a worker, a problem solver for many during His hidden years.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is so much anger, sadness, and justified mistrust created by this evil scandal that it may not be possible for the church to heal from it at least at this time. It may well be that the present generation of hierarchy and clergy will have to pass away before there can be any kind of reconciliation. There is no excuse for the evil that the clergy have perpetrated and then tried to cover up. Many of the clergy and hierarchy who covered up were and are accessories after the fact. It is doubtful that they can play any part in healing because their good will is suspect. In the future, after all of us who have lived through this terrible time are gone, a new iteration of Catholic Christianity might well emerge without clergy. There may be no other way.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Notice that the offense here is not the participation in homosexual acts. The offense is essentially holding up a middle finger to the Church in public and saying, \"I refuse to comply with the teachings of the Church or to acknowledge my sinfulness. Now, give me my sacrament.\" \n\nSeriously, do you think the Church should be bullied into providing a Catholic ritual to someone who does that? Heck, lots of people who commit far less offensive acts (e.g., many Protestants) are denied Catholic rituals.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I meant that America spends the $trillions to invade and occupy, the corporations go in for free.\nLook at the Roman Imperial Empire. America has the same ideals as it did at the time they put the Christian jesus to death at the request of the corrupt priests in bed with the moneylenders.\nThe white mans jesus was a refugee, so where are the souls of the evangelicals and Christians going when they die and have to talk to their jesus, after booting out the refugees created by our policies of theft and murder?\nThe white mans jesus helped the less fortunate and dying and despised the moneylenders who took advantage of them, so where are the souls of the evangelicals and Christians going when they die and have to talk to their jesus.\nRacism and grinding down the less fortunate is against Christianity, so where are the souls of todays republican and democrat Christians going when they die, after a lifetime of mean spirited actions against others, just so they could do it?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "JenW doesn't believe that Evangelical churches mobilized against gay rights. Hilarious.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Are you seriously denying the Church teaches that abortion and acts of sodomy {hetero and homo sexual} are mortals sins? Even the all too often modernist JPII catechism teaches that much. Indeed, Holy Church has ALWAYS taught they are sins which cry to Heaven for vengeance. That's what I mean re \"alternative theology\". You may not like the teaching, but that IS the teaching.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Enough! Canada is not the dumping ground for every hard luck case in the world. We have taken far more than our share, and it is time for other nations to step up. We cannot continue to pay for even more people. If the PM wants to talk.....talk about Coptic Christians!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's not really about either Christians or Muslims. It's about normal every day people who care about the future for their children. Both religious practitioners ultimately care about their children. We either learn to respect that or our children murder each other...an our grand children's children will not see the light of day.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What is out of context exactly in my citation of Trent?\n\nWhat is sad is denying the power of Jesus Christ to free you from your sins.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Cont'd)\nHow? Find a way, is my advice. Stand for your brothers and sisters who may be victims. \nRemember: if Ms Clinton won, those who \"lost\" would still be there - in the many millions. That, I think is the other \"nub\" of your message. Stand for and with that many, listen, learn, and yes, teach.\nThe big lesson, I think, is that for those who think that \"good\" has been betrayed, come to the realization that rhetorically held values alone are but empty myth. \"Gut\" is what fires action; ideas direct it. \nThe radical absence of \"gut\" - incarnation - to fuel what you term Christ values can be laid at the feet and heads of our Roman Catholic leadership and, as well, at the Christian right who cannot seem to abide a \"middle\" let alone a \"left\", who interpret \"love\" as wealth and power. But most of all, take ownership.\nValue leadership and action in compassionate understanding and resilient strength must rise from within, with or without hierarchy. Find your/our real leadership and stand.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "While you are completely correct on how Trump treats Sanders (and Spicer for that matter), I take issue with your \"salt of the earth\" characterization of the Huckabees, Mike Huckabee in particular. It may have been the case some point in the past that the Huckabees represented an ideal we all might aspire to but Mike and his daughter have long since abandoned it. Mike is the leader of a snarky, disingenuous, decidedly un-Christian media pundit career where, among other things, he insults Mexicans and laughs at gun violence.\n\nHis daughter has elected to be the mouthpiece of Trump whom you accurately describe in this article. It is very hard to reconcile the lengths she's gone to defend Trump with the term \"salt of the earth\".\n\nThere is an ethic and a moral code that the Huckabees currently ignore when their immediate needs make it inconvenient. I don't find anything so honorable in that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What a comprehensive and thorough analysis. \n\nI do find it interesting you see a covenant made with an ancient culture as rules to be followed thousands of years later within the new covenant of Christ. I am having a hard time seeing those instructions as universal laws given the context of... you know, the entire rest of the bible. \n\nYou have the exact same problem that fundamentalists do, you read a story about ancient cultures and think that the story applies to you word for word. Sorry to disappoint your narcissism but those passages were about those people... not us. We live within a different relationship to God and social culture.\n\nWhat errors you have found that would discredit the potential historical legitimacy of biblical events? \n\n(BTW Fairy Tale is not exactly a respectful way to refer to spiritual belief systems... but whatever you need to do to belittle others views and make yourself feel good... could have sworn we just talked about a word to describe this...)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In relation to \"the dawn of creation,\" I would describe the Jewish texts as recent. \n\nThe \"traditional views\" you argue for are common to all the Abrahamic faiths, but among those it is primarily Christianity and Islam that have promulgated them around the world. I was pointing out that when we are able to investigate societal stances towards homosexuality prior to the advent of Christianity and Islam, (Jews not being such avid proselytizers) we find enough examples of the social accommodation of homosexuality (etc.) to prove the inaccuracy of claims of universal approbation. I referred above to one type of research shedding some light on the matter. There are others as well. \n\nAnd yes, I'm aware that my views are recent. I wasn't arguing merit, or its lack, based on relative antiquity. I was simply questioning your assertion of timeless universality.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1Alaskan\nIn reply to:\nI hear you, but to clarify, Timothy McVeigh was supposedly Catholic, however nothing about his faith or religion was ever directly tied to the actions he carried out. He never used his faith as a...\n\u2014 Lars Bauer\nFor your information Catholics are not Christians. They too are an occult. Ddn't you know they pray to Mary? Instead of the father in Jesus name. They burn incense to their God. They call their pastor \"Father\". The bible says call no man on earth father. Mathew 23:9. The bible also states you shall not add or take away from the bible, revelations 22 18 & 19.\n14 Reactions\n\nA cult is any religion that uses fear as its foundation. In that sense, all American religions and denominations that uses \"hell\" as punishment is a cult.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholics believe that abortion is murder, therefore to vote for a legislator who believes that abortion is permissible is gravely sinful. There is not a lot I can do to stop the killing of the unborn but I can at least vote against someone who believes it is justifiable.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholic schools have a long and successful history in the US as non-taxpayer-funded alternative options to public schools. \n\nBut if agents of the Catholic school, the principal, the archidiocese, or even the pope decides who gets in and who doesn't, it's discriminatory and the school should not be using tax dollars directed to education of all citizenry.\n\nAsk for more money from your parishoners, padre, not the taxpayers.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Less than 1% of the People of God are clergy, but the only people who are endowed with the power to make decisions in the institutional Church are clergy. The Body of Christ (the Church) means the entirety of the membership, yet 99% have NO OFFICIAL VOICE, no vehicle by which to make their thoughts, wishes, discerned wisdom known. The negative reception of HV, through wide dissent, was the voice of the people. The demand for gender equality is the voice of the people. By all means, let's all \"follow Jesus\" as he beckons and welcomes WOMEN to His ministry. Sexism and misogyny, as well as patriarchy, controvert the invitation of Jesus to serve in love, in His name. Scripture is silent on this issue -- nary a peep, as shown by the Church's own studies. #ordainWomen.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Who is this God? One of the images of God that has most captured the [MALE] Christian imagination comes from Michelangelo's depiction of the creation of Adam.\"\n\nThis God is not for \"us\" it is a God for MEN.\n\nThe image above depicts a MALE God usurping the power of creation to create MALE worshipers: Let's call it what it is -- a male cult! and don't forget that the \"covenant\" was a bond through circumcision.\n\nSeems to me that something is missing...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Conservative Baptists are not nearly as overtly political as the Southern ones. They are a little more subtle and sophisticated. But Western Seminary on Mt Tabor (also a member of the Conservative Baptists) is certainly not a queer or feminist friendly venue. But they are probably going to be very quiet and polite about it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What exactly is official Islam. They dont have the equivalent of the Catholic Church", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What are not Garden variety sins are the rape of children and the laundering of mafia and CIA money in the Vatican Bank..... Those sins seem to be forgotten by those who believe in Catholic dogmatism. There are times that abortion of a fetus is in fact necessary to save the life of a young mother and indeed just as there is relativity in mortal vs venial sin, there is much relativity in this issue as well.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Great! I don't ever want to see a crucifix outside of anyone's home again. I certainly don't want it in my workplace or in any public buildings. Keep Christianity behind closed doors at all times. It's either all or nothing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Are you high? I'm asking sincerely. \nThey called for a catholic spring like the Arab spring and called us backwards because our church believes in the sanctity of human life and traditional marriage. \n\nThese weren't Wikileaks's words this was John Podestas words and he represents Hilary Clinton! How can you not as a catholic take this as an insult and a scandal.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Maybe you should read up on your own world history, especially in regards to Christianity, as if it's is sooo much better right? Killing each other, the Crusades; \"Oh wait, that was the past we don't do that anymore\" Oh really. For a while there US weapon manufacturers were inscribing bible passages on military weapons. Probably still do. There is a great lot of Christians who need to stop portraying themselves as saints, when they are far from it. I'd rather surround myself with a hundred Muslims than with the same number of fundamentalist or evangelical Christians. Their attitude of we're right and you will always be wrong, is just arrogant, egotistical balderdash.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So...why be Catholic if you believe it teaches \u201cextra-Biblical nonsense\u201d?\n\nWhat you call nonsense, I call part of my Catholic faith (and Scriptural).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The fact that capital punishment results in wrongful deaths should, alone, be sufficient to stop this barbaric practice, but it appears that so many who call themselves Christian are so bent on vengeance that they will continue to fight to preserve this abomination.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Muslims are determined to establish themselves in our Christian world. They want to reap the rewards of our labour. Don't give them an inch, or they will take a mile. This is so very serious. Please people, open your eyes. protect your children.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is absolutely hilarious! The time for speaking out loudly and clearly for migrants and refugees was BEFORE the election. The greatest help they could have given such people was to mobilize Catholics to make sure that Trump would not be elected. The only effect the Bishops words will have now will be to induce nausea in many of those who hear them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"No, a Christian leader doesn't thrash his sons, his staff in public like this.\" That never stopped John Paul II from publically embarrassing people---even when it was televised.\n\nHe would shake his finger at them---for millions to see. Francis is not doing that to these\nCardinals who \"lock people out of the kingdom of heaven. You do not go in yourselves, and when others are going in, you stop them.\" [Matt. 23: 14-15].", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Disgust for corruption., yes, just as I am disgusted now by the increasingly emboldened sex lobby that dominates Catholic news, making it seem as if we were all 12-year-olds tittering away on a playground. Similarly Luther's own concupiscence was a major motivator. So I can see why that very lobby would be so eager to celebrate the heretical views that underpin the Reformation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Religion is a political tool of social elites in every culture. \n\nMy limited understanding is that Kaahumanu was interested in breaking the kapu system to increase her political potential after Kamehameha I passed away and she was left with a new young king. \n\nLeaders all over the world manipulate people through religion to suit their ends. Henry the VIII wanted a new wife so a whole new church structure was created. The current apparent death-match between Islam and Christianity is an example. Our military industrial complex loves the justification for tax expenditures created by little leaders around the world who wind up fanatics and send them at us in fruitless suicide missions. Both sides (the superpower and the fringe leader) rely on ignorance in order to find participants in their agendas.\n\nIts a truly pathetic drama.\n\nThe concept of destroying and creating gods is interesting, it seems like that isn't publicly done, discussed or promoted in modern Hawaii.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Stay on subject\"\nYet, no doubt your okay with it when the subject is current violence done in the name of religion by Muslim extremists, and inevitably someone will bring up what some Christians were doing many centuries ago.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For simplicity's sake, if the likes of Senator Cathy Geisel or Senator Dunleavy are in support of something, I'm usually against it. And this is no different. Both are rape, ruin and run; less-government, hyper conservative tea-party weak bulbs. \n\nAnd also boing-boing christians, which is quite disturbing, because its Dunleavy - cue ominous music - that wants to set aside $666 million for dividends. That's right, 666.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Canada's Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Ahmed Hussen has said he will not open the door to emergency immigration by Christians facing persecution in Muslim countries. Apparently Canada has a rigid secular immigration policy. No matter how bad it gets for Christianias and Jews in Muslim countries he will not let them come to Canada. To him, that is fair. However, Muslims crossing the borders will never be turned away. Christians can be burned alive by ISIS for all he cares.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"We cannot have a Catholic Church without sacraments, and a priest is needed for the Eucharist, confession, and anointing\".\nI like to rephrase it \"We cannot have a Catholic Church without pureness of spirit, period.\"\nWithout the pureness of spirit, by clergy sexually abusing children and bishops hide and condone rapist clergies it is a place of Catholic hell instead. \n \"While I do think many who have drifted away simply \"couldn't give a fig\" about any of it anymore and are distracted by what the secular world has to offer\" \nThat is a dishonest statement. I personally could not remain in the church smelling the stench of clergies sexual impurities, Archbishops shameless lying in public, their attitude of couldn't careless silence of clergy sexually abused children's suffering. \nWhat exactly is the purpose of the Eucharist, confession and anointing while those clergies rape children in confessionals? Our spiritual journey is a journey of purity of our heart, RIGHT?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Don't hear many Christians speaking up against the many examples of Christian terrorism, either. One such example: the antiabortion activists who target and sometimes murder doctors.\n\nStephen J. Remington", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Once again your bigotry is showcased. You have no idea if these people are true Christians, I would say not, based on their actions (just like the kooks at Westboro Baptist). As stated the Bible is clear dangerous people will enter the visible church, Jesus himself said 1 in 4 who show signs (and that is referring to people who show signs within the church, these people may or may not have even went to a church with any regularity) are true. Holding these \"professed\" Christians up as an example simply showcases your ignorance and or bigotry.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "M-103 is causing more trouble. It is a fact that a lot of Canadians mistrust Muslims and it is a fact that Muslims do not care for Christians, it is a fact that politicians use this to get elected. Respect for each other is what is needed and M-103 won't give us that!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Let Christian and Jewish students also have their own prayer in school rooms, paid for by taxes gleaned from Muslim parents. Muslims would be outraged they would be forced to pay for infidel religious rites in the publci school system.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So Peel board has as faith advisor an Imam who hosted last year an Egyptian \"scholar\" who calls for slaying of Jews, and destruction of Russians, Hindus, Shiites, Christians, Americans, Europeans.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am not talking about firing gay employees. My attitude is that as long as the gay employee does not make their relationship an issue, then it should not be an issue. If they can keep that out of the institution and simply do their job, fine. \n\nIn other words--if a gay science teacher in a Catholic school is content to teach science, fine. If, however, they are criticizing church teaching, undermining or undermining it in the classroom, that is different. Then it becomes an issue. \n\nWhile we should focus on the poor, the problem is that abortion is not just one issue among others. The bishops would not have to harp on it----if it wasn't so much an issue in secular society. The bishops continue to harp on abortion because there are \"Catholics\" who think support of abortion is compatible with the Catholic Faith. \n\nI know of no Catholic who thinks ignoring the poor is compatible with the Catholic Faith, or at least I know of no Catholic claiming that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Alright sir, lets go at this another way:\n\nSuppose Democrats supported slavery and suppose Republicans were abolitionists. If a clergy person stood up on the pulpit and said \"No Catholic can support Democrats, because whatever good Democrats stand for, they support slavery--and all people deserve to be free\" would you complain that Catholics campaign for political parties? \n\nYou see, sir, the reality is that liberals don't care about pulpit politics if it suits their agenda. If a priest said \"no Catholic can support a party that wants to build a wall, not help the poor, allow gun rights--those are not consistent with the Gospel\" would liberals complain?\n\nWhen Nancy Pelosi told Catholic priests to preach on immigration reform--did anyone complain?\n\nLiberal hypocrisy at it's best. Liberals only care about pulpit politics when it conflicts with their anti-life agenda. Choice and abortion are one in the same, sir. Different words that mean the same thing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What a bunch of HOGWASH! Do you know the facts or are you relying on main stream left wing propaganda for your info? The Muslim people have been coming in at a rate of about 40 to 1, and leaving Christians out by the droves. If we're going to admit refugees, lets not further persecute the Christians by 'playing favorites'.......shall we? It would be so refreshing to see SOMEONE get the facts straight and tell the WHOLE STORY for a change!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I remember that I said to the one who complained about my speaking out against corrupt CI (Catholic Institution) clergies legal process against the clergy sex abused victims. That they should worry when people no longer speak out! I myself almost given up speaking out about it. What can anyone do with a religious organization tightly united in ignoring the suffering children and their families. They intentionally blocking their ears and close their mouth & heart hoping all will die and disappear. \nWhat they do not realize is that they are not living, their spirit is dying in them since they closed their heart. Love is the life energy of the universe, thus we say 'God is LOVE'.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Is it cultural relativism, or just plain hypocrisy, when you remember that the Queen we swear an oath to is the head of the Anglican church, and cannot be a Catholic? Anti_catholicism was a fundamental British ideology for hundreds of years. It still exists in the British Royal family (or at least, it legally exists in that family).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "'Diversity' nowadays means you are racist towards white people, sexist towards men and xenophobic of Christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Anti-religious bigotry against some groups of Christians appears to be acceptable in Eugene. \n\n\"Freedom of Religion\" in Eugene appears to be applicable primarily to the Christian religions of a particular class and, currently, to the Jewish and Muslim religions. \n\nAs an agnostic, I am personally unaffected, but disagree with the hypocrites involved.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\" A strident group of anti-Muslim activists have been waging a noisy campaign to end Muslim prayer at schools in a big district near Toronto\"\n\nAren't secular schools suppose to be secular, non-religious?\n\nChristian prayers were banned from Public School Boards because they would violate the secular nature of Public Boards.\n\nWhy the exception for Muslims?\n\nWhy does equality for all become, somehow, anti-Muslim?\n\nEveryone is equal except some are more equal than others?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Comparing the slaughter of an innocent child to a miscarriage is quite a stretch. I am assuming you're completely ignorant of Catholic doctrine. Appreciate the name calling though, always a sign of having no argument. I'm guessing you think MSNBC is real news.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That Pope Francis would consider meeting with this man is appalling. Another indication of just how little power he really has as pope. Doesn't he know how to say, 'no!' This group of thugs who surround Mr. Trump, \"neo-Catholics\" like Kellyanne Conway and Stephen Bannon among others, do not represent American Catholics. Didn't he already misstep when he met with the infamous Kim Davis, Kentucky county clerk who refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, during his 2015 U.S. visit. A major mistake that resulted in recalling apostolic nuncio Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano (an otherwise good man) back to Rome. Wonder about the American bishop who engineered that meeting?\n\nPope Francis does not need to meet this president. Mr. Trump was elected fraudulently, puts forth policies and bravado that are the antithesis of the gospel message, and does not represent the ethos of Judeo-Christian tradition. Such a meeting will sow further discord in the American church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your ignorance is showing. That was written in 1836 by Chief Justice Joseph Story. Islam was known as mohammedism in various spellings and muslims were known as mosselmen in 1802. At the Time of the Founding, Roman Catholicism was not in favor, as it was part of (though split from) the theocracy of the British Empire, one of the main reasons the Revolution was fought, since Protestants fled to the New World for religious freedom. It was the theocracy and pope and rule from Rome the Founders rejected, hence the quote from Justice Story in 1836 in his still revered in law schools Commentaries on the Constitution.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "'Pain is not the worst thing'? You arrogant, unfeeling, compassionless...\n\nI was right about you and your kind: you don't give a nickel about suffering humanity. You are wrapped up so tightly in faux moral principles and abstract casuistry, you forget that people are meant to be at the heart of human concern, not moral legalism.\n\nI shall say to you what Jesus said to those like you in his time: go away and think on this. I desire mercy, not sacrifice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "... SHEEPLE ... modern day 'christians'.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Noor is a Somalia American Muslim who does not like Christians so he shot her based on her religion that's what I see happened I could be right or wrong but I feel I am right.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Humour didn't work for those killed at Charlie Hebdo. Well, it worked OK when their targets of satire were Christians or Jews.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Burke is the Donald Trump of the Catholic Church. He leaves a trail of destruction where ever he goes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "<>\n\nAbsolutely true; and I would add, as I often do, that her pro-choice voting record and policies notwithstanding, Clinton, by reason of her long record of advocating for women, children and expanded health care, has done more to reduce the number and the rate of abortions in this country than Trump ever has or ever will. To vote for or support an openly racist, avowedly misogynist, know-nothing who gleefully mocks the handicapped is utterly hypocritical. It makes a mockery of the pro-life movement and demeans those who sincerely care about it. Special shame on those Catholic clerics who have abused their publipts, bulletins or newspapers to support the Republican nominee. (They shouldn't use those things to support any nominee or candidate.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "SCHOOL BOARD RESOLUTION\n\nBy Order of the School Board the only acceptable criticism toward an identifiable group will only be Christians and white people of European heritage.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You 'Christians' pick and choose (or ignore) your texts depending on the point you are trying to make.\n\nWe agnostics are free to chuckle as you twist and squirm!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When attackers over and over and over again are shouting Allah Akbar - maybe, just maybe - it has something to do with Islam. (But not everything) Most \"whites\" in Western countries are post-christian or nominal at best. And final note - there are many \"white\" people (one wide brush there) that follow Islam. Bosnians, Albanians, former soviet states, Russians, British people, French....................................................................... Some of them have been very adept at killing in the name of Islam.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Is this an attempt at getting people to feel sorry for her, she's a sell out just like the rest of those fake Christians who continue to sell their souls for a few bucks.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Harry,\nThis is America where people are free to worship whomever--Tom Brady, Russell Wilson, surgeons like Sid Schwab, or evangelists like Billy Graham, Jimmy Schweigert, Jimmy and Tammy Fay Baker, or our latest scam artist, Donald Trump.\nAmerica is not a Christian Theocracy which you want to impose on everyone. \nNot all of us take the Bible literally like you and other gullible people who believe Jesus was born from a virgin and deliberately had himself tortured and executed because he couldn't think of a better way to forgive the theft of an apple, committed at the instigation of a talking snake.\nRonald Reagan, Jr. (who lives in Seattle) is a highly moral and ethical person who happens to be an avowed atheist. He had good parents.\nSome of my Christian friends believe we are close to \"End Times\". They believe Donald Trump just may be the Anti-Christ. \nHarry, who do you think is the Anti-Christ?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Last year some gay guys put on Buraqs for Hallowe'en and were met with a vicious backlash accusing them of Islamophobia and racism. . But if they had been dressed horny Catholic nuns it would considered all in good fun", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of course, according to the defenders of the church, the church that has no authority from Christ to ordain women does have authority from Christ to endorse, support, aid and abet the rape of children. I wonder what Christ thinks of this state of affairs...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My guess is that all these Christians have Jesus's portrait hanging on the wall, and He's white.\n\nBut of course, Jesus could not be white.\n\nWhich is why, in America today, He would have to be careful around LE.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You can argue that The Catholic Church does some good work too.\nBut that's little consolation when they shelter pedophiles.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Kneeling is a form of praying with our bodies, a small mortification.\n\nThat's why many Catholics don't want to kneel..it hurts their pride, they too good for it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I attended several AA meetings in my early recovery with a TV personality from my childhood. His TV name was Chief Halftown. That was not his real name, although he was a real native American. Chief Halftown used to say: \" Beware of man who speaks with a forked tongue\".You Life of the lay are the man he was warning me about. I truly wonder what are your obligations as a Catholic and as a Christian.Is it to protect sexual molesters and those who covered up for the molesters.I know what my obligations are and I act accordingly.I have come forward publically to tell my story to try and protect innocent children from enduring what myself and Danno and thousands of other victims have endured.That you don't believe me or think I am out to destroy your Church is of no concern to me.You are entitled to think whatever nonsense you want.And your attempts to discredit me or the many other victims of clergy abuse make me even more determined to speak out.I will continue to speak out til my death.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Canada needs to pass laws that ban the indoctrination of anyone under that age of 18 with religion. Christian, Jew and Muslims etc.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, those Catholic Missionaries had \"grand intentions\" with which to operate under, but then isn't the road to hell, paved with such good intentions, also, Timmer? But then I am not the one, looking like an idiot here, as you are responding to the \"wrong person\" in this instance, as I believe it was Susan Rosier who made the claim that \"Hawaiians were so advanced\" back then! \n\nRIF=Reading is Fundamental, and by now, everybody should be able to be literate; unless it's comprehension your lacking? Lets leave it at that, shall we?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "All cultures are equal. Remember all the Advent Bombings and killings by Christian Terrorists? Yeah, me neither.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is a big gap between white Catholics and non-white Catholics. In this country, race is more important than religion when it comes to voting.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Arabs did give us the number system and elements of math but nothing recently.\nArabs and Jews are related both same family semitic.\nJews dont eat pork same goes for Muslims. Jews read from right to left (Hebrew) same as Arabs.\nJews and Muslim allies for at least 500 years against Christians. Just in the last 90 years they had conflict.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The revelation ended with the death of the last Apostle. If it does not suit your particular needs .... so sorry, too bad.\n\nFour - not six - of the thirteen \u201cPauline\u201d epistles are considered pseudepigrapha, that is falsely-attributed. All thirteen are considered canonical - the pseudepigrapha appear to have been written by students of Paul - and fully instructional.\n\nPaul never used the terms \u201challuncination\u201d or its equivalent.\n\nAnti-Catholics never get their facts straight.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1) we can absolutely house and feed \"millions\" of children and veterans. We'd just have to make one less aircraft carrier\n\n2) if you think the federal government shutdown(s) had ANYTHING to do with refugees, you apparently have not paid attention to partisan politics for the last two decades. \n\n3) \"armies of Christians killed 'these people' by the thousands\" JFC we have actually found a crusade apologist, in 2017 \n\n4) You've deleted your other two inane comments so why not go for the trifecta? \n\n5) You are definitely high on cocaine, driving that train.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Great point. This picking-and-choosing allows folks to subjugate women, but ignores all the other great stuff in Leviticus. Eat a cheeseburger? That's a sin--mixing meat and dairy. Not circumsized guys? You're a sinner. Work on Sunday? Sinner. (So...are religious leaders who are \"working\" leading their congregations on Sunday...wow, gets confusing.) The litany of Old Testament things that the \"Good Book\" says is hilarious. Just as hilarious as saying women aren't fit to lead--because the \"Good Book\" says so. As Nathan might suggest, read Leviticus--it's an eye-opener. And totally unrelated to the teachings of Jesus, the New Testament, since nowhere does he suggest women are second-class people. (Speaking of Jesus here, and not the misogynist Paul.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mr. Trudeau will have it every way. These changes may make the system more fair in his and Mr. Morneau's mind but it also will reduce economic growth. The rules already exist to disallow expenses not laid out for the purpose of earning income from business or property. He also has not demonstrated a requirement for more taxes. Profligate spending is not a determinate for higher taxes. He has sent billions to third world countries yet the number of indigenous communities without potable water has increased from 139 to 152 on his watch. He appears to be a rudderless politician spouting platitudes without a clear economic vision or understanding of economic matters. There is a line in Jesus Christ Superstar sung by Judas which goes \"and they will hurt you if they think you've lied\". Just desserts for a politician who is a hypocrite.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "OK folks, it's high time we put our emotions on hold and look into facts. Just facts. No name calling, no presumption, no phobias.\n\nThe fact is until there is a fatwa placed on taqiyya, honor killing, killing homosexuals, etc., there is a stark polarity between Islam and freedom. \n\nI'm not saying any individual had anything to do with the issues I bring up. I'm not calling out the man and his wife as perpetrators of Jihad. I just don't know them. Neither do most of the commenters in this thread.\n\nChristians and Jews have at least let go of their murderous teachings. When there's a crazy fool, they are called out and ostrocized. I do know Islam is behind the terror that grips the world. Of course i know that muslims are most likely to be the targets of Muslim terrorists, but that's not a point of security. Rather the opposite. \n\nIt is up to the imams to lead their 1.6 billion followers to a path of world peace. \nI suggest you read the Qur'an, see what it is that concerns us.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Forget about the Catholic component. It's very clear that race is as important an issue in this election as gender. Whites by and large are going for Trump and non-whites are for Clinton. Men by and large and going for Trump and women for Clinton. Clearly, we've reached a moment in our history where we're retreating into our tribal bases. That's a very sad commentary on the state of a nation that was founded on the idea of disparate peoples coming together. That whole sense seems to be totally gone. \n\nRepublicans who defend Donald Trump talk a lot about \"taking their country back.\" Implicit in that statement is taking it back from blacks, women (who've gotten too uppity), gays, Muslims, and immigrants - all the way back to a time when straight white men ruled the world and everyone else had to cow-tow to them. Well those days, thankfully, are never coming back.\n\nThis is the election in which empowered femininity will vanquish toxic masculinity and the U.S.A. will be much better for it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "LOL. And the Greeley situation is irrelevant. You, like other liberals, want to cloudy this issue by offering scenarios that either won't happen (pagan schools) or that you think will prove that Christians can't read the Constitution. We, the majority of us, just want freedom to practice religion as outlined in the Constitution. The fact that you have to dig deep to find the few who believe it only applies to Christians shows how desperate you are. You are like the liberal press giving time to the silly Congresswoman who is attacking the President over a phone call to a grieving mother. Will you stop at nothing to prevent school choice and a way to fund it?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Republicans brags about being godly Christians/Catholics. In the Jesus' parable of the good samaritan He mentions the priest and the Levite. Jesus must have had a good reason for mentioning those two religious Jews. Both did nothing but leave the injured man for dead and they passed on the far side of the road. The Republican affluent KKK Christians are the priest and Levite that Jesus mentions about. They want to see lots of people suffer and die just like the Veterans Admin.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "skyofblue,\n\n Lots of guilt-ridden folks here trying to avoid their guilt or at least take the egregious edge off it.\n British imperialism was all about racism, invasions, occupations, conquests, economic exploitation, land, land, land. It was total war. There were no \"good intentions\".\n They use to say when they were destroying another nation to add to their empire that they were bringing Christianity and civilization to heathen savages. Americans in Vietnam said they had to \"destroy the Vietnamese village to save it.\"\n No way. Imperialist conquest is total war. No good intentions for the people destroyed and killed, Some three million in Southeast Asia.\n When Americans were committing genocide on the American Indians, they also talked about Christianity and civilization.\n You might say their intentions were good for the settlers on the Indian lands and those killing their buffalo and passing through to California. But for the Indians themselves, no good intentions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes. People who have a positive experience with Christianity do not realize that it is possible to have been traumatized by Christianity; for example, being raised in a Christian fundamentalist household where \"spare the rod, spoil the child\" is taken to extremes. Taking advantage of people's unfortunate circumstances in order to push one's own agenda isn't as altruistic as one might think.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I was amazed to see your 1 day ago reply to me . It would appear it's useless to carry on an argument over it . I know nothing of Mr. Anderson . If , as you say he is litigious, that's great since he wins court cases for his clients . It's his business as to his religion or none at all .\nCalling oneself ***** ( anything ) does not affect me . How can an adult be responsible for another adult's choices ? \nSitting in judgment of another person is unbecoming for you , Buster . Jesus forbids it .\nLook at every model of holiness . Every one of them grew into it . Do you want to condemn Simon Peter for his lousy behavior on Passover weekend instead of waiting for the Easter encounter on the shore when he professes his love and allegiance ?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They certainly are stepping on future generations with every one of their policies.\n\nThe GOP only cares about unborn babies, after that it is all about 'me me me' and what is good for them and making money. They are all about retirement, health care, tax breaks and benefits for the old, rich and already taken care of...and young and poor people can F off.\n\nAn opinion POS in this paper over the weekend suggested that children and poor people should forfeit their PFDs to oil company tax credits, but older, wealthy Alaskans should still get one.\n\nGOP policies have nothing to do with \"family values\" protecting God's creation, or being good stewards of the earth as demanded in the Bible. Most all selfish hypocrites, the same ones Jesus spoke of in the Bible.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "http://raymondibrahim.com/2016/02/11/the-muslim-mans-sexual-rights-over-non-muslim-women/\n\nTHAT is what this cardinal is for. I do not find his sexual views to be very Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Muslims and liberals excoriate us about Islamophobia, but we should bear in mind Islam's entrenched racism, xenophobia, homophobia, misogyny, anti-Semitism, hatred of Christianity, Europe. Israel, and America. Islam's destructive iconoclasm is destroying historic treasures across the ME: in just one year Notre Dame in Paris has had three close call bomb threats. They even have Islamophobia against each other. Ancient tribal wars between Kurds, Shiite, Sunni, Wahhabi, Druze and other Islamic sects, ISIS , Taliban and Al Qaeda are the root causes of most of the wars and social chaos happening around the world today. It is worse than anything expressed in the west, even by Trump", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pell had been making headlines in Australia long before this pope appointed him. Anthony Foster, father of two young daughters repeatedly raped by a priest, said Pell showed a \u201csociopathic lack of empathy typifying the attitude and response of the Catholic hierarchy\u201d when he had met with Pell when he was the Melbourne archbishop. Ian Lawther, father of a son sexually abused by a priest, described Pell's \"apology\" as \"full of criminal clich\u00e9s\u2026.It was a kick to the groin of every Australian Catholic, maybe even Christian.\" \"POPE MUST ACT - SACK PELL NOW\" was a petition by Aussies started 31 Aug 2014. Another C9 pick, Cardinal Francisco Javier Errazuriz Ossa, the retired archbishop of Santiago, made headlines in Chile for protecting Fr. Fernando Karadima, a spiritual leader among Santiago\u2019s most influential families. For years, Errazuriz tried to shame accusers and failed to carry out investigations according to court testimony. Reports about Karadima first reached the cardinal in 2003.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "piano2, I hate it when the Sweet Lord Jesus is used by predators. If Trump is walking in Jesus, then I'm the Merry Christmas Barbie. I've lost count of the number of predators who actually use \"The forgiveness clause\" to justify and continue their abuse. I know victims who have a very difficult time saying the words, \"Our Father\" due to incestuous abuse.. The forgiveness factor has been used and used to sweep their crimes and misdemeanors under the rug and to prevent predators from being held accountable. They forget that the passage prior to \"forgiving seventy times seven\" is IF they repent. IF. EYE EFF. IF. Repent doesn't mean saying your sorry. All predators say they're sorry. Over and over again. Repent means to return to God and to change ones perpy ways. Trump is going the way of Jimmy Swaggart. Pence is going the way of the rest of the blasphemers, Pharisees and (gasp!) liars. Jesus said their father is Satan. The father of all lies.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This fine God-fearing Christian Lady wanted Donald killed. Man, how religious is that?\nDid Donald wish to assassinate any Non-White Supremacist? I bet you believe in your heart he did. No need his written words or taped conversations of prove he did, Your God or your The Man Donald himself. idk", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Just like Jesus said, screw anyone that is down on hard times. \n\nMost of those addicted to opiods in this country and hooked because of work related injuries and that was their gateway. Do you have no sympathy for those that were led astray by their doctors on how addicted the oxys they were giving them in 30 packs were?\n\nI would say this is very unchrisitan, but honestly, this is anti-human.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration has already stated categorically that he will not open Canada's doors to Christians. That would be religion faith based immigration policy and against our secular moral standards. He said just a couple of weeks ago that Christians don't face the same dangers as other legitimate refugees. He will however welcome all Muslims fleeing Trump's persecution in the US.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"That's just the way things roll\"? \n\nThat's no reasoned justification at all. Truth be told, I have a lot of respect for Middle Easterners, except to the extent that certain extremist Muslims support terror and the subjugation of women. YOU could have written that sentence. \nSo the question really is whether it's rational to ban the entry of Muslims into this country until they are \"super-vetted.\" I say it's rational, and therefore not impermissibly discriminatory; you say it's discriminatory, and therefore irrational.\nNote the differences between our approaches. I decide whether it's irrational first, and then decide whether it's impermissibly discriminatory. You do the reverse. No offense, but you think backwards. The first question is whether it's rational to \"super-vet\" Muslims. I say \"Yes. because the most of the time Muslims are prominently in the news, it's because one of them has beheaded a bunch of Christians in the name of Islam, which the Quran supports. \n\ncont'", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Maybe you should read about what the Bible has to say about homosexual acts and how small-minded a sin it is. What other teachings do you find small-minded? Adultery? The guy who cheated on his wife and slept with the woman across the street loved his neighbor, alright.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The laity HAS taken up its task. Because the Church hierarchy refuses to surrender its ideas of privilege and superiority, because the Church hierarchy refuses to treat and accept women with equal status as men in the organization, because the Church hierarchy continues to demean and dismiss homosexuals and continues to provide moral cover for vengeful people to take hateful action against them, and because the Church hierarchy continues to treat abuse of children as secondary to protecting the image of the organization and saving their own hides, the laity, more and more, is withholding contributions, withholding the support of the organization's outrages and evils their presence at Mass symbolizes, and finds alternative ways to live and express their more authentic Christianity and Catholicism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is against Christian principles to do harm in order to do good, and also against other major religious principles too (as far as I know). Trump can wave a bible or put his hands on bibles and swear oaths all he wants. He has confirmed that he is completely immoral. The only God he worships is himself. He really should be locked up in an institute for the severely mentally afflicted. He is a danger to the world. I urge Congress and the Senate to order him to submit to a thorough mental examination; and if he refuses, proceed to impeach him immediately.It's like the Hippocratic oath that doctors take: Do no harm. If this so called 'Executive Order' continues to be be in force with no major changes - and I mean MAJOR changes, the world will be chaotic, led by a mentally unstable president. Has the Congress and Senate no regard for their own survival? If not, they should be locked up too.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I totally agree with the irony impaired son of President Trump.\n\nIt's outrageous that anyone should try and hold a US President to account. Let alone that his family, elevated to positions of power beyond their competence, should likewise be held to account.\n\nAnd I further agree that any and all critical remarks are NOTHING to do with the group of narcissistic incompetents installed at the White House, selling billions in arms to terrorist state Saudi Arabia OR taking health care from millions.\n\nNo, it's all an attack on wee 11 year old son of President Trump and the exemplar of white women's Christian purity, the daughter/wife of President Trump.\n\nSHAME on the inhuman NOT humans.\n\nBurn them, they're witches*!\n(*Actual witch burning to be organized by a competent Trumpian, when and if one is found.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, because straight men do not wish to work in an relationship of total obedience to gay men who have authority over them.\n\nThe huge percentage of gay men in the priesthood is a large factor in why young men opt out of holy orders. \n\nThe rainbow progressive Catholics never mention this. But I suspect what their real agenda is. And it has little to do with protecting children from gay men in collars.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No way, not even if it's a master scriptwriter.\n\n(c) has a very obvious voice. Every time he gets expelled, he tries, incompetently, to disguise himself but within a few days it's obvious who it is. \n\n(b) is a former Dominican novice or something like that; he knows what he's talking about, his ideas are coherent, he sincerely believes what he says and he's always civil, occasionally a bit grouchy maybe. (c) is clearly not up to snuff in the basics, his posts are all over the place, and he makes errors in basic grammar and diction. \n\n(b) quotes Ludwig Ott's textbook. (c) quotes soapy easy-reader devotional manuals.\n\n(b) shows up late at night EST, which is morning GMT. (c) posts all day and if nobody takes his bait within an hour or so he posts something even more outrageous. (b) is here to defend the Catholic faith. (c) just wants attention. \n\nI don't know who (a) is. He could even be a team. His style is less distinctive that the other two.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, of course they don't. I'm just suggesting you try to put yourself in someone else's shoes and try to understand why the people of Charlottesville choose to move the statue like they did.\n\nVery few white people set out to be racists, most of us struggle to understand what the world looks like for people who aren't white straight Christians. If you start to look at things outside of your own lens a lot begins to make sense. Most racist happens out of ignorance, not out of intention. \n\nAll I'm suggesting you do is understand the reasoning behind moving the status in the first place.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So, according to you only heterosexuals can be Catholics. Thanks for stating openly that to which so many others only allude. It is very illuminating.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Again, your brush is so broad you can't see one end of it from the other end. I thought we were talking about Jules church. You know neighbor, neither one of us is a fan of Lars Larson, but you are doing the same thing he does, making blanket statements without having the facts on the ground, and picking the worst examples, in this case evangelicals, to say that crap they spew, which some do, applies to everyone. \nIf you had dropped into Imago a few times, which you say you won't do, you would see it hardly qualifies as a typical evangelical church.\nWhy not go protest in front of a Catholic church? They do not let women lead whatsoever.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are right, of course. Some Pharisees were indeed friends of Jesus, but most weren't. In fact, they repeatedly conspired with the Saducees to entrap Jesus, make him look a disobedient fool, and, ultimately, to have him executed. Hence the pejorative use of the word 'Pharisee'.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"They\" (the Islamic Republic of Iran) \"hire despicable, cowardly radical elements to do the dirty work for them...\".\n\nRight--they armed and financed the Taliban, al-Qa'eda and the Da'esh (ISIS)...oh wait, that was your good Christian AMERICAN leaders did that, not Iran. My bad.\n\nDouble-standards are the root of all evil. It works like this:\n\nNidal Hassan murdered 12 soldiers--TERRORIST!\nRobert Bales murdered 21 Afghani civilians in their beds, including two year-olds--PTSD victim.\n\nJohn Allen Muhammad--murdered 10 people along the DC beltway--MASS MURDERER!\nDylan Storm Roof--murdered 9 people in a bible-study class--troubled youth.\n\nDzhokhar & Tamerlan Tsarnaev--murdered 3 people during the Boston Marathon--TERRORIST!\nAlexandre Bissonnette--murdered 6 people in a mosque as they prayed--mentally ill.\n\nNo wonder Mark Twain's deceased protagonist in \"Captain Stormfield's Visit to Heaven\" found so few white folks there. Hypocrisy is the second-greatest spiritual sin.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Another legacy of the nasty, evangelical Harper.\n\nOne would think King Trudeau II had thought of a complete review of harper's legislation to purge Canada of the religious poison inflicted by his Conservatives.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, agree. All of these accusations of paranoia are amazing irony. Robert Reich is the fascist. Free speech for all except Christians and conservatives.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sanctioned by who? A God? A quorum? Politicians? Religious leaders? \nHomosexuality, and the inevitable relationships, have been an honored part of human history since the dawn of time.\nTwo-spirited people held prominence because of their abilities to see the male and female side of a conflict. They were revered counsellors and judges. They still are.\nThe Christian church performed and, ready for it, sanctioned homosexual marriages quite freely until the 15 th Century. \nThe Jesus that Prevo has built his entire faith on never once, not one single time, mentioned homosexuality. He did speak of love - the kind that puts everyone before you. The kind that demands sacrifices of oh, expensive homes, palatial churches, jets, cars etc. \nYour flip \"explain away\" reply suggests to me you are already camped on a heap of \"truth\" you've been fed every Sunday without taking up the challenge to study and ask the hard questions. A pity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes. It is always paired with solidarity in Catholic Social Teaching.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, that's an interesting theory, to which I would suggest: parsimony and Occam's Razor! Since this graphic represents a Catholic organization, I doubt it's meant to evoke a Buddhist interpretation of the Eucharist...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree. We have set up women to be the main lay ministers by our ordination practices that are wholly sexist & then treat them like they are arrogant because they want a living wage for often full-time work same as their priest. This is true even though many of these women have college loans to pay off & a family to support while the priest in the parish is viewed as the poor guy who sacrificed everything for the church while he is getting about 35,000 a year salary & all his meals, clothes, housing & maid & cooking services provided for free. Nothing Christian in that scenario. \n\nI am not at all worried about clericalizing the laity, as if that could actually happen. The threat that never was. We do need to stop clericalizing men in our church over women & we need to end the permanent deaconate because it has proven to be sexist, clericalizing, racist, while attributing to wealth disparity & ethnic disparity in ordained ministry. We need to replace deacons with lay ministers.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bannon is correct. And it's painful for Catholics to admit it. \n\nThe Church needs immigrants less to fill up the pews (for contributions) than it needs them in order to get the federal grants to run the SJW programs.\n\nThere is no question that most bishops have a federal grants line item in their budgets, and that line is consequential to their bottom line. \n\nWe have to have the honesty to admit that - in many respects - we're both a lobbyist AND a tin cup player in the large social justice-industrial complex.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sure, check out my rather neglected web page: www.mahayanatheology.net. Check the home page and go from there. Early on I read with profit J. D. Crossan, but he soon began to wander into far-left theology. Meier's first volume on Jesus, the Marginal Jew, seemed rather dry when first I read it, since it was so taken with setting up a methodology for historical Jesus studies, but his next three (still waiting for the last, fifth volume -- Meier has heath problems) knocked my socks off. His method differed from Crossan (and Funk, etc.) by not dating the Gospel of Thomas (or of Peter of the Cross Gospel) so early, since most place them in the second century or later. Still, his guiding rule is attractive: whatever is concluded must meet the acceptance of an \"unholy enclave,\" composed of a Catholic, a Protestant, a Jew, and an agnatic), so he could be reasonably sure his conclusions would meet the approval of people doing just history, rather than left (Ehrman) or right (Barth) theology.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have read many of your blogs and what disqualifies you from playing any meaningful part in this discussion is that you are advocating your own personal opinion which in most cases rejects and denies the teaching of the Catholic Church.\nYour attempt to differentiate between Scriptural Law and Natural Law falls flat; both are of divine origin. \nBy all means promote your views but don't do so as if they are Catholic views.\nPeople commit suicide for a variety of reasons. Those Catholics who use contraception do not seem to be killing themselves because the Church says that contraception is disordered, why should we believe that homosexuals kill themselves because the Church says such practices are disordered? Blaming the Church for propagating the Moral Law is tantamount to saying that the Church should not pronounce on any moral isssue in case someone gets upset.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pandora is quite right about if she said no woman has ever been ordained to the Catholic priesthood. It is true that there have been attempts to ordain women to the priesthood but as the Church has no authority from Christ to ordain women such ordinations have no sacramental effect: they are in fact bogus. Throughout its history popes, councils and synods have declared this practice whenever it occurred to be an abuse. It always was an abuse in the past, it is an abuse today and it always will be an abuse.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Day was speaking confessionally. She was not boasting of her traditionalism as a virtue, but was admitting a weakness for the familiar that she was not entirely proud of.\"\n\nNonsense. Day was a devout and committed Catholic who accepted the authority of the Church, the priesthood and the sacraments as channels of God's grace.\n\nJust a reminder, Dorothy Day did not support the welfare state and the solving of poverty through government relief. Indeed, she saw this as a huge negative. She was also strongly opposed to artificial contraception and abortion. She also accepted the doctrines and dogma of the Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The topic of the article is not the \"WRONGS committed, and continue to be committed, by a large and wealthy organization that denies those they abused with the cover ups\".\n\nContinuing to hijack the conversation into a soapbox for the nth rant about the Church, the bishops, the allegations of cover-ups, and on and on and on is not very productive and I would expect resistance to it.\n\nI don\u2019t get the impression that any of the posters have any \u201cresponsibility for WRONGS committed\u201d.\n\nWhether SNAP actually helps the victims is an open question, which again is outside the topic of the article. Over the years some abused individuals have reported SNAP was much less than helpful to them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pointed editorial. Thanks. Catholics aren't really affected by what the bishops say on this subject. Their credibility is virtually nil. So many especially of the American bishops are intolerant of this topic because of \"theological\" positions when in reality for many they cannot cope with their own redpressions and desires.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Matthew 7 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+7 The Christian scriptures counsel that we should not judge others lest we be subjected to judgement ourselves. It stated that we should first examine ourselves and correct our own faults and therefore be in a less hypocritical position to help others correct theirs. Matthew 5:46-58. It also implies that if we want to be on a higher moral level than tax collectors we need to love even those who do not love us. http://www.biblestudytools.com/1-corinthians/passage/?q=1-corinthians+13:4-8. While Love is patient, not easily angered it does not delight in evil. John 13:34http://biblehub.com/john/13-34.htm. Jesus wants us to love one another even as he loved us. Let's strive to show one another a higher love and strive to become perfect ourselves so we are in a better position to help others become more perfect.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Strictly speaking, baptism is not necessary for salvation. We do not know who (if anyone) has fallen into the pit, the Church has never pronounced on that. We do know that Jesus has indicated we will be judged on whether we fed the hungry, clothed the naked, etc. No mention of baptism (or any of the other sacraments), sexual purity, attendance at mass, etc.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pope Francis IS sticking to the teachings of the Catholic Church. The Pope is pope of ALL Catholics in the world. But many people, of good will, find that what he says to be very much on target with what Christ, himself, would be saying about situations in TODAY'S world.\n\nSad, to say, your comments sound to be very nationalistic---and sound more like Trumpism---than Christianity. Remember, the \"Dreamers\" who came to the U.S., were children when they came. More than 90% of them are models of what good Americans SHOULD be. They are either finishing their schooling OR who have finished their education, have jobs and are paying taxes. There are Americans born here who dropped out of school before finishing high school OR who are unemployed and are not looking to be employed.\n\nAny sovereign nations that has citizens who aren't educated and who don't care to look for work---is not a world leader among nation, but is operating like a pathetic third world nation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Always There: I suggest that each of us has our ideas of what is \"good\" and what is \"evil\". A radical Islamic zealot may consider \"killing infidels\" good and feel it's sanctioned by his/her God. A radical right-wing Christian may feel abortion is so \"evil\" that he/she is justified in bombing abortion clinics or killing abortion doctors and feel it's sanctioned by his/her God I don't consider myself \"God\"...don't be silly. There are as many motives and intentions as there are people, and, as we should know today, they're often at cross-purpose. \n\nI'm sure there are folks (judging from you post, you among them) who, indeed, consider my perspective skewed. I, on the other hand, for example consider the perspectives of both the aforementioned zealots skewed. \n\nDo I judge others by their actions? Of course I do, as does everyone else. I, as a simple example, judge the actions of the Dallas gunman to be so wrong and harmful that I, indeed, would call them evil. Should I apologize?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You have had multiple opportunities to point out how your words were \"twisted\". Instead you have doubled-down on your rejection of the teaching of the Church, your distaste for men, and \"I don't worship fetuses\" simply reinforces the impression you're leaving.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Perhaps you need to distinguish between marriage, a civil contract between two parties, and matrimony, a church sacrament. THe Roman Catholic church is free to ignore same sex marriages just as it is free to ignore marriages between previously divorced people, or interfaith marriages. But it cannot say they do not exist, as a matter of law.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Spot on Shoshiru, I whole heartedly agree. I would challenge the chorus of USCCB naysayers to show me where in the Gospel Christ implores environmental friendliness and being 'nice' as the ultimate virtues. I can certainly point to where Jesus upholds marriage as indissolvable. The USCCB does those trying to live an authentic Catholicity a great favour by, with humility I might add, ignoring the confusion being sewn and dispensed from Rome under the Francis papacy.\n\nThe Trump criticism at the end really reads like a lame after thought. I'm Canadian, but that professed Catholics are still deriding the validly elected candidate that didn't defend abortion, even partial birth abortion, before the entire world (third debate) boggles the mind. Killing babies is OK I guess, as long as you don't hurt the environment? God help us.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "All the females were required to wear chastity belts at the Liberty U commencement. Its a fine Christian institute.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm not against someone making a buck - even a lot of bucks - but to do so on the back of misery, holding the ill hostage, condemning many to an early grave because they cannot yet further enrich him, bespeaks of such a foul character that it makes one wretch. His working class Catholic parents must be very proud of their boy. I feel sorry for them, but that smug, narcissistic bastard should get the max. If he doesn't get the max, it will only magnify his self-regard, and serve as a warning which will only encourage him to be more cunning in his future crimes; anything less will neither punish nor reform him.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I believe Judge Barrett is the mother of seven. Seven is and odd number. The church might ask why did she and her husband stop at seven? She has said that she will uphold the law, not her dogma. Being a Catholic and a judge offers many pitfalls. If she votes against \"church teaching\", such as a vote to retain Roe, would she be committing a sin?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nice to meet you Paul. Is your last name also Scott? I know at least one other Paul Scott has had comments posted. I'm also old 64, white and an independent NA. I used to feel I was 'liberal' in mostly mildly conservative Iowa, but in Eugene, I think my opinions are tilted conservative. I'm Christian as well, but please don't assume 'sameness' with other Christians.\n\nLooking forward to more post Paul", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "People like Father Weinandy have a paternalistic view of the Catholic faithful. They think we're an easily confused lot that must be constantly protected from misinformation. The truth is, most of us don't care about the things that people like Weinandy care about. We're occupied with things like trying to raise children in a dangerous world and making ends meet -- the kind of stuff bishops and theologians generally know little about.\n\nFor all his rough edges, Pope Francis respects the faithful and trusts that they have the wherewithal to separate the wheat from the chaff when it comes to spiritual discernment. He trusts us more than he trusts the hierarchy, which irks some of them. That, I believe, is really the root of all the anger directed at this pope by people like Weinandy.\n\nCupich is right that most Catholics are not scandalized by Pope Francis. They just don't spend that much time thinking about these things, and when they do, they use their God-given gift of reason.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Part two of two) \u201cIs it not enough for you to weary people\u201d you Catholic bishops who put Trump in office\u201d must you also weary my God? Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel, which means `God IS with us!\u2019\u201d as is the nun on the bus and those making her possible. (Isaiah 7:14; 8:10). For all the Faithful, \u201cHere I am, Lord; I come to do your will . . . in the vast assembly\u201d (Psalm 40:8a and 9a and 11). The Faithful legitimately get engaged, \u201cwe have been consecrated through the offering of the Body of Jesus Christ once for all\u201d (Hebrews 10:10). \u201cHail full of grace! The Lord IS with you . . . Jesus. HE will be great\u201d (Luke 1:28). \u201cLiturgy of the Word, Reading 545, Solemnity of The Annunciation of the Lord, March 25.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh but they used to do just that Kag. The Catholic Church (and others) were against women getting the vote because women were not to be in the public sphere, that was reserved for men only. And you can bet that those with the same mindset today are rabidly against a Hillary presidency for the same reason.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am a Christian of the reformed tradition,but during the papacies of John Paul and Benedict at times considered conversion to Roman Catholic or orthodox traditions because of the exemplary lives and ministry of these lions of the Christian faith and I have great respect for these communions and their faithfulness in proclaiming the truth of the gospel as well as their respect for the sanctity of human life.But with the ascent of this current pope,Francis,an obvious Marxist and underminer of what the church has always believed,taught and confessed for over 2000 years I am glad I did not make the move.Part of what attracted me to Catholicism was the belief,that animated Cardinal Newman,that in the catholic faith,everything was not up for grabs.The many words and actions of this current pope,and his acolytes such as this little social justice warrior bishop mentioned in this article have disabused me of that notion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "At least Catholic women have sense. Or, at least most of them do and they certainly have more sense than Catholic men. Trump is horrible. Would anyone want their child to grow to be like him? Boy, does he need his mother to put him in a long, long time out and, particularly, metaphorically, wash out his mouth with soap. \n\nThere are more issues than abortion. And one of them is just plain human decency that goes beyond one issue abortion and goes to how we treat other people, those of different skin color, different cultures, different religions, and different sexual orientations. Treating people with God given respect matters, too.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus expected charity to come from the PRIVATE SECTOR.\n\nGovernment programs collect taxes at the point of a gun.\n\nYou must be a government bureaucrat.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Heartbreaker: To be \"fair and balanced,\" should not the Knights contribute equally to all Catholic media that comprise the voice of the faithful? Why, with your money, pick winners and losers within your own Church, essentially using donations to mislead folks to think there is an \"official\" news voice and a \"dissident\" news voice?\n\nHow can you ask the Reporter to join with you in \"common cause\" if you haven't done your part to join with them when you've had the many opportunities? \n\nAnd I agree with you, anyone seeking donations should be willing to open the books---and be available for comment.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Sacrifice of Christ is eternal, it exists for all time. The Last Supper, Calvary and the Mass are one and the same Sacrifice which was made present in time and place at the Last Supper and in the same way is continually made present in the Mass in an unbloody manner. I am surprised that you don't think the Mass is a re-presentation of Christ's Sacrifice, Christ acting through His priests.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, but more history than you are willing to acknowledge.\n\nThe Left in the sense of social consciousness originated in Christianity, but that was long repudiated in favour of Marxism and the denunciation of religion as \"the opium of the masses\". Until Islam, when it became fashionable to defend religion again...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm pro-choice. But why can't the ramifications of abortion and childlessness be discussed regarding how it is decimating white, (post) Christian communities in the Western world? This article is a good example. More deaths than births!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No doubt this will be followed by a nice mosque hosting Catholic images and statuary! I guess I won't hold my breath...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I believe all three involved in the email exchange are Catholics. Have a beautiful day!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Once again your penchant for pedantry doth seem at diametric odds with your apparent lack of comprehension for arguably pedestrian discourse... Alceste. To paraphrase you paraphrasing someone else - What about Judeo-Christian Type do you not understand. Don't omit the word Type in your attempt to grasp my prose. It's there for a reason. I used the term Judeo-Christian to make a point which was clearly lost on you, however, you cant spell Judeo-Christian without Christian, and that would be the half of that term that I would best identify with, and so, for the sake of your enlightenment: no, Christians do not condone the segregation of males and females in our holy houses, just as Christians don't condone the diminishing of women's social status whether that's in the bedroom or the boardroom. It seems to me however that YOU, do exhibit some sort of odd proclivity for seeing the promulgation of archaic practices that would shut women up, in one way or another. I love women.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The \"obligation to accommodate\" philosophy/practice is no more than political correctness on steroids. It's taken very simple situations and made them extremely complex. Religion/religious practice should have NO place in public schools.\n\nIf said students are that devout, do what the Catholic school board does and use/build your own school.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree with you on that. I probably should have clarified that this was directed at the evil I saw and the source of it. I am grieved that an innocent young man was senselessly killed. This world is full of troubles and sorrows and I do not like it. God hates it. I propose a solution by highlighting the problem. The problem is sin and sin kills. The solution for sin is obedience to God because He loves us. He became sin so that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.\n\nThese six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. \n(Proverbs 6:16-19 KJV)\nThe fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. \n(Proverbs 8:13 KJV)\n\nThis world needs Jesus.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ok, I tend to lean towards a Church that is more accommodating towards divorce, and while I know Newt was not a Catholic until he meet and married this wife, I can't get my hands around his serial marriages and the ways he exited them. I know he is not the appointee, but...\n\nAlso, the Ambassadorship with the Vatican is a critical relationship. The Vatican Secretary of State is quite skilled at his trade. He was very helpful in getting Kerry/Obama to normalize relationships with Cuba. The Vatican's diplomatic corps is among the best in the world. \n\nI don't see what we brings to the table. Says to me, Trump does not consider this an important job,", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "<<\u201cThe church tolerates groups of fascistic nationalists because they declare their loyalty to Catholicism,\u201d [Adam Szostkiewicz] said, \u201cAnd at the same time, we stigmatize protesting women.\u201d>>\n\nThat says it all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Is there any news on charging the two minors accompanying Christian Gutierrez as adults? How would the juvenile court vs adult court jurisdiction apply in this case? Who drove the vehicle to Kaena? Did unnamed others have a hand in killing the albatross, producing and disseminating videos, etc?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Perhaps the main reason why you have NO concept of clericalism is that you have mired yourself the five \"dubia\" of the now infamous Four Cardinals. As a result, you're conducting a semi-public vendetta afainst THIS pope, Francis, as we see right here, on these epages! To cann the National Catholic Reporter a \"'clerical' focused news mag\" bends the Truth and breaks it, far more so than Fox News! And in case you need to know, I have been a reader of NCR for its entire existence.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Most Catholic communicants when polled favor women priests. It is only arrogant leaders who make the Tridy claims that most catholic don't care and that most Catholics know so little. In my circle of friends, we all know a lot possibly even more than the arrogant people who claim to be Orthodox. I did have 22 years of Catholic Education. Oh, I know Tridy, my teachers were probably not \"real\" Catholics like Opus Dei ....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So you have little or no regard for Canon Law. I'm often puzzled to know what it is about you that's Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Someone asked if there is one Catholic leader willing to stand up and either metaphorically or actually nail the theses on the Vatican door which would indicate leadership and vision. My response is to look at the child sex abuse: how many bishops around the world have pursued the issue? Very, very few. And note the number of \"memoirs\" written by retired priests saying they knew about abuse for decades. . .but of course they didn't speak out while on \"active duty.\" No, I believe it will take a small group of lay people to challenge, pray and communicate with the pastoral leadership until a \"light bulb\" flashes (or you might say the Holy Spirit intervenes!) and the question of women being ordained will be resolved.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Paul wrote before the Gospels. Actually, there was Paul and pseudo-Paul. Paul was of the belief, common to the early Church, that Jesus would return in glory just any day now (the more Pius Trads and Protestant sects still do and you can see it by how they deal with sin). Paul preferred no sex by anyone at one point, but that was delusion, not inspiration. Note that while he condemned Homosexuality in Romans 1, it was not new teaching and he basically said that theocracies had no open homosexuality but Roman society did because there was no moral government. That is a truism, not a condemnation. For him, as a Rabbi, there was no question, so he simply carries the error of the Babylonian Rebi who wrote Leviticus. Note that in Romans 2 he said all were guilty of the same sins and must find Christ. He also helped lead the movement to dump all of the food rules in Leviticus, so he believed in doctrinal maleability.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\u201cFor Catholic social teaching, the surest pathway to economic justice is the provision of meaningful and sustainable work for all men and women capable of work.\"\n\nDoes Obispo really not know that jobs was the rallying cry of the GOP? That is, the primary issue of every Trump campaign speech for over a year?\n\nMore than any other reason, people voted because of the lack of jobs and fair wages.\n\nTrump gave speech after speech after speech about the \"senior who can\u2019t afford medicine or rent. A mother or father who are dying working two and three jobs,\" etc. \n\nThe president is doing everything possible to protect jobs and our economy. The opinion polls say we very confident in the economy, and the market keeps making new highs.\n\nBut things are so dire now, that revolucianaro Obispo is actually making a call for lay Catholics to \"disrupt\"? And what does he mean by \"disrupt\"? \n\nDisrupt what? Who? How?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don;t know that the Church's position on heterosexuality is based on revelation rather than natural law. In fact, those who believe that Jesus addressed the issue (in passing) when he spoke on divorce would have a reasonable claim that Jesus himself relied on natural law rather than on revealed truth. \"Male and female He made them\" is a fact of life, not a revealed truth, and what follows from this is not something we need scripture to tell us, although it does help to recall the teleology imbedded in the philosophy of Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It seems that if you supply contraceptives to third world nations you can count on the support of the Pope and his Secretariat.\nIf you stand up for orthodox Catholicism you are persona non grata.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of course, we were treated to a plethora of articles concerning Mother's Day. I don't believe that's a Catholic holiday,either.\n\nI suspect the \"oversight\" is more an expression of SJW feminist proclivity rather than a \"comment on the respective holidays.\"\n\nNow - add your smiley face, and we'll move on.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"I pity, from the bottom of my heart, the man who can have so much as a momentary feeling of exultation at such horrors. What! rejoice at the explosion of those infernal missiles in those late peaceful homes, -- at the scattering of those dissevered limbs and mangled corpses of those hundreds of women and children?\"\n\n Rev. Andrew Peabody, Plummer professor of Christian morals from 1860 to 1881, Harvard University", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So, given your attitude to the Catholic Church, may I take it that you support stringent immigration control?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am sorry the extreme right is NOT the only conservative movement now. This is typical liberal propaganda to smear those on the political right most of whom are more fiscal conservatives then social ones. \n\n If you grew up in the UK in the 50s and 60s you should remember the economic policies that those left wing government had which nearly ran that country into the ground. In Canada this is represented by Avi Lewis and the gang and I suspect Justin Trudeau.. \n\nAs for the alt-right crazies they do not encompass all \"white\" people The did not include Jews, Catholics ( me ) and eastern Europeans. However sounds like you could join.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am no fan of this pope, but the vast majority of Americans--especially neo con Catholics in the George Weigel mold--are completely ignorant of the fact that the notion of \"separation of Church and state\" is completely antithetical to Catholicism. As the great Pope St. Pius X taught: \"That the Church must be separated from the state is a thesis absolutely FALSE, a most PERNICIOUS ERROR\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Easily...acceptance of others, all are god's children (equality), a desire to take care of the weak and poor...\n\nActually, I'm curious how any follower of Christ could be a Republican. They're the least Christ-like.\n\n(btw, I'm not a Democrat or Republican, so I have no dog in the fight...just an honest outsider opinion)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is not just incumbent upon converts to, \"... believe and profess all that the holy Catholic Church believes, teaches and proclaims to be revealed by God.\" all Catholics are obliged to believe that too. There is no distinction in what converts and cradle Catholics are required to believe.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As soon as the author tied physician assisted suicide to abortion it became clear that this wasn't about assisted suicide, but rather about religious inspired \"sanctity of life\". Even Pope John Paul II in his last days refused life sustaining treatment - in defiance of catholic doctrine. When people of sound mind are terminally ill, and are ready to go, let them go on their own terms.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "All Catholics are Cafeteria Catholics -- well, Tridentinus says he isn't, but that is open to debate. Liberal Catholics are prepared to admit it; conservative Catholics generally aren't.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As I have thought more about MSW's contention that Senator Feinstein's questions can be understood as a compliment to Catholics, the more I think MSW is using his talent for persuasion to calm an overreaction by encouraging offended Catholics to (mis)interpret caution and criticism as paradoxical admiration of deep and committed faith. \n \nThat pitch might help in the short term. Offended Catholics indulging the throwback drama of imagining that we are being persecuted in the US, if convinced by MSW, might retreat to smug and thus unpleasant but relatively harmless versions of Dolan's \"Catholics are Number One\" giant football-style foam finger-waving. \n \nIn the long run, that pitch is dangerous, as is EVERY effort by ANY dominant group to cast the fears and cautions of others as compliments to - if not outright confirmation of - the justness of our dominance. \n\nMSW should know that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We do know the devil and his angels are in Hell since Scripture plainly tells us this. (Of course, laughably if it weren't so sad, we have Jesuits who think the devil is just a symbol.)\n\nI take the position a number of Scripture verses strongly imply Judas is in Hell, and the Church prays in the Extraordinary Form on Holy Thursday:\n\n\"O God, from whom Judas received the punishment of his guilt, and the thief the reward of his confession: grant unto us the full fruit of Thy clemency; that even as in His Passion, our Lord Jesus Christ gave to each a retribution according to his merits, so having taken away our old sins, He may bestow upon us the grace of His Resurrection. Who with Thee liveth and reigneth in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.\"\n\nOther than that, who is in Hell is not known until the final judgement.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Once an accusation has been made against you, you must quit your job until you can prove yourself innocent? \n\nI guess this is new Robespierrian norm of progressive Catholic justice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I suppose I'm supposed to feel badly. But not one of you has pointed out an error in my post.\n\nThat you don't like what I post is fine. It's your right. But the ridiculous \"mean-girls\" activity you exhibit is questionable Christianity at best. \n\nWhatever. It doesn't stop me from pointing out what I perceive to be untruths and inaccuracies in your postings. And now I don't have to deal with childishness and false accusations. Somehow? I seem to be in a win-win situation.....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A third reason is that the bakers actually care for the souls of the gay couple and refuse to bake the cake out of fraternal correction. In Christianity, as the kids now say, we have an app for that. It is the 18th Chapter of Matthew. First you quietly admonish them, then add two or three witnesses and then refer to matter to the whole Church (who in my view should be performing the wedding). When Jesus mentioned the Church, he meant the whole assembly, not just pastor (or overseer or bishop, there were no parish priests or diocese, just communities). If the person ignores even these, they are to be treated as you treat the heathen and the publican. Of course, Jesus was known for dining with heathens and publicans, so bake the cake.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Obviously the salvation of souls requires us to follow God's commandments, love him with all your heart and soul and love your neighbor as yourself. This would include caring for the poor, the hungry and the sick. No conservative Catholic believes any differently. The issue is that many progressive Catholics don't believe they have to follow all his commandments, but just commit to social justice matters, because they either believe all are destined for heaven, or have no belief hell exists.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Who are you to judge? If you are so ant-religion, why aren't you out trying to get all Catholic schools shut down as well?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"... the Affordable Care Act, which has played no small role in the reduction in the abortion rate to its lowest level in more than forty years.\" \n\nAnd why is that? In large part because the Affordable Care Act made sure forms of effective contraceptives were made widely available and affordable. \n\nAre you ready to admit that now? More, are you ready to admit that even Catholic universities, hospitals and other Catholic affiliated organizations that hire people for their job skills and not for their religious observance, should be required to cover contraceptives in health insurance? The Little Sisters of the Poor should not be able to make up the minds of their employees regarding contraceptives but let the employees make up their own minds. \n\nMaking abortion illegal without making effective contraceptives available is just going to drive abortions into back alleys, where it was thriving prior to making abortions legal. It is going to kill women.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And Fr Flannery's erudition is greater than anyone else's in the Catholic Church so Catholics should abandon all the tenets and teachings of the Church and join Fr Flannery's new Religion. Are you seriously advocating this?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "First of all, they are NOT his children but his brothers. This is what I mean re: a mindset that is not of what Christ taught. Secondly, his staff, as you note, clearly take issue with Francis in public, so why aren't you talking about their dignity? And, most of them are not stereotypes of Latin American dictators/generals. Such a sad commentary on your particular view of a humble pope, one who clearly is trying to be fraternal with his brother bishops. Try Matthew 18:15-17. And since we are the church, Francis was just telling us! Doing exactly what Christ said to do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Trump is not the issue for the pro-life movement, since he was only saying what people wanted to hear. The bigger problem is that the Republicans do just that and the pro-life movement is fooled. The second problem is that their objectives are not only unattainable, but wrong. Repealing federal jurisdiction in equal protection law is to give decisions on minority rights to the mob. That the mob takes direction from Catholic bishops is not a point in its favor. Truth is not about exercising raw political power, although the bishops seem to forget this, as does the pro-life movement (especially the inaptly named Susan B. Anthony Fund). Roe is not going away. If the new Justice is anti-Roe, that will be one vote for repeal (Kennedy, Scalia and Chief Roberts are no votes and Thomas is for declaring personhood federally). The problem is that many pro-lifers are anti-sex more than pro-child. Try to enact family wage bills and they start talking personal responsibility. No pass.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The worst of the forces of evil is the fifth column\". Can't disagree with you here. But what you undoubtedly won't agree with is that this column, largely through investigative media exposure, has now clearly been identified as what is traditionally (but wrongly) known as \"the Catholic Church\": its hierarchy.\n\nJust think: had so-called \"orthodox\" (or \"traditionalist\") Catholics not historically insisted on this over-identification (particularly in terms of unqualified acceptance of hierarchical integrity and teaching), the \"Prince of This World\" would not have had such an easy time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Staggering around is a symptom of drunkenness. Such is the state of institutional Adventism. Everyone knows that alcoholism is destructive. It's a form of suicide.\n\nThe Adventist booze of choice seems to be \"that old time religion.\" The problem is that the old religion has been theologically defunct, rotting in a mash-lauter-tun (beer brew tank) for one hundred forty-five years. Most alcoholics don't intend to be, they begin innocuously and morph into creatures unrecognizable to themselves and their loved ones. Recovery isn't easy, relying on bumping bottom as the hope springboard to avoid death.\n\nInstitutional Adventism's unwillingness to embrace women's equality, and modern science (physics, biology, evolution, geology, cosmology, etc.) means it hasn't yet bottomed out.\nIt is, however, hopelessly trending down. The young, the intelligent, the thoughtful, the educated are moving on. Yes, some are walking with the intoxicated, pretending they are the church. Crafty pseudo alcoholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And Christians love everyone even those who do not buy into their beliefs, right??? I didn't think so either... I will certainly not defend the way Muslims treat their women, if we want to generalise neither are Christians, but let's not generalise, many muslims are extremely nice people worthy of our trust. Like with all beliefs it is those who interpret in order to satisfy their lust for power that are dangerous, how they brainwash the weaks, the uneducated, those who feel they deserve better in order to satisfy this need for power.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There has been a consistent problem with folks using the civility evaluations to censor viewpoints. CC is aware of it.\n\nThe solutions include contacting CC with the post and inquiring - archiving them is very helpful and if it's blatant they will restore it; reposting it with any potentially insulting words or phrases deleted; reposting it if it is so blatantly civil that no rational person would contest it.\n\nAs the discussions move from a synoptic nearly anti-Catholic slant to something with a bit more give and take, there are some tensions and teething issues.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My what a selective and biased reading of the Gospels.\n\nHow about when they tried to throw him off a cliff? Read all of Luke!\n\nAnd let's not forget how popular Jesus was on Good Friday. \n\nAnd other many times they tried to get him to do one thing or another to trap him.\n\nVery popular.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Pope Francis had it right when asked -- U.S. voters should ponder and pray and then vote their consciences. By placing so much emphasis on a single issue, by essentially making it obligatory to vote according to a candidate's or party's stance on that one issue, bishops put many Catholics in a difficult position as they try to reconcile that issue with the myriad others that have raised themselves this election cycle.\"\n\nIt is intelligent writing like this that has made me an NCR subscriber for decades. The Republican bishops and their fellow shills among the clergy and laity tell us we have to vote \"pro-life.\" My question is what party is \"pro-life?\" The Republican Party has \"pro-life\" verbiage in its platform, but when it comes to doing anything to change the law on abortion they do nothing. In just two years the Republicans in the House voted 53 times to overturn Obamacare. How many times did they vote to change the law on abortion? That's right: ZERO.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is one time I will gladly join hands in solidarity with the Evangelicals who hate me the most for being gay. Sadly, their pleas will fall on deaf ears. Trump has depended on the alt-right since the inception of his campaign. He's not about to dump them now - they're the very heart of his base. He will never abandon them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "beautiful story. Oregoncraig in an earlier listing pondered that it was a \"Christians and jews\" collective who built the house. It was and i'm sure the next time, more faiths will become involved as well seeing it for what it is. it is good works done by many to contribute to a community of all. talking to my muslim friends, they, too, would have liked to help as part of the community here. sajid, in particular, wants to learn more building techniques and saw it as a lost learning opportunity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is sad when such a large number of people (who read the Globe, not the Sun!) find justified the killing of a Muslim woman by a bigot, and find hatred towards Muslims acceptable. (No, I am not Muslim, I am very Christian, but I know quite a few Muslims and none of them is a criminal or a jerk.)", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "That was a joke, and a jab at your comment. You made reference to Christian women being fridgid. Your insane if you even think I'd meet with you.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I have never failed to find that the Catholic ideal of \"faith seeking understanding\" is truncated in favor of legalistic argumentation. Furthermore, any attempt at nobility and grace is met with derision. \n Rather than attempt to dialogue with the brainwashed and mental midgets I will avoid the occasion of sin (go to hell, you bloody m@#$%^f$^%!@#s) and not attempt this again. \n If you want to send Carole King to hell because she is Jewish and has been married more than once, screw you. If you want to send Amy Grant, whose Gospel singing has only matured over time to hell for the same reason, screw you. \n And screw the dumbass MF who wrote this article for ending it calling for absolute obedience to the Pope, without resort to conscience. \n As for anyone who like my posts, thank you for your support. Give me leave to avoid this cesspool of religious ignorance and damnable superstition once and for all.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The same Republican gridlock activity they have been performing for 8 years. Refuse to do their jobs and excuse it all as the fault of everyone else. Instead of fixing elements of an existing law, they waste more time, first, trying to destroy it all and create an idiotic bill unrelated to fixing anything and adding the massive tax breaks for the Billionaire Barons - Their true constituency. Anyone who works for wages is considered just pond scum to the entire Republican Terrorist Traitor Party. All to be dumped by the wayside as they loot the nation. Fundamentalist christian theocrats with insane beliefs unrelated to science or history; Disdain all human rights except for immunity for Billionaire Baron criminals; Hatred for Democracy and freedoms for all. An entire CONgress, and now an Executive and Supreme Court devoted to anti-American ideology identical to the Old South Confederacy and Hitler's Germany. The worst traitors since Benedict Arnold.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The best, most Catholic response? Resist this garbage, vocally and prayerfully. Fight that urge to obey that has been bred deeply in each of us. Act as Jesus would.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "No wonder Jesus (alayhis-Salaam) so harshly cursed hypocrites. Here's where a lot of sanctimonious so-called \"Christians\" don't get it--you don't get absolved of sin until you REPENT of it. Doesn't matter what religious 'label' you apply to yourselves. Christian self-righteousness, hubris and hypocrisy PREVENTS them from repenting, as they see no need for it. After all, \"Jesus\" (alayhis-Salaam) \"paid the price\" for their sins. You clearly don't understand your Scripture (or don't want to). In the parable I mentioned in Luke 18, NEITHER of the parties, the Pharisee nor the tax-collector/publican, were CHRISTIANS. They were Jews. But Jesus (alayhis-Salaam) said one--the miserable tax-collector--found justification before God and the other--the self-righteous Pharisee--did not. Why? Because the tax-collector REPENTED of his sins and the Pharisee did not. Neither has Amy. Clearly, neither have you. Arrogance and hypocrisy are sins, and you proclaim yours with each post.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Does that strike you as implausible? After all, when Christianist homophobes kill gay people, we don't rush to condemn Christianity.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Have the black kids been murdering anyone who is not their religion for eons? Muslims have been murdering Christians, quite a different scenario.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Awe! That you would stoop so low as to trivialize the death of people in Manchester and by default then, it's disgusting to think that you don't care about the thousands of young boys and girls who were raped and abused under Christian clerics in residential schools, or the lateral violence and toxic stress that resulted in this horrible chapter of Canadian history.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Oz Islamists kill more Muslims, homosexuals, repress and genitally mutilate more women than do all other peoples put together. Islamists terrorize and for the purpose of media & internet coverage behead, burn and torture other Muslims who are considered to 'liberal', Jews and 'Westerners'. Is it 'phobic' to be afraid of these people? Is it irrational fear 'radical' mullahs in Canada, the USA, the UK and continental Europe who preach and encourage this form of hate? How many Jews in Canada or Israel behead and burn, are homophobic, etc? German so-called 'Christians' killed 6 million Jews in WWII - or are you a Holocaust denier? Where's the parallel? Or are you also an \"anti-Zionist\" (code for anti-Jew). I say anti-Jew rather than anti-Semitic because Arabs are Semites. Or are you a naive pup like Trudeau or worse, a willing fellow-traveller like one of the other more active SJW apologists who posts regularly on this forum?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Well said, Elise, outlining the absurdity of the argument of transgender bathroom enforcement---Of well meaning \"christians\" posting themselves at bathroom entrances to do genital-checks before entry: Anyone that looks suspicious, 'Excuse me, \"Ma'am\", I'm going to have to make sure you really do have the equipment to go with those heels...'\n\nRidiculous fear-mongering with one source: The desire of one small sector of society to enforce the tenets of their religion into law, by picking on an even tinier minority, one they mistakenly believe to be vulnerable to their manipulations.\n\nI've got news for the religious \"right\"---Kids these days are a lot smarter than you think, and recognize the real danger to society for what it is: The bigotry and intolerance you peddle as your wares.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Even though a non christian, I believe in what goes around, comes around. I believe true justice, is to have everyone of the haters of President Barak Obama's skin color, come back as blacks, to experience what happens when stupid and littleminded prejudice rage filled self rightous indignation, fills ones life with deliberate suffering, oppression and death. All of us have to stand in front of our Creator's, whatever race we are, or what we believe. If I go to the whitemans hell, so be it, but, many of you all will surely be there also.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "If they are engaging in same-sex sexual relations then they are gravely sinful acts. You can argue from a secular or non-Catholic position, however, from Scripture and 2000 years of Church teaching your statement above is false. And since this article is within the context of a Catholic Bishop upholding Church teaching and Canon Law, to simply state that \"married homosexual relations are not sinful\", as though that statement is a Christian truth is deceitful and naive.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Oh dear Wavemaker. I am feeling a little bit uncertain right now. Do you believe in the Bible? Uh-oh. This whole time I thought we were mutually scoffing at those silly evangelicals, and worshiping the Goddess with our commentary and here you are quoting the Bible!? I feel so betrayed & triggered right now.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Sounds an awful lot like a threat, bro'. Fact is. you rednecks need green liberals to watch out for you. If it were up to Weyerhaeuser and Georgia Pacific the whole damn country would be clear cut to send chopsticks to China, and the mountains would all wash into the sea. \n\nLikewise, if it weren't for liberal groups policing the divide between church and state, the US would be overrun by Christian taliban and ruled by Baptist sharia. History is not over. And the USA is not immune to it. \n\nFace it Bill. You're on the wrong side of history. White supremacy is illegal. The destruction of the living planet in pursuit of profit is illegal. These things are true whether you like it or not. And if you keep talking about violence against these laws, you'll be the one who ends up in stir.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Only angry fools would tear up Korans or believe that doing something like that is helpful. And most people know that the vast majority of Muslims are peaceful and just trying to earn a living like everyone else.\nStill, our self described \"thought leaders\" need to dial back the tolerance shaming when perfectly reasonable people ask such questions as:\n* Why is an inordinate amount of violence in the world associated with Islamic societies?\n* Why are western progressives silent on the incongruities between women's rights, LGBTQ rights, and religious and cultural relativism?\n* Why do certain parliamentary motions imply that some religions are more worthy of protection than others?\n* Why are requests for religious accommodation in schools and other places made by Muslims often treated more solicitously than similar requests made by Christians, Jews, Hindus et al?\n The answers are rooted in politics and cowardice. Muslims are the biggest losers when such questions go unanswered.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"Trump advocated divisive politics of identity \u2014 he raised racial and ethical tensions and inflamed passions against imagined enemies \u2014 Mexican immigrants, Chinese exporters, Muslim refugees.\"\n\nTrump's rise is based on white supremacy. Trump's bad guy is always some non-white boogeyman. It is the duty of every American and Christian to publicly stand up against this racist tide. People in Europe had the opportunity in the 12920s and 30s and failed. What will history say about us?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "A total failure as a Texas governor destroying Voting Rights and demanding installing Fundamentalist Christian religion as the law of the land. By edict dismantling all services for women for reproductive health issues wherever in violation of pseudo-christian dogma. One more religious fanatic dedicated to the dismantling and eradication of the Constitutional Bill of Rights except the 2nd amendment. One more ideological Republican fascist nitwit feeding at the government trough which he proclaims to hate so much. Disgusting.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Don't forget the Armenia holocaust of 1 million Christians and that six million number has been officially revised by the Holocaust authorities themselves. Let's talk about the Jihad against Indians shall we, Koenard Elst in Negationism in India gives an estimate of 80 million Hindus killed in the total jihad against India and let's not forget why the Crusades happened! It was because of 400 years of islamic barbarism, Can we forget how Mohammed thanked the Jews who helped him in Medina? He killed them, chopped off their heads. Some prophet, killing God's chosen and those Nazi's weren't Christians! It is also estimated that Over 110 Million Blacks were killed by Islam.\n\nSo Christians can hardly be considered the biggest mass murderers, it isn't any surprise who really are the biggest mass murderers in history, estimated at a whopping 250 million and that is muslims.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Unless the \"Bishops\" stand clearly against racism, sexual predation, misogyny, callous disregard for fundamental values - ensconced in Catholic social doctrine, torture, vengeance and retribution, disrespect for the law, etc., then their stance against abortion highlights them as utter hypocrites. Unless the act publicly to demonstrate their stand against all of what identifies Mr Trump they \"are not worthy of us or their \"calling\".", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "At one time the majority of immigrants were Protestant, Caucasian, and from England and Scotland! Why oh why did we ever start by letting those damn Irish Catholics into the country during the great potato famine, or the Dutch protestants who built their own schools. I jest. . We are richer for our diversity.\nBTW, I have seen some complaints about immigrants receiving welfare. Welfare support payments are meant to be short term, ideally 3 months or less, and is never enough to cover basic living expenses for the long term. The honest recipients are forced to spend all they receive. Just as an example that benefit is spent on groceries, clothing and other basics. Looking at grocery expenses only, that helps support the grocer, his employees, his landlord and the food processors or growers++ all of whom pay taxes to the governments, and their own living expenses, (generating more tax revenue). All government benefits are \"Transfer Payments.\"", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The bishops have failed spectacularly in educating Catholics about the realities of immigration law. This is especially ironic since the bishops have easy access to the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, which has attorneys and resources to provide that education. \nOnly people who actually understand something about the vagaries of immigration law can make informed decisions about what kind of policy they support.\nThe often repeated instruction of \"getting in line\" is just one example of the lack of knowledge about this topic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think there are many politicians who set aside their more restrictive beliefs (things that are legal but which they wouldn't do themselves) out of respect for the rights and beliefs of others. In fact I would expect no less from our responsible representatives. Pence puts literal scripture above science, and thus considers the world under God's direct control. This is unacceptable since logic tells us that human waste is changing the climate in dangerous ways. Agnostics, Muslims, Jews and Christians ought to pursue policy that would restore balance to the planet. A belief that \"End Times\" are near should not sway our representatives to pursue the expediting of the end of the world as a habitable planet for the human species", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The church must be a part of the solution because it is a part of the problem. A majority of Catholics followed the USCCB's \"advice\" and voted for Trump. The USCCB still favors the Republicans' \"platform\" over the Democrats' \"secularism.\" That our nation finds itself in senseless chaos is witness of leadership that has urged \"us,\" a \"smaller but holier\" church, to be guardians and guarantors of \"Christian America\"against \"them\" whoever \"them\" may be.\n\nExcellencies, you bear particular credit for limiting participation at the Lord's table and for aggravating contention among and within the Lord's family. You were consecrated to help God's family live a Gospel life of beatitude. Instead, you have stirred if not stoked the crusader spirit of the Church Militant to proclaim the Reign of God, ignoring the pain of God' family.\nTogether, let us say, \"Miserere.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That's funny, because there sure are a lot of bigots identifying as Christians these days.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why Allan, the one word I changed in my post was \"Christian\". And it kept getting censored, yet when I changed it to Muslim or Islam, the post wasn't censored. Isn't that amazing?\n\nThis post censored once already....why is \"christian\" a dirty word to the progressive left?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Theology, doctrine and religion are all designed for the sole purpose of controlling other people by those who espouse and define those terms. \n\nI don't know what you mean by this or how you can make a universal statement of this nature. Are you stating every person that claims the Bible is authoritative is doing so in an attempt to exert personal control over people ? That may be true if the control is directed towards and delegated to Christ. I fail to see how you can make an authoritative statement on this being an agnostic who has very limited exposure to the Christian Church.\n\nThe examples you cite may be legitimate, but the Christian Church has one head, and that is Christ (according , and we are to obey him and not man, the Bible is clear on this. The examples you cite do not line up with the true Christian Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Unfortunately, modernists coming after Jesus expanded the priesthood. Jesus chose only male jews, but some progressive along the way allowed others in and look where that has gone. As Pope Paul VI understood, God is Male, and can only be represented by Men. From this we can extrapolate God chromosomal make-up.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"I am sooooooo tired of the feminization of men in this society.\"\n\nMike Brooks, you are confused. In the Catholic Church priests have worn silk and lace for centuries.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Isn't the \"Jewish\" State of Israel, itself an unwanted \"Monument\" to the WWII-era German \"Holocaust\"? It is built mostly on lands stolen from Middle Eastern Arab Christian and Muslim Palestinians. To my knowledge, Hitler's atrocities were committed mostly in Europe.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In answer to the atheist bigots!\n\n\"As a candidate, Obama delivered the keynote speech at a conference organized by the liberal evangelical minister Jim Wallis. \"Secularists are wrong when they ask believers to leave their religion at the door before entering into the public square,\" he said. \"Frederick Douglass, Abraham Lincoln, Williams Jennings Bryan, Dorothy Day, Martin Luther King -- indeed, the majority of great reformers in American history -- were not only motivated by faith, but repeatedly used religious language to argue for their cause. So to say that men and women should not inject their 'personal morality' into public policy debates is a practical absurdity. Our law is by definition a codification of morality, much of it grounded in the Judeo-Christian tradition.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Another recruitment tool for a heretical state. In what catholic countries is this so-called outreach being implemented ?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "PPL yelling separate religion from school and that Christians or other religions do not get special treatment need to understand that if you wanted a certain time for your religion practice it would be respected.\n\nSecondly, isn't the Catholic District School Board funded by the government? Shouldn't we say that either the government support schools of all religions or none? Why doesn't that strike your nerves?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Every Country is a \"wip\" so not sure that captures the conflicts we see today. I have over the years seen \"issues\" come and go, each with fervor and passion and heated debate. Some wereresolved and faded into the culture, others like abortion, gay rights continue to draw debate but I have not ever seen so much obsessive hate, hysteria and conflicted individuals as now. If you fit the same profile as the friends I am about to describe...see your Pastor or Priest sooner then later..this level of internal conflict can produce enough stress to be life threatening. Three church going friends, heavily invested in Christian outreach. Practicing passionate Christians all...not just on Sunday. What is confounding is all 3 are consumed with hate over the Trump victory. Each uses FB and posts 1o- 15 vial posts a day for the last 4 months. Christian's who embrace living the Christian life while consumed with hate makes for a level of conflict that is hard to imagine.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Part two of three) Personally, I don\u2019t think the criticism of Pope Francis is due to a misunderstanding of Vatican II\u2014Elagabalus\n\na concentration of discernment and mentoring rather than \"faith in and observance of \"markers\"\".\u2014dennism\n\nthe litany by Hooded Claw recharged by the contrary litany by Marty E Marty E, you make the same mistake all you self described trad types make.\u2014Steven Shea\n\n\u201cCertainly John Paul II achieved much in terms of implementing the council.\u201d.\u2014Michael Sean Winters Really. John Paul II tried to retrofit VII to a bygone era that never existed. That is why the administration of The Pontifical Catholic University of America continues, since 1990, being censured by the American Association of University Professors. Catholic University policy is to refuse to even hear professors, before firing them from their academic livelihoods.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Priests aren't psychiatrists or psychologists; those are different professionals who offer different solutions from a priest's. All kettles of fish as they relate to God and Christ are within the priest's expertise.\n\nMy priest didn't give me advice on how to go about getting treatment for my cancer. Likewise, I wouldn't expect a priest to tell me what to do about a problem child or a cheating wife, except with regard to how to find and seek assistance from God and the Church in each instance.\n\nAnd women's inclination to chime-in with their opinions on people's private matters is another reason not to ordain women.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I wish, R&R, that it was all so easy as that. Jesus had to only fill 12 slots (and one turned out to be His own personal tragedy, no?) That's a simple snap of the fingers compared to what it takes nowadays (for almost the full two centuries we lay claim to). So your \"perhaps\" really should be left with the original events of 30 AD. What we are now discussing is a return to something the early Church indeed did do, and that was the selection of bishops from the local Church. If you have a problems with it, and the involvement of the laity, go talk to Ignatius of Antioch (in 110 AD) and others like Cyprian of Carthage, or, jumping forward a bit to the early third century, the document from (probably) Hippolytus of Rome, \"Apostolic Tradition,\" which states that a new bishop was to be chosen by all the people. It has great meaning for a Church that has grown to immense size and a dysfunctional centralization of power, largely disconnected to the faithful of the local church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh boy...\nNCR progressive desperation grows apace...first MSW brings out Mussolini and Hitler and the Rape of Nanking, and now the ultimate -- the anti-semitism smear card.\nMeanwhile, Trump's job performance poll numbers keep rising.\nKeep going NCR, dig the hole deeper!\nUltimately, there will be a backlash from your financial supporters.\nYou can't keep vilifying a U.S. president and the million of Catholics who voted for him in the most extreme measures there are, without some of your sponsors pulling the plug.\nDon't doubt me on this.\nSUPPORT FREE SPEECH -- I DON'T CENSOR YOU, DON'T CENSOR ME.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yup, the Vatican stamp with Luther and Melanchthon replacing Our Lady and St. John at the foot of the cross was blasphemous.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am Catholic and I agree completely. Now let's look at the left's embrace of the current Pope and his globalist manipulations. The Pope during WWII was much the same, and we saw how that turned out in Gaeta, Italy. My father's name was Ateo, which means Atheist in Italian, for just that reason. There is plenty of outrage to go around.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm pretty sure the real Jesus, and the God he represented, are not offended in the least by anybody who doesn't believe in him. God is in all religions, and in compassion, and fair play, and doing no harm, with or without religion. If you call yourself Christian, I suggest, humbly, that you help the people you can, harm nobody, and believe whichever collection of God stories you want, or none at all. I think of myself as Christian, and I'm pretty sure that being offended by somebody else's beliefs, or anybody else's beliefs, or lack of beliefs, isn't part of what Jesus preached. Sadly, organized religions can be breeding grounds for extremism, fanaticism, and hate. That can't be what God really means. Not my God, anyhow.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is such a huge problem in Catholic schools and one that I faced myself and that I saw again and again when I went to school. The issue isn't really the kids being awful, but the fact that the administrators and others refuse to discipline them. This is a huge class issue. Generally, the bullies are from wealthy Catholic families who give lots of money to the particular school, diocese, Catholic causes, etc. They also tend to be more \"outwardly\" pious. As a result, the principals and teachers turn a blind eye while punishing the victims.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We have values but a \"test\" would, I believe be against our values. From my own observation of friends and acquaintances immigrants do do come with some different ideas but most readily accept the values that we have in Canada. In many ways, they wish to become a part of the greater community. There may be some slight differences, but differences seem to be be more a tendency to a more paternalistic society if they come from that kind of Society or a more Conservative morals in general. \n\nThe differences are not outside the range that already exists between generations of Canadians that are seniors and millennials. Minis and bikinis have been an issue for decades and what parent isn't concerned about their children and sex? \n\nThe problem with people who want a test is they don't want immigrants who are \"different\", in colour or religion even if the religious differences are more in name than in practice. Extreme Christians can be more radical than any Muslims that I know.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "He has visited and held mass with sex abuse victims, co-authored a book with one, and has apologized for the crimes of the Catholic Church. This doesn't absolve the Church of its rather criminal negligence nor does it mean the Pontiff has done enough. \n\nBut I don't think it's fair to prisoners, migrants, refugees, the poor, indigenous people who the Pontiff speaks out for to say \"he cares about their issues more than ours\". That comes across as a sort of oppression olympics there.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "All councils issue documents which are the result of compromises between the bishops.\n\nVatican II did teach that the Church is hierarchical in its constitution at the time it was founded.\n\nFrancis did seek input, and then when it wasn\u2019t what he expected, may have attempted to footnote his way around that input. Unless and until he clarifies things, it\u2019s all guesswork.\n\nSt. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI restored some clarity to the chaos that followed Vatican II, in particular that not every teaching is up for grabs and that the Church progresses in continuity, not breaks.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You know, of course, that the first incidence of organized anti-Semitism, the Rhineland Massacres, was done under the banner of the Crusades.\n\nNo shame there, and no shame in forcible conversion of pagans, and no shame in pillaging.......\n\nOf course it is shameful. Abhorrent acts, theft, and imperialism done in the name of religion is always shameful. \n\nThe teachings of Christ don't include massacres, Antares. Love thine enemy. Turn the other cheek. Christianity is about forgiveness and redemption.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The very fact that you can suggest that demonstrates an extremely shallow understanding of the Catholic Faith..", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The first paragraph of this article is pretty clear, and it is stated in uncontroversial language. The fact that so many people are acting like a bunch of rednecks upon hearing that black man was elected president tells us a lot about those people who spend a lot of time implying that their supposed \"empathy\" and \"intellect\" make them superior human beings.\n\nThe ban is temporary (four months) until something more effective is put into place. Religious minorities include the Bah\u00e1'\u00ed Faith, Druze, Yazidism, Mandaeism, Gnosticism, Yarsanism, Samaritanism, Shabakism, Ishikism, Ali-Illahism, and Zoroastrianism along with Christians and Jews. Members of all of these groups are targeted for persecution in the middle-east. The Jews were persecuted in Europe for 2000 years, and we regret not helping them get out of Europe before Hitler killed so many.\n\nIsn't it funny that when Democrats act to protect minorities, it's a \"good thing\", but when someone else does it, it's a \"bad thing\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Still waiting for the U.N., the msm and even the Vatican and western Christian groups (save a few) to recognize the genocide of Christians going on in the Middle East right now.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "12th, it's certainly true that the Creation Museum, for example, ought to be classified as the epicentre of the burning stupid (there are three of these duds in the US--not just the $27 million behemoth in Kentucky most people are familiar with), but even among Evangelicals there is a major disconnect between the anti-intellectual rank-and-file and emerging Evangelical scholars.\n\nThe Catholic Church has a stupendous intellectual tradition, which gives many the hope that it can be reformed. The same might be hoped for Evangelical Christianity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I support an examination of Christian denominations, Paul. \n\nAs I recall, Baptists believe you can only get into heaven if you sweat as you sing. Lutherans believe you can only get into heaven if you bring a covered dish. For the Catholics, I think you're required to lose at bingo more than you win...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Scott, I met a man who had been divorced when he was still a teenager, or early 20's. He took all the blame for what happened. He married again and has been with his wife for over forty years. He couldn't get annulment and married civilly. I did their marriage forty years on. That guy went to Mass every week in those forty years and never took communion. Obviously, he can now. \n\nA forty year sentence for being a stupid young man. He described to me how he felt over all those years. The Eucharist wasn't exactly the core of his being as a teenager. But it's importance grew on him as he faced life's joys and sadnesses. Parents funerals, family weddings, big parish celebrations - no Eucharist. And a big, red arrow pointing at him in the congregation.\n\nNo person who actually believes in the Eucharist would be capable of banning another person from receiving it. Burke and his friends really don't believe in Jesus. The difference between him and Trump is that Trump is honest about himself.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Or a gun-carrying \"Christian.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Are not Muslim women required to worship separately, are they allowed to lead men in any thing? Why in predominately Muslim countries are they denied rights that women in predominately Christian countries (or what used to be predominately Christian nations) take for granted? That is why we assume Muslim women do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Since all politics is local, I suspect that the reason for this gender divide between Catholics is mainly based on Trump's vow to overturn Roe v. Wade, close PP, and similar measures that mainly impact women. I don't think it's based on Catholic women's perception that Trump is a \"predator,\" because, frankly, if these women are at all informed, they know on the issue of sexual predation, the track record of both candidates is at best a wash. \n\nThank you for reading this. Let's remember that the issue here is politics, and so it's natural that you may not agree with my opinion, but that your disagreement does not mean that I am being \"uncivil\" for disagreeing with you. Have a nice day.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Is anyone endorsing the Catholic school system as a good idea?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hawaii, liberals, ACLU, and their kin are NOT against religion at all! No, of course not.\nThey are only against Christianity...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Christ\u2019s life stands as a template for acceptance, tolerance and generosity.\"\n\nTrue.\nBut how does a lawyer know the meaning of \"generosity\"?\n\nHow does a lawyer know about the Golden Rule, \"Treat others as you want to be treated\", when lawyers have priced their services beyond the ability of the majority of Canadians to hire one? Average Canadians can be swindled out of their life savings, lose custody of their children, suffer egregious malpractice by a doctor, but no lawyer will represent him or her in a court of law.\n\nIt's very ironic that a lawyer writes about \"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you\". \nVery ironic, in this mean-spirited age of greed, when personal injuries, swindles and human rights violations are so common, that a lawyer celebrates Jesus for the \"sense of fairness and decency\" he brings to the world.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This article seems to want to imply that what it calls \"restorationism\" -- sounds like authentic Catholic culture to me, but whatever -- is bad. \n\nI'm hard pressed to see why. \n\nIt wants to \"renew the renewal.\" OK. Renewal is good, isn't it? It makes meaningful afresh that which is part of our heritage -- a fine thing to do, as we know from a recent holy father that the renewal brought by Vatican II should be viewed through the lens of continuity, rather than as a rupture with the past. \n\nTraditional practices? That sounds good. As Catholics, we revere tradition, regarding it as a source of authentic teaching. \n\nVestments that look nice? OK. As long as parishes must continue to buy vestments -- and they do -- they might as well look beautiful.\n\nMost of all: Seminarians deliberately adhering to Catholicism distinct from secularized society. How is this anything but joyful, a metanoia in our modern Ninevah? This author, and Fr. Ruff, it seems, grieve needlessly.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "North American is not Protestant, for one. Canada, North America, is primarily a Catholic, secular country, majority-wise. Protestantism has always been a minority there. Today, less than 27% of Canada is Protestant. (Catholics are 38%, with non affiliates and non-Christians fleshing out the religious and non-religious categories left).\nAnd two, maybe in the past the US's majority Protestant population outperformed L. America (especially after the Monroe Doctrine, which crippled many of the new Latin American republics, and the Mexican War of American \"imperial conquest,\" which cut Mexico in half so that white racists could expand slavery to the Pacific), but today that is not so. The US is only 46% Protestant, and countries like Chile and Argentina are doing quite well as they watch the \"remnants\" of Protestant America come to terms with their imperial, racist past - the most obvious example being the EC's decision to remove stained glass windows of Robert E. Lee from their churches.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The Catholic Church, in general, has been slow to combat racism.\" \nThis may indeed be the case in US. When we were in South Africa in the late 70s-early 80s, when apartheid was fully functioning, the Catholic and Anglican bishops (and most of the clergy) spoke out strongly against the racism intrinsic to the apartheid lawsto the extent that the government warned the people \"Romse gewaar, Engels gewaar!\" (Beware of the Romans, beware of the English!). They had a real problem when the Reformed Church in Holland declared the teaching (and practice) of apartheid a heresy. None-the-less, everyone knew where ordinary folk, black and white, could get actual support in their stand against racism. The Catholic bishops were equally strong when they stood against the systemic and institutional injustices of dictatorship in Malawi in the 80s (not racism but none-the-less good leadership against injustice and corruption). \n\nThe Bishops do quite often do the right thing, and speak out against evil.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"It's hypocrisy to call yourself a Christian and chase away a refugee or someone seeking help,\" the pope has said. \n\nPeople who put their hatred for people who look different ahead of the Gospel have no business calling themselves Christian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Rohingya (Muslims) in Rakhine ( Burmese province) have been over taken by a Wahhabi group of \"rebels\". These are Islamic extremists known for their belief in forced \"conversion\" . The other 135 ethnic sects , Buddhists , Hindus , Christians etc , etc are not happy with the idea of forced conversion , do you blame them . For example , in Syria, the Sunni's , Shia and Christians are united in the Syrian Army fighting the Wahhabi's , known as ISIS and Al Qaeda. The jihadist \"rebels\" are using atrocity and following that up with propaganda to try to create a separate state , then claim a piece of Burma's off-shore oil and gas. This is well funded , brought to you by Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, home of Wahhabi Islam .\nThis latest incident was sparked by the rebels killing 71 Rakine police officers . Consider if that is how the rebels treat police , how do they treat unarmed civilians .", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree with you, Bill. Although there are definitely fewer priests than there were say, in the 50's or 60's, the reduced number of priests is not the \"one root cause\" of the decline of parishes. Far fewer people choose to remain in the Church. It seems to me that the fundamental reason is that the Church chose not to renew itself through Vatican 2. Even the changes that did occur in the Church were all handed down from the top. And the backpedaling and, later the backlash, started very quickly, re-consolidating the monarchical model. As you say, people, in ever greater numbers, are not longer \"buying what the Church is selling\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"We especially denounce the irreverence, disrespect and violation of sensitive locations, such as houses of worship and ministry which belong to God and the erosion of our Constitutional right to be free from religious oppression by our government.\"\n\nThe current regime wants to terrorize the immigrant population. It is our duty as Christians and Americans to stand up to the tyrant.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree, this is something that should be discussed more openly and honestly, they live here but seem to not want anything to do with us. What is their honest opinion about Christians, you hear a lot of stories but what is the truth?In one headline i read about the terrible scene at a Toronto school board office and then another about thousands of Muslims rioting in Jakarta because an elected leader was Christian. I think a vast majority of Canadians want to know how those entering Canada truly feel, their leaders(Muslim) are saying nothing!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I've considered (and attended services) of Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopalian, Unitarian, Baptist (at least four kinds) , Jehovah Witness, LDS, Church of Christ, Church of the Nazarene, and several other Christian denominations whose names I do not recall. I've studied a little of the theology and beliefs of Judaism, Zen Buddhist, Tantric Yoga, Muslim (Sunni, Shi'a and Sufi), and Hindu faiths. \n\nNone of that journey showed me that \"all spiritual roads lead to Jesus\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Lesson 1: you have no Catholic Faith. Thanks for your lessons in heresy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Where was all the concern for persecuted Christians in the Middle East.\nOh I forgot, Justin doesn't own a pair of socks with a cross on them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pope Pius X wrote his SYLLABUS OF ERRORS without any input of cardinals at all. He believed that he was in and of himself, as a pope, able to make such proclamations. When the Vatican Council I occurred, the Constitution \"Pastor Aeternus\" was presented---it stated that when the pope speaks 'ex cathedra', \n\"that is, when in discharge of his office, the pastor and doctor of all Christians...he defines...a doctrine of faith or morals...[he] is endowed with that infallibility with which our divine Redeemer willed that the Church should be furnished in defining doctrine of faith or morals.\"\n\nFurther, the constitution contends, \"such definition of the Roman pontiff are irreformable of themselves and not in virtue of the consent of the Church.\" In plain words, the pope doesn't have to consult any other bishop in promulgation of dogma.\n------\nPastor Aeternus in Justo Gonzalez, A HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN THOUGHT, vol. III [Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1983]. p. 367", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The article says \"Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, the latest directed at Egypt\u2019s increasingly embattled Christian minority following two church bombings last month that killed more than 45, also claimed by the group\".\n\nDaesh (ISIS/IL) Muslims don't have to influenec or insprie any other Muslim. All Muslim jihadists have to do is follow Islam, the hadiths and the many verses in the Quran, the holy book of Islam, that call for the destruction of Jews, Christians and non believers (infidels).\n\nIslam and the hadiths and the verses in the Qur'an are inspiration enough.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The issue is that there are some people who cannot get the \"magic paperwork\" saying that their marriage wasn't really real from the Catholic Church. These people are condemned to either loneliness without family or cannot receive Communion if they choose to do the human thing and find love.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christianity is a story of death and resurrection. It doesn't get much better than that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Good point. I wonder why Hillary Clinton's nomination of a white Catholic VP did not make it any more likely for white Catholics to vote for her. Obviously, it has something to do with the white male Catholic vote, but it's still a puzzle since Kaine is a white male Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Some people think the sanctuary is the whole inside of the church including the pews, not just the part by the altar that used to be set apart. Or maybe the definition changed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are two sides to every story. If you actually did your research on Hillary you'd see she is corrupt next to Trump. Also Obama has a hand in the killing of thousands of innocent Christians in Egypt, and Iraq by arming them to keep the caliphate out of Saudi Arabia. If you compare all of them, Trump is the only one that is good. \n\nI pray that God with touch your heart and you will accept Jesus as your Lord and savior and understand that we should render to Ceaser what is Ceasars, and render unto Go what is Gods\n\nGod bless America! You lost get over it! Move forward, and understand after the 60 + years of Democratic destruction , and oppression of America we can now actually have a real country with borders.\n\nYou'll thank us later when your kids have jobs, and can live the lifestyles they work for...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Read your Catholic Bible footnote on how to understand Mt 25; 31-46. You will learn the bishops are misreading who \"these little ones\" are. Illegal aliens, sorry for using the formal language in the law, are NOT Christian missionaries coming here to preach the gospel.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dems cannot and should not align with Trump. A NEW REPORT published by Georgetown University\u2019s Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding has documented an upsurge in violence against Muslims in the United States coinciding with the 2016 election campaign.\n\nCritics say Trump\u2019s proposals to ban Muslims, deport undocumented immigrants, and build a wall along the border with Mexico are also laying the groundwork for eroding American democracy more broadly.\n\nThe report cites 180 reported incidents of anti-Muslim violence during the period between March 2015 and March 2016. Among these were 12 murders; 34 physical assaults; 56 acts of vandalisms or destruction of property; nine arsons; and eight shootings and bombings.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But if one is living in opposition to the faith, then they have been formed their lives around being contrarians. At what point can you differentiate between a reformer and an outright protestant? \n\nWhat is the key difference between him and an old catholict in regards to heterodoxy. Where is the line between theologoumenon, heterodoxy and heresy if all we go by is our own personal conscience. \n\nNot to mention that it makes a laughing stock of the church councils that defined the faith against many of Flannery's beliefs, which are not new in Christian history. Are their efforts not put to shame? \n\nI agree it is not a normal organisation, which makes it worse. Catholicism is a creedal and dogmatic faith, and has been at least since the first council of Jerusalem. We are to kill our own ego for Christ and mould ourselves in his image, to sacrifice ourselves in obedience to the will of God. The very meaning of the word catholic is universal faith, yet this does not match his beliefs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What is the Organization of the Islamic Conference doing?\n\n57 Muslim countries\n\n-\n\nmust the Christian West now fight Buddhist Burma to protect Muslims?\n\n-\n\nChristians (NATO) already fought Christians (Serbians) to protect Muslims in Bosnia and Kosova\nwhat thanks?\n\n-\n\nnow let Muslims fight to protect Muslims", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Read up on it a bit progressive 111, we all get burned financially to indoctrinate your kiddies. Catholic schools get more funding as they are a smaller board. The check mark on your property taxes is simply to specify which trustee menbers you vote for in an election. You obviously drank the Catholic koolaid they push on the public in the name of your imaginary friend.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "To me it's simple. Anyone calling themselves Christian should have no problem showing solidarity with migrants and refugees. Jesus was once a refugee himself who had to flee persecution himself. So I show solidarity for that reason. Jesus said \"the way you treat the least of these is how you treat me\"(Matthew 25).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The parents of Jesus Christ, Joseph and Mary, were also refugees from the Middle East. It is comforting to know that the Christians of North America would not have given them refuge.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Paul likes to judge his fellow Christians who are different than him.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you are Catholic, you accept the canonical status of Luke, whether he is Jew or Gentile. \n\nThe Scriptual evidence nor 2,000 years of Tradition does not point to Judas being saved despite the attempts at rehabilitating him.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Does heaven frown on the children of a marriage unconsecrated by the proper church? Did the Christ not welcome children into his arms? Or is this ban of a woman and her children only the consequence of human self-righteousness? It doesn't sound like \"the Christian thing to do\" to me.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As an Evangelical Christian, I can answer that question. Why would I want to spend my money in a shop that doesn't want my business? \n-\nLet's say I walk into a Jewish Bakery, a Gay Bakery, a Muslim Bakery, and a Buddhist Bakery because I didn't know they were Jewish, Gay, Muslim, or Buddhist.....and I ask them to decorate a Christian Wedding Cake with \"crosses\" and \"May Jesus Bless Our Marriage\" written on it......and they decline because doing so goes against their religious beliefs or same-sex values.\n-\nSure, I might be sad. But wouldn't I just find another bakery that (1) wants my business (2) will gladly create the \"edible art work\" I want? Of course I would. \n-\n\"Turn the other cheek,\" \"do unto others as you want them to do unto you,\" and \"pray for others\" does not suing others in court and mean making a federal case out of someone else's beliefs. \n-\nThe simplest thing to do is to.....go elsewhere. No big deal.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Perhaps an example from the Episcopal church in the States might help. As I remember the events, sometime around the early 80s when the sandals broke, Episcopal bishops began immediately (i.e., same day) to remove any priest charged with abuse, and then a further adjudication was made over the next months. Some priests were reinstated, but most were barred from exercising any further ministry. Sexual abuse was effectively countered and cover-ups eliminated. Of course, the ecclesial structures are different and Episcopal bishops do not have to further cases to a central Vatican. Still, it did work well, even though it caused temporary pain and suffering to falsely accused priests. The same has happened to some falsely accused RC priests, but it has taken much longer. The basis assumption, proved correct in most cases, was that, if there is a credible complaint of abuse, the benefit of doubt lies with the accuser.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Monica,\n The Holy Mass, being the source and summit of Catholic life, in order to be preserved as a sacrifice, must perforce retain its priest. Destroy the priest, destroy the sacrifice. Destroy the sacrifice, destroy the mass. Destroy the mass, destroy the Church. Savvy?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Finally you answer your own question Rule.\n\nIs a Christian a fallen person who is damned or a saved person who is eternal and free from sin thru Christ. \n\nYou want to treat women as though they are still damned but Jesus freed women as much as he freed men which is why both gentiles and women can be sacramental priests equally. In the beginning before the fall they were equals - no difference in purpose. Then they fell, and now we are risen back, and have regained what was lost thru Christ, so man and women, gentile and Jew is no more. If Jesus did not free us now on earth then Jews are greater than Christians who are gentiles. You can't have it both ways. Either men and women are equally free or neither is free and both are damned and Jesus accomplished nothing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Have Catholic students asked for a room for praying and fasting? (A room for fasting?) Have jewish students? Or are you just making up problems? So many questions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When Ethiopia and North Korea suffered from famine, it had nothing to do with Christianity or Buddhism, the majority religion in these countries. It was more to do with the socialist dictatorships ruling these countries.\n\nWhen 4 million people died in British ruled Bengal in 1943, it had nothing to do with religion. It was Churchill's policy to divert food from Bengal to Europe, to build buffer stocks in Europe during the war.\n\nCreating false cause and effects must come easy to you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Fran\u00e7ois Jourdan, French islamologue;\n\u201c...Islam is very frozen for many centuries and basically lack of freedom - today, it must be said clearly that we cannot build a society of one religion, Christian, Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist... or atheist. \nThis phase of human history is now overtaken by religious freedom and human rights. Secularism requires not the ban but the discretion of all religions in the public space as other citizens have the right to have another way of life. \nThis isn't the Koranic trend where Islam does not consider itself as other religions and must...DOMINATE !...\u201d\nSo, He said;\n\u201c...Secularism requires not the BAN but the DISCREATION OF ALL RELIGION in the public space...as others Citizens have the right to have ANOTHER WAY OF LIFE\u201d, oui ?\nIslam does not consider itself as OTHER religions and MUST... DOMINATE !...\nDOMINATE, don\u2019t you get it Canadians ???...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't know whether God exists or not, but it is funny how many so-called Christians 'know' what God thinks or would do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is an undeniable fact that different faith communities in Canada have their own cemeteries. Why should Muslims be denied these rights?\n\n\"Religious preference leads people to be buried in different cemeteries, e.g., Catholic, Jewish, Protestant (of various varieties), interfaith or nondenominational. In the past, people of minority races and of \"disapproved\" ethnic origins were forced to be buried apart from others\".\n\nhttp://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/cemeteries/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Unless one is their doctor or shrink, details of other Catholic couples' sexual lives should be private... so why should priests or laity be making derogatory remarks about their situations???\nSuch gossips exhibit more lack of Christian love than most people & THAT is the real scandal about Christian marriage in the current church!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Over the years Catholics, and sadly many Christians, have become advocates for pushing the government and taxpayers to fulfill the Church's mission. If priests and other clergy were as interested in building their parishes and congregations spiritually, as they seem to be in collecting money from them and demanding the things from the government that good Christian communities could provide, then our nation would not be as spiritually barren as it is. Seems to me that the sacred duty of the church was to build up the spirit and the soul, not rabble rousing. I recall the story of the widow's mite. If each individual gave sacrificially from what they have, then we build communities one at a time. Jesus never taught us to demand governments to provide life's essentials. So now the Church teaches \"pass the buck\" via political activism, but only after they have passed the collection plate. It's why some of had to learn there is a difference between Church and worshipping God. So sad.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yay Alceste! Way to go!\n\nOf course, some religions in Canada do warrant support because their adherents are less empowered in Canadian society. Thus, we as Canadians must do more to make those faiths more welcome than, say, tired, antiquated Christianity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "first of all, that's one brave student. here's something to ponder. the law states that Catholic high schools have to admit non-Catholics and they are eagerly admitted in this world of declining enrollment. Students are legally allowed to get exemptions (has been that way for over 30 years). now, how many of these students, (Catholic students can too), are getting exemptions from religious classes and programs? the reality is if Catholic schools and boards didn't bully students who access exemptions like they did Sorgini, they would have to explain how Catholic they are when half the school isn't participating in any of the religious activities. I hope this goes a long way to stop the bullying and illegal tactics employed by Catholic Schools and boards.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "joe, ive seen that video. nice. it still shows the king on the top of the stack. nothing moved without his ok. Hawaiians are exactly the same as everyone on earth, came from the same couple out of Africa, have the same blood and DNA, same aspirations, biases, tolerances or intolerance's, compassion's, hatreds and etc., etc., etc. as the rest of us. Hawaiians are also in a very different situation than Native Americans, whose lands were stolen. the common thread is that both were perpetrated by rich, white, christian males.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't agree, Elagabalus. It is what we want to believe. But I think the Christian support for Assad is based on their calculated perception of the own well being. They anticipate that is the moderate rebels win, they will become the victims of the tyranny of the majority in a Muslim state. (Fuller reply below \"Not necessarily, Gay.\")", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"What this administration represents is freedom. The cabinet appointments and Supreme Court appointments have been stellar. It may be that the personality of the president is not to our liking, but it may be the only personality that can change the government and the status quo.\"\n\nThese people may be Catholic in name. They may donate $millions to Catholic University. They may enjoy the friendship and inclusion of archbishops. But way out here in California we can still smell the stink of nazis coming from them.\n\nI would like to know just what about the P_ _ _ y-g _ _ _ _ _ r- in-chief arch. Chaput likes the most?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Enough of the divisive talk already, G&M - these folks aren't \"anti-muslim\", they are pro-assimilation. Despite inflammatory statements resulting from anger, the majority of these people could care less about the religion/cultural practices of their peers or neighbours. They are just sick and tired of accommodating them in the public sphere (especially as we see the decline of our cultural traditions - yes Christian ones - in that same sphere).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, civil laws in many jurisdictions have to change. Australia does not have statutes of limitations for serious crimes - hence Cardinal Pell is on trial for historical offences. But some jurisdictions do have them. Likewise there should be uniform and comprehensive reporting laws everywhere because the Catholic Church is not the only institution that has covered up abuse. The Church is, however, unique in writing the cover up into its own internal laws. A change to civil laws in democratic societies involves far more complicated procedures than Pope Francis has to comply with. He only needs to give an instruction, have it translated into Latin and published on the Acta Aposticae Sedis. That's it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Those who kiss the ground that Clinton walks upon will find the article offensive because it doesn't back her. Those how would like to throw up at the site of Clinton will think it doesn't go far enough. Truth is that those who want gun will never be satisfied with any rule of law that allows individuals to buy or own guns. It's just like when they took prayer out of school. It was just school right. But that wasn't enough. Now they want to stop students from even carrying the bible into school. Or a Christian teacher is not allowed to have a bible in their desk for fear it might offend someone (99.9 times that anonymous someone). The point is give them a centimeter and they will want the whole map. There is no such thing as compromise anymore so you cannot give into the raging incoherent gun control fanatics until they can be reasonable. Period", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Catholicism implies a kind of politics, not of left vs. right, but of the common good.\" Yes msw. Remarkable though -- ---- all your political opinions (which you ever remind us reflect the \"real\" Catholicism) are always a Xerox of DNC boilerplate. Except on abortion, of course. One has to eat.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Impeachable offenses without a doubt!\n\nEspecially the chocolate cake! Why, at one time in history, the Catholic Church banned chocolate! \n\nWe clearly need to go back to that time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The major problem I have with abortion law is the RvW decision itself and the terrible illogic used in that decision PLUS then forcing it on us all via judicial fiat. Just like they did with Gay marriage. The early church did not fight against human slavery because it WAS a \"Caesar issue\" at that point in time - but sooner than anyone could realize at the time slavery ended within Christendom - starting in the 7th century, actually, and pretty much finished by the 13th (within Christian Europe itself). Abortion is a huge step in the opposite direction away from Christian moral values. Communism is also a huge step in the opposite direction and unconstrained immigration - worldwide - is basically a communist ideal. And communism embraces atheism. So, if the Supreme Court decides to end \"religious freedom\" because science \"can't prove God exists\", is that OK with you?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Part one of two) There is true, Godly beauty in human diversity.\u2014Maureen Fiedler Tell that to the administration of the The (Pontifical) Catholic University of America, which has continued censured since 1990 for policy refusing to listen to professors, before firing them. Hearing is one of the senses that cannot be silenced except by artificial means or disease. God makes the Faithful that way.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That;s interesting. I used to have a friend who had originally been an Episcopal priest and then converted to Catholicism. He had to take a couple of courses at some seminary, but I am pretty sure he said he did not have to be re-ordained. I may be wrong (I was once before;-) but I remember because I specifically asked him that. Perhaps it was the Bishop of London's ordination as bishop that was in question, and not that to the priesthood?\nThere is a very informative discussion on the website of the UCCB: www[dot]usccb[dot]org/beliefs-and-teachings/ecumenical-and-interreligious/ecumenical/anglican/anglican-orders-in-catholic-church[dot]cfm\nIt's not a simple issue, and a lot has to do with the \"intent\" of the Anglican ordination.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"PARIS \u2014 Four students from Boston College who were victims of an acid attack on Sept. 17 while studying abroad in Paris are asking for prayers for the woman who attacked them. \"\n\nThat is Christianity in action.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your posting reads like a Donald Trump tweet! You glorify your own narrow version of Catholic tradition, which is to say your own self. You have yet to learn that earthbound Holy Mother Church is a lot bigger than YOU are. You're not fooling anyone!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"We have to listen to people living the faith.\"\n\nHow are you going to do that? What structures are there for an ongoing exploration and discussion among priests, bishops, theologians, and lay people? Is there just going to be a survey every few years on subjects the pope decides need to be discussed world-wide? Or, are you going to have a way to hear what concerns Catholics on other subjects that may need to be brought to wider attention?\n\nWill you be willing to listen to why Church teaching on sex as an act instead of a part of relationship so misses the mark? Or how adult, educated people want to be treated as adults, not as children with a \"father,\" much less a shepherd? Will you and priests really listen to couples, some of whom want children, and some of whom don't but just about all of whom make use of contraceptives as the most reasonable option to planning not just their family life, but their journeys of education, careers, faith, discovery? \n\nWill you listen to women?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree! If you want a refreshing, outspoken Priest, check out Father Peter West on Facebook or Google him. It will help restore some sense that not all Catholic Priests are wacked-out bleeding heart liberals trying to make a name for themselves.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For the whole of history, Christianity has taken for granted the bible and the natural order subordinated woman to man. \"But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.\" 1 Cor. 11:3 and all the other scriptures.\n\nProfessor Knight surely knows the Adventist church was run by its Elders and they were exclusively male. That is the history. When we first allowed women to be ordained as local elders in the seventies (recent history) it was at first conditional. Every time the GC in session votes on theWO issue it votes it down. The GC in session probably would have voted down local women elders if they had asked in 1975. \n\nOpponents of WO are not benighted bigots exercising 'kingly power.' We are holding onto the past because we think the past practice of the church was biblically correct. Women ought not be ordained as elders in the Seventh-day Adventist church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are correct. Trump's seriously flawed character has been on display for all to see for decades. Politics aside, his words and actions reveal a person who seems to have little Christian charity or empathy for others. What is particularly disturbing is that people of faith such as White Evangelicals and Catholics overwhelmingly supported him. \n.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yep. If someone who is remarried and comes to the Church and tells a priest that they cannot get an annulment for a whole host of reasons and is snidely told that they are welcome to tithe and be in Communion with the poors but please don't touch the good Catholic bread unless you vow never to have sex with your spouse again, then the correct response to that snide dismissal is to tell that person that you will go be in Communion with the poors over with the Episcopalians. There is no reason to be Catholic if you can never receive Communion. Why would anyone want to deal with this reactionary condemnatory mess when the Protestants are nicer? \n\nAnd the issue is that everyone is treated the same way so a worthy remarried person (like an abuse victim) is treated the same as Newt Gingrich. In fact that worthy person is treated worse than a serial adulterer like Gingrich if he/ she cannot get an annulment for whatever reason.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Leviticus has a lot of crazy \"laws\". One example (of many) which is relevant to everything going on these days with talk of the \"wall\", etc. With asylum seekers from Syria and Iraq and even those here illegally they are not getting much love from many the evangelicals. At least it is one \"law\" that I can agree with and is actually relevant today (the law you mention is not and is not even Christian).\n\n\"33\u00a0\u201c\u2018When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. 34\u00a0The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christians try to reinterpret the failed literal text of the bible, such as the heavens being an iron sheet pierced with holes, meant literally, as a metaphorical explanation of lights in the night sky, and the Garden of Eden Creation myth, borrowed during the Babylonian captivity, as a metaphorical explanation for Cosmology, Astronomy, Geology, and Evolution. \n\nUnderstanding a metaphor does not mean that you agree it is an accurate model of reality. One persons metaphor is another persons lie. The Old Testament Bible text was meant literally by the ancient Hebrews who composed it, not metaphorically. Issac Asimov wrote extensively about that.\n\nAnother way to view it is as a failed model. Newtonian Mechanics explained a lot, but not precession of the perihelion of mercury's orbit, or gravitational lensing. The scientific model is not objective reality, any more than a metaphor is. You have to admit where the model / metaphor fails and look more closely.\n\nGet that beam out of your eye.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Herbert Gray - It's more like the people of the US have abandoned Him and are reaping the consequences for rejecting His guidance.\n\nI personally took Jesus with me into the voting booth and did not cast a ballot of Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton. There were many better candidates who couldn't be heard over the louder voices of Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders. They didn't win because taking spiritual guidance with you into the voting booth is not practiced much in the United States, even among many so-called Christians. Submitting your vote to the Holy Spirit is a personal choice and not something God forces upon us. If you read the story of King Saul, you know that God will allow foolish humans to make foolish political choices if that's what they really want to do.\n\nSo foolish humans have set up a foolish election between immoral candidates who want to be tyrants and that's not God's fault.\n\nIt's ours!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The secular, sociological construction of \"equality\" and \"rights\" has no place in Church when it is opposed to Catholic truth, no. Nor does the entitlement mentality of socialism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ooooh \"rabid hatred for people of faith\"....you point them out to me. Is it the folks in North Carolina? Perhaps Mississippi? Alaska Family Action and their abject fear of men who carry satchels? I donate money to the faith based social service agencies here in town who don't require litmus tests. You haven't the faintest notion of who I like or don't. Do I highlight the fact that folks who think paying tithes to Minnery and Prevo doesn't make them Christians? ABSOLUTELY. Just as standing in a garage doesn't make me a car; going to church doesn't automatically make you a Christian. Behavior belies words.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholics voted for Trump in large numbers and now they deserve whatever they get as a result. It's pretty much that simple because that's largely how they saw it and how they wanted it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Are you familiar with the Seige of Beziers? While the history was written by the victors, after killing all the inhabitants, Christian and Cathar, it became the origin of the phrase \"Kill them all, God will know his own\" attributed to the Papal Legate nominally in charge of the mercenary army authorized by the Pope.\n\nhttp://www.ledevoir.com/non-classe/30862/le-fin-mot-de-l-histoire-tuez-les-tous-dieu-reconnaitra-les-siens-arnaud-amaury", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Man alive (as they say)!\nIt must be tough writing some of this glorious stuff. And meaningful material to boot.\nBTW . . . how are our Christian brothers and sisters in Syria?\nSheesh! Get a life.\nSeriously.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Vatican is the world's oldest bureaucracy, and despite the efforts of the current Pope remains incredibly entrenched. I was raised Methodist and will not formally join the Catholic Church unless female priests are appointed. My wife was born Catholic and believes that any number of faiths will work, including Mr. Saylor's. In any case, if you have a spiritual leader (regardless of faith or origin) you're buying a product. Caveat Emptor!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am so glad I moved to Central America and gave up my cdn citizenship. This regime and cabal are destroying our great country\n\nattack wealth\nattack small business\nattack health professionals\nHell they attack all private sector professionals\nThey create office of propaganda to pump pro-jughead movies\nSoon it'll be crystalnacht on Christians sanctioned by jughead as sharia gangs roam your streets.....\n\nI guess you all deserve what you did for voting this junta in\nI thought I was moving to a junta country\nIt's pretty clear I left one", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Scripture must be read critically or else you are proof texting. Was I interpreting Romans 1 or Timothy incorrectly? Neither broke ground. The points they made were about sex in pagan society and about the law in general (which is a reference to Leviticus, which is culture bound, not universal in that it was meant to keep Jewish culture separate from the Babylonian culture). Of course, much of the opposition to gay marriage today seems more cultural/group affirming than moral analysis. Decent moral analysis has to do with the question scripturalists evade - were gays born/created that way? The CDF letter (not even an encyclical) said gays were disordered (a natural law sophistry, not a scriptural term) because we were all getting too close to allowing gay marriage, which would damage the Catholic brand and become inconvenient for those who blame child sex abuse on gays. Science answers the question differently than the Rebi of Babylon did and that scares the hierarchy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Trump is running on the \"white bigot\" platform and Alaska's delegation decides to back him. This pretty much sums up the Alaska delegation and Alaskans. We're out and out bigots and don't care who we push around to get our way. What is laughable is that Alaskans can actually think themselves as Christians. If we were Christians, would Don Young be our Congressman? Answer: obviously no,.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Statists??? Is this some newly invented word passed around on conspiracy-theory and alt.right websites? \n\nYou are the one arguing that Jesus' teachings should not be applied to government, so you can hardly complain if governments behave in unchristian ways. Besides, didn't St. Paul say that God establishes governments? That means the \"statists\" were acting as God's agents. Or do you deny Paul?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, I am saying the Church does not understand them. Vatican radio is publicity, not dogma. You did not follow my obvious argument, that it is the teen gay suicides who do not understand what they are doing by suiciding. They very much understand the Church's inference (or rather, Ratzinger's) that they are not wonderfully made. The irony comes from denial of funeral rights. If they don't get the gays as teens, they try to get them when they become emotionally mature enough to marry, regardless of the Church's obvious error.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Faithful Catholic - Oh dear God, such negativity! How about allowing a little streak of sunshine into this gloomy world of yours.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Visited the Graveyard of the Dammed in Valperiso ,Chile where the non\ncatholics were buried centuries ago. They had it back then , why not\nnow?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think I will answer for myself because your question deserves a response. Catholicism has always understood conformity is not unity. The Church has never had unity equals conformity in it's thinking, all though for some brief moments this has risen to the ascendancy. The other approach has only deepened the theology and spirituality of Catholicism. Lots of different Faith systems have added their understanding to Catholic belief, and if you don't understand that, research our Lady of Guadalupe. She could have interceded directly with the Spanish bishop of the time and come decked in Catholic symbolism, but she did neither. I hope you actually do research Our Lady of Guadalupe because she sent a very important message: God loves all His children and honors all their spiritualities. Catholicism may have a special place but it's not an exclusive place. I really wish more traditional Catholics understood that distinction.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It has been fascinating to keep track of readers who feel a sense of martyrdom by coming to our boards. One wonders why they continue if they are so distressed? There are so many traditional Catholic sites to peruse. There they can live in the echo chamber of traditional Catholic orthodoxy where Liberal comments are not welcome. (I should know! I've been blocked from a couple of these sites! And some claim OUR site is an echo chamber! Lol!) ;-)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dorothy Parker is entitled to her opinion although like you, she lacks any authority for those opinions. The endorsement of the Penny Catechism by the Holy Catholic Church is far more weighty and authoritative than John Hobson\u2019s and Dorothy Parker\u2019s summary dismissal of it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The church has been persecuted and intimidated for too long a time in the U. S.\nIt is time for the Pharaohs of America to free the church so that it can go and serve the Lord God. The supreme court understands the urgent need for that and it is ready to do the needful. Long live the American supreme court.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"In the light of this sorry episode and the continual angst showed by so many traditionalists on social media, I believe there is a need for the traditionalist movement to do some serious soul searching. If they think this is the way to please the Lord, then they don\u2019t know the Lord.\"\n\nExactly! These so called traditionalists are so busy condemning people to the hell they believe they have the power to send people to that they have forgotten The Gospel.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do they also have grievances with how Jesus operated in the gospel? How many people perfectly understood the eucharist when Jesus first spoke about it? How many people perfectly understood , \"...I will destroy this temple and restore it in three days.\" How well did the apostles understand everything before Pentecost? If a group of four Pharisees had sent Jesus a letter demanding an explanation for something he had said. I don't believe that Jesus would have taken their bait. He would have left them waiting.\n\nThere's nothing wrong with \"how this pope operates\". Despite what we may dislike in style, what is important is that he is a true pastor just like Jesus. He is a true man of God and he has his priorities straight - bringing people to Jesus above all else.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How is their dream any different than that of gated communities? Jerry Prevo style enclaves? Or Religious schools? How about China town? Is Chinatown a terrorist comunity? What about the Mormons? Try buying an alcoholic beverage in Utah. What about secular communities? \n\nhttp://www.ic.org/directory/christian-communities/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The article makes a good argument that church teachings on sex are not just an LGBT issue but also do not meet the needs of the straight community as well.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "All of the Jewish law was about separatism, not universal revelation from God. Sadly, the classical Church accepted Plato and Aurelius, who were Asexual and has glorified this unique way of relating even for people to whom it does-not make any sense at all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You don't even make up a full percentage of all Catholics. No one but you and your very few ultra sexist and ultra conservative folks wants to go back to this form of mass.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My very Catholic (straight, Polish) father was denied a Catholic funeral because of his divorce and remarriage without annulment, but this was before Vat II and before annulments became fairly easily obtainable. It was, nonetheless, very hurtful to his family who had witnessed him attending Sunday mass, without fail, every blessed week AND his generous support of both parish and school. His non-Catholic wife/my mother never understood the harsh application of this rule, which made his death and burial so much more difficult.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...the church hierarchy is already feminized....\"\n\nBut is it really that -- the feminization of the church, Shiner? Many young men leave church, all churches, because of a deep faith that does not authentically exist in them. Purely and simply! Unbelief in Christianity (for good or temporarily) springs from a concealed belief in something else, in one's own non-affiliated status, in agnosticism, in one's self-autonomy, in New Age materialism, etc. I think new evangelization projects are important, but they will not necessarily change the imprisoned stage of secularism in which we are currently. In time, we might be like Germany, 60% Christian (Catholic and Protestant) and 40% unaffiliated, non-Christian. Or maybe just 50% Christian? After all, what does Christianity really matter if it does not lead to the purity of the dollar and to worldly success? Some just can't make out the face of Jesus in the dollar.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is no evidence I can find online that there was/is and extreme left that could sweep abortion under the rug. What helps me get past this is that like other religions with bad theology and irrational teachings, such as forbidding blood transfusions even to save a life in the Seventh Day Adventists the Catholic Church has an obsession with this issue that transcends logic or reason. \n Behind this is the claim that Evangelical Catholicism leads to friendship with Jesus (George Weigel on Cardinal Bernardin). He refers to the \"Bernardin Machine\" as if the Cardinal were a politician. The connotation suggests corruption which I find offensive, as I do his idolizing someone who was for all intents and purposes a greatly challenged man with serious cognitive deficits-JP II.\n The USCCB is not outraged likely because they voted for Trump and are at a loss what to do now that he has assumed the Presidency. \n There are serious ethical, religious, theological flaws here.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm a little confused. Aren't the ones connecting terrorism to Islam in the name of Islam...Muslims who are committing these acts? What am I to think if the guy mowing down people in a truck says, \"This is for Islam!\" He's the guy who's Muslim and goes to Mosque, I think he would know best why he's doing it.\n\nAlso, the Crusades...were carried out by Christians, and not just Pope Urban II and his supporters among the Nobility (with the rationale that the Seljuk Turks were getting too close to Constantinople). Average, everyday pilgrims, peasants, serfs, beggars... there was even a Children's Crusade! To say the Crusaders aren't Christian or acting in the name of Christ and the Church is just willful ignorance of history. There is no shame in saying that Christians were responsible for the Crusades over 1000 years ago. They were responsible, this is a fact.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Race and religion are not the same things. Also, once dominated by ultramontane Catholicism, Quebecers have since the \"Quiet Revolution\" rejected religion as being a legitimate social and political institution.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Biblical historians ARE Biblical scholars. Or did you mean apologetics?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is a huge legal difference between a secular marriage and a 'non-secular' marriage. Historically marriage insured inheritance rights and the legitimacy of the male's children as his own. Hence the death penalty for adultery for women. Marriage in the Judeo Christian tradition is all about male property rights, not pro creation and not intimacy and not what ever else you want to throw into the mix.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, Paprocki is, at least, consistent. He is not just pointing to homosexual \"sin\" but to couples who use contraceptives, have or support legalized abortion, miss Mass on Sunday. \n\nIt's the 1950s all over again. I am sure there are Catholics who will like this, some. And some who will shrug and ignore it. And some who will slowly remove themselves from the practice of the faith while still holding onto faith in Our Lord.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your level of bitterness keeps increasing along with your disillusion over the huge loss your candidate and her party took.\n\nSimultaneously the rate of your posts failing the civility tests seems to be rising.\n\nThese are not positive indicators for good cardiac and mental health.\n\nMay I politely and as a Christian suggest you take a vacation from it all?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I believe it was at or right before last year's Western Conservative Summit when a surrogate for Donald Trump announced Trump had found Jesus and become born again -- and sealed the deal with conservative Christians.\nTrump is an adulterer, a serial monogamist, and an opportunist who has made and lost millions of dollars building gambling establishments. So he should have been anathema to conservative Christians. But then he made one of the most opportune conversions since the Emperor Constantine converted, and became baptised in the Christian faith on his deathbed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Terms can sometimes matter: is it unborn fetuses or pre-born babies? Sorry to say my other pet peeve is when most everyone refers to the upcoming new family addition as an \"it\". Even when the new parents already know the sex of the baby! Mr Novak has a point of view, narrow mostly to those who disagree......I particularly liked his last line which profits us all to remember: Catholics who know they are sinners are usually reluctant to throw stones at other sinners.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yup. And the reason why some turned away and didn't, couldn't follow Jesus, because His Calling requires a very difficult response.\nThe 'natural' man finds it hard to intuit the Divine Calling. Witness the rampant self-focused hubris of uncontrolled egoes in or times.\nAnd the conflagration rages.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Juju: 77% of Americans claim to be \"born-again\" Christians, yet they collectively seem to keep overlooking a salient religious factor. When any two people are \"joined together\" sexually, consenting or not, they become one person in God's eyes. The only way they can then become separated from this union, is by death of one of the partners. Jesus told one woman that she had many partners. He wasn't referring lightly that she had sex with many partners, but rather that she was \"joined\" to many partners. This \"conclusion\" is mirrored by psychology, reaching roughly the same basic vectors, just worded differently. Victims of any form of rape, who were old enough to remember clearly, find it difficult to \"forget\" their assailant. Children face a \"hidden\" memory, which can make it difficult to work their way through it later. It doesn't help to push them into embracing \"victim-hood\", which stifles efforts at \"overcoming\" the harm. Feeling like \"damaged-goods\" is counter-productive.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That just proves several things.\n\n- this is an extremely \"liberal\" site, not one where many of a more traditional or centrist viewpoint bother to visit - that the people here have upvoted in such manner is NOT a surprise\n- the gang mentality here is alive and well here\n- statements that conflict each other are up-voted here IF from a liberal poster.This is nothing new\n- proof or even a citation backing up outrageous comments like the one I commented on if offered from a liberal point of view are not necessary\n- now 45 people simply accept such accusations without any proof because they apparently do NOT want to heal and move forward simply because THEY did not get their way.\n- unsupported accusations concerning the Church are accepted here without need of substantiation.\n\nFacts are pesty - like only 23% of those who voted were Catholic. That is not what swung the election.\nhttp://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/11/09/how-the-faithful-voted-a-preliminary-2016-analysis/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm not sure why so many people are jumping to the conclusion that this writer is somehow referring to the victims in this crime.\n\nI take it that he is using this passage to condemn the immoral life of the shooter. For it is he who has committed murder and deserves death, not the victims.\n\nSounds more like a call for the death penalty to me.\n\nIt is too bad that this person posted this quotation without any attempt to provide any context at all, or explain his motive in posting it. That was a rather irresponsible thing for him to do. Ministers certainly don't just stand up in church and quote the Bible, without explaining their reasons for citing the quotation, and how it pertains to the subject matter being discussed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Why is it so difficult to believe in a God that created us with a purpose in mind? I guess I'd ask, why did God create Hitler that led to the gassing of thousands of innocent children? I figure the answer is partly that those children went up to heaven and so it's all ok in the end. \nI don't dismiss there is a higher being. I just don't believe we are under its influence. I don't believe in miracles and I don't believe Jesus rose from the dead. I do believe when we die that's it. Most religious people can't handle that and so religion says you \"live\" forever in heaven (if you are good). If that provides comfort, fine. But I believe 6 million Jews suffered and there is no final thing that made that justifiable. The only justice will be to make sure it does not happen again.\nI also don't believe the Bible is the word of God. And I don't believe were were placed here by outside intelligence. \nCite the quote re: Dawkins.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Whether Francis is a heretic or not is for his fellow Catholics to decide.\n\nObserving Francis as a non believer, he has expressed sympathies towards the Latin American Liberation theological movement and hostility towards capitalism...he once stated that \" it is the Communists who think like Christians\" ...Christian Communists, followers of a radical form of Christian socialism , believe that communism should be supported as the ideal social system.\n\nPope Saint John Paul II must be rolling in his grave.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Don we now our gay apparel\" still resonates in our culture, although it may not be associated with the birth of The Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"It really doesn't matter much one way or the other. I don't do it, but have no problems with others doing it.\" \n\nYikes!\n\n Catholics must ALWAYS have problems with how other Catholics do things, and your lax, non-intrusive attitude reeks of trust, respect, unity, and disregard for scrupulous attention to rules and canons and to your sacred mandate to admonish others in your parish. \n\nWhat if everyone said, like you do: \"I have no problems with how others hold hands\"? That's the most relativistic and hedonistic sentence I ever read. Clearly you are a \"if it feels good do it\" Vatican II Catholic and not one who wisely seeks Cardinal Burke's rules and instructions on how to touch--or not--others in your pew. \n\n\"Father, is it OK to make love before Mass?\"\n\n\"The General Instruction 205.7jl says it's OK if you don't block the pew. Or enjoy it.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh come on! This country will never give the NDP a shot even if Jesus Christ, Ghandi, and Nelson Mandela all merged into one person to lead it!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What is nauseating? That a bishop acts like Christ would? Jesus reached out to those whom the 'prim-and-proper' righteous Jewish hierarchy [and their sycophants, the Scribes and Pharisees] condemned. We have the same situation in our church today. We've had popes, curia members, cardinals, arch/bishops, clergy and laity---CONDEMN without LISTENING to the LGBT Catholics and community at large. It is the TASK of the Catholic hierarchy to \"build a bridge\" to this community and meet it half-way. They failed to do so. Fr. Martin does it, both in his book BUILDING A BRIDGE and in his presentations---and he is not only condemned, but vilified---by so-called Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's still a mystery to me what Trump ever did to draw so much hatred and anger from the left. From their hysterical reaction to every little thing he says or does, you'd think he was the antichrist.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Having a Catholic funeral for a public, unrepentant person of grave sin would be a scandal to the faithful. That is why the Church tries to help those who are still alive to change their hearts and minds and lives. If a baptised Catholic refuses, why should they expect to receive the sacraments or a Catholic funeral? \nNeither God nor I am hung up on sex, but a large part of humanity is, most notably the pro-LGBT crowd. The way I see it, after much prayer and spiritual reading, is that the reason some things are considered such grave sins is not because God doesn't \"like\" them, but, due to the nature of God and the nature He gave us, there are certain acts (sins) which weaken the soul, some even to the point of death, making one's soul unable to withstand the fire of God's Love after death. God hates these things that sicken our souls because He wants ALL to be with Him after this life. So He is very harsh with regard to sin.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"...as long as Roman Catholics are not even supposed to speak to one another about ordaining women...\"\n- Yes, that is the ideal -- nothing to see, nothing to talk about.\n- However catholics in union and communion with the church in rome can talk about the actual decision to suppress the discussion, and JPII's decision to reserve ordination only to humans who are males for Jesus is a male.\n- In discussing these, no doubt the church will learn that a mistake was made by JPII and by those who would not ordain humans who are female.\n- From the discussion that limiting the presbyterate and episcopacy to humans who are males is a mistake, the discussion of ordaining humans who are female will flow from and continue in the church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not quite.\n\nThe goal always has to be \"out of love for God\".\n\nAn other oriented focus; a tightening of the Communion of Love. Our partaking a bit more in the divine life of the Trinity.\n\nWe are never the prime intention.\n\nThe idea you try to give us \"He doesn't need us\" is a bad deception. Quietly corrosive.\n\nPapered over and paper thin secularism is what you're suggesting. Always comes up short.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nothing new was revealed through the Royal Commission. The same issues and recommendations have been laid out to this Church for decades. The Church has heard all of the good and solid recommendations many, many times over decades.\n\nThe Church has been told scores of times what it needs to do. The Church has known all of this for decades. They refuse to change.\n\n Pope Francis has promised to punish complicit bishops and has had 4 years to do it. Instead of punishing complicit bishops he promotes them and even places 2 of them in his advisory council of cardinals.\nThe Church will continue choosing secrecy while promising transparency. They will continue to fight victims while promising to take care of them. \n\nThe Church will respond to Royal commission recommendations the same way it has responded to the scores of other commissions over decades. They will make promises that they never intend to fulfill. They will say one thing but do another. Just as they have done for decades", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Just some inside info: the \"you're a pharisee\" smear is from the \"beginner\" section of Catholic commenting playbook. High school, not graduate school.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So there is no such animal as heresy in our enlightened age of post Cnciliar Catholicism?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The tragedy for Cdl M\u00fcller is that the Pope has made it obvious for some time now that the Cardinal was being sidelined, mainly by his patronage of Cdl Kasper and alllowing Cdl Sch\u00f6nborn to introduce AL. As he was the Pope's doctrinal mouthpiece this was really a deliberate snub. Also the points raised by the CDF concerning AL were ignored, so it had no input at all in AL, it was deliberately excluded.\nIt is said that M\u00fcller realised this but stayed on hoping he could do more good in office than out of it. Alas, it was to no avail, like Cdl Burke he was unceremoniously dumped and his deputy promoted; no doubt a bitter pill to swallow in private.\nIn trying to not gainsay the Pope whose official voice he was and at the same time trying to uphold Catholic teaching, he walked a tightrope by attacking the 'dubia' Cdls whilst at the same time agreeing with them. A timely resignation would have been extremely embarrassing for the Pope and the Church. M\u00fcller obviously put the Church first.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That's pretty much the same argument neoscholastics posit to deny the possibility of women's ordination.\n\nThe argument goes that Jesus was biologically male, and a priest acts in persona Christi when confecting sacraments, so only a male can be a priest.\n\nI'm more inclined to St Paul's reasoning: \"There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.\" (NIV translation.)\n\nYour arguments are based on a reductionist view of biological appendages. St Paul's are based on something much higher ... we humans, after all, are something much more than mere biological machines. We are in the Imago Dei ... whether biologically male or female or intersex, whether straight or gay or any shade in between.\n\nAnd the higher good is the flourishing both of individual humans and of the collective. Love is the higher good. Loving gay couples do not need to be limited by a proscriptive neoscholastic frame of reference.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Kellogg is committed to diversity & inclusion,\u201d the tweet read. \u201cWe did not intend to offend \u2013 we apologize.\u201d These words are word-for-word a quasi-religious chant that the Church of the Politically Correct and the Easily Offended often use to implore their God for forgiveness for their unintentional sins. Diversity and inclusion. Diversity and inclusion.....diversity and inclusion....diversityandinclusion... divers..... you get the idea.. Kinda like the Catholics' \"hail Mary the mother of God\" or however it goes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No shortage of youtube clips displaying the buffonery of Maddow. Her political analysis of the 2016 was a farce. I thouroghly enjoyed the smug look being wiped off of her face during election night. When extreme left- wing tabloids like the Huffington Post attack your conspiracy theories like they did this week, that tells you all you need to know. \nLove the delusional dreams of the anti- Trump crowd, the guy has done more in 9 months than Obama did in 8 years. Don't worry, Obama's mess will eventually be cleaned up right down to the very last stain.\nIt is relevent, Catholic politicians have a moral obilgation to support life. If their cowardly political beliefs oppose Catholic Doctrine, then make a decision. What is more important faith or politics? Interestingly some are more concerned with the life of a convicted triple murderer, than an unborn child. I'll note, I'm opposed to the death penalty.\nI do agree with funding and respite care for children with special needs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bubbles,\nBefore you start on your next rant, you may want to check the spelling of people's names who you seemingly have just misspelled, Jeremy Christian is the name of the Bernie Sanders supporter, who took the lives of two decent human beings. I'm assuming that is who you meant in your comment when you referred to \"J. Christianson\". So I am 'correcting' your mistake. If it was a mistake. Maybe you were confusing him with another one of Sanders supporter that shot Congressman Steve Scalise in June. His name was James T Hodgkinson. He has 'son' at the end of his name and a 'J' for his first initial as well. Mixed them up maybe?\nO\nO\nThe other error is your portrayal of me as painting everyone with a 'broad' brush. I don't. I said \"I heard more racist talk from liberals than I'd like to hear\" I did not say all liberals use racist language. I disagree with liberals politically, but I don't believe they all are racist..", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Caiside, you absolutely do not have one ounce of substantive thought in your head or you are woefully incapable of translating it into words. Your \"poking fun\" at persons for liking their own posts is quite annoying and very uncharitable. I've found that to be true of most liberals. When they can't intelligently respond to views they disagree with, they always reach for the straw man, which in your case, is very uncharitable and un-Christ like.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\u201cSuch realities demand of us a Gospel response\u201d\n-\nOur most fundamental belief that God\u2019s Word (Will) is inviolate has been breached by those who sit at the top table (Rome).\nBut we can be grateful in that our Lord Himself has placed before those men of power, the elite within the church, who in their own hubris ensnared themselves, by crystalizing their hypocrisy before God and the whole church, in such a way that cannot be misunderstood by all.\n In endorsing a communiqu\u00e9 that incorporates the direct Word (Will) of God and then using that communiqu\u00e9, they shamelessly made God in their image, a self-serving image of clericalism.\nBecause of this wilfully act our most fundamental belief that God\u2019s Word is inviolate, has been breached by those who profess to defend that belief, their accumulated silence on this matter compounds their guilt before God and mankind. \n1 of 2", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The vast majority of Muslims are not terrorists but support for terrorism and terrorist organizations in the Muslim community ranges from lows of 5% to highs of 75% in some countries.\n\nAlso just a reminder that Muslim men form about 1% of the American population and maybe 3% of the population in the European Union. They are committing like 90% of the mass casualty terror events.\n\nWhite European Christian or secular men form almost 45% of the population in the EU.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Too bad he isn't permitting his priests, deacons, religious, pastoral associates, directors of religious education, principals, teachers, and other people who work for the diocese----to be able to follow their consciences.\n\nBishop Paprocki is acting more like Zeus [with his lightening bolts ready to hurl down on all offenders], than he is like Christ. Some of the commentators on this site are equally ready to condemn and punish all who don't behave like 'good little children.'", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus Christ commanded the church in every gospel to treat all others the same as self or you sin. That includes the treatment and ordination of women by bishops. Bishops and any in this church who support the exclusion of women from any sacrament based on their being women break this commandment of Christ which along with loving God with all your heart, Jesus told us all to hold above all other laws. \n\nWe the church are the sinners in Jesus' eyes due to this hate filled bias not the women who speak up for their genuine calling in Christ to be ordained priests and equally ordained as men in our church to all ministry.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Card. Wuerl, of course, allowed \"Dignity Masses\" to continue in Pittsburgh, for nine years after they were definitively mandated to stop. So he knew that hundreds of unrepentant practitioners of sodomy and other sexual sins were receiving Communion. Such Masses occur today in countless dioceses.\n\nHe has steadfastly reiterated that his priests must violate can. 915, despite the fact that each such violation is grave matter.\n\nCard. Wuerl is correct: The majority of American bishops agree with him. In \"Catholics in Political Life\" they say that a bishop may \"legitimately\" disregard can. 915, not taking note of the fact that this is a mortal sin for the bishop and the pastors who obey him. This is the level of moral illiteracy to which they have sunk.\n\nhttp://marymagdalen.blogspot.com/2017/02/poison.html", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Who _is_ registered to run for that district besides Rauscher? BTW: Rauscher log-oiled our house. We invited him in for lunch and out of the blue he started babbling about how he wasn't allowed to worship. We explained to him that we were devout christians and didn't feel that our ability to worship was compromised. Dunno what church he goes to... The next time we needed log-oiling we did it ourself (two old folks, us). It was cheaper and we did a better job than he did. Colver's a pretty savvy guy. His finger's not out of the pie yet.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Quoting gospels means that you are just as deluded as those that you perceive as religious enemies. Fairy stories are just that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I had also said that Paprocki's attitude is \"man was made for the Sabbath\" so I assumed to were responding to me. I agree that human life comes before the law, so why are you supporting Paprocki, who says the opposite.\n\nYou said that denying people communion and burial is not rejecting them. I would really like to know how you reached that conclusion, when common sense would say the opposite. \"I do not allow you to participate in the rituals of our religion, which you should see as welcoming you.\" That makes no sense.\n\nI am in favor of loving my neighbor as myself, including when my neighbor is in a gay marriage.\n\nYou seem to be saying that being in a gay marriage is worthy of condemnation, while denying healthcare to millions is OK. Please explain that. Remember that Catholic teaching says that healthcare is a right.\n\nI still would like an answer to my question: Do you really think that God is as hung up on sexual activities between consenting adults as you obviously are?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I see your response to my post ignores the substance of my comments in favour of a tired old insult. Thank you for providing a perfect example of the classic 'Straw Man' logical fallacy, which consists of someone offering an insult when they are unable to offer a cogent counter-argument. You and the President both lack critical thinking skills. By the way, since the Acts of the Apostles says the members of the early church 'held all things in common,' I suppose you think that makes the Apostolic Church a bunch of communists. It is well known that people who reject the gospel usually insult it, and Christians generally, since the gospel is calling them out of darkness and into the light. 'Oh that today you would hear His voice...'", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Joan, thank you for encapsulating so very well the gist of Franciscan Theology. Too many people believe that there is ONE and only ONE theological teaching [That of Thomas Aquinas]that is accepted by the Catholic Church. But both Duns Scotus and St. Bonaventure taught that each person is capable of being transformed by love. That all of creation, every creature---and certainly humanity---is capable of being transformed by love. And that when all are united by a luminous thread of love, Christ will be visible to the universe.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "sorry, clayton, but the greatest slaughter perpetrated on humanity was not by people of any particular religious bent, rather by the nazis (not christians) and by the russians, the chinese, and other communists (not christians or any other recognized religion).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Let's not put the blame for the Trump fiasco all on the evangelicals. Though a CARA political scientist argues Catholic voters went narrowly for Clinton, 56% of white Catholics voted for Trump.\n\nBut if Trump manages to avoid WWW III and the end of civilization, there's hope. 59% of Catholic milennials voted for Clinton. To the extent the Catholic Church has a future with young Catholics, they reject theocracy and the bankrupt ideology of the Republican Party.\n\nhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/new-analysis-finds-clinton-not-trump-narrowly-won-the-catholic-vote-in-2016_us_58e574bce4b06a4cb30f0aaf", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pope Francis' September endorsement of the Buenos Aires Bishops policy regarding communion for the remarried in certain instances constitutes his \"yes\" to my second question:\n\nhttps://cruxnow.com/global-church/2016/09/12/pope-okays-argentine-doc-communion-divorced-remarried/\n\nIn reality though, Ch 8 and footnote 351 of AL is the real \"yes\" answer to my second question.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "agape is not opposed to eros (except in the philosophical line up of Nygren, where he is talking about total economies of love, contrasting the Platonic eros philosophy with the Christian agape economy; the topic of that famous book is not eros in the sexual sense). The verb agapeo has been used in sexual contexts in Greek and the word eros has been used for love of Christ in Christian writers such as St Ignatius of Antioch and Origen. Agapeic living out of sexuality is found in the NT in the case of marriage and of chaste friendship, and there is a tolerant outlook on prostitution (in the gospels) and on homosexual relations in at least one case (the Centurion of Matthew 8); Paul also plays with the sexually loaded term khresis in his letter to Philemon.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A similar incident was reported last year. A lot was made of the fact the shooter was an Atheist. \nIn this case , the shooter was a fanatical Christian, but the fact goes unreported in the mainstream media. And they whine about Christian persecution!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think you will find that the Anglican Church of Canada supports the ordination of women and has for 10 years, I think. It was voted on by the Anglican membership. Several parishes tried to take Anglican property with them when they broke with the church over female ordination. An African bishop from somewhere agreed to be their bishop. After quite a few court battles, the courts agreed the church property belonged to the church, not the parish. Most, if not all those parishes have returned to the fold. England is much different. They agreed to ordain women just a few years ago.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "To begin with, its false to say that anyone \"gives their money\" to educate children, unless they are paying tuition to a private school. Public schools get their money in CO from property taxes. Concerning the Blaine Amendments, the bigotry was aimed at the Catholic Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Our parish makes a big deal about \"fair trade\" Sunday.\n\nA few social justice types take up about 1/3rd of the narthex 2x a month to lay out all sorts of \"fair trade\" coffees, candies, snacks.\n\nAnd I thought about it.\n\nHow is this fair to the mom and pop coffee store 1 block down from our Church?\n\nThey have to pay labor costs.\nThey have to pay unemployment insurance/taxes.\nThey have to pay for advertising.\nThey have to pay for utilities, rental space, accountants, etc.\n\nHow is the Catholic Church being \"fair\" to the businesses in the neighborhoods?\n\nAnd more...what the social justice types are doing is to entice all of the overweight Catholics to feed their senses, and giving them the false sense of \"charity\" as they buy and gorge themselves.\n\nHow good and fair is all this?\n\nBut it's for the 'feeling' of helping that motivates the whole sorry mess. A sugary charity!!\n\nthe social justice types feel like they're doing good..and the fat Catholics can feel like they're doing charity!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Don't you claim to be a \"Christian,\" Art? If so, you must believe you can go to hell for lying.\n\nBon voyage!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You have what 5 or 6 examples in how many years ? And you also have the Christian community openly condemning those acts. Get you facts straight, and anybody who claims to be a Christian and murders someone or blows up a clinic, can safely be counted as a \"tare\" which biblically speaking means an apostate of false believer. You can now rest Jim and you will not have to worry about those extremist Christians pulling out an UZI at the next corporate/media sponsored Planned Parenthood event.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You have implied that I don't practice what I preach. You have insinuated that I am among the hypocrites that amaze you as you post here day after day. I am Catholic by birth and by choice, despite the flaws my own church won't admit. And therefore I'm forced to forgive you, even when I would rather not. Having said that, I think your \"loud and clear\" assessment may be of your own expectations rather than of my character or lack thereof. Stop the gotchas and maybe we can converse.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But flocks of Jews are now converting to the Catholic church as they feel sorry for so many empty pews on Sunday.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Funny, but I don't thing m-103 specially mentions Christianity.\n\nDissolve all religions, problem solved.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The notable difference between now and those days, with their far more numerous terror incidents, was the lack of hysteria over the bombings and the absence of hatred directed at Catholics and Irish people.\"\n\nThe real notable difference is that the IRA attacks were directed solely against the British and not randomly against the world at large, including their own ethnic/cultural/religious counterparts, as are the current Muslim attacks.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is none, but Christianity retains the ancient Pagan idea that a human sacrifice is/was essential to appease a god. And preaches this idea of human sacrifice in Africa where some may be predisposed to act on it. It would have been better if those who invented Christianity had instead taken the Jewish position that all human sacrifice is abhorrent to God. It is quite horrific to think that a Virgin goddess gives birth for the express purpose of having her issue tortured to death with enough blood-letting to fertilize the crops, etc. That is the old Pagan story. It should have been discarded. Jesus' message of love and forgiveness and repentance should not have been tainted with such. Sure makes God look like a blood-thirsty demon. Of course I don't know how much negative influence Christian ideas of human sacrifice have had on the current situation in Africa. For sure, those who kill the children don't realize that Jesus was supposedly the 'one and only' human sacrifice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So funny most U.S. Citizens get their \"Opinions\" from the Democratic Party's $5 Billion A Year Propaganda Machine that is funded by U.S. and International Corporations. And even worse were Brainwashed by the Democratic Party's U.S. Labor Union Owned Teachers and Professors.\n\nFacts what I learned from having to deal with the Muslims since 1982, as well as formal training and education (University and Madrasa not at the U.S.).\n\nMuslims have a Culture of War. The Holy Koran was written by Mohammad as a Military Commander demanding 100% Support from All People to Support his Large Armies that were conquering \"The Known World\".\n\n109 Suras of the 114 Suras of the Holy Koran are the Written Declared War Against Christians, Jews, Unbelievers (Kafir).\n\nThe Celebration of Ramadan is the Celebration of the Defeats and Massacres of Christians, Jews, Unbelievers.\n\nSura 2 All Muslims must join the Jihad against the Christians, Jews, Unbelievers, no excuses, as proof of being a Muslim.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I was referring to your assertion that there are Catholics who like ISIS and the Taliban want to see other Christians and non-Catholics murdered, tortured and physically punished. Are you serious about this? If you are, where is your evidence for it?\n'Taliban Catholicism' is a term coined by John L Allen jr in opposition to George Weigel's 'Catholic Lite'. Allen goes out of his way to stress that he is not likening such Catholics literally to the real, murderous Taliban.\nYou have obviously taken him literally, that is what, perhaps uncharitably, I found funny.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Just who have the Assads persecuted? What segment of the Syrian populace? Is it those who want to retain a secular state with Western values that treats religious minorities equally, or are these people who want to overthrow the state and establish an Islamic theocracy? I suspect that those who have been persecuted are members of the latter, the Sunni majority that believe that Shia and Christians are infidels who should undergo mass extermination. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Syria", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Weiner was drummed out; Moore is still running with the GOP coming up with all sorts of lame excuses for supporting a pedophile. \n\nI particularly like the one comparing Joseph and Mary -- that Mary was a teenager when she gave birth to Jesus. Guess they left out the part of the virgin birth. Party of Christians - HA.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I've never understood the attack on Jews. I work with Jews, I have Jewish neighbors...dated a Jew many years ago. To me, it's like picking on the Lutherans for no reason at all. \n\nBut here we are, white supremacists all emboldened and worked up by Trump, putting their ignorance out into the light for all to see. This is the time when the rest of us, Jewish, Muslim, Christians, gay, black, brown, etc., all come together to fight this disease and push it back into the shadows.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dude was an atheist who hated Christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Come on. First of all, I did give you a quote \"from the priest himself.\" Second, the article I linked to, from Fr. Gruner's own outfit, is \"based\" on the writings of Fr. Denis Fahey, and whether or not it was a direct quote, it's presented as \"brilliant\" and worthy of emulation.\n\nFr. Fahey sought to distinguish between unacceptable antisemitism, Nazism, and acceptable Catholic antisemitism, \"Jewish Naturalism,\" the \"disorder of Jewish naturalistic opposition to Christ the King.\" A skunk by any other name.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I notice that you use the sophomoric notation \"LOL\" a lot -- apparently the nervous, embarrassed laugh that reflects your ignorance. Of course, part of conscience formation for a Catholic involves consulting and considering/deliberating church teaching; but ultimately, every person not only may but must follow the dictates of his/her conscience. \nYour ignorance is profound, pervasive and persistent: you don't know what you're talking about, and it really isn't anything to laugh about.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Really???? Because there is no internal fury at all. I have a blast with you people! There are leftist catholics who cant stand me and conservative Pope Francis hatters who despise me. Its too fun", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You may have put your finger on why so many Muslims want to escape their oppressive regimes and find freedom in far less oppressive western countries. Secular or non-fundamentalist Muslims, like many Christians and Jews, exist throughout Europe and North America.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How do teachings of Christianity correspond to Canadian values? The existence of Jesus is not proven - the council of Nicea retroactively created his life story. A Virgin giving birth to a baby? Really? Why did God decide to have sex only in 1 B.C.?\n\nAnd millions more have been murdered in the name of Christianity. In South America, Africa and Asia.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So we agree that Brevik, while describing himself as Christian, doesn't really seem like one and that other Christians have no connection to him.\n\nYet when an extremist Muslims does something horrific, some posters here call on Muslims as a whole to take responsibility for that person and those actions.\n\nWhy can they not see the inherent logical inconsistency happening here?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The NCR editorial stance is to call half the nation bigoted xenophobic racists? Do tell.\n\nAs for the Catholic vote, we only know that Catholics are the largest religious group in the U.S. And Trump won the election. This likely means that a huge number of Catholics did vote for Trump.\n\nIf you're curious about why these Catholics voted for Trump, maybe NCR can sponsor a poll. \n\nBut that's not likely, since the NCR columnists are still very busy telling us what we must think and feel, even after the election they lost. They have no curiosity for precisely why Trump lost, and seem to know with absolute certainty that it was because the same voters who went for Obama, twice, suddenly became white supremacists.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Before Catholic bishops embrace (!) a married priesthood for their church, they must first upgrade their understanding of human sexuality, as well as the meaning of marriage. As if that were not enough, they must also get serious about addressing their role in the Catholic clergy sex abuse crisis, and then providing real Justice to abuse victims. If it's married clergy we want, this is a large part of how we get there!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Truth has traditionally been a casualty on this progressive website for many years. You cannot be a Catholic if you support abortion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "http://xianleft.blogspot.com/2017/08/four-reasons-for-cake-bakers_17.html\n\nThere are for ways of looking at the motivations of fundamentalist Christian cake bakers who wish to avoid providing services for gay weddings.\nOne reason is that they think that society allowing gay weddings will bring on divine vengeance. Frankly, there are a lot of things, like atomic weapons and capitalism that are more likely to that, but the reality is that Jesus said that God does not punish people with natural disasters, which he made clear in Luke 13:1-5 regarding the Tower of Siloam. If that is your logic, bake the cake. The world will not explode.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ryan is a \"fake\" Catholic - he hides behind it to garner right wing RC prelates acceptance. He is not a follower of Jesus by any stretch of the imagination. He doesn't have a kind or caring bone in his body.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Kelley didn't need to kill 26 people to obfuscate killing his two in-laws. If that was his only purpose, far fewer would have sufficed and certainly not children. He possibly would not have killed anyone once he saw the in-laws were not there since it was clear that he expected to escape.\n\nYour statement is itself \u2013 as was mine \u2013 an assumption of what he was thinking, but I will not stoop to calling yours \"utterly moronic.\" Since you make it clear that you think my \"utterly moronic\" statement stems from my blind ideology, which of course is Christian, your derisive attitude toward Christians is now clearly exposed for all to see. That's too bad, as I specifically gave you an opportunity to back away from that position, one which taken to the extreme leads to what Kelley did. You too, Gary, since you were the only one who liked dogbert's comment. Respectfully disagreeing with someone is one thing. Calling them moronic and blind based upon their religious ideology is quite another.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I see so many comments posted on the NCR comment sites that reflect a total unfamiliarity and/or an outright hostility towards what the responders think is Catholic teaching / doctrine. Therefore, I think that it is high-time that NCR asked responders to identify themselves as: \n1) practicing Catholics; 2)former Catholics; 3) persons of another religion; 4) agnostics / atheists.\nAt least that way we would how much \"explaining\" we have to do when replying to what appears to be 'invincible ignorance'.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nice frickin' try. He was a good ol' white christian boy. \n\nHey, why aren't you denouncing his crimes?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": ".\n\nEvery time I hear an American politician end his speech with \"And may God bless the USA\", I cringe.\n\nDespite the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause in the First Amendment of their Constitution, Americans do not seem to understand the meaning of the \"Separation of Church and State\", despite the phrase being originated by Thomas Jefferson.\n\nIf these radical Christian fundamentalists had their way, the government of the USA would be a carbon copy of Iran's regime, the only difference being the religion that was being cited to justify tyranny.\n\n.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Someone who is abused can separate and still seek the healing of the partner AND the relationship. \"\nAbusers are sociopaths; they always promise to change and never do. Telling a woman to reconcile with an abuser is sexist. My mom always taught me that if a man ever touches a hair on your head, you leave him immediately. \n\n\"That is love. If that is not something the other party will cooperate with, the annulment process is available to see if a valid marriage ever existed. An abuser may have been mentally incapable of a valid marriage\"\nI know of a few situations where abusers have used the annulment system to continue to harm and control the spouse. The tribunals are set up to favor the abuser rather than the victim. \n\n\"Your cynicism is not Christian. \"\nI've been around the Catholic Church for 35 years. I know that the rich get special favors and the rest of us get screwed.\n\nAnd lastly, do you really think that God would condemn a remarried abuse victim? I don't.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Despite the immigration obstacles, if Steve Bannon, former White House chief strategist for the Trump administration, wanted proof for his controversial thesis aired on \"60 Minutes\" that the Catholic Church needs Latino immigrants, St. Peter would be a prime example.\"\n\nSteve Bannon made that remark to spread fear of immigrants and hatred of the Catholic Church. Unfortunately, some white Catholics have bought that message.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jerry, this is utterly false. Arabs have no freedoms in ZIONIST ISRAEL. You must be a troll. I have been to ISRAEL/ Palestine. Israel illegally settles on seized Arab land, shoots and terrorizes childrens, walls off cities such as Bethlehem,,denying GAZA women with breast cancer treatment in ISRAEL occupied hospitals. ChristianPeacemaker teams posted Dec. 6-12 photos of intimidations of Arabs in the old city, Jewish settlers arrogant actions on Palestinian farms, routine home invasions. In Hebron CHRISTIAN Peacemakers walk Palestinian children to school to try to protect from IDF harassment. Tulsi please don't fund these Israeli terrorists! The latest is ISRAEL,removing CHRISTIAN & Muslim names from holy sites.Mitri Raheb presentation at National Press Club YOUTUBE.COM", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your charity is inspiring. I hope this Somali immigrant finds her place in our white, privileged country, that took in her and her extended family and gave them benefits which I assume they are still receiving. Sad she feels so unwelcome, but Muslims need to take a hard look at the ideology they are following and the death and destruction Islam has left in its path since its founding and the commands found in their \"holy\" book to kill all the kuffar. So if people in the US are fearful, it's probably because they know the history of the Muslim conquest and the Hijra, which you as a Catholic seem to not be aware of. We also need to be charitable to our President who understands this threat. And where is the charity and acceptance of Muslim refugees in the rich gulf states? Not one of their own Muslim brethren have they taken in. May our Lord protect us and our country from evil. I hope this immigrant \nIs inspired by your Christian charity and accepts Christ into her heart.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic right and the political right are natural allies. Both believe in authoritarianism. Both aspire to an ideal in which the entire Western world is governed by a revived Francoism.\n\nThe Catholic left and the political left are naturally incompatible. The left believes in \"Power to the people!\" and the Church believes in \"Shut up and fork over your wallets, you ontological peons!\" This is not a promising foundation for a stable political alliance.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Or he's just Catholic, duh. I never understand this projection thing when the Church is quite clear on the matter. He must be a cannibal too, with that belief in transubstantiation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Absolute fact, as always. If someone objects to something a conservative has said or done, you will very likely leap to his defense. Burke can be blatantly homophobic, and you defend him. Similarly, Neinstadt commits perjury, and is forced to resign and you slam those parishioners who object to him at their parish. Now Ryan is claiming to follow Catholic social teaching, and you say that those who deny this claim are lying/\n\nI defend truth. You support untruth, if the untruth defends a conservative. Once again, it comes down to one of us being honest, and AS ALWAYS, it isn't you, Pandora. I really wish you would be honest. Do you even know how?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't \"adhere\" to a Protestant denomination, whatever that's supposed to mean. I attend Protestant services from time to time. I'm a cradle Catholic who remains interested in the church. NCR is the place I feel most comfortable discussing the things that interest me.\n\nI didn't introduce the subject of the church's alliances with fascism. I responded to someone else when you butted in with your nonsense. As it happens, the issue isn't unrelated to the OP: Catholic bishops could do more to promote the common good of the people of the United States by not supporting a clueless, vicious demagogue like Trump. But that train left the station.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I applaud this new willingness to focus on high-school educated white males. However, Hillary Clinton only won one white demographic - college educated white females. Among whites, Trump won every age group, every other education level and every religion - millenials, Gen X'ers, Baby Boomers, high-school educated men and women, college-educated men, Protestants, Catholics, Mormons. Also, before anyone rails against \"uneducated\" white people, remember that Clinton lost college-educated white men by a 15 point margin.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Let me gt this straight, Jerry Prevo, the pastor of a Christain church who says he can;t hire gay people is endorsing a two time divorcee and adulterer? Jerry can I show you what the bible says about those sins?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The amazing thing is that evangelicals are still backing him. You would think that intruding on Miss Teen America pageant contestants when they're unclothed, offering a porn star $10,000 and the use of his private jet, if she was willing to \"stay around,\" and being accused of raping his first wife, in their divorce proceedings, might put them off a little bit. \n\nNot a chance. These are the rubes who send money to Jimmy Swaggart, Ted Haggard, Jim Bakker, etc., etc.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The above poster's only reason being he's so obese he's physically incapable of running. He has no experience with being shot at. \"Courage\" or lack thereof therefore has nothing to do with it. As for \"drug-money\", that barn-door is open. The horse is gone. Try going after the liquor (and/or tobacco) industry and see how far you get. They're too powerful to stand for being 'punching bags' like the aspiring 'pot entrepreneurs' are now forced to be. As I eschew all intoxicants for religious reasons, I have no dog in this fight. I do object to double-standards. And mindless shrieking and flailing, supported by NO facts whatsoever, which seems to comprise so much of the above poster's \"contributions\" to this forum.\n\nAn ironic bit of historical trivia: when Yemen first attempted to market coffee as 'Arab wine', it was banned by the Vatican as a 'dangerous drug'. Apparently Italian Christians were getting wired and beating the cr@p out of each other on Venice streets. Nothing new.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Again - This argument is old and worn out. The 1 requirement for being a Christian in the first place is to admit you are a hypocrite (among other things), you cannot set people up as strawmen, knock them over for doing exactly what the Bible says they will do (even after conversion), which is SIN.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pugy, the clergy do attempt to \"infantilize\" the laity and in so doing, they attempt to infinitize themselves. Any one who attempts to do this is guilty of idolatry as if they, themselves, can know the Mind of God. So yes the clergy that have refused to respect the populace, many of whom are far more educated than themselves must be called out. Common bonding can only begin when we are honest. You see, the dogmatists beginning with the rather ruthless JP II have had their way in our church attempting to destroy the common community for what they call a smaller and more pure church. By pure they simply mean that the thoughts behind dogma allow them to be authoritarians that govern the church as they see fit. This has not worked... Yes , lets be honest, JP II and Benedict were ruthless in refusing to clean up the Vatican Bank and eschewing the sex scandal. They ruthlessly \"infantilized\" the laity..", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Is there a devil ruling this world, like the Christians believe?\" No, his term ended at noon on January 20, 2017.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Maines and Budesky subscribe to the same anti-progressive, anti-American, Anti-christian, anti-jewish dogma preferring fascist dictatorship over any democracy. The inclusion of some hare-brained brain evaluation fails to reveal the predominant ideology and mental dysfunction of CONservative Alzheimer's politicians, i.e., Ronald Reagan, Charlton Heston, et.al. Similar numbers of \"liberals\" affected haven't yet appeared in the public discourse. Since Alzheimer's is a calcification of the brain, it fits the Republican/CONservative ideology to a T. The next candidates will be Trump and his closest advisors, i.e., Spicer, Bannon etc.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "HBC's will be needed as long as white racism effects public policy. That won't change anytime before 2020 at the earliest. If you think white racism no longer effects public policy, please tell us when it stopped? It must have happened sometime after 1965. Another way to put it is, we have never had equal protection under the law for all citizens. That was by choice by the majority of white folks. Heck, they chose being white for fun and profit. Being white has always been more important to them than being human, Christian, or American. All lives have never mattered in this country. Their choices prove the point, starting with the election of Trump. He is the preferred candidate of white supremacists. Most Trump voters even think Jesus was white. Obama never got more than 45% of the white vote. Most of the Trump voters still think he was born in Kenya. All I want is equal protection under the law. I guess that s too much to ask for from most white folks.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "During the Obama administration, 11+ million illegal aliens entered the country. Sending 2.5 million back leaves a net gain of 9+ million entering. Furthermore, if you honestly believe 2.5 million were sent back during the Obama administration, why weren't you up in arms and decrying Obama? Where was Bishop McElroy's outrage? Hypocrites you and Bishop McElroy are! The most sinful party is McElroy. He uses his position of authority in the Catholic Church to promote his personal agenda and part of his message regarding disruption is inciting violence.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholic bishops have yet to take ORDINARY steps to \"stop the scourge of sexual abuse,\"\n let alone extra-ordinary ones! Their entire thrust has been cover-up for themselves, their predecessorts, and their priests, more or less in that order. Even their \"Fearless Leader\" has been notably slow (to say the least) in dealing with bishops involved in these situations!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is very surprising. Most of us thought that Catholic priests and bishops were only interested in sexually molesting innocent little boys.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The laugh's on you. There is an inherent affinity among women, as among men. When feminists can't even get most women to self-identify as \"feminist,\" there's something inherently wrong with feminism, something that keeps it from appealing to women qua women. \n\nAnalogy is not your forte, either. anti-feminist: feminist::plantation owner:abolitionist? I don't think so, because a plantation owner is an oppressor, while an anti-feminist is not. Nor is the Church. Who does the Church \"oppress\"? Oh, I remember. ALL women, because no woman can be a priest. Sigh. \nHow can that be oppressive, unless there's a right to be a priest? And who forces women to be Catholic in the first place?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And supporters of m 103 are enabling superstitious fundamentalists and supporting an irrational misogynist belief system that believes in gender separation and hate of gays, Jews, Christians and non believers", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The members of the Curia [at Galileo's time] still believed that Sacred Scripture was a history book. Galileo was forced to recant his scientific findings. The church had humiliated him. In 1633, Galileo was forced to kneel before the Holy Inquisition and recant his Copernican belief that the sun, not the earth, was the center of the universe. Galileo was then placed under house arrest until his death four years later.\n\nDuring the Vatican Council II, Pope Paul VI on June 10, 1965---\"rehabilitated Galileo\" who had been wronged by the Inquisition. However, this rehabilitation by Pope Paul VI, did not apologize to the descendants of Galileo for the shameful way their illustrious ancestor had been treated.\n\nI did not include Luther or Calvin in my listings, at all. I don't 'scrape the bottom of any barrel to prove my points. But you NEVER prove any point to me, except that you are, by choice, incredibly ignorant. Don't assume that Garibaldi, had never read Marsilius' treatise.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Does that definition actually come from somewhere? Because it doesn't seem accurate to me. 'Murican is a pejorative, but only to a particular subset of rural, uneducated, gun-loving, pseudo-Christians, mostly from the American south who are convinced that they are the only patriots in the whole land. I'd say they are always a minority in any state, but definitely loud, immature, and \"punch above their weight\" so to speak. \n\nI'd imagine not every Trump supporter is a 'Murican but I bet every 'Murican is a Trump supporter. \"Red-Stater\" is similiar, but would include urban contexts. Conversely, I imagine there are a lot fewer Democrats in the 'Murican ranks. In other words, 'Murican is a political insult, not a national one, used to indicate a specific kind of pre-2016 Republican supporter, one that has now largely been eclipsed/absorbed by Trumpism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Find an FSSP or ICKSP parish, any parish that has the TLM or an Ordinariate or Eastern rite parish and ride out the storm and tune out the nonsense...this is the only ship we got.\n\nThere have always been Judases among the hierarchy...and even Peter denied Christ three times. This too shall pass.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually, the homicide rate in Christian countries (mainly in USA, Latin America and Africa) is much higher than in Muslim countries. Your chances of being killed are much higher in a Christian country.\n\n I am excluding countries at war.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bannon was raised Catholic, but I don\u2019t know if he still identifies as one. Like Gingrich and Giuliani (both Catholics), and like Trump himself, Bannon brings his third wife to the family values party, as well as accusations of infidelity and domestic violence. He\u2019s all of what you say he is, and worse. He is Trump\u2019s link to the white supremacist and nationalist movements which operate under the euphemistic banner of \u201calt-right.\u201d The evil Bannon brings to the White House is his bigotry; the genius is in his willingness -- his preference -- to fly under the radar screen, to call as little attention to himself as possible, and to indulge Trump\u2019s pathological need for flattery and approval.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So the Donald Trump family is now in charge of the most powerful country in the free world. Because why? He wanted it really bad and and said a bunch of crap and saw where it stuck and said whoa my act is working there. \nFacts who needs stinking facts just go for the cheers and of course the money. There is no intellectual anything going on just a world class ADHD guy on a world class ego trip fueled by huge piles of anti tax cash, politicized fundamental Christians pretending to be the Tea Party movement, and a whole lot of people that smell money and well they really are conservatives that are stuck with this turkey.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why is she not charged with hate crimes too? Because she is Muslim threatening white Christians. Move along folks nothing to see here.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Please don't twist my words. I said nothing about good works distracting from the Gospel. Good works are evidence of good faith. But neither Jesus, nor His apostles jumped on any \"social justice\" bandwagon. They spread the gospel as far and wide as possible--by the \"foolishness of preaching,\" not the foolishness of marching in the streets, and protesting the latest societal ill. \n\nMost of this \"social justice\" nonsense, is just \"progressive\" activism. As William Noel said: \"'social justice' is just the pursuit of politically-correct, inconsistent and often contradictory concepts.\" It seeks a kind of equality that has never existed, and never will exist. It's a cleverly crafted illusion, socialism dressed up in democratic garb; Robin Hood and his not so merry men vilifying the wealthy and grasping after that wealth.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Narcissism is based on observed behaviors per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Cult leaders, likewise have been studied and share common behaviors. Rape and the criminal behavior of larceny are adjudged by a court and not observed public behavior. Anxiously awaiting your reply regarding Trumps convictions which although he is likely the most unethical candidate ever to potentially stand on the historical stage with Washington, Lincoln, and Jefferson (God help us). As a southern fundamentalist and with Native American heritage, I've never experienced, once again, your statement that \"A lot of Christians...\" Christians aren't perfect and some are off the wall, twisting the Word to support their anti-Christian beliefs. Most don't make news as loving one another, especially nonbelievers, is the primary premise of the Christian faith, and isn't newsworthy. You must have been exposed to some \"Christians\" not practicing the faith in accordance with the Bible.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wow. Amazing that a Christian who knows nothing about me will preach to me about reading the bible. I was raised in a very conservative Christian home. Church every Wednesday evening, Sunday School, Sunday Main Service and Sunday evening service every week. Church camp, vacation bible camp, baptism, you name it, I did it. And every step of they way from a young age I witnessed hypocrisy everywhere. From my father who physically abused his children and wife, but showed up on Sunday to perform his role as church deacon speaking in tongues - such a great actor he was - to the assistant pastor who bought us beer at age 14 and showed us pornos, to the church camp counselor who gave me weed for the first time. Hypocrites all. Keep your bible. I've raised two successful young women who are kind, compassionate and don't slaughter innocents on the side of the road. Spare me your preaching and go give Callie your sermon.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The very laws that define what spiritual state individuals must maintain----differ for the laity.\n\n\nDid the bishops ever state to their priests that if they performed sex with a child/youth or another adult---that they could not celebrate Mass---that they were committing a sacrilege if they consumed the Host? Can a priest consecrate bread and wine, confecting it into the Body and Blood of Christ while in a state of mortal sin? Oh, he can do it---and his mortal sin doesn't effect anybody but him. \n \n\nSecondly, it is assumed that everyone KNOWS the full extent of every action, word and deed---especially when it comes to sexuality and [that they are acting with a clear mind----especially while having sex---in a state of passion], and that this is mortal sin. Try taking that concept to course in sacramental theology and debate this with your fellow students or professor.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"no, of course we won't see you protesting, you're far too busy keeping up with rhe Kardashians and other really important stuff; by all means carry on trooper\"\n\nNo, it's because most conservatives that I know have no interest in the Kardashians, and you'll know if the conservatives ever start rioting because nobody would be able to make it stop. We're talking about most of your LE, veterans, etc. It would be very unlike the disgusting, infantile \"protests\" executed by the libtards. Many liberals are crying and slobbering about how Trump has \"divided us\". I've got news for you guys, Obama divided us when he labeled white, veteran, conservative, christian males as the greatest terror threat in the country on numerous occasions. What you crybaby losers on the left don't understand is that what your seeing now is the beginnings of the right pushing back against decades of your BS. Just remember, the pendulum of our republic swings both ways. Now it's our turn.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Trudeau is dishonest. Benedict already apologized. The churches, including the Catholic Church, running the residential schools did so by the invitation of the federal government and under federal regulations and laws. The reason the government asked the churches to do this job was because no one else was willing to go into godforsaken places and work under very difficult conditions for almost no money, than the \"stupid\" religious, who actually thought that they were helping the native population. And they actually did!!!!\nAll those native leaders who are suing the government and churches today received educated in these institutions! That, of course, nobody wants to acknowledge today.\nTrudeau is only using this issue for political purposes, and his duplicity and dishonesty simply turns my stomach.\nLet me put it this way. Boy Justine (Trudeau Junior), in terms of intelligence and integrity, is not even in the same universe with his father Pierre Eliot Trudeau was.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholic Social Services and City Government created cesspool.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "She's merely a bi-product of her boss, the \"anti-christ\". This is what you get for voting for him.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That sounds more like tRump and he hasn't even taken the oath. Never mind, the oath of office means nothing to the anti-Christ fraud elect.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thanks again Alceste, for proving yourself impervious to radical discussion as a hothead of the reverse persuasion...\n\nNo one did that except in your own mind. No \"hate\", and no \"equation\". Just the question, \"when is it a good idea to make a point of congratulating someone for their \"courage\"? \n\nWhy is it that \"Progressives\" who are at the forefront of fighting religious obscurantism and sexism when it involved Christianity, defend even worse obscurantis and sexism when it involves Muslims? Why will they congratulate women who wear Muslim scarves and veils for their \"courage\", but not right-wing writers or fundamentalist Christians for THEIR courage in expressing their views? And what takes more courage, facing nasty looks and social disapproval, or actually putting your life on the line, but do you congratulate those who do that in the name of Islam for their courage, too?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Is Demboski at all worried about Christians stockpiling weapons in Alaska?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They will make the fatherland great again, they say,\nby weeding out the non-Christians and \"dangerous\" ethnic people,\nby slashing aid to the elderly and care for the poor, and by building the greatest military the world has ever seen.\nThey will publicize government-sponsored lists intended to demonstrate the \"criminality\" of the ethnic other.\nThey condemn revelation of inconvenient facts as merely the continued plotting of the L\u00fcgenpresse.\nAnd they brag to their admirers about the inspiration for all those plans, not being the least bit shy about doing so.\nCall it what it is\u2014and call Republican support for their plans what it is, as well.\nTrumpism = Fascism = Republicanism.\nThe right adopted Trump and his agenda, all of it. The Fascism, the Racism, the Nazism.\nThat's what winning looks like.\nYou're a winnner.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Back when I was in the car business the biggest crooks were always the Christians that wanted you to know they were Christians. My theory was they needed religion to tell themselves it was ok to rip people off because they were doing it to take care of their family.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm pretty sure that the trend of legalistic enforcement in Judeo-Christian law over the last 5000 years has been towards more and more lenience. Today, we are literally on the cusp of dispensing with some of the Commandments, like the sin of adultery. What is deemed excessive should be considered over time; just because the culture goes off the rails does not mean that the law should no longer have any relevance.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "i don't know her past, i only know that accepting Christ as savior washes your sins 'from the east to the west' and God 'remembers them no more'. Christians are not not sinners, they accept they are, and turn to God to cleanse them 'of all unrighteousness',being made 'into the image of Christ'.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Citing the example of the Episcopal Church (or the wider Anglican Community) may not strengthen your position. Their historic decline is impressive even by Catholic standards.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "M. Gandhi said he liked the teachings of Christ but had issues with the way Christians behaved.\n\nWe don't need fairy tales to love our neighbors.\n\n\n\"The word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weakness, the Bible a collection of honorable, but still purely primitive, legends which are nevertheless pretty childish.\" -- Albert Einstein", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": ">> We need to get back to understanding our doctrines in terms of the attributes of God. \"He\" is not what many Christians think he is!\n\nAnd that\u2019s where all the trouble already begins: There are as many flavours\u2014well, almost\u2014of Christianity as there are believers who label themselves thus (with over 30,000 *officially* recognised variants). Each one asserts with absolute and unshakeable certainty their own understanding as the *only* correct one. And, most curiously, they all work from the same source material.\n\nNot at all what you\u2019d expect from an omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent source.\n\nAll of which points to the First (and apparently only) Law of Exe-/Eisegesis: For every verse, there is an equal and opposite reverse.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't believe for one second the Catholics of Brazil are going to the Evangelicals because we don't have married priests or not enough priests - it's not as if evangelical preachers can confect the Eucharist, and it's not as if lay Catholics couldn't lead a praise and worship service in the absence of a priest. \n\nPerhaps they find that the Evangelicals preach the Bible instead of liberation theology and this is what's responsible for the hemmoraging of Catholics in South America? If Catholics got back to teaching the faith instead of pushing politics from the pulpit, we'd see less defections to the Protestants. \n\nThis article was better the first time I read it over at OnePeterFive.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "People used to be very over-scrupulous and Janestic about receiving Communion but Vatican II has helped them understand that they should be allowed to receive Communion regularly. This is a good and healthy thing. People should receive Communion. And the Catholic Church is making remarried people into second class citizens by not allowing them to receive. Imagine being barred from Communion for life and being told that you can never receive Communion because of a mistake earlier in your life. That is really sad and un-Christian. \n\nI also think that conservative Catholics fixation on keeping remarried people, including many worthy people from Communion, is very sad. Try focusing on your own sins rather than obsessing over other people's. Who cares if Bob Remarried receives Communion. It is between him and God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Front and center on the web page this story.\n\nCome on Globe can't you find filler stories more news worthy? This belongs on the back page of the classifieds.\n\nNo other religious group uses a dating app? I would like to see a story on Christian Singles...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Monica, I would imagine it could take many years for an inclusive theology to develop - arguments made, visions of how inclusion is possible, arguments of how old views are not necessarily the only views possible. \n\nI am out of my depth on how theology gets developed, but I don't think there has been enough serious consideration of the issue by theologians. It seems to me that major religious based schools of theology have been stuck in arguing why old arguments MUST be adhered to - by rigorists, Traditionalists, religious institutions who exact a penalty for theologians who stray out of the permitted boundaries.\n\nAs for causes which move forward politically without a developed Christian anthropology, I believe that has been happening for a while - how about the advance of democracy, the emancipation of women, acceptance of modern medicine miracles like IVF, the realization now that slavery is sinful. \n\nDoes theology lead culture or incorporate culture in its explanations of God?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hmm. Sounding almost stigmata like. Wonder if she's a traditional Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What makes a great parish? Focus on Sunday preaching and music, says a New York pastor, Would Pope Francis agree? Doubt it. If anything, the pope focuses more on what parishes do during the week in terms of service in the model of the field hospital.\nIt is what we do during the week that proves just how great we are as Christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Too bad, Mr. Keillor doesn't really understand Christianity very well! And, ? for all of you who don't either, who is the \"Creator who endowed you with those unalienable rights?\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Have you heard that the ACLU is quite frequently referred to as the Anti Christian League for their actions in removing crosses and ten-commandments and other actions? This is where I dislike them so much. They do not always support First Amendment Rights when it comes to conservative Christians. They, like most liberal organizations, are only tolerant to people of their own kind and beliefs. Here is your test of Free Speech. If you support the KKK's right to hold a parade without a protest, then you truly support Free Speech. \nAlso remember, for some conservatives, this is their daily life. Remember that they have to put up with the barbs, the insults, and put-downs that you claim to be against. Most do not insist that the people insulting them shut up or say that the insulters should not be allowed to voice their opinions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Most of the catholic church's problem would be solved if the people who run it followed the precepts of the sermon on the mount. Odd isn't it that god who spent a couple of thousand years looking after his chosen people has abandoned the church that Jesus established, At least popes have given up the practice of murdering their rivals as they did during the Renaissance. \nThe internal contradictions of the god who created the universe, all powerful and perfect, and the god of the Bible who has all of the emotions of a human being, demonstrate the absurdities of this religion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Cont'd)\nHe is of her body, her blood: the \"New Adam, the new Eve\". Yet \"feminine\", \"mother\" is excluded.\nMan, male is chosen - convention. Not theological, not scripture, not logical, not true. IS CONVENTION. Raised to theological. Perverse, persistent self-serving is not \"theology\".\nThe Church is the \"Bride of Christ\"? \nPriest. Feminine Jesus? \n\"Confection\" granted. \"Conception\", \"gestation\", \"birthing\", \"nurturing\" rejected?\nHow can creation return to the Creator without the creative encounter of man and woman, persons, distinct, equal in the creation metaphor of creative relationship in love. Redeemed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "These critics are simply against everything from Vatican II forward and long for a rapid return to the triumphal church of the 1950's with all its privileges and power in a pray, pay and obey domination by the clergy. They should be opposed by every thinking Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, I imagine this will inevitably lead to me being considered a radical fundamentalist who can't properly read Scripture but...\n\nHave you ever read John 15: 18-27? The world-Christian relationship is set up in rather stark terms there. Certainly John 3 gives us a firm conviction that God has a limitless love for the world. However time and again the things which come forth from the lips of Christ indicate a paradoxical relationship between Christ and the world (sheep among wolves, the world's hatred, etc.)\n\nI'm all for dialogue with the world as long as it leads to a concrete proposal of Jesus Christ as the singular answer for those living in the world. And as long as we keep in mind that such a proposal usually leads to rejection or worse, as Christ made abundantly clear, then sure, let's do some dialogue!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Straw man much? \n\nI never said it can \"compel\" anyone to stand for the national anthem, so why pretend like I did? That's just disingenuous.\n\nIf you think it's so bad for people to stand and show respect for the national anthem (as you apparently do since you're equating the tradition/protocol to slavery/Jim Crow/etc), you're welcome to try and change that protocol. Good luck though. You see the reaction to the ones disrespecting that protocol now, and even most of them don't think the protocol is actually wrong. They're just showing disrespect because they know it gets extra attention. And they foolishly think any attention is good.\n\nContrary to your suggestion, it's not only \"white male Christians\" that have pride in the country, the flag, the national anthem, and what it all stands for.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "He'll be one of the Priests turned politicians that vote for pro-abortion bills without a second thought. I recall in the 1970's or 80's, there was a Democrat Catholic Priest elected to Congress who always voted pro-abortion without hesitation even after being excoriated by his Bishop. Sadly, I can't envision many US Bishops who would excoriate a Priest these days for being pro-abortion politicians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Feel free to re-read my comment. I mentioned neither \"the western legal system\" (whatever that is) not the Magna Carta. If you'd like confirmation of the veracity of my statement, I'll point you to John Adams and the Treaty of Tripoli for starters, and then ask you how many times \"Christ,\" \"Christian,\" or \"God\" appear in the US Constitution or the Declaration of Independence. Take all the time you need.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The JP II-B XVI magisterium does not hold sway over today's RC church. But to many out there on the right wing, or ala dextra, there remains a profound attachment to their ecclesiology with the election of Pope Francis. What's more, many of the ala dextra Catholics would prefer never to admit that Bergoglio is pope, or even Catholic! So much for their \"hermeneutic of continuity!\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As usual, the headline is misleading. Trump's order would ease a ban on political activity by ALL faith-based institutions, not just churches. Given the visceral hatred for Christians and Christianity expressed in the MSM by most of its contributors however, they wouldn't miss an opportunity for another drive-by smear. Is it any wonder that the overwhelming majority of Americans have nothing but contempt for the mainstream media?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It would be better if the Church were not engaging in heresy herself-I do not refer to Pope Francis-then she might be more credible. As it is, a Jewish tradition of poring over Torah and discussing tradition (and arguing) is encouraged as it sharpens the mind and stimulates a dialogue that reaches a deeper understanding. \n As it is, dissenters in old time were burned alive. John Hus, for example. While we have moved beyond the \"Dark Ages\" there is precious little to recommend the Church as a beacon of light and hope in those times-although Jesus is and was and always will be, as will the Holy Spirit and all those led by that Spirit-whether they be Catholic or not. \n I cannot reconcile the idea that President Diem murdered Buddhists and destroyed their temples in Vietnam while the Church published Humanae Vitae and fussed over angels on the heads of pins. If the Church is going to claim historical pre-eminence in matters religious she has a lot to answer for. Diem was Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is the civil crime\nAnd there is the supernatural crime.\n\nWe are all responsible as members of the communion of saints. \n\nI think more Catholics should re-learn what the Communion of Saints really means. There is such a paucity of understanding among the people of God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Kamehameha the Great, who forged the Kingdom of Hawaii, and his wife Ka\u2019ahumanu had gained some familiarity with Christianity from British sea Captain George Vancouver in 1794.\"\n\nThe good captain was the first of many missionaries who came to Hawaii to do good and stayed to do well...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Surely the stigma of illegitimacy, and the notion that unwed mothers were immoral mortal sinners, was a direct result of catholic doctrine in this quasi-theocracy? These so-called illegitimate children were also perceived as a drain on precious resources ... rather than the Imago Dei! I take your point, but I think that the hierarchs were the driving force behind the teachings that led to these \"solutions\" for the unwed mothers ... the weight of responsibility must ultimately rest with the most awesomely powerful moral arbiters, the princes and bishops of Ireland's catholic church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I do not like people who hurt other people. I have been personally harmed by these types and I know many other people who have as well. Rigid fundamentalists shouldn't be allowed into the priesthood because they do great damage to Catholics, especially children. I don't know how many stories I've heard similar to mine about people who have completely lost their faith and have deep seated anger toward the Catholic Church because of bad experiences with priests, religious, or the \"temple guard.\" One of the best sermons I heard was from a temp. administrator at my parish who apologized for the actions of priests, nuns, etc. after talking to lapsed Catholics at a parish rummage sale. It is an issue and the seminaries must be careful about who they ordain.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Funny a \"Christian\" university clearly does not follow one of the central tenants to Christianity. The worshiping of false idols. Interesting maybe they should look for a name change.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Really, R.D? Down at the soup kitchen run by Catholic charities I see the same people I see holding up signs protesting for progressive causes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Isnt it time for the Catholic Church to start paying taxes on its vast properties in the United States. Then that money can be used to pay for the illegal immigrants and poor to be fed and housed and not from the hard working tax paying American citizen.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1 - The entire case of not just the Little Sisters but the other Catholic and Protestant organizations consolidated before the Supreme Court rested on the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.\n\n2 - That act states the Government must meet two conditions to burden religion: it must be necessary for the \"furtherance of a compelling government interest\"; it must be the least restrictive way in which to further the government interest.\n\n3 - The Government claimed its regulations was as far as they could go to accommodate religious belief.\n\n4 - Under an a SCOTUS order the Government was compelled to supplement its briefs, and admitted at that time it could find another way to accomplish its goals without the sisters.\n\n5 - The SCOUTS returned the six cases to the lower courts to do just that.\n\nhttp://thefederalist.com/2016/05/17/media-want-to-make-sure-you-never-hear-about-the-little-sisters-of-the-poor/\n\nThe Washington Post article is a pack of lies.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You\u2019re being purposefully obtuse.\nDivorce may not be a bad thing. If one spouse is abusive toward the other, or to the children, it may be the only option.\nThe Catholic Church, prior to the progressive take-over, certainly did not tolerate remarriage. In 1955 there were only (roughly) 500 annulments granted in the U.S. (An annulment is a declaration that no valid marriage existed in the first place, such as when, unbeknownst to the other, one of the spouses was already married to another, or when 2 siblings didn\u2019t know they were siblings until after their wedding). How anyone could say that in the modern church \u201cannulments\u201d are anything BUT civil divorces is beyond me. And yet, the same progressives who decry the baker also complain that the hierarchy won\u2019t give communion to the \u201cremarried\u201d couple who are, in effect, living in sin. I doubt couples announce the fact they are getting remarried to bakers. So no, no links. Your point is bunk even without them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I doubt Pope Francis sees the curia as his children. He's asking them to put aside childish things and evolve into Christian adults because they have adult responsibilities within the Church to a laity which too often surpasses them in acting like adults.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am delighted with this news. Tubman is an American heroine. She stands for the very best American values. She was a wonderful Christian woman. She is a role model for all fo us who think America-and Hawaii-can be betetr.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Absolutely right Bdpapa. It is by far the best Catholic school in the State and well worth the tuition!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wonder how many Christians Canada is giving asylum to fleeing persecutions in the middle east. Never mind.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jews, Christians, and Muslims all worship the same God. I'd make the case for Sikhs, also. If there is only one universal God, and since all four religions claim to worship one universal God, they must be worshipping the same God.\nBut, YHVH is the written name for God for Jews only. Observant Jews do not try to pronounce that name, using \"Adonai\" (Lord), instead. English speaking Christians call God \"God, the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit/Ghost\". And Muslims call God \"Allah\".\nThe modern dispute between Muslims and Jews has more to do with the State of Israel than anything to do with Hagar and Sarah.\nThe dispute between Christians and Muslims has more to do with the Crusades and colonialism -- and the fact that both religions see as their ultimate goal the complete conversion of the world's population to one OR the other.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Romans 13:1\n\nThat's what I live by in this American democracy. If you live by the book of Leviticus for your views on Christianity and American Civics, well....might be some problems of consistency there.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't have a problem with a sede commenting here per se, just be honest enough to admit where you're coming from that's all. In my view (and that of most Catholics including the Holy Father), it really makes no sense for a sede to comment here since they are rather nasty and completely out of step with modern Catholicism. I have not seen such nastiness from Orthodox, Protestant and Jewish commentators, have you?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "OK, but that's not Catholic. Sacrament, in Catholic theology, is very well defined and does not mean, within those limits, what you suggest. I am not conscience-ly connected to a plant, which has none. It is useful to me in a variety of ways, but that is the sum of all I am willing to attribute to \"nature.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And how the Catholic Church and other superstitions conspired to have the CRTC approve Vision TV approved as a Must Carry channel, propped up by a Pass Thru Mandatory Tithe that forces anyone getting TV from Cablecos or Telcos to contribute to the collective millions that Vision TV drains from our household budgets each year. Cablecos and Telcos get to charge customers an extra fee if all of the Must Carry speciality channels are available in their basic service.\n\nThe Political Appointees at the CRTC even praised the Religious folks flogging the Vision TV concept, after being cautioned by their own pollsters that it was one of the lowest polling Speciality Channel concepts. \n\nEven back in the 1980s less than 1 person in 10 polled said that they would have any interest in viewing a Relgious TV channel, even if it were \"free\". Vision is not free, all cable and telco TV subscribers pay for it, even though the vast majority have no interest in viewing the Religious show content on it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Let me help your understanding. I'll use a different concept that you might understand. You don't teach algebra to a first grader. You teach math in steps. The war on Christianity is a small step and what happened in Germany in WWII is algebra. That's what I meant by degrees. Our Constitution, with its guarantees, is the only thing to keep us from becoming Germany in the thirties. Freedom of religion is under attack and accusing me of bearing false witness is a distraction from the heart of the discussion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Isn't it interesting that the entire history of Judeo Christianity (and even the Judaism that preceded it, from Genesis on) is every sect declaring itself to be \"the\" church?\n\nEvery new reformation deems itself basically peerless, and the most authentic agency of God's will, over all others.\n\nYou'll fix this when you fix human nature.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Aaronic priesthood is NOT the same as the Catholic priesthood! New Covenant = New Priesthood. Got it!?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are right 'sprietsma29'! NOWHERE is it recorded that the Twelve presided over any liturgy.\n\nThat is NOT what Jesus selected them to do. They were to preach the Gospel. The early Christians celebrated The Meal in their homes---and the people selected their presiders [usually the home owners].", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In her article Ms. Aziz begins with the words \"Let's talk\", but talk is far more than one-sided statements of the obvious. I think that there is a consensus that reaction to the recent attacks by Muslims has created a wave of counterattacks from non-Muslims. Misguided, ill-intentioned or even evil, they are wholly to be expected. It is where we stand when we reflect upon these actions that makes all the difference. Yes, we do - really - need to talk. But we have to look at the problem from more than just the events of the last month or so. We must speak clearly and in context with the realities of both the west and east, Christian and Muslim, Sunni and Shiite: all of the Us'es and all of the Thems. \nIt is absolutely true that these things do not occur in a vacuum. They expand, breath after breath, one shout following another, until the outward force moves at the speed of an explosion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How do you know it is secular progressives who are breeding a culture of intolerance. There are just as many intolerant Christians as secular progressives.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Guess the U.S. regressive liberal Catholic faaaaewwwl didnt learn much about the separation of church & state when studying for his priesthood. in other words Bishop McElroy shuuuppp upppp already about politics and tend to your flock.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Blaine portrayed the personnel moves as part of SNAP\u2019s natural transition 'from a founder led organization to one that is board led.'\" \nThis makes perfect sense to me that SNAP will remain a volunteer organization, now with a board of volunteers of victim/survivors and advocates, to help victim/survivors to support one another, as the leaders of SNAP have helped victim/survivors to do for so many years already. \n\nIn my experience, the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church are still expected to pledge obedience to the pope and not to Jesus, so I do not believe that the hierarchy will ever make the sexual predators among them accountable, since they still worship the institutional church and its power and control over the lives of others and do not even seem to know Jesus nor have a personal relationship with Jesus. It is time for this charade of a church to close, so that Jesus can be given all the glory, rather than the institutional church, in my view.\nSincerely, Dr Rosemary McHugh", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think some people are just predisposed to bristle at anything the Vatican says, especially when it has to do with rules and regulations. Plus, I get the impression there's a lot of misunderstanding of what Catholic teaching on the resurrection of the dead actually means. \n\nNot a big deal, in the great scheme of things.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"I am not sure why \"Honoring conscience rights\" was listed before concern for access to affordable care for the poor. \"\n- This is a good article.\n- The USCCB's 'conscience rights' is its line in the sand -- \"come close to this and we walk.\"\n- Sadly, the USCCB has yet to learn that exercising ones conscience is done in pursuing the works of mercy. Using it as 'talking point' or line in the sand dishounours conscience.\n- It is clear, that beginning with the presidency of ArchbFrancis, one time of Chicago, the USCCB sees itself as a interlocutor with power, and not as leaders of the local churches in the USA. That is, they will sell the poor for the sake of political gain.\n- The proof of Christians is in what we do, not in what we protect. Take care of the sick poor first and then chat about conscience.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, I agree totally, but Christianity went through an enlightenment and reformation, while Islam hasn't. Islam considers the Qur'an the absolute Word of God; Islam is a religion that is in dire need of both enlightenment and reformation. Both have to be lead by moderate Muslims such as Imam Tawhidi, Canadian Muslim Raheel Raza, along with Ayaan Hirsi Ali; you should support them in their efforts towards the peaceful reformation of Islam.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And what else would you expect in a western society whose culture developed based on 2000 years of Christianity?\n\nWould you be shocked to learn that Middle East societies are steeped in a Muslim ethos and Islam is the assumed normal, or that East Asia is steeped in a Buddhist ethos, or India in a Hindu ethos, etc.? Of course their cultures reflect their history.\n\nAnd just what is wrong with that?\n\nBut culture, while heavily influenced by religion, is not religion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I had fun reading this article , so true, and the life between got drunk and the boredom of being a good sober citizen sometime I rather be drunk.Effectively the perception of life is quite different, more if your are drunk,at least you didn't bother..\nThe other part that is also funny is the comments that I read on this article,they are so...Christian, so well intentioned,so redemtative.\nAt the end life is short an tough have fun while you can.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\" the Catholic Church for more than a thousand years has defined the priesthood in terms of monasticism, not ministry, and only agreed to a transition at Vatican II\"\n\nPlease back up this assertion.\n\nI can see where you want to go (because part 2 follows!), but you don't help the argument by such sloppy history. The distinction between '\"secular\" and \"religious\" clergy is not an invention of Vatican II.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No it hasn't, self_r, turn off Fox News and do some research. However, if you make it really, really hard for people to find out if they are eligible and when and how to sign up, it will fail. People will be sicker and die sooner. And I bet you call yourself a Christian, am I right?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Surrender(ing) the right to dissent\" is the bedrock of the CDF and precisely what Trid and other traditionalists desire for every \"real Catholic.\" Trid hails from my own generation of pre-Vat II formation, when the right to dissent was another name for those queueing at the burning stake. That hopeful wish is alive and well in some conservative corners. Respectfully speaking, of course.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Odd, that that is the only priority discussed in a catholic news rag.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Take no notice Nora. There were no Roman Catholic priests in Czechoslovakia during the communist era. A woman claimed to have gone through an ordination ceremony carried out by an unhinged bishop but her priesthood was never recognised by the Church. Just the same as the so-called women priests of today think that they are priests because renegade bishops ordained them. The only effector such 'ordinations' was to get them excommunicated.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is amazing how people do not realize that Jesus lived, died, and rose again specifically to establish an institution which could issue rules for people to follow to be allowed to enter heaven. It's all very obvious and logical when one thinks about it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The topic has something to do with the Catholic Church and its role in healing the nation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You sound a bit like Pence, \"I am a Christian, a Conservative and a Republican in that order.\"\nLove of God equals love of neighbour - the Samaritan, the stranger, the foreigner, the hungry, the thirsty, the poor, the sick, the imprisoned, the widow, the orphan. You people want the foreigner and stranger excluded, expelled. You attack the sick, especially the poor sick, you're happy to see the imprisoned executed or banged up forever, you befriend the rich and set yourselves against minorities.\nLove of family - Jesus specifically said that his family were those who listened to his word and put it into practice. \nLove of country - the justification for many of the wars you have entered into, narrow nationalism, protect ourselves with no concept that your brother, sister or neighbour IS your family. The justification too for the anti-kingdom arming every citizen which actually ignores the constitution's strict rules for carrying weapons and would have Jesus horrified.\nClueless.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "IMO, there is nothing wrong with ambiguity - it is room for the Holy Spirit to guide us in walking with each other. Jesus did not say come to me and I will give you rules so you can tell others how to live and answers so you can tell others what to think. He said, \"I will send the Holy Spirit who will teach you to observe everything I have commanded\", which is what is happening these days in the widespread questioning. Uncertainty, doubt, questioning, chaos are not bad. They are opportunities to grow and make choices.\n\nWhen we have all the answers how people should live their lives and what they should think or believe, there is no need for faith or the Spirit. IMO belief, in the sense of living trust in Jesus and the Spirit, is a personal matter as we journey on and write our story. It cannot be dictated by others who know neither our journey or our story. We can walk with each other without demanding that they come around to our way of thinking.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "To the point of calling half the nation \"bigots\" and \"racists\"? I don't. That seems a strange expression of Christianity to me.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's not the Muslim people, many of whom are very good people, it's Islam and Christianity wherein lies the divide, springing from two different traditions based on two different creators, Christ of Love and peace and Muhammad of war and conquest. How do you mesh together these very different Religions. How would you choose Trista? Study what happens in most if not all Muslim majority nations and see what happens over time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "@JoeC:\nJust like we didn't hear a global outcry from Christians when Timothy McVeigh blew up the Federal Court House in Oklahoma City or when Dylan Roof executed 9 black people in a church in Charleston, SC. And we didn't hear a huge outpouring of rage from Democrats when Janet Reno and slick Willie burned 87 people to death in Waco, TX. Fact is that Christians who don't believe in murdering people who fail to agree with them don't see themselves as the problem and don't see their religion as the problem. Same is true of ordinary Muslims who don't support murder and mayhem of unbelievers, they know that they themselves are not creating or contributing to the problem, so they just keep their heads down, go to work, raise their kids, care for their elderly and keep on keepin' on. Your implication that they are somehow different from ordinary Christians is poorly informed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Only the evangelicals. They may seem more numerous and as if They are \"The Christians\", but that is also \"post-truth\", they only seem that way because they are concentrated in some regions of the US, and so politically powerful, as Muslims may one day become when their numbers get high enough.\n\nIn fact, the more mainstream Christians, the Catholics and mainstream Protestants, put more emphasis on the New Testament than the Old.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I must concur with Heartbreaker. The Holy Father wishes the highlight the latino Catholic - but so many of the diocesan structures are \"gringo\" in their approach/structure - not meeting the people where they are at. Rather they prefer a \"spiritual\" latino, into prayer groups, cursillos, and the pablum dribble that re-enforces a passivity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And what percentage of the US is former Catholic?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We Catholics need to re-theologize the Confiteor. I sometimes say to myself \"I have erred through my lack of mindfulness.\" It shouldn't be about \"me-bad\" it should be about a healthy recognition of where we can further grow into God's love.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is an odd comment from a professing Catholic...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "QUESTION: Can you show examples - please, Michael Gerson? - of what you mean by \"Christian faith, at its best, points to a transcendent order of justice and hope that stands above politics. So it was in the abolitionist struggle and the civil rights movement. So it needs to be in the Trump era.\"\n\nANSWER: Oh, never mind, Michael Gerson, I remember now what you mean exactly - albeit HYPOCRITICALLY - because following were your examples \"in the (George W. Bush) era\":\n\n\"Discussing the Iraq war (in Heroic Conservatism, Michael Gerson) ... mentions Abu Ghraib only once, and there is no discussion of the (George W. Bush) administration\u2019s authorization of waterboarding and other methods of torture, ... or its claim ... that the president can declare any American citizen an 'enemy combatant' and hold him without charges until he dies of old age.\" (New York Times, FEBRUARY 10, 2008)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The old \"DO AS I SAY\" . . . Because that's the Christian way", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"For you,\" \"your Gospel,\" \"Would that be so hard?\" Excuse me but that sounds like you are attacking me, rather than addressing my point.\nPerhaps I wasn't clear. When political views are put forth as if they were Catholic teaching, something is seriously WRONG. Our faith is greater than our politics. Jesus is neither a Republican nor a Communist. It is not I who am advocating a political manifesto, quite the opposite.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I sang to the hills,\n\"Will the Catholic bishops have a change of heart?\"\nAnd the hills sang back,\n\"Fat chance, fat chance.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In another story at the G&M this morning it is being reported that 148 people were killed in Pakistan \"who had rushed to the scene of the highway accident to gather leaking fuel\". \n\nThe story goes on to say, \"A loudspeaker atop a local mosque alerted villagers to the leaking fuel, and scores raced to the site with jerry cans, said Rana Mohammad Salim, deputy commissioner of Bahawalpur.\"\n\nI don't know of any small town right wing \"Christian\" pastor who from the pulpit would urge his congregation to rush out and help contain a gasoline spill whether with prayer cloths, the baptismal bowl or the collections plates!\n\nSometimes even kindness isn't enough...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"What's your point? ... blah-blah-blah ... Keep trying.\" -- yardman\n\nPay real close attention now as I go back over it s.l.o.w.l.y ...\n\nMy point was: \"Exit polls in Michigan and Wisconsin showed a substantially higher turnout among white, Christian and a weak turnout for typical Democratic demographics.\"\n\nThat was the difference that won Trump the Electoral College,\n\nI will indeed quit trying further, since you seem too dense to get something so simple.\n\n-- Paul", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you did not abide by the laws of the catholic church during the inquisition you could have your body literally torn apart - watch a documentary on the inquisition on youtube - it gives you the grand version of the rcc.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Huge numbers of non-Christians (atheist and otherwise) perform acts of charity 365 days a year without needing any godlike fantasy to spur them into action. At the same time many, many self-proclaimed Christians do little or nothing. There are good people and not so good people regardless of where they stand on god/no god spectrum. Food banks, since you mention that sort of support, are staffed all year round, not just handing our turkeys in mid winter and you don't have to be a card carrying anything to help out.\n\nOn the subject of a mid-winter festival ... as there are so many faith groups that do something around this time of year why do we not, as a community, concentrate on the winter solstice for our big meals, drinks and gift sharing. It's the one universal date we all should celebrate without bringing any religion to the table at all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...Clooney's work is \"profoundly traditional and creatively original\" and has \"made contributions to both interreligious understanding and Christian theology.\"\nI wonder if he buys in to the narrative that consciousness is both biological and dialogical - biological in the sense that is life-based, and dialogical in the sense of intentional communication, of faith (female) and reason (male)?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And of course, the excessive wealth and will to power is all one-sided. No Soros, no Clintons, etc, at the highly publicized Democratic gathering of Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Natural Law\"? \nWhat is law that is constantly in flux, that requires variation and change to exist, that is constantly being understood as being a further question? The law you speak of is only a fundamentalist illusion misrepresented as reality; that time can be un-timed; change halted to stagnancy, even turned back. It is the belief that sheep need pens, rather than leadership. The Christ you reference was also intelligent. He spoke in parables in the expectation that it would prevent that which espouses stagnation, revisionism and collapse. I agree, what is the point of any bishop, any so-called Catholic/Christian who makes a mockery of nature, humanity, Christ and His teaching?\nThat bishop you decry gets it: teach and respect.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As a Catholic that's news to me. The point here is that these kids are required to follow this ritual of prayer. I f they are not permitted they cannot attend that school. I can't think of any Catholic ritual that would require a choice between public school or paid school. We should all lighten up a bit. There have been prayer rooms in public schools for twenty years.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "2/2\n\"The teaching of the Church ... was articulated in 1984 by Cardinal Bernardin ... in what became known as the Seamless Garment doctrine. And it remains a controversial teaching, not because it is unorthodox, but because Catholic teaching is and always has been at cross purposes with the political currents of this world and is therefore prone to being cannibalized and used by ideologues rather than listened to in its fullness.\"\n\"The Seamless Garment is basically common sense Catholic Social Teaching.\"\n\"... as Bernardin put it: 'A consistent ethic of life does not equate the problem of taking life (e.g., through abortion and in war) with the problem of promoting human dignity (through humane programs of nutrition, health care, and housing). But a consistent ethic identifies both the protection of life and its promotion as moral questions. It argues for a continuum of life which must be sustained in the face of diverse and distinct threats.'\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Your 2000+ tradition\" is based on what facts? From the days of Jesus Christ, it was the women who remained faithful to him, taught their children, and lived according to the Gospels. They spread the gospel among their family members and friends. \n\nWomen were martyrs. They were founders of monasteries. They were mystics. They were intellectuals. But they didn't write history. Men did and men promulgated themselves as the movers, shakers and builders. But women were the cement that held all of this together. \n---------\nUte E. Eisen, WOMEN OFFICEHOLDERS IN EARLY CHRISTIANITY EPIGRPHICAL AND LITERARY STUDIES, tr. Linda M. Maloney [Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 200]\n\nkevin Madigan & Carolyn Osiek, eds, 7 trs., ORDAINED WOMEN IN THE EARLY CHURCH: A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY [Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2005]", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Truth is the primary value that we all share in peace. All conflict is derived from lies.\n\nAll religion has two parts, belief and rules for social conduct.\n\nConflict with religion comes when belief is claimed as truth. If that were a principle, the existence of contradictory beliefs would render truth meaningless, leaving only conflict.\n\nIn the past, when Christianity was as extreme as Islam, there was far less immigration. I suspect that the fact that God in Christianity is the \"spirit of truth\" has had a significant influence on our disdain for conflict. People of all religions benefit from it but the west is far from conflict free.\n\nI suspect the fact that the west has invaded, colonized and undermined self rule in mostly Islamic nations for over 100 years has impeded conflict free evolution in those nations. Our armies are there among proud people who act as we might if the situation was reversed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Most Christian denominations do not practice open communion, which is irrelevant to a Catholic discussion in any case.\n\nIn the late 20th century some, but not all, Christian denominations began to follow the lead of the Episcopal Church and the ELCA in giving open communion, in some cases even to pets!\n\nOf course, this does not detract from the apostolic practice of excommunication, or the scriptural reference provided.\n\nIf you were able to provide an occasional cite to something authoritative that \u201cthis and other posts which you make here are unreliable as Catholic teaching\u201d, that might go some distance towards dispelling the impression left that one would be as well off seeking religious advice from a Ouija board as from you, particularly when time after time your challenges are met with cold hard citations from authoritative sources and refuted, as in this case.\n\nBut you don\u2019t, so the unreliability in matters Catholic appears to be yours alone.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How fortuitous! This \"BIG INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE\" will be held on Earth Day!! Wouldn't it be wonderful if the scholars attending the conference were to discuss something truly important, such as how to save God's glorious creation from becoming so degraded, deforested, depopulated by species, and polluted that the human race manages to obliterate itself? Isn't that way more important than the petty dogmatic squabbles of one--albeit large--Christian denomination?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "LNG is most unlikely to be the reason. Muslim Brotherhood is a real worry of Saudi. Islamic Caliphate established by the Muslim Brotherhood with Erdogan as Caliph must be the real worry of Saudi Royals - then end of their Muslim leadership. Egypt is known to hate Muslim Brotherhood. UAE, Kuwait equally worried. Qatar supports it. So the common enemy. God knows where the conflict will lead. Problem lies with Islam. Being a political religion, it is always exploited by the powerful at the cost of humanity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Church is not a democracy. We do not decide teaching by popular vote.\n\nThe people who have \"pronounced\" on these issues and reject the teaching are nothing more than dissidents who ought to go join a liberal Protestant Church.\n\nThe difference between a dissident Catholic and a Protestant is that the Protestant has integrity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So, you are comfortable with Stephen Bannon and David Duke, Bannon is a confidant and now close advisor to Trump. David Duke is an advisor to Bannon. Both are avowed anti-Catholic. (Read Bannon\u2019s writings from 20 years ago. Of course you do know that Duke heads the KKK which in it\u2019s manifesto decries Catholics as vermin needing to be drowned to rid the world of them.) \nI wonder where those American Bishops who supported Trump will stand when they are being incarcerated. I suspect they as well as you will disavow your Catholicism when you have to make a choice between your faith and your government. Good Luck!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "See comments by Petrus on earlier articles re: this case Mark. \n\n\"she is also and ipso facto a shill for the USCCB and its membership,\"\n\n\"She sounds a bit like a mole planted by the USCCB, which is and has been demonstrably anti-SNAP and anti-victim as well!\"\n\n\"In short, then, the US Catholic hierarchy is destroying our church. Chicago may become the hierarchy's Waterloo!\"\n\nI may be making a little satire out of them but the suggestions were made.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You did claim that N Catholic R is \"not really\" the best (newspaper). And I am free to accept or to reject your OPINIONS in these matters. And this one I reject, because you are not really an N Catholic R reader, nor do you understand what reporting is, whether investigative or any other kind. That the editors have allowed you to comment here, speaks well of them, and prompts more donations than if you were to maintain a discreet silence. Who knows, but you might be the one who prompts that 2.000th donor! I hope so.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am personally at a loss to understand why NCR has not done some serious coverage of the Indivisible Movement....political science historians will surely be looking at this in the future...but it's happening right now. And it's important!\n\nI have had experience with classic catholic social justice efforts, indeed have developed some in my state, decades ago.\n\nBUT the situation today is very very different....and vastly more serious.\nIF Trump fires Mueller and creates a major constitutional crisis...IF Trumpies don't care and support Trump (who previously suggested he could murder someone in plain sight) .\n\nTHEN I think our democracy is essentially going to gone\n\nThose Indivisible folks have had a bit of recent demonstration practice relative to healthcare et al....they might well be needed to protect our very constitution...and SOON!\n\nIt's not Catholics raised under an authoritarian culture that I look to for help...it's independent folks who have already stood up and been counted!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Atheist Texas killer hated his Christian in-laws.\n\nObama military failed to incarcerate felon and failed to register him so - under *current* law \u2013 he would not be eligible to buy, own, or possess a firearm for life.\n\nRetired NRA instructor shot killer and stopped the rampage cold.\n\nNonetheless, debate on gun ownership has many possible positions that Catholics can advocate. But arguments should be factual, rational, and devoid of sentiment and passion. [NOTE: to save responses, love is a virtue of the will, not a sentiment or passion. Thank you]", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Between the 1840s and the 1860s the \"Know-Nothing\" movement (the Native American Party or the American Party) tried to convince the American public that Catholics were trying to take over the country. Catholics were going to put the Pope in power and institute strict laws in compliance with Church doctrine. There was a secondary belief the the immigrants were being brought to the country to take the jobs held by Americans. Of course most of those holding the jobs were first and second generations immigrants themselves. \nI believe there is a great parallel to today and the Know-Nothing movement. Facts give way to miss-beliefs and fear overruns common sense. While there are strong reasons to deal with illegal immigrants there is an ongoing amount of individuals who see every legal immigrant as a three to the country in some form.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The real War on Christmas can be found, among other places, recounted by the Thomas More Legal Center and the Catholic League for Civil and Religious Rights:\n\nhttps://www.thomasmore.org/press-releases/the-war-christmas-continues-the-thomas-more-law-center-fights-back/\n\nhttp://www.catholicleague.org/the-war-on-christmas-6/\n\nEvery year attempts are made by government officials, school officials, and others to still religion from the public square and neutralize religious expression.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I DO NOT Equate being a member of the Catholic Church with belonging to a political party. \nI was merely drawing a comparison if I take positions contrary to the official teachings of an institution how can I consider myself still a member, is that not hypocrisy and dishonesty. You have the freedom to believe and do as you please but please have the integrity for being truthful and don't identify with the group who is trying to be faithful and for the sake of God stop attacking mocking said beliefs and practices. All I ask for is honesty and courtesy. NcR is not honest when it identifies itself as Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is only one difference - as I pointed out. \n\nJesus does not say there is no forgiveness for the adulterer who re-marries like the woman at the well. He does not tell his disciples to keep any sacraments from people who have failed to not divorce or re-marry. Jesus seems to teach that forgiveness is available even to those who have divorced and re-married but does not want his followers to think that divorce and remarriage is not a serious sin - it still is. Adultery is a forgivable sin and all sins but one mentioned in the Gospels are also forgivable. This seems to be the primary difference we need to correct since Jesus is not wrong in offering the Samaritan woman the drink that will gain her eternal life.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is an insinuation of Quebec's view of in your face religious display in daily lives of the people, whilst simply forgetting that it is the view of majority of the rest of Canadians of all shades of skin tone.\n\nModern Canada is for a fair society. Quebec and the rest of Canada will vehemently reject a not-a-non-white orthodox Christian leader outright as well. But have to dance around a subject relating to a non-white leader who is first projecting himself as a religious person. \n\nOnce you put a costume then you are seeing issues through that lens. Its hardly worth going further. Vast majority of Canadians --who are mostly of Christian faith, and inside and outside Quebec, and Canada is a Christian nation --are NOT racist and have openly invited and accepted all people. But they will reject you if you display yourself first and foremost as a religious person. Just display the racist card only if you are otherwise a fair person.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mark- you seem to suggest right-wingers own Christianity. You could not be more wrong.\n\nJust saying.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Because the Church (rightly) supported Trump's opposition to abortion - and saw this as a priority - does not mean she will support his position on immigration deportation or his other policies. Why would it? As a Catholic, it's possible to be conservative on moral issues and more liberal on social issues.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So Fr. Thomas Reese is celebrating the Revolution by the upstart Luther. Sharing the Eucharist etc with pro-testants who are just laughing at all this garbage going on and talking with the protestants for 70 years and still what do we have, only a so called Catholic church now more protestant than the heretics. But it creates a lot of work for all the Left churchie feel gooders as it keep them from getting a real job. Oh yes, the \"In\" words today are climate change and social justice. Do not bother teaching the Catholic children in so called Catholic schools the Catholic Faith but then, who knows the Catholic faith today its all about feeling good and climate change blah. no Leaders only social justice warriors.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This sounds about right. Now be obedient little christians and obey your christian leadership. God says. . . .", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Let me rephrase Marty's first sentence so as to better reflect reality, \"I am a so-called Catholic who is getting rather sick and tired of postings that don't agree with my views. I do not believe that those postings advance the points that I want to make.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Good point! That text (Mt 5:28) is quoted by Justin too, 1 Apol. 15.1. The words may be from Matthew (c. 80-90 CE) or his source rather than the historical Jesus, and they are meant to show that Jesus regrounds the Torah in the heart, rather than in external acts. Jesus seems to have been pretty understanding of sexual deviations in practice, as indicated by his welcoming attitude to various \"sinful\" women and to the centurion in Mt 8 (if the latter's relation to his pais is sexual, as several scholars claim to be likely). The same passage in Matthew says that \"not a jot, not a tittle\" of the Law will ever be relaxed (Mt 5:18), which Paul, claiming the spirit of Jesus, overrode. That statement, too, that may come from Matthew or his source rather than from the historical Jesus, and he may be reacting against Paul or some lax Paulinism. To square it with Paul we are obliged to say that the law is fulfilled to its last tittle when we fulfill the law of love.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, in Acts 19:19 you can read that the Christians burned basically, a whole library, fifty thousand drachmas worth of scrolls, a drachma (per TNIV) being worth about a day's wages. How can we expect to understand the Pagan symbolism in our own sacred texts when original documents defining such symbolism have been destroyed? So understanding of why there was a need for the reform that was Christianity is missing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I doubt very much that any significant number of Chicago gang bangers are active members of the Catholic Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Good Afternoon Pandora,\n\nI think it is very challenging to begin a true discussion when theologians (97 theologians according to Matthew Fox) have lost their ability to teach in Catholic institutions (where else would a Catholic theologian teach), when the starting framework is that homosexual acts are \"intrinsically disordered,\" and the inclination is a \"strong tendency ordered toward an intrinsic moral evil\" (Ratzinger, 10/1/86).\n\nIMHO, what we need is a new philosophy based on the great work over the last century in knowledge, science and psychology. Without a new framework (e.g., Ken Wilber), I don't see how any conversation can begin.\n\nAlso, traditionalists have just got to get beyond the notion that doctrine never changes. It evolves as we learned and understood\u200b. That is a good thing! A case in point is slavery - never condemned in the Gospels and supported by Paul in his writing (e.g., Ephesians 6:5, 1 Peter 2:18) has clearly evolved as a moral issue.\n\nJust my thoughts", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'd be careful with that one Jim. There are lot's of reason to be proud of family, community, nation. Just because the source is white.black, Christian, Muslim should make us assume that pride is associated only with that label. Appreciating your writing, I don't think this is likely from you, but it happens.\n\nBut I think I know what you mean and I too hold nothing but contempt for people who assume superiority in the eyes of God, or Nature, only because of skin color.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Back around 1991 I got flow to Toronto for a week long computer course. Watching local TV from my hotel room I saw the Ontario Premier sharing a stage with handful of superstition pedlars. That would never happen in BC, then or since. \n\nThe closest was when the SoCred party drove another nail in their Party Coffin by affirming their \"Christian Heritage\" party platform driving out Right Wing Jewish and other supporters from the SoCred Coalition and setting the stage for the so called \"BC Liberal\" coalition. \n\n\"No Religion\" (thank you very much -) has overtaken \"Catholic\" as the largest response when Stats Can pokes its nose into that area of our private lives. \n\nThe real No Religion rate is much higher. People tend to give Socially Conventional Responses when asked about Religion, rather than tellign the truth. That is particularly true when the Government is asking, and recording the Response, Name, Home Address and Birth-date for future publication in Census results.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The key to Catholicism is recognizing all these distortions as mostly honest attempts to understand and share. Our gatherings are gatherings not just of the Holy (both of them), but also of those striving to be holy, those who fall short of holiness, those who fall short of striving, and others.\n\nEach of us has distorted the Jesus metaphor, but where two or more are gathered in Hia name, Christ is truly present.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Have you just made this up? The Church presumes the validity of all marriages between baptised Christians but lays down certain conditions for Catholics for a valid marriage to take place. The conditions are set by the Church so can be dispensed by the Church, they can't be just ignored.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Read Vatican II's Decree on Ecumenism. It affirms that while the separated Christian brethren have elements of truth, God\u2019s will is that they all come to completeness found only in Catholicism:\n\n\"For it is through Christ\u2019s Catholic Church alone . . . that the fullness of the means of salvation can be obtained. It was to the apostolic College alone, of which Peter is the head . . . that we believe the Lord entrusted all the benefits of the New Covenant in order to establish on earth the one Body of Christ, into which all those who already in some way belong to the people of God ought to be fully incorporated.\"\n\nIt applies to Orthodox Churches too.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "He works with poor kids and has pretty much since his exit from the NBA. If he was a Christian instead of a Muslim the NBA would use him as an example of a model veteran making the most of life after his pro career. A lot of what he did as a pro, the national anthem garbage and it's garbage from both sides, is what Curry is doing now.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have previously presented the simple proposition that, if you believe a personal opinion of mine is contra the teachings of the Catholic Church, all you have to do is cite the teaching of the Catholic Church and compare and contrast my personal opinion with it to demonstrate the veracity of your assertion.\n\nTo date: nothing.\n\nHowever, I do believe it is fair to say that when I offer a personal opinion consonant with the Church's teaching, it happens from time to time you offer a contra opinion and express your rejection of my proposition. From time to time in response I cite the teaching of the Catholic Church and compare and contrast it with your personal opinion to demonstrate how they differ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Glad to read a Catholic publication saying that this show that examines suicide could actually save lives. So tired of hearing the kneejerk response by the radio Catholics (eg Don Johnson and T. Millington) that the show \"should be taken off the air.\" The old school of \"don't talk about issues, just pretend they don't exist, and that will make them go away\" is so backward, but it's still very much alive in pro Catholic armchair culture warrior world.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My \"beloved super rich\" Catholic conservatives \"take way more than they give.\"\n\nHow would you know this? And take from whom? Doing damage? \n\nI have no idea what you're ranting about.\n\nMy point is that conservative Catholics are keeping the church going, and that includes charities. And that the author of this piece is presumptuous to say that conservatives don't care about the common good.\n\nWhen I consider the financial contributions my conservative family gave to help others......your comments are really out of line.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"So, if I, a white Christian male, wore a face mask around town all day, that would not be considered weird? And make people uncomfortable?\"\n\n\"This makes me uncomfortable\" *is not a sufficient reason* to make something illegal.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am not interested in a Jewish or Muslim theologian's incorrect view on the resurrection, since they obviously don't believe in the event. We are on a Catholic website, are we not, albeit a very misguided one. Your responses remind me of a trial lawyer, trying to get a guilty defendant off of a criminal charge, always ambiguous and never crystal clear.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "NCR continues to \"clericalize\" the Catholic Church, in this case carrying the water for cUPICH as he lionizes Francis. \n\nEvery article is about clerics or religious or rabbis!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Because few priests have been falsely accused. Many have been correctly accused and protected by the Church. And many loyal catholics obediently mouth the defenses used by the church to avoid admitting its guilt, including the sad and sorry claim that many priests are suffering from false accusations.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In NO way am I making an excuse for Ryan, BUT, don't forget: his wealthy wife is from a devout Democrat family. Abortion Plank is in the demo platform, yet these people like to pretend they are Catholic. God will not be mocked. Shame on \"Catholics\" and other \"Christians\" who vote for Communist/democrats.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"IS claims responsibility for attack on Christians\"\n\nMore blood on Obama's hands.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'll have to side with you, Dennis, on this point. Since the Reagan administration, bishops HAVE sided with the Republican party. And with good reason. With every passing election cycle, the Democratic party has become increasing the party of the extreme left, to the point where they are no longer recognizable as Democrats like JFK or RFK. They are the party of that much more corrupt sleaze ball, younger brother Teddy. JFK can be forgiven for stealing Chicago. Today's Dems are attempting to steal America itself . . . by letting in anyone who illegally crosses our borders, the great majority of who can be counted on to vote Dem. Gay marriage and abortion would not exist were it not for anti-Catholic values. So OF COURSE the bishops have sided more with Republicans, for all their faults. Real Catholics need to keep that in mind 9 days from now. These people are anti-life, anti-Catholic, and in the end, anti-American with their giving the vote away to illegal aliens.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You don't think if Judas went to Jesus and asked forgiveness, this would have been recorded and thus he wouldn't have resorted to suicide?\n\nAnd if the law of prayer is the law of belief, the EF collect from Holy Thursday:\n\n\"O God, from whom Judas received the punishment of his guilt, and the thief the reward of his confession: grant unto us the full fruit of Thy clemency; that even as in His Passion our Lord Jesus Christ gave to each retribution according to his merits, so having cleared away our former guilt, he may bestow on us the grace of His resurrection: Who with Thee liveth and reigneth\u2026\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Given what abortion involves, what did you expect the Catholic bishops to say?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank You. This is not something that will be permanent. \nCan we please start a petition to stop the temporary restraining order.\nI fully understand why we want to block people from coming into our country to protect our citizens.\nIf we were blocking western Europe from entering, would we not be having issues with Catholics and other Christians?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Does the Catholic Church really want to go on record saying the government should have any say whatsoever in a churches definition of marriage Catholic Church property? It seems shortsighted to ask for a law in this regard. Once prescient has been set that a government can regulate something, laws can always be changed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "More of us ought to more often attend Anglican services more often. There is something profound I think is facing the challenge to my faith in deciding whether or not to receive. Since Anglicans are open to intercommunion, the faith challenge is on the Catholic side.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Perhaps others judge something a sin which a persons own internal forum does not judge that way. Perhaps it is OK to make this person a scape goat for an improper inner forum or perhaps those who make scape goats are the real sinners. Perhaps there really is relative sins in even the Catholic Church. Perhaps venial sins are relatively less serious than are mortal sins. Only the sinner can judge why he acts the way he or she acts. Most are neurotic people with the power of some judgement. But then psychotic people out of contact with reality can not truly judge what is wrong and are truly not sinners.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Here we go making uneven comparisons to try & push married priests onto our religion, acting innocent, while we ignore the most obvious question: Is ordaining married clergy in our church Just, or not? Then asking is it better for priests or parish? The first question is the most important one & the answer is NO! \n\nWhy? Because ordaining married people in our church before we are ordaining women priests means we are literally creating Segregation by Gender. This makes our religion one in which one sex has complete authority & sacramental power over the other. This is not true in Presbyterian & other religions that have married clergy because they already ordain women priests & ministers. \n\nWe must, in order not to create a graver sin against women's humanity than we have, take a stand to not ordain married men, as a matter of human justice, until we are ordaining women priests too. Catholicism saves no one, if we are still treating our sisters with hatred & bias.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "n 1453, a mere 39 years before Columbus sailed west, the Islamic Ottoman Turks seized and conquered the great city of Constantinople. Constantinople was founded by Emperor Constantine in 325 as the new capital of the Christian Roman empire. The Muslim armies drove out the Christians and massacred them in wholesale bloodbath. Canada did nothing of the sort to natives what Islam's invasion armies did to Christian Europe. If Kahn is prepared to cede Constantinople, Turkey and the Bosporus back to European Christendom ,we can then discuss her support of native land claims. \n\nThe one good thing to come from that tragic event was the refugees from Constantinople fled west to Rome and Florence, sparked the Renaissance. We are still living with the benefits of it today, even though it's lost on her.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "... modern day 'christianity'", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If a person wants moral certitude today, then they need to become either a Mormon or an evangelical Christian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Kari, I am not taking it literally. I am an agnostic and a None. I'm just writing about what the Bible says about Judas and forgiveness. What is amazing is that you constantly parrot supposed 'facts' without questioning. We don't know which book of the Gospel was written first or when the books were first written. The Sower's Sevens number patterns suggest the four books had a single provenance at some point in time, as I have mentioned to you before, but you won't look at probabilities, and want absolute proof. Well, you don't have absolute proof either. Jesus (if he existed) was a first-century Jew and did not think of himself as a 'Bridegroom' (term per Pagan tradition), nor as a human sacrifice. Jesus would have known that Yahweh rejected human sacrifice and would never accept it. Much of the New Testament is parody and irony. Jesus reportedly said someday people will \"worship in spirit\" -- could that mean other than with gender roles and with priests and sacrifices (like Pagans)?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Our Lord is widely reputed to have said : \" Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.\"\n\nIf I recall Sr. Dorothy's life, she went to Brazil after she retired from her life of ministry in the United States. Following the call of the Spirit, she left her comfortable existence and removed to a far country where she took up the opportunity to accompany God's people, there, as they make their way. \n\nIt was on that way that she met the powers of darkness, and had the opportunity to bear witness to the Light of Christ.\n\nAny one of us can do this, where ever it is that we are, who ever it is that we are.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hi Mark,\n\"I think that many people in the Institution have abandoned the real purpose of being in it, and to this extent they have abandoned God.\"\nExactly, what or who will change that, I wonder?\n\n\u201cI also know that all of us, as ordinary Christians, can also abandon God. But I think you are pointing to a systemic failing (an Institutional failing), rather than to personal failings.\u201d \n\u2018Losing all credibility with people all over the world\u2019 means abandoned by God in Orient! The institutional failure implies the individual failure who runs it. Well, at this point, it seems to me that it passed personal & institutional failing, that is why I wondered if God also abandoned it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jones has correctly identified the primary reason why white christian males in particular voted for Trump.\n\nThey felt threatened by a system that was attacking their \"white privilege\". The fear was that they may become a \"minority\". Trump's rhetoric to make America \"great\" again gave them an unattainable hope that would restore their privilaged status.\n\nIt will be interesting to see how they respond when they realise that this was only a wishful dream, a future fantasy, that enabled another white male of very questionable character to be elected president; a white male who is one of the very few privileged elite belonging to the oppulent minority.\n\nThis has been compounded by the resurgence of white males who are \"christian\" fundamentalists of all groupings (born again, protestant, evangelicals and, of course, catholics).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sr. Joan, \nI agree, totally, with your thoughts. Thank you for your thoughts, insights and analysis, your spot on, as usual. Truly it seems America is going backward. The oft repeated GOP anti-intellectualism and anti=factualism (such a non word, but it express) is now exploding and rampant in America. My only hope is that Trump will not be as bad as he seems to be.\nBut I am very thankful for you and nearly everyone else on this site and for each ones thoughts and questions and wonderings and insights.\nBless you - you know who you all are. And Bless Pope Francis. a true Catholic pope and healer and bridge builder, as Christ was. I truly hope he succeeds. I know where Pope Francis is going. \nI knew where the last two popes were going. Scalia said it when he called for: \"the end to the Rule of Law in America AND: \"the end to democracy in America.\" \nII call for a millstone to be tied around their necks and they be plunged into the depths and for the fiery abyss to consume them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Be careful putting \"Christian\" in quotes. The devout flaggers will try to get your post pulled.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "BTW, NCU - \"In response, university administrators gave her a choice: If she wanted to keep her job, she needed to either break up with the unborn baby\u2019s father or get married immediately. After she refused, she was fired.\" This is in no way ANY KIND of christian love. NOBODY would be told to choose to marry a childs paren, t or cut ties so that a \"legal\" marriage would never be possible. NO WAY IS THAT A CHRISTIAN MANDATE - all righteous christ lovers...point out one passage that says that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The good Bishop also hesitates and stops well short of closing off God's mercy and love to others. Read his declaration: he is encouraging repentance, leaving the door wide open for return, even making it clear that there is no impediment to active homosexuals presenting their children for baptism and educating them in the Christian faith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hitler was no Christian. Look it up. He detested Christianity, even though he had been christened as a 'baby' in a church, he rejected religion early on. and promoted the Occult in Nazi rights and initiation. The Christian Church was an obstacle but like a \"Rock\" it would not be moved. it stood against the evil that Hitler accomplished and would have continued had 'Christians' in many nations, including America, had not opposed him. \n.\nChristians were instrumental in ending slavery as well, not just in America, but world wide. Nothing good has ever been accomplished by the un-godly. Only immorality, quarreling and genocide has been the hallmark of godless nations. New Age humanism has replaced Christianity in America many years ago. How's that workin' for ya?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Or many remain Catholic out of tradition and not conviction.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I can imagine you attempting a synthesis between St Thomas and non-Catholic Jaroslav Pelikan. St Thomas is a Doctor of the Catholic Church, Pelikan is ......", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The article should read: \"VANCOUVER Cemeteries running out of room\". Here in Alberta, the city of Edmonton and the city of Calgary are both building or planning to build new cemeteries. In Alberta, privately owned \"for profit\" and church run cemeteries still have lots of room. In Edmonton, both the Ukrainian Catholic Church and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church have opened brand new cemeteries, and burial and cremation is open to all faiths and cultures. The Muslims have a opened a brand new cemetery in Edmonton. In Montreal, Mount Royal Cemeteries just opened a brand new cemetery, in addition to their other two. Apparently, research and fact checking is unheard of at the Globe and Mail.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is heretical for a Catholic to publicly promote, teach, support, and proclaim that such is good and normative for the Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "MSW - thank you; appreciated this. Puts a new light on *salvation history*.\n\nPlanning a joint ecumenical project with a neighboring Lutheran parish for the week of Christian Unity in January and one focus is social action and what Luther said and did about that.\n\nPlease ignore the typical off track comment about the story of Moses - geez, how some folks just have to nit pick to show us how smart they are - and what a *literal* scriptural knee jerk comment that really says nothing about this post or speaker.\n\nWe typically read scripture and especially the Torah *contextually* - we look for meaning not Torah as a geography or anthropology book. Those stories are our joint heritage - they are our founding *myths* in an appropriate understanding.\n\nhttp://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ancient/moses-exodus.html\n\nKey - We can see the Moses narratives as the products of a period of trauma; no one individual could possibly have done all that. So the tales are a kind of aggrandizement.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"religious encroachment\" Come on, be realistic, sky. We're talking about some students using an empty classroom for 15 minutes. This has been happening without incident for 20 years and isn't unique to the Peel board nor to the public school system. These simple, reasonable solutions are in effect in other school boards and even in a Catholic school in St Catherine's. There is nothing here to be afraid of.\n\nI've been using the example of Christmas and Easter to demonstrate that our Christian heritage is so ingrained into our culture that we don't even notice it anymore. But it's intellectually dishonest to ignore how our society evolved to accommodate Christian worship. Now we being asked to make a small, very small, effort to accommodate another religion, one that has been in Canada for almost as long as there has been a Canada. Did you know that the Muslim presence here goes back as far as 1871? These aren't strangers, these are our co-worker, our neighbours, and their children.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "From the atheist perspective , watching theists debating how many angels can dance on the head of a pin is always entertaining as is the question of whether Francis is a heretic , I leave that to the true believers...but from my perspective this particular pope is nothing more than a modern day New Leftist ( Communist ) liberation theologian ( as he revealed during his 2016 visit to Mexico) ...he stated that \" it is the Communists who think like Christians\", and , there is , of course an element of truth in that.\n\nChristian Communism , the radical wing of Christian socialism, exists, Karl Marx was a Christian and was a member of the League of the Just, a Christian- Communist organization.\n\nModern day Christian Communists share many of the goals of modern day Marxists in particular the replacement of capitalism with socialism, which Francis , I'm certain , would agree with .", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Clearly, I would have a more productive conversation with a piece of furniture; than with you. First you attack because you think I'm an Atheist, next I'm Westboro Baptist Church. If you think somehow telling people what they can and cannot say on the ADN.com comments section corresponds with people being decent to each other....again, you are the one who is terminally confused.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hmmmm -- Post and the leftwing media play up THIS angle? Good grief. Not a word about his online rantings preaching atheism and his hatred of Christians. When will the media self destruct from its lack of honesty?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Let's try it again. I have no problem repeating it:\n\n1) This story is about clerics who believe so much in their progressive views that they engage in civil disobedience and get arrested.\n\n2) Bishop McElroy is a Catholic cleric who made a speech several months ago to young activists, urging them to \"disrupt\" society as they chose fit (ie civil disobedience) in order to force the nation to accept progressive ideals.\n\n3) Bishop McElroy himself seems to have no interest in personally participating in acts of civil disobedience. \n\n4) Because Barber II is willing to walk his talk, he seems to have more integrity than Bishop McElroy, who simply talks.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Where did I say anything about making you or the country into a Christian (nation)? (And, since you know nothing about Christianity, I can tell you, I can't make you ANYTHING!)\n\n\"According to researchers at King\u2019s College in London, the latest model scientists hold about the Big Bang may in fact be false.\"\n\nMy father was a CalTech educated nuclear physicist who would not have agreed with you!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Our thoughts and prayers are with Joseph's family, friends, and Monroe Catholic School.---Tri-Valley Track/Field Team", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Time for Muslims to understand that religion should not be mixed with other institutions, being political, educational, or commercial. You are free to pray for God in a setting that does not offend others, and where you do not give the impression that you have rights other religions do not. What if Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, and decided to pray in schools", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus also said ton the Pharisees who wrestled trying to trip him up on Jewish law: \u201c\u2018Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.\u2019This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: \u2018Love your neighbor as yourself.\u2019\n\nDoesn't seem to be too many folks following the second one in here!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Are you telling me that early Christians, secretly gathered in one's house, had ordained \"priests\" wearing fancy garb, used shiny chalices to confect and contain the host, strict liturgical decorum, read passages from scriptures YET to be recorded and had a secret allegiance to an infallible Roman magisterium?\n\nEven modern Catholic scholarship agrees that Jesus' sacrifice was a \"once for all time\" event (essentially a protestant tenet), so now we have been trained to call it a \"re-presentation\" of His holy sacrifice, with contrived and contorted rubrics to explain it all away. I sincerely beseech you to read up modern scholarship concerning early church formation, worship and practices, such as \"voluntary associations\" (how early Christians legally navigated under Roman law), how congregations were formed and the like. You will clearly see that is was a product of the prevailing culture, as was the post-Constantine church. We no longer have to \"take Rome's word for it,\" nor should we.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are the one who is using \"left wing\" and \"right wing\" in trying to put modern liberals to blame for a movement that began in the years following the Civil War, led by the WCTU, Women's Christian Temperance Movement. Wilson was a progressive, and he vetoed the Volstead Act. This is what your BS is about: You say everything bad is from liberals, everything good is from conservatives. And you're not even a conservative, you are at the far edge of right wing , in my opinion. You hold not a single moderate opinion. I doubt you even know what moderate means.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I imagine most of us of a certain age have our own stories of growing up in America at a time when the \"official\" voices of our respective traditions told us one thing, but our lived experience told us something else. \n\nI remember, when I was around 7 or 8, thinking that there were two religions in the world, Catholic and Public. It just seemed logical because I went to Catholic school and some of my friends went to 'Public' school. The nuns warned us about associating with those 'Public' school kids, but experience taught us otherwise. They were just like us. None of them had two heads, none of them had hooves or tails, and they were just as goofy and fun-loving as we were.\n\nSometimes I think wisdom actually means becoming reacquainted with the truth you knew instinctively when you were little that was conditioned out of you.\n\nBTW, I love that photo of Pope Francis and Rev. Junge up above. They look like a couple out on the dance floor trying to decide who's going to lead!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There have been many instances, going back to at least 2004, of various Catholic bishops acting in support of the Republican party or Republican candidates, some fairly explicit, some less so. None was more explicit than Thomas Tobin (R-RI), the Republican bishop of Providence (not to be confused with the cardinal-designate of Indianapolis.) In 2013, RI Tobin addressed a group of Young Republicans, announced that he had registered as a Republican, and displayed his baptismal certificate along side his party registration. \n\nSo now you cannot say that you've never heard of a bishop endorsing one party over another. You can read about Tobin's very well-publicized announcement of his party affiliation here, among other places:\n\nhttp://wpri.com/blog/2013/08/13/bishop-thomas-tobin-says-hes-now-a-registered-republican/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Problem is the Church's interpretation is utterly unsupported by the text; it is a completely non-tenable reading into scripture what is simply not there. What is double strange about this mis-reading is that it is the opposite of most incorrect readings by Christians--the reading is the very opposite of fundamentalistic literal reading, when a literal reading is exactly correct. Jesus here was reaffirming Leviticus which recognizes divorce for adultery.\n\nTherefore, the question AnnieO asks is still on the table.\n\nBTW, other Christians who read this scripture as it stands do end up accepting divorce where adultery is present.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pope Francis in his fight against discrimination in the world, is first trying to rid Christianity of discrimination between its more than 38,000 denominations first.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Angst here?\" Really Lotl... if you truly want to see angst then visit any traddy site and you will find nothing but angst. They have had nothing but angst since the reforms of VII were proposed 50 years ago. By it's very definition, liberal/progressive-minded Catholics (as we have often been labeled--Pope Francis included) have far *less* angst about the \"progression\" of modern society, with the understanding that all life forms naturally grow/mature/evolve/adapt.\n\nIncidentally, triangulation seems a poor way to describe how the institutional church is capable of \"working out\" personal salvation for individual disciples of Christ. (I realize you didn't say exactly that but it was implied... in fact you repeatedly insinuate that Canon law is somehow synonymous with God's law, which doesn't even pass the straight-faced test btw.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Is this a Catholic stereotype?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Palm Sunday commemorates the arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem and is a solemn occasion on the Christian calendar that marks the start of Holy Week and the runup to Easter Sunday.\"\n\nJust in case NCR readers have forgotten what Palm Sunday commemorates? Maybe the author was told to write a story that had to exceed 400 words.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Many Protestants do not see ministry as a vocation, they see it is a career or job.\" \nAnd many do not. While many who are called to be doctors, teachers, nurses, therapists, artists, and actors also see their \"careers\" as vocations. There's no more reason a person with a vocation to ministry in the Catholic church can't be married than there is for a doctor to abstain from marriage because her family life might interfere with her vocation as doctor.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Once again MSM provides a platform for a social justice myth, there is no such thing as Islamaphobia. When is the Globe going to being providing regular space for social commentary from somceone who identifies as a fundamental Christian? Buddhist? Atheist?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And no Catholic parishes are affiliated with an interfaith equality commission. Interesting.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Crusaders? There were Coptic Christians in Egypt hundreds of years before Muhammad was even born. They must be getting their history from the same textbooks that don't show Israel on the map.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part 1 of 2\n\nLuciano, I do think how you wrote your question, it was equating the two. Yet, that aside, there are some issues I would have with your defense. \n\nOne is if everyone, who took a position contrary to the official teachings of The Catholic Church the Church would shrink dramatically. With the issue of birth control alone, the membership of the church would shrink 85 to 90 percent. Are you saying all who disagree with the Church's teaching on birth control should not consider themselves Catholic; are hypocrites for doing so and should leave the Church? Would you be OK with the Church shrinking to 15 to 10 percent of what it now is and the loss of power that would result? \n\nAnother problem I have is that over the centuries official teachings of the Church has changed (think of the salvation structure, especially concerning Jews and those of other faiths). Consider where the Church is at this point with it's teaching on Limbo and how different that is from what it once was.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't believe I advocated for punishment. Stern discipline, maybe, but not punishment. \n\nWe are taught to \"go and teach all nations\". We as Christians are taught that truth and enlightenment free us from our sinful ways. The Church was given authority to teach(infallibly) from Jesus. Being taught what we are doing wrong and how to correct it is not punishment, it is more in line with admonishing the sinner and is actually a work of mercy. Yes, we have the natural inclination to act defensively and it may hurt our egos but it is not punishment. \n\nFor instance, enforcing the rule \"no running by the pool\" can be seen as too stern and punishes children who wish to run about. Or, it can be seen as enlightening the child of his dangerous behavior and frees them from their risk of harm. \n\nNot allowing divorced and remarried people to receive communion is not \"punishing\" them, it is enforcing a rule of the Church designed to keep us from sinful behavior.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think you have got that wrong there, Sarasi1. I feel you don't know very much about the Orthodoxy which you have embraced or that you have latched on to a liberal faction within Orthodoxy which has no hope of succeeding. \nAre you a convert to the Orthodox Church from Catholicism?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why not? Where is the evidence that Christians behave more morally than non-theists? At least an ethics based on humanism is more admirable than a scheme of (fictional) rewards and punishments.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm with those who feel this bombing was a mistake.\n\nIf you're a Christian and feel like I do, know that conservative Christians such as Pat Buchanan, Ann Coulter and Tucker Carlson are also against the Syria bombing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your irrational fear of Protestantism does not change the fact that Jesus Christ commanded all of us, so all of his churches, never to teach or support a teaching that treats one group of people differently than they want to be treated themselves. \n\nThe Greatest Commanded given by Jesus Christ, clearly stated in the Gospels, is the Greatest Commandment because ALL Christians must uphold it above all other laws, along with loving God first if they wish Christ to claim them as one of his followers. So no man or group of men are truly Christian when they teach or uphold laws which clearly break this commandment. This includes: Popes, bishops, apostles, disciples, men & women of all races and ethnicities.\n\nThis ban or tradition is not a dogma. The Great Commandment is a dogma. Primacy of Conscience therefore demands the laity fight the continued abuse of women by this unholy discrimination as a matter of Christian Justice. The church has changed doctrines before so this is not new.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why?\n\nI am trying to understand and discuss your claim that the cardinals are \"holding quite fast to the totality of decisions consistent with Scripture for the last 2000 years.\" Their behavior shows little grasp of the traditional behavior of cardinals.\n\nMore important to me is how you decide if papal teaching undercuts previous teaching by earlier Popes. When do you apply your principle:\n\n\"It's an obligation in fact for Catholic when he/she runs across some matter of teaching that appears unacceptible or notrright to unflagglingly think about the matter, read about it, consult others on the matter, until a \"unity\" is worked out, where there is no conflict left remaining.\"\n\nWhen do you ignore that principle? How do you decide the Pope is being duplicitous?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This article is not about whether people should like Jim Minnery or if they should support Christian theology. It is about two judges who have made a decision for the people and against the people's will to put in place a blanket ban on parental notification of a major medical procedure; thus endangering the lives of vulnerable minors.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We need to get rid of all the identity politics starting with special privileges for the French and the Christians. No group deserves special rights or privileges.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm not applying my piety, but simply expressing Gospel teachings. Give me a break.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "whengoodmendonothing remarks, \"Imagine PAYING for religious indoctrination\".\n\nThat's what \"Christian Evangalists\" Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker counted on when they had \"Christian\" folks sending them money so they could built \"Heritage USA\" the former American Christian theme park which opened in Fort Mill South Carolina in 1978 and which by 1986 was the most visited amusement park after the Disney's two properties.\n\nThe water slide was known as Jerry's slide named after Liberty University's president's father Jerry Falwell who took over the theme park after Jim Bakker's marital infidelities were revealed and then under Falwell the park sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy.\n\nIt's not surprising then to find Donald himself a \"University President\" and \"Bankruptcy Guru\" lecturing the blindly obedient Fallwell Followers as they graduate :)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are millions of young men in the West without a father figure and who are exposed to different religions and superstitions of Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Judaism etc...and don't become suicide bombers. However there is only one superstition that all these suicide bombers in Europe, Asia, Middle East, Israel over the last 20 years believe in. Therefore, there is something very wrong with the belief system of the particular superstition that all these suicide bombers participate in. It's not the young men. It's the belief system.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"PRRI: '31.2% of Americans report being raised in a Catholic household, a loss of 10.3%' and highest among all religious denominations.\"\n\nYes, a big loss (retention rate, 66%), owing to so many factors (according to all churches), not least to secularism; but the CC in American history has never had more than 25% of the American population, and, historically, was often way less than that. So historically, it has dropped 3 percentage points (not more, thanks to immigration [7.4%] and conversions [Pew notes, 2.6%]). On the other hand, Protestant churches together used to claim 65% of the US population in the 1950's, but have dropped to 43.9%, owing to the same sociological factors. And even with 5% of the population (ex-Catholics) who have joined mostly conservative Protestant churches (and to a lesser extent, immigrants who have joined Protestant congregations), it has continued to drop drastically. That is the big story (not ups and downs of CC since 1776)!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think Trump's comments about the judge are reasonable given human nature. The comment was not racist as the claim of conflict of interest relates not to race but personal interests and background. When John Kennedy was pursuing the Presidency, there was anti-Kennedy talk based on his Catholicism. He was going to turn the US into the Pope's servant. When people don't like someone, in this case Trump, they will seek out any pretext to attack them. Judge's do have personal backgrounds and those backgrounds do influence their rulings. Everybody knows that personal preference influences decisions. This is one of the reasons that there are appeal processes. What is admirable about Trump is that he will say what everyone knows but won't say because it is not politically correct.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think that by saying \" we will give preference to Christians\" it has become in effect a Muslim ban and that will be how it is seen overseas. The quote \" the vetting process for the vetting of Refugees was not vetted\" is probably how this administration will continue to work. Now 90% of the world is upset at us which will not be positive in the long run. We are a nation of emigrants and of imports, running the nation is not the same as running a scripted TV show. Now the stock market has also lost faith, so what's left of my 401 will slide over the cliff.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's so important that pope Francis asks for forgiveness for what happened hundreds of years ago. \n\nAnd I hope the NFL owners apologize to Colin Kaepernick, and give him a new 100 million dollar contract. \n\nNone of that will have any effect on improving the lives of the poor, but first things first: the sensibilities of the progressive Catholic must be appeased with irrelevant acts of virtue signaling.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I appreciate the opportunity to clarify my letter to the School Board. The main point of my letter was the bond measure was approved by 59.9 percent but failed the 60 percent mark by a margin of only 1/10th of one percent -- just 3 votes, so it is appropriate to put out for vote the same measure, without change. I also added that the school facilities are available to students of all ages and many adults too! This includes students who are home schooled or are in private schools. For example, if there was a track, the newly formed track team at the Orcas Christian School could use the track too. The \"track component\" includes the reconstruction of fields and utilities and amounts to 16 percent of the bond amount, at an estimate price of $22.40 per year. Next time you are in Friday Harbor, check out the track there. It's all-weather surface is used by athletes and other students of all sports, and moms, dads and seniors too!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Right. Even those Christians who don't believe in the Eucharist.\"\n\nAre you suggesting that Jesus requires the help of an ordained priest in order to be present in the Eucharist? That seems to be somewhat dismissive of what the Son of God is capable of.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are many who follow the others - I am not denying that but all are not true. I am a pre-suppositionalist and really look at these issues in the reverse. God gave us his word, reveals it to those whom he chooses and we an rely on it and count on it as his Spirit leads HIS people into the truth, Jesus also said \"My Sheep hear my voice\" , I read the Quran or the Hindu writings they are babble to me as you say, I am sure some see great and profound truth, but not I. The Bible says many will be deceived, and I am sure those that believe those things are very sincere and same may be \"good\" people etc. I don't know what a burning bush is, you mean one that is not consumed ? I don't think that would change my way of thinking, I really don't know as I doubt we will ever see one.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You don't understand. \n\nJesus re-defined priesthood...perfectly.\n\nHe came to be both victim & priest; a perfectly fused offering.\n\nA priest, even in the Jewish time, \"offered sacrifices\". In those days proxies were offered, as a means of restorative justice.\n\nJesus made perfect the priesthood. \n\nFrom St Matthew: \u201cNow as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, \u2018Take, eat; this is my body.\u2019 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, \u2018Drink of it, all of you;\nfor this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I shall not drink again of this fruit of the vine until I drink it new with you in my Father\u2019s kingdom.\u201d\n\nA priest's offering of self. \n\nAnd this is what is meant when the Church talks about the \"common priesthood\" of all Christians and the \"ministerial priesthood.\" You and I must offer all we do; but the Mass is offered by a priest", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1) It's time to move on to the next step in the psychedelic revolution. We've reached a certain point, but we're not moving any more.\n\n2) I was raised a Christian and was a stone-faced acid head.\n\n3) I've been to too many Dead concerts. There've been smokin' holes where my memory used to be.\n\n4) The Grateful Dead are our religion. This is a religion that doesn't pay homage to the God that all the other religions pay homage to.\n\n5) The '60s aren't over; they won't be over until the Fat Lady gets high.\n\nALL sentences, ALL DRUG induced or related, All FACTS, All TRUTH, All REALITY.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I hope the Supreme Court is wise enough to rule against the cake maker as this would be a huge mess if they allow such discrimination by businesses. It could open the floodgates for all sorts of cases maybe even a Protestant business refusing to serve a Catholic customer or vice versa. \n\nWhy didn't the cake store owner simply have an employee prepare the cake if it would have violated the owner's religious beliefs?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus is clearly calling for us to love perfectly rather than behaving perfectly. Not sinning is simply self preservation. We are called to more than that. As hard as it sounds, we are not allowed to hate the Alt Right just as they are not allowed to hate gay marrieds or couples who do not conform to traditional marriage customs. As Christ calls us to love perfectly, we cannot be a Christian nation without accepting those we disapprove of. Hating gangsta teens who feel empowered by anti-cop rap video is not allowed, nor is hating the cops who abuse them. Hating people who need public assistance or who are disabled - or failing to provide for them if such assistance is their only income is particularly unholy. Christ is found in these people, so give them fresh bread and meat rather than the expired stuff. While it is convenient to donate food rather than toss it, it is holy to select a portion of the new stuff, just as Abel gave from his first fruits rather than the remainder", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"I don't see anyone showing up at Catholic School Board meetings to tear up bibles and scream insults.\"\n\nThat's because you're probably not old enough to have witnessed them first hand. It was the 60s through the 80s where most of the major battles to secularize government were fought in Canada and most provinces defunded their Catholic school boards. At this point in history, there's only ON, SK and AB left, and those three would LOVE to get rid of them but they've written support for a Catholic system right into their provincial incorporation documents. They pretty much have to let Catholicism wither, first.\n\nIf you think that didn't happen without acrimony, then I strongly suggest you read up on the Quiet Revolution in Quebec, which was anything but. The Catholic church was insinuated in government so heavily that it was almost a revolution to rip them out. It's no mistake that QC sees significant opposition to Islamic school prayer, religious clothing, etc.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "True to a point, but it does not make his hypothesis less accurate. That is what is called a confounding variable. If it is the education - and I, for one, have long since thought that also, particularly the education of middle class white women, then the bigger causal factor is the education, not the bank accounts. \n\nIs it affluence that makes people leave Christianity, particularly the RC?\nIs it poverty that keeps immigrants in the pews?\nIs it the education that affluence brings that contributes to loss of members?\nIs it lack of education that contributes to people staying?\n\nI would vote \"education\" when it comes to women, but none of us can know for sure without really good research that separates these variables as well as a number of others.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "To the writer? Do we not have Catholic, Anglican, municipal and other forms of designated Cemetery's? We have freedom of religion as a basic right! If we are going to have a referendum on religion should that not be a Country wide vote?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "pedophilia is not a \"Christian Conservative Value\", sorry jaded you will have to find a better reason to justify your bigotry.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "On of the main reasons you will find some atheists seem to have a militant attitude is that many religious apologists attempt to co-opt ideas that have developed in Western democracies. I would attribute the 'natural rights' to the magna carta rather than the church. And while some tenets of the New Testament have had a positive influence (a significant positive influence), there are many that have been negative and most Christian churches have been very slow to recognize the universality of the ideas attributed to Christ.\n.\nI enjoy and appreciate the Christmas season for the positive aspects it brings out in general, the goodwill, the friends and family, the feasting. But it has more to do with the celebrations that predated Christmas and were co-opted by Christianity than anything Christians have done", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "See: http://www.pennlive.com/life/2016/10/philadelphia_mob_boss_crime.html\n\nScroll down and you will find a picture with this caption:\n\"A dozen men struggle with a heavy casket bearing the body of Angelo Bruno following a Catholic funeral service at a south Philadelphia church, Pa., March 27, 1980. The copper-lined casket weighs 800 pounds.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I find it strange that National Catholic Reporter couldn't be troubled to send a single correspondent to cover this Convocation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, the truth. Jesus said, \"I am the Truth\" \"The Way\" and \"The Life\" Period.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I was a Democrat, born on the south-side of Chicago in a Catholic family with 5 kids, and an uncle, a Notre Dame priest who became an archbishop canon lawyer in Rome. My 2nd oldest brother was the Vice President of the Will County Young Democrats were we moved to when I was 10, next door to Cook Country (Chicago). He introduced John F. Kennedy, the Democrat nominee for President, to the crowd at a town center out-door rally where my brother gave me my first political 'job\" - \"get the Nixon signs down.\" I got a couple other guys and we got all the Nixon signs down - we took them right out of the peoples' hands. We were Democrats, we had that moral authority. I also got to meet JFK after the rally, just him and me, as his driver was pulling into a hotel parking garage for \"grownup\" meeting. I was the only one on a corner waiting for his car. He was sitting on the top of the back seat, saw me and started grinning as I reached up, and he leaned down to shake my hand. What a memory!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What cults and religions have in common is that they all promote belief in the unbelievable, belief contrary to the demonstrable, and rejection of the rational in favour of the emotional. They also generally promote their ideas through either or a combination of force and fear.\n\nThe difference between a cult and religion is just a question of acceptance over time, which says as much about being in the right place at the right time as it does about the \"rightness\" or the doctrines of the particular religion. Christianity was just one of many cults that through historical accident (i.e. gaining approval of Constantine 1 of the Roman Empire) and officially-enforced policies gained general acceptance.\n\nI do agree, however, that all religions should be treated equally. All of them should be ignored and denied any official recognition or support.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am not trying to destroy your faith. I'm trying to point out that you don't \"know\" and thus cannot stand on a pedestal in which to judge me \u2013 or anyone \u2013 from.\n\nThe pythagorean theorem is true and doesn't not require faith to confirm it. The Bible is not true, it requires faith in order to accept it. All of your justification for why the Bible is \"true\" is quoting people who were speaking before there even was a Bible. What you actually believe is doctrine from your specific sect of Christianity - which all depends on the \"faith\" that the authors and authorities in your religion held special knowledge about a deity (\"believe me!\"). There is not some divine pathagorean-like theorem about any religion. It's all based on a carefully constructed set of beliefs.\n\nThe issue I have is that you conflate your faith with your morality. You think because of your faith you have found a moral absolute, and then you use that assumption to judge others (the \"deadbeats\"). None of that is biblical.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why shouldn't Catholic colleges copy what happened at UC Berkeley?\n\nSeems like a great way to insure academic freedom -- who has a rebuttal against brute force in the name of shutting people up?\n\nMight makes right. Just accuse those who don't agree with you of \"hate speech,\" and look the other way when mobs start a riot.\n\nWhat's wrong with any of that? NCR certainly hasn't offered any objections.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My comments were in response to your statements. Your response, however, doesn't deal with anything I said but rather just repeats your initial assertions.\n\n\"Sex\" is a physical binary reproductive role. There are only two reproductive roles - male and female. Condoning a person's belief contrary to that natural fact is the socialized justification of delusion. Your accusation of \"reject[ing] modern science\" is a total misrepresentation of anything I've said. \n\nThe only reason I mentioned Mosaic Law was to correct your false accusation that the previous Christian commentator was cherry picking from the Bible.\n\nYour response just repeats your \"goat herder\" statement to mock and dismiss the Bible thus allowing you, so you think, the justification to likewise dismiss any Biblically-based morality. That's the genetic fallacy.\n\nThen you try to imply my position is unloving by making your Jesus comment. That too is irrelevant to anything I've said.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's simple. He was chosen by God to lead this country back to the Golden Age, restore religious liberty and ensure that the highways and byways will resound with cries of \"Merry Christmas\" during the appropriate season. For this he was endorsed and supported by the Bishops of the Catholic Church here and as we owe them complete blind obedience, so we now owe their chosen president our complete blind obedience.\n\nOr he's just a temper tantrum being thrown by those on the losing side of the tides of change...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Some things can't be healed. When one sees someone elected to the presidency of the most powerful country on earth whose many times publicly stated positions betray both the traditional values of the United States, and the values of the christian gospel., healing may not e possible. Protest may be the only way the voices of those who feel betrayed can be heard.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Justin Trudeau is a Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The American Revolution, the abolition of slavery, workers' rights, the right to vote, the peace movement, the civil rights movement, the fight against poverty, and the right to life all have been religiously inspired, Cardinal Timothy Dolan said Oct. 13 at a meeting of the New York Latter-day Saint Professional Association. Nonsense. Said Cardinal has a doctorate in history from The (Pontifical) Catholic University of America.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Have a lot of male people...fled Protestant ecclesial communities...because they couldn't bear to hear a woman....\"\n\nHow simplistic! Really! Where are you coming from? Do you really believe nearly 8 million Americans became Catholic because they \"couldn't bear to hear a woman standing in the pulpit...??? According to Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life (2012 online), 2.6% of the American population, currently Catholic, are former Protestants. That is almost 8 million Americans (in a country of 325 million). Do you really think ALL those former Protestants \"fled\" because of female pulpit-preaching? In analyzing \"that\" part of American religious history, update your file cabinet first, try not to think in generalities (especially when dealing with the details of stats), and try not to assert a point based on the passion of your prejudices (as all do, occasionally).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One should hesitate to speak against this so-called \"restorationism\"--the Extraordinary Form has a tendency to make intentional disciples of cradle Catholics and (at least around here) brings in a disproportionate number of converts and reverts.\n\nAnd even for those of us who stick with the Ordinary Form and only assist at an EF mass once every log while, it increases the quality of our \"participatio actuosa\" in the modern rite.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Are you serious? \"it will take healthcare from no one\" Have you ever bought healthcare for yourself? I have and it is tough to buy an insurance policy for a true healthcare problem, a hip problem, this is called pre-existing condition. I was able to buy insurance, your freedom, just policy's that would not accept anything directed to my hip. I forgot to say my insurance that really did not work for me, went up EVERY YEAR by at least 8% but usually more than 10%. \nI am sure your insurance was paid by the company you work for. The truth is a larger group will lower the cost of insurance and if a large enough company buys insurance even my pre existing would be overlooked. Single payer is the best way for our country to take care of our citizens.\nIf you are in the 1% you should just embrace what all Christians do, care for the poor, that will bring you to showing love. I know, Trump can't do it either.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Please, please tell me what behavior and characteristics of Trump you believe are Christ-like?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "... modern day 'christians' ...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Kag1982, Someone who is abused can separate and still seek the healing of the partner AND the relationship. That is love. If that is not something the other party will cooperate with, the annulment process is available to see if a valid marriage ever existed. An abuser may have been mentally incapable of a valid marriage. You sound like Naman the Syrian who went to the prophet to be cured of his leprosy and complained when the cure was so simple. Your cynicism is not Christian. And regardless of whether the annulment is granted, it is a small cross compared to the one Christ bore for our ETERNAL salvation. Did you think it is all about your pleasure or do you know it is about powers and principalities and a true living relationship with God?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Pope is well-intentioned but underestimates the intentions of those who seek \"dialogue\" that he proposes. Surely the Pope did not intend to have a free-for-all debate about Catholic doctrine; what he seeks is dialogue on how to help Catholics deal with unchangeable Church teaching in a culture that has fallen away from God. But give the liberals a foot in the door and they, rather than discuss how to help Catholics reform their sinful ways, demand that the Church adapt to accept their sinful ways. Come on, we're all engaging in adultery anyway, so you might as well just change Church teaching, notwithstanding what God and Jesus have to say about it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I went back and read the \"Is the Pope Catholic\" piece at First Things. IMO there is one passage (among many) that potentially gets at the root of the problem--which can essentially be chalked up to our forefather's inclination toward medieval ritualism:\n\nIn that piece, the author claims: \"They [sacraments] are instruments of grace by which God communicates to us his own life through participation in our Lord Jesus Christ. They are not rewards for goodness, but the means of sharing in the God who is good. That is why they are holy sacraments, and it is their very holiness that makes them the object of attack.\"\n\nBy all means, this is what the RCC teaches... but why? In the early going there was only baptism and Eucharist, why the need to add to what the apostles taught? Was it that important to \"develop\" additional sacraments and enshrine them in \"infallible\" doctrine? Are sacraments really \"holy\" as the author suggests, or is that a piece of medieval culture which needs retooling?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Minor quibble - \u201cwithout further explanation or qualification\u201d except for these 130 words:\n\nYes, as does the Church.\n\nThese are called \"private\" revelations. They do not belong to the Deposit of Faith.\n\nThe first test of the authenticity of a so-called private revelation is consistency with the Deposit of Faith. Alleged revelations which purport to improve, correct, or supplant that Revelation are rejected outright.\n\nThe Church notes some very few private revelations as constat de supernaturalitate (evident from the supernatural), giving evidence of supernatural intervention. But they are only to the persons who receive them for direction to a particular devotion or some other purpose.\n\nA Catholic who believes the teachings of the Church, utilizes the sacramental means of sanctification, prays, in Communion with the Church is already employing the necessary means of salvation. They need pay no attention whatsoever to private revelation.\n\n**\n\nCites on request.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The idea that there anything morally wrong with slavery was a new idea introduced in the West by some radical Christian groups a few centuries ago, and that eventually spread and prevailed. Before that, it existed in many societies around the world at many periods of history, and was just accepted as a normal social institution. It is still accepted in some cultures.\n\nAs for \"the Indian Problem\", it was how to get a preliterate culture integrated into the modern, literate, agricultural and industrial world, when one had no experience in how to do it and had to figure it out from scratch. People naturally used what they thought worked, e.g. boarding schools and physical and mental discipline, etc.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You sound Christian, just not Christlike.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"So, how do you read 1 Cor, where Paul describes the community's practice of the common meal, it is not clear that it is always led by a bishop.\"\n\nAs I understand it, the great majority of those communal meals did not have either a bishop or a priest presiding. Luther to the contrary notwithstanding, the Church has taught at least since the Council of Trent that without a priest or bishop, there's no Eucharist. Without a priest as celebrant, it is a meal in remembrance of Christ, with Christ present in spirit, but not in his real body and blood. There's no Eucharist, in other words. This illustrates a major difference between Lutherans and Catholics, and probably a huge barrier to unification of the two religions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You claimed that conservative Catholics don't like giving to charity, because \"it touches their wallet.\" \n\nThat's just a baseless assertion, and plainly contradicted by the amount of money given to the Church by faithful conservative Catholics.\n\nThese people care just as much about \"the common good\" as you do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholics have their own entire school system. Allowing Muslim kids to pray in an empty classroom seems like a far smaller concession.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Being equally activist in ALL pro-life activities that fall within the realm of Catholic social teaching is humanly impossible, and that is the fallacy of Bernardin's \"seamless garment\" theory. Some of us might be extremely effective at social programs that alleviate human suffering, and still be quietly anti-abortion. They are pro-life. But others might excel at fighting for the right to life of people yet unborn, so feel especially called to that work, even while they also oppose unjust warfare. And so on. Bernardin seemed to say, in effect, that unless you step back from your anti-abortion work and take on the whole spectrum of Catholic social teaching equally, you are not pro-life. He was wrong, totally wrong, and I don't think even well intended as he ultimately seemed to call for a halt to anti-abortion work within the Catholic Church.. I have always rejected that rhetoric and shall continue to without a qualm.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Calling the U.N.'s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris agreement on climate change two signs of hope for the world, Archbishop Gallagher also urged the world's governments to do more to implement the legal and political commitments contained in them.\"\n\nIt is refreshing to hear a Catholic applaud the good work of the U.N. Too many of the trolls on this website keep writing that the U.N. is a threat to American sovereignty.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "[What do I have to do to change my life?]\nWhat must we do as a church to change our lives?\nA preferential option for the poor should be maintained in our Catholic Schools. If we find that we cannot keep our schools open to the poor, the schools should be closed -- and the resources used for something else which can be kept open to the poor.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Okay - I did.\n\nAnd I don't see where either \"looks down\" on other religions. Both simply say that Catholics believe in their faith and believe that that faith is the true faith. That is not \"looking down\" at another - it is merely upholding our own.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I was standing next to Preston as this was happening, I have never seen so much hatred in one day. They said I'm going to hell because I support the LGBT community. Part of being Christian is acceptance and I saw none of that towards the two people from the Baptist church today.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Exactly right! The attitude displayed and directives of the Ordinary of one's diocese get around. Also, what's in the Washington Post will reach more people than anything that was stated at the Summer Meeting of the USCCB. Do you think that Bishop Paprocki, will have 'listening sessions for the young people in his diocese?' Don't hold your breath.\n\nAlso as a general comment, these bishops are concerned about possible vocations that youth might enter as a result of their baptismal call---the priesthood/religious life, and marriage. They completely forgot one state of Catholic life [that is and has been neglected in most arch/dioceses and parishes]. This is the SINGLE state. There are young people who will never get married and who will never be a priest, brother or sister. But there is nothing for them [organizations/spiritual offerings, etc.] offered in the church in general and in their parishes in particular. This includes widows and widowers---who may never re-marry.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of course mental health treatment can often prevent gun violence. But where do people find it? Republicans want to remove it from health care guidelines because apparently, they do not believe in reducing gun violence. \n\nThe vast majority of people are not found to be mentally ill as a defense for using a gun to commit violence and murder.\n\nAs a Christian, I believe human life is sacred. Can you say the same sir?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If the they stand.....fine.\nIf they \"bend the knee\"....\"kneel\".....and \"bow their heads\"....and say a silent prayer in reverence to God.....as some of the NFL players surely did....a \"Christian\" university should be fine with that also.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholics in this country were, for a long time, outsiders. Now they have fairly well assimilated and are occasionally allowed to sit at the cool kids' table. And then, interestingly, the first thing they do on a site like this is sneer at the new outsiders, the snake-handling, poison-drinking, toothless, inbred evangelicals. Well, it's a tough job but someone has got to do it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But, but ..... the Cubans do have free health care and children are taught literacy skills. Plus, one can practice one's Catholic faith. All one has to do is stay silent and support the regime. Surely that's not too much to expect? Do try to be more nuanced and not so judgmental.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Lots of misinformation flying around here. People in this country, as Pope Francis once remarked, are obsessed with abortion and homosexuality. These are not issues to base your choice of president on. You've made mistakes that impact democracy for one issue. I recall in the early 90's there were catholics who wanted to be more evangelical, like, well, the evangelicals. I remember our wonderful pastor then who said, the mark of the christian is what you do for others,not picketing. As far as we know,God did not ask anyone for help;why not choose food access for those in food deserts;improving schools in poor districts;fund universal preK,;fund training for poor parents;get banks to open in poor neighborhoods;republican politicians defunded all these programs;help the poor out of their desperate situation,the rest will take care of itself.End the death penalty;re-open churches in poor neighborhoods,do for others instead of making yourself feel good but not improving any lives.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Presumably you consider yourself as normal and obviuosly it all depends upon what you mean by normal. I would consider a normal Catholic to be one who goes to Mass at least once a week, goes to Confession regularly, prays, lives his life according to the teaching of the Church, loves God and his neighbour and practices the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. From what you write I get the impression that you wouldn't agree with that definition.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Evidently it also takes a lot of time to lure some people into considering truth!\n\nMany seem to reject the teaching of the Universal Church as proclaimed in Vatican Council 2 teaching us what \"was bequeathed to it by Christ, Our Lord, Himself.\n\nDid you ever consider that Jesus saved us from sin by his redeeming death and resurrection? And that we share communion in that redeeming Sacrifice when we share in Communion? When did the death of Jesus lose it's power to overcome sin? Or to give people the grace they need to lead them to acknowledge sin and to overcome it. Just maybe Communion IS the medicine that leads to repentance, rather than the other way around.\n\nThe 'Joy of love' and experience of the Synod seems to suggest that it is precisely the consultation with one's confessor and spiritual advisor that supports a person to differentiate between 'objective' situations and 'subjective' actual sin.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Part 2)\n\nSo, our scientific knowledge of the evolution of the cosmos has required a transformation of the way we previously understood creation. This is no longer a problem for most educated Christian today, as it once was. All silly notions like the length of the days in Genesis may have been longer that 24 hours are dismissed as just that \u2013 silly. We now accept that the point of the two contradictory stories of creation in Genesis is that Yahweh is the ground of our existence and the ground of everything that exists, no matter how the cosmos and us came to be or evolve over time. Natural science with its methodological limitation to the analysis of empirical data cannot, in principle, deal with Yahweh\u2019s role here, so revelation remains our source for this proposition which, upon acceptance, changes everything about how we might wisely life our life.\n\n(cont)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The pope rightly asked us (the church) to grow up and take responsibility for our moral decisions and for the decision to receive the Eucharist. It's a big church; the fact that the guidance provided by some bishops differs from the guidance provided by others isn't surprising; nor is it a problem. The bishops are only offering guidance; the decision belongs, rightly, to the individual who decides whether to receive. The pope appears not only comfortable with the continuing discussion about AL, but serene in the awareness that the Spirit of God is guiding it. Slowly but surely, Catholics are growing up. As they do, the bishops will grow up, too -- and realize the limits of both their authority and their power.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/19356/why-is-the-bible-said-to-be-twisted-like-a-wax-nose", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Again you fail at clarity by tossing a number of things into the mix which do not serve a purpose. To say 'there is no theological truth' is to say that there is no theological agreement with facts known to us. Only in theology is there an attempt to make stuff up with the expectation that is is 'believed' to be true. Theology has no more credibility to discern the transcendental world than any other ology. We know nothing about it. At least science is self correcting and undergoes rigorous review.\nTo disagree with the church, to present rational knowledge is not anti Catholic. It is pro learning, discovery, and seeking discernment of what is in fact true and discard falsehoods. I think that you cannot do any of this earnestly.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yeah but liberal NCR Catholics think the kind of public witness the Mormons do, if done by Catholics is a bad thing and we should all just dialogue with everyone.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Emma Lazarus was Jewish Social Worker and writer. One of her best friends was Rose Hawthorne. They befriended each other after Rose lost her only child, a young boy. She and her husband eventually divorced after being separated for a long time.\nEmma worked in the NYC tenements focusing on the Russian Jewish immigrants. Rose helped out as well.\nEmma developed breast cancer but was not allowed to be in the hospital. At that time, cancer was considered worse than what many people in our day thought of AIDS ( and some may still fear.)\nAfter Emma died, Rose went on to establish the FREE cancer homes with her new order of nuns.\nI am not sure when she became Catholic. It was a major swerve for her and her family. Her father was Nathaniel Hawthorne, the great American writer from Bowdoin College And as a fyi - he changed the spelling of his family's last name because he was appalled that a relative of his was a judge during the Salem Witch Trails.\nAll of his short stories are good reads now!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Perhaps some may consider a way forward as in humility; See link\n.\nhttp://www.v2catholic.com/background/2015/07/2015-07-25Kevin-Walters-a-bond-of-Divine-Mercy.htm\nkevin your brother\nIn Christ", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Queen is head of the Catholic Church of England, formed when HenryVIII replaced Pope Clement VII as head. It's still Catholic, just not Roman Catholic.\n\nThe laws against Roman Catholicism were a result of attempts to re-establish Roman Catholicism in England. \"Bloody Mary\" Tudor, daughter of Henry VIII, tried to silence Protestants by burning them at the stake. Elizabeth generally allowed RCs to practise their faith as long as they did not do so openly - no persecution.\n\nGo forward nearly a hundred years and James II tried to re-establish Roman Catholicism. This was the cause of laws discriminating against RCs. It was also a time when many laws were passed that created more rights, including Habeas Corpus. Many of these discriminatory laws were generally ignored and later repealed - except the necessity for the monarch to be a non-RC. How could an RC be head of a Church that refuses to acknowledge the Pope in Rome as its head ?\n\nPrincess Mary of Kent is an RC.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Paprocki is a bishop in the Catholic Church whose pope, bishops and priests should all be singing from the same hymn sheet, alas, they don't. Most bishops, especially in the West, pay lip-service to Catholic teaching and practice but won't teach or impose it.\nEating meat on a Friday was/is a Precept of the Church so could/can be imposed or remitted by the Church. The Moral Law is the Law of God which no one can change. You are confusing them.\nAgain the word catholic means universal not American. The Catholic Church in the US is but a small fraction of the worldwide Catholic Church and if the polls are anything to go by displays not the sensus fidelium but rather the 'sensus infidelium.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Janhoi, as I wrote above---abortion was permitted by the Jews until \"quickening\" occurred. In the Midrash writings, vinegar and 'absorbants' were to be used. Did Jesus know about this----probably.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, I quite agree. I once witnessed President Trump's Christian ethos on full display many years ago while watching the televised Christmas Midnight Mass from St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York. Our esteemed president had reserved seating in the first row and arrived at the very last possible split-second, seemingly quite inebriated and brimming with inappropriate frivolity just as mass was about to begin. While all the other worshipers were saying their Hail Mary's, their Our Father's, and their Glory be's, our \u00fcber-Christian president was filled with the Spirit of Christmas and couldn't contain his Christian joy over the Holy Incarnation. Yes, I'm sure that was it. What a witness! My heart leaped just thinking about it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Great opportunity this weekend for pastors and ministers to remind folks in the pews what Christianity is and what it isn't. The statement by the 400 plus ethicists and theologians provides plenty of material. I won't be holding my breath.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hi, Bill - I think it's interesting that we've moved from the God-the-Just-Judge hermeneutic for the New Testament to a God-is-love hermeneutic that virtually ignore its predecessors. It typically does so largely on the basis of the curious letters of an unknown Presbyter who also develops the idea of God-as-Light, an idea that has not similarly captured the imagination of many westerners. So God is love and anything goes.\nCorrect me if I'm wrong but one of the main contributions of the Reformation Churches was to put one's personal decision for (or against) the Gospel back at the center of Christian faith and practice, restoring a balance that had been lost in the Roman Church.\nSo my question is: do you think we're moving too far away from that Reformation message and toward a God-is-love message that validates just about anything as long as we say we \"love\" one another ? I would love to have this discussion at some point, if anyone is interested. - Monica.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The resurgence of the Russian Orthodox church under Putin makes me wonder about all the prayers we said in Catholic schools in the 1940s and 1950s for the conversion of atheistic communism in Russia. Is this how our prayers were answered?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I haven't had the pleasure of reading much about Indian Christians. I've stumbled across a few books that Constantine did not include in the Bible. Most of the reading I've done have been in regard to the Dead Sea Scrolls.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As for why do we fund Catholic schools the answer is in history. As for why we still fund Catholic schools. The answer is in political expediency.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Rabbi David Rosen, the American Jewish Committee Liaison to the Holy See International Drector for Interreligious Relations\": \"I would hope that the Holy See would insist on a repudiation of the Antisemitism that has been part of the culture of the Society of Saint Pius X. It was not just Bishop Williamson and one or two others, but the websites of the organization in the past have been replete with anti-Jewish rhetoric. I would hope that there would be some formal acknowledgement of Pope Francis\u2019 statement, in keeping with those of his predecessors, that it is impossible to be a true Christian and hold anti-Semitic views.\u201d (Reported July 28, 2016 by LaStamp's Vatican Insider.\nYesterday, the pope said that - even to save the life of the mother - abortion is a \"horrendous crime\" (curxnow.com) . Earlier he said it is \"what the Mafia does.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have no trouble picturing \"Godly\" types abusing young children.\n\nMore conventional alleged Christians often think of children as property to be ordered to work and hand their pay over to the parents, or to marry whoever the parents deem best.\n\nThe Bountiful Cult is just an extreme edge case of Religious Lunacy.\n\nMy allegedly Christian father started stealing my restaurant job money from my wallet when I was 11. Once I realised what was happening he tried to order me to hand over my entire pay cheque, so that he could dole out what he felt was my small fair share and waste the rest on beer and cigs. \n\nHe ordered me not to quit, but I did anyway. When he shook me awake to go out and work the next time he was amazed, reminding me that he had ordered me to continue to slave so he could steal from me, full time summer then 3 shifts per week. He started crying, saying that he would never joke about something \"so important\". \n\nhttps://www.google.ca/#q=Steve+Tourloukis", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is not much more to be said on this topic -- Fr. Daly has pretty much said it all! Donald Trump is NOT a Christian. Fr. Daly's article lays out, chapter and verse, how the Beatitudes (Christ's specific guidelines on how to live a truly Christian life)relate to the pronouncements and actions of the man who currently holds the office of President of the USA. \n As a Catholic, I do hope for the repeal of Roe v. Wade. However, I doubt that Donald Trump is a sincere advocate of pro-life views. In fact, for many years he was known as a vocal support to the pro-choice position. Seems he only changed his mind on this topic when he decided that he wanted the Republican nomination for President. \"How convenient!\" (as the church lady would say . . . )\n Only time will tell as to whether God can bring some good out of the Presidency of Donald J. Trump. In the meantime, we should all get down on our knees and pray for God's guidance and help in these perilous times.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"We have no idea how much pressure Fr. Jenkins and his board faced when confronted with \"ND must not honor men who don't reflect Catholic values and the teachings of the magisterium.\"\n\nYou could start with AB Chaput in the pressure category. The man is a GOP shill and has been for decades. I suspect he won't live in a teepee when he retires. More like Myers.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Always amazed at christians who hold a dim view of Christmas because they see it as a child's holiday. Wonder is Jesus ever gets tired of grown up serious christians who wallow in the crucifixion and look to splatter the blood of the lamb on everything in sight every chance they get. I bet He'd rather spend time with a bunch of kids living it up around a Christmas tree.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Who wouldn't take a cushy government job driving a garbage truck that paid you $128,464.05 in compensation in 2012? That allows you to retire after 30 years of service no matter how young you are? That gives you free health insurance in retirement?\n\nYet for all that, and your claims that your \"living the dream,\" you're still a very unhappy person, who always carries a grudge and has to attack the less fortunate. You should try practicing a little Christian charity once in a while.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is sad but beautiful! \nThat is just about what is happening in Catholic Institution, I fear!\nGod have mercy on us!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "CaeLew, how long before those bits of liturgical reform and \"refreshed theology\" will be consumed within the movement called Evangelical Catholicism*...leaving us with no other choice but its \"personal relationship with Jesus\" moderately-reformed, ultra-conservative agenda?\n\nThat would be very far from how many, including the highly-respected canon lawyer/theologian, Ladislas Orsy, saw this Council in his description of Vatican II as a direction-changing event for the Church, \"a shift from...the time when people were given little responsibility\" and were \"directed toward seeking their salvation through blind obedience\" to a time encouraging \"shared responsibility and creativity for the benefit of the whole.\" ...not just the whole Church, but the whole world! https://ritebeyondrome.com/2017/07/05/post-vatican-ii-rite-theological-activism-for-the-sake-of-world-survival-peace-and-justice/\n\n*George Weigel describes this movement in his book by the same name.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "BRO there's no mention of the amount of money these guys will be allocating to abuse victims....in the Fox News article cited below....there is apparently a time limit....and this is a CNS story Catholic News Service...the bishops news agency....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are none, Christians best to keep a low profile in Saudi.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...continue to think of themselves as Catholic.\"\n\nQuite true. In 2008, Emeritus pope Benedict attempted to point out (when addressing Catholic University in Washington, DC) that defining Catholic identity is anything but a straightforward process; that neither statistics, church going, nor orthodoxy are the sole measures; that there are layers and layers of intangibles, ambiguities, and allegiances within a person that indicate a \"Catholic identity.\" Michelle Dillon in CATHOLIC IDENTITY: BALANCING REASON, FAITH AND POWER (Cambridge, 1999) notes this and that religious identity, especially Catholic identity, is still in its infancy, especially in trying to understand those who \"think of themselves as Catholic\" (and really are, as far as she and the pope are concerned). However, when we talk about numbers, current Catholics and ex-Catholics, we are MAINLY talking about DATA, what people say to pollsters. Pollsters want ONE answer: yes or no to question: are you Catholic? Yes or no!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"Pope Francis has warned the world\u2019s Catholic cardinals against a \u201cvirus of polarization and animosity\u201d that he says has seeped into the church, telling the church\u2019s highest prelates on Saturday that such attitudes are \u201ccontrary to the richness and universality\u201d of the faith community.\"\n- JPII and Benexvi probably never thought that this would happen when they validated those clerics who would foment the 'pure catholic church crowd' and gave credence to a 'smaller purer church' possibility.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Exactly my point. All were written by people other than Jesus, and what they wrote constitutes their opinion, and theirs alone. And if in the Old Testament, then what they opined could not even be considered \"Christian,\" because they pre-date Jesus. Consider yourself to have just had the truth laid on you. Thanks. Now you may try to quote Jesus on this subject, but will be disappointed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Are you one of those social justice warriors who can not see the connection between the growing spiritual poverty caused by widespread apostasy or abandonment of the faith and many of the social ills you seek to address . . . with temporary bandages, essentially, if you don't drill down to the spiritual root and branch of those ills.\n\nFor example, most US catholics, especially here on NCR, no longer believe in transubstantiation. Not surprisingly, more than 50+% of US catholics support abortion, homosexual marriages and euthanasia, the three hallmarks of a culture of death. \n\nYou either see the connection or you don't.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Our Institutional Church must take a leadership role in this. Many Catholics would match any Church funding towards famine relief refugee immigration to Canada and universal environmental funding. We must act together to nurture and care for all Life.Deacon'82Environment and Social Justice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't understand why Cardinal Burke isn't disturbed that until the middle of the 20th century the Popes never had formally forbidden Eastern rite Catholics from practicing ecclesiastical divorce and remarriage and continue to receive Holy Communion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Creating that environment is even more necessary in the wake of the \u201cso-called Trump effect\u201d on racial justice and equality, said Fr. Bryan Massingale, professor of theology at Fordham University and author of Racial Injustice and the Catholic Church. In this \u201cmoment of stark clarity\u201d Massingale called for the creation of a \u201cpowerful, robust vision\u201d that would enable Catholic colleges to present \u201cwho we are and what we believe.\u201d\n\nFr. Bryan is one of the leaders of the future for the Catholic Church in America. Hopefully he will be the first African-American cardinal.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The pope will not be responding to the letter, which is both prudent and consistent with the ecclesial reforms undertaken to this point. In other words, we will not be dwelling on small-minded rules with intentions that squelch the spirit and hold people down. We need to find ways to accompany those who struggle with \"irregular situations\" and less-than-perfect circumstances, regardless of how they got there. If we are truly good and holy (to the extent we can achieve these virtues in our temporal form), the manner in which we accompany those on the margins will be the true measure of our holiness. This is basic Christianity 101, I'm afraid some Catholics are being introduced to this concept for the very first time.\n\nWhether or not they can be \"won over\" remains to be seen. Scripture tells us that all things are possible to those who love God and are called according to his purpose, but this requires an openness to see, hear, feel and be moved by the Holy Spirit as well.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Steve Bannon: 'We're going to war in the South China Sea ... no doubt'\"\n\n<<\u201cYou have an expansionist Islam and you have an expansionist China. Right? They are motivated. They\u2019re arrogant. They\u2019re on the march. And they think the Judeo-Christian west is on the retreat,\u201d Bannon said during a February 2016 radio show.>>\n\nhttps://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/feb/02/steve-bannon-donald-trump-war-south-china-sea-no-doubt", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Amen! Bishop McElroy is right on the money. For the past 8 years or more the poor and disadvantaged have been ignored and kept in poverty. Hopefully his energy and zeal will also be directed to the millions of unborn that our democratic leaders have chosen to forsake. Hopefully he and other bishops can call out those \"Catholic\" congressional leaders who actively support the murdering of our children. Thank God for our president who had enough moral dignity and courage to put into effect the Mexico City Policy that may save millions of innocent children. Hopefully we have the leadership to help these people out of poverty instead of dependency. We have the leadership now to help all of Gods children, young and old!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Harry,\nYou and ORS have every right to believe the Universe was created in 6 days only 6,000 years ago, that the sun rotates around the earth, and believe in other superstitions and wishful thinking like there is a heaven awaiting you in the next life. You ought to know Harry, you said you already saw heaven and hell in your posting a few weeks ago.\nHarry, you got our Capitol Building in D.C. confused with capitalizing proper names. Mother Nature, in capital letters, is correct\nAnd because ORS's dad was a nuclear physicist doesn't make ORS another Einstein who unlocks the secrets of this Universe.\nGarrison Keillor's dad was a Christian preacher. He certainly does know something about Christianity. A lot more than Roy \"Ten Commandments\" Moore or Donald \"Fire the S.O.B.'s\" Trump.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's not just Leviticus, but six clear passages that condemn homosexual activity (not the desire, but the acting upon the desire) and numerous other passages that condemn or strong caution against Christians participating in sexual immorality, the Greek word of which included homosexuality. But it also included adultery, sex outside of marriage, sexual fantasizing, remarriage after breaking a covenant marriage, encouraging the sexual immorality of others.... Modern Christians have way more issues to deal with in our churches than just homosexuality.\n\nWe will stand before our Savior in shame at the Bema Seat judgment because we are far too casual in attitudes toward immorality, sexual and otherwise. Jesus told us our faith would cost us something (our businesses, our prestige, even our very lives) that society would hate what we believe and punish us for not going along with their ideas of \"morality\". Did you think that was metaphor? Welcome to the prophesy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Roman Catholic sticking point seems to be that \"Infallibility\" thing! So what if previous Popes and customs did not ordain women? Is there ever room to grow in knowledge and change practices? \nCertainly this custom will remain a great stumbling block to any \"unity\" with someone like Lutheran Archbishop Antje Jackelen. She is not only a priest, but head of the Lutheran branch. \n\nmaybe any \"unity\" will involve just recognizing the validity of other Christian groups having different norms. And saying \"that's OK\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "AT: great, the flooding and resulting misery is a product of God's plan.....all I can say is he/she/it/them or whatever, must be really a mean, nasty SOB..... Comments like your's make me so comfortable as an agnostic instead of a Christian like you, worshipping such a cruel God.. let's hear it....the only possible defense.....\"God works in wonderous and mysterious ways..\" well, you folks in Houston, I'm sure you feel better now......God did it to you so it was all just part of his wonderous plan. Gary Crum", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, I do not believe that many \"faithful Catholics\" would agree with Trump that Pope Francis is disgraceful.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's OK, folks. The purpose was to create a system so they could eliminate people like me and then blame the posters in the forum for their actions.\n\nAs for my \"posting more than anybody\" it is a blatant lie and only an excuse to eliminate me from the forum.\n\nThe forum is an anti SDA forum and in fact, it is not even Christian. I only posted to expose the real spirituality of this apostate Christian forum in hopes that others who read or \"lurk\" may not be deceived by the duplicity of those who claim they support the SDA church when they do not.\n\nStill, we have to respect the forums right to block anyone they please as it is a private forum.\n\nChill out folks. I am good to go.\n\n\"Ephriam is joined to idols, let him alone.\"\n\nI may have \"by all means, saved some.\" Paul.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You have absolutely no knowledge of how much 'exposure' I have had to 'Christian' theology.\n\nMy agnosticism is a result of theological study and a rejection of doctrine and religion, not a lack exposure to it. \n\n I reject transubstantiation, Golden Tablets pulled back to heaven, virgin birth, the trinity, papal infallibility, snake charming, speaking in tongues and hundreds of other superstitions labeled as 'miracles' by 'Christians'. \n\nThe mysticism and faith that drives so many in all religions does not reach me.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is a matter of settled American law that the Catholic Church is not a foreign country.\n\nI am certain you are aware of that, as you aware that legal attempts to link dioceses, sue the Church in another country, or otherwise treat these cases as a conspiracy have universally failed.\n\nThat you wish it were so, or hope that they would jail bishops, and so on is something that I would not hold onto were my goal to live my life.\n\nNor would I target the innocent in an attempt to assuage my unresolved anger.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The far left .... that's communism and frankly I don't see that anywhere in this country. What I see is a left leaning group that supports rights for women and all people. One that treats all people in society with dignity not just the well healed. I see a left that still has both poor and wealthy citizens but just not as extreme as what resides in the dreamscape of the American right like those of the Tea Party wacko's and most of the GOP. That left also supports religious freedom from not only Christians but Muslims or Buddhists.\n\nOnly a narrow minded person would think there is some sort of far left movement here. You need to get outside of Breitbart news more often.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So you, too, disagree that the Church can be persuasive to reasonable people. My goodness. It's rare to find such close-minded anti-Catholicism . . . denying that the Church has anything reasonable to say. Wow.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I thought this was the National CATHOLIC Reporter. Apparently it's the National COMMUNIST Reporter. To begin with, this government is a Constitutional Republic, not a \"democracy\" (as if such a thing ever really existed, aside from, possibly, Ancient Greece). Since at least 1871 it has been a municipal corporation, based in D.C. (see the The District of Columbia Organic Act of 1871). It was a corporation BEFORE then, as well, called \"The United States\" set up by the rich colonial merchants. It was set up for the benefit of the MEMBERS of that corporation, those folks who called THEMSELVES \"We, the People OF the United States\", in the Preamble to the Constitution - and NOT for the general population of the land we call America. It is a BUSINESS, and has nothing to do with John and Jane Doe out in the hinterlands we call the \"States\". It's THEIR business, not yours. The \"vote\" is a sham, and you have NO influence over who gets into office. Big money does. Not you. Get over it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Be doers of the Word and not hearers only\"--I wonder how many of these so called patriotic Christians try to get out of even the smallest civic service like jury duty. I wonder how many of these so called patriotic Christians love and pray for their enemies. Off with the hoods already. It's about time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I regret not having read this insightful and truly spiritual post before now. Thank you for your very moving reminder. In the words the Messiah commanded his disciples to use when greeting one another (as recorded in the gospel named for St. Luke), and which the most noble Messenger Muhammad admonished his followers, thus establishing Jesus' command among us for all time, \"Shalom alaychem = Al-Salaam alaykum = The Peace (of God) be on you\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nothing in the Bible about Jesus saying anything about immigration rights.\n\nCaiside, how many murders did illegal aliens commit in just California, in just this year?\n\nJust California. How many murders by illegal aliens?\n\nYou answer that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You're exactly right. Like most people, the young don't want to wade through tomes on Thomism or BXVI or JPII. Even federal judges are that way. As a lawyer, I know that if you want the judge to read your brief, you'd better keep it simple and clear, with very linear logic. Most young Catholics are very different from the young Catholics of 50 years ago. They want the shortest route to the truth.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": ".\n\nObviously, The church believes it is a \"Law unto Itself.\"\n...if it can't be bothered with caring for, not to mention, \"protecting the Most Vulnerable\" in Society...then its priority must than lie with itself only.\n\nI now see the cardinals, bishops, priests and nuns as \"Foriegn Agents\".\n...whose \"ONLY Alegience\" is to that tiny (four block square) ***Illegitimate*** country gifted to them by a ruthless dictator via blackmail for the catholic vote. \n\nSad to see, \"we're living in the Dark Ages.\"\n...hopefully soon, \"Someone will turn on the Light\" !\n\n.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are many stumbling blocks to unity: the seven sacraments, the primacy of Peter and his successors, the missing books in the Protestant Old Testament, the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist...those are serious issues that must be resolved. The issue of ordination of women is a minor detail - particularly since both the Catholic faith and the majority of the Protestant bodies agree that their ordained ministers are not priests (in fact, that is one of the issues that Luther objected to - ordination of priests). \n\nAs for your final point, truth is truth. Other Christian communities must accept the fullness of truth that is found in the Roman Catholic Church. Real unit cannot be found in recognizing the validity of false doctrines. That is most certainly not okay.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Because there are still Catholics remaining who do not wish our Lord to be defiled by the unworthy reception of Holy Communion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dispiriting but not unexpected. The Church continues to have a poor sense of its growing irrelevance and that the second class status of women is the main reason why. It has never needed women more in its history than now. Only the ordination of women can restore the Church as a fit moral educator and a compassionate minister to the victims of clergy abuse and restorer of the Catholic spiritual family.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Freelands' words are unfortunate but true. Canada has reaped some benefit from the relatively peaceful times that have existed since the end of the cold war. We have one of the smallest standing armed forces (relative to our population and economy) and have spent well below the 2% of GDP commitment we made to NATO. It would be ideal if we could continue this way but that is not an option.\n\nA strong and united NATO, with much less leadership from the US, is an effective option for middle powers. Canadian values are more aligned with Europe than with the crass right wing, pseudo \"rugged individualism\" and fundamental Christianity that seems to be taking over our friends to the south.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Non sequitur: The Church may very well have received magisterial authority from Christ; but even if Christ \"cannot err\" (which btw has to be demonstrated; you seem to take it as axiomatic), it does not follow that the Church cannot err -- unless you wish to assert that with the authority to teach comes all the content of any future teaching, a bizarre shift in the meaning of \"authority.\"\n\nAs for slavery, etc., whatever you wish to say about \"Christ Himself,\" the historical Jesus was an apocalyptic prophet, who expected the eschaton after only a brief wait, and so was not interested in reforming society, as though society was expected to persist for a long time. There were all kinds of subjects, ethical and other, about which he had little or no interest. So to assign to \"Christ Himself\" direct authority for teachings and judgments that Christians later devised for themselves, however fine, is fanciful and fictitious: defensible perhaps, but hardly to be imposed as a criterion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Women cannot be ordained in the Catholic Church. Discussing this only serves to waste time. This issue has been discussed, and a decision has been reached. Women cannot be ordained. Even Pope Francis, perhaps, albeit reluctantly, has admitted this. \n\nWhy waste time discussing something that cannot and will not ever change when we could have some productive discussion over something that can change--such as married clergy?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Clearly you and I read different articles over on his site. \nHe'd been slandered by the sad ersatz catholic writer here on this dismal journal of miserable immanent humanism and he robustly defended himself. Correctly, as it stands.\nThe article and the comments are hatchet-jobs driven by ideology.\nWhatever it is you think you're defending - it aint the Catholic Faith. \nAnd whatever future you think it might have - it won't. It's dead already. Like the Anglican Communion. You just don't realise it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We draw a line when a child is born, living and breathing on her own. No, a mother cannot kill her already born child.\n\n I think viability outside the womb may become that point at which we recognize an abortion cannot be performed. Believe that is 24 weeks of pregnancy. Current state laws the SCOTUS seems to accept is the 20 week limit. I believe European nations that permit abortions go from 12 to 20 weeks in defining the limit. We seem to be working toward finding limits we all can live with - and that is the way it needs to happen.\n\nWhen Catholic institutions rely on or make use of government money and hire people of all faiths for their job skills, then I don't think those Catholic institution should be allowed to deny health insurance coverage for contraceptives. We are no longer serfs or peasants, living under the privileges granted by our kings and princes. Yes, the Little Sisters should fill out the form because those who work for them are not their property.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Here are \"Five Faith Facts\" about Roy Moore, extracted from an article on Religion News Service:\n1. Moore is a Christian nationalist.\n2. He\u2019s best-known for twice being removed as chief justice of the state Supreme Court after conflicts arose between his religious convictions and the law.\n3. Moore and his wife, Kayla, are Southern Baptists.\n4. Moore said Islam is a false religion.\n5. Moore denies the theory of evolution.\nThe full article is here: http://religionnews.com/2017/09/27/5-faith-facts-about-roy-moore-evangelical-in-excelsis/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Von Papen was Catholic. The connection ends there.\n\nWhen Hooded Claw played this same card, I provided this:\n.\n.\nTo the left of Pope Francis, Luigi Banana, head of the Chilean Mafia; facing and holding the rail is Pedro Alavrez, head of the Chilean Communist Party.\n\nhttp://s18.postimg.org/kf6x8glw9/AP081018169839.jpg\n\nAnd, as you can see, he is NOT wearing his aluminum foil beanie deflector.\n.\n.\nFranz Joseph Hermann Michael Maria von Papen zu K\u00f6ningen was acquitted at the Nuremberg War Crimes Trial.\n\nIn the Night of the Long Knives Von Papen's associate Herbert von Bose was shot dead at his desk, as was another associate, Erich Klausener, at his desk at the Ministry of Transport. Many more were arrested and imprisoned or shot. Von Papen himself was saved only because G\u00f6ring had him placed in \u201cprotective custody\u201d.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The prodigal priest knelt in front of the pope and asked for forgiveness for his sins of disobedience. Big deal.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Re \"Kellyanne Conway\u2019s mention of \u201calternative facts\u201d \"\n\nOne can imagine Conway, who was raised Catholic, in confession saying\n\"Bless me Father, for I have sinned. It has been 24 hours since my last confession. Here are my sins.\nI told 20 \"alternative facts\".\n................\n...............\nSee you same time same place tomorrow!\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your false perception is the Christian rulers of Canada are secular. They prefer Muslim and Jews to agnostic or atheist immigrants.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Of course the pope is the father to not just the members of the Curia, but to all souls on earth, not just Catholics.\"\n\nYou sure do place a lot of stock in that whole Peter/Rock/Church thing... quite an extrapolation don't you think? Given your negative assessment of PF, you might want to rethink your papal interpretations which are based entirely on the monarchical/medieval/imperial mindset.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The evangelicals and other religious righties took over the nomination process for the Conservative party in an area that consistently votes Conservative. (As Cet3091 wrote.)\n\nIt's unfortunate for all Canadians that this particular group has decided their version of Christianity must be imposed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Similarly, a pollster deliberately choosing 12 Clinton Democrats\u2014or 12 Trump Republicans\u2014to poll tells us nothing about the constitution of preference in the population. However, given the ratio of Democrats to Republicans in the population, we might be able to deduce whether the pollster deliberately picked his or her sample rather than drawing them randomly. In the case of the Bible, this deduction cannot be made with statistical significance, because the Bible's heavy preference for mentioning males makes the choice of 12 males just as likely to be without any deliberate intent as intentional.\n\nAn interesting side note is that the Bible's very heavy bias mentioning of Jewish people makes the argument that Jesus intentionally selected Jews for apostles also without statistical significance.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Comment on: Several wounded in New Year\u2019s attack on Istanbul nightclub: reportRejected\n\n\nRobert plourde1 hour ago\n\nSurely it must be one of those disenfranchised Catholics.\n\n\n3 Reactions\n\nDelete\nThis comment was rated below the civility threshold for publication.\n\nToo funny!\nBut, at the same time time, a sign of our sick times.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Abortion? Even sheep, don't do that. [ Footnote 22 ] Early philosophers believed that the embryo or fetus did not become formed and begin to live until at least 40 days after conception for a male, and 80 to 90 days for a female. See, for example, Aristotle, Hist. Anim. 7.3.583b; Gen. Anim. 2.3.736, 2.5.741; Hippocrates, Lib. de Nat. Puer., No. 10. Aristotle's thinking derived from his three-stage theory of life: vegetable, animal, rational. The vegetable stage was reached at conception, the animal at \"animation,\" and the rational soon after live birth. This theory, together with the 40/80 day view, came to be accepted by early Christian thinkers...MR. JUSTICE REHNQUIST, dissenThe Court's opinion brings to the decision of this troubling question both extensive historical fact and a wealth of legal scholarship...\nhttp://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-supreme-court/410/113.html", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The article quotes the Diocese as saying: \"The main issue centers around scandal and confusion (...confusing or weakening people regarding the teachings of the Catholic Church in regards to sacred doctrine and the natural law)...\" The Diocese wanted to send the instructions to priests confidentially. Interesting. Apparently the best way to avoid confusion among the people is to keep the poor lambs in the dark as to what the teachings are. I wonder whether this means that the LGBT people in Madison are on double secret probation. [For those of you too young to understand this reference, see the movie Animal House.] Of course, this is not an official policy...it's more of a guideline than a rule, but it does conform with the mind of the Bishop. No confusion there. But, a lot of Catholics aren't really confused. They just think a lot of what the Church teaches on sex is wrong. In this case it is also hurtful.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If Fr. Reese is right when he says, \"Welcome to the cafeteria\" and \"all Catholics are cafeteria Catholics\", then we can just keep on stymieing change in the Catholic Church for generations to come. We can just remain one big unhappy family arguing back and forth as we decide what to fight and what to ignore about justice and peace and opposition to women priests, etc.\n\nIn 2015, Cardinal Walter Kasper wrote an article in ORIGINS \"Vatican II: Toward a Multifaceted Unity\". (Vol 45, #9). He wrote about the unity in diversity needed if we are to make any further progress in ecumenical endeavors. We suggest it is time to look WITHIN our Church to see the possibilities for a \"multifaceted unity\" because cafeteria style is definitely NOT working for either side of the Church. Pick&Choose cafeteria-style offers no challenge for growth on either side.\n\nWe say, \"NO\" to Cafeteria Catholicism! https://RiteBeyondRome.com", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "All I have to say is keep up the good work by your example Pope Francis. Many of us from other Christian traditions(I'm Anglican) admire your example even if we may not agree on every issue. Francis in his Papacy has shown both what it means to be a good shepherd not blinded by legalism and dogmatism, as well as a prophetic figure that speaks clearly on social justice. \n\nWhen you are in a public position you are always gonna have critics. Jesus had critics, some like the chief priests in the Temple thinking he was a radical, others like the Zealots and Judas thinking he wasn't radical enough. In the same way the Pope has his critics. Some thinking he's \"too liberal\". Others thinking he's \"not liberal enough\" or that he's \"the same as the other Popes\". What matters isn't what the critics, or those with an ideological agenda have to say. It's what does the life and the example of Christ have to say. That's it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Theology, doctrine and religion are all designed for the sole purpose of controlling other people by those who espouse and define those terms. \n\nSome choose to apply them internally to their organization; some choose to force them onto other people either verbally or violently, depending on the egos and desires of their leaders. \n\nThat is true for all brands of 'Christians', 'Muslims' Scientologists, etc. \n\n\"Faith\" is the only decent concept from any of those belief systems. \n\nEverything else is designed to get power over others. Jim Jones, Howard Koresh, the Pope, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Episcopalian Bishops, Baptist Conference leaders; it doesn't matter.\n\nThey all agree that they are only doing it in the name of their theologically-defined deity and with the best of motives.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wow - I guess if I were not a Western Canadian I would be surprised by all of this, but I lived through Jean Chretien's National Energy Program of the 70's so its no surprise to me when the Liberal Government doesn't support a West-East pipeline - the East want our oil money and shared revenue, transfer payments - they just don't want our oil. They want to buy cheaper Middle Eastern Oil shipped across the Atlantic from ISIS owned Oil wells in Libya, Iraq and don't forget those Christian loving folks in Iran. CANADA could and should be Self Sufficient in Oil - there I no need to import oil from any other Nation when we have more than we could consume right here in Canada - oh but Ontario and Quebec would have to pay a bit more - good thing we have Confederation and we are all Canadians supporting each other. Time to look at alternatives Western Canada - time to stop taking it up the you know what and where by Ontario and Quebec.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dartford is south east crouch end is north London now we got geography sorted!! To be honest all I really know about Anglican/Coe is their Protestant have women priests & now women bishops also gay vicars are very open & live with their partners openly. I'm a catholic since birth with Irish family hence why all my family are RC. To be honest I really am not anti gay live & let live but I don't want ssm in the RCC nor do I ever want to see women priests in the RCC. After a lot of soul searching I've reached this conclusion. I will still attend my parish even though it's NO it's a good one we still say many prayers in Latin end all masses with St Michael prayer In uk the Coe is still snobby I feel, it's still law that no member of royal family can marry a RC! Even in the 21st century! TBH I'm fed up with sedes R&R sspx all of them I'm gonna stop being influenced by things on social media practice my faith what will be will be! Thanks for your time & God bless you sir.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Love your last line CAEL. What got that USCCB in trouble was it's statement on nuclear weaponry, coming as it did during the time of Reagan's military build up. As to social issues, Bernardin's concepts didn't promote abortion as the only life issue Catholics care about, and I suppose that was seen as 'leftist', but in reality it supported the idea that it was pointless to talk about abortion when the use of nuclear weapons would abort the planet. That made sense to this 80's conservative. One thing St Ronnie did for me was to end my association with the GOP. Oh for the good ole days when conservatism wasn't synonymous with Ayn Rand sociopathology.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The fact that your father named himself a Christian, doesn't make him one. What you describe is awful, Christian or not, and you won't find any religious teaching (of any religion, I would say) that justifies it. \n\nYour father's values were certainly not Christian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh, only a 135,000 acres. Boo-effing-hoo.\n\nIt's 100 years later in France. Time for Christians to take a stand instead of complying with an old law.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "gee, the Clinton's don't come off as Christians saved by forgiveness", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Pretty sure,\" huh Joey? I think you have visited here a sufficient number of times to know that is not the case... and if Catholics are ignorant of what the Church teaches about contraception it is a *willful* ignorance to say the least. The evolution from an agrarian society to an industrial one might have something to do with it, unless you live in a world that is unaffected by this obvious reality... so let's cut to the chase here--are you yourself married with 12 children... or aspire to do so at least?\n\nPS--I should add that no less than 3 priests my wife and I were counseled by (many years back under JPII) had no issues with responsible family planning (non abortive), and none to the contrary... which not only proves that they accept contraception, many/most likely disagree with the ban to begin with!! But I suppose those are \"fake\" Catholic priests in your book, am I right?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"A judgment against the whole for the crimes of a few is not justifiable.\"\n\nDoes that apply to all religions, or just Christianity?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, that is quite excellent! I read the link, Fr. Zuhlsdorf was most gentlemanly and generous in his comments and sending the rosary, and MSW was equally gentlemanly and gracious in his comments and accepting it. It is very refreshing to have two opposing camps in the Catholic Church treating each other with such deference and affability. I say, well done by both of you!\n\nI wish someone would send a rosary to me. Seems like all I ever get in the post are advertisements, bills, tax statements, and offerings for low cost cremations. Given that I am 93, the latter strike me as vultures circling their quary and becoming impatient.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(There's nothing uncivil here, perhaps just Catholic Church teaching. Someone may not like what I am saying below, but it's in no way \"uncivil\")\n\nThere's a critical, missing aspect of \"configuration\" in what's been described. There's no chance that that sort of mock 'unity' can cooperate with the God-given, God-like creative capability given to the couple. It's contraception!\n\nThe comment about \"not worrying about pregnancy as ice on the cake\" reveals a flaw, the intentional \"going against\" the natural order of the bodies. The skirting of the natural way.\n\nEven for a married couple - man and wife - such an intention to contracept, to take half a gift reveals a similar but different problem, in this case a lack of trust in God, the lack of unity with God in that moment, holding back, putting self in front of God.\n\nThe Church teaches this more beautiful and deeper way but not enough, and not clear enough.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Michael, La Civilta' Cattolica is largely read by ecclesiastical buffs and ignored by the great mass of Catholics. \nIn the modern world, publishing one's critique in a journal that, generously, is destined for 15,000 readers or less, is not an effective tool. This will generate a minor skirmish among those who read each other's comments and imagine that a billion-plus Catholics care. They don't. And the folks who follow US Catholic religio-political leaders will continue to do so because the medium was not appropriate to the message.\nWe now live in the twitterverse, God help us, not the Catholic Civilization, and the new gospel mandate is: \"tweet early and often.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If Jesus didn't miraculously multiply the loaves and fishes, what's remarkable about this story then? I'm sure someone has shared their food with others before the coming of Christ, and people have shared their food after He ascended into Heaven.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What presidential candidate would Jesus supported: Hillary Clinton channeling the spirits of the dead or Donald Trump who never prayed for forgiveness?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Maybe you are assuming too universal a corrective process. Matthew and Luke clearly knew Mark, but it is not so clear to me they knew each other or were concerned with each other. When they wrote (ca 80), there must have been living old persons who remembered Jesus and who could serve as checks against too radical a departure from common knowledge. For his part, Paul probably presupposed the Jesus tradition, as did the deutero-Paul of Ephesians 4:20-21. Still, you are on the mark about the resurrection accounts, which do expand. Meier says: \"After the resurrection, the grab bag,\" meaning they ransacked the scriptures to find ways of speaking about an even that broke free from conventional categories. I think all gospels and letters were about enunciating risen life, since Jesus' teachings and his death are paralleled elsewhere in mare nostrum culture. And it has to be a risen life we can share.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, the irony. A \"Christian\" university demanding that their students \"stand\" for the National Anthem of a country that, even the university would have to admit, has turned its back on God in so many ways.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would have been very surprised. JP2 and B16 appointed most of them. The problem now is that Pope Francis is following Jesus and they don't want to follow.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Interment of the dead is a practice that is at least 100,000 years old, possibly older. \nPerhaps it began as a hope that human life would echo the pattern of the natural world in the vegetative cycle (a motif we still use to explain our modern spirituality: \"unless a grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies...\") or the natural world of animal reproduction where the earth is identified with the womb (a motif we also still use to explain our modern spirituality: born again). \nThere are other dignified methods of treating dead bodies w/respect-some of great antiquity.Consider the urnfield culture which practiced cremation and interment of the ashes -which the CDF recommends. Stripping the bones and consuming the flesh of the dead. Sky burial. Maybe even Freeze Drying?\nIs it just a quirk of history that the Jews of Jesus's time practiced burial? Would our story, practice,& belief be different if they practiced cremation and scattering, and Jesus rose from the ashes rather than the tomb?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's very symbolic, and not much of substance but I'm glad it happened. I contemplated becoming Episcopalian before becoming Catholic.they are very similar.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Singling out medical professions\" in state legislation reflects the mindset and infestation of fundamentalist religious fanatics into the schools system. Restricting access of medical profession volunteers is tied directly to the anti-abortion, reproductive rights, Planned Parenthood attacks against any knowledge not certified by faux-christian dogma. Letter doesn't identify who sponsored such Orwellian legislation, but guaranteed to be one of the pseudo-christian faithful. Ban all school board members belonging to religious cults operating as political action committees for the purpose of denying education and human rights for all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The survey was done globally, not just in the US. I have listed web-sites that have the results of the survey's calculations of results from the countries with heavy Catholic populations.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "as a former catholic with 12 years of catholic schools! i remember my first confessional! instead of the booth we were sent to a room with one priest in a chair, now with all that has come out would you not say it was very strange! i am 58 now and i still remember that first time, as some were in their longer than others! now a days i tell people you can believe in god and jesus but you need not go to a building and pay someone to tell you about them as you know both as there both in your heart! read my blog above this to know why i finally left the church in the mid 80\"s! it has become what jesus rioted about in the temple, they are selling access to god for profit! 3 swiss banks filled with church money they own!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Raymond Cardinal Burke and Archbishop Chaput have NOT said that that balancing justice and mercy is an error, let alone an error of the Holy Father.\n\nWhat they have done is repeat the teaching of Jesus Himself, that God\u2019s forgiveness is boundless and is freely given to those who repent, but not to those who refuse to repent.\n\nThe notion of retributive justice underlies the teaching about Purgatory, that even when we have repented and been forgiven, we still owe the wages of our sin. In this world it means we should make whole those from whom we have stolen to the extent that we can, if we have killed a parent we should to the extent possible provide for that parent\u2019s children, and so on. God is merciful, but God is just.\n\nIn particular God is not Santa Claus.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So you're worried about Catholics?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I've known Hawaiians who were Christian but still practiced some of the beliefs from the religion of their forefathers, most memorable is John Lake, a Roman Catholic who, as a kumu hula, continued to practice and teach the ancient Hawaiian beliefs. He saw no conflict in his approach to religions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "> We know from the Church, that Judas has never been consigned to Hell.\n\nThat is because the Church has no way of knowing who is in Hell. By your assertion, since the Church has not declared anyone actually being in hell, then Hell must be empty.\n\nThat is an absurd claim.\n\n> I have studied sacred scripture extensively and I did it in Jerusalem.\n\nArgumentum ad verecundiam\n\n> God does not use anybody. If someone ASKS someone to do something---that is different.\n\nThat is a semantic argument. We are saying the same thing.\n\n> Of course people have access to God----but the Eucharist is Jesus coming into one's very being.\n\nIt is one way. There are other avenues of grace, especially for those who are not in a state of grace (e.g. confession).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Warren, it's not particularly church members who rationalize away apparent intellectual inconsistencies. Again, it's human nature, and we all do it, especially when we are strongly committed to an ideological position. Citing authorities external to a sacred text for the meaning and interpretation of the text doesn't necessarily imply that one doesn't view the sacred text as ultimate authority. The SCOTUS approach to the U.S. Constitution is a good example of this. \n\nAs for your other question, I will cringingly veer off topic. When it comes to laws that provide special consideration to religious corporations (such as ERISA exemptions), I do not see how matters of faith should constrain the business decision of the corporation from availing itself of those laws. Should a Christian, tempted to utilize the rules of the tax code to deduct charitable contributions to his church, be deterred from making a business/legal decision by religious considerations? I don't think so.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your exhortations are, of course, vital to he Christian experience - no doubt. At the same time, one must be at least somewhat convinced that what someone states is indeed from their informed conscience. That is where considerable room for doubting the involvement of Cardinal Burke's conscience exists, as he has a long and revealing pattern of opposing the pope on every significant matter possible. That is not the exercise of conscience: it is the use of a vindictive predisposition cloaked in \"theological purity.\" The other three cardinals I know almost nothing about, so I leave them to others to figure out.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm not alleging that Mary Magdalene was, in fact, the first person to meet the risen Christ. What I am saying is that it's interesting that the same authors and editors who named only 12 men apostles also included the story of her encounter with Christ.\n\nThe whole of scripture needs to be read withhin its historical and literary contexts.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Under the previous two pontiffs, we saw the \"middle managers\" essentially whipped into line or whipped out the door. It seems Pope Francis practices what he preaches, in urging people to change and think and use their conscience, not demanding he and he alone could draw rigid lines, sometimes bypassing those \"middle managers\" entirely. He may be demonstrating the Church is not to be led like a corporation by a CEO, or he may be letting the \"middle managers\" have enough rope to hang themselves. Hopefully a questioning Church will find new ways to be true followers of Christ, rather than disintegrating. An invitation to follow, not a command to obey.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholics, almost en masse, have not adhered to Humanae Vitae birth control edicts. I suspect Catholics, in general, are not submitting to other sexual restrictions, either.\n\nI doubt conferences or dialogues are going to change the behavior of those in the pews. At best, such dialogues will allow the hierarchy to catch-up and keep-up with their congregants. At worst, such dialogues will further the gap between ideological preaching and real life.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Rick: It's a problem for the same reason why these other civil rights issues are a problem.\n\nSuppose a black guy sees an ad in the paper to rent a room in someone's house. He goes there but gets turned away because he's black. In your words: What's the problem? Why can't he just go to a different place to rent a room?\n\nSuppose a woman finds out she's pregnant and goes to a hospital for an abortion, but they won't do it for her because it's a Catholic hospital and its religion says abortion is a sin. In your words: What's the problem? Why can't she just go to a different hospital?\n\nSuppose a bakery makes wedding cakes, and a homosexual wants a cake decorated to show two men getting married? The baker refuses, saying homosexual marriage is against his religion. In your words: What's the problem? Why can't he just go to a different bakery? \n\nAll 3 examples have really happened and resulted in lawsuits. I'll bet you have no problem understanding what's the problem in those cases.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"JPII was wrong. Jesus did not \"ordain\" anyone to be a Roman Catholic priest. Why on earth would you, of all people, want to demonstrate so clearly how wrong JPII was in this matter by reproducing the quote?\" How do you know JPII was wrong? How do you know Jesus did not ordain anyone to the priesthood?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It was wonderful. For most of the attendees, they crossed lines they had never crossed before and found it more comfortable and similar than they might have thought.\n\nI have come to not like the word \"ecumenical\". We are rather - all Christian and we need to celebrate this common bond. In most cases, we recite the same Creed. We read the same New Testament. And, we are all striving for the same goal - our internal rest with the Good Lord in heaven. \n\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epfNARzthX4", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What is a \"satanic school,\" and when did you come up with that term? And, while there may be Muslim schools, just as there are Catholic schools, sharia is a type of religious law, not an educational system.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But for excessive use of heroin --- not use, but excessive use --- Lenny Bruce was a model of morality, higher than any in the Church?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholic Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher, Australia, urges \"No\" vote on gay marriage plebiscite. \n\n\u201cThe state has no business telling us who we should love and how, sexually or otherwise,\u201d he said. Exactly. And, if you think about it, by allowing LGBT marriage the state IS getting out of the business of saying \"who should love and how.\" \n\nHe also warned the faithful: \"How will we maintain a sense of who we are and what matters most to us when some others barely tolerate us or even vilify and bully us?\u201d I kid you not - he really said that he fears what has happened repeatedly to LGBT people, and which the Church has added to by labeling LGBT people as \"intrinsically disordered\" - he now fears could happen to people of faith, many of whom have shown they \"barely tolerate\", \"vilify\", and \"bully\" LGBT people. \n\nHe fears for people of faith: \"Some may lose their jobs, promotions, businesses, political careers.\u201d Well, honey, what goes around comes around. \n\nSee comment 2", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Part one of two) The stories will make some people uncomfortable and others angry. It will be difficult reading, but my hope \u2014 my belief \u2014 is that it will make us confront a profound question about clergy sex abuse and the Catholic Church, namely, how do we as church, as a community of believers, bring healing to our wounded body?\u2014Dennis Coday As bad as the abuse is, the cover-up is worse. NCR seems headed in the direction, \u201cPharaoh then commanded all his subjects, \u201cThrow into the river every boy that is born to the Hebrews, but you may let all the girls live\u201d (Exodus 1:22). In the final analysis, \u201cOur help is in the name of the Lord\u201d (Psalm 124:8a).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "He did. It's most likely he spent most of his adult life as a craftsman, tradesman, a builder Notice in Saint Matthew's Gospel when He begins to preach...they identify him as \"the son of the carpenter\" (builder, perhaps a stone mason). Odds are that was his trade too, consistent with their culture.\n\nOther references that Jesus Himself used....\"cornerstone\"\n\nIt's fallacious to try to concoct a story that he was some sort of rabbi.\n\nWe must use all our capacities/capabilities to come to know Jesus. We can use our reason and our imagination to think about Jesus in His \"hidden Gospel\"...the many years that were not recorded in the formal Gospels.\n\nHow must a perfect man, perfect God worked? \nHow did He serve his clients?\nIsn't it most likely that He worked well - doesn't that stand to reason?\nDid He pray while He worked? Most likely...He prayed on His way to the Cross.\nDid He make fine products?\nDid He anticipate needs?\nHow did He handle work demands?\nDid He work cheerfully?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Many and possibly most Catholics, like myself, believe the church's views shouldn't dictate government policy. In an essentially secular Western country, the state has an obligation to be neutral on contentious social matters and to govern on the basis of rational impartiality. Personally, I believe that moral questions like gay marriage and abortion that do not intersect with criminality should be left to individuals to decide. If people want to subscribe to a religious interpretation to govern their own behavior, that's entirely their right as long as their views and actions don't interfere with the rights of others. Immigration policy should be governed by Canada's economic needs as well as the capacity of individual immigrants to adapt and I suspect very few Catholics would disagree with me on this.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You have to appreciate the fact that Barbara gave 29 years of her life to helping victims. She made a difference. If only the catholic hierarchy would do the right moral thing and help victims to. Even so much as an apology to your face for the pain you have been put through.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think that the Catholic response to the current politics of our country is completely appropriate for NCR as what NCR talks about is the religious response to the political situation. When St. Maximilian Kolbe went to his death to protect a Jewish father during the Holocaust, one could argue that his actions were only political (against the Germans and for the Jews), but that would miss the action as truly Catholic (protection of life, the poor and unwanted).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bro, it's more than anger, it is disgust and lack of trust. The eucharist is not meaningful to me if it is dispensed by someone I cannot stand or respect. At Mass, I have to sit in pews with people who think that it is the moral and correct thing for a woman to sacrifice her life for a pregnancy gone bad if she cannot be healed by an indirect abortion. There is just too much water over the dam. The toxic misogyny, the investigation of the nuns, the theft of our parishes to pay for legal representation to defend depravities that have been committed by priests, the funding of intolerant right-wing causes, the disappearance of the clergy trust when Cardinal Law fled to Rome (no proof, but millions and millions disappeared at about the same time). I do not want to change my religion so I won't be running to the Episcopalians or the Lutherans. I just want to go to Mass and not feel as though I am one of the people who need to be restrained and controlled because I am a female.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Any Syrian over there who is a Christian (any denomination and any rank in their clergy) and who might say anything favorable about the attack is inviting death for himself or herself, and for family members and for their congregations. So, this poor fellow is on the record trying to protect his congregation. \nThis is not to criticize him. \nJust pray for all of them, Christians and all others.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Given most Catholic funerals these days are almost canonizations, one attending the funeral of one in a same sex civil marriage in a similar situation might well come off with the impression they have nothing to repent for.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Interesting. What sources? There are (quite ancient) groups of Christians in western India--by their own accounts proselytized by the disciple Thomas (Aramaic \"Tauma\")--who refer to western Christians as \"Paulists\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Is there anyone in the Vatican other than Pope Francis untainted by corruption?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "oh, janine, even the demons believe in God. but if the kids truly believed, accepted Christ as Lord, they would not be doing what they are doing. \"Pick up your cross and follow me.\" Action, not words.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are three distinct persons in One God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "so many of these kinds of folks are former Society of St. Pius X, we have then here in Kansas. they are more cult-like than Catholic. they are scary people. and their parishes tend to be very separatist. not good folks. and the gay couple has a right to be concerned.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\" Unfortunately, all of these closures and consolidations have one root cause: a shortage of priests.\" \n\nThat is a broad statement. I know of a number of parishes in a number of dioceses that can't financially support themselves, not because of a lack of clergy, but because of a lack of parishioners\u200b and by association a lack of financial support. People aren't buying what the church is selling.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Continued - and final part!)\nIn response to the ordination of women in the Episcopal Church (the second one being in 1974) the CDF declared that women CANNOT be ordained to the priesthood in 1976. The CDF invoked Vatican II (Lumen gentium 25) regarding the infallible teaching capacity of all bishops when in communion with one another, and that it has always been the ordinary, constant and definitive teaching of all bishops throughout the world. As a result, JP2's letter on the matter \"handed on\" this same teaching by his formal declaration, thereby making explicit what is always and everywhere to be held by all as belonging to the deposit of faith. \n\nSo where was Pope Francis to go? There was nothing else he could do, period. And there is right now no possible way for a change in that infallible teaching to be made. However, it should be noted that the CDF's declaration is itself non-infallible! So the debate continues, as it should. The theologians have the matter now.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Just a bit of online reasearch goes a long ways to find information. For example, researcher Christian Leuprecht, who is also a professor at Queen\u2019s University, estimated illegal cigarette sales cost Ontario up to $1 billion in revenue annually, accounting for a third of the roughly $3 billion Canada as a whole loses to contraband sales.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There were two statements in this presentation [ 1st by Fr. Gehring] that I would hope that other bloggers would comment upon:\n\n\"We have to grapple with the cold reality that a majority of white Catholics played a very decisive role in putting this man [Trump] in office. That points to a deeper theological crisis at the heart of white Christianity.\"\n\nFurther on down [A. Sullivan] stated that today \"there is a vast discomfort with the very fast-changing demography of America\" and the fact that giving expression to the discomfort is forbidden...Likewise [Sullivan continued], it is forbidden to really acknowledge that the white working class, or the working class in general, are not just facing economic problems, they are facing economic apocalypse.\" \n\n\nAs far as white American Catholics are concerned, is there anything that the official church should be doing---that it has failed to do up until now?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Because you can't be \"fully human\" and omniscient at the same time. Jesus became human. He wasn't pretending.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"I don\u2019t ingest THC ... only ... CBD\u2019s that are not psychoactive ... and I don\u2019t brag about it ...\"\n\nI stand corrected. \n\nOn Googling \"CBD\", I'm presented with a choice between \"Christian Book Distributors\" and \"Cannibidiol\". I'm going to assume you mean the latter. ;-)\n\n\"Sorry you\u2019re having to eat addictive painkillers for relief.\" No issues here like that (haven't heard of anyone addicted to aspirin) - but thank you for your concern.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And you think that separating children from their parents is sinless? You don't think that causing trauma to thousands who have not committed any serious crimes [or no crimes at all], is not sinful? Is this how one is a faithful Catholic? Faithful to whom?\n\nTrump, shoots his mouth off first, and expects his lackeys [certain cabinet members, spokespersons, and the V.P.] to clean up his verbal sewage to both Americans and other nations around the world. How about the 'terrorist attack in Sweden' that Trump mouthed to the TV cameras the other day? The man lies like a rug and then calls it 'alternate facts'.\n\nIt is the duty of bishops to follow what Jesus [the Way, the Truth and the Life] taught and DEMONSTRATED as to how his followers are to live their lives. It is not by adhering to Trump's \"alternate truth.\"\n\n\"The greatest among you will be the one who serves the rest.\" Matthew 23:11-12", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\u201cThis is happening everywhere,\u201d Maroney wrote. \u201cWherever there is a position of power, there is the potential for abuse.\" - this is the problem right here. Too many people are saying that it's a Hollywood problem or a rock 'n roll problem or a Catholic priest problem. No, it's a societal problem. It's everywhere. It's people in a position of power being allowed to exploit that power and have people look the other way for a variety of reasons.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "To wit: I posted the comment below in a thread that is now closed. \n\nSo have I. It may be a cliche, but some of my best friends ...\nThe folks we've been hearing from here are not Catholic traditionalists. They use some Catholic words and concepts, but they do not know, understand or believe the tradition. When they try to sing a Catholic tune, they are off-key.\n\nThese are the characteristics of religious fundamentalism across various religions and denominations. Fundamentalism is, in many respects, not so much a theological deviancy (although it is that) but a psychological deviancy.\n<<\"[Baum] was the most charitable and optimistic person I've ever known,\" said Hinsdale.>>\nYes, that speaks volumes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We are sons and daughters of God first and foremost.\nI doubt that Christ would recognize nor like some of the teachings of the church.\nWe should be helping one another along, not criticizing and shunning. I'm sure there is room in heaven for all of us.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Really, R.C.? What IS the Francis disaster? That he preaches the Gospel?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\u201cSo let us see and judge and act. Let us disrupt and rebuild. And let us do God\u2019s work,\u201d McElroy concluded. Where is this found in the Bible? God's word teaches us that as Believers we are to submit to authorities to Honor God. 1 Peter 2:13: Submit yourselves for the Lord\u2019s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority. \nWe must trust God, not attempt to usurp his authority. I pray for all leaders, regardless of party or actions as the Bible clearly states they are placed in the position of authority by God. The views of this Bishop are clearly political and I pray that he ask God for guidance an clarity. If you believe that I am in error please accept my apology. I am a servant of God and strive each day to humble myself before the Lord.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you want to hear the perspective of a woman who accepts Church teaching on the priesthood, I encourage you to get to know the work of Dr. Pia de Solenni, (recently appointed as Theological Consultant to the Office of the Bishop in Orange County Diocese). Look her up on Thomas Aquinas College web site...\n\nIn her words: \n\n\"In order to understand the Church\u2019s position on this you have to go to a more metaphysical reality, and that is the relationship between Christ and the Church. From the perspective of Catholic theology, that relationship between Christ and the Church is spousal; t\u2019s husband and wife, bridegroom and bride. And the priest is seen as someone who \u2014 in the Latin we say is in persona Christi \u2014 he\u2019s someone who is in the person of Christ. \" -- Dr. Pia de Solenni, from NPR Interview in 2011", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "While we argue over abortion, the ACA, Catholic orthodoxy, etc. we are destroying ourselves. Right now if we were attacked we would be less able to defend ourselves than we were a month ago. The persons picked to lead don't have the knowledge to lead the departments they're picked for. Their subordinates question their knowledge. They don't know what to do. We want small government, so we demolish our protection and then we complain that government doesn't work. Let's just let it happen. At least that's what's going to happen if we keep going in the direction we're headed. I hope the bishops are happy. At least there's a chance that Roe vs Wade will be overturned and divorced people won't receive communion. Too bad about those poor Mexicans who have been picking our food, mowing our grass,, serving our food, and making all these services cheaper for us. What's wrong with us. We have the stop calling each other names and start solving problems.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If anybody would like to read a gentle, lighthearted short story related to this topic, I'd recommend \"Farewell\" by J.F. Powers. If you're not familiar with him, Powers was a wonderful writer whose subject matter was usually the joys and foibles of being Catholic in the mid-20th century. He's best known for his novels \"Morte d'Urban\" and \"Wheat That Springeth Green,\" but some of his lesser known short stories are gems too.\n\"Farewell\" centers on a retired bishop from a small midwestern diocese who goes to investigate a lady claiming to have Marian apparitions, which include a message she can share only with a bishop. I won't give away the ending, but it is both funny and a little sweet.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christ was born for us because God loves us. He became human to demonstrate that love, and to teach a world in disarray about that love, and how we could demonstrate that love to each other, for each other. Being human, Christ was going to die. \"I love you so much I will die as you die, and then show you that death is not the end, when I reveal the resurrection and what can be after.\" The method of Christ's death, the cross, was chosen by humans, by religious and political leaders threatened by his teachings. The method of death was interpreted as a sacrifice by followers steeped in the necessity for sacrificial atonement belief of their Hebrew culture and history. I have come to feel it was undergoing death that was the sacrifice of Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Man, that Lutheran Satire video. \n\nDid you see the one where they showed snippets of it to Catholics and the various uncomfortable reactions it uh, triggered. It was painful. \n\nI mean even the biggest NCR Francis cheerleaders have to scratch their heads at the youth unemployment remark.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dr. Patterson,\n\nThank you for giving us such a thorough and thoughtful review of the topic. I appreciate the depth of your research and how you laid-out the topic in its' historic context. \n\nIt is time for those so stridently crying-out their opposition to the ordination of women to realize they are fighting a battle they have already lost and that God has guided the structure and practices of the church much further in a direction other than what they think is right for them to change it. Like Satan in Heaven making claims against God under the guise of doing right, they are creating division in the church. Unity in the church requires their repentance, not their continued opposition.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Part three-a of three) books about her (biographies by William Miller, Jim Forest, Robert Coles, and Paul Elie)\u2014Julie Hanlon Rubio\n Try Praying with Dorothy Day by James Allaire and Rosemary Broughton \u201cMay the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our hearts, that we may know that is the hop[e that belongs to our call\u201d (Ephesians 1:17-18).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mr. Ibbitson: does the term \"alt right\" include people like the late and unlamented Stephen Harper who make the creed of their right wing evangelical religion part of the legislative and policy agenda of the Canadian federal government?\n\nCan we expect the same from Mr. Scheer?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Development of doctrine, Assumption, is very much alive and well, and continues as always. You question, therefore, is very cogent. \n\nFirst, yes of course, Jesus is present in the Eucharist, and Jesus is God, and therefore the Eucharist is adorable.\n\nSecond, development of doctrine does not mean that every development is to be evaluated by the future as positive. As well as the Spirit guiding, the human element in development is very strong. Indeed the Evil One is very keen to get in on the act of development to lead us astray.\n\nGiven both of these, I would suggest that the Eucharist is preeminently sacred food as evidenced by the the manner in which it was introduced by Jesus. There are two reasons, IMHO, for today downplaying the Eucharist as an object of adoration: (1) it was introduced and served for a long time to displace frequent reception, and (2) emphatic adoration outside of mass is a uniquely Catholic practice. Eccumenism is a solid reason for down playing this practice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The leftist definition of \"civility\" = say anything you like except what we hate (that's why it's called \"hate speech\").\n\nJesus was \"civil\" to the moneychangers in the Temple, right? \n\nWhat the Anti-Pope and his cheerleaders are advocating is far worse than moneychanging...they advocate for the new Tower of Babel in the name of \"humanity.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A few people care what I think, not many, but a few (even my 3 boys do once in a while), my wife does (most of the time).\n\nAnd my business may include telling you what is against the law for you to do with your body, like murdering, vandalism, hate crimes, and perhaps even one day, aborting your unborn child. You cannot prove Heaven does not exist, and you cannot prove there is no life after death, and you cannot prove the Bible is not the word given to man from God. Isn't God clever Icon ? He set this up seemingly just to frustrate you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Cuomo response has been unfortunate, that as a Catholic he does not believe in abortion but will not vote to ban it or appoint justices who would because we live in a pluralist society. Almost every pro-choice politician sings from his hymnbook. What all of these politicians should have said was that as attorneys, they have to follow the law and uphold federal superiority in equal protection matters, so Roe cannot be overturned and the matter cannot be sent to the states (and should not be if they could engineer the votes, given how poorly such a stance works in civil rights, gay rights and in dealing with slavery. Nationalists won the civil war and anyone who wishes to turn back this issue is a neo-Confederate traitor or a Republican partisan operative using this issue cynically, including the Bishops.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus is coming soon, so nothing to worry about.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Loren,\n\nWell said. I appreciate that you were honest and generous in your apology, actions that arose from a deep love for God that has given you a sense of fairness and respect. \n\nLike you, I was raised being taught and believing all those things you remembered from your youth. Then I discovered how disconnected those things were from the Gospel that Jesus taught and practiced and my faith collapsed. It is only by the amazing grace of God that I am still a believer because God had to rebuild my faith from the ashes of that destruction. That was such a traumatic experience that I fear for the faith of the anti-WO faction when they realize the damage they are doing and how many souls they are turning away from God. So I am waiting with sympathy for them to nurture the rebuilding of their faith so the energies they now are devoting to fighting God can be put to building the Kingdom of God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jay, I happen to think that the argument on both side of the intercommunion issue are very sensible. \n\nThe ancient tradition most definitely is against intercommunion, and in this modern eccumenical age, that tradition can be transformed into the positive pain of being present at an Orthodox liturgy, desiring to receive, but restraining oneself out of respect for the Orthodox preference to not receive. \n\nAnd on the other hand, it can be a wonderful experience of eccumenism to welcome non-Catholics to receive and to receive in some Protestant churches. I am thinking in particular of a Catholic retreat house the regularly has a mixture of Catholics and Protestants on week long or month long silent retreats. The spiritual intimacy that develop in such a context is such, that it would feel down right un-Christian to not share the Eucharist. \n\nI am an Eastern Catholic deacon. At my ordination service, it was very special to communicate Orthodox family members.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Have you read what he posts and the tone of them? He rejects almost all the Church's teaching on matters of Faith and Morals, hardly what one would expect from a Catholic priest.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "True, although it's fair to say that the IRA wasn't brought down- they simply abandoned their terror campaign in favour of a political one.\n\nThe notable difference between now and those days, with their far more numerous terror incidents, was the lack of hysteria over the bombings and the absence of hatred directed at Catholics and Irish people.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Saying that an abortion cannot be directly willed says two things:\n\nGod has directed Man to not take innocent lives\n\nOne cannot value the life one the fetus over the mother or vice-versa\n\nAny valuation you place on the two lives is yours and yours alone.\n\nThe topic, btw, is the proposition that the \"Catholic Church has a vital role in the healing of the nation\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The author can't cite the textbook definition of schism because he and his fellow travelers are guilty of such during the pontificates of John Paul II and Benedict XVI. So he redefines it as a bishop ordaining his own priests and forming a breakaway group. \n\nI think an interesting question is, what happens if a Supreme Pontiff refuses submission to Jesus Christ, or communion with those who hold to the teachings of Jesus Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The Church\", as you put it, teaches much, some of which is pure heresy...according to the clear teaching of Jesus. For example, the \"Church's\" traditional support of capital punishment flies in the face of Christ's instruction to love enemies.\n\nI'm not impressed sometimes with what your church teaches.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Our Holy Father probably provides his Brother Bishops a great deal of insight in how to appear to be doing something while actually not doing so. It is very difficult to say one thing and do another without appearing to be a liar, but Christ's Vicar is quite adept and no doubt shares ideas with the other Bishops. Naturally, such duplicity would be reprehensible in a lay person, but as the Leaders of the Church, chosen by God to teach Morality, the Holy Father and his Bishops are outside our normal understanding of right and wrong.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm sorry, I must have mis-read your comment \"newsreader60\"...did you actually say that...\"the Church is one of the safest institution for children nationwide\"...??? I thank Almighty God that I wasn't drinking my tea when I read THAT; I would have spewed all over my screen! I myself didn't get the memo that the wolves had been de-fanged, and frankly, I wouldn't trust this institution as far as I could throw a steel elephant. Wilton's mea culpa is very moving, and truth be told I actually believe him.At any rate, this is the type of baggage that the Roman Catholic Church will NEVER be able to put down, and as far as I'm concerned, the Roman Catholic Church's much ballyhooed\"moral authority\" has been permanently damaged. ---JESUS IS LORD.\ud83d\ude10.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\" Yes, it drew attention but it also drew away from the message.\"\n\nThat is exactly why I think kneeling to send a message was a bad idea. A majority of the talk has been about the action, not the message. \n\nBut even though I disagree that kneeling is an appropriate way to send a message, I support their right to do so. Forcing people to stand, or recite the pledge reminds me of Hilter's Germany. Colorado CHristian can order their students to stand but they can not order what the students feel in their hearts.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm not sure that I understand what you are saying.\n\"We pick and choose what to criticize, what to affirm, among Papal teachings, but we are not Cafeteria Catholics?\" If you are quoting me, then I am unaware that I wrote that anywhere. If not then who's 'we'?\nVatican I said the pope was infallible when he spoke definitively as the successor of Peter, on matters of Faith and Morals and I accept that without reservation. \nIf, however, one pope contradicts a predecessor, doesn't that obviate what you quote from Dei Verbum; contradicting is not 'handing on'. So which pope ought one to believe? St John Paul II who in Familiaris Consortio absolutely forbade the divorced and remarried to receive Communion, this praxis going back to Apostolic times. Or Pope Francis who appears to be saying that in certain circumstances they now can.\nThe Assisi meetings can be regarded as personal initiatives of the two popes which the faithful are at liberty to express their approval or disapproval.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Reflection, \"Let God be God\", speaks to St. Augustine's sense that God is the \"Really Real\". Grain, in the context of Eucharist, and of essential food, is to the point of the Really Real.\nIsaiah says \"all flesh is grass\"; Joseph of Egypt stored wheat grains in times of plenty against the years of want; and, of bread made from grass-grain, Jesus says: \"This is my Body\".\nGod, in context of 'daily bread', is REALLY REAL. SAVVY?\nHow do we \"let God be God\"? in our time, in all time?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The spirit of constant and total self-gift is what gives joy. \n\nMost people spend their entire life resisting what seems like either pablum, blather, or a paradox.\n\nThe beautiful idea of the Communion of Saints is generally barely understood by most Catholics.\n\nThe idea is that - through the Body of Christ - we are intimately & in a very real way \"connected\".\n\nYour heroic sacrifice for your family in Chicago can benefit me in some real way in my home state. \n\nMy lack of sacrifice or sincerity in facing the motives for my \"un-gift\" in my family can effect a priest on the other side of the world.\n\nWe are connected. My strivings, your strivings to love with the very heart of Christ can materially help priests, but not just \"generic priests\", but this or that priest or lay person.\n\nSo our \"lack of generosity\" in living family life can cause shortages of \"generosity\" elsewhere, including the priesthood. \n\nIt takes faith to fully live the \"Communion of Saints\", but it leads to joy", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why, the answer is obvious. The bishops should sell their possessions - including all real estate and church buildings - and distribute the money to the poor. In addition, they should seek to replace capitalism with socialism. \n\nEveryone should be poor and then we'll all be \"equal\". We all know it is poverty that causes man to sin and not man's fallen nature and attraction to sin. When we're all the same, there will be no murder, no abortion, no theft, and we'll all worship God and go to Heaven. \n\nThis is surely what Jesus meant when He said \"The poor you will always have with you.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Agree. Sr. Schenk rightly invokes the often overlooked socio-economic context of Jesus's ministry in the Galilean countryside, a ministry mainly addressed to Jewish peasants crushed by debt:\n\n<>\n\nIt's also true the gospel agitates against the human drive for domination. I had never heard of Walter Wink and am grateful for the introduction. \n\nThanks for an excellent article, Sister!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In Right and Reason, Austin Fagothy analyzed using abortion not to pay taxes. He said the impact of your tax money on it was so small that you had to pay. His book is the standard for Catholic ethics and has been for decades. Abortion is not an issue because barring congressional action on the 14th Amendment question, nothing can be done nor does the pro-life side have a strategy that is more than electioneering and PR.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are many good and faithful people who are divorced and remarried. They want to deepen their relationship with God and the Church. Receiving Eucharist would further that relationship. I do not understand how that would damage the sacrament of marriage. The church needs to understand real life and that people can decide for themselves if it is appropriate for them to receive Eucharist. Jesus excluded no one.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The message of pope and patriarch is fine, but it would be stronger were it less anthropocentric. \"Human dignity\" is a great cause, but it should not suggest that only human beings have dignity, or have a dignity worth defending. \"Care for creation,\" for the living creatures of Earth, must include compassionate concern for the well-being of nonhuman animals, especially those who have been traditionally exploited, the countless vertebrates who have been caught up in the deadly food industries.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Doesn't St. Pul say something about \"when I was a child, I thought as a child; I understood as a child. Now that I have become a man I am fed on solid food' etc.\n\nWe grow as individuals. Our store of knowledge grows as humanity develops.\n\nActually, it seems it was an 'evolution of the intellect' that developed 'homo sapiens'. Perhaps even what developed into 'Christianity' - at least according to Christians.\n\nObviously, even in the Genesis myth ...'the first man was equally capable of making moral choices as we are today.'.... and vice versa. We all choose to follow God, or not. No 'fallen' nature needed for that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Reginald, to put it simply, you do not represent the Christ that I know and love.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part 1 of 2. \n\nYou're still missing the essential point. It's much bigger than you're getting at. I don't know how else to communicate it. Let me try. \n\nPerhaps it's best to start with the end in mind. The end is \"intimate union with God\" (and this also demands that this union be 'in truth', ordered to God's will and plan). \n\nThis union can also be described as a \"continual conversion\" into the image of Jesus Christ, a continual \"perfection\" if you will. We must strive to become \"partakers in the divine life of the Trinity\" (using the graces that come from God) is another way that the Church refers to it. Holiness. \n\nSo humans have been given various \"faculties\" to get them toward this end: A will (that can be and should be continually strengthened over one's life), an intellect that must be developed, a body (that allows a soul to serve God in various ways), appetites that need to be ordered to the good and the true, etc.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What AB Chaput and Cardinal Burke are effectively saying is 'shaming first, mercy later'. In the story of the women caught in adultery, Jesus shames her accusers, and then forgives her. That's a lesson many people seem to miss.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This points out a fact many Catholics don't realize. There are more female ordained priests & pastors now than 10 years ago in the Anglican/Episcopalian Churches but they are not at all equal in amounts & they are making more female bishops but the time it has taken to do this has put this church in a position to keep losing people over the last 40 years as it too slowly ripped the band-aid off of its misogyny wound. \n\nThere is a lesson to be learned for us. These Churches did not, as a matter of human dignity, demand female ordination centrally be accepted immediately by all diocese & bishops & so they cont. to lose both liberals & conservatives at the same time for either changing or not changing fast enough. \n\nOur pope must declare ex cathedra that all Catholics equally represent Christ, in their flesh, despite gender, ethnicity or race, per Gospel Teaching so none of this type discrimination will be allowed to disqualify anyone from any sacrament. It must be a central change!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In the Toronto Star on June 5 it was reported with regard to one RC school board that \"property taxes paid by Catholic residents in Hamilton account for only 7 per cent of the board\u2019s funding, with the rest coming from general provincial revenues.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If all of the positions ascribed to Flannery in this article were listed, and all of the Catholic theologians in the world (meaning everyone with a doctoral degree in theology who professes Catholicism) were asked agree or disagree with each point separately, I would bet that, with the exception of the odd point here and there, most positions would garner a vote of 70% agreement. That is, I postulate that a significant majority of Catholic theologians would agree with most of Tom Flannery's positions. \n\nAnother way of putting this, is that a narrow reading of the magisterium would condemn the majority of our experts as heretics. Don't know about you, Pandora, but I'm inclined to go with current expert opinion over an collection of authority-sanctioned opinions. \n\nYou have demonstrated that there is a lot more to this story, but that doesn't change the probability that it is above all his position of female ordination that got him condemned.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sir, my Faith is not misplaced. The Church is the Body of Christ. I trust the Church precisely because I trust Christ. The Church cannot fail because Christ cannot fail. \n\nGod's Revelation is what matters. Science matters--the problem is that people tend to jump to conclusions and impute the discoveries of Science onto theological matters--much like Galileo did. Science can tell us how creation works, but that is all it can tell us. We cannot determine moral truth based on the discoveries of science. Science is descriptive, not proscriptive. \n\nGalileo claimed the earth is not at the center of the universe. He then imputed that discovery onto theological and philosophical truths. That is what got him into trouble.\n\nMaybe we should and maybe we should not allow the truths of science to influence theology and philosophy. The point is--whether or not we do that is for the Magesterium to figure out.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "AnonAJ - you know, I have vivid memories of watching both my mother and my father showing such love of those less fortunate, be they mentally retarded or homeless or those in great poverty. My mother, with several other LADIES (always women, it seemed) of the parish go to the homes of those with disabled children/relatives and talking with them about coming to a parish program designed just for those individuals. I saw how my parents touched and talked with and sat with all of those afflicted persons, sometimes with their heads on my parents' shoulders or in their laps, and tell them how much God loved them and offer a treat, or sing a song. This is why when I see Pope Francis hold the face of deformed and disabled people, and kiss their heads and bless them, it fills me with a pride (of being Catholic) and shows me the side of the Church that I love, the side that really matters. You give me the same feeling. This is exactly what so many can do, leaving the culture wars aside.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In Rome, tourists visit the Arch of Titus. Inside the arch is a relief depicting the menorah and the table of showbread being carried by Gentile Roman soldiers. As the story goes, these objects were looted from the temple of Jerusalem in 70 AD. The bible introduces the objects in the book of Exodus. God had Moses make them, just like he had seen them. The Arch of Titus is real \u2013 you can search for it on the Internet and see it for yourself next time you are in Rome. It was erected in the first century to preserve details about historical events. The temple in Jerusalem is also a tourist mecca that evidences Zerubbabel\u2019s 6th century BC reconstruction of Solomon\u2019s temple originally built in the 10th century BC. The objects of the temple are what the Arch of Titus records as undeniable. Where did those Romans go wrong in lacking the information you happen to have? Is your assertion on the mythological nature of the bible limited to the Pentateuch and the New Testament, except for Exodus?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The common thread in both examples is tolerance and acceptance of difference. I would call those Canadian values.\n\nViewed through that lens, supporting Muslim prayer for 15 minutes per week and supporting LGBT rights in Catholic schools are perfectly consistent stances.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The issue gets particularly muddled when it is about a religious person/group controlling the choices of an individual or different religious group. \"Liberals who opposed the Hobby Lobby Supreme Court decision fail to recognize religious liberty\"? Or, they recognize the religious liberty of the employees of Hobby Lobby and don't want to let the power of job owners dictate and limit rights of employees.\n\nThe same goes for allowing Catholic hospitals to use their niche in a health care market to control legal health care options of those depend on them for care. Again, it is allowing the capitalist ownership of health care to limit the ability of individuals in the community to receive the care they want.\n\nCapitalism wins when we allow those who \"own\" the right to give jobs to others or \"own\" the right to decide what health care will be made available to a community to control moral choices. Capitalism wins in deciding who gets to make moral choices.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If I may contribute this to those who will either see or read \"Silence\"... please consider the book by Mako Fujimura \"Silence and Beauty\". From the introduction, Silence and Beauty sheds light on a wealth of topics-a classic novel, Japanese Culture, Martin Scorsese's filmmaking, the fine arts, theology, the enigmas of East and West-and leave the reader with a startling new encounter with Christ.\"\n\n\"...Fugimura writes of standing on Martyrs Hill, a mile from Nagasaki's ground zero. In one of history's cruel ironies, the second atomic bomb exploded directly above Japan's largest congregations of Christians, many of whom had gathered for mass at the cathedral. (Clouds obscured the intended city, forcing the bombing crew to select analternate target.) In the end, more Christians died in the atomic destruction of Nagasaki than in the centuries of persecution that followed the deaths of the 26 martyrs in 1597, for over the years by far the majority of believers had apostatized.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think they are being true their roots in the exclusive Galli priesthood of Attis, the dying and rising god of yore. Rather they should follow the example of Protestants who include women and the example of Jesus who included women. Come to think of it, Jesus had no use for priests.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part 2\n\n(2) The second meaning is Natural Law as a body of moral conclusions theoretically derived by DEDUCTIVE REASONING from prior moral premises, ultimately presumed to be self-evident. This is the meaning of natural law in the Catholic moral tradition that took hold in the scholastic philosophy of the high middle ages. And it is this body of elusive material the most users of the term in the first sense cannot point to by chapter and verse. I have to date not been able to find on the internet this material as a sustained chain of deduction from self-evident premises as a persuasive, respectable argument in the face of actual DATA to the contrary.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Render to the Father what is the Father's. And render to Caesar what is Caesar's.\" (Matthew 22:21)\nSaint Paul's Letter to the Romans Chapter 13: 1 & 2: 1 \"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. \n2 Therefore he who resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. \"\n\nHistorically the U.S. Flag has 13 Stripes indicating the Original Colonies which gave elevation to Christians (and Catholics) to escape persecution. For Maryland was founded as a Catholic colony. Then there's a common good ordered for the 50 Stars representing Fifty States. Which, a portion of those states not quite at the count of Fifty, were held together in the Union under President Abraham, who did also abolish slavery. Then there are the number of Expeditions (Lewis Clark, the Louisiana Purchase.) And how the U.S. afforded many Catholic Missions to continue", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I find the millenials to be thoughtful concerned young people with an ability to not only accept but also try to understand the beliefs of their peers. They are concerned about those who are being left behind and many volunteer to help the organizations dealing with these issues. The Catholic Church has been so focused on the 10 commandments and sins of the body that they have all but forgotten and pay little attention to the sermon on the mount.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Strongly disagree with you. Our core values and our intelligence is what makes America great, and is what pushes so many to want to immigrate here. Has nothing to do with rural living or city living, has everything to do with what we have in America. For example, those core American values are what the extreme ISIS people want to remove. \n\nIt has NOTHING to do with this White Christian prejudice you so aptly describe here: \"if they are white and Christian.\" As for this \"immigrants and racial minorities get an unfair share of benefits\" guess what. You are wrong. Our federal and state tax money dumped into schools, in particular to help ESL and ELL students (A segregated special group, not for the \"whole) money dumped into affordable housing to aid the immigrants working (Read Aspen, read Glenwood, Read Vail to see that) and so on. They are a special class with special privileges money and time given to them. People can agree with doing that or disagree, but it is a fact.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I understand very well the historical progression of the church's stance on homosexuality. It's just my own frustration that after decades, even centuries, of getting wrong, you think that someone in the Vatican hierarchy would have the courage to chart a new course??? After all, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "God is not a man. The Creator is an androgynous Spirit who can create female as well as male. Jesus, the Word, became a human male. And the Spirit is not a man either. Jesus did not ordain anyone to be a priest. Jesus did not belong to the priestly tribe of Levi, nor to the House of Aaron.\n\nHe belonged to the Tribe of Judah and the House of David. He was NOT a priest. Jesus never called himself a priest, either. He called himself the Son of Man, a prophet, a teacher---but NEVER a priest. He did not anoint any of the Twelve nor any disciple. He called the Twelve to preach the Gospel----but not to celebrate a liturgy. The infant Church celebrated The Meal in house churches----and most of the time---the presider was a woman.\n\nChrist died for all and redeemed all. To say that women cannot be priests is a heresy. It denies that the gifts of God for service to all, are distributed by gender---not freely. God is not limited by past practices of either societies or by the Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Maybe it's a good thing: \"Men\", probably under-pinned in \"relax fit\" pants and T-shirt with layered overlays of woman or immigrant ironed pure white, full-length cotton dress, edged with frilly lace, nicely waist-bound with sexy cord carefully dangling - dependent upon girth. It is accented by an elaborate, over-sized \"bib\" that varies in colour with the \"season\" perfectly accented by the whiteness beneath. A brilliant \"scarf\" completes the ensemble, unless of course he also dons a carefully designed head cover - regularly doffed and donned to ensure attention is focused on his performance. Ah, the tell-tale Adidas, or golf shoe or maybe a brilliantly polished black shoe hints at his plans for the rest of the day, the \"after-Jesus\".\n\nI even once espied a Bishop extend his arms in global embrace and a \"fleecy\" peeked-out from his elegant cuff-linked wrist.\n\nLet them find their comfort in the company of their ilk.\n\nLet us gather in the redeeming friendship of Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We've all read the bishop's statement in San Diego. What you have not been able to produce the offending bulletin or bulletins. You were provided the means of downloading them, and the result was silence.\n\nThe bishop did NOT say that the priest did what you say he did. He only noted that a situation arose in a parish, and not only admitted that it had, I explained what had happened.\n\nPavone did not endorse Trump in the incident. His bishop is not alleging that he did.\n\nYour problem appears to be that you, along with most Catholics, were presented with a hierarchy of issues with abortion at the top, reference was made to things which might be found in the platforms of both parties and the candidates\u2019 statements were made, and the faithful were admonished to vote as Catholics.\n\nThe fact you have a problem with that says something, but not that the bishops and priests were campaigning for Trump.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The bishops of the United States have utterly failed the test of moral leadership in the public arena. By what they said and did, and by what they failed to say and do, they gave cover to Catholics to vote for and otherwise support the racist who now occupies the presidency. The bishops cannot say or do anything credibly with respect to public moral issues without apologizing for their hideous misjudgment about Trump in particular, and about the concept of what constitutes \"pro-life\" advocacy in general. Any statement any bishop, or group of bishops, makes about Charlottesville must begin with an acknowledgement of their moral failure and an apology. They helped elect a vicious racist, the most militantly anti-life president in history. Cancel the Fortnight for Freedom. Immediately.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would NOT equate charity to the poor and tithing to a church!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"I am waiting for the Catholic bishops to begin to speak out with a loud voice on all these policies. If they don't, they have forfeited their claim to any type of leadership in the U.S. Catholic community.\"\n\nToo late. That forfeiture already occurred long ago, about the time Humanae Vitae was promulgated. Unless you're talking about opposing abortion or gay marriage, the bishops have about as much backbone as a jellyfish. I, for one, won't be looking to them for any leadership in standing up to Trump in defense of Gospel principles. It's just not going to happen. The Republicans who pull their strings will see to that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Lord's Prayer talks about \"thy Kingdom come ... on earth as it is in heaven\". Jesus is talking about a spiritual kingdom. A kingdom based on love not laws. Not everyone can see it or find it.\nThe gift of mysticism is key to its understanding.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You didn't mention loving others. Jesus wants us to help, care for, heal, support.... others in need. We help them with love not rebuking, judging, or excluding. Love is the engine of change.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How about RCI (Roman Catholic Institution) \u2018leave your gift there before the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother (clergy sex abused victims); then come and offer your gift.\u2019 \nPerhaps, eliminating Cannon law forbidding the bishops report the clergy sex abuse of children to police may help to reconcile! LOLOLOLOLOL!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Are you really a Catholic priest???", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is touted as \"priority for Christians\" - even by Trump and the White House, but reading the text of the order, it says \u201cUpon the resumption of USRAP [US Refugee Admissions Program] admissions, the secretary of state, in consultation with the secretary of Homeland Security, is further directed to make changes, to the extent permitted by law, to prioritize refugee claims made by individuals on the basis of religious-based persecution, provided that the religion of the individual is a minority religion in the individual\u2019s country of nationality.\u201d So the order doesn't actually give priority to Christians - just religious minorities. I wonder if it will apply to minority islamic sects (of which there are many) who face persecution. I also wonder if it will apply outside of the 7 countries, to the persecuted islamic minorities in China, Burma, the Philippines and other places?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is no such thing as excommunication, self or otherwise. NOTHING can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. \"Excommunication\" is a form of control having nothing to do with love or God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't think it's censorship to remove things from a Facebook page; I remove pictures of cats all the time because I don't like cats.\n\nBut your wider point is completely correct: for centuries, people tried to prevent ideas from being heard by saying the ideas would cause civil unrest or rebellion against \"legitimate\" authority. But the new justification is that ideas will hurt people's feelings. \n\nThis is a new thing under the sun and very permicious to human discourse; this demand that if an idea or a fact makes somebody \"feel hated\" it must be suppressed. Imagine how hard it would have been for Jesus to preach the gospel if every time he spoke the word \"God\" the Romans has gone into a tizzy of shrieking and wailing and demanding he be stoned for making polytheistic believers \"feel hated.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One must give Cardinal Pell the benefit of the legal doubt today. But considering the multiple charges and complainants, Pell's association with known abusers in the past, and the long history of these charges being proven against Catholic officials, I'd say Pope Francis is going to have to make good on his zero-tolerance promise.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1. Unless you think you know everything that God does, it is not pointless, it is rational to consider. Dismissing it ignores a possible reality. But it gets you out of having to argue persuasively.\n\n2. God knowing the outcomes still leaves us with the choice. He did not create us only to suffer, as some will choose Him and avoid that outcome. Others will not. You may think that is a problem; I see it as an opportunity not to be missed.\n\n3. Here you resort to ad hominems against God, if that is possible. If God exists (and He does) then try as you might, you just don\u2019t have the power to change anything. But if you really feel that way about Him, you will be happier in hell not being bullied, right? So maybe that is not suffering after all in your thinking.\n\nThe Bible is as real as it gets. A man who claimed extraordinary things was killed, but came back to life, witnessed by over 500. It has spread to billions. Those are some pretty divine results from a uniquely divine beginning.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I actually would prefer if we did as the Eastern Catholics and Orthodox do: baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist all at once as an infant. All are unmerited gifts and why make folks wait for the graces of the other two sacraments to operate in their lives? Why make it seem like they have to earn it by attending CCD classes? Since such mysteries are infinite, how much more is there to understand from age 8 onward than from age 0-8?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A particle which is not obviously a consecrated host does not have the sign of the sacrament and therefore is not the Presence .\nTherefore Christ is not being stepped on . The sign is not recognizeable.\nI agree if in the hand in which I have just received communion I see a very small particle I would treat it as the Presence since it may or may not be such and I have no way of knowing .\nRemember it takes intention to commit sin as well as to do good .\nAnd in a church building those white specks could be any number of things . Scrupulosity is a torture which the Savior never saw as healthy . Nor should we .", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Cont'd)\n\"Love is a mutual benevolence mutually known\" (Aristotle, \"Ethics\"). Of course he knew the distinctions but ultimately it's a spectrum.\n\"If...and have not love, I am... (Paul ICor.13, summarizing Jesus and (giving \"incarnation\" to) Aristotle\n\"Caritas in Veritate\" (Benedict XV16) coulda/shoulda been closer to Paul as \"Veritas in Caritate\".\n\"L-o-v-e\" without some \"satisfaction\" (analogous term) is not love.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am nowhere near an expert on these things...but. can it cost more to retrofit the existing, substantial structure than to raze that and build a building of equal size, stature and workmanship? at least let the city buy it and resell it with specific parameters as to what can be done to and with it.... the city is growing, and a building like that, with built in significance, is probably desirable. a museum would be great. the fairgrounds are due for a make over at some pint- it's inevitable. move the museum downtown...let a private investment group put something like that together. the shedds of Chicago provide a space for arts in the old Baptist church- perfect use of that building... surely there, s a Rockefeller or Rockefeller-type family looking to spread the name... Hey!, the Knight building containing the history of the history as it's core... hey phil..there is probably a display in there regarding nike and it's rise to success.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "IMHO Fr Flannery is a man of courage, integrity, humility, and faith -- a prophet who has known suffering and reaches out to others in theirs. I wish I had some of his courage. Injustice and discrimination must be confronted, and there is the cross.\n\nAs he says on his blog, \"The Mass, the Eucharist, is not in the ownership of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, or indeed of the Vatican. It belongs to the believing communities. That was where it began in the early Church, and where it finds its true meaning\". Our commitment is to the person Jesus, not to a set of laws and definitions set up by an institution to protect itself.\n\nWhen Jesus said, \"wherever two or more are gathered in my name I am with them\", he said nothing about the gender of the minister, the need for faculties, the place of gathering, etc. Tony is reaching out to folks in Jesus' name, not trying to keep them out. The institution does that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christian was also kicked out of a Trump rally and reported to the police by Trump supporters.\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZL5-_y9jIY&feature=youtu.be", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus said one must be born again, not baptized. Associating the two is bad proof texting. To be born again looks from the text of the Gospel to be radicalized into the Kingdom of God, which is an adult outlook, not a Sacrament. Many Catholics are not radicalized that way, including many of our beloved trolls. Until recently, the Church taught that unbapitzed babies went to Limbo, where they would be physically comfortable forever but never encounter the grace of God. This also applied to the unborn, (even though you cannot born again if you were never born in the first place). Most modern theologians consider the idea of Limbo quaint and not serious. Of course, this question can never be verified in this life and it has never been addressed in Dogma, although some Doctrine speculates on it, but that is only speculation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part I:\nTo go along with my earlier comment in reply to you above, and I very much agree the Church needs to rid itself of its men-only obsession and do what it is supposed to do - concern itself with souls and spiritual life, not genitals - but I part company to some degree around the issue of clerics as having different roles then laity, and vice-versa. Every single organization on earth, loose or rigid, has a structure of leadership (with varied definitions) and churches are no different and should not be expected to be. Our current Church is struggling to free itself from centuries of medieval, politicized, monarchal rule, and a return to its roots in service, community, Jesus-like ministry and devotion. Vatican II is by no means dead or ineffectual, as we are - almost more then ever before - on a journey as a Church Unfinished. We have a long way to go! The walls of resistance and regression are slowly coming down.\n\nContinued -", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And women are not allowed to be priests in Catholicism. \n\nHe who has not sinned......", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As much as the Church of the \"Bells of St Mary's\" has changed dramatically, especially since V-II, I think there is opportunity for it to be rejuvenated, certainly in the mass itself. \n\nWhen is mass most packed? The holidays in which the Church presents itself in its splendor and majesty : Christmas and Easter. And during the sacraments, when parents dress their children and fill the pews for what is a mere glimpse of the former grand rituals of the pre-Vatican-II Church. Like it or not, humans are drawn to ceremony, rites, mystery, and spectacle. \n\nNo wonder that the move to a business conference setting and lame music and ceremony has led to such low Church attendance. Perhaps if the Church adjusts the mass, it will start to build back to its former self in all aspects.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Since the days of LBJ presidency, I cannot understand how someone can claim to be both a Catholic and a Democrat.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Good morning, Justmaybe - I agree that some close their minds to mercy because it makes them feel good/righteous to do so. But I don't think the argument against the theology of unconditional love/mercy is that it's too big a risk. I think it's that there is no basis for a theology of unconditional love/mercy in either the Old or New Testaments, nor in Catholic tradition. I don't think we should confuse the slogans of the 70s with the biblical witness or traditional teaching, which are all grounded in the biblical theology of retribution: if we are faithful to the Lord, the Lord will be faithful to us. We can, in my opinion, argue that these sources got it wrong, but then we have to provide something to support that conclusion. - monica.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Coincidentally, I had a conversation last night on this same topic in Confession. I noted that my relationship with God has grown deeper but during the same time my belief in the importance of Catholic dogma to that relationship has diminished. I asked that if in good conscience and after careful reflection I either don't believe in or don't see the importance of many Catholic dogmatic beliefs, should I discontinue being a practicing Catholic? \n\nMy confessor, said in no uncertain terms that our Catholic faith requires only that we embrace God's love as expressed through the gift of his Son, not complete agreement with the finer points of dogma, adding that there is and always will be dogmatic disagreements within the Church (e.g. Pope Francis' tussles with Cardinal Burke et. al.).\n\nSo to Max and his fellow Trads, believe what your conscience tells you is necessary for you to be a Catholic, I will do the same, and may God reward us both for embracing his love.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Kurgan,\nOn the point, I think you raise a great question as to the very nature of Christianity, and the role of the Roman model on the church's structure. \n\nWhenever I've read the gospel, ve seen a guy who very clearly told his apostles to leave all worldly goods aside, and live off of the generosity of those they serve. I seriously doubt he ever envisioned cathedrals, priceless art work, expensive art, gold chalices, etc. your call reminds me of the early church: its ideals, it's method of operation, and it's amazing success story. Maybe it's really time to start over?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Marilyn Warren5 minutes ago\nWhile integrating cultural traditions is a laudable action, I think a line should be drawn at ritual sacrifice. If I suddenly started sacrificing anything I think both the community and the public would have something to say about it. The bible states that God does not delight in blood sacrifices and burnt offerings. If we accept everything willy-nilly we will not have a church, we will have anarchy. Why not go all hog wild and accept the tradition of having woman priests? After all it is the tradition of women! I think we should be trying to teach at least 1950's mores. The church natters on and on about every part about our lives from birth to death, so why not about not killing animals for sacrifice? Well?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Donald Trump's gospel is not the Gospel of Jesus\"\n\nYou know that and I know that but does Cardinal Wuerl and the USCCB know that??? \nI am one of those Catholics who ALWAYS said: yes father no father, yes sister ( pronounced yester) yes bishop. ALWAYS!!! \nBUT now if Cardinal Wuerl were here in front of me I would ask him and every other prelate are you crazy. \nTotally disrespectful -- I know but nevertheless...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No its definitely not over. The Amoris detractors will also see a break in continuity with recent post synodal documents like Familiars Consortia and Sacramentum caritatis and the encyclical Veritatis splendor. Not to mention the proceedings of Trent. Cardinal Wuerl needs to do a better job addressing these particular concerns of that vocal minority. I have to admit I'm a bit puzzled why the Cardinal on one hand preaches about going to the peripheries and accompaniment in some situations, but refuses to accompany this minority and engage them. One last things, I love the references to the story of the woman caught in adultery, but Card Wuerl and AL supporters need to explain how they integrate the direction of Christ to the woman to \"go and sin no more\" into their discernment, accompaniment and formation of conscience of the divorce and invalidly remarried. And every sinner they accompany, for that matter. Surely there must be cases where an errant conscience is corrected?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "desiccation makes the point of the over-arching relevance of water to life, to the human body, specifically - which we reflectively celebrate in baptism. when i tag a reference it usually speaks specifically to what's being discussed.\nYou're welcome.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Callista seems a strange nominee, given her own personal history and that of being Newt's third wife. There would seem to be way better candidates out there - Catholics who offer a more relevant example and history in their personal lives.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It doesn't matter what he is trying to \"show\" me, what matters is that for two millennia the Church has taught--not as a matter of pastoral practice or Eucharistic disciplinary rule--but buy dogmatic teaching, that those in a state of mortal sin are absolutely forbidden from receiving Holy Communion. Its really that simple.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "To this point none of the four cardinals have expressed a disagreement with the Holy Father.\n\nThey have pointed out that there are diametrically opposed views on an important matter as folks try to interpret an Exhortation, and for the good of the Church he ought to provide some clarification. These four cardinals are not the first to bring the topic up; it came up at both synods.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Can't we risk (right word. I admit) showing how intelligent, tolerant, forgiving, and experienced Catholics behave and declare the relentless zealotry of the Catholic McCarthyism of Burke and others unacceptable in ourselves as well as in others?\"\n\nWe can. But if the \"relentless zealotry\" is ever going to stop, sooner or later someone is going to have to say \"Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Looking at your list, every one of those in your threat question as well as the gays are specifically mentioned in the Bible as being fair game except for the Jews and they wrote the Book. \n\nThe Christians definitely made up for it later as far as the Jews are concerned, though.\n\nCouple thousand years of history doesn't disappear very quickly.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Again, this kind of comment reflects the profound confusion caused by Vatican II's fundamental shift from the Church being a cult of God to the Church being a cult of Man. \n\nIn the God-centered liturgy, a priest leads the congregation in facing God in the tabernacle at the center of the Church. \n\nIn the Man-centered liturgy, the tabernacle has been hidden away and the priest faces the people to celebrate what is increasingly a social gathering with a symbolic meal. Most self-proclaimed US Catholics don't even believe in transubstantiation anymore. \n\nBelieve it or not, the liturgy is not about man. It is about God. \n\nAnd by its fruits ye shall know them. Take a look at any statistical analysis of what happened after Vatican II and you will see nothing but a disastrous decline in vocations, church attendance, religious schooling, morality, etc.\n\nToday we actually have many Catholics going around who support abortion (40+%), sodomy (60+%) and euthanasia (50+%).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would like to think that we have evolved since the days of the Indians and it's hard to overlook the difference between deeded property and the underfed fruited plains. You see ISRAEL as a victim and that's when your theory jumps the shark. How do you square up the 60 million murdered Christians and Orthodox Russians whose lives were ended prematurely by the Hewish Bolsheviks ?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In a wiretapped phone call with Bill Allen, Stevens ventured, \"The worst that can happen to us is we run up a bunch of legal fees, and might lose and we might have to pay a fine, might have to serve a little time in jail. I hope to Christ it never gets to that, and I don't think it will.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "and the USCCB will find they have made some very questionable friends in the evangelical right wing folks. most of them want to see the Catholics out of the picture as much as they do the LGBT and the Muslims. they are not friends of Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Many years ago our parish priest conduced instruction for the Eucharistic Ministers. To someone's worried query that a parishioner might drop the Host or somehow not be respectful, Father replied, \"Jesus can take care of Himself\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "On the interreligious front, Paul VI was deeply committed to the end of his life. We all remember how he made his own a sublime Upanisadic prayer during his trip to India. I remember an inspired elan he had at the 1975 Christmas sermon when he saw the religions of the world converge on the crib of Bethlehem: \"And as I say this my voice trembles, not with uncertainty, but with joy, la mia voce trema, non d'incertezza, ma di gioia.\" In Evangelii nuntiandi, also in 1975, he wrote of nonchristian religions:\n\n\"They are all impregnated with innumerable 'seeds of the Word' (Justin) and can constitute a true 'preparation for the Gospel,' to quote a felicitous term used by the Second Vatican Council and borrowed from Eusebius of Caesarea.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"let's have all kids learn about the Bible and the Gospels in class too.\" Well you couldn't have a class about religions that doesn't cover that.\n\nAs for the rest, some seem reasonable, others not. Having rabbis as guest to explain the value of being mensch makes sense, being familiar with key passages from all the major scriptures as well, trying some foods culturally related to the religion also, singing songs, why not? As long as it is a one-day thing, not a regular diet, and all major religions are treated similarly, what's wrong with that? Having Muslim girls take off the hijabs, obviously not.\n\nIn fact a Catholic went to court about it, they wanted to be able to teach the class from a Catholic point of view instead of a secular one. They eventually won.\n\nhttp://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/loyola-can-teach-catholic-studies-but-must-still-teach-other-religions-scoc-rules", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes I am serious. I have better things to do with my time than to study or read fiction due to intellectual curiosity. There are plenty of non-fiction books about the Catholic Faith and the Saints that are well worth my time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You won't read my links from National Review and other journals you consider conservative for you feel they are too one-sided? Then you casually toss in an article from the NY Times magazine as if it were a news report. \n\nWhen words in an article are used such as \"born-again Watergate felon..\" \"dressed in his usual uniform of three-piece suit, New College, Oxford cuff links and rimless glasses\u00ad,\" (as if how he is dressed is germaine to the article - simply meant as a put down to show how conservative he is), \"manifesto\" - no. These are not words in a news report, but more an op-ed - and are just as left leaning as you feel the National Review is right-leaning....\n\nThe fact is that Professor George said nothing contrary to Catholic teaching. That does NOT mean the USCCB has cast its lot with the GOP. It means simply they agree on these points. \n\nNow - what about the social teachings of the Church that are particularly in line with Democrats?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Also see:\n\n\"Trump's 'care' for the environment is the opposite of Catholic social teaching.\" by Wyatt Massey & Zac Davis, America: The Jesuit Review, Mar 28, 2017\n\nhttp://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2017/03/28/trumps-care-environment-opposite-catholic-social-teaching", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Having said this, I want to give you the assurance that the vote yesterday did not affect your status as a pastor. Furthermore, as stated in our press release yesterday, the North American Division remains committed to empower and establish our women in pastoral ministry. We will not give up on this ideal and goal. We are grateful to God for your committed service to Him.\n \nI recognize that there may be, in the coming days, significant rumor mongering and conspiracy theories that predict dire outcomes, etc. My encouragement to you is to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. My dear sisters, God will work things out in His time. His purposes will succeed. Please keep holding on. God bless each of you.\"\n\nDan Jackson\n\nSo, who is winning in this contest for control of the church?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Memorial day is not a Catholic Holy Day. Neither is Father's Day. Are you implying the church is bound by the USA's holidays, or those invented by greeting card companies? I suspect the comment is more an expression of hatred for the publication than a comment on the respective holidays. But the laugh was worth clicking on \"show muted.\" Time to click on \"hide muted.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What are you struggling with? 60-70,000 witnesses. Reported world wide in the secular press of the day. Two popes, at least, have tried to make the consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart as Mary requested. The Church has seen the prophecies of a \"greater war\" and the annihilation of nations and the Holy Father having much to suffer. JPII had the bullet he was shot with put into the crown of the statue of Our Lady of Fatima at Portugal where he went to thank her for sparing his life or interceding on his behalf so that his life was spared. The Church has declared the apparitions worthy of belief. Mary has asked us to make 5 First Saturdays of reparation for sins against her Immaculate Heart by going to Mass and confession and saying five decades of the rosary and to make sacrifices and pray for those who are in sin so that they can be saved. Where is your problem with any of this? What is the life of a Christian about to you?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is silly, we can comment on casual articles about a nice movie but have remain silent about Jere Webb's silly article justifying Pres elect as a Christian that asked for forgiveness. While he asks, the other side jeopardizes the country's future.\n\nRegardsless of sides, objections to Trump were personal rather than political. He was shameless, rather than sucuumb to temptation, he felt embolden to \"grab\" because of his status. A status that has become inflated by the presidency.\n\nLay his future presidency aside, at risk of being politicizing religion and forgiveness like Webb's article, Pres-Elect was personally disregard and mocked fawning women with arrogance.\n\nIt is one thing to be a shameless person and another be shameless politician with an underhanded profession.\n\nWebb wrote a rebuttal to \"Why Did We Remain Silent\" imploring Adventists to respond to outrageous behavior. \n\nThe question is when Trump goes too far to lead all people. Religion should forgive but, power speaks.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So how is this a biblical issue? Not everyone lives by the \"gospel\" or even believes it's a viable source of strength or guidance. It's a book.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Interesting that you refer to Commonweal. I thought many of Douthat's criticisms overlapped with those of their recent editorial. Of course, you also poo-pooed those criticisms of the Civilta article - maybe selectively quoting articles is highlighting your OWN biases?\n\nHence: the article completely collapses any meaningful distinctions of persons & groups within both Evangelicalism & the Catholic right. It fails to acknowledge that many of Trump's most fervent conservative critics & opponents emerged from within this group: Russell Moore, Robert George, etc. Second, both pieces persuasively show that the arguments also undercut the moral force of papal statements on poverty, environment\n\nI also strongly suspect that Garnett would likely side with Ross on the issue of religious liberty over the point you seek to use his article to support. He has advised the USCCB on many of the cases involving religious liberty issues (including, I believe, the contraception mandate case).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your verifiable facts would support this \"There are Catholic cemeteries which will not sell plots to non-Catholics\". Which is not what your wrote. Yours was fake fact.\n\nSticking to a losing point is not a classy act. Being condescending is not the high road. Let others compliment you, self congratulation does not help in a debate.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I did say in the image of Jesus Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you Dr. Fiedler for your positive article and lifelong work in the pursuit of ecumenical relations. I'd join you in your observation about the impact of the Reformation in eventually toppling divine right absolute monarchies, and helping to create a way of thinking which in a few places (luckily the young USA) allowed the groundwork for our Bill of Rights.\n\nThe First Amendment protections for freedom of speech and press, and against a state religion and for protections for religious toleration (not always honored in the case of Mormons, RC, and a few others) could only develop in a post-Reformation world. The RCC of the pre-Great War world openly attacked \"Americanism\" and \"Liberalism\" which it defined as including free speech, free press, multi-party democracy and worst of all in the Vatican view then, other churches openly practicing their faith. Catholic countries were enjoined to suppress such policies and thinking. Thank heaven for the USA, and Glorious Revolution (UK).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In this article and on the vencuentro site, vague references to the special needs of Hispanic Catholics, but not one concrete example of these special needs. Could it be that this crusade is really about championing ethnic identity for the sheer sake of it? And for promoting amnesty for all illegals, and open borders?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I thought the comments of Susan Pavlak were wise, and clearly rooted in intelligence. I love the path she's trying to forge for herself, and perhaps the church. We need to hear more of those kinds of things.\n\nYet at the same time, I just don't see that as the real path that will work for the church.\n\nThose who are raising the \"but what about unjustly accused priests\" cries here have a point. But I think that point comes off, for the most part, as deflection, as perhaps almost a cry to just walk away from it all because \"everybody got hurt.\"\n\nBut I'd imagine that for every unjustly accused cleric, there were thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of victims. Whereas the clerics will be given the full resources of the church to help them through, most victims will spend their lives in a painful exile.\n\nChange is needed. Institutional change, process change, change in Canon Law, and more. But above all, there must be a change of heart in those who lead. Until then, little can be done.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Your critique... is weakened by your self-defensive desire to see Islam punished in her literature, not Christianity\", as \"religious fundies (like yourself, I suppose)\" are wont to do.\n\nWrong. I have no \"self-defensive\" drive of any kind in this matter, as I see not a speck of scientific evidence for the existence of any god(s).\n\nYour attempt at rebuttal is bizarre, a not-cloaked form of personal attack in which you hurl accusations of alleged religious beliefs and weirdly claim that I oppose policies on birth control that I do not oppose. You might as well jump up and down and loudly claim that I think Santa Claus exists and that I always vote for free ice cream distribution in Australian national elections. You fully ignore the core of my comment, which recognized a glaring double standard in the arts community. \n\nYour claim is silly her dystopia WOULD (roll eyes) have been set in Buddhist society had she been Asian (etc). Fiction writers have greater imaginations than you pretend.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Congratulations to young Tobin Karlberg. I have always admired the Karlberg family with their dedication to Grace Christian School. Tobin will be as a Beacon of Light in the North, as his family has been always. I send wishes of health and success in his endeavors, and continued spiritual unity for the Karlberg family.\n My gratitude goes to the research staff of Alaska Dispatch News. Warmth is in my heart for our family to be remembered fondly in the Great Land. Sadly, Wife Shelly and I had to move (temporarily) to North Carolina. Her Father and Mother are 90 years old suffering from Alzheimer's. I shall return!!! Looking for land near Ninilchik.\n Back to basketball... Had I been the Coach of the boys at ACS there would have been 3 consecutive state championships. Had i been the Coach of the ACS girls there would have been 4 - 5 consecutive state championships.\n Again, good job to to Tobin and the Karlberg family.\n Familia, Fides, Fortitudo Jef Simmers", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Most \"norms\" don't follow the minutiae of what goes on in Rome and church politics...to them the pope is a nice old man who lives in Rome who smiles, waves, and kisses babies but has little impact on their day to day lives as Catholics. If you stood outside of Mass that was getting out and asked 10 people what Amoris Laetitia is, how many would even know what you are talking about? The fact that we are even discussing an apostolic exhortation puts us outside the \"norm\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), an international support group, said it welcomed the new program. Barbara Dorris, a director at SNAP, criticized aspects of both New York programs, however, for not covering Catholic clergy in the city who belong to religious orders, such as Jesuits.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No one ever argued that one has to be a priest to be someone in this church. However, to keep a person called to ordained priesthood, excluded from their vocation, because you hate their gender, color, ethnicity, etc. is sinful and extremely damaging to both the Church and the targets of that hatred. \n\nNo one has a right to be ordained a priest but each person called by God has the right to be treated without discrimination based on their body or flesh. Jesus Christ commands none of us, especially leaders and bishops of our church, treat any others, any differently, than the way they wished to be treated themselves & so they sin if they deny capable Sisters in Christ the same sacrament they were freely offered to take part in. \n\nSame sacraments being available to all baptized members of our church is indeed a right given by God. If it were not, then we could keep priesthood from certain races and ethnicities too without sinning and Jesus has never led us to believe that is correct.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Although Popes Francis and John Paul II stated they lacked authority to ordain women priests and believed this would continue forever, neither has ever denied that the Holy Spirit could grant such authority.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "El Salvador also has the distinction of being one of the few minority Catholic countries in Latin America.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually...it was yourself that used the word \"shill\" and others have echoed that sentiment, so no mistake. The only mistake is y'all thinkin a dude playing dress up is merely a Vatican shill.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your body was formed and born in the womb of your human mother (who you say was not named Mary), but Christians have a second birth Christ tells us. We are reborn of God and in THAT rebirth our spiritual mother is Mary, given to us (the Church teaches), at Calvary when Christ said to John, \"Here is your Mother.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You seem unaware that Hispanics tend to be Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is God, and God alone, Who forgives sins and God does not need the Sacrament of Reconciliation, much less a priest's absolution, to do that. As soon as we determine we have committed a sin (especially, a serious sin) we ask God's forgiveness and trust that God has forgiven us. Then, especially for a serious sin, we receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation to acknowledge our sinfulness and the damage we have done to the body of Christ, and to receive the graces of the Sacrament. God's forgiveness, however, does not require \"sacramental absolution\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do you believe Jesus is Divine, was resurrected and then ascended into heaven? \nI hope you are not a current or former Catholic priest, because your statement about Jesus is heresy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Community of believers - apostles, followers. Whether Jesus \"established\" a church might be debatable but a church emerged. It is not in the \"believer's\" handbook to deny that a community of believers organized around his teachings, his leadership, and -later - his memory emerged. How can anyone in their right mind who belongs to the Catholic Church, the \"Christian community\", the \"community of followers of-in Christ deny that \"h-e o-r-g-a-n-i-z-e-d\" a community?\nDid he organize within a socio-political-religious environment that warranted caution and care and wise council as to the implications for his teachings and his \"community\"? Be real, of course.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not entirely accurate. Ever hear of the Hogan Schism?\n\nThe problem is not getting to dictate what happens in the temporal affairs. The problem, at least in this country, is that the ones who control the money wind up practically speaking controlling the institution. \n\nJust ask Protestant pastors about this. I have seen many a Protestant pastor unfairly and unjustly destroyed by these people--who think that because they are elected to this board of Trustees that fact makes them God. This includes men and women pastors.\n\nWhat happens if offerings begin to dwindle--and the trustees blame the pastor's preaching, his or her leadership, etc? In the Protestant Church, the pastor is essentially hired to grow the congregation, not necessarily preach the Gospel. Preaching the Gospel is fine--but that takes a back seat to growing the Church and bringing in more money. \n\nWe can create a Trustee system in the Church--but it would have to be clear that they are not the boss of the priest.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sorry for the delayed response but, yea, not exactly what I said. \n\nMy whole point is that I fully expect my religious convictions (specifically, Jesus Christ is true God and true man) to be OVERWHELMINGLY REJECTED by most people in the world. My expectation is born out of Christ's own admonitions and the testimony of the Church's efforts throughout history.\n\nSimply put, there is no Biblical or historical grounding for Christians to expect a general rapprochement with the world through dialogue over time. This is of course predicated on the idea that the Christian would at some point propose Jesus of Nazareth as true God and true man, actually crucified, bodily resurrected, bodily ascended into heaven, to come again to judge the living and the dead.\n\nYou know, the Creed and stuff.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You can have the SSPX, I prefer real Christians and not an ecclesiastical museum piece, hanging on to a world that never was.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "and you need to learn your Catholicism better. there are many churches that even Rome agrees have valid orders and sacraments. received either through Old Catholic lines, Orthodox lines or even Roman Catholic lines of succession. I myself have Old Roman Catholic lines of succession that are accepted as valid, but irregular.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Elizabeth, you are right about the 130, that was the descent of the Holy Spirit. It is the teaching of the Church Fathers though that we are crucifying Christ when we receive unworthily. It is not meant in the literal but spiritual sense. We are scouring, nailing, spitting on Christ when we mock His sacrifice by receiving unworthily. Christ gave himself so completely that He humbled Himself to wash the feet of His creature. That part we do NOT join to the celebration of the Eucharist but DO recognize as a command in how we live our life. If you understand that, it should be EASIER to see how one has been willful and selfish in divorcing and remarrying. God submitted to the loss of His LIFE but we won't submit to staying single or working on dying to ourselves in our marriages? We will put sex and companionship and financial security before God?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Are you Catholic? Is the site Catholic? There is no way you can be. That this man is against abortion and assisted suicide is a gift to the Catholic Church. That is what we stand for. I've come to the conclusion that this site is run by non-Catholics, trying to influence the thoughts of real Catholics. Hillary Clinton's idea, right? Please, take Catholic out of your name and be who you are!!! Show some integrity. Why the deception?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I was a Roman Catholic going to the \"Protestant\" public school system. The Catholic Lord's prayer is shorter than the pro testant prayer. In the 1950's I stood and said the lord's prayer five days a week struggling to recall to stop earlier. In grade 7 protestant ministers came in to the classroom and gave some Christian education. The school choir went on Sunday to sing in an Anglican church. My parents let me go to check out the Anglican church. In the 1970's, 80's (maybe) the protestant lord's prayer was said daily in schools that I taught in. Finally, only the national anthem was a daily ritual.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If Jesus read the stories in the Pentateuch, he read about mythical lands and legends of people like Abraham and Moses, evidence for whom historians and archeologists have searched without success.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Technically, it is the work of the Church, which equals all the people gathered together. I only harp on this because some people use the phrase to mean that traditions are not useful and can be discarded casually by the liturgy committee. Interestingly, the Orthodox Church takes this phrase rather literally: the liturgy is the common action of the Church, so priests do not celebrate the liturgy alone as they do in the RC Church--nor do they celebrate multiple liturgies. It is the gathering of all at one time on the \"eighth day\" in order to experience the divine kingdom.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part 8\n\nYou know Tridentinus, after all that, I kind of have my gander up. \n\nAny priest who would use the internal forum to merely defend the magisterium without granting equal weight to the equally magisterial teaching of the Primacy of Conscience, had best ponder with fear what Jesus might say to him at the last judgement.\n\nHe has been trained in seminary about the Primacy of Conscience. To knowingly withhold that knowledge from a troubled soul, a struggling soul, someone who is searching for what is right, may be an instance of a sin against the Holy Spirit. For it is the Holy Spirit that we believe operates at the depth of our being informing our conscience, and if participation in this forum has taught you and me anything, please God it is that good and decent, educated persons who profess Catholicism, can and do have divergent, honest, incompatible understandings of what the Holy Spirit is trying to say.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"The hesitant, in this case, are these dissenters. They say they adhere to the doctrine of papal infallibility, yet are happy to reject the teaching of a variety of popes concerning the authority of the non-infallible ordinary magisterium.\"\n- No doubt the dissenters are in error.\n- With sympathy; they are in the same position that the early Reformers; who later separated from union with the ArchbRome. The Reformers, seeing a church led by corrupt bishops in Rome, came to accept that when all is not well in the church look to the bishops of rome for the source of the difficulties.\n- However, in the case of these dissenters, they seriously misread not just Amoris but also traditions of faith in the church.\n- Council/Trent reinforced the use of the Eucharist as a control lever by clerics over the faithful. In so doing the apostolic tradition of Eucharist as both food and medicine was in effect suppressed. Amoris has turned the bark of Peter back to this ancient tradition.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "MSW worries about pro-life being \"burned\" by President Trump. The only folks who burned pro-life were Carol Keehan, who gave Obama coverage for Obamacare, and Bart Stupak, who traded 61 pro-life votes for the pottage of a meaningless executive order. If either one had stood firm for pro-life issues, we would not have had the last six years of attempts to force consciences and make nuns pay for abortifacients. Maybe might have even built a better bipartisan consensus, certainly not have generated virulent Catholic opposition. But the people whom MSW depends on, all thoe \"Democrats for Life\" will prove ALWAYS to be first Democrats and then .... maybe, on a good day, if it doesnt' hurt too much, PRO-LIFE. So, please, GOP -- burn me.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I doubt Rome or the English Catholic Church would want any of the cathedrals, buildings back, even at a bargain prize -- without massive state aid to maintain them. (The English CC might want the right to create their own dioceses, with their own pre-Reformation titles [now forbidden by UK law], but that is a legal issue, not of real estate and maintenance.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"I understand that Protestants do not regard him as father but to Catholics he is our Holy Father.\"\n- That anyone is holy is entirely dependent on God's own mercy and creative acts.\n- That 'father' is used as a title is a misguided tradition that needs to fade into dust. Francis' office is archbishop. It is customary in our church to use the name of the office as title. You may call Francis archbishop.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thinking and defending the papacy from inconsistency are very different things. The Magisterium is about the latter. Blind obedience, by the way, is falling for a pithy line. Clergy do not have a monopoly on reason, especially if they thrive on obedience for their own careers. The Church cannot ignore science and expect compliance from those who think for themselves. Science has demonstrated that Asexuality from birth is a thing and it likely explains the Platonic ideal of friendship as greater than any sexual relationship, including with a wife. You've read the rest. Humanae Vitae took the undifferentiated asexual view one bridge too far. Most Catholics have stopped listening. It is going to take effort and change, i.e., growth and repentance for the Magisterium to have any credibility in these matters. There are too possible reactions, let the Church rot or step in. I prefer stepping in because I love the Church too and its as much mine as Burke's.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So says someone who claims to be a 'Catholic priest', would you believe it?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\nThat's true; and it's true about other aspects of Jesus' life and teaching (e.g., marriage). But, to borrow a phrase, Matthew and Luke also have the Spirit of God. And so the task for exegetes and for the church is to discern what Matthew and Luke are telling us beyond what Paul and Mark are telling us.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Awesome - - google \"worship leader uniform\". Yeah Catholic priests should definitely dress like that.\n\nBesides, the ones who seems to have a problem with liturgical vestments are the people in their 60s-70s. You know the ones...\nOr better yet, Carolyn, tell us your age - - how in tune with the young people are you? : )", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, I know, almost 15 centuries after the actual incident. I'll take the inspired word of God in the Gospels, written within the same century of the actual event, as my point of reference for accuracy. That is my point.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christianity was spread by the sword too. In latin America, Spain, italy, Portugal, etc not a single Muslim or Jew was left unconverted. The ones who refused to convert were killed, to the last person.\n\nWhereas there were significant Christian communities in Muslim ruled territories of the Ottomans, the Safavids, the Mughals, etc.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Here's the reaction from former Mexican President Fox: https://twitter.com/VicenteFoxQue?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\n\nhttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/26/mexican-president-cancels-us-visit-border-wall-nieto-trump\n\nWow. The use of the F bomb is prominent. Pretty soon we are going to have diplomats, leaders of countries all over the world using the F bomb in public to express their feelings....all because of the Cheeto Jesus.\n\nThe Cheeto Jesus has brought international political discourse to a new low.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Is everybody aware that funding of Catholic institutions is in the Constitution of Canada?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And a pope can tell Catholic parents to obey the law, and not fracture their families. No one asked these parents to place their children in a non-citizenship status by illegally bringing them to the states. Also, it's beyond time that the pope directed his attention at what's wrong with Mexico, which has been a Catholic country for the last 500 years. If going back to that Catholic nation is so terrible, so not \"pro life,\" then it begs asking why the president is somehow to blame for this situation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Healing? What does it mean to heal? To accept and cooperate with someone who has pledged to gut health care, roll back civil rights, and oppress those already marginalized? Who has criticized exercise of freedom of the speech and freedom of the press? If that is healing, deal me out. \n\nI suppose that the US Conference of Catholic Bishops is pleased. I will remind people that Trump won the Catholic vote 52-45%. The bishops now have someone in there who will do what they consider to be the really important things--abolish Roe v. Wade, and get rid of the birth control mandate. The rest--well, that is secondary to re-establishing Natural Law (or is it now Theology of the Body?) as the law of the land. If the bishops are really lucky, they might even get a Supreme Court that would be open to overturning Griswold v. Connecticut. After all, what are things like civil rights, care for the poor, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and inclusion, compared to re-establishing Natural Law.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This website is truly a very liberal Catholic website. The \"Civility\" comment monitoring system is nothing more than a mechanism by which opposing views are suppressed. There is absolutely NOTHING \"civil\" about squashing the free exchange of ideas. Good luck folks. You'll not see me here again and I suspect the rest of the conservatives that found this link on Drudge will not return either. We have a Church to save from Priests like McElroy and followers like those on this site.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Who has implied we can perform miracles? Are you stating Jesus did not perform them as well? What exactly do you believe about Jesus in regards to his divinity?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Attention-getting poem Lumen. \n\nI think it is interesting that Paul has Jesus appear to the Twelve (1 Corinthians 15:5-10), when at that time, prior to Jesus' ascension, there were only Eleven if Judas had actually died by then. The election of Matthias did not happen until after the ascension. So what did Jesus say to Judas at that meeting with the Twelve? It is interesting to me to study the Bible and to find out that it often doesn't quite say what umpteen sermons say it does. Obviously it is a lot more fun to have Judas be the \"bad sinner\" than to realize he is just like me. \u201cAnd if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?\u201d (Matthew 5:47 (KJV)), meaning, if you greet only your friends, aren\u2019t you just like everyone else? If Jesus did not return to say a word to Judas then I would be disappointed. Buddha reportedly could say one word that could turn around someone\u2019s life. No doubt, Jesus could do this also. Did he save Judas?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This brings to mind a story a friend told me recently.\n.\nHis Catholic church was giving away timber off a 2 acre lot...\nStarting at 10AM Saturday...\nCome 9;15 and 90 guys are sitting on their truck beds....\nOne guy starts a saw...suddenly Rmmm Rmmm...!! \nSunday; (90 guys)\n .\nForgive me father...I started a bit early...\n\"Say Three Hail Mary;s...\"\nnext", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "@skyeofblue. \n\nAs reported in the Globe back in 2014\n\n\"Under section 43 of the 1982 Constitution, the amending procedure for making section 93 of the 1867 Constitution (the provision requiring Ontario to fund Catholic schools) inapplicable to Ontario requires only that the Ontario\u2019s legislature and the federal Parliament pass resolutions to that effect.\nIf Ontario wanted to do this, it would be inconceivable that the federal Parliament would deny this change\"\n\nBasically you just need enough votes to pass it - if any party was willing to propose it of course.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Very important words in that parable, Kari, are right at the beginning - \"Jesus said to the Pharisees....\" So many people conveniently miss that important sentence.\n\nThe modern day Pharisees love to claim, \"But the Son did repent!!\" (As with the woman caught in adultery, \"But he told her not to sin anymore!!\")\n\nSuch claims are clearly NOT the core messages of these gospel texts. But then, if you are unmerciful, exacting, judgemental etc.. it's probably easier to invent an alternative, more palatable understanding which lets such people off the hook. They think.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sometimes anger is justified. Our pope must stop complaining about whiners and the angry and ask himself are there those in our church with a legitimate reason to complain. Women must be given same sacraments and same treatment, as their brothers, now, as a matter of returning the broken human dignity to the women of our church, and as a matter of upholding the Commandment of Christ, that our bishops treat all people, including all women, the same way they want to be treated. No discrimination of any group's flesh is acceptable to Christ. \n\nSo Pope Francis when you set aside the hatred and unfair treatment against all women called to priesthood in this church, many of us will hear your request, and stop complaining.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hey Ben, can you provide some links to reputable news with actual articles about Christians killing thousands of people around the globe in the last week or month? Otherwise, it appears your comment is perhaps akin to something like religious racism. I've got two sons overseas - both working in missions (one helping trafficked women and the other working on food shortages). My wife and I volunteer locally and financially support charities to put our Christian faith into action. While there may be radical religious terrorists who claim they are Christians to justify evil actions, there are always those who are on the fringe, mentally ill, etc. who use faith to justify their hatred, racism, etc.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I was responding particularly to the part of your quote about our church continuing to \"resist the idea of spelling out in detail exactly what someone must believe to be an Adventist.\" I think the 2015 Church Manual baptismal section shows that not to be the case, since it is by baptism that most people become Adventists.\n\nIf you look at the Church Manual, you can see the evolution of the language from the full vow to the alternative vow to the covenant. Full Vow: \"Do you know and understand the fundamental Bible principles as taught by the Seventh-day Adventist Church?\" Alternative Vow: \"Do you accept the teachings of the Bible as expressed in the Statement of Fundamental Beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church...\" Covenant: \"The Church has adopted its 28 fundamental beliefs, together with the baptismal vow and Certificate of Baptism and Commitment, as a baptismal covenant.\" (One wonders what happens when the FBs are changed after one is baptized!).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Who cares if 90% of Catholics favour the ordination of women? The Church is not, never has been, and never will be a democracy - and rightly so. The Church has said it has no authority to ordain women, period. End of discussion. It was declared authoritatively. To accept that is called being a faithful Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "MSW - thank you for posting this especially Stiller's statement and the comparison to the tepid/weak USCCB statement (which continues a disturbing pattern).\n\nThis only highlights last week's pastoral by Bishop Mark in El Paso. You also do a good job expanding on the consistent and continual struggle by the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops against Texas Senate Bill 4. (contrary to one commenter last week - these pastorals/statements are very important to local folks and to cynically question or disparage them is unseemly - why not to comment when you don't know TX).\n\nSome corrections:\n- over 100 folks in the rig\n- some came from places other than Mexico\n- NOTE - Mexican drug cartels are switching gears and doing human trafficking because it is more lucrative than drugs\n\nFinally, you skip over the local outcry across Texas - common folks are finally demanding common sense immigration reform (not walls; not more security, etc.) and they express catholic social justice completely.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Annulments are NOT the way to truth. They may at times be A way to remarriage in the Catholic church. We could be doing better!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Therefore, let the Church proclaim to all that the sin of racism defiles the image of God & degrades the sacred dignity of humankind which has been revealed by the mystery of the Incarnation. Let all know that it is a terrible sin that mocks the cross of Christ and ridicules the Incarnation. For the brother & sister of our Brother Jesus Christ are brother & sister to us.\"\n\u2014U.S. Catholic bishops' 1979 pastoral letter on racism, \"Brothers and Sisters to Us\" \n\nOops! did we forget that sexism is equally hatred & sin to racism brothers? \nOR\nHelp me, Lord, to say, believe & work for a true \"Amen!\" when my neighbor, wife, daughter or sibling & nephew say, \"The\u00a0 body of Christ.\" as equally ordained priests & presiders over Holy Eucharist to all men & women of any race.\n\nThat being said the Deaconate is proof positive of racism in our church as it consists still of 90% white, western, wealthy men on a global scale. What we do that is unnecessary to make certain men feel important is telling.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nope, Orthodox ordain married men, but once you are ordained, you cannot marry. An Orthodox priest whose wife dies must remain celibate. A single man who is ordained in the Orthodox Church cannot marry, and Orthodox bishops are only chosen among those embracing celibacy. Among Churches retaining Apostolic succession, once ordained, you don't recieve matrimony.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Just to be clear, I do not \"scoff at Catholics who love the Latin Mass and tradition\"; and it would be against my religion, so to speak, to do anything like that. And I entirely agree with your sentiment regarding uniformity: uniformity imposed from above, and conformity acquiesced in from below, are great evils in Catholic tradition, which we should resist.\n\nBut in that connexion, I do not at all see that it is \"the progressive wing of the Church\" that is most guilty of forcing uniformity. Quite the contrary. And in fact, in the NY Times article I referred to, what I deplore is, not at all anyone's love of the Latin Mass, but the attitude of some of them, and plainly of their advocate the author, who seem to believe that theirs is the ONLY authentic form of Catholicism, and e.g. look on the vernacular Mass of Paul VI as a meaningless \"jamboree.\" Talk about forcing uniformity! Talk about scoffing!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As much as you claim to know about the legal system, you actually know very little, and your credibility as a letter writer continually lacks credibility. The ability to affidavit jaudges belongs to ALL attorneys, defense, civil, and prosecutors. Doing so, is not in anyway unethical. As the paper states, she has an umblemished ethical record. \n\nSecond, your history regarding Ms. Perlow and the recording of the Catholic priest is just flat wrong. How was she instrumental in the recording. The lead prosecutor agreed to record the meeting, the DA (Doug Harcleroad) approved it, and Judge Brian Hodges signed the order.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Because they are a missionary following what they see as Jesus' instructions?\n\nMissionaries have always risked their lives for this reason.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You regularly argue the church should not be held accountable until all offenders everywhere are held accountable. Which, really, is the same thing as arguing that the church should not be held accountable. Great use of the \"people only want the church held accountable for its widespread support of child abuse are just haters\" defense. Classic. Truly a good defender of the One True Church, including the predators in the clergy and their protectors in miters. I am glad you are beginning to understand what your hate is doing to your thinking.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I guess we differ on this. I reply to the post, the written word. It matters not to me who wrote. That does not mean that I am oblivious to the posters other responses as they have a way of carrying forth.\nBy trusting; the Word of God I assume you mean the Gospels. If that is your trust we differ. We have no writings from God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, but the law and judicial ethics-would. The judge would be reversed and possibly removed from the bench. There is no Catholic history in our founding, there is Deistic Natural Rights, not Thomisic Natural Law. Fuzzy thinking is great for fundraising but not for actually doing something about abortion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm living in a different reality than that described by Fr. Reese. A reality in which the Soros Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Gates Foundation, the Koch Family Foundation, and the Trump Foundation DO use their money to influence elections, in which the Catholic Church DOES immerse itself in electoral politics, one in which clergy routinely violate the spirit of the Johnson Amendment while barely observing the letter, and one in which the notion that the bishops remain \"neutral\" on the proposed revocation of the Johnson Amendment arouses skepticism. It may be that \"priests telling laypeople how to vote is frowned upon by both the bishops and the pope,\" but (some) priests all but endorse the GOP over abortion and SSM. I know I didn't walk out of an election-season Mass over the priest's \"neutrality.\"\n\nUnder the present regime the church can have its cake and eat it, too. It remains tax-exempt, and it can effectively violate the Johnson Amendment without fear of reprisal.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Rule book? The Bible is the story of God and a history of how his church originated, grew, and will culminate.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Although I do question much of what is published by ADN, especially on this topic, still what I would say to David Grisham is 1. Christ died for us while we were yet sinners. Period. Hence preaching with a megaphone to those that do not know the love of Jesus is really futile and putting the proverbial car before the horse.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "None will be coming.\n\nYou (distorted Tri's words) said just above \"...You make earth and our time here sound like a trial, a crucible, an exam, a vale of tears, a basic training exercise, and--deductively--a quest for \"discomfort\" and \"uneasiness.\"\n\nSo when you went to Mass today and pondered and prayed about St Paul's words to Timothy today:\n\n \"Bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God.\"\n\ndid you not realize that St Paul is talking about the Cross, the daily happy struggle?\n\nNo one who understood scripture well, and had developed a proper understanding of the Cross (that Jesus Himself spoke so frequently about) could have written these words: \"...You make earth and our time here sound like a trial, a crucible, an exam, a vale of tears, a basic training exercise, and--deductively--a quest for \"discomfort\" and \"uneasiness.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is nothing more than a request to change doctrine in such a way that contradicts the last 2,000 years of Catholic teaching. Throughout Scripture, God is consistent with His Revelation, Teachings and Commandants and does not contradict anything that He had previously revealed and commanded. This consistency is transmitted to the Church because of the Holy Spirit that has been guiding the Church to have consistent teaching. There is no such thing as a contradiction within the entire Catechism of the Church. Clearly this request of change to contradict previous doctrine is not a fruit of the Holy Spirit. However, I do not discourage the dialogue between the Church and these communities but I do discourage the Church conforming to the sexual ethics of these communities. There can not be compromise on these matters that deal with what is objectively good behavior and what is objectively evil behavior. Church must present the Truth of Morality with \"respect, compassion and sensitivity\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As a young adult female, pastor's kid, division employee, and a recently ordained church elder, this literally moved me to tears. Thank you. I continue to pray for my church and especially for Jesus' mission to move forward in the power of His love and humility in every way and in every place He opens.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Look it up online. It's well documented. She signed the infamous 1984 abortion ad for Geraldine Ferraro advocating that Catholics hold different positions on abortion. She has stated that women should be left to make these decisions and seems to advocate for those who do so in any circumstance. For me, that is supporting abortion on demand, If she believes in limits, she says very little about making abortion rare in the legal sense. For her, the woman's right to choose an abortion is greater than defending the right of the unborn. She fights for liberal social justice causes but says very little about defending the baby's right to life. Silence is consent. I just don't understand how any good person, liberal or conservative, can be immune and indifferent to the cause of unborn life.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The title of the link from MSW, issued the same day as the Order, is: USCCB Committee On Migration Chair Strongly Opposes Executive Order Because It Harms... The bishops are to redouble their efforts to help immigrants/refugees. \nLast night, our parish, with diocesan support, had a meeting with lawyers to help immigrants know their rights and to let them know they have our support. You can do the same. \nWe can write our representatives and keep tabs on bishops' efforts.\nWe can and need to resist, but the resistance could be more unified, especially among Catholics--many Trump supporters in parish. MSW can help: At \"Dump Trump\" rally a couple days after election, an immigrant said the DNC/Clinton platform lost the election. Where was the outrage among Democrats and MSW on the abortion platform at the convention? Kristen Day, Dems for Life (oxymoron?), said the platform could be decisive for swing states. Was it worth the risk to celebrate abortion and a few late term abortions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The AVERAGE Catholic immigrant accepted democracy, freedom, capitalism, etc., when they arrived. They thought that our streets were paved with gold.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus did not teach anyone to be legalistic. Quite the opposite.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Great job, MSW. The following excerpt was my favorite:\n\n\"I read their defense of the free market and I am always reminded of James Madison defending the Constitution, noting that if men were angels there would be no need for government. If the morality is extrinsic and must be brought to the putatively neutral market, and it must be good for the system to work, then we must find a world of angels, no? And, if men were angels, then any economic system would yield just results, yes? The problem is that men are not angels, and capitalism as a system encourages behaviors that a Christian is called to shun.\"\n\nI sometimes find myself at a loss when addressing the argument from my conservative Christian friends that capitalist markets should be minimally regulated and our care for the working class or poor should be through private charity. This is a great counter to that argument. I plan to use this for sure!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sr. Sally Butler story resonates with my experience attending mass in the church building. I struggle with it for a year or so, I had to give it up! \nI know Jesus lives in me as he told me many times that I am never alone but he was&is with me always since when I was a 6 or seven years old. \nI never rely on parish priest in my spiritual journey, since I know they are not on contemplative path. Never the less, I am in the dark try to find my way to worship and serve God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why is there no reports on the Grace Christian volleyball tournament?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You did in effect call me a liar, and of course I know it. And now you attempt to dissimulate.\n\nVery unseemly for a righteous Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part II -\nPriests and bishops and popes and deacons as well as the lay faithful all have roles to fill and fill well in the life of the Church. It is HOW those roles are filled and lived that make the difference, and we have gone so far off the path Christ Our Lord had laid out for us, it is a sin against Him. If all of the ministerial roles of the Church are properly exercised, we will find a closeness to unity in Christ not dreamed of since the earliest days of Christianity. Vatican II was a monumental start in that direction, and future Councils (far off in the future, I hope) will build on it and never return to the dogma-obsessed ones of the centuries before that. +Francis IS indeed all about collegiality (very different from democracy) and there is ample proof of it, and is why he would never \"say collegiality is to be mandated at every level of the institution as the M.O. of the RCC.\" To do so would be the opposite of what collegiality in the Church is all about!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I wouldn't put both the American Revolution and the Glorious Revolution on the same plain. Although on the long run the latter did lead to greater freedom for Dissident English Protestants and English Catholics (through the Toleration Act in 1689), the defeat of the Irish Catholic forces at the Battle of the Boyne and Aughrim in 1690 and 1691 remain a horrible memory for Irish Catholics, especially in the North. \nAmerican historian, Alan Taylor, calls the Glorious Revolution \"a revolution\" that was \"fundamentally a coup spearheaded by a foreign army and navy\" and notes that Maryland Catholics (along with Pennsylvania Quakers) didn't benefit at all from the Glorious Revolution once William suspended Lord Baltimore's right to govern and barred Catholics (and Quakers) from voting. But most historian today say English Catholics benefited on the long run (but not, I repeat, Irish Catholics or colonial Maryland Catholics). It was not a good period for those two latter groups.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Here\u2019s to hope, Alicia!\n\nIn the lifetime of some of us it truly was as you hope it can be. \n\nI was baptized with perhaps 20 early teens at a service exclusively dedicated to baptism on a Sabbath afternoon in 1957. I was 13 years old. We had all been instructed in a baptismal class, a catechism of Seventh-day Adventist answers from Scripture to common spiritual questions. What is God like? What are we like? What is the Seventh-day Adventist church like?\n\nAs I recall, my membership was a matter of, having come to understand how Seventh-day Adventists were coming to answer the spiritual questions covered in the class, was I willing to accept an invitation to be a member, subject to my baptism. \n\nAnd baptizing us, every minister simply said the same thing: \u2018Because you have accepted Jesus as your savior, I now baptize you \u2026\u2019\n\nSimple. Respectful. Welcoming.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Amen, JustMaybe! We were even counseled to change the route we walked home from school to avoid merely passing by a -- gasp -- Methodist church, so as to not be \"tempted\" to indulge our curiosity by dropping in. What a warped picture of a \"loving God\" we were given (pounded into our heads) and how impossible to reconcile with the post-Conciliar all-merciful, all-loving God revealed to us. While it was possible to find real peace and joy prior to Vat II, there was so much suppression of our basic humanity necessary, to avoid getting on God's naughty list, and the institutional Church was so eager to provide the oppression and punishments as negative incentives! Fr. Coyne's \"Theology of Fear\" indeed!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "rangerMC, benghazi? no one could have done anything to prevent it anymore than anyone could have done anything about harvey. but, after five years i guess it proves you cant fool all the people all the time. keep columbus but put a plaque that states the truth; some silly old people erected this statue before anyone realized the truth was he never discovered america. as for your article, people that write for publication should but their names on what they write. here is your links stated purpose-'Conservative Zone was designed to bring you the latest conservative news stories and viral videos from around the web. Our videos will inspire, provoke thought, and sometimes even enrage, though most importantly we want them to be shared.\nWe encourage you to share these pages with friends, family, and anyone else who wants America to become the great nation it once was (rich, white, racist, evangelical christian, bigoted, intolerant of others, and male).' ( ) is mine.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's odd to me that people think that anyone should change to suit \"Canadian Society\". Canadian society is created by the people who live here and are born here. He creates this society by being in it. Period. End of story. Irish people don't have to have english names, nor do Polish Canadians any longer need to anglicize their names. My father would have preferred my mother gave me a Catholic name but she was protestant and not very religious and gave me her best friend's name. This isn't a Canadian problem, this is just a human one. It's good to address it. My hope is that I can feel compassion and ease with people who pick on me and help them to feel more at ease. Punishing never helps but understanding that they might watch Fox news and be frightened or ignorant and that it is my responsibility to contribute to their understanding through my own understanding of them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh,how the RCC loves to talk about symbols! Now we focus on the incredible depth of symbolism of the pallium. A sharing of pablum!\nF. attempts to rouse RCs to get up from their armchairs, i.e. stop being a couch potato.\nWhatever one thinks of Jehovah's Witnesses, Francis should have used them as a model of getting up and out. What is it that JWs are able to arouse their members and go forth and take a lot of abuse, slammed doors, nasty invectives, etc. And onward they go, one door at a time. Undeterred by abuse or response. Could never get RCs to evangelize as such. Catholicism has essentially been a biological event.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Excellent use of the bible! Of course one might consider Jesus' admonishment about judging others, removing beans from one's own eye, not to mention the rule about lying. I can only assume the poster intended the post as a sublime example of how some blasphemously use the bible as a tool to further their own arguments. Quite clever.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But we certainly should have \nmany gasps in our hearts as we become a witness to our own redemption in every Mass!\n\nOur heart should be so full of awe in seeing God making Himself fully and really present to us through the action of the Mass, through the Word, and through the words of Institution given by the priest, as good or as bad as he may be, probably more good than bad.\n\nOur Lord should hear the gasps of our hearts, of our desire to say Thank You, I'm sorry, Help me more.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You would be hard-pressed to find a bishop who will come right out and say \"vote Republican or place your immortal soul at risk.\" Instead, they do what my local bishop did: read a statement at all masses throughout the diocese that Catholics \"must vote for candidates who support pro-life issues.\" Threat of excommunication and eternal damnation for voting the wrong way usually happen during other homilies. It's a slick, clever maneuver that prevents the diocese from having its tax-exempt status suddenly revoked by the IRS.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You really need to read your judgmental post about both folks with Hep C and the whole story of the guy with HPV. It is nothing but judging both groups. Here's a hint, you want folks to think that Christians are good folks, try to have some empathy for folks who have a pretty terrible disease to live with, rather than going on and on about how you have no sympathy for women who might enjoy sex or someone who made a bad choice in using IV drugs, or who got Hep C via transfusion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But that would involve the Church admitting laity were adults capable of taking responsibility for their own faith. Can't be going there because it would totally blow apart the sacramental economy which funds everything Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"More broadly, Pope Francis\u2019 leadership has helped to reset Catholicism\u2019s influence in American politics in recent years, as Rome seemed to favor a Democratic policy agenda versus a Republican one.\" From Time article on Trump's Evangelical supporters wanting to tamp down Vatican criticism.\n\nYou could not really tell that from the way our bishops talk. The bishops still run on litmus tests on abortion and their religious freedom (and that of bosses, generally) that comes at the expense of others. What bishop has really talked about cutting off communion for a politician who supports building the wall across the border or supports the extreme limits on immigration proposed by Trump? \n\nLets see the Cardinals and the head of the USCCB stand up for issues Pope Francis has said are most important rather than their militant stances on culture war issues.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I, too, left the Catholic Church for the UCC, where I discovered not only respect for one's conscious, but also lots of former Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Walford has written 5 articles in La Stampa and is currently working on a book that help explain how AL is consistent with Catholic teaching. Cardinals Wuerl and Schonborn and Coccopalmerio have treated it at length. At this point, I think that everyone who is willing to give a chance to the arguments in favor of AL already has done so, and now we're left with the few who either can't or won't accept it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why is the Ontario government spending tax payers' money on an issue that is trendy now? No LGBTQ individual is being denied the right to become a lawyer but apparently we would deny an evangelical Christian educated at one accredited university that right. Makes no sense to this senior who has always thought religion and association were freedoms hard fought for so that we could enjoy diversity of thought and opinion in this province. How sad!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Star Spangled Banner is about the flag but it was about the flag in the war of 1812, when the English tried to take back 'their colonies', for the second time. It only had 15 stars then. The Star Spangled Banner is worthy of the National Anthem because it is about the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the English, and how the fort and flag 'came through the night'. This football player is getting the National Anthem confused with the Pledge of Allegiance, and they are totally different. The Pledge of Allegiance was a clergy man marketer that developed a scheme of introducing it into the public schools as a way to sell flags. The 'under god' part was stuck in by Eisenhower as a propaganda tool during the Cold War. The original Pledge of Allegiance, forced on school children, should be protested. The original Pledge was to stand, with right arm stretched rigid, palm flat down and pointing to the flag. http://www.nww2m.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/pledge2.jpg", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So then Israel-Palestine will be a bi-national state, made up of Israeli Jews and Palestinian Christians and Arabs, with one person, one vote and full civil and legal rights for all. \n\nNothing wrong with that. That's what real democracies are about.\n\nOr did you have something else in mind?\n\n\n\n\n\nFlag", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How are you defining the Bride of Christ? If you mean the Church, the People of God, the overwhelming majority of them have moved on. No need for anyone to capitulate.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A good Catholic is not necessarily your average daily communicant. \"Sometimes they're the worst!\" This statement shocked me when I heard it 40 years ago coming from a friend and mother of 7 children whose husband had just left her for another woman. Subjected to the speculations and gossip of \"good Catholics\", she shared her bitterness about such people with me. Left to raise the kids on her own after the divorce, she, thankfully, had a nurse's education, the support of her parents and the commitment to raise them in a Christian manner that left a golden trail of admiration. When her one daughter was married, the bride's brothers, not her father, escorted her down the aisle. Touch\u00e9!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Robert Bourassa, in his 1985 election platform, outlined five conditions \nthat would have to be met for Qu\u00e9bec to \"sign on\" to the constitution;\n(1) recognition of Qu\u00e9bec's distinct character \n(as primarily Catholic and French-speaking/ ok, done in 2006;\nthe House of Commons of Canada passed a motion recognizing \n\"Qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois as a NATION within a united Canada.\"\n(2) a veto for Qu\u00e9bec in Constitutional matters;\n(3) input by Qu\u00e9bec into the appointment of Supreme Court justices;\n(4) entrenchment of Qu\u00e9bec's role in immigration;\n(5) a limit on the Federal spending power;\n\nQu\u00e9bec Liberal Premier Robert Bourassa considered the demands practical, as all elements of the conditions had previously been offered by the Federal government to Qu\u00e9bec on different occasions.\n\nThe Qu\u00e9bec population is equal to 6 (out of 10) provinces combined; \nPrince Ed. Island + Nova Scot. + N. Brunswick + Newfoundland + Manitoba + Saskatchewan", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Talk about \"strawman\" hypocrisy. You utterly ignore--probably intentionally--the primary issue here: The teaching on abortion is dogmatic. Supporting DACA is not. As Catholics, of course we are called upon to perform corporal works of mercy, but to suggest/imply that opposing DACA is somehow tantamount to rejecting the teaching on abortion is disgenuous at best, and dishonest at worst.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The cultural practices need to first be understood by Canadians before any serious debate can take place. As has been the experience in Europe, many of these practices are carried over into the West, despite them being against the law. This include female genital mutilation, child brides and even using boys as a sexual substitute (in Islamic schools, for example).\n\nIf we do not openly discuss these things now, we will face - 5, 10 years from now - the very same scandals that we have had with the Christian brothers, native residential schools etc.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One problem --- I can't say \"the\" problem --- is that the Church stopped leading society several decades ago. It made the decision to follow instead. No Church is perfect, not even the one established by Christ Himself. But no church came closer to reflecting the teachings of Christ. (If you don't believe this, your claim to be Catholic is irrational.) Given such a Church, it is absurd that it follow society, rather than the other way around.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Re: the fact that he celebrates Mass for communities who have no other priest, Fr. Boff says, \"... bishops often tell me to keep it up, as people have a right to the Eucharist.\" Because the people have a right to the Eucharist, it follows that the bishops have an obligation -- the defining obligation of diocesan bishops -- to ensure that the Eucharist and the sacraments are available to their people. Vatican II teaches that the Eucharist is the \"source and summit of the Christian life.\" The church is constituted by the Eucharist. It is nonsense to speak of a \"shortage of priests\"; the church always has the priests it needs. The bishops have no right to exclude women and married men, especially when doing so deprives people of the sacraments. No bishop -- not the bishop of Rome, not the bishop Propria, not the bishop of Brownsville -- no bishop should hesitate to call, train and ordain the priests needed in his local church, without regard to sex, sexual orientation, or marital status.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jere, last reply to this. I'm in Australia so I don't vote in the American election, but most people I know here think Trump is not suitable for President merely on the basis of his words and behaviour. I mainly mix with non-SDAs, but people with Christian convictions. I think I was quite clear I was responding to the phrase that Trump was a psychopath not to anything about Clinton. \"The 11-year-old locker room comment\"\u2014that means he was nearly sixty when he said it, not a mere adolescent. That men think it's OK if said in a locker room, well that's sad. But he wasn't, was he? He said it in front of a woman. Maybe you need to write an editorial piece on the election and submit it to Atoday so that people can go hammer and tongs in the responses. I can imagine most comments would be even more horrendous than usual.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "RD, not everyone accepts your priorities. This includes the vast majority of Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholic peacemaking? Santos and the Colombian bishops repeatedly asked Pope Francis to visit their country. Representatives of FARC asked to meet the pope during his scheduled trip to Cuba. FARC Commander-in-Chief Timoleon Jimenez published an open letter to the pope calling for assistance in the on-going peace process. All were declined.\n\"Weeks before the vote, religious groups accused the government of wanting to indoctrinate children by teaching \u201cgender ideology\u201d in schools; weeks later, they would accuse officials of injecting similar forms of treachery into an attempted peace deal to end the country\u2019s half-century of civil war.\" \u201cPope Francis\u2019 blistering attacks on \u2018gender theory\u2019\u2026 is emboldening Catholic bishops in Colombia.\u201d The pope has used the terms \u201cideological colonization\u201d which he defines as the imposition of \"gender theory\" and/or \u201cgender theory\" dozens of times around the world. (Gender theory i.e. gender can be \"chosen\" and is against God's creation.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "To the extent VII \"rejects\", attempts to qualify, \"update\", or otherwise \"amend\" perennial, dogmatic Church teaching, the faithful must reject it", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What the 'teachings of Jesus condone' is as varied as the sects and cults and churches calling themselves 'christians' say they are.\n\nSince I don't believe in your deity; I certainly don't believe in your 'devil' or your 'demons' or your 'angels' or other inventions of fallible men whose motives are often less than 'holy'. \n\nI see no evidence of this 'truth' you claim; just blind belief in imaginary things and beings seen only by the gullible and the 'faithful'.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't think the Church does a good job of articulating the theology of Resurrection. What I was taught in seminary was that it doesn't mean a literal resuscitation of the old body, but that we would have transcendent, glorified bodies that wouldn't have the same material limitations we now have. The prototype is Jesus' body in the post-resurrection stories in the Gospels.\n\nBut all the stuff about putting dead saints on display in churches, etc. kind of sends mixed signals. It's also kind of ghoulish, in my opinion. And it begs the inevitable questions about people who are mutilated, die in plane crashes and fires, etc.\n\nThe idea of respectful burial isn't supposed to be that we keep dead bodies in pristine form so they can be ready to be resurrected, but that we treat sacred objects -- including the human body -- as sacred. The same goes with the respectful disposal of cremains. I have no problem with that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Interesting your reference to CL. Is this part of revision of CL? Was it always in CL?\nDiocesan clergy were not protected by CL when they decamped. Some sued to get compensation. Some had more benign bishops who personally intervened. Most walked away with empty pockets. Holding financial control over individuals makes it difficult to leave especially advanced in years as one is hardly marketable. \nTaking vows is a contested issue. Jesus counseled not to take oaths (Matt. 5:34). But oaths are big in the RCC. One might quibble between vows and oaths but a rose by any other name is still a rose.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Rita I don't think we lost. America lost. The Republicans may have won the election but their country lost. Also many people supported them on one issue. Many Catholics and Evangelicals voted hoping to get a judge that would overturn Roe v Wade. Hillary was so vilified that people equated her faults to those of Trump. Fox talks about the mainstream media while misleading the people they supposedly care about. I totally agree with you that we have to win in two years but at the rate we're going I don't know what shape our country will be in by then. I'm scared and so are many people.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So is there an approved church list for the Portland Progressive community...I missed that at the last meeting. I thought Portlanders were ok with people doing and believing whatever as long as it didn't affect us. Mr. Bailey belongs to a church, and like Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden, doesn't agree with their teaching on particular social issues. You all ready to pull your support from those two? Should they quit the Catholic church before you read another word from them? \n\nAs for Jules, I don't know him, and won't vote for him, but not because he goes to a church I do or don't agree with. Further, the comparisons on here of Imago Dei to the Westboro Baptist folks is out of bounds, and dare I say, hateful. The Christian faith, as practiced by ID requires certain things from them, and they take it seriously. I've also read their position papers, and there's barely a mention of LGBTQ issues and they certainly aren't targeting the community. The group think on this board is disappointing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Umm not unless he starts treating women and ordaining women the way he tells us to treat others - like we wish to be treated. No room for sexism in ministry with Jesus.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Defending bigots by pretending the obvious isn't obvious? The men in the article disrupted a catholic service with racist shouts. Seems everyone here would agree that is wrong. But it seems a small group of conservative catholics aren't so upset. Wonder how the reaction would be if it had been hispanics interrupting a latin mass?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Ms. Chittister\"? \nYour message appeared among the three I was asked to rate as I was posting a message. I lingered a little longer than usual before I rated it as 'Civil', but having done so, I looked for your post so that I could respond to it.\nSr. Joan has been a Benedictine nun for over fifty years. There's nothing inherently wrong or disrespectful in the honorific, \"Ms.\" However, the disrespect would be in the intention of the writer. A deliberate attempt to disrespect Sr. Joan by referring to her as \"Ms.\" succeeds: it's disrespectful, to say nothing of sophomoric. Sr. Joan is well known in Catholic circles and beyond, and she is identified as a Benedictine sister at the end of the article. But maybe you didn't know or notice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Excellent piece of work, Fr. Reese!\n\nAs I read what you write a further thought comes to mind. It is in line with the point about discernment. The reference point for compassion is not the law but the reign of God. Mercy is not a reprieve from the justice of the law, nor even an accommodation to the needs of justice under law. As you point out, those who are looking for justification through a more liberal law have missed Jesus' point just as much as those who insist upon enforcement of the law irrespective of discernment.\n\nInstead, mercy is an invitation to become closer and more responsive to the Spirit of Christ who lives in the human heart. It is an invitation to the reign of God preached by Jesus. Responding to that invitation is what discernment is directed to. The goal of discernment is not to see whether justice requires an exception to the law, as if the law were the point of reference, but to follow Christ. \n\nThat goal of submission to Christ can be seen by its joy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The bishops of Argentina asked the Pope if their interpretation was correct, in other words for clarification which is no more than the cardinals did. The bishops had the courtesy of a reply, the cardinals didn't.\nIf the Pope had granted the cardinals an audience we would certainly have heard of it just like his letter to the Argentinian bishops was leaked\nIt would be interesting to know why the Pope hasn't taken to task those bishops throughout the world who have issued guidelines contradicting the Argentinian guidelines, the Poles, Canadians, etc. How can the Pope ignore a situation where receiving Communion in one diocese can be a mortal sin whilst in the neighbouring diocese it isn't?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't see where there is any scandal that I have laid; if there is a scandalon, it is the one Jesus laid and which, for many, is one they cannot seem to get around. \"So then, this is how you should pray: \u2018Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name\" (not \"If you pray\", not \"say something like this\", not \"remember to be gender-inclusive\"). This is not the mere product of some good guy living in First Century Palestine; this is God telling us something about the relationship we are to have with Him. It would be the height of grammatical error to say \"Our Father\" and then suggest that this is the relationship we are to have with \"Her\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nothing new under the sun here:\n\nDeveloping doctrine = changing things because \"now we know better, we have been enlightened on all things sexual\"\n\nThe procreative norm has \"far-reaching consequences\"? I don't really think that's the case. In fact, I would say sexual acts without the procreative norm have incredible, obvious consequences, i.e. Psycohological. \n\nI think that the author and those who support her position need to take some time to really grapple with and understand the Catholic Church's position on sexual ethics. Read Aquinas's philosophical arguments, read JP2's \"Love and Responsibility\" and \"Theology of the Body\". Read the countless other philosophers who have written on this topic. The truth is evident. \n\nAnd please, don't reduce their arguments because they are written in a different time. Truth is eternal. If, after reading these texts with an open mind you still disagree, then we'll talk.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus Christ, ANWR is a wildlife refuge; one of the last of it's kind on the planet! Leave it alone! Eco tourism is infinite and environmentally safe.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: The committee assumed much of the authority that had been given to the International Commission on English in the Liturgy, which had followed the rules as put forth in Comme le Prevoit.\"\n- 'Highjacked' is the right and very correct verb.\n- That ArcbFrancis of Rome has corrected that which has transpired since 2001 underscores how misguided ArcbFrancis lately of Chicago was when as president of the USCCB he 'led' the US episcopate into rubber stamping the travesty that is the current English translation of the 3rd typical edition of the latin language missal from Rome.\n- ArchbFrancis/Chicago and other pure catholic crowd bishops in effect allowed ArchbBenedict xvi of Rome to authorize a translation that contains errors contrary to orthodoxy, limits catechesis, and confounds understanding.\n- With this propio it is now the USCCB's obligation to serve the US local churches by doing away with the current translation and installing the translation which was approved before 2001.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ecumenical councils ARE the supreme law of the Church. It has always been. When the first Ecumenical Council at Nicaea [325 AD] occurred---and the Second Council at Constantinople I in 381 AD. the doctrine that the assembled bishops [NO POPE was in attendance] crafted became the Nicene Creed that we recite today. \n\nThe big thing that came from Vatican I was that of Papal Infallibility on matters of faith. Dei Filius was the only other document passed at this council [the bishops got away as fast as they could from Rome--because of the impending Italian force stood ready to defeat the Papal States which they did].\n\n\"Dei Filius\" discussed the nature of God, the need for revelation, the nature of faith and the relationship of faith to reason. Not all the ecumenical councils were dogmatic; Lyons I--1245; Lyons II---1274; Vienne, 1311-12; and the ecumenical council held during the Great Western Schism in Constance---1414-18.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Culjis is not denying the need to help. To the contrary, he is saying that real help involves addressing the causes of immigration. And he is right in saying that \"There are currently millions of people in the world that are suffering in the ways that you describe in your article. There are many ways of helping these people without bringing them to America.\" America has a moral and Christian obligation to help to the extent it can. It has no moral or Christian obligation to commit suicide.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No one is forced into Church or into a particular sect and the degree to which many poorer imigrants are Pentacostal should have the Republicans clamouring for immigration reform, as those churches are as likely to be filled. If we spoke more of the social Gospel (which makes workers more comforatable), I suspect Catholic Churches would fill as well, but the unreasonableness of the asexual bad news was the last straw for many Catholics who liked the Mass as a place to tune out, not participate. It is easier to ignore Latin droning than English unless you just stay home. In Europe, people probably stayed away for the same reasons, as well as guilt over letting the Nazi\u2019s happen, folks like Bannon.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am also restricted from posting on \"sensitive subjects\" for 30 days. An example of a \"sensitive subject\" is Justin Trudeau being treated with cupping.\nI was restricted for having rated as civil a comment about Jesus. I can't remember the comment exactly, it was something like \"jesus is our savior\". I may not agree, but did not find the comment to be uncivil. For that, I was punished for 30 days.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And, if you want spiritual direction, it's very helpful to have someone who's walked a mile in your shoes. Such a person may not always be available, but that's no reason not to value those who have much needed experience. In any event, the real issue here is whether the goal or objective being served by a clergy restricted to people who are single, celibate males as opposed to having a clergy that is composed of people called by God to, as it were, proclaim the good news and shepherd the flock. Since God is clearly calling married men, and women for that matter, it seems rather churlish for the Church to be say 'no, no, no ...' We pray fervently for an increase in vocations, and then say no to the people God sends to answer those prayers.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "To me, it is clear that Francis is referring to prelates that have the same mindset of you. That is, not knowing that the church must reform itself to survive. Eventually, those that do not grasp this growth and reformation will become extinct. The church will reform against all the railings of the conservatives that tell us the church can't change...Jesus set everything in stone! Not true today and never was true. If, as the church teaches, you believe that scripture is ever revealing, we must look at ourselves...because we are the ones who change, not God. But as Francis said, the bad prelates, like you, find refuge in tradition...the branches need to be pruned to have new, healthy growth. I see those with your mindset as needed to be pruned o that the church can grow in the spirit of Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "yjin,\nI cannot speak to what may be going on in the hearts of the church's leadership. What I CAN do, is talk about what we see ad read, and add my thoughts.\n\nIn the context of this thread, I should think that the real fear that should set in as the anger and responses to this kind of story fades, is what is taking the place of that anger and outrage, is a sense of apathy. For the bishops, I cannot imagine such a malaise could be good for the church. Yet, they (the church's leadership) do not give the laity a voice, nor any power here. I cannot imagine most Catholics being \"happy\" with the church's response. That it draws anger could even be seen as good, because it means the church's members still care, and feel \"vested\" in it. As that sense fades towards apathy, anything the bishops do or do NOT do will no longer matter. We're disconnecting. We may/may not still attend, but that real sense of being part of something good will fade... THAT should scare these guys...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"I can take it or leave it, but it has absolutely nothing to do with our Baptism.\"\n- Yes, it has nothing to do with baptism. However, the baptised are touched an awful lot during the various rites, especially infants and small children who are held during the rites. That is, no-one is baptised without there being touching which makes touching part of the sacrament.\n- So it could follow, theologically that holding hands (touching) during prayer has a baptismal connection. Something like praying the rosary as a group is an expression of the good news of Our Lord Jesus Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Loren,\n\nPerhaps that lack of theology majors seeking to become parish pastors is a blessing in disguise because it will force us to depend more on God to obviously call people to service instead of thinking they are prepared just because they have a degree. Maybe local churches will be forced to learn to stand on their own instead of being pastor-dependent, a pervasive present condition Ellen White and other early church leaders warned us against allowing to happen.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We don't know what happened to them after the admonition.\n\nWe as Catholics do know that certain people are in Heaven, but we do not know if anyone is in Hell. The Church has never declared such a thing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Re: The RNS commentary \"The evangelical courtiers who kneel before the president's feet\"\n\nRather snarky article. Not that I don't agree, but it is an article written to inflame. Legitimate as commentary but wow!\n\nThe article mentions the evangelical \"leaders\" who have cozied up to Trump, but does not mention any Catholic bishops/cardinals. The picture accompanying the commentary has one pictured, smiling nicely. I imagined he hoped for more, wrong though he is to want to inshrine in law the right to discriminate against a minority. But, at least he wasn't named. It bothers me when the bishops cozy up to someone as amoral as Trump, smiling in hopes this person who has made it a point to show distain for Muslims, Hispanics, African Americans, will give them the freedom to discriminate against another minority, this time one they don't like. \n\n\"When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn?\"\n\nAnother song answers: \"The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are simply trying to turn the Catholic teaching that all life (that's ALL life) is sacred into a cafeteria where you get to pick and choose whose life you will uphold and whose you life you will cast by the wayside. The ethic of life is not divisible, and deliberately shortening human life is a sin no matter what tool, tactic or legislation one uses to do the dirty work. Well, we humans do not get to chose who gets to live and who gets to die - our choice is whether we will stand up for the sanctity of life at at all times and in all places, or whether we will find following Jesus hard and, like the pseudo-disciples in John's gospel, no longer follow him. I can see you've made your choice, and I pray you change your mind.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Above, you complain that a post is irrelevant. Now you bring up the question of how Jesus becomes present in the Eucharist, something that is irrelevant.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I do not see your comment as being at all charitable and certainly not ecumenical in nature. That you \"deplore\" the activities of Pope Francis (with no mention of what former Pope Benedict did, say, with Islamic Imams) tells us more than we care to know.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "__\n\n- Jesus was hurt and forgave. \n- The offense against Him was infinitely more grave and \"unmerited\" than anything we experience or do.\n- We are called to love with the heart of Christ. \n- He offers us the grace to love as He loved.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Continued ...\n.\n3. We don't teach history and literature.\n.\nThe elections of Stephen Harper, Rob Ford, and Donald Trump are, more than anything else, damning indictments of our school systems. In a society with a functioning school system, it should not have been possible for any of them to have obtained a nomination, let alone to have been elected to public office.\n.\n4. The rise of fundamentalist religion.\n.\nWhat we now call \"evangelical Christianity\", or pentacostalism, started in about 1920. The incidence of fundamentalist religion correlates almost perfectly with low education, low employment, low income, poverty, unwanted pregnancies, substance abuse, domestic violence, shorter life expectancy. Statistically, the higher the level of church attendance, the greater the prevalence of virtually all social problems.\n.\nYet evangelical Christians vote more heavily for the Republicans/Conservatives - whose policies prey on poor whites - than any other group. Like lemmings.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, I am sorry to hear this, but you speak the truth. \n\nI'm a man. My view is pretty severe on this. I think we've done a bad job raising men.\n\nMost the real problems today trace to family problems, not to macro-Trump issues. \n\nAnd most of these problems have their source in men not being men in the image of Jesus Christ or St Joseph. \n\nA priest I know pointed out that male is a sex, but 'masculinity' is a virtue. He says that men need to become every day more masculine than they were the day before until God takes them home. But he means 'masculine' in the best sense of the term: constructive, positive, quiet, persevering, decisive, ever sacrificing, cheerful, fixers, with generous hearts, firm dispositions. \n\nFilled with acquirable virtue. \n\nI'll get dismissed here in this forum, but their opinions of me mean nothing at \nall. I have no respect for their opinions. A drunk homeless person's opinion carries more weight than all of these dissenters.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So I guess that all 4 of the evangelicals that supported Hillary will now switch sides. Tell me again which states where the evangelicals are the dominent religion are blue states.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And upon what FACTS do you base your comments? \n\nI know many young adults [coming from public schools], who had volunteered their time and services to their churches [Catholic, Christian] during their high school years. They worked as servers and bus-boys/girls at parish dinners, acted as junior catechists [helping young children learn basic prayers, preparing for the sacraments], Sunday Bible-School, summer VBS programs. They worked in the Youth Heart-work Summer Programs [helping to repair/clean-up Seniors' yards, outside steps, clean windows, etc]. They were altar servers, lectors, cantors, sang on the parish choir and some were Eucharistic ministers on Sundays, too.\n\n\nWhat you call \"liberal\" is often located right in the teachings of Jesus. It's not the kids who are brainwashed. It's angry, hate-filled adults who think that God is made in their image and likeness.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Excellent piece. I have wondered for some time how and why Hawaii became so Christian so quickly and easily. I've read Ku Kanaka on this and it does indeed shed some good light on the question. But I'm still not clear why Liholiho and Ka'ahumanu decided when they did to engage in such a serious shift in law and culture, and what they thought would replace the kapu system and the old gods. Could you elaborate a little on this or point me in the right direction?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Okay, Sarasi1, I'll spell it out. Say, the improbably impossible happened that a priest rendered a lady \"with child\". Theologically, the conceived child would not be a priest, because the \"ontological otherness\" of priestliness ends with his ontologically necessary \"whatever\". God made it this way, just in case \"the conceived might be a female. Got it? Wouldn't that be awful?!\nThis might seem to contradict the ability of a priest to \"transmit\" a priestly blessing that somehow goes from him to whomever. We'll deal with that when we have forgotten about this.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I doubt it will happen soon. However, I don't see why you would have to give up the Catholic faith if it happens, since the male-only priesthood has never been infallibly defined as a divinely revealed dogma and therefore is *NOT* a matter of faith. \n\nI am no questioning JP2's authority to decree a hiatus. I am not giving up the Catholic faith. But a decree to officially stop discussing a doctrine, no matter how forcefully phrased, is *NOT* a dogma. The doctrine will be clarified in due course. We'll see what happens when we finally arrive in \"Tipperary.\"\n\nHowever, I strongly disagree that people should be intimidated into thinking that a reformable doctrine is irreformable. Other than dogmas, all doctrines are admixtures of revealed truth and fallible human interpretation; and are, therefore, amenable to clarification.\n\nDue to deeply ingrained cultural conditioning, it is a visceral issue. No matter what happens, hope we both stick around. Peace!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I can understand - somewhat. It's what I grew up in. At times it was solemn and beautiful, if unintelligible, because I took it seriously. Largely, it took itself so seriously that the \"redeemed\" were irrelevant. Theater. Community - not.\nThe Vatican II liturgy came - for me - when I was in the seminary. We did both, but the, \"intentionality\"(the only way I can describe it), the inclusiveness won me over totally. The transition was from observer to participant and the \"With Him, in Him...\" took on an entirely new significance.\nAfter \"reentry\" I was terribly disappointed with the liturgy - either way.\nThe beauty of the Latin rite is as a museum piece. Without \"community\" liturgy, in any language or \"style\" loses the humanity of Christ incarnate-risen, and when the \"body\" dies the spirit is close behind. \n\"Community\" seems to be precisely what the Church is moving away from. It either doesn't understand or doesn't care. They hide in the \"of\", unprepared to \"sacrifice\" for the Mass.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So you cannot do what I asked you to do. You can only point to something that you say that Jesus did not do (not really having any proof otherwise), knowing full well the virtual impossibility of proving a negative. From that you make a negative inference to exclude one half of humanity from a particular ministry. \n\nI could not care less one way or the other whether the RCC ordains women. My point is that the reasoning cited not to do so is extremely flawed, and comes from an era of total patriarchy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Welfare state\" is not a dirty phrase nor is \"welfare\" a dirty word. It is the meaning attached to them by constant dog whistling that implies negativity.\nSame with social or socialism. Was Jesus known for his sermons on capitalism?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Holy Father Francis is itching for a real reunion between Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy. When that day comes, RC will inevitably become more conservative. Half of my family is Eastern Orthodox, and on religious issues, they are very, very traditional.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholic bishops have never accepted their responsibility for the clrtgy sex abuse crisis, and now we know that they never will, thanks to you, Danno, and Marie Collins, and others such as Tom Doyle! The least they could do is quit pretending that they even care about victims! Thank YOU for your continuing witness!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "El Cristo Rey is a true ray of sunlight to the community. The \"regular\" parishoners, whether they be year-round or seasonal, are warm, welcoming, and faith-filled. For many years, they kept the parish going, even when it lacked regular service from ordained priests. But many priests have served the parish over the years, including the late Fr. Ron Wasowski, CSC, an earth sciences professor who spent 3-6 weeks every (or nearly every) summer at El Cristo Rey for 20+ years. He loved the parish and the parishoners, and they loved him. The beautiful backdrop of the Canyon was a source of many wonderful homilies, some spoken and some just experienced with open eyes and an open heart.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is no prescribed posture for the hands during the Our Father. Neither the Holy See nor the U.S. Conference of Bishops has addressed the issue. The fact that we all say the Our Father aloud is, in itself, a sign of unity. We don't need another one, and we most certainly do not need others grabbing our hands when we don't \nwant to hold theirs and then being offended when we refuse. If and when hand holding is added to the liturgy, I'll consider doing so, but until then, I'll stick with the traditional posture of the Roman Catholic Church which There is no prescribed posture for the hands during the Our Father. Neither the Holy See nor the U.S. Conference of Bishops has addressed the issue. The fact that we all say the Our Father aloud is, in itself, a sign of unity. We don't need another one, and we most certainly do not need others grabbing our hands when we don't is hands joined.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How do you transport the Blood of Christ as an EMHC might I ask?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "May God continue to bless you and hold you in the palm of His hand. \n\nI am certain your parish will miss the daily opportunity to be with you...but it sounds as if your \"retirement\" will be anything but the generally accepted definition of what \"retirement\" has come to mean. May God give you the strength and humor, as well as faith, to continue with the next phase of your priestly ministry. I know all too well the dreadful limitations MS can place on a person...and so be assured of my extra prayers for you.\n\nI truly look forward to your future contributions here. In the words of one of my daily prayers for priests - \"Maternal heart of Mary, remind us that your priestly sons are weak and frail human beings. Give them a deep faith, a firm hope, and a burning love to faithfully live and preach the Gospel....Mary, keep them close to your Son. Bless them abundantly now and in eternity. Amen\"\n\nPax et Bonum, Fr. Daly! \ud83d\ude4f\ud83d\ude4f", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Besides being wildly expensive (so heavily subsidised by compulsory levies that they cost six times more than coal energy) they are also:\u00a0 shortlived (because it's hard to erect such large mechanical structures in such hostile terrain); subject to declining efficiency; they kill an average 110-330 birds per turbine per year; they blight the view from the coast; they disrupt shipping; they kill whales and other marine life; they drive up energy prices; they increase fuel poverty; they enrich rent-seekers; they require vast pylons to carry their costly, intermittent energy from the sea across the land.\u00a0 Happily, all these disadvantages have been nullified by this glorious news, as recounted in Christian Science Monitor: [...]\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, I am going to point out that you did not mean what you said. When you say \"I only disagree with those who disagree with the Christ and His Church.\" what you actually mean is \"I only disagree with those who disagree with ME.\" \n\nTrid has made it quite clear that HE is the true source of Catholic doctrine. He has proclaimed in as many words that his beliefs are wholly congruent with the magisterium. Even though his actual beliefs are not -- for example, he holds to a considerably stricter version of \"extra eccelesia nulla salus\" than the magisterium does. But who are you going to believe: The magisterium or Tridentinus?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think this is a valuable and informative letter. However, I would caution some readers not to simply associate Mr. Graham's failings as being characteristic of all Christian fundamentalists. It is important that we try always not to merely label people and dish out comments and behaviour we deem appropriate to that label. The article quite correctly documents specific behaviour of an individual who seems very challenged in respect to finding a loving approach to a vast segment of humanity because he is captured by labels.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I bring it up because that is what the Church teaches. Our Lord chose twelve men when He founded His Church and the Appostles chose only men to succeed them right up to the present day.\nAs we don't have any women priests in the Catholic Church I would say it is you not I who has lost the argument.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think I agree with your direction here, but I would rephrase the idea in the first sentence: The strict teleology of sexuality, defining it as procreation, is Aristotelian; and later Platonists certainly accepted Aristotle as one of their own, aside from his own extraordinary emphases. And the Stoics learned a lot from him too. But at what point the assertion that the end of sexuality is procreation became an ethical norm, I don't know. It certainly sounds like something the Stoics might have said. We should note in this connexion that homophobia became a commonplace in the later empire; e.g., as much as Plotinus admired Plato, he was embarrassed by Plato's positive attitude toward homosexuality.\n\nAs for the \"sense of the (Catholic) faithful,\" it's true that the cultures of Catholic nations have more often than not done much to celebrate the joys of non-procreative sexuality, at least of opposite-sex partners. It's less clear that they founded a robust church doctrine on those joys.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Finally, I resonate with the notion that our past value-realizations shouldn't lead to pie in the sky & that the value-frustrations of both the secular order - scientific, cultural, philosophic, economic, social & political, as well as the sacred - eschatological, soteriological, sacramental, ecclesiological & sophiological (dimensions of all religions), shouldn't lead to doom & gloom. Humility offers the golden mean. The Spirit offers consolations, a seal, an earnest, a down payment, a guarantee, first fruits to bolster our outlooks!\n\nLonergan's secular conversions - intellectual, affective, moral & social - gift an essential authenticity, a shared soteriological trajectory of the great traditions, which then offer diverse sophiological trajectories that gift sustained authenticity via different ways of being in love with God, others, cosmos & even self (polydoxy)! The Gospel, in my view, best reveals the desiring, behaving, belonging & beatitude that I could ever hope to believe in!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One is left to wonder what happens if the desired dialog leads to the conclusion that the Church has been correct all along. Will those advocating dialog accept the outcome?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"In that battle, the tradition of Catholic social teaching is unequivocally on the side of strong governmental and societal protections for the powerless, the worker, the homeless, the hungry, those without decent medical care, the unemployed,\u201d McElroy said to rolling applause.\"\n\nThe USA has freed more people and lifted more out of poverty than any other country. We have programs to aid poor, elderly, disabled. Outside that, individual freedom and subsidiarity are the best way to a good society.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Constitutional scholar. The only thing that got fudged in Roe was finding a plaintiff and keeping her because the normal pace of appeals would never let an abortion case get to SCOTUS..\n\nAbortion comes under due process rights, according to Chief Justice Roberts in his confirmation hearing. Alito agreed.\n\nPrivacy is the relevant right, which comes under due process and equal protection. It is not secrecy, it is the right to be left alone by the majority because the majority has no compelling interest in legislating on that matter. It applies to birth control, sodomy and prohibitions on gays marrying. While the Church would surely love to dump all of these things, it is not in the interest of the Republic to allow mob rule, even Catholic mob rule, in these matters. As important is federal supremacy, which resides in the 14th Amendment. Would you really repeal either? I certainly would not. Note that these matters are both jurisdictional and have nothing to do with abortion per se.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That's why Jesus directs men to treat their wife as he treated the church. He gave his life for the church. So I guess you'd expect men to give their lives for their live stock? After all, that's their property too. Also, woman was made from man's rib. That pretty much makes her an equal, not above, not below.\n\nDon't twist things you know nothing about.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Where in Scripture does it say that Jesus was Rabbi of Capharnaum? There is only one reference in Luke and Mark that He went there on one occasion and taught in the Synagogue. St Luke says that Jesus spread the Gospel in the Synagogues of all the cities of Judaea, Luke 4:43-44.\nThe term 'rabbi' was often applied to those who had religious followers. St John the Baptist was also addressed as rabbi (John 3:26) and he most certainly wasn't married.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Archbishop William Lori, chair of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Religious Liberty issued a statement that fretted, 'Were the comments of the Senators meant as a warning shot to future law students and attorneys, that they should never discuss their faith in a public forum, if they have aspirations to serve in the federal judiciary?' \"\nThis struck me as ironic, since it was the USCCB that politicized the church so much that senators feel obligated to insure catholic nominees are not puppets of their bishops. It is reinforcement by the bishops that continues this same old prejudice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus, as with the thousands of others who died through crucifixion, was naked on his cross i.e. no loin cloth in spite of what one sees on statues. I wonder: when we look at the crucified Jesus, do we ever think about the thousands of others who died as he did- in pain and humiliation??... and perhaps also in ''innocence'' given that the Romans used this kind of death as 'crowd control.' Curiously, Jesus as portrayed in the Gospels, experienced an easier death than seemingly all others who died as crucified. According to the Gospels... Jesus's death was hastened (and, some would say 'made easier) by a sword in his side causing an immediate death. A 'normal crucifixion' was one that could go on for days as the body slowly suffocated, endured jeers, sun and what had to be a raging thirst. Perchance, the Writers minimized the Lord's suffering so as to force it into a ''fulfillment of the Prophets'' instead of the murder of an innocent man.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I had heard of him really, he wrote something in the Catholic Herald recently. My point was that he is a piano teacher and author of a couple of books yet he has the audacity to take on all those academics some of whom have held high positions in their fields.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, we are often stuck with the options of the two parties. I think you attribute a lot to the \"Republicans\" that does not really apply. I am also guilty of attributing nearly every enti-freedom action to the Democrats; of course this is where most of those actions come from. The constant effort to increase government authority and control over individuals seems to always be on the Left, other than religious issues such as abortion. Still the Left only opposes the religious issues that are promoted by so-called \"Christians\". They rarely seem to oppose the actions of the most authoritarian religions. I say this as someone with close relatives in the Middle East.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We shall have to disagree on your belief that sexism 'is at the root of most of our problems in Ireland and globally'.\nBy the way, I would have no objection to female priests. However, my personal view (as a practising Catholic) counts for little in this matter.\nMy point is that having women priests will not be the answer to the problems of the Catholic Church in Ireland. The problems go far deeper than a shortage of priests. Have you read the article, or looked at the website of the ACP? The main problems seem to be a frontline priesthood which feels it has lost its place in Irish society (partly - but not entirely - the result of the abuse scandal); a local hierarchy which is mostly perceived as remote and unsupportive of the priests; and a papal nuncio who seems to be on a completely different page from most others. \nHow will adding some women priests to this toxic mix of clericalism solve 'most of our problems'?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If the current pope can impeach a previous one, what will stop a future one from impeaching this one? Magisterial teaching does not die with the pope who issued it. Why shouldn't the dubia be answered? Veritatis Splendor is higher level magisterium (encyclical) than AL and the Four Cardinals are right to ask if it is still in effect.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is grace associated with everything if we live in Christ.\n\nThe grace of sacraments differs from other grace in at least two aspects:\n\n- it is assured. If the sacrament is performed by the minister validly, it transmits the grace intended unless the recipient places an impediment to block it \"ex opere operato\", by the very fact of being administered\n\n- it can indelibly mark the soul. The sacrament of reception, Baptism and Confirmation, the sacraments of vocation, marriage and orders.\n\nI have not heard someone talk about transubstantiation in quite some time, and I have no idea what Fr. Martin's life is like, but it must be unusual.\n\nThe Washing of Feet would be considered a \"sacramental\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you very much for this editorial. It's critical to start holding the US hierarchy accountable for its thinly-veiled political advocacy.\n\nThe Church has every right to exhort against abortion, but legally it does not have the right to endorse candidates. As difficult as it may be in an authoritarian, monarchical institution like the Catholic Church, Catholics who respect the separation of church and state must speak out.\n\nNCR writes:\n\n\"We suspect many sectors of the society will be performing election postmortems to figure out how our politics have reached this point of extreme division.\"\n\nIt's not a mystery. It's the inevitable outcome of American political culture since the Civil Rights Movement. Trump did not come out of nowhere. He is the face of the underbelly of movement conservatism. The Republican intelligentsia recoils, but they are utterly complicit.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The irony of Br. Paprocki's decree is the collective shrug from most members of the LGBT community. As a general rule, most parishes do not reach out to the LGBTs and would rather they not show up or be obvious. In spite of many priests professing \"all are welcome\" the truth is something different. I doubt Paprocki's decree is going to have much effect except to drive another wedge between the church and many of her members who actually take Jesus' teachings about loving our neighbor seriously.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "RichardCory> you nailed your fellow hypocrite Democrats down perfectly! Care to tell us what happened to the CBS lawyer whom had no sympathy for Republicans? LOL\n\n\"CBS has fired a corporate lawyer who said on social media about the Las Vegas mass shooting that she wasn\u2019t sympathetic because \u201ccountry music fans often are Republican gun-toters.\u201d http://www.staradvertiser.com/2017/10/02/breaking-news/cbs-fires-lawyer-for-social-media-comment-on-las-vegas/\n\nAlso, let's not forget...\nThe 5 Worst/Recent Mass Murders in the USA (with a Firearm) Came from Democrats \n* Ft Hood: Registered Democrat/Muslim.\n* Columbine: Too young to vote; both families were registered Democrats and progressive liberals.\n* Virginia Tech: Wrote hate mail to President Bush and to his staff.\n* Colorado Theater: Registered Democrat; staff worker on the Obama campaign; Occupy Wall Street participant; progressive liberal.\n* Connecticut School Shooter: Registered Democrat; hated Christians.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "When was the last time a Christian burst into a Christmas party and shot 14 people?\nWhen was the last time a Christian ran down people in a market place with a truck?\n\nSure Christians are 2 faced but if your going to use a broad brush stroke then so will I", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Uplifting stories: 1) Residents of Mountain View are proud of their community and working hard to make it a better place, 2) life is still pretty great for white, Christian, heterosexual males, despite their whining to the contrary. Those two are just off the top of my head!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Catholic nuns have bad habits, too.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "How is this not a radical extremist Christian event? Christians are oppressing and killing hundreds of thousands of people around the globe in dozens and dozens of countries every day, justifying their hate through their religion and claiming that other's objection to their hate is their own persecution. Wake up and treat this for what it is.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "No, because as we all know, Christians aren't running around stabbing people or blowing themselves up to prove a point.\n\nThe idea behind our immigration policy is to first make sure the immigrants aren't a threat to American citizens. And there is no doubt that on average, people from radical Muslim nations pose a higher risk to American's safety than do immigrants from Denmark, Ireland or Spain.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Why don't Christians apologize for and explain Timothy McVeigh who bombed a federal building killing over a hundred innocent children and people?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Wow, real Christians taking about truth and empathy as we in our country try to heal, once again, from the pain of violence and racism. Yes there is a context. Yes there is a different in the pain a mother of an African American teen feels each day as they wonder if this could be the day he will not return...and yes we ask too much of our police. We must have teachers, ministers, social workers, we must have a fair education system, a path forward. Those whom are numb or dumb to this truth we all know must reconsider their professed faith because this is what being a followers of Christ is all about.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\" maybe you or someone can help explain evangelicals for me\" -- Douglas Card\n\nMy explanation: Ignorant, self-righteous fanatics who feel they have every right to mess with other folks lives.\n\n-- Paul", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "That's nice sky, but it completely ignores the modern world where people are much more selective about what tenets of their religion they follow. Or do you believe that no Catholic would ever use birth control or no Jew would ever eat bacon? People adhere to their religion to greatly varying degrees. To attack Muslims in general by using a strict interpretation of the Koran is wilful ignorance and just as fundamentalist in its own way as the jihadi's themelves.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Let admit the truth Koran verses\n\n1.\u201cKill the unbelievers wherever you find them.\u201d Koran2:191\n\n2.\u201cMake war on the infidels(nonbelieversof Islam) living in your neighbourhood.\u201dKoran9:123\n\n3.\u201cWhen opportunity arises, kill theinfidels(non believers of Islam) wherever you catch them.\u201d Koran 9:5\n\n4.\u201cAny religion other than Islam is not acceptable.\u201d Koran3:85\n\n5.\u201cTheJews and the Christians areperverts;fight them.\u201d\u2026 Koran 9:30\n\n6.\u201cKill people who criticizeallah or do mischief ( wage war against allah )\u201d Koran 5:33\n\n7.\u201cAllah will Punish the unbelievers withgarments of fire,hooked iron rods, boiling water;melt their skin and bellies.\u201dKoran 22: 19 to 21\n\n8.\u201cThe unbelievers are stupid; urge theMuslims to fight them.\u201d Koran 8:65\n\n9.\u201cMuslims must not take the infidels(non-believers of Islam) as friends.\u201d Koran3:28\n\n10.\u201cTerrorize and behead those whobelieve in scriptures other than the Qur\u2019an.\u201d Koran 8:12&13", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"Because they are non-Catholic....contraception and abortion are joined at the hip logically.\"\n\nErgo, non-Catholic religious leaders are ignorant of logic and reason.\n\nThe Pope's January call is for unification of Christians--it would be hard to see Catholicism as welcoming when we think so little of other Christians at their very core.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "How many times do we need to tell people like you, that there is no place for stone age, Fundamentalist and Evangelical Christian bans to interfere with government? People who oppress families with those cruel bans do not support Democracy as they should. What they want is for their God to rule us all with the Constitution to be replaced with their literal interpretation of the Bible. That spells Theocracy under Fundamentalist and Evangelical Christian HUMAN leaders.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Not a Christian? I get that.\nNot a hypocrite? Whole other matter.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I have not asked for \"tolerance\" to MY religion. You are wrong about the spelling of mo. It has been rendered in English in several ways. Insulting Christianity with \"fairy tales\" and false interpretations of what Christianity consists of is insulting Christianity. You insulted Christianity. I just pointed out the flaws in your history and interpretations. If you are muslim, and are \"consistent\" with the core beliefs as expressed in the Qu'ran, YOU hate Christians and Jews and atheists and esp homosexuals and condemn them to death. Otherwise, you have no scholarship with which to insult Christianity and support islam.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Kathleen K. Kearon, your prattle about \"states' rights\" reminds me that the only HONEST \u2018anti-abortionist\u2019 I ever heard speak was Tom Metzger, former Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan. When asked his position on abortion, he said: \u201cWe oppose abortion for white women. We are in favor of abortion for non-white women.\u201d\n\nAnd that is the TRUE position of these white so-called \u2018conservative Christians.\u2019 But unlike Metzger they don\u2019t have the guts to admit it. And that includes \u2018Trumpy the Clown.\u2019", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "... so as long as the infrastructure benefits you and yours, everyone else can go pound sand ... very Republican and 'christian' of ya.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I'd say the division is between Sensus Fidelium and the Hierarchy and their rich 'hangers-on.' Millions of ordinary Catholics witnessed what their parents went through, as outlined by justmaybe above. (And you forgot about the names being called out about who put what in the collection the week before. And 'Benny-addiction' on Sundays.)\n\nThey saw the damage they inflicted on their parents and grandparents. They feel utterly betrayed by a succession of Popes and spineless Cardinals over the abuse crisis. \n\nThe conservatives love to blame the VII clergy for the abuse. (It wasn't.) But the one thing that cannot be denied is that the cover up was perpetrated by JPII / Benedict's men. Every single one of them was appointed by those two.\n\nThe thought that the People of God will accept a return to that is risible.\n\nCardinals and Bishops would do well to wisen up soon.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "This is yet another pathetic column by Charles Wohlforth . He exposed his agenda by telling readers Prevo , in his opinion , hurt a family friend . There was no doubt which way the story would go from there . Just because Wohlforth claims Prevo's day has passed doesn't make it true. Any more than claiming a pastor in Fairview with a tiny following after only living here a year is an Anchorage Christian leader . Because of his personal grudge against Prevo he fails to list anything positive Prevo has done for Anchorage over all these years . How fair is that ? Anchorage is a better place for Prevo having been here. What Wohllforth fails to understand is that basic teachings in the Bible don't change with time. Anchorage's current most favorite liberal pastor not only doesn't condemn sin , he tells all who will listen basic sins in the Bible are wrong . Perhaps worst of all is that Wohlforth knows who committed a crime , but won't report it to police. How honest is that ?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "An intelligent, educational review of the blight of fundamentalist christianity on this nation. For additonal history and information on the entire mythological basis for the Jesus Christ/Christianity lie read, Man Made God by Barbara G. Walker. An intensely researched, documented, footnoted revelation of the greatest lie and ultimate system of lies ever perpetrated on the world's humanity. Jesus never existed and the creation of Chrisitanity was done by a 2nd Century A.D. Pope in collusion with a Roman Emperor to get rid of all of the pagan gods to bring all under better control under one god. The miracle and tales were gleaned from previous religions to be applied to the Jesus Christ character. None of it is true. Everything coming out of the mouths of preachers, priests, bishops, popes is based on an absolute lie. The patriarchal establishment of men superior to women and ruling over them isn't found in history until One God religions were created. All by Men.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "And made fools of themselves and the Church: \nQ. Why censure Hans Kung?\nA. Because the ordinary catholic is a simple person and it is the role of bishops to protect these simple people (simpletons?) fromthe power of the intellectuals\nQ. Why did God create women?\nA. Because Adam (the universal man) experienced a loneliness which the presence of the animals could not satisfy, so that Adam (the universal man) would not descend into a baneful (?) and sterile \"encounter with himself\"(?!)\nQ. Did God really, really speak to Eve? \nA. Yes, \nQ. Surely, that is metaphor?\nA. His words were \"definitive\": (and I quote) \"...he shall rule over you\")\nQ. Surely you just mean for catholic women?\nA. No, arn't you listening to me. The church is \"expert in humanity\" not just in churchiness,.I applies for all women forever \"..in the church and in the world\". Didn't you read the title of my \"epistle\"?\nQ. I don't think that a reasonable person can buy all that...\nA. Then you are a \"radical feminist\", begone.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "What associations does \"white violence\" have with Christianity? What associations does \"Muslim violence\" have with Islam?\n\nDidn't mean to destroy your argument.\n\nMaybe I did.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Your build your argument with fallacious logic and manipulative rhetoric. \n\nMore Americans have been terrorized bombed and murder by white Christian extremists since 9/11 than by Muslim extremists. \n\nWhat about all those Christian Militia compounds in ID, MT, TX and other states around the nation? \n\nWhat about those religious and polygamist compounds of the FLDS church which range from Canada to Mexico from UT to ND. MT to TX. ? \n\nYou can use all the glittering generalities, intangible nouns, and emotion triggering words you want. You can use your passive aggressive innuendoes to spark suspicions and fear. \n\nBut as you see they don't work well when your spun dumb propagandist rhetoric.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Before reading this post, I read the post with the theme that God's ways are not our ways. Jesus was going to be killed, and he stopped Peter's attempts to change that.\n\nI think Benedict's forced resignation and placing Francis as Pope was the sort of act that Jesus spoke against to Peter. So the problematic acts of Francis are just the fruit of the initial bad act of driving Benedict out (likely by the homosexual mafia that apparently has great power and is using communion for divorced Catholics as a wedge to allow communion without repentance for homosexuals who commit sinful sex acts).\n\nBut, alas, I think we just have to sit back and let it all happen. Perhaps the destruction of the Church through the infiltration of Satan is precisely God's plan. The question is whether we should follow the fake Pope or reject him.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Too much of our tax money goes to religious schools already. DeVos wants to privatize schools and she is a real full-tilt religious crazy who wants more tax money to go to church schools so more myths, fables, and magic can be taught as fact.\n\nWhatever happened to the separation of church and state? Are Christians so weak they have to have government support in the furtherance of their propaganda war?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Subtitled, \"How the Catholic Church and the LBGT community can enter into a relationship of respect, compassion, and sensitivity,\" the book #1, refers to LBGT people (a conflated term of same-sex attraction and sex acts), whereas the Church delineates the two terms; and #2, implies that the Church does not respect, has no compassion for and sensitivity to those who have same-sex attraction and embrace it as an identity. That's the lie that homosexual activists have been spreading since they decided that \"sexual preference\" wasn't working as a political tool to achieve their demands.\n\nMartin could have written a book to educate about how the Church exhibits compassion and love for people with same-sex attraction to counter the bad reputation that homosexual activists have given the Church over the years. Why doesn't Martin stand up for the Church that he married some 20 years ago?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Agree absolutely. Drawing an analogy between the peccatum non nominandum and the religion practiced by St. Joseph, St. John the Baptist and St. Anne is exactly an instance of the sort of diabolic Catholic antisemitism the modern Church condemns.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "This incident furnishes abundant proofs that the Catholic church's sex abuse crisis and cover-up are not over, and that the Catholic bishops have not even \"turned the corner.\" Thanks, NCR, for this article!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "And the Catholic Christians and the non-Catholic Christians killed six million of each other during the \"30-Years War\" to establish which group was the 'True Church'.\n\nSomething they are still arguing about but not killing each other as often about today.\n\nToday most of the religious killing is between the two groups of 'Peaceful' Muslims as to who are the 'True Faith'.\n\nAlthough some of the 'Peaceful' Muslims want to re-invent the religious fight between the Christians and the Muslims. \n\nAnd both the Christians and the Muslims both trace their 'Faith' back to a guy named Abraham.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Ms. Hammond's lawsuit against SNAP is itself an exploitation of Catholic clergy sex abuse victims! And she is hardly in a position to claim that anyone else is doing the exploiting! Especially by hiring \"greedy attorneys\" of her own!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "That is tragic and attributable to immoral priests who used their positions to take sexual advantage of underage males and occasionally females too. Such people should not be admitted to seminaries, let alone ordained. As long as they are, innocent Catholics get stuck with the bills, be it through their donations or in this case out of just compensation to employees carrying out the work of the Church. Many of the affected employees probably took on their work as a religious calling. What a rotten way to treat them. Shame on all who bear responsibility.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The Old Catholics, Polish National Catholics, American Catholic Church, the Womenpriest groups are all schisms on the left.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "In Vatican code, \"a stubborn animal\" refers to a donkey, burro, or ass. \"Does not see\" refers to a gap in ones visual field, or a hole. One has to properly combine the two meanings to determine the term that best describes what the Pope, and most of the world, really thinks of Trump.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "There's something that needs to happen before we start talking about removing contraception from the \"sin list.\" The Catholic teaching magisterium must finally acknowledge that sex isn't only about conceiving a child. This is almost acknowledged every time old infertile people marry in the church. I once asked a priest why the church would marry people who are clearly beyond their child-bearing years and do you know what he said, \"to allow for a miracle.\" I kid you not. Seems to me if God can create a miracle and suddenly make an old woman fertile again s/he should be able to make a lesbian pregnant from, I don't know, the Holy Spirit? Or perhaps a gay man will miraculously be able to bear a child in a womb that God could suddenly create in him. But no, that would be foolish so we can't allow gay sex. Getting past that barrier would also remove masturbation from the sin list and also allow every straight couple to enjoy sex without worry. But I'm not holding my breath waiting for that.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "And where did they run into Burke's brand of fundamentalist? Do you think most American parishes are run by these fundamentalists? Is that why I've never heard a sermon on adultery, divorce, homosexuality or any other sexual sin in my 15 years since entering the Church: because of the iron grip of fundamentalists?\n\nI'm sure there are many reasons why the young leave the Church, and several of those would be troubling to traditionalists. But it's not just some conservative talking point that liberal Christianity is bleeding members, regardless of denomination. Tell people that it doesn't really matter if they're in or out, and many will choose to be out.\n\nAnd I return to a question I asked above: do you know any of these monster priests?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I have no hope left for America. I have witnessed the 'scorched earth' strategy of Trump and Republicans to feed their endless neediness for power and might and the rest be damned. I have watched as woman have been continuously humiliated and now will be robbed of their birth right to govern their own bodies. I have been dismayed and sickened to witness the un-Christian turning their backs on desperate refugees and Mexicans. I have been disgusted to see how Trump has used his candidacy to enrich himself at all cost. My patriotism has withered as I saw the head of the FBI put his personal career ahead of this nation's best interest and rules of governance. It is time to secede. Leave the red states to close themselves off from the world, protected from immigrants, gays and lesbians and liberals, but no rule of law. I am happy and proud to be a part of a new nation that holds dear freedom, liberty. sound governance and democratic principles.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Just like Jesus would do right man of god?\n\nBomb them back to the stoneage, what are you a thirteen year old boy?\n\nI love the warhawk crowd that are well beyond the age to serve in the military. They seem to be very flippant with the lives of our young men and women.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "And where were you when the thousands of cases of sexual abuse by Scout leaders surfaced? So does your holier than thou hypocrisy categorize pedophiles and the \"gay agenda\" as one in the same?\n\nAnd you have the gall to use the Latter-Day Saints and the Catholic Church starting their own programs as support for your position??????...yeah, we all know how safe kids are in the Catholic Church! Here is one excerpt from an article on a lawsuit regarding the BSA and Mormon church....\n\n\"Schmidt was one of a group of Boy Scouts leaders in Idaho troops sponsored by the Mormon church who were accused of sexually abusing children in the 1970s and \u201980s. Recently unsealed files from the Boy Scouts of America reveal that the organization was aware of allegations against these leaders for years, but allowed them to continue working with children.\"\n\nApparently your wrath meant looking the other way and supporting the BSA for decades while adults raped children. Wonderful \"religious convictions.\"", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The Christian terrorism fueled by the nationwide televangelist tax scofflaws continues. More threat from priests and preachers in their churches than any transgendered individual relieving him/her self. Disgusting.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Much like the Pharisees who conspired, colluded and crucified Jesus Christ.\n\"Close-minded ideas.\" Yes, you hit the rusty nail on the head.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I read something recently on this subject. The writer, whom I unfortunately cannot remember, reminded us that Jesus said his kingdom was not of this world. If that is the case then what do we care what the government, or retail stores, or society at large says or doesn't say about Christmas. It's irrelevant that the society at large does not acknowledge Advent because we do. It's irrelevant that retail store have Christmas merchandise out after Halloween, or that they greet us with \"Happy Holidays.\" They are in the business of sales, that's what they do. We do not need them or the government or those who for whom Christmas is a secular holiday to affirm our celebration of Christmas. We are more than capable of celebrating it on our own. The War on Christmas just makes us look pathetic, and lacking in faith.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "This is quite a mouthful Rob.\nI've been a feminist for most of my 82 years . I can't count my early childhood! \nI have to tell you that it would be difficult for a practicing catholic to be a true feminist. Such a person would have to support no abortion rights, a ban on contraception, no women priests & a ban on there ever being a female pope.\nTo say that women who support free market capitalism would not be welcome in feminist ranks is untrue & that the same is true for women who work in the energy industry is ridiculous.\nMany feminists feel aggrieved at times but 'resentful'? Not the ones I know.\nIf you really believe the world is not run by a patriarchy, you should think again. Third world countries are overwhelmingly anti- women - how else do you explain honour killings?, the niqab? We`ve made progress in the west but not enough. As is stated in the article & depending on Trump's pick for the next supreme court justice, American women could lose their abortion rights.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Where are the \"psychotic killers\" today who use the \"Christian\" \"faith community\" to justify their violence? Where are Christians who throw gay people off of roofs, turn women into sexual slaves, stone people for adultery, blow up nightclubs, etc? Where are they?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You cannot compare miscegenation with same-sex unions. Marriage between couples of different races, man and woman, cannot possibly be compared to the parody of marriage which takes place between people of the same sex.\nThe civil law may have forbidden interracial marriages between a man and a woman, God, however, does not.\nTo equate African-Americans with active homosexuals is disgraceful, it is actually worse than racial discrimination as it implies that they are in a similar spiritual state.\nI'm not an African-American, I am English but were I an orthodox, African-American, Catholic, I would be appalled that the liberal intelligentsia considered me to be even remotely similar to an active homosexual.\nAfrican-Americans unfortunately may well suffer discrimination because of their race or colour but not because their being African-American was intrinsically immoral.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Trump's alt-right constituency wants this nation purged of non-white immigrants, documented or otherwise. It is the duty of every Christian to stand up to this new regime and its reign of error. The problem is so many self-declared Christians voted for this guy.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Charlamagne killed those that refused to become Christian and probably killed his brother. There is statues all over Europe built 1000 years after his death. Let's get those removed and destroyed also! \nMeanwhile, in Denver I cannot remodel my 90 year old house because of historic district. Uggg. \nHistory is ugly, revolting, and unfair. \nThose that do not know their history are doomed to repeat it. Let's try not to be so sensitive and learn from the tragedies that our country has endured, keep the statues. Use the monuments as a teaching tool for our children as to the folly of man. Or, just tell your kids it's a guy on a horse? Most statues are of somebody that killed a lot of people...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And this is why even bringing up deacons for women is a mistake. We must hold our ground and demand absolute same and equal treatment and ordination or this hierarchy will try to throw some other useless so called feminine piece of nonsense at us. \n\nWe must picket and organize publicly at churches this year coming in large numbers to demand our human dignity be recognized, and at ordinations. We must prove that women will not be silenced, and that women and men who believe in what the actual Gospels, actually command, will not accept less than equal and same treatment for men and women, and everyone, so equal and same ordination for women and men, starting with priesthood must be granted immediately. \n\nLaity must pressure priests and religious to demand actually equality and nothing short of it. It will be Justice for all in our church or no peace for our church until there is actual Christian Justice.\n\nSt. Mary would not support such twisting of Jesus' teachings, nor should we!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "and Christians do? Guess you have selective use for free speech. Sad.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "OMG! \"...Judeo-Christian values won this election.\" Who knew?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I doubt the selected institutions set the \"pace of academia\" in the United States or anywhere else.\n\nThey MIGHT set the pace in higher level Catholic education institutions, but even that claim is suspect.\n\nAND, if the \"pace\" alluded to is strictly about Catholic doctrinal learning, then it also is suspect -- for what is described seems to be lock-step, non-thinking, drone behavior, which is not upper level, adult education. It is pretty near a brain-washing technique. I hope there are no pace-setters for that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your comments demonstrate your own bigotry towards Jews, Muslims, and certain Christians when you state that \"Freedom of Religion in Eugene appears to be applicable primarily to the Christian religions of a particular class (which class?) and, currently, to the Jewish and Muslim religions.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"People are killing babies, that's bad isn't it?\"\n\n...\"Yeah that's bad!\"\n\n\"Terrorists are pouring in over our borders and killing us!\"\n\n...\"That's awful!\"\n\n\"I'm the only one who wants to stop this.\"\n\n...\"You got my vote!\"\n\n\"Good Christian. Keep thinking the world is that simple.\"\n\nNOBODY is pro killing babies and nobody is pro terror, pro crime, or pro illegal immigration. If you think an entire group of people are you're delusional. You think it's a coincidence liberal ideas exist in universities? What's so scary about being educated - that you might find out gut reaction ideas are wrong and there are complex issues that might have non-obvious solutions? I used to think these things, but it's because I was isolated and closed-minded. I didn't flip a switch, it was a long process of \"Oh...I didn't know that\" and learning to have a higher standard for what I accepted as truth and what I required to know before I made an opinion.\n\nAnd Obama, yeah he got it easy. Muslim non-American.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's a safe bet that the criteria would include how we treated each other which would leave a lot of the so-called 'Christians' in this country pretty screwed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nah. Clearly a Christian. Every other day some evangelical tells me the Holy Ghost told him or her to try and win my soul for Jeebus. It's the Christians that hear voices, not us.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree. Mr. Trump's values are opposed to Christian and Catholic values such as basic honesty, universal love because we are children of a Father God, actions to feed, clothe, house, welcome strangers, etc. He claimed to be a devout Presbyterian who ate 'the cracker' at Sunday Communion. Yikes!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you honestly believe what you just said, you are more lost than you know. Christianity had nothing to do with this. Bad decisions had everything to do with this. We all have impulses, we all make decisions. God knows this, that is why it's in the Bible. We are all sinners and if the sin leads to someone being arrested and convicted, that's the way it goes. She may have been raised in a Christian home, that does not preclude someone from making a decision that cost someone their lives. Make no mistake, addiction is a sin. That does not make the person automatically bad but she does have to pay for her selfishness. Her and her family blaming others is their sad attempt at looking at someone other than themselves for what happened. That's not a conservative Christian playbook thing, that's people refusing to take responsibility. I would suggest you pick up a KJV Bible and read it instead of what appears to be seething on your part for a faith you don't understand.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Really? Really TheDunthropeMD, is the god of the Old Testament going to do something we haven't seen yet? Will he be doing the smiting or will it be one of his fervent terrorist followers like Eric Rudolph, Robert Lewis Dear Jr., or John Salvi, doing what they claim is the Christian \"god's work.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you squander your money and do not care for the poor or do what you can to protect or earth, your actions are deemed \"sinful\". If you ruin someone's reputation, your action is deemed sinful. The you should leave voluntarily, also. We are all sinners and do things that the Church deems sinful. Yet you, a sinner, would desire the Catholic sacraments.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "More lies from 45:\nLike he would never play golf as President..or I will never leave the White House as President too busy working \n100 day plan to defeat ISIS \nA great plan to repeal and replace Obamacare in 100 days that covers everybody\nMexico will pay for the border wall...then Mexico will pay later...then I want Congress to fund my wall\nI don't know who David Duke is, until audio recording of him talking about David Duke \nI saw Muslims celebrating the collapse of the towers in New Jersey on 9/11\nClaims that his detectives had \"evidence\" on Obama Birther controversy that will \"Blow the thing wide open\"\nNobody loves the bible more than I do, except he never goes to church and doesn't know how to say 2nd Corinthians.\nKim Jung Un is a \"Smart Tough Cookie\" he also invited him to come to the White House\nObama and Bush never called families of Fallen Soldiers\nHe had met Putin during the Miss Universe Pageant, then I have never met Putin, to I don't know Putin", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, \"Christians\" know they have sinned and need to point out the sins of others so they can feel better about themselves. That's what makes them \"Christians\", if they focused on working on themselves and not on the sins of others they would be something else. I love it when \"Christians\" speak for \"liberals\" and pretend to know what is in their heart. For some reason they don't think it works the other way around. Why is that?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Trump is against certain countries not a certain religion. Countries Obama had flagged as well. By allowing Muslims into the country isn't that a Christian ideal? Christianity and Islam are not much different they often say they have the same god. Is this Hawaiian judge not a Christian?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "BS. Why didn't just go to the familys' homes and leave the other christians alone???", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Timothy Mcveigh and the Oklahoma bombing of the federal building in the United States. Christian. Killed 168 People including children. Did it because he said God told him too. Anti Abortion activists heavily militant Christians have shot at doctors with sniper rifles. \nAnd can go on but isn't it interesting these facts have been ignored by moderate busy body Christians attacking another religion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholics are a dying breed. If you want to enact \"social justice\" perhaps the church should eschew its multi billion dollar tax haven.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One of the administrators who was questioned by police about a sexual assault complaint point blank refused to cooperate, saying that he had a policy of not cooperating with complaints about staff and teachers.\n\nAt least the child abusing \"christians\" were equal opportunity, given what we now know about Grenville College, \"Irish Laundries\", and the perverse activities of the \"Christian Brothers\" at Mt Cashel and in Ireland.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You keep posting nonsense like that regularly, what for? I believe what the Catholic Church teaches on matters of Faith and Morals and when I post here I reiterate what the Church teaches on a particular issue. If you don't agree with what the Church teaches, of course you disagree with me but that is unimportant. What is important is that you disagree with the Church, not me.\nI am amazed that you are unable to see this.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I urge everyone Christian, Muslim and all other religions to read the book \"Heretic: Why Islam Needs a Reformation Now\" by Ayaan Hirsi Ali. It will clear up a lot of misconceptions of Islam and gives a solid base to build mutual understanding and respect between the West and Islam.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Here is your post that initiated this discussion:\n\"Try getting a plot in a Catholic or Jewish cemetery if you are not of that faith.\"\n----\nIt is fake fact - I showed you it has been done. The fact that catholic cemeteries welcome non-Catholic family members was just an attempt for you to maintain an unmaintainable position. \n\nWould you find a catholic cemetery that rejects your application (being non-Catholic)? Maybe. If taken to court they would probably back off. But who would want to be buried in a such adversarial environment.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That would be people from both parties , I know many democratic and republican White Christian Gun Nuts that vote , Some are not party drones .", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "First, I am not an apologist for the Republican party. I am Republican and Conservative, but I am Catholic first, American second, Republican third. \n\nDid you forget that 40 years ago, the hierarchy and the laity voted for and supported Democrats? Did you forget that it was Catholics who elected JFK? \n\nThe reason the Democratic party fell out of favor is because it has morphed from being the party of the common folk, the blue collar workers, to being the party of rich, elite wall street Limousine liberals and Hollywood celebrities. who think they are more enlightened than thou, who have embraced an extreme secularism and far left radical values. Many of these values are totally inconsistent with Catholic values. \n\nThe Democrats no more care about people than Republicans. Republicans are about the divine right of kings? Let me see--what presidential candidate walked around and acted like she was entitled to the presidency?---because of who she is? It wasn't Trump.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Boasberg has been an unparalleled train wreck as Superintendent. The fact that Boasberg doesn't even live in Denver would speak volumes. Boasberg's stated intentions to bring back forced busing to \"racially balance\" all of DPS is lunacy of the first-order. Under Boasberg, DPS is openly hostile to Christians. For example, at Denver Green School, Christmas can't be mentioned in any publication. Children are forbidden to sing Christmas Carols or utter the word Christmas. Christians are consigned to the Catacombs under Boasberg's insidious campaign against Christians. Denver Green School is a microcosm of the open hostility towards Christian students in DPS. \n\nConversely, illegal foreigners are embraced by DPS under Boasberg. At Denver Green School, Kwanzaa is celebrated. Likewise, Jewish and Muslim Holidays are embraced by the faculty and staff. Christmas and Easter are openly disdained. Even a mundane holiday like Halloween is strictly forbotten at Denver Green School. Boasberg's legacy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not much of a leap for Mr. Cruz, going from the millennially misogynistic Catholic Church to an equally misogynistic \"contemporary\" evangelical one. Interesting how so many Europeans have outgrown this phallocentric need of many males to (out of fear, generally) find ways to subjugate and dominate women, AND those whose sexuality confuses and frightens them. Challenging world we live in, with technology driving us hellbent into the 21st century, but our ancient psycho-social mores keep dragging us back into the 19th. Could be worse--we could live in S. Arabia.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Two problems:\n\n1) There still appears to be some idea that male genitalia are necessary to actually making sacraments holy to God and holy to humans. God is neither male nor female. There is no intention on God's part in Jesus being born male to say males are more like Him - it fulfilled a prophecy, but does not mark some sort of preference of God for males. It was the culture that said males had power and women had none. What to do when the culture no longer makes such a distinction? Give it up - it is a human construct, not a God construct. Believe me, Holy Father. It is not the priest who waves a magic wand to make a \"holy sacrament\" - it is the faith of the believer that recognizes God's presence.\n\n2) While \"tradition\" is important, it is not sacred. Whatever role women were allowed to play in the early church should not dictate the role women play in the life of the Church today. The Holy Spirit is showing us all that neither gender nor marital status mark a calling.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christian Beaten to Death by Muslim Classmates \u2018Whilst Teacher Read Newspaper\u2019\n\nhttp://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/09/12/pakistani-christian-beaten-death-muslim-classmates-teacher-read-newspaper/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Whether proven in court or not this sequence of catholic priest perversion against the young should be the final nail in the coffin of this antiquated form of control over humans.\nJust imagine what they were getting away with hundreds of years ago when if you didn't believe in this bunk.....you were put to death. Yet many still believe in this horrendous fairy tale of lies. They live among us, what evolution?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If men were the ones able to bear and suckle their children, the men would embrace it as a blessing, and the women would complain about it. If men wore make-up instead of women, the women would complain that society only cares about the beauty of men and ignores the beauty of women. \n\nI suppose that feminism was the end of nuns; what a shame because they held such important roles. E.g., now the ignorant and barely-motivated laity educate the kids in \"Catholicism.\" \n\nIf you want to be powerful, be powerful. Take life on the terms it has been given to you and run with it. Or not. But please stop complaining that the rules are unfair and that those who go along with current views of society and culture are wrong. \n\nI know many women are were (and are) elated to have borne children, stay at home and raise them, wear nice shoes, have lunch with the ladies, and not have to punch a clock and kiss some boss's rear.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why is ADN featuring a six year old program about the nation's biggest grifters? Slow news day? Not enough noteworthy goings on in Alaska? \n\n$arah Palin will go down in history as a root cause of the dummying down of American politics and the media who spawned vitriol, divisiveness and hatred. \n\nAnd what role models: no value placed on education, travel, volunteering, four grandkids born out of wedlock, foul mouthed drunkeness, always blaming others, not being near a place of worship for years all the while espousing Christianity and the Bible. Not to mention that not a single PayMe has a job - they all live off the SarahPAC grift which is dwindling fast. \n\nPlease ADN, there are thousands of other Alaskans worthy of headlines and a good story. Shame on you for drawing attention to Alaska's biggest frauds and hypocrites.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am going to pose a question to play devil's advocate. I know a Catholic who is a long-recovered alcoholic. He chooses to receive only the Host and never the wine/Blood for concern that the smell and taste of wine could trigger a relapse of his disease (alcoholism). How is this situation different/similar to a person with Celiac disease not being able to receive a glutinous Host? Does my friend deserve that non-alcoholic wine be made available, or should he just take the Host only and accept his difficulties?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sharia law is not the Law of God. Surely you as a Christian do not believe it is?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When the Globe & Mail is willing to publish cartoons of Mohamed -remember those cartoons that led to rioting in Denmark's case, and the murder of the Charlie Hebdo writers in France's case - the same way it mocks Christian practices, then I'll be willing to listen to what else it may have to say about Islam.\n\nUntil at least one - just one! - Islamic country treats its Muslim citizens, let alone its non-Muslims, with the basic rights and freedoms of a constitutional democracy; until criticism of Mohamed is treated with a shrug of the shoulders, rather than with the threat of death; until these things come to pass, if they ever do, to treat Islam as \"just another religion\" displays a breathtaking naivete by Wente and the other Globe writers.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Roman theology hews to the Augustine (tainted by Manchaeism) that all humanity is doomed because everyone was tainted goods since Adam, Eve, despite the slogan, God doesn't make junk. \nAnd of course Calvin became his best disciple and spread the virus through non Roman Christianity.\nHumanity is so dirty that Jesus had to be born of a pure virgin. And Mary had to be purified by a special cleaning, the immaculate conception; scrubbed clean of original sin so that Jesus would not be infected with our wretched humanity. Hence, the poet's paean to her, \"Our tainted nature's solitary boast.\" We are all wretched defects. So, as to Catherine's boast, as rubbish we are combustible to set the world on fire. And aren't we don't a great job?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Are you ready to take up arms against the Catholic Church? If you're not I don't want to hear you complaining.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Atheists already seem to do that Kristi.\n\nAnd the Muslims in Syria, Libya, Iraq and Iran already put all the blame for their problems on Christians and Jews. That is why we see so many of them beheaded by ISIS types.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Smog is an analogy. Smog is created by humans, and it makes the air hazardous to breathe. Global warming is created by humans, and it creates conditions that over time will make the planet increasingly uninhabitable. Oh well, the fire next time.\n\nClimate change is not a belief system (like religion) but a scientific consensus driven by evidence.\n\nMeanwhile you've evaded my question completely: Since you've not read the encyclical, on what basis do you accuse the Vicar of Christ of accusing God of not knowing what he's doing?\n\nIf you bothered to actually read Laudato Si', you'd discover that like any rational person Pope Francis accepts the science on climate change and exhorts everyone, but especially Christians who believe the earth and the life it sustains is a gift from God, to become responsible stewards.\n\nYour comments seem inspired more by political ideology than even a basic acquaintance with the facts.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, I'm sure you would if you made an error but according to you, you are always right so you can't make an error. Your opinion as far as you are concerned is paramount. It eclipses whatever the Church teaches with which you don't agree, it eclipses all political opinions which go against yours.\nNow, if you could back up your opinions with rational sources outside of your own mind, dialogue would be possible, alas you fail to do so.\nRegarding my posts, I do not post my own opinions unless I say so, I merely reiterate the teaching of the Catholic Church according to the hermeneutics of continuity with previous teachings. You accuse me of personal 'interpretation' which is nonsense as whatever doctrine I address I provide the Church's teaching chapter and verse from its documents over 2000 years. Juxtapose them against John Hobson's personal feelings I think I am on safe ground.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Palmerbuyer wrote: \"Good.\"\n\nYes good !!! I wonder if the \"Groper in Chief\" will now try to sign an order banning our Federal Courts? I wouldn't put it past him and his right-wing \"Christian\" cadre.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Have a lot of male people, especially in the English-speaking world, fled Protestant ecclesial communities and run screaming into the welcoming arms of the Catholic Church because they couldn't bear to hear a women standing in a pulpit preach the word of God? \n\nYes, duh. \n\nAre they still trembling and whimpering and looking fearfully over their shoulders at those terrifying preaching females and frantically blogging their pathetic venom at nuns who don't hide under burkhas and preteen girls handing priests washcloths and news magazines that put the words \"woman\" and \"deacon\" in the same sentence?\n\nYes, duh.\n\nBut, what the heck, they've just joined a big crowd of native-born Catholics, many of them wearing dog collars, who are doing the exact same thing. So what's the big deal? Like it or not, male supremacy has replaced the Gospel of Christ as the Catholic Church's main advertising theme. And as long as it fills offertory baskets, it's not going anywhere.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When Trump boasted about his perverted sexual predations, the right fell all over themselves to excuse it and attempt to normalize it as 'just how the boys do'.\nEven the self-proclaimed and self-styled 'righteous' evangelical extremists decided they'd just go ahead and accept Trump and hold him close, never mind their Christian hearts might go all aflutter.\n\n\nUsed to be, for those self same evangelicals, even one divorce would summarily disqualify a candidate, but today, with Trump, they don't care if he runs through wives like some people do the number of new cars they might buy. And the boasting and admitted perverted sexual predation?\n\n LIke Trump didn't boast and admit his crime.\nSexual perverts should pay for their crimes. Period. As one, as a society we should condemn them and not allow them to escape punishment.\nBut, if you're a right winger, you only act like you're outraged if it's not a right winger caught in their perversions.\nNo better example of the right's hypocrisy", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Then they are are... wait for it... not a Catholic. \n\nOn one hand, I fully understand. Humans have some innate draw towards a vague spirituality. The church's job, however, is to use that vague notion to control and profit from them. \n\nYou seem to want a pat on the head for attending a church that you disagree with. Instead, I would label you as the worst kind of hypocrite. You can satisfy you spirituality at home. The church is typically left for social networking, political correctness and self promotion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Firstly, political correctness is aleady anti-Christian, and secondly, perhaps if he had the peace of Jesus, perhaps he would still be here.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Abortion, assisted suicide . . . these are the \"gifts\" of liberalism. Catholics, thank God, are generally of a different stripe, and they cost you the election. Remember: Eight years is a long time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "While not every element of \"restorationism\" is to be commended, there can be no denying they have a point in the attempt to conserve the sacredness of the liturgy. If Christ is actually present on the altar, True Body and True Blood, then the Mass inevitably has to retain a certain form that brings focus to this reality above every other concern.\n\nI grew up (late 80s-90s) going to Mass every Sunday as well as attending Catholic school K-12. I look back at one priest at our parish/school who we loved so much and who had such a great heart for serving and bringing others to Jesus. Still, his approach to liturgy was thoroughly \"spirit of Vatican II\". Fully dressed clowns for homilies, occasional appearance of his dogs during Mass, constant exhortation to full participation, lots of noise/clapping/enthusiasm. \n\nAs much of a spectacle as it was I can't help but think, \"no wonder I thought Mass was a joke and that I never gave a 2nd thought to the Eucharist as anything but a symbol.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Newsflach Kate, American citizens are separated from their families all the time in the US when they break the law and sent to prison. At least in the case of deported illegal aliens, their families have the choice of going with them. Perhaps the woman in Phoenix should have given more thought to her family and make alternative plans for when the day came when she was caught. Not very Christian of the woman to be so selfish.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's this kind of solemn nonsense that makes me question every day why I have anything to do with the Catholic Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There, there Tridentinus, get all that anger, hate and bile out of your system. You can then perhaps learn to accept and respect Pope Francis, your pope like any good Catholic should.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For starters I'm a cradle Catholic marked as belonging to Jesus forever so you can stuff it. I've been posting here for years. What you seem to object to is anyone disagreeing with the church or its hierarchs. Tough. If you don't like what I say, feel free to skip my posts.\n\nAs I've made clear elsewhere on this site, I'm not interested in reconciling with alt-right neo-fascists. Quite the contrary.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholicism is wobbly in its misinformed appreciation (in re: the Adam/ Eve mythology) for the Divine Feminine, the existential precondition of diverse life. Male exclusive priesthood is 'radically' (in the 'root' sense) antithetical to the reality/ sense of the Divine Feminine. http://womenwakingtheworld.com/divine-feminine/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus was Jewish and didn't advocate or endorse beheadings, murder of killings. So Trump would have let him in. Congratulations. You just figured out that leaders of Christian countries don't follow the Christian bible . \n\nWell Trudeau is the leader of Canada, a country based on Christianity. The Bible doesn't approve of homosexuality yet Trudeau endorses homosexuality. How do you figure that?c", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you for your response. Henceforth I will no longer consider you to be a reliable commenter on matters Catholic. \"Orthodox\" you are not. Nah, you're \"Burke-ian.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Last I looked it was Christians demanding the end of Halloween as a pagan or Satanist celebration\" And those should be told NO! That is ridiculous. Extremists should not be accommodated. You want to abstain? Fine. You demand the majority abstain so as not to offend you? Nope.\n\n\n\"No one is asking for Eid to be made a legal holiday. If you're envious that others have holidays when you don't, get over it. You are not the centre of the universe.\"\n\nReally? Sounds like some are asking for that. The rest of your comment is bang on. People who join a society with its own majority traditions should be ready to accept them rather than demand they be abolished.\n\nWhen there are enough newcomers that the old traditions no longer seem relevant, it will happen naturally. Forcing the majority to abandon their own traditions to \"accommodate\" newcomers is asking for backlash.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Yeah, that\u2019s not the point: you removed statues of the Mary and baby Jesus. That\u2019s not a Catholic thing; that\u2019s a universal symbol of Christianity. This is just insane, and even non-Catholics are making that point...\"\n\nhttps://townhall.com/tipsheet/mattvespa/2017/08/26/too-alienating-catholic-school-removes-statues-of-the-virgin-mary-and-jesus-n2373209?utm_source=thdaily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nl&newsletterad=\n\nThe \"truth\" huh?\n\n\"And he, along with the rest of the Congressional Black Caucus, don't seem to see the hypocrisy. Like the pigs in George Orwell's Animal Farm, some are more equal than others.\"\n\nhttp://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2017/08/seizing_that_which_we_hold_dear.html", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mike AA,\n\nYou wrote an excellent analysis of the situation for both the nation and for American Catholics still undecided for whom to vote.\n\nWhat makes Trump even more dangerous is his ability to spread misinformation, both on the internet, in his speeches and even in his political Ads. \n\nThe 'Donald' makes a statement [citing it as a fact] WITHOUT any actual evidence to support it. He repeats it over and over again [repeat something often enough, and it's accepted as fact]. If the \"Fact-checkers\" show that this statement of his is incorrect, Trump states that someone \"began this, and he is just finishing it.\" \n\nThe bishops, like Naumann, have stated nothing about Trump's abusive and distaining remarks about the disabled, about people of other races, other religious background, about ugly/lying remarks made about other candidates' parents, spouses---and nothing about his vulgarity concerning women. \n\nPro-life? Really? The cultural-warrior bishops need to get their blinders off.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Stop insulting those who do not want women to kill the children in their womb\"\n\nHere's the thing...I am Catholic and the Bible very clearly says \"Thou Shall Not Kill\" and that pertains to people all over the world.\n\nOur current American foreign policy is killing millions of innocent people...Babies,children,mothers... are being murdered for corrupt reasons with our tax dollars.\n\nIf Christian Conservatives spent as much time fighting against that blatant violation of God's law as they do fighting abortion,perhaps more than half of our tax dollars wouldn't be spent on killing people in other countries.\n\nThen we would have money to take care of people in our country,veterans,disabled,Babies! and their mothers.\n\nSometimes people don't want babies because they can't afford them. If you want women who can't afford it to have their baby, then give them the help they need. Without judgment.(remember Jesus?) End the wars, there will be plenty of money to support Americans and even cut taxes!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Perhaps they should consult with the Irish Catholic Bishops. Based on reports from various institutions run by Holy Mother Church in Ireland, the Church was very good at disposing of large numbers of dead children.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Are you kidding me? Catholics that hate America???", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Because JPII placed no importance on his episcopal appointees' being Catholic. America's fantastic wealth has meant that American bishops have, for decades, chosen their own successors. This is why so many dioceses, e.g., Boston, have had homosexual ordinaries for as long as 120 years, while other dioceses have had a long series of Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Depends on whether they talk to eachother and how much funding they have in common. Of course, some are just nutty. Makes you wonder if this is warning from Francis through his friends and that Francis is a bit tired of the disloyalty by the Catholic right wing media, but will not say it directly to validate their insanity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "All of them claim to be the \"true christians\" and your historical revisionism is blatantly false. The christian church was founded by a Roman Empire pope and emperor and the christian bible created by them. All subsequent christian sects stem from that first creation. Historians do not agree, nor does any written documentation yet found name such a person. All of the written references came long after his supposed lifetime and death. Your reading is apparently deficient and/or only done to support your prejudiced conclusions. I have a compendium of studies read and analyzed going back to pre-christian eras. You are the one still to find the truth of it all beyond your blind faith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "nothing about following any dogma. or thinking you are a decent human being. you don't know what the Christian faith says. more people have been killed by nazis and communists (unbelievers) and raiders of wealth than by any religious wars. you are mistaken.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic Church's assertion that it alone possesses the full truth of the nature of the divine mystery that created a visible universe with more than 100 BILLION galaxies is simply ridiculous.\n\nI have taught at Catholic institutions of higher learning, and I can tell you that disturbingly few of my students are taking the church's more literal teachings about the nature of God, Christ and reality seriously. It appears to me, just from my observations in recent years, that Catholicism is in real danger of losing its children.\n\nOh yes, by the way, I teach World Religions, focusing on the spirituality of those religions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When was the last time GOD appeared to you telling you what to do?\n\nWhat about Popes John Paul II and Benedict? Weren't and aren't they 'people'? If any 'talked down to and sneered' at people it was those two. JP II shook his finger at liberation theologians [and he didn't have a clue what the difference was between 'liberation theology' and the European brand of Marxism]. And Benedict called ordinary Catholics [like you] \"little people\"[John Allen, POPE BENEDICT XVI] p. 130.\n\nHow's that for being condescending and supercilious?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Budsie: Habsters are generally Catholics, they always go to church and expect their gods to rise and work to the occasion. They always dressed up and do their homework before church, so it is only natural to express their disappoint when those gods refuse to appear. Unlike the big smoke, hockey is not a striptease, in their lofty temples, for general amusement.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "John. I'm glad you are willing to listen to folks who don't quite see things your way. For starters, let's consider the notion of \"rights\" versus \"privileges\". We all are aware that blacks, women, Catholics, Mormons, Native Americans and others did not fully share in all citizen rights at the outset of the American Republic. The Constitution has been modified or amended as time went on with the goal of providing equal rights for all. Personhood, citizenship, the right to vote, the right to an attorney and so on. That being said, I find the phrase \"white privilege\" to be racially offensive. I will fight to defend the rights of others if their rights are denied, but I don't have to apologize or be considered \"special\" if I exercise the rights granted by the Constitution as amended.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Edible pieces of art\" enjoy no \"protected class\" status.\n-\nThat means that, while the \"artist/baker\" cannot refuse to serve gays, neo-Nazis, blacks, members of the KKK, Muslims, Jews, whites, and Christians.....the \"artist/baker\" has the right to decline to use his artistic talents to decorate an \"edible piece of art\" in a way that goes against his religious, moral, ethical, and \"whatever\" beliefs he may have.\n-\nBecause no \"art\" has \"protection class\" status, any and every artist/baker can refuse to decorate a cake in the following way:\n(1) a man being lynched\n(2) Nazi symbols\n(3) \"May Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Bless This Marriage.\"\n(4) with unicorns, fairies, and little bunnies.\n(5) in a way that depicts a same-sex marriage.\n-\n#3 might surprise some people. But why would I even want to make a Jewish or Muslim baker \"uncomfortable\" decorating a cake in that manner? There are plenty of bakers who will gladly put that on a cake for the sheer joy of making money to please me.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You should check out www.thereligionofpeace.com\nThey keep up to date on all of the attacks in the name of Islam. They also show passages that are used to justify murders in the name of Islam. Muhammed himself beheaded hundreds of people for simply denying the faith. After you do that research, I hope it helps you realize that your neighborhood is filled with people who probably aren't true Muslims or are planting themselves for an attack.\nAlso, another thing to point out is all of your false equivalences.. Timothy mcveigh didn't do the bombing in the name of Christianity, he more or less was doing it as an anti government attack. Compare that to the attacks in Orlando, where he was following the teachings of his religion to kill people for being gay. You do realize that he pledged to ISIS before the attack, right?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I always find it amusing that \"Christians\" end up being the most vocally judgmental of those that deviate from societal norms. If you truly believe in Jesus Christ, then maybe try to be more like him. Show this girl, and everyone that passes through your life, love, kindness, and respect.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nothing uncivil here. Maybe some painful points.\n\nOur parish makes a big deal about \"fair trade\" Sunday.\n\nA very small group of SJWs take up about 1/3rd of the narthex 2x a month to lay out all sorts of \"fair trade\" coffees, candies, snacks.\n\nAnd I thought about it.\n\nHow is this fair to the mom and pop coffee store 1 block down from our Church?\n\nThey have to pay labor costs.\nThey have to pay unemployment insurance/taxes.\nThey have to pay for advertising.\nThey have to pay for utilities, rental space, accountants, etc.\n\nHow is the Catholic Church being \"fair\" to the businesses in the neighborhoods?\nAnd more...what the social justice types are doing is to entice Catholics to feed their senses, and giving them the false sense of \"charity\" as they buy and eat the goodies. \n\nHow good and fair is all this?\n\nBut it's for the 'feeling' of helping that motivates the whole sorry mess. A sugary charity!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Excellent commentary. But frankly, the church's sexual ethics inevitably derive from an immature and inexperienced celibate male clergy who are terrified of sexuality, particularly that of women. Their attempt to bully their stunted views into the secular mainstream is not only doomed to fail, but may sow the seeds of great change in the RC church. Be careful what you wish for, Bp Paprocki!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As usual, it is Christians and Jews helping their fellow man.\n\nI pray for the day when atheists, Moslems, etc will also begin to do something positive for others.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I read the link; what a load of absolute rubbish.\nIt is so sad that Americans can only see religion in terms of politics. There are no right and left wings in Catholicism; there are the orthodox who are right and the heterodox who are wrong.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Is the answer, then, for the clergy to come out? Martin does not say. But he does call LGBT Catholics to greater compassion for their clerical leaders, whom, he says, \"might be homosexual men who at a younger age were tortured by the same hateful attitudes that most LGBT people experienced growing up.\"\n\nAccording to his autobiography, Martin says he was about 25 when he began his quest for the priesthood. And that he'd never been on a date with a girl.\n\nI'm all for compassion for gay people, but the time has come for honesty. If priests are gay, they need to step up and admit it. If men are ss attracted and seek a vocation, they too need to step up and admit it. Let's be done with the coy sidestepping. Let's end this game of pretending. We've seen the results of pretending gay men are straight, or the notion that sexual orientation can be rectified with proper formation and prayer, or that sexual orientation doesn't really exist: thousands of lives ruined by predators.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Kat, \nUnfortunately, they don't see it that way, upon which you just so brilliantly elaborated. So very sad!!! \nMoney is their guiding light as well as cheap condemnations of the women you describe. The Right and the Religious Right are all about cheap and so called Righteous solutions.\nI call the so called Pro-lifers Pro-death and Family Destructors. If they were truly Pro-life and Family Values once they enact these abortion laws all the venom and hate they spew would stop. But just watch, their viciousness will not end. Likely they will be the same or more so. \nIf all of this hate was about Pro-life then we must ask: why did Pope John Paul II and teflon man Ronald Reagan do almost nothing about Pro-life and do everything about anti-communism, anti-socialism and anti-unionism. \nI do not believe any of the last 36yrs of hatred is truly about Pro-life but instead is totally about Communism, Socialism and ending the unions toward greater godless, soulless predatory Reagan Capitalism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "First, we have victim-less crimes and that should have no prison what so ever.\n-\n No victim = no time. \n-\nWhen you add minimum mandatory to victim-less crimes you create pure evil - not surprisingly, Harper dreamed that one up. He was literally playing GOD, judging people based on sin then sending them for retribution. A completely misunderstanding of the teaching in the bible. \n-\nJesus was persecuted like this by vigilantes who stoned him to death. Harper like other children indoctrinated with the bible do not understand the metaphors; it's a dangerous practice. Justin Trudeau has his faults but nothing compared to the misanthropy that Harper brewed up.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Those \"anti-gay\" protesters are anything but christian, they are people who choose not to follow the teachings of Jesus while using religion for a shield for their own bigotry.\n\nSeems like the most vocal critics of gay marriage are people who haven't even read any books of faith. But yet they claim to speak for God. So they break one of the Ten Commandments for something that they personally find a sin.\n\nI admit that I don't understand the whole gay thing, personally I think it's weird. But if it's what gives people who are happiness then that's a good enough reason for me to support it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think there are a few individual bishops who will speak against the travesty that the Republicans are trying to pass off as a health care bill. (It is merely an act to provide tax relief to the very rich at the expense of nearly everyone else.) However, there is little reason to think that the Conference will, or even can, speak credibly to this issue. Too many of them individually threw in with Trump and other Republican candidates. They must apologize for anything they did, or failed to do, that contributed to Trump's election.\nThe \"Fortnight for Freedom\" -- a colossal waste of time, money and resources that belong to the People of God -- is symbolic of the moral and intellectual bankruptcy of the Conference. When they abandon that embarrassing exercise in hypocrisy, they may be able to begin to reclaim some credibility. On the other hand, it may be too late.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They repudiated the center-left but not the far-Right. Trump is something but he's not the Christ-figure the whites want him to be. But it is funny is watching them believe he's going to be not a status quo politician. \nAverage white men have to learn the hard way. At least Donald's hands are small. #gotky?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "3.) It is not only gay Catholics and their families who must think through their relationship with the church. We all must do so. I am unwilling to leave; but I am also unwilling to remain silent about the faults and failures of the church. I continue to attend daily Mass, but a year ago, I reluctantly reduced my financial support for the church. \n4.)We cannot shrink from this truth: The problem is not the bishop of Madison; it is not even canon law. The problem is that the teaching of the church about human sexuality is profoundly, scandalously inadequate. By resisting the insights of the social, biological and theological sciences and especially by dismissing the experience of women and men, the official teaching has descended into irrelevancy. We have the tools to renew the teaching in a way that honors scripture and tradition and embraces the insights of scholarship and experience. The failure to do that is the real scandal, and the root of other scandals.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1) Sacred scriptures never used the words \"Mortal sin\"---that is a term from the Catholic Church. \n\n\n2) Because, in theory, Mortal sin spells the end of life-giving grace for the soul, theologians in defining mortal sin, have set the stakes to committing it extremely high. There are times when sexual sin CAN be mortal [rape, child abuse for example]. But the emphasis on sexual sin as the world's worst sins----is badly misplaced. \n\n3) And yes, a 'rapist priest'----who has had more education and spiritual development than many other people, could not justify himself in taking Communion. However, how did the bishops in the 1980's deal with these priests? They sent them to special centers for treatment. If the laity did this---they would have been told that they have committed mortal sin. There was, and often times, still is a dual manner of dealing with sinners.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I know when it be great if anyone that exercised their 1st ammendment rights had to pay a tax?\n\nAnd the other tax free property known for sexually abusing kids is the school system.\n\nSo the Catholic was known for having a gay priest problem so therfore they should be more accepting of gays? Thats a liberal good idea for you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am opposed to muzzling clergy. Is there a distinction to be made between a small church where the charismatic pastor is the only spokesperson and a church-corporation like the Vatican Church? The charismatic pastor should not have to leave her First Amendment right to free speech at her church door and when she ascends into her pulpit, she should be allowed to say whatever she wants (short of libel, etc.) Figure out some tax solution other than taking away human rights. Whether church-corporations are 'persons' entitled to free speech is another issue.\n \nCertainly the Constitution does not end at the church door and misogynist/homophobic church organizations should not be exempt from laws that make it a crime to discriminate in employment. For sure, only certain types of activities are church-related. Building a wealthy all-male hierarchy cannot be construed to be a legitimate church activity any more than performing a marriage to a child-bride can be a legitimate church activity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Again, I distort nothing. Paprocki is rejecting gays in his diocese, and you clearly support this rejection. Your prattle that no one is being rejected is saying \"We do not allow you to take the Eucharist, nor do we allow you burial in our cemeteries. But you should not see this as rejection.\" That makes no sense.\n\nPaprocki is not God, nor are his words the words of God. His saying that gays are to be rejected is a rejection of the clear words of God that we are to love everyone. You go along with this, which leads me to question, once again, your claim that you are a follower of Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If a non-Christian shoots someone for political reason, they're terrorists.\nIf a Christian shoots someone for political reasons, they're insane.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Why would an \"anti-gov wing nut\" choose to kill country western fans who are known to be conservative and Christian?\n\nThink.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "A Christian supporting actions that defund programs that help the same kind of people the Christian jesus lived and breathed to help, and support giving the same defunded monies to the same kind of people the Christian jesus punted out of the temples. And obviously you support shipping the CIA created refugees out of America too. But the Christians following the bastardized Christian values do not have the common sense to realize the christian jesus was himself a refugee. \nWhere do the souls of Trumps Christian supporters go when they die. Do they get special dispensation from their hell because they did not have the common sense to realize they were following a orange headed Russian poodle, on his own hellbound train?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Christians are not tolerant. They are disgusted by non-believers just like Muslims. The only difference they put people in prison for 20 years, it is why Canada and the USA have such high prison populations. Prison is just a slow death, that's all.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Any religion or nation to prosper, it is always, a nation who encourage and support young people's spirit wins the future. Here Catholic church clergies raped young children! One thing that is fair can be consider that Catholic church is in just about every countries and Catholic clergies raped young children everywhere! I wonder how Catholic religion plan to survive without the young people?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "This is ALL a sad joke pushed by left wing nuts that are bored with sitting at home.. Trump has no intention of taking away anything from women or anyone else (unless you are a terrorist or criminal) - it is all a farce, a scare tactic started by the left to make up for the fiasco they had with Bernie and Clinton. The left presented a Socialist (some thought communist) and a lying FEMALE career crook that doesn't care about the murder of gays and subjugation of women or Christians. Now all these poor 'ladies' (the ones that didn't actually listen and vote FOR Trump) feel out of touch and need to 'stand up' and show just how clueless they are. So - let them make fools of themselves and fade back into their 'safe place' the left likes to promote..", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "It is a crime to criticize, doubt, or disagree with Islam in Islamic states. This is blasphemy and the sentence is death. It is a crime and a sin to leave Islam. A Muslim who rejects Islam is an \u201capostate\u201d and the punishment for apostasy is death (and eternal damnation in hell thereafter). Under sharia, it is forbidden for anyone to try to convert a Muslim to another religion. When Islam is doubted or defamed in any way, Muslims should violently defend it. Muslims consider all non-Muslims and non-Muslim culture useless and see their goal to make the whole world Muslim. Everything before Islam is jahiliyya or ignorance, of no value and should be destroyed. Under Islam, non-Muslims must pay a large tax. Once Muslims conquer a country and convert the government to Islamic law, non-Muslims have the choice to convert or die. However, Christians, Jews, and some Zoroastrians have the choice between becoming Muslim or becoming a dhimmi. Read Bat Ye'or's publication Eurabia.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I was simply pointing out that there are passages in the Bible, regularly used by Christian fundamentalists to discriminate against homosexuality. And that it's myopic to single out Muslims for this. I'm not defending Islam's fundamentalist attacks on homosexuality. \n\nAnd Doc, isn't it a bit disingenuous to list Chechnya without also pointing out Russia's ongoing attacks on homosexuals. It's a good Orthodox Christian Country after all.\n\nIncluding references to Islamic State atrocities is a bit desperate don't you think? They've pretty much cornered the market on extremist thinking of all kinds and as extremists, they are hardly an example of the average or moderate Muslim.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Many a true word is spoken in jest is an adage, aphorism or proverb. A version of this appears in The Cook's Tale by Chaucer: \"Ful ofte in game a sooth I have herd saye!\".\nNic alias Kurgan mocks the Catholic Church to the point where his posts become predictable and boring. \nWho, however, is he mocking? Orthodox Catholics who simply ignore him as they would a fly as opposed to a wasp? Or could it be that he is deliberately fuelling the prejudices of the small majority of progressive posters to this site? Either way he is holding the Catholic Church up to ridicule.\nNow if this what you want, Catholicism to be ridiculed in a public forum by all means give him your up-votes but remember it is you who he is actually ridiculing; it just goes over our heads.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Andrew Sullivan, \"Every pillar of Trump's essential character is a cardinal sin for Christians: lust, gluttony, greed, envy, anger, and pride.\" Sullivan left out impulsiveness. I only hope we can survive Trump's term of office and he does not get us all killed...", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "These political \"Christians\" have started their own false religion - a false Christianity or false Catholicism. These are the people we were warned about long ago.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "BLM are anarchist anti Christian! There chaotic rioters", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "No I am not in favour of that but unfortunately and tragically numerous women in Canada and the US are gang raped by white Christian men but we are not about to make sweeping generalizations about all white Christian men bases on the terrible behaviour of a few.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "There is no enigma, what a lie: it is allowing foreigners to have the same rights as those born in Canada which is the problem, PERIOD whether it is job opportunities or rental housing, MIGRATION HAS KILLED CANADA!\nThe only people who benefit are the catholic and other religious organizations and banking and business OWENERSHIP sectors. The rest of us suffer. Time to end it.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "South Africa: Zuma rapes Kwezi...ANC - response?\nUSA: Trumps grabbing of the p****y.... Republican - response?\nUK: Fallon touches journalists knee.... Tory response?\n\nTruth is, females do make things ambiguous, it is part of the mystery and males do misinterpret messages with testosterone in full swing and emancipated females are going full kink in the Grey areas of weak society.\n\nThe weaving blurred lines (intended) of acceptability are going to get more confusing for both males and females, set by \"leaders\" of society, pornography and the church leaders, not only Catholics where Parental leadership is being stripped by political correctness. \n\nFeminism is good, but when.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "To care about women is to condemn Islam. As a Christian I do not believe in slavery. A moslem finds justification for slavery in the Koran. \"You can enslave for sex and work Qur\u2019an 4:3, 4:24, 5:89, 33: 50, 58:3, 70:30\". Calling people Islamophobic , only shows that the name caller is totally unfamiliar with the KORAN. I care about women so I must reject the Koran which states, \"You will need 4 Muslim male witnesses to prove a rape.Qur\u2019an 24:4\". \nOf course, those who chose to opine on that which they do not know, have that right in America. Or maybe Islam supporters want to own slaves and abuse women. It is understandable that many agree with the Idea that \"You can beat sex slaves, work slaves and wives. Qur\u2019an 4:34\". \nPersonally though, find those practices abhorrent.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Yeah, Christ wants us to discriminate against gays, and to deny them any rights. \n\nAre you for real, R&R?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "More of that judicial activism so hated by the fascists in the hands of anyone except themselves. This judge should be removed from any legal activity immediately. Every decision is tainted by his religious fascism in violation of the national and state constitutions. Texas judicial systems are infested with the same traitors to the Constitution and all human rights contained therein. Texas is home to the greatest quantity of fascists existing in the nation joined with the entire Old South Confederacy finding all human rights abhorrent to the ruling fundamentalist christian fascists of the Oil Monopoly. Sadly, Alaska has been and continues to be infected with the same diseases.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"Hatred is at the root of much of the world\u2019s horrors\"\n\nMuslims and liberals love to excoriate us about Islamophobia, but we should bear in mind Islam's entrenched racism, xenophobia, homophobia, misogyny, anti-Semitism, hatred of Christianity, Europe and America, destructive iconoclasm, and even Islamophobia against each other. Entrenched civil wars between Kurds, Shiite, Sunni, Wahhabi, Druze and other Islamic sects, ISIS , Taliban and Al Quada are the root causes of most of the wars and social chaos happening around the world today. It is a purely thankless job to try to stop Muslims from killing other Muslims, or non Muslims, or gays, or women, or Jews, or Christians, or Buddhists or Hindus.. It is worse than anything expressed in the west, even by trolls.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "White liberals are teaching Native American youth to be ashamed of our traditions, just like white Christians used to teach us our gods are evil. It takes a shameless arrogance to lecture to Native American tribes that our mascots of tradition created by Native Americans for Native American's are racist stereotyping of us Injuns. It takes a shameless arrogance to lecture we must do away with our traditions and culture because white liberals find them offensive, just like Christians find our gods offensive. Long before whitey showed up us Red Skins have had mascots but why let facts get in the way when you're teaching a culture we are racist and need to abandon our traditions and culture to adopt the traditions and culture of Political Correct EMOTIONAL CRIPPLES", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "rangerMC, here is just one paragraph from one article in the american thinker. \n\n'Therefore, at the risk of sounding brutal and cruel, here is my message to transgender people, as if I were speaking to my son. I\u2019m sorry to have to be the one to tell you this, but you are not a girl. It pains me to say so, but you are a boy who thinks you are a girl. It\u2019s not your fault, no more so than it is the fault of sufferers of BIID or other uncured disorders. But you have never been /a girl, and will never become one, no matter how extreme is the pretense. Not even surgery will change that fact.' this is one of the 10 main articles. even the blogs are stupid; read blog on 'no such thing as a free lunch'. the writer compares a free lunch program to the mess in venezuela. \n\narticles i read in american thinker seem to be written by evangelical christians, liberal haters or they are just plain nuts. \n\nhttp://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2017/07", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "As someone who was brought up in a religious family with two christian preachers, my life turned around for the better and I became a real productive member of society when I went to community college and gained job skills. You call me a loser but in fact you don't even know who you're talking to except someone who doesn't share your point of view. The problem with religious actions like this is people wasting all that energy and resources on something that is not even real! So that is why I say pathetic- someone trying but failing majorly to do any good. \nAnd bronze age zombie jew- welp, those are just facts. Except zombies aren't real! (Some might say ancient desert tribe with no knowledge of how reality works, rather than bronze age, but I don't think that's what you are really attempting to dispute.) When you perceive reality as a slur, you need to examine your beliefs. I suggest doing what Descartes did- doubt all that you believe to be true, *everything*.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Have you ever worked for extended periods in Japan? I have. Discrimination against the Gaijin is intense, if cleverly understated in the public domain. If you're going to make derogatory comments about a group of people, Christians for example, try not to look silly doing so.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "No, rejecting the authority of the CDF is NOT rejecting either the priesthood or the Church. \n\nTell me, RD, are you really Kurgan in disguise, saying really silly things to poke fun at conservative Catholics? Or do you really believe the silly things you say?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Wheeler and Bailey go to vastly different cafeterias.\n\nJules bailey worships at the same denomination as Falwell/Huckabee/Franklin Graham/Ted Cruz. His church preaches female submission and that gays are sinful. He titthes to this church and also does Bible study with them.Even if his conservative fundy evangelical church pretends to be cool- they are the same homophobes as you would find at Liberty University. \nWheeler goes to a more inclusive church, and his sky god is not as scary.\n\nWheeler and Bailey have some similar policies, but I find Bailey untrustworthy & wishy-washy. Note that he won't defend the church but still gives it $. What does Bailey believe and what will he stand up for? Why does he listen to a Pastor who preaches that Jessica Bailey should submit to Jules Bailey?\n\nI can understand voting for David Schor- but Bailey? Bailey? What a weakling.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Rita , the US bishops, for the most part, are not really Christians or Catholics- they are Right Wing GOPers masking as such. The fact that only two guys had the guts to say something about what just happened this weekend speaks volumes. They are only interested in PELVIC issues, money intake and living lavishly - nothing else really matters. So don't look for guidance or kindness coming out of the mouths of these boyos. Shame, shame, shame on them. Same sort of thing happened back in the days of Hitler - nothing new and see what happened.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Prophesies suggest that Jesus' return will be prompted by the rise of Satan. Since God is all powerful, it makes sense that he would orchestrate this; at least as much sense as anything else.\n\nI didn't coin the term \"homosexual mafia.\" And while some estimates of homosexual priest are as high as 60%, I'm not sure why that sounds wacko to you.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Truth.\nLying cheating power-hungry religious fanatics: Harper Legacy\nI never received ballot, supported Bernier. Others as well.\nWe need conservatives that do not see race, religion, ethnicity, instead a bunch of crazy evangelicals who want to FORCE their insanity on others. Cheating is 'god's will' according to the goons running the now defunct CPC.\nDo you want cheating liars, tyranny running the country? No way no how CPC!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Give me back the Berlin wall\nGive me Stalin and St Paul\nGive me Christ\nor give me Hiroshima\nDestroy another fetus now\nWe don't like children anyhow\nI've seen the future, baby:\nit is murder\nLeonard Cohen, The Future", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "RE: Boston Globe commentary: \"For some Catholics, endorsements from the pulpit don't work\"\n\nThe author is right on target. In fact, prelate pulpit political endorsements imply that the laity are too stupid and spiritually vapid to sort out complex issues for themselves, and should instead obey the voting dictate of the local bishop... a man whose first and only allegiance is to Rome, not U.S. representative democracy. I've watched our own local bishop happily go down the rightwing culture war rabbit hole of conspiracy theory more than once while issuing letters on how to vote on issues and candidates. His tunnel vision and lack of regard for complexity is astonishing. The olds days of blind obedience to prelates are over... it's no wonder that certain retro-bishops and their followers long to return to the 1940s and 50s... no one would actually have to learn and think.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Most comments seem to support a sexual lifestyle that is a mortally grave sin. No matter what Cardinal, priest or bishop that supports this lifestyle will not change the fact that active homosexual sexual activity is a mortal sin! That will never change in Heaven. God will indeed pass judgment on those who lead his children away.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "2/ Now we know around 52% of Catholic Christians voted for...Tiberius (without the brains).\n\nSince the election we've been offered plenty of pious talk on unity and dialoguing and healing that seems utterly divorced from reality. Sorry, I don't play with white supremacist thugs and misogynists. From my perspective, the US Catholic bishops were willing to sacrifice the well-being of millions and millions of people worldwide over their stifling obsessions with abortion and same-sex marriage. This is how the majestic Catholic Church has come to be defined in the US: a hostile, morbid cult that values fetuses above all other forms of human life.\n\nSo I'm done.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Well, this is what she said on the Emmys, 'she declared that \u201ca lot of people come up here and thank Jesus for this award. I want you to know that no one had less to do with this award than Jesus.\u201d\n\nThen she held up her trophy and said, \u201cSuck it, Jesus. THIS is my God now!\u201d\nHow's much do you think seeking salvation will she try and do. She's a pua'a\nwith kukae flowing out of her waha.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Another NCR Catholic saying that those who sided with Trump are Nazis.\n\nMore and more every day.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Same-sex marriage doesn't \"confound\" orthodox Catholics whom you refer to disparagingly as trads, quite simply because it is an impossibility, it doesn't exist. Marriage can only be between a man and a woman so those who think otherwise are deluding themselves and deserving of our pity and God's mercy.\nIt is the same with the priesthood, those who think women can be validly ordained are similarly deluding themselves and in like manner, deserving of our pity and God's mercy.\nAll this will become clear on the Last Day.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Those 3 individuals are a cancer. They need to be removed from the Catholic Church ASAP. \n\nIf I wanted to join a church that welcomed liberal cesspools, I would have become a Democrat.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You should have one of your child raped and try to kill him/herself, and see if you could worry about the possible mis use of money by SNAP!\u2014yjin117 My sins crucified my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In the United States the accused, in this case SNAP, is considered innocent until proven guilty.\n\n Do you know these clergies raped Christ/God when they raped children?\u2014yjin117 Worse, but who am I to complain about what is in the eyes of others, when there is such a beam in my own eye, particularly below the level of consciousness.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "That is naive. If she had said simply \"fragility\", you could make that point but by modifying as she did it becomes racist and unacceptable.\n\nImagine changing the modifying adjective to any other possible race, religion or region of the world other than \"Christian\" or \"Western European\" and imagine the backlash.\n\nThat she chose to swear and use such tone underscores the acrimonious manner in which the remark was intended.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A little Christian charity, abused by a homeless person, and it almost became a murder.\n\nHawai'i is starting to go down, a very dark road, with the homeless.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, I went to the cathedral in Winnipeg with a catholic friend and was told I 'had\" to!\nMost of my Muslim friends do not wear a scarf- and are not beaten.You know that there are a lot of different Muslim sects- just as there are Christian. Check out the Amish and Hutterites.\nI am anything but anti- religion.....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you read the Parable of the soils (and other places) it clearly speaks of those who exhibit some type of spiritual fruit may in fact not be true believers, there are four types listed and only one is true, there is also the parable of the wheat and the tares which describes unbelievers and false converts existing in the Church, perhaps the most concerning are the words of Christ when he says in Matthew 7:21-23 :\n\nNot everyone who says to me, \u2018Lord, Lord,\u2019 will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, \u2018Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?\u2019 23 Then I will tell them plainly, \u2018I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!\u2019\n\nThese are not my judgments or observations, they are Christs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What will \u201cGod\u201d do if religions have to obey the same laws as everyone else by, say, uniting a pair of homosexuals in holy matrimony? Cause more warming of the Planet? \nEvery single one of God\u2019s alleged \u201claws\u201d came to us\u2026and come to us now in some of these comments\u2026from the mouths and pens of Humans. It\u2019s all hearsay (along with the rest of it). Nevertheless, seeing as how many Humans are residually superstitious, religion still gets all kinds of grandfathered special treatment from the government, including freedom from paying taxes. \nIn America, the religious are mostly \u201cjust in case\u201d religionists---they suspect it\u2019s probably all bull\u2026and that dead people never actually show up again\u2026but hey, \u201cjust in case.\u201d\nSo why would gays want to get married in a Church that doesn\u2019t approve of their marriage? Oh, they\u2019re Catholic\u2026or they believe in some church. In that case go back and read the first paragraph above.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If baptism is required to remove the stain of original sin, but original sin is a myth, then is baptism required for salvation?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If one bifurcates, as the Church does, same-sex attraction and same-sex acts, all of these silly claims about the need for a dialogue about sexuality disappear.\n\nCatholics who engage in non-procreative acts involving the sex organs (masturbation, etc...) are supposed to confess them. This includes same-sex acts. The number of people who engage in such acts is irrelevant as to their sinfulness.\n\nThose who self-identify as\"homosexual\" or \"gay\" or \"bisexual\" de facto embrace their same-sex sodomy as non-sinful. And when they enter into so-called \"marriages\" or partnerships, they spit in the face of the Church, not merely embracing same-sex sodomy, but proclaiming that they will never relinquish their acceptance of and engagement in same-sex sodomy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Numbers in churches are entirely irrelevant. God controls everything including who he fills churches with. A true Christian church is not preoccupied with numbers in the pews. Do some research before making your clueless comments.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pandora: what is '''sin?'' as a cradle catholic school woman I can give you a list of so - called '' sins'' that were not 'sins'-- except in the minds of the RCC control police. i.e. fish on Friday.... mortal sin to miss Mass on Sunday and other 'chosen ' days....mandatory annual confession etc . I could go on and on. going against the RCC is not a 'sin' against the Lord God. it is simply a 'no' to a bunch of guys who get tricked out on control.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pieces about women's religious communities always bring out vast crowds of alt-Cath trolls. It must be a Troll holiday today (St Lacie Maniple's Day, maybe) because this has been up a whole hour and not a single troll has shown up.\n\nSo let me be the first to assert without evidence that no religious community of women is possible that isn't covered in voluminous floppy-sloppy burkha-like habits. Because the point of a burkha, as any Catholic wannabe-Ayatollah will tell you, is to be a walking, talking incarnation of the principle that God thinks women are icky baby-machines.\n\nOnly nuns who joyfully accept the role of walking effigy of the doctrine of female ickiness can be considered real nuns in the True Catholic Church. St John Paul The Great said so in \"Indignitas Mulieris.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Would Mr. Gottry defend a cake artist who refused to make wedding cakes for evangelical Christians? Would he justify discrimination on the basis of religious beliefs to save that cake artist's conscience?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, I never said that, that someone has to leave the Catholic Church if they don't agreee with me. Read what I wrote again. Your rejection of Catholic doctrine which is well taught and unequivocal to those who want to receive it.\nWhether the embracing of heterodox doctrines apart from formal excommunication excludes one from membership of the Holy, Catholic Church in the end is between oneself and God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Before you start stating things that Paul said, you might want to take a look at his views on women in the church. In two of the books you wrote, he also stated that women should have no authority over men (2 Timothy 2:12), and that it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church (1 Corinthians 14:34-35). So, does that mean that I can discriminate against women in the name of religion, and refuse to promote women within my organization? After all, I believe in worshiping the lord with all that I do. So, it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in church, then why should it not be disgraceful for a woman to speak within my organization?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "... they never speak to what their Prez is DOING and how he is BEHAVING ... but dontchaknow they all claim to be Christians ... hahahahaha ... far from it. 'christians' is the modern way. I wonder if they think about what burning in their hell will be like for their voting records ...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't believe we should discriminate against immigrants on what they \"intend\" do to as part of their religion. We should prosecute those to take action such as marrying more than one person. \n\nLots of religious people out there with crazy ideas. It's impractical to quiz them on every illegal belief they might possess. Should we quiz Christians too in order to see if they intend on stoning non-virgins or atheists? I mean, it's IN the Bible!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Seems you place your self as chief judge for heresy. Sorry many times Protestants such as Luther were more correct than wrong. Many times Catholic Popes like Pius IX were more incorrect than correct.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is a difference between a liturgical rite and a doctrine. All the Eastern Catholic Churches hold the same doctrines as the Roman Church and interpret them in the same way as the Roman Church does. Liturgies and disciplines do differ and are all approved by the Holy See. \nThe whole of the Catholic Church Eastern and Western acknowledges and abides by the teaching of all the Councils including Vatican II.\nDo you seriously think that the Catholic Churches of the East and the West would accept this Vatican II Rite of yours as a sister Church? They would condemn your Rite as heretical.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sorry, that's not a fact. It's a slogan. And a pathetically false one. Timothy McVeigh--\"Christian Identity\" movement; Anders Breivik--European nationalist/Christian supremacist; Robert Bales--Christian US Army SSGT; Frasier Glen Cross--Christian neo-Nazi and white supremacist; Scott Roeder--Christian anti-abortionist; Wade Michael Page--white supremacist; Barukh Goldstein--Zionist Jew; Jim David Anderson--\"conservative\" Christian; Larry McQuilliams--anti-immigrant extremist; Jarad and Amanda Miller--white nationalists; Craig Hicks--atheist; Eric Rudolph--Christian anti-abortionist; Andrew Joseph Stack--Catholic, pi$$ed at the IRS; Christian Phalange Party--Maronite Christians; Anti-Balaka--Christian, Central African Republic; JDL--Zionist Jews; Kach Chai Party--Zionist Jews; Lord's Army, Christian--Central African Republic, South Sudan; Tamil Tigers--secularists (Sri Lanka).\n\nThis is an incomplete list.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You correctly point out that one candidate here has a problem telling the truth. Perhaps that explains our Bishops' affinity for Mr. Trump. You are fortunate to live in Missouri, which has always been a state known for embodying Christian virtue.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think the healthiest Catholics -- healthy emotionally and spiritually -- are ones who view the clergy and especially the hierarchy/magisterium warily. My late father -- a conservative Irish Catholic, truly of the old school -- passed on to us, his children, a skepticism about priests that at least bordered on anti-clericalism; yet he never missed Mass and counted several priests among his friends. He's gone a long time, but in recent years I've begun to wonder if he knew things, if he had experienced things, that he didn't disclose.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "R&R, typical of many \"Christians\". Separation of Church and State, not Church runs State.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "From the USCCB document, \n\"2. Do everything possible to continue demonstrating love for your child. However, accepting his or her homosexual orientation does not have to include approving of all related attitudes and behavioral choices. In fact, you may need to challenge certain aspects of a lifestyle that you find objectionable. \n3. Urge your son or daughter to stay joined to the Catholic faith community. If they have left the Church, urge them to return and be reconciled to the community, especially through the sacrament of penance. \n4. Recommend that your son or daughter find a spiritual director/mentor to offer guidance in prayer and in leading a chaste and virtuous life.\nThis pastoral advice is a recipe for disaster and will alienate any gay person I know. This is not acceptance of the person as God made them.\nThis article, though well-meaning, is far from the reality. Has it ever occurred to the USCCB that most gay people will not \"return to the church\" out of principle.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You have got it the wrong way round, Catholic teaching does not \"resemble exclusively the rhetoric of a political party\". The situation is that the aims of one political party are closer to Catholic teaching than that of another party.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I wonder to what extent the continuation of the Church's sexual teachings is based on the fear that there will not be enough Catholics in coming years, and in particular not enough to outnumber Muslims. It does indeed seem natural to try to restrict sex to activities that are likely to result in more babies if you are overcome with anxiety about the future existence of your group and consider yourself responsible for it. If that is your underlying motive, you can't really think too much about luxuries like the rights of gay people or women.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The problem secularists seem to have with Christians is they mistake the Christian disciplines we impose on ourselves as being judgemental on their secular ways. People who are truly comfortable in their own ways don't have this issue.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is ok when Christians try to pass laws reflecting their religious beliefs, but if other religious groups try to do it, it a horrible offense against humanity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...convert Catholics to Christianity.\"\n\nI love that statement!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Old Testament is also a Christian holy book.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, a Christian leader doesn't thrash his sons, his staff in public like this.\n\nThis is reminiscent of the thrashings that Saddam gave in assemblies or a succession of North Korean leaders!\n\nYou take your son away in private, coach him, let him begin again, and failing that you remove him, quietly.\n\nNo dignity in this.\n\nIt sadly reinforces the stereotypes of Latin American dictators/generals.\n\nColossians 3:21 Fathers, do not embitter your children..", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You don't seem to understand my comment and have gotten your jimmies rustled because of it. Do you understand what the Christian Identity movement is? \n\nhttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Identity\n\n\nThey are part of what the DHS considers a very serious threat to this nation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholic social teaching begins in the most fundamental cell of society: The family.\n\nIf we abort our offspring, if we cheat on our spouses, if we try to re-define marriage, there will be no gain in social justice anywhere, no matter how fluffy the social teaching gets re-written by amateurs. \n\nSocial justice can't be built on violence and injury.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As a Catholic I am repelled by Dolan's decision to attend. He should turn in his frock and beanie", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Some people just can't seem to agree to disagree and rather approach good governance with religious litmus test. I don't think the Holy Father or our Savior intended for us Christians to take our brais/mind out of our skulls, and replace it with what the lobbying arm of the religious groups (Catholics, LDS, & Religious Right say what good governance is). The Knights of Columbus hae for years been registering voters from the parish, but at least they have expanded the meaning of what they no consider respect for life, i.e, from the moment of conception to natural death. That brigs the Church to the moment of Truth. What should the Church suggest the meaning of Respect for Life includes...the sanctity o the kupuna, keiki, dsabled homeless and disadvantaged? Or just strictly to the exclusion for access to birth control and abortions. Would you prefer your public servants to be subjected to a religious test? Would that not be against the US Constitutio?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christians ignore the Old Testament. They left it behind several centuries ago. Christians have had the Reformation and Enlightenment to drag them out of the primordial muck of antiquity. Muslims have had no such reformation. Muslims continue to follow the Koran literally.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "After retired General Kelly was sworn in as Secretary of Homeland Security, I saw him bless himself. I am wondering how he can reconcile his faith with his implementation of these outrageous and indiscriminate mass deportations that are designed to go well beyond drug and human traffickers, smugglers, and would\u2010be terrorists.\n\n\u201cToday the illegal migrant comes before us like that \"stranger\" in whom Jesus asks to be recognized. To welcome him and to show him solidarity is a duty of hospitality and fidelity to Christian identity itself.\u201d (Message of Pope John Paul II for World Migration Day, 1996)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Trump doesn't need medical breakthroughs. Universal health care will save tens of thousands of lives every year. But since that involves spending tax dollars on health instead of weapons, the Republicans will veto that.\n\nAs for the number of dead, remember the Rwandan genocide? Led by Catholics Priests in many places. Srebrenica? Orchestrated by Serbian Christians. Chechnya? Led by Putin and co. The Rohingya? Buddhist monks are doing that.\n\nI have lived in 4 Muslim countries, and understand their siege mentality. The problem is that they don't want to strengthen themselves through education and technology, and prefer to blame foreigners for their woes. Progressive ones like UAE and Qatar show the world that they can have world class cities and companies. So that is the model to be encouraged.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What if a business refused to serve blacks, or the blind or Christians? It's discrimination. If you want to do business in a community, you should adhere to community standards and laws.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You don't like 'stuff' from the Bible? Take a look at the United Nations, not among one of the most 'Christian' of organizations....http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=52961....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes it was. Genesis 2:24. The Holy Bible is our doctrine of faith and neither you or the government can interfere with a Christian's right to live their lives according to their faith. This is guaranteed by the first freedom.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your original comment to me was, \"over-simplification of liturgical history\".\nAre you just trying to be clever?\n1. There is ample backup concerning the reasons for the Catholic Church's decision to standardise the liturgy. Just look for it.\n2. I acknowledged that there were diverse liturgical traditions in the Church prior to the Reformation in my post, therefore you are here peddling an untruth..\n3. I pointed out an historical fact.\n4. It was uncivil. Your opinion doesn't matter to me. \nI understand your compulsion to troll on here and I forgive you for it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1. That\u2019s not what I said. That\u2019s like a farmer saying a mathematician can\u2019t know more about math than a farmer because the farmer doesn\u2019t know math. We can certainly believe God knows more than we do without knowing all He knows. You demonstrate that principle every day by trusting the engineers who designed your car when you drive.\n\n2. I think I\u2019ll have water today instead of Pepsi. Did I just fall off a cliff? Free will is not an abstraction as you try to make it. We experience it constantly and denying it is absurd.\n\n3. If God does not exist, then any belief system is as good as any other since no standard exists, therefore there is no logical basis to criticize Christian belief or any belief system for that matter. But if God does exist, He makes the rules and it is illogical to criticize Him as it will do you no good. Either way, your position is pointless.\n\nHell is not vague. It is the complete separation from a loving God and all He provides. Think about what that means.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Tony Flannery IS an integral part of what constitutes \"church.\" He joined the Redemporist congregation at the age of 17, and has spend his entire life ministering to others. He lives and breaths the church and he loves it deeply. This is not the same as joining some organization/corporation and then deciding you don't agree with their mission. As Christians we become members from our baptism. I can totally understand Tony Flannery wanting to remain in the church and to help reform those areas that he believes are abusive. Many devout Catholics have witnessed abuse and corruption in the church, especially after the pedophilia scandal was made public. It pains them deeply, but they would never/could never leave. They are the Church, they are the People of God. It has formed them and shaped how they live their lives. These folks feel that it is better to stay within and work for positive change. For more I suggest that you read Father Flannery's book: A Question of Conscience.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nope, it's what a lot of your fellow Christians believe.\nIf they can't tolerate a Muslim mosque, they certainly wouldn't tolerate vouchers going to a Buddhist or Muslim or atheist or Satanist school.\nQuit acting like your fellow conservative Christians are so pure and noble-minded.\nYou see the world through dualistic lenses: Your side good, everyone else bad.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Joseph Tobin is a genuine beacon of hope for the Catholic Church. He is an advocate for the least, lost and last. We surely will miss him and his smelling like the sheep he served in Indiana. Blessings in New Jersey.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do you have access to the Catechism of the Catholic Church or Humanae Vitae?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Heh. I just love these born-again phonies who claim to \"love Jesus\" (alayhis-Salaam) while just about everything he ever said slides right on by 'em. The Messiah (alayhis-Salaam) admonished to \"...sin no more...\" and 'organized' Christian shrieks in unison by way of reply, \"WE CAN'T STOP SINNING!\" And they expect their 'deity' to overlook THEIR sins. Problem is they're not so willing to overlook others' sins.\n\nI think you guys need a reminder like we have in Qur'an: \"Forgive them--do you not want Allah to forgive you?\" Hmm...if only we could get my guys to remember that one.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No parks for poor people or immigrants, eh. Nice to see those Republican \"Christian\" values, Richard.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Agreed. As long as the religious keep their religion (or, ideally, their lack of one) out of their job, it should not matter. \n\n\nUnfortunately, the creepy way in which politicians are expected by Christians to parade their religion around has made this an issue. \n\n\nI would think some of the very best at not letting weird delusions pollute the government would be atheists, agnostics, Universal Unitarians, Quakers, moderate/liberal Catholics of the liberation theology type, nominal Jews, nominal Protestants, etc. \n\n\nBut even \"evangelical Christian\" is a very broad term and not ALL of them are unhinged by a long shot. Thankfully.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'll try to make it very simple for you.\n\nYou tried to make it sound as though there were 1000 cases of white supremasist terror that are under investigation. When in fact the article you linked to said \"domestic terrorists\", which come in all colors.\n\nI pointed out that white domestic terrorist Bill Ayers was friendly with Obama (including hosting a campaign event for Obama in his home)\n\nYou said that was irrelevant because it was in the past.\n\nI pointed out that many lefties seem to think it's relevant to bring up the atrocities occurring in the Middle Ages by Christians, when anyone mentions the current (as in, today) atrocities happening now by an alarming number of extremists in the name of their religion.\n\nAre you able to connect the dots?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I understand getting the bishop's permission is not the case in the United States. Even so, last year when the announcement was made publicly, there were American women calling churches and other Catholic organizations asking If it was true that abortions could be forgiven. It shocked me that some American women would think that there was no forgiveness for them. Thank God for Pope Francis for making this pubic declaration last year and again now. Obviously a lot of people needed to hear it. \n\nIn other parts of the world, the situation must be much worse. With less media exposure, less education and less respect for women, some women who had had abortions must have felt abandoned even by God.\n\nGod bless Pope Francis!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Let's revoke all the special rules for the special groups and put an end to Identity Politics.\n\nLet's start at the top with the French, the Christians and the Natives.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"One of the dead was from Belgium. Five were from Argentina and were celebrating the 30th anniversary of a school graduation. The injured included students and staffers on the school bus.\"\n\nAmazingly sad the victims of these attacks are predominantly the most innocent.\n Is there a devil ruling this world, like the Christians believe?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am not a Christian. In my experience the people that I know that are not poor including members of my family is due to the fact that they stayed in school and made a lot more positive than negative life decisions. On the other hand those people that I know who are poor including members of my family have done the opposite.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My father would have said that you and I \"went to different schools together.\" Thanks for sharing your memories and prompting me to recall mine. \n\nI know it's almost a cliche to talk about how mean and horrible Catholic schools in general and nuns in particular were in the old days (in diebus antiquis). However, I think the overwhelming majority of us who were actually there \"back in the day\" recall the schools, our teachers, our nuns and our priests with affection and gratitude. I know I do!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Religious studies but not religious practice. Good idea. Christians and Jews can agree with that. But, no Muslim parent would ever permit their kids learn passages from the Bible or listen to a guest Rabi explain the Torah. That could lead to apostasy, the worst sin in Islam.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do you think the Nazis were Jewish? I highly doubt that. They got a lot of assistance in France, Ukraine, Hungary, Poland, etc from Christians in those countries. \n\nWorld War 2, a war between mainly Christian nations (Japan was a notable exception) took 100 million lives. World War 1, which was only between Christian countries, took over 60 million lives.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Quite a contrast with Cardinal Pell, who willingly waived diplomatic immunity to voluntarily return to Australia to face \"accusers\" and fight their (probably completely false) accusations. If the narrative here about Capella is all true, we all should be vomiting. How dare the Vatican impose such conduct on the Catholic people -- or \"the people of God,\" as they piously like to refer to us.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Benedict just wanted it for the Catholic Church, not the Protestant Churches. I don't think he is too happy about that. Not sure if he is happy that the majority of US Catholics live in the American South. And are growing there. Not good.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If anything Spadaro and Figueroa said in their ranting screed \"struck a nerve,\" it is solely because it was perceived that they spoke directly on behalf of the pope, who has now amassed a long record of disliking and insulting Catholic people who are not dissenters. Ivereigh, of course, waxed ecstatic over the latest breakthrough, and has been taken to the woodshed, perhaps for momentarily forgetting who is paying the bills over at Crux. The snide content and tone of all these people is not worth thinking about for a moment; that they may represent the thinking of the pope is worth thinking about long and hard.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Re: The religious right starts to look past Election Day.\n\n \u201cIf [Trump] loses, I think there will be a huge identity crisis in the Republican Party, and it is really hard to sort out,\u201d Bauer says. \u201cIf you turn off values voters and working class America, you will have a party that is made up of a group of donors and a group of commentators. That won\u2019t go far without actual voters.\u201d\n\nTwo points. I think if Trump wins there will be or should be a huge identity crisis in the Republican Party. They will be a doomed party, alienating women, Hispanics, African Americans and not supported by Asian Americans, or millenials on issues like gay marriage, or the college educated. It isn't going to work to be a party of old white men.\n\nSecond point. We are all \"values voters.\" The so-called right doesn't own Christian values or religious values or the values of our founders any more than the rest of us. Christianity, religious, democratic values belong to all of us.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do you think that you help to reform something by fearing it? Religions are about empowering people who have no power, and so, when they know the world is afraid of them, then what incentive do they have to reform?\n\nI do believe that Islam and all religions do need to call to account those of their adherents who practice the religion violently, but Islam is no different from Judaism and Christianity in that regard.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wake up WOC - if we don't fight publicly optional celibacy for married men for priesthood, we are quantifying & approving gender segregation with all men ruling over all women in our church. Those who do not act against injustice are the cause & reason the injustice take place. \n\nOptional celibacy for priesthood while we are not ordaining women priests is female sacramental slavery to men in our church. \n\nOptional celibacy can only deal with a culture issue as it is not an injustice to demand celibacy. \n\nEqual ordination for women rectifies the ongoing abuse, diminishment & attack against the sacredness & human dignity of all women. \n\nJustice before convenience. Jesus does not ask us to support greater misogyny so we can gain greater access to Holy Eucharist. Jesus demands we treat & therefor ordain all who are qualified & called to lead as priests, including women. \n\nAfter we are ordaining women priests, we should consider married priests. This is the only Christian answer.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Who faces more persecution,Christians in the Middle East or Muslims in the West?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How is you people are so brainlessly eager to put down a conservative that you cherry-pick even a three-sentence paragraph, and omit the full expression of what's said. Ah, the ever-deceitful left.\n\nWhat I said was: \"So long as a law is validly enacted and just, it is un-Christian to resist it, . . . .\" You glossed over that because you wanted to make an absurd comparison between Jim Crow laws and America's decades-old, race-neutral immigration laws. You don't see a difference, do you? No. Your powers of reason have been quietly taken from you by the insidious, deceitful left . . . partly with your acquiescence. The left tells you that you act nobly by allowing everyone in, because to do otherwise --- to enforce immigration laws --- is to have Jim Crow laws. And you eat this up . . . gets those endorphins hoppin around like good sex or a good tennis match. Sorry, my selfish child, we don't decide immigration policy based on your endorphin levels or 1/2 a$$ed moral preening.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, helping the less unfortunate with your money is the noble thing to do. Helping the less unfortunate with other people's money that is not voluntarily given, is theft and not Christian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Frank Clooney, S.J., changed the discourse of Catholic theology in an interreligious mode. His contributions have shaped and will shape the field -- which he practically inaugurated -- for the foreseeable future. Hurray for him an th CTSA for recognizing him.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Mr. Harper should have declined the wafer since he is as an evangelical Protestant, a member of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church.\"\n\nhttp://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/pm-ate-communion-wafer-spokesman/article4278499/\n\nArguably a worse faux pas then pocketing it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sounds awfully good, Just Society. Clearly, you feel you're on the \"right side\" of things: \"Christianity is surviving as a peaceful religion today solely because of reformation 500 years ago and leaving the cruel practices to dust.\" Tell that to any survivor of a Canadian residential school. Wasn't a whole lot of kindness inside those torture centers.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you attend a Catholic Church, then there's no way you will be available to avoid contact with GIRM.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm sure the people in pursuit of that gold would also eagerly sue the British government on behalf of the Catholic Church for all the land Henry VIII looted and awarded to his buddies, and for all the Catholics executed for their faith during the Tudor reign of terror. Wouldn't they?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Everybody knows what Trump is, even his own children but they've got hundreds of millions in inheritance to consider so allowing his hands to rove around the hips and haunches area I guess must be tolerated. No, Trump bragging about deliberately walking in on the teenage girls involved in his pageants in various states undress, bragging about his habit of sexually assaulting women, no these kinds of things won't be going away. As for right-wing Christians, not Christians--there's a difference, overwhelming support for a candidate who openly admits to such attitudes and actions, well let's just say I have always been a fan of irony. That you state that such claims that anyone can easily find proof to back up bearing no semblance to reality is merely an instance of convenient amnesia.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There's the rub. The Vatican is supposed to be one city, as the Body of Christ is supposed to be one. What we have now is the spectacle of the left hand slapping the body.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "From my personal experience: The lawsuits kept details of the crimes secret and victims quiet, while making us appear like we were only out for money. The result is the Bare Minimum of truth came out. \nTell me One Archdiocese that has Openly Dealt with these crimes in a way that people now know about them. Every Catholic who I talk to about it believes the pedophilia among priests was exaggerated in the media and was not really that bad. The truth Did Not Come Out about these crimes. \nWhat \"reigning in\" took place? I saw the church Cover its Ass and little more. \nLawsuits only helped the Church. Kept the crimes secret. Did not hurt them financially or help us in most cases. \nGive me one example where I'm incorrect please and I will write about it on CofA blog where I covered this issue for ten years. http://cityofangels12.blogspot.com", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding white evangelicals hopes for the Trump presidency: these social justice issues were always a part of the democrats' focus. Why weren't the evangelicals promoting social justice under President Obama? Of course, since he is a democrat nothing he does, even that which purportedly dovetails with christian teaching, is worth supporting. Only vacuous rhetoric from the conservative side that gives lip service to social justice anything is worth the attention of the self-named 'Christians' of the right-wing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Churches have a calming effect on people .\" ...It\u2019s sad to see people like you mock faith , knowing what the future holds for those who don\u2019t believe . \"\n\nPeople have taken comfort in delusions since the dawn of history. Early Middle Eastern tribesmen invented the root religions from which your Christianity and others have sprung. The problem with these delusional ideas is that they are taken literally by people like Prevo and mullahs and their followers across the pond. So seriously they believe our country should be run and laws written by their religious ideology. But the beauty of America is our separation of church and state. It has kept us free of this yet people like Prevo keep trying to tear it down. Keep your delusion to yourself and nobody would bother you. Shove it down others' throats by using it to justify discrimination and bigotry, you will get swatted down every time. Btw, I fear your god and \"his\" threats no more than a fish fears the sea.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Fran\u00e7ois Jourdan, French islamologue et th\u00e9ologien eudiste;\n\u201c...Islam is very frozen for many centuries and basically lack of freedom - today, it must be said clearly that we cannot build a society of one religion, Christian, Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist... or atheist. \nThis phase of human history is now overtaken by religious freedom and human rights. Secularism requires not the ban but the discretion of all religions in the public space as other citizens have the right to have another way of life. This isn't the Koranic trend where Islam does not consider itself \nas other religions and must...DOMINATE !...\u201d", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think I was over-the-top in suggesting that all Catholics voted for Trump, or that all Catholics must vote Democratic to be true Catholics. I need not comment on the absurdity of this idea. \n For one who wishes to reserve the option of going to Mass once in a while as well as Easter and Christmas it can seem overwhelmingly frustrating to think that the Catholic vote can swing an election-hence my over-long diatribe about morality in politics. \n It is bad enough to lose faith in the hierarchy; one wishes to retain some faith in the People of God, so-called. From the posts herein and elsewhere it is clear that there is abundant evidence to suggest that my concern, although not without merit is not one that should bring one to the brink of despair. Not at all. Entertaining, humorous, sometimes profound. \n One caveat: I might think the Bishops have lost their moral compass, but I still respect the office they hold. Some of these jabs are over-the-top. Civil Comments is liberal.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "ahh the foolishness, where fore art the foolishness. It is not the democrats, but there is obstinacy, pertinacious obstinance to behold a principle to which none adhere. Catholics do not abstain from contraception. No, it is the bishops, and right wing politicians who lie with contraception. That is the result of mingling absolutism of a religious belief with what science and medicine determine to otherwise be true.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One would assume the good bishop would address the much more dire situation for \"undocumented Immigrants\" to majority Catholic countries like Mexico, or the one of \"our elder brothers in faith\" Israel, rather than beating up on a populace that has shown more leniency and goodwill towards the downtrodden of the earth than any other group in world history. He certainly fits the the biblical saying: the mote in your brother's eye...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As your post demonstrates, Civil Comments has disabled the civility filter for the folks who were complaining about too many Catholic posts. Along with adding blocking, that puts things more or less back where they were with Disqus.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, and isn't it interesting how quiet it's been about these guys? Now picture that they were three Muslims attempting to blow up the local Catholic church. . . .", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I will take it as a left handed compliment that you brought up the sex abuse scandal. When you are talking Catholic teaching with someone and they bring up the scandal that means you are winning the debate/discussion. \n\nWhen a person does not know what to say, they just bring up the abuse scandal and say \"I win.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Due to Sexism & clericalism The Eastern churches are dwindling of youth more than we are despite married priests. These are the top two reasons youth or those below 50 leave our church as well & become NONES. Until we become and act like a Just church, by not supporting things like Gender Segregation which is what optional celibacy is without women being ordained priests & equally to all male priests, we will continue to dwindle away too. Deacons have no authority.\n\nLaity are being given a choice here and a TEST to either demand same & actual human dignity be recognized by ordaining women & then married people, or will we put up with the complete segregation of genders & the ruling of all men over all women in our church, and say little or nothing to oppose it? Do we pick justice & Christian commandment & treat all the same, or let Hate abound unhindered. \n\nWake up brothers & sisters! The Devil says let me cut them down completely & then we can give them justice someday - NOT God!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Cardinal has declared his innocence. He is a Prince of the Church, therefore we must take his word as fact, and disregard any allegation against him, even if proven beyond any reasonable, or unreasonable, doubt. This is what we, as True and Traditional Catholics must do. This is why we continue to deny Bishop Finn did anything wrong, despite being a convicted criminal. \nObviously, we must rabidly attack and criticize anyone who takes a different view.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So, the question arises: Whom are we to trust, for what sort of news? When it comes to Catholic news, the NCR outpaces the USCCB and those who call themselves \"orthodox Catholics,\" some of whom post comments here. Food for thought, at the very least!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This comment is a near perfect illustration of why MSW hit the nail on its doctrinal head -- why the right wing of the Catholic bird misunderstands Vatican II. The right wing is sooo wrapped up in the solitude of its own originality that even listening to Pope Francis or to MSW or anyone who dares to mention Vatican II would destroy them and their little church-world!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\" As bishops they do have a responsibility to seek to know and understand what works and what does not work within the rules, requirements the broader church says are necessary, especially as it affects priests. \"\n\nWHAT A JOKE !\n\n\" ...within the rules...\"\n\nWHAT A JOKE !\n\nTwo actions that positively work: Jail for the pedophile and bishop; empty collection plates.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For someone who says he's for a softer, more liberal, more inclusive, more friendly, more reasonable, more understanding, more tolerant Catholicism....MSW sure writes a lot of essays about how this or that group should shut up.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1.The last time I was in Rome, I noticed a big, thick wall at Vatican City (Is that being torn down?).\n2. The Vatican now has very tough security measures due to radical Islamic terror threats against the Vatican (Are they being removed?).\n3. Good Catholic politicians, I believe, should believe in some very basic common sense and Christian principles:\n\n1) Oppose Abortion and support maternal and baby healthcare - pre, peri, and post-natal.\n2) Support the family.\n3) Help the poor.\n4) Develop and increase the economy with an eye on job creation.\n5) Maintain law and order.\n6) Protect the environment.\n7) When budgeting: Be cautious with the people's money.\n8) Lower the nation's deficits and debt.\n9) Support dialogue and peace over war. \n10) Support the equality, free speech rights, and religious liberty of all citizens.\nCatholic politicians may disagree on methods, but the goals should be the same.\nAnd I'm a Republican.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This letter from this author is a good example of a response I noted at some of the Trump rallies....\n\nReligious zealotry that saw Hillary as a vicious criminal....I am willing to bet the author is an extremely conservative Catholic or evangelical without benefit of an education that would teach you to question authority, probably views only religious right media...or Fox News incessantly....believes every mistruth offered....because the mis truths are repeated endlessly....and it goes on and on....\n\nI was shocked when I first heard a few of these folks at the rallies...but think this is an important deal....these folks are never burdened by doubt, they are in my view prime targets for authoritarian leaders religious or otherwise.....I fear our democracy is not safe with them....they would prefer a theocracy or worse.\n\nGenuinely scary....\n\nPS I would like to know if the BLM reference was to the Bureau of Land Management....folks resent them and their holdings....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bathrooms have only been segregated the past 120 years or so, so there is no \"millennia of human evolution\", utter nonsense.\n\nNo, gender dysphoria has not been \"proven\" to be a mental illness. On the contrary, science is indicating the causes to be biological in nature. One merely needs to google biological causes of gender identity disorder and a plethora of scientific studies appear. Sorry (not sorry) but science outweighs opinion every time. As such, trans folks deserve civil protection. TRANS are more likely to experience violence than women or children in restrooms.\n\nAdditionally, your emphatic desire to eliminate employment, housing, and other protections for LGBTQ+ speaks volumes about the true origins of your complaints, which is a desire to OPPRESS others, not EXPRESS your religion (as it applies TO YOU).\n\nLastly, I resent the AFA's attempt to hijack my government and my religion to further his own hatred of others. True Christianity commands us to love others as ourselves.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'd bet my last drachma she does whatever she's told by the nearest male. I know many consider the possibility of female deacons as a ray of hope, the first opening of the door to consideration of ordination shut firmly in our faces a few years ago. I see it only as a ploy to shut us up for another five centuries while the real humans continue to lead the Church. I witnessed and was \"victim\" to these same tactics during the 70's fight for women's equality...they never change, nor do the motives that inspire them...power, control, a sense of innate superiority and big, fat, giant egos.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Personally, I don't think the criticism of Pope Francis is due to a misunderstanding of Vatican II but rather is the product of the conservative mindset which feels a certain entitlement to what it considers the absolute unerring truth, which only their side possesses. Even the slightest deviation from their rigid dogmas must be met with total opposition and tight containment. As Americans we have seen this mindset at work with the Republican Congress during the eight years of President Obama's tenure. Cardinal Burke, in particular, is an exemplar of this mindset that must squelch all dissent rather than engage in dialogue in an effort to discern the truth, which more often than not is subtle and multi-faceted. After thirty-five years of being in control conservatives in the Church are not going gently into that good night any more than Republicans did when Obama was elected. But unlike America, the Church is not a democracy, something the four mutinous cardinals should know well.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The \"poetic sentiment\" expressed in the words inscribed on the Statue of Liberty represent the traditional values of the United States - the beacon on the hill, the hope of millions from many generations, most likely including your own immigrant ancestors. A country founded to give refuge to those oppressed in numerous ways. \n\n The current administration represents a betrayal of traditional American values, the values that made us great. Those values are being trashed. Will America ever come back from the ongoing events that are destroying our values? Will America again be great - the greatest nation on earth? If this goes on for too long, it seems the America that was great will simply become a memory, a part of history. \n\n I grieve for my country. I also grieve that people who claim to be christians - people who follow Christ's teachings - seem to have forgotten all that Jesus taught.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You did see Jamie and Fr Jim as swayed by gay-friendly social sciences rather than by the magisterium; but the church itself in reading the signs of the times has made much of the social sciences since the 1950s, so Fr Jim's procedure is perfectly standard. And what does a social science perspective uncover?: \n\n\"More than 40 years of struggle should have taught us by now that compassion, respect and sensitivity are not enough to bring about a truly just relationship between bishops and LGBT Catholics. Even with these three virtues in play, bishops still have the power to judge and negatively impact the lives of LGBT Catholics, while operating in secrecy and lying about their own sexualities. And LGBT Catholics are expected to bare their souls to their religious leaders and beg to be heard, while also, ultimately, remaining voiceless and officially condemned by their church.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Everyone has the right to vote for whom they wish. However, a vote for anyone other than Hillary Clinton was a vote for Trump. Don't lie to yourself. You helped Trump into office. As to your comment about her support for the invasion of Iraq. If the Democrats had known there were no WMD, no way she would have voted to invade. Now to the Abortion issue. Hillary is for a woman's right to chose, as am I. Does that mean I like abortion? No. But the government or anyone else telling me what to do, is something I dislike even more! And if Catholics and many other religious denominations weren't so anti-sex, anti-woman, dominated by men, and authoritarian I would respect their opinions more. As it is I don't trust male dominated institutions to make decisions about women's health, rights, and reproduction! If those institutions making those decisions were staffed by women, and made legal, moral, and medical decisions in total co-operation with the women affected, I would trust them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jay you must believe that the ME would give respect to Trump becasue he is male. Considering how most of the ME is anti American I doubt Trump would get any more acceptance than Clinton. However, Clinton would not pout; then get on her plane and go home. Donald indicated he would never allow any country to treat him the way they did Obama so he would just leave and not attend any meeting in his reaction to being treated badly. You've picked a bad talking point to use in support of Trump.\n\nNOTE: many of those same countries would not accept: a Jew, a christian, a American or, anyone not of the same sect with the same level of disrespect. Its a cultural thing you'll never comprehend.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I do not agree that opposition to & disagreement with Pope Francis is due to a misunderstanding of any Vatican documents. It is clear that right-thinking Catholics with sound biblical knowledge are comparing all that he has said and done especially the controversial Amoris Laetitia with sacred scriptures and can clearly see the difference. Further, history has shown the more conservative approach to be the wiser and more theologically sound. The church has suffered enough in the past due to liberal theologians flaunting their erroneous ideas. Francis is coming across as more dictatorial with his unwillingness to correct the AL document which is clearly seen as a complete deviation from traditional Catholicism!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholics??\n\nHow old are you, 120?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"articles i read in american thinker seem to be written by evangelical christians, liberal haters or they are just plain nuts.\"\n\nOK. If that is what you think, more power to you. But...what exactly, from the article you searched for and posted part of, is inaccurate? It sounds like an opinion piece and not a \"news\" story. Isn't the writer entitled to his opinion in your world? The left doesn't like people w/ opinions....unless it agrees w/ the left's. Your original input to this thread started w/ a response to my comment. My comment was meant to convey that, in my opinion, legislators who write the laws we live under (yes, I said under) feel that they know better than the governed. The story was about the governor of our state giving his permission for 2 citizens to live together. CB's involvement w/ this issue? Well, da gov can use this story as \"proof\" that we should reelect him because he cares. \"See! They [CB] even reported on it.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And lo, there is the acute insecurity and elitist snobbery progressive Catholicism, revealed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part of the problem is your use of the word \"tables\" instead of an Altar. The Catholic Church professes a sacrificial Eucharist that is consecrated on an Altar, by an ordained Priest during a Mass, not a service. Is this similar to what Lutherans practice?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wow. Baptism is not a ritual, it is a Sacrament given to us by Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said that \u201cpoints of dialogue\u201d between the Vatican and Trump will include peace and \u201cinternal [domestic] subjects such as religious freedom and Catholics\u2019 commitment and attention to the most vulnerable bands of society.\u201d\nhttps://zenit.org/articles/lets-give-him-time-says-cardinal-parolin-on-trump/ With Opus Dei's Greg Burke, former FOX News correspondent, as head of the Vatican Press Office and Trump's selection of domestic cabinet secretaries who are all anti-women and LGBTQ rights and favor using taxpayer dollars for private schools, there will be many areas of agreement between the Vatican and the new administration.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So it's the church's teachings on abortion carry the highest authoritative theological notes because they occurred during the pontificates of JP II and Benedict. But Francis, who echoes, scriptural teachings [which was around from the time of Moses and were certainly emphasized by Jesus, himself] are only \"impromptu pressers'. Your pharasee leanings are showing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Seems like Ms. Inkman has a history with the Clergy. Why on earth would she want her \"daughter\" to go to a Catholic School when she clearly does not believe in their beliefs on sexual orientation ?\n\nhttp://www.advocate.com/news/2003/08/30/catholic-school-wont-admit-lesbian-couples-daughter-9726\n\nI don't disagree with her on the Mackay sentencing, but these are confusing times we live in.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No Sister, both did not fail. Yours failed. When Trump does his study of the voting you will see the majority. I am happy for this because finally all will see the fraud of the voting system. \nThere is no critical thinking in colleges because we have teachers who are not critical thinkers so forget teaching the students. The Catholic colleges have all gone astray and are teaching nonsense. There are no qualified teachers to teach history. It is taught with no guidance from anyone. Whatever you want to teach is fine. The students have no direction in high school so they cannot think critically later in life. Money is never the answer. Passion is the answer and it is not there.\nYou talk of serious study, serious questions about the candidates. What was done with Obama. Nothing at all. He has destroyed this country and we must put it back together again.\nI vetted Obama and did not vote for him because of what I found. Everyone should have done the same. God Be with Trump!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, despite your personal opinion, the Church teaches that the Mass is a Sacrifice offered on an altar by a priest. Jesus Christ, our Great High Priest instituted the Catholic priesthood (sacerdotium) at the Last Supper.\nChrist was no ordinary Jew, He, God made Man, founded His Church on earth.\nThat is basically what the Church teaches and what Catholics believe.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pandora is a Catholic. She supports her Church's teachings. Your position is that a Catholic who follows and agrees with her or his Church's teaching is a homophobe.\n\nThat seems to support the conclusion that she is not a bigot but someone else is.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "John is right about the analogy between Huxley and Orwell, although some of Trump and FoxNews fascism is quite Orwellian. Fox and Trump have coarsened society and have been helped in no small part from the tribalism of Chaput and the pro-life movement. Clinton should have focused there rather than on speaking directly in support of the pro-life cause. They voted for her anyway. Winning county by county won\u2019t do much because most counties are not in play. Speaking the truth when others lie is where to begin. We can also Occupy Capitalism by bringing more democracy to the workplace, starting with employee-owned firms and moving outward from there.\n\nAs weasel worded as it is, the case will still support future cases overturning the Blaine rule, which keeps Catholic schools from being publicly funded. Education is a secular purpose. Anti-Catholic discrimination in delivering it cannot be justified.\n\nWe and the world surived Bush and we will survive Trump. Get ready for Apology Tour 2021.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Michal Voris is NOT a legitimate representative of the Catholic Church. He is a self-appointed vigilante with a supreme-sense of ego-itis. Neither Fr. Martin nor anybody else that he's gone on a rampage against---has any obligation to meet with him. He's no different than a group of Baptists that I've heard about from a friend. Seems that these Baptists are POSITIVE that universities and the Catholic church promote homosexuality. The Baptists are marching against the major universities in Pittsburgh and two Catholic high schools. Their rationale to do this is just as irrational as Voris bombastic claims.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For the Ustasha, \u201crelations with the Vatican were as important as relations with Germany because Vatican recognition was the key to widespread Croat support.\u201d (Phayer, The Catholic Church and the Holocaust, 1930\u20131965 (2000) p. 32) \u201cIt is well known that many Catholic clerics participated directly or indirectly in the Usta\u0161a campaigns of violence.\u201d (pp. 34-35) Pope Pius XII could not plead ignorance to these atrocities. \u201cBoth the nuncio and the head of the [Croatian] Church, Bishop Alojzje Stepinac, were in continuous contact with the Holy See while the genocide was being committed.\" (p. 30) So, yes, the Vatican has a moral obligation to these Holocaust victims regardless of court decisions. \nThere is not going to be legislation in regards to Alperin v. Vatican Bank. The case was decided re: under what conditions US courts have jurisdiction in another sovereign state.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Where do I begin to parse your comments? First, 'sociopathology' is the study of sociopathy, not sociopathy itself. You misused the term three times, but somehow we'll get beyond your misconstruction of a crucial abstract term. Second, one doesn't 'endure' an education, except possibly in Catholic schools, where the brothers or nuns rap your knuckles for sins, real or imagined. Third, sociopathy doesn't 'always contain a refusal to endure education with a lifetime of creating chaos.' Some sociopaths are highly educated, just as some outstanding citizens dropped out of school early. [Side note: Sarah Palin seems bent on creating a lifetime of chaos, as does that malignant narcissist, Donald Trump.] Education is a broad spectrum thing. Lots of West Point graduates were/are stellar human beings who contribute to humanity. [Thinking about you, Colin Powell.] Others -- George Tiaffay, WP graduate and firefighter(!) sentenced to 81 years for murdering his wife -- not so stellar.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Some key factors they're missing:\n\n1. Many people hate money and the sight of the money itself can have a negative effect. They should show images of people giving universal necessities such as food & water instead.\n\n2. It's not that poor people are more likely to give. It's that people who give -- goodhearted people -- are more likely to be poor because they often lack the ruthlessness & shallowness that is usually associated with the drive to obtain an excess of money and material possessions.\n\n3. The beings that people feel compassion towards, and the degree of compassion felt towards them, can vary from person to person. A mother may feel more compassion for an infant than a single woman. Someone who group up around cats may feel more compassion for cats than someone who grew up around dogs. A Muslim may feel more compassion for another Muslim than a Christian would (etc, etc). As mentioned above it's like a muscle though. A dog person can grow to love cats under proper conditions", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The word \"propaganda\" goes back far beyond the Nazis. It originated in the Roman Catholic Church in a Latin phrase describing \"Propagation of the Faith\". During WW-II, Hitler ran a \"Ministry of Propaganda\", while the British had a \"Ministry of Information\". (The South African description could be \"same difference\")", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, you can receive communion but you can't work for the diocese nor become a priest. \"Francis' man\" Cupich fired Sandor Demkovitch and Colin Collette after they \"came out\" and he defrocked Fr. Marco Mercado because of his \u201cinappropriate relationship with an adult man.\u201d At least these 14 anti-gay religious crusaders were at the pope's \"traditional marriage\" conference in Nov. 2014. In December, the pope confirmed the Vatican statement that homosexuals cannot be priests, confirming the official view that \"this inclination is objectively disordered.\"\nNot Tobin nor any Catholic official has offered sanctuary to immigrants.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In our secular society, it's a tough call allowing prayer space inside public schools. Ontario society allows for places of all forms of worship - mosques, temples, churches, synagogues. Schools are points of study, education, knowledge. Most here would rather see progress through the eradication of Catholic education in the public school system. It's unlikely Peel's decision will land on the right side of history given the majority of us believe in and highly value a fully secular school system.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is no more closed than the heliocentric issue was closed or the usury issue was closed (or the slavery, modernism, freedom of conscience, or democracy issue was closed). Justice will prevail.\nWe humans are made in God's image and likeness and that image and likeness has nothing to do with genitalia. It is absurd to refuse priesthood (servant-leadership) to women because they shave their legs and not their faces.\nJesus incarnated in first century Palestine into a patriarchal culture. It was only sensible for Him to come as a man. Had the culture been matriarchal the Second Person of the Trinity would have been born a woman.\nIt is unjust, indeed sinful, to deprive more than half God's children all seven of the Seven Sacraments because of gender. At Baptism we are all inducted into the Royal Priesthood. Either ordain women or stop baptizing them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "C'mon News, if you're going to insult our intelligence then at least get your story straight... I think you meant to say \"the Church is welcoming but *not\" accommodating.\" There, now don't you feel better that you told a RC priest how to do his job? (I suspect you would have some strong advice for Jesus too should He decide to bless himself with your presence.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Republican solution to all things: Dismantle all government including public education to hurt everyone except us. We, Republicans, will send our progeny to outside schools paid for by others, or private schools paid for with all of the government money we, Republicans, have \"earned\" for dismantling government. We, Republicans, expect to get re-elected again and again until government-funded retirement kicks in. We, Republicans, will, than, pass on our Republican-guaranteed government seat to our progeny and their educated selves at Outside schools. The cycle will continue until anarchy, finally, removes them all and the economy descends into another Great Depression. Minimum wage jobs will be available to dismantle the AK pipeline no longer needed since no one can afford a vehicle. The new Republian Eden with mandatory fundamentalist christian church attendance for food distribution.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So at one time the Jesuits were the Opus Dei of the 1800's. Could Opus Dei become the modernizers of the late 21st century?\n\nOdd that my Jesuit HS religion teacher was a member of the French Communist Party and threw out the text book ((rather dramatically and literally) in favor a Marxist analysis of the history of the French Catholic Church. This was the 1950's but no parents objected. And we certainly enjoyed the course, and the dramatics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We can make distinctions. Fake news is a cynical enterprise, a conscious disregard of journalistic norms for propagandistic, or even merely commercial, purposes.\n\nThe gospels, for example, could be described as theological propaganda, but are they cynical? I'm convinced the evangelists believed Jesus was the Messiah and were intent on conveying essential truths. Whatever legendary or literary embellishments they deployed were acceptable biographical practice at the time. To compare such texts to venues like Breitbart is to generalize the notion of \"fake news\" beyond utility.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Once again I quote the words of Jesus Our Lord, \"He answered, 'Haven\u2019t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread\u2014which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. Or haven\u2019t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent? I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. If you had known what these words mean, \u2018I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent.\" (Matthew 12:7-8). Conservatives, like the Pharisees of Jesus' day will choose the Law over the person, over Jesus. \"Then he said to them, \u201cThe Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.\" (Mark 2:27). In Jesus' definitive words on who goes to heaven and who goes to hell (Matthew 25:31-46) there is NO mention of sexual sins. It was Paul the Pharisee (Acts 23:6) who listed sexual sins in his letters. NOT Jesus.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The church has already had a day of prayer, asked forgiveness, as a church, for the for the actions of a few priests, with no involvement or culpability by the bishops, cardinals or popes, and courageously bore up to the harm done to the church's reputation by this scandal. What more can it be expected to do?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Quite the contrary, he is trying to preserve what little is left of tradition after the demolition act Vatican II and you modernists unleashed on the Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "First let me say I am LGBTQ. So a gay guy is in with straight men and by definition finds other men physically attractive is OK, similarly in your view a lesbian woman who by definition attracted sexually to other women is OK, do I have that right? They because of their genitalia are in the \"right\" restroom. But a person who was born in a man's body but whose gender is female is a predatory threat to all and sundry? Yet you can't site a body of evidence to substantiate that a trans person is somehow predatory at or in greater numbers than any other person. My, seems like Judging not lest you be judged or perhaps bearing false witness or perhaps not loving your neighbor as yourself seems to be going on. Good thing your aren't of the Christian faith or you could be in real trouble.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Football is his foundation? Yikes no. ONly Jesus Christ Our Lord can be a real and lasting foundation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Agree but the problem is that Braxton's history of decision making as a bishop is an embarrassment of incompetence, rank clericalism, mis-use of diocesan funds, etc.\nHis diocesan priests have tried to have him removed because of his out of touch management, decisions that did not respect either priests or parishioners, his complete failures in addressing sexual abuse costing the Belleville Diocese millions, his mis-use of diocesan funds for his own personal clothing and residence.\nhttp://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/deaconsbench/2008/03/majority-of-priests-in-belleville-call-on-bishop-to-resign.html\nOR - even more authoritarian (an incorrect, by the way)\nhttp://fosilonline.com/files/karban_and_braxton_and_rebuttals.html", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"... lamenting the loss of the Tridentine Rite's stress on the power of the priesthood and the 'vertical' presentation of man's relationship with God...a vertical relationship that needed the clerical middle man to initiate.\"\n\nI think you hit the proverbial nail on the head here... given that human nature is inherently selfish (this selfishness perhaps the greatest argument *for* Original Sin--although I think it misses the mark when weighed against more modern scholarship), who actually believes that Cdl Sarah is proferring \"agape love\" with all his talk of Sacred Liturgy and Tradition? We are not called to selfish \"love\" of ancient forms and customs but rather we are to love God and neighbor in real, tangible ways.\n\nIn other words, IMO the Church needs to show that it values substance over form as a means to agape love. Mere \"forms\" and rituals are not capable of yielding this level of substance (i.e., agape love), which can only be found in relationships (with God and neighbor).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Maybe the Pope can appoint him to the abuse committee? He can continue lying through his teeth, but this time it will be Holy, because he will be lying on behalf of the Pope and the Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Catholics who reject the Church's social teaching can hardly be orthodox.\"\n\nSo why do so many \"orthodox\" traditionalists reject it? JP II wrote in Laborem exercens, \"Besides wages, various social benefits intended to ensure the life and health of workers and their families play a part here. The expenses involved in health care ... demand that medical assistance should be easily available for workers, and that as far as possible it should be cheap or even free of charge.\" Yet there are conservative Catholics -- hello, Paul Ryan -- who say that healthcare is a privilege.\n\nJPII, in Centesimus Annus, 30-31 wrote \u201c\u2018man should not consider his material possessions as his own, but as common to all,\u2019 because \u2018above the laws and judgments of men stands the law, the judgment of Christ. God gave the earth to the whole human race for the sustenance of all its members, without excluding or favoring anyone.\u2019\u201d (He is quoting Leo XIII, Rerum Novarum, 22).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Jesus and his companions enter the Temple and beat people until they go away\"\n\nIsn't that exactly what the RC hierarchy has been doing for the last 50 years? And it seems to be working, because people are going away. So the hierarchy are, in fact, carrying on the work of Jesus. The question is, \"Are they doing this 'in persona Christi' or purely by accident?\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "PROVE it! Cite sources to prove that Christ meant something \"different.\" That Christ meant that priests must be present for HIM to be present. \n\nThere are places where people gather to worship where priests are not---because there aren't any. So you are saying that Jesus isn't in their midst?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sure, they could have a two-tier Community Covenant, Richard. Well, they might have to change its name, since it won't exactly be a \"community\" covenant. \n\nI guess you do expect a \"school of devout Christian believers\" to repudiate their beliefs about community fairly easily, after all.\n\n\"The University is an interrelated academic community rooted in the evangelical Protestant tradition; it is made up of Christian administrators, faculty and staff who, along with students choosing to study at TWU, covenant together to form a community that strives to live according to biblical precepts, believing that this will optimize the University\u2019s capacity to fulfil its mission and achieve its aspirations.\"\n~ from the TWU Community Covenant.\n\nAnd all to avoid allowing gay married couples from living like normal people.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Personally I feel sad that Lutherans and Anglicans/Episcopalians are excluded from our communion table because their Eucharistic theology is not as elaborate as ours. Even the Wesleyan (Methodist) tradition affirms the reality of Christ's presence in the elements of bread and wine, although it doesn\u2019t claim to be able to explain it fully. The deeper issue, or so it seems to me, is that even if Lutherans were welcomed to our tables, Catholics would still be forbidden by the bishops to receive communion at their services due to the Church\u2019s rejection of the validity of their ordinations. Of course, there\u2019s more that divides us. . . but not enough room to expound.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is not really up to the Holy Father or anyone else to \"allow\" the ordination of women; the Scriptures are very clear on that. If we were to compromise on this one issue, what is next? Sometimes it is best to sacrifice a lesser good for the greater good, which is the faithful and true presentation of our most holy faith. I am not saying I agree with it, but the Lord does not ask for our opinions, He asks for our faith and trust in Him that what He has communicated in His Word is what is truly best for us and for the whole Church. God bless; stay faithful.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Pope can't (or won't) even discipline his own clergy for their sexual misconduct and pedophilia.\n\nAnd he needs to get his bureaucrats squared away. His 2016 Christmas Message to the Curia:\n\n\"Resistance to Vatican reform inspired by the devil, Pope Francis tells Curia\"\n\n\"It marked the third consecutive year that the pope has slammed the highest levels of the Catholic Church\u2019s administration in his annual holiday greeting at the Vatican.\"\n\n\"\u201cDear brothers, it\u2019s not the wrinkles in the church that you should fear, but the stains!\u201d he said.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "and burst that boil to drain the pus and infection, then allow the church to heal from the damage they have done.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Agreed, Colkoch. I just returned home from voting. My district is heavily Democratic and there has been a large, steady turnout since early voting began yesterday. It's no secret how I voted :)\n\nTrump had yet another meltdown at the Catholic Charities benefit dinner... his inappropriate, mean-spirited remarks drew boos from the attendees. Apparently he was attempting to get revenge for getting whupped by a girl in the last debate. The man is either clueless or coming completely unhinged... or both. It was the first and only time I've seen Cardinal Dolan look like he wanted to climb under his chair with embarrassment. Really awkward situation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"To consider that any of us can love God in the same way we love others is a distortion of Christian theology.\"\n\nNow who's being rigid? Why would anybody try to love an infinite being the same way we love finite beings or vice versa? It is precisely the infinite nature of God that provides us with the sanctifying grace to truly love beings with finite natures, be it our spouses, our children, our nuclear and extended families, our friends, physical neighbors, our co-workers and strangers. Otherwise, more of us will each be thrashing about in the shallow pools of subjective emotions as most active homosexuals are doing.\n\nI get that you desperately want the mere love of finite beings to be the equivalent to loving an infinite being, but, out of the abundance of His love for us, the infinite being did give us some pointers and warnings about the daily temptations that test each and every one of us. How can you say you truly love God if you ignore those pointers and warnings?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "CONTINUED FROM ABOVE)\n\nToday 1.8 million Palestinian Arab Muslims and Christians--that's TWICE the total population of Alaska plus 400,000 more--are penned behind concrete walls and concertina wire in an area equal to the distance between Anchorage town limit and Eagle River with about 5 miles on either side of the intervening stretch of Glen Highway. These captives are routinely denied water and power, and are repeatedly subjected to aerial bombardment\u2014like shooting fish in a barrel. When such outrages were visited on Ashkenazi Jews in Warsaw, Poland, their confinement was called a \u201cGHETTO\u201d, and those who orchestrated said outrages were hanged by the Nuremburg Tribunal for crimes against humanity.\n\nAnd today the America REWARDS the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the Warsaw inmates with nearly $4 billion for doing the same to the Palestinians as the Nazis did to them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The logical conclusion of mainline Protestantism is secularism, and we are seeing the fruit in declining historical Protestant denominations liberal Catholics wish to emulate. \n\nHysteria directed against our separated brethren is bad, but so too is indifferentism. Those who cloak themselves in Vatican II forget to mention the Church taught at that very Council that she alone possesses the fullness of the means of salvation and that communities arising from the Reformation haven\u2019t preserved Holy orders or the Eucharist.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Kurgan, \nyou have to keep up with the fast pace of Church news. Just yesterday, Josh reported \"The pope said God wants the cardinals not to be \"princes of the church\" but to \"serve like him and with him \u2026 [and] to face as he did the sin of the world and its effects on today's humanity.\"\"\n\nPrinces of the Church no more, they are to imitate Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nobody calls it the Sacrifice of the Mass. That's what I'm saying. And there are disagreements about the emphasis on sacrifice too. If you attend the Divine Liturgy and think you are attending the Sacrifice of the Mass, you are missing the point. \n\nAm I consuming the broken body of Christ or Christ resurrected and transfigured? See, there's one cup for all time. And it's in the here to come. Makes a diff.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Is a priest 'in persona Christi', because he acts as Jesus and as God?\nChrist died for us, however, Pope F, prelates, bishops refuse to take a fitting punishment for sexual abuse of children and their death. There are no Christ like these CI clergies exist! \nShouldn't these CI clergies resign since they do not act 'in persona Christi'?\nWhat do you think?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Rev 13: 5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking \"great things\" and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.\t Mouth The mouth gives orders and makes laws. \n\nGreat things .... blasphemies We know that blasphemy is speaking or acting in the place of or against God. The \"great things\" would be political control. \n Forty and two months A period of oppression mentioned by Daniel and several more times in Revelation. \n\nIt seems like our church leaders are fulfilling the prophecy of Rev 13.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Seems to me that's pretty much a two-way street.....the left wing of Catholicism also misunderstands and is wrapped up in their own interpretation. \n\nSo - where does that leave us?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Very good observation ! Make a deal ! Subcontracting goes on all of the time. Farm out the particulars of decoration considered not an in house specialty. Spin the deal so that everyone wins. This is a very catholic instinct for long term gains. The art of the cake making deal. Trump would be impressed. They could always come up with some excuse for not paying to bring the controversy to more familiar legal ground. This is a parallel to the sausage making metaphor in democratic crafting of legislation. It is not a pretty process, but the results can be made appealing. Where is the Chamber of Commerce and the BBB, out pampering their porcine posteriors? Leadership? Excuses? Please, bring on the Whining. We wait with bated breath.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm having my doubts about that one. They're all dazzled by the anti-Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But we don't sell indulgences anymore. So, if you believe that Catholicism is the one true Church, and care about their souls, why not encourage them to leave Protestantism and return to Catholicism?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One in three U.S. Muslims fear for their safety? Considering the numbers of reactionaries in white, Christian America, and the saturation of gun ownership, I'm surprised that the numbers of fearful people isn't much higher. Muslims in the U.S. shouldn't have to live their lives in fear.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Soon blood will spill in our streets. In its 2015 annual report, published in February 2016, the Southern Poverty Law Center, SPLC, counted 892 active hate groups in the U.S., an increase from the previous year. Of these, 190 were KKK groups, 94 were neo-Nazi groups, 85 were white nationalist groups, 95 were racist skinhead groups, 19 were Christian Identity groups, 35 were neo-Confederate groups, 180 were black separatist groups, and 184 were classified as \"general hate groups\" (subdivided into anti-LGBT, anti-Immigrant, Holocaust denial, racist music, and radical traditionalist Catholic groups, with an additional \"other\" sub-category)).[11]", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"While dioceses may not monitor former abusive priests, concerned Catholics and other citizens may take some steps to safeguard their children.\"\n- While not a complete solution, catholics and others of good will are indeed a necessary step or path to preventing the rape of children and molestation of young people.\n- Waiting for the archbishop to do something just because he is well, the chief pastor, is a mistake. The church is all of us and all of us are responsible to find solutions and remedies even those which do not depend on the institutional church and her hierarchy.\n- There is no reason that legislation can not be proposed that will remedy this serious lapse in tracking church men and some church women who have harmed children and young people. There is no reason why men and women of good will need to wait for the bishop.\n- Catholic Conference of Illinois should be defunded by catholics for it represents only bishops of Illinois.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Where to begin? Recently a western superpower elected a president who said family members of known terrorists should be murdered. Killing innocent people is the essence of terrorism. Similarly,a western nation whose leaders proudly proclaim their Christianity waged a campaign of terror across Latin America that saw atrocities such as the murder of a group of Jesuit priests. Those killers were trained at a very famous school run the military in a \u2018Christian\u2019 nation. I don\u2019t think it\u2019s out of line to say the economic sanctions against Iraq that killed half a million Iraqi children was terrorism. Indeed, at the time, the world\u2019s foremost human rights organization, Amnesty International, called for those sanctions to lifted because they were killing children, but the \u2018Christians\u2019 refused to relent.\n\nThe point is not who has done what for all concerned have done terrible things; the point is that every infliction of harm on an innocent is incompatible with the Abrahamic faiths.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Since we all agree it beneficial for children to learn about other people, let's have all kids learn about the Bible and the Gospels in class too. Have the Muslim girls take off their hijabs while singing Jesus Loves Me. Have the Muslim kids recite passages from the Torah and have rabbis as guests to teach them the value of being a mensch. The lunch room can have a kosher lunch of deli bagels and latkas. How could a Muslim mother say no to her pischer such fun because we all agree it beneficial for children to learn about other people?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I've read where Jesus married marry and moved to France, the Royal Family of England believes that they are of that bloodline. I don't know if I believe it because it sounds so bizarre, but at the same time it makes almost the most sense when you look at the world today.\n\nI've always leaned towards that Jesus was a asseen, which was a group of desert mystics in Qumran. \n\nI always find it almost ironic that I learned far more about religion from studying demonology than going to a church on sunday. But then again most churches are either there to push a agenda, or to be way for a small group to make large sums of money tax free off other people's trust.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Trump's boasting of grabbing a woman's pussy without her permission is not locker room bragging. To call it that is to denigrate women, men, and locker room talk. He was the presidential candidate,. but given the alternative of Hillary, people minimized his behavior and the women who confirmed his sexual assaults. As Meleana said, \"boy talk\" from a presidential candidate. \nYou second assertion that we assume Christians agree with everything a politician does is not correct. We know Christians are generally not single issue voters, but many ARE Right to Life Voters. When Trump said a woman who gets an abortion must be punished, he got the Right to Life vote. \nAnd no, they should not have voted for Hillary either. All I would ask is that they admit they are not so pious as they profess (but then deny because they are \"humble before God).\nTrump is a narcissist who even complained that he got Person of the Year instead of Man of the Year. Winning for him is empty because he beat losers.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Wow. The author and editors are making a bold, divisive, and yes heretical statement in just the title of the article. Sorry, but have we forgotten that even if we dismiss the First Commandment, the bible is abundantly clear about other gods, e.g.:\n\nIsaiah 45:5-7\n\"I am the Lord, and there is none else: there is no God, besides me: I girded thee, and thou hast not known me:\nThat they may know who are from the rising of the sun, and they who are from the west, that there is none besides me. I am the Lord, and there is none else:\nI form the light, and create darkness, I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord that do all these things.\"\n\n\nThe bible in fact says multiple times that other gods are demons. They distract from the one true religion. They are of no help at all. \n\nRidiculous, arrogant, completely unscientific idolatry. Phan should be excommunicated, and the author and editors should be censured.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Homosexuality is a grievous sin and should not be tolerated by any Catholic. It is quite clear about the sinful nature of the practice in the Bible. If you want a more relaxed/looser approach to God's law then there are many protestant assemblies that condone the practice. If a homosexual (or homosexuality apologist) cannot recognise it as mortal sin and/or obstinately refuse to repent and remain celibate, then the Catholic Church is not for you.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Learn to vet your sources clown. lol. There is no evidence. Period. Jesus was never mentioned in any Roman sources and there is no archeological evidence that Jesus ever existed. Even Christian sources are problematic \u2013 the Gospels come long after Jesus' death, written by people who never saw the man. Get back to reality man. Quoting some moron's blog is NOT proof. Google the word evidence man. sheesh.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Are you Catholic? It seems to me a bit ridiculous to assume that most people's problems with Hillary have to do with her being a \"woman\". It is far more likely that others have the same problems I do: Lying, deceit, criminal activity, indifference, self-serving behaviors. She supports KILLING BABIES. That is a major disqualifier for Catholics, of much greater importance than her position on the environment or immigration. She lied to congress. She tampered with evidence. She made back room deals, not to pass a political agenda but to commit crimes. She left Americans to die in foreign countries. She stole money with her so-called \"charitable foundation\". She is everything bad and evil -- unethical politicians all wrapped up into one. She is blatantly anti-catholic. Anyone who supports her necessarily supports her behaviors and activities. I would much rather support someone with a history of stupid locker room talk than someone with evil criminal/murderous intent.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Only sociopathic charismatic \"Christian\" cult leaders get a free pass to proclaim that there's a hateful cosmic cause of affronted morality behind some loss, harm, or disaster, e.g. these guys: (https://mobile.twitter.com/WBCSaysRepent/status/902598139605082112?p=v) who blame it on Houston's \"mayoral sodomy.\"", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You're doing a better job than I am of making my point. I also agree that the Rebublicans have been obstructing. Yes and Rupert Murdoch is rich and so are O'Reilly and Hannity. I can't believe how they are able to go to communion. Catholics, right. They lie, look down on the people they serve, and destroy their country but they can be proud of their rating. I'm on the verge of despair. When O'Reilly says he's watching our the folks and is fair and balanced I feel like throwing up. That guy knows what he's doing. It's as noxious as pornography.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Many Catholic priests are gay. In the 2000 book \"The Changing Face of the Priesthood,\" Rev. Donald B. Cozzens suggested that the priesthood was increasingly becoming a gay profession. Cozzens estimated that as much as 58 percent of priests were gay, and that percentages were even higher for younger priests. His numbers matched previous estimates by sociologists who put the numbers of gay priests between 10 and 60 percent.\n\nOne must go to the source to address the problem of priests abusing young boys.\n\nThe source isn't the bishops, its the men under the bishops charge.\n\nBut let's pretend it's all about the bishops, for the sake of political correctness.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The Comments reflect the effectiveness of the last 40 years of brainwashing against the evils of guvmint as defined by Republicans, DINOs, Fox News, Limbaugh, Fundamentalist Christian Televangelists, corporate media, etc. All devoted to tearing down the very fabric of the governing system to return the nation into the racist, bigoted, conservative fists of the latest Robber Barons. Billionaire Barons washing the brains with every technological means to completely redefine the vocabulary to turn black into white and lies into truth. Haycox wrote the best summation of historical fact in recent memory, but the blinded fascist faithful deny, deny, deny with convoluted, illogical regurgitations of their Billionaire Baron agents. Too late for this generation. Looks like another Great Depression is the only event that will bring them and their progeny back to reality. Or maybe just a Nuclear Winter. Sad and disgusting.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I would like to know why the religion of \"peace\" promotes child predators? Muhammad even had interests in girls as young as 5 yet people worship him as a God. They even promote the killings of gay and lesbian people. Where in America do you see people doing this? Nowhere, Christians may not agree with homosexuality but at least they aren't cutting off heads.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You should maybe be worried, Marty. What Trump said he would do to Health Care may seriously affect the blind and deaf.\n\nI'm assuming that you think Fr Pavone's stunt with an aborted foetus was actually an act of worship. And Cardinal Burke's party political broadcast was 'spiritual direction.'\n\nSomeone on here wrongly stated that Bishops threatened us with Hell if we'd voted Democrat and you have been using that erroneous statement to let the Bishops off the hook ever since. Congratulations, you won that battle. But you lost the war. The US Bishops and dozens of priests DID encourage Catholics to vote for Trump, a glib and shameless liar.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"Eight years ago, when Barack Obama was elected, a lot of people weren\u2019t happy but for the most part they moved forward to give the man a chance.\"\n\nDonna, is this with the fact that hate groups in the U.S grew at an alarming rate after that election, in mind or without? And, is this with the meeting of top GOP'rs at the Caucus House Restaurant in D.C. to plot to obstruct the new (black) President at every turn, on Inauguration Day 2009, in mind or without? \n\nI'm sorry that guy was a jerk to you, but do you not see a disconnect as a Christian in supporting someone who brags about grabbing women by their privates? This is not to mention every other demagogic, xenophobic, and otherwise horrible un-Christian things Trump said during the campaign, and continues to this day. Or are you one who just blames media i.e. kill the messenger and doesn't believe a word of it? \n\nhttps://www.splcenter.org/ \n\nhttp://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2012/03/The-Conspiracy-to-Commit-Legislative-Constipation", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "My grandfather made his fortune selling women for sex and my father was a prominent member of the KKK. This makes me highly qualified to be President of the United States of Christians. Hatred is my name. Fear is my game. DONALD TRUMP FOR PRESIDENT!!!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Narrow gene pool and low sperm count we have no energy, guts, or balls to have kids.\n\nBut economy needs the young to pay for entitlements that must continue. \n\nSo come one come all - we want rustlers, cutthroats, murderers, bounty hunters, desperadoes, mugs, pugs, thugs, nitwits, half-wits, dimwits, vipers, snipers, con men, Indian agents, Mexican bandits, muggers, buggers, bushwhackers, hornswagglers, horse thieves, bull dykes, train robbers, bank robbers, asx kickers, shxt kickers, terrorist, legionnaires, Methodists, Catholics, Muslims ... just sign here and collect your dole. Hopefully, you will end up cleaning our ducts. So what if you do not pay taxes? At least you consume and pay the embedded HST.\n\nEconomy needs 300,000+ new per year; last year's quota was not met. Who but from a forsaken land beset by turmoil would come to a piece of ice? Now Americans want to put a wall of Tariffs, lure is even less.\n\nNot 20th century when starving Europe came here with nowhere to go.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "That would give Arab gangs a great chance to kill defenseless Jews, they do it very well and with great enthusiasm.\n\nSorry Malumba, your brothers finished off the Jews, now they are almost done with Christians, and Moderate Muslims will go next. You wait your turn, and don't be surprised.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Actually...No. \nI would personally place the business owner's Rights as a Christian , (or a Muslim, for that matter) higher that my own desire for a cake, and just go down the street to another bakery. \nWOW! Now, THAT would be interesting! Think of the quandary the DemLibs would be in if a Muslim couple that ran a Bakery, refused to bake on Their religious grounds! haha.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Got a book with photos, transliteration and translation of every known scroll, from the original microfilm photos at Long Beach University which caused all those priests sittin' on 'em to shriek and flail when they were released. A dear brother-in-faith who made the first Samoan translation of Qu'ran has my copy; loaned it to him, but haven't been able to contact him for a while.\n\nA LOT on significant material; one not getting much airplay is that the Scrolls settled a millenium-old dispute between Christians and Jews as to whether the Masoretic or the Septuagint text of Isaiah was the original (they're not the same), and both groups accused the other of fabrication and tampering with the text. Thanks to the Qum'ran copy of Isaiah--the oldest--the Jews won that argument. The Masoretic is the original. Christians not happy about that 'cause the Masoretic text LACKS the 'God with us' verses they used to bolster Trinitarian dogma--was added to the Septuagint version after-the-fact.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1. I am not sure what you mean here. What holds the bishops' attention, the ritual humiliation? There are many ways the bishops and clergy can cause scandal to the body of the Church. They can, e.g. indulge in non-criminal sexual impropriety, theft, etc, are they as a body to have to face ritual discipline on a number of issues?\n2. I am sorry but I disagree with you on the principle of \"corporate judgement for corporate sin\". On the Last Day each individual, in this case each individual bishop will be called to account for his deeds before Christ; the College of Bishops will not be judged corporately. For this reason I don't think that \"corporate sin\" exists at all. Each of us has the choice of collaborating with others in doing evil or of not collaborating. Whether we join with them or not is entirely an individual decision as we are in possession of free will. I don't believe that there such a thing as corporate will.\nThat is the main basis of my thinking.\nContinued ....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The only time you will see the media attempting to lift up a Christian and appeal to the voters as it fits their narrative. There must be another reason why his request was denied, but the media who has ignored the persecution of thousands of Christians now has someone that helps their narrative so they will try to pull on some heart strings. \n\nWhere have they been for the last 8 years?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We should have let Macarthur go into China, then we wouldn't be having this problem now. We should have nuked every foreign nuclear research facility, before they succeeded in building \"the bomb\". Then we would have had a monopoly.\nThe Catholic Church did exactly that when the art of making gunpowder was imported into Europe. That kept gunpowder out of the hands of \"enemies of the Church\" for a hundred years.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do you have a link? My search showed that there are schools still reading it to students but not the details you have. It makes a good counter argument to those who say Christians are peaceful.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Contraception restrictions, exactly where is this in the Bible? Is is better a child be born to a family who can not support it or a child born to a family who had prepared for it. The second child will be loved and have the benefits of a good life. An unwanted child will not. \n\nOnce a child is born to a family who can not afford it there is no recourse for the parents especially now that donnie and the boys are rolling back all the programs aimed at helping them. Christians can not have it both ways, either we prevent the pregnancy or assist the children. \n\nThe idea, every couple must have as many children as possible hearkens back to a time when so few children survived. and the Church needed bodies in the seats. Times change the Church must change with it if it wishes to stay relevant. \n\n I was married Over 45 years ago,the priest at Pre-Cana said contraceptives were a personal thing...of course this was after Vatican II and before the conservative bishops rewrote the rules.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Because of the difficulties concentrating on a Catholic catechism in a pew when meditating on the historical fact of the Catholic Church harboring serial sexual predators, or even the fallibility of Popes if one studies their history, denial and administrative cover-ups will continue to protect the flock from reality.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Canadian Conservatives will never give up their Jesus, Jesus and more Jesus voters base. That means more Canon law, more snooping, more God is watching you, and more witch hunts. Unfortunately the Liberals are only slightly better as post-Christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You did not summarize from the book.\n\nYou made a vague comment sans particulars, sans dates, sans everything but your personal assessment of Pius XII, and when questioned pointed to a 336 page book and suggested I read it.\n\nThe author's ongoing contest with the Catholic Church, and no one else, is a matter of record.\n\nI can\u2019t take you seriously.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, I was. My point is that studyin under Protestant religion teachers can be useful for Catholics. The worst religion teacher I had was a Catholic. \n\nOne of the best teachers in any subject I ever had was an atheist Marxist. He insisted that we question everything, including what he was telling us.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Using the Gospels as negative proof texts is an exercise in complete illogic.\" \n\nJesus did not chose any women to be apostles.\nTherefore, woman cannot be ordained as priests.\n\nSince the Church's prohibition of women priests uses the Gospels as a negative proof, the Church's prohibition, using your own words, \"is an exercise in complete illogic.\"\n\nOr are negative proofs OK when they suit your purposes, but not OK when someone else uses them?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That's an insufficient conception of pro-life under any measure of Catholic social teaching, as folks like Charles Camosy have consistently argued. Would you consider it sufficient if a conservative Catholic defined anti-poverty efforts as simply including economic growth? I doubt it. \n\nFurther, several persons associated (or formerly associated) with Network quite explicitly oppose efforts to legally restrict abortion. And during the original dust-up with the contraception mandate, when lots of Catholic groups across the spectrum urged the White House to change its language, Network was silent. I think being silent is a cop out (just as I think it is when a conservative Catholic takes a similar approach to something like climate change or poverty).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree. I would have liked the essay to have made a more serious effort to describe evangelicalism and fundamentalism as something other than caricatures -- because we respond negatively when others treat Catholicism as a caricature.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The prohibition on married priests came about in the middle ages when the Roman Catholic Church owned something like a quarter of the land in Europe, and married priests were trying to monetize and pass that wealth on to their heirs. That would not be a problem today.\n\nEnforced celibacy is the problem.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I hope for your sake that you aren't LGBTQ, Christian, Jewish or female. Many of your new neighbours that Trudeau and his government are welcoming into Canada by the tens of thousands might not like the fact that you are a bit different.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mr. Winters wrote: \"The reform of the liturgy that began after the Second Vatican Council has been an overwhelming success.\"\n\nI think you need to do a little better than a JPII quote to prove this. For starters, you could try explaining how Mass attendance went from three-quarters of all Catholics before Vatican II's reforms to less than a quarter since those reforms.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What did the journalist expect Francis to say? He's not going to predict the future. The current last word is what JPII said.\n\nAnd Francis is not a top-down Pope. He's a synodal Pope, one who understands synodality in a broad and inclusive sense that covers all of the People of God. \n\nAs a good pastoral teacher, Francis is not going to play the role of a helicopter parent. This is an issue whose resolution must bubble up from the grass roots. That will be particularly challenging for Catholics, who have a long engrained habit of deferring to their pastors. \n\nWhy do you think Francis has been urging the people to \"disturbare\" their pastors, rather than deferring to them?\n\nOther Christian denominations have already addressed this issue. In 1975, the Archbishop of Canterbury invited Pope Paul VI to join in such an inquiry, but Paul VI declined.\n\nThat doesn't mean the People of God must follow suit and decline. The fat lady doesn't sing until the people speak.\n\nFrancis is waiting.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would like you to find a place where Harper ever said it, because his whole time as PM he was attacked as being that way. Trudeau is Catholic, Catholics do not like abortion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What 'clericalism is: \"a policy of maintaining or increasing the power of a religious hierarchy\".\nTop-down church pretends to know God in away people don't / can't, and to claim on God in a way that subjugates people to the cultic politics of dominion theology. This presumption is nothing less than diabolical for it intervenes against divine inspiration, open and at work in the people, in Nature. The People of God are Church, and it is right that people join in affirming their rightful place in knowing and communicating divinity consciousness.\nAuthentic people-consciousness tends toward unity consciousness in knowing Godlikeness and being Godlike. The One God of all people compels toward Churches United, notwithstanding diversity in ecological evolution and political experience. The common joining of Faith/Hope/Love enlightens ecologically linked life in common God-understanding. Nothing less than this joining can save us from self-consumptive claims on the Sacrament of Natural Order.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't think it's a bad thing to give public witness and it's something I can get better at. Why can't you give any suggestions if you are into public witness type things?\n\nI come here to defend my faith, does that count?\n\nBut whether or not knock on doors or stand on corners has no bearing if I think it would be good for us Catholics to do what others like the Mormons do in bringing their beliefs to the public square.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are right on target, Linda. No one in the Church today wants to talk about all the very active, faithful Vatican II Catholics who have become disillusioned and walked away in the past decade or two. \n\nIn backlash to Vatican II and its strong push to change the Mass/other traditions, along with other factors, aggressively revisionist conservative Catholicism rose to prelature status in the Roman Catholic Church. This move was confirmed as God's Will in the minds of the prelature's wealthy donors by the canonization of its most expansionist founder by Pope John Paul II. See America Magazine http://www.americamagazine.org/opus-dei\n\nVatican II Catholics are left with few alternatives to the ever-increasing influence of this quietly expanding revisionist interpretation and practice of Catholicism. The Catholic Church has always been large enough to accommodate more than one interpretation/practice. Vatican II Catholicism needs protective prelature status 2. Google Rite Beyond Rome.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't get it. Did the West need the church to convince us to take action against pollution? \n\nNo, the Church had nothing whatsoever to do with the environmental movement that largely began in the 1970s. Secular forces and popular support, including enthusiastic political support (even from Richard Nixon) brought about enviro-progress.\n\nNow we have Asian prelates lecturing the U.S. that \"the earth is groaning,\" etc. Yeah, the earth is groaning throughout Asia -- or at least the air quality is horrendous. \n\nSomehow they have the idea that Trump is behind it all -- no, neither he nor any president is telling China and India to ruin the atmosphere. But I get it that the prez is an easy target. Yet, how much better it would be if these bishops began calling on Catholics to protect the earth by boycotting all products from India and China until they get their ecological act together.\n\nI'm done. Now make your emoji faces.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Let me guess, Christian?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hi Michael,\nWhat do you mean \u2018the why of morality\u2019? Are you referring to the social morality or the Catholic morality? \n\u201cIf God has an agenda in sexual ethics for some kind of divine holiness,..\u201d God is not a finite man, \u201cI AM WHO I AM.\u201d I wonder if God has an agenda in anything? \nI am not a homosexual, thus I am not able to talk about it one way or another. However, we, human need to be/live, i.e., \u2018to be is to love\u2019.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "These questions also align with Justin's personal beliefs as a devout Catholic. \n\nAdditionally, to have a candidate that represents the beliefs of other religious groups such Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists allows a choice and democracy to flourish.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would say that the end of the age (not the world) did begin soon after His resurrection and ascension. Within forty years the temple was destroyed and a kingdom destroyed; Christianity on the rise (and persecutions), Rome accelerating its decadent decline - all in short order after Jesus Advent. That some thought that His physical second-coming was more immediate (as some still do), I would attribute more to human longing and self-contentedness than to any of the words from Jesus.\nI'm still not sure I get the \"deep\" v. \"shallow\" distinction. Me being obtuse, I guess, but I would like to better understand what you are saying.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"There is no one explanation, but you can't answer why without looking at the rise of Christian conservatives...Christian activism for many has come to mean conservative activism, working against gay marriage, abortion access and the legalization of marijuana \u2014 and young people may be turned off by such positions,\" Cox said.\n\nYoung people MAY be turned off? Try ARE turned off - bigly! And therein lies the answer to the dwindling attendance among young people at churches all across the board. That \"smaller, purer church\" that Pope Benedict referred to is already happening. He must be so pleased.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Very kind of you to say that there may be some genuine Christians in the Lutheran denomination. By your definition, I'm guessing that 90% of mainstream Christians are unbelievers in your eyes. You seem rather quick to judge people based on few details. Should all Christians think as a monolithic group on all issues?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is not as simple as their dress. Islam requires strict adherence to its religious tenants.\nMuslims have repeatedly shown that they are not interested in assimilating or being tolerant\nof other races and religions. When they reach a certain portion of the population, they attempt\nto institute their religious practices such as sharia law which is what they have done in Europe\nand are attempting to do in our country. They represent a serious danger to our nation\nas their beliefs are totally contrary to our Constitution, Bill of Rights and our Judeo-Christian\nbeliefs and values. What you see in Muslim countries is the true face of Islam and they intend\nto bring this to a place near you in the very near future.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What's the old adage: \"Pox on both their houses.\"\n\n'\"It\u2019s hypocrisy to call yourself a Christian and chase away a refugee,\" Pope Francis has said.'\nI would think that it is also hypocrisy to call yourself a Christian and support abortion.\n\nThat's why I'm not a Christian anymore: \nI support abortion and sending undocumented people back to their home countries. \n\nI'm no hypocrite.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Carefull Zuglo - Simple will call you anti-Christian next - for not bowing down to his politics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Marian bishops voted against the 1559 Act of Supremacy and all but one refused to officiate at the consecration of Matthew Parker and were deprived of their sees to be replaced by bishops ordained according to the Edwardine Ordinal: thus not bishops in the Catholic sense.\nAlthough the Ordinal deliberately expunged all reference to the 'sacrificing priesthood' the defect of intention was not in the Ordinal itself but in bishops who deliberately chose to use it. Even if he was validly ordained himself, his decision to use the Ordinal rather than a Catholic Rite demonstrated an intention 'not to ordain a Catholic priest or bishop (sacerdos)'. \nApostolicae Curae confirmed the consistent Catholic practice from the reformation onward of not accepting ordinations according to the Edwardine Ordinal. People seem to lose sight of the fact that it was not just a matter of intention but also a question of the 'form' of the sacrament which the 'reformed' church didn't even regard as sacrament.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I couldn't agree more!\n\nThe good bishop AND his colleagues need to walk those halls, talk to those staffers and principals and involve the media in this effort! They need to get off their duffs!!!\n\nI used to complain that the USCCB just sent \"letters\" to Congress...essentially a boilerplate with\nparticular issues identified...lots of reference to Matthew 25....and sent to key Committee heads.\n\nHaving walked those halls myself, figured out ways to make a point and included the media whenever possible (I have a vague memory of using supermarket carts to deliver the statewide petition results we had acquired, broken out by districts) to the various state legislators relative to proposed cuts in poverty programs, pending (that would reduce the groceries they could buy). And I did get the media to cover the event!\n\nWe need creativity...but most of all we need presence! These hierarchs really do need to be physically present in their state legislatures AND Congress, it's called Christianity!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Harry, according to your logic, condemning slavery makes the KKK a \"victim\" of racial intolerance, Condemning Adolph Hitler, who was Baptized a Christian, makes the neo-Nazis a \"victim\" of religious intolerance. That's a new one for your alternate history book.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Last time I saw (as in with my own eyes) racial slurs (the swastika and words I can't write in public media) it was scrawled all over the spirit rock and front wall of a Christian school. The kids who did it were eventually caught. Guess what color their skin was?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Fran\u00e7ois Jourdan, French islamologue;\n\u201c...Islam is very frozen for many centuries and basically lack of freedom - today, it must be said clearly that we cannot build a society of one religion, Christian, Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist... or atheist. \nThis phase of human history is now overtaken by religious freedom and human rights. Secularism requires not the ban but the discretion of all religions in the public space as other citizens have the right to have another way of life. \nThis isn't the Koranic trend where Islam does not consider itself as other religions and must...DOMINATE !...\u201d", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"If bishops like Paprocki were more vocal about their opposition to masturbation, in vitro fertilization or vasectomies as they are in their campaign against same-sex marriage, perhaps more Catholics would realize how urgent the need is to rethink the entirety of the church\u2019s sexual ethics.\"\n\nThank you for that, NCR, you've hit the nail on the head. Few Catholics really believe that sex is for procreation only, and in practice that philosophy is almost never heeded except by the most orthodox. Once that truth is admitted it becomes impossible to ignore the fact that a rethinking of sexual ethics is badly needed. \n\nAs for that dialogue with the LGTB Catholic community, as a gay person I would suggest that the church move fast because that door is closing fast. I'm old and set in my ways, but young gay Catholics simply stop going to church as soon as they can, so the gay audience the church might try to reach won't even be there once the church makes up its mind it wants to reach them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You stated as a fact that women will never be ordained in the Catholic Church. Since you know what will happen in the future, I wanted you to tell us what the lottery numbers will be.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Joseppi, Excerpt for the reference to Sharia law, you could be describing Christian fundamentalists.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sorry, warbirds, this is a CATHOLIC school board. The kids there pray every day- and have special masses, etc- not to mention Christian holidays.\nThey are extending the same to their Muslim students.\nI am not at all religious- but I surely like to see them getting along with one another.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I believe that it is a mortal sin to commit adultery, a further mortal sin to receive Communion in a state of mortal sin; most Catholics are aware of this. Mortal sin deprives the soul of sanctifying grace.\nI can't stop anyone divorcing and remarrying outside the Church nor can I stop them going to Communion; all I can do is advise them of the eternal consequences of their actions. In the end what they do is their decision. Cain's response, \"am I my brother's keeper?\" have been held against him throughout history.\nAre you saying that we should not care for the spiritual welfare of our fellows as well as their material needs?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have attended Episcopal churches before and felt quite comfortable there. One I attended in NYC years ago when I lived there, a famous Anglo-Catholic parish in Times Square, had a grumpy rector at the time whose name I will not mention, but among the gay parishioners there he was known simply as \"Wanda.\" Every now and then you'd hear about parishioners receiving what was affectionately referred to as a \"Wanda-gram,\" i.e. a letter from the rector which began by saying, \"Perhaps you'd be more comfortable worshiping at a different parish.\" You sound a lot like him.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of course, almost every survey shows the United States is becoming less religious, less Christian, and less Catholic. The religiously unaffiliated are the fastest-growing group and young people are the least religious age group.\n\nAll of these clear trends should not be a comfort to those wishing a still-larger religious role in U.S. political life.\n\nhttps://www.prri.org/research/american-religious-landscape-christian-religiously-unaffiliated/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus save us from this billionaire loony, and the rest of them. Evangelical Christianity must be the most popular drug in the USA", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One of the best voices in Rock music. He will be missed.\n\nAnd you stare at me\nIn your Jesus Christ pose\nArms held out\nLike you've been carrying a load\nAnd you swear to me\nYou don't want to be my slave\nBut you're staring at me\nLike I need to be saved\nIn your Jesus Christ pose\nArms held out\nIn your Jesus Christ pose\nThorns and shroud\nLike it's the coming of the Lord\nAnd I swear to you\nThat I would never feed you pain\nBut you're staring at me\nLike I'm driving the nails\nIn your Jesus Christ pose\nAnd you stare at me\nIn your Jesus Christ pose\nArms held out like it's\nThe coming of the Lord\nAnd would it pay you more to walk on water\nThan to wear a crown of thorns\nIt wouldn't pain me more to bury you rich\nThan to bury you poor\nIn your Jesus Christ pose", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It always amazes me - how this so-called Catholic journal constantly bashes President Trump - just like all the so-called media (propaganda outlets) !!\nThis very article began by hinting that somehow we must rise above partisan anger and hatred - and in just a few short paragraphs, sunk into the mire itself, once again bashing President Trump on every possible front. \n YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM !!!. You are NOT Christian when you provoke such hate.\nEVENTUALLY WE WILL HAVE AN ALL OUT RACE WAR IN THIS COUNTRY - TO THE THANKS OF THE LIKES OF PRESIDENT OBAMA AND LIBERAL UNBRIDLED HATRED.\n\nIt wont be Trump leading us to the pit of hell, it will be the elitist left in their tremendous pride and blind arrogance.\n\nRemember, it was OBAMA's administration that sued the LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR.\nIT was the CLINTONS who sat on their hands and did not applaud Mother Theresa who spoke in WASHINGTON.\n\nIt is TRUMP who said - the white house staff will be able to say Merry Christmas once again.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You mention God and that forecloses natural law reason. Trouble is, homosexuality is a natural law subject. The only theological impact is whether God is moralistic Ogre. Most of the people are Straight, but not narrow minded. Injustice to gays in our name as Catholics is no longer acceptable. The real fact is that homosexuality is nature, not choice and love is a right of nature.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No problem. Again, I've reinterpreted nothing. And when you come across as illogical and dishonest as any evangelical \"Christian\" apologist in misinterpreting what you read, mistaking you for one is honest error. But I think your 'atheist cult heroes' don't have any room to point fingers when it comes to having blood on their hands think again in any event--or kindly inform us as to Josef Stalin's, Mao Zedong's and Pol Pot religious beliefs. And the (relatively) 'modern' ones like Sam Harris announce there eagerness to follow in these bloody pioneers' footsteps. Are we having fun yet?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would like to see the same survey done among the American Catholic hierarchs - ie, the American Catholic bishops, archbishops and cardinals. IOW- what was their thinking about the same issues, because their MOST important issue seemed to be only abortion! iow - abortion seemed to be the only DRIVING force of their politics. iow - the issues of war, killing for oil and other profits, destruction of our economy AND other nation's economies were almost never driving issues behind the American Catholic hierarchs behaviors, thoughts, preachings AND speakings AND Communism/Socialism. Also their thinking about their own power and it's uses. (shameful)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you. A bit of truth. We should fight this \"End to celibacy\" or women will be its victims.\n\nSexism will gain an enormous increase in strength as men will have all authority over all women unless we demand married women be ordained first to priesthood or at the same time.\n\nIt saddens me that we seem to be becoming less and less a Christian Church over time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I find \"your cheap imputation of motive\" puzzling given your consistent approach to responding and imputation of motives to others.\n\nYou respond to arguments that you like, not the Church's teaching.\n\nThe comment from Pope Benedict XVI was not a magisterial statement that the late Father Brown's exegesis was the Catholic interpretation or even consistent with the Catholic intepretation.\n\nThere are entire books taking his comments to task, so at best we can say Father Brown had an opinion and you happen to like it.\n\nFair enough.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Funny, I expect the conference to be a running joke BECAUSE of who will attend.\nThe secular world has made marriage a temporary, childless sham through divorce and contraception, leaving no logical reason to deny gay marriage in that sphere; now they want to do the same in the Church. But Catholics who know their theology know sacramental marriage is a reflection of the marriage between Christ and the Church--which is NOT a temporary, childless sham. Christ loves us and will be faithful despite our own hatefulness and infidelity towards Him. Read Ezekiel 16.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is the Republican party... you will know them by how they treat their bretheren.\nAs they throw 22 million off the insurance rolls including nearly 40% in nursing homes & then they slap a Jesus FISH on their rig & announce I'm a good Christian. Remember these are the same hypocritical Republican Senators who exempted themselves from their own Health Care Plan so they still have coverage for their pre-existing conditions. \n\nTrump's Republicans don't ever do what Jesus would do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think we have to remember that this Motion is a long way from mandating behaviour. We should also remember that for some reason every year there are a number of instances involving the Jewish faith and people , but there is no Motion on this before Parliament.If people are discriminated against be they Muslims, Jews, etc we have laws to deal with this, without adding a further layer for a specific group. Every year, someplace in Canada, Christian cemeteries are vandalized, which seems on par with the graffiti at mosques across this country. We deal with this without divising a specific strategy for a specific group. As I said from the outset mandating behaviour towards a specific religion, is not I believe the goal of this committee. If it is, it will change before it ever is finalized.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christianity preaches one must \"be of like minds\", associate with those of \"like minds\"\nReligion's doctrines are restrictive for free thinkers.\nI understand that faith groups may believe they have difficulty getting their views heard and that may be an issue.\nCompare this to a recent community event where political parties are banned but a religious leader is asked to speak.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Russia is not the enemy of the United States. A political and economic union between the Russian Federation and the American republic would be a very good thing for the United States. The epicenter for true Christianity today is to be found in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow, not St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.\n\nAmericans would do well to be more like the Russians. Americans should listen to the most sincere and devout Christian statesman in the world, Vladimir Putin. It is best to follow a titan like Patriarch Kirill instead of Pope Francis. Given that Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church are in the ascendancy, We do not understand why MSW and others of you do not like them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And the people who believe that Christian liberty is adamantly opposed to the right direction of this country and furthers a shift backward to hurt the civil liberties of those in this country trying to live a normal life oppressed by that Christian dogma...they have nothing to stand on right, because religion?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are deeper issues here. Many religious people were born into a specific doctrine and had no choices. There seems to be a need for more freedoms and choices. For example, it wasn't long ago that Catholics were `indoctrinated' to have large families. Fortunately, that seems to have waned. But many Muslim families are 5, 7, 9 children. Also some religions have passages inciting hatred and even death for non-believers. All in all, there seems to be a need for an on-going push on all religions for more emphasis on just the Golden Rule and dropping of other religious doctrines. Many years ago when I was a child, my father said that no one deserves a larger headstone than any one else. I think this also suggests that when we die, we drop our silly `dressings' and lie side by side as dust to dust and ashes to ashes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The bible was created, edited by a 3rd Century Pope starting with the Jewish Old Testament as a base combining writings and oral claims from long dead apostles and the mythological savior. The New Testament is a compilation of the myths and miracles from the previous known religions, mostly from Asia. The monks and scribes tasked with the creation in text were the few literate individuals in the world. The majority of populaces of the known world were illiterate. The purpose of the creation was for a foundation to further the interests of the Roman Empire and gain more control of the populace. Nothing in it contains any divinity other than human-denoted. Invisible ruler is the perfect justification for the actions of the human agents to control the populace, i.e., what the human says is law as handed down from the invisible one. No evidence other than oral supports the existence of a Jesus or a god. The greatest scam perpetrated on the world. All subsequent sects the same.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "pps, Nothing I'm saying has anything to do with Christians not being \"perfect.\" I'm talking about history and evangelical and fundamentalist Christians being delusional about having the only One True God, and the Word of God. I doubt you have experienced the horrors I'm referring to. But you should be able to honestly look at the violence this \"Christian\" society has inflicted on the whole world for a really, really long time. It's the history that real hate mongers like Richard Dawkins use to denounce religion. I don't do that. I don't hate religion. I love religion; I love Buddhism, too. I would like to see Evangelicals got over worrying about God and everyone else, however, and put all their focus on themselves living up to Christ's example. It's a full-time job.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Let's not rush to judgement. It could just as likely have been a disgruntled Obamacare opponent or a pro-lifer or a conservative republican or an evangelical Christian or maybe even a Trump supporter. There's no evidence, or historical or otherwise, the shooter was a Muslim. Islam as we all know is the religion of peace. And I wouldn't be so quick to classify it as terrorism. It's more likely workplace violence.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Women's ordination, \"reproductive rights\", and homosexual normalization are all legs of the same stool with a purpose of destroying traditional Christianity and particularly Catholicism. Some of their proponents can't look beyond their own desires and feelings and go with the cultural flow, others are aware of the watering down affect and welcome it (most of the comments here are clear examples). It's another sign that those who hold on to the Church and her teaching will have difficult days ahead. We'll be mocked and called unenlightened, bigots, and intolerant. But so what? It's not the secularized \"church\" that we are called to be faithful to.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm not drunk enough to read/watch Cruz's questioning, but part of what makes this whole ordeal a bit of a head scratch-er is the detail that a healthy chunk of Amy Coney Barrett's scholarship either asserts or assumes that Catholic judges may not be involved in death penalty cases. That's not exactly a part of Catholic identity +Chaput and self-claimed \"orthodox\" Catholics are particularly protective or sensitive of; rather they're completely comfortable, even proud of embracing that facet of the culture of death.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Even the most cursory look at Catholic doctrine and tradition should tell you that heterosexual tendencies and homosexual tendencies are not to be treated equally. No amount of believing that they should be will ever make the difference.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "HC, I wish I could up-vote your comment more than once. The nosy-parkers of the RCC try to cover themselves with a veneer of righteous concern, all while causing more harm than good. Their loud voices often drown out the still small voice of God in the lives of others... and drive those folks away. I believe that Pope Francis is expecting Catholics to act like adults and think, rather than acting like baby birds with wide open beaks hoping to have a worm of precise law dropped down their throats. AL basically summarized the conclusions of the synods' participants... now folks need to read it prayerfully and reflect rather than whine about having to think.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"This past week, I realized that the debate over Amoris Laetitia is over.\"\n\nWhen I read this I realized I should never read National Catholic Reporter as a serious news source.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That is still well under a quarter of one percent. Compare that percentage with the CC growth in Iceland -- grown to 3.5% of the population over the same period of time -- you see what I mean. Mormons are like aliens in most countries. People just don't buy the belief the Jesus came to the USA after his Resurrection. It's too American. Nor buy into Joseph Smith's misplaced golden tablets. It's an American born religion/mythology that has run its course. Its native grass, as it were, still can't grow over the footprints of early/historical Christianity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If natives may hold a smudging ceremony at every public gathering and ribbon cutting, Christians ought to have the right to have a prayer session there as well. I and all white people are obligated to smudge or be denounced as racists. Yet a simple \"Lord's Prayer\" is condemned as offensive to natives \".. because of residential schools\" . It's a sauce and goose sort of thing", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Iqra Khalid's televised use of a recent attack on a mosque as proof to convince people of the bill's authority\n- post hoc, ergo propter hoc; Argumentum ad Populum, argumentum ad passiones\"\n\nfirefox: Has Khalid ever publicly commented on the Orlando massacre or condemned ISIS/ISIL for throwing homosexuals from rooftops? Does she believe that the motivation that inspired the Charlie Hebdo terrorists was utterly immoral? I certainly like to know about these things. You also have to wonder about her perspective on human rights when the prevailing Islamic view, as enunciated in the Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam, is premised on the position that the Western approach to human rights is essentially a relativistic Judeo-Christian construct. The contrasting Western and Islamic concepts of human rights are as different as apples and oranges. In which does Khalid believe? I'd certainly like to know.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Let's start with the Rwandan genocide. Many of the murderers were led by Catholic priests and nuns (900,000 died). Bosnian Muslims were massacred by the Christian Serbs in the 1990s. 7000 innocent Muslims were killed on one day in Srebrenica. Russian Christians massacred tens of thousands of Chechen Muslims (in fairness, I have to state that Chechen terrorists killed hundreds of innocent Russians). Americans are responsible for over 500,000 dead Iraqi Muslim civilians, in an illegal war initiated by a very Christian GW Bush.\n\nWant me to go on?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Alt -right? That's a made up term to try to slam anyone that is not a liberal or a democrat. It is a term that is used to continue to try to make out like anyone who doesn't vote democrat is a dangerous Nazi. And in effect gives the right more reason to be disgusted by the left AND it gives the hate groups validity. \n\nI'm fully sick of the lies and the name calling. However, I COULD go as low as you on the left...... How about \" gutter dwelling alt-left \"for the anti white anti Christian movement in America that never seems to get an article because the left doesn't want to admit they are part of it ? Because you know there IS one and it's become dangerous and violent and has been getting worse. . Clean up your own act liberals.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "... 80% are 'christian' ... u know the super fakey kind. I LOVE IT WHEN HE FAKE PRAYS ... tv gold!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Islam forms the core part of our identity, but this core is not in conflict with Canadian values:\nFight those who believe not\nIn Allah nor the Last Day\nNor hold that forbidden\nWhich hath been forbidden\nBy Allah and His Messenger,\nNor acknowledge the Religion\nOf Truth,(i.e. Islam) from among\nThe People of the Book (Jews and Christians)\nUntil they pay the \u201cJizya\u201d\nWith willing submission\nAnd feel themselves subdued\n\nThe Qur'an, Sura 9:39 (The \u201cVerse of the Sword\u201d)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The same people who don't want to pay for birth control also don't care if the children starve.\n\nMany call yourself Christians and you are complaining because DeGette wants to ensure the health of children. These kids have been born. The complainers here are the last people who are going to be out fostering these kids or arranging free clinics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In the warped mind of the killer's father: Kallie is a good Christian girl from a good Christian family and the media (FAKE NEWS!) blew the story way out of proportion, so she should be let off. She's probably the real victim here. \nGFY, Mr. Kuhasz.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Abortion proponents are so desperate to support abortion they actually have to resort to arguing that God would sin in order to help someone? Just when you thought you heard it all...\n\nIf that is all you have that is a left handed compliment to the strength of the Catholic position.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is demonstrate how Christians have acted ANY differently at any time in their history. Inquisitions? Crusades? Hundred Years War? Native American genocides? WWI? WW2? French destruction of Algeria?\n\nOne of my favorites is the Filipino occupation begun under McKinley and continued under Roosevelt. HERE'S the true face of \"Christian Love\", according to McKinley:\n\n\u201c\u2026we could not leave them (Filipinos) to themselves\u2014 they were unfit for self-government\u2014and they would soon have anarchy and misrule over there worse than Spain\u2019s was\u2026 there was nothing left for us to do but to take them all, and to educate the Filipinos, and uplift and civilize and CHRISTIANIZE them, and by God\u2019s grace do the very best we could by them, as our fellow-men for whom Christ also died.\u201d\n\nThe US slaughtered from a quarter-million to 1.3 million Filipinos in 14 years--more bloodletting than THREE CENTURIES of Spanish rule. Allah SAVE us from \"Christian love\"!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Who decides what a symbol means? In a hierarchical organization like the Catholic Church, the clergy attempts to control meaning, although not always successfully. Trump seems to think that he is the pope of the NFL \u2014 only he determines what symbols mean.\"\n\nThis could only be written by a person who profoundly dislikes Trump. But why does that dislike have any place in this discussion? To curry favor among your followers, whom you know to detest Trump? That's an illicit argument. I detest Trump too, but that's beside the point. Trump, as President, is within his rights to express what should be national outrage that the flag is being shown such disrespect, for that's what keeling undoubtedly is in this context. \n\n cont'd\n\n:", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"What you ignore is that it was kept secret ..the public was not informed, ...\" That's complete nonsense. Decisions by school boards are matters of public record. I know that this has gone on for years, and I don't even live in Peel Region. I've heard discussion of it on the news many times.\nIn fact, while I'm at it, the Lord's Prayer is not \"banned\" in schools. Many schools have Christian clubs (ISCF, Pathfinders, etc.), and on club time, they can pray their teen-aged faces off. It's simply that the Lord's Prayer is not used in 'official' activities. The Muslim prayer accommodations are no different. Muslim students, like Christian students, have the right to gather for prayer any time they want.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pandora17\n\nYour posts in this thread alone demonstrate abuse and harassment, which is to say that you are NOT on this site for purposes of comment or discussion. I daresay you haven't even availed yourself of the article on \"newspaper\" over at Wikipedia! If you had, you wouldn't be posting what you've been posting on ncronline. You have ZERO respect for the opinions of those with whom you disagree. So while you're over at Wiki, you ought to check out \"abuse\" and \"harassment.\" Meanwhile, I wish N Catholic R every success in this webathon and beyond, and express my gratitude to all who are supporting The National Catholic Reporter, the BEST NEWSPAPER in the country, and want to keep it so.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "very sad for the terrorists to target Christians and mostly defenceless women at that. This is genocide. What did they prove??", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Since we are lumping people into groups (poor liberal Hillary voter, wicked rich) your language and certainly the actions of some who feel as you do have sometimes attacked abortion clinics and harrased their clients. Call it guilt by association.\n\nThe idea that I would be jealous of a wealthy person brought in the greed issue, and you interjected it, not me. As a lapsed Catholic I did absorb some of Christ's teachings. I'm gonna get through that needle eye with room to spare.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have spoken to men interested in the priesthood who don't feel it is right to seek priestly ordination while we are refusing women who are equally called to the same vocation. \n\nThese men are my heroes. They see how women are treated alongside them in the Seminary or Catholic colleges and are repelled. I was called to priesthood and crushed by this rejection of my personhood from birth. This rejection causes many women to fall into deep depression and self-loathing. Those who joined Roman Catholic Women priests because they needed to fulfill that hunger of their calling are excommunicated and can't even be buried alongside other Catholics.\n\nIt is up to the laity to demand change in our church. Female diaconate is a worthless ministry with no authority and should not be re-installed, and the male version should go too because all it has done is support sexism and clericalism.\n\nSupport WOC-Womens Ordination Conference instead of Future Church or Assoc of Catholic Priests AUSCP.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Some members of the Curia never minded embarrassing, demeaning, other Catholics. Some [not all], don't mind attacking Francis either. So they can take a bit of 'fraternal correction'. Those in the Curia, who are striving to serve their brothers and sisters, with love and mercy---have no problem with Francis' words. They know to whom the pope's words are directed.\n\n'What is good for the goose, is good for the gander.' [Old Slavic saying]", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Catholic Climate Covenant \u2014 whose more than a dozen national partners include two departments within the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops\" object to new \"climate change policy \". \n\nAre these the same bishops who supported Trump during the campaign? They sowed; now they reap....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your reply makes no sense: takes one to know one WHAT? I have never claimed to know what or how God thinks. I doubt you know many (or any) agnostics who make that claim. That is the job of many Christians, to tell the rest of how to think.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Old Catholics ordain women. The Old Catholics and PNCC allow for artificial contraception. Whether they started out as left wing schisms or got there further down the line is another question, but today those groups are on the left of the Catholic Church. \n\nSSPX are not sedevacantist, you are thinking of SSPV and CMRI. Whatever SSPX situation is, they are in an irregular canonical status which isn't the same as schism. Why would their priests receive faculties to hear confessions if they were in schism? I wonder who you have in mind when you speak of a \"host of movements and associations that are not formally schismatic, but advance reactionary ideology in the church and society.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The vast majority of them.....\"Since you are talking about \"ALL baptized Catholics\" presumably you or someone claims to have polled \"ALL\" baptized Catholics, of whom I am one. I would be interested in finding out who claims (falsely) to have polled me. Furthermore I would like you to retract that statement.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It appears the pope, via AL, is \"paying little attention\" to two thousand years of Church teaching.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A religious father helped to protect the man who sexually assaulted his daughter. No intelligent person is surprised at a Christian doing such a horrible thing.\n\nIf it had been an atheist father doing the same thing, you and I would both be shocked.\n\nWe atheists don't do such things. Only you religious people do. So STFU.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Lots of things were rejected by the Protestants, including some or all of the sacraments.\n\nJesus also did not mention fornication, but it is a sin nonetheless.\n\nA common proof text is 1 Corinthians 3:11-15, in which Paul describes reward in the next life, and redress by fire which saves the sinner. There are others.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Since all of the attributes purported to be those of \"jesus\" are the antithesis of the the amoral, immoral occupant of the White House, you apparently don't believe in him either. Your choice to lead this nation continues to reveal himself as the anti-christ in every thought, word, and deed. You are willing to destroy the nation out of misguided hatred for the opponent? Sounds like the same petulant makeup of your Fuhrer. It all sums up as traitorous to all human and civil rights in violation of the U.S. Constitution. Mental health issues?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You seem to believe that UNLESS women are scullery maids that they are \"egotistical\". I've worked in the Church for more than 50 years---I've NEVER seen a priest vacuuming the carpet. But I've seen plenty of women,---Sisters and Lay Women cleaning, mopping, washing, shining, etc. the altar and the sacristy. \n\nThese jobs WERE considered LOWLY and to be done ONLY by WOMEN! In today's world, women go to work and men stay at home and take care of the house and the kids. What's wrong with that? NOTHING, except it is NOT a TRADITIONAL approach for either men or women.\n\nWomen can handle the ministry tasks just as well as men, if not better. They are the ones who connect with each other to plan joint parish ventures. The men are often too parochial.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "American bishops aren't just out of sync with Pope Francis, they're out of sync with the world around them. Pope Francis gets out in the world among the people, he gets his hands dirty, he gets hugged by children, he hears what people are saying about their real, actual lives in a challenging, often scary world. American bishops, by contrast, have turned inward in their own self-constructed echo chamber in which no dissent from the party line is ever allowed. They have grown deaf to the world around them and choose to focus on issues about which most people care very little. They have become legends in their own minds. It's a pity they have chosen this path because a strong, healthy episcopate would be a good thing for the American Church and for the world at large. Sadly, that is not what we have.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So, your sole qualification for critiquing Humanae Vitae was that - at least at one time - you used to have sex in marriage, while the only qualification the author of Humanae Vitae had was being the successor to Peter, and the head of the Church that Christ commanded to teach all nations?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The state of Utah, a principle force behind the reduction, is advocating for a Bear's Ears Monument 10% of it's current size. For those concerned about the scale of the impending reduction, it's probably prudent to do their whining ahead of time. \n\nhttp://www.sltrib.com/news/environment/2017/09/17/utah-quietly-tells-feds-trim-bears-ears-monument-by-90-percent/\n\nMeanwhile, France outlawed crosses on public monuments in 1905. This monument was put up in 2006, in violation of that law. (The bigger-than-life JPII is welcome to stay.) If France's Catholics had whined more successfully prior to 1906, (or been more circumspect in the monument's design) this indignity might have been avoided. \n\nhttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/10/30/france-poland-clash-court-ruling-remove-cross-late-pope-jean/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think that this needs to be stated very clearly for some people to understand. Pope Francis was never going to change Catholic Doctrine. Indeed in his famous Sept 2013 interview he said he was a \"son of the Church\". As Cardinal Bergoglio in Argentina he was known as someone who was conservative on moral doctrine, but a strong proponent of social justice as well. \n\nThis I think is what both liberals and conservatives miss. It's entirely possible for someone to be a traditionalist on moral doctrine and a strong supporter of social justice at the same time. Many Liberation theologians in Latin America like Oscar Romero and Gustavo Gutierrez held that position. \n\nWhat Francis has changed is 2 things. (i)The emphasis of the Church. He wants to focus on the Preferential Option for the Poor and not culture war issues. (ii) The approach of the Church. Though a traditionalist he is also someone who believes in mercy and is an ardent critic of clericalism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The entire US hierarchy and the USCCB to boot are studiously ignoring Pope Francis' advice on \"voting your conscience.\" And in election 2016, conscience really matters, both for Catholics and for non-Catholics. Our bishops have chosen NOT to be part of the conscience-formation process, opting instead yo dictate the result, much as did a certain midwestern bishop thundering against President Obama from the pulpit of his cathedral. Well, it didn't play in Peoria, literally or figuratively, so now we'll watch history repeating itself with divine vengeance.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "AND...one last thought and it is a personal one.....we lost a baby a week after birth....and it was the last child I was able to have....if you haven't lost a child that you very much wanted I doubt if you can understand what we went through...\n\nI very strongly personally support every possible measure to support pregnancies to provide adoptive services, to help single moms after birth in a vast number of ways....I worked in social services for Catholic charities with single poor parents...\n\nBut I have also done a considerable amount of work in Human Development at the grad level....I know very well that folks must have personal freedom as they go through those developmental stages or you don't get mature folks...it's a risk God takes regularly!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Those statutes of angels carrying dead ww 1 soldiers to the supposed Christian Heaven have a totally different impact on most Canadians now than was ever intended. When erected they were intended to further the Christian version of Die For Islam and you will spend eternity in the Islamic Paradise. Now they just give us a glimpse to when belief in Imaginary Supernatural Beings and Afterlife Insurance was still taken seriously by most Canadians.\n\nThose statues were mainly for the living, to convince Christian Parents, Widows, Sibling, Orphans that their son, husband, brother or father's death had not been in vain and they would be together with them again later, in one of those many mansions / rooms in Heaven, depending on which of the Christian Bibles you used.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It might not be a panacea, but the absence or infrequency of passion and intimacy is a universal problem in way too many marriages. And to make the absence or infrequency a Catholic virtue is a sin in and of itself.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I wonder why young women who are discerning a religious vocation do not join the Loretto community and join Fiedler in her cause to effect change in the Church. Instead, they are donning a religious habit and are joining congregations that follow the magisterium of the Church. I will never know the answer to this question but I would like to know how many young college graduates have joined Loretto in the past ten years?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jackson ignored a supreme court ruling and sent the military in: executive action. The citizenship of native americans within the boundaries of the US can not be summed up in one sentence, so that statement was wrong. \nOur courageous Bishops made it clear that they supported Trump and good Catholics should too. Your denial of their position is sad, it reminds one of Peter denying Christ. You should to penance for your betrayal of our Bishops.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And which wife was Trumplethinskinsmallhands loyal to? Ivana who divorced him after cheating scandals? Marla Malples, who he married 2 months after the birth of a child from an extra-marital affair while The Don was married to Ivana? Or Melania who he started dating in 1998 before his divorce from Marla in 1999? I wonder how long (good Catholic girl that she is) SHE will last until President It has found yet another wife to be loyal with. He can take advice from those other Paragons of Catholic virtue, The Newt and Mme Ambassador Callista Grungerich.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I did not talk about what you believed, but what you wrote. If whites in this country suffered historic and systematic discrimination, then parades celebrating whiteness might be appropriate. That is not the case, since it is white people who discriminate against those who are not white. It's true that many have come together to create a whole, but the original 13 states were considered independent states before they came together to form one nation. States still have rights. Not recognizing the rights of individuals or groups that form our country, to me, makes little sense. But, then, I really don't know about which \"identity politics\" you are talking. \nYou have a right to your view, but I believe that the Catholic Church is completely wrong in its position re gay people. I think it's a misuse of Scripture to use it against gays.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually the vast majority of Canadians think 300k per year IS excessive and way too much, like 90% too much now.\n\nSo yes those coming over the border, IT IS A CRISIS for us. Our poor and middle class are suffering greatly. Our compassion is being used to destroy our quality of life and give crazy religious people control over our culture, the power the Catholic and Anglican churches lost and now jealously want back, using violent islam to assert religion dominance over society.\n\nWe all see it. Our ancestors all sacrificed to be here but the past 12 years we've seen an exponential growth in those who feel they are entitled and deserve more than our ancestors did when they moved here.\n\nThis is not building a strong society, it is atomizing us, dividing us, creating the strife-torn conditions that exist in Europe and Asia today.\n\nMadness.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic Church makes no distinctions as to value as a human life from conception to death, none. It teaches that abortion is grievous sin, a sin which cries to Heaven for justice. For Catholics that makes it an issue about which one should get all bent out of shape.\n\nAn ancient dispute among theologians about the soul is a red herring.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I didn't pass the test for civility so the rest of my comment did not fly. I was saying that the hypocrisy behind Catholic anti-abortion rhetoric is a moral failing for many Catholics. I am pro-life, but have a broader understanding of what that means than to limit it to a fetus. \n Catholic votes got George Bush elected and he decimated Iraqui civilians waging an illegitimate was based upon fudged data, or lies, to be more correct. Trump got elected with the help of the Catholic vote because of his anti-abortion stance, and we can see where that got us. If there is a moral crisis, it is partly due to the behavior of Catholics in America. \n I won't let Catholics off the hook-the Bishops may be late for the bus, but many Catholics never knew when the bus arrived. They are out to lunch, serving a bogus conception of redemption based upon obedience to moral law that has nothing to do with grace, salvation, compassion, or, in fact, Christianity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Jesus clearly disfavored adultery,\" Kaveny concluded. \"It's clear that he rejects divorce and remarriage as contrary to the original will of God. But nothing in Jesus' words or conduct demand that the sin involved in divorce and remarriage must be conceptualized as a sin that continues indefinitely, without the possibility of effective repentance.\"\n\n\"To impose such a requirement in every case is not merciful,\" she said. \"And mercy is the ultimate touchstone for the divine lawgiver.\"\n\n\"We do not need to disturb Jesus' teaching in order to refine and develop it in these ways, in ways that moral theologians and canon lawyers have always done,\" she said.\n\nThat doesn't even make sense. How could she possibly get the outcome she wants without \"disturbing Jesus's teachings\"? Is she seriously suggesting that he meant you could confess divorce and remarriage and after that the marriage wouldn't be a sin?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholic Rites/Churches (including those in union with Rome) have different mindsets in regard to theology, governance, and liturgy/sacraments. Clarity on these and other issues is important. Roman Rite/Church should be clear about its refusal to recognize gay priesthood. Google Rite Beyond Rome", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yet only God judges whether an excommunication is just in the end. These women were acting in confidence according to the Gospel teachings in the bible which we as Catholics are supposed to hold as dogma. We broke the commandment to treat all the same and so it is correct, as a matter of conscience to go against the tradition of hatred which inspired this ban against women priests. Hatred in any form God will not support and that includes racism, sexism and ethnic hatreds and discrimination.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Reese: \"Alienated Catholics when they experience condemnation and exclusion, they leave, never to return\" but offers no proof. \nIn 2016, PRRI asked those who no longer identify with a denomination why the left. \"Notably, those who were raised Catholic are more likely than those raised in any other religion to cite negative religious treatment of gay and lesbian people (39% vs. 29%, respectively) and the clergy sexual-abuse scandal (32% vs. 19%, respectively) as primary reasons they left the Church.\u201d\nPope Francis approved a reiteration last November of the ban on priests with \u201cdeep-seated homosexual tendencies.\u201d He has referred to same-sex marriage as an \u201canthropological regression,\u201d \u201cdisfiguring God\u2019s plan for creation\u201d that will \u201cdestroy the family.\u201d \nThe recent charges by the U.S. and Canada against a Vatican diplomat for child porn who is now shielded by the pope inside the Vatican against prosecution speaks for itself.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yup, in your obsession with Muslims you've proved some of their ancient texts are as hostile to gays as is the Old Testament, the basis of the Judeo-Christian moral code.\n\nFortunately, the majority of American Christians, Jews, and Muslims have moved beyond this level of tribal hatreds and have shown great sympathy for the 50 dead-- THAT is the solution here- how about you?\nhttps://webmail.uoregon.edu/?_task=mail&_caps=pdf%3D0%2Cflash%3D1%2Ctif%3D0&_uid=34469&_mbox=INBOX&_safe=1&_action=show", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mr. Minnery your Bible quote, which you use as authority for the rest of your article, is so out of context it is sad. What Ezekiel ben-Buzzi said over 2500 years ago was never meant to be cast in concrete advise for modern people. What he wrote, and his prophesies, refer to the times he lived in and have nothing to do with today.\n\nYou are entitled to your opinion and I support your right to speak your mind. But when you try to dictate how law is made in Alaska based on Biblical authority, which is speculative at best, you do nothing to advance your cause.\n\n If you call yourself a Christian then you probably ought to believe that the ministries of Jesus supersede all previous prophets and you should quote Him. Unfortunately you will find little support from the quotations of Jesus. He was big on tolerance and you are not.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "...and thus speaketh the House Hypocrite In Chief. Does he consider all the social and health programs being dismantled through presidential fiat and budgetary cutbacks as heartrending as the children in New York he visited, I wonder? \n\n\"We can achieve so much when we tackle poverty eye to eye, and soul to soul. As Catholics, we call this solidarity and subsidiarity,\" he said.\"\n\nHow would he know? I've seen no evidence from him thus far.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I fear religious freedom run amok too, as any Catholic who knows anything about U.S. history should. Believe me, I'm not rushing headlong into a defense of Michael Phillips or the notion of inconsistently applied religious precepts. I'm just resisting the impulse to reduce this conflict down to simple solutions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Before everyone gets lost in Andrew Sullivan's personal animus for Hillary Clinton, remember that Sullivan was an ideological conservative Catholic Tory growing up in the UK. I believe that he was one of those champion debaters at Oxford or Cambridge - he likes to argue for the love of the argument. Coming out as a gay man and becoming an American are only more recent overlays over those formative beginnings.\n\nAdd to all that, Sullivan enjoys being a contrarian much like his fellow Brit Christopher Hitchens, but on the other side of the ideological divide. Besides, Bill and Hillary Clinton are polarizing political figures because they insist on their infuriating \"Third Way\" politics.\n\nI voted for Bill Clinton twice but was never a great admirer - we did have a great economy during his presidency. Hillary on her worse day was always infinitely preferable to the vulgar traitor and Putin's puppet Trump.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Or the church managed to defame the victim or refuse to hear the facts or accepted the lies of the perpetrator . Very few accused were innocent . \nAnd it was the hierarchy who threw Msgr. Lynn under the bus . True he followed orders ... orders given by the bishop . No clergy ever visited Lynn in prison . \nJust about no ordained minister has so far behaved in accord with gospel values .", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh please. I knew a young Kurdish kid who had to claw his way out of a ditch filled with the bodies of his parents, siblings and everyone he knew after they'd been shot by \"Chemical 'Ali\" and his minions. THAT is persecution. American Christians aren't persecuted, just \"offended\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In that sentence, I am referring to people who work at the Vatican on economic issues, at the Vatican Bank, and other jobswhere assets and money are their chief concern. I am not referring to victims of sexual abuse, to parishioners, to children. Pope Francis \" put him in a place\" where.... That place is the Vatican and he was put in charge of financial assets. I was drawing a distinction between 1) the place Francis put him, the Vatican and working with prelates whose primary jobs are to care about money and assets and 2) the place he left, as Archb of Sydney and highest ranked Catholic bishop in Australia where he was supposed to care about children, victims of sexual abuse, parents, and the good of people, not money, but put financial considerations first anyway. \n\nI am deleting the comment because I don't want to be misunderstood. I appreciate your alerting me to how what I wrote could be misunderstood. I apologize if what I wrote upset you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It does beg the question about both what they see and what they believe...and there is an intentional blindness at play for sure. Not since the moral majority has there been such a disconnect between values and voters. Obama was an extremely moral family man the yet something was amiss in how supposedly moral white American saw him...and ate up the poison they then spewed back out. So where did they get this poison? Who wants to keep the mantle of Christians on the right even when wrong? It begs the question, is American religion, the superstitious version, really a danger to our nation's moral backbone? Seem like we have a group who will believe whatever they are told, regardless of reality. And TV personalities are front and center... think celebrity instead of spiritual guide and that helps make it make sense.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Time to get rid of all such groups of men from our church support. \n\nSexism is killing us as a church. These men only love women while they are poor & oppressed. They have no desire to see women in any other role than begging from them while they support laws to oppress women in and out of our church. They tried to get planned parenthood's support for cancer testing for poor women unfunded. They only like rich, white, male, laity, much like the membership of our permanent deaconate today. \n\nThere is no reason for any charity to be sexually exclusive & I have never come across a sexually exclusive group, male or female, that didn't use its exclusivity to speak badly of the opposite sex while no one was present from that group to defend their sex. Sexist groups are no more Christian than are racist groups.\n\nThese groups always end up causing more harm than good because they have one-sided, half blind thinking. \n\nWe should all keep in mind the K.K-K considered itself Christian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As a funeral director and a Catholic, I (we) have always been told to explain to the Catholic family we are serving that although the church allows cremation, the cremains (ashes) must be buried or placed in a niche. You can only imagine some of the comments WE get when explaining the church's preference (demand, would be more appropriate). Just to give an example of how silly this is at times, we had gentleman that died last year and his family chose cremation. Now--he was married twice, with both wives preceding him in death; his wishes were to have half of his ashes buried next to his first wife and the remaining half placed in the niche with his second wife; sounds easy, doesn't it? Well...not at the Catholic cemetery...can't split the ashes, church doesn't allow it. I felt at least his family was following his wishes and they were not just casting their father's ashes aside. Suffice it to say...I think some ashes ended up in the flowers of his first wife's grave...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"... are deeper questions that cannot go unexamined. Can dialogue be enough to achieve a truly inclusive church? Without a change in the church\u2019s teaching on sex and sexuality, can LGBT people ever hope to be treated with equality and justice by the hierarchy?\" While being sympathetic to Fr. Martin's efforts, I wish he or someone else with a \"name\" would also look at the need for an \"inclusive\" church to fully include women - that means access to all seven sacraments.. Women are 51% of the church and run most parishes. Yet they, like the LGBT community, are marginalized and treated as second-class members of the church. Well, women are second-class. LGBT are third class. And, the 3-5% members of the church who are LGBT are in even worse shape than women, at least if they are married. Married women are not denied communion - even though 94% use [banned] modern forms of contraception. The RCC has a very long way to go to reflect the values taught by Jesus in the gospels.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is just another argument for why religion has no place in the publicly funded school system. The critical mistake was made when Ontario decided to publicly fund the Catholic School system, opening the door for all Religions to demand equal consideration. Religious faith has always been a mechanism to divide and create conflict among humanity. Let's do the smart thing and remove all religions from the public school system.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The church has practiced censorship pretty much throughout its entire history. What were the heretic burnings but an extreme form of censorship? Even before Pius IX sent home opposing bishops in order to get his declaration of \"infallibility\" through the Council, the church censored and persecuted \"dissenters\" to varying degrees. Fortunately, heretic burning is no longer permitted, but silencing is a favorite weapon. JPII and Benedict were notorious for silencing theologians, priests, and vowed religious for speaking out against teachings of the church. Since church officials have set the example, is it surprising that the extremists in the pews have followed? Ironic that a church that claims to be the sole source of \"Truth\" in the world is so afraid of discovering that perhaps it does not really channel God's mind, that the Pope is not infallible nor is the magisterium - ordinary or otherwise. A true openness to truth would mean listening to dissent, not silencing it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Lets face it the majority of so called Christian believers in North America have one foot in the church and one foot in the world of reality. It's almost like they are playing it safe \"just in case\" it turns out to be real but their education tells them they should know better.\n\nChristian Churches are closing up shop faster than black smith shops did upon the invent of the automobile. Only about 20% attend church at any time other than Easter and Christmas. Some what iffy believers.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I absolutely can not believe you would slam the Red Cross. You feel it's appropriate to judge the Red Cross on one situation instead of the totality of what they do year round, who they serve in every town year round or how many world disasters they commit themselves to. Your words and public declarations are hurting the people in your own state. Many fell short on Katrina and are they all listed? I was a single mom with 4 kids when my dryer caught on fire on Easter while I was home due to a defective part. I had no money and lost everything I owned. We didn't even have a spare set of clothes. General Electric paid my landlord thousands to rebuild his home while I had to hire an attorney to fight a year for $5,000. that my attorney took 33% of. Do you know who paid for our hotel? Provided vouchers for clothes, food and even mattresses to sleep on. Salvation Army and Catholic Charties turned us away. You owe Red Cross a public apology for your shameful assessment.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Burlington College: Feel the burn.\nAnd it's worse.\nThe heartless Mrs. Jane Sanders wanted to THROW the former invalids housed by the Roman Catholic diocese into the street. \nNo home no place to go... for Mrs. Jane Sanders these people were in HER way in making\nBurlington College Great Again.\nhttp://www.judicialwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/JaneSanders.pdf", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"But if you have Christian, conservative values, you are considered a bigot.\"\n\nNo, you're a bigot if you treat those who are homosexual differently than someone who's been divorced, or eats shellfish, or wears mixed fiber clothing. You're an annoying Christian elitist, ignoring Constitutionality if you believe your religion should enable you to trample others' rights because \"majority rule.\"\n\nI know white Christians who are not bigots. Try to be more like that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I know many practicing Catholics who attend Mass regularly that reject the Catholic Church\u2019s teachings on birth control and homosexuality\u2026just to name two.\n\nEach individual has the capacity to embrace spiritual beliefs without feeling beholden to what a human contrived Church tells them they should or should not do in their daily lives.\n\nI say good for Jules. I have never met him but I am impressed with his reported intellectual curiosity and rigor. I think he is demonstrating the capacity a Mayor needs to be strong in his convictions while being secure enough in his being to nuance the black and white choices a Mayor confronts on a daily basis.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Indeed Mr. Winters! If I believed in the \"Apocalypse\" (Which I Don't), I would say we are in it right now. The Anti-Christ is here and it is Donald Trump! He has swept Evangelicals and Right Wing Catholics off their feet. They worship the most vile, evil, corrupt man to ever occupy the White House. And personally, I consider the Nuclear weapons in the possession of this administration a clear and present threat to the continued survival of life on Earth, even more than those in Russia. At least Putin is just plain old power hungry and not living in a delusional world of America being the site of the second coming of Christ!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Offend once you are likely to do it again...\".\n...that would work the same for all us \"sinners\" out here as well right Joe? Or don`t you count yourself among us?\n\nWhy do you think the catholics have those little booths they go into to \"confess\" Joe?\n There are lots of those uncomfortable little booths all over the world,..and many analogous rituals in other religions.\n But you Joe, you must be special to sit at the top...sinless....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Total whitewash of the language used in the white supremacist cults and you know it. Conservatives don't use Nazi language nor carry animus toward non whites or non Christians. \n\nOnly extreme bias would whitewash the use of Nazi symbols and buy the total crap of white pride. \n\nOur culture has always celebrated white accomplishment- but we call it American accomplishment. I'm not celebrating racism, rape, genocide by anyone regardless of skin color.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So Nazis are Christians now? And a correction: it was Christians who bombed Serbian Christians to protect Bosnian Muslims.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When I read this article my mind immediately went to members of my own family, who I think typify many white Catholic voters. They're conservative in both their faith and politics, and they don't make much distinction between the two. \n\nThey represent that angry, frustrated element that Trump so successfully tapped into, but they don't like Trump personally. I think some may hold their noses and vote for him, but they do understand who he is.\n\nBut after more than 40 years of conditioning from the pulpit, they've become largely one-issue voters, and they've completely bought into the demonization of Hillary Clinton. Defeating her at all costs is the most important thing to them.\n\nThey're good people but they're frightened and confused and feel like the world they grew up in has been taken from them. Even while I disagree, I understand and have compassion for them, and I try to think of them whenever I'm tempted to write off all Trump voters as rabid lunatics. It isn't that simple.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'll still take the odds of clubbing in Istanbul over clubbing in Anchorage: Occasional, large acts of violence in a city of nearly 15 million as opposed to nearly continuos violence in a city of 300,000. Glad we're a Christian nation and not a Muslim nation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When you can show me how something you drop falls up rather than down, I will be happy to have a conversation about the reality of natural law. \n\nThat most other Americans - Christian, Jewish, and Muslim - believe homosexual behavior is immoral is a demonstrable fact. To you and those who share your contempt for their beliefs that \"it makes it difficult to raise children who are morally straight\" and \"it weakens the family as the cornerstone of society\", they give chorus of \"So what?\"\n\nEvery law, including the Constitution, is a matter for a majority decision.\n\nAs the last election demonstrated, sufficient arrogance leads to a practical demonstration of that reality.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ah, and does that hurt that little head of yours, that some idiot in a forum got a piece of information wrong? Missionaries came in a variety of types, with the same goal of \"saving the savages from themselves and converting them to \"Christianity.\" Does anyone ever stop to think that just maybe, these indigenous poeples were \"living in their own Eden?\" No, probably not.........", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It'll deteriorate, as it already appears to have done, into usual Catholic cultish \"Religious freedom for Me but not for thee.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mormonism does. It is a Christian sect.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I sort of agree with Amy, but instead of a zombie Meg Ryan, I'd put up a Christian-themed scene of witch burnings and maybe a couple of Catholic priests holding little boys. LOL", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you don't think that the institutional Catholic Church takes an inordinate interest in people's sex lives, you haven't been paying attention.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bravo! People can be so ignorant.\n\nI knew Sikhs believe in a single god. Thank you for the other information.\nNo, Sikhs are not Abrahamic, but they are monotheistic, and as far as I'm concerned, and if I may apply a little logic:\nIf A = E, and B = E, and C = E, and D = E, then A = B = C = D.\nThat is, if Sikhs, Jews, Muslims, and Christians all believe in a single god who created the Universe and may share other attributes, then, regardless of the name people of those various faiths call that god and regardless of difference between them, it must be the same god. By definition, there can only be ONE \"one universal god\".\n\n\"Sikhs dislike the very IDEA of eternal damnation\"\nGood for them. I find the idea horrid and repulsive. It's against any concept of a just or merciful god, but it gives the people who believe that idea (who always seem to think they will never end up in that status) license to be condescending and worse towards people they don't like.\n\nAgain, thank you for your comment", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Honestly I am dumb struck. Of all the issues facing the Church, this is the one a Bishop concentrates himself with?\n\nMost days I'm proud to be Catholic. After reading this I can safely say that today is not one of those days.\n\n\nFr. Neil Pezzulo", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "With the exception of this loon that went off and shot up a bunch a Republicans, the vast MAJORITY of terrorist shootings/bombings etc... in this country since 9/11 were perpetrated by RIGHT WING \"Christian\" extremists. Google it and educate yourself. With the Ku Klux Klan endorsed Trump currently occupying the White House, now is not the time to CUT funding to combat \"white extremists\" now is the time to increase funding as these groups are more emboldened by Der Fuhrer Trump in office.....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So is addicting people to welfare, robbing them of the chance to grow in the virtues of industriousness and self-reliance, or retarding them of personal development (intellectual, social, manual skills) that occur through working....is that treating them well?\n\nIs that treating Jesus well?\n\nSome people can only see one step ahead in their grand plans to make heaven on earth.\n\nThey throw a ton of programs at people thinking that they're doing these people good...really they're just trying to assuage their white guilt.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "RonsterG: I agree that all three \"desert\" religions are equally misogynous. I am not sufficiently knowledgeable about other religions to make that claim. Interesting that you specifically note Catholicism and fundamental Judaism to make your point. Was that just to add a counterpoint to the constant drumbeat about the treatment of women in Muslim societies?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What I mean is that the Fundamentalism, which Pope Francis declared as evil should be eliminated from all religions. Women should be freed from the fanatical control by those extreme religions, over their lives and that of their families. Fundamentalist religions pursue political power, their goal being to replace the Constitution with the Bible. That is against our Democracy. There are several modernized Christian Denominations that have already done that and even coalesced with other religions to do good rather than to seek political power \"under God\" as they claim.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I was raised in the catholic church, never read the Bible, just listened to/repeated the same prayers over and over. The priest would read a tiny bit from the Bible, usually the old testament.\n\nWhen I started thinking for myself, and began to reject the church...that is when I actually read the Bible and was stunned at what it said.\n\nTurns out, I am a Christian follower of Jesus, that is why I couldn't relate to the GOP hypocrites in church.\n\nNow that I know what Jesus was truly all about, and that he spoke of these same hypocrites back in the day...I have no problem calling out these same people who pray in public and act like jackasses in real life.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Imam advising PDSB hosted last year an Egyptian \"scholar\" who calls for slaying of Jews, and destruction of Russians, Hindus, Shiites, Christians, Americans, Europeans.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This seems a topic dear to you, but your argument is full of holes. The Muslim religion has not declared war on the US. It is unconstitutional to apply a religious test to immigrants, and Trump's ban is perilously close to that. Yes, the president is allowed to exclude those who 'are a danger'. His mistake is in banning entire countries (and excluding Christians in those countries), except those where he has businesses. I'm confident the judges know the Constitution, and law, much better than you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This shows me that Pope Francis does not want to treat women as equals. He also seems to want to keep the priesthood as a haven for the sexual predator clergy, putting more children at risk of being sexually abused/raped, in direct defiance of Jesus' command to protect the innocence of children. The Catholic Church would be more healthy if the leadership were free to marry and raise children of their own, and if women as well as men, both homosexual and heterosexual, were in the leadership. By continuing this division of the sexes, many clergy will continue to fear women, just because they have not had much life experience with them. The pope and bishops are all about control. This is not of Jesus, in my view, and it continues to frustrate the plan of God as stated in Genesis 1:26,27, where it says that God made women and men AT THE SAME TIME AND AS EQUALS IN GOD'S IMAGE.\nSincerely, Dr Rosemary Eileen McHugh, MD, MSpir", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We paid for the dreamers\nWe now a trillion dollar debt \nA country torn apart\nA white Christian, anglo saxon culture under siege\nIn a decade white anglo saxons will be an official minority \nChristians will be hunted like animals like they are in the Middle East\n\nAll because a bunch of people voted Liberal", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "At least these terrorists do not discriminate. \n----\nWhat world do you live in? ISIS targets Christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You weren't banned because you were challenging. You were banned because you were BORING and you kept regurgitating the same left-wing slop.\n\nSince you aren't a real Catholic, banning you wasn't that big a deal. By your own admissions, you don't follow the teachings of the Church.\n\nSorry, but some of us believe in truth-in-advertising, Colch.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I've heard the theory that the idea of offering communion to the divorced is just a ploy by the homosexual cabal to normalize homosexual acts under Church teaching. That is, if you allow divorce for those who commit adultery by divorce and remarriage, there is no reason to deny communion to those who commit adultery by committing homosexual acts.\n\nCatholics who decide to divorce aren't all that Catholic; those that are, sought annulments and received them.\n\nThe Devil is quite clever and would make a good lawyer.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hey KK - Sigh. You Christians are always asserting that other Christians aren't really Christians, while strongly asserting that all members of other faiths (and those with no faith) are equally responsible for the acts of a few. Data shows us that the vast majority of America's \"meth users, plenty of heroin addicts, plenty of alcoholics, plenty of child neglecters and child abusers, plenty of sex abusers, plenty of suicides, plenty of burglars and thieves\" are Christians. Only a minuscule percentage identify as Satanists. \n\nWhy not let them be whatever they want to be in their personal lives, and leave the argument out of government meetings?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Christian identity type\"? Nice try. Did this killer holler out something about praising Jesus as he committed his horrific act?\nWhenever any act like this is committed by a white person, people like you try to connect it with Christianity, even when the person wasn't religious. Also, you seem ignorant to the fact that the majority of the worlds Christians are non-white.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually, Islam has Abraham in their Koran. They believe Jesus was a prophet. So no they are not anti-christ. I've seen some evangelists that seem pretty anti-christ to me.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Married priests. Best solution to keeping gay predators outof the collar, keeping children safer.\n\nYes, sexual temptation doesn't go away. But since we know that 4 out of 5 abused Catholic children are male, it follows that married men are far less likely to be predators than allegedly celibate loners who are drawn to seminaries because of camp appeal.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pope Benedict XVI demonstrated perfect ecumenism with this establishment of Anglican personal ordinariates that serve the UK, the United States and Canada, and Australia and Japan. Thus, Anglicans, including clergy, are invited freely and openly to join the Catholic Church while still retaining some of the liturgical traditions that they value. Meanwhile, I feel certain that Catholics are welcome in Anglican churches. I myself have been invited to join several times. Beyond that, I say leave it alone. We have all we need without engaging in silly, pandering \"dialogue\" riddled with apologies for our existence or whatever other elusive thing is found \"offensive.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Reading your sports update about our Alaska football teams, only to be slammed hard in the face about some games can't be played because of some Islam Holiday? What in the Wide World of Sports is going on? Heck we play basketball or other sports during Christmas and other holidays and yet this Islamic holiday now is dictating when and where sports can be played? There is something seriously wrong with this picture! Unacceptable and downright kowtowing to this present day PC culture. Next thing is that we will not be allowed to play sports or indulge into any other activity because of our failure to speak up and say enough is enough! It appears that the Christian world is being attacked on all sides while Islam (especially) is creeping into our world with their ideology of supplanting all Islamic \"non-believers\". Signs of the times of our nation is morphing into a land unlike when our first founding fathers drafted the constitution and separated the church from the state.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No more Catholic Justices, please! We need an atheist or a secular humanist on the bench. Enough of the religious bias!!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ask Spain and Italy and Japan about \"overpopulation\". \n\nhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4255510/\n\nWhat supposed Catholics don't understand about the Church's teaching is staggering.\n\nThe highest confidence/data ratio imaginable, effectively zombie like, with smiles.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Huh? You (and another guardian of the faith) disagreed with my opposition to an interloper who expressed admiration for E. Michael Jones, a Catholic and virulent anti-Semite/neo-Nazi. I was so appalled I took a screen shot.\n\n<>\n\nhttps://www.ncronline.org/blogs/young-voices/why-i-marched-and-why-we-cant-stop-marching\n\nYou wrote:\n\n<>\n\nThis is a lie. Which was my point when I brought it up above.\n\n<>\n\nInaccurate and misleading.\n\n<>\n\nRecant? Like I SAID above, I immediately noted the error and apologized. You expressed elsewhere your moral conviction that silence is complicity. Care to apply that standard when a neo-Nazi troll drops by? No, you'd prefer to slam a nun who marched on Washington.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Let us pray that these African Christians do not say anything to upset NCR's staff and readership regarding Western indoctrination on the subject of gay marriage.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Again with the intellectual dishonesty.\n\nThere's a difference between blaming people for\n1. the actions of members of their ethnicity and\n2. blaming people for the actions of political and religious groups to which they belong.\n\nAs an atheist, I bear some responsibility for what atheists say about God.\nI chose to be an atheist, and I give money to atheist groups to broadcast their attacks. I own that.\n\nI don't bear responsibility for Ammon Bundy just because we are both white.\n\nI have Christian friends, even some fundie friends. But they aren't running for office or out there espousing and defending bigotry.\n\nThe big pill for you to swallow is that I won't let you hide behind a pulpit and say your stinky ideas are fragrant because they have a religious basis.\nBigotry is bigotry.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hate to inform you that you are wrong. The sin of presumption is clearly a Catholic belief. My ideas are strictly Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Note also that Jesus never mentions homosexuality (although St. Paul does), so clearly it should not be a central issue for those purporting to be following doctrine.\n\nThose Catholics holding anti-homosexual views are simply making things up.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Let's face it, what we are talking about here is not some homosexual going into a shop to buy a packet of cigarettes or going into a bar to buy a drink or shopping in a supermarket.\nWe are talking about a homosexuals going to a Christian businesses and asking for a service which they know these businesses cannot in good conscience agree to provide. The aim being to put these enterprises out of business. It has occurred in places like N Ireland, England, the U.S.A., etc.\nPolls show that homosexuality and same-sex marriage is supported by the majority of Christians in the decadent Western world. There is no need, therefore, for any more lobbying. The homosexual lobby, however, are not prepared to live and let live. They are grasping us by the jugular to force us to accept their sexual lifestyle as normal using 'equality' legislation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "IRT Steve Holck: I find it interesting that people who call themselves christians get so worked up about killing unborn children but say and do nothing as our military murders innocent people around the world.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The anti-Catholic rot you're posting is not supported by \"documents in the Vatican archives\".\n\nGIGO", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Pell was promoted to Vatican under same shadow of complicity in clerical sexual abuse as Cardinal Law. And given a higher promotion than Law!\"\nThese specific charges will roll out in secular court. What is amazing is that the systematic and systematic root of sexual abuse(s) within the Church get(s) rewarded and thus sustained as well as reinforced: arrogant, absolutist, unaccountable hierarchy with institutional value.\nThe verdict on specific acts will unfold. The verdict on the perversity of institutionalism and the very specific individuals and their relationships, motives and priorities need not wait. \nOne again it is revealing that it is the secular - the alleged enemy of the \"one, holy, true, and catholic - that is leveraging the values elevated by Christ and claimed by church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your anger and hatred of Christians is palpable. Why so? Why would you say that Christians \"ignore everything he taught?\" Are you a student of the Bible and of Christianity? I suspect not. You seem to think that your own personal views of morality ought to be regulative. \n\nChristians do not ignore what Jesus and Christianity teaches about homosexuality, for instance; or abortion. Those two awful immoral behaviors are not only accepted but celebrated by unbelievers and atheists, including most if not all Democrats. \n\nI think you are seriously biased such that a half-way intelligent reader will immediately disregard what you write.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"It will be a rare sighting to see a Sunni male over age 12. \"\n\nIf the headhackers had won, every Alawi, Christian and Yezidi woman over the age of 12 would have been raped and then either murdered or sold into slavery by these hard done by Sunni males, most of whom aren't even Syrian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have always said, show me someone paranoid about gays, and I will show you a closet case; show me someone loudly proclaiming about the 'sanctity' of marriage, and I will show you an adulterer; show me someone screaming about Christian charity, and I will show you someone in love with earthly treasure, etc..", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, first off, Black Lives Matter is a hate group out to stir up trouble. There are real problems with race in this (and in other countries), yet this group just does nothing to stir the pot.\n\nAs for who owns Pride, I thought it was for the gay community and our allies. It is designed to be an inclusive event. If you are LGBT or an ally, then this Parade is for you. It doesn't matter to me if you are conservative, liberal, black, white, Christian, Muslim, rich or poor. This is for us - people who are OK with being who we are.\n\nBlack Lives Matter is a hate group and is trying to splinter Pride. If there are issues, and there very well may be with regard to race, then Pride needs to address it, but we don't need agitators to do so.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "OregonBorn: Look at what the Catholic Priests have accomplished over the last how many centuries, AND, the Boy Scouts of America. They have been raping boys, FOREVER.\n\nRead the Sign: FOREVER................", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do you really believe that the Spirit could deceive generation after generation until the present day?\nNo, one's concept of Original Sin does not need to change. Without the concept of Original Sin the whole of both Testaments of the Bible, the Life, Passion, Death, Resurrection and Ascension into heaven of Our Blessed Lord, the Sacrifice of the Mass, the whole of Christianity becomes meaningless and irrelevant to our lives here on earth. Without it the whole purpose of our lives becomes a quest for comfort and ease both physically and psychologically.\nThe establishment of heaven upon earth is the fools' paradise.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Disingenuous. You in effect called me a liar by suggesting I hadn't read a book I said I had read.\n\nYou won't respond to my request for even a few citations from the \"inexhaustible supply of anti-Catholic authors\" you accuse me of promoting. Why? Because you made this up.\n\n\"Dealing with you could be someone's full-time job\" (blaming me) would be your poor excuse for this. That's funny. You seem to have all the time in the world to follow me around playing orthodox police.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus said nothing about homosexual love. Indeed, Jesus said only that we must love God and love our brothers and sisters. Since God needs nothing from us, the chief way we show our love for God is by loving God's children. Being homosexual (the way that God has made some of us) and being faithful to one's spouse are a fulsome way to express our love for God and our love for God's children.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Public scandal of the faithful.\" Since most Catholics in the USA are in favor of gay marriage, how could a married gay man having a church funeral be a source of scandal? Methinks this isn't so much about gay marriage as it is about Morlino trying to make a public statement to show his supposed orthodoxy, but in reality only showing extreme pettiness and a political statement to Rome. Did you notice that he didn't \"order it\", but you can bet any priest who does a funeral and mentions the partner can count on being disciplined.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Can you name one responsible church that remains? Name one that doesn't advocate for open borders. I don't know of any. Maybe Westboro Baptist doesn't. Not sure. I'm mad as Hades and unwilling to take it anymore. I want to see heads roll. Churches have become vehicles for negative social change. I'm against negative social change. When you tax something you get less of it. Maybe The Church would figure out what is right again if they had to meet secretly for services. Maybe they'd wise up if driven underground due to high taxation. Maybe they'd start listening to their former parishioners and understand why they left. Then they wouldn't have to import gang bangers and poor, ignorant peasants to fill their pews on Sunday to fill their collection plates used to put money in the Bishop's pocket so he can continue to Community Organize.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What is your definition of fee speech then Ross. Like all Liberal Communist types you define free speech as a speech that agrees with your twisted view\n\nIt is your view that is twisted, \nWe are trying to ensure our country isn't taken over by sharia law. \nYou come to Canada you become Canadian first, not Muslim first. You do not bring your hate of Christians with you\n\nThat is not racist. \n\nTo educate yourself instead of yapping form your couch, go to Britain and go onto the 100's of no=go zones where white Christians are beaten by Muslim gangs.\nThat will change you...\n\nIt changed me when I was beaten", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Another NCR article determined to inculcate its readers with the \"Church = clerics virus\" that leaves the readers mad, resentful, foamed-up.\n\nNational Catholic Register is far less clerically minded.\n\nAnd news sites such as Mercatornet are infinitely less clerically minded than NC Reporter is. Its articles are both topical and yet not trendy. Substantial. Shorter but better written. No cranky \"I hate the Church\" types.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This appalling gutter-level slur has no place on a Catholic website. \"Shirt-lifter\" is a crass and seriously offensive term of abuse thrown at gay men by people like this commentator. Here it is applied as a term of gross abuse towards Jesuits who support the Pope of the Catholic Church. This post needs to be removed and the poster blocked.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is a 'Catholic' issue of abuse what is psychological and sexual at the same time. It happens in 'Catholic School Indoctrination' in early childhood. Catholic psychology knows it can mind-control people for life by engraining them early in church-fidelity memes.\nThis reality of mind-warping and controlling lives of people by early indoctrination is revealed in the sinister decision of the RC Church under circumstances of blatant insensitivity.\nRead 'FALLEN ORDER, Intrigue, Heresy, and Scandal in the Rome of Galileo and Caravaggio', by Karen Liebreich. Until now, the psychology of early childhood indoctrination roots back to this medieval official Church decision. Children's minds are innocent until polluted from outside (church) politics. Childhood Communion should not pre-require confession; Jesus says, \"Suffer the little ones to come unto me.\"\nhttps://akacatholic.com/fallen-order-homosexual-pederasty-in-the-roman-catholic-church-part-i/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Trump is pushing the repeal of the Johnson Amendment for the same reason the Republicans are opposed to eliminating of the Electoral College, because they benefit from those things. In today's America, organized religion is diminishing as a rallying point for political action, but if somebody is going to electioneer from the pulpit, chances are they'll be preaching the GOP party line.\n\nI respect the fact that conservative Christians support Trump for ideological reasons. What I can't stomach is the hypocrisy of some of their leaders, like Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell, Jr., when they say -- with a straight face -- that they believe Trump is one of them. \n\nAnd don't get me started on the tacit support the USCCB has given this guy. All they cared about was keeping Hillary Clinton out of the Oval Office. Well, they got their wish, but look at the price they paid in moral compromise. Shameful.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I tried making this point awhile back, but it went over people's heads. \n\n\"Thou shalt not kill\" is another commandment that Jesus interprets \"rigidly\" as being transgressed by anger, or saying to someone \"You fool.\"\n\nPeople conflate the moral law of Christ and the ceremonial law of Moses and these are two examples that confound the narrative of \"rigid Pharisees/permissive Jesus\" that are used to justify sins of the flesh.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why will you not recognize that the Catholic Church is a large part of the problem? The Catholic Church in the US has been fomenting division ever since the late 70s. The Church has continued to do this by firing gays from their jobs and by, essentially, condemning people to hell if they were to vote for Clinton. The US Catholic Church is, in significant part, responsible for the election of a man who has elevated all sorts of bigotry to an art. His election has already created an atmosphere in which people feel free to openly harass, intimidate and threaten those whom they consider to be \"undesirables\", whether it's blacks, or Muslims, or immigrants. And you suggest that THIS institution be given the role of bringing about peace and unity?????????????????????????", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Once again, RD has taken it upon himself to dictate to others how they are to live their lives. His arrogance in this area is unbounded. He has decreed what \"natural law\" is. In this case, it matches what his own personal opinion is -- a common failing for those who invoke it. It regularly means \"I don't have an actual argument against something, so I'll just say \"natural law\" and hope no one notices that I'm bluffing.\"\n\nRD, most people reject -- and rightly so -- what you decree their spiritual path should be. One size does not fit all. Especially the excessively narrow-minded path you demand of everyone else. Plus the fact that your path demands homophobia, which is anti-Christian by definition", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Excommunication is a joke. The Church can no more remove a person from communion with God than it can control a person's salvation. Consider it a form of dark ages nonsense used to con people into doing what they are told.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Did you miss (black) Evangelical Bishop Aubrey Shines endorsement of Trump today?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Until the cultural ideology that \"same-sex inclinations\" are \"objectively disordered\", and that gay love-relationships are \"intrinsically evil\" is dealt with, there will be no hope of inclusion of LGBT Catholics as equals at the banquet table. These categories are cultural constructs, and need to go where the injunction for slaves to obey their masters went.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How many were practicing Catholics?\n\nHow many were culpable? (e.g. Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg)\n\nHow would the bishops conduct a trial and who would provide evidence?\n\nI love these little bon mots and soundbites of inanity since I have dealt with them so many times over the years dealing with anti-Catholics, but it still a bit disconcerting to run into such unsupported drivel coming from purported Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "By very direct implication, MSW is calling millions of Americans \"evil\" for voting for Trump.\n\nFirst Hillary called us \"deplorables.\" \n\nNow Michael Sean Winters is calling us \"evil.\"\n\nHe has to be. Those who voted for Trump were adults, were well aware of his past, positions and policy. So according to MSW, we are evil.\n\nIt's despicable that MSW and the National Catholic Reporter uses the foulest terms to assail the president and the millions of Americans who voted from him.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The difference is I don't claim to be a christian. I don't think you were following...the example about blacks/bus was to point out how bad discrimination is. Saying the gays can buy remade cakes when the baker makes custom wedding cakes makes no sense", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your concept of Catholicism along with a those of a majority on this site is from your own very words deny and reject the 2000 year old teachings of the Catholic Church. Is it not possible that you (plural) are the trolls and hypocrites?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Since when Christians stopped lying? Take the example of Catholic fathers. Those who preach do not lie lie themselves. Something to remember on this Thankstaking day.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Once again we have to assign blame to group of people instead of just one deranged individual. What if it turns out that this guy is a Christian? Shall we blame all Christians?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We are not babies. Even teenagers are not children.\n-\n We do not need the government to tell us what we can or can not do with our own bodies or in own homes(as long as we are not hurting anyone.) This goes for abortion, sexual orientation or drug use. There is no logical reason that marijuana was illegal, the law was simply WRONG for many years. \n-\nCanadians stood by while their neighbors had their doors kicked in. big violent men took them away to jail. Canadians stood by while their neighbors had their kids taken away from them. These same Canadians who also smoked weed as teenagers.\n-\nSince there is no logical reason for marijuana to be illegal we know who the zealots are: the Christians. The narcissists who see Satan and Sin behind every door. Only the most pragmatic rule follow people who perpetuate these witch-hunt and spend billions of dollars to punished people for victimless crimes. Trudeau does not want to lose their votes, so he continues the reefer madness a bit longer..", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would be interested in your reflection on his lecture. It was that year's McManus Lecture at Catholic University. He is 81 now and retired but an amazing intellect. He was very humble and a wonderful, kind spiritual director. He changed my life. \n\nI was lucky, Bishop Peter Rozazza from Hartford was also my spiritual director at St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield, CT. He went on to do amazing work with the Hispanic population in Hartford as an auxiliary bishop. He too was very spiritual. He also had a great sense of humor. Fluent in four languages (he was my Spanish prof).\n\nWith all the crap about priest sex abuse, I was a seminarian for 10 years and ALL of the priests were just wonderful, kind, holy men. I owe so much to the Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\u201cIt has long been my contention that the work of forcing the church to rid itself of offenders was much too important to be left to SNAP.\u201d\nDid you try? Even if you tried, it is obvious that you have failed, right?\n\n\u201cIt has been obvious for years SNAP leadership was motivated by a desire to destroy the Church much more..\u201d \nHave you been raped by clergy? If you were not, how would you possibly know what their motives can be? \n \n\u201c.. it must be done by those who love her, not hate her.\u201d\nDo you love the Church? If so, what have you been doing? \nPope F. forced bishop Juan Barros to Chilean Catholics still stand along with C. Pell, C. Law, and all the rest of guilty hierarchies. \nIt is easy for some to criticize SNAP without doing something to eradicate this Catholic, enormous evil organization's, insistent/persistent evil conducts! SNAP is not raping children!!! \n \n\"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.\" - Edmund Burke", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's ludicrous to analyze Trump's vague policy pronouncements. Instead, we must consider his character first. He is ONLY interested in himself. I'll bet he cannot name the cabinets he is to fill, much less who heads them now. There is nothing there. How about this: if there is no God, then proclamations in the Bible become moot. Trump is that no god. He is zero. His proclamations are as ephemeral as dandelion seeds in a breeze.\n\nPundits err mightily in giving weight to his words.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"We\"? Do you mean white European Christians? That mystical concoction that some Canadians believe that Canada was created to serve and nurture? The world is changing and the face of Canada is rapidly changing. It's time to put your xenophobia in your back pocket and embrace the new reality.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mr. Maines, using the Bible as \"proof\" of anything is ridiculous. One might as well use Dr. Seuss books to prove green eggs and ham exist naturally.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is not Canada ...with a bunch of \u00ab Loyalists \u00bb Orangemen. \nThere is no place for a bunch of Ku-Ku-Klowns in Canada.\nAfter the establishment of the Canadian Federation (1867), the English speaking several provinces attended helplessly to the adoption of several LAWS and regulations, anti-Catholic and anti-French in English Canada, especially in that regard to denominational schools outside Qu\u00e9bec.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Vince, please cease from letting facts get in the way (tongue in cheek). \n\nHistory has taught us a lot, and the \"reality of unintended consequences\" is one of them. Nixon Goes To China would be one. But to me, the most ironic one of them all is the marriage of convenience between Catholic hierarchy and Evangelical pastors.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do we never learn? Trump didn't fall from the sky and land in the President's seat. \n\nNope! A large portion of Good Ole Catholics voted him into office, as our hierarchy advised they do. We did this, after knowing him to be person full of hatred & a clear desire to hurt many other's rights. \n\nOur church needs to figure out that attacking women's reproductive rights should not be the primary goal of Catholics because illegalizing abortion has already been proven to, not only, not slow abortion rates in countries where it is illegal but may even cause its increase as these countries have higher rates of abortion than ours.\n\nThis constant attack on women's legal rights has taken all attention off of other issues of great moral importance. How many children are dying and out in the cold because we won't take them in? We can't claim to give a darn about the poor people who are being deported or those refugees we are refusing to allow in while we help people like Trump get elected.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You know way too much about the Catholic educational scene back in 1960s not to be from Saskatchewan. And if you planted the trees in the circular drive, and know the story, you were a probably a novice a year ahead of me! OB?????", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus stood for right vs wrong , and explained what needed to happen for people to make it to Heaven . Prevo , and Christians who think like him , hate no one. They hate sin and believe everyone can change if they want to. The leader of the group in this story just doesn't understand the Bible's teaching on sin as he seems to condone it with a live and let live approach to life. He does a great disservice , in my opinion , to real Christian and Bible teachings. Put another way---in my opinion he's leading people on a path to where they don't want to go . I wish Prevo would fight back against those who wrongly attack him. He has clearly made Anchorage a better place to live.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration has already stated categorically that he will not open Canada's doors to Christians. That would be religion faith based immigration policy and against our secular moral standards. He said just a couple of weeks ago that Christians don't face the same dangers as other legitimate refugees. He will however welcome all Muslims fleeing Trump's persecution in the US.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Mr. Trump is now President Trump, and curiously, some of the harshest, on-going fury directed at him has nothing to do with his personal character,\u201d \n\nThe fury directed at President Trump has everything to do with his character. This is a man who insults, belittles, makes fun of, and sexually assaults whomever he pleases. In addition, his lack of concern - Christian or otherwise- for those in need is horrifying.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Now let's be careful with our Theology, here. \n\nThere are a bunch of Christians out there who count infant baptism as making one Christian, so those toddlers might qualify. And lots of churches don't do Confirmation until the teens are approaching, so it isn't just toddlers. Some of the street gang shooters might put down a few before they get confirmed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Are you seriously expecting any Catholic to agree with this coment of yours?\nYou set yourself up here and on your blog as a Catholic, yet you deny almost every tenet of the Catholic Faith. Why should anyone heed you? With what or whose authority do you speak?\nWhen I read your posts I am reminded of the snake-oil salesmen who once conned the people of the U.S. with their quack, universal cures and remedies.\nThis is fair comment so if you manage to get it rejected as is your wont, I'll keep reposting it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Look, I am a devotee of Dr. David L. Schindler, one of the foremost theological critics of the American conception of the human person, politics, the state, religion, economics, just about everything you can think of. I have NO issue at all with critiquing the parts of American Catholicism which ally themselves to a value-voters, pro-free market, pro-American democracy for all worldview.\n\nNevertheless, the Spadaro-Figueroa article sweeps literally every American Catholic who does not align themselves exclusively with Francis' view of the Church and the world in the same dustbin. It's wildly off the mark.\n\nReality check: Pope Francis and the folks condemned by the Civilta article are TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN. As much as they want to claim that Francis seeks to disentangle \"spirituality\" from civil affairs, his actions do not line up. He uses the papacy as a political bully pulpit. Lest we forget the influence held by Card. Parolin nowadays in Rome. Premier Catholic political office.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I've heard of fake news but now you are supplying fake history!\n\nChina 1900 - Boxer Rebellion\nFor two months the Boxers occupied the capital and besieged the foreign legation district, where the foreign community and a large group of Chinese Christians barricaded themselves within the legations. The foreigners managed to resist repeated Boxer attacks until a multinational force finally fought its way in from the coast and reached Beijing, lifting the siege. U.S. marines played a key role in defending the legations during the siege and also joined the multinational force that crushed the Boxers.\nThat's your \"invasion\"???\n\n Korean War\nUS and/or the UN force fighting the N. Koreans and the Chinese, who \"attacked them\" to back the N. Koreans, but 'never' crossed into China.\n(Maybe your \"epic bloody battle along the border\" was a video game you once played.)\n\nVietnam.\nUS was invited into Vietnam.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That is fair enough. I just know what I read and was told during 7 or so years of CCD. I will just go on thinking he was loving, caring, and inclusive, didn't pass judgement, and encouraged his followers to do the same...but thanks for the insight. I am always very interested in how socially conservative Christians reconcile some of their words/behavior and the teachings of Christ. I suppose it makes sense, our perceptions of Jesus Christ may just be vastly different.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No surprise here. Under Obama flag officers sold their souls by enacting the extreme progressive agenda to get that next star! Just like the leftist fascism going on at college campuses, conservative views and Christianity are now shunned in the military. Armies that lose God's blessing are doomed. Maybe Trump can turn this around starting with firing any of them who are still serving.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Will: Prophet, Nahhhhh, NO WAY. One of Keseys very own quotes is, \"I was raised a Christian and was a stone-faced acid head\".\nOur very own Federal Government states Marijuana is ILLEGAL. I agree with them, not all of you DRUGGIES out there.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "...joining \"Rev\" Paula White, queen of the prosperity Christians. For a \"godly\" fee to her and a prayer, she promises worldly riches. She seems to have \"trumped\" Card. Dolan?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Be honest. You don't get to decide what is catholic or not.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mayor Andrew Ginther told the gathered residents that he hoped the city can stop violence and questioned the widespread obsession with guns. \u201cIt is unacceptable for a 13-year-old to be armed with a firearm replica.\u201d\n\nThe violence of any nature, sourced from God's greatest enemy, will only cease by the second coming of Jesus Christ. What was a child of Christian parents, doing with a toy gun outside while perhaps his parents were inside worshiping? The gift of a gun, toy or otherwise, in this day and age, and even of past generations, should have never been considered a fitting gift to the yet immature child.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So messy!\nIndefectibility generally refers to the faith of the Church, a faith that cannot fail.\nMagisterium refers to teaching, which is expressed by bishops, especially the Pope and can appear in 2 forms, ordinary and extraordinary.\nExtraordinary teaching comes from bishops assembled in an ecumenical Council, or from the Pope ex cathedra. They may be considered as having been taught infallibly..\nOrdinary teachings can also be taught infallibly, by the Pope or by bishops not gathered in council.\nJP2\u2019s statement about not ordaining women was NOT an act of his extraordinary magisterium, by his choice. However, it did testify to something that has been taught by the infallible ordinary teaching of all the bishops over the last 2 millennia.\nThat is my summary of Ratzinger\u2019s commentary on Ad Tuendam Fidei on these issues.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "She also repented. Jesus said: \"Sin no more.\" That would mean the quiet Time in Confession to Listen to Jesus through the Priest, and beforehand through one's informed Conscience, an Examination of Conscience. The hypocrisy was those men holding large stones - likely including the man who went along with infidelity in the woman's relationship with her husband. Or perhaps the man who slept with her, also violated his relation to his wife. All the same, they who held stones must have had been either forgiven at one point, or had sins they had never been caught in - including adultery. \n\nThe \"good\" thing about her being \"caught in adultery\" is that she was found guilty. Jesus didn't deny she in fact committed a grave and seriously immoral one. For He said: \"Neither do I condemn you.\" So the sin is condemnable. Even Jesus said: \"Love the sinner, but hate the sin.\" That includes adultery.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If the poor become a TRUE priority for this denomination, there is a strong possibility (along with the promotion of contraception) that the need that CATHOLIC women feel to have an abortion might be substantially reduced. But that takes a change of direction away from the status quo comfort zone .... and who wants to do that? Current Catholic bugaboos are repeatable without any need for further thought and/or change of direction.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sr. Sauro has written a moving commentary that expresses the deep sorrow many Catholics are feeling. There could be a solution, but Pope Francis has done little to face the problem head-on. He will not allow the ordination of women as either priests or deacons. He has done little to bring lay Catholics into positions of authority. True, he has made efforts to make the hierarchies of the national churches more independent, but even here he is finding push-back. And there are bishops and cardinals who are doing what they can to slow and even blunt his agenda He is getting older and his strength is ebbing, and the chances of any meaningful actions are getting fainter by the day.\n\nSad to say, little is being done. It is all in the hands of the Holy Sprite. but I dread where he is taking us.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Good morning, John. I think there are several issues that explain our several differences. Correct me if I'm wrong. First, I think you tend to give Paul and others the benefit of the doubt when they are portrayed, or portray themselves, as speaking or writing with pure motives. I tend to suspect that they are attempting to put the best possible light on often ambiguous circumstances. (For example, I think Peter did more than simply \"deny\" Jesus in the gospels, and that Paul sought the approval of James and Peter largely to deflect criticism.) Second, it seems you accept more than I the traditional portrayal of Jesus as a man misunderstood by his disciples, largely for their ignorance, by the Jewish authorities, for their duplicity, and by the Romans, perhaps for their convenience. I tend to think Jesus was rather well understood by all three groups. (Disclosure: Reza Aslan is a colleague, and we've debated this at length to no avail...) More when I have time...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I really appreciate the comments and demands of the German Catholic Womens Association. Such demands of equality must extend to women within the Church. It is time for women's voices to be heard in the priesthood. \nOnly when there is true equality for women on all levels will there be justice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In the West and in China and Japan, \"we\" have an effective way to reduce population, whether \"excess\" or not, and geographers call it \"the demographic shift\" which amounts to smaller families on average, smaller than the \"replacement level\" or a little above 2 children per woman. The shift requires societies to have health care adequate to reduce infant and child mortality, as well as universal education, especially for women, and adequate food. The downside is an oversupply of the elderly, causing economic problems. We and other nations use immigration in part to pay for the upkeep of the old; but in our case we are running out of immigrants as our neighbor nations enter demographic shift, but we can import plenty of willing workers from the Middle East, most of which hasn't entered the demographic shift. A rising population generally accompanies an expanding economy.\n\nI would think that as a Christian nation we would take care of the sick and the poor, as Jesus did. So what happened?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Muslim Ottomans and Safavids ruled Christian kingdoms in Eastern Europe, Armenia, Georgia, etc - but did not convert them en masse. Other than Russia, European kingdoms were not as liberal. There wasn't a single mosque in Western Europe till the 19th or the 20 century.\n\nAs for the Japanese, they never went to a foreign country and forcibly converted people to Shintoism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Believe me, Trump didn't create President Trump. The voters who are totally fed up with our self-serving politicians and system did.\" -- jaydub58\n\nNice theory, but like Lynn Porter's tired, one note tune, not close to reality.\n\nClinton won the popular vote, which is certainly a more legitimate indicator of popular appeal. The losses in Michigan and Wisconsin came from white Christian evangelical turnout fearing for the cultural change that they feel threatens them.\n\nClinton won the lower-income voters.\n\nAmazing how so many posters want to make up their own \"analysis\" without any relation to the actual facts.\n\n-- Paul", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes folks, just another case of a guy being driven to terrorism and anti-Americanism by his evangelical church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It damages the sacrament of the Eucharist because when we come to the table we are supposedly in communion on the teaching of Christ and all striving to live those teachings. When that is mocked, we have not \"communed\". We have been a bunch of individuals doing our own thing on our own terms and profaning Christ in the process.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Withe the approval of Pope John Paul II, the Prefect of the CDF, J. Ratzinger promulgated the Church view on the role of women \"...in the church and in the world\"(2004). The document teaches that God created women to serve the loneliness, sexual and reproductive needs of men. After the \"first sin\" he teaches that God's words to the woman were definitive \"...he shall rule over you\". \nReflect on the title: \"Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Collaboration of Men and Women in the Church and in the World\".\nWhere are home, municipal council, state legislature, federal government, elected, married, single, noted as exceptions from this \"teaching\"? The church stands by it in the exclusion of women from the fullness of participation.\nHomosexuality is an \"intrinsic disorder\" and people have been excluded and fired from employment \"...in the church\". \nWhy would not Catholics be questioned as to whether they are \"faithful\" to its teaching \"...in the world\" as in the Church?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree, Brian. Those \"sacraments\" are not the center of faith for many Catholics now. We can have a Catholic Church without them as long as we have a Catholic church that prays together, supports each other in good and bad times, seeks together to do what is good in the world. Sharing of bread and wine in a house church is as holy as sharing bread and wine in a cathedral - if it is done in memory of Jesus. \n\nWe can have a Catholic Church without an \"ontological change\" in priests. We need local leaders, spiritual guides and faith teachers, but that could be male or female, married or unmarried. \n\nWe can also have a Catholic Church without most of the dogma, doctrine, and teachings that were developed out of Judaic, Greek, and Roman cultures and schools of philosophy, a faith designed to make someone holy in 1st century environments of secular and religious all male rulers who considered themselves either divine or empowered by a divine right to rule.\n\nI don't live there or then.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Correction, the Orthodox Church and the Southern Baptists have both retention issue and an actual loss in membership (shrinkage). The Mormons and the Amish are not shrinking due to high birthrates, but still have retention issues, 64% for Mormons and 85% for Amish.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Read someone out\" is an idiom meaning \"expel\". Sorry for using a phrase you are unfamiliar with.\n\nYou have said that anyone who disagrees with anything the magisterium says is ipso facto, not a Catholic. You also say that your opinions are identical with the teachings of the Catholic Church. Thus, anyone who disagrees with YOU is not a Catholic.\n\nYes, there are teachings I disagree with. You want to claim that this means I am not a Catholic -- you are wrong to do so. Your idea that all teachings bear equal weight is silly. No rational person would claim that saying \"women cannot be ordained\" is as significant as \"Jesus Christ is truly God\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Often what gets called \"the prosperity gospel\" is not the prosperity gospel at all.\n\nThe prosperity gospel is \"Pray in my church and your prayers will be answered.\"\n\nBut just saying that if you stop drinking, stop smoking, stop cheating on your wife, tell the truth, keep your promises, go to bed early and work diligently at your job, then God will be pleased AND your worldly affairs will probably (not certainly, obviously, because bad things happen to good people in a fallen world) improve is not prosperity gospel. It's just recognizing that God knows what's good for people and wants them to do it.\n\nOne reason evangelicalism is popular in Latin America is alcoholism causes a lot of misery among poor people. Evangelical churches tend to take a tough line on drinking and the Catholic hierarchy have a not-entirely-undeserved reputation for a weakness for the bottle.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Someday I would like to meet you and learn why the planet has such hatred for humans.\"\n\nMore cognitive dissonance, it is actually the elite humans who hate their planet, as evidenced by the sanctimonious hypocrites who jet to photo-op events whist Rome burns. 9,000 bureaucrats on expense accounts in Waikiki, what marvelous example of environmental conservation and stewardship.\n\nAnd while we're on the subject of Rome, Saint Constantine the Great Emperor or Rome, who built The Church of the Holy Sepulchre at the site of Jesus' tomb in Jerusalem and author of the Edict of Milan, takes umbrage at your statement that \"Jesus and his group eventually brought down the Roman empire.\"\n\nPerhaps you confuse The Christ with the Visigoth King Alaric...they both had beards and a \"group\". \n\nAmazing how zealots continuously engage in revisionist history and pseudo science to buttress their naive beliefs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The 7th Day Adventist are a religious cult who take Saturdays off, are transfixed that the pope is the anti-christ, speak in tongues, don't pay taxes to help maintain the streets and crosswalks\u2026. and refuse service in the armed forces of the US. Who cares what they say other than to themselves.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nice to see you've taken up tap dancing as a hobby. It might help with the log rolling if the karma quake catches you napping. What political persuasion is Kate Brown again?\nSorry, TP2, but your hyperbole undid you once more. Evangelicals as prevalent as mosquitoes in Texas? That's one mighty large congregation you decided had this disaster coming. Real people, real trauma. You're on record in favor of it.\nIt's cute that you think senators can't count votes before casting their own in dissent without having it affect the outcome. Jersey got its money, speaking of comprehension. Did you notice?\nMaybe stick to the shallow end of the pool and just comment on Duck football.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually Nathan, where we differ is that I really believe that advocating the cause of the deprived and the oppressed is a scriptural--and thus a spiritual--principle; and I believe that Kingdom living is living by scriptural (i.e., spiritual) principles.\n\nJesus indicated that those who ignore the plight of \"the least of these\" are quite unlikely to become members of any Kingdom with which He is associated (to put it mildly); but on the other hand, those who do not ignore the plight of these \"brethren,\" and do something about it, will be credited with having done so unto Him.\n\nProphetic 'Old Testament' admonitions ratified by the prophetic teachings of Jesus in the 'New Testament' add up to inescapable and undeniable principles of \"Kingdom living.\" But I frankly doubt that we agree that advocacy for the disadvantaged, the dispossessed, and the oppressed represents such a principle.\n\n I should leave it at this: despite my profound skepticism, and my cynical belief that political...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, I think that's right.\nI doubt that Francis will intervene, though of course he can (the pope has full, immediate and ordinary jurisdiction everywhere in the world). If he does intervene, I think he would almost have to change canon law -- he can do that, too -- so that a bishop like the one in Madison could not appeal to church law to support his decision.\nBut I continue to think that the real problem is not the local bishop, or even the law: it's the teaching on which the law is based. That has to change.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bishops are to know and serve their people. That is the command Jesus gave. A shepherd knows his flock---and they know his voice. They know his voice because he spends time with them and among them. Service to the people is part of the requirements for any bishop.\n\nThose bishops who oppose 'Amoris Laetitia' are known as those who have no concept of what difficulties people undergo today in: 1) marriage, 2) in raising children, 3) pressures of work, 4) pressures from society. In plain words----they aren't among their people---and their people don't KNOW them as anything but ecclesiastical \"bigwigs\" and nothing else.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Most Catholics I know support ordained women in the Catholic Church. They just don't go near the doors of a church any more. The damage to people's hearts and souls by the John Paul II and Benedict XVI dynasty will take many years to heal. Was it really necessary for Benedict XVI to make those ridiculous changes in the Liturgy? When Jesus altered the words of the Seder Meal on Holy Thursday by inserting, \"This is My Body.\" \"This is my Blood\" he was giving a beautiful example of what the Christian Gatherings should be from then on. Did he say, 'O, by the way, try not to use 'cup' -- use 'chalice,' a word you've never heard of in your daily lives?\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This isn't apropos of any of these news items. But back in October, you ran a story correctly criticizing Archbishop Kurtz for a video message that criticized Hillary Clinton's campaign advisers for email comments they made about the Catholic Church prior to working on her campaign. According to the CIA, Archbishop Kurtz only knew about those emails (which he was all too happy to gossip about) because Vladimir Putin was trying to elect Donald Trump President. And arguably succeeded. And plausibly succeeded in part because the USCCB chose to publicize emails they had no business ever seeing or commenting on. Will we Catholics who pay the bills in the church in the U.S. ever receive a formal apology from the Bishops for being Putin's willing dupes?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"People who use the word 'denier' out of science\" [picture above]\n\nAs an aside, who's denying \"climate\"?\n\nI think, in a very real sense, this article is anti-Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"Priests telling laypeople how to vote is frowned upon by both the bishops and the pope.\"\n- It is one thing for a group, made up primarily of lay people of a parish, to meet to discuss ethics and social justice in light of upcoming elections or legislation before various governing bodies.\n- It is another for a cleric to pointedly, or obliquely substitute the homily on the liturgical readings, with heavy handed innuendo, and imputations on how 'catholics', that is the ones in the pew, ought to behave in the voting booth.\n- Any rule or law that keeps clerics from confusing pastoring and evangelization with their own opinion of political drifts and tides is a rule that must be kept. The humour is of course that clerics who make this mistake might actually think that this will put them on a terna.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If these people don't go to Church, how did they get the survey in the first place? Secondly, please show me where Christ stated that people had to support the church every week to be considered members of the church?\n\nThe people who are in church every Sunday are usually the older people who are financially stable. They aren't the young parents---who often have work on Sundays, or who are single parents. You are speaking as if you live in the agrarian societies of the 19th and early 20th century America.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So because they think marriage = one man and one woman that means they are scared (phobic) of gays? Why does everyone have to agree with your definition of marriage? Especially when throughout 99% of history marriage was one man & one woman? \nIf the women at ID felt the church was being misogynist I'm sure they could speak up for themselves. There are many deacons who are women there. \nWhat is wrong with a sub-set of society wanting to live under a different set of rules?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Talk about an Alinskyesque twisting of the facts. The drop in Mass attendance started in 1965 with the close of Vatican II and all its Utopian, relativistic/indifferentist \"window opening to the world\"---not some modernist \"smaller, purer Church\" boogeyman. This generation of Catholics is more traditional than the thankfully dying off VII adherents. Francis is the last hope for these scoundrels.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Trump, addressing religious leaders in a signing ceremony at the White House, said: \u201cWe will not allow people of faith to be targeted, bullied or silenced any more\u201d.\n\n\u201cNo one should be censoring sermons or targeting pastors,\u201d he said.\n*************\n\n\"Merkans gonna be thrilled when hostile religions - like Westboro Baptist Church (the gawd hates X \"Christians\") and yes, likely some radical imams as well, go to town on this.\n\nNothing\nEver \nThought \nOut \n@ Trump White House", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It seems like there is quite a bit of them. Get on with the excommunications USCCB, but Gorka is probably the worst of the bunch. The man has a history of collaboration with actual Nazi apologists in Hungary. How is he allowed on Catholic TV?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "These allegations are truly disturbing, IF PROVED TRUE. Let's see where the chips fall. \n\nSince you so concerned about 'adjudication,' let's remember that one of the favorite sleaze-ball legal tactics of the hierarchs and their phalanx of attorneys is to counter-sue, attempting to drain SNAP resources so that they cannot serve the interest of survivors, especially helping survivors seek their constitutional rights to \"redress of grievances.\" \n\n[Remember, Catholic hierarchs are more than willing to spend mountains of $money to protect their positions of privilege with impunity.]\n\nThe leadership of SNAP are my friends - we have worked together for years to safe-guard children from sexual abuse and exploitation. They have my trust and respect. All of SNAP top leadership are themselves survivors of sexual assault when they were only children.\n\nLet's make sure that in your fervor for a \"whistle-blowers\" \"day in court,\" you don't indulge in re-assaulting survivors.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes in fact. The Catholic church is very clear on this one. The rules are the rules until they change the rules. \n\nThat you want to be a cafeteria catholic, or whatever other \"religion\" just reinforces some of my other comments. The religion exists to control the people through its rules. If you're not going to follow the rules, then you've failed at that religion. Perhaps you should be happy that they will no longer expel you from your town/state/country for your heresy. Hurray for watered-down religion.\n\nYour strawmen... not worth the effort.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Please link your evidence that Jesus existed. You talk in fact but have zero evidence.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Alternate Fact comment? \n\nhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_1960\n\n\"Kennedy received 112,827 (0.17%) more votes than Nixon nationwide and although Nixon won the popular vote contest in more individual states \"\n\nThere is lots of information on the internet. Some of it is even true.\n\nKennedy was assassinated, but impeachment, as with his opponent Tricky Dick, is the proper way to go if you are unhappy about a lying crook becoming POTUSA. \n\nKennedy encouraged the publication of \"Seven Days in May\" because he was concerned about the Military Industrial Complex finding some way to get rid of him. \n\nPart of the opposition to Kennedy was the idea of a Catholic being POTUSA. Religious prejudice is nothing new in the USA.\n\nKennedy was preparing to wind down the USA role in Vietnam at the time he was murdered. I wonder what Tricky Dick would have done if he had become POTUSA in 1961.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mainstream Christian churches openly and totally denounce groups like the KKK, and they welcome people of all races.\nUnfortunately with the recent trend in anti-white rhetoric, especially against white males, I wouldn't be surprised if there is some increased interest in retaliation by some with no moral foundation.\nWhen President Obama was elected I thought that at least it would help racial relations, and young black children would see that anything is within their reach. Unfortunately, under Obama it was the complete opposite. Race issues seemed much better in the 80s and 90s, now we've done a complete turnaround. Very sad.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Religion by its structure of male domination and absolute obedience to those put in positions of authority provides the opportunity for these predators. The Roman Catholic church is a proven protector of these pedophiles and continues to this day. The christian sects stemming from this original creation too often follow the same feudal heirarchy of blind obedience to the rulers. The very structure and dogma incorporates the fears and consequences for failure to obey. All of it based on nothingness and false power of an invisible entity. Aberrant and \"fowl\" behavior can be found throughout the human condition. Power structure without restriction contributes to the worst of human actions against other humans. No bigotry, just fact.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why? Scheer is a good little practicing Catholic, so outwardly religious, no? Why is it okay for Wonderbread Andy to be religious, but not a brown guy?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thankfully, a good guy with a gun (an NRA instructor, AR-15 owner, neighbour, husband, father, and Christian) was able to engage the murderer, incapacitate him with a shot in the leg and one in the side, and give chase until the murderer crashed his car.\nThen hold him at bay until police arrived on the scene. \nMany lives were saved by his actions.\nThis man is being heralded as a hero by law enforcement.\n\nBut that won\u2019t stop some people from blaming guns.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Although google spits out \"triclinaria,\" I suggest \"refectorium\" is better. I believe that was the term for the communal dinning room in a Roman Catholic monastery or convent or religious house right up to modern times. And in more recent times, meals in the refectorium were buffet style--\"pick your own.\" \n\nAlthough I haven't looked it up, I understand \"triclinaria\" more as the dinning room of a ancient roman home, a place where one ate reclined on couches, with slaves as servers. Not the right image, is it?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Peggy,\n\nYou're wrong. Matthew 19:4 & 5 come to mind. Jesus addresses God's opening creation of male and female and marriage. Paul, Peter, John all address sexual immorality in their passages in the NT. Jesus tells the prostitute to leave her life of sin. Its very clear what are the healthiest sexual relationships. It was designed and created that way.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why did you pick up on my 'in your face' phrase? I used it to describe a specific event where at work during breaks, one fellow would describe in lurid detail what he had been up to the night before to the embarrassment of all present. That is what I meant by it and would have been just as disapproving of a heterosexual doing the same.\nI believe what the Church and the Bible teaches about homosexual activity. I believe that only a husband can have a wife and only a wife can have a husband and no matter what polls show or society accepts, I will not change my mind, even if one of my children had turned out to be that way inclined.\nI would not go around advertising my sins and shortcomings to all and sundry because I am ashamed of them. This is not an 'issue' for me no more than the breaking of any of God's commandments is. You asked the question. How would you feel if someone of your family or acquaintance was quite blas\u00e9 about being a serial thief?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The fundamental misconception is that popularity is an important metric in determining the Church's success. The more popular the Church is the more souls it attracts, but if that popularity is at the expense of offering a fraudulent Christianity it diminishes its ability to reveal God truthfully. Mainline protestantism that embraces contraception and female clergy has demonstrated that these things do nothing to prevent shrinking. People embrace religion in a quest to be connected to an eternal constant, something certain and reliable. The more a religion changes it tells people that it does not possess a connection to that eternal constant and they will do just as well without it. Fidelity and constancy have served us well. Change and innovation are on every corner. The local country club can change its rules and reinvent itself as much as it want, we cannot. You hit the nail on the head: we are not a secular organization.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I personally do not know the will of God in any particular case. I do know what the Church, to whom Jesus Himself said \u201cWho hears you, hears Me\u201d and \u201cI will send the Paraclete to guide you in all truth\u201d and so on in the Gospels, teaches.\n\nI know that the Author of Life has commanded \u201cYou shall not commit murder\u201d.\n\nIf there is some gray there, it appears to be missing.\n\nYes, dogma warps our \u201cnatural sympathies\u201d. Pagans commit murder, abortion, theft, incest, and so and so forth.\n\nIf our \u201cnatural sympathies\u201d are correctly warped by dogma, we will do none of those things.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Paprocki is an orthodox Catholic bishop.\"\n\nYou are absolutely right. Bishop Paprocki is orthodox Catholic. And that is the problem. Bishop Paprocki exorcised a whole state. Another good orthodox Catholic, Cardinal Sarah, has told us that God does not approve of gluten free bread as the Host. RC orthodoxy looks a lot like primitive shamanism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding political groups, I think Network & Sr. Simone Campbell play the same role for the Democrats as some Catholic groups on the right with the GOP. In fact, I would be willing to wager that this is who Winters has in mind with him comments about not criticizing Democrats, but he won't name them because it would ignite a lot of criticism. Charles Camosy rightly challenged their silence over the recent intra-party squabbles over pro-life Democrats.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mercy is a difficult matter, but we can learn from Our Holy Father that one important aspect is to protect those unfortunate priests who made the mistake of abusing children and young people. To them, the Vicar of Christ has shown, Mercy must be elevated to any level necessary to avoid prosecution. In this, he follows in the Sacred Footsteps of Saint Pope John Paul II, the Great.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Every church in America practices that one-hour of being the most segregated institution every Sunday. Churches teach segregation. I was turned down twice in my life by a preacher man right here in Anchorage when my wife (two) sought to get married with \"NO, I do not marry folks of different races.\" So, don't preach at me about so-called christian love and respect. None have respect. No not one.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm more interested in upholding the teaching of Christ than in defending that of an earthly institution which you idolize and which daily betrays Christ with man-made precepts it presents as doctrine.\n\nHow many souls has this institution enticed from the 'narrow path'? We shall never know. But you, and your kind, will be held to account for it. God help you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As Monica said above/below. God's love is conditioned. \n\nMany have \"defined down\" the demands of Christianity, which require our whole, heart, mind, and strength. \n\nAnything that hints at a lighter path is not from God, it's from the devil. \n\nToo many Christians have been hoodwinked into the sweet-sounding \"once saved always saved\" mentality. (a protestant \"contribution\"). I run across them all the time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The host must be made of the proper material, because Jesus declared the host must be made of wheat and God cannot be present in any other grain. To think otherwise is heresy. Jesus requires gluten to be present, or he stays home when the mass is said and no one is actually in communion. This is not just medieval pseudo-logical nonsense. Its the Truth.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Commenting from Ireland; a somewhat similar issue from the city of Belfast, in Northern Ireland; where a bakery lost it's appeal to a higher court for refusing to make a cake for a gay-rights group. The \"Irish Times\" reported, in their issue dated the 26th October 2016; under the banner \"Ashers bakery (Born-again Christian bakers, Belfast) loses Bert & Ernie's Gay Cake Appeal\". The three appeal judges found; .. that a supplier may provide \"a particular service to all or to none, but not to a selection of customers based on prohibited grounds\".\n\nEqually important; in an \"Irish Times\" report, dated the 24th July 2017; where a man placed an order for a cake with a Dublin bakery \"to test and balance-out the Asher's case. He requested a message that included the words \"Gay marriage is a perversion of equality\". The Workplace (equality) Relations Commission ruled that \"a bakery was not discriminating on religious grounds when it refused to bake a cake with an anti-gay marriage message\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "MJM,\nYou must be a part of the fake news machine that Trump talks about. \nIF you really believe that bs than you are doing evil in order to reach your goal -- whatever that goal is. \nRemember, Catholic Philosophy tells us that even you and the USCCB cannot use ignoble (evil) means to achieve a goal - any goal. So cancel your hate and use your God given braion to find a NOT evil way to achiueve your goal. \nDon't believe everything you read. YOU, the USCCB and the last two popes and the GOP just might be WRONG.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The bottom line here is first that appearances count, and second that Canada, like most Christian-heritage countries, has nudity taboos that are emotional rather than rational. As far as I know, the ability to read minds does not exist; I cannot see into another person's mind to find out what gender they perceive themselves to be, but when they are naked I can see what gender they appear to be. That's the first point.\n\nSecond, Canada's most common nudity taboo is the taboo against being seen naked by any adult member of the opposite sex that you are not in an intimate or medical relationship with. The combination of \"appearances count\" and the nudity taboo means that most women will be distressed at finding themselves naked in the presence of an apparent male, especially if \"he\" is also naked.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Did Jesus come for the rich, the healthy [both spiritually and physically], the famous, the upper-class? He stated that he did not throughout the gospels.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "AND Some further thoughts.....I learned lobbying from a catholic nun who worked for the CAtholic bishops of CA.\n\nWe called her Sheila, and a wilting violet, she was NOT.\n\nShe knew every staffer and all the members and was present at every Committee hearing on every issue that affected the poor. She saw to it that the rest of us were present with \"clients\" and we too met with staffers/members and it was our job to have our clients explain just what the program provided that they needed...(and was about to be cut)! We shared our concerns with media and invited them to attend our lobbying efforts!\n\nTHATS what real lobbying is all about. NOT A letter decided on at a fancy and expensive meeting....\n\nThink it might be better if the bishops can't work out real lobbying to simply quit, those expensive meetings....donate your meeting funds to Simone...she knows how to use them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bang on? I was mocking you. And my family has been forced to give up its traditions in favour of the Majority decades ago. You want backlash? You're getting it. Exactly what Church do you belong to and what does your pastor think of your ranting?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think the tensions--within ourselves and within our time--relate to being told on all sides: conform or be gone. \n\nColleen beautifully addresses this. With courage and hope.\nShe shares a vision amid demands from her Church and from a Movement that she accept an agenda. She sees the Women's March as A PART OF. not APART FROM her core Catholicism. And vice versa.\n\nCan a woman be \"allowed\" to be pro-life and pro-March? Can a woman be \"allowed\" to be anti-abortion and pro-contraception? Can a woman be \"allowed\" to go to the March on Saturday and Mass on Sunday? Can a woman be \"allowed\" to be a Sister and a sister? \n\nCan a woman be \"allowed\" to allow herself the answers? \n\nCan the Church and the women's rights movement be \"allowed\" to be elite without being elitist?\n\nSr. Colleen performed risky rigors of discernment; she opened herself to disapproval from \"both sides.\" She dared to pray. She dared to march. She dared to hope. She dared to claim a right and a calling to do all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wow! A prenuptial enquiry has nothing to do with a pre-Cana marriage course. It's the legal document every couple has to fill in with the priest - and sign - before they can be validly married in a Catholic Church (or elsewhere if they have applied for and received a dispensation of canonical form.) If you didn't sign it, you ain't married. \n\nBut what is striking here is that someone who clearly doesn't know basic stuff about Catholic marriage is willing to accuse others of \"apostasy.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In other words, you never hear what you call \"pro-lifers\" say that the life of mother trumps the life of the unborn child.\n\nIf they are Catholic, that would be what I would expect.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Is this a theological argument? No. Pure social science. They have become as predicatable as lab rats in a maze or Trump defenders in a Frank Luntz focus group.\n\nAs for the first part of Walford\u2019s essay on infalliability. Either those passages on papal teaching are relativism (for Catholics by their Pope) or they still endow all Popes with Magic. The charitable view is the former, but authoritarians essentially believe the latter, except about this Pope. He does not seem to have the right spells for these Trads.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "must admit, there is something ironic about a pope lecturing on human rights.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When one facilitates national evil that is unlimited in the expectation that one's particular objective will be \"valued\" by that evil then you get what you deserve: evil.\nSadly, many others are the 'victims' of your self-supposed righteousness.\nWhether \"white catholics\" voted 60-37% or 52-45% for Trump, you did it, you got him elected. Congratulations. \nCalling themselves \"pro-life\" is as much a \"trumpism\" as is the President Trump claim that he won the popular vote or that the clericalist and hierarchical leadership merit \"followship\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh yes it is! While WE were still sinners, Christ (Jesus) died for us.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Has the author not realized yet that it is the RC (Republican Catholic) Church led by the likes of Chaput and Dolan.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So the person who nailed Jesus to the cross lacked full knowledge of what he was doing. Are we supposed to believe that we are just as/more ignorant of God's commandments today when we have access to the Bible, the CCC, and Church teaching at our fingertips with the Internet? Are we really that incapable?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, this has already been discussed, yet you continue to misunderstand my position. I don't recall any reference to \"chronic sarcasm\" which sounds like pseudo-scientific speech. I applaud your perusal of the referenced journals, but be careful you do not substitute an attempt at self-education for proper counselling. After all, you would not recommend someone try to learn about Jesus by reading the bible, unaided by the catechism, traditions and clergy of the church. In the same way, you should not try to address issues without seeking a qualified practitioner. I wish you the best in dealing with your problems and hope that, once you have addressed them, you will be more willing to discourse without the anger and false-victim issues.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Bible seems to imply Judas went to Hell, whether or not the Church formally declared it. \n\nHow could it be better for him to never have been born unless he went to Hell?\n\nWhat does it mean in Acts when it tells us Judas \"went to his own place\"?\n\nWhen Jesus prayed to His Father that He lost none but the son of perdition?\n\nIf I make it there, I'd be really surprised to run into Judas in Heaven.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hopefully, Herr Trump will see that his anti-Hispanic demagoguery won't fly with the Catholic Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "To insist that there are iron clad reasons why women cannot be ordained, stemming all the way back to Jesus' intentions for the church, is an attempt to avoid all questions around ordination and the sacraments. Questions like: did Jesus establish a hierarchical church with a system of male orders? ... if ordination is linked to the Last Supper, then assuming only 12 male apostles had been recipients of the sacrament of Ordination and Eucharist, wouldn't this line of thinking lead one to question that women and children, due to their absence, would also be excluded from the Eucharist! Such inconsistencies might even lead to questions around all the sacraments that catechism answers no longer for in-depth believers.\nInconsistencies, pat answers, and \"because I said so\", do not cut it in this age...they only create reasons for the increasing decline in participation within the institutional catholic church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One would think \"the one Church of Christ\" would treat a victim with fairness. Even when the priest confessed to assaulting a victim the church will use every legal maneuver no matter how dirty or hurtful to the victim. The Church routinely lies\nThere are very few attorneys willing and able to fight the church for a victim of clergy abuse. \nThe church often refuses to hand over discovery, using every tactic to stonewall including hiding behind religious freedom. The church is willing to spend millions in donations on protracted legal maneuvers to keep secret evidence of their knowledge of pedophile clergy and their response to victims. Wonder why?\n\nIt takes a special kind of attorney to deal with the constant dirty tricks and never ending stonewalling of the church. A personal injury attorney dealing with typical accidents will never have to fight so ridiculously hard just to get the discovery due to them. The church wants to intimidate and prevent others from coming forward.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Such is the state of our oligarchy that justice is only available for the rich! The state would not even test the DNA evidence in this case. But, considering Arkansas is deep in the \"Bible Belt\" Southerners are so proud of, I'm not surprised. I traveled in Georgia for business once for several months years ago. Everywhere I went throughout the state I saw Churches, Prisons, and cemeteries. I asked a very nice southern lady what that was all about. She said \"Honey, if we don't get you one way we're going to get you another.\" So in Arkansas, another state so proud of their brand of pro-life Christianity, we see a rush to kill people because the death drugs are about to expire. A very sad but so appropriate story to chisel on the tombstone marking the end of justice, equality, and rule of law in the US!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yeah, all that bullying done as a direct result of the bullies studying and acting out about Catholic teaching on homosexuality. \\sarc\n\nFew if any adolescents are committing suicide because the Church teaches that homosexual acts are sinful. Most of the men I know who are homosexual are Jewish.\n\nIf there's a common reason for boys with same-sex attraction killing themselves, it's from the realization that they are out of sync with what is an inherent understanding, along with biological and anatomical fact, that boys are supposed to be sexually attracted to girls and vice versa; and witnessing such attraction all around them.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Can't remember the last time I met a Christian that cared all that much about 'christian' values, in that light Trump just might be the perfect hypocrite to be their champion. May he sink their credibility along with his own.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "That's what's always bothered me the most about the Catholic Mass--all the blood and brains on the floor!\n\nI guess you can't tell when you are hallucinating.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Quite so, and the really sad part is that Trump plays up to his Evangelical advisors but values their counsel about the same as he values everybody else's, which is not at all. \n\nTo surrender self respect for the sake of politics is bad enough, but to do it and come up empty is pathetic.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Solid argument. LOL\n\nWhy don't you ISIS sympathizers host some somali refugees at your house then?\n\nI see though that Christianity is the common enemy amongst left wing nuts and ISIS and that's why you defend them.\n\nYou should realize that if they had their way, you'd be the first to die for your imbalanced progressive/moral relativistic views.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Stewards of the earth - LOL, fake Christians IMO.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Free zones in their country is the answer - that way they can easily return and will not remain a burden on the ones who actually work in America , so many people whine about this don't pay any taxes , and sorry but I'd take Christians any day over a group of people who are taught that those in the West are Devils and need their heads cut off", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/11/09/how-the-faithful-voted-a-preliminary-2016-analysis/. \n\n71% of Jews for Clinton with 81% of white Evangelicals for tRump.\n\nIt is interesting how the most corrupt always wear their piousness on their sleeve, no matter their religious affiliation. They cry loud and clear for all to hear how holy holy holy they are while they violate all the religious ideals and principles.\n \nJews are historically Democrat and stood by people of color during civil rights and protested the Vietnam war. They are victims of antisemitism from the right (again rearing it's ugly, dangerous head in public). They just want the Christians to leave them alone but Christians persist in blaming them for killing the Jewish rabbi, Jesus, when in fact it was the occupying Romans. They cultivate hate. \n\nSo please do not lump my relatives in with the white evangelical Christians, the white supremacists, the Nazis and the KKK. Those are the tRump voters.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I agree with you as long as I do not know that you are Muslim or Christian, or Jew... Keep your religion inside your house.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Christian traitor? Sig Heil much?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Wow. Trump is seeming more and more ridiculous - now the thrice married puzzzy grabber is the defender of Christianity? A Christianity which is somehow under attack in the US?\n\nAnd the evangelicals looked like they were basking in the rays of this hypocrisy. \nSoon we will need a new definition of Christianity - one I suspect that will be free of anything Jesus is said to have taught.\n\nAs The Donald would tweet: Sad!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "This is the kind of hate crime that Donald Trump has given rise to. In fact, shortly after this occurred a member of the mosque was taped saying that this was because of Trump, but this was not mentioned in this article. \nHate crimes against Muslims, blacks and other visible minorities have skyrocketed throughout North America because the man in the White House has given them license to do so. The very day the world is sent into chaos because of Trump's Muslim ban from 7 countries that the Cato Inst. says are responsible for 0 American deaths (but excludes Egypt, UAE. and Saudi Arabia, who are responsible for hundreds/thousands of American deaths because Trump has businesses there), this tragedy occurs. Trump and Bannon this is on you. You fan the flames of racism and hatred against our brothers and sisters of colour. You said on TV you favoured Christian over Muslim immigrants! Canadians don't want your condolences. Keep them and lift the travel ban against Muslims NOW!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Gee, it's the Christians that at prosecuting the twisted people that are killing the abortion providers.\nFurther, I don't see those twisted people indiscriminately targeting the entire population if they have an issue with a particular part of it.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Show your facts. No screening would be going backward from today's screening, you're delusional. \n\nI'm not concerned that Hillary would make homosexulaity a crime, or allow American Muslims to discriminate against women or gays. If they live in this country then they follow American Civil law, she has never suggested otherwise.\n\nYou on the other hand supported businesses that discriminate against gay people based on their Christian religion. \n\nhttp://www.dictionary.com/browse/hypocrite", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Charles makes a point, although it leans a bit more to the extreme about the sport killing of ISIS Muslims throwing gays off the roof. Why hold one religion to a different set of standards than another? The Muslim bakers did indeed discriminate and if you look all around everyone discriminates in some way, you discriminate everyday in some form of mannerism with the choices that you make even though you may not realize it. Sometimes you just got to let things slide by instead of trying to control and judge everything that comes up because you can't fight every injustice that occurs. So why is it ok for Muslims to discriminate and no one bats and eye, it barely makes headlines on B listed news sites but when a Christian does it, it becomes a national event just because someone you don't know was slighted and is it really a big deal that someone said \"Hey, can you do this for us?\" and the dude replied \"No.\"", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Aung Sung Suu Kyii has only a ceremonial role in the Burmese government, she is called the 'State Counselor' -- the Burmese military runs the country for the 88% Buddhist majority who want the Rohingya (4.3% of the population) and the Christians (6.2% of the population) and the Hindus (0.5% of the population) out of the country.\n\nIf they don't leave, eventually they'll all be killed. \n\nIt's just the way it is there, it will never change. (I've been there)\n\nThe level of hatred for the Rohingya by the Buddhist majority is unbelievable.\n\nBut Burma's loss is Bangladesh's gain, becuase the Rohingya are amazingly good farmers, even with the crap land they're allowed to live on, but not ever own, in Burma.\n\nCheers! JBS", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "\"I'm impressed by her strong Christian faith and her dedication to regular attendance. She regularly volunteers with Church activities such as greeting parishioners and helping with childcare for our members,\" Rep. Munoz went on.\" WHAT CHURCH ALLOWS HER TO HELP WITH CHILDCARE??!? People wake up!!! This is EXACTLY how sexual predators operate! They PURPOSELY find ways to be around children so they can cultivate additional victims!!! This lady isn't sorry, she's looking for new victims!!!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Go back to raping young boys McElroy and stay out of American politics you fat pedophile pig \nThe Catholic Church has become a joke \nThe socialist communist pope preaching to Trump to take more Muslim murderous refugees and ms 13 drug dealing child rapists DUI sucking American taxpayers dry \nWhile IGNORING THE MASS GENOCIDE OF COPTIC CHRISTIANS AND GAYS AND WOMEN THROUGHOUT ARAB WORLD WHILE SWEEPING THE PEDOPHILE CRIMES OF PRIEST LIKE MCELROY UNDER THE CARPET FU CATHOLIC CHURCH BTW IM CATHOLIC BUT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS BECOMING A COMMUNIST VIOLENT ORGANIZATION", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Clinton a scheming, robotic liar with a lifelong appetite for power and an entourage riddled with anti-Catholic bigots.\u201d\n\nThousands of hacked emails by Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta have embarrassed Mrs. Clinton since last Friday and revealed her key allies talking about ways to ignite a \u201cCatholic Spring.\u201d Documents obtained by the nonprofit WikiLeaks show Mr. Podesta and Sandy Newman, president of the nonprofit group Voices for Progress, mulling ways to end the \u201cmiddle ages dictatorship\u201d of the Catholic church.\n\nThe Washington Times\n\nGlad the clown won!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The vatican was correct to remind the faithful of the church's opposition to keeping cremated remains at home. Such activity could result in an improper veneration of the departed's remains, much like pagan and pre-christian ancestor worship. Which, of course, is completely different and distinguishable from the veneration of the corpses of saints, or bits and pieces thereof.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic Church is also opposed to birth control and divorce but they're cagey enough to play their cards close. Once they get abortion banned they'll play the next card.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thanks for the clarifying your thinking Bill. \n\nThe CHURCH has long been the source of guilt, it's always been a tool for their authority/power. Biblicly it went so far as describing foods that can be eaten, location with the synogog that only the 'authority' of the church could see, tithing.... Guilt was combined with human conviction, and put people in jail, in blocks, tortured, and at the bottom of the lake in the name of Christianity.\n\nYet, you and I agree that our society seems to have lost almost all guidelines for behavior. It's become 'if it makes you feel good then it must be OK\". Self interest drives selling: Drugs, cars, gadgets, politics ..........\n\nAt times it seems we are just giving into human impulses, with little to guide us morally or ethically. I sincerely believe the love of money is a root of evil, but then that's a Christian experience for Me 1 Timothy 6:10.\n\nI too wonder where our morality/ethical choices come from in modern American society.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sorry, Christian blood-letting just since WWII is orders of magnitude greater than Muslims', even if we were afflicted by 100 groups like the Da'esh (wrongly called \"ISIS\").", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Someone needs to school these so called holy men that expressions of sorrow do not include hiding assets and dragging the sexually abused through 5 year bankruptcies while using hardball legal schemes and stonewall tactics. The pain and betrayal caused to victims by the Milwaukee archdiocese bankruptcy was disgusting and evil. Even worse was the absence of any fraternal correction by fellow bishops, priests and most Catholics. These people seem fine to step over the carnage left scattered along the way. Pope Francis is just another protector of the ordained and should be ashamed of his lame attempts to prevent true accountability for dirty bishops and denying fair redress for victims.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Right on Gaw! And, incidentally the many batting around \"gospel, gospel, gospel\" show they don't know what the gospel of Christ is.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The letter writer does not sound like a Christian. If she was she would know that the Bible does address abortion. Sixth commandment. Thou shalt not murder. There is no way of getting around it. Abortion is murder. Speaking of voting for an unrepentant adulterer, etc. did C.J. vote for Bill Clinton when he ran? Hillary was an enabler who attacked the many women Billy boy sexually assaulted. Really C.J.?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The actual chant is \"You will not replace us\" and \"Jews will not replace us\", and they come from European anti-multiculturalism activists who feel that the \"white Christian identity\" is at risk from what they refer to as the \"Great Replacement\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Can I ask why you don\u2019t if you consider yourself Catholic?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I pity many US Catholics going to Mass this weekend, the ones who have been subjected to months of electioneering on behalf of Trump by their parish priests. Don't worry about him gloating (like the Latinate fraternity on here.) The priest won't. Instead you'll get some saccharin, stomach churning rhetoric about how Jesus wants us to now be healers and reconcilers. \nThe Church should forfeit its tax exemption status after the behaviour of many of its clerics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you actually believe in \"infallibility\" in an institution like the Catholic Church, I'd like to tell you that the Golden Gate Bridge will soon be up for sale, and I have the exclusive listing. It's a great deal.\n\nAnd Catholic experts like yourself might benefit from reading the actual history of how the infallibility doctrine was arrived at during Vatican I. If the process of sausage-making is so unsavory no one who eats them wants to observe it, wait until you study how the edifying \"revelation\" of papal infallibility was created. Hint: unless the Holy Spirit is a political operative, S/He was not in evidence at the creation. No tongues of fire either.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Look, everyone has his or her favorites, alongside their memorable quotes. Many Russians, for example, still love Stalin who affectionately said about his first wife, Kato Svanidze: \"This creature softened my heart of stone,\" only to have her relatives executed in cold blood years later. The regicidal murderer, Elizabeth I, was no better ordering the execution of Queen Mary of the Scots and the death of Dissenters and Catholics alike? Where was she behind her words -- \"I have no desire to make windows into mens' souls\" -when she ordered their deaths? Indeed, a Catholic's soul or Dissenter's was like a strip of land fenced with spikes to be spied on. She spied through her agents and murdered. As British historian Diarmaid Mac Culloch point out in his work THE REFORMATION: \"...England judicially murdered more Catholics than any other country in Europe....\" So much for Elizabeth's \"pretty restrained\" policies! The disappointment of historians succeeds the delusion of Elizabeth's fan club.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "60% of white, non-Latino, Catholics voted for Trump. Trump won because he carried Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Ohio, all states with a high percentage of white Catholics. (The South was a sure thing.) No matter how hard they try, NCR, America magazine et al are not going to be successful in revising the history of the 2016 election.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "my censored comment from here: funny how comments, civil comments on mass migration or forced islam are deleted. This is a civil comment, leave it up haters:\n'It does not matter what your excuse is, we do not want religion in public schools. Period. Adapt to our ways. or leave for a place that is more religious and thus suitable for you.\nThe powers that be are being nice to you because they represent the aspirations of corporate christianity - Anglicism, Catholicism who have always sought more and more footprint into the public sphere.\nWe will never accede to your demands. STOP IT!\nStop forcing your religion on others by holding services and practices in public schools. Using the police is a sick and twisted policy that will only create more hatred against muslims. Stop doing it. Keep religion private, period.\nWe won't roll over for religious fascism which is what your DEMANDS represent.'", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I too am cynical, but probably not a saint. It is mind boggling to me on one level that the Church continues to try to blow the smoke in the opposite direction when there is obviously a major fire with clerical abuse. However, it is not mind boggling to me when I really look at the theology behind the priesthood and the clerical ladder that has promulgated. No pope can afford to deal with this issue head on because to do so will force that pope to deal with the whole ontological, god called me, male only priesthood. The clerical abuse scandal goes to the heart of the sacramental priesthood, but not just the sacramental priesthood. It also hits Catholic sexual morality, and the intrinsic value of BORN children. For any number of reasons, ordained priests can't think their way out of those boxes so the People of God will continue to pay the price. Francis is no solution to any of those conundrums.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"all other innocents\" as if untold thousands of poor martyr priests have been rounded up and punished for crimes they did not commit against children. Nice try, but the real story remains the untold thousands of victims of priests who were betrayed by the Holy Mother Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It was you who changed the subject, from \"Catholics could do more\" to \"the Pope was in cahoots with Hitler\" to \"the Pope was in cahoots with Mussolini\".\n\nThe NPR interview was part of its series promoting authors which supports its narrative, in this case its barely hidden anti-Catholic bias.\n\nTo return to my point, you consistently post anti-Catholic material like this at every chance.\n\nI don't have to discredit this author, others have done it very well. Anti-Catholicism sells, and he is in for the money.\n\nYou're in it for another reason, and it is not to advance a Catholic discussion.\n\nThe only reason Rubinstein's assessment, and he is a historian several statures higher than the one he critiques, doesn't persuade you is because it does not fit your narrative, which is a consistent drumbeat of anti-Catholic material, usually of scurrilous origins.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Francis doesn't see Christianity at war with the modern world, but in dialogue with it\". \nSo truly put, as with the rest of your post. Alleging war presupposes a) the need for a strong, absolute leader/director, and b) a militaristic discipline/code of subservient followship that focuses on structure and robotic obedience rather than rational consideration. \nIf that were what Jesus wanted he would have picked up his cross, yes, but wielded it as a weapon.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What is uniquely and exclusively possible in and through Christ is the negation of historical expiation in the very instant of its promise. The economy of guilt/debt and retribution that Nietzsche correctly identifies as the root of Christian hate deprives fallen humanity of salvation by continually postponing its arrival. For those \"uniquely ready\" to receive the gospel\u2014that is, those living towards death who find in the ecstasy of worldly pleasure an annihilative corollary\u2014the Christian faith, with indiscriminate cruelty, opens the present as a wound that it will always prevent from healing. As a result of this wound, we can never look back, only forward, to the null point of impossibility. You, my friend, miss what is significant here: the eschatology of Judgment Day, far more than atheism, is a nihilistic refusal of messianic time. Where the latter might at least emancipate us to find our own salvation in history, the former lays history (and thus Portland) to waste.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Really? Since when is the concept of JUSTICE [equality and rights] a non-scriptural or Church teaching? Just to refresh your memory a bit with encyclicals:\n1) Pacem in terries, 1963\n2) Populorum progression, 1967\n3) Roman synod---Justitia in mundo, 1971\n4) U.S. Catholic Bishops: 'Economic Justice for All, 1986", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dear John Hobson, shame for criticising Card. Burke's hero Cyril of Alexandria. I would quote a notable bio. sketch:\n\"Cyril had punished himself for several years as a desert monk, but as was often the case, the tribulations of the flesh served merely to deepen his fanaticism and fire his intolerance: imagine him as a kind of fundamentalist mullah\"*. Not at all akin to the apparent indulgences source of the Card.'s rigid fanaticism.\nAnother: \"Cyril was a heretic hunter, and Jew Hater. Around Easter 415, he roused a Christian mob to attack the local Jews, sacking their homes, and seizing their synagogues to purify them and turn them into churches. He drove the ancient community from the city\"*.\nThe Saint was also involved in the skinning with oyster shells and burning death of the lady Hypatia, after which \"Cyril's career in the Catholic Church blossomed\"*\n*Holland, \"Misogyny The World's Oldest Prejudice\", pp.95-6", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you,\"Lifeofthelay\"! That is the primary reason that I distrust ANY Muslim scholar/theologian's assessment of the Christian Faith; when all is said and done, when you reject the reality of who Jesus the Christ is as the Scriptures proclaim Him,you have no idea what you're talking about.\ud83d\ude11 PEACE IN CHRIST, ALWAYS,THE ONLY LORD AND SAVIOR OF ALL MANKIND.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Condemn it? First of all they have to repeal the law prohibiting practicing of Christian faith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Every place I've ever lived in Canada has Catholic, Protestant and Jewish cemeteries. Refusing to build a Muslim cemetery is another example of bigotry. Congratulations.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Happy I left the Catholic Church when I did. As a member of the United Church of Christ, I no longer suffer from advanced cognitive dissonance, and ironically, I feel far more in tune with the ideals of social justice that I learned from my Catholic education.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I was enticed by Jesus himself. My mother did not practice any organized religion. She always looked at the people who go to church every Sunday in the neighbor and said \"They go to church every Sunday and behave the same old foolish ways!\" \nWhen I was a child, 6 or 7 years old, staying home alone, this man's voice said \"You were never alone, I am always with you.\" It seems it is very important that I know he is always with me, because he told me many times whenever I was alone the same thing. \nAlthough Catholic church was my least favorite I converted Catholic when I married a Catholic man. I thought Jesus will be with me in the Catholic Church too. \nI simply do not understand all these built up animosity toward other denominations. No matter which denomination you belong, how can you tell who believes/loves God more? Why worry about others spiritual practices, when you have many, many, MANY miles to travel to be united to God? \nYou need to do this walk yourself!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You may, as is your wont, throw up a straw man (a non-zero impact is not saying \"more harmful,\" for example). For my part, I'm merely focusing on inconsistencies in a group's arguments as a scientist, not as a political hack nor a parental-love-starved millennial-seeking-meaning-for-her-life. I'm also unsure why you see me as a \"traditional catholic\". I've certainly never self-identified as such. I'm simply \"Catholic.\" Is the \"progressive catholic's\" view much different, provided he does the hard work of thinking about the issue?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The answer you get would depend on which Muslim scholar you asked. The same applies to Christians; the answer you get on contentious points of theology depends on which theologian you ask, and which sect he adheres to.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I still believe and feel that there really is no difference between Catholicism and Protestantism since Vatican II and that's why many people left the Church over the past 5 decades.\nI remember the RCC before 1962:\nIt had a STRONG identity and most Catholics believed it was \"THE TRUE CHURCH.\"\nNot anymore.\nThat's why people left.\nWhy should I remain Catholic and follow all those rules when I can get to Heaven just as easily as my Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, or atheist neighbors who don't have to follow these rules.\nTo leave is very logical, and that's why most did.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why is this author given a forum here? She seems only tacitly Christian (it's hard to tell from the muddle of her essays, however), unfamiliar with most science (start here, for a primer http://www.nationalgeographic.com/deextinction/, if the science is too hard), and has only a tenuous grasp on writing for publication. Just because she is \"eco\" is no reason to promote her. \nI don't know who might be a better Christian \"ecologically spiritual\" essayist; I'm sure that many, even if I would disagree with all of them, have to be superior to this one.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your notions of Christianity are a train-wreck. It is Jesus Christ himself who says, over and over and over, that he will be killed, and that he will be the Lamb of God; he goes to great pains to show that he is fulfilling prophecy, the Suffering Servant passages in particular. So it's not paganism, but the Hebrew Scriptures. \"Virgin goddess\"? Who would that be? Not Mary of Nazareth. \"Fertilize the crops\" Where did you get that?\n\nThe bottom line is, you reject the witness of the New Testament and the oral tradition about who Jesus is and what he said and did -- so how precisely do you have the slightest idea of what Jesus' message was?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Presidential political history is documented, Brown. American voter wanted to know the candidates religious affiliation, whether or not they served in the military, and yes, we still want to know if they paid their fair share of taxes. Kennedy broke the mold on being voted down because of being Catholic, and President Clinton didn't have to answer the litmus test on serving in the military. The voting public still want to know about taxes and whether you like it or not, that's going to be a hammer as we near the November elections. tRump is going to be flipping and flopping like a halibut out of water to evade the tax litmus test. Paying taxes is a federal law and we do have a right to know.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A new cadre of Trump Catholics has dropped by, infuriated at Bishop McElroy for preaching the gospel.\n\nSad!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "you are correct Bob, and that group in the US is Christians.\n\nLook at all the gun deaths and then tell me how many were Muslim and how many were Christian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The most successful politician this country has ever produced was Ontario premier Bill Davis, who had a simple, easy-to-understand formula for success: fiscally conservative, socially progressive.\n\nI don't agree with everything he stood for - I think full funding of Catholic schools was wrong - but the fact is that line he walked was where most Canadians lived: concerned about their money but accepting of different social norms.\n\nI think that's still where most Canadians are, politically. (There are some extremist pockets here and there, but they generally don't represent the majority.) If the Conservatives can go back to their Davis-like roots, they'll clean up. But if they continue the Trump-like politics of division, they're destined to remain in the wilderness for the foreseeable future.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are forgetting that it is possible to have an erroneous conscience .\nNo Catholic can ever support a pro choice candidate . Abortion is an intrinsic evil. It is not \" one issue\" it permeates all issues.if you do not respect the dignity of every person then you do not earn the Catholic vote.\nYour editorial will cause many to \"justify\" the election of a party dedicated to expanding abortion coverage.\nWoe to you and God Bless the millions of innocent lives lost from the expansion of abortion \"services\".\nyour disregard for the basics teachings of the Catholic Church can only lead to the conclusion that you're not teaching Catholic dogma Nor Catholic moral theology.\nI will not read your publication again. It's one thing to support a pro-choice candidate it's another thing to do so in the name of Catholicism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you. That's what I thought (re: law and religion).\n\nIt's much like the Catholics in Colorado when sued over the deaths of a couple of twins in their care.\nhttp://denver.cbslocal.com/2013/02/04/catholic-hospital-takes-surprise-stance-in-twin-fetus-death-lawsuit/\n\nMost Christians will happily pack up their religious beliefs in the old kit bag when it looks like it will impinge on their pocketbooks. It's called \"compartmentalization.\" \n\nAnd this same approach to life allows folks who \"respect women more than anybody!\" to in the next breath brag about executing unwanted sexual advances and assault without missing a beat!\n\nOh, and we love the law when it agrees with us (much like many folks' view of scripture) and despise it when we don't.\n\nAs you cringing about being off topic? :) Right.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pence spoke in the the same tone as an evangelical minister speaks. And he is defending a man who is the antithesis of Christianity. Jesus is turning over in his grave for Pence's sins.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't know who could possibly take solace in either party. They are all just in it for the power. Term limits needed badly.\n\nHowever, millions of Republicans help the poor everyday through their church and other private endeavors. As much of a problem I have with the Catholic church and the current Pope, Catholics do a ton of great service for the needy.\n\nI know millions of Democrats do the same work, but too many want it done by the government.\n\nYou paint a very broad brush.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\" I'm not thinking about abortion on a daily basis.\"\nGood to see good old Tony Corcoran speaking out on women's issues-- so many men these days care only about their own concerns. If we are to overcome our societal divisions, men and women need to care about each other, white and black about each other, Christians, Jews, Muslims and agnostics about each other....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have two good friends who are \"married,\" lots of friends who identify as \"homosexual,\" including a Catholic priest, as well as a cousin who has been living with a partner for 30 years. I love them all, bit that does not mean that I condone their choices to accept their same-sex attraction as an identity. Interestingly, most of them are well aware of my attitude towards homosexuality, but they have never have demanded that I accept their choices.\n\nI can't think of any, aside from the priest, who claim to be Catholic, which makes sense. I am long overdue for a discussion with my priest friend, but he is so narcissistic and, of course, being a priest knows it all, so I suspect I won't have much effect on his thinking.\n\nOf my closest friends, many made the choice of embracing their same-sex attraction even though having had loving relationships with women, including the priest, btw. It's sad to me.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I know many atheists who love their neighbors. Loving God in addition to your neighbor makes that a permanent, even eternal habit. Ghandi and Einstein, smart as they were, would have been the first to admit they didn't know everything. The good lives and testimony of many Christians is worth considering. Find some you trust and talk to them. You might hear some things you cannot dismiss as \"fairy tales,\" a derisive comment not worthy of one who truly loves his/her neighbor.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "CBC profits down 62%, we can only hope the same will be applied to the G&M. The anti white, anti Christian, pro sharia, and certainly anti women media outlet that spends more time on bashing Trump than the issues here at home!\n\nTrump has done more in over a month than Obomber did in eight years. Obomber left his hometown of Chicago as a crime infested wasteland, 4000+ shot, 800 killed. Doubled the debt and managed to drop more bombs on the ME than GW, causing massive civil unrest and causing an muslim refugee crisis all because he was trying to help the Saudis build a pipeline while being ISIS airforce. Great job Barry!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A Public Secular school should not have anything to do with religion (other than social studies), before or after school, full stop. Why don't these kids go to a local community centre, mosque, or rent space nearby. Do I really need to explain how a public school is (or should be) different than a catholic school, or Jewish, or muslim or any other faith based school?? I think all schools should be non-denominational, but that's not gonna happen, so if Catholics want to practice their religion at school... then go to a catholic school.... and that goes for every other religion as well.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You and I agree on very little. Don't fool yourself. My views do not contradict Catholic teaching and yours do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Where are you getting that idea from (\"the most recent evidence from the Vatican files show he cooperated with the plotters who attempted to take Hitler's life.\") ? I have been unable to find it in the two volumes I have about information from the Vatican files during that period. In fact, Pope Pius XI threw the Catholic Action movement under the facist bus in order to placate Mussolini. But Pius XII cooperating in the plot to kill Hitler? That's a new one.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am devastated! -- where to begin. Not nearly recovered from this horrifying shock. Feel like our core values have been broadsided by a monster, and to think that the Catholic Church helped....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Since god is for abortion so am I. In Numbers 5:11-28, god commanded the Levite priests to abort all fetuses conceived in adulterous relationships. And since god doesn't recognize fetuses as life, neither do I. In Exodus 21:21-23, god confirms that only the pregnant woman is life and not the fetus. And we christians know all those little fetuses are with Jesus today in heaven instead of being born into a world of sin and sorrow ruled by Satan. Why would pro-lifers (actually anti-abortionists) work against the will of god?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "More like the alt-LIFE liberals have tried to devastate the Catholic Church but since they are so poorly catechized they don't know that Christ said the gates of Hedes won\u2019t prevail against it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Obama inherited a nightmare not of his own making. The Middle East has been an ugly mess for some time and is currently engaged the the worlds worst religious war probably since the Christian Reformation. He has attempted to back the US away from these religious and tribal fueled civil wars withdrawing most troops, admittedly he goofed on Libya by picking sides. We are slowly been getting sucked back in because of terrorism concerns and long term alliances. The political and military complexities of this region are staggering. The US needs to protect itself agaist terrorists, and Obama has a pretty good record there, but picking sides in this complex cat fight is a guaranteed losing proposition. The scary problem with Trump is he does not seem to have any interest in the complexity of actual policies or history, preferring simplistic interpretations and slogans. But he will do great, after all he said so, and we are going to win win win. Who needs to know more?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, it would be unfair and incorrect to label someone as something they are not. \n\nAnswer these. Simple yes or no is fine.\n\nIf somone was marching past a synagogue amid a crowd of torch-carrying, hate-slogan chanting, Nazis/KKKers, would it be correct to label that person as deplorable? \n\nDo the non-white, non-Christians who are threatened by these hate groups have the right to stand their ground?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So, you're saying that acts of Christian charity justify your intolerance of spiritual beliefs and practices other than your own? As admirable as charity is, and there is no doubt that religious institutions do good work in this area, charity is is no excuse for spiritual arrogance.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sexual pleasure is not sinful in and of itself. To think so is stoic, not Catholic. That Catholic clergy have adopted stoicism is a betrayal of Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "That is so sad. I often brood on how the hierarchy manages to deaden and obscure the beauties of Christianity. The institutional church does seem to have become more of a political cult than a source of spiritual renewal.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A fetus is not an infant by any means. And what heresy? Name it and show where the Church defines abortion as a heresy. You have never had to deal with any girl or woman who was raped, experienced incest, or drugged during 'a supposed consenting situation---which was not consenting.' \n\nJust like the Pharaseees in Christ's time---you let the male go off free. Catholic males who impregnate women against their consent should also be excommunicated---and have to go to the bishop for absolution.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christians took over the pre-Christian mid-Winter festival; now consumer capitalism has taken over the Christian take-over. Trump seems to want to Christianise the casino-capitalist version. Better to keep them separate.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The IRA was set up to fight for the rights of Catholic Irish folks in Northern Ireland. They raised a lot of funds in the Irish community in the US. Needless to say, the Catholic church was well involved.\n\nThe ETA, which you seem to know nothing about, was raised to fight for the freedom the Basques in Spain. \n\nYour knowledge of European history seems to come from Breitbart News.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As hard as it is there is only one choice that doesnt contradict where it counts most. If you are pro life and vote and support candidates and a party that advocates full term and late term abortion at will then you cannot under any circumstance be pro life.\n\nYou have to look at where the candidates stand. Hillary wants us to be required to provide and pay for abortions and abortive medicines. She stated flat out in the debate she supports full term partial birth murder. HOW can ANY Catholic support her. Then there are the e - mails where she, through her campaign, states how \"backwards\" we are and advocates groups to sping to action when they can incite a \"Catholic Spring.\" SHE will use law and the courts to mandate the marrying of homosexuals and the providing of abortion procedures. No Catholic can vote for her. This is unacceptable.\n\nShe and her campaign have stated in their e - mails exactly what they think of Catholics and our \"backwards\" beliefs. People need to take a hard look.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I didn't mean to imply that government was the only way to work on these problems. It also matters what level of goverment people suggest. The federal goverment seems to be the default, but that may be changing.. The roll of goverment is always worth a discussion. *Goverment funding is also very different than a goverment run program. \n\nChristians have a very wide range of values and that translates to very different politics. When I see Christians stereotyped by the right or left, Christian and non Christian, it concerns me.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ah yes, Mollys law. Making it a crime to kill an expectant mothers unborn child. A law that affords extra protections for women. Scandalous.\n\nDisbursement of government funds? $12,000 in federal job grants to 2 clinics that don't do abortion referrals. How dare she.\n\nProfession of faith? You mean like Justin's devout Catholicism?\n\nMaternal health initiative....MATERNAL health initiatives? Let's define maternal...\n\nrelating to a mother, especially during pregnancy or shortly after childbirth. She participated in a mothers health initiative. Scandalous again.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Bible tells us \"It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins\" (2 Maccabees 12:46).\n\nSr. Rose, thank you for this Bible quote. In our largely secularized Protestant society, prayers for the dead are viewed as ineffectual at best and silly at worst. As a cradle Catholic, I believe they are a beautiful and effective part of our tradition. As an Irish Catholic, I believe this distance between the living and the dead is thinner than it appears. Church militant, church suffering, and church triumphant are all still church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes and that columns constantly and consistenly repeats the myth of a phobia that labels millions of Canadian while chastising non-christians for their \"misunderstanding\" of Christianity. Said no one. Total hypocrisy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, all people who owned slaves, supported slavery or enabled slavery were evil and worth nothing.\nThere were Christians who opposed it, there were non-Christians who opposed it. The people who opposed it were good and deserve to be honored and remembered.\nThere is absolutely NO achievement, success, goodness or act of charity that can wipe an evil that great off of your ledger. I file them all in the same ledger as Charles Manson and Ted Bundy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Please take a look at the direction of the Liberal party - Do we want our country run by MP's that follow the beliefs of Islam - Or the beliefs of Judeo/Christian values that our country was founded on ? In the past election we elected 10 MP's that were Muslim (and the Prime Minister hired a Muslim for his Press Secretary) . When he takes a vacation he visits an island owned by a Muslim . If you read the Quran 5:51\n \"Do not take Jews and Christians as Allies \".\n Do we really want our country to go in this direction ?\nWhy are we bringing in more Refugees from the Middle East when we have not seen assimilation from the current group ie; One year later in the CBC article regarding a family in Windsor , Ontario - They don't have a job - the only thing that changed is that they have another Child !", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There should be no mass prayer time at a public school. Take a look at countries with a Muslim majority, only one is listed as a democracy, it is Indonesia. They just worked up radical Islam support and their 1st Chinese Christian governor was defeated in an election after being charged with blasphemy. This is after someone altered a recording of him saying something about the Koran. Now the radicals are planing marches demanding he be sentenced to jail.\n In Pakistan you can receive the death penalty, for blasphemy, and it is sometimes used against minorities surprise, surpise. ISIS which has gotten recruits from many Westerm countries was beheading and crucifying people. They committed genocide on the Yazidis including enslaving their women. Also 80% of Christians have been killed or fled these areas.\n Most Muslim people are peacful but everywhere they are there is a radical element based upon a literal interpretation of the Koran. Separate religion and state.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "DON'T DO IT GARNEAU. \n\nThe American-Anglo empire have declared war on Middle East Muslims for 25 years. Bombed the hell out of them. Make sure their world is in constant turmoil. Make sure they do not rise up to challenge Christianity. Canada have participated in these missions but only partially, under certain principles and restrictions. That's because Canada is not vassal of American-Anglo empire of conquest. We have relations with them only to serve our interests. We DO NOT conquer other people's lands, civilization, or their religions. \n\nBut you don't grind up an ancient civilization without blowback, retaliations. The American-Anglo blowback just keep getting bigger, no sign of ending. They keep putting up higher security walls, to the point of insanity. But they keep the bombing. \n\nDO NOT join in their insanity. Keep our cautions but maintain good relations with the world's civilizations. \n\nThere is no need to ban electronics from anywhere. Check them carefully, but NO BAN.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "State laws, or parts thereof, are often struck down by the SC. It's the gay couple whose only injury is being offended. The baker would be forced to be a significantly involved participant in what he considers a mockery of a sacred rite, which is arguably a greater (and Constitutional) harm than merely being offended. That's the part to which he objects, having otherwise NOT discriminated in the general conduct of business with the couple. The court will decide if they see it that way, or who is harmed the most.\n\nContrary to what you've stated elsewhere, freedom to practice one's religion extends beyond choosing where you worship, and includes freedom from the state coercing you into violating your religious tenets.\n\nOf course you can CLAIM anything in the name of a religion; you can claim a cat is a dog, if you wish. The sticking point comes in proving you can support your claim. Not difficult, probably, for a Christian to prove he considers marriage a holy male-female covenant.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, and perhaps you could begin unlearning. Who appointed you the defender of all things clerical, conservative, et al.? Dante put popes in Hell. Langland in Piers Plowman decried oppression of the poor. There's a strong Catholic tradition which corresponds to many of the values of the Democratic party. It's Catholics like you, and the majority of white Catholics voted for evil, was the catalyst that made me take a step I've been wanting to take for some time: converting to Judaism. Now you can have your smaller, purer church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "She is realising how serious this is.\n\nGermany has been changed for a long time by allowing in 1,000,000 refugees, many of whom are Muslim/Islamic. This is a culture that produces babies at a very high rate.\n\nWhat will Germany be like in 10 years after this massive infusion from the Muslim middle east? In 20 years? After countless Muslim/Islamic babies are born and raised?\n\nWill Germany become a Muslim country?\n\nThe Middle East used to be Christian. Through wars it was overcome and became Muslim.\n\nHistory repeats itself.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Here's a question. Have you ever read the bible? Five'll getcha ten you haven't. If so, then you're disparaging a book you haven't read. Kind of like, you know, some Christians do with respect to the Qur'an, the Origin of Species, Das Kapital, etc. You don't really support your arguments where there's little or no difference between them and those offered by you look down on. Just sayin...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"... it's legitimate Catholicism\"\n\nWhat does this phrase mean?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm sorry, but can you provide citations to support your insinuations? I do not understand your hostility to Saint Pope John Paul II. You do realize, as a Catholic, you must accept him as a Saint? On the issue of Saints, the Church has declared itself Infallible. Unless you are some kind of progressive catholic, you must accept this. Hoping you get well and can leave the hospital soon!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In broad terms Donald Trump's Gospel is the prosperity Gospel on steroids. He is the archetype of the \"Power of Positive Thinking\" of Norman Vincent Peale, whom he knew well and was influenced by him. I suppose Trump is thus the extreme Calvinists (he is Presbyterian) . He does not smoke, drink or gamble. I consider him a heretical Christian in both the modern and classical sense.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jared Lee Loughner hated the Christian Right and I have no doubt that he hated Sarah Palin. A good newspaper like the Times isn't going to let a silly thing like facts get in the way of a good propaganda piece though.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Those who are willing to do anything to gain power are capable of using anything, including religion, as a pretext for brutality. History is filled with examples of people claiming to be faithful followers of various religions, including Christianity, doing horrible things in the name of their faith. \n\nToday the perpetrators are radicalized Muslims, but Islam itself is not the issue. Until we understand that we'll never understand the real problem, which is the social and political situation in the Middle East, of which Islam is one -- but by no means the only -- factor. \n\nWhen that kind of instability exists, those who would exploit it for their own political ends take advantage of the situation. It's been that way throughout history and it's no different today.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1/2\n\nAre you one of those simplistic thinkers who can't get past cliches? It would seem so. Let's try to unpack your \"social justice warrior\" cliche. I prefer less militaristic language than warrior, but I support the pursuit and practice of justice: does that make me a \"warrior\"? Is there any sort of justice that is not in some sense \"social\"? Any aspect of justice you think a Christian can disregard?\n<...most US catholics, especially here on NCR, no longer believe in transubstantiation.>\nYou can't know this and you don't know it; why would you post it? Also, you seem to confuse the word \"transubstantiation\" with faith in the real presence. More simplistic, fuzzy thinking.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Chris, I disagree; this will change nothing. The Catholic clergy are already roughly 50% homosexual, and the proportion is probably increasing. Just as 98% of Catholic couples use contraceptives despite the unambiguous ban of Humanae Vitae, so to this ambiguous repetition of a former ambiguous statement will change nothing in the practice of accepting gays into the priesthood. \n\nBut of course you are right, if gays were actually banned, our seminaries would be very much \"emptier\" than they are now.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I've never heard of such an extreme monastic practice even in Catholic schools in Canada. As for public schools, are you sure you're not just making this all up?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding:\"Most of those immigrants are Catholics.\"\n- It is not relevant that most of the immigrants are catholics.\n- If the episcopacy needs to be motivated to be christian then better to tell them that all of the immigrants have the face of Jesus.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Church hasn't been nearly criticised enough for its wretched behaviour. The Press is not the problem, those Catholics who have coerced in silence or in criticising those who have spoken out, are the real culprits here.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not exactly Layla, I'm pointing out that people will deride allowing Muslims 15 minutes for prayer in an unused classroom as some kind of religious encroachment into secular society while at the same time ignoring the pervasiveness of Christian influences in their daily lives. \n\nAnd I expect you meant non-Christians not non-Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "sexist yes, chauvenistic yes, but I know no Christian who I would call a misogynist. That doesn't mean they don't exist, but I have not seen that in my church's. *Caveat: there is domestic abuse in almost any significantly large organization. The fact that I don't know of any, does not mean that my church doesn't have mysogynist in it's ranks.\n\nMysogyny: The definition I read can include sexual abuse/harassment. IMO, though, it mean a litteral 'hatred' of women. Why a person committed to traditional gender roles male well see a woman's role only in domestic life, that's a long ways from hating women because of their gender.\n\nAnd you can be sure what one woman finds offensive, may be no problem, or even sought by women of a different value set.\n\nJust because on group makes a life choice that fit's our personal priority, it's hubris that insist others make that same choice. \n\nTrump did nothing illegal with Stern, just very distasteful to much of the American public.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Michael's argument was not that it's unreasonable to shift costs, but that it violates the principles of Catholic social justice teaching. It also seems to run counter to the logic by which Social Security and Medicare were created.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, and the Catholic Church does exactly the same thing through pastoral care the sacrament of confession. Jesus would never had said to Zacchaeus \"Never mind. No need to change. Carry on cheating people and hold onto your money.\" That's not the way it works. Jesus reaches out but we have to offer ourselves too.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sure, we are all responsible for our moral decisions but how do you inform your conscience? In a vacuum? LOL. No, we rely on the Church and the sacraments that Jesus gave us so we can understand Scripture (the word of God) and understand the Church's Tradition (accumulated wisdom) when it comes to objective moral standards. \n\nThis pope is peddling a popular form of situational morality which explains why you see the growing proliferation of weak-minded liberal catholics who are pro-abortion, pro-immigrant, pro-labor, pro-LGBT and even pro-climate change even though there is a vicious population control/eugenics agenda behind that movement. Objectively, even you won't disagree that taking Communion while in a state of mortal sin is compounding one grave sin with a graver sin. That's essentially what this Pope is encouraging and you consider him a great pope? LOL.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "An intelligent analysis of the issue filled with fact and logic. The people want it, but their corporate-compromised elected cowards refuse to bring the entire nation into the 21st century from its 19th century mindset. One other elephant in the room is the monopoly of healthcare by the Roman Catholic Church in Alaska and throughout the nation. Religious ownership denies legal, scientific, secular healthcare to individuals. The religious-owned, NON-profit corporations have and continue to gouge the entire nation with escalating prices. Nuns done't even work in them. At the same time, more and more hospitals, physician groups, etc. are merged/bought by this monolith with the massive revenues generated by these non-taxpaying scofflaws. One massive correction needs to be made to fix this entirely dysfunctional system falsely labeled \"health\" care. The political system needs to be dragged, kicking and screaming into the new millennium. Time for a Revolution.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Of course he did. But if you've read as much Heinlein as you seem to infer, then you should know he expressed considerable more respect for Islam than he did for Christianity. But then your problem seems to be an utter lack of the ability to prove your own arguments in any respect. You're no better at it than you were at trying to disprove mine by misinterpretation, then switching to disparagement when your poor reading comprehension was pointed out to you. Again and again and again, disparagement doesn't mean refutation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Really, R & R----'its the duty of the bishops to protect the human soul from the degeneracy of our age'? Many of these bishops can't even protect themselves from greed, envy, and their desire to 'lord over others.'\n\n\n\nThe question before the USCCB is 'Do we follow the gospel-message of Jesus as set before us by Pope Francis OR do we mire ourselves in cliques, in clericalism, in laying heavy burdens on the laity---which we lift not one finger to ease, and do we continue to fail to defend the 'dignity of the moral conscience' of the laity? [from Gaudium et spes 16].", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And on conservative \u201ccatholic\u201d sites no one ever sees and comments except from the sycophants. And with the vicious comments made to and about Fr. Jim, they should be removed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Me thinks, Elagabalus, that your criticism of Russian Orthodoxy overreaches.\n\nIt is true that the current leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church \"colludes\" with the tyrannical Putin. One could say essentially the same about the majority of the US Catholic bishops \"colluding\" with the Republicans, and their current tyranny-inclined Trump? Both cases of episcopal stupidity are largely driven, I would suggest, by single issues: Russian nationalism there, and opposition to abortion here.\n\nSurely Orthodoxy as a faith cannot be identified with, and must not be rejected because of the current leadership of the Russian branch of that Church; any more that Catholicism can be identified with, and must be rejected because of the current leaders of the US branch of that Church?\n\nI reject your link of \"Russian\" with Nazi \"Aryan\" as grossly unfair. Please understand that I am Ukrainian, and no nation on earth has suffered more that Ukraine at the hands of Russian nationalism over many centuries.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"According to Christ, in order for the love of a man and woman to be that which God has: perfectly created it to be, it must be unique, indestructible, unending and divine. The Lord himself has not only given this teaching, but he also gives the power to fulfill it in the sacrament of Christian marriage in the Church .... \n\n\"The Orthodox tradition also, by the same principle, considers temporary \u201cliving together,\u201d casual sexual relations, sexual relations with many different people, sexual relations between members of the same sex, and the breakdown of marriages in separation and divorce, all as contrary to the human perfection revealed by God in Christ .... \n\n\"According to the Orthodox teaching as expressed in the sacramental rite of marriage, the creation of children, and the care and love for them within the context of the family, is the normal fulfillment of the love of a man and woman in Christ.\"\n\nhttps://oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/worship/the-sacraments/marriage", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is why my family and I have left the Catholic Church. The Church has aligned itself with those that support and encourage abortion, pass laws that violate Church doctrine and pursue uncontrolled immigration with open borders.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Casting this haole as a Hawaiian continues the great Hollywood tradition of casting caucasians as non-whites. As Jack Tatum points out, Jesus has been played by northern Europeans so often that most (white) Americans believe he was white instead of Semitic, conveniently forgetting that he was Jewish. Others commenters have mentioned other non-white roles played by whites. In addition to the roles mentioned, I find Rex Harrison and Yule Brenner as Chinese and Al Jolson as African American particularly offensive--and, yes, he haole au. As we should know by now, it's all about the $$$.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "On a Catholic college campus, there must be an appreciation that in the search for wisdom and truth, unity and uniformity are not synonymous.\n\nYet, the Church and campus interest groups on the Right and on the Left seek homogenized acceptance in the academy. Diversity is the last thing they value...even as they proclaim that they do. They disdain dissent, doubt, and ambiguity. And make false gods of obedience, certainty, and clarity. They believe what Archbishop Chaput (and my drill sergeant) said, \"Confusion is of the devil.\" \n\nIf you want to be Notre Dame or BC--wonderful. If you want to be Ave Maria or Franciscan--wonderful. If you think Georgetown is the model--wonderful. The same for Wyoming Catholic. But ask, and defend your metrics:\n\nAre we a great Catholic university AND a Catholic great university? *Few can claim to be both.\nAnd, to me, diversity in all areas is an essential value to consider in judging both \"great Catholic\" and \"Catholic great.\" \n\n* Let's name 'em.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But it would violate their religious conscience- the very standard that you're using not to cover contraceptives. And you cite the First Amendment to justify it, just as a Catholic pacifist, or a Quaker or Amish might.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Classifying Cardinal Martini as a heretic makes you sound as if you are neither civil nor Christian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Are they in denial of what trump has done and said.\nIncites hate, racism, bigotry, adultery,sexual predator, dishonesty in his businesses, 3x married,manipulator,. Do they listen to what he says in his speeches. I am sorry but, Jesus is about loving, kindness and forgiving, which I do not see that in the words that come out of his mouth. To me he is evil.No way is he believer of Jesus Christ.In Genesis 1 :27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God he created Him ;male and female;He created them. Another thing is churches are not suppose to endorse or not endorse any candidate on pulpit, newsletter or church bullentin. there are very strict IRS laws for 501c3 non profit.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "First of all, I wouldn't call excommunication \"cupcakes & gold stars.\" \n\nSecond, I agree that Francis is challenging parts of the Church that previously saw themselves as immune from such criticism. I also agree that some of those quarters need a readjustment. But I also strongly disagree with the thrust of your original comment, i.e., that all that went previously to Francis was insufficient. It's a lot more complicated than that. Another data point to keep in mind: many of the highest ranking Church officials who have adopted Francis' agenda are John Paul/Benedict appointees. Schonborn, Wuerl, O'Malley, heck, even Francis himself. The Church is complicated, not black & white, which is the real lesson I think Francis is showing.\n\nFinally, your last point undercuts it seems to me the thrust of Winters' original post. Namely, challenging elements of the \"right\" such as Church Militant ought to serve as a wake-up call to elements of \"conservative\" Catholicism not nearly as extreme.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Who said anything about \"Christian\"?\nNot to mention,\nNot all Christians are right-wing or conservative or Republican borned-again anti-abortion anti-gay moralizing zealots.\nSome Christians are even liberal.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thanks As Always, Mr. Wohlforth for another well researched & well written story about People in Alaska who can & do Make a difference. On that Same note I would ask You to Skip Jerry Prevo, He's Not what I would call someone who does Good for the Community, But only Uses the Community (and The tax Shield that Religious Org's Enjoy) to His Own twisted ends. Having Known & Worked with this Organisation over the past (20) years, lastly working with the Boy Scouts here in Anchorage, I am Personally Ashamed to have Known this Organisation( I would not call them a church , but more of a Cult of Money & Exclusion), as when the Boy Scouts Nationwide were forced to accept \"gay\" Boy Scouts due to the Political climate of the times, Jerry Prevo took it upon himself & His Own Brand of 19th Century \"Christianity\", to Throw Out the Boy Scouts who had called this place their Home....All in the Name of Their Intolerance or lack of Acceptance of the 21st Century realities & to Prove Their Point.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "These are not culture war issues, and for the Pope to dismiss these as \"issues\" is beyond bizaar. These \"issues\" are serious, grave sins and hurt the souls of those who commit them as much as poison hurts the body. What is happening here is that less and less people believe(or know) that these things are poison for the soul (and body for that matter) and therefore rabidly attack those who are simply trying to remind them of what the Church, which should be the hospital for sick and wounded souls, always taught.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Only Stephen Harper's biographer could be outraged by the inequity of the scientific method and it's inability to judge fairly. I'm certainly no fan of Trudeau but criticism of him for supporting science based policies is absurd. Climate change isn't a belief, it's an arguable position that can be supported by observable evidence and verified under subsequent trials. Climate change denial tends to be a feeling backed by vested interests and ignorance. A rare moment that our PM defended someone worth defending. \np.s. the Conservatives crocodile tears on defending non-christian faiths would be laughable if it wasn't for the thinly veiled racism they often use for votes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The fact that folks make a public commitment to go against the teaching of the Bible and the Church in a grave makes this different than the case other sins, a point lost on many of those commenting here.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sister Rose, as I am sure you are aware, the Eastern Churches, both Catholic and Orthodox, instead of saying \"may he/she/they Rest In Peace, the say \"may his/her/their memory be eternal.\" I have gotten to where I prefer that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Democrats support LBGTQ rights and abortion. I see how that runs contrary to your interpretation of God's word. Republicans exalt the acquisition of wealth (Matt 19:24), don't believe in using resources to serve the poor (Luke 14:14, and like, the rest of the Gospels), and believe in the use of military force to solve conflict (Matt 26:52). That runs counter to my interpretation of the word of God. \n\nI honestly don't know how anyone who is truly obedient to the word of God can take solace in either party having power. A vote for either side would seem to be in conflict.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I find it odd that Catholic Bishops would make such a vicious ad hominem attack on \"anything Trump\". Surely they could have taken a few minutes to explain rationally and persuasively why Americans have no right to control their own country. After all, there are a few hundred million Chinese who need space and opportunity, and California dioceses are just the people to handle it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why do they keep going on about the fact that he was \"white\"?\n\nIs that some kind of code for \"not muslim\"?\n\nSurely the Canadian media are aware that Canada has seen terrorist attacks carried out in St Jean Richelieu by a white man who was a muslim convert, and that many young \"white men\" have converted and joined ISIS.\n\nIf this perp is christian or otherwise not muslim, just say so.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Since these statistics conflict with the bishops' paradigm wherein the \"faithful\" (sheep) adhere to the bishops teachings they will likely dismiss the data. They will, again, try to influence the vote in 2018 to support Republicans ostensibly over the pelvic issues and Obergefeld. Similarly, there will be a racial divide among Catholics wherein a majority of whites will more likely vote for Republicans since that party is opposed to the issues important to people of color and the former are only interested in issues which seem to support their claims to superiority.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My wife and I both became Catholic just one year ago. However I have some questions on the Bishop's stand in this matter.\n\nWhat happened to \"render unto Caesar's what is Caesar's and unto God what is His\"? Isn't immigration law and order a Caesar issue? The political government of the various nations has authority under God to maintain order and safety for all. Didn't Paul say that in Romans and based on Jesus' teachings?\n\nAnd since Mexico is just historically a MUCH more Catholic nation than the USA ever was, why didn't the church solve the problem of Mexicans being poor and downtrodden in their OWN country many, many years ago?\n\nWhy do these Bishops and even our current Pope seem willing to use/force a secular government who takes money from ALL it's citizens via force-of-arms (yes, men WITH guns will show up and arrest you for not paying your taxes) to use that money to \"care for the poor\" - instead of merely using Church revenues to do the same?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "While author refers to \"his bishop\" I suspect not RCC.\nFat chance this would ever be read in RC churches.\nWould have to be approved by bishop who would deem it \"political.\"\nRCs voted for DT over HC.\nDisturbing more, the number of RCs on his \"team!\" \nAs Christopher Dawson noted, Catholics have a propensity for fascism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Re the letter:\n\n1) It's not a ban, it's a 4 month hiatus for 7 nations that are hotbeds of radical Islam (ie, terrorism).\n\n2) A huge percentage of Muslims believe in things that Christians don't believe in. Things like how it's perfectly fine to kill anyone who leaves Islam, or who is homosexual. And of course immoral women too; sometimes they are burned to death, or stoned to death. This isn't just true in nations like Egypt, it's true for European Muslims as well. \n\nIn other words, there are demonstrably clear reasons that there be a * preference * for Christian refugees over Muslim's from radicalized nations.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When IRA bombs were going off in London almost weekly, did you ask the same question about Irish Catholics re: speaking up?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Again, an NCR forum member calling half the nation \"racists white supremacists.\"\n\nThis reflects very poorly on NCR and liberal Catholicism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The world is rarely black and white; exceptions exist for most accepted \"truths.\" The name Metlakatla comes to mind. Here's a bit of what descendants have to say about that community's founder, Church of England Missionary William Duncan: \n\n\"The title of \"Father\" was an honorary one given to him by a grateful and affectionate people. [His]specific mission was to Christianize ... the Tsimshian in British Columbia. ... it was a belief that aboriginal peoples needed to be indoctrinated into Western culture ... Mr. Duncan refused to start teaching this people about the Christian Gospels until he had had the opportunity to become fluent in the language of the Tsimshians. Thereafter he stayed with the people and taught them how to exist in a world that was very different than the one to which they were accustomed.\n\nIt was a difficult feat to move from relative primitivism to a more advanced society in such a short time...\" \n\nFrom Metlakatla Indian Community website", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I concede that there are violent practitioners of Islam, just as there are violent practitioners of Christianity, Judaism, and, no doubt, many other faiths. (before the deadly attack against innocents in Manchester, remember, was the attack against Muslims at worship in Quebec). When you rest your argument there, though, one wonders what it is you would have the \"sensible\" Mr. Trump do about it. I ask you this, franco prairie, because just a day or two ago President Trump was on television carefully making the point that Muslim terrorists are \"losers.\" \"Losers,\" \"losers,\" \"losers;\" he hammered it home. Evidently it's present U.S. doctrine.\n\nI actually felt thankful that he is President of the U.S., soundly discredited and not seriously listened to almost anywhere. Imagine that he was a high school teacher or principal, getting away with such abuse, such emotional violence in a world of vulnerable young men/older boys.\n\nWe do have to resist, to hold onto one another until this ends.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, it wasn't the goal of Benedict XVI, it was a prediction on account of the dissent and lapsation among Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The desire to feel value from anyone other than God is vanity.\n\nLitany of Humility, a marvelously hard prayer to pray. \n\n(in part)\n\nO Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.\nFrom the desire of being esteemed,..Deliver me, Jesus.\nFrom the desire of being loved...\nFrom the desire of being extolled ...\nFrom the desire of being honored ...\nFrom the desire of being praised ...\nFrom the desire of being preferred to others...\nFrom the desire of being consulted ...\nFrom the desire of being approved ...\nFrom the fear of being humiliated ...\nFrom the fear of being despised...\nFrom the fear of suffering rebukes ...\nFrom the fear of being calumniated ...\nFrom the fear of being forgotten ...\nFrom the fear of being ridiculed ...\nFrom the fear of being wronged ...\nFrom the fear of being suspected ...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part 2\n\nThere can be no question that there is a major need of a revisioning of the church, in the modern world. This requires a decentralization and a sharing of authority, a democratization and sharing of responsibilities, a call to personal holiness and a societal conversion. But it also requires a GREAT trust in the power of the Holy Spirit to inform the souls and consciences of all of God's people.\n\nToo often, civilized bullies show up to insert their comments of distrust and the need to retract the splendid legacy of Vatican II. This was first demonstrated by the hierarchy trying to reassert its papal and curial authority----first with the interventions of Paul VI [during the last sessions of the Council] and then, more systematically and harshly, by John Paul II, Benedict XVI and the reactionary bishops that they appointed.\n\nThere are also civilized bullies who appear on this site attempting to denigrate this Vision of Vatican II. They're mere fumes from the sewers.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If the Catholic Church is behind it you know it's illegal immigration because that's their money maker.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I hear from the pulpit before every election that we must vote with one thing in mind and that is the \"non-negotiable Catholic principle\" that the candidate be \"pro-life\" and the definition of \"pro-life\" is understood to be \"against abortion.\" \"Non-negotiable\" - that pretty much trumps anything else in the Gospel that should guide our decision. If Hitler would have run as a republican and said he was \"pro-life\", we would have been instructed to vote republican. When will we ask the \"pro-life\" candidate how they will protect that child and mother before and after birth? Which party's platform does that? If the pro-life candidate does not tell us how they will be there for that child and mother after birth, are they \"pro-life\" or just \"pro-birth\"? Many of us Christians and Catholics are responsible for voting for Donald Trump because of the \"non-negotiable Catholic principle\". Bishops, when will hold the \"pro-life\" republicans accountable?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What the poster fails to realize is that incendiary passages in the Bible, for example where God orders his chosen people to commit genocide, it is the True God ordering mass murder, not some false god, or inferior god. Comparing the Bible to other texts is mere relativism, because our text is the Truth, and Our God is the One True God. Except in the Bible passages where God says he is greater than other gods, like the gods of Egypt, then he is the Biggest God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "These polls and this article appear to reflect figures obtained before the release of the infamous Billy Bush tape and Trump's own admissions of sexual assault followed by his denials of impropriety. Meanwhile, as today's NCR editorial indicates, the US Catholic hierarchy is still promoting The Donald, largely on the basis of the character of the judicial appointments Trump claims he would make. The Catholic voters do not appear ready to follow the lead of the bishops or whisk Trump into the Oval Office. A future column on the \"Catholic vote\" post-tape release could tell us a lot about what's happening in church as well as state.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Why does Protestant North America so consistently and so overwhelmingly outperform Catholic Central and South America?\"\n\nI think it has something to do with the differences in how we abused our respective indigenous peoples. We kept shoving ours further west onto smaller and smaller parcels of undesirable land, whereas in Central and South America they enslaved theirs. Gave us more breathing room for those noble impulses of \"honesty, modesty and accountability in civil authorities,\" dontcha know.\n\nYeah, yeah, yeah. The Catholic Church has problems. Nobody denies that. But it's just plain loopy to think the bishops actually have some master plan to replace the white faces in their churches with brown, more subservient ones. Do you really think they have that much foresight, let alone planning ability? Utter nonsense.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "After what I saw Pope F. promote and stand by C. Pell, C. Law, & force B. Juan Barros, in Chile, I regard Pope F and the Vatican prelates and bishops bunch of monsters or hypocrite criminals. I personally would not respect or someone I would keep company with. It is up to RCIC (Roman Catholic Institutional Church) to choose to behave more normal human being like! \nAt this point, Vatican needs it's criminal behaviors corrected more than anyone else for it's own survival. \n\"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. (Matthew 5:13)\nI pray that it is not already too late.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "John Gotti was denied a Mass prior to his burial in 2002 but the bishop did say a Mass could be offered later. Not sure there's a formal decree denying Mafia funerals.\n\nWho are you or anyone else to say who is in mortal sin? Paprocki sure doesn't know. And James Martin is right. Just where do we draw the line at denying the Eucharist to people?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In this column you have made some negative comments about Catholics in general---that they are ignorant of the meaning of transubstantiation. Perhaps you are right, there is much ignorance among Catholics on this subject. But what is most troubling is that you did not admonish them to become informed, but rather, in the same passage, you say the understanding of transubstantiation is not important and unity should move forward without this sacred truth. What other fundamental teachings of the Church would you have us disregard for the sake of this so called unity?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You didn't get the memo? \"Jesus\" and \"God\" are republican codewords for \"Money\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And that onslaught has been successful. You may not know anyone who was raised by a devoted traditional catholic, only to put their salvation in doubt by leaving the church and becoming a \"none\" but it happens. This only happens because of the attacks on the church, never by the actions of True Catholics or the Holy Spirit Infused Men who run the church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No thanks. I do not want to attend Mass where the priest considers the Mass prayers (which belong to the universal Church, not to one priest or one congregation) as his personal property to do with it as he pleases.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Re: Coleridge and sexual relationships of priests. \n\nWhat Coleridge and Australian bishops as a body need to do is a confidential survey in which priests are able to talk about sexual activity but are not individually identified. They all know, if they can read, that other studies have shown 40%- 50% of priests at any one time are in a sexual relationship of some sort or are sexually active. \n\nAs bishops they do have a responsibility to seek to know and understand what works and what does not work within the rules, requirements the broader church says are necessary, especially as it affects priests. This is not just up to the Vatican - it is up them to bring to the Pope as the reality.\n\nIf the bishops know the truth, it means that is something they do need to address. When they can say they don't know, when they pretend that it is rare and \"too personal\", they don't have to deal with it as the wide-spread lie that it is. Cowardly - a refusal to face reality; a way to live a lie.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Basically a lifetime CRIMINAL. So why did our Judicial System WAIT so long. This was NO surprise, Mr. Christian was a TIME BOMB waiting to explode. Mr. Christian should have been taken OUT of Society 10+ years ago........Now, two men are dead..........", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The grim reality is that the Catholic Church, which claims to be a holy organization, has and continues to destroy the countless lives of innocent Catholic Children by their unholy response to the sexual assault of said children by clerics. This organization has and continues to spend millions to keep secret the identity and files of pedophile clergy, has and continues to lie and deny victims at every turn including spending millions to block SOL reforms that would give those victims a chance at justice. The church has and continues to use the Federal Bankruptcy courts to hammer down their cost for destroying lives and to sidestep accountability for covering up sex crimes.\nThe thousands of Catholics that left in silent disgust did not advocate for victims.\nMost Catholics that remain in the pews stay silent to their churches duplicity.\n\nSNAP exists and does what church leaders or the faithful should have done but lacked the courage to do.\nSo what if SNAP gets donations from lawyers.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is amazing. You are blaming evangelicals - a part of Christianity that has only been around for a few decades - for what happened 1000 years ago. Of all violence committed in aggregate, LGBT victims are a tiny percentage of the whole. And to blame a few bad apples that are not acting on behalf of any church or institution, well I think anyone can see the flawed reasoning.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Worthwhile points, and I hope my not mentioning every factor involved does not get interpreted as ignoring them. I do know that many people - including those who comment at this site - make huge assumptions about Church functions that are incomplete at best and conjecture at worst. It seems to me that you jumped the rope from who hid the remains to who told them to do it. No doubt you are right about the teachings of the Church via the bishops, but we should also include that the social mores of the times and he cultural taboos were squarely against unwed motherhood. My grandparents told me of how girls who got pregnant disappeared from school, and were supposedly staying with their aunt in some other town. And BTW - it was unwed Catholic girls who supplied Catholic adoption agencies with lots of white babies to place with infertile couples...serious motivation for keeping babies healthy and well! Still, reports like this sicken me.....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Dougie just wanted to write an article throwing in the words 'Christian', 'alt right', 'anti-immigration' in it.\n\nWrapped in a \"new wave of terrorism \" title.\n\nOh, while at it - mention that last attack, from 'the other' kind of terrorists.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wrong again Jeremy Christian, there are definitely heroes in this case.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ms. Hoyt would make a better argument by pointing out that, by virtue of being raised from the dead, Jesus is in fact a zombie. Not to mention the fact that His Catholic followers dine on His very flesh and blood as part of the Communion ritual. So the precedent is there to celebrate the birth of Zombie Jesus!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bob, I don't recall ever hearing \"conservative Catholics\" as a group say that government assistance is bad and the common good is merely up to the Churches. Nor have I seen or heard all conservative Catholics call the \"common good\" Communism.\n\nPlease advise how the Church does not \"care what Christ said\" - how the only important things are the destruction of Communism and Socialism. Please tell me - are the missions and missionaries who dedicate their lives to those less fortunate somehow not Catholic anymore? Are we wasting our time supporting them? How the many charities supported by the Church don't care how many \"die along the way\"?\n\nPlease point out specifics where the entirety of conservative Catholics feel this way? Or please - don't generalize. That is my point more than any other right now. It is simply unfair and untrue.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The purpose of the Church is to teach, govern, and sanctify. \n\nIt needs to work to maintain a unity in its teaching, especially on moral matters. \n\nRemember, liturgical law is \"lower\" than moral matters, and can tolerate more local circumstances. Not so matters of moral law. \n\nThe lay need to help the Church serve its mission and not simply be noisy spectators.\n\nFrom St Paul's letter to the Romans: \n\n\"May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to think in harmony with one another, in keeping with Christ Jesus, that with ONE ACCORD you may with ONE VOICE glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Let\u2019s review:\nYou asked for an instance of a Catholic entity that supported Trump.\nI provided one.\nI posted a report from a local paper about the incident. You said the reporter got the story wrong, but provided no evidence.\nI posted both a link to the text of the bishop\u2019s statement and the text of the statement, which is still on the diocesan website. You said that the bishop\u2019s statement had been \u201cclarified,\u201d but you provided no evidence of \u201cclarification.\u201d\nYou posted a link I could not follow; but even if I could have followed it, by your own account it would have shown only that the offensive material was not on the parish website. Whether or not the material was ever on the website is not a relevant issue; it was a bulletin insert and may or amy not have been on the website.\nYour persistence in trying to distort the facts about this case leads me to believe that you\u2019re just one more troll; a little more sophisticated than some, but a troll nonetheless. I was warned. We\u2019re done.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh boy...\nNCR progressive desperation grows apace...first MSW brings out Mussolini and Hitler and the Rape of Nanking, and now the ultimate -- the anti-semitism smear card.\nMeanwhile, Trump's job performance poll numbers keep rising.\nKeep going NCR, dig the hole deeper!\nUltimately, there will be a backlash from your financial supporters.\nYou can't keep vilifying a U.S. president and the million of Catholics who voted for him in the most extreme measures there are, without some of your sponsors pulling the plug.\nDon't doubt me on this.\n\nSUPPORT FREE SPEECH -- I DON'T CENSOR YOU, DON'T CENSOR ME.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "According to Alceste, this case is about:\n\n\"* TWU rules allowed married heterosexual students to have sex together.\n\n* TWU rules do NOT allow same-sex married students to have sex together.\"\n\nAs you can see, TWU's policy has a discriminatory feature. It doesn't treat same-sex married students the same as it treats heterosexual married students. As you can also see, TWU can rectify that discrimination in more than one way. The first way would be to allow same-sex married students to have sex together. However, that would be a total repudiation of TWU's principles and beliefs. The second way would be to ask all students, married or not, to refrain from having sex while attending the university. That would treat all students equally, and hence LSUC's case would immediately fall apart.\n\nGiven that TWU is a school of devout Christian believers, if forced to do so which do you think they would choose: To repudiate their beliefs, or to make a temporary sacrifice for them?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thank you for your response Lynne, I do not think that all those at the top have given their allegiance to Pope Francis rather the nature of clericalism is self-serving and that if you hold high office you need to have the skills of a politician, making it almost impossible to act transparently.\nI hope and pray that things may change in the future.\nkevin your brother\nIn Christ", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No one can reject migrants and refugees and say they are following the ethics of the Bible: \n\"Do not deprive foreigners and orphans of their rights; and do not take a widow's garment as security for a loan. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God set you free\"(Deuteronomy 24:17-18) \n\"God's curse on anyone who deprives foreigners, orphans , and widows of their rights\"(Deuteronomy 27:19) \n\"Do not ill treat or oppress a foreigner; remember that you were foreigners in Egypt. Do not ill treat any widow or orphan. If you do I, the Lord, will answer them when they cry out to me for help, and I will be angry and kill you in war\"(Exodus 22:21-24) \n\nOur Lord Jesus in his Parable of the Sheep and Goats(Matthew 25:31-45) list as one of the Works of Mercy how we treat the stranger. Furthermore his judgement isn't only on individuals, but on Nations as well.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's not the Church's role to heal a nation divided after a bitter election, especially since they so strongly supported one side. It takes impartiality to accomplish that task; and I'm afraid that there is no more impartiality in this country and it has never been present in the Catholic Church..", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Indeed, I don't either and for exactly the same reason as you state. We now have 'Canons galore' in the New Roman Rite many of which have no grounding whatsoever in the selectively-imaged Second or Third Century liturgies.\nI am housebound at the moment and have just finished watching the Solemn Mass in Coena Domini from the Basilica of Notre Dame in Fribourg (a FSSP video-stream), magnificent. \nIt is a massive Church and considering the start of the Mass, 22.00 local time, the Church was well over half full of both young and old, babies crying, two 5 or 6 year old girls rushing to the end of their pew to witness closely one of the twelve 'viri' having his foot washed, very young altar boys the whole congregation going to Communion, many including a woman on sticks going to the altar of repose after the stripping of the altars despite it being midnight there.\nThat is the Catholic Church I was brought up in and fondly remember. It is so heartening to see it still exists here and there.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Douglas: Police NEVER use tasers against someone armed with a gun. They are typically used against people who are unarmed, or at the very most, are armed with a knife. It is totally irresponsible of you to suggest that police have attempted to use a Taser in a case like this.\n\nPolice did not kill Finicum. That pistol he had in his pocket killed him. His own gun was the instrument of his death. If Finicum had not had a gun on him, and had not foolishly reached for it, he would still be alive today.\n\nThe Bible tells us that Jesus said: \"Those who use the sword, will die by the sword.\" Likewise, those who today use the gun, are going to end up dying by the gun. Finicum bears 100% responsibility for his death. The only other thing that can be blamed is the pistol he was carrying.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...co-religionists do not recognize the female leading....\"\n\nYou are quite right, Tridentinus. But many (not all, of course) are quite congenial to the contradictions, the messiness of it all. Like the Mormons, they contrive, forge and invent retroactively in pursuit of God, tradition, and holiness. I enjoy them when in UK, but thanks God I am a Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Since the huge political and economic power of the church has declined, Popes have been less crudely corrupt-- today it seems the main aim is to defend the Church, which they've done pretty badly, too often trying to bury bad news in secrecy (even demanding silence in return for settling lawsuits over abuse). The present Pope seems less corrupt and much wiser to me, but how far he can get with that approach is still in question.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus never said we had to equalize financially.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sikhism is a very humanist religion. Also, it is unlikely that Singh will be attempting to force his religious opinions into policy or onto other Canadians. Pierre Trudeau was a devout Catholic but he routinely bowed to rationality and fairness rather than to impose his religious opinions on other Canadians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Where is Scott Pruitt, head of US EPA, and the errand-boy of the short fingered vulgarian? The release of contaminants and hazardous materials, and storage and manufacturing of such, in Texas is disgusting, sickening, shameful, an an insult to the health and safety of our fellow Americans. Local greed and politics has played a part in this debacle, but the failure of the federal government to provide enforcement of protective regulations to benefit the health and safety of our Americans is wrong. There is no leadership with conscience at the federal level. The majority republican congress acts like an armpit dog in the hands of a clueless, ignorant and disingenuous elected leader. How has our great country become the laughingstock of the world? Have we no morality at all? So much for the much-touted \"Christian\" and \"family\" values of the republicans and the right wing in general. One big church in Texas would not even open its doors! Begone ye of a pious and false faith, begone!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wow. One whole comment so far. And that's a correction.\n\nCasey, you conclude that formerly venomous Magnolia is now solidly behind SHARE tent cities. This is based on the comments of exactly two people, one of whom works for a host church. Plus long-time SHARE supporter CM Sally Bagshaw.\n\nLast week, on my blog, I published correspondence from a gentleman named Christian Otto who directed SHARE's Tent City 3 when it was at the UW last winter (see the link). He also ran the SHARE shelter at St. Luke's. His comments are typical of info I've gotten from SHARE exiles: the camps are basically a facade, a place for homeless people to hang out for a while and harvest some love, while SHARE harvests donations. There's nothing democratic or therapeutic about them. I wouldn't trust what SHARE says about the number of people they've gotten into housing. They weren't even reporting that until recently.\n\nhttp://roominate.com/blog/2017/testament-of-christian-otto/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It always returns to a sexualized interpretation of whatever wrong \"the men\" of the Church are committing. If \"the men\" were stealing Church money, or being too lazy and slothful, or perverting Catholic social teaching by trying to turn it into socialism, it wouldn't be a \"man\" problem. You're calling it a man problem because they're \"foot dragging.\" Foot dragging on what? On the priesthood. That, however, is not why the Church is losing members. In fact, if you want to see the Church reduced to nothing -- which you may well want --- just watch what happens if they let women be priests. 2000+ years of tradition out the window. You take that too lightly to be trusted.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The reason I am sort of a fuss budget about those figures is I used to struggle with that CARA major stat sheet....where you got quite a mix of input and finally if I read it correctly I got down to the single digits through a mix of \"attending Church once a year,on major holidays, once a month ....et al....\"\n\nAnd I get very tired of the notion that a quarter of the US pop is in a Catholic Church every week!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your chosen self-hating beliefs are the reason there is so much sexism in the world & why our church is failing & losing women on record levels. Jesus is the one who commanded we treat all people the same not men. There is nothing in the Gospels or anything the Apostles wrote stating women should not equally lead or be blessed with same exact sacraments or blessings like ordination (there was no actual ordination of anyone while the Apostles lived on earth). \n\nTruthfully, women who support hatred of their own gender & bias against them in our church or anywhere else sin twice over, as they betray their own gender as well as refute Christ's commands on how to treat one another. \n\nIf a person is called to be a doctor, they will ache to be a doctor, if they are not allowed to be a doctor, even though they are capable, if based on some kind of discrimination. Being allowed to only be a nurse will not satisfy that person. This is true with women called to priesthood. Sexism is hate.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "From a Catholic point of view any misgivings that one may have regarding the rhetoric of conservatives is insignificant when one considers the actual goals of the secular liberals who have taken over the Democratic Party. \n\nProgressives, or Liberals or Democrats or whatever, work to undermine our constitutional Republic and Democracy itself. They are statists. They strive to increase the administrative state. They not only support abortion but encourage it. They advocate open boarders, and support the lawless influx of foreign nationals for no other reason than to dilute America's culture of liberty, which serves as an obstacle to their totalitarian goals, and to increase their voter constituency. They promote the non-morality of moral relativism, and support sexual license. They have replaced education with indoctrination. They hate the Christian faith and will do all that is necessary to destroy the church. They have virtually destroyed the institution of marriage etc...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It was a person of the Muslim faith that shot up that night club Kristi, Try and remember that.\n\nIf the gays think dealing with these \"Christians\" is bad, just wait until all the Islamic fundamentalists that Obama is importing start working against them. They still behead people for homosexuality.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "hahaha - I made a very tame, very calm comment re: this article an hour ago, and it has already been BANISHED! And I even opened my comment by stating that I am happy to see more light shed on the exploitation of Africa!\n\nHilarious! - Pernicious Censorship at its finest right here folks!\n\nThe jist of my BANISHED comment: If we want to be honest about the damage done to Africa by evoking the rampant historic slave trade there, we cannot reduce it to a monopolistic onus on white Christians -- this will leave readers grossly misinformed and only FUEL the 'racial' divisiveness more and more apparent in our day.\n\nIf we are to bring up white Christian slave trading, we must - as honest brokers of historic 'fact' - also mention the centuries long incidents of Muslim slave holders and traders, trading and holding black Africans... as slaves!\n\nOr is the truth about -ONE- particular faith and culture now off limits, while we can tar another to high heaven?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Unfortunately, as someone who has grew up in the Catholic Church and went to Catholic schools, I did see the discrepancies in how the wealthy and poor were treated. For instance, the Catholic high school I went to had a strict honor code where you could be expelled for things that you did outside of school. Of course the honor code only applied to the poor Latino scholarship students while the wealthy kids were never disciplined. (And this was in the 1990s BTW). After the hypocrisy I witnessed first hand, it wouldn't shock me if some bishops were pulling strings for the wealthy - i.e. annulments. \n\nAnd I am sure that you and many other priests are currently doing good work with this but my concern is that AL won't really help many divorcees outside of liberal parishes where they were already being helped. My liberal parish will continue to welcome remarried people but I am afraid that many other parishes won't.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Baloney! Separate school boards in Alberta feature prayers and Catholic religious courses. Holidays at Christmas and Easter are Christian celebrations. You'd do better to hide your prejudices and keep your shallow thoughts to yourself.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Harry,\nThere you go again, I merely stated Adolph Hitler was Baptized as a Christian. Harry, answer this. If Nazi Germany was 90% \"Christian\" (mostly Lutherans and Catholics), why did the country elect him in the 1930's and enthusiastically support his murderous regime against non-Christians until the Red Army invaded Berlin in 1945?\nUnless you're a Holocaust Denier, the Pope and other church leaders looked the other way while Hitler murdered Jews, Jehovah Witnesses, Gypsies, Slavic people, the disabled, and others he called \"Worthless Life\".\n Hitler accomplished this through the propaganda of \"Aryan Racial Superiority\" that the German people fully supported.\nApparently, you can tolerate Confederate symbols of slavery and hate from the KKK and neo-Nazis, but can't tolerate science, critical thinking, or even evolution. You invent your own history. America was founded on \"freedom from religion\" as well as \"freedom to worship anything or anyone\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How is a Muslim cemetery different from a non-denominational or pan-religious cemetery? Are the available cemeteries Catholic-only? Or are Muslims not allowed to be buried in the same area as non-Muslims?\n\nAs a sign of diversity, I would like to see those of various religious faiths (and the faithless) be intermingled in their burials.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think porn has been with us from, at least, the beginnings of recorded history. I'm not sure, but I'd guess there may be cave drawings of pornographic acts. Here's a link to an interesting article regarding pornography \"://books.google.com/books?id=wfNBQP2UaMEC&pg=PA623&lpg=PA623&dq=what+leads+to+enjoying+pornography&source=bl&ots=sX9IjyWlb4&sig=UqeWUh4_of3maIhtSvzPHAdmxLU&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjAt4j_nZHXAhXowFQKHUf4BqEQ6AEIRzAF#v=onepage&q=what leads to enjoying pornography&f=false\" As the article notes, pornography demeans and objectifies women....they're \"tools\" for men's enjoyment...feeding the ego and the libido. \n\nFrom all my interation with Christian Right-wingers, they tend to be sexist and misogynistic....(note those qualifiers, I'm sure there are some CR individuals who treat women very well). (cont)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pride in publishing dissent, heteroxy , attacks on teachings and faithful Catholics. Yes truly a great legacy and so exemplary of Jesuit inspired false spirit if VII \"catholicism\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A school is a place of learning, not religious practice. Secularism means respecting everyone and allowing all to practice their beliefs in a respectfully private way. It does not mean that public schools should allow overt expression of religious practices by Christians, Hindus, Muslims, Jews, Sikhs or anyone else. Let kids explore Newtonian Physics, Ramanajun's Math and Plato's philosophy. If religion could have done anything for anyone, there would be no plague, no poverty in 75% of the world, women and kids would be free from bondage everywhere, and the world would be full of Love and Respect ( supposedly the calling creed of every religion). \nBut clearly, the world is full of prejudice, injustice, hate, dogma, etc.\nTherefore, let schools be the place where the next generation discusses constructive ideas, and it should not become a battle ground for what religious preaches but never practices. \nDefend character, promote justice, embrace ideas. Everything else is BS anyway.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is amazing to me that we Christian do not know God we worship. Do you really think God almighty who is immanent in each one of us and omnipresent God is like we finit tiny minded humans to be immanent in Catholic but not present in other humans? LOLOLOL!!!!\n\"To pretend to situate God on our side, against others, is quite simply a blasphemy.\u201d Raimon Panikkar", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What's irrational about Christianity is that a large amount of evangelicals believe a man (again, we're talking about how he's a liar) who only reached out to them and their policies when he wanted to run for president. If I were you (I was a very active evangelical) I'd make sure I wasn't being played for a fool.\n\nLook at how we was before being a candidate, leading up to, and then who he surrounded himself with when he wanted to get elected. Trump the man wouldn't be with someone like Mike Pence, but Turmp the candidate sure was.\n\nIt's not unlike all the absurdities around George W. Bush being a \"good old born again Christian boy from West Texas\". Christians seemed quick to forget he wasn't some rancher but the son of a former president and head of the C.I.A.\n\nI'll make a shortcut here: Republicans think evangelicals are gullible and they use them to stay in power. This isn't a blanket conspiracy about every Republican but rather a trend I've noticed. These people ARE the elites.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So\u2014 after the vulgarity and hate demonstrated by these women, the National Catholic Reporter praises them. What a disgrace on the part of the Reporter\u2014what a scandal caused by the make-believe Catholics who participated.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nicholas Kristof spouts utter nonsense. The very core of Christianity is that Jesus is God. And guess what - Jesus repudiated \"religion\" because He fulfilled all ceremony, priesthood, catechism, etc. by the finished work of the Cross - His death, burial and resurrection. Religiosity is a throwback to pre-Christ behavior, and if modern church-goers wallow in religion, they have nothing in common with the God of the universe.\n\nNot that anybody has to believe that Jesus is God. That's their choice. But it's a shame for anyone to reject reality.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic Church is one of the most historically political institutions of the Western world. I refer those interested to the book \"The Entity: Five Centuries of Secret Vatican Espionage\" by Eric Frattini (2009, JR Books) which, if you thought our current politics were dirty (and they most certainly are) the Church has a history that surpasses ours by any measure. Some of those practices remain in full effect even today. It is not yet purified. I agree with you that Sen. Kaine may well open the path for 'accompanying' in US politics.....I very much hope so.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree, Neko. It was all down hill after Christianity became the official state religion under Constantine.. In that short period of time from its inception to the next 300 hundred years Christianity moved from the persecuted remnant of believers to the persecutors of those who disagreed in any way.. Regal splendor, authority and legalism have pressed hard against the original simple teachings of Jesus ever since. Today one would hardly recognize that it is the same religion that Jesus founded. What in the world have we done?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "He hasn't helped them because they're Christians...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Anyone who voted for Trump has zero credibility to lecture on Christianity as far as I'm concerned.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hmm, sorry to have to ask, but, if Anti-Christian, Anti-Women and Anti_jewish hatred has no place in your Canada...what are you living here? Because all three are alive and well.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you put 40 Christians in a room to read some scriptures you will get at least 40 different interpretations of how they think the scriptures are speaking to them. \n\nPraise God that scripture is so rich! It is ever new and relevant. By the power and mercy of God he can speak personally to many different hearts \ngiving them what they need to hear at that moment. \n\nSr. gave a different reflection on the scriptures. I had never heard this take on those scriptures before but I found some kernels of truth in there and it was thought provoking - the way scripture should be.\n\nIf it didn't resonate with you, fine. No one ever said that Sister's article was the official, definitive interpretation. Take it or leave it.\n\nThere is no need to be so patronizing , smug and arrogant. Those aren't Christian values.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "~NO ONE has a right to tell you what to do with your body.~\n*\nThis needs to be put in the Charter of Rights. Not society, not the state, not your parents, your wife or husband or friends.\n*\nA 3-day old embryo has 150 cells while the brain of a fly has 150 million. These Christian should be more concerned with killing flies than abortions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hmm. \nSandy Hook Elementary School - children murdered by a heavily armed white guy.\nMurders at a Sikh Temple in Wisconsin by a racist white guy who couldn't tell Sikhs from Muslims.\nMurders at a Planned Parenthood in Colorado by a \"Christian\" anti-abortion white guy. \nMurder of 9 blacks in a church in North Carolina by a white kid proving \"white supremecists\" are anything but.\nMurder of 3 people at random at a Jewish community center and retirement home in Overland Park by a new-Nazi who'd been active in the Klan.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"I have no right to go to a priest who is not an employee of mine and say, 'Excuse me, are you in a sexual relationship?' See, at that point I intrude into what's called the internal forum and I have no right, as the bishop, to do that. And the priest would have every right to say, 'It's no business of yours.' \n\nWhat about AB. Cordileone, archdiocese releases statement on church teachings, practice in high schools. 'February 4th, 2015 Church teaching distilled in 15 \"affirm and believe\" clauses in the Cordileone documennclude condemnation of abortion,\u00a0homosexual relations, same-sex marriage, artificial birth control, \"artificial reproductive technology,\" women's ordination, pornography, masturbation and human cloning,'\n \nAB. Cordileone have no right, as the bishop, to do that then!!!\nAnd we Catholics would have every right to say, 'It's no business of yours.' \nLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually, he was just a terrible football player that wasn't skilled enough to play in the NFL. But nice try to play christian victim!!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As someone who spent MONTHS this past summer helping to register white Catholics in key states like Michigan, Wisconsin, Florida, and Penn., I am ecstatic.\n\nWhite Catholics made a difference ! Our issues hit paydirt !\n\nA word to the wise for the social justice warriors like Cupich, McElroy, etc: Catholics aren't dumb. We're not going to have our wallets picked by anti-Catholic liberals who spit in our face and attack our faith, our Church, our schools, and our neighborhoods.\n\nContinue to support the anti-Catholic Left and you will be on your way out, regardless of any support you have from the Argentinian Socialists in Rome.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Marty, \nIf you find it offensive then why don't you go elsewhere. You may find National Catholic Register more to your liking. Try redstate.com, townhall.com, etc. \nYou will be happy and we do not need more trolls. They, who slavishly follow a church that allows and believes that pedophilia is okay and that the age of majority in theVvatican is twelve and that is just fine. \nWe are trying to discuss and understand why the last two popes and the American Catholic prelates have sold their souls to the GOP for silver, war, death and destruction. And then falsely proclaiming they are Pro-life. \nThe church has a long history of such activities. The human brain is not mature until the age of twenty-five. \nPope Francis, the good, is trying to reform the church. Pope Francis has proved that one can stay with church laws and do so in a wholesome and loving Christ-like way.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Again, Elagabalus, I don't think the issue is that simple. Indeed, from your and my perspective, a reasonable business proprietor living in a morally diverse society would adopt tolerance among those with different moral values as a positive virtue to be practiced in religiously diverse societies. But what are the limits? That is the problem! How do we accommodate people of honest, but scrupulous conscience? \n\nReligious freedom and laws do conflict. True respect for freedom on conscience requires us to think out of our moral boxes. More often than not, I am inclined to direct my moral anger at religious leaders. So here, I have empathy for the poor baker, but none for the religious leaders of his faith, which I assume to be Christian, who irrationally continue to support gay discrimination on faulty biblical exegesis. \n\nBut religious freedom constrains the courts from ruling against irrational, bigoted, exegesis. SCOTUS will require great wisdom on this one, me thinks.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I summarized from the book and you were unsatisfied, therefore I directed you to the source, which by the way, won the freaking Pulitzer Prize.\n\nTrad historiography: if history is unflattering to the Catholic Church, the historian is therefore anti-Catholic.\n\nI can't take you seriously.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This man is a menace to society. But he's got thousands twisted around his hateful finger and they will follow this guy all the way to hell, if there actually is one. A person can't ask for 'forgiveness' for acting like he does and preaching hate and expect to go to his version of heaven. Or maybe you can. But if that's where he will be, I don't care to be there. I don't subscribe to the Christian belief but I heard that Jesus was a pretty cool character. Too bad Christians aren't more Christ-like. And this guy....he's got so many people following him blindly, obeying his every command that I equate to him to Jim Jones. When do you think the Kool-aid will be poured in his giant temple he resurrected to worship himself?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Because Muslims haven't been electing insane people. I count Trump, Pence, Palin, Bachmann, and a bunch of others who shouldn't be allowed on municipal councils, let alone Governorships and Presidencies. Bobby Jindal (ex-governor of Louisiana)conducted an exorcism once. He also asked Indian Americans (his ethnic group, which had generously supported his election bid) not to wear Indian outfits at his inauguration, so that his Bible thumping supporters were not upset. He is a converted Catholic, and showed more religious fanaticism than any Muslim elected official.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "An 'authentic' Christian, Muslim or Jew simply does not commit acts of terror. Acts of terror have, however, been committed in the name of all three faith communities. Leaders of some Islamic countries who identify themselves as Muslim are no doubt violent people, just as supposed Christian leaders who invade other countries using lies about 'WMDs' to justify their violence are only using religion as a pretext.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Enforcing the law is good for Americans and Catholics. The government is finally protecting Americans by deporting illegal aliens.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Because the very antithesis of the Roman Catholic Church is a church that you seem to want, an anarchic, lawless church. Catholics want the former, not the latter.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A Muslim follower of Islam attacked, shot, maimed and killed many innocent people in a nightclub in Istanbul, Turkey.\n\nThere many verses in the Qur'an, the holy book of Islam, that call for the destruction of Jews, Christians and non believers. \n\nFor decades, Muslim followers of Islam have been attacking, maiming and killing innocent, civilian non believers in the Middle East, in other parts of Africa, in Europe, in Australia, in Asia and in North America.\n\nScholars say Jews, Christians and Muslims are all people of the Book, the Holy Bible. They have the same God of Abraham. Jews call that God YHWH or Yahweh, Christians call that God Jehova or Lord. Muslims call the same God Allah (peace be with him). \n\nWhich group is following God's will properly? Is it Jews, Christians or Muslims?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do you recall that the Crusades were a response to the invasion of Christian lands by brutal Muslim conquerors? Did you know that when Muslims invaded India they slaughtered 2/3rds of the Hindu population, their leaders bragging about how high the piles of 'infidel' heads were outside cities they destroyed? Are you aware that there were over 14,000 terrorist attacks carried out in the world just last year in the name of Islam?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Two decades ago U.S. leaders decided to pivot to the Middle East. I.e. install all kinds of military bases, send in the CIA to overthrow regimes, convert them into nice peace-loving Christian Americans. But along the way there arose a little problem of blowback - not all of them can be easily converted. Trillions of dollars was spent, thousands of fighting men lost, for what? Today, Trump announced he will enhance the pivot, the goal is to wipe out the resistance. Block Muslim immigration which has caused damages. The first Crusade in 11th century tried that trick - didn't work. \n\nAt the same time, Trump announced he will enforce pivot to China - i.e. pick a fight to see who is boss. \nNow China don't do the Islamic thing, their religion is harmony and sitting Buddha, they don't do terror, they don't invade, they have no imperial ambition. They are smart, advanced, technical, and love money too. They make the world greatest stuff. \n\nAnd Trump want to screw them too!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus Christ on a crutch.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sorry to question your assertion pard, but... We indeed have non-Muslim terrorists amongst us. Consider: the white Christian who killed all those people in a black church, all the school killers who were young whites (eg. Columbine, Sandy Hook), the white Christians who have bombed abortion clinics and killed abortion providers, the KKK, the redneck whites that took over the Oregon wildlife refuge, the Unibomber, the IRA in Britain and the list goes on and on. If by ignorant public policy we alienate or make enemies of the billions of Muslims in the world, including allied countries around the world, what then? How can law enforcement and our intelligence agencies gain the confidence and help of Muslims in this country and around the world to fight terrorism when Trump and his cronies practice xenophobia? I agree with many who assert that Trump is playing right into the hands of radical Islamist terrorists.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In what sense is this cruel, hypocritical and unchristian policy \"rational\"?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The church is a woman...the church is the bride of Jesus Christ.\" \"The church is the mystical body of Jesus.\" Which one is it, such convoluted nonsense that only in religion can it be expected to be believed. Theology of women, that they are more important than popes, cardinals because of the Madonna. Yet, no woman can be ordained, because a lesser specie; a celibate pope, who just happens to be male, says so. The argument is self defeating.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I didn't realize the Munoz was a TEA Party legislator. One doesn't have to be raped to understand that raping babies should be a life sentence in prison with no possibility of parole. Where are the evangelicals when you need them?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's a disgrace that any Catholic, man or woman, would vote for Clinton. Not that I'm a Trump supporter. What's become of America? Are these two candidates really the best that can be mustered?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The ACLU has chosen which belief systems they want pushed on the American people. Josh is intolerant of Christian beliefs and has taken his stand against them. Why does the state supported religion push the belief that the baby isn't a baby until first breath, that promiscuity, homosexuality, and transgendering should be fully accepted? Is the ACLU pushing a satanic religion which includes child sacrifice for personal happiness? Abortion rights makes women cheap, accessible, and exchangeable to wicked men.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Without a change in the church\u2019s teaching on sex and sexuality, can LGBT people ever hope to be treated with equality and justice by the hierarchy? Indeed! Can women? What about the other faithful marginalized by what might be called the prevailing ecclesial culture?\n\nThe editorial speaks of the hierarchy without delving into the culture of that hierarchy. Alas, the heart of the issue here is that, ultimately, what is really needed is a \u2018culture change\u2019 within the hierarchy. For example, Catholics are going to continue to use artificial contraception in good, informed conscience, and the hierarchy condemns them for it at its own peril.\n\nIt is folly to suppose that It is folly to suppose that the hierarchy has the only voice worth hearing on defining what constitutes a relationship driven by love, fidelity, truth and service to the \u2018other,\u2019 and issues related to sexual ethics, in theory or practice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I know it is like looking at a part of apple where it is not yet rot. But it is a matter of short time the rest will rot. CI (Catholic Institution) has not come to the prodigal son\u2019s repentance. \nTheir ongoing rottenness:\nA proven rotten apple like C. Dolan is still an acting Cardinal in New York Archdiocese.\nHe proudly announced his scheme to create a separate fund for hush and cover up the Clergy sex abuses to the world. :-( \nThere is no end to this nightmares! \n\nGod bless", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bullied as a child?...project much, Mr Harkins?\n\nI did the politics and sports association as more tongue-in-cheek than anything,..what with all intense election news in recent days...but I see that it went right past you.\n\nI'm sorry that an authority figure...who I'm pretty sure was a Catholic priest, betrayed your youthful innocence and altered forever your sexual identity. But its good for you spiritually that you've accepted and embraced it. There are a number of therapists who have been trained to help boys like you......(see how easy it is to make reckless, uniformed claim? \n\nIn any case, go catch the espn program \"catching hell\". It's a recap of what happens when a big group of Trump-type supporters go off on an unhinged rant...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The justification for self-defense is not \"situation ethics\". It is a proper weighting in consideration of competing rights, commencing with the first right - the right to life itself.\n\nIt does not in Catholic teaching justify \"Go buy a gun and shoot anyone who you feel is threatening you.\" or \"Start a war if you think you are being 'attacked' .\"\n\nWe have the right to life, and therefore the right to defend our life. Our spouse and children have rights to life, and we have a right and at times a duty to defend their lives.\n\nSituation ethics would attempt to value the various lives and in some kind of moral calculus, and conclude which lives and how many are expendable.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "American evangelicals, oddly, seem to love people getting killed. But only after they're born, of course.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It doesn't matter than illegal immigrants are paying taxes, because that input is negatively qualified by the huge percentage of them receiving financial assistance from the government.\n\nRural voters do not have \"fears.\" They have seen the effect of 11-15 million low skilled illegal alien workers dumped on the rural economy, as well as the effect of corporations who export their industries to other, cheaper, nations.\n\nBtw MSW, glad to hear you own two homes in different states. Professional Catholicism is a wonderfully lucrative career.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ken, it was inevitable that you would post quite quickly with your tired old homophobic chestnut ... though implicitly rather than explicitly (to avoid censure?)\n\n\"[T]he [John Jay] researchers found no statistical evidence that gay priests were more likely than straight priests to abuse minors\u2014a finding that undermines a favorite talking point of many conservative Catholics. The disproportionate number of adolescent male victims was about opportunity, not preference or pathology, the report states.\" https://www.americamagazine.org/content/all-things/john-jay-report-not-blaming-homosexual-priests", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No because the discussion is about supporting a useless ministry, so more useless speech, instead of intelligent speech is necessary. We could call them princesses without authority, and they could wear a tiara spelling out the words voteless in shiny cubic zirconia. \n\nAnyone who thinks this is a step toward priesthood needs to realize that the only kind of deaconate that is a step toward priesthood is the transitional variety. This is foolery in the hopes of trying to make women feel important in this church because all importance was stripped from women centuries ago. \n\nChange comes when people stand up for genuine justice and the same human dignity of all people and refuse to compromise this for any reason.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Pope is not Catholic enough is an old line. What the trad converts are saying is they were sure that the Church will never change and is somehow protected from error. The opposite is true. The Church has the Holy Spirit, which will prompt it to change when doing so is essential to the survival of the Church. Stubbornness about contraception and gays are not eternal values.\n\nThe stories of their latest success have them so entertained. The poverty of Francis is a fascination for its oddity. In the US, we worship success and think executive ability translates to political ability. I suspect that myth has now been destroyed. No more billionaire candidates.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What a wonderful and inspiring display of spontaneous outrage. Where was the spontaneous outrage when children were being molested? The Church of Jesus sure could have used some then. Maybe next year there should be a Fortnight for Hypocrisy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is such pablum. OD spirituality is the perfect venue for the Steve Bannon's of the world. Keep the sheep navel gazing and offering their daily tasks as spiritual offerings while the big boys run things. No wonder Franco thought Escriva was cat's meow. All those wonderful OD Catholics doing as they were bid while never gazing upward at Franco or demanding any accountability for his government. You go Ed. Semper Fi.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Recognize the body of Jesus in one another\"\nI didn't think Catholic clergies believe that!!!!!\nHow on earth anyone who believe that allow clergy sex abuse children?\nPls, go tell Pope F., C. Law from Boston, Australia C. Pell & B. Juan Barros, in Chile, and all the bishops everywhere!!!!!!!.\n\u2018I assure you, as often as you did it for one of my least brothers, you did it for me.\u2019 (Mat 25:40)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Terrorism is when adjoining countries routinely lob missiles indiscriminately over your borders, with the intention of killing as many people as possible. Terrorism is when people from one nationality stab innocent people of another nationality on the street with screwdrivers. Terrorism is when people from an adjoining country sneak into your country through tunnels and murder a sleeping mother and her 5 children because they are Jews and not Muslims. Terrorism is when suicide bombers blow themselves up in restaurants with the objective of killing as many people as possible. Terrorism is when someone drives a large vehicle towards innocent pedestrians or at bus shelters to indiscriminately kill people they've never met. \n\nBuilding houses on disputed lands is not terrorism - Canada has built a country on lands whose title is disputed by its indigenous peoples. \n\nYour hyperbole would perhaps be tempered if the subject of your derision were white Christians, and not Jews.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Radicalization is taught at home, around the dinner table, as the family enjoys mom's good home cooking, while the grown ups discuss destroying Israel, eradicating homosexuals and the evils of dirty infidels It is drilled into young minds with every tale of glorious martyrdom for Allah in every mosque in every city around the world. Extremism for Islam is taught the same way Christians are taught about Jesus and his message of mercy and forgiveness. It is not at odds with the teachings, but is central to the religion", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "He thought they were there. That is the point.\nAll obfuscation. \nIf he was not allowed to purchase a military style weapon ( and the Air Force now admits they failed to report his domestic abuse) this would likely not have happened with the carnage that it produced.\n\n\"Denying something this obvious places your manner of thinking regarding Christians more in line with Kelley's than mainstream thought. \" An utterly moronic assertion, making assumptions based on nothing but your blind ideology.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In this long and amateurish article there's no mention of Christian having done time in the Oregon State Penitentiary on assault and robbery charges. Why is that? Doesn't fit the tale they're trying to weave here? The guy is a violent convict with mental problems. And these two reporters are trying to tell us it means something bigger than that. One more time they make the allegation that Portland is racist because it's largely white. I for one am really tired of the Washington Post journalism in this newspaper.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"One thing that is clear so far: White evangelical Christians, who helped put President Trump in the White House and who will be affected by many of his policies, both promised and delivered, remain his staunchest allies.\"\n\nThat these people would take a moral cretin like Trump as their champion only shows their moral bankruptcy. Instead of \"moral values\" as they often claim, their real interest is power.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You may find it hard to believe, Andrew, but the 77% of Canadians as Christians comes from Statistics Canada's numbers.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "According to who? You? I realize you would find it very 'convenient' if repentance were unnecessary, but clearly it isn't. Not according to your Book or mine. Perhaps the next time your Christian \"scholars\" revise your Book, you can ask them to take out the parts about repentance so it's more in line with your preferences.\n\nI believe in Jesus, the Messiah (alayhis-Salaam), and my Qur'an makes it WAJIB--mandatory--for me to follow him ('Ali Imran 55). And I believe that he cursed hypocrites (Matt. 23:13-14). Perhaps that should concern you. But then hypocrites don't truly believe...\n\n(PSSST. Bearing false witness is a sin, too. Both you and the other Amy have slandered Bro. Gregory. One more thing for you to repent of. Or not. I'm placing my bet on 'not'.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "sheldon adelson owns the company that owns the company that owns the company that owns the company that owns the star-advertiser. three or four super wealthy people own most of the media in totality. thats everything you read, hear, see or imagine (with their help). most of it is conservative right. they dont own the internet, yet, but not for not trying. they will though then there will be no dissent, no discussions. if you check, these same guys are electing school boards, community councils, sheriffs, local, regional and national judges, and of course, dog catchers. the only requirement for running for one of these elected positions is that you are a white, evangelical christian male, racist, bigoted and intolerant of anyone not likewise. in rare cases a 'she' can run if there are no better qualified males. no american, no person anywhere, has the right to deny others the same rights. \nhttps://meamatters.com/2015/12/04/will-the-koch-brothers-target-your-school-board-next/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic Church was NOT \"aligned with Hitler\".\n\nThe BBC recently retracted a statement along those lines publicly because the evidence proves otherwise.\n\nThe allegation is total and complete hogwash.\n\nYes, Franz Von Papen was Catholic. So what?\n\nToo bad the Church was not more effective in eradicating Communism. Millions of Cambodians, Russians, Ukranians, and others would have been saved.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Another fine column which does not forgive religious dogma that encourages murder. \n\nAny 'message' from God has very human characteristics. There's a source/origin of a statement and we have the persons who receives it. We don't have the option of asking God \"You talkin' to me?', but we often feel convicted or encouraged by our early religious teaching. \n\nOur human side seems intent on modeling God after us, not accepting that God's agape love embraces us before we chose to accept it.\n\nOf course the images of God are as common as weeds in the sidewalk - and that's just in the Christian church. No church member is rejected by God, but many are caste aside by Church leadership that demands compliance to a very narrow definition of God. These ideologies generally say more about religious arrogance than they do about the spirit of God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Look, there are some sites that make it clear that they will tolerate no dissent (e.g., Church Militant, DailyKos), and I don't have a problem with that. But Jim Martin is a Catholic Priest who is promoting ostensibly (and I believe actual), if implicitly, anti-Catholic rhetoric. If Martin wants to hold himself out as the new Martin Luther, as opposed to legitimate Catholic priest, then I am ok with his censoring other people. \n\nNCR is awesome for allowing civil discussion on important matters.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Cherry-picking the definition of \"oath\" to fit your own false assertion. Attaching Judeo-Christian to any action somehow defines it as a \"principle\". The Supreme Court opening has no relevancy to the Constitution, just as \"under god\" in the Pledge of Allegiance wasn't even in it until the 1950's Republican/McCarthy CONgress interjected it and is actually a violation of the Constitution whenever the \"Pledge\" is required recitation in government or schools. All of this injection of \"god\" into any governing component is a violation of the Constitution's basic human rights principles. It is accomplished by elected traitors and the voters who blindly follow anyone with religious name attachment despite most of them are criminals and traitors. One of the problems with democracy where the entire idea can be subsumed by a brainwashed majority.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Tell Burke that he has been unfaithful to the Bride of Christ and ban him from the Eucharist. Don't lift the ban until he has gone through a lengthy annulment process, having to sell his clothes to pay for it.\n\nThen...... tie him to a commode....... \ud83d\udc4d", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "anywhere in the world a place frequented by western 'decadence' seems to be a target. Being a Christian also puts you at risk (Christians in Egypt are targeted for their religion.....Jews are targeted everywhere , even South America with help from Iran/hezbollah). As far as ISIS being upset with Turkeys involvement in Syria, Assads regime bombs innocent / civilian populations indiscriminately and has used chemicals too. What a mess, who can even begin to understand it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Not only does it give me complete freedom to write whatever I want, without looking over my shoulder, it also represents an ecclesiology with which I am quite comfortable.\"...in a nutshell Fr. Reese has explained the heterodoxy of this \"catholic\" newspaper and given expression to the main reason I will never support N\"c\"R", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Re: Australia Royal Commission. The long recap is worth the read. The Commission is stepping into new territory in examining internal structure and governance of a religious organization for purposes of civil law regarding protecting children. Separation of church and state - how far does it go?\n\nI think the discussion on clericalism, celibacy, and secrecy are important elements that the Church needs to examine. This is a two way street - this need for religious organizations to be able to manage themselves and the need for society to protect vulnerable individuals. The Church exists in the world and needs to find its own ways to recognize a co-responsibility for the \"common good.\" \n\nI am enormously disappointed that Rome is not participating in the dialogue that is occurring. Bishops will be there, but bishops have no accountability and horribly insufficient oversight. More, the bishops really no longer speak for the larger Church - which includes the huge majority laity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you have never doubted the Pope's Catholicism, then you either know next to nothing about Catholicism, or next to nothing about what the Pope has been saying, writing, and doing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I've read the Old Testament in its entirety nine times, and the New Testament eight times. I continue to research its meanings according to its original languages (mostly Hebrew and Aramaic because they're Semitic languages like Arabic and therefore easier to follow. Not so much the Greek, but I dabble at that, too). So by all means, feel free to step up and impress us with your scriptural 'knowledge'. You haven't done a bang-up job of that so far (typing in caps doesn't count).\n\nAll the absurdities you mention are indeed in biblical scripture, and the history of the New Testament's development in particular is just as absurd. There are also very worthwhile, and very moving, moral and spiritual teachings in certain parts of the bible. Perhaps when you're a little older you'll be able to open it up again and appreciate them.\n\n(I admit I feel kinda weird, as a Muslim, defending the Christians' book, but brash willful ignorance, while excusable in the young, should be corrected).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Is your catechism so bad that you don't even know that the hierarchy of sins is based on the words of God? Why do you even call yourself Catholic? LOL.\n\ncatholic.com: Most Catholics are familiar with the term mortal sin. Mortal sins deprive the soul of grace. They are serious transgressions of God's law, done freely and deliberately with a clear understanding of what they are. Their result is to deny a soul entrance to heaven. \n\nThere are particular mortal sins that are so evil that they are said to be sins that cry to heaven for vengeance: murder (Gn 4:10), sodomy (Gn 17:20-21), oppression of the poor (Ex 2:23), and defrauding workers of their just wages (Jas 5:4). \n\nSins against the Holy Spirit are mortal sins that harden a soul by its rejection of the Holy Spirit. Six sins are in this category. They are despair, presumption, envy, obstinacy in sin, final impenitence, and deliberate resistance to the known truth.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Aquinas sure called it a banquet! it is at one and the same time: the sacred banquet in which Christ is received, the memorial of his passion is recalled, the soul is filled with grave and a pledge of future glory is given. it is equally all of these things. and is given for ALL.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The government of Ontario should not interfere with this Christian University and the freedom of its students to follow the teachings of St. Paul. It's a private institution, and if people don't like what they do there they don't have to attend. In this case, as in others, the government has failed to defend the Charter rights of individuals, and the freedom of every citizen of Ontario is diminished by this act of tyranny.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Congratulations to the Turkish people ...as now they gave Erdogan new powers and made him a SULTAN!!! ( another word for Dictator )\n\nHOWEVER certain things will happen :\n\n1- More violence and arrest in Turkey.\n\n2- You can kiss goodbye... to Democracy and human rights.\n\n3- You can forget... of joining the EU.\n\n4- Less foreign investments and less prosperity.\n\n5- More Turks leaving Turkey as immigrants.\n\n6- Muslim radicals/ extremists will now be in charge of Turkey.\n\n7- Unless the West gives Turkey and Erdogan billions of dollars in ransom... he will unload hundred of thousand of Syrian refugees. \n\n8- He will continue to threaten his neighbours ,like Greece and Cyprus.\n\n9- Less Tourists from the West.\n\n10- Possibly a civil war.\n\n11- Christians and Christian Churches are in danger ...as many times Erdogan wanted to close the Phanar Greek Orthodox College and transform the Church of Agia Sophia into a Mosque.\n\nCONCLUSION: People always elected the politicians they deserve!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"What frightened the parent was the community had embraced and accepted her son in a way he had never experienced in his entire life. Those are very deep psychological strings being pulled and that seduction is wrapped in racist ideology. This child could probably rationalize believing any ideology in exchange for that acceptance and belonging ...\"\n.\n.\nThis same thing that happens with gangs and other extremist groups also happens with religious cults, e.g., evangelical Christians.\n.\nThe convert then cuts off their own family, and replaces it with their \"church family\".\n.\nThe religious brain-washing is total. Any family member who disagrees with church dogma is instantly excluded from any further contact, for life.\n.\nThey never ask themselves what kind of religion teaches that you should hate your own family.\n.\nThe effect on the family members who are then rejected is devastating - not unlike the effect of having a parent with dementia, who no longer recognizes their children.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I never said that Christians were worse- I just thought we might have a little 'sober\" reflection on from whence we came. (Might be too much to ask).\nSo glad you missed me, sweetie.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The prime indicator, to me, of a \"teacher\" is that they understand their subject, that they can explain the concepts in terms that reflect the level, the bent (so to speak) of the learner. Teachers or proponents who are stuck in rote definition are suspect. Those who go on to reject legitimate alternative, expanded, nuanced perspectives are worse than useless.\nJesus selectively recruited and \"formed\" a small number of intimates around his mission. They were \"formed\" missioned in a socio-political-religious context that was resistant, hostile and which demanded further levels of \"formation\". Jesus and these intimates gathered others around and with them. Jesus seems to have \"picked\" his opportunities and avoided others, deliberately, strategically, in a manner that was consistent with his mission. \nThe work of Jesus, his followers and subsequents, even within a \"traditionalist\" mode, supports organization of community: \"The Kingdom of God\", \"evangelists\", parish. Or, is it \"conquor\"?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have neither read nor heard any Catholic Bishop directly rebuke Trump for his \"there are good people on both sides\" nonsense. There is no moral equivalency between those who would kill, maim, and deny rights to others and those who must defend their own rights to life and liberty. If the bishops argue for dialog they must see a moral equivalency where none exists. One is left with the idea that the bishops are afraid of stepping on toes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Except that not a single thing you cited is objectionable to actual Catholics. So, as I correctly said, you gave us nothing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ugh. Shame on you complaining non Christians. We know a fireman who is beyond exhaustion. Be thankful you have shelter and it's not in flames. My friends endured 3 days w/0 power, phones, blockages. We still have power lines down. My count is 4 days unless you lost power on Tuesday before the storm hit. Go offer help and something warm to those working in this! We are in Santa Clara...... It's bad here too but we are thankful.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Allan Ross, get serious\nhow many Christians in Canada?\nhow many Muslims? Or Buddhists for that matter\n\nwhy shouldn't Christian civilization and culture be \"pervasive\" in Canada?\nwhat is your problem?\nDon't like \"pervasive\" Christian culture you can migrate to the Middle East", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I cannot help but think this will put \"paid\" to any suggestion of the Catholics and Lutherans ever reaching full communion, since many Lutheran branches ordain women. How does one share a communion table when one is convinced the presider cannot be ordained by imperial ... uh, papal decree? How does one accept a claim of joint communion when it comes with \"oh, by the way, we reject that some of your pastors were called by God and reject their ordination?\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In March of this year, the New Zealand Parliament granted personhood to the Whanganui River in New Zealand, after over 100 years of effort by the Whanganui tribe which lives along the river. \u201cFrom a Whanganui viewpoint, the wellbeing of the river is directly linked to the wellbeing of the people,\u201d Adrian Rurawhe, who represents the Maori in parliament, told the BBC. \u201cSo it is really important that it is recognized as its own identity.\u201d I understand two rivers in India have been granted the same status and Ecuador and Bolivia have some legislation now dealing with equal rights of nature and persons.\n\nNative/non-Western people's religious beliefs were safely denounced, ridiculed, suppressed when the power was all in the hands of the Westernized Christian conquerors. But incorporating nature into God's being and presence is a religious belief widespread around the globe. Maybe a claim of religious freedom is the next step for those who want to protect Bears Ears National Park.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\nThe People of God have their own magisterium, proper to them, and they have pronounced unambiguously in rejecting the teaching of Humane Vitae. The bishops can pound their fists and stomp their feet, but this ship has sailed. \nThe formal teaching of the Catholic Church about contraception is wrong.\nSo is the teaching about homosexuality and masturbation.\nWe shouldn't equivocate about this any longer.\nThe teaching is wrong, and dangerous.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why not? The school is not teaching religion. It is simply allowing the religious to observe their traditions.\n\nThe school board rents out the schools on the weekends to Christian congregations who don't have dedicated facilities. I don't see anyone protesting that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your words, not the Church. Walking away from the Church is walking away from the sacraments \u2014 our most intimate connection with Christ. Nothing is worth that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Wrong yet again, mjmchale. I went to a fine Catholic school. Is you intuition always this faulty? That explains plenty about the content of your posts.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I like your comment Dee. God is an expression of how we might hope the world to be if we acted in sync with God's character. There will always be many descriptions of God's character, shaped by our personal human experience. Working to care for the garden we were born into, has become a common theme of Christian theology, particularly in the younger generation. Caring for nature is a great way to grow in our capacity to love, including those pesky human's who seem so self interested.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And by \"pro-family\" you mean \"anti-American Christian and Islamic hate groups which are abjectly Republican.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Carla Wight: Religious missionaries are not necessarily \u201cselfless.\u201c Chris Thompson owes no apologies for his amazingly candid article on religious missionaries (\u201cWhy Short-Term Mission Trips May Do More Harm Than Good\u201d). The main purpose of Christian missions and missionaries is to spread a particular religious schism\u2026often using young people such as your \u201cSt. John United Methodist Church mission trip to South Africa at the end of May.\u201d\nI\u2019ve had first-hand experience with missionaries when I worked on Indian lands in Arizona. Missionary activities both \u201cshort-term\u201d and long-term\u2026can, and are often intended, to destroy families, communities and culture. Missionaries pick on cultures already rendered weak and dispossessed by military and/or economic dominance. Mr. Thompson also pointed out the absurdity and evil of other Christians directly missionizing Russian Orthodox (read: Native) adherents. Called \u201cstealing sheep.\u201d", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Regarding: \"\"As followers of Jesus Christ and as Christian ethicists representing a range of denominations and schools of thought, we stand in resolute agreement in firmly condemning racist, anti-Semitic, anti-Muslim, and neo-Nazi ideology as a sin against God that divides the human family created in God's image,\" the statement begins. \"\n- This is a good article.\n- Though the ethicists, and other men and women of good will, no doubt righteously write in the heat of the moment, let us not forget the gypsyes, the homosexuals, Buddhists, Zorastrians, Christians, and other believers of other religions, all who suffer from those past fascists ideologies, and from those modern excuses for religious persecutions and personal oppression resulting in death, and destruction.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The premise of this post is wrong. Whether you see the Pope as a father or as an administrator, his comments are meant lovingly. Read Hebrews 12:\n\nMy son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord\nor lose heart when reproved by him;\nfor whom the Lord loves, he disciplines;\nhe scourges every son he acknowledges.\n\nEndure your trials as \u201cdiscipline\u201d; God treats you as sons. For what \u201cson\u201d is there whom his father does not discipline?\nIf you are without discipline, in which all have shared, you are not sons but bastards.\nBesides this, we have had our earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them. Should we not [then] submit all the more to the Father of spirits and live?\nThey disciplined us for a short time as seemed right to them, but he does so for our benefit, in order that we may share his holiness.\nAt the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Neither hat black eye or that other violence could be justified by pointing to Christian scriptures.\n\nAs for Italians, the macho southern italian culture of small villages was part of the \"mediterranean honour culture\", and heavily influenced by Islam.\n\nThat is what a heavy cultural influence does: Christians living in Muslim regions end up adopting similar cultural traits independent of their own religion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\u201cCulpable violation of any of these norms can be punished with a just penalty\u201d. IMHO he shows no respect for the pastoral judgement of priests who are working with the folks much more than he is. His style seems to be management by fear. I am glad I am not a priest in his diocese. I don't think I could treat folks as he directs. \n\nThose of us who are privileged to accompany folks know they are people, not categories or objects of judgment. Catholic tradition is that each of us is created in the image and likeness of God, As Benedict XVI said, \u2018every one of us is the consequence of a thought in the mind of God, every one of us is important, every one of us is necessary, none of us is an accident\u201d. This has consequences. \n\nThere is so much hurt, so much anger, so much judging and condemning. In my 50+ years of service I hope I have learned just prayerfully to accompany folks as they make difficult decisions, wherever it takes us. I don't have all the answers for how folks are to live.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The first casualty in war is Truth. Our Holy Bishops are waging a war for religious freedom and for the very soul of the Nation. Truth must be sacrificed for the greater good and the achievement of victory. This is an unfortunate reality that our Bishops recognize and have embraced. Jesus will understand. Lying was a very successful strategy used by the Bishops in combating the scandal caused by victims of predatory priests seeking justice against the Courageous Bishops' wishes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't see that we are. If Jesus wanted to keep life saving Holy Eucharist away from divorcees then why offer this multiple adulteress and divorcer of multiple men - the drink of everlasting life?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's been there decades, Doug and no it's not beside any church. It's actually one of three Catholic cemeteries that are still in operation in the area. One of which is right next to a non-demoninational one, they share the same address and entrance but have separate areas for Catholics and non-Catholics and operate independently.\n\nDo they cater exclusively to Catholics? Not exactly but here's what their ByLaws state \"All Catholics and their family members (whether Catholic or not) are invited to make use of our cemeteries\" So unless you have a Catholic connection, you're out. The most recent one opened in 1992 and a quick internet search turned up planning documents for a Catholic cemetery in Halton (near Toronto) as recently as 2010 so there is little doubt that religious based cemeteries are still active and being planed today. \n\nI haven't yet seen why a Muslim cemetery is any different than a Catholic one. In fact there are already other Muslim cemeteries in operation in Canada.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Really? Much of the prosperity of the 18th and 19th century was built on the backs of slaves, annihilation of tribes after theft of their lands and the theft of half a country from (Catholic) Mexico.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "........and Ryan and his gang profess to be Christains? No wonder there are so many against religion. GOD is not allowed in this groups church. This really shows who they worship. Love of money is root of all evil. Unabashed greed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I would argue that sermons are boring because they don't challenge people to lead a more Christ centered life. The fact that so many priests and religious chose to abandon the faith and affirm people in popular dissent is precisely why Church's are closing. I don't go to Church to be affirmed, I go because my proclivities to addiction and sin need to be challenged. If I want to be good like our Father in Heaven, I have to first recognize my short comings. I do all of my brothers and sisters a grave disservice when I deny personal failing (my own and theirs) \n\nTremendous research has been done in the last 20 years on how pointing out hypocrisy can actually lead other to amend there lives. This is the work of ordinary priesthood.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The well-known Malleus Maleficarum--a handbook on witches--written by a Catholic clergyman and containing a Papal bull acknowledging that \"sorceresses are real and harmful through their involvement in the acts of Satan,\" makes references to witches and the \"left side\" of their bodies twice (e.g., \"it is their practice to lie down on their left side in the name of their own and of all devils). This is a separate issue from your other question. MM agrees that prosecution is best left to the secular courts and then proceeds to offer a step-by-step guide on how to do it! I don't know what you think you are proving, as the Church appeared to back the prosecution of witches wholeheartedly.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "History?\n\nTom\u00e1s de Torquemada is lurking there, safeguarding Catholic orthodoxy. The witch hunts of Europe are aflame there, and Muslims didn't set them. You can hear the gurgling of waterboarding there, but Muslims are the victims. You can see crucifixions there, planted by the Romans. The Soviets are there. The Nazis. The Chinese showing you that the death of a thousand cuts is a real thing. The Huron and Iroquois are there, too.\n\nHistory.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "God passed judgement upon St Paul for writing those books of the Bible which condemn sexual immorality that he wrote under the Holy Ghost's inspiration too then if we follow your logic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ridiculous. The pope preaching contra the Gospel?....something you would never admit for the two popes who preceded him, the two of them silencing faithful theologians and whitewashing pedophilia in the name of an ontologically enhanced clergy. You can't claim what you claim without admitting their \"flat wrongness,\" their being \"flatly against the Gospel\" in these ways.\n\nThese are men. Only men. You make legendary those who fit your agenda and cut the legs out from under those with different visions. A Catholic, universal faith requires the both/and approach.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Religion does not belong in the public school system. All those who need to maintain their religion can do it on their own time outside public system. The Catholic School board should be abolished. What was decided in the 19 Century does not apply today just like residential schools for natives don't. \nWe need to educate our children about religion but not provide space for practicing it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do many voters decide based on the VP candidate? Probably not. And as a white male, I certainly don't feel historically underrepresented. Maybe white Catholic males voted on the issues, rightly or wrongly, rather than on ethnic identity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "To say nothing of the false doctrines and attacks on Catholicism contained in the 39 Articles.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So basically...what you are saying is these young women can follow you out of the Catholic Church to the Episcopal Church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And you know this because of that famous Bibical passage where Christ says \"And verily, a fetus IS a viable human life!\"\n\nKidding! Seriously, I'm liking Genesis 2:7\n\n \"the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You nailed it when you stated that one should quote Jesus above any other person who walked the earth. Jesus is the most tolerant (meaning patient) and loving person to have ever walked the earth. Ironically, He is also the least tolerant person to have ever walked the earth. His tolerance and love was and is always followed by extreme intolerance. Love the sinner, but hate the sin. Sins are forgiven, but sin no more. He places a conjunction on what he says, because He knows people are not perfect. That is why He came to live among people. Jesus is like a parent. Parents who are trying to raise their children to be responsible citizens will forgive, love, and support their child's mistake, but they will discourage the child from making the same mistake again...for their own well-being. Judges do not have the right to take that opportunity away from parents.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hmm. The Army of God. Eastern Lightning. The Lord's Resistance Army. The National Liberation Front of Tripura. The Phineas Priesthood. The Concerned Christians. Branch Davidians. Peoples Temple.\n\nNutty cults purporting to be serving God through violence aren't the exclusive domain of Islam.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There was a clear statement by JPII that the Church erred in allowing homosexuals in the priesthood. The muddy water is because the men recognize that, as God points out in Leviticus, by his animal nature ALL mankind is capable of perverse sexual relations in our animal nature, SO they decided SOME people have no same sex attraction but some have such a negligible amount that it isn't a threat and some have more but have never acted on it etc. The problem is, they are placing themselves in an occasion of sin and scandal if they have same sex attraction and they live in rectories together and they hear the confessions of the vulnerable. Also, there is a distortion of their perception of the human person because of their disordered attraction so reason and love of the deposit of faith and love of the sheep would seem to preclude all but the most negligibly same sex attracted, keeping in mind the attacks of the evil one are sure to come. We need to pray for the priesthood.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"SNAP does not focus on protecting or helping survivors \u2014 it exploits them. SNAP routinely accepts financial kickbacks from attorneys in the form of 'donations.' In exchange for the kickbacks, SNAP refers survivors as potential clients to attorneys, who then file lawsuits on behalf of the survivors against the Catholic Church. These cases often settle, to the financial benefit of the attorneys and, at times, to the financial benefit of SNAP, which has received direct payments from survivors' settlements.\"\n\nPerhaps a new website is need called \"SNAP Accountability\" where all these alleged transactions are recorded. Without prejudice, of course, and purely to ensure transparency and to encourage others to come forward.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Evangelical leaders aren't about Christ and his teachings. They're all about money and power.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Maggie Carey restates the solution to most of the healthcare issues unknown only to the Republican Traitor Party and the DINOs wallowing in campaign funds. The only remaining issue is the divestiture of all religious non-taxed ownership, mainly the Roman Catholic Church, of healthcare facilities and medical professionals. They are raking in billions per day in secular business while requiring all patients to adhere to religious dogma in refusal to provide all secular, legal, scientific healthcare based on scurrilous religious dogma. The have gobbled up physician groups and other secular facilities just like any monopoly. Once merged, all bow to religious dogma or lose their job. Time to get religion out of the healthcare \"business\" and remove all tax exemptions for any religious organization and end forever the profiteering from the same false institutions. The lies need to be ended forever.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A fiance is not a protected class. He could legally refuse to do that.\nHis personal art, on a cake. Okay.\n\nNo one has the right to discriminate based on their religion. \nNo one has the right to not be offended.\nAsk Jesus about treating people equally.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Maybe not, but Jesus raged against the rich.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Taking a few moments out from the name-calling and bishop bashing, let us consider for a moment the proposition that the Catholic church needs to play a positive role in healing the nation's severe divisions and how it might go about accomplishing that.\n\nWhat seems to be happening is that the post-war attempt to fashion a \u201cnew world order\u201d has proven to be futile, as the UN appoints dictators to head \u201chuman right\u201d organizations and wrings its hands as children die in Syria.\n\nNot surprisingly a focus on America - its own problems, its own people, and its own unique role in the world - has returned to prominence. Patriotism was a major theme of Trump\u2019s appeal.\n\nCalling that \u201cfascism\u201d or others \u201cdeplorables\u201d accomplishes nothing.\n\nWhat is needed is patriotism led by the higher spiritual motives, love of God, family, and then country in that order.\n\nAnd that, it would seem to me, is precisely the role to which the Church is well-suited.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Believe it or not, by paragraph 2, I was thinking, \"I wonder if LifeSiteNews will weigh in on this\" and then scolded myself for thinking too much of conspiracy theories. But there it was in Paragraph 6: a group of people who purported *be* the pro-life movement in Canada from the '70s through the '90s with all that entailed--talking to women and not about them? fighting for access to contraception? supporting and validating single mothers?--really only ever wanted to talk about Catholic doctrinal issues and who's on first at the Vatican. And now they're part of the great fulminating alt right that can't be trusted as a news source by a Catholic paper. In the words of the Twitterer-in-chief, Sad.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How many of the Laity even KNOW that such a thing is even going on? Most Catholic don't know that these issues are discussed, when they are discussed, who votes for these bishops---they know nothing about this. WHY? This is because there is no attempt to INFORM the laity about these matters. This is still the hierarchy/clergy keeping the bulk of the laity at an infantile state.\n\nSpiritual self-exam? Yes! The hierarchy/clergy should engage in it daily. Do they? I'm not sure that they do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Odd coming from a person who uses religion to hate others. The fact your target is those right of center doesn\u2019t change it into loving comments from the Mount.\n\nI haven\u2019t run into one, let alone multiple, priests who reject Vatican II. Of course I understand that Vatican II did not void the moral law, endorse adultery and fornication, or allow people in a state of mortal sin to receive Communion, so our perspectives may differ. As to \u201cpsychological insecurities\u201d, after reading a plethora of your material I would advise you to be cautious about opening that door.\n\nThe system is \u201ccrowd sourced\u201d. That means the posters themselves set the bar. As more and more comments like \u201c\u2018little monster\u2019 priests\u201c are approved, the bar goes lower and lower. So, you have yourself to blame.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jenifer, you stated \"training for everyone who works in the Catholic Church should also be required.\" It has been for about two decades now. In addition, states also impose their own mandates upon anybody who works in the parishes as staff members, volunteers with minors, the elderly or those mentally incapable to care for themselves.\n\nWhile the laity has been made to take course after course to make them aware of the evils of sexual/physical/emotional abuse----the question remains-----are seminarians being trained? Do bishops call their priests together to discuss this every few [like 2 years]? Or is this a topic not discussed at diocesan study days?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I believe that the Catholic church is and has been deeply involved in our politics ever since Pope John Paul II got elected pope. \nOne can easily make the argument that the church began it's politics in the fourth century under Constantine. \nI think the USCCB and the church would suffer irreversible damage to itself AND to America and to the world if it gets the Johnson Amendment cancelled. Even if other churches cancel that amendment ALL churches will suffer. \nMethodists, Presbyterians, UCC, UU and most churches have stayed out of politics as Jesus said when HE told us to \"render unto Caesar...etc.\nWhereas our church has been deeply involved in politics ever since Pope JPII told us that we had to vote Republican. \n\non well...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Donald began tweeting at 8:00 am Sunday morning...\"Somebody with aptitude and conviction should buy the FAKE NEWS and failing @nytimes and either run it correctly or let it fold with dignity!\"\n\n8 minutes later...\"Our country needs strong borders and extreme vetting, NOW. Look what is happening all over Europe and, indeed, the world - a horrible mess!\"\n\nAt 10:05 am he was back at it again...\"Christians in the Middle-East have been executed in large numbers. We cannot allow this horror to continue!\"\n\nNot counting the 36 Americans killed and 13 injured on Inauguration day, in the first 8 days of Donald's Presidency, 292 Americans are dead and another 66 injured from guns shot by their fellow Americans.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sounds like you had yhe benefit of some marvelous English teachers, Mike AA! I did too -- my Dad was an English teacher, plus my mother was a real stickler for correct spelling, punctuation and grammar Not to mention 13 years of Catholic education under the tutelage of wonderful teaching nuns (Dominicans and RSCJs). Unfortunately, teachers such as those that you and I had 'back in the day' are now as rare as hens teeth! Reading actual books 'cover to cover' is another lost cause. 'Screen time' and playing games on hand-held 'devices' rules the day -- poor kids!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So much ignorance in 9 little words, kmedland1. That \"girl\" has \"M\" on his birth certificate.\n\nYou seem utterly unaware about trans folk.\n\nGoogle \"Buck Angel\" and tell me she belongs in the 'women's room'.\n\nGood Christ - this is the kind of ignorance we have to put up with.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "True! However, every single word of Scripture and Christian Tradition is a human word, written by a human being whose understanding has and always will be conditioned by the belief systems of the culture of which he/she is a part. God is not human! We must stop imposing our human ways of thinking and understanding on God. I am fully aware that what I am saying is contrary to what we have been taught, but just think about it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A religious case can be made for just about any sort of inhumanity to man. In the distant past, the Confederacy used biblical passages to support slavery. Their motto was \"with God our vindicator\". Up until very recently there were laws on the books in most states against \"race mixing\" placed into effect by Christians who had been informed by the bible. This particular matter adds credence to the argument put forth by Christopher Hitchens that \"religion poisons everything\" even cakes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Imago Dei is a Conservative Baptist church (you can verify this at http://www.cdnw.org), which happens to couch its teaching in tattoos and contemporary music. The Conservative Baptist religion teaches female submission (women cannot be Elders, because they are women), and that LGBTQ people are inherently sinful because of how we were born to express love and affection. If we get married, Conservative Baptists teach that our marriages a cause of \"grief\".\n\nAll this is public information. If this is not what your church actually believes, then why is it all public information?\n\nIt helpful for the public to know what a church teaches if one of its members is running for Mayor.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is because the Catholic Church, the evangelicals and eneducated white angry men (read Archie Bunker) have made the abortion issue the number 1 priority-- NOT because they give a hoot about fetuses or babies--but because they desperately want to subjugate women by making them slaves to primitively biology. Don't forget these dudes are also against birth control and women's leadership.thats the ugly truth. See them for what they are.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Isn't it better that those on the left call those on the right \"bigots, fascists, KKK members\"?\n\nI got that impression from many of the Catholics on this forum.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"He who has no sin let him cast the first stone.\"\n\nJohn thinks Jesus was a racist and pro-adultery because He said that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Gospels were written by men for men ... and even these men acknowledge this fact: \"Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.\" (John 21:25)\n\nSo please don't presume to use soundbites to try and claim as fact that which is simply unknown ... we are to discern today what the Spirit is saying afresh to us in 2016! There are plenty of women today who tell us that Jesus is calling them to preach His word in the world ... perhaps you might find the humility sometime to actually listen to them?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Praying from heart is the most touching experience, can be tearful. Praying from textbooks is nothing but words, boring. Let us pray more like Jesus did.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jewishophobia should be M104 and perhaps Christianophobia could be M105.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually, in all other churches where there are women priests, ministers, and pastors, their parishes do as well as those led by men. So again you make statements which are completely false. \n\nBoth the Eastern Orthodox Churches and Roman Catholic Churches are facing a complete loss of most of their members under 40 years old, steadily. Youth who have left to join the NONES have repeatedly informed both churches that they have left due to sexism, and clericalism, and poor treatment of LGBT, and our rather unchristian behavior over all. So even though there have been married priests in the Orthodox churches, they too are dissolving, under the strain of continued sexist hatred, clericalism, and religion that is becoming increasingly unchristian over time. We can't fault the NONES for noticing bad behavior and injustice and then leaving. However, Jesus can fault us for supporting that example which caused him to lose his flocks.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Where did they find young Catholics to poll? They're not at Mass. \n\nI recently went to a major Catholic college for a noon Mass. Barely a handful of students attended. A handful out of perhaps 3000 resident students?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The Church of God\"? \"The People of God\"? Blah, blah, blah. Don't you mean the most Holy Roman Catholic Church, outside of which there is no salvation?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Excuse me, I'm an Hispanic Catholic. I'm different from you. Please form your own group per your ethnic category, and then hold a conference to discuss how you're different from other Catholics. Thank you.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Let us begin by dispensing with the comment \"your excluded club\", uncivil, combative, and not conducive to discourse.\n\nJesus' mercy and forgiveness are offered without exception to all.\n\nReceipt of them requires repentance. There is still a Hell and there are still those who will no respond.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "MSW - let's drill down on two of your posts/comments. You state:\n\".....we cannot ignore that Clinton defends a legal regime that has resulted in millions of abortions.\"\nAnd then;\n\"Another example of false moral equivalence when facing this election - Hillary Clinton will appoint a cabinet and a Supreme Court that view human life, faith and the traditional family as disposable items on society\u2019s path toward a peculiar kind of personal autonomy that values none of them.\"\n\nFacts - the first statement is an *over-simplification* that allows for little nuance; paints inaccurately with a broad brush; and is a logical fallacy. You continue your anti-abortion stance and confuse it with something that you think is pro-life while ignoring all of the very complex issues around this topic. \n\nFace it - Garvey's statement is a dog whistle; I guess, to re-assure his right wing base. His statement is not only an over-simplification but a falsehood and he violates basic catholic morality", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ok, that led me to a fascinating trip through Wikipedia. Not sure I can embrace a religion that relies on mediums and the vision of a few. \n\nFor me, what Krishnamurti said about religion holds, \u201cSo if you look to a priest for your guidance as a teacher, I say he is your destroyer or exploiter. Please, I have nothing against Christian priests or Hindu priests \u2013 to me they are all the same. I say they are unessential to humanity. \" and \"\u201cReligions, with their beliefs, dogmas and creeds, have become tremendous barriers between human beings, dividing man against man, limiting him and destroying his intelligence.\u201dhttp://www.kinfonet.org/articles/33-j-krishnamurti%E2%80%99s-critique-of-religion\nHugh Massengill, Eugene", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Further question: since these priests are not fit for normal parishes, should they have been turned away from the seminary? If so, are you not demonstrating the very attitude I suggested might explain Fr Z's academic career?\n\nSurely it is possible to disagree with the man about the Mass and the direction of the Church without speculating about matters which neither you nor I have any knowledge of.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The G&M censor jumped on me for not correctly voting against a poster who had replied to a comment by quoting a biblical passage. Who knew the bible was a blasphemous document in the temple of the Globe?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'll hit you next week. Shout out to your frequent commentators who donate as we do.\n\nTrump can't unilaterally change the contraception mandate unless there is an Institute of Medicine finding that shows it is appropriate. There won't be. Gorsuch is only 30% likely to be an anti-Roe Justice and if he follows the Federalist Society logic, he would be the only one on the Court. It would be nice if Lori took freedom of religion (or rather, his agenda for religious power) into immigration, et al. It would be even better if he insisted on a $1000 per month per child tax credit paid with wages - although most in the movement would be aghast if he did. The only chance the movement would fold up their tents is a compromise on when legal personhood begins enshrined in federal law. Fat chance.\n\nTrump was never going to listen to the Catholic Climate Covenant over the Koch brothers. Never. Given the voluntary nature of the Paris Accords, both announcements are publicity stunts.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Incredible, many words little content.\n1. I understand that this brother is in favor of the ordination of women.\n2. respect the vote of the World Congress of the church.\n3. Confront the authority of a Union at the General Conference, and gives autonomy to violate even the votes of global conferences because he has a contrary concept.\n4. Confuse gender equality and difference of functions, according to current liberal concepts of liberation of women, destroying the family unit.\n5. Recognizes that a Union may become a mission and that can be handled by the General Conference.\n6. Find the ordination as an old woman, confused ordination as a minister, is right there would have to at the World Congress the arrangement is made so that women no longer function as a church elder, having the same concept minister this so that people do not believe that women should also and may be pastor. I think we need to pray because we are in the last time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "6. No obvious signs of greater charity among members, or between members and the world. In fact, ever greater confusion, heat, protest, uncertainty. No improvement in marriage, no improvement in religious vocations. \n\n7. No obvious sign that the interior of life of ordinary or clerical Catholics has intensified, warmed up.\n\n8. No resolution on sexual abuse issues...in fact rarely a week goes by where another scandal erupts, this week in Italy..with reports of orgies!\n\n9. No improvement in financial accountability. \n\n10. No improvement on the \"sisters\" front....I think he's just happy to let them sort of die out, while he smiles at them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "lol.\nThe sign of the cross.\n In the 1960's they used to sell post cards and posters saying, \"Jesus was the first hippy\".\n Recently I read graffiti saying, \"Jesus Hippy was crucified for your skins.\"\n The Pope must have woke up and realized what happened to Jesus and the hippies. But deep in his heart he wants to change the world to minimize suffering.\n My opinion is, just think what awesome change the suffering multitudes of the world would make if we all whined together.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do you believe the Koran is the inspired word of God? I don't. Do you believe the Jewish religion is accurate following the crucifixion of Jesus? I don't. I have no idea what Violet, the erudite scholar believes, but she is clearly wrong when she states she is not sure if Jesus even existed. Any Christian Scholar clearly believes a man named Jesus was born 2000 years ago and was crucified. Any Christian knows this as well as the fact he was also the Divine Son of God. That is the TRUTH. Half of the presumed highly educated commenters on this site have problems believing the simple tenets of the Catholic Faith. She is an expert in the New Testament, which is solely about Jesus, and she has not yet come to the conclusion that he even existed. What the hell has she been studying? It is simply a disgrace that young children learning to receive First Communion are more educated with the truth than the many on this website.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If do-gooders try to force abortions on muslim countries they'll get their heads cut off. All of the abortions propaganda is aimed at Christian countries.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "But the vast majority of Christians also recognize the demonstrated fact of evolution. Certainly the Roman Catholic Church does. The number who are creationists are a tiny (and resolutely stupid) minority.\n\nWe have for the first time a GG who is a professional scientist. She is not expected to check her brain at the door of Rideau Hall in assuming office.\n\nIf she had to decide in a hung Parliament between someone who respects science and someone who rejects it to pander to the narrowest-minded citizens in the country, I don't think it would be partisan to choose the science party. It would be good for the country.\n\nWe just came from nearly 10 years of a government that had no use for science that did not support its ideology. We don't need another.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "We have not degraded the church as a moral guide, the church historically has degraded itself in horrific demented behavior. This is an excellent example; while white European Christians called us savages because of our gods, white PC liberals are calling us uncivil savages because of our mascots.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "If a bunch of christian crazies were doing this and people protested it, they would not be called hate or whatever, it would be just what it is - people who want a SECULAR school system. ENOUGH, NO MORE PROPAGANDA! No religion in school. None, zero. IT IS NOT HATE TO DEMAND THAT!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "If sex is truly for procreation, then why aren't Christians for outlawing and discriminating against those who have pre-marital sex, those who have sex but don't intend on having babies, and persons who are medically unable to conceive?\n\nOh yeah, because it's not really about the things you claim. It's about hiding behind the shield of religion to hate and discriminate. These \"pick and choose\" Christians are nothing more than hypocritical bigots. You don't ever hear them complaining about making a cake for someone's second marriage.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "So brown racism, black racism are better? Ever see another race or ethnicity working on a farm, other than Hispanic? Ever manage a farm in white racist Oregon? Where did the fruit tramps, the Okies and Arkies go? What became of them? Ever have to physically separate the Mexicans from the Laos people, who the Mexicans call \"Chinitos\" , their slang for any Asian. Dare you practice free speech in Dearborne, Michigan, and set up a curbside Christian soap box? You tough enough to keep the muslims from beating you senseless in Dearborne, you infidel! Washington DC's city council is passing a regulation to make sure that African Americans own most of the weed outlets, because right now, whites have put up the money, made the investment, to sell weed to Americans in Washington DC. and only one outlet is African American owned. That's racism by government in our Nation's Capitol. \"Diversity\" is the code word, dog whistle, for reverse racism, sexism by the left.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Unfortunately what is stupid is to not know what the Church teaches, or its discipline, or the why and wherefore, and then conclude it is the Church that is stupid.\n\nThe Church legislates for Catholics on marriage and can require that Catholics have their marriage witnessed by a priest. Thus a Catholic who attempts to contract marriage otherwise is impeded from a valid marriage. Since this is legislation it can be dispensed and I have attended marriages of Catholics in a variety of non-Catholic settings.\n\nThe continued reference to \u201cpaper\u201d indicates an entrenched refusal to accept the reality of the situation.\n\nIf a policeman shows up at your home with a warrant, do indicate to him that it is a magic piece of paper and let us know how that works out.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "If I hear one more time that \"the nuns were being forced to provide birth control\" I'm going to scream. It was very simple: sign and file the piece of paper stating it would violate your conscience to provide it, and the government will remove that burden by arranging with third parties to extend the coverage. That was the religious accommodation. To say that they were compromised because OTHER parties were not prevented from dealing with each other, and extending or receiving contraceptive coverage (bear in mind that not all Little Sisters employees are even Catholic) is absolutely ludicrous. \n\nWell, one thing is for certain: you can't reduce the abortion rate without contraception. More burning stupid. Welcome to another day.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "At issue in some of these comments is whether there are any Canadians left who are Creationists - i.e. who take the BiBle descripion of creation literally and who would be offended by the GG's derogatory remarks about their intelligence. In fact , recent polls show that over 20% are firmly in this category and another 20% are not sure. WHile, as a Catholic I am free, as two popes have asserted, to believe as most scientists do in the Big Bang (formulated by a Jesuit priest in 1920s), I firmly support the constitutional right of more fundamentalist Christians and other Bible users - up to 40% of Canadians - to practise their faith, or speculate on the process of Creation, without the Head of State, supported by the Prime Minister, treating them as stupid idiots .", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Neighbor98...You keep railing against a place you've never stepped foot in, and judging people you don't know. The irony is rich, as you continually insult Imago Dei, and try to play the part of the victim...Imago Dei is against you and your choices. I am quite certain no one in that church is overly concerned with who you share a bed with. You seem to be the only one making your lifestyle an issue. \n\nWhy are you so angry about Imago Dei? I think its because you perceive them to be a group of Christians who actually believe something...wait for it...exist in your community. What would you have them do...leave? The loaded words you keep throwing out are way over the top: \"Imago Dei=Westboro Church\", [Imago Dei teaches] \"homophobic misogynist\" doctrine, and you and Imago Dei are \"not friends, [but] enemies.\" If you actually believe that last quote, then I'd say you're the one with the problem. Don't be a hypocrite, Neighbor.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Evangelicals are arrogant. Once they are \"saved\" or \"born again\" they no longer take responsibility for their actions, thoughts, or behavior. That magic, all powerful Sugar Daddy in the sky will take care of everything. They show up every Sunday to get their brain washing and marching orders. Of course they leave their brains and critical thinking skills at the door of the church before they enter. Life is so much easier when you believe you are specially blessed by GOD and don't have to take responsibility for your actions!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Trudeau doesn't say Canada is a Christian state - hence there is no hypocrisy accepting homosexuality. It is the hard core Christians (or fundamentalists of any religion) that are the most hypocritical!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "I started posting here because I needed to say my horrors about the Catholic Institution clergy\u2019s sex abuses of children. I am one of those mothers who suffer through family member\u2019s the devilish suffering from rape for twenty years. For me, I am not sure if a child horrendous suffering from rape is more horrible or the CI (Catholic Institution) clergies continuing betrayal of hiding and condoning clergy sex abuse of children is more horrible. \nSo the most of my posts are quite negative. My overall sentiment is \u2018over my dead body any of you clergies will rape children and get away with it\u2019!!! \nEither CI will reform or it will die. No matter what it will be better than the way it is now, since right now we are worshipping more of \u2018d*vil\u2019 with \u2018d*vil\u2019. I sense CI is already too corrupt to reform. \nGod have mercy on us!!!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The church wants it both ways. They encourage people to break immigration civil laws while at the same time depriving the sacraments from divorced catholics and excommunicating a lay person for breaking canon law. Simply put they are hypocrites.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Looking forward to seeing our brave and righteous PM visiting a Coptic church in show of solidarity......\n-----------------\nyes there are Coptic Churches in Canada\nnever seen Justin in one\nin fact never seen Justin in any Christian church\nno good photo op in christian churches i suppose", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Marriage can be civil marriage without the sacrament of Matrimony. You don't know what goes on in any civil marriage; there are many couples who don't have sexual intercourse of any kind. \n\n\nToo many assumptions for a Christian to act in opposition.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...as moral as the Swill, Germans and French....\"\n\nOutside a system of law, there is not much to go on: Bigelow's word against the ghosts of dead Vatican bank employees, whose policy was to destroy bank records every 10 years (until the 1990's). There were no death camps in Vatican City (though thousands of priests were interned in them elsewhere), no executions of civilians at the Vatican as in France and Germany, and no high-powered banks involved in the plunder of European Jews as among the Swiss. So those three countries had reason to cough up restitution funds. Rome would also say no Christian church suffered more under the Nazis than the CC. \n\nFor the reasons above the traces of any alleged moral obligation are a matter of non-legal conjecture. As a non-European, Pope Francis is more disappointed with the future of Europe -- in parts of Europe -- than he is of its past. This case has expanded beyond its credibility to trust anyone, any source, voice, outside a SYSTEM OF LAW.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In point of fact, the ordination of the lady by the Ecumenical Catholic Community is not objectively invalid, or even invalid in any sense, in that the ECC does share apostolic succession with the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church. The RCC may not like it, but that is the fact, using the RCC's own understanding of apostolic succession. Do some research before making \"factual\" claims.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh, I'd ask for at least two more, schooled (like non-Catholics usually aren't) in moral theology. It's from the Blackmuns that we get Roe v. Wade and the Ginzbergs that we get the firefighter case.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My point is we were a Christian society at some point. Sunday store closiers is one of the many evidences of that Christian influence. There are many hundreds more examples of evidence of Christian influences in US history. Many of those customs are faded away just as the moral compass has faded away. We are on a path to a Godless future that will require a police state because people are not guided by their own awareness of the loving God. He is still very much God and many still have personal relationships that guide their lives. I know all about the hypocrites so don't need to tell me that but thank God for the very humble Christlike people like Dr. Martin Luther King for one, Mother Therisa, Red Cross, Salvation Army. etc. All the first colleges in America were Christian without a doubt. The examples are almost endless but the brain wasing continues and now Colleges are atheistic for the most part. Someday will be your last day on earth so I hope you get it right. Heaven or Hell", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are comparing them to ISIS?? I cannot remember how many beheadings they have performed. Or genital mutilation. Or how many Christians have been crucified by them. Or how many suicide bombers are currently in their ranks. Please with your wise and all knowing wisdom include facts when you make outrageous statements.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The official church cannot force people to accept its teachings. Your concepts of 'opinions' unfortunately, seem to only apply when progressives are citing them. Many Catholics did not accept JPII and his Curia's evaluation of the sexual abuse scandal as only being in the United States. Then, it became a problem ONLY in the English-speaking countries.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "twitter? \nAllan not everyone prowls in twitter\nanyway\n\"My prayers are with the people of Egypt. Terror knows no religion and terrorists know no God.\"\n\nprayers? How about action\nhow about Ms Khalid put M 301 in Parliament condemning Christian-Phobia\n\naction not talk and prayers", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Lord enjoyed the occasional \"whine\" as well. \n\n\"Jesus answered, \u201cO faithless and perverse generation, how long am I to be with you and bear with you?\" - Luke 9:41", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Fully agree on mobilizing against Trump and his profoundly un-Christian values. At the same time, we should also challenge protest leadership on their banning of pro-life progressive and feminist organizations from being co-sponsors.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Unless I'm mistaken, Jesus handed the consecrated bread to His disciples - no stuck out tongues there. There is no theological or logical reason why both men and women should not share all the altar duties. After all, both genders are God's children, both genders are duly baptized, both genders are physically, morally, and psychologically fit to be servers and priests (servant-leaders). \"Either ordain women or stop baptizing them.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I can appreciate a person who stands up for what he believes in and does and teaches people what is in the bible. In the US though there is a separation of church and state law in the constitution. Churches shouldn't determine social laws because of the separation clause. ACS has done well, but I think if Prevo focuses more on bible based teaching it will continue to do well and influence another generation of Christ believers.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The US Bishops are creating more poverty and social problems by being against complete Reproductive Health Care Coverage for the poor and middle class currently in financial straights. Fundamentalist Religions like the Orthodox Catholics and Evangelical Protestants should support that sort of health care for women and their families if they really care about reducing poverty.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Come on Dave, can't you give me a half point on this one ? You seem like a nice guy, you want to hug the Muslims , how about us Christians ???", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's truly amazing to me that the Christians, who claim to follow the teachings of Jesus voted for this man.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Danno, please do not think that all Milwaukee Catholics just looked away. I know many of us were disgusted and horrified at the harsh tactics, deception and callous language used during the bankruptcy. There were many, many priests who were equally upset. However, there was little anyone of us could do to stop it. As a lay person, my response was to stop supporting the diocese and speak out for what I believed was right. I also knew from the outset that I was a voice in the wilderness that would be ignored.\n\nLike many large institutional systems, the Church is and entity unto itself and little voices have little to no impact. I am so sorry you were betrayed and re-victimized by the process. Be well, Danno. I wish you healing and happiness.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I had very close friend who was 25 years a cloistered Carmelite. It was, for her, a prison-like existence. Like under house arrest. More mildly, a greenhouse existence. Of course, young women agreed to these conditions without realizing their extent until caught in the life. Analogously, seminarians, young and dumb, agreed to celibacy without knowing its implications. Sequestration from \"the world\" is part of a virus in Roman Catholicism & Orthodoxy, like a multitude of cults whose members are restricted from freely, uninhibitedly contacting \"the world.\" There are control mechanisms that restrict personal freedom to decide. Even prisoners often had more contact with family members than cloistered and non cloistered religious. The sick theology was a literal interpretation of Luke 14:26.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There have been plenty of puke inducing comment sections on news stories covering everyone you have mentioned. When Christians do terrible things, they get the reaction they deserve. That's not a war.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What are you suggesting? A country within Egypt for Coptic Christians?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Thanks for that note of context, Alceste. At first, I thought Mary was being satirical. I mean, of course a bunch of white people practicing variants of Christianity were getting along! It's sad that this counts as diversity to many Canadians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If it were true that the Democratic Party is operating as a Southern Plantation with masters and slaves, wouldn't African-American voters abandon it? If it were true, it would be very easy for the Republican Party to change its implicitly racist Southern Strategy to a new Southern Strategy, rewarding African-American votes with jobs, education, and programs. It hasn't done so, presumably to avoid alienating its base, evangelicals and less educated white people, especially in the South, who the Republican Party itself has treated as closet bigots, justly or not.\n\nI agree that the majority of Americans are hungry for change, although Americans disagree widely about what that change should entail - progress or a return to the past. That is just one of the reasons for the drastic political and social polarization we see among our citizens today.\n\nSpeaking of \"bound to Wall Street\", the New York Times last week published a list of Trump's economic advisers; billionaires and bankers all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You misquote me. I did NOT say the God of the Christians or the Jews was HaSatan. That would be blasphemy. I said the god of the ZIONISTS is HaSatan. Did not your Impostor Paul say the god of this world is satan? Whom would you claim to be the god of the Nazis? I suggest it's the same as that of the Zionists, playing both against each other.\n\nRead again that quote of Ariel Sharon I posted and tell me you can see any difference between his and that old Firawm (Pharoah) Hitler's pronouncements. That's by NO means the only example. Kindly reply to what I say, not to what you in your presumption, sanctimoniousness, hubris and bigotry WISH I'd said. Khalas.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "what the church teaches and what we put in law are two different things, with the former being a form of Catholic relativism. Abortion teachings are fairly consistent in Catholicism, not in Judaism and sodomy is disliked because heterosexuals think gay sex icky and gay priests double down to cover themselves", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A very wise and important reminder of Christian response to the terrorism of the institutional Church. Thank you for your contribution!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is a baffling article for a Catholic publication that only begins to make sense if you view your Catholic faith through the lens of your political ideology.\n\nReverse your binoculars.\n\nViewing your politics through the lens of your Catholic Faith makes it quite clear how both Trump and Clinton are unfit and unqualified for the presidency - each in their own uniquely grotesque way.\n\nWe each have to make a personal decision, but for the life of me, I cannot understand how any Catholic can publicly advocate for either one of these noxious people as a clear moral choice.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "She may have a Methodist's discipline, but not a Christian's obedience to Christ...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mercy is not exactly another word for love. It implies accepting people even if they are in sin as the Catholic church and its discipline considers sin. It also creates a bridge to Islam, since every chapter of the Qu'ran opens with the Bismala,the proclamation of God's mercy. Interesting the Bismala has two words for mercy, one an unconditional mercy showered on all of creation, and the other a special mercy for those who actively respond to the first mercy and adhere to a narrow path of virtue. Now that Steve Bannon is starting a campaign against Pope Francis perhaps he could use this to claim that the Pope is secretly a Muslim.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hi Xavier: Thank you for another personal attack. You might read my posts on this topic and notice that they support individuals' rights to make comments (including those promoting Christianity) and others are just a free to voice disagreement with such posts. Both are representative of Freedom of Speech and Freedomof Religion. Just as you have every right to launch personal attacks rather than to address the issue being discussed. Internet trolls are protected by the Constitution.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bishop McElroy = Democrat = Socialist = STATIST = Non-Christian ... !!!!!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, but surely both scientist and theologians regarded some doctrine as more settled than other stuff, much more probable than not?\n\nFor instance, I find it fascinating that most Christians of all denomination in fact accept the tenets of the Apostles Creed as doctrine, even though the bulk of those assertions are derived from the early Greek Councils, which most Protestant's reject in principle in favour of sola scriptura. \n\n(The exception is \"he descended into hell\" which is pure heresy based on a faulty translation of the Latin.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "According to fact and some historic indicators the Jamesian view of Jesus took hold among the Celts, many of whom converted in the first century BCE. Hence the shrine of St James (Compostella) in Celtic Galicia. Yet the Celts used basically the same Mass as other Christians. But the earliest Mass text is neutral on whether Jesus was God or simply prophet.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are forgetting that the documents of Vatican II are binding upon the Catholic church as much as the Council of Trent was binding upon the Church until Vatican Council I [1869-70]. \n\nThe Church MUST deal with the world in which it currently exists. Jesus wasn't loved by all when he lived upon this earth. Why would the Church expect to be treated better than it's Head? \n\nThe 'conversion of these souls' is not done by denigrating their religious faith. Secondly, we have much more in common with these religions than we do with the 'so called Christians' who refuse to open their hearts to the Gospel of Christ and his call to conversion [conversion of conscience and heart]. Too many of these folks hold onto doctrines and practices [just like the Jewish Pharasees did at the time of Christ]. Instead of being enlivened and energized by the life of the Holy Spirit, the Catholicism/Christianity they offer to others is like dead leaves and sticks floating in dirty water.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Islam is not a malevolent ideology, it's a religion, just as Christianity is.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The 'myth literary form' is assigned to the Genesis Creation stories by our Catholic (and other) biblical scholars. \nSome of the early Christian writers called them 'allegorical'. They did not have the understanding of 'myth' that we have today.\n\nI think the 'limbo problem' -- or 'limbo solution' -- came from a mis-application of Jesus' words about \"unless you are baptized, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven\"...........which led to baptizing infants so they could get into heaven if they died, and a problem about where an innocent could go, if not to either heaven or hell.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Since 9/11 our politicians and media have been inundating us with religious issues related to Islam, Christianity and Judaism.\n Religion, for the rich and powerful, is always about social, political and economic control of the masses.\n\n In the 1980's, Christianity was so powerful it almost destroyed liberalism. The powers that be wanted to destroy anything to do with the secular social revolution of the 1960's. They were so successful, the US and Canada have been pushed relentlessly and ruthlessly to the right wing. Democracy, incompatible with religion, has shrunk. Corporations have grabbed ever more power over governments. Now corporations and politicians want to distract folks from their economic woes with endless religious issues.\n Our democracy has shrunk under corporate ownership. We are faced with the daunting task of separating corporation and state to save democracy from Consumerism. Now religion is undermining it.We need a strong movement for freedom from religion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm atheist and I'm not offended by the greetings either. Why would I be? Because I'm not Christian? That's silly - many of us celebrate Christmas as a secular holiday. It was pagan anyway before Christians decided the birth of Jesus should be moved to coincide with pagan celebration of winter solstice to get more converts. \n\nSo \"Merry Christmas\" from this atheist to you, and enjoy the time off, regardless of how you decide to celebrate.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think that many people in the Institution have abandoned the real purpose of being in it, and to this extent they have abandoned God. I think this affects many parts of the Institution. But not all, I hope. \nI also know that all of us, as ordinary Christians, can also abandon God. But I think you are pointing to a systemic failing (an Institutional failing), rather than to personal failings.\nI don't think God ever abandons us entirely - either the Institution, or us as individuals.\nYes, worldwide instant communication is another (and relatively new) way of holding offenders to account. Everyone is watching now for corrupt behavior, and able to alert other people that it is happening.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Interesting how MSW will often link to jews such as Mark Silk who criticize the Church on a regular basis, I guess this isn't a problem, nor are the non-Catholics here at NcR, who use this platform to try to destroy the Church. MSW it seems lacks principles", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Still baptizing infants? Committing a person to an obligation they have no voice in.\n\"The Christian community welcomes you with great joy...\"\nbut part of the ritual is the denunciation of Satan and all his pomps!\nNo reason why child can't be brought up in a Christian without baptism.\nShould be adult choice.\nGrowing up in a democracy doesn't commit one to a particular party.\nHow RCs gloss over the unpalatable of its ritual.\nOr maybe this couple believes in Satan and all his pomps?\nThen this infant will be growing up in a household that affirms the devil.\nSancta excreta!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, certainly can agree on that, but as to the \"indoctrination of Islam\" in our public schools, that is a mischaracterization, as it's the Christian indoctrinationn, religion and it's biased agenda that is being pushed in publicn schools across the country. Technitcally that's not a problem, what is a problem are how the republican establishment is using that agenda to basically lie, cheat and render assunder anything they deem \"unworthy\" of their morals or ethical standards; which are pretty damn low, already!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Where does the Lord's prayer mention Christianity?\n\nDon't Muslim's, Jews, and Christians actually share the one and same supreme being?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Many evangelical Christians practice law in Ontario and will continue to be admitted.\"\n\nBut not evangelical Christians from Trinity Western University. And not because of their personal beliefs or legal qualification. The Law Society of Upper Canada (and apparently the government of Ontario) are punishing law graduates from TWU for the beliefs of the school they attended. It's a far more egregious act of discrimination than the one contained in TWU's community covenant.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well everyone if there was ever a reason for why Canada is in the mess it is in you only have to read SenseOfPlace. It is people like him who have created the wretched places in Toronto like Jane-Finch, Malvern, Jamestown, and other horrible places where you would be taking your life in your hands if you dare ventured anywhere near them. Sitting back, pontificating and wearing his rose coloured glasses he tells us that our fears are baseless and not to think about ISIS cutting heads off of people because Christians are bad too. \n\nHis type was harmless until politicians started to believe people like him and more disturbing - implemented his ideas.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Given the presidential news over the past couple of weeks regarding racism, white supremacists, continued insistence on building the border wall, a new proposal to limit immigration, the action taken against DACA, eliminating overtime pay protection for some, putting the EPA in serious jeopardy, renewed efforts to dismantle the ACA, toe-to-toe wrangling and looming use of nuclear weapons -- NONE of which could be considered remotely \"Christian,\" -- I find this article and its reality profoundly creepy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't find it the least surprising that people who self-identify as Christians, but are not entitled to that label, are the ones who orchestrated a virulent act of discrimination which also puts the victims in harm's way. This is a case in point why religion generally is loosing credibility.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "nothing new here folks this decision was expected, this country is founded on judeo Christian values and muslim countries don't want Christians in there country and they keep us out we should have the travel ban and keep them out turnabout is fair play as I see it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Canada gives due process to those accused of a crime. Selling drugs illegally is a crime in Canada because it affects society here negatively -- and kills people. Canada does not have capital punishment. Canada is secular; we practice separation of religion and state -- it is not a Christian state.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Here's a real \"complexity\"\n\n26 slaughtered Coptic Christians TODAY. First day of Ramadan.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nancy Pelosi, Joe Biden, John Kerry all claim to be Catholic, yet support abortion.\n\nThe silence from Pope Francis is deafening. \n\nGiven that, how can Pope Francis actually expect us to take him seriously on this issue?\n\nI would also like to know one thing: would liberal Catholics be so supportive of immigration \"rights\" if the majority of illegal immigrants were white and leaned Republican?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "With all due respect Nathan, you are now deftly attempting to shift your position to a critique of big government liberalism when it had been one of questioning whether Christians should be involved in that which Christ Himself never was.\n\nIf we now agree that we, as Christians, are indeed to advocate the cause of the poor and oppressed, then by all means let's do it...and let's not criticize/castigate those who purpose to do so.\n\nThe fact that I believe that a certain ideological approach is ineffective or non-participatory in even addressing, much less alleviating, systemic oppression and deprivation--and that you regard another ideological approach in a similar way, should have no bearing as to whether or not we believe that Christians should be involved in seeking justice for the dispossessed, the disadvantaged, the oppressed, and the poor at any and every opportunity; and speaking and writing on their behalf.\n\n You're not particularly fond of this reality; otherwise you...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I immediately caught the tongue-in-cheek tone of this piece and, even as a liberal, actually applauded a little. Except the part about lack of religious belief (the Christian religion, even) being a drawback. 93 percent of the National Academy of Sciences - the cream of the crop of American scientists - claim to be either atheist or agnostic. No religious belief is a good thing for this country and the fewer who continue to cling to these divisive ancient ideologies, the better.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "One of our most important duties as Christians is to protect the most vulnerable in our societies. As a voting adult you cannot just cast your vote for your favoured candidate whilst turning a blind eye to innocent children being slaughtered in the womb. You have a duty to protect children.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Eph 4:26\u00a0 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,\n\nSome things are worth being angry about, when someone lies with the specific intent of indicting a huge number of people, that is worth being angry over, and I will take my chances on sinning. Isn't that what the local news calls \"Hate Speech\" even though a Christian would stand no chance of an investigation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Grace is more original than sin\". Perhaps if Augustine had ignored his mother, married his sweetheart, and had a house-full of kids we Christians wouldn't feel the need for infant baptism and we wouldn't obsess over our \"fallen nature\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't know what he said, But Eric does a fair amount of drive by's himself. There are some people who deserve to be called what they are, but it is a quantum leap from there to racial slurs - some blacks like to be called black, some don't like to be called African American, some want to be called American (why wouldn't we call everybody that ?). My chat with Icon, although it is my opinion, I believe her to be a bigot who attacks anybody who is a Christian just because they are, based on her presuppositions (as Norstog does). I don't like the term liberal (or any other term) but in some cases we have to use terms society uses for the sake of convenience. There is a lot of mudslinging, and I partake in that as well (I do owe you an apology for being mean to you at times so I offer it), but these things get heated. I don't even call people fat because I was teased as a kid and know how damaging language can be, and to a certain degree what we are known as we can start to become.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I really pictured you as more of a hair metal fan, not Dylan. Although there are a few lines in Positively 4th Street that I am sure people who know you find applicable...have you considered the frequency with which your comments fail to meet the standards of civility...perhaps time to consider the reflection of christianity you present to the world...by the way...I haven't taken a \"sabbatical\" but I was not posting much last week...I was dealing with a death in my family....probably something you consider hilarious....sigh...shameful...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There has been a lot of air-time offered by this administration lately on the topic of \"religious freedom\" and how this President will be its champion. It seems to me, that in this country when conservatives speak of religious freedom they are often referring to Christian freedoms. In this article, the scope narrows even more specifically (as befits a Catholic publication) to Catholic freedom to practice one's faith. I look forward to these stalwart defenders of religious freedom \"going to the mat\" for American Muslims when discriminated against for practicing their faith, or practitioners of Voudon, Candomble, or adherents to earth based worship traditions when they are attacked for being less than mainstream.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No actually they really don't. And its disingenuous to make the argument that 'Christians killed vs Muslims killed' if you are going to then ignore the religion piece. But you are very good at setting up moving goal posts and changing the argument when you are losing. You have LOTS of practice at that too.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The vast majority of Canada has been made up of immigrants from Christian Countries much the same as the U.S. The intolerance was more on race and not at all about Religion. But now you have A Religion moving into the Country that has proven itself to be incompatible with all other Religions over the Centuries. Do some research will ya. This is a totally different situation and most Canadians do not understand what Islam really is, a Political Party cloaked in a Religion and it has not proven itself to be peaceful with other Religions. Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Somalia and Mr. Trumps list. Hatred and submission to Islam enforced. Already they want specific protections in the form of Blasphemy law just like their home Countries.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Francis won't say anything about this, but Madison Catholics could just shove their hands in their pockets and shut off the cash flow until this policy is reversed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"liberals\" fought the Born Again Christians, the only group large enough to have tried to impose their values, without success, even though those are a lot less extreme than conservative Muslims'.\n\nThe Hindus are actually very adaptable and do not try to impose theirs anyway, and have not asked for \"accommodations\" under the Charter. \n\nHasidic Jews accept the fact they are marginal, they don't try to impose their values, none of which are as extreme as conservative Muslims' anyway. But there have been conflicts in areas where they do demand accommodations, because they do impact others.\n\nAtheists have impacted society because they are now numerous, just as Muslims may when they get numerous too. That is precisely the danger. Liberals who fought hard against BACs are fine with conservative Muslims imposing their values? I'm not.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "During the, \"Cold War\", Godless Communists were the enemy. Which brings to mind something odd about the use of the word enemy. The Author used the word enemy inappropriately. Certainly, we can all agree that the communists were and are still our enemy. We spend trillions to protect against being vapourized by communist bombs. \n\nKindness is a Christian virtue. Maybe if those hateful Pagans actually converted to Christianity, they would be kind to the rest of us Christians, Jewish and agnostics. Until them, don't expect any kindness from the religion that denied Jesus was the true road to salvation. You know, the anti-Christ religion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"that time has come\". time for some forced evangelism? a little coming to Jesus at the end of your gun? \"American Christians\" doing it wrong for over 300 years.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Quell the anger and read what I've written. Nothing I wrote can possibly be interpreted as requiring the eradication of Catholic social teaching - nothing.\n\nThe Church speaks the will of God to all people of all nations and backgrounds - men and women. No one is obliged to remain a Catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"To impose such a requirement in every case is not merciful,\" she (Kaveny) said. \"And mercy is the ultimate touchstone for the divine lawgiver.\"\nShould we forget the words of Pope Pius XII in 1952:\nThe \u2018new morality\u2019 affirms that the Church, instead of fostering the law of human liberty and of love, and of demanding of you that dynamics which is worthy of the moral life, instead bases itself almost exclusively and with excessive rigidity, on the firmness and the intransigence of Christian moral laws, frequently resorting to the terms \u2018you are obliged\u2019, \u2018it is not licit\u2019, which has too much of an air of a degrading pedantry. [\u2026] Taking, therefore, the words of Christ and of the Apostle as the strict rule, should not one say that the Church of today is rather inclined more to indulgence than to severity? It so happens that the accusation of oppressive rigidity made against the Church by the \u2018new morality,\u2019 in reality, attacks, in the first place, the adorable Person of Christ Himself.\u201d", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "While Christianity did not actively prescribe slavery, as Islam does, it did not forbid it, either. It accepted the existing social order (\"render unto Caesar what is Caesar's\"), it did not set off to revolutionize it. So there was nothing specific that prohibited it, as a traditional social institution that existed in societies all over the world, it was accepted. For centuries it did not occur to anyone to rebel against it.\n\nBut while the New Testament says nothing about slavery as an institution, it does say that in the eyes of God there is no slave or free man, male or female, etc., all are equal, and slaves were part of early Christian converts.\n\nOver time, this belief, along with tenets to \"do unto others as you would want them to do unto you\", and the growing importance of the value of \"freedom\" in western society, led to a social movement spearheaded by devout Christians, based on Christian principles, to abolish it. It was successful, and now we consider slavery abhorrent.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Many representatives of the Catholic Church exacerbated the focus on pelvic issues only, while other issues of social justice, reflecting the life and witness of Jesus, remained sidebar comments. Now we will live - or die - with what some of our 'shepherds' told us we must do. Happy to be on the side of the disobedient sheep.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your response is intellectually dishonest and disingenuous. Civil disobedience in and of itself for a righteous cause is an obligation of Christians as long as it is done in a responsible manner. The civil disobedience advocated by Bishop McElroy has lead to violence, rioting and injury not only to the \"disruptors\", but also innocent bystanders. Civil disobedience against causes which are \"intrinsically evil\", such as the March for Life against abortion, which is intrinsically evil, is an activity which all Catholics should encourage. Issues which are based on \"prudential judgement\", such as illegal immigration, are not worthy of civil disobedience which should be sanctioned by the Catholic Church. Furthermore, Bishop McElroy is encouraging people to participate in forms of civil disobedience which have a track record of violence, rioting, and injury of not only the disruptors, but also innocent bystanders. Bishop McElroy is encouraging behavior which is contrary to Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't see much difference between Republicans and Democrats on those matters. \nSocial justice is the aim of both parties, the methods of achieving it differ. The Church does not endorse any political philosophy in respect of this. Neither party favours racial discrimination nor going to war needlessly and the Church teaches that war can be just in certain circumstances.\nWhere the Republicans are closer to Catholic teaching is on moral issues: abortion and euthanasia in particular. The Democratic Party officially rejects most of the proscriptions of Catholic morality.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Radical Islam like White Supremacist Christianity? All demanding to be armed to the teeth spouting the 2nd amendment \"rights\"? Stay with the topic instead of injecting unrelated issues outside of the intent of the opinion - gun control. It would have been so much better to have McCain/Palin running the show.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Charles Wohlforth is a WELFARE SOCIALIST who could have dined with socialist Robert Owen way back 200 years ago when he set up the NEW HARMONY socialist colony ... which failed in the Indiana wilderness. \n\nCharles Wohlforth feels compelled to help the poor WITH OTHER URBAN PEOPLE'S TAX MONEY. He screams out especially for the poor AK BUSH dwellers with no money and no jobs. Mr. Wohlforth ignores the fact that these \"struggling\" BUSH people (1) have chosen to be poor in the PAST, (2) have chosen to be poor in the PRESENT, and (3) they intend to stay that way in the FUTURE forever. Mr. Wohlforth would state that BUSH people are threatened by where they have chosen to live ... or by the \"important cultural lifestyle\" that they have chosen. They are entitled. They were here in the Arctic first (actually 4th). They are owed. They are the deserving poor, not the undeserving poor. LET US ALL AGREE THAT GOVERNMENT MUST OPERATE LIKE A CHRISTIAN CHARITY. WOLFORTH=DEMOCRAT TUCK.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ethics, respect, humanity, basically being a 'good person' that is flexible, learning, caring and most important...empathetic. Not to dismiss the fact that this can be scary, challenging as well as illuminating. But too many people like their little bins, both liberal and conservative fundamentalism is alive and well. In truth this is the journey to enlightenment, regardless of you beliefs...it's not really about religion after all. Of course it is nice to see a few Christians acting like Jesus, not just cheap idolatry. He tried to teach us that we were all valued and judged by our actions and impact...not to judge and hate. But somewhere all groups find hate easier than taking the risk and being open to truth from all sources...And I would include science and the natural world in here as well. Haters breed haters, literally. They are scared and need our help to become enfolded in love. WWJ, M, B D...thanks for the moment of light in an otherwise too dark world!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why does it bother you so much?? \n\nShould the government stop funding the catholic district school board, or support all religious schools?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Tridentinus, Your statements are not consistent with the full Catholic position espoused by the Bishops which takes into account abortion, euthanasia, assisted suicide, subjecting workers or the poor to subhuman living conditions, and racist behavior. No candidate one can think of is against all those intrinsic evils AND both current presidential candidates clearly are for intrinsic evils (Clinton - Abortion and Trump - racist behavior). Therefore, a prudent Catholic may reasonably decide to vote for a particular candidate for other morally grave reasons. Voting specifically for a candidate BECAUSE they support an intrinsic evil is gravely wrong.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Republican Party cynically and deliberately embraced a strategy doomed by demographics. They serve their wealthiest supporters in using the politics of division to pit bigots, Christian fundamentalists, rural residents and the less-educated white working class and lower middle class against blacks, Hispanics, urban residents and the educated middle class and upper middle class.\n\nIf the GOP even has a soul to buy back, it's rancid. Time to spend a decade or two in the wilderness rebuilding a party fit for the 21st century.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, Sam, when a party that has continually touted its Christian ideals for decades votes for a thrice married, womanizing casino owner who's made a career of cheating people--- it's hard to see exactly how much common moral ground there is that is left to share. These self-described Jesus followers habitually oppose feeding, sheltering, and caring for the poor. They also hate government (the joining together of citizens for the greater good of all), though that is the single entity that separates their country from resembling some third-world hell-hole.\nIn spite of this, the US has continued to improve, bit-by-bit over the modern decades, with the more progressive forces winning small battles along the way. With the long-overdo attention now being paid to remedying outrageous gerrymandering, hope for faster change is in the air.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Also, Trump's spokesperson to this day, Katrina Pierson, made an anti-Catholic statement that she's never apologized for to the best of my knowledge:\nhttp://dailycaller.com/2016/01/25/catholic-league-demands-apology-from-trump-spokeswoman-over-anti-catholic-tweet/\n\nSo why aren't conservative Catholics claiming that Trump is an anti-Catholic bigot?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholicism rejects homosexual conduct as a grave sin. How can gay marriage be a non-issue to a Catholic?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your post is insulting dreck. I am a Christian, I don't despise Christianity, I comment on the widespread perversion of the teachings of Jesus. I don't mind conservatives, but there are few of them left in public office, and far more radicals and nihilists on the fringe right. Oregon has a diverse society. Oregon's timber economy was boom and bust for a hundred years. Timber related jobs are only 3% of all Oregon employment and 4% of Oregon pay. Timber products make up 11% of Oregon total goods and services. Timber production on both public and private lands is close to the sustainable level. http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/Documents/AboutODF/ForestryFactsFigures.pdf \n\nAs a contractor before retirement I \"created\" good jobs. Now, as a taxpayer, I still \"create\" good jobs. Your intended insult to me is therefore stupid and weak.\n\nIt is the responsibility of Congress and the administration to fix health care. They are Republicans, they control Congress, and they can't fix healthcare.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't like the view that people that are poor are lazy, etc. Many are depressed, are eating empty calories instead of nourishing food. People with addictions are sick. If my taxes feed people or keep them out of the elements. I'm willing to pay for that. When we look at the poor we should see Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is no cure for pedophilia. All pedophiles including priestly ones will abuse again, given the opportunity. Unfortunately the Catholic Church has given many of their priestly ones license to abuse again. By covering up those accused by moving them from parish to parish and by opposing statute of limitation reforms for those who were abused as children, the Church has not only washed their hands of those offenders who were in their midst, they have washed their hands of all potential victims. But this is not new. Victims of clergy abuse are not now nor have they ever been of concern to the Bishops of the Church. Protecting the image of the Church and the assets of the Church have been and will remain their only concern.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No. Prior to the 1933 Nazi takeover, German Catholic leaders were outspoken critics of Nazism. Following the rise of the Nazis, the episcopate had various disagreements with the government. All the German churches \"engaged in a bitter war of attrition with the regime, receiving the demonstrative backing of millions of churchgoers. Applause for Church leaders whenever they appeared in public, swollen attendances at events such as Corpus Christi Day processions, and packed church services were outward signs of the struggle of ... especially of the Catholic Church - against Nazi oppression\" - Sir Ian Kershaw, \u201cThe Nazi Dictatorship: Problems and Perspectives of Interpretation\u201d. The Church had some success in mobilizing public opinion to alter government policies.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You shouldn't try to debate Scripture without understanding it. By understand I DON'T mean latch onto the first passage you think \"bolsters\" your preconceived notions. Nor do I mean hearing a 'voice from the Holy Ghost' telling you 'meanings' opposite the written text.\n\nApparently in referencing Exodus, First Kings and Matthew you assume they're referring to the Deity as \"the God of Abraham, Is'haaq and Jacob\" (alayhimus-Salaam) supposedly means He WASN'T the God of Ismael and Muhammad (alayhimus-Salaam). If so, Amy, you have a problem, because neither is the Deity referred to therein as the God of JESUS (alayhis-Salaam). As close as you can get is the \"...hath glorified His son...\" nonsense in the Acts of the Apostles 3:13--more of the Impostor Paul's pagan drivel.\n\nBTW, Abraham, Is'haaq, Jacob--and JESUS (alayhimus-Salaam) figure prominently in al-Qur'an.\n\nYou're simply not qualified to debate Scripture with me, Amy. I know my Book. I know your book. You know neither.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The North belongs to the Protestants. The only reason the Catholics are there is because some Pope with dementia told them all that he gave them the country some 400 years ago. Looks like Westminster will take over and good for them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Mr. Leman is being disingenuous. \n\nWhat he says: \"But a crucial issue often overlooked \u2013 with tragic consequences \u2013 is whether a judge is obedient to fundamental constitutional precepts . . . .\"\n\nWhat he means: \"But a crucial issue often overlooked \u2013 with tragic consequences \u2013 is whether a judge is obedient to fundamentalist Christian precepts . . . .\"\n\nDon't be so afraid, Loren. People are generally good, and they make the best decisions they're capable of making. The few that aren't have daughters that would legitimately fear parental consent and the judicial bypass system.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You're absolutely right. Don't forget Christians raped little First Nations boy and girls in residential schools and Christian clergy raped and sexually abused boys in Mount Cashel Orphanage.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is why the bishops are so pro open borders. Latinos are the future of U.S. Catholicism. \n\nIn 40 years, readers of NCR (if it even still exists) will look on back issues and wonder \"there used to be lots of white Catholics\"?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I do not trust Cardinal Dolan or any Bishop in the Catholic Church. When the sexual abuse of children by priests began to attain public scrutiny, the Church tried to keep the whole thing quiet by offering to pay victims for their silence. In Lafayette, Louisiana the parents of many of the boys who were abused accepted much less money than they should have received because those parents were poor farmers and wanted to put the whole ordeal behind them. They had no idea the suffering their boys would go through. I believe that Cardinal Dolan sees the writing on the wall. Eventually Statute of Limitations reform will pass in New York. Dolan can try to circumvent this happening by settling claims now at a lower cost than having to settle many more claims later. This is a cost cutting move and has nothing to do with any change in how abuse victims have been treated.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "True how ever not one of those people you listed clamed they killed I the name of Christianity. No one yelled \"God is great\" as they killed or attacked people.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I know many Christians that have animal sanctuaries, I have a dog cat sanctuary. It`s just that my experience with Peta is that they are ultra liberals, they dont care for Christians at all, they support abortion, gay marriage, and removal of God/Chri*st from classroom/public square\n\nI asked Jesus into my life in 1983, thanked Him for dying on cross for my sins, made Jesus Lord of my life, asked for forgiveness of sins, asked for The Lord Jesus to save me. I am a sinner saved by Grace no better than anybody.\n\nPeta also has been involved in killing dogs and cats, they are a militant anti Christian group in my experience. I am sure they do some good, but I could not sign on to their left wing anti Christian politics\n\nMark Levin a very good Conservative Jewish man has a foundation to help homeless animals. My sanctuary has no cages chains or ropes, we have large fenced in areas with meadow and shade trees, heated mini barns. nobody is locked in, 3 or 4 to a area they have childrens pools", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Where was this woman being selfish? You know nothing of her life at all. \n\nShe did not: break into anybody's home, hold anybody up on the street, shoot anybody, hurt anybody's child [and that includes raping a child], she didn't beat anybody up, steal from her place of work. In fact, she lived in fear and terror---afraid to go out of her home.\n\nSo what was so unchristian of her? I don't believe you KNOW what being a Christian is about. It isn't your 'trumpist' sense of Christianity. Trump would have Jesus deported!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My \"misunderstanding\"? Do you deny this is the Dogmatic teaching of the Church? As I said before, to deny it is one thing {i.e. heresy}, but to try to claim it is not the teaching is simply dishonest. dishonest. If you need citation, more than happy to provide, but this is really Catholicism 101 here.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Don't worry, I posted a comment pointing out Christian intolerance and Christian treating women as vessels and it didn't get through - guess it didn't fit with the holier than thou narrative", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "With no specifics available here is the quote that apparently is horrifying to the left:\n\n\"The Texas congressman, speaking at a breakfast hosted by the Christian Science Monitor, said, \u201cWe think in tax reform we can create incentives for people to save more and save sooner.\u201d\n\nThere is no end to the misleading headlines and the faux doom and gloom.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus lived and preached among the beggars, thieves, leppers and prostitutes. Oh, but only the straight ones?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "cont'd from above --\n\n...a LOT of people have died for nothing and a great many more of us have suffered for nothing!!! \nThat is nothing but the rampant clericalism of the Catholic churchmen.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1. Sorry, I simply don't agree with your conclusion. I would point to the current debate about Catholics who are excluded from communion because of marriage/divorce problems. These are genuine existential effects. (Those who adopt a purely doctrinal perspective with no pastoral perspective might belittle this ... Make yourself at home.)\n\n2. Yes, I made a silly mistake, I meant PX.\n\n3. Why does it remind me? Just look at your nickname ... deuuuuh.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The USCCB has demonstrated again that it does not even think of any accountability to the laity it is called to serve. Their agenda should be full with pastoral concerns, such as working as an entire body [not diocese by diocese] on:\n\n1) Dealing with the opiate epidemic spread across America---and which is included in the boundaries of every arch/diocese. What positive avenues can the Church in America to families, areas, and individuals addicted to narcotics and heroine.\n\n2) What about race relations? The American bishops at Vatican II, did not even list race relations as a problem area. But in the late 1960's and beyond, this has exploded into intolerance, prejudice, hatred extended to Blacks, and other racial groups. \n\n3) What about dealing with the GREAT DIVIDE that exists in America between Democratic and Republican, liberal and conservative, progressive Catholics and traditional Catholics? Sadly SOME of the bishops Contribute to the problem rather than work for solutions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "He\u2019s not the only family member to sexually harass women in the church. They have swept it under the rug and still allow him to be in leadership. All things come to light in due time. They can\u2019t hide from things. My only hope is that other women come forward about the other family member.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Antisemitism was prevalent in Eastern Europe once upon a time (Poland, Ukraine, Russia, etc.). Heck. The Catholic Church absolved the Jews of deicide only in 1964.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pandora: Nothing is ever going to come from all their liberal blather because the Church is shifting to the Eastern and Southern hemispheres, and those bishops, cardinals, and Catholics are very conservative on moral and theological matters. Additionally, when Eastern Orthodoxy (EO) joins RC, RC will become more conservative not less conservative because EO is very conservative on morality and theology; EO bishops in many regions even call for the imprisonment of active homosexuals.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholics could very well be next, especially the Eastern Catholics. According to to Comrade Mikhailov, I mean Patriarch Kirill does not believe the \"Uniates\" have a right to exist and they should all be under his omophor.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Did you ever even consider that the exodus from the Catholic Church is due to the lack of change in the church rather then what happened in the 60? Do you read what people say her?\n\nIf Jesus came back today, do you honestly belive he would exclude women from the church as this 'modern' Catholic church has does?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus, not the institutional Church, accomplished \"the salvation of souls,\" and the \"Church's magisterial teaching\" is not Jesus. The Church is not God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The devil loves distraction. he'd much rather you fester on old allegations that may or may not be true rather than to deal with abuse where it is happening NOW.\"\n\nYou love distracting people from child sexual abuse cover-ups that are happening NOW in Catholic dioceses as Church Law orders Bishops to cover up clergy pedophilia unless local laws require them to report such crimes to police.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As the Catholic Church is the Body of Christ, she alone speaks with the authority of the Lord.\nTo the extent that you carelessly deny the ancient doctrines of the Church you separate yourself from Christ who is inseparable from his beloved Church.\n\nAs St. Joan of Arc said, \"About\u00a0Jesus Christ\u00a0and the Church, I simply know they're just one thing, and we shouldn't complicate the matter.\"\n\nFor you to claim that you are above the so-called \"errors of the Church\" is for you place your authority above that of Christ's, not a wise thing to do at all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Jesus used real bread and wine and told us to do this in memory of Him\"\n\nAnd He revealed to them that gluten free bread was not real bread???\nAnd He said to them, \"Blessed are those who remember me with REAL BREAD, not gluten-free bread, for only they shall be REAL CATHOLICS\"???", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hey I'm not the one trying to silence the press, take lunches from hungry kids, force Christianity into the public schools, eliminate government ethics, shove Pebble down Bristol Bay's throats so a bunch South Africans and Texans can get richer, hand over yet more oil to EXXON with no return to the state, eliminate the EPA, kill baby wolves and bears in their dens, charge America $11 million a month for travel and golfing, strip civil rights from legal immigrants to our Nation, make peaceful protest illegal, vilify the disabled, force seniors into poverty, destroy social security and arm the mentally ill. But we discuss it over coffee.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So...cradle Catholics are free to disagree with papal teaching on any number of subjects, but converts aren't? I think the only nerve you're touching with this essay is in your funny bone.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As an agnostic, I am unpersuaded by all religions I have observed. \n\nDoctrine, theology, religion, and catechisms are all men's inventions to control the gullible and the 'faithful' who fear both the world of the present and death.\n\nDoesn't matter if it is the God Thor's Hammer causing thunder and lightning or the transubstantiation of wafers and wine to \"become, in reality, the physical Body and Blood of Jesus the Christ.\" Papal infallibility? The Rapture? Native American peyote? Aztec human sacrifice? Female genital mutilation? Burning in Hell for all eternity? The \"Qur'anic text which describe a sensual Paradise where believing men are rewarded by being wed to 72 virgins with \"full grown\", \"swelling\" or \"pear-shaped\" breasts.\"\n\nAll those I find to be nothing but control issues by power mongers.\n\nThe bigotry I see is 'mainstream' 'religious' types and non-believers who try to label so many other faiths as 'cults' or otherwise unacceptable due to their beliefs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Young men radicalized.\nA radical Mormon will leave you a book.\nA radical Buddhist will meditate on universal harmony\nA Radical Catholic will pray for you soul \nA radical Protestant won't talk to you\nA radical Hindu will burn incense\nA racial Muslim will...well just read any newspaper on earth. .", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Wonder if they spoke about abortion and euthanasia?\"\n\nWith the Canadian Conservative Party's new leader, Andrew Scheer, a Pro-Life Catholic, self-identified Catholic Trudeau will have to eventually deal with these issues again and again. (Scheer strongly protested the appointment of a pro-abortion doctor to the Order of Canada and voted against assisted suicide in Parliament.) Asking the pope to issue another apology to the Indigenous Canadian Americans (after the Canadian Bishops did so recently and Pope Benedict, earlier) and avoiding the topic of euthanasia, as if the topic was out of place, was rather \"cute\" on Trudeau's part as if to put the pope on the negative side. If the pope were not to deny that Native Peoples were mistreated, in part by some Catholic communities, he could not be accused of ignorance, of want of Canadian history. Clever -- to avoid more sensitive moral issues.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's quite possible that the priest shortage is a function of the actual or perceived homosexual culture in the seminaries, as well as a rumored preference for admission of men with deep-seated same-sex attraction. So, I wouldn't be so sure that allowing married clergy would change the number of men who would consider the priesthood.\n\nAnybody who's married knows that using one's on marriage to counsel another's is folly; all marriages are different. As far as Catholic marriages go, then, single priests have all the valuable knowledge to counsel married couples as married priests would; many married Catholics forget that their marriage is a covenant with God, a very powerful force.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Re: \"a Francis set of priorities \"\n1. After creating 4 commissions to study his finances, his first \"reform\" of the curia was establishing a Secretariat for (his) Economy. Not once has he suggested that the Vatican, dioceses or religious orders divest themselves of their assets \"for the poor.\"\n2. No mercy or compassion for women's lives, health or human rights for LGBTQI persons.\n3. After rigging the second Synod of Bishops with his own intrumentum laboris, he again ignored the votes of the bishops re: communion for the divorced, remarried.\n4. No appointments or promotions to positions of power for the laity except Fox News, Opus Dei Greg Burke, head of his Press Office.\n5. He formed an alliance with Putin (\"Did the Pope Just Kiss Putin's Ring\"), an accommodation with Castro (wouldn't meet or mention dissenters), and capitulated to Xi Jinping that China will select the candidates for bishops and the pope chooses one. See the IOR\u2019s investments in fossil fuel companies. (lastampa.it)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"The difficulty, of course, is that the Church/Vatican approaches this subject in terms of scripture and tradition, which have been traditionally understood as inimical to the position of contemporary social science on this issue.\"\n\nnot to mention natural law, logic, parsimony, etc.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why would you think Cardinal Burke should go to trial? What is the charge against him other than being a faithful, orthodox, Catholic bishop?\nAs J.Bob says, prejudice abounds here.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So I guess \"Unless a man be born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of God\" is not a reference to Baptism? I guess \"Repent and be baptized\" \"Go and teach all nations, baptizing them...\" or any of the other references to Baptism in the New Testament are not actually references to Baptism? \n\nWhy does Jesus so clearly command it when it is utterly useless? What other things does Jesus command us to do that have no bearing on salvation?\n\nLet me guess: the way the Church has understood these references was all wrong until Hans Kung, Ray Brown or some other run of the mill dissident came on the scene and told us what they really mean?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"In his 2017 peace message, Francis said, \u201cWhoever accepts the Good News of Jesus is able to acknowledge the violence within and be healed by God\u2019s mercy, becoming in turn an instrument of reconciliation.\u201d \"\nI wonder if Pope F. himself will accepts the Good News of Jesus and be able to acknowledge the violence within and work to eliminate the clerical culture of concealing/condoning sex abuses of children among Vatican prelates and clergies! \nWhy anyone quote person like Francis who stand by the promoter of clergy sex abuses before the whole world is beyond me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-(", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ah, another one who sees St Peter celebrating a \"Service\" in a park, dressed in a bathing suit, welcoming all faiths to participate in the meal at the table, no need for kneeling, no need for reverence, just love. All the while expressing heretical statements about the alleged divinity of Jesus, his miracles or the the truths of the Gospel which contradict his personal false beliefs. Assisted by his fellow ordained woman priest and married gay couple, he denies the existence of hell or judgement, and tells all are saved by faith alone. Sin boldly because God's mercy is great. Scholarship has not changed since 1969. Welcome to the new Catholic/Protestant Church for all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Among other things, the group wants better training for police, mandatory anti-racism education in schools.\"\n\nIslam is a religion not a race fighting one will not necessarily reduce the other. Even if Islam was a race more knowledge about Islam may not lead to the desired results. \n\nThe province where the attack occurred is the only province to have introduced mandatory Islamic studies in the public school system; in effect, sacrificing gains made during the Quiet Revolution to accommodate the Religion of Peace, after denying the Catholic Church the right to interfere in the public education system. \n\nWith the Supreme Court of Canada condoning the doing away with a secular public education to allow Islam to be taught to unbelievers' children other provinces may follow with the same negative outcome.\nhttp://boreal.ca/Sharia/apartheid.htm", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Years ago as a kid HEATH-BAR, I walked by mistake into the Hyde Park Projects in Tampa (1970's). Immediately got tailed by two black kids that picked up on me. I started moving, they started moving. Finally I broke into a run only the hear a gun go off twice behind me. Then I ran into a clothes line made of wire, which caught me in the neck while running. I ended up on my back with the wind knocked totally out of me, looking up at a 400 lb. black woman. \"What you doin' here boy?\", couldn't even answer her! When I got to my feet, she walked me to a small apartment, cockroaches matted all over the walls even in the light. She was a Christian woman, had a long picture frame with 3 cameos on the wall... John Kennedy, his brother Robert, and Martin Luther King. Her sons came home, she had them walk me back out towards the bus station where I had come from! \n\nNow I am so ugly, I tell folks I take my vacations in Detroit, they laugh, but true. See no reason to redline neighborhoods in Denver!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The 'Sunday\" comment has to do with the 'white' churches and the 'black' churches. \n\nBaptists in particular seem to separate themselves like that.\n\nOf course, anyone who has ever been on active military duty notices that voluntary recreational segregation happens in all the clubs; particularly in the EM and the NCO clubs when there is music. \n\nRAP and Country Western just don't seem to mix! \n\nThe New Yoricans tend to self-segregate there as well. \n\nThe O-Clubs don't seem to do that. Or the Senior NCO Clubs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree. Obviously the anti-Christ of the Liberal /left/progressive crowd.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why are there Catholic or Anglican cemeteries in Ontario? Can the two not be mixed? Are they not good enough? Stop the hypocrisy....you lose all credibility with it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Some East Coasters go on and on about their \"Loyalist\" ancestors the same way that some folks in the Southern USA go on about their Racist Confederate ancestors.\n\nThere is nothing to take pride in about having ancestors who were willing to suffer under a literally insane autocrat. George III was nuts. \n\nThe East Coast is the last refuge of Religion in Canada. Very reactionary, even violent. Christians assaulted people trying to make use of their new freedom to shop on Sunday.\n\nPerhaps Cornwallis is a fitting symbol of their mind set.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The bishops were chosen by God, acting through the Pope, to tell you how to live your life, who to vote for, and how to treat others. They have the correct chromosomal make-up to reflect Jesus, who was a straight white man, and the approved medieval wardrobe to represent the church Jesus founded in Rome. They know latin. They were willing to make any sacrifice to protect the reputation of the church, no matter how many children were hurt. They are capable of saying one thing, while doing something completely different. Many of them were handpicked by a Saint! How many more reasons do you need to follow their directions?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sadly, the people who want to set the criteria for \"who is Catholic\" and \"who is not Catholic\"\nbelong to the same group who insinuate that Pope Francis is a heretic. It's my opinion that they would question Jesus Christ, if he was walking about in the flesh today [he is, but these folks don't see him]. Jesus isn't 'orthodox' enough. He certainly wasn't 'orthodox' enough for those who prided themselves in their 'observance of the Law,' and looked down upon those \"born entirely in sins\" [John 9:34-35] like the man born blind---whom Jesus cured.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I didn't miss anything. But just for you,\n*****\nI get so tired of people who want state funding for private religious schools screaming \"that's bigotry against Roman Catholics!\" Vincent Carroll used to play that card all the time.\nMs. Raleigh, please show how, in 2017, the Colorado Constitution's restrictions on using public money for sectarian purposes -- the so-called Blaine Amendments -- are being used to disparately impact Roman Catholics.\n*****\nDo you feel better now?\nI do not want public funds used for religious purposes.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "More of us must stand up, with and for Pope Francis. Whether we \"agree\" or \"disagree\" with some of what he expresses as opinions, he stands for and as a model for the awesome mystery of God's mercy, the mercy of God open, available, ever seeking....\nGod's mercy, exemplified, personified by Christ is scary. It is so complete, so utter that most of us have an irresistible need to build fences around it, around ourselves, render it conditional. People of institution - whether self-interested preservationists, sycophant or slave, cannot survive, cannot tolerate for self, cannot fathom for others the nakedness of mercy that is offered or in the learning towards acceptance. Whether it is because they share too fully themselves in the darkness of evil (as do the gurus of hate), are trapped within as minion tools or even the minimally wise who legitimately fear the weakening of institution, or of themselves they will not, cannot participate in nor tolerate in the domination of mercy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "On Nov. 8, please vote YES on Alaska Supreme Court Justices Joel Bolger and Peter Maassen. Two men who are considering facts and circumstances and what benefits all Alaskans, as opposed to personal religious belief. \n\nThe fact is that some teenagers go to their parents even if it's difficult (Christian or otherwise), regardless of whether or not there's a law in place. And some won't (Christian or otherwise). We all know there are many teenagers living in difficult circumstances, who don't have a parent to go to, for whatever reason. We *know* there is abuse and vulnerability. We know this. \nWhy additionally punish those young women who are disadvantaged to begin with? It's absolutely unconscionable that even just *one* teenage girl should be forced to seek an abusive parent's \"permission\" and participation. In the case of rape/incest, this is particularly revolting.\n\nYou won't stop abortion this way.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...the impossibility of deciding which voice speaks of Anglicanism.\"\n\nA while ago, Justin Wilby's predecessor, Rowan Williams, tried to get ALL the various provinces of the Anglican Communion (together almost 5% of global Christianity) to sign on to a covenant, a stronger, more centralized inter-provincial polity, binding them as a communion of churches to certain practices and teachings. Many African Anglicans were open to it, hoping that it would include a ban on gay Anglican clerics from entering into civil unions (which the Church of England permits), others a ban on women bishops, others a ban on laypeople presiding at a liturgy (which diocese of Sidney permits). Anyway, that covenant was tosses aside. Rome was not happy. It wanted the Communion to adopt the covenant. Since then, Rome has had no real interest recognizing AC's orders, not until AC has a more unified church polity (horrified that some African Anglican bishops refuse to worship with their Western peers).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As an atheist although I do not agree with the religious symbology as it leaves out the many veterans who are not Christian, I can feel empathy for this young man's attempt to bring attention to the plight faced today by our returning veterans regarding depression, PTSD, and their incredible suicide rate. Sadly today, they go largely ignored while our politicians call for ever more war in the Middle East.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Conservative Christians are angry over Trump\u2019s selection of a \u201cprosperity gospel\u201d televangelist Paula White to pray at his inauguration.\n\n\u201cI\u2019d rather a Hindu pray on Inauguration Day and not risk the souls of men, than one whose heresy lures in souls with promises of comfort only to damn them in eternity,\u201d wrote Erick Erickson, an outspoken Trump critic on the right. \u201cAt least no one would mistake a Hindu, a Buddhist, or an atheist with being a representative of Christ\u2019s kingdom.\u201d\n\n\u201cPaula White is a charlatan and recognized as a heretic by every orthodox Christian, of whatever tribe,\u201d said Russell Moore, of the SBS's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commiss.\n\nWhite takes in up to $80,000 a week and owns multimillion-dollar homes in Trump Tower and Florida.\n\n\u201cPaula White has a history of bankruptcies, failed business ventures, and unsuccessful marriages, which makes her the perfect choice to deliver a prayer on behalf Trump,\" wrote Paula Bolyard, a conservative Christian blogger.\n\nLovely!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Which sins does Christ desire that we accept? That is, which Protestant sect is the right one? How unhappy Christ must have been before the Reformation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Didn't Chaput protest inviting Obama to Notre Dame because Obama was pro-choice? So shouldn't the same rules apply to Trump who is setting awful policies about refugees? And while we are at it, shouldn't Chaput be insisting that Catholics in the Trump administration like Kellyanne Conway and Catholic Republicans in Congress like Paul Ryan be denied Communion for supporting this intrinsically evil policy?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Negotiate? \n\nNorth Korea is the most hostile culture on earth; the supreme hater and destroyer of Christians, who are hung on a cross over a fire, crushed under a steamroller, herded off bridges and trampled underfoot. There is extra-judicial killing, extermination, enslavement/forced labor, forcible transfer of population, arbitrary imprisonment, torture, persecution, enforced disappearance, rape and sexual violence, and other inhumane acts. On World Watch List Rank: 1. \n\nMain Religion: Atheism. Government: Communist dictatorship. Source of Persecution: Dictatorial paranoia. North Korea is a sea of diabolical godlessness.\n\nNegotiate?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1/ I'm not as impressed with Commonweal's piece as Mr. Coday. Particularly in light of the church's inglorious history with fascism I should think Catholic opinion leaders would be scrupulous when confronting church flirtations with neo-Nazi movements like the \"alt right.\" Complacency and appeals to church unity hardly suffice as a response to the peril represented by the rise to power of a vicious ethnic nationalist like Steve Bannon and the emboldening of his rabid acolytes. But we're all sinners, right? \n\nCommonweal sneers at Emma-Kate Symons' description of a \"far-right, neo-fascist-normalizing cheer squad out of the Holy See.\" Though Symons proceeds to provide evidence of such a faction, Commonweal doesn't deign to refute her, much less grapple with the alt right's historical parallels:", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A lot of lasting pain, harm, tears, agony and sleepless nights derive from orders from those self-assured that they are doing God's work---and you're not! They can sleep at night, convinced that they play by the rules, a very low bar they can hurdle and think they are morally victorious. \n\nA \"clerical cult of clarity\" excuses--even lauds--any directive that erases the dreaded evils of confusion and nuance. Followers of this sect condemn Pope Francis's alleged ambiguity, claiming \"The Joy of Loving\" should be a codified rule book. \n\nDenial of a funeral for a child of God? Small price to pay for clarity.\n\nAssuring agony by family, friends, colleagues, and others? Small price to pay for victory over ambiguity. \n\nWhen we worship clarity and claim charity is trendy, we surrender to \"the lawyers\" who think they compose the admissions committee to heaven.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is a long list of so called Christian adherents that have been hypocritical and derelict in their duties. A famous one is Jim Bakker. Another is Ted Haggart. Very much like Meredith, they espouse pious beliefs to their followers all the while doing nefarious things. \nRecently a Republican Oklahoma Senator by the name of Ralph Shortey was caught with his pants down with an underage male prostitute. He has been charged and in time we will know the out come. He has been a right wing stalwart that supported many anti-immigrant pieces of legislature. He also proposed a law demanding Presidents present birth certificates at the Oklahoma ballot. Shortey was a key backer of trump in the recent election.\n\nAll you can do is shake your head and wonder what gets into these people's heads. Is it that power corrupts or are they already on a path that only becomes easier to tread because they feel immune?\nMaybe a little of both.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Absolutely, although an oft quoted article by Ratzinger is not any more authoritative than a Trump tweet and is still just as wrong. If you want to say that this debate shows that either the Magisterium is right and gays are disordered or that the Magisterium is not so infallible, gays are wonderfully made and made to love each other in lifelong and affirming sexual relationships than I will take that choice. If you are of the opinion that the sufferings of Christ can be added to at all, which is the idiocy St. Anselm preached than I disagree again. Christ made gays to test your ability to love, not their's to obey (they are obeying their hearts already). So far you are failing and so has the Magisterium.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not sure what this comment or the article has to do with the Dutch election, where the three top winning parties are center-right, Christian-right and populist-right. The GroenLinks party is tied for fifth/sixth, and the previously most powerful left-wing party, the PvdA (Labour) went from 38 seats to 9. Wilders' PVV actually won seats (though still below their 2010 peak.) There has not been any \"centre-left\" shift; on the contrary, the general take is that PM Rutte benefitted significantly from his hardline stance against the would-be Turkish dictator Erdogan.\n\nThe author of the article seems to know nothing about Dutch politics, language or culture. The winning VVD is not \"Liberal,\" but \"conservative-liberal,\" with the 'liberal' pertaining to the economic liberalism of Adam Smith. They are considered the party of the well-to-do, similar to the Freie Demokratische Partei in Germany.\n\nThis is really a very ignorant piece, serving only to highlight the author's political leanings.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "A very thoughtful and insightful reply, RusselAnthony. Thank you for it. One addition to your comment is that there is indeed all sorts of legislation (civil) that covers the monitoring of sex offenders. The problem with abusive Catholic ministers who so offend is that bishops and some superiors have dealt with it as an internal matter, treated claims of abusive as attacks against the Church, and shielded priests and religious from legal prosecution. The problem of \"unknown\" abusers in our midst is far more a \"Catholic\" problem than a civil/legal one. While that situation is (slowly) resolving itself, it continues to haunt us with every new revelation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "ISIS has killed far more Muslims than Christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Right. \"Good, orthodox Catholics\" agree with Paprocki that gays should be hated, feared, shunned and rejected. As I said before, Trid gives us good reason to reject his version of \"orthodoxy\". Trid's god, that he has created in his own image and likeness, does not love everyone. My God is love itself.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Women are persecuted under Catholic Church-inspired abortion laws.\n\nhttps://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/jul/06/el-salvador-teen-rape-victim-sentenced-30-years-prison-stillbirth", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It wasn't Irish Catholics. that flew planes into the WTC or keep shooting up nightclub, malls and US army personnel\n\nWhen are the moderate muslim leaders going to start denouncing the terrorist acts in a loud and clear united voice?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well at least you acknowledge ; that \"the Catholic Church failed to deal with the sexual abuse scandal\". You are correct in that. That also includes Pope Francis who has really done very little other than window dressing. Yes he is \"a world leader; & a head of state\" whose credibility has been diminished due to his inability to deal with the clerical & religious child sexual abuse scandal that involves millions of children worldwide. He needs to do something about the institutional church that enabled and covered up the issue but then it has been going on for centuries as we now know; with the full knowledge of the hierarchy, including all the popes. He does not have the credibility as a world leader; to pinpoint other country's failures when he is not doing anything about the glaring catholic world crisis of his hierarchy's making. \n\nI did not say \"because the Catholic Church failed to deal with the sex abuse scandal, therefore it should stop helping refugees\". You said that.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The historic Mohammad is not pertinent to a discussion of modern Islam for the same reason its pointless to debate about the historic Jesus. People will believe what they want to believe regardless of what happened centuries ago.\n\nReligion is a two-edged sword. It can be used for personal growth and enlightenment, or it can be used to try to coerce others into conforming to a certain pattern of behavior. Every major religion has been abused at one time or another by those seeking to use it to gain power over others. \n\nThe bottom line is, focusing on Islam is a distraction from the main problem, which is the volatile situation in the Middle East. Most suicide bombers are desperate young people who've been manipulated into radicalization by those, like ISIS, who seek to exploit their hopelessness. Young people with hope, be they Muslims, Christians or whatever, don't engage in terrorism and they certainly don't buy into suicide.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Isn't it a bit ironic that Catholic Churches ring the Church bells on Patricks day to welcome destroyers into the country, and, right on cue one such savage kills our people in London. The clergy are complicit! They step up to the pulpit and pray for 'world peace' as if they are dimwitted beauty pageant contestants. The clergy have despised their noble birthright and sold it away for the sod pottage of social-work. 'Preaching' enviromentalism as incompetent 'scientists'; they make themselves fools addled alongside 'global warming' hot-shots who have been ridiculed for decades. [even 'global-warming' has had to have been changed to 'climate change' because the 'scientists' are always repudiated by the evidence...which contradicts 'warming']. [Or, 'cooling';...because in fact the nature of it is CYCLICAL; driven by the sun][indict me for mortal sin of 'climate denial', or, call me Capernicus]", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't think they allow enough characters to name all of the deplorable politicians who use Christianity as a ploy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholic right-wingers treat the sexual abuse crisis just like they do Vatican II. They pretend it never happened and that it is just a left-wing conspiracy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Many conservative white Christians have problems with people that think all lives matter, like the Mennonites. Of course, the haters can't tell the difference between Mennonites and Muslims. The Christian Trump voters are quite proud in their ignorance. They refuse to take the advice Jesus gave them. Heck, they think Jesus was blonde and had blue eyes. Just look at his pictures in their churches. They can't handle the truth. They will resort to 2nd Amendment solutions if you try to force the truth on them.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, they contradict as well. Both (well, all three) are projections in the sense of 'God', hence God's changing demeanor. Christianity was a reaction to the hypocritical rule-crazy Judaism, and sums 'The Law' up into the 'Golden Rule'; whereas Islam, clearly created by a con artist who mooched off a rich widow and hung out in a cave all day, it isn't simply a change in demeanor, but it doubles down on Judaisms folly while somehow not grasping Christianity's consolidation of it, and almost everything Mohammed does goes against all that was established, and then he just says, \"Oh, wait, Allah said its ok\" (a difference between the Judeo-Christian and Islam God is that in the prior he tends to come forth with a challenge, whereas Islam he comes after the action. Even Ayesha recognized his con when she said \"Allah moves hastily to please you\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What a bunch of horse dung. I am appalled. As many have indicated in previous comments, immigrants of the past DID NOT receive to much help from we the taxpayers and they succeeded in adapting. \nYou are telling us that after spending a fortune of tax payer money on getting these people here and paying for their living here, we should pay even more? APPALLING AND A DISGRACE!! I have had just about enough of this liberal rubbish propaganda. Also..they are muslims, we aren't even talking about how much problems that will cause down the road, because that is the real issue at hand. In 25 years we will be fighting for our right to practice our own culture and traditions and religion (Christianity) here in Canada, just like they are in some European countries now. when they numbers get to about 7% + we will start to see the enforcement of Jihad.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You're calling Jesus a progressive? Hahaha. Jesus never forced anyone to do anything but progressives live to force others to do what they say. Progressives see government as a means of hurting people...while \"helping\" some too, of course. Hitler and Stalin were progressives...brutal big government authoritarian anti-Christian and Anti-Jew mass murderers who provided health care for all and controlled everything and everyone from a central location. Progressivism comes in three flavors: socialism, communism and fascism. What's your favorite?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "While Muslims excoriate us about supposed Islamophobia, we should bear in mind Islam's entrenched homophobia, misogyny, Judeophobia, Christiophbia, Buddeaphobia Europhobia, Americanophibia, democratiophobia, Bibliophobia, iconoclasm, and even Islamophobia against each other.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Expect more of this in coming times.\n\nSunni Kaliphate and Jewish finance alliance terrorized Christian West for 13 centuries until the English found the silver bullet - create competing land claims by founding Israel.\n\nSince then no war in Europe. Christians at peace.\n\nNow the payback time. Sunnis and Jews will be targeted everywhere. What goes come around.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I suppose the irony of using your ideas regarding Christian original sin and woman as temptress to re-enforce concepts of Sharia in young Saudis escapes you.\n.\nYou went from the science of biology to \"my religious beliefs\" in three posts. I hope science is not what you teach.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Are you serious?????? The computer lab is unavailable to the rest of the students because Muslim kids are praying in there? How about they built their own muslim schools like the catholics do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Currently in Colorado, discrimination based on sexual orientation and discrimination based on religion are in the same boat. It stands to reason that if someone is going to be allowed to discriminate against a gay person based on their religious beliefs, then they should also be allowed to discriminate against someone of an opposite religious view.\n\nWatch the holy he!! that will get raised by white male Christian \"victims\" when told that they are going to be refused service due to their beliefs not jiving with a business owner's.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am so sorry that something like this happened in Anchorage. I am straight but not narrow, and there are many people here like me, allies. In fact I think most people are allies, the few haters are just louder than us.\nThe event was peaceful and happy when I was there, about 2-3 pm.\nAll you folks saying don't judge Christians by the actions of these so-called Christians: now you know how Muslims feel about the few weirdos who call themselves Muslims and wreak havoc. I speak for my Muslim friends when I write this.\nPeace.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Net illegal immigration was DOWN under Obama. Migrant laborers have been a crucial element to rural economies for decades in the USA. Get a clue, if you think you're a \"Christian\" you need to have a long, sober look in the mirror. God won't forgive this merciless garbage you spew, learn some human empathy, especially if you want to appear like a legitimate follower of Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Knew he wasn't a white Christian, or much of an American. When Americans do this this we use all kinds of guns, guns and more guns and lots of ammo. This guy clearly wasn't fully assimilated into our society.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I wouldn't call those immigrants that your refer to as tired and poor; I'd call them ambitious and driven to succeed. \n\nWhat is it with you liberals and assigning condescending labels to people? It's not persuasive and is usually incorrect. I don't care where people come from, I just think that people who come to our country should come here as contributors, not takers. Do you think a \"real Catholic\" is ergophobic?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What possible moral leader are you talking about John?!\nCI (Catholic Institution) has not come to the prodigal son\u2019s repentance. \nTheir ongoing rottenness:\nThe proven rotten apple like C. Dolan is still an acting Cardinal in New York Archdiocese representing the seriously sick and rotten to the core RCI.\nHe proudly announced his scheme to create a separate fund for hush the clergy sex abuse victims and cover up the Clergy sex abuses to the world. \nHow long RCI is going to parade in this sick manner?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is a Catholic fundamentalism, centered mostly on papal and pre-Vatican documents, which is every bit as anti-intellectual as are other forms of fundamentalism. (One friend of mine refers to them as the \"Catholic Taliban.\") This is a perennial problem in religion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So what if a Christian bakery refused to bake a cake for a Jewish couple because they don't conform to evangelical beliefs? Should they also be allowed to refuse to bake cakes for Muslim couples, Buddhist couples, or anyone who isn't a card carrying member of their church? Should they be allowed to deny service to women if their church believes that women don't have the right to make decisions? Discrimination is a slippery slope. I wonder how their employees are treated? I'm sure this controversy is very awkward and embarrassing to them. Some of them may have different beliefs and business ethics. It's not fair or legal to discriminate against them either. We have labor laws for good reasons. Nobody likes a bully. Skin heads enjoy threatening and intimidating people. No sane person or boss should expect anyone to deny their own identity and have to pretend that their something or someone they aren't just to get acceptance from their peers. That's how work place violence happens", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The phrase \"promoter of the 'gay' lifestyle\" is the clearest indication of the utter ignorance about, intentional antipathy to and most importantly, denial of Catholic teaching regarding towards Catholics who are LGBT.\n\nThe statement \"gay lifestyle\" makes no sense. What is the heterosexual lifestyle? Is there such a thing? There must be, by definition.\n\nThe Catechism is utterly clear - in that it explicitly states - that people who are LGBT do not choose to be LGBT. Thus, promoting such a lifestyle is actually impossible, since one doesn't choose to be LGBT.\n\nGay people are also humans, not sexual objects. No rational person would describe being in a relationship as only \"having sex.\" Reducing gay people to sexual objects is abjectly against any semblance of pro-life values.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The hypocrisy is even deeper. The Society of St Pius X is technically considered a heretical and schismatic sect in Roman Catholic teaching due to their rejection of Vatican II. \n\nThe fact of the matter is that the charge of heresy is sometimes abused and misused to target even the most Orthodox theologians by legalists with closed minds. St Thomas Aquinas(which might surprise people) was charged with heresy with the Condemnations of 1277 of his works. Meister Eckhart was charged with heresy over his mystical writings. Coming into the modern period Pope John XXIII as I mentioned was considered heretical by ultra traditional groups. People tend to forget that when Vatican II voted on it's documents like Gaudium et spes, Nostra Aetate and others they did not get the votes of all the bishops or clerics present. \n\nSo the accusation of heresy against Francis that is present. When you read history carefully you see this is the same script repeating itself.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's actually more similar to the reverse, the great fight of the Left against the \"obscurantism and sexism\" of fundamentalist Christianity. Plenty of hatred there, as expressed in about 100 years of movies and a few centuries of literature. Still propagating the entrenched stereotypes of the corrupt, repressed and hypocritical minister, the deranged fanatical Bible-thumper, etc. There aren't a lot of positive figures of religious Christian people in modern culture.Dirty Dancing, anyone?\n\nDid you ever protest against that? Didn't think so.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Only a Trump supporter can hold Hillary responsible for the actions of her husband. So tell me in your book of Christian values where such a process can be found. Under hypocrisy I'd bet.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Those men are prostitutes, and the nun is ministering to them not in support of their lifestyle, but in the general Christian way of supporting those on the fringes of society. Of course the pope supports this.\n\nThe U.S. military is not a ministering organization. Decisions are made as to who is best fit to serve....because....every weak link means increased risk of ineffectiveness, which translates into risk of loss of life.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm not negating today's issues. I think they can be central to our relationship to God. How we treat others, especially those who are most vulnerable help us to understand God's love in deeper ways. I think we might agree though that the goal of salvation is not an esoteric \"eternals\", but what the end game for every Christian should be. \n\nMy position isn't to discourage discussion or questioning, but to not attribute consistent teachings of the Church to \"backwards thinking\" or \"women-hating\" or some simplified insult.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So because a gunman was liberal all liberals are crazy people who want to shoot Republicans? That's a pretty big stretch buddy. Maybe all Christians are like David Koresh.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why? Jerry Prevo already knows he has sinned. Every Christian knows they have sinned. It is the liberals who always assert that Christians claim to be without sin, when no Christian has claimed any such thing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bull. Cherry picking results from the same predators sucking the lifeblood from educational revenue for profit. The same \"creaming\" done by these private leeches to use tax funds to support those who could already afford to send them to private schools including religious brainwashing systems. The same lying, obfuscating, anti-American, traitorous ideologies sending the nation down the road to fascism and christian theocracy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Western white liberal/conservative nations with a Christian heritage are better for women than any other system you can identify. Women and gays under Islam ? There are feminist and LGBT who actually think that's preferable despite all the bloodshed proving them wrong.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "part two -- from above\n\nSpecific examples of this are Iran-Contra, The Dirty Wars, the attack on Jean-Bertrand Aristede and Haiti plus a great many other little almost unknown and totally unknown actions or skirmiches. \nWe must remember that our Catholic Church cannot raise armies any more and has not been able to do so for a long time. And yet -- the church entered politics way back in the fourth century. \nAlso the churchmen are VERY/Extremely aggressive. \nSo why? Because the churchmen war-death-kill-disrupt-manipulate and claim they do it for God!!! Also because the church long ago left the path of Jesus Christ. Also because the church is full of celibate men. Also because the church is an insular and very insulated organization. Insulated organizations get strange because they are mentally incestuous. \nWhen you consider a testosterone driven organization that is also isolated and thus mentally incestuous with no corrective mechanisms you can expect a lot of strange behaviors!!!!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"That's despite Pope Francis and other prominent Catholics' rebuke of the candidate for railing against immigrants and other minority groups.\"\n\nThese \"pundits\" need to realize that for an increasingly number of practicing Catholics, Francis' ongoing, tiresome rebukes are read as an endorsement. That is to say, much of what he snarks off about is good and holy.\n\nThe candidate's criticism was of illegally present \"immigrants\" (non-immigrants) and criminals, not anyone else. \"Minority groups?\" The term has no meaning. Catholics always have been, and very much remain, a minority group in the United States.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "As a disaffected moderate conservative voter in a deep red state, I'll be looking for the Democrats to run candidates that genuinely have cross-party appeal & can peel off moderate suburban voters like myself in Trump country. Thus far, I'm skeptical they will take this opportunity. In the VA Dem primary, Tom Periello - everyone's favorite Catholic progressive pol - cynically disavowed his previous support for the Hyde Amendment & for the Stupak Amendment to prove his progressive bona fides. And in the Alabama senate race, the Democrat running may as well be reading the NARAL talking points he is so far to the left on abortion. In the end, he may win because it appears his opponent is a sexual predator, but the Democrats should wake up to the reality of the opportunity they have before them. Because running the equivalent of Barbara Boxer in each race is a fools' errand if you want to re-take Congress.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Some enjoy it some don't. That does not make it wrong for those who do, or even perverted. That is a human definition and Leviticus was written by human rabbis for separatist purposes. Neither they nor you know enough about it to make universal judgments, and certainly not the Catholic clergy, although to be fair many of them do have a lot of experience with anal sex. Some of them amay just want it to be their thing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Again Richard I would try to reason with you but you are literally blaming pot smoking on the poor.\n\nDon't feed their kids but buy pot. Yeah maybe one terrible person out there does that. Do you condemn the entire Catholic Church for the molestation in churches? You are generalizing to fit your personal world view.\n\nYou state all that legalization has done is given cover to the black market, you mean like the pot black markets in Co and Wa that don't exist anymore? How about the drug cartels in Mexico fighting legalization because it drops their ability to sell pot in those states?\n\nI don't think you actually know what you are talking about and are coming from a very slanted point of view and attempting to hoist your views off on everyone else.\n\nI also think that your viewpoints come from a very uneducated view of drugs and alcohol. You seem to think that only people that are messed up drink and smoke pot. Some of us do it just to have fun and relax. Your blanket statements are sad.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "God, Jesus, Allah are all fake, so one would only assume this to be fake as well. It's like say, \" I think the deleted scenes from Lord of the Rings never really happened.\" Of course it didn't happen, it's a story.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Apparently you missed the part in the Catechism that teaches about redemption and forgiveness. The fact you haven't heard him talk about it is irrelevant. BTW, he has spoken about his conversion on abortion. Besides, you're missing the point. he has nominated a pro-life judge for the Supreme Court. Your failure to recognize the fact that his actions speak louder than words speaks volumes about yourself. For instance, you claim to be pro-life, but your voting habits tell a different story. You place the issue of pro-life as being morally equivalent to climate change or illegal immigration. In fact, you may even place less importance on pro-life issues than illegal immigration. Am I about right? So you see, your attack on Trump for his pro-life position is quite disingenuous and extremely intellectually dishonest. You're somewhat of a hypocrite for denigrating Trump for his pro-life position while your vote in November supported pro-abortion candidates.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I am very sorry that you and your son were the victims of an ignorant verbal assault. No one should be subjected to that, especially a child.\nI am interested that you both practice as psychologists and wonder how you reconcile your work as psychologists in Toronto with core values informed by Islam. How do you treat your gay clients? How about any Jewish or Christian clients? Muslims wishing to leave the faith? What about the slurs that come from Muslim children towards others in the playground, especially towards non-Muslim girls? More detail is needed about how your Muslim values are totally compatible with Canadian values and I would genuinely be interested in reading another piece about this.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "the Armenia holocaust of 1 million Christians by peaceful muslims and that six million number has been officially revised by the Holocaust authorities themselves. Let's talk about the Jihad against Indians shall we, Koenard Elst in Negationism in India gives an estimate of 80 million Hindus killed in the total jihad against India and let's not forget why the Crusades happened! It was because of 400 years of islamic barbarism, Can we forget how Mohammed thanked the Jews who helped him in Medina? He killed them, chopped off their heads. Some prophet, killing God's chosen and those Nazi's weren't Christians! It is also estimated that Over 110 Million Blacks were killed by Islam. So Christians can hardly be considered the biggest mass murderers, it isn't any surprise who really are the biggest mass murderers in history, estimated at a whopping 250 million and that is muslims.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually I don't know what I am. I am pro abortion, against immigration, against organized conservative Religion like Christians, Muslims, pro environment, pro death penalty, anti LGBT agenda ...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do you mean, all Catholics you consider true Catholics discriminate against homosexuals and condemn any other form of sexual activity outside of marriage? Times have changed and modernized Catholics, like Catholics for Choice,etc. do not discriminate against different genders. It is your prerogative to believe in what you want but I believe that it is wrong to discriminate and to judge others based on any differences. Pope Francis encourages inclusiveness and follows Jesus's call to all of us to love our neighbors as ourselves.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Although the lovely new catholic school near my new home seemed quaint and harmless, I quickly rethought the notion when my five-year-old son arrived home one day, afraid to enter our house, asking, in a nervous whisper whether god was inside. No kidding. \n\nThese folks are nuts and we need to get them out of our education system lickedy split. Newfoundland did it nearly 50 years ago with a referendum. We must do it in 2018. Put the question on the provincial ballot, please! If someone will start a petititon, I am happy to sign.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Agree with you, but it's not just that he doesn't want to make a cake for someone he doesn't agree with. He doesn't want to make a cake for a gay couple because he's homophobic. Homophobia is not a religion, and the Christians will have a hard time proving in court that homophobia is a part of their religion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If you judge the impact of Amoris Laetitia by what priests and bishops say, you may get an answer that differs considerably from what the people in the pews say. Does Rome ever stop to ask whether giving teachings titles in Latin is a good pedagogical strategy, or whether lengthy apostolic exhortations can compete for attention in a world dominated by social media? As a cynic might say: \"We now live in a world where Nero tweets while Rome burps.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I just stated a basic truth; voluntary changes in individual behavior won't solve the ecological crisis. The Pope just put it well, alluding to the Bible, when he said \"Man is stupid. When you don't want to see, you don't see.\" \n\nOnly action by the state will create the universal shift in consumption and production needed to address the ecological crisis. Conservatives are in denial. They need adult supervision, but, like the spoiled children they are despise any limits on their selfishness, even those that are designed to protect them from themselves.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yah have to remember that mythical invisible man in the sky when I am considering doing any thing.\n\nLets not forget the bible... very important science book explaining about the aforementioned man in the sky. \n\nAnd finally lets not forget Christianity, that lovely little cult which gave us the crusades, witch burnings and child molesting catholic priests.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Which part? That there are trolls on this web site? Or the quotes from the Gospel? I submit to you, and an honest person would agree, that trolls prowl this site. \nChrist does implore us to \u201cjudge not\u201d and He most certainly called out the Pharisees and hypocrites. \nThis edict smacks of both.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "McHale does not hold with Lumen Gentium reading essentially everyone into the Catholic Church. He is one of those misguided pseudo-Catholics who sends most of humanity off to hell. The god he has created in his own image and likeness says to people, \"You picked the wrong parents, too bad for you. Don't bother packing a fan or taking ice water.\" McHale's god has nothing to do with this \"mercy\", \"love\" or \"justice\" stuff--that only interests \"modernists\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Perhaps you don't understand as yet that individualism is not a virtue. For Catholics, it is to be mediated with virtue, or it is a vice. If anything, Trump is now the 'poster child' for vice and viciousness. AND he's even proud of it: \"I can be nastier\". No lie there.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "By tradition, Salome is a kinswoman of Jesus and the mother of James and John. She was the wife of Zebedee. She is one of the sisters mentioned in scripture (not by Dan Brown). It is only the vainglorious effort to argue that Mary is ever virgin by deifying her uterus to go with the anti-sexual attitudes of the classic period that the myth of Salome as cousin rather than sister came about. The Protestants ignore such claptrap, which is misogynistic at its core. To deny the misogyny in Catholic sexual teaching, Marian teaching and regarding women priests is vincible ignorance to preserve the party line.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "He was actually willing to talk about all late term abortion. That got shut down not by Obama but McConnell. BTW, as a non-Catholic, he had no obligation to follow Catholic Relativism, i.e. the Magisterium. He was wishy washy on gay marriage. Catholic Biden got him to commit and Biden was right.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Boy, it sure looks like certain refugees and immigrants, mostly uppity muslims, are creating a real $ hit storm in Canada, especially in the Toronto area and within the school boards. They certainly are not assimilating into Canadian society very peacefully, are they? Should we tolerate their demands or drum them out of town? And how does any of this bad behavior actually benefit Canada? \n\nI was under the impression that religion was something that was supposed to be practised at the home and place of worship. Why is religion still being allowed in public circles? It's a private matter, not one for the public to be exposed to.\n\nThis IS a direct result of the same can of worms that Bill Davis opened up in 1968 and these problems can be directly linked to his decision. Promotion of a separate catholic school board. WORST decision EVER!! It simply opened the flood gates. Just look at the $ hit it has caused. Shame on you Bill Davis, where-ever you are, you are the master of this disaster.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your analogy is seriously flawed. The Jews in question were fleeing annihilation by Hitler and the Nazis. Many of the individuals who are now being denied entry into the U.S. are adherents of a violent and odious ideology that is akin to Nazism. Like the Nazis, the members of the crescent moon death cult seek to kill Jews, gays, Christians and anyone who opposes their totalitarian aims.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pence would be much, much worse - He'd have all the right-wing pandering that Trump brings, the same ridiculous attitude towards removing healthcare from millions of Americans, quite possibly a similar aggressive attitude towards North Korea, not to mention his hardcore Christian beliefs around abortion and homosexuality - and he'd have all of that in the body and mind of a well-versed and incredibly experienced politician!\n\nHe'd be ten or twenty times more dangerous than Trump could ever hope to be (and a lot less silly-looking, cause he doesn't tweet 200 times a day!)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The main stream mass media is simply propagating lies to tear Trump down. The fact of the matter is that the US has never before had anyone as competent as Trump in the White house. I cannot believe that someone who is responsible for the building of high rise buildings in New York city, which takes an enormous amount of managerial and leadership skill, is all of a sudden a blundering incompetent. Makes no sense. What is believable is that the Mass media is lying on a very large scale. This I believe. This seems reasonable. \n\nTRUMP is doing quite well considering how Progressives (liberals or whatever), with certain Republican friends, have made Washington D.C., a cesspool of corruption and greed. Any Catholic who supports the Statism, anti-constitutionalism and de facto socialism (that is, any Catholic who supports totalitarianism) of Progressivism as an ideology is either invincibly ignorant or knowingly and willfully trying to destroy liberty.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Meanwhile, the real America and Catholics love this president.\"\n\nSo only whites are \"real Americans\"?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Since the so called Arab Spring , there has been a Christian Genocide going on across the Middle East and even deep into Africa. \n\nBut I sincerely apologize to everyone for even MENTIONING this being that it isn't Politically Correct to even point this out.\n\nAll we every hear anyone cry about is Syrian Muslim Refugees, who in case everyone forgot actually started their own Civil War. \n\nChristian's in the Middle East have no quarter, they are literally being wiped from the Earth and no one in the West will even say a word. \n\nLikely this post won't get through but I truly do feel that Christian Refugees from these countries should take priority.Muslim refugees have thrown Christian's off boats and have constantly harassed Christian Families in Migrant Camps throughout Europe. If you don't believe me, do your own research and you will be SHOCKED. \n\nBefore you try to block me, lets at least try to a have a little dialogue on this current epidemic to see who is truly being persecuted.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is a track record here at NCR....when someone among us has said exactly (often literally exactly) what Francis has said, the calls for \"Why don't you just leave?\" or \"Sounds like a good Protestant to me\" or \"This is a horrible misinterpretation of Vatican II,\" or \"St. John Paul the Great would never accept this\" or \"This is the secular mind at work,\" or...well, you get my point. Yes, the papal pendulum swings and, yes, it will swing back. But have we not learned that it's OK to have differences, to debate and disagree, to value the other, to accept and honor ambiguity, to change our thinking, to toss a shoe at the EWTN screen or argue back to an NCR blog, to see modernity as a gift not a curse, to quit looking for Catholic enemies among us, to say about Humanae Vitae what others say about Francis's exhortations (and vice versa), to value nuance, to be careful about using the word \"sin\" as a weapon, to finally admit the wisdom of women has been too-often neglected....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "KKK, you remind me that the only HONEST 'anti-abortionist' I ever heard speak was Tom Metzger, former Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan. When asked his position on abortion, he said: \"We oppose abortion for white women. We are in favor of abortion for non-white women.\" And that is the TRUE position of these white so-called 'conservative Christians.' But unlike Metzger they don't have the guts to admit it. And that includes 'Trumpy the Clown.'", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You misread my comment. That is the favorite response of the atheists, that due to fear of Hell is the only reason I attempt not to sin. If I was informed hell did not exist I would suddenly start committing all types of crimes and sinful behavior. That is nonsense, I try not to sin due to my moral character as well as the fact I don't want to offend God. My only point is that hell exists, as is mentioned in the Gospels, and hopefully no one ends up there.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Gee I don't know, let's take Christianity (the Bible) for example, \n\n\nfrom Deuteronomy 21:18\u201321:\n\n\"If any man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey his father or his mother, and when they chastise him, he will not even listen to them, then his father and mother shall seize him, and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gateway of his home town. And they shall say to the elders of his city, \u201cThis son of ours is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey us, he is a glutton and a drunkard.\u201d Then all the men of his city shall stone him to death; so you shall remove the evil from your midst, and all Israel shall hear of it and fear.\"\"\n\nNow unless you believe that being a stubborn, rebellious, gluttonous, drunkard of a son merits stoning( or any other means of death), I'd call that an 'evil' that the word of God ( through Moses ) sanctions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Christianity, the Lord's Prayer and Christmas are banned from schools. But the Muslim's get to practise their religion, at the same school, in their own room dedicated to them. \nI don't get it. No wonder people are outraged. This country and this school board are saps and are being walked on all over. You would even think that the Muslims would feel,this was unfair, but of course they don't.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We have Catholics schools and even university, or have you been a sleep?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Here we go with another call for attitudinal self-flagellating. America is so celebrity obsessed, what should we expect?\nThe article is a let's be careful/warning against institutional (not personal) pride. SDA are a \"don't do\" denomination. They are not as gracious to other Christians as they are to them.(especially Catholics). Beware of putting Ben Carson on a pedestal because he might be damaging to the cause. Is this just another typical \"you suck try harder\" sermon which echoes that many/most SDA are usually just lousy, lukewarm Laodicean losers? Why are SDA sooo ungracious. Are they improperly nurtured at church? When SDA clergy & conference leaders apologize to the members for all of their theological damage control, brow beating, verbal abuse homilies and articles, then maybe SDA members will be more gracious and not so desperate for something to gloat about!\n I can hear it now..\"Oh Jimbob7 , how uncivil your comments are.\" Have mercy and click on the green buttons.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your reply - and its childish attempt at insult- again shows a rigid and very misplaced understanding of the Gospel message. To be quite simple about it in hopes you might grasp my meaning, mystikali, God is not a physical being who walks the earth as God. That was only for about 33 years centuries ago, but the commandment and teaching remains:we show love of and for God in the ways we show love for our neighbors. To consider that any of us can love God in the same way we love others is a distortion of Christian theology. We pray to God for a whole lot of reasons, some not very appropriate, but if we do not continuously try to love our neighbor, none of the rest matters. It is not, as your sarcasm condemns me, about my terms. I left \"my terms\" a long time ago in service to Christ and my religious community. But I will grant you that you and I experience the Faith differently. I am equally certain that one of us attracts far more people to, or back to, the Church than the other.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Given the wisdom and sensitivity that are available to us at this stage of history, the \"higher forms of consciousness\" by which we human beings can glorify God, and can \"be ourselves fully,\" should reach to overcome the traditional anthropocentrism of biblical civilization and Christianity.\n\nAt the Blessing of the Animals that took place at my church a couple of hours ago, I was appalled to hear a liturgy focused on the dignity of human beings, and gratitude to God for giving us animals to serve us. To my disbelief, there was something like this: \"God saved the animals along with Noah and his family from the flood\" -- never mind that God just allowed the great majority of animals, all of them naturally guiltless, to drown just so he could make his point -- , \"and included the animals in the covenant he then made with Noah\" -- what?!, he filled the animals with the fear of mankind, and instructed Noah to start eating them! The animals would be very glad to be left out of that deal.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, it is the Church's perennial teaching. I can't believe this is even debatable. Protestants deviate from the Church's dogmatic teaching in various areas. There will be no \"unity\" until they abjure from their errors and humbly return to Holy Mother Church. That is Catholicism 101 stuff.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm really not sure that there will be a future. Ireland could be considered a microcosm of the Catholic Church. As such it was probably the most \"Roman Catholic\" country in the world in terms of practice, devotion and obedience to Rome of the 90% of the population . It was selected as a safe bet for JP2's first foreign papal trip in 1979. It took over the country completely for the few days. Francis' reception will be more muted and considered next year for the World Family Conference. It will be a very different Ireland that he will come to; in terms of the Church. Coupled with the credibility loss; are the closures of many seminaries. There are few vocations and they are now being shipped out to Rome. There has been a major decline in church attendances coupled with ageing clergy and devotees.\nPerhaps there will be more of an amalgamation of Christian churches ; once the current Vatican Curia members go to their eternal reward and there is a re-positioning of the deck chairs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "At least 42 Christians accused of murder in Pakistan were reportedly told they\u2019d be acquitted if they embraced Islam. The accused face the charges after the lynching of two men following twin suicide blasts at churches during Sunday mass.\nProsecutor Syed Anees Shah initially denied telling the accused he could guarantee their acquittal if they converted. However, he later admitted he did, when told by Pakistan\u2019s Express Tribune that the accused had a video recording of what he said.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are wise. I think being Christian means walking out the door in the morning and reaching out to each and everyone with love and compassion. Talking about sex I think if we believe in a creator, s/he created us that way. I believe that anyone who uses others or allows themselves to be used are wrong. Gays, etc are born that way and if God created them that way, who are we to judge. Yes I'm quoting Francis. Obviously sex in human beings is not just for procreation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sorry - he did not say that. You knee jerk from fear - sad. Catholic social thought reiterates that we *welcome the stranger* (not play verbal word games around *limits*).....it underlines that this is about life and family and he expresses a need to develop/pass a reasonable, common sense approach to immigration (guess what, even St. Reagan agreed with this)\nYou make it a zero sum game - either/or.....it does not have to be that way. You leave out completely the part the US has played in not supporting the economies/governments south of our border (we are paying a price for that pattern). Think about the idiocy of Trump wanting to end NAFTA - which actually has improved conditions in Mexico and helped to start to build a middle class.\nYep, as Trump said, who knew how complicated immigration is!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And there's both the catch and, perversely, the exit from this problem, if only those who are so upset would take it.\n\nThere is no substantial difference between what a Protestant \"minister\" does and the common priesthood of the baptized Catholic. Any Catholic layman, male or female, can do what a Protestant minister does and is to some extent called to it by virtue of baptism. We do not need titles or other forms of shiny badge to be ministers. The Protestant \"minister\" is not analogous to a Catholic sacerdotal priest except in that he does it full time and gets paid to oversee some resources of a congregation, which is really only a secondary thing for priests.\n\nThere is nothing stopping these women who feel called to be ministers from doing exactly that. And if they want to do it full time they can raise funds, much like FOCUS missionaries (young full time Catholic pastoral ministers at colleges) do!\n\nBut they want to be priests for some reason, yet the Eucharist goes unmentioned.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1. Hate to tell you but neither Jewish NOR Catholic priests are perfect. \n2. Jesus missioned the Twelve to PREACH the GOSPEL and BAPTIZE. He said nothing about running a parish. \n3. Unmarried priesthood is based on remnants of the Gnostic heresy, which believes that the spiritual things are holier than the physical. This disciple forgets that the WORD became incarnate BECAUSE the physical is as good as the spiritual. Bodies are not subordinate to the soul.\n\nIt would be great for priests to have a wife and children. Then when he talked about family life, his parishioners would know that his comments are based on the REALITY of a LIVED experience----not a lot of speculation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Odd I don't recall the self-promoclaimed 'wise Latina,' Justice Sotomayor whether her Catholicism would impact her ability to serve on Surpreme Court and this is 'only' a Court of Appeals appointment. Interestingly, the Supreme Court is comprised of 6 Roman Catholics and 3 Judaism. Talk about a lack religious diversity! The country is not 67% Catholic and 33% Jewish. Just saying.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If Jesus wanted to pick six men and six women as His Apostles, He would have done it when He walked the Earth. Surely that would have been easier than walking on water?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "With Jesus' dying words, \"Father forgive them; for they know not what they do.\" NO REPENTANCE was required. The Just One, in mercy forgave not only those of his time who were committing this evil sin against him---but the people of all times. Get over your concept of a 'tit for tat' God.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My point addresses deceptive advertising. Sorry you missed it. If I thought for an instant that the nuns in civies were faithful Catholics, I would happily contribute. A priest friend close to many in religious life called the campaigns a \"fraud,\" mainly because the donations are often used for other purposes than implied by the fund-raising materials.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Maybe the key for Catholics is to remember \"render unto Caesar....and...\". That command (and it was a command) wasn't just about the tax. \n\nWe cannot give to Caesar what is not in his realm.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Alceste,\n\nOnce more, you are the one confusing \"hatred\" and disapproval. \n\nOne can disapprove of the notion that women's hair is \"immodest\" and should be hidden in public, that women should be invisible in public space, that they should not mingle socially with unrelated males, etc., without \"hating\" anyone. I know that notion is difficult to comprehend for those who DO hate anyone they disapprove of, but it IS possible...In fact, it is the basis of Christian morality, for example: hate the sin, not the person. Which you probably have no problem showing contempt for?\n\nIt is the double standard of the Left in this regard that is so upsetting to rational, moderate people.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Lucky Jackson\nAugust 11 at 10:59pm\n\nUsually, the library lobby between 7-10 am, when the library opens, was a lot of homeless people in it. This morning, there were two or three at 8 am. Brother Charlie's breakfast at Fifth and Washing but about a third of the people I had expected. Like most feeds, the Catholic Worker breakfast has smaller numbers at the beginning of the month, but this would be light even for the beginning of the month, and this is the middle of the month.\n\nSomething is going on.\n\nConnor Salisbury \nSeveral tech industry friends making reference to the city's new initiative to clean up the streets \"not targeting real homeless who are suffering, just the 'travelers' who aren't legitimate homeless\".\n\nJan Zoll \nHa! What a crock. Then why are they so intent on harassing Manly Hall? Been going on for years and has only been intensified in recent weeks. Since the \"clean up\" began. This whole thing is so WRONG!\n\nhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/278733372196382/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ok, Trid, I bite. How does Canada persecute Catholics?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nice way of avoiding the issue. But rather deceptive. What biblical study does, in fact, show us is that Jesus and then St. Pal did remove the prohibitions found in Leviticus, \"The Holiness Code,\" and that included all the laws against men sleeping with men, women being in positions of authority over males (e.g., cannot teach boys), eating shrimp or lobster, and a whole bucket of crazy. Now, St. Paul reversed himself on some issues, and was highly inconsistent in others, but let me ask you the flip side of your claim: if it was such a vital and tremendously important matter, as it is for you orthodox traditionalists, why is it more important for you then it was for Jesus, who never spoke of it as far as we know? He also never stated that marriage was to be between one man and one women, so why do you? It is you who need to provide a rational explanation for what you state.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "DACA isn't about \"anchor babies.\" It's about kids brought here illegally by their parents and grew up here with the US the only country they've known. Most of them are family-oriented, have a strong work ethic, and are Catholics. I expect this situation to be resoloved with an immigration reform plan simililar to the \"Gang of 8\" plan that passed the Senate but was held up in the House where the House Republicans demanded border security first, which had been promised Reagan in exchange for Amnest but never delivered. Trump is delivering.\n\nWith or not it will include a path to citizenship depends on whether or not the GOP wants the Mexican-American vote. In El Paso, our largest border city with a population of 970,000, 85% of which are Hispanic, they usually have, and currently have, Republican mayors because they don't talk like white supremacists down there. Hispanics are naturals for the GOP if treated right.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I agree with Pope Francis greater emphasis on following Jesus' message about living according to the Kingdom of God, in other words a life of love, mercy, forgiveness...\nThe Pope is trying to implement a process to allow divorced and remarried to gain access to Communion, I hope it is successful. \nI am disappointed that he has not moved on gaining equal status for women and eliminating discrimination against LGBT within the Church.\nI think issues around abortion, SSM, contraception have been addressed in secular society.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The \"self\" and \"the people\" should never be the focus of the Mass.\n\nThe self should die to itself as part of its striving to be one with Jesus Christ in the Mass..living His Last Supper, Living His whole Passion and Crucifixiion, and His Resurrection.\n\nWe need to \"happily die\" to our preferences and self, in order to be drawn far into deeper unity with Jesus Christ and His Church in the Holy Mass. \n\nThe Mass is far far bigger than this article seems to understand. It's re-living Jesus's whole life in fact, being as close to Him as is possible on earth. And it's through His overabundant gift that this happens, not by our will.\n\nOur preferences need to be crucified.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Unless I am mistaken, you are either actively pro-transgender et al or you are transphobic - full stop.\"\n\nLuckily, you are mistaken. That's no more true than to say that under the existing law you are either actively pro-Catholic or anti-catholic.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm five minutes away from ground zero of the Finn/Ratigan saga. I know the saga well. And I also know many priests that know Ratigan; one even went to seminary with him. I firsthand know how shocked they were to learn the news, and how betrayed they felt by their fallen fellow priest, and how hard they worked to heal the divide caused by -one-. \n\nYou won't admit it, but you just made my point.\n\nWould you like to do a run down of past cases that are substantiated that involve liberal priests and bishops? Your lame attempt at establishing cause/effect equates to \"offenders are conservative\" falls flat on its face.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This article is the beginning, the tip of the xenophobic iceberg Mr Singh will have to face that slowly reveals itself the closer he gets to the office of Prime Minister. You know what you're doing, you know the latent fears and prejudices you're stoking under the guise of journalism. Mr. Singh's religious beliefs have exactly ZERO bearing on his ability to do the job of PM, just as it doesn't for the countless white Christian candidates who have held and sought to hold the office of PM. Believing otherwise is as Un-Canadian as it gets.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The pope and all his men are \"conservative\". Unreported by the US media, Pope Francis has led the worldwide movement to deny healthcare to women, human rights to LGBTQ persons and contraception to prevent AIDs, Zika and other diseases. The Vatican and every single US prelate stated they are ready to work with Trump in guaranteeing their ability to work against women and LGBTQ persons with gov't funding and gov't funding of their schools, hospitals and charities. Not a single US Catholic official has offered sanctuary to immigrants but all have promised to \"respect\" Trump's immigration laws. Pope Francis continues to protect sexual predators leaving them free men to continue to rape children and acting by this example for all his men around the world. \nAnd NCR and every US reporter has made all of the above possible.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"There has been a psychic numbness at the heart of clerical culture that has enabled it to keep the most unsettling truths of the scandal at bay.\"\nChurch is numbed for it has no easy road forward except to rethink theology premised in self-identity, human and Divine, in and with the Naturalis Sacramentum Ordinis.\nClerical culture's presumptive faith-rationale is misinformed from the Garden of Eden beginning. Mother Nature and God are on the same page. The evolution of consciousness is at an accelerating pace, while church hierarchy still can't quite get their heads around their self-created predicament.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sister, \n\nSome of the following are masterpieces; others are of interest to Catholics only. See them all to discover the masterpieces. \n\n\"The Passion of Joan of Arc\" (1928) - France - Carl Theodor Dreyer\n\"Rome, Open City\" (1945) - Italy - Roberto Rossellini\n\"The Fugitive\" (1947) - USA - John Ford \n\"Joan of Arc\" (1948) - USA - Victor Fleming\n\"The Flowers of St. Francis\" (1950) - Italy - Roberto Rossellini\n\"Diary of a Country Priest\" (1951) - France - Robert Breton\n\"The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima\" (1952) - USA - John Brahm\n\"I Confess\" (1953) - USA/Canada - Alfred Hitchcock\n\"The Nun's Story (1959) - USA - Fred Zinnemann\n\"The Virgin Spring\" (1960) - Sweden - Ingmar Bergman\n\"Under the Sun of Satan\" (1987) - France - Maurice Pialat\n\"Black Robe\" (1991) - Bruce Beresford\n\"Faustina\" (1995) - Poland - Jerzy Lukaszewicz\n\"The Seventh Room\" (1996) - Hungary - M\u00e1rta M\u00e9sz\u00e1ros \n\nAnd I'm sure you've seen:\n\"Going My Way\": \"The Bells of St. Mary's\"; \"The Mission\"; \"There Be Dragons\"; etc.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "FIAT. St John Paul II's \"Theology of the Body\" explains the sacramentality of the human body, human flesh, male and female. by explaining that there is no sacramentally significant difference between masculine human incarnations and feminine human incarnations, which are perfectly homogeneous \"in their whole being\" (TOB 8:4), enables us to SEE that religious patriarchy is an OBSOLETE gender ideology. This has nothing to do with machismo, or feminism, or any other \"ism.\" It is simply a matter of SEEING the integral reality of human nature as revealed in Genesis 1 and 2. For the redemption, and the sacramental economy under the New Law, the masculine incarnation of the divine Word is as incidental as the color of his eyes. Lamentably, the patriarchal hierarchy of the church, heritage from the Old Law, keeps making it practically invisible the \"feminine genius\" incarnated in Jesus of Nazareth, which is a grave obstacle to integral human development and a healthy human ecology.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If JT persists in his wrong understanding of the Charter and his version of feminism, then Quebecois will invoke 'Notwithstanding'. They are building a new society scarcely out of the tyranny of religion, just to be hammered under the cover a religion. Quebecois doesn't need to be taught about feminism.\n\nNiqab practice predates even Christian age, somewhat suited for protection from sandstorm just as Canadians cover everything in snowstorm, and that cannot be construed as a religious practice. Hockey is the Canadian religion with concussion being the nasty outcome if you too good at it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In making her argument, Zagano castigates a former priest quoted in the New York Times, who wanted chicken as his last meal, a meal he enjoyed on Friday nights as a priest.\n\nZagano says, \"Really? He was a priest from 1965 to 1969, before the fasting laws changed.\"\n\nNo, Ms. Zagano. Pope Paul VI removed the mortal obligation of meatless Fridays in 1966; USA bishops promulgated the change on November 18, 1966... right before Thanksgiving. (And the practice of meatless Fridays is called \"abstinence\", not \"fasting\".) \n\nSource:\nhttp://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/lent/us-bishops-pastoral-statement-on-penance-and-abstinence.cfm\n(Statement of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, November 18, 1966).\n\nAn argument that denigrates a struggling, suffering person thereby weakens the argument.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "From the New York Times, Aug. 2015:\n\nCanada's PM Harper's active promotion of ignorance extends into the functions of government itself. Most shockingly, he ended the mandatory long-form census, a decision protested by nearly 500 organizations in Canada, including the Canadian Medical Association, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Catholic Council of Bishops.\n\nIn the age of information, he has stripped Canada of its capacity to gather information about itself. The 9.5 Harper years have seen a subtle darkening of Canadian life.\n\nhttp://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/16/opinion/sunday/the-closing-of-the-canadian-mind.html\n\n-00-", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part (2)\nBut recently, sorry to say, I think Civil Beat has drifted, and it is obvious to see that something has changed. \n\nThis past year or so, there have been a few really good articles. But this last year I have also read more and more articles that just seem to go with the socially popular theme of \"bash the right, bash the republicans, bash religion (specifically Christians)\" These articles are often very one sided with no balance.\n\nThe theme of bash republicans and the right is even more irritating, considering that Hawaii has had 50+ years of virtually pure democrat rule. Why are we spending so much time complaining about republicans when none of our current problems here in Hawaii were created by republicans ? \nWas everything Sams fault ? Now that Sam is gone, who's fault will it be ?\n\nI miss the days of Civil Beat when they investigated problems that effect all of us here in Hawaii, and not just run with a socially popular \"me too\" article.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There are two chief obstacles to effecting a change in church teaching about homosexuality, both of which have been \"litigated\" to death on this board:\n1. The historically and theologically untenable claim that the church can't change its moral teaching.\n2. The realization that pulling at any of the threads of official teaching about human sexuality (masturbation, contraception, homosexuality) and the whole ball of string unravels.\nSome day, a pope or council will issue a statement effectively changing church teaching. It will be easy to spot: it will begin with, \"As the church has always taught ...\" or, \"As our Venerable Predecessor said ...\" This will happen as it dawns on the powers-that-be that the praxis of the People of God has already effected the change.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"One of the findings is that 52% feel that homosexuality should be illegal.\"\n\nLet's do math:\n\n100% - 52% = 48%\n\nFactoring in the \"X times out of X\" statement statisticians frame these things in, it's an even split. That's including recent immigrants, too. By the time the third or fourth generation is born in Britain, their social attitudes will be nigh-indistinguishable from the general populace's. Two generations ago, what did Christians in Canada think about these issues?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Meanwhile, the real America and Catholics love this president.\"\n\nSo only whites are \"real Americans\"?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "speaking truth, is not promoting hate. Jesus said to the woman: \"go and sin no more\". Jesus braided a whip, and drove people out of the temple. Jesus called folks snakes and vipers. You do not know Jesus- he was not a milque-toast man- which is why He was murdered.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I actually have considerable doubt there was a single, historical Jesus. There is more historical basis for Jesus than there is for Paul Bunyan, for instance, but less than there is for Santa Claus. However, if you accept the claim that Jesus said, \"no man cometh unto the Father but by me,\" he was founding, at minimum, a cult. Most contemporary Christians seem to view the Gospels as contemporaneous, but they show a considerable theological retooling over time. The early Christians seem to have believed Christ would return within their lifetime and establish God's kingdom on earth. Some of the most familiar aspects of Christianity, such as a Roman-style crucifixion, show signs of being later embellishments.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They're your outrageous comments, remember? Here, let me refresh your memory:\n\"I am an \"Evangelical\" and have already had a discussion with my 12 year old boy (and have two more coming) about the mechanics of sex, and am planning on another one this month, and I do not know any of my fellow evangelicals who do not do the same thing.\nI also teach them how to honor the ladies they are attracted to by respecting them enough not to want to violate them physically and waiting until they are ready to make a lifelong commitment. You are big on stereotypes, but very little on substance.\"\nAlwaysThere", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Perhaps the Indians attitude towards fish is like the young logger who came to our community Thanksgivings at the Elwha's replica long house at Lincoln Park (RIP) who had a bumpersticker on his truck \"Earth First! We'll log the other planets later.\" When I reminded him that there are no trees on the other [known] planets he replied confidently \"I'm a Christian, and we know this is all going to be destroyed anyway, so we might as well use it up.\"\nGiven current events the Indians can be excused for having the same attitude towards fish.http://enenews.com/alarm-record-die-off-of-marine-life-along-west-coast-huge-numbers-washing-up-on-shore-this-is-just-the-tip-of-the-iceberg-several-types-of-animals-found-dead-hemorrhaging-from-brain-i\nIf only I had known scripture well enough to respond....\nhttp://biblehub.com/matthew/6-19.htm\nThe most important command, according to Jesus, is to love God. If we do not love His creations, can we say we love the creator?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Liberal? I just thought I was being logical. To be fair, liberal...logical...they sound similar. Instead of getting defensive, maybe respond to my previous question about \"what JC would do\". I get it though, it is easier to label me an anti-Christian, liberal, than to address my points and offer logical counterpoints. Once you make me the enemy, you can completely dismiss my point of view. Sadly, this is becoming standard practice for liberals and conservatives alike.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "While your concern is the so-called \"LGBTQ movement\", my concern is the gospel of Christ.\nYou would be wise to come to know and love Christ and at the same time abandon the pratice and defense of sexual immorality.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Are you just against religious non-profits or do you really mean all non -profits? None of the non-profits pay property taxes. You come off sounding like a hater. Is it just Christians or does it also apply to the mosque and other religions that are in Anchorage? Sounds like you feel like you've been wronged sometime in your life. Just remember, people are not perfect and some use the safety of the church to commit evil. There are always wolves in sheep's clothing. Don't hate the sheep because of the wolf!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Finally, a true supporter of the Church speaks. And, as a true supporter of Pope Saint John Paul's church, a supporter of his policy of moving predators around, threatening victims and witnesses, and obfuscating when caught. But, shouldn't you mention to everyone here that you published a book stating your views and have a financial stake in this matter? Or is that irrelevant, because you have a personal stake?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think we are going to have to leave, for the moment, what Jesus knew and when he knew it for later, if you don't mind. I'm glad that you appear to be not of the camp that says that Jesus didn't think himself the Christ, etc.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually, we are a secular organization. Ninety-nine percent of the Church's population is secular, and it's founder, Jesus Himself, was a secular. The word \"secular\" has gotten a bad rap. \"Secular\" means in the world, in the world God created and and looked at as \"very good\". The priesthood which exists is the Royal Priesthood we all share by virtue of our baptism. Some of us (both male and female) may be called to the ordained priesthood of servant-leadership. That call comes from God Who does not distinguish between male and female. Just as the world is constantly evolving in its journey to Christ-centered completion, so too our understanding of servant-leadership will continue to unfold until we finally realize that \"in Christ there is neither male nor female\" and \"all are one in Christ Jesus\".", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm far from a HobbyLobby fan. When they run their full page adds promoting the \"christian-nation\" idea I simply ignore it. I'm guessing they pay millions to run this add across the country. Hey, it's their money and papers certainly need the revenue. I don't feel newspapers are giving tacit approval by running a paid ad.. They're simply providing a platform for paid expression. Gary Crum", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Let's say I walk into a Jewish Bakery, a Gay Bakery, a Muslim Bakery, and a Buddhist Bakery because I didn't know they were Jewish, Gay, Muslim, or Buddhist.....and I ask them to decorate a Christian Wedding Cake with \"crosses\" and \"May Jesus Bless Our Marriage\" written on it......and they decline because doing so goes against their religious beliefs or same-sex values.\n-\nSure, I might be sad. But wouldn't I just find another bakery that (1) wants my business (2) will gladly create the \"edible art work\" I want? Of course I would.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus did care for poor, lived among them, shared his wisdom with them. Sheperds and fisherman were hardly in high regard. There are lots of Religious people that don't want their faith to be difficult, let alone deadly as was Jesus risk and that of millions that followed his faith into area's of very high risk to serve the poor.\n\nChristian are imperfect, not 'saved' by their words alone. That makes them human being, just like everybody else. To claim otherwise is a denial of Jesus teaching. He's more than a dead guy on the cross handing out passes to Disneyland.\n\nNone of us can live up to a perfect standard - that should work to humble the arrogant and self-rightous. That includes Christians, those of other faiths and whoever is reading this and feeling smug that they don't believe in any religion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Two additional points. \nI applaud the Australian Royal Commission for exposing what the church already knew but would not report. The fact is there have been countless commissions over many decades that have revealed the exact same issues. The Church refuses to address them. Instead the Church keeps choosing secrecy over truth. They refuse to come clean. The church refuses to punish complicit bishops, refuses justice to victims and demands to keep policing itself. \n\nIf this was Target abusing your kids and management covered it up, lied and stonewalled. People would burn the place to the ground. \nBut a holy institution that many people believe is their only path to heaven........ Many of those people can come up with excuse after excuse and still donate to this organization. They have been coming up with excuses for forty years. These issues have been public for 40 years. The only reason the Catholic Church has not \"fixed\" these issues is because they do not want to. THEY REFUSE TO.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus decries the Pharisees for setting up a system of strict religious laws but missing the spirit of these laws. The Pharisees ultimately conspire to do away with Jesus, who they saw as a threat to their authority. The descendents of the apostles of Christ then sets up a church whose hierarchy subsequently set up a system of strict religious laws. PF preaches to his clerics that the spirit of the laws is what needs adherence and not the letter of the law. Some clerics now conspire against PF.... it seems we have not learned much in 2000 years.\n\nChrist must be groaning watching all this. May God have mercy for us all.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "B. Thomas Gumbleton wrote an article 'Recognize the body of Jesus in one another'!\nI am a lay retired women, however this article was written by no less then almighty 'BISHOP'!!!!!\nSo what would Pope F. excuse for his reluctance to change that famous Canon Law to forbid bishops reporting clergy sex abuses to the authority, I wonder?????????????\nClergy can't 'Recognize the body of Jesus in one another' and rape 'the body of Jesus' in children', really!!!??? What abominable sacrilege Pope F. is insisting!!!!!!!!!!!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "At least there's evidence for what Jesus said. We know there's no evidence that George Washington ever said that, nor would be be likely to believe it. He presided over the Constitutional Convention, which strengthened the federal government from the weak version of confederation under which the colonies banded together in 1781.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You dismiss the heart of Catholicism as a primitive religion?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I have to question the intelligence of the author... There are two disturbing facts in this article. \n\nFirst, the author's statement: \"By 10:30 Friday morning, LGBTQ advocates on campus had completed one act of resistance. \"\n\nHow is this 'resistance'? Ms. Munoz clearly doesn't understand the meaning of the term resistance. I think it would be more accurate to state that the chalk commentary was their response to the group. \n\nThe other issue is that the vote was 8 to 4. It should have been 12 to 0. \nYou may not agree with what the Catholic group was saying, but you should at least be willing to allow them to say it and then discuss why you think its wrong.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The unholy alliance between the Union Nationale and the Catholic Clergy extended to locking up zealots from competing brands, such as Jehovah's witnesses. That long standing corrupt alliance between Right Wing Nuts and the Religious Right inspired a backlash that is still echoing in Qu\u00e9bec. Most young Qu\u00e9bec couples raising children aren't bothering to get married, let alone by a cleric in a church. Catholic Clerics ruthlessly exercised their control of Publicly Funded, but Church Administered Schools and Hospitals. That era is long gone.\n\nPerhaps the Resistance inspired by Trump and the Last Gasp Religious Right Republicans will inspire a similar change in the USA, bringing it closer to its origin as a forward thinking Literally Revolutionary Society. \n\nhttps://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%C3%A9volution_tranquille\nhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quiet_Revolution", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You want them to upset their very comfortable status quo? These are ROMAN Catholics we are discussing, remember? Critical thinking is not one of the seven marks of this denomination.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes! On the one hand, their ignorance about teenage girls and different socioeconomic classes was incredible. I had a great opportunity. My folks moved me from a working class, ethnic neighborhood to an upper middle class/upper class suburb right in the middle of my high school years. I think that splitting my teenage years between the kids of cops, truck drivers, assembly line workers, etc. and the kids of elite Catholics was a valuable gift. I can not hate either the Mercedes owners or the factory workers. However, I was shocked to discover that retreat talks to the girls differed quite a bit, and, in fact, made me possibly even more aware of the sex talks. The ignorance -- so across the board -- slowly eroded my faith. On the other hand, within the subject of the sexual conduct area, I have often thought that the clergy are still part of the problem in turning women, especially, to the more radical stands for abortion. They, themselves, run it all together.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't believe we can be led to vote for any candidate by one-issue-Catholics regardless of how well intentioned or highly placed they are. Yes, Abortion is a great evil but there are many other evils out there to be confronted and dealt with as well. Mr. Trump indeed claims an anti-Abortion position today, but this was not always his position and, as we have seen, he may possibly change it again in the future. I cannot support Mrs. Clinton, but I will not entrust the greatest country in the world to Mr. Trump. I do not feel he is qualified or trustworthy. What to do? I'm not sure yet, but I may consider a write-in candidate. As an aside, it would be interesting to see what happens to the Libertarian vote if Mr. Johnson would step aside and support the more qualified Gov. Bill Weld.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "How about teaching about the Real Presence of Jesus in every Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and about seeking Jesus, truly present in the tabernacle or in the monstrance in adoration chapels ... or teaching about the fact that there is a Hell of everlasting fire and the road to it is wide and Our Lady of Fatima said that souls are falling into hell like snowflakes, because they have no one to pray for them. How about teaching the truth about the evil of contraception,abortion, euthanasia and homosexual unions...?...that's sure to get more than a \"meh\", in fact it's sure to get a rise! Then, teach about the Sacrament of Confession and doing penance... and the truth about Purgatory and the real/actual suffering there, as opposed to the idea that everyone there is just sitting on chairs in some sort of quiet DMV type waiting room? \nTeach prayer & the full unadulterated Truth! \nAll in all, leading a humble, Holy, Sacramental, prayerful life is really the best way to teach the Catholic faith.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "you could have made my day by manning up, showing character, and admitting you cannot be a slave to sin and have a free will. You could have made my day and manned up, showing character, and admitting the Bible plainly states all of the race of Adam rejected Christ, there is none that doeth good, no not one. Perhaps one day you will be able to man up and show some character, the \"Christian\" thing to do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is really very simple. The presence of Jesus in the Eucharist occurs just as He taught it in the Gospels, particularly the Gospel of John. He we willing to give eternal life to the woman at the well, the living water-who had five husbands and was presently living out of wedlock. What? Jesus supporting adultery-well, no, if you are not somehow developmentally disabled or brainwashed. \n This infallibility talk is toxic. People have lost their lives challenging Petrine authority and the loss of one life due to such a case is enough to call into question the whole idea. Similarly idiotic is the idea that we use such ideas to get dissenters who dislike Pope Francis and call him heretic to lay down their arms and agree with him. It is still dirty pool. \n Any study of history that deals with the facts will show how flawed a serious case for infallibility is, given the obvious flaws of the many Popes. \n To clarify: the Real Presence is a spiritual one. End of discussion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bill, acknowledging that sin exists and that God punishes for it is a tough pill to swallow, especially for those with seemingly uncontrollable proclivities. Anyone who calls out the sinners, like Falwell and Helms are called meanies, or worse, crazies.\n\nLove and lust are different. Sex and affection are different. Yes, love one another, show affection, to ALL sexes. Lust is a temptation, that which leads to sex and sodomy.\n\nAs I've posted before, people conflate same-sex love and same-sex sodomy under the umbrella \"gay,\" to hide the sinfulness of the identity. It's important for all Catholics to recognize the distinction, not only as a matter of what showing love for those with same-sex attraction really means, but also to understand that the Church does not teach hate towards people, just acts.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Intolerance really should not be encouraged just because it is clothed in Christian charity. I hope I live long enough to see Prevo pack up and leave Alaska astride the tax-free horse he rode in on.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus gave Peter and the Apostles authority to bind and loose and the Church has determined gluten-free bread isn't bread. If one can't recieve under the appearance of a low-gluten host, one can recieve the Precious Blood.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I like that: call on the President to condemn a tiny fringe population that isn't even organized as an act to stop divisiveness. Then have him condemn the racists. And then the homophobes. And then the trans-phobes. And then the climate-change deniers. And then the religious, particularly the Catholics. And then the capitalists. All on the name of unity. Free speech? Only if it is Leftist speech can it be free.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, I suppose they could implement swift and decisive action like Justin recently did after the Quebec Mosque shooting and immediately implement M-104 and study why baptist church goers and M-105 country music fans, as to why they are the target of such acts of hate.\n\nThey could implement tough new truck rental and ownership measures. It's far too easy to be able to access high-powered military style trucks that have fully automatic transmissions. No one needs a full auto.\n\nOh I know, introduce the .05 cent aluminum pop rivet. This little miracle turns 30 round magazines into 5 round magazines and has saved the lives of countless Canadians. Unfortunately, we had to ban power drills, as they have proven very dangerous to these easily removable pop rivets.\n\nOh I know....they could add 1/4 inch to their handgun barrel lengths like we have in Canada. The liberal government of the day believed a 4.25 inch barrel is far safer then a 4.0 inch barrel is. Who knew.\n\nLet's get nuts!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually, accepting Jesus Christ as your personal saviour is far better. So much so that I will NEVER watch Neil Young run again.....EVER!!!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So called humanists, those whose principles are based upon their concept of human freedom and progress that emphasizes critical thinking and empirical evidence as opposed to theory and religious concepts are usually people who regard themselves as superior intellectually. Compassion can be in their makeup but often is tempered by their latent bias towards those who follow Biblical principles even though those beliefs better their lives. Payette may not find anything amiss in vilifying Christians but the largest growth doctrine-religion in this country is Islam and that doctrine at projected rates will become the predominant religion in this nation during the 21st Century. Trudeau and his political followers had better take note. Making folly of their beliefs will handily remove Liberals from power. Likely to the betterment of this nation and its future.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your opinion means nothing. We are a country of laws. The baker agreed to the terms of the business license. As a Christian he should honor his word", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Their argument was pluralism, not mine. I favor openly telling the bishops why Roe was rightly decided and what can be done (and why the movement is a GOP hoax). They do not to require Catholic doctine on the nation. Dignitas Humanae backs them up on this. Of course, there is no \"abortion law\" to be voted on, but reminding people of that is bad for NARAL fundraising. Any law that could pass Congress would barely deviate from the status quo.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We earned this with the over-the-top politicization of the RCC this last decade - the Fortnight for Freedom and that unseemly picture of Dolan waving his giant foam \"we're number one\" finger at an opening ceremony. \n\nCatholic culture warriors routinely declare their goal is to change the Supreme Court and its decisions to reflect Catholic doctrine. I know Catholics who acknowledged Trump's deficits as a potential president but voted for him exlicitly because he and Pence have a faith-based roadmap for changing the courts and judicial outcomes.\n\nMSW is wrong. This was no compliment to Catholics. This was acknowledgement of culture warriors and the damage they can do in the justice system, be they warriors for \"The One True Faith\" or any other religion.\n\nKaveny was right on.\n\nWe brought this caution and questioning entirely on ourselves, and these complaints are those of aggressors who love the throwback drama of feigning victim status.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The deranged young man who murdered & injured people in the Quebec City mosque was charged with murder and under Canada's Hate Crime Laws. The Toronto 18 were noticed & reported to police who prevented that murderous attack. What is it about 'social' (antisocial) media that causes young men to perform such acts, using religion as a 'reason'? \nI object to special protection for 'religious minorities' - Islam, Christianity & Judaism are not 'minorities', though they originated in the same part of the world and migrated elsewhere to compete. These belief systems are based upon unsubstantiated stories written & revised over 100s of years. As denominations, they denominate or divide human groups for no good reason. We do not follow building codes, medical procedures, etc, from 100s of years ago. Religion was and remains a political system to gain power and remains so in the hardened inflexible theocracies of the Middle East. Canada must remain a modern secular nation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I won't base my life on a book written 2000 years ago. The Bible is full of stories and written by people who participated in heinous crimes ranging from murder, genocide, mass murder, horrific child abuse, rape, incest, stonings, crucifixation, plagues etc. People bitch and moan about sex education in school but find it perfectly acceptable to teach their children about an innocent man crucified on a cross. The Children's edition has color pictures many churches especially Catholic Churches have life size replicas of naked bloody Jesus hammered to a cross. \nGod did not forgive or forget. He killed men, woman & children. He killed anyone who crossed him. He killed to make a point.\nI was raised in a Christain home, grew up in church. Now I refuse to go to church. I despise organized religion. God is a God of love, forgiveness and compassion yet the biggest hateful hypocritical bigots I have ever met claim they are Christian & people of God. Hate preached from a pulpit is still hate.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The article says \"Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, the latest directed at Egypt\u2019s increasingly embattled Christian minority following two church bombings last month that killed more than 45, also claimed by the group\".\n\nApparently, that's the fourth time since January 2017 that Muslims have attacked, killed and injured innocent Coptic Christians in Egypt.\n\nThe Coptic Christians are peaceful and aren't fighting against Muslims so I guess the Muslims must be attacking the Coptic Christians just to follow the many verses in the Qur'an that call for the destruction of Jews, Christians and non believers.\n\nWhy else would Muslims be attacking poor, peaceful, innocent Coptic Christians?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Old school Christian dogmatists must be thrilled about officially getting the anti-anyone-except-heteros hatred going again in America. Ramping it back up. Hope they're happy--any misery, depressions, suicides, and sad hidden lives is on them (as it always was on this file, today and for the last 2,000 years). \n\nAll because this faith (and others) embrace fanciful myths that envision a cosmic creator who is neurotically upset about genitals, human sexuality, and fluid gender categories.\n\nDiminished human rights courtesy of tall tales. Un...be...lievable.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "If and when the U.S.A. and it allies ever get rid of Daesh (ISIS/IL), will they then go after and eliminate all the Muslim groups, like Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, the Taliban, al Qaeda, Abu Sayyaf, Boko Haram, al Shabaab, etc. and all the other groups of Muslims in many countries around the world , that want to destroy Jews, Christians and non believers?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "This type of nonsense shows just how far the arrogant religious PC movement has gone. The Northwest Christian University officials are no better than the Muslim extremist and how they treat women.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "All Christians, Jews and other religious denominations are angered and will retaliate every time another Muslim demand is made and honoured. This is beyond ridiculous that Muslims are allowed to force their religion down our throats. This is a very serious situation and there will be more violent attacks when our government refuses to curb this activity. Muslims can take time from their days at school to pray, yet our Lord's prayer has been dismissed as being controversial. Yes, this is going to get very ugly and could easily turn into civil war. That comment is not outrageous. Muslims have come from that very climate and they didn't leave that on the shores behind them. This is just the beginning of a rally.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "And some point at Islam as an inhumane religion. Christianity has its own warts to acknowledge.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "You brought up the KKK, not me. Yikes! If White Christians killed 53 people I denounce that. Can you come to yourself and denounce the Liberal/Democrats Hate rhetoric? The Scalise shootings, Kate's murder, etc. Can you denounce the black on black crime in Chicago which is probably 10x's more than the 53 every year. Democrats runs Chicago, years upon years innocent people live with gang bang Wars! Barry did squat for them for 8 years. The Democrats did squat for Chicago!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The problem with the Catholic faith, other religions, government, the military, law enforcement, and criminal justice is this; they are all dominated by men, and mostly by white authoritarian men! Sorry guys, but most men aren't known for their empathy for others or planning for the long term versus short term pleasure. In Trump we see these negative qualities magnified a thousand times. Frankly, I'm sick of it! All the institutions that make countries a good place where their citizens can thrive would be much improved if at least half the people wielding power and making decisions were women! More than half would be even BETTER! Now we see what the world is coming to. Short term greed takes precedence over the environment. Short term greed is more important than people and communities. Make no mistake, we are killing ourselves. But the authoritarian white men causing this genocide will be long dead before their grandchildren start paying the price.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Liberals like Larry are angry, disturbed people who can do nothing but scream how conservatives are filled with hate. But it is Leftists who spew their hatred and intolerance, most often on social media \u2013 the coward\u2019s way of dialog. Read some of the tweets about the murdered cops in Dallas and Baton Rouge. Who spits on Trump supporters while screaming profanities? Leftists. Who attacks and beats up Trump supporters? Leftists. Who marches in the streets of American cities shouting \u201cPigs in a blanket, fry\u2019em up like bacon\u201d? Leftists. Who shuts down conservative speakers at universities, denying free speech? Leftists. Who hates Christianity? Leftists. For fascists like Larry, bereft of a coherent argument, the only thing to do is bellow that people he disagrees with are racists and haters. It\u2019s pathetic, but a shining example of the decline of our education system.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The Christian terrorism fueled by the nationwide televangelist tax scofflaws continues. More threat from priests and preachers in their churches than any transgendered individual relieving him/her self. Disgusting.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Because that's what civilized countries do they don't just take you out in the back and shoot you sorry even though this guys a jerk we still have to be civilized on our end.\n But maybe not anymore TRUMPELTHINSKIN just named a religion (Muslim) as a problem not particular people in the religion that's exactly what Adolf Hitler did he blamed a whole religion (Jewish) not just specific people in the religion ESPECIALLY when he says he is going to save Christians. That creates a religious war I know it's hard but try to read and comprehend history \nHEY IT IS THE SAME THING", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "John it sounds like you are mocking Christians, now that is hate speech!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "Why worry about homosexuality? \n\nLike the early Christian Churches who expected Jesus to come back in their lifetime and therefore decided not to have children, homosexuals don't breed. They just are. \n\nIf some people prefer to practice homosexuality or bestiality or any other non-procreative sex, they ultimately are not a problem for those who do.\n\nIf some of them are child rapists, as some are, we can treat them the same no matter the gender of their victims. Other than that, who cares?", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "No! We need more frilly duds made from Irish grandmothers' lace curtains! By golly, they were what definitely filled the seminaries in the bad old daze!\n\nIsn\u2019t it odd that Catholic clergy have to dress like mother in order to act like father? \n\nSeminarism: trying to make a priest out of a man by dressing him like a girl and treating him like a boy.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "The Middle East now isn't 1930s Europe, substantially different historically, culturally, religiously. The ME was 'broken' by western powers (who thought they were exceptional and superior) meddling in the Great Game long before our time. Iraq is an artificial country, like an MMA octagon with several oppositional fighters in a free for all. The 'shambles' has long been there, in great part because we egoistical, civilized westerners think we have the Christian right to 'do good', just as we've mistakenly thought we were the bulwark against communist hordes in SE Asia. You assume that by staying in Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East, we can 'fix it' and bring western style democracy there. Good luck with our being an occupational force. Once again, it's that haughty, condescending, falsely superior Christian attitude of thinking you/we know better than those 'Muslim savages.' We are reaping what we have sown, more so because of that ignorant racist buffoon in the White House.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "We all know the jew'ish' people are NOT the Hebrew or even Hebrew-Israelites. They are Yiddish speakers and european decent. Its all over the internet. Why are we still talking about these imposters? The state-of-israel was created back in 1947-48 and we have been dealing with their soul-less extermination of Palestinian's of all ages. Being Jew'ish' is the same as being a christian these days: the rest of us know its a sham-religion-man-made for a certain reason to present LIES TO THE WORLD and cover up who the REAL ISRAELITES ARE!", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "white supremacists do not subjugate people for their religion and this is taking it a little too far to say that. I believe that Islamist do not like jews or Christians because they feel inferior them.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "No, it is pretty simple. The baker is asking to be allowed to legally discriminate. \nHow is he \"significantly participating\" in a wedding by making a cake?\nThe baker who made the cake for my wedding in no way participated in my wedding.\nMaking a cake is not an endorsement of gays. Jesus knows that.\n\nA sacred rite? 50% of Christian marriages end in divorce. Why does he make cakes for weddings that end in divorce? Divorce is mentioned in the bible too.\n\nIf he thinks that Jesus will smote him for making gay wedding cakes, he should stop making wedding cakes period.", "gold": "True", "sub_split": "toxic"} -{"text": "This article depicts another example of how the clergy cause the church (and themselves) so much trouble.While it will not happen in our lifetimes, the age of the clergy is slowly fading. The concept just doesn't work anymore. Eventually, there will be a future iteration of Catholic Christianity without clergy.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Ebes - You have a serious problem which won't be resolved by taking to this site and chastising the regular posters. We are ALL members of the Body of Christ, even if many of us tend to disagree with you. We believe in the basic tenets of the Creed(s), though some of us may not take them literally. We believe in the efficacy of the Two Great Commandments. The Christ concept is a holdover from Judaism so making that the supreme test for \"Christianity\" is faulty.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is a Catholic News Service story, the bishops news service...the title of this poorly written story suggests both a \"firestorm and support\"....\n\nThe vast majority of those cited objected to the Trump ban. A few organizations like the Heritage Foundation (very conservative) supported Trump....so did some UNNAMED bishops, apparently.\n\nThis is a pathetic attempt at \"equivalence\" and NCR would have been wise to have skipped it. The only CLEAR and multiple oppositional statement was the opposition of the 2000 religious leaders (presumably of other denominations who had the intestinal fortitude to sign their names and address their thoughts to both Congress and Trump.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Then \"Father\" is in direct conflict with Pope Francis - which is what I wondered to begin with.\n\nIf people only want Communion, according to the Pope - he has said \"No.\"\n\nAnd calling the Eucharist \"good Catholic bread\" is rather condescending and flippant of you, don't you think? Is that all you believe it is?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"When a supposedly Christian Church insists on acting in a non-Christian way, why should anyone stick with it?\"\n\nYou appear to believe this. So, what's the answer? Why stay?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "you didn't 'merely' point out the dichotomy, you equated it to a war on Christianity. All religions should be open for criticism, your comment sought protection from that criticism, not to open other religions to criticism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Trumpism and Christianity are fundamentally incompatible.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Many anti-christian and christianophobic comments here today.\nAll have been reported under M-103.\nWe're not to be critical of religion in Justin's Canada.\nOr maybe not, it depends on the religion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yep. My grammar is far from polished. I should have said \"there is\" information on his childhood. But that's what I meant. I find it pretty ironic that the Roman Northern General Constantine, after sacking Rome by force and taking power, then declared all these official doctrines and symbols like the Cross to be the official ones. Simply so that he'd have more ultimate power by declaring Christianity the official religion of Rome. There are families in Rome today that are direct descendants of people in those times and stories of his behavior have been passed on. Like the one about how he murdered his wife and son.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The story is about Andersen's probable return to the lineup for the next game. I see no mention of religion in general or Catholics in particular.\nI have no idea what you are on about.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"...$219,000 for the ACLU of Hawaii and $382,000 for Alston Hunt Floyd and Ing \u2014 as well as two separate requests for a total of $21,500 in reimbursement of out-of-pocket costs.\"\n\nJust like the Christian missionaries who came to Hawaii to do good and stayed to do well, the ACLU has lost it's way.\n\nIt has become The American Courts Lucrative Union, with the emphasis on the lucre.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If we have intercommunion with Protestants, should we be concerned that they don't have nor claim to have or believe in Apostolic Succession? Do we still believe in that? If not, than why should a Catholic priest remain celibate when he could equally be a married Methodist minister? Why be Catholic if the Eucharist is valid in any church? Why bother with a Pope?\nThere are implication to allowing even limited intercommunion. Would the Catholic be receiving the true Body and Blood of the Lord from a Lutheran minister not ordained in Apostolic Succession?\nWe need to think these things out and not react simply from feelings.\nGod bless.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Bishop Gregory is singing a very different tune nowadays than we heard from him during his three years as USCCB president. Even now, the US Catholic church has still not turned the corner in dealing with its clergy sex abuse crisis. in fact, it's headed in the other direction, covering its assets and accepting zero responsibility for crisis or cover-up, while doing everything they can do to trash and re-injure victims. And even under Pope Francis, yhere's NO relief in sight!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So you really don't think that the moral of the Christmas story is applicable to Catholics and want to go with Scrooge being a good guy who should be commended for being a miser. Okay then.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I like Pope Francis, but on this one he's just plain wrong, and in due course the church will right a wrong that continues to divide us from other Christian bodies. The church will eventually ordain women to each of the three clerical orders. It's only a matter of time. Shutting the door prematurely is not helpful.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually religion is a protected class. If it's a public business it's open to the public . So if a Muslim business sells wedding cakes they legally have to sell them to Jews or Christians too. The Equal Rigjts Amendmwnt was put in place because of people refusing service to people they didn't like; like Blacks, Jews or Muslims. Imagine that!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "But it's not only the living in the basement -- or wherever -- that would worry me. I would worry about the fact that my children would be brainwashed and their ability to think critically would be seriously impaired. I think that the close-mindedness that is taught in those institutions is a major danger to the young adults in question, to the Catholic Church, and to the society at large.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "To each his \"Bible\" or the \"Quran\", \nI prefer the Qu\u00e9bec Charter of human rights\nand A Secular Society", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "To dwell on sexuality alone, as Hefner mostly did, with nods to women's equality, narrows the cause to self-interest. To build an empire essentially on religious bashing and specialized strategy to make consumerism OK doesn't rank among my great movements of history.\u2014Ken Briggs Neither does the dysfunctional hierarchy, busy covering up sexual abuses. For all of that \u201cGod is with us\u201d (Zechariah 8:23). The time will come, and is now here, when people will say, as the cultural pendulum swings back toward center, \u201cLet us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you\u201d (Zechariah 8:23). \u201cHe resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem\u201d (Luke 9:51), as must all the Faithful in every age and at every time. Liturgy of the Word, Reading 456, Monday of the Twenty-Sixth Week in Ordinary Time I.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And yet, all four Gospel accounts conspicuously contain no references to even a single woman at the Last Supper, not even the Blessed Mother. Given the fact that the Gospels are replete with examples of women being around the Lord, of the Lord complimenting women, speaking to women, healing women, teaching women, this absence is even more conspicuous, and would appear to be indicative of a truth that the Gospel writers wished to convey. This, added to the Church's nearly 2000 year consistent practice and consistent teaching regarding ordination of men alone, only provides further evidence of the fact that Christ Himself willed only men to serve as priests in His Church. The evidence for contrary arguments and positions is faulty and is based mostly on speculation and modern opinion, not on historical or theological precedent.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Because, in this instance at least, the Vatican is making a big deal over nothing.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So happy to see Church Militant get some of the recognition it deserves. The Voris organization is a hidden jewel of the Catholic world, a rare teller of some unvarnished truths. Let it shine!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your comment was that the Bible has no standing in our legal system which is not true in regard to the FACT that our system is based on unalienable rights endowed by our Creator. The rule of law and not the authority of man. Does the phrase \"All men are CREATED equal\" sound familiar? The principle is that all men are fallible and fallen therefore the Creator is the only just source of law. The founders specifically designed a system based on this without using Christian labels because they didn't want to exclude others or promote one sect of Christianity over another.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Luther was scarcely alone in his antisemitism. John Chyrsostom, some centuries earlier was just as blatant. Luther had mixed feelings about the peasant wars. He agreed with most of their grievances, but condemned the excesses that were committed. But if you are going to examine that, how about also looking at Cardinal Richelieu during the Thirty Years War? (I have always liked Pope Urban VIII's comment on hearing of Richelieu's death, \"If there is a God, the cardinal has much to answer for. If there is not a God, he lived a successful life.\")", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Gee, St. Ambrose was a catechumen [not even baptized], when the people selected [voted for him] to be their bishop. Augustine was a layman, when he was selected to be a bishop.\nIt was the selection by the COMMUNITY that gave this power and authority to the person selected as the leader of a particular community of people---in a town or a part of a town.\n\nIn a time even earlier than that, people selected their own presbyters [presiders] to celebrate the Meal [the Mass as we call it today]. Were they ordained? NO! But the people were Christians and they gathered together in Jesus' name to \"do this in memory of him\".\n\nWe are and will be going back to this situation again as there are fewer and fewer priests. And Jesus will be in the midst of these people as he had been in the early centuries of Christianity----in the deserts and in the catacombs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It DOESN'T MATTER what the excuse they use, when groups coalesce to target other groups for murder, rape and robbery, the real reason is always either fear (of loss of status, of loss of territory, of loss of power or of the unknown) or envy (faster horses, younger women, older whiskey, more money). The Muslim attacks on Muslim villages in Algeria back in the 90s didn't get as much press as the Muslim attacks in Afghanistan more recently, but they were very similar. Groups of Muslim men attacked villages, raped and kidnapped the young women, stole the treasures and claimed it was because of religious impurity. Tim McVeigh and Dylan Roof were victims of the same kind of radicalization that the Jihadists are using and went forward with exactly the same kind of blank-faced, mindless, mechanical ferocity to protect what they thought was under attack from what they had been taught was the enemy. Christians didn't raise a huge outcry because they hadn't taken part in that radicalization.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Feinstein did NOT \"impl[y] that she should be disqualified just because she's a faithful Catholic\". She addressed the specific ways in which the professor has referenced and acted on her Catholicism in her legal career. Barrett has made her Catholicism part of her legal and professional record. Thus, her professional and legal record as a Catholic are appropriate subjects of evaluation for legal and professional jobs. It really is that simple.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And the blinding of pride continues, the Archbishop doesn't need to convince any gang banger, only the city government and educational system using his gifts of tongue.\n\nI've already told you what he should be doing in Catholic Schools (establish some serious training in the harder virtues) and what he might want to try with the city government/educational establishment (to do the same). \n\nPride can create prickly arrogance, and thus \"close oneself in\" to the concrete suggestions already given.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Supreme Court of Canada demanded a law from Canada's Parliament and gave them a deadline. The Trudeau government came up with a very restrictive legislation regarding doctor assisted suicide. You make it sound like anyone can apply. \nKey conditions are:\n- a person must be terminally ill\n- the person must be of sound mind and request the procedure\nHow are Catholics persecuted? \nThe legislation does not prohibit freedom of speech. The Pope is free to speak out.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Where do the souls of the followers of the Trumps go when they die? They say they have the right hand and have the ear of jesus, but support actions that suffer the less fortunate, so do the followers souls go to the Christian heaven, or hell? Where do all of you who support Trump and his policies, where are your souls going when you die? Heaven or Hell.\nAs a non Christian or Islamist, I must say that evangelicals and Christians who expect to go to their Christian heaven after making life miserable for the ones less fortunate than they, or backing policies of genocide, makes as much sense as the Islamic terrorists expecting to go to their heaven with their 72 virgins after slaughtering so many untold numbers of innocents.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "In Kentucky Muslim students were enrolled into a private Catholic schorl. The school was intially very happy to have the new students. But after about a year the Muslim students complained about the presence of crucifixes in every room. It offended them. They sued and won over $100,000 for pain and suffering, and the Catholic school had to remove all crucifixes. However the fine forced the school to close. \n------------------\nMuslims demand the removal of crosses a a Catholic university .\nhttp://toprightnews.com/muslims-demand-that-offensive-crosses-be-removed-from-catholic-school/\nhttp://allchristiannews.com/muslim-student-sues-catholic-school-because-crosses-were-offensive/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'll bet you consider yourself a Christian ...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your \"prayer to whom?\" is not just a simple question. It carries the strong implication that I pray to some false God. \n\nYou have a habit of saying things by implication, and when you are called on them, you piously proclaim, \"I didn't say that.\" Yes, technically, you didn't. But you certainly implied it. It's not very honest on your part. \n\nYou now read me out of the Catholic Church because I do not accept every belch from a Roman throat as if it were the word of God. That is one of the things I like least about you traditionalists, your saying, \"You don't agree with ME, therefore you are not a Catholic.\" This shows considerable hubris, which is the first of the seven deadly sins.\n\nI say Eichmann is the model YOU follow, because you both followed what other people told you to think and do. He is the man YOU take as an ideal. Letting others make your morals decisions is a sin of sloth.\n\nSaying that one should ignore circumstances in moral decision making is bad moral theology.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You just accepted her claim that a Catholic publication is racist, though there is no evidence for it whatever.\n\nOh this world of ours...Sic gloria....", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Glad to hear you are at ease with your beliefs. I know many nice people who are not Christians and some Christians who are not so nice just as you seem to. Christians certainly don't have a corner on the market for being \"good.\" In fact, Christ said \"Only God is good.\" Either way, nice or good is not at all the point for Christians. Getting people to heaven is the point, and being nice or good does not accomplish that. Christians believe accepting Christ is the only thing that accomplishes that. Nothing else, and the alternative is horrible. That is all a Christian has in their heart for a person when they invite them to know Christ. They risk anger, scorn and rejection each time they do that. Many want Christians to just shut up. Others want to disenfranchise Christians from government, the law, education, and baking cakes. It is a growing cancer in American society, and one which many otherwise nice and good people are either ignoring or actively supporting. Where do you stand?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Most people winning their 3 rd consecutive election as mayor of a major city consider themselves fortunate.\n\nNenshi won his 3rd consecutive victory and by a comfortable margin despite a record voter participation rate, 7 sometimes controversial years in power and major recent economic setbacks for the city that inevitably result in scapegoating the current people in power.\n \nMost victors in Nenshi's situation would express gratitude to the voters of Calgary and vow to represent all of the people in moving forward during a still challenging recovery period and usually would also make reference to having heard the concerns of those who voted for a change.\n\nBut not Nenshi!\n\nIn his overweening arrogance and entitlement, he subtly suggested that many who had the temerity to vote for another candidate must be racist rather than opposed to his left leaning agenda in a still right leaning town.\n\nHow have any Christian candidates for mayors of Cairo and Islamabad done?\n\nI'm guessing not well.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Apparently you missed Vatican II.\n\nWould you like the name of the document and an exact quote from the English translation?\n\nYou do understand that not every single opinion of Aquinas is accepted Catholic doctrine, right?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The converts blame Francis for taking care of a problem that started because Catholic women began leaving their marriages because they were not happy. Their daughters did the same thing. I have sad experience on this. Critics of A.L. are blaming the treatment for the pre-existing disease because it shatters their illusions about Church power. What do they want the Pope to do, excommuicate these women?\n\nThe converts want to stop modernity, especially around ordaining women. Seeing this pope thinking about female deacons is the start of the slippery slope they saw in Canterbury. Many of us cradle Catholics say it is about time. Hopefully they will bring sense to our debate on sex which been dominated by Asexuals since St. Paul. They came looking for Bing Crosby. Bing died a long time ago.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Which new opposition leaders? Andrew Sheer.... the never held a real job, studied poly sci and history, has \"worked\" in politics his entire short life and is now beholden to the far right evangelical Christian members of the Conservative party, Andrew Sheer. Seriously Teddy, if you have been \"observing\" this for as long as you say, perhaps take up gardening and develop some perspective.\n\nIt is silly to criticize the current PM and Liberal government for the state of the House by quoting partisan Conservative talking points. You want more constructive debate... start in your house with a more thoughtful, constructive comment.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh for God's sake, you think choosing the name of Martin Luther is anti-Catholic?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think you are mistaken, kag - and assuming way too much.\n\nI was thinking at Mass today how much pressure people who think somewhat like you actually put on others. Remember the days when some people didn't join the Communion line - you had to step past them in the pews? No one thought twice about it - but now? If someone waits in the pew, everyone looks at them expectantly. The pressure to receive is put on others by those who think they are second class citizens - not the Church, not they themselves. Look at the words YOU use to describe those who don't receive - and then tell me who is acting less Christian.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\" -- Pope Francis has said he thinks the Roman Catholic church's ban on priestly ordination for women will continue forever, saying his predecessor Pope John Paul II's declaration on the matter \"goes in that direction.\" --- \"\n\nOh, really? We will remember that whenever Francis next does something that contradicts B16 and JPII.\n\nThis is simply nonsense and betrays Francis' unwillingness to speak for himself.\n\nOpen the back doors wider for the rush of women leaving this sect for real churches.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholic? apparently, sadly. Christian? No way.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Because Christians believe in heaven, this is causing teens to kill themselves? The number of people involved in Christianity has dropped considerably in recent years yet the suicide rate is increasing. Perhaps YOUR involvement in the Dunning-Kruger religion has biased your perceptions?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why do you mention Christian professors specifically if there are also muslims teaching these courses?\n\nI would think that someone who has personally experienced having to live under radical islam would be equally or better placed to understand this.\n\nOr are you just a racist?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What are the Church\u2019s Motives? Why Brooklyn?\nThe Catholic Church in New York has very calculated motives with these IRCP programs. I believe it was a part of a deal to kill the Child Victims\u2019 Act. I\u2019m guessing Dolan and his pals said, \u201cHey, you kill this bill and we will roll out these plans across the state. The protesters will go away by the time the next legislative session starts up, we promise.\u201d\n\nAnd they have other priorities:\n* They want to stop legislative reform for ALL victims of child sexual abuse.\u00a0If it works in NY, they are going to try and roll out these plans across the country.\n* They want the good publicity\n* They want to stop the document bleed that happens with litigation\u2014those damning documents that show how priests were moved around, kids were abused and the crimes were covered up, parents were kept in the dark, and collusion was everywhere.\nAttribution: Joelle Casteix, SNAP Leader", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You are wrong, the problem is not Christianity rather it is the answer.Show me one passage in the Bible where Jesus took a partisan position with Rome.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "While I am depressingly familiar with the general historical animus of Chicago's White Catholics towards Blacks of any religious disposition, I hadn't heard of Mundeline's orders regarding St. Monica's. Thanks for this article. I look forward to the next instalment.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The political prejudice against science exhibited by Mr. Trump's administration, and to a lesser degree by Mr. Harper's government, is a worrying retreat to the ignorance of the Middle Ages in support of some level of religious fanaticism. To close one's eyes to the fact of global warming and the serious consequences of climate change takes a special kind of the worship of ignorance. Even the Roman Catholic church recognizes the threat of environmental destruction.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Christian right in America made a deal with the devil and now we all get to pay the consequences...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You don't think God had control over when and where He Incarnated? Or that God Incarnate if He so desired could and would have selected men as Apostles or instructed His followers to do so after His death and resurrection? \n\nReception of particular sacraments has nothing to do with sociological or political concepts of \"rights\". No one is being deprived of an inalienable \"right\". Jesus came as a man; He chose men to be His Apostles; the Church for 2000 years has consistently followed His will; and having considered the question afresh, Saint Pope John Paul II determined the question definitively closed for all faithful Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I forgot for the moment that primary and secondary Catholic schools in the States are private schools. In most of Canada Catholic schools are publicly funded... in Anglophone Canada we speak of \"public\" and \"separate\" (=Catholic) schools. Our problem is that this formerly just situation in which public schools were unambiguously protestant and separate schools were catholic, has been disrupted with the influx of Muslims and other non-Christian faiths who are busily setting up their own private, not-publicly funded schools. \n\nWith the increase of secularism, the demand to defund Catholic schools will increase, despite constitutional protection. Our bishops are too fixated in their contentment with what we have to notice the injustice in favour of Catholics. They could use the existing constitutional protection to barter away Catholic privilege for a single public system in which all faiths (including secular) have the right to teach their religion as an optional subject. Not on radar.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Tell me there's not targeting BASED ON RELIGION underway.\"\n\nHow does this square with the fact that Episcopalians, Presbyterians and Unitarians hold beliefs that gay marriage is moral and valid? Are those who are denied services not being targeted based on religion?\n\nProtection of conscience is important, but I think it would also be important to evaluate how one's conscience is being applied. For example, people have argued for Kim Davis' conscience rights (the Kentucky recorder of deeds). I question this, however. Kim Davis is married five times. No Christian faith actually permits this. We know for a fact she went five times to get a marriage license. How can we say this is accurately a matter of conscience when she is picking and choosing which Christian beliefs she will enforce? Same with the bakers and florists: how do they verify the purity of heterosexual couples?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What does multiculturalism have to do with it? Most people are religious and many religions, especially Catholicism and fundamental Judaism, are equally misogynous. The unequal treatment of women and men in the Catholic church was one of the factors that lead me to abandoning faith in my teens.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's a sign of the times , and of what a turned upside down world we live in that so called Christian leaders would support those who don't support Christian values . Some of these same people either don't trust the Bible's naming of sins , or choose to ignore them and lead Christians the wrong direction , supporting the non-Christian view of if it feels good , do it . If polled , my guess is these four would even agree with Hillary Clinton's position on abortion. With people like these speaking as Christian leaders , it's little wonder church attendance and belief in God is in decline in America . It seems odd that if Prevo speaks out on an issue liberals want his tax exempt status removed , yet with these four they have the full approval and admiration of liberals. Our nation is in moral decline . It's easy to see why. If Christian leaders aren't going to stand up for Christian values , who will ? That's sad.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This President's Christian Ethos: you mean like his demeaning treatment of minorities and women. His history of raping teenages? Just the accusations and HIS own words caught on videotape convict him.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"In more than one interview he advocated pederasty (sex between adult men and male youths, including underage ones), defended 100% the Catholic priest who had sex with him at age 13 or 14, and did not depict himself as a \"victim\" at all - just the opposite \"\nWhere are these interviews? I'd like to hear these interviews for myself but there are dozens and dozens on you tube so perhaps you will be helpful enough to provide links to the ones to which you refer where he says these things.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Actually, there is no mention of this fellow's religious views here, so using this as a forum to discuss Christian extremism is a leap too far without more information.Assuming he is a radical Christian without information ? As unwise and ill-considered as assuming a Muslim is an extremist \"just because\"\nWhile I think we need to have the conversation, care should be taken that facts fit the examples. We don't have the facts to fit your assertion here, even before one gets to the assertion.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What I fail to understand, is that the NRA actually gives less to campaign coffers than organizations like the Catholic Church and the K of C. How does the NRA wield so much power? For years I thought the NRA was some giant cash cow. With the aging out of it\u2019s membership and the resulting loss in income, they are barely a ghost of themselves, yet the media promotes them as a giant factor. It is starting to sound like the wizard behind the curtain in the Wizard of Oz.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No you where attempting to put your ignorance on display by demonizing Christians, or those who don't agree with your liberal views.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Efficiency is doing things right. Effectiveness is doing the right things.\"\nI doubt \u2018efficiency\u2019 is any good without the \u2018effectiveness\u2019. \nWhat would be the \u2018effectiveness\u2019 in Catholic religion?\nDoing the will of God? How about manifest the presence of God in our being and in all our acts?\nHow about our CI (Catholic Institution) clergies?\nStarting from Pope Frances & all CI prelates, who stand with sex abuse clergies do manifest more of \u2018d*vil\u2019 then God to me. \nWhat good are all the priorities since they lack effectiveness?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Very unfortunate secular progressives are no longer making people feel safe in their own country. The same people attacking students on university campuses.\n\nFirst they went after Christians and Catholics, then the Jewish, now Muslims.\n\nUnfortunately your situation is far from unique.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "We don't disagree with their opinion and aren't imposing our opinion on them (the fundamentalists) however they are trying their best to impose their beliefs on us and make us live their rules. Who is intolerant? A gay couple getting married doesn't force a Christian heterosexual couple into gay marriage. A women choosing an abortion doesn't force other women into making the same choice. Yet, the religious right is trying to force their decisions onto the rest of us whether we believe the same or not. I'm tolerant of religious people having their beliefs but only up the extent that they don't force those beliefs on to me and that government (laws) are kept secular.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Excellent historical summation.\nConservative Christians love saying the laws of Leviticus and Numbers don't apply to them -- but feel free to use them to condemn others.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Because that worked so well in stopping the Muslim invasion of middle eastern Christian lands in the 7th Century.\nWhy are progressives so low-knowledge?!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Isn't it ironic that 300 years after the supposed Jesus, it was a northern general of Rome who decided to take power in Rome by force and soon after declare Christianity the official religion of Rome. For 300 years the cross was never the official symbol, but he saw that the 'officiality' would give him total power.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is sad that a catholic like you makes such alterations. I am not here to judge you, but point out the political nature of your comment. Just for your information Cardinal Sarah was Arch Bishop of Conakry for 22 years where he was generally considered a pastoral prelate. His been Arch Bishop longer than his been serving in the Vatican (16 years). Your claim that he possesses no academic qualifications in Liturgy is outright false. He completed a Licentiate in Theology and A Master's degree in Sacred scriptures which are all very relevant to Liturgy. Try to get your facts straight.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Yes, voting for a KKK member because you agree with Jim Crow laws might put you in a state of mortal sin. I don't think that voting for Hillary Clinton does and I think that certain US bishops have harmed the Catholic Church by using Communion as a weapon against one of the two US political parties. It makes it seem like the Vatican is trying to control US politics. (Which is what JFK had to deal with in 1960.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Catholics do / did not force women to cover themselves from head to toe. \nCatholics do / did not kill women\nCatholics do / did not treat women like property\nCatholics do / did not make it ok to beat women\n\nIslam does. Not all muslims, but the religion itself.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The countries identified by the EO clearly have a minority of Christian. YOU can dance around the issue but even the \"alternate facts\" spewed by Conway and Banon have indicated Christians as the ones under persecution. It would have been easy for the EO to give clearer information of who they considered but that would have required naming other religions that the Trump base may not approve of.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Once again it is necessary to point out that there are validly ordained MARRIED priests who are in communion with the Catholic church: all of the Eastern Rites and Josef Ratzinger's darling Orneryariates are conveniently overlooked by Latin Rite \"Roman\" Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Two things: First,there is no such animal as \"excommunication\". \"Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus\". Second - If a Catholic is ordained by a duly ordained bishop, that Catholic is ordained a priest. The priest (by reason of gender) may be currently illicitly ordained, but the ordination is valid, nonetheless.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "And the Catholic League is?????? Lol.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Is the NCR looking for filler articles that allow MNN space?\nIf you are looking for Mary articles, how about Mary in Koran?\nMentioned more time than in NT.\nWhat do Muslims know that Christians don't.\nMaybe MNN could do some original research than rehash.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You do know that Jeff Anderson is very outspoken about himself NOT being a Christian....do you?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Since you've a 'moral problem' (really, no one can be that pedantic about semantics; I like exactitude too but I'm not anal about it) you should consult a dictionary:\n'Western': 'situated in the west, or directed towards or facing the west; relating to or characteristic of the West or its inhabitants, or (historical) of or originating from the non-Communist states of Europe and North America' (Oxford online).\n'Westernise': '(a country, person, or system) to adopt, influenced or in the process of being influenced by the cultural, economic, or political systems of Europe and North America' (ibid).\nCape Town, with it 'cosmopolitan, European' feel is not Mogadishu, except townships and squatter camps. Its presentation is clearly westernised or western (second meaning) relating to/characteristic of the West. QED.\nYou said 'non-Anglican cultures'. Do you mean Catholic, Muslim? You meant 'Anglo', of course. Since you're 'morally' conflicted by such things, confess to the PC police.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So: Any denial of giving public money in support of religion is because of -- bigotry against Roman Catholics!\nThat old horse is still being beaten. But, this is 2017, not 1877.\nIt's wrong to deny a religious school shredded tires for a playground. It's quite another to say taxpayers have to fund religious education.\n\"We must have vouchers for poor folks\" is a sham argument, anyway. The voucher supporters want tax money so that middle class parents can use the voucher money plus their own funds to go to high-end private schools, just like the rich folks do.\nVoucher supporters want to gut funding of public schools. If screaming \"bigotry!\" gets them there, they'll use it.\nColorado provides for a system of free public education. Taxpayers even fund magnet schools and charter schools for parents who do not want their children to attend regular public schools.\nIf parents want to go to religious private schools, let them pay their own way. Or teach their children their religion at home.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Cupich is trying to 'right-size' the Chgo-Arch by decreasing the number of parishes to meet the anticipated number of priests available to serve Chicago-area parishes, i.e. downsizing to about 240 parishes because he anticipates having only about 240 active-duty priests by 2025. What a sad and shortsighted way to go about meeting the needs of the people! Why not start ordaining married men (yes, Cupich and all other Catholic bishops have the right to do that NOW without asking the Pope's permission). And even more importantly, find out why ordinary Catholics have 'fallen away' from the Catholic faith in droves -- across all age groups, but especially those aged 20 to 40. Since those are the people who are creating families / having babies, the decrease in those who are actively practicing their faith in this age group will have dire results for the future of the Church. Look at Europe if you want to see where the Catholic Church in America is headed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The question is what the role of schools should be in propagating particular religious faiths. It has been made clear they should have no role propagating the majority, Christian one, even to Christian kids, but then it does in propagating minority ones? The reason parents and imams want the schools to be involved is that they act as enforcers of a rule they couldn't make their kids follow otherwise. Is that the role of schools?\n\nIn Indonesia and Israel, two places I have been to recently, most businesses and offices close for the afternoon, i.e. 1:00 or 2:00 on Friday, not the whole day. That gives people plenty of time to go to the mosque for afternoon or evening services, or prepare for the Sabbath meal before sunset (although in Tel-aviv, it seems to mean people can go to the beach for the afternoon...:-)) . \n\nGiven our school days actually end quite early, our schedule doesn't make as big a difference as you claim.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Why shouldn't it be linked to religious freedom? Islam permits polygamy. Christianity and Islam permit slavery. The defence of \"religious freedom' has been used to discriminate against same-sex couples, deny pregnant women of a full suite of health services (i.e. contraception and abortion). So why should we not recognize the religious freedom defence for Mormons?\n\nThe simple answer should be that religious freedom doesn't supersede the rights of others. In the pecking order of freedoms, it should come last.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "incoherent liberal blowhard\u2014Purgatrix Ineptiae. . . the Pope, no less.\n\nillustrating intelligent Christianity\u2014dennism\n\n\u201cThey devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life\u201d (Acts 2:42), communal life, like caring for planet earth. \u201calthough now for a little while you hay have to suffer through various trials\u201d (1 Peter 1:5) like a dysfunctional Church and an incompetent state. \u201cthese are written that you may come to believe (i.e. learn) that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that through this belief you may have life in his name\u201d (John 20:31) the idea being that the dysfunctional can teach the incompetent to be competent. Oh mercy me. Liturgy of the Word, Reading 46A, Third Sunday of Easter A", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Good luck with that when only 31.5% of the world population is Christian. Jesus didn't speak English and hails from the Middle East. We wouldn't let him in.\n\nA good case can be made that the first six Presidents of the United States were deists who believed in a \"God of Nature,\" but not in the Divinity of Jesus Christ, as were many of the founding fathers. Jefferson wrote that in both the Constitutional Convention of Virginia, and the Constitutional Convention of the United States, proposals were made to make references to Christianity and to Jesus, and they were rejected \"overwhelmingly.\" Most of these men grew up under theocracies in the colonies, and wanted nothing to do with the idea.\n\nThere are over 2,000 subsets of Christianity, each believing the other 1,999 are going straight to hell. Which one would get to be in charge?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "3 year prayer a victims resource from the commission. ( Modified by this victim to be more helpful)\n\nPrayer for victims\n\nSince your mercy has been revealed\n\nIn the tenderness of your Cardinal Dolan,\n\nwho said to his minions:\n\nwe pray that your Church may be a secure home for secret archives,\n\nwhere all pedophile clerics and vulnerable assets are protected by any means.\n \n\nMay all those who have been abused\n\nphysically, emotionally and sexually by your ministers,\n\nstay silent and go away, accompanied by \n\n gestures of intimidation and fear by church lawyers who prevent \n\njustice and reparation so that bishops stay fat and church coffers stay full.\n\nBut take this prayer and feel healed with the balm of our compassion.\n\nForgive and forget and go away please. \n \n\nWe ask this through our lawyers and bishops\nAmen", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hey, Bill,Laurence here. (\"Athanasius\" is my online moniker; he's one of the very few so-called \"church fathers\" I genuinely admire.)---I have a much-loved copy of the late, great John Stott's classic The Cross of Christ. This book, which I wholeheartedly agree with, makes it abundantly clear that the doctrine of Penal Substitutionary Atonement is EXACTLY what the Scriptures teaches, and it's NOT a theory. As someone who studies Biblical Theology on a regular basis, I can state unequivocally that Mr.Stott's book has yet to be successfully refuted, and since the premise iterated in the book have an irrefutable Scriptural foundation,it's unlikely it will be. As the greatApostle Paul said in Romans 14th vs.5:..\"Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind\"... (ESV). One would as soon look up into a clear, sunny day and claim that it's raining as to rationally deny that the Scriptures teaches PSA; it's simply nonsense. Certainly the Savior affirms it, the Apostle Paul taught it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Since we are all members of the Royal Priesthood of Christ by Baptism, this opinion is what role women may assume within the Catholic Church. How will this pronouncement affect the role that women have in the Lutheran Church and will it become a roadblock to the validity of its Eucharist when presided over by women?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The cappa magna had to hide the horse's posterior so that when it defecated it would be obscured and not bring embarrassment to the prelate. This is the stuff of Constantine, not of Jesus Christ, who rode into Jerusalem on a donkey sans cappa magna.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The converts you speak of so disparagingly have been on a long journey of faith towards the truth which was lacking in their lives. Having finally found it in the Catholic Church, they find that cradle Catholics are in the process of throwing this truth out of the window.\nFrom your first paragraph it seems to me that it you who doesn't understand Catholicism. The \"rules\" as you call them and the Catechism are a guide to living a Catholic life not to make it an obstacle course. \"The \"rules\" are expected to be adhered to otherwise they are pointless and there are no exceptions to the Law of God as we will all find out on the Last Day.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My fear, and it is well founded, is that it won't be the law that is taught, but the radical feminist view of men. (see Christie Blatchford's columns on family law and how it is highly discriminatory towards men). \nNote that the teaching for \"social justice\" has turned members of Law Society of Ontario into pile of non-thinking Christianaphobes to the point where they refuse to even consider allowing graduates of Christian law schools from applying to become members of the bar. Yet, they have no issue with graduates from foeign Islamic Schools writing the bar exams.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "1.)\n<>\n\nNo: abortion is NOT the most important issue. That assertion is facile and false. A nuclear holocaust would render the abortion issue moot, as does the ruination of the planet. Trump has demonstrated emotional instability inconsistent with the responsibilities of the Commander-in-Chief; and he\u2019s a climate-change denier. He thinks that climate change is a Chinese hoax -- the moral and intellectual equivalent of the superstitious racist birther drivel he pedaled for more than five years.\n\n<>\n\nTrump is a racist and a fascist. By your logic, the bishops are negligent in failing to assert that a Catholic cannot vote for Trump in good conscience. You\u2019re probably right, but I don\u2019t think the bishops should engage in partisan politics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Our bishops should reflect on the Catechism of the Catholic Church #896 in their weekly examination of conscience: \nThe Good Shepherd ought to be the model and \u201cform\u201d of the bishop\u2019s pastoral office. Conscious of his own weaknesses, \u201cthe bishop \u2026can have compassion for those who are ignorant and erring. He should not refuse to listen to his subjects whose welfare he promotes as of his very own children.\u201d (CCC #896)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Still persecuting Christians Judah ?\n Surprised you did not get flagged for the last portion of your comment. ( Better not let me catch you gathering sticks on al-Shabat, dude\u2026)\nChristians are not perfect and the ones that are true to the faith do not go around acting like they are. When they speak they do not speak for themselves but that which Christ taught and instructed. \nNo man is prefect. Including you. Now my question to you is this: Do speak to followers of the other two other major religions of the world and hold their followers accountable as you do Christians ? \n\u05e9\u05dc\u05d5\u05dd \u05d1\u05e9\u05dd \u05d9\u05e9\u05d5", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your continual anti-Catholic commentary and posting of scurrilous anti-Catholic material speaks for itself.\n\nDavid Kertzer never made the kind of money as an academic that he's making churning out propaganda.\n\nNPR has gotten battered over its biases repeatedly.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What is left to rock, even in Canada, after the revelations of what when on at Mt Cashel, Church run native residential schools and other Church controlled institutions in Canada and elsewhere?\n\nHere in BC we saw the sad, sorry, spectacle of Catholic Bishop O'Conner letting his lawyers attack the credibility of the women he raped, before admitting what he did.\n\nhttps://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/disgraced-bc-bishop-dead-of-heart-attack/article1079249/\n\nhttps://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/disgraced-priest-left-legacy-of-pain/article690143/", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do get off the cross; Joan of Arc already did that gig. You Christians are so NOT Christ like.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is another case of he RCC kowtowing to the Repubs so they don't hurt the feelings of the one per-centers. Trump flaunts serial adultery in the face of the conservative 'Christians' because he knows they are his 'tools' and they can't criticize him. Same thing with the repubs in Congress. They need Trump to sign off on destroying the social safety net like good 'pro-lifers' that they are. Once Trump carries out the GOP goals they'll throw him under the bus.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well, let's see - you missed his point......studies now indicate that a majority of Catholics voted for Clinton. But, when you break out voting results by race, white Catholics voted for Trump more often than Clinton. So, MSW, inserts a question about catholic vote and race. Some would say that the question about racism/equality was settled more than 150 years ago....but, the question about abortion (which, by the way, is legal in the US) and whether life begins at *conception* is not a settled matter. You equate the two issues - but, they are vastly different in US law.....your simplistic *dig* is an example of poor judgment, analysis, and your own ideological false opinion. Some conservatives do equate the two issues but then leave out other significant life issues - climate change, gun control, universal healthcare, death penalty, living/family wage, affordable housing, etc. Single issue voting really is not what catholic social justice is about. Sad!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Tell me, do you think satanists will do like the Catholic Church or other Christian groups and open a school that meets or exceeds the rigorous demands of Common Core?\"\n.\nFalse premise. Many of the Protestant schools and several of the Catholic schools have failed to meet or exceed the rigorous demands of Common Core. And virtually none of them were opened doing so. Also, Satanists opened schools long before Common Core existed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "They set a poor example with their cafeteria Catholicism during the election. It was even more tragic after the recent visit of Pope Francis and his address to Congress :\n\n\"We know that in the attempt to be freed of the enemy without, we can be tempted to feed the enemy within. To imitate the hatred and violence of tyrants and murderers is the best way to take their place\" - Pope Francis\n\nI pray they do return to defending the entire gospel message because the country will need it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Does this mean organic food stores have to tell their customers about the pros and cons of eating GMO's?\nDoes this mean a Catholic church has to tell its congregation about the Muslim alternative?\netc.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "There is nothing uncivil here. Some may not want to be reminded of Catholic teaching (interior order and reconciliation of one's faculties), but it's not uncivil. \n\nThe key for Catholics here is to remember that our intellect (which holds the criteria of moral behavior, and which 'generates' the \"test\" of our conscience) must never be put at odds with our will (which makes decisions for us).\n\nThe devil would love for there to be a breakdown in the unity between our intellect and our will (& our body, desires, appetites).\n\nIn fact sin does just that! A disunion, needing reconciliation!\n\nSo if the government forces us to do something against the good and the true, we are OBLIGATED to find some small ways to \"go against\" this coercion to prevent a complete rupture between our faculties.\n\nWe can never fully let our will \"give in\" to immoral behavior. Ever.\n\nIt doesn't have to be dramatic, but it should be done. No fissure", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Muslims and liberals excoriate us about Islamophobia, but we should bear in mind Islam's entrenched racism, xenophobia, homophobia, misogyny, anti-Semitism, hatred of Christianity, Europe and America, destructive iconoclasm, and even Islamophobia against each other. Ancient tribal wars between Kurds, Shiite, Sunni, Wahhabi, Druze and other Islamic sects, ISIS , Taliban and Al Quada are the root causes of most of the wars and social chaos happening around the world today. It is worse than anything expressed in the west, even by Trump or LePen", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What it boils down to, for the religious who hang on to the words and ideals of the Tea Bagging Republicans, who call themselves conservatives and compassionate conservatives, and, consider themselves following in the footsteps of the Christianity they want to shove down every one else's throats.\nThe jesus lived to help the less fortunate, sick, weak, diseased, hungry and the dying. He purportedly kicked the money lenders out of the temples who were in league with the temple priests.\nThe ones calling themselves religious are worshipping ideals and actions completely opposite of what the jesus lived and breathed for. The Republicans and their Democrat cronies are in bed with the same ilk of money lenders and changers jesus supposedly kicked out of the temples. They are busy defunding the health and social programs that benefit the poor, sick, weak, diseased, hungry and the dying, and instead give the same monies to the money lenders and changers jesus kicked out of the temples", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sounds like you haven't been to a Catholic Church for a some time.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You DID NOT say anything about JESUS [you sound like The DONALD---make facts up as you go along]. JESUS was not a priest---never called himself a priest. Why would he? The Jewish priesthood was basically corrupt. Secondly, Jesus KNEW and STATED that the Temple would be destroyed---and the Jewish priesthood would come to an end at that time, which it did.\n\nJesus had no intention replacing a corrupt system with an identical system.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well I am surprised to find a thread on this subject. I know many Catholics take apparitions and revelations to heart. So, to get to the point; I think that they are both bogus. Fatima the sun was said to have changed color and danced in the sky. My reply is and was; if so it would have been observed world wide. It was not. If so, planets would have been flung out of orbit. They were not. There is absolutely no true scientific corroboration for any of this stuff...only in religion can this be expected to be accepted and believed.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Even if there were a \"satanic bible,\" people would be free to believe whatever it might say, if they so chose. That would be the First Amendment. And if that \"religion\" wanted to open a school, I suppose that would also be within its rights. The gist I'm getting on here is that only Christians are entitled to have schools.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "CORRECT!!! Jesus preached to the PRIVATE SECTOR, he never meant for Christians to govern themselves any differently than the ROMANS or any other NON-CHRISTIAN people!!! Jesus said the government should NOT CARE for the poor!!! We should model our national policies on NON-CHRISTIAN principles, like ROME, or THE USSR!!! We AGREE completely!!!!!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Monte,\n\nIf I've been \"overly influenced\" by anything it has been by seeing the power of God at work and enjoying the blessing of participating with Him in doing His work. \n\nThe issue with \"social justice\" is simply this: Will we do the work God wants us doing in His power, or in the power of men who are diametrically opposed to Him? \"Social justice\" is based on Socialism/Communism and using the power of law to subjugate all faith in God to the rule of man. Measure the results already caused by the advocates of \"social justice\" in society, all the division between groups, promoting the concept of \"white privilege,\" endorsing disregard for the laws that keep society safe, advocating the murder of police, justifying rioting to \"get what I am owed,\" etc. It is hard to find a greater contrast with the teachings of Jesus.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Do Christianity and Judaism permit polygamy?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pope Francis does communicate with people who really want to hear what he is saying. The people that you are referring to---are nothing more than wolves wearing the red robes of cardinals.\nJust like the Pharasees in Christ's time---who wanted to trap Jesus in his words, these 'Pharasees' only want to trap Francis in his words. Jesus dealt with the Pharasees of his time, in his own way. Francis is dealing with the pharasees of our time in his own way.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"A Muslim turned Christian\" says it all in the context of the CPC. What side does Clement take in the case of the great Armenian massacre I wonder.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I Suspect that he is one of those Association of Catholic Priests who are dedicated to subverting the Catholic Church in Ireland. With an hierarchy so devoid of actual 'Catholics' it is easy for dissident clergy to gain the upper hand over their bishops. Is it any wonder that the Irish voted to canonise homosexual relationships?\nWe don't hear the Pope berating these lukewarm successors of the Apostles, no, he reserves his caustic criticisms for those who strive to teach and promote genuine Catholicism.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "jane, if you do some checking, you will find out that rich, white, christian males have ruled the world for many centuries. they are just now being exposed because of the internet. sorry but you are not wrong.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Abortion I guess is arguable when life begins. So, I can see your point there, if you believe life begins at conception. The zygot can't live on its own, so it's up for debate what really is a human being. Again, I have no dog in that fight.\n\nLGTB issues? Jesus never said one thing bad about those people. Paul had a rant about it, but who's he? Didn't even meet Jesus, if I recall correctly. He's the only one who mentioned anything about it. I guess if you consider yourself a Paulian....\n\nRepublicans, like GW Bush, are very anxious to use the military to kill others for \"peace\". I'm not saying Dems don't use the weapons. But, the Republicans seem much more anxious to do so. In fact, the Iraq invasion cost arguably 300,000 lives, for some reason still not identified. I find it extremely hard to believe that Jesus would've used that approach.\n\nThe whole Republican push to pull money from helping the poor and needy, like the health care bill...not one bit like Christ.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "time to remove the Catholic churches non-profit status for engaging in political attacks... Jesus is not dead, god is not dead, the catholic church is dead. Brain washed poor Latinos that had their society destroyed by the so called catholic missionaries are still the victims of the crazed catholic teachings of communism and child molesting.... but as the pope said, who am I to judged.... oh right, he is the criminal leftwing pope from hell sitting on his pile of gold telling other people they should give him more money, got it.... sounds more like Hillary Clinton than any pope I ever hear of...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus was 'all about' sinners. Did this make him a... Good grief! I daren't even think it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Liberals just don't do irony. They condemn perceived villains on the Right and demand an end to \"censorship.\" But only today Cardinal Muller said in a striking interview that a climate of \"great fear\" has been created in the Curia. People lose their jobs for uttering a word of criticism of Francis. Distinguished professors are fired from theological faculties for the crime of holding orthodox opinions. A senior Church figure, speaking to a journalist off the record, used the term \"reign of terror.\" Conservatives are shouted down and insulted. The Pope regularly engages in verbal tirades against people he calls Pharisees, rigorists, pelagians, and sundry other nasty names. I submit that in the Church today, as in politics and civil society, the bulk of the vituperation, intimidation, and censorship is coming from the Left. No, conservatives don't have clean hands either. But for gosh sakes, guys, open your eyes and take a hard look at what is happening.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Douay-Rheims Bible, Galatians 3:28: \"There is neither Jew nor Greek: there is neither bond nor free: there is neither male nor female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.\"\n\nWhat about that don't you understand?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part II. Our own elders, bishops if you will, don't all seem to be of the same mind when it comes to internal vs external forum. The best Catholic spiritual advisers I've met have had the same understanding of right rubrics. It's necessary for communal expression precisely because there are so many Catholics whose understanding of Catholic spirituality is all in the external rubrics. No matter what one personally believes about the efficacy of women's ordination, one has to admit the ritualized Mass is a long long way from the Last Supper. We have replace efficacious informality with pretty much a very ritually involved magic show. I just don't get why we waste so much energy on whether everything is just right, while we waste no time on does any of this actually impact reality? I would say Catholic belief is about as effective in changing reality as the placebo effect. Indigenous spiritual practices seem to me to be way more effective. I suspect Pope Francis thinks so too.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Letting back priests who left to marry would be a disaster. Many priests who have remained faithful to their promise of celibacy would walk away from that promise. Does one's word count for anything anymore? Priests make promises to be celibate like married couples promise to be faithful to each other. Why would we expect priests in the rest of the world continue to keep their promise of celibacy if priests in Brazil could marry and be welcomed back. Then what happens when a priest wants to \"marry\" another man? I'm not opposed to ordaining married men on principle; Eastern Catholic and Ordinariate priests are by large solid. If it only applied to new priests going forward and it was made clear that current priests would have to keep their promise of celibacy, that would be one thing but this is something else entirely. Our Eastern and Oriental Orthodox brethren would be alienated by allowing priests to marry after ordination...this would be decried as another Roman innovation.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No. John does not get to say the vile things he does in this remark - lies, false accusations, and name-calling - and get to be considered \"civil\" without response.\nSo. Here is my comment again.\n\nTelling someone to \"go away\" is beyond contempt. You are NOT honest...and your fixation on Cardinal Burke is concerning. All I ever did was give you citations and quotes - which you deny.\n\nYour entire comment is beyond disgusting...and flagged. And actually a bit funny...you think you are my \"better\"? Oh, my.....\n\nJohn...in all Christian charity - get some help. You need it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Or the Orthodox Church calling the Catholic Church a \"church in schism.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You do know that most of St. Augustine's arguments were neoplatonic. I would recommend reading Love and Responsibility by St Pope JPII (then Cardinal Wojtyla) He addresses the issues with seeking sexual pleasure as its own end. From a CATHOLIC perspective... he was the Pope", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sometimes side-stepping the rules stimulates creativity. \n\nDon't know what is formal protocol but when cremation precedes the funeral, some priests insist on a memorial mass (urn just sits there, ignored though out) rather than a funeral mass (remains received with honors, and dismissed with honors). Also, in the Order of Christian Funerals, there is no internment service for an urn, so some priests (perhaps most?) decline to accompany the family to the cemetery. \n\nI first ran into this with my parents.\n\nCalled for a bit of creativity. Requested a Jesuit friend of the family do the funeral, with full honors for the cremated remains; and then we concocted our own cemetery ritual by adapting from the funeral ritual. But we added something--a final toast with the finest whisky at the columbarium.\n\nWe now repeat this at our annual family fishing trip--memorial prayers, stories, and toasts with the best whisky money can buy. Now a treasured family ritual, without the help of M\u00fcller's CDF.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Countries exist because people are forced to assimilate to a certain degree. Most modern countries were constructed by using violence to homogenize the population. It is not accidental that England is protestant and France Catholic but due to violent conversion or expulsion. I can also understand the discomfort with dual citizenship even if it has benefits for individuals and countries, maybe it would help if there was a passport tax and holders paid a yearly tax for each citizenship they had. The Americans are doing something like this with their tax rules. Turkey is traveling a scary road and they have a lot of problems including wars in Iraq and Syria that America had a big hand in starting. It is in everyone's interest to have a democratic and economically healthy Turkey and Muslims who are integrated into the places where they live.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I, like millions of other Americans, am not grieving. I was overjoyed with the electoral results, glad that a woman who advocates for, and supports, abortion, euthanasia, gay \"marriage\", and the restriction of religious freedom, has been defeated, hopefully for all time. I give thanks that this nation, this society, was preserved from a second Clinton presidency, and that we now have the opportunity to reverse 8 years of extreme leftist, ant-Christian, policies.\n\nOn November 8, it seemed that a new dawn shown on America - Christmas came a little early this year!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "So am I, a hispanic, to believe that if I take Jesus at his word, and believe that to re-marry after divorce is to commit adultery, then my belief is the result of \"infantilization\" by colononialists? That's mighty condescending toward hispanics. I think it's time most of the people at NCR grow up. Look, no one forces you to be a Christian. So live with your choice. Have the courage of your convictions. If your convictions tell you you just can't accept Christ, then fine; leave and be done with it. But this half-in, half out is for adolescents.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It is likely that most employers, including Catholic ones, will work out a deal that keeps them competitive in the marketplace, inside the EEOC ruling that makes actual coverage of contraception a requirement in insurance. That won't change. The question has always been copays. It is a make believe issue, as is the prospect of overturning the ACA. It takes 60 votes to overcome the Byrd rule, even in reconciliation and there is no outside reality test that trumps the need for those votes. The Paris Accords were a statement of principles. Again, symbolic. What was supposed to be symbolic was resisting picking up criminal migrant from jail. Now ICE gets them at their homes AND their families. Get them at the jail and the families go free. Oops. \n\nThe Church always has its divisions. That a Church of Immigrants now as old white moralistic xenophobes is not news. Nor is young Catholic hedonism a new thing. They've always read the banned books and heard the indent albums.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nobody ever says, \"The Church needs to ordain priestesses,\" it's always \"women priests.\" What's wrong with calling the role \"priestess\" if it's occupied by a woman? Is that too pagan-sounding? And why aren't \"progressive\" feminists, both male and female, sounding the rally cry for women ushers? Male nuns? Demanding the equal right to join the Knights of Columbus instead of being relegated to the all-female St. Anne's Altar Society? Just what, exactly, suggests that the role of priest is a position of power? Of \"lording it over the laity\"? I'm not a nun bc of the nuns of my childhood, who were like Sr. Fiedler, but left to become Wiccan priestesses. They tried to lord it over our priests. I discerned a calling, but the Order didn't exist. They were taken over by power-hungry, bitter women. I couldn't imagine confessing to a woman. Women have to \"vent.\" Frustrated women, especially. You'd never convince me that you're Jesus in the Confessional. Just as well \"confess\" to my girlfriends.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Meanwhile we excommunicate women called to priesthood who join Roman Catholic Women Priests because they cannot deny that their calling is real. \n\nOptional celibacy before we are equaling ordaining women is the complete subjugation of all women in our church. Time for the laity to act against misogyny in very loud fashion and open all sacraments to all who are called to priesthood and yes let them marry and become bishops, cardinals and popes. Time to get rid of the useless sexist, clerical permanent deaconate!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, it is to reject a single misguided sexual teaching. Since there are several misguided sexual teachings (contraception, masturbation, Continence for priests, denying female ordination), they are in good company. At least you admit that you simply find the sex icky and the fecundity thing is an excuse. They are not asking you for permission nor is it hurting you or the Church. The gospel on Fraternal Correction applies to people who have been harmed correcting those who harmed then. As such, Paprocki and your sweet self are the Objects of fraternal correction by the whole Church (us Catholics in the pews), not the correctors since your ilk has harmed then (even leading gay youth to suicide). Their actions harm you not at all. Repent or face an angry God who hears those who are being harmed and is filling with righteous wrath.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Undeniably, a surprising number of Latinos voted for Trump (Blacks were about historically on par with previous presidential elections). Nevertheless, you fail to address the author's questions, including how could so many \"faithful\" Catholics vote for a man who called the pope \"disgraceful\"? \n\nI can only begin to imagine how the likes of Raymond Arroyo would have had a coronary if Obama had said the same of Benedict or JPII.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sure, there will always be people like that. But would they have the chops to follow a dissenting cardinal into a splinter church community? I doubt it.\n\nSchisms are too much work for most people. Worshiping across town at the rental space in the strip mall is a hassle, especially when there are only ten of you to foot the bill.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The whole idea of god, jesus, resurrection blah blah is preposterous. Britton can't even formulate a sentence let alone defend his myth.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Greetings.....if this article is correct then Cardinal De Nardo will inherit the \"Throne of Obstructionism\"! So this Conference looks like the Congress of the US.....nothing will change or improve for the millions of US Catholics!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, it is a lie, bandied about by those who wish to deny reality: the church they worship in place of God engaged in the systematic protection of child abusers for decades. Gibbering about the legal presumption of \"innocent until proven guilty\" is a smoke screen. No one was thrown in prison without a trial. \nAccused: \"innocent until proven guilty\" \nTried and convicted: \"vindication on appeal!\" \nConviction affirmed: \"persecution! unfair legal system!\" \nHere's the truth. Few priests have been prosecuted for the crime of rape. Many guilty escaped justice due to the depravity and evil of the church, including that of JPII. How about providing a list of those falsely convicted (listing only those whose convictions have, in the course of due process been overturned). Or, better yet, stop spreading the lies of the church in defense of child rapists.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This pattern of \"ministry\" is a set-up for covert priestly marriages and relationships of all sorts. And the Irish bishops and their Vatican overlords can no longer avoid shouldering the blame.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "From Paproki's July 9 column:\n\n\"[C]anon law prohibits ecclesiastical funeral rites only in cases of 'manifest sinners' which gives 'public scandal,' and something such as using birth control is a private matter that is usually not manifest or made public.\" \n\nNeed to bone up on manifest sinner?\n\nCatholic.org defines it as he/she who \"pigheadedly continues to 'persist' or 'stand firm' in grave sin that is 'public' in nature.\" If this isn't explicit enough, Catholic.org offers this image: \". . . manifest, obstinate, persistent sinners such as homosexual couples approaching the Eucharist arm-in-arm or with sodomite rainbow banners over their shoulders . . . \"\n\nBut what if you're dead? Clearly, it's not merely dead but really most obstinately and pigheadedly dead.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The GOP \"health plan\" - if you are poor and get sick - die quick. If you are middle class and get sick - hang on long enough for the corporate owned hospitals and medical companies to devour all your assets. If you are one of the 1% - you'll have a gold plan subsidized by tax exemptions, so you can expect to live a long life in which to count all the extra cash you'll have from the massive tax cuts handed you by the Republicans. \n\nHow can a person like Lamborn claim to be a Christian with a straight face?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This Synod \"Urged development of education and \"formation in the areas of conscience formation and the internal forum, not only to implement the pathway to sacramental participation [for divorced and remarried] outlined in 'The Joy of Love,' but even more fundamentally to illuminate a core element of Christian discipleship itself;\"\"\n\nThink this is a critical piece of the Synod!!!.....especially the \"even more fundamentally to illuminate a core element of Christian discipleship itself\".... \n\nWhen was the last time (at a practical level) that the development of \" conscience formation AND the internal forum\" was defined by any local hierarchy/assembled group as a CORE of discipleship......generally its unquestioning obedience to pelvic issues as defined in the the US, by conservatives, .....or some ancient mass style.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Von Papen, an authoritarian, conservative Catholic, more than any other individual was responsible for Hitler's appointment as chancellor. To be fair, the German Catholic parties disliked Hitler but grossly miscalculated him and the conspiracy against Chancellor Kurt von Schelicher. Anxious at the possibility that Papen, from whom they were estranged, might be reinstated as chancellor and resort to extra-constitutional rule, the Catholic parties agreed to support Hitler and what they believed would be a parliamentary cabinet that would afford them a check on his power. But they got played.\n\nEvery single one in the tiny group of men who determined the fate of Germany and the world believed they could control Hitler in his role as chancellor. It's chilling to contemplate.\n\nHere is the photograph you cited:\n\nhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reichskonkordat#/media/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-R24391,_Konkordatsunterzeichnung_in_Rom.jpg", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I was baptized Catholic as a young adult in 1964, and grew in my faith as an adult Catholic who cherished the changes brought by Vatican II. Married shortly after joining the Church, raised 5 great children, and became very involved in the Church until a couple of years ago when our VERY Conservative Bishop sent a very young \"restorationist\" Priest to our Parish. Now we attend the \"Church in Exile\" that that is mentioned in this NCR article. After many years serving in many ministries in the Catholic Church is difficult to see our role as \"collaborators\" in our Parish being eliminated and now being told that we are to return to being pre-Vatican II Catholics where \"Father\" knows best and we know little if anything.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You guys are unbelievable. You created yourself a bubble progressive world stomping on Christ's teaching thinking that somehow Turth depends on the popular opinion. Ladies and Gentlemen, Scriptures and Tradition don't need to get 2/3 approval to 'pass'. Be in this world, but not of this world. Not sure what type of watered down Catholicism are you promoting, but this type of doctrine is NOWHERE to be found in 2000 years of teaching. \n\n\"The truth is the truth even if no one believes it, and a lie is a lie even if everyone believes it.\"\nArchbishop Fulton Sheen\n\nChrist was pretty clear on indissolubility of marriage. One is called to life of chastity if God forbid had to separate from his or her spouse. Why don't you guys 'enlighten' us and tell us where else did Christ get it 'wrong'!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Part II -\nthe Bible, to relieve him of his \"sin.\" His defensive use of religiousity to escape personal responsibility for his offense cycle (he groomed his victim in the classic ways of a perpetrator, and insisted on her secrecy between them and God) and (mis)used his position as a senior member of the church to intimidate her. It reminded me so much of what I had heard over and over from priests and religious credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor that it made me angry at first. It quickly subsided when I started to develop a treatment plan with this client: use of religion is completely fine, but never to be confused with the need to do serious work on personal development. Give unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and unto God what is God's. This client was sent to prison after almost a year in the program for offending against the 11 year old daughter of his girlfriend.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"End of Days\"\nThis appears to be a reference to one of the websites you use to \"source\" the right wing nonsense you so often post here. The website (for the uninitiated) is known as NOWTHEEND BEGINS (sic) and is run by some right-wing wackos. RationalWiki describes the website this way: \n<>\nSome Catholics, at least those old enough to remember him, wll recognize the name of Jack Chick, a virulently anti-Catholic \"cartoonist\" who died a few months ago.\nDeplorable.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sorry, old man, but dominion theology is not and was not the topic.\n\nThe topic is sacramental theology within the Catholic Church.\n\nObviously no one is going to convince you of anything. Why would that detract from the Catholic theological principles involved or cause a Catholic to cease discussing them?\n\nBtw, the adjectives \u201cfossilized\u201d and \u201cimperial-crafted\u201d may excite the nittering nabobs of negativism, and the pseudo-intellectuals, but in my world it smacks of trying to gild vacuity to hide its lack of content.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You were correct in regard to the flout versus flaunt error I made. However beyond that you were and are wrong and not likely to ever be right.\nYour concern is not for the teachings of Christ but for holding fast to your own moral errors.\nI assure you there is no reward in that approach to the gospel.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sorry, but that isn't in the Bible. The closest quote in the Bible is 1 Corinthians 10:13 \"No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.\" So, Paul (the author) is talking about temptation, not pain and he is saying that God will provide the means to resist temptation, not to be able to handle persecution. Millions, maybe billions of Christians over the last two thousand years have been given more than they can handle: their own death at the hands of evil people, the death of their friends, diseases, just like non-believers. But when we fall, we fall into grace, and that is enough.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "You said \n\u201c\"The entire Greco-Roman culture, even among Christ followers, was thoroughly patriarchal.\"\nHence, we must get rid of Western Civilization.\u201d\n\nNo one else made that logical jump, only you. You then asserted that was \u201cliberal logic\u201d as if someone other than you used that logic. Got that, ONLY YOU used that logic, though you tried to say it was someone else\u2019s. \nThat is not a strawman I made up, it is one you made up, and yes, it is a \u201cbasis\u201d for my logic since I am trying to dispute it.\nYou now repeat that same strawman: \u201cthe trend in denigrating Western Civilization itself\u201d as if there is no need for Western Civilization to be more civilized, to confront it\u2019s sins, confess them, and reform itself. That is what makes Western Civilization civilized; far from denigrating or attacking WC, that is what keeps it civilized.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I said 'seat of anti-christ', not ' seat of THE anti-christ'.\n take it in the context of 1 john 2:22 and you will see what I mean.\n So many people are fixated on THE anti-christ, that they lose the proper sense.\n I am not criticising your reply; only just clarifying.\nALSO,\nyou seem intelligent; you could consider researching the judaeo-islamic establishment by resourcing 'INTERNATIONAL JEWRY' , by Henry Ford. [dearborn observer]\n consider it; and my original comment in context with the infamous you-tube video of BARBARA SPECTRE", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "American Catholics helped to elect a man who wouldn't be able to pass a background check to sell milk in a school cafeteria because they wanted to believe him when he said he was pro-life. They deliberately looked the other way when it was obvious that his own words and actions and the testimony of those who have been used and abused by him showed him to be completely out of sync with the teachings of the church. They're like women who marry an abuser convinced that marriage will change him, only to find out that the abuse becomes worse. Why are they surprised that the presidency has not changed this meglomaniac?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Pope Francis wisely refused to reply to the Dubia because he was \"baited?\" This seems an open admission that if he had answered he would reveal himself a heretic. Is this Catholicism or Protetestantism?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My oldest daughter is applying to uni and I\u2019m very worried that, compared to when I graduated in 1982, education has become much narrower and Orwellian. In the name of \u2018inclusion\u2019, the PC police have suppressed honest discussion, debate and disagreement. Universities have become \u2018safe spaces\u2019\u2014safe from intellectual honesty and intellectual rigour. Words have become twisted: killing babies in the womb is called \u2018choice\u2019 or \u2018reproductive health\u2019, any objective critique of sexual behaviour with reference to biology, psychiatry and ethics is called \u2018homophobia\u2019, and invitations to rational debate are dismissed as \u2018bigotry\u2019.\nMainstream Catholic colleges, like BC, NDame, and G\u2019town, are Catholic in name only\u2014they\u2019re Catholic in the same way that Harvard is Congregationalist. If these colleges really wanted to be a voice of clarity in the wilderness, they would become an oasis of truth in a world where words have lost meaning and free speech is no longer even remembered.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No they do not recognize Jesus as Son of God, just as an important prophet whose birth was miraculous.\n\nGoogle it!\n\nhttp://muslimvoices.org/islam-view-of-mary/\n\nhttps://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_in_Islam#Virgin_Birth_of_Jesus", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh I noticed, all right, I just felt that my commentary was on-topic enough to remind everyone of one of greatest moral failures of the USCCB and also of the reality that Roman Catholic trickle-down morality only seems to work (at least here in America) when the bishops' pet issues like opposition to abortion or same-sex marriage are involved. With regard to anything else that goes against the grain of the Republican party, not so much.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "All this stuff about god and patriotism is over done. Back in the 50's, the \"fundamentalists\" in the Congress added to the Pledge, the words \"..under god..\". Similarly, sports games around the country have adopted the national anthem before each game. We ought to dis-entangle religion from our lives and politics, and the same goes for overdone patriotism at games. Why is a game \"patriotic\"? Patriotic is when we pay our taxes, when we grieve for our dead, when we help the living. Patriotism is not a game, it is not putting a flag on our chests. A lot of baloney is coming out of Washington DC these days, lets see some of that baloney get to Puerto Rico where 3.5 million Americans are in extreme suffering and all Washington DC can seem to do is blather about god and patriotism. Real Christians and Patriots would be hand carrying relief packages to the PR.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Probably the pro green folks who run around the earth in all their private jets. God is indeed a weather maker. He created Nature. Man controls nothing in Nature. If He did, the apostles wouldn't have had to wake up Jesus to do it.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Obviously, it's hard not to be moved by the sincere desire of these women to serve in the church. Since I don't believe in the whole concept of the Roman Catholic priesthood, I say why not let them serve? It would put an end to the pedophelia in their parishes, that's for sure.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This conference is a side show. The USCCB, thankfully is conspicuous by its official absence.\nWhy are they discussing the effect of AL has on various groupings of Catholics. Are Latinos, African-Americans, Europeans, Asians, Antepodeans, etc going to be judged on the Last Day by different criteria?\nWe are all human beings made in God's image and likeness, possessors of intellect and will in equal proportion with each other of us. The intellect is dependent upon the physical senses which we know are not in equal proportion with each other of us. \nWhat is being proposed here is that accountability for sin before God, one's salvation is totally dependent upon one's ethnicity, geographical location or local culture. This is discrimination on a grand scale.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Dubium: Whether the teaching that the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women, which is presented in the Apostolic Letter Ordinatio Sacerdotalis to be held definitively, is to be understood as belonging to the deposit of faith.\n\n\"Responsum: Affirmative.\n\n\"This teaching requires definitive assent, since, founded on the written Word of God, and from the beginning constantly preserved and applied in the Tradition of the Church, it has been set forth infallibly by the ordinary and universal Magisterium (cf. Second Vatican Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium 25, 2). Thus, in the present circumstances, the Roman Pontiff, exercising his proper office of confirming the brethren (cf. Lk 22:32), has handed on this same teaching by a formal declaration, explicitly stating what is to be held always, everywhere, and by all, as belonging to the deposit of the faith.\"\n\nIt is part of the deposit of Catholic faith, infallible and unchanging.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Network is one politically active Catholic social justice group that maybe has an equal profile to most of the conservative culture warrior groups. I'm having trouble coming up with any others. \n\nThe problem pro life groups have is they argue the theology of abortion with zero ideas about how to make their theological objections real in the world of criminal justice. That kind of political argumentation should never fly and so far it hasn't. All it's done is provide a lot of jobs for pro life activists.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Was Jesus conceived of EGG and Sperm. Seems our myth tells us that God put Him there. R and R you haven't got your facts straight and continue to use factoids that run from science and good theology. You seem to do it to obstruct conversation not promote good ideas.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This is hilarious: the Catholic church used to decry anti-discrimination laws on grounds of gender or sexual orientation as \"special interest protection.\" Now what does it want for itself? Special interest protection.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The author of this article is a male. He has also forgotten more than you know about the sexual abuse of children by Catholic clerics.\nYou may want to save the time that you spend typing your comments and simply paste a link to the Catholic League website.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "All Catholic bishops need to be held fully accountable for sexual abuse as well as for covering up sexual abuse. Bishop Dupre was not held accountable, and should have been. Sad.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Perhaps they will be easier to spot once non christians stop committing such fowl acts. Religion is not the cause of such predatory behavior, suggesting otherwise is mindless bigotry. I might also point out, that in your mindless bigotry you have no idea what pretence the predator used.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "AT: Actually, my friend, I'm not particularly interested in listening to the thumping of Bibles. I'm an agnostic and a secular humanist; trying to live my life by the Golden Rule. While you seem to feel it's your responsibility to \"save the heathens\"; I don't feel a need to destroy your faith with the counter arguments. There are millions of Christians who are very good people..there are millions of others who are flaming hypocrites.....for example, I would place our President very high on the list of the latter. \n\nIf your religion makes you a kinder more compassionate person, great. If you can be a self-professed Christian and still be a truly nasty, self-centered person, what's the point? \n\nYou live your life, I'll live mine. Gary Crum", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Nothing like this will ever happen in a RC parish.\"\n\nWell, naturally it won't. The Episcopal Church allows same sex marriages and allows its gay clergy to marry, have lovers move into their rectories, etc. The CC does not. Such stories of frailty and disclosure only strengthen the Episcopal Church's acceptance of same sex marriage among its clergy. Endurance in both churches comes from enduring their respective beliefs, doctrines on marriage. Catholic teaching at a CC parish, however, should not have to lose its moral weight or doctrine in Episcopal hands -- in the comparison, especially since the example doesn't really reach the heart of the thing compared between the churches.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Stalin, Mao, and Pol Pot were not \"atheist movements\". They used atheism as an antithesis to the power of the deist religionists. All of it was a means to establish power over others and justify evil acts. Atheism is the absence of belief in a spirit god. Atheism is not inherently evil. These 3 evil human beings set themselves up as gods with followers just as blindly faithful as any other human religion. Their atheism was merely to supplant other god-beliefs in order to gain absolute power. You make the war comparison of which nothing in my statemnt supports. Hitler rose out of Roman Catholicism and Protestantism in Germany providing the basis for his hatred and final solution for Jews. My statement addresses the blind faith of any who willingly follow either human or spirit gods to the extent they lose their own humanity and respect for human existence. Body counts have no relevance in discussion of \"isms\". Humans killing humans is just a fact of life history.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Cry me a river. For every one anti-Christian comment there are ten anti-Muslim ones.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Here, lets just sum up the posts by our left wing posting friends before they start hitting the censor button...\n\nFundamental Christianity= bad.\n\nFundamental Islam = good.\n\n\nAs it happens, also the sum total of M-103.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Many years ago I used to participate in an atheist vs. Christian online club. The atheists were often more well informed about the bible than the Christians were.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "f you check the numbers, dad, there are more acts of terrorism done in the name of Christianity than there is in the name of Islam.\u2019 And factually, that\u2019s the truth.\u201d\n\n_________________________\n\nThat's not true. They kill and maim people everyday in Countries that use Islam as law and the slavery of women in burkas is fascism at its highest level. Add further, the word Islam in Arabic means \"submission\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For the undereducated who post their misinformation, mass in the Catholic Church, it's not a sacrament. Anybody with a keyboard can find out what the 7 sacraments are.\n\nBanging on 'bout mass is all dog-and-pony show to distract others from the fact that a certain poster slagged Catholics. He probably did not mean to do it; after all, he doesn't know squat about that religion and probably did not know he was denigrating those who take their faith seriously, in trying to make a joke that ended up being tasteless and borderline bigotry.\n\nIt's no skin off his nose, he's not Catholic, so what's it to him? You're bothered by my jokes, he posts. Then get a life, he says. He continues, stop bugging me, nobody likes you and you don't know nothing.\n\nClassic behaviour, blame the victims.\n\nA simple sorry, did not mean to offend, my bad, that's all he had to say, even if he did not mean it, which he certainly would nota.\n\nBut no, can't do that, I'm clean, he says, it's you.\n\nYeah, right.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "When i went to Africa they called me 'whitey' could not remember my Christian name i guess.\n In South Africa 10 x 1000's of whites have been murder by Blacks. Actually Canada is probably the least 'racist' country in the world.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Von Papen was Catholic. The connection ends there.\"\n\nI rarely reply to others. I have my say and let everyone have their say. Sites which host are not used to argue, most sites ask user to not do that. Also, it's a waste of limited bandwidth. \nHowever I will respond. The church was aligned with Hitler. Thus it made it much easier for Hitler (Shicklegruber a Catholic) to begin and wage WWII. Hitler did huge amounts of war-death-kill, as the GOP. \nThe church was aligned with Hitler before during and even after WWI. The church provided a hiding place, food, medical attention and passport papers for them. \nIn return for it's alignment the church got to attack Jews, Communists, Socialists and unions. \nAs we see the church can no longer raise armies or conduct hundreds or thousands of inquisitions ( Spanish, Roman and in every town and village throughout Europe.\nNow the church is tightly aligned with the Repubs to the destruction of America, the ME and throughout much of the world.\n\nbelow-", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's because these Jewish people have more charity than left leaning Catholics.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Part one of two) Support for Democratic candidates during the same period, on the other hand, has come from \"Hispanic Catholics, the religiously unaffiliated, Jewish Americans and African-American Protestants,\" he (Robert Jones, of The (Pontifical) (administratively censured) Catholic University of America) said. \n\nThis slight to Black Catholics is unseemly. As of 7:23 this morning, Steven Shea, xswzaq9, 2Be4Peace, extend the unseemliness to non-white immigrants and Muslims . As Philippians 3:6) remonstrated, \u201cin zeal I persecuted the (Black Catholic) Church.\u201d \u201cIn just the same way, I tell you there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents\u201d (Luke 15:10). The problem rests in what hearts seek. \u201cLet hearts rejoice who search for the Lord\u201d (Psalm 105:3b). Liturgy of the Word, Reading 488, Thursday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time II for the feast of Saint Martin de Porres.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Since Francis' election in 2013, he has adopted a hard line on pedophilia in the Catholic Church.\" Source is Catholic News Service!\nWhat of Francis' cover for Argentine priest, priests abusers in Italy allowed to move to Argentina & continue molesting, etc. For openness. F. hasn't been consistently hard line as this Don Mauro cases reveals. \nNow Pell is charged in Australia.\n\nSome excreta hit the fan big time with Pell indictment!\nStay tuned!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No, you want to give any business owner anywhere the right to discriminate against gay people merely by saying serving such people violates their religious beliefs. The government can't question a person's religious beliefs, so the government would have to take that argument on face value.\nA pizza maker refused to provide a gay couple with pizzas for their simple wedding reception. Does the laying out of pepperoni or olives constitute artistic expression?\nAnd, isn't it wonderful that sexual orientation isn't a religion, and therefore gay business owners can't discriminate against uptight Christians?\nReligion is NOT everything.\nChristians cannot discriminate against Muslims based on the Christian's belief that Islam violates their religious beliefs.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Sikh's kill their neighbour but Canada founded on Christian beliefs and the Creator love their neighbour.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Portraying liberals as the antihesis of the Bible and Christianity is, in truth, just the opposite. The liberals actually act on and believe in the basic premises of the religion of peace, human rights, civil rights, inclusion, diversity, human good, et. al. Only the pseudo-christians of the fundamentalist ilk prefer war, fear, dictatorship, and every other evil plaguing humans and the entire planet. The Jews created the One God religion of which Jesus belonged until he, supposedly, rebelled against the ruling classes. The letter writer uses the typical blame mantra and scurrilous vocabular to attempt to denigrate those committed to the betterment of humans and all of the planet. A completely warped view of the world aided and abetted by the Republican propaganda machines of the Billionaire Barons completely opposed to anything basically humane and moral. A sad testament to a wasted life.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Perhaps you should step back from defending SNAP and all their lies. SNAP, the organization that HATES the Catholic Church and would do anything to pull it down. What's behind them? SNAP? Money. Lots and lots and lots of money. Kickbacks from the lawyers who support the so-called abused. I wonder just how much money Barbara and David lined their pockets with before they left in shame? It will be shouted from the rooftops on Judgement Day for sure.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "From the rebel\n\ntherebel.media/81035/save-the-christians\n\nIt is apparent Trudeau prefers muslims over the dominate Christians in this country like the G&M and CBC. How much are they paying Trudeau to do this to Canada?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "This might sound sacrilegious or goofy, but it has prompted a debate among Catholic pals folks here might settle:\n\nIn today's readings, Elizabeth conceived of John the Baptist even though she and her spouse believed she was barren. The three options debated, half in jest, all in earnest:\n\n. John the Baptist was conceived through recreational sex.\n. John the Baptist, like only Christ, was conceived through the Holy Spirit.\n. John the Baptist was conceived by sexually active parents who wouldn't rule out a miracle.\n\nExcuse if you think it is frivolous, but it has prompted some interesting and surprisingly serious discussion. Thnx.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Jesus didn't exist and is a creation of Pope and Roman Empire for control of their people. The bibilical platititudes are human created as a cover for the real hate and violence for all who fail to obey. Christians have been slaughtering throughout the world in the name of their god. All of North and South America contain the reminants of those actions.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "What country is \"my country\" referring to? And how did Canada become \"your\" country?\n\nI didn't mind the Lord's prayer. And it wasn't Muslims that asked that it not be recited in school, your beef is with your fellow \"brother\". \n\nMany schools have other religious/prayer groups at school. Heck, don't we have a publicly funded catholic schools system? \n\nIt's probably useless to have a rational discussion on here anyway.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If I had a dime for every time one of you Christian \"super-patriots\" accused me of treason and threatened to kill me I could comfortably retire. Prescribing capital punishment for treason is my no means exclusively Muslim practice. And I've cherry-picked nothing, nor do I substitute my opinion for that of the Most Noble Messenger (SWS). Again, what is your dah'lil? How is it YOU are privy to the Holy Prophet's meanings when he himself said \"This generation fought over Qur'an's revelation--the next will fight over its interpretation (tafsir)\". By all means provide us the impeccable sources of your so-called 'knowledge', O 'sholar'!\n\nAgain, you accuse me of what you yourself are most guilty--both in terms of misrepresentation and in terms of hatred. And Allah will serve as Witness between us.\n\nNext!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Well there is nothing to love about living in hatred and oppression. \n\nSexism is extremely harmful and it is every Christian's, therefore every Catholic's responsibility to stand against this or any other discrimination, in our church, towards any group as a matter of upholding that group's human dignity. This is true no matter which of our member's has erred and sinned in supporting the attack against human dignity - even if that person is the Pope. This is why it is so important that our faith upholds primacy of conscience. \n\nAs for the million years nonsense. God rules this church and demands those who have been oppressed believe, pray and stand up for justice and then he delivers it to them. Faith conquers any person's stubbornness. So it is quite right to continue to demand of the hierarchy, till their ears fall off, \"We demand women be ordained priests today!\" and demand this everyday - until they are ordained.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Hey, Mark\n\nYou've got that fleeing sexual immorality thing and you mention honoring Trump?\n\nAnd then you say something about pretending to be Christian and following all of some thing or other.\n\nAnd you're 'just saying'.\n\nHey Mark. Ever wonder why right wing self-styled 'christians' are accused of hypocrisy?\n\nEver? Wonder? Why?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No. They're attacking bigots who use their religion as a weapon to discriminate against people they disapprove of. How would you react to a Jew who refused to serve Christians? You'd scream \"discrimination!\" that's how.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Are those \"Christians\" also supportive of his racism, sexism, and sexual predation?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "MSW.\nYou posted: \"Let's hope our bishops find their voice too.\" \nNever gonna happen, MIchael. Their hate for the 'the other' will not allow the USCCB to ever move from it's 35yr old home in the GOP. \nThe USCCB has damned itself and possibly even doomed itself. The USCCB and even the church has long ago abandoned and rejected it's covenant with Christ! The CC is now and has been a rudderless ship. Ever since it has been a political party in the fourth century.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Onward \"christian\" soldiers! Fly those planes, drop those bombs, pilot those drones! It's all for God and country, right? Or to protect our \"strategic interests\"...And the \"right\" always hollering about how this is a \"christian\" nation! Now we're suddenly a secular nation, when it suits the partisan argument. Hypocrisy!\n\nWe've meddled in that region for our own gain for over 60 years, have bred and created these terrorist movements out of whole cloth, sometimes created and financed them and let them go---And now we want to pretend that history doesn't exist. THAT\"s the lie, Richard, so thanks for the compliment.\n\nAt least you have the guts to use your name...", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The United States has never been a Christian nation. The racism, bigotry and hate that exist here make that very clear.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "My point is, conservative Christians are perfectly fine with including religion in the civil rights laws but are appalled that sexual orientation is included. So, conservative Christians want to be protected against discrimination while wanting to discriminate against gay people.\nIf the SCOTUS agrees with the baker, there will be a power imbalance where conservative Christians would be able to discriminate against gay couples but gay people would not be able to discriminate against Christians.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "To you they are God's conditions. To me, they are descriptive of what a wise person would do if they were in relationship. Obviously (to me, but not to those needing more, I guess), saying that God's love is unconditional does not mean that I don't need to be doing the things that make relationships work. If I do something unloving, and I believe that God is Love (as John says), then it would seem to anyone but those with really bad mental health problems that I would be sorry if I spit in the face of Love. Of course people should have contrition, should work at relationship, should do all kinds of things--all of that still does not mean that God is limited by the cautions of the Catholic Church on how a person in relationship with God would act. Somehow you take that to mean that I'm going to have sex with barn animals, as one old priest said in a sermon to a shocked group, but I think many people are able to separate the ideas of what people should do with who God is. You just don't.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Your son should not be praying in school hours. Take him to Masjid after school hours on a Friday to pray along with you. Oh, I forgot you being a woman won't be allowed to pray in the same room as him!\n Why don't you persue your activism against the Imam and the Sharia or whatever law which won't permit you pray in the Masjid along with him instead of writing opinion pieces in the 'progressive' newspapers like the G & M.\n How about if Hindu students, Buddhist, Sikh, Christian children etc. start demanding facilities and privileges as you are doing? The liberal apologists for the Muslims did not think of that when the school boards gave these special religious privileges to pacify Muslim parents as you played the victim card. Hindus do special prayers to their gods and goddesses on Tuesdays and other religions also have special assignments for prayers. \nKeep religion in your homes and masjids and don't stick out like a sore thumb.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Not generalised? Well, in general, Catholic clergy have been covering up the sexual crimes of their fellows. The only people who would describe this as a 'ludicrous waste of time' are Catholic bishops...in general.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I don't think anyone is prescribing that you MUST hold hands. It's optional, I've done both, but I like to do it with my teenagers, since, in their eyes, I am a dork. Sometimes Mass (\"which noone else HAS to come to, Dad!\") is a wonderful chance to exercise community in the presence of Jesus Christ and sometimes the only one where we have that opportunity.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "No religion has been shown to be a religion of peace and love, because religions aren't capable of being peaceful or loving. They're just religions.\n\nThere are many peaceful and loving religious adherents--Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, and more--because people can be peaceful and loving. They can also be hateful and violent.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "He let his conscious be his guide if you know what i mean. Satan is his god just like the organized ordained catholic serial pedophile priests, bishops, arch bishops, cardinal, and all the popes. Criminals are in charge of the billion people catholic church.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "(Part two of two) And you are defending the child rapist Catholic organization?\u2014yjin117 It is the \u201cAmerican Way.\u201d One is presumed innocent until proven guilty and the best type of proof is before a U.S. court of law, which is the process now underway.\n\nI do not defend the administration of The (Pontifical) Catholic University of America for intellectually \u201craping\u201d its faculty, even though I would not advocate trying that case before a court of law. And if I do not defend Catholic University, it is rash judgment to presume I do defend the sexual cover-ups of the RCC hierarchy. Don\u2019t you think?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "dick ullrich--dear church leader--utaughtthem to be 1 issue voters like bishops--so forget it", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "RD doesn't want to have to treat his gay brothers and sisters decently. He claims that his discrimination is what God wants. Once again, his claim of being a Christian is in doubt.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The commands of Jesus guides my prerogative. Read His words on the subject of making accusations, then you will understand my prerogative. \n\nYour second sentence is second hand hearsay. There is no good reason for a modern day diocese to pay for what amounts to rumors from a generation or two ago. None. \n\nWho says I've not read accounts? Fact is, there's a lot of rumor regurgitated by so called \"victim's advocates\" but very little accounts from victims, themselves. I'm forced to conclude the subject is hyperbolized to death. \"Kick a dead priest, get some money...\"~~~ common saying amongst scammers. \n\nMr. Anderson is a litigious blowhard with an agenda.\n\nI'm not here to seek healing. Healing can only come from the Throne of Grace. \n\nSeen any pictures lately of Danny Gallagher after his \"pitiful recompense\"? Plenty more examples out there like him. \n\nConfines of this com boxwill not allow me to illustrate just how wrong your last sentence is. Money that I give to the Church is not yours.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think there is something very important missing from the bishop's statement. Perhaps he alluded to it, but he should have focused a bit more attention to it, because receiving the sacraments and a Catholic funeral aren't about gay relationships or straight relationships.\nA straight couple who marries outside the Church excommunicates itself. For example, a couple in which at least one of the spouses was previously married and no annulment granted. Effectively, this couple commits the mortal sin of adultery AND publicly defects from the Faith, and they continue to sin mortally by living as a married couple. In a state of mortal sin, to receive the sacraments is an additional act of sacrilege each and every time. Unless they repent, no Catholic burial may be granted to them either.\nIn the case of a gay couple, no actual marriage is now or will ever be possible. The same self-imposed restrictions apply. The bishop is only reiterating Catholic teaching on the subject.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "justmaybe you hit the nail on the head... indeed this Congregation trivializes the Eucharistic blessing if not makes an outright mockery of it. \n\nCatholics should be embarrassed by this, but then again one also needs to consider the source.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The progressive's dark defamation of the President-elect is similar to the protestant demonization of the papacy. \n\nIt's the same mental phenomena at play, whether it's from someone calling the papacy \"the whore of Babylon,\" or calling the president elect a fascist.\n\nBoth slanders are grounded in nothing more than empty sentiment. That's why they're slander. Neither has any good evidence behind it, because all concerned don't understand American Civics any better than they understand Christianity.\n\nOf course, neither progressives or Catholic-bashing protestants believe this is true. \"Look at what Revelation says about the antichrist....it's in the bible!\" they cry. Or \"listen to the loud way he talked to that reporter, he must be a fascist\" they explain.\n\nThey only think they have legitimate evidence. But what they really have is junk evidence, fake evidence.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The Catholic Church's existence is indeed proof that people can (and will) excuse many things. It is a huge worldwide organisation that has survived every kind of impact. It has always contained criminals as well as saints. Its continuing existence must tell us something about it. Perhaps you are right, and it is something to do with eternal life.\nI don't think there are many churchgoers nowadays (at least, not where I live, the UK) who are blind to the dangers of clerical sex abuse; or who would be silent if they saw it, or heard of it. I would not be.\nI'm following the daily transcripts from Australia - where they are seeking to understand what more can be done to make things safer for children today and in the future. I hope that part of the recommendations will involve curtailments of the Church's current practice of routinely involving the CDF in Rome.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Also like one priest said there, the war against Christianity still goes on, that's why some churches hired security guards or have couple in there own congregation that are armed in his church. As this priest said its the person not the gun that kills, and by trying to do tighter gun control will not make any difference, all there doing is trying to make these gun laws, is like putting a band aid on cancer, it will not make a difference the murdering of people will still go on, no matter what gun law they try to do.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "It's always good to point out the sometimes radical disagreements among authors of New Testament documents, such as those between Matthew and Paul. E.g. Matthew's allegory of the Last Judgment, in 25.31ff., makes absolutely no sense from a Pauline perspective.\n\nThough Matthew is the only source for the saying in 5.28, I suspect it goes back to the historical Jesus, or at least was inspired by something he said. He was wrapped in an apocalyptic/eschatological vision that assured him (wrongly) that the end of this world was coming very soon. Therefore much that he said has a radical urgency to it. But Paul too shares that vision, when comes his advice in 1 Corinthians 7.8f., it's better to remain single, but then again, \"it's better to marry than burn.\"\n\nThis also shows that Jesus was not at all interested in legislating rules for a church lasting indefinitely in time. And so the church has been foolish, and still is, to look for precise instructions on how to behave in his words.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Feminism, in all it's form is a religion, albeit one without a deity myth (yet: we'll see what happens when Steinem croaks). It's adherents share a persecution myth, a victimization myth, and the same zealotry as those of most religions. \n\nFeminists cannot be reasoned with, and can't seem to see that the ethos of their belief is contradictory: they believe in an equality that raises one group while lowering another, hurting both. \n\nIf you care about people, about families, about children, you're a humanist. If you believe that only those with female genitalia deserve rights and protections, or can suffer abuses, you're blinded by religious (in this case feminist) zeal.\n\nIt's not easy for a person to admit everything they've been taught is a lie based on hate, but the world would be a better place if more people could. \n\n(As an aside, a Prime Minister that declares himself a Feminist is huge affront to the separation of church and state, something every Canadian should be aware of.)", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Harper also ran a candidate that would come to your home and pee in your dishes. Doesn't mean Harper was really tolerant of that - at least for his own dishes.\n\nAt one time Harper wanted a party of Theo-Cons; all the orthodox religions of the book (Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist) holding hands and hating progressives and gays like Baird. Baird wisely never \"came out\" to Canadians or his constituency; he just enjoy the benefits of all the progressives who fought for his rights.\n\nBTW, Harper specifically attacked refugee programmes and had Kenney cut health care to vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers. My MP sent me dog whistle note asking if I approved of refugees \"getting better health care\" than me.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I do look at terrorist as the enemy, why would you think otherwise? I think they are cut throat murderers who justify their action with religious shrouds. I don't respect or honor that religious interpretation.\n\nI know my Old Testament well enough to know it has been used to justify murder as well by Christians and Jewish tradition. \n\n I know that not all Muslims believe in killing non Christians(and I bet you agree?)\n\nHow many Oregonions have been killed in the state by Muslim motivated extremist? (Last 5 years). How many Oregonions have been murdered by Oregonions? \n\nUsing Trump thinking all Oregonions should get tight screening and subjected to investigation\n \nI think our police, FBI, and other's involved in protecting our shores have done outstanding work in stopping acts of terrorism. Trump's condemnation 0f there tireless efforts is reprehensible and insults the men and women protecting all of us.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Goes to the deeply disturbed nature of this bishop who seeks political points with the GOP by being divisive in the Church. He is a bully, which means he likely was bullied.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "From the pen of Martin Luther himself, here's the spirit of the Reformation:\n\n\"I am more afraid of my own heart than of the pope and all his cardinals. I have within me the great pope, Self.\"\n\n\"I know that a Christian should be humble, but against the Pope I am going to be proud and say to him: \"You, Pope, I will not have you for my boss, for I am sure that my doctrine is divine.\" \"\n\n\"May the Lord fill you with His blessings and with hatred of the Pope.\"\n\n\"A simple man with Scripture has more authority than the Pope or a council.\"\n\n\"Heretics are not to be disputed with, but to be condemned unheard, and whilst they perish by fire, the faithful ought to pursue the evil to its source, and bathe their heads in the blood of the Catholic bishops, and of the Pope, who is the devil in disguise.\"\n\n\"The Pope is a mere tormentor of conscience. The assembly of his greased and religious crew in praying was altogether like the croaking of frogs, which edified nothing at all.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Nope\nHe can make the cake and Jesus will not think that he endorses homsexuals. Hate the sin, love the sinner, right?\nHe could have used the opportunity to preach, maybe get the gays to repent. \n\"Here is your cake. Have you ever thought that you gays make God mad, by existing?\"\n\nI can 100% guarantee that if he made a cake for a gay wedding, Jesus would not think that he is in favor of gays, gay weddings or anything gay or even remotely gay. \n\nIt really does not matter if Jesus knows the man did not want to serve the gays. \nThe Constitution does not grant you the right to not be offended.\nIt also does not grant you the right to discriminate.\n\nHe can just not make cakes for all weddings PROBLEM SOLVED", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "For your information Catholics are not Christians. They too are an occult. Ddn't you know they pray to Mary? Instead of the father in Jesus name. They burn incense to their God. They call their pastor \"Father\". The bible says call no man on earth father. Mathew 23:9. The bible also states you shall not add or take away from the bible, revelations 22 18 & 19.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "If the day comes when a LGBTQ or Islamic university exists, and they forbid Christians from becoming students, unless they are silent about their faith, will the government be so interventionist? Will Christians even be allowed to attend?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I'm fine with law societies banning TWU grads because they attending a homophobic law school, but then I also hope the same law societies also ban any lawyer practicing Islam, Catholicism or other religion that preaches homophobia.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The church over there is blaming the victim. A local Catholic news publication is trashing the girl. \nQuote Daily Mail Online: \nA Christian weekly magazine, which is backed by a Catholic Sabha or association, blamed the alleged victim for the event and said Mr Vadakkacheril may have momentarily \u201cforgotten his position\u201d. \n\u201cDaughter, why did you forget who a priest is?\" read an extract in the Sunday Shalom, according to an India Today translation. \"He has a human body and has temptations. He may have forgotten his position for a few seconds, my child who has taken the Holy Communion, why didn't you stop or correct him?\"\nFather Paul Thelekat from the Bishops\u2019 Council, also commented on the incident and blamed consumerism for the rape.\nYou would think every priest, bishop and cardinal on the planet would be issuing apologies and offering help to the girl but no. Instead, the church has stolen the baby from the girl (i.e. the baby from the priest's rape).", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "I think you missed the point.\n\nHe was making the point that we are a country of immigrants. So why all the immigrant hate?\n\nThe Irish immigrated well after the first illegals had taken land from the American Indians and created a foothold to force their immigration on anyone new.\n\nHell they even forced Indians to go through immigration to get their names changed.\n\nHe was trying to say that blanketing all immigrants with the same brush is dumb.\n\nReligion only muddies the waters because USA Christians like to hide behind the holy cloth while sniping at anyone else. It doesn't help that Jesus said to love everyone and accept strangers as your brother, and here were have the same Christians attacking strangers that come to their door for help.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "2/ Tragically, far-right Catholics are complicit in the neo-fascist faction of the Trump constituency. Steven Bannon, formerly of Breitbart and now chief White House strategist and senior counselor to the president-elect, is Catholic. Milo Yiannopoulos, a virulent misogynist and colleague of Bannon's at Breitbart, identifies as a \"gay Catholic.\" And as we have seen, traditionalist Catholics were and are solid supporters of Trump.\n\nBannon turned Breitbart into a den of anti-Semitism and bigotry, and he will be at the center of power. His position does not have to be approved by the Senate.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Oh, Bob....not the troll accusation again, please. The name-calling here really has got to stop.....\n\nAnd please tell me who here believes pedophilia okay? or that the Church believes it is okay? or that St. Pope John Paul II or PE Benedict XVI sold there souls for \"silver,war, death and destruction\"? \n\nThat you do not agree with more traditional Catholics, more conservative ideologies does not necessitate specious accusations. And don't forget - Pope Francis is not overturning any Catholic teaching. Remember - he said no to female ordination, no to same sex marriage, etc. Not necessarily \"reform\" - but \"recalibration.\"", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "The fact is that for LGBT couples who choose to marry, it has nothing to do with the Catholic Church. Those couples, and the vast majority of those communities, including those who may have been raised as Catholics, have long since left the Church. Why wouldn't they? It's just like with African-American Catholics in this country, we never did retain a decent number of black members. Same-sex marriage is a civil matter, and LGBT couples are really just fine that it has no connection to any Church, particularly the RC and Orthodox. So, it seems your points are moot, TomQuinn.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"Closing schools on Saturdays and Sundays, the religious holidays of Christmas and Easter, a legal and moral system based at least partly on Christianity. There are others. Christianity is one of the pillars of Western Civilization.\"\n\nEven to me, an atheist, the reduction of Christianity and its influence to two holidays and a couple of slogans is pathetically sad. It's so telling that nothing--nothing!--remains of Christianity in Canada's public life other than what you've presented.\n\nWhere's the Holy Trinity? The Eucharist? The Incarnation? Hypostatic Union? The Virgin Birth? Salvation? Sin? Saints? Miracles? Sacraments? Theology? Perichoresis? The Resurrection? The Eschaton? Repentance? Humility? Chastity? Modesty? Constant prayer? Mysticism? All that doctrinal stuff is far more Christian than Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny, but all that stuff is openly mocked.\n\nAbortion. Christian?\nSame sex marriage. Christian?\nDivorce. Christian?\nPremarital sex? Christian?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "SNAP has done far more good for victims of sex abuse than the entire American hierarchy, which has tried and failed to destroy SNAP. In short, then, the US Catholic hierarchy is destroying our church. Chicago may become the hierarchy's Waterloo!", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Maybe one post by a newcomer was about race, which I disliked. Not everyone that has a different opinion from you is a white supremacist, anti-Semitic, neo-Nazi bigot. Disagreement about immigration or whether the poor are to be assisted by private versus public means are legitimate issues Catholics can disagree on.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Roe vs. Wade and the empty seat on the supreme court was the motivation for evangelicals and Catholics. They sold their soul and in the end more will end up dying under Trump than would have been potentially saved by their motivation to make abortion illegal. Shame.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Herod's \"slaughter of the innocents\" in Matthew's nativity narrative is a literary device echoing Pharaoh's slaughter of newborn Hebrew boys in Exodus, consistent with Matthew's conception of Jesus as the Second Moses.\n\nThough Augustus is famously said to have quipped, \u201cIt is better to be Herod's pig than his son.\u201d", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "\"God\" has been allowing \"His\" creatures to kill each other since Cain and Abel. \n\n6 million died just in the 30 Years War between Catholics vs Protestants and that was all done 'In His Name'.\n\nYour \"God\", (even if Jesus is also \"Him\") just says that the murderers won't go to Their mythical heaven. \n\nWhat is the fate of the killers on each side of the 30 Years War, by the way?\n\nThose on both sides were just doing what \"God\" told them to do, after all. Do all the crazy people who hear 'God' telling them what to do get a free pass?", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"} -{"text": "Homosexuals are NOT pedophiles. The pedophiles in the catholic church are just that: pedophiles. Their sexual orientation doesn't indicate their likelihood to be a pedophile no more than your sexuality does.", "gold": "False", "sub_split": "non-toxic"}